Chapter Eighty: Yue Buqun, Lin Zhennan—Your Secrets Have Been Exposed

Shi, the escort master, did not waste words. He gave a brief bow, got up, and left. For words were meaningless here—might made right, and though Lin Pingzhi did not understand this, Shi, who had roamed the martial world for years, did. Thus, his departure was crisp and decisive.

As soon as Shi left, Lao Denuo and Yue Lingshan, who had been hiding behind the wine cabinet, also wished to flee.

“Ahem, and where do you two think you’re going? Can’t you see that I’m sitting right here? Hurry and serve the wine!” Yang Xin barked in a stern voice.

“This young hero must be joking—she’s my granddaughter, not my junior disciple…” Lao Denuo, trembling, came out carrying wine, performing the role of an old tavern keeper unfamiliar with the world to perfection.

“Alas, the world owes you an award for acting,” Yang Xin sighed.

“An award? You must mean gold? Our humble shop is too small; no need for such generosity, young hero…” Lao Denuo replied meekly.

“Come here!” Yang Xin beckoned to Yue Lingshan.

Yue Lingshan was not faring much better than Lin Pingzhi. The techniques Lin Pingzhi used to kill Yu Renyan—well, if they could be called martial arts at all—were still within her comprehension, even if they were barely a step above street fighting, hair-pulling, and eye-gouging. But Yang Xin’s methods—just a gesture with both hands, a golden wheel flashed, and a man was sliced in two. Even the legendary number one martial artist, Invincible East, was probably no more than this.

Yue Lingshan trembled as she walked over, her legs shaking so badly that, were it not for Lao Denuo’s support, she would have collapsed on the spot.

“Hmm, Yue Lingshan’s reaction is quite genuine. She’s clearly frightened,” Yang Xin thought, blinking as he considered scaring her a bit more. “Where is your father, Yue Buqun?”

With a start, Yue Lingshan’s hand slipped and she fell back onto the floor.

Lao Denuo, however, remained composed. He straightened his bent back, stood tall, and saluted with respectful calm: “Lao Denuo of Mount Hua pays respects to the senior!”

Lao Denuo was helpless. While Yue Lingshan could not comprehend Yang Xin’s skills, neither could he. Yet, even without understanding, he had the discernment to see that this man’s abilities left his own master, Zuo Lengchan, far behind. Was this sword energy or sword intent as legends described? Yet sword energy and sword intent were sword-shaped, and what was this? Wheel energy? Wheel intent?

“Good! Lao Denuo, you’re impressive—far better than your master Zuo Lengchan!” Yang Xin exclaimed in admiration.

First came the quick-thinking Shi, then the unflinching Lao Denuo. The supporting characters of this world were no less brilliant than the leads.

“I am a disciple of Mount Hua under Yue Buqun…”

Before Lao Denuo could finish, Yang Xin interrupted: “I have high hopes for you. With me here, not to mention Zuo Lengchan and Yue Buqun—even Invincible East could not harm you! You think your act is flawless? Yue Buqun has long since seen through you. Go, fetch Yue Buqun here. Tell him his beloved daughter is in my hands. If he does not come… hmph!”

“Yes, Senior!” Lao Denuo replied, drenched in cold sweat, bowing quickly before turning to fetch Yue Buqun. As for running? With Yang Xin’s methods, even if all of Songshan Sect came, they could not protect him.

“Get up, wipe that makeup off your face, and pour me some wine! If you can’t do makeup, don’t bother—what a mess! Makeup artistry is one of the four great dark arts of Shenzhou, and you’re ruining its reputation,” Yang Xin pointed at Yue Lingshan, then at Lin Pingzhi. “Little Lin, have a drink with me.”

There was no escape, and fighting was out of the question—Yang Xin’s abilities were beyond imagination. Yue Lingshan rose on shaky legs, quickly wiped off her makeup, and poured Yang Xin some wine. Lin Pingzhi also got up, trembling as he sat on a stool.

“Wow! Now that’s more like it—a super invincible beauty of the universe! Seeing you, one can imagine what a formidable woman your mother, Lady Ning, must be,” Yang Xin teased, running his hand over Yue Lingshan’s pure, unadorned face.

“Scoundrel!” Yue Lingshan’s cheeks flushed bright red with anger as she gritted her teeth.

Yang Xin paused. “Ah, that’s right—this is ancient times, the era of ‘The Smiling, Proud Wanderer,’ about mid-Ming Dynasty, when Neo-Confucianism was at its height…”

“Senior, please refrain from such frivolous behavior,” Lin Pingzhi said through clenched teeth, struggling to suppress his fear as he instinctively shielded Yue Lingshan, who clung to his sleeve like a frightened rabbit, hiding behind him.

What a bowl of dog food—could it be Yue Lingshan is already taking a fancy to Lin Pingzhi?

“My mistake! I’ll punish myself with a drink! Pah—what is this stuff, is it even drinkable?” Yang Xin had intended to down a bowl heroically but was disgusted by the poor quality of the wine.

Feeling awkward, he waved his hand and produced from his fourth-dimensional pocket a World War II military dagger and a large slab of chocolate, placing them on the table.

“This is a US Army-issue dagger from World War II. It can be used as a knife or bayonet. It’s not hair-splittingly sharp or able to cut iron like mud, but in this era it’s a rare weapon. This is high-calorie, delicious chocolate. Just a small piece can provide a day’s worth of energy. As an apology, you may choose one—which will it be?” Yang Xin offered.

Yue Lingshan blinked and looked at him, making no move.

“Oh, you know what a dagger is—it could be called a short sword in your terms. But you’ve never seen or tasted chocolate, have you? It’s delicious. Here, try a bit.” Yang Xin casually broke off a piece.

Yue Lingshan shrank back two steps in fright. In her eyes, black food was always associated with poison.

But Yang Xin paid no heed. He pinched her small mouth and popped the chocolate inside.

“You!” Yue Lingshan was furious, her eyes flashing with rage. But soon her anger turned to surprise and then delight, her big eyes becoming crescent-shaped. “This is delicious!”

“One or the other—which do you choose?”

“I’ll take the dagger!” Yue Lingshan quickly picked up the dagger and drew it lightly across her finger, drawing a line of blood. Her eyes shone. “What a sharp weapon! But I want the chocolate too.”

“You want it? Heh…” Yang Xin popped the remaining chocolate into his mouth in a few bites, even licking his lips as he looked triumphantly at Yue Lingshan.

“You!” Yue Lingshan stamped her feet in frustration. The more she looked at Yang Xin, the more infuriating he became; she had lost count of how many times he had provoked her today.

“Well, Master Yue, why don’t you come in and have a seat, instead of eavesdropping at the door?” Yang Xin suddenly called out.

“Haha, my daughter was rude. I hope the young hero will not take offense,” Yue Buqun entered with a hearty laugh.

“Sit,” Yang Xin pointed to a stool.

“I am here. May I ask if you will release my daughter?” Yue Buqun laughed, showing no sign of embarrassment at having been caught eavesdropping.

“We’re still missing one person. Wait till he arrives,” Yang Xin replied coolly, his eyes brazenly appraising Yue Buqun. He harbored no particular dislike for this man. After all, Yue Buqun had worked tirelessly for Mount Hua, even practicing the Evil-Resisting Sword Manual to prevent the sect’s destruction—a feat requiring immense courage.

Yue Buqun was simply born in the wrong era, fated to cross paths with that selfish Linghu Chong. Linghu Chong was truly ungrateful—Yue Buqun and his wife Ning Zhongze raised him with utmost care, gave him all Mount Hua had to offer, and even planned to make him sect leader. But after mastering the Nine Swords of Dugu, he simply wandered off without a second thought. Feng Qingyang only instructed him not to mention his existence, not to keep the Nine Swords from others. Even if he couldn’t teach the swordplay to others, he could have told Yue Buqun about the lost sword techniques of Mount Hua and the Five Mountains Alliance hidden in the Reflection Cliff’s secret cave. But he never breathed a word. With the Sword Faction pressing nearby and Zuo Lengchan scheming from afar, Linghu Chong not only failed to strengthen Mount Hua but hid everything away. On that stormy night when Mount Hua was besieged by Zuo Lengchan’s recruited underworld experts and Ning Zhongze faced dishonor, Linghu Chong still refused to speak the truth—truly cold-hearted.

Yue Buqun was bewildered. He had imagined many scenarios, but not this one. Yang Xin was watching him with a look of pity that made his skin crawl. Fortunately, hurried footsteps sounded outside, and Yue Buqun unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

“Lin Zhennan of the Fortune Escort Agency greets the senior! Thank you for saving my son’s life!” Lin Zhennan entered with Shi, striding briskly.

“Sit,” Yang Xin gestured.

Lin Zhennan was not shy. He sat down next to Yue Buqun.

“Lin Zhennan, your secret is out! Shi has explained the situation—here it is: the Qingcheng Sect is mobilizing its full force for your family’s Evil-Resisting Sword Manual, and intends to wipe out your entire clan. The man beside you is Yue Buqun, leader of Mount Hua. He is here for your sword manual as well.”

Lin Zhennan and Yue Buqun’s faces changed dramatically in unison.