Chapter 100: Into a Martial Arts Novel, Day 22

Chapter 100: The Twenty-Second Day in the Martial Arts World

Just as the girl was about to be struck down, blood about to splatter, a cold gleam flashed in Ling Fengyao's eyes.

Though he hated getting involved in other people's business, these people had disrupted his "moment" with Ayi—a crime beyond forgiveness!

His fingers moved slightly, picking up a tiny silver incense pick from the table, and flicked it with an almost imperceptible motion!

The silver pick transformed into a faint streak of silver light, too fast for the naked eye to follow!

"Chi!"

A faint, dull thud.

The hand of the Canal Gang thug, poised to slap the girl, abruptly froze mid-strike, a small bloody hole appearing in his palm as blood welled up!

He cried out in pain, clutching his hand and stumbling backward, looking around in alarm: "Who?! A sneak attack! Show yourself!"

The upstairs was silent, with private booths separated by curtains, making it impossible to see who had struck.

Ling Fengyao had already withdrawn his hand, picked up his teacup, and blew gently on it, as if that lightning-fast strike had nothing to do with him.

Downstairs, the Canal Gang thugs were shocked and furious, but unable to find the culprit, they didn't dare make a move and quickly fled.

The old man seized the chance to pull the girl along, bowing repeatedly as they swiftly exited the teahouse.

The commotion died down, but the teahouse buzzed with whispers.

"The Canal Gang again... They've been getting more brazen lately."

"I heard they're not just taking over shipping routes; they're also secretly searching for something, causing quite a stir..."

"Searching for something? Could some treasure have turned up in Jiangnan?"

"Who knows? But lately, martial artists have been flocking here—it's not peaceful..."

These scattered whispers reached the private booth.

An Yi: ...

Don't martial artists ever get tired of running around chasing rumors all day?

Ling Fengyao's initially indifferent expression gradually hardened, a sharp glint flashing in his peach blossom eyes.

He looked at An Yi and saw that he too was listening intently, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"What's wrong?" Ling Fengyao lowered his voice, tapping his fingers absently on the table: "Ayi, what are you thinking?"

Jiangnan's waterways were a dense network, and the Canal Gang's power was vast. If anything was going on, they'd be the first to know.

What was the Canal Gang searching for?

He tried to recall if there was any plot involving the Canal Gang in the original novel... It seemed... there was.

An Yi set down his teacup, his gaze drifting toward the flowing water outside the window: "What do you think the Canal Gang is searching for?"

Ling Fengyao shook his head: "I don't know. They're making such a big deal out of it."

An Yi turned to look at him and suddenly asked: "Do you really want the Youhuan Shu?"

Ling Fengyao was momentarily stunned, then a grin spread across his face as he leaned forward, his eyes locking onto An Yi with intense heat: "A treasure? Who wouldn't want it? Especially if I can search for it with you, Ayi—that makes it even better."

His tone shifted, becoming earnest and low: "Besides, Ayi, the hidden dangers of your Heart Erosion Art still need to be dealt with. If we can find the complete text, perhaps..."

He was worried about the potential risks An Yi might face while practicing the Heart Erosion Art. His initial desire to find the Youhuan Shu had come from curiosity or a desire to grow stronger, but now it was also for the sake of the person before him.

An Yi looked at him without speaking. The light from the window fell into his eyes, flickering.

Ling Fengyao's heart raced under his gaze, and he couldn't help leaning in again, almost leaning across the table, his voice dropping to a husky whisper: "Ayi, are you saying that what the Canal Gang is looking for is related to the Youhuan Shu?"

His breath once again brushed against An Yi's face, carrying the sweet fragrance of osmanthus wine.

This time, An Yi did not turn away.

He quietly watched Ling Fengyao's face, so close, filled with anticipation and resolve, and gave a faint, almost imperceptible nod.

"Perhaps."

"In that case," Ling Fengyao set down his wine glass: "Let's go to the Canal Gang's Suzhou branch... and mess around."

He didn't ask where An Yi got the information.

An Yi smiled: "Then let's go have a look."

----------

The night of Suzhou city was shattered by the sounds of oars and the flicker of lanterns, flowing through the winding waterways.

During the day, Ling Fengyao and An Yi drifted along the water, listening to music and savoring delicacies. At night, they stayed at a quiet inn by the river.

That evening, the two sat facing each other on the inn's rooftop terrace, a pot of freshly brewed Biluochun tea and a few exquisite snacks before them.

Moonlight like water spilled over An Yi's white robes, as if bathing him in clear light.

Ling Fengyao propped his chin on his hand, his gaze lingering on An Yi, but his words were about business: "The Canal Gang's cargo boats these days are riding lower in the water. They don't seem to be carrying ordinary silk and tea."

"There are also more unfamiliar faces at the docks, all with solid martial arts skills. They don't look like boatmen; more like... tomb raiders."

He dipped his finger in the tea and drew a few simple symbols on the stone table: "The codes they use for handoffs have a hint of the thieves from Lingzhou. It seems whatever they're looking for was probably just dug up from some old tomb."

An Yi listened quietly, lifting his teacup as the steam blurred his sharp features.

Ling Fengyao mused, stroking his chin, a glint of excitement in his peach blossom eyes: "The Youhuan Shu is a lost manual from a previous dynasty. If any fragments were buried in some tomb chamber and have now been unearthed, it's possible. What do you think, Ayi?"

Before An Yi could respond, Ling Fengyao's gaze was suddenly drawn to a few seemingly ordinary pedestrians in the alley below.

Their steps were steady, their aura restrained, and their gazes, as they scanned, carried a unique, cold vigilance.

People from the Fuyi Sect!

The playful smile faded from Ling Fengyao's lips.

As expected, the demonic cult had extended its reach here.

Almost at the same moment, an extremely faint sound of something slicing through the air streaked across the night sky, even more subtle than the one by the creek earlier, heading straight for Ling Fengyao's face.

This time, Ling Fengyao didn't move. Instead, he leisurely poured himself some tea.

An Yi didn't even lift his head; he just flicked his finger.

That tiny incoming projectile—a uniquely shaped black needle coated with potent poison—suddenly froze in midair just a few inches from his fingertip, then became covered in a layer of frost; with a soft pop, it shattered into fine powder, scattering in the night breeze.

Only then did he slowly lift his gaze and look toward the rooftop from which the hidden weapon had come. His gaze was calm and unruffled, yet it made the Fuyi Sect spy hidden there feel as if plunged into an icy abyss, his blood nearly freezing, and he scrambled away head over heels in panic.

An Yi smiled, and an inconspicuous icicle pursued the spy who had fired the hidden dart.

Only then did Ling Fengyao let out a leisurely whistle, his tone filled with undisguised admiration and pride: "Ayi, your skill is truly breathtaking every time I see it."

"They're clearly furious that I've taken away the sect's most exalted Young Master, and they want to kill me, the 'other man'."

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice, and deliberately spoke with a teasing edge: "But then, who can blame me when our Young Master is willing to come with me? Right?"

An Yi looked away, ignoring his banter, and merely retorted: "It's not that I wanted to go with you; I wanted to explore the martial world myself."

Ling Fengyao: ...

He seemed momentarily speechless, then chuckled and shook his head: "You didn't deny the 'other man' part."

An Yi: ...

"Keep your voice down. Is this something to be proud of?"

Ling Fengyao lowered his voice: "It's fine. I'm happy to be that!"