After Su Chen and Captain Xing left the inn, they found a roadside tavern and stayed there, quietly watching the movements at Liu Manor.
"Lu Bai and the others refused to do business with me. For now, I can only place my hopes on Liu Zhengfeng."
Su Chen thought silently, hoping the three Mount Song craftsmen would prove useful and drive Liu Zhengfeng into a corner, making it easier for him to name his price.
About half an hour later, Tingsong Pavilion returned to silence.
The room was filled with the heavy scent of hawthorn blossoms.
Without saying a word, Lu Bai and the other two quietly pulled up their trousers.
An atmosphere known as awkwardness spread through the room.
Although they had all engaged in such traditional handiwork in private,
doing it in front of others—especially their fellow martial brothers—was a first.
The three of them were all figures of some standing in the martial world.
This incident had thoroughly ruined their reputations.
Fortunately, only the three of them knew about it, so they had preserved at least a little dignity.
After a long silence, Ding Mian spoke first. "Junior brothers, what happened today stays buried in our stomachs. Not one word is to leave this room."
Lu Bai and Fei Bin both nodded silently.
It was hardly something glorious. Naturally, they were not so bored as to spread this sort of thing everywhere.
"That bastard is truly hateful. He actually used such despicable methods as aphrodisiacs to frame us. I will find him and tear him to pieces to ease the hatred in my heart!" Fei Bin said bitterly, raising his sword and cleaving the table before him in two.
They did not know that Su Chen had used arousing true qi, and believed they had been drugged with aphrodisiacs.
Ding Mian and Lu Bai wore equally vicious expressions.
What had happened today was a monstrous humiliation. If they did not take revenge, how could they continue to show their faces in the martial world?
"Killing that bastard is certain," Ding Mian said, his expression turning serious. "But there is something I am worried about."
"I am very curious. How did he learn that we intended to wipe out Liu Zhengfeng's entire family?"
Fei Bin guessed, "Could there be a traitor in the sect?"
"Impossible." Lu Bai immediately refuted him. "This matter is of great importance. Only Senior Brother Sect Leader and the few of us know about it. Even the other Taibao are unaware."
"If so, how could there be a traitor? Was it you, or me? Or Senior Brother Ding? It could not possibly be Senior Brother Sect Leader, could it?"
At those words, Fei Bin had nothing more to say.
In truth, he knew there could not be a traitor. He had merely said it offhand.
"Now is not the time to argue over whether there is a traitor." Ding Mian's expression darkened. "What worries me most is whether Liu Zhengfeng knows about this."
"If he does and makes preparations, our operation is highly likely to fail."
"How will we explain ourselves to Senior Brother Sect Leader then?"
Hearing this, Lu Bai and Fei Bin both felt their hearts tighten.
Though they were among the Thirteen Taibao of Songshan, if the operation failed, Zuo Lengchan would not spare them any dignity.
"Senior brother, I think Liu Zhengfeng probably does not know. Otherwise, he would likely have brought men to kill us already," Fei Bin guessed.
Ding Mian sighed. "Let us hope so."
Lu Bai added, "Whether Liu Zhengfeng knows or not, the arrow is already on the string. There can be no stopping now."
"Therefore, we can only be even more cautious and ensure success in a single battle."
The three nodded together, the vicious gleam in their eyes growing stronger.
At noon, everything in Liu Manor had been prepared, and heroes of the martial world from every side had arrived.
The Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony officially began!
As the central figure of the ceremony, Liu Zhengfeng had specially changed into new clothes. He entered the courtyard and clasped his hands in greeting to the various martial companions.
"Thank you all, friends of the martial world, for honoring me with your presence at Liu's Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony."
"When Liu traveled the martial world in the past, I relied greatly on the consideration of all my friends."
"Though Liu is retiring from the martial world today, if any of you need anything, please do not hesitate to speak. I dare not claim much else, but I can still offer some financial support."
After finishing this customary exchange of pleasantries, Liu Zhengfeng ordered someone to bring over a golden basin and fill it with water. Just as he was about to wash his hands,
a thunderous shout suddenly came from the direction of the main gate. "Martial Uncle Liu, please wait!"
Liu Zhengfeng was startled and looked toward the gate.
He saw four men in yellow robes stride into the courtyard, then split into two groups and stood on either side.
Immediately afterward, a taller man strode proudly between them.
The man held a five-colored banner high in his hand.
No one present was unfamiliar with that banner. It was the Command Flag of Zuo Lengchan, leader of the Five Great Sword Sects.
"Martial Uncle Liu, I am Shi Denda, a Mount Song disciple. By order of Alliance Leader Zuo, I have come to deliver a message. Please postpone your Golden Basin Hand-washing for the time being," the flag-bearing man shouted.
Hearing this, Liu Zhengfeng's heart trembled.
He instinctively recalled what Su Chen had told him before.
Zuo Lengchan of Mount Song wants to stop your Golden Basin Hand-washing and wipe out your entire family.
Could everything Lord Su said have been true? Is Zuo Lengchan really planning to destroy my entire family?
At that thought, Liu Zhengfeng was immediately frightened, and an inexplicable panic rose in his heart.
Just then, Shi Denda's voice rang out again. "Martial Uncle Liu, please accept the Command Flag at once."
Liu Zhengfeng came back to himself, suppressed the panic in his heart, and looked at Shi Denda. "Nephew Shi, what is Senior Brother Zuo's intention in issuing this order?"
A slight tremor entered his voice. The lives of more than a hundred people in Liu Manor were at stake; he could not help but panic.
Shi Denda replied, "This disciple is merely carrying out orders. I do not know my master's intentions. I hope Martial Uncle Liu will forgive me."
Liu Zhengfeng's expression shifted as he continuously weighed the pros and cons.
After a long while, he looked at Shi Denda again and said solemnly, "Please forgive Liu for being unable to accept the order. When the Five Great Sword Sects formed their alliance, we agreed to aid one another in attack and defense. In the event of major matters, we should naturally follow Alliance Leader Zuo's command. But today is Liu's private affair and has nothing to do with the greater good of the martial world."
"Please inform Alliance Leader Zuo that Liu will not obey the Command Flag."
With that, Liu Zhengfeng turned back toward the golden basin, preparing to continue washing his hands.
But at that moment, Shi Denda flashed forward and, while Liu Zhengfeng was not paying attention, blocked the golden basin.
Holding the Command Flag high, he said, "Martial Uncle Liu, please delay the Golden Basin Hand-washing. Do not make things difficult for this disciple."
Having been obstructed again and again, Liu Zhengfeng also sensed that something was amiss.
Recalling Su Chen's earlier words, he grew increasingly uneasy.
At the same time, atop the roof of Liu Manor, in a place no one had noticed,
Su Chen and Captain Xing were quietly crouched there, watching everything unfold in the courtyard.
"The show is about to begin," Su Chen said with a low laugh.
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