Chapter 323: Madam is missing, her real name is Li Xian!
Zhou Shijie cleaved the rock with his sword, saying disdainfully, "What's so great about this mere flower thief? Can he withstand this sword strike from me?"
Yang Wentian, Wang Dezhong, and Zhou Shijie first met at the temple fair, drinking, playing, and feasting together. In those days, they were full of vigor and talent, each displaying their unique abilities. Above them, sects formed alliances; below, peers sparred, made friends, and hunted. How joyful and lively it was! Looking back, they would surely feel deeply moved. Unexpectedly, everything changed within days. Their fellow disciples, including female elders, had all disappeared. Their hearts were heavy with disillusionment, filled with suppressed anger.
Yang Wentian, being from the "Thunder Sect," was neither a sword sect nor had any relatives or friends missing, making him rather rational. Having spent time with Zhou Shijie and knowing that his martial arts were slightly inferior, he said, "Brother Zhou, don't be hasty. This thief comes from the Flower Cage Sect, but it's rumored he's quite formidable! Don't underestimate him!"
Wang Dezhong said, "It is said that this thief was indescribably handsome and his strength was not weak. He was skilled in marksmanship, intelligent and cautious, and his vicious schemes were endless."
Li Xian cursed inwardly, "That scoundrel is spouting nonsense. He's trying to pin this huge accusation on me. When have I ever used any underhanded tactics?" Feeling extremely indignant, he continued listening.
Yang Wentian said, “This thief is highly regarded by the sect. Although he is young, about the same age as you and me, if we encounter him, we must be extremely cautious. Remember not to be careless. The Flower Cage Sect does not kill women, so Miss Gu, her many senior and junior sisters, elders, etc., should all be safe. Now that the city is under lockdown and a strict investigation is underway, although we do not know where the Flower Cage thief has hidden them, they certainly have not left the city. There is still a chance for things to turn around.”
Hearing the two men's advice, Zhou Shijie felt extremely embarrassed and thought to himself, "Fine, I've wasted my time considering you friends, and you look down on me like this. Do you think I, Zhou Shijie, can't do anything to a mere flower thief?" He angrily sheathed his sword but said nothing more.
After a brief conversation, Yang Wentian and Wang Dezhong took their leave of Cuizhu Residence. Zhou Shijie snorted coldly, lost in thought for a moment, feeling anxious. Suddenly, he paused, thinking, "If Nianjun were to encounter trouble, and I were to be her hero, wouldn't that win her back? Nianjun has been absent-minded lately, her heart filled with thoughts of Zhou Ping'an. If things continue like this, she might even offer herself to him. Where would that leave me then? Whether this turn of events is a blessing or a curse remains to be seen."
Excited, he ran out of Green Bamboo Residence. He caught up with Yang Wentian and Wang Dezhong and decided to help with the search. Yang Wentian and Wang Dezhong were both delighted and readily agreed.
Li Xian revealed himself, his brow furrowed. He knew something was amiss, noticing the gold dust on Gu Nianjun's boots, as if she had trodden a tomb. How could Hua Wucuo, trapped in the Cocoon Pavilion, display his divine power and capture all the women from various sects?
As he pondered this, he suddenly sensed something amiss. A strand of his long hair, having fallen to the ground, took root and seemed to respond. His senses extended, and he seemed to hear a voice: "No mistake, no mistake... Where are you? If you hear this message, come to me immediately!"
Upon hearing the voice, Li Xian knew it was Ye Cheng summoning him. He weighed his options: "Although I haven't shown myself, Hua Wucuo's name has already been spread. Sister Liuli is still with the Flower Cage Sect; it's difficult for her to remain unscathed. Recent turmoil is related to the Flower Cage Sect; I wonder if Gu Nianjun and the others have been captured by them. If so, out of consideration for our friendship, I must help them escape. Regardless of the consequences, I must see them!"
Observe the surrounding scene through the strands of hair. It seems to be in a brightly lit hall of a mansion, with several figures around the strands of hair. Although they are very blurry, one can vaguely make out who they are.
Among them were elders such as Ye Cheng, An Weicheng, Tang Wenshu, and Li Jiu, as well as many disciples of the Xuanhua sect… An Weicheng asked, “Jin Yi, did your Brother Hua really say that? That this hair, once it touches the ground and takes root, can transmit sound and be heard?”
Jin Yi scratched his head and said, "Yes...yes." Tang Wenshu said, "This Hua Wucuo is truly not to be underestimated. I wonder what kind of martial arts he practices to be able to achieve such a level."
Ye Cheng said in a deep voice, "This is not the time to discuss this matter. If you have heard of it, come to Liuhua Street and Biechun Garden in the west of the city as soon as possible. We have important matters to discuss!"
Upon hearing the conversation, Li Xian removed his mask and hid his red bow. He hurried westward and quickly found Biechun Garden. He didn't rush inside but used his double pupils to observe his surroundings. After confirming that everything was alright, he climbed over the wall and entered the courtyard to meet up with the elders and the Flower Cage Gate.
Jin Yi, Huo Er, and the others were overjoyed to see Li Xian again and immediately went to stand behind him, indicating that Li Xian was the leader and that they had taken a firm stance. Ye Cheng couldn't help but sigh, "This young man has already developed a certain air about him after only a few months in the sect."
Li Xian cupped his hands and said, "Elders! Senior brothers! We meet again."
An Weicheng said, "Alright, alright, let's go inside and discuss this in detail. This matter concerns life and death, and we cannot be careless in the slightest." Li Xian said in a deep voice, "Alright!"
Everyone took their seats in the hall. Li Jiu said in a deep voice, "That's right. Although you entered the sect through the Water Altar, you are a rare new talent in the Flower Cage Sect. Young and impetuous, it's inevitable that you'll be arrogant, but your actions this time have indeed gone too far!"
Tang Wenshu shook his head and said, "General Shi intended to support you, to make you famous, and to gather flower thieves from all over the world. However, your high profile has caused things to get out of control. It was really wrong, really wrong."
Li Xianxin understood: "There must be some misunderstanding among these elders about me. Let me ask them." He asked curiously, "This junior does not know what has happened."
An Weicheng said, “That’s right. Our purpose in coming here is to take advantage of the chaos, not to stir up trouble. The situation is not chaotic yet, but you have done such a big thing, shocking the world and making our Flower Cage Sect the target of everyone’s criticism. Now the city is heavily guarded, and it is difficult for us to escape. You have taken many women hostage, so it is even more difficult for you to escape. Have you thought about what will happen in the future?”
"This is really inappropriate, really inappropriate."
Li Xian said in a deep voice, "Do you elders believe that the capture of those missing women was a well-planned scheme?"
The elders were all taken aback. Jin Yi, Huo Er, and the others exchanged bewildered glances, finding it even more strange. Ye Cheng asked doubtfully, "Isn't that right? After you separated from them, rumors spread that many women had suddenly disappeared. Wasn't it you who used trickery to capture them silently? Thinking about it, although we are elders, we are probably no match for you, this newcomer, when it comes to capturing women and beauties." He looked at Jin Yi, Huo Er, and the others.
It turns out this was a huge misunderstanding. On the day Li Xian was preparing for the banquet, to have a backup plan, he ordered the five members of the Five Elements Flower-Covering Formation—Metal One, Fire Two, Earth Three, Water Four, and Wood Five—to find the Flower Cage Gate and meet him. His true intention was to secretly use the Flower Cage Gate to rescue him. However, Li Xian was captured by Wen Caishang, making it impossible to send any further messages.
He was no longer aware of the outside world, spending his days wielding his two swords, always sheathed. Jin Yi, Huo Er, and the others indeed found Ye Cheng and his group. Not long after they gathered, they heard that a major event had occurred in the city: many women of the Five Elements Sword Sect had mysteriously disappeared.
Ye Cheng and the others were immediately alarmed and suspected that it was the work of their fellow disciples. They quickly exchanged letters to inquire about the truth. All replied that they did not know. At this time, Jin Yi, Huo Er, and the others thought: "If it was not the work of the elders, could it be Brother Hua? He just left us and then did such a big thing. The difference between the two is too coincidental."
Then the topic turned to Hua Wucuo. The elders, including Ye Cheng, An Weicheng, and Tang Wenshu, though slightly superior to Li Xian, were all corrupted by wine and women, and their abilities might not match Li Xian's. They all felt that Li Xian was no ordinary man, and might truly be able to use trickery to capture and abduct the women of the various sects.
Rumors circulated among the flower-covered gates. Ye Cheng, An Weicheng, Tang Wenshu, and others had summoned the elders to a meeting to discuss the matter. They devised a way to inform Li Xian, hence this scene. Li Xian explained the situation clearly, and the elders exchanged bewildered glances, all filled with surprise and doubt.
Ye Cheng said, "That's right. Is this really not your doing? If it is, we will not blame you. Release those women, and we will use the chaos to escape. Preserving our lives is the priority. We must not lose our lives here for the sake of small gains."
Li Xian smiled wryly and said, "I came here precisely to inquire about this matter. I thought it was the elders of my sect who had captured the women of various sects."
Ye Cheng shook his head and said, "How could we have such abilities? I haven't fought in a long time, and I rely on our numbers and skill to capture lone women. But if the enemy has too many people, we will surely be able to escape."
An Weicheng said, "Yes, we came here with the intention of taking advantage of the chaos. We were hiding in the city, waiting for the right opportunity. But before that opportunity came, this unexpected incident happened."
Li Xian asked, "It seems there's more to this matter than meets the eye. We need to investigate further. Elders, the situation is dire; please proceed with caution."
Tang Wenshu said, "Fortunately, we are experienced and concealed our tracks and movements, so we did not give ourselves away."
Li Xian thought to himself, "This matter has escalated to this point, and I am truly besieged on all sides. I can't extricate myself from either side. It seems that my recent strokes of luck in acquiring rare treasures have been exceptionally good. Now, misfortune has followed closely behind." He said, "Not necessarily. I heard that a disciple of the Flower Cage Sect has already been captured and his name has been revealed in the elders' register."
The crowd exchanged glances, remaining silent for a moment. Ye Cheng calmly said, "It's just a list, nothing more. This matter is strange and unpredictable, with no clues whatsoever. Elders, please be mindful of yourselves. Let's put aside the matter of stealing and cultivating flowers."
Li Xian reached out and touched his palm, revealing several strands of long hair. He tossed them to the elders, saying, "Wu Cuo's hair is extraordinary; it takes root where it touches the ground and can transmit information. If any of you elders encounter any problems, you can let your hair fall and take root to inform Wu Cuo of the situation."
Ye Cheng exclaimed in surprise, "Impressive! Impressive! I remember that in the second realm of martial arts, the fourth characteristic, once the dust settles, is that fallen hair can take root upon touching the ground. Could it be that your characteristic is different?"
Li Xian smiled without saying a word. The elders concealed their long hair, exchanged glances, and then said in unison, "That's right. We just discussed it and all agree that although you are young, you are quite capable. We are several decades older than you, and although our cultivation levels are higher than yours, we are afraid we are not as good as you. You have this unique ability, and you should make the most of it. How about... we entrust you with overall command?"
Li Xian was taken aback. Ye Cheng smiled and said, "That's right, you have joined the Candle Sect. As a disciple of the Flower Cage Sect, it is indeed insufficient to coordinate so many elders and disciples. But now that you are a disciple of the Candle Sect, things are different."
Li Xian thought to himself, "I only wish to remain unscathed, return to the Water Altar, take Sister Liuli away, and escape all these entanglements. However... given the current situation and circumstances, it would be wishful thinking to leave without getting involved. Taking the initiative to join the fray might offer a better chance of survival." He then said, "I am apprehensive and dare not presume to plan ahead. But if any elders have any instructions, I will inform you immediately."
The elders nodded and chuckled. They all departed, and Li Xian returned to the inn, utterly bewildered. He pondered the events of the day. Hua Wucuo was being pursued by the five major sword sects, the White-Faced Red Bow was known throughout the city, and Wen Caishang was also paying close attention.
Li Xian was quite handsome, and it wouldn't be long before a wanted poster appeared. He was caught in a pincer movement, facing dire straits. The situation was truly indescribable. Li Xian forced himself to remain calm, pacing back and forth, having no good plan for the moment. He could only try to understand the situation first and then seek a change.
The elders of the Flower Cage Sect were utterly incapable of leading or making decisions. Years of indulgence in wine and women had corrupted them, stripping them of their former vigor and leading a life of leisure and complacency. They were unfit for great responsibility, hence the entrustment of their leadership to Li Xian. Each elder was disguised as a merchant, operating in their respective trades, and for the time being, there were no obvious signs of trouble.
Following the investigation, they secretly investigated the matter. Sure enough, progress was made; it turned out the women had all disappeared simultaneously. That day, the five swordsmen met to discuss their alliance. Many wandering martial artists, powerful families, and Lord He Wentian were present to witness this grand event.
Yangshan Sword Sect's "Sword-Forging Elder Xiao Wanjian", Jiushan Sword Sect's "Sword-Leveling Elder Hou Yuande", Hushan Sword Sect's "Sword-Fixing Elder Hu Yueyue", Yueshan Sword Sect's "Sword-Passing Elder Wang Zongheng", and Lishan Sword Sect's "Law Enforcement Elder Duan Yixin".
The meeting of the elders leading various factions was a rare spectacle in the martial arts world, and the atmosphere was extremely harmonious. The five elders swore a blood oath, working together to achieve their goal. The Jieyou Tower celebrated this grand event, and the city lord lit firecrackers, making the city as bright as day that night.
Li Xian was trapped in the cocoon, completely unaware. After the Five Swords Alliance concluded, the various factions took the opportunity to strengthen their bonds and organized a sparring banquet, where the younger generation could display their skills and show their talents. People in their teens, twenties, and thirties all emerged, making it quite a lively event.
The entire Lake Mountain Sword Sect is composed of women, whose swordsmanship is reserved and whose personalities are shy. They are all too embarrassed to display their skills, so an elder suggested: Let's set up another venue for a "Dragon and Phoenix Banquet." The women will attend the Phoenix Banquet, and the men the Dragon Banquet. Each will showcase their talents, and then the dragon and phoenix will sing together to see who is more handsome, the dragon or the phoenix.
The elders all nodded in agreement: "This Dragon and Phoenix Banquet will provoke a battle between dragons and phoenixes, thus breaking down the barriers between sects. Men are like brothers, and women are like sisters. Their competition will surely spark something special, and perhaps a beautiful story will be told."
They readily agreed to divide the banquet into two separate events, the Dragon Banquet and the Phoenix Banquet, to break down the barriers between sects. The Dragon Banquet was extremely lively, with senior and junior disciples of all ages exchanging ideas and comparing the strengths and weaknesses of each sect's swordsmanship. The Phoenix Banquet was filled with beautiful women, their laughter as sweet as spring. Even the shy female disciples, seeing that everyone was like a sister, dared to open their hearts and blend in with the crowd.
When the mood was right, the dragon and phoenix would hold a joint banquet, a contest between them that would surely be a great success. It would not only bring the five factions closer together, but also potentially bring together several perfect couples. However, as the excitement grew, the laughter and conversation at the phoenix banquet gradually subsided.
Once the Dragon Banquet members had recovered their senses, they all went to investigate the Phoenix Banquet. Only the lingering fragrance remained; there wasn't a trace of anyone. They searched everywhere, but found absolutely no clues. Everyone was completely baffled. Although the Phoenix Banquet was a woman, she was known for her many capable women; how could she have disappeared so easily?
The crowd searched aimlessly, and only after a day did they learn that the women of each faction had indeed disappeared. Suspecting the Flower Cage Sect was responsible, they joined forces with City Lord He to seal off the city and launch a massive manhunt for the Flower Cage thieves.
After figuring out the whole story and realizing that it wasn't the Flower Cage Sect's doing, Li Xian recalled Wen Caishang's evaluation of He Wentian and suddenly thought, "The disappearance of the women must be related to City Lord He. He might be the one who did it, but the Flower Cage Sect has such a bad reputation that they're stuck with this blame, and no one will believe their explanations. Oh dear... this black pot has fallen on my head."
“The Lord He is quite renowned and doesn’t seem to be getting involved because of lust. This matter is not easy to handle.”
At a loss, another half day passed. Li Xian, assuming his appearance hadn't been revealed, went out to observe. Soon he heard the sound of galloping hooves; sword sect disciples and city soldiers patrolled the streets, the defenses tight. As Li Xian walked through the bustling market, he suddenly heard a resounding gong, and a crowd gathered towards the notice board.
Li Xian followed the crowd and saw two soldiers pasting portraits on the notice board. There were seven or eight portraits, wanted by Ye Cheng, An Weicheng, Tang Wenshu, Li Jiu, Li Xian, and others. Li Xian's portrait was the most eye-catching. His face only bore a four-tenths resemblance to Li Xian. The brushwork was mediocre and failed to capture the charm of the character, but it was still very handsome, though the red mole between his eyebrows was a distinctive feature.
It turns out... some disciples of the Flower Cage Sect were captured. They were tortured and forced to reveal portraits of other members of the Flower Cage Sect. The portraits of Ye Cheng, An Weicheng, and others only bore a three- or four-point resemblance, making them difficult to identify. Li Xian, however, had distinct features and was instantly recognizable.
In front of the notice board, a group of sword sect disciples gathered, spitting at the portraits and cursing, "These villains, if I catch them, I'll skin them alive!" "These traitors, doing nothing but evil deeds, are maggots in life and wicked ghosts in death. I hope Heaven has eyes and sends down lightning to annihilate them, body and soul." "No, no, no, that's too lenient on them. I should skin them alive, but leave them alive so they can beg on the streets and suffer endless scorn."
Li Xian ignored them, thinking to himself, "They acted quickly. Fortunately, I didn't take off my mask at the Spirit Fox Banquet. But now my reputation should be ruined! Oh well, what use is worldly fame? I only need to be true to myself and have a clear conscience."
The common people and wandering swordsmen cursed incessantly: "That young man is handsome, how could he be so wicked, doing such heinous things?" "They say that appearance reflects the heart, but this is an exception. This boy is a beast in human form and should be killed." "Lord He is brave and extraordinary, he will never let the thief escape. When this thief is caught, his head will surely fall."
Li Xian thought to himself, "The common people are ignorant and don't know the whole story. It's normal for them to curse me; I'm involved with the Flower Cage Sect, so I should have been cursed long ago. But it doesn't matter, let them curse me if they want." He glanced around and saw that there were dozens of sword sect disciples and wandering martial artists. If they left now, it might arouse suspicion. He would have to wait a little longer and disperse with the crowd.
He observed for a moment longer, when suddenly he heard several shouts of "Giddy up!" In the distance, Zhou Shijie, Wang Dezhong, Yang Wentian, Hua Wu, and others rode up, causing a stir among the crowd who quickly made way. Zhou Shijie leaped, using his light-footed skill to hop over the crowd and land in front of the notice board.
Wang Dezhong, Yang Wentian, and Hua Wu dismounted and quickly walked through the crowd, following closely behind. Zhou Shijie exclaimed "Ah!" His gaze fixed on the portrait of Li Xian, utterly astonished. He composed himself, stared intently at it again, and his expression became strange and indescribable.
Wang Dezhong asked, "Brother Zhou, is this thief Hua Wucuo? Many of our senior sisters, junior sisters, and even elders have been captured by this thief!"
Zhou Shijie asked, "Hua Wucuo?" Yang Wentian asked, "Brother Zhou, have you noticed anything suspicious?" Zhou Shijie was silent for a moment, then smiled slightly and said, "There are indeed suspicious points. You're wrong, you're all wrong. This thief is not Hua Wucuo."
The disciples of the Sword Sect, wandering swordsmen, ordinary people, and patrolling guards all looked over. Zhou Shijie laughed and said, "This thief has a red mole between his eyebrows and a handsome face. If these two points are correct, then he is not Hua Wucuo. His real name is 'Li Xian'!"
Yang Wentian asked, "Brother Zhou, do you know this person very well?" Zhou Shijie smiled and said, "Of course. To my shame, this thief is practically a fellow townsman of mine. I studied at the Qiongtianfu Academy since I was a child, and he is also from Qingning County in Qiongtianfu."
Wang Dezhong hurriedly asked, "Brother Zhou, since you say he is Li Xian, why do you also use the pseudonym Hua Wucuo? Is it that you are mistaken, but that you just happen to look alike? Brother Zhou, this matter concerns the reputation of others, so please be extremely careful."
Zhou Shijie was extremely displeased. He flicked his sleeve and snorted coldly, saying indifferently, "If Brother Wang thinks that I, Zhou, am insignificant and my words are not credible, then I will not waste my breath." He then made a move to leave.
Wang Dezhong quickly apologized, saying, "Brother Zhou, it's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding." Yang Wentian said, "Brother Zhou, Brother Wang had no such intention. Please explain in detail. If it's true, you will be greatly rewarded for capturing this thief! If Miss Nianjun can be saved, she will surely remember your kindness and look at you with new respect!"
Zhou Shijie felt a surge of pleasure throughout his body and said, "Good. This thief's real name is Li Xian, a man from Qiongtian. Don't be fooled by his handsome appearance; he is inherently wicked and has a nickname: 'Evil Commander.' He was originally a military officer in Qingning County, but he amassed power, oppressed the people, exploited the locals, and plundered their wealth. He was utterly wicked. I am not at all surprised that someone like him has come to this."
He glanced at Wang Dezhong and said, "If any of you do not believe me, you can go to the prefectural city to investigate. The name of the wicked lieutenant is widely known. Although my luck is not great, I, Zhou Shijie, am not one to speak carelessly."
He spoke with absolute certainty, and everyone believed him, vehemently denouncing and cursing him. Zhou Shijie said, "This man originally had a slight connection with an extremely powerful figure. However, due to his poor talent, he was banished from his side. I think this thief committed too many evils, which greatly affected him, leading him to join the Flower Cage Sect. The Flower Cage Sect is inherently a den of iniquity, making it the perfect place for such vicious thieves. Now that I think about it, it's not surprising."
Wang Dezhong thought to himself, "Judging from Brother Zhou's words, there is a hidden resentment. But it seems to be true."
Zhou Shijie said confidently, "This thief is as cunning as a fox and extremely treacherous, but his strength is quite ordinary. I have fought with this guy before, and I am much stronger than him. If we meet again, I will definitely capture him alive."
Yang Wentian and Wang Dezhong exchanged a glance, both sensing something amiss. However, seeing Zhou Shijie's unwavering confidence, they interrupted him, humiliating him and thus undermining their friendship. Li Xian, hidden among the crowd, found it amusing, thinking to himself, "If we meet again, I'd really like to test our abilities once more."
As the crowd dispersed, Li Xian sneaked back to the inn. He frowned repeatedly; his identity was now exposed. Wen Caishang had disappeared, but given her superior strategy and martial arts skills, she should be safe. Gu Nianjun and Zhou Shijie hadn't attended the Dragon and Phoenix Banquet; Gu Nianjun's disappearance was intriguing.
Chaos reigned, disturbing his mind. All sorts of dangers and perils pointed to him alone. Li Xian drew his green sword, unleashing the 'Sunset Bloodstained Sword,' channeling the 'Wind Breath' through his nose, executing sword moves while simultaneously pondering a way to break the deadlock. Before long, the name 'Li Xian' spread throughout Flying Dragon City, becoming the talk of the town.
Li Xianping had always been cautious and meticulous in concealing his whereabouts. However, his unusual appearance and the red mole that was difficult to hide made him unforgettable whenever they were revealed. The innkeeper, with whom he had once shared the snow beast meat, had already hastily reported him to the authorities. Li Xianping had just escaped his cocoon when he entered another perilous situation; truly, one crisis after another was brewing.
Flying Dragon City was determined to capture Li Xian first, to establish its prestige and boost morale, before proceeding with further investigation, leaving no flower thief unpunished. Flying Dragon City's Major General Yang Xinqiang even boasted that he could capture Li Xian alive within three days.
(End of this chapter)
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