Sudden Change

Chu Qing clutched the bowl in his hand, feeling as though he were holding a land mine.

He recognized this bowl... It had been sitting in front of him outside the teahouse when he'd been disguised as a beggar.

Chu Fan had even tossed some silver into it.

Afterward, once he'd accepted the mission to assassinate the Iron Horse Seven Heroes, he'd been too busy running around killing people.

When the dust had finally settled, he realized the bowl was gone.

He hadn't given it much thought, though. It had only been a one-use prop.

He'd never disguised himself as a beggar again after that, so he'd paid it even less attention.

But... he'd never dreamed that this shabby bowl would end up in Junior Sister Wen's hands!

And why was she giving it to me?

Back at the teahouse, he'd already felt that something was strange about Junior Sister Wen.

Why had she offered him tea for no reason, then stared at him... as if she had something seriously wrong with her?

And now, just like that, the bowl had been returned to its rightful owner.

What had she found out? Had she realized he was the beggar?

Or did she simply want a servant to throw the bowl away?

As these thoughts raced through his mind, he felt an urge to pull Junior Sister Wen aside and question her.

But in a place like this, he obviously couldn't do that.

If Chu Fan were the only one here, that would be one thing. It wouldn't matter if his identity was exposed... But if Wu Qianhuan found out he was the runaway groom, the consequences would be impossible to predict.

A flurry of thoughts flashed through Chu Qing's mind, and he reacted with just the right degree of surprise.

For him, acting came as naturally as muscle memory.

At the same time, all sorts of ways to respond flooded into his mind.

He was just about to speak when Junior Sister Wen, looking as if nothing had happened, returned to her seat.

That was it?

Chu Qing stared blankly, feeling as though he'd thrown a punch at empty air.

He swallowed all the follow-up moves he'd prepared.

"What's with Junior Sister Wen? What is she up to?"

Chu Qing's mind felt a little muddled... After all, he couldn't imagine that some people made a habit of picking up all kinds of strange things.

Like the carrying pole he'd thought he'd hidden so well.

Still, seeing that Junior Sister Wen made no further moves, he felt relieved.

As long as she kept her cool, that was enough. Once today was over, even if she really had figured something out, it wouldn't matter. By then, he might not even be in Heavenly Dance City anymore.

Thinking of this, he relaxed a little and looked up at Chu Fan and Tang Xi, who were sparring.

There was no need to mention Chu Fan. The Book of Unchanging Heaven of the Taiyi Sect was unfathomably profound; the Tai Yi Divine Palm achieved the greatest effects with the simplest movements, and the Tai Yi Divine Fist could overcome ten techniques with sheer power. Combined with Chu Fan's innate strength, ordinary opponents stood no chance against him.

Though Tang Xi was the young hall master of Luoyu Hall, he was steadily driven back in their match.

Chu Qing noticed, though, that Tang Xi didn't look flustered despite being at a disadvantage. Even when Chu Fan forced him back again and again, making him look panicked, Chu Qing could tell at a glance, as someone skilled in acting, that there was an element of performance in that alarm.

"Does he have something up his sleeve? Does he not take Chu Fan seriously?"

Chu Qing raised an eyebrow, finding it a little baffling.

Tang Xi was holding back, but Chu Fan wasn't going all out either.

What made him think he could afford to underestimate Chu Fan?

And besides... Deputy Hall Master Liu Shijie of Luoyu Hall was connected to the Iron Horse Seven Bandits. So where did this young hall master stand in Heavenly Dance City?

As Chu Qing was thinking this, Chu Fan and Tang Xi had already decided the match.

With a loud bang, the two men separated.

Tang Xi staggered back four or five steps before shaking out his hand and grinning through the pain.

"Big Brother Chu Fan really is formidable. Your Tai Yi Divine Fist lives up to its reputation. I admit defeat."

"You were gracious, Young Hall Master. Your martial arts are exquisite as well. If we have the time, we should spar again."

Chu Fan's words were far less harsh than before.

Wu Qianhuan smiled at the sight.

"Second Brother Chu, you're underestimating Young Hall Master Tang, aren't you?

"You should know that Luoyu Hall arrived in Heavenly Dance City only three short years ago. It rose from obscurity to what it is today.

"The young hall master comes from a distinguished martial family. I doubt his skills are any inferior to yours, Second Brother Chu."

As she spoke, she rose and drew the long sword from the maid beside her.

"Your little sister has recently learned a sword technique and would like to ask you both for some pointers."

Without giving Chu Fan or Tang Xi a chance to respond, she turned and moved, her figure blurring as she darted between them.

Her sword flashed first, stabbing straight toward Chu Fan's heart.

Chu Fan froze. He hadn't expected Wu Qianhuan to attack without warning, giving him no chance to react.

If anyone else had acted like that, Chu Fan wouldn't have let it slide.

But because of Chu Qing, he felt guilty toward Wu Qianhuan. His first instinct was to dodge.

Wu Qianhuan seemed to have anticipated that Chu Fan would react this way. She turned her sword, and one blade became three. Green plum blossoms danced like flowers opening beneath the blazing sun.

In an instant, they covered the vital points across Tang Xi's chest.

The sword technique was beautiful, but its killing intent ran even deeper.

Tang Xi had been watching Chu Fan's match for amusement. He hadn't expected the sword to turn and come at him instead.

The shock was immense, and he had no time to dodge.

Even Chu Fan couldn't help widening his eyes. It looked as though Wu Qianhuan meant to kill him.

At that critical moment, Tang Xi's figure flickered in and out, like a guttering candle in the wind. He vanished in a flash, then appeared again as if nothing had happened.

In that single flicker, he had already retreated more than two zhang!

A note of solemnity flashed through Wu Qianhuan's eyes.

Chu Fan, on the other hand, burst into laughter and applauded.

"What excellent footwork!"

Tang Xi's face stiffened for a moment, but then he smiled.

"Big Brother Chu Fan, you flatter me. Eldest Young Lady's sword was simply too fast; it truly caught me off guard."

Wu Qianhuan smiled sweetly.

"Oh? Second Brother Chu, you see? Young Hall Master Tang isn't an honest man. He was hiding a move and hadn't shown it yet. Why don't the three of us have another bout?

"Let's drag every last one of his hidden tricks into the open."

Tang Xi hurriedly begged for mercy, while Chu Fan looked eager to give it a try.

Just as he was about to speak, the courtyard gate creaked open.

No one paid much attention at first, assuming another servant had come in with something.

But when they looked over, they all stared in surprise.

The person who entered wasn't a servant from the Chu Family, but a middle-aged man.

He was dressed like a wandering martial artist. After coming in, he nodded to everyone, then turned around and closed the courtyard gate.

Chu Fan frowned.

"Who are you? This is the Inner Courtyard. If you're a guest, you can go to the front courtyard for the banquet."

The man looked up at Chu Fan and smiled faintly. He suddenly pushed off with one foot, and with a sharp crack, shot forward in a headlong charge. In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of Chu Fan.

His final step landed with a crunch, shattering the flagstones beneath his feet. His body bent like a bow, and his right fist clenched like an arrow loosed from its string. With a bang, it shot straight toward Chu Fan's chest and abdomen.

Chu Fan's eyes widened. His opponent's fist momentum surged like Raging Waves and Surging Tides, making it seem as though he were standing in the middle of a vast ocean.

The force was fierce and violent.

Wu Qianhuan saw this, and her pupils contracted sharply.

"Overturning Sea Dragon Fist! Second Brother Chu, he's Xin Youhen from Ten Thousand Night Valley. Don't meet his blow head-on!"