The carriage stopped behind a large mansion. Two warriors dressed as servants immediately came forward and respectfully lifted the curtain.
" This... seems to be the rear courtyard of some powerful noble..."
Listening to the faint clamor coming from the front residence, Fang Yuan nodded to himself.
He had already been impressed by the Five Ghosts Gate's methods for planting hidden agents, but now it seemed that Gui Ling Sect truly deserved its reputation as an established power capable of standing on equal footing with them. Their arrangements in this regard were no less impressive.
"This is Gui Ling Sect's secret base here. Apart from our own warriors, you're the very first guest, Young Master Fang!"
Lin Leyue smiled sweetly and led the way.
After passing through several small gates, they came to a garden, laid out with elegant taste. Though winter had yet to loosen its grip, a faint hint of life was already stirring beneath the surface.
Beside a jade-green pond stood a goateed warrior, practicing Eagle Claw.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Each time he struck out with his claws, currents of air churned and wailed, as though stirring the spring waters of a pond.
"Old Yu!"
Lin Leyue greeted him as if in passing, but Fang Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Wasn't this the Cold-faced Iron Eagle, Yu Qiuleng—the man who had gone into the mountains with Steward Lin and forced him to break off his engagement?
Back then, Fang Yuan had thought the man's Martial Arts unfathomably deep. Now, though, he seemed no more than average.
His Eagle Claw seemed weaker than Fang Yuan's own.
"Hmm. And you are?"
Yu Qiuleng gave Lin Leyue a slight nod. As he looked at Fang Yuan, the young man seemed vaguely familiar. His brows furrowed, then his eyes suddenly brightened as he