The First Sword of the Universe

Chapter 429 Madam Wang Wants to See That Man
The colorful camellias are in full bloom, and bees and butterflies are flitting among them.

Gathering honey, playing, and frolicking.

Full of vitality.

The courtyard of Mantuo Villa is lush with trees, quiet and elegant.

Inside the central hall, however, there was an unusual atmosphere of utter astonishment.

"What? That jade statue is actually the lady's mother?"

Deng Baichuan and the other two were dumbfounded, their faces filled with disbelief, as if they had heard a fake news.

Even Wang Yuyan, whose heart was set on her cousin, exclaimed softly, "Mother, you're not lying to us, are you?"

Madam Wang swept her sharp gaze over the group and said irritably, "Don't get the wrong idea. I meant that the jade statue was carved in the likeness of my mother."

At this moment, Deng Baichuan and the other two also came to their senses. Feng Bo'e stared wide-eyed and asked, "Madam, if that's the case, is the Free and Unfettered Sect that person mentioned also true?"

Madam Wang was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "That's right, the Free and Unfettered Sect is indeed real. Back then, my mother was a member of the Free and Unfettered Sect."

Bao Butong asked curiously, "So, Madam's mother is the Holy Maiden of the Free and Unfettered Sect?"

To everyone's surprise, Madam Wang sneered and shook her head, saying, "I have never heard of any saintess in the Free and Unfettered Sect, and my mother is not a saintess either; however, her status in the Free and Unfettered Sect is indeed very high."

Deng Baichuan asked, "And what about the lady's mother now?"

Even without saying the rest, Madam Wang knew what he wanted to ask. She frowned and said, "When I was very young, my father disappeared, and my mother went out to look for him. Since then, she has never returned. So I don't know where my mother is, let alone whether she is alive or dead."

Bao Butong clapped his hands and said, "Now it's very clear that the lady's mother is still alive, and it's very likely that she's the mastermind behind that kid."

Feng Bo'e also speculated: "So, it is because the lady's mother knew that the lady lived near Suzhou, but did not know the exact address; therefore, she came up with this trick to lure the lady out?"

Madam Wang said with a sneer, "That's impossible. My mother is cold-hearted and doesn't value family ties. She would never do such a thing!"

Hearing Madam Wang's resolute words, Deng Baichuan and the other two looked at each other, speechless for a moment.

After a while, Deng Baichuan tentatively asked, "If that's the case, then why did the people of the Xiaoyao Sect and that jade statue appear outside Suzhou City?"

Madam Wang's face was gloomy, her eyes were complicated, and she remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "No matter what that boy wants to do, I have to go out and see him!"

After a pause, his gaze swept over Deng Baichuan and the other two, as well as his daughter Wang Yuyan, and he said solemnly, "Your guesses are not impossible; that person from the Xiaoyao Sect might really be after my daughter and your young master; because I have never heard my mother mention that the Xiaoyao Sect possesses a divine skill called the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth."

Deng Baichuan and the other two frowned, feeling that the matter was becoming increasingly perplexing and difficult to understand.

Wang Yuyan's gentle, watery eyes sparkled as she asked curiously, "Mother, I don't know that person at all. How could he be after me? I think his target is most likely my cousin."

"I don't know where he learned a martial art similar to the 'Star Shifting Technique,' and he deliberately came to provoke my cousin."

Madam Wang glared at her daughter and scolded her, "You keep talking about your cousin all the time, you're so useless; now that you're an adult, your cousin hasn't come to propose to me, so it's clear that he has no feelings for you at all."

Faced with such a reprimand, Deng Baichuan and the other two all kept their eyes down, remained silent, and ignored it.

Wang Yuyan's face flushed red with embarrassment as she tried to explain, "Mother, what are you saying? My cousin... he's just busy, he has important things to do."

Madam Wang sneered, "Their family has been planning this grand scheme for generations; even his father, Murong Bo, couldn't accomplish it. Now that it's his turn, the chances are just as slim."

Wang Yuyan gently bit her red lips and shook her head, saying, "My cousin will definitely succeed. I believe in him!"

"Hmph! What good is it if you believe me? Men are the most unreliable!" Madam Wang said bluntly. Seeing the stubbornness hidden in her daughter's gentle eyes, she couldn't continue her scolding and waved her hand helplessly: "I can't be bothered with you!"

Look up at the sky outside the lobby.

It was already afternoon, and with the sky covered in dark clouds, the light was even dimmer.

If you go out now and get to the lakeside outside Suzhou city, you'll probably find it deserted and gone.

Remembering what Deng Baichuan and the other two had said earlier, that the Xiaoyao Sect members would set up her mother's jade statue by the lake every noon to bask in the sun for half an hour, allowing the people of the city to admire and worship it.
So he decided to set off again the next morning to meet that carefree young man from the Xiaoyao Sect and find out his purpose.

Let's set aside Lady Wang's plans for now.

On the shore of a lake outside Suzhou city.

After Xu Xingchen dismissed Deng Baichuan and the other three, he waited for half an hour, then immediately threw out a long black cloth, wrapped the jade statue, carried it on his shoulder, and turned to leave.

Soon, they disappeared into the distant mountains and forests.

Only the group of people who had been kneeling in a daze slowly came to their senses, reluctantly got up, and started to discuss among themselves as they tried to follow them back.

That initial surge of energy hadn't dissipated yet!

After hiding the jade statue, Xu Xingchen returned to Suzhou.

Having achieved his initial goal of exhibiting the jade sculptures, he had no interest in going to restaurants or teahouses to listen to others' discussions.

Back at the inn where he was staying, the hooligans were already waiting in his room.

Upon seeing Xu Xingchen enter the room, he immediately bowed deeply, greeting him with a fawning smile. "Greetings, Master Xu!"

Xu Xingchen didn't stand on ceremony with them. He waved his hand, telling them to straighten up, and then massaged and regulated their blood and qi one by one, postponing the punishment of the blood and qi reversal that was about to erupt today for another three days.

The few scoundrels felt much better, the crisis was over, and their faces showed joyful smiles as if they had been reborn.

Their smiles only faded after Xu Xingchen revealed the truth.

Next, Xu Xingchen began to assign them new tasks and provided them with a detailed map showing their geographical locations.

They were to be instructed to take carpenters, stonemasons, bricklayers, and others, along with grain transport vehicles and cooks, to that location early the next morning to begin clearing weeds, building roads, and laying steps in preparation for the construction of Xiaoyao Manor.

Then, he gave them a small box of gold and silver jewelry, telling them to go all out, gather helpers, buy a pig, and make a big splash.

The few rascals, dazzled by the small box of gold and silver jewelry, readily agreed and then happily left with the box in their arms.

With ample gold and silver jewels paving the way, everything is easy.

Early the next morning.

A few ruffians, along with carpenters, stonemasons, bricklayers, a large number of helpers, carts carrying grain, cooks, and others, marched out of the city gate in a grand procession, following the directions on the map.

Twenty li is neither far nor near.

It took the group more than an hour to reach the foot of the mountain.

Xu Xingchen was already waiting there!

First, have the cook start a fire and prepare a meal so that everyone can eat their fill and rest for half an hour.

He then pulled the few hooligans aside, pointed to the mountains and forests ahead, and explained his ideas and requirements to them. He instructed them to strictly supervise the work, but to make sure they were given enough food and wages, and not to deduct anything.

The matter of building the mountain villa.
If you get it done, you'll get a reward!

If you make a mistake, you'll be punished!

Several scoundrels patted their chests and loudly assured each other that although they were not big shots in Suzhou, they were still troublesome little guys.

They will definitely do a good job of what Master Xu asked them to do.

"Very well, I'll leave things here to you; if you encounter any difficulties or obstacles, come find me in that room at the inn."

After giving his last words, Xu Xingchen turned and left the woods.

He had to rush back to the lakeside at noon to continue his unfinished plans.

the weather is nice today.

The thick clouds had drifted to the horizon, revealing a large expanse of clear blue sky in the center. The bright and dazzling sun slowly moved to its zenith, its light intense.

On the lakeside outside Suzhou city.

Xu Xingchen ripped off the black cloth strip, allowing the jade statue to once again bask in the dazzling sunlight.

Colorful rays of light flowed, and a hazy, auspicious aura surrounded them.

For a moment, the jade statue shone with divine light, dazzling and unlike any ordinary object.

The crowd gathered around her, their eyes fixed on their Jade Fairy with rapt attention, their legs already on the ground.

Outside, even more martial arts practitioners gathered to witness the miraculous Jade Fairy.

He was also full of surprise when he saw the common people, scholars, and Confucianists kneeling on the ground in front of him.

But when they looked up and saw the jade statue shimmering with auspicious light, they were also a little shocked and amazed.

Some people with impure intentions had a glint of greed and lust in their eyes.

After their injuries had been initially treated, Deng Baichuan, Gongye Qian, Bao Butong, and Feng Bo'e gathered around the two women, their gazes filled with complex emotions and wariness as they watched the young man standing at the foot of the pyramid in the distance.

"Madam, Miss, that man is a disciple of the Free and Unfettered Sect!"

Two women.

One person was dressed in a yellow shirt, and the other in a white long skirt. What they had in common was that they both wore bamboo hats with a white veil hanging down from the edge, concealing their true faces.

People from the martial arts world nearby looked on curiously, but they couldn't see through the white veil at the edge of the straw hats to make out the faces of the two women.

However, seeing that Deng Baichuan and his three companions were with them and that they were humble and respectful, they knew that they could not easily offend them.

Looking at the familiar jade statue atop the pyramid in the distance, Madam Wang felt a complex and indescribable mix of emotions.

Wang Yuyan looked at the jade statue with a slight surprise, thinking to herself, "Grandma's jade statue is indeed extraordinary."

(End of this chapter)