svetikya Chapter 19 Reunion with Wanyan Honglie
Chapter 19 Reunion with Wanyan Honglie
After a light rain, sunlight falls on Taihu Lake, creating a scene of shimmering gold, like a fairyland.
However, neither the owner of Guiyun Manor nor Guo Jing and Huang Rong, who happened to be visiting, had any interest in appreciating the beautiful scenery.
At this time, after parting ways with Yang Kang, Guo Jing and Huang Rong, just like in the original story, coincidentally encountered Hong Qigong.
Qi Gong and Guo Jing were kindred spirits. He was moved by Huang Rong's cooking skills and Guo Jing's kind nature, and carefully taught him martial arts.
Therefore, although Guo Jing did not greatly increase his power by drinking snake blood from Liang Ziweng at this time, his martial arts skills had already improved by leaps and bounds after being guided by Hong Qigong.
But today's matter is clearly beyond his ability to resolve.
Wanyan Honglie was no ordinary envoy; he was a member of the Jin royal family, the only surviving bloodline of the late Jin emperor, even though the world regarded him as a joke because of the Yang Kang affair.
But no one can deny Wanyan Honglie's status. Even if Emperor Wanyan Yongji of the Jin Dynasty was suspicious and indifferent to him, he still had to give him enough respect.
The fact that such a person was ambushed and killed by pirates on Taihu Lake while on a diplomatic mission to Lin'an would definitely be an event that could ignite the current situation between the Jin and Song dynasties.
Wanyan Yongji, who was already eager to make a move, could have used this as a pretext to launch a southern expedition against the Song Dynasty. The Southern Song court had no choice but to treat this matter with extreme caution.
Wanyan Honglie delivered the document to the Lin'an court, and the Lin'an court actually issued an order to send troops to annihilate the Taihu heroes led by Guiyun Manor.
Of course, local officials always find ways to circumvent policies, and they are unlikely to actually do something so foolish as to brand themselves as traitors.
Everyone was just watching from the sidelines, going through the motions but not actually contributing.
Only a traitor like Duan Tiande, who was both stupid and wicked, treated this matter as a task to curry favor with his superiors, and actually mobilized troops to cooperate with Wanyan Honglie in besieging Guiyun Village.
Lu Guanying and his son Lu Chengfeng were undoubtedly among the top figures in the local Taihu gang.
However, when the Jianghu gangs actually encountered regular armies, they were always hesitant and timid. Before long, Wanyan Honglie led his army to break through Guiyun Manor.
Inside Guiyun Manor, Wanyan Honglie walked towards the manor, surrounded by Lingzhi Shangren, Sha Tongtian, Hou Tonghai, Liang Ziweng, Peng Lianhu, and others.
Duan Tiande had already dispatched a group of soldiers to surround the people of Guiyun Manor.
The bandits of Taihu Water Village, who had originally been united by Lu Guanying, had long since scattered like monkeys after the tree fell.
At Guiyun Manor, only Lu Chengfeng and his son Lu Guanying, along with Guo Jing and Huang Rong, who had come temporarily and were attracted by the rumors surrounding the "Wumu's Legacy" were present.
Guo Jing was kind-hearted and always upheld the principle of helping the weak and punishing the strong. Although Huang Rong was not a righteous person, she was born with pride and would never abandon her friend when he was in trouble.
The more Lu Chengfeng urged the two to flee far away to avoid disaster, the more determined they became to stay and help him.
Seeing that they could not persuade him, Lu Chengfeng and the other two could only sigh and sit back on the low chairs, waiting for Wanyan Honglie to come and question them.
"You bunch of ignorant thieves! I've let it slide in the past, but now you dare to set your sights on the Sixth Prince of the Great Jin Kingdom. It's like choosing the path to hell when there's a way to heaven."
Duan Tiande rushed into the main hall early, looking at everyone with a smug expression, and boasted.
"I've long heard that Guiyun Manor is the wealthiest man in Taihu Lake. If you're willing to hand over all the treasures in the manor today, perhaps I can put in a good word for you and your father with the Sixth Prince and spare their lives?"
Duan Tiande changed the subject and began extorting money from the crowd.
Guo Jing was unaware that this man was his father's killer. He only exchanged a glance with Huang Rong, their eyes filled with undisguised contempt as they looked at this despicable person.
As they spoke, Wanyan Honglie, dressed in magnificent clothes, slowly walked into the main hall and unceremoniously took his seat in the main seat.
When Duan Tiande saw Wanyan Honglie appear, he dared not say a word.
Although Guo Jing and Huang Rong did not get up, they immediately tensed up when they saw Wanyan Honglie and his subordinate Lingzhi Shangren and others appear.
"I have long heard of the formidable reputation of the heroes of the Jiangnan martial arts world, and seeing them today, I can attest to their extraordinary abilities."
"Master Lu suffers from a leg ailment, yet he has still managed to accomplish such great things at Taihu Lake, which truly earns my utmost admiration."
Wanyan Honglie scrutinized Lu Chengfeng for a moment, then calmly spoke.
His words contained no harshness, but rather his usual gentle and courteous manner.
"Jin thieves, a true man takes responsibility for his actions!"
"The robbery and murder of you was done by me, Lu Guanying, alone. It has nothing to do with my father or these two friends."
"If you want to kill or torture someone, do it all to me. Don't drag others into it."
As Lu Guanying stood up, he raised his sword and held it to his neck.
Guo Jing stood up anxiously and called out.
"Young Master Lu, you mustn't!"
Lu Chengfeng suddenly shouted loudly.
"Nonsense! Guanying, you and I are father and son, depending on each other for survival. If you die, how can I, your father, live on with this crippled body?"
Wanyan Honglie sighed softly and raised his hand to calm the tense situation.
"Wait a minute, gentlemen, you've misunderstood."
"Xiao Wang has encountered countless life-and-death trials in his life."
"There's no need to come all this way to question you over such a trivial matter. I've come here simply to ask you a question."
"How did you learn about the 'Military Manual of Yue Fei'?"
Wanyan Honglie chuckled lightly.
Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged bewildered glances. They hadn't expected Wanyan Honglie to go to such lengths to visit them, just for this one matter.
Lu Chengfeng sat on a low chair, cupped his hands, and said to Wanyan Honglie:
We truly have no idea where this came from.
"Just half a month ago, news of the 'Wumu's Legacy' suddenly spread throughout Lin'an City, causing a great uproar overnight."
"Rumor has it that Your Highness's journey south was for this very reason, which is why my son offended Your Highness."
"Please forgive me, Your Highness!"
Lu Chengfeng saw that Wanyan Honglie was gentle and refined, and his words were also quite polite.
Seeing that Lu Chengfeng and the others did not seem to be faking it, Wanyan Honglie fell silent.
After pondering in his heart, he had a vague guess. His gaze immediately swept over Lingzhi Shangren and the others, who awkwardly looked away.
He then turned to Lu Chengfeng and the others and said leisurely.
"So it was just a rumor from the martial arts world, and I, the king, have been implicated and suffered as a result."
"Although it was an unintentional mistake, now that I have come to your door, I must settle this matter once and for all."
"I have always admired the culture of Jiangnan. I wonder if Master Lu would be willing to be my guide through the scenery of Taihu Lake?"
Wanyan Honglie invited Lu Chengfeng with apparent humility and politeness.
Anyone with eyes can see that he has directly brought Guiyun Manor under his control.
As a renowned martial arts master of Taihu Lake and the head of Guiyun Manor, he served as a guide for the Jin Dynasty prince, accompanying him on a tour of Taihu Lake. From now on, no one will believe anyone who says that Guiyun Manor has no connection with the Jin people.
Lu Chengfeng cupped his hands in greeting.
"Your Highness's kindness is too much for this humble subject to refuse."
"It is just that I have suffered from a leg ailment for many years and have difficulty moving around, so I am really unable to accompany Your Highness to tour Taihu Lake."
"If Your Highness does not mind, I am willing to send the steward of my estate to guide you. He is very familiar with the scenery of Taihu Lake and will certainly not disappoint Your Highness."
Upon hearing this, Wanyan Honglie's face immediately darkened.
Although the Jin and Song dynasties were adversaries, he was still a nobleman of the imperial family. For him to allow Lu Chengfeng, an old man from the martial arts world, to accompany him across Taihu Lake was already a sign of his condescension and respect for the virtuous.
Even if Lu Chengfeng was inconvenient, he could have his son to take his place, but he used a butler as an excuse, which was a clear disrespect.
"The heroes of Jiangnan are truly men of unyielding spirit."
Wanyan Honglie sighed softly and immediately signaled Lingzhi Shangren and others to annihilate Guiyun Manor.
The situation instantly became tense again.
Just as Master Lingzhi and the others were about to make their move, a commotion arose outside the door. It turned out that the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan had arrived to help and were engaged in a fierce battle with the soldiers stationed outside Guiyun Manor.
"Master chef... Second master chef..."
Guo Jing was shocked to see this and immediately flew out to help, with Huang Rong naturally following suit.
Wanyan Honglie raised an eyebrow at all this, but showed no emotional fluctuation. After a cold laugh, he was about to step out of the room.
Suddenly, a figure flashed out from the roof beam, its hands like ghostly claws, heading straight for Wanyan Honglie's face.
Master Lingzhi was shocked and quickly stepped aside to block the attack for Wanyan Honglie.
In the blink of an eye, Master Lingzhi was struck as if by a heavy blow and was instantly sent flying.
The newcomer, however, flipped over and landed safely in the main hall.
Everyone looked closely and saw that the person who had come was Mei Chaofeng.
"Senior Sister Mei, it's you!"
Lu Chengfeng exclaimed in surprise.
"Who are you, sir? And why did you attack me, Xiao Wang?"
Wanyan Honglie, still shaken, quickly and respectfully bowed to Mei Chaofeng and said...
"The lives and deaths of the people of Peach Blossom Island are not for outsiders to decide!"
"Who do you think you are, daring to kill someone from Peach Blossom Island?"
Mei Chaofeng was blind, but her eyes seemed to see. She turned to face Wanyan Honglie, raised her hand, and her sharp claws were already pointing at him.
Clearly, she was standing up for those who wanted to kill Lu Chengfeng, as Wanyan Honglie intended to do so.
"Senior Sister Mei, how have you been?"
Lu Chengfeng never expected that Mei Chaofeng would stand up for him after twenty years.
He held a grudge against Mei and Chen for stealing the Nine Yin Manual and implicating them, so he sent people to hunt them down several times.
"How can you say they're doing well when one is blind in one eye and the other is lame in the other?"
"After I finish off this golden man, I'll settle our score over the past twenty years."
Mei Chaofeng snorted coldly and then attacked Wanyan Honglie.
Lingzhi Shangren, Sha Tongtian, Hou Tonghai and the other three responded and made their moves one after another.
However, the martial arts skills of these five people were not on the same level as Mei Chaofeng's. Even though the five of them joined forces, they were still forced into dangerous situations by the blind Mei Chaofeng.
As soon as the Nine Yin White Bone Claw was unleashed, amidst the wailing of ghostly figures, Lingzhi Shangren, Sha Tongtian, Hou Tonghai, and others were successively wounded.
The group fought their way out of the main hall and continued their exchanges on the shores of Taihu Lake.
Duan Tiande and his men surrounded Wanyan Honglie, but dared not order his men to make a move.
He was a coward who feared death, but he knew the skills of martial arts masters. Since the other party didn't even put the King of Jin in his eyes, what if he suddenly became violent and killed him too?
In the midst of the battle, figures appeared on the waters of Taihu Lake.
Amidst a burst of laughter, a short, middle-aged man with a full beard stood alone on a small boat and floated gracefully to the lakeside.
The newcomer leaped ashore, holding a feather fan, and laughed loudly.
"I never expected Taihu Lake to be so lively today. Why didn't Your Highness inform me of your arrival earlier? I could have fulfilled my duty as host."
This incredible feat immediately drew everyone's attention.
Apart from Lingzhi Shangren and a few others who were still fighting Mei Chaofeng, the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan, Guo Jing, and Huang Rong all escaped and returned to Guiyun Manor.
"May I ask if you are Qiu Qianren, Chief Qiu?"
Wanyan Honglie asked the visitor with great joy.
"I am indeed the one who is talented."
The newcomer spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, but his eyes held a haughty air.
Guo Jing and Huang Rong exchanged a glance and whispered to each other.
"Just now, he used his internal energy to propel the boat. Even Qi Gong couldn't do that. Could there really be such a master in the world?"
The six members of the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan exchanged glances, their eyes filled with suspicion. Only the skilled scholar Zhu Cong seemed to have figured something out.
Mei Chaofeng was entangled by Lingzhi Shangren and others. Upon hearing Wanyan Honglie's voice, she attacked again, like a surging tide.
Qiu Qianren's expression remained unchanged, yet he seemed utterly unafraid, remaining completely still.
From a distance, Huang Rong, fearing that Mei Chaofeng was no match for her, quickly spoke up to remind her.
"Senior Sister Mei, be careful! The newcomer's martial arts are unfathomable; do not underestimate him!"
Upon hearing this, Mei Chaofeng spun around and appeared beside Guo Jing and Huang Rong just as her sharp claws were about to strike Qiu Qianren.
"You called me Senior Sister Mei? Who are you? What is your relationship with Master?"
Huang Rong no longer concealed her identity and stood up, cupping her hands in greeting.
"Junior Sister Huang Rong greets Senior Sister Mei and Senior Brother Lu."
Mei Chaofeng and Lu Chengfeng exclaimed in delight.
"You're Master's daughter? Our junior sister!"
Lu Chengfeng quickly asked.
"How is Master?"
Huang Rong stood up and smiled.
"My dad is a good person, and he always thinks about you."
Only then did the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan realize the origins of the little girl beside their foolish disciple.
"What?! Jing'er, you're actually hanging out with that demoness from Peach Blossom Island?"
Ke Zhen'e was immediately enraged
Guo Jing was immediately flustered, while Huang Rong looked completely innocent, not knowing what had happened.
"So they are disciples of Huang Yaoshi, the Eastern Heretic of Peach Blossom Island. No wonder they are so audacious as to attack the Prince."
"For the sake of your master, you may leave today, and I will pretend nothing happened."
Qiu Qianren raised his feather fan and pointed it at Mei Chaofeng. Wisps of white smoke immediately rose from his body, making him look like a top master unleashing his unparalleled internal energy.
The expressions of everyone present changed drastically. Even seasoned veterans like Lu Chengfeng and Lingzhi Shangren were shocked.
Of everyone present, only Zhu Cong almost burst out laughing.
He pulled Ke Zhen'e aside and chuckled.
"Brother, since the little girl came to Guiyun Manor with Jing'er to fight against the Jin invaders, she must be a kind-hearted person."
"Since Mei Chaofeng is a traitor to Peach Blossom Island, she and this little girl shouldn't be on the same path."
"Let's deal with the current situation first, and then talk about the younger generation."
After Zhu Cong finished speaking, he whispered his guess to everyone.
Ke Zhen'e snorted coldly, but did not continue to get angry.
Guo Jing was at a loss for what to do and could only hold Huang Rong's hand tightly.
On the field, Qiu Qianren's display of skill shocked the group of experts, and Wanyan Honglie's side immediately felt reassured.
Duan Tiande immediately jumped out and said arrogantly.
"With Senior Qiu here today, why don't you all obediently surrender? Otherwise, Senior Qiu will surely ensure that you all die without a burial place!"
As Duan Tiande spoke, he looked around smugly.
"No one from Peach Blossom Island has ever surrendered without a fight. Even if I am no match for him today, I would still like to ask Senior Qiu for a few pointers."
The blind and biased Mei Chaofeng didn't see Qiu Qianzhang's charade. She sneered and immediately attacked without hesitation, targeting Wanyan Honglie and Qiu Qianren.
Before Lingzhi Shangren and the others could react, Mei Chaofeng suddenly appeared in front of them.
Qiu Qianren was unable to dodge in time and was grabbed by the shoulder by Mei Chaofeng, instantly being thrown into the lake.
In the blink of an eye, Mei Chaofeng turned her claws toward Wanyan Honglie's head.
The unexpected turn of events left everyone bewildered.
Qiu Qianren cried out in pain as he swam ashore, looking utterly disheveled, much to everyone's bewilderment.
"It turns out he was just bluffing. I thought it was really the Iron Palm Water-Walking Master Qiu Qianren."
Mei Chaofeng immediately let out a cold laugh.
Just as he was about to take Wanyan Honglie's life, a pebble ripped through the surface of Taihu Lake, whistling as it struck Mei Chaofeng on the shoulder, sending her flying.
As everyone wondered what was happening, a whirlpool suddenly appeared on the waters of Taihu Lake.
Accompanied by a misty, watery atmosphere remarkably similar to that of Qiu Qianren just now, a tall, handsome young man slowly floated up from within the vortex.
As soon as the newcomer surfaced, he lightly touched the ground with his toes and, in a few quick movements, landed on the lakeside and helped the panicked Wanyan Honglie.
"Kang'er!"
When Wanyan Honglie saw that the person in question was none other than his beloved son, Yang Kang, he exclaimed with delight.
"Another one who pretends to be a charlatan."
After Han Xiaoying and the others told Ke Zhen'e about Yang Kang's appearance, Ke Zhen'e immediately sneered.
"Brother Yang!"
Guo Jing exclaimed in surprise.
"Yang Kang!"
When Huang Rong saw Yang Kang supporting Wanyan Honglie as soon as he appeared, she immediately knew something was wrong.