Taking millet from the fire
Ah Qiu was immediately speechless.
Fortunately, Shangguan Yuqi did not press the matter further, but simply said, "The person has arrived."
He asked in surprise, "How could it be this villain?"
A-Qiu had already put his ear close to the brass pipe and heard Hulü Guang's familiar voice coming from inside.
He smiled casually and said, "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, young lady."
At first, A Qiu didn't react, but then she immediately realized: Zhongli Wuyan had never shown her true face to anyone, always covering her face with a heavy veil, and if you only looked at her figure, you would think she was a young girl.
This also shows that Hulü Guang did not know who the visitor was, otherwise he would never have called her "Miss".
A Qiu had another thought: he didn't even know that the person he was meeting was one of the legendary Four Constellations of Tianji in the Southern Dynasty's martial arts world. If he had known anything about them, he wouldn't have blurted out "Miss," because no matter which of the Four Constellations came, they couldn't possibly be a young woman in terms of seniority.
Zhongli Wuyan's coquettish laughter rang out, "That can't be helped. Your Highness, your men have been following me all the way here, and only now did they know I would come here. Your Highness can only come after receiving intelligence from your men and confirming the location, so naturally it takes a little longer."
A Qiu immediately understood: it turned out that Huli Guang did not know that Zhongli Wuyan would think of Narcissus Tower after receiving the letter. He simply sent the letter into the palace and then sent people outside the palace to observe and follow who would react and where they would go. That person was undoubtedly the one agreed to by Shuanghua Teng.
From this, we can infer that Hulü Guang was not a successor of Mo Yi Bi Shuang Shuang Hua Tang, but he must have known about the Shuang Hua Teng Pact from somewhere, which is why he was so bold as to impersonate a member of Shuang Hua Tang to test who would fulfill the pact.
For him, this was a risk-free business, a sure-fire way to make money. If he failed, he would suffer no loss; if he succeeded, he could take the opportunity to co-opt several factions within the Southern Dynasty and stir up trouble from within before the great war. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
This is also very much in line with his personality and style, which is that he is highly skilled and daring, and loves to take risks and snatch chestnuts from the fire.
Unfortunately, he was facing the senior Tianji Sisu. He hadn't even figured out Zhongli Wuyan's whereabouts when she exposed his background and how she had tracked him all the way to determine his location. With just this one trick, he had already lost before the battle even started.
A Qiu was initially worried that Zhongli Wuyan would be deceived and suffer losses, but now she was greatly relieved. The Four Constellations of Tianji had spent forty years in the palace; they were not easily fooled.
Hulü Guang paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "This is probably our first meeting. I'm curious, how did you know my identity at first glance?"
Zhongli Wuyan clearly had no intention of revealing her identity, allowing him to continue the misunderstanding. She smiled and said, "The people who were tracking me were using Hu martial arts. Although there are occasionally experts in the Southern Dynasty who are proficient in Hu martial arts, it is rare for them to mobilize such a large number of people just to track down one person. Your Highness has recently arrived in Jianzhang and is very famous. Who doesn't know you? Who else but His Highness Prince Ning could command so many Northern Qiang experts?"
Hulü Guang's voice became increasingly warm and gentle, as he said, "I never expected that not only is the young lady exceptionally skilled in martial arts, but she is also remarkably intelligent. She is truly a wonderful surprise that I have found out of nowhere since I arrived in the Southern Dynasty."
Ah Qiu thought to himself, "Here we go again!"
But then Shangguan Yuqi frowned and asked, "What is he trying to do by touching me like that?"
A Qiu thought to herself, "Could this person be so foolish as to dare to mess with Zhongli Wuyan?"
Immediately, a cry of pain was heard from Hulü Guang. Several footsteps rushed into the room, and someone asked, "Your Highness, are you injured?"
Immediately following was a series of "clattering" sounds as weapons were drawn.
At the same time, there was a loud "thud," indicating that a vessel had been kicked over.
A Qiu had a bad feeling and immediately felt the urge to go in and help.
Zhongli Wuyan's cheerful voice rang out, "For Lady Huachi's sake, I'll spare your arm. Since you used this incense burner against me, then we'll consider our debt to Lady Huachi settled. I'll spare your life, Your Highness, and Lady Huachi's debt will be wiped clean. From now on, we'll be even. How about that?"
A Qiu then realized that Hulü Guang had resorted to his old tricks again, intending to use a sleeping potion on Zhongli Wuyan, but Zhongli Wuyan saw through it at a glance and destroyed the incense burner.
Zhongli Wuyan was also quite capable. Within just two sentences of meeting, she had completely eliminated Hulü Guang's attempt to use the Frost Vine Agreement to blackmail the Four Constellations of Heaven.
Hulü Guang smiled bitterly and said, "I only have feelings of admiration for you, why are you so heartless, young lady?" He added, "Your martial arts level is so profound that I have never seen anything like it in my life. For someone of your stature to rely on Lady Huachi's favor, it seems that my late master greatly misjudged you."
Zhongli Wuyan said, "Oh? Your Highness is actually a disciple of Lady Huachi? I didn't know that Lady Huachi had taken you as a student before she crossed the Yangtze River to the south. Is she still well?"
Ah Qiu thought to herself that while Hulü Guang was adept at provoking, Zhongli Wuyan was no pushover either. In truth, apart from the previous generation of the Flying Phoenix Guards and Xie Lang, no one knew the fate of Mo Yi Bishuang. The Four Constellations of Heaven were only responsible for the Emperor's safety and didn't delve too deeply into the changes in the court and the fates of other figures, so they wouldn't know Mo Yi Bishuang's ending. But Zhongli Wuyan's question was a gamble that Hulü Guang also didn't know Mo Yi Bishuang's current situation.
Hulü Guang sighed dramatically and said, "Thank you for your concern, Miss. My late master passed away more than ten years ago, but before he died, he wrote me a letter instructing me to come to the Southern Dynasty to visit her elders and old friends. He said that if I needed anything, I could ask them for help."
He then tentatively asked, "Judging from your young age, you must be here on behalf of your elders to fulfill an old promise?"
Zhongli Wuyan's laughter rang out like silver bells as she said, "That's none of your concern, Your Highness's business. You came here with ill intentions, which greatly violates the principles of Lady Huachi's lineage, and I'm afraid you may not even be her successor. But now that I've shown myself here, what do you want? Why don't you tell me?"
A Qiu secretly praised Zhongli Wuyan for being able to attack or defend, leaving herself ample room for maneuver.
She must have noticed something fishy about Hulü Guang, this imposter of the Shuanghua Hall's successor, but she didn't explicitly refuse him, precisely because she wanted to see what Hulü Guang's true intentions were.
Ultimately, since Hulü Guang had lured her out, he would never let her go back easily. She had been followed all the way, and Rong Yuexian had said before entering the alley that there were also people watching this place, which must be those so-called Yan Yun Sixteen Riders that Hulü Guang had brought.
It would be better to throw out bait first, wait for him to reveal his true colors, and then act accordingly.
Hulü Guang was indeed speechless for a moment, and then said, "Actually, that promise was made more than ten years ago. I came here on my master's orders this time, and I do not necessarily intend to take back the promise. My greatest wish is simply to make friends with the descendants of the Frost Vine Alliance. There is an old saying in the Central Plains: 'To meet is to be destined.' I wonder if you think so, young lady?"
A Qiu thought to himself that this person had come again. He knew that his position as the successor of "Frosty Vine Covenant" was not secure, and he was also afraid of Zhongli Wuyan's strict questioning, so he avoided the main issue and changed it to "making friends". He was quite good at changing his tune according to the wind.
Zhongli Wuyan smiled and said, "Alright, since Your Highness has come all this way just to make friends, then let's be friends. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
Judging from the noise, she immediately got up as if to leave.
Even Shangguan Yuqi, who couldn't hear very clearly, showed a look of bewilderment.
Zhongli Wuyan's move of retreating to advance was brilliant, forcing Hulü Guang to abandon his "desireless" demeanor.
As expected, Hulü Guang paused for a moment. It seemed that even with his hypocrisy, he was stunned by the "Purple-Clad Immortal's" shrewdness and decisiveness. He could only smile and say, "To be honest, young lady, I have come here to bother you with two requests."
Zhongli Wuyan looked down at her and said, "Then tell us. Let's see if we can do it."
In fact, Hulü Guang's curiosity about Zhongli Wuyan had reached its peak at this moment. This woman was not only extremely skilled in martial arts, but also extremely shrewd and worldly in her words and actions. Since they met, she had not only not been at a disadvantage, but had even firmly held the upper hand, with the initiative completely in her hands.
He had only ever seen this kind of cunning tactic—leading the other party by the nose without leaving a trace—in his teacher, Mo Yi Bi Shuang.
Hulü Guang let out a deep sigh and had no choice but to lay his cards on the table: "The first thing I need is for you to guarantee my safety in Jianzhang."
He then tentatively asked, "Girl, your skills are so high. Your sect must be a major martial arts family in the Southern Dynasty. It shouldn't be difficult for you to achieve this, right?"
Ah Qiu thought to himself, "So this Huli Guang does know how to be afraid of death."
He caused so much trouble in Jianzhang, and many people hate him to the bone, but not everyone can remain calm and patient until war breaks out.
Although he still has remnants of his Yan Yun Sixteen Riders protecting him, and possibly members of the Hidden Moon Clan as well, it would be best to have the protection of a local martial arts family in the Southern Dynasty.
However, his question completely exposed that he was completely unaware that the person invited was the senior master Tianji Sisu, and that he was still trying to guess which martial arts family or clan the woman in front of him came from.
If it was truly Mo Yi Bi Shuang who sent him, she certainly wouldn't have kept these people's identities a secret from him, allowing him to make baseless accusations here.
Mo Yimingyue, for example, was well aware of the relationship between Luoyufang and Mo Yi Bishuang from the very beginning.
By this point, Zhongli Wuyan probably already knew what was going on, and said with a charming smile, "This is indeed a small matter for us..."
Before he could finish speaking, heavy footsteps burst in, and someone groaned, "Your Highness, all nine of us guarding outside were ambushed. I lost an arm and barely escaped with my life." Judging from the voice, it was none other than Night Owl, who had escaped from Bifu Pavilion that day.
A Qiu knew that Rong Yuexian must have struck first and dealt with the group of Northern Qiang experts. As a result, Hulü Guang's Yan Yun Sixteen Riders were now scattered and few could be gathered together. This also served as a stern warning to him, preventing him from using the same trick again and harming Zhongli Wuyan.
Hulü Guang's face was extremely ugly. He turned to Zhongli Wuyan and said in a deep voice, "Miss, what is the meaning of this?"
Zhongli Wuyan, with her keen observation skills, had already guessed most of what was going on. She smiled and said, "We promised to protect Your Highness in Jianzhang, and we will not go back on our word. But we are only protecting Your Highness, not your subordinates. Furthermore, if Your Highness deliberately puts yourself in danger to plot against others, we cannot guarantee that."
Hearing the rustling of her clothes, she must have stood up. He smiled and said, "The prince sent men to follow me first, intending to use a sleeping potion on me. No matter who it is outside, it would not be too much to deal with your subordinates. And someone like you is someone the Southern Dynasty's martial arts world can afford to offend. Farewell, and take care of yourself."
Hulü Guang must have been torn between his conscience and his own will. After a moment, he said, "Wait!"
Zhongli Wuyan smiled and said, "Does Your Highness want to go back on your word? I'm afraid even with three arms, you and your subordinates couldn't stop me." This was a veiled insult to Ye Xiao, who now only had one arm left to use.
Hulü Guang said in a deep voice, "The young king only mentioned his first request just now."
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