Chapter 158 (2/2)
Feng Luodi pondered quietly. This Qing Cheng Sect's sect leader realised that he has been deceived by someone to come here, yet he seems very calm and composed. Has he long taken precautions against this or is this merely in his nature?
When she raised her head to look at Situ, Situ was also silent with his gaze constantly fixed on the events unfolding within the hexagonal pavilion.
After listening to Sect Leader Xiao's words, Lu Buping laughed loudly and used his neigong to dissipate it in all directions. The birds in the woods flapped their wings and escaped into the air, causing the woods to be extremely noisy all of a sudden. There was also the sound of beasts knocking into trees. Feng Luodi suddenly felt her heart palpitate. This laughter made her very uncomfortable. The next moment, she fell into an embrace and felt the warmth transmitted to her from the other body. The surroundings immediately quietened down.
”How reckless.” Situ's slightly irate voice rang from above her head.
Feng Luodi raised her head and used her slightly moist eyes to look at him. ”So this is what they call the neigong1.”
”Mhm.” Situ nodded. He changed to holding Feng Luodi's hand instead and continued to watch the scene in the hexagonal pavilion.
Lu Buping's laughter seemed like a signal to start a war to Sect Leader Xiao. He immediately held his sword and dashed towards Lu Buping.
Unlike his appearance, Sect Leader Xiao's swordplay was natural and smooth like the flowing clouds on the horizon. It was deft yet precise, wonderful yet lethal. Every move attacked the vital points of Lu Buping's body.
On the other hand, Lu Buping's sabre technique was unlike the temperament he had. His Frigid Wind Blade was like a wind which blows past the frozen river, howling as it approached. His strokes were broad and wide, always being able to block Sect Leader Xiao's offensive attack just at the right moment. From time to time, it spiralled upwards and accurately found Sect Leader Xiao's mingmen2.
Two people exchanged blows in succession and were unexpectedly equally matched.
Feng Luodi contemplated. If a Lu Buping from the Demonic Sect can already tie with the sect leader from a large sect, then it is reasonable that the Jianghu people fear the Demonic Sect.
They were engaged in an intense battle as their swords glinted in the sunlight. Every move dealt by the two were out to seize the opponent's life as if there was a deep-seated enmity between them. An enormous patch of bamboo trees outside the hexagonal pavilion collapsed. When Situ saw that the affected area was increasing, he backed off silently with Feng Luodi.
Feng Luodi was hugged by Situ and had her attention entirely focused on the two people who were in combat. Just as Lu Buping's sword was swung at Sect Leader Xiao who had left an opening, Situ made a move. A stone hit Lu Buping's body and helped Sect Leader Xiao to ward off that sword.
Feng Luodi looked at Situ in surprise.
Meanwhile, Sect Leader Xiao made use of this the opportunity to escape into the air and his figure was lost in the dense woods.
Lu Buping looked bitterly in Situ's direction and rapidly came towards them, treading on the stalks of bamboo.
”Situ, why did you help that hypocrite?” Lu Buping's eyes were filled with anger. That baby face of his was also displeased but in his heart, he was apprehensive about Situ's high martial arts prowess. The neigong secretly contained in the stone can't be belittled. This Situ is enigmatic and his skills unfathomable.
Situ released Feng Luodi's hand. He lightly swung his sleeves and caused the bamboo trees nearby to erect as they did before. He told Lu Buping, ”He wanted to be injured by you.”
”Mhm?” A contemptuous smile appeared at the corner of Lu Buping's lips.
”Are you saying that he purposely feigned an opening to me? Impossible, back then, there was no chance that he could parry that move. If you hadn't saved him, I could have taken his life.”
Situ was unmoved. He turned around and left. ”Then there's no need to collaborate any further.”
Feng Luodi who was originally as bewildered as Lu Buping instantly comprehended Situ's intentions and helped him explain to Lu Buping.
”Situ has no malicious intentions. Qing Cheng Sect's sect leader probably wanted a wound inflicted by your sword. This way, he can frame you by planting evidence.”
She might be ignorant in the aspect of martial arts, but she could sense that Sect Leader Xiao's actual ability was not just what he displayed. In that case, there can only be one explanation: Sect Leader Xiao did that deliberately.
Lu Buping pursed his lips and looking at Situ's unhurried pace, he spoke, ”It was I who said something wrong just now. Please continue.”
Only then did Situ stop his footsteps and turn around. A sliver of understanding flashed past the bottom of his eyes but he did not have the intention of speaking. That was indeed his decision. If Lu Buping could not even identify a trap like this, and was overly ambitious to perform grandiose deeds, p.r.o.ne to complacency, then the following plan would no longer require this person's involvement.
Feng Luodi understood Situ very well and continued to explain his thoughts to Lu Buping, ”You appear to have no deep-seated enmity with Sect Leader Xiao. Even if this would injure him and kill him, it would only leave behind a grudge with Qing Cheng Sect, it would not be a good influence to the Demonic Sect's carefree and unfettered life.”
”The Demonic Sect has never been concerned about these matters.” Lu Buping snorted, ”We do whatever we want to do. We don't need such people from the righteous white path to gossip and make thoughtless remarks about us.”
Feng Luodi sighed inwardly but on the surface, she continued as earnestly as she could, quoting the words of the First Prince.
”In the Jianghu, people repay favours and exact revenge without restraint, thus they are naturally carefree and unrestrained. A person bearing the onus for his own actions is also something admirable.”
Feng Luodi paused for a while before she continued. ”However, the Jianghu also belongs to the kingdom. If the people scorn the social law and order and act rashly as they please by relying on the fact that they have martial arts, then the court would definitely interfere. I'm afraid that no matter how skilful a person is in martial arts, when the armies arrive, even he would be powerless.”
”Besides, it is extremely difficult to understand a person's heart. Even if you can bear the consequences of your own actions, but the other party might not think in this manner. If you were to instigate animosity between the two sects, the one who suffers would still be the Demonic Sect. Everyone yearns for a carefree life but being carefree is established on the tenet that one respects the laws of the Xuan kingdom.”
”Knight-errant Lu,” Feng Luodi looked at him as earnestly as she could. ”This is Situ and the First Prince's aim in coming to Dingtao Province. Are you willing to a.s.sist them?”
Also known as Inner Force. /wiki/Neigong ↩ May refer to either the kidneys, a particular acupuncture point or the eyes. ↩