Chapter 67 The Contest

Finally, the person we were waiting for arrived.

Pei Zhiwei deftly lifted the blanket.

Ever since Xiaodouzi led the beggars to spread the revised poem throughout the streets and alleys of Yangzhou, she specially changed into a neat and tidy outfit and took a break.

Lu Yinzhou is one of the top thieves in the martial arts world.

If they were really going to come, they would never make a big fuss; they would definitely choose a time when everything is quiet and still.

She lightly touched the wooden frame with her toes, and silently landed on the roof.

Sure enough, a Taoist figure was standing on the rooftop diagonally opposite.

This person was not particularly tall, but stood ramrod straight with his hands behind his back.

Just by looking at the back, one can clearly feel the transcendent aura of a master.

Before Pei Zhiwei could think it through, Xiao Yunzhan, Xie Ji, and Yan Jinghong appeared one after another on the roof of their respective bedrooms.

"Yan girl." The man spoke first, his voice slightly hoarse but full of energy.

"After all these years, I thought you had long forgotten my promise to Brother Yan."

Yan Jinghong called out, "Uncle Lu, how have you been?"

Your promise to my father is something I will never forget, not even for a day.

"It's just that the timing wasn't right in previous years, and I was afraid that bringing it up rashly would cause problems, so I never contacted you."

"Timing?" Lu Yinzhou chuckled, his gaze sweeping over several rooftops before landing precisely on Pei Zhiwei.

"This is your daughter?"

Judging from her skill just now, she is indeed much better than you were back then.

Yan Jinghong smiled proudly, her eyes full of satisfaction: "My talent is limited, and I didn't learn even 30% of my father's skills back then."

Fortunately, my daughter Zhiwei inherited my father's mantle and mastered those light-body techniques in less than three years.

The reason I've brought you here today is so that you can test me and fulfill my father's regret from years ago."

"Senior, senior!" Xie Ji jumped and waved from the rooftop, eager to speak.

"Don't rush into a fight!"

Now that we've finally met the living Master Lu, shouldn't we first have a cup of tea and catch up?

It's windy on the roof; it wouldn't be good for you to get cold!

Lu Yinzhou: "I don't know you at all, so how can we reminisce?"

"Senior Lu, you are mistaken!"

Xie Ji replied with a grin, "Having a couple of cups of tea will make us feel familiar!"

Besides, if you don't want tea, you can drink alcohol. Yangzhou's "Drunken Immortal Brew" is a top-notch wine. What's the difference between drinking it and drinking it? Don't you agree?

"You're quite the social butterfly."

Xiao Yunzhan respectfully said, "I am Xiao Yunzhan, and I greet Senior Lu."

I have long admired your esteemed name; it is truly an honor to meet you today.

Xie Ji was still excited, pointing to himself and introducing himself: "My name is Xie Ji!"

I've been admiring you ever since I was a child, listening to my father tell stories of your three entries and exits from the palace!

"Would I have the chance to learn a few tricks from you?"

Lu Yinzhou smiled but remained silent, his gaze returning to Pei Zhiwei.

Pei Zhiwei respectfully performed a junior's greeting: "Grandniece Pei Zhiwei greets Grandpa Lu."

"Hahahaha!" Lu Yinzhou suddenly burst into laughter, the sound of which startled the birds in the surrounding trees, causing them to scatter and fly away.

"You little brat, you've got a sweet tongue! You're much more likable than your stubborn mother who's as headless as a mule!"

Yan Jinghong never expected that he would make fun of her in front of his daughter, and smiled helplessly: "Uncle Lu, it's been so many years, why are you still holding a grudge?"

"Back then, all I did was prevent you from interfering in the Yan family's case. Why are you still holding a grudge?"

Lu Yinzhou snorted: "This temperament is something you're born with, you can't change it!"

Just then, the sound of a ladder creaking and groaning came from below.

It turned out that Pei Lin was slowly climbing up the ladder while holding onto it, his movements even a little clumsy.

Once he reached the edge of the roof, he steadied himself by holding onto the eaves with one hand, and clasped his hands in greeting to Lu Yinzhou: "Uncle Lu, your nephew-in-law Pei Lin greets you."

Lu Yinzhou squeezed his eyes shut and clicked his tongue. "You, a young master from a prominent family, how come your kung fu hasn't improved at all over the years?"

"Climbing a ladder and still wobbling, aren't you ashamed?"

Pei Lin replied with a smile, "My nephew-in-law still finds investigating cases more interesting than practicing kung fu."

Besides, with Zhiwei and Jinghong around, my skills are enough to hold out until they come to rescue me.

Hearing this, Lu Yinzhou glared at him fiercely: "Hmph, I get annoyed just looking at you two!"

He ignored the stubborn couple and looked at Pei Zhiwei: "Little girl, don't think you can fool this old man just because you call me 'Grandpa Lu'."

Now that we've met, I must give you a good test and see if Brother Yan's skills have truly been passed down."

Pei Zhiwei was eager to try, saying, "My grandniece is available to teach me anytime."

Lu Yinzhou abruptly changed the subject: "Do you know that there is a Lingxi Tower in Yangdu City?"

Pei Zhiwei: "I know. It's in the east of the city, a nine-story tower, the tallest building in Yangdu City."

"Then let's meet at the top of the tower in a bit. Whoever gets there first wins."

As soon as they finished speaking, the two of them exerted force with their feet almost simultaneously, their figures flying towards the direction of the Spirit Abode Tower like two arrows released from a bow.

Pei Zhiwei felt the wind whistling past her ears, and rooftops and treetops flashing past her eyes.

She deliberately held back, not using her full strength from the start, wanting to see just how skilled Lu Yinzhou really was.

Unexpectedly, although Lu Yinzhou looked old, his lightness skill had not deteriorated in the slightest.

His figure was more composed than Pei Zhiwei's. Every step he took on the rooftop was precise, as if measured, without any unnecessary movements.

The two stood one in front of the other, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far, and neither managed to gain a significant advantage.

Xiao Yunzhan and Xie Ji quickly followed.

Xiao Yunzhan's lightness skill was actually quite good. Although he couldn't compare to Pei Zhiwei and Lu Yinzhou, he could still keep up, but sweat soon appeared on his forehead.

Xie Ji didn't have it so easy. At first, he could grit his teeth and keep up, but soon he fell behind.

He was panting heavily, and couldn't help but curse inwardly: These two are too abnormal, is that a speed that a human can achieve!

The Spirit Abode Tower soon came into view.

The tower is nine stories high, its body made of bluish-gray bricks and stones, and the eternal lamp at the top shines in the night like a small star.

Pei Zhiwei took a deep breath, pushed off with her feet, and suddenly accelerated, flying towards the top of the tower.

Lu Yinzhou was not to be outdone, and followed closely behind, the two figures quickly soaring upwards on the tower.

Just as she was about to reach the top of the tower, Pei Zhiwei flipped her wrist and used a protruding eave next to her to speed up her pace by half a step.

When she landed on the top of the tower and turned around, she saw that Lu Yinzhou had landed just half a step behind her.

Pei Zhiwei: "Grandpa Lu, my niece was lucky to get a half-step ahead because she is young and has better physical strength."

Actually, in terms of composure in light-footed martial arts, I am no match for you.

If it weren't so dark at the top of the tower, one would have noticed that Lu Yinzhou's eyes were red-rimmed and slightly moist.

He looked around Yangdu City at night and said, "Brother Yan would be happy if he knew this in the afterlife."

He composed himself and continued, "Do you dare to compete again?"

How about we head back to Yaoguang Garden this time, and set our sights on that banana tree in the courtyard?

Pei Zhiwei's eyes lit up; she was still feeling unsatisfied. "Great!"

The two exerted their strength again and sped towards Yaoguang Garden.

This time, Lu Yinzhou was clearly much more serious, using all his strength from the very beginning, his movements as fast as a black shadow.

Pei Zhiwei didn't dare to slack off either, and followed closely behind. The two figures moved through the night, attracting the occasional peek-outs of the still-awake people below, who thought they were seeing things.

Xiao Yunzhan and Xie Ji had just arrived at the bottom of Lingxi Tower when they saw the two of them flying back towards Yaoguang Garden. They couldn't help but exchange a glance, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes.

Xie Ji, leaning on his knees and panting heavily, said, "Can't these two... take a break? My legs are about to break!"

"Stop complaining, hurry up and catch up, or you won't even be able to see them anymore."

Xiao Yunzhan patted him on the shoulder and took the lead in catching up.

Xie Ji had no choice but to grit his teeth and follow, cursing Lu Yinzhou and Pei Zhiwei repeatedly in his mind.

When Pei Zhiwei landed in the courtyard of Yaoguang Garden, Lu Yinzhou landed just half a step away from her.

Both of them were a little out of breath this time. Pei Zhiwei's forehead was covered in fine sweat, and Lu Yinzhou's breathing was heavier than usual.

"How is it, Uncle Lu? My Zhiwei's kung fu is pretty good, isn't it?" Yan Jinghong walked over from the corridor, holding a handkerchief in his hand, and handed it to Pei Zhiwei.

Pei Lin also walked over and said to Lu Yinzhou with a smile, "Uncle Lu, Jinghong and I have prepared some simple food and wine in the courtyard. If you don't mind, please sit down and have a couple of drinks."

Lu Yinzhou's eyes softened a bit. "I'm a little thirsty after the competition, so let's have a couple of drinks."

Yan Jinghong smiled and said, "Back then, when you drank with my father, you always loved to drink this kind of Drunken Immortal Wine."

I specially had it bought from a winery in Yangzhou; it should be similar to the one you drank back then.”

Pei Lin poured Lu Yinzhou a glass of wine.

He picked up his glass, brought it to his nose, and smelled it, his eyes filled with nostalgia: "Yes, that's the taste."

He had just finished his drink and hadn't even had time to refill it when a hand reached out and snatched the wine jug away.

Xie Ji grabbed the wine jug and poured it into his mouth, mumbling, "I'm so thirsty... You guys are inhuman..."

Everyone couldn't help but laugh at his disheveled appearance.

Pei Zhiwei handed him a handkerchief: "Drink slowly, no one will take it from you."

Xie Ji took the handkerchief, wiped his mouth, and finally recovered.

Sitting on the stone bench, panting, he said, "You two are too fast runners. Xiao Yunzhan and I can hardly keep up with you."

Especially Master Lu, you're already so old, yet your lightness skill is still so good, it's truly amazing!

Lu Yinzhou smiled but didn't respond. He put down his wine glass and looked at Yan Jinghong.

"I know you went to great lengths to lure me here, it's definitely not just for a simple competition."

Yan Jinghong's smile faded slightly. "Uncle Lu, we do have something important we'd like to ask for your help with."

You should know about the collapse of the decorative display stand at Yuhuchun, right?

We found out that you were on the roof of Yuhuchun that day, and you should have seen who the murderer was.

Lu Yinzhou was silent for a moment, then said, "Yan girl, you should know that I have never dealt with the government."

I came here today to see who will inherit Brother Yan's mantle, and to fulfill the promise I made to Brother Yan years ago.

So if we're catching up, I can sit down and have a couple of drinks.

If it's about investigating a case, I'll leave immediately.