Wan Jian returns to his clan!

Chapter 177 Jin Yutang in Peril, Liu Feng's Sword Blows

"I'm going into the city. Fifth Brother, you all set off ahead of me and search the area towards the capital. Be careful in everything you do."

"Junior brother, be careful."

Fifth Senior Brother Zheng Yuanbin is clumsy with words, cold on the outside but warm on the inside.

His swordsmanship talent was actually very high. Before Lu Wubing came to the mountain, he was known as the number one swordsman after the eldest brother, much stronger than the second and third brothers.

However, Zheng Yuanbin's naturally aloof personality meant that he was disliked by everyone at the Sihai Escort Agency from a young age, and was practically invisible.

As he grew older, once he reached the mountain, he seemed to detach himself from his fellow disciples, simply practicing his swordsmanship in silence.

When he's not doing anything, you can't get a single word out of him even if you hit him three times.

Even the eldest brother, Yue Lingfeng, who was good at making friends and had a very loyal nature, would rather drink with peddlers and laborers than play with his fifth junior brother when he went down the mountain to help others.

Because he was too boring.

Not only did his fellow students not get along well with him, but his relationship with them was also not very good.

Even his master and mistress sometimes forget that he has such a disciple.

When awarding swords, everyone was treated equally; otherwise, there was little to say.

Frankly, this kind of personality is particularly unlikable. And nobody really cares about him.

But Lu Wubing knew that his fifth senior brother was not like that at heart.

It's unknown what kind of trauma he suffered as a child, but he learned to keep his heart tightly locked away, afraid to show it to others.

In fact, he also hopes to gain everyone's respect and to have close friends.

Why was this problem discovered?

For a time, Lu Wubing practiced the "Pine and Crane Manual" on the mountain. He would sneak up on the mountain at night and wander around. He even sneaked into the courtyard of his fifth senior brother.

Then he discovered that in the pitch-black night, Zheng Yuanbin would secretly practice swordsmanship until dawn, and when his arms were swollen, he would soak them in medicine and continue practicing.

When he was on the verge of a mental breakdown, he would take out the strongest liquor from Northwest China and secretly take a couple of sips.

When I got tired, I lay on my side on the tatami mat, fully clothed, for a while, and then got up to practice again.

Lu Wubing was somewhat surprised that this training method hadn't ruined his body.

Lu Wubing trained in this way himself, so he certainly knew the hardships involved.

You can see that you are improving with every sword practice. Under this strange positive feedback, you can become more and more energetic as you practice.

So, what kept Jung Won-bin going? How did he manage to persevere?

Every bit of hard work will yield results.

Every bit of hard work, in fact, will always be rewarded by God in secret.

Therefore, among his fellow disciples, Zheng Yuanbin had the most solid basic skills. After receiving the life force blessing from Lu Wubing and healing his hidden injuries, he also excelled in practicing the Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Fist and the Flowing Light Sword Style.

However, this senior brother always had one bad habit: he only spoke three-tenths of what he knew to others and always held back seven-tenths of his strength when he made a move.

On the surface, he appears to be just as formidable as his fourth senior brother, Zhang Dexing.

However, how could it escape Lu Wubing's eyes?
Aside from Senior Sister Xiao Lan and Senior Sister Qi, who often gave him special lessons, Lu Wubing believed that this Fifth Senior Brother was actually the strongest in combat and had the best swordsmanship among his fellow disciples.

Therefore, when Lu Wubing led his men down to pursue the enemy, he had his fourth senior brother, Zhang Dexing, lead ten disciples to manage affairs on the mountain, and also teach new disciples and assist his master's wife in guarding the mountain gate.

Zhang Dexing is approachable and can easily get along with people, but he is somewhat lacking in combat skills, which makes him perfect for this job.

And the fifth senior brother, Zheng Yuanbin.

Lu Wubing took him down the mountain and put him in charge of a region, searching for enemy traces and pursuing the enemy.

Meanwhile, he secretly infiltrated the city to investigate the ins and outs of the matter and take control of the overall situation.

Why not bring people with you into the city?

Not only Lu Wubing noticed it.

Jung Won-bin had already figured it out.

Although the pedestrians coming and going at the city gate still appear to be ordinary people in tattered clothes, if one is observant enough, one can notice something amiss.

Whether they were soldiers guarding the city or pedestrians on the road, some of them had a glint in their eyes, their temples were slightly bulging, and their tattered clothes were billowing, as if they were hiding weapons.

Having come into this world, Lu Wubing has experienced numerous battles and conflicts. His mental strength is extremely sharp, and his sword intent has already been refined to the [Yang Realm]. Therefore, he can sense things even more clearly now.

He could also sense that these skilled fighters, hidden among the crowd and appearing every few steps, exuded an aura of martial prowess and ruthlessness.

Its origins are self-evident, and its quality is questionable.

"Go ahead, there are too many people around, so you all need to give chase quickly. If you encounter them, try to stall for time and don't rush to attack."

Lu Wubing gave a word of advice, then swayed slightly and headed towards the city gate.

Just like a drop of water merging into the ocean.

One moment you can see him clearly, the next you can't find him anywhere.

"What a brilliant stealth technique! Junior Brother Dong, let's go."

Zheng Yuanbin watched from afar, then, without looking any longer, gave a shout and spurred his horse to gallop away.

The other seven mounted their horses and galloped away.

Jung Won-bin knew what his mission was.

The eight men walked along the main road, gathering information along the way. They fought boldly and decisively, and whenever they encountered someone who tried to stop them, they immediately went on a killing spree, making a name for themselves and attracting the attention of those who were interested.

As for the young sect leader Lu Wubing, he naturally remained hidden in the shadows, adapting to changing circumstances as a backup plan.

Only in this way can we thwart the opponent's schemes.

To scheme against someone, you must first know where they are, how strong they are, their personality, temperament, and habitual behavior.

We can't launch an attack before we've even found the target.

Losing the initial advantage will naturally lead to more defeats than victories.

In Lu Wubing's view, the other party's use of deception as a starting point was clearly aimed at him.

Therefore, as long as I don't show myself for the time being, no matter what the other party's plans are, they will be three points slower.

Only in this way can we ensure the safety of our family members to the greatest extent possible.

'There are at least seven or eight experts watching Jin Yutang's direction, including five top-tier experts. That's quite a large-scale operation.'

'Qunfang Road has been secretly occupied by some elite soldiers who entered the city. There must be a traitor within the city, but I wonder which one it is.'

Lu Wubing concealed his figure, floating like a wisp of smoke in the shadows of passersby and buildings, without disturbing anyone.

Silently bypassing several surveillance agents, he leaped over the wall and entered the Lu residence.

The journey was quiet and deserted.

The servants inside the house looked like wilted eggplants, listlessly carrying out their daily cleaning and sweeping tasks. They seemed to have sensed something was wrong and had no desire to make any noise.

We walked through the hall.

I didn't see any jade or green beads.

I didn't hear the little girl Liuli's childish cries either.

Presumably, he was taken to the capital by his parents.

The butler, Uncle Gui, sighed and stroked a peony in the back garden, his eyes filled with deep sorrow, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

"Young Master, please don't come back. We can have accidents, but you absolutely cannot have any accidents."

"At first, the master and madam didn't notice anything amiss, but they should have realized it by now. I wonder if the letter has been delivered to the Tianxing Sect yet. If the young master receives the news, how anxious he will be."

"Uncle Gui, what are you muttering about?"

Lu Wubing emerged from the shadow of a flowering tree and asked with a smile.

It was the first time he had ever seen the old housekeeper babbling incoherently like an old woman.

Normally, the housekeeper is always very efficient and never says a useless word. He handles everything at home perfectly and never causes any trouble.

"Young Master, shh...did no one stop you when you came in?"

"It's not that no one stopped us, but that no one noticed. Our family is currently on the outside but not on the inside. There are only a few spies at the entrance of the Lu residence, and no experts are watching over us."

"That's good, that's good." Uncle Gui breathed a sigh of relief, but then suddenly became nervous again: "Young Master, go to Jin Yutang quickly and ask Old Master Shen Liancheng to help. It would be best to ask the Tianxing Sect Master and his wife for help. This time, the people who came are not friendly."

“You noticed it too.” Lu Wubing shook his head. “Let’s not talk about that for now, I have my own plans. What exactly is going on with Father and Mother? Didn’t the Old Madam say she was in good health a while ago? My second uncle even wrote a letter saying that he was preparing to celebrate her 70th birthday on the 8th of the seventh lunar month this year. How did she fall ill?”

"What illness? I bet it's fake."

Uncle Gui slapped his forehead.

"Yesterday, Steward Wang from the Marquis's residence rushed over, saying that he was ordered by the Second Master of the Marquis's residence to take the Master and Madam to the capital. He wanted the Master to go and see if he could be cured. If not, he had to hurry, otherwise, he might not be able to see the Old Madam one last time."

Upon hearing the news, the lady fainted on the spot, and when she woke up, she was crying. We didn't react at first, and by the time we had prepared the car and hurriedly packed our things to leave, I realized something was wrong.

"What's wrong?"

"Those accompanying people, although their actions and demeanor were very respectful, their eyes were somewhat arrogant."

If these people were the Marquis's personal guards, their behavior would be understandable. However, as they left the city, they exchanged glances with someone... and the formation they formed didn't resemble an escort, but rather a convoy.

Uncle Gui looked miserable and said angrily, "I wanted to go and test the waters, but a fat man in brocade robes next to Steward Wang brushed me away with his sleeve. It was nothing at the time, but now I still feel nauseous."

As he spoke, blood trickled from the corner of Uncle Gui's mouth, but he seemed oblivious and continued talking. He said that afterwards he sent two groups of people to Jin Yutang and Tianxing Peak to deliver messages, but so far he has not received any feedback.

"You have suffered internal injuries."

A cold glint flashed in Lu Wubing's eyes, and six silver needles appeared in his hand without him even noticing.

The needle flashed slightly, piercing Uncle Gui's chest and abdomen. He said coldly, "It's the Meridian Interception Technique. If it doesn't take effect immediately, the blood will rush back and the heart meridian will rupture in a day or two. This person's attack is extremely ruthless. Don't guess anymore, he must be an enemy."

"How dare they be so audacious! Are they afraid I won't give chase?"

Lu Wubing chuckled, took the letter from Uncle Gui, glanced at it, and understood the whole story.

The father hastily wrote down a few words, and it was clear that the old man also harbored doubts.

But this matter concerns human ethics and etiquette, so even if one knows it's fake, one has no choice but to go.

Moreover, it's hard to tell the difference between what's true and what's false.

Those who came to pick them up were indeed the head steward of the Marquis's mansion, and several familiar servants from the Marquis's mansion.

The warrant did indeed bear the second uncle's private seal, which was undeniable. However, there was something wrong with the accompanying personnel.

The old man, Lu Changfeng, was quite shrewd. He whispered a few words to Lu Wubing, telling him that if he mastered the Six Yang Needle technique, he should go to the capital to help his maternal grandmother with her illness.

This is something worth discussing.

Others might not know, but how could the old man not know?
He had not only mastered the Six Yang Needles technique, but had also surpassed his teacher. He could bring the dead back to life and heal the wounded. Ordinary illnesses were nothing to him.

Instead of sending himself directly to the capital, he left behind this message, the deeper meaning of which is self-evident.

"Before leaving, Madam also said that if you are too busy, don't force yourself. Just focus on practicing your sword at Tianxing Sect. Young Master, you don't need to worry about things at home."

There's a hidden meaning in his words.

Lu Wubing sighed, withdrew the six silver needles, shook his head and chuckled, and his figure disappeared into the swaying shadows of the trees, as if he had never returned.

Uncle Gui was startled and turned to look around, only to find the backyard deserted and devoid of any human presence.

A clear voice, barely audible, rang in their ears: "Don't worry, no one can hurt them."

"Young Master's medical skills and martial arts are truly impressive."

Uncle Gui touched his chest and abdomen and felt that his breathing was smooth, his meager internal energy had become active again, and his spirits had also become vigorous.

A smile appeared on his face.

They come without a trace and go without a trace, their methods are even more unpredictable.

Who knows where these thieves came from, daring to provoke me? This time, I just hope they don't die too easily.

……

Shen Wanjian, the young master of Jinyutang, is about to get married. His bride is the daughter of the Luo family, a prominent family in Wenxi. The two families are well-matched and it is truly a match made in heaven. So the wedding ceremony is quite grand.

Not only will merchants from all directions come to witness the ceremony, but also many martial arts figures will be invited due to Shen Liancheng's status as an elder of the Tianxing Sect from the Jin Yutang Shen family.

For a time, the city was teeming with martial arts practitioners, a chaotic mix of all sorts, making it impossible to distinguish one from another.

Some people with ulterior motives also took this opportunity to secretly bring their elite forces into the city. Lu Wubing had some guesses about their intentions, but he wasn't too sure.

We can't just call off Senior Brother Shen's wedding.

The auspicious day has been set long ago and cannot be changed at will.

Even if we change the date and avoid disaster this time, what about next time? Will they not come?

It's unclear what grudge or hatred they harbored that led them to choose the day Jin Yutang and Shen Liancheng were getting married to make their move. This shows that they are malicious and unlikely to be forgiven.

When Lu Wubing passed by Jin Yutang, he paused slightly and glanced at him. He saw that Uncle Shen and Shen Wanjian were standing solemnly with heavy expressions on their faces.

Clearly, they were not without precautions.

They probably made some preparations, but they never expected the attackers to be so powerful.

After walking several hundred steps, Lu Wubing sensed the aura of three top-tier experts above the restaurant, one of whom had an ethereal presence that even he couldn't quite perceive.

His expression tightened slightly, and after thinking for a moment, he decided not to alert the enemy.

The shadows of the willow trees on the ground swayed, the grass by the river was stirred by the wind, and the person was already far away.

It's best not to cause any unnecessary trouble at this point. Let's find out where my father and mother are first.

……

"Commander Tong, we've covered over 400 li in a day and a night, changing directions three times. Do you think we've shaken off our pursuers?"

The speaker was a long-bearded old man holding a huge ink brush, who jumped around like a monkey.

Judging from his tone, he seemed unhappy about shaking off the enemy.

"Yes, in my opinion, we should leave some marks on the road so they can catch up."

Especially Lu Wubing... In times without heroes, even a nobody can become famous.

What's there to be afraid of in a seventeen-year-old kid?
"If he catches up, I'll smash his head with a plate and let that old bastard taste the bitterness of a parent outliving their child."

The one who answered was a burly old man with a long beard, holding a huge black iron inkstone in his hand...

The iron inkstone, weighing about seventy or eighty pounds, felt like a thin wooden board in his hands. He waved it around his ear from time to time, fanning himself with air.

Clearly, he couldn't stand the sweltering heat and felt restless.

Beside this person were two strangely shaped old men.

A person with a head as big as a bucket and slender limbs held a piece of white paper made of some unknown material. With a wave of his hand, it faintly formed a giant net.

The other person was tall and thin, with a long face and narrow jaw, holding a semi-transparent bottle in his hands.

Black ink swirled within the bottle, and venomous snakes and centipedes could be faintly seen peeking out.

These four people are the Four Wonders of Tongshan: Paper, Brush, Ink, and Inkstone.

He was a master of martial arts and esoteric arts, who was recruited by the Golden Scale Guard to serve under them, capture notorious thieves, and establish meritorious service.

He was usually intimidating and acted recklessly.

The Golden Scale Guard has collected countless such unorthodox, gray-area masters.

Under normal circumstances, they obeyed the orders of the Golden Scale Guards, and in their spare time, they secretly engaged in robbery and plunder.

With their official status, they lived a much more comfortable life than ordinary people in the martial arts world.

Of course, that also means less freedom.

Qianhu Tongqi turned his head and looked at Lu Changfeng and Chen Yulian, who were tied up tightly, as well as the guards lying haphazardly on the ground. He sneered, "Just wait here. If I'm not mistaken, that Lu fellow should be here soon."

He bowed respectfully to the large tree at the temple gate and said with a smile, "I would appreciate it if Senior Li could personally oversee the operation... This man has killed officials and robbed many innocent people, and his crimes are truly heinous. I have heard that he has a very close personal relationship with Princess Chang Le, so he must not be allowed to live."

"Rest assured, since His Highness has sent me, this matter is sure to be foolproof. If he dares to come, I will kill him in front of the little princess... Let's see how many moves this [Southern Sword] can withstand under my Flowing Wind Sword?"

A low, hoarse laugh came from the tree.

The wind rustled the trees, but no one was in sight.

……

(End of this chapter)