Two-Headed Red Snake 1
"Place your bets! Place your bets! Bet on the left that the Demonic Sect can return to the Central Plains, bet on the right that they can't! Place your bets now!"
"The odds are almost one to one!"
"I don't know what those who bet on the left were thinking."
"I have no idea what those who bet on the right are thinking! Is the Martial Arts Alliance still any good these days?"
"Even if the Martial Alliance is incompetent, it cannot hand over the martial world to the Demonic Sect!"
"Who remembers that three hundred years ago, the Demonic Sect was just a bit unorthodox in its martial arts, but not evil?"
"You're talking nonsense! The Demonic Sect has always acted in ways that defy common sense!"
The two sides at the gambling table were arguing fiercely, each sticking to their own version of events. These people all came from small sects and factions in the martial arts world. Unlike the nine major sects, which were burdened with heavy responsibilities and were tense, they were much more relaxed and had the leisure to start a gambling game for fun.
"Ha. The Demonic Sect has been out of the Central Plains for too long, allowing you lot to be so ungrateful and spout such arrogant words!"
"What did you say?!" The dealer slammed his hand on the table, turned around to yell at him, but immediately backed down when he saw who it was and chickened out.
The newcomers were clearly disciples of the Emei Sect, their robes embroidered with gold thread, a testament to their direct lineage. After the Battle of Xiacheng, few direct descendants of the Emei Sect remained, and each one was a formidable figure renowned throughout the martial world.
not to be trifled.
Xie Mowen, who was drinking tea and watching the play upstairs, glanced at Xiao Congzhi across from him and raised an eyebrow. Xiao Congzhi unfolded his folding fan and fanned himself twice with a slight smile.
With a straightforward personality and a strong sense of justice, he must be Liao Fei, the eldest direct disciple of the Emei Sect.
Liao Fei flicked her black iron whip, causing a violent tremor in the air. The people on both sides of the gambling table scattered in fright, and the dealer clasped his hands together, begging for mercy as he retreated.
"So, you originally planned to turn Emei against your own side?" Xiao Congzhi teased.
Xie Mowen smiled and took a sip of tea: "I really didn't expect that Emei would remain calm after Liao Heyun's death."
"If you ask me, Emei is a tough opponent on Mid-Autumn Festival night."
Xie Mowen frowned, staring at Liao Fei downstairs, seemingly lost in thought. Suddenly, his expression hardened, and without explaining to Xiao Congzhi, he grabbed the railing and jumped down, landing behind Liao Fei.
Liao Fei felt a gust of wind, and before she could turn around, she felt a warm touch on her neck collar.
Xiao Congzhi rubbed his head and sighed helplessly.
Although Xie Mowen was anxious, he still maintained his composure, only extending two fingers to gently pull down Liao Fei's collar, squinting as he looked inside.
Liao Fei was furious. With a flick of her wrist, her long whip, whipped with a strong wind, hurtled towards Xie Mowen.
Xie Mowen hurriedly released his grip, nimbly dodging the attack. Then, he raised one hand and said urgently, "Wait, I..."
But Liao Fei wouldn't give Xie Mowen a chance to speak; her moves were fast and ruthless, each one potentially fatal.
Xie Mowen only dodged and didn't respond, presumably unwilling to reveal his martial arts style. This restraint was even a bit tiring for Xie Mowen. He took advantage of a gap to try to explain: "I apologize for the offense, but I saw something just now and was in a bit of a hurry, so perhaps..."
"Shut up!"
Helpless, Xie Mowen looked up at Xiao Congzhi for help, only to be met with a shrug and a look of helplessness from Xiao Congzhi.
Xie Mowen grabbed the chair leg that had been split in two by the whip and lashed Liao Fei with it. Taking advantage of the force, he flipped upwards and instantly appeared behind Liao Fei.
Liao Fei sensed something was wrong and hurriedly turned around, but Xie Mowen was faster, and it seemed there was no way to avoid the attack...
"Wait a minute!!!" Ji Buyu shouted as he ran, throwing his whisk at Xie Mowen's hand.
Xie Mowen jumped back. Ji Buyu's whisk was also wrapped with internal energy, so he dared not take it.
Ji Buyu looked left and right, puzzled, and asked, "What's wrong?"
"You've come at the right time!" Liao Fei retracted her whip, stood beside Ji Buyu, and said righteously, "Let's bring this lecher to justice together!"
Ji Buyu was stunned. He looked at Xie Mowen with a gaze that seemed to question whether the person in front of him was possessed by something evil.
Xie Mowen touched his nose: "It's a misunderstanding, it's really a misunderstanding."
"What misunderstanding!" Liao Fei shouted angrily, "In broad daylight, putting your hand inside a woman's collar, and you call that a misunderstanding?"
Ji Buyu stared wide-eyed at Xie Mowen, his eyes full of accusation.
Xie Mowen closed his eyes tightly, realizing he had been rude, but the incident had indeed been sudden.
"You two... know each other?" Liao Fei sensed something was amiss in the tense atmosphere.
Ji Buyu bowed and tried to smooth things over: "Yes, it was this man who solved the case of the midnight bell in Anling City a few days ago. I think there must be a misunderstanding."
Liao Fei squinted at Ji Buyu for a while, and after a long pause, she uttered, "A den of snakes and rats."
Ji Buyu: ...
Liao Fei folded her long whip and pointed it at Xie Mowen: "Since we are both martial artists, let's go to the arena and see who is the best. If you beat me, I will allow you to explain."
Xie Mowen dared not go to the arena with Liao Fei, waving his hands to decline: "I certainly don't dare to fight against the chief disciple of Emei."
"Since you know who I am, you've got some nerve. Come on!"
Ji Buyu was getting anxious. He tried to find something to say to stall for time, but he was afraid of being beaten up along with everyone else.
"Very well." Xie Mowen bent down, reached into his boot, took out a long sword, neatly assembled it, then stood up straight, sword tip pointing forward, and said simply, "I am willing to accept your superior skills."
Liao Fei frowned, ready for battle.
At this moment, Xiao Congzhi slowly walked down from upstairs, fanning himself with his black iron folding fan as he calmly approached Liao Fei.
Liao Fei raised her eyebrows arrogantly: "And who are you?"
“My name is Xiao Congzhi. My wife has offended Lady Liao in a bad manner. I apologize on her behalf and hope you will forgive her.”
Liao Fei was stunned, Ji Buyu was dumbfounded, and Xie Mowen silently put the knife away again.
Thanks to Xiao Congzhi, the group managed to avoid seeing a drop of blood and peacefully sat down at a table.
Xiao Congzhi put his arm around Xie Mowen's waist and looked at Liao Fei apologetically.
Ji Buyu felt a pain in his eyes and covered his face, refusing to look at the pair of slutty men.
Liao Fei wasn't that she wasn't angry anymore, but the situation was complicated and she didn't know how to deal with it for a moment.
Xie Mowen nestled comfortably in Xiao Congzhi's arms and explained confidently, "Miss Liao, it was really not intentional. It's just that the curse on your neck is extremely rare."
"What curse?" Liao Fei asked as she reached out to touch the back of her neck.
Ji Buyu turned his head away, wanting to look, but then felt it was inappropriate.
Liao Fei, ever the unpretentious one, took the initiative to pull down her collar and said to Ji Buyu, "Sect Leader Ji, could you please take a look and see if there's anything wrong?"
Ji Buyu then peeked out and asked, "Uh... this is, the moon?"
"What?"
"You have a dark bruise on your neck that looks like a birthmark, shaped like a crescent moon."
Liao Fei frowned and looked at Xie Mowen.
"The Thousand Cuts Under the Full Moon, also known as the Crescent Moon Curse, is actually a special kind of witchcraft and sorcery," Xie Mowen slowly explained. "A crescent-shaped mark will appear on the body of the person affected by the curse. The mark will match the moon, from crescent to full moon. On the day of the full moon, it will be as if the person has been cut a thousand times and will die."
Xiao Congzhi's expression grew increasingly solemn. Upon hearing Xie Mowen's words, he also recalled seeing this witchcraft technique in a book, which was said to have been lost for a long time.
Ji Buyu and Liao Fei were momentarily stunned. How could Yue Manqiandao be about to die?
Xie Mowen continued, "This technique is insidious. First, it is difficult to detect before it takes effect. Second,... this technique is almost unsolvable, and it should have been lost for a long time."
"Then... how should we solve this?" Ji Buyu asked.
Xie Mowen shook his head and looked at Liao Fei seriously, asking, "Although it is extremely ruthless, it is not easy to successfully cast this spell. It requires getting close to you to plant the poison."
"You mean the caster is in Emei?"
"Or who you've been in contact with recently."
After Xie Mowen finished speaking, he glanced at Xiao Congzhi. To be honest, they both had a guess in their hearts, but they couldn't say it out loud.
Liao Fei was silent for a moment, then asked decisively, "What is the solution?"
"Legend has it that there is a two-headed red snake with one blue eye and one gold eye, which can cure all poisons in the world."
Liao Fei sneered: "A legend? It's the heavens that are going to destroy me."
Xie Mowen and Xiao Congzhi said nothing more, and Ji Buyu, unsure how to comfort them, stood frozen with his hand raised.
The atmosphere was a little cold for a moment, but Liao Fei quickly regained her composure.
She stood up, bowed to the group, and said magnanimously, "Although it is an incurable poison, I thank Young Hero Mo for informing me. Please forgive my impulsiveness just now. Now that I only have a few days left to live, I must hurry up and make proper arrangements for Emei."
Xie Mowen pursed his lips, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
Liao Fei laughed loudly, then turned and left.
After Liao Fei walked away, Ji Buyu leaned on the table and asked anxiously, "Are you really out of ideas?"
"What do you take the Demonic Sect for?"
"But you know this technique."
“My Demonic Sect’s Left Protector is skilled in witchcraft, and I have been exposed to it from a young age. However…” Xie Mowen hesitated, “I can ask him, but Brother Ji, I shouldn’t get involved in the internal strife of other sects.”
He is the leader of the Demonic Sect, not a true wandering swordsman. To help Liao Fei cure the poison, he must first investigate the matter thoroughly. This matter must involve internal disputes within the Emei Sect. What would it look like if he stepped into it? Not to mention, there is no profit to be gained from this matter.
Ji Buyu stared at Xie Mowen with a sullen face for a while, then finally nodded slightly and said nothing more.
After saying goodbye to Ji, Xie and Xiao got up and returned to the inn.
"Thank you for your help earlier." Xie Mowen was referring to Xiao Congzhi's assistance in resolving the situation.
Xiao Congzhi hooked Xie Mowen's finger and asked, "Are you really not going to get involved in this?"
"With only four days left until the Mid-Autumn Festival, as the leader of the sect, I cannot allow any unforeseen complications to arise."
“I can ask Shen Yan to find someone to help investigate.”
"The court is in chaos right now. Your people should act as your eyes and ears and keep an eye on things for you. Don't waste their time."
Xiao Congzhi pulled Xie Mowen by the shoulder and gently hugged him, his lips brushing against Xie Mowen's ear as he breathed hot air, commenting, "Considerate of the consequences."
“Yes…” Xie Mowen hugged Xiao Congzhi back, stroked his long, soft black hair, and patted it gently. After a moment of silence, he continued, “I will find someone to remind Liao Fei to pay attention to Liao Hetong. As for the others, let them fend for themselves.”
In the martial arts world, life and death are commonplace, and no one should linger or worry about anyone else's life or death.
Xie Mowen made a harsh statement, but in the end, he was willing to go to the trouble of doing one more step...
Xiao Congzhi raised his hand and placed it on Xie Mowen's heart, smiling faintly: "It is because of your compassion that Ji Buyu and the others are willing to believe you."
"..."
"And me too."
Xie Mowen was taken aback, then laughed, gently rubbing Xiao Congzhi's eye with his fingertips, showing great interest.
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