Chapter 76: Clues Emerge and Find Allies
Inside the Lotus Tower, the aroma of medicine filled the air, but it couldn't suppress the tense feeling of impending storm.
Di Feisheng's shoulder wound had been carefully bandaged by the Medicine Demon, but his internal energy had been depleted, and with new wounds still to come, his face remained pale. He didn't rest in bed, but instead, forcing himself to endure the pain, he sat quietly in front of Li Lianhua's couch.
Li Lianhua fell into a coma under the effects of the drug, yet a faint trace of struggle occasionally crossed his brow, as if even in his slumber, his imprisoned soul still battled against the Mother Ghost's control. Di Feisheng's gaze never left his face, a complex interweaving of deep pain, cherished lost and regained, and a hint of vigilance. His knuckles unconsciously rubbed the hilt of the sword at his waist, his presence emanating a cold, poised intensity. He was waiting, waiting for Fang Duobing to return from Tianji Villa with crucial information that would determine their next move.
Wuyan stood solemnly to the side, whispering reports on the investigation of the Rama Ding and the recent unusual movements within the Wansheng Dao. Di Feisheng listened carefully, occasionally issuing brief instructions. His voice, hoarse from injury, still carried an unquestionable decisiveness. He knew full well that Jiao Liqiao and Shan Gudao would never give up, and the next storm could strike at any moment.
At the same time, Fang Duobing rushed back to Tianji Villa.
He went straight to his mother He Xiaohui, dismissed his attendants, and laid out the current serious situation to her - Jiao Liqiao's mind-controlling magic, Shan Gudao was still alive and might be in control of the key "mother ghost", and the only hope of rescuing Li Lianhua was to find and destroy the mother ghost.
He Xiaohui's face was grave upon hearing this. She told Fang Duobing that Shan Gudao was his biological father. Fang Duobing had already heard about this, but hearing it from his mother was still a shock. But his only hope now was to find his mother and rescue Li Lianhua.
Without any hesitation, He Xiaohui immediately demonstrated the courage of the head of Tianji Hall and activated the villa's most core intelligence network and agency detection system.
He Xiaohui personally took Fang Duobing into the forbidden library of the villa, and checked all the ancient records about Nan Yin's secret techniques, Rama Ding and the Karma Fire Demon, trying to find the weakness of the Demon Demon or the specific plan that Shan Gudao might use it to achieve.
All the secret spies deployed by Tianji Villa in various places in the martial arts world were activated, focusing on guarding against any abnormal movements of Wansheng Dao, Jiao Liqiao's confidants and any forces that might be involved with Shan Gudao, especially personnel transfers, material flows and secret gatherings.
The disciples of the villa who are good at mechanical arts were summoned to analyze the characteristics of the place where Shan Gudao might hide the mother ghost (such as the need for coldness, the need for specific formations to protect, etc.), and try to develop special equipment that can detect or interfere with the fluctuations of ghost magic from a long distance.
As he planned all this, Fang Duobing looked at his mother's calm and resolute profile, a surge of warmth in his heart, yet also a touch of complexity. He whispered, "Thank you, Mom. And... I only recognize the Fang family, only you and my father."
He Xiaohui turned around and patted the back of his hand lovingly, her eyes filled with relief and a hint of barely perceptible sadness. "Xiaobao, you've grown up. The right path lies in the heart, not in the blood. You will always be your mother's good son and a good son of the Fang family. Do what you believe is right. Tianji Villa will always have your back."
A few days later, preliminary intelligence from Tianji Villa was sent to Lianhua Tower through special channels.
Fang Duobing's letter mentioned that the investigation had yielded some clues: Shan Gu Dao was indeed active in secret, his goal seemingly extending far beyond dominating the martial arts world. He might even leverage the power of Mu Qi to target imperial power! Mu Qi's hiding place was likely connected to a deeply cold and yin dragon vein. Shan Gu Dao was secretly mobilizing forces, seemingly planning a large-scale operation. Tianji Villa was still diligently tracking down the specific location.
After Di Feisheng finished reading the letter, his eyes suddenly turned cold. He walked to the window and looked out at the gloomy sky in the distance, clutching the letter tightly in his hand.
"Shan Gudao...your ambitions are indeed more than just this."
He looked back at Li Lianhua who was sleeping on the couch, and his determination to destroy the mother's evil and save his lover at all costs became even stronger.
A few days later, Fang Duobing was ordered to enter the palace, where the emperor planned to grant Fang Duobing a marriage with the princess. Fang Duobing agreed to enter the palace to cultivate his relationship with Princess Zhaoling, but in reality, he was trying to find out the whereabouts of Shan Gudao and Mu Xi.
Fang Duobing settled into his assigned residence within the palace, outwardly observing etiquette, spending his days with the princess practicing calligraphy and appreciating flowers, playing the role of a would-be consort. Princess Zhaoling was intelligent and quick-witted, and curious about Fang Duobing's adventures in the martial arts world, and the two of them got along well. However, Fang Duobing remained wary, observing the palace's layout and personnel movements at every opportunity, especially keeping an eye out for any signs that might connect him to Shan Gu Dao or the Wansheng Dao.
In the dead of night, Fang Duobing donned his nightgown and, like a shadow, slipped deep into the palace. Evading patrolling guards, he used his exceptional martial arts skills and the knowledge of mechanical devices he'd acquired at Tianji Villa to investigate several suspicious cold palaces, abandoned palaces, and the vicinity of the imperial archives. During one nighttime exploration, which narrowly avoided detection by Imperial guards, he stumbled upon a monk under the Imperial Master's command, whose movements were elusive, often frequenting a secluded palace near the imperial ancestral hall late at night.
Fang Duobing secretly followed the scene and discovered that the palace, while seemingly ordinary, bore subtle traces of formations and subtle guards. Recalling the ancient texts of Tianji Villa, which stated that the Nan Yin secret technique required specific terrain or dragon energy for nourishment, he suspected this location might be connected to Mu Qi's hiding place. Meanwhile, during a casual conversation with an old eunuch, he inquired about the palace legend of the previous dynasty's "Jile Pagoda"—said to have a well hidden somewhere, rather than a tower.
Princess Zhaoling, a perceptive and perceptive woman, gradually realized that Fang Duobing seemed to have a deeper concern than simply seeking a marriage. On one occasion, while Fang Duobing was strolling near the suspicious palace grounds, he was "accidentally" encountered by the princess. Rather than confronting him, the princess tactfully shielded him, hinting, "Young Master Fang, some areas of the palace may appear peaceful, but beneath the surface lie swirling, treacherous vortexes. Excessive curiosity isn't always a good thing." Fang Duobing realized the princess might know something, or perhaps was subtly warning him of danger.
Shan Gudao and his cronies had been operating within the palace for years, possessing numerous spies. Despite Fang Duobing's cautious investigation, they might have alerted him. One day, while returning to his residence, Fang Duobing was ambushed by a masked master! The master's martial arts were uncanny, neither Buddhist nor Taoist, and his brutal moves clearly indicated his demise. Using his swordsmanship, Fang Duobing fought back, but sustained minor injuries. This convinced him that he had touched upon the core secret, and the enemy was ready to fight.
After the attack, Fang Duobing realized that he couldn't accomplish his goal alone, and the princess's ambiguous attitude suggested she might be a potential target. He decided to take the risk of revealing part of the truth to her, hoping to gain her understanding or even assistance. The princess, having lived in the inner sanctum of the palace for a long time, was far more knowledgeable about its secrets and the movements of its personnel than he was. Her assistance would undoubtedly be a significant advantage. However, he also placed the princess in danger, leaving him with a conflicted mind.
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