Chapter 163: Chapter 114: Waiting for a Long Time

He’d overlooked one variable.

And that variable was Fang Shuwen himself.

Dragon Emperor Hall might not know much about him, but Hundred Ghosts Hall certainly did. They had abandoned their plan to use Xu Shuxin to threaten Xu Wenwan precisely because of him, which meant they had some understanding of his power.

After all, he was the one who had killed Cao Jiuyin.

They should know, then, that the Bone King alone was no match for him.

Even with the enigmatic Vermilion Bird Hall Master, it might not be enough.

At the very least, it would be impossible for them to crush Yuqing Pavilion.

So why were they making such a fuss?

As this thought struck him, Fang Shuwen’s expression changed. He didn’t have time to explain to Zhou Qingmei. With a flash, he executed Soaring High followed by Ascending the Clouds, appearing before Yu Yaoguang in an instant.

Yu Yaoguang was slightly taken aback.

"Why are you running to me now? Aren’t you afraid your little sweetheart will get jealous?"

Fang Shuwen’s mind reeled at her words.

"What kind of nonsense are you talking about? I need to ask you something..."

"What is it?"

Seeing his solemn expression, Yu Yaoguang’s demeanor turned serious as well.

"The Hundred-Pound Saber... where exactly is it hidden?"

...

...

Battle erupted on the front mountain. The forces of Hundred Ghosts Hall and Dragon Emperor Hall were ferocious.

They had assembled a great number of masters. The members of Hundred Ghosts Hall were all under the Bone King’s command, just like the group led by that withered old man the other night.

They were adorned with bone ornaments and, though gaunt in appearance, their methods were ruthless, and they fought with no fear of death.

Dragon Emperor Hall’s Vermilion Bird Guards and Vermilion Bird Envoys were equally formidable.

The Fire Force they wielded was fierce and intense. A single hit would feel like being incinerated from within.

Fortunately, Yuqing Pavilion was no ordinary sect. At first, Yu Yaoguang did not appear. Zhai Xing and Lan Yue led dozens of Elders and over a thousand Yuqing Pavilion disciples to defend their formations and meet the enemy, and a bloody battle ensued.

The battle was a stalemate at first, but after Yu Yaoguang appeared and, with a few precise strikes, killed several Undead and masters under the Bone King, the scales began to tip.

Meanwhile, within Yuqing Pavilion, two figures dressed in the robes of Yuqing Pavilion disciples were slowly walking up the mountain.

As they walked, one of them suddenly spoke.

"Why haven’t we seen a single Yuqing Pavilion disciple along the way?"

The other replied:

"They can barely handle the situation at their front gate right now, let alone worry about anything else."

"That makes sense... Heh. With this plan to lure the tiger from the mountain, they could rack their brains and still never guess that we’ve already figured out where the Hundred-Pound Saber is."

"Are you sure your information is accurate? Did Bai Liuli really hide the Hundred-Pound Saber there back then?"

"It can’t be wrong. According to the Hall Master, after Yu Yaoguang was seriously injured, she must have guessed our objective.

"But there’s been no unusual activity within Yuqing Pavilion these past few days. It’s safe to assume Yu Yaoguang is guarding the Hundred-Pound Saber herself.

"In other words, the place where she’s recuperating is the place where the saber is hidden!"

"There’s a genius to it. Everyone who hears of the Cold Ice Pond only thinks of the Yuqing Fruit. Who would ever imagine there was another secret hidden beneath it?"

"Enough idle talk. Let’s hurry."

The two said no more. Seeing that no one was around, they pushed off with their feet, using their Lightweight Technique to race toward their destination.

A moment later, the two stopped before a building.

It was a snow-white structure, and just approaching it sent a wave of chilling air over them.

Hanging high above the door was a three-word inscription: Cold Ice Pavilion!

"This damned place... coming here in the dead of winter is enough to kill you."

"Heh, I’m rather looking forward to seeing the look on Fang Shuwen’s face. After he’s finished his massacre on the front mountain, he’ll turn around only to find that Yu Yaoguang is dead and the Hundred-Pound Saber is in our hands."

"Are Fang Shuwen’s Martial Arts really that incredible?"

"Incredible doesn’t even begin to cover it..."

The other man’s voice was filled with dread as he spoke of it.

"Cao Jiuyin’s Flesh Nether Technique was a Divine Technique that even I, this king, would be wary of.

"And yet, in the battle at Qiuyue Nunnery, he was completely powerless against this man...

"You and I may be considered masters in the Jianghu.

"But against him... it’s best we don’t cross paths."

"Hmph."

The other man’s tone was slightly defiant.

"You know my background. If I were to fight him, the outcome would be anything but certain.

"However, this mission is too important. I’ll let it slide for now.

"If we meet again in the Jianghu someday, we will have to have a proper match."

The man beside him just grinned, refraining from saying anything inappropriate and simply nodding repeatedly.

"Right, right, you’re right."

Although the man felt something was off about the response, he didn’t press the issue since his companion had agreed.

He tilted his head, listening intently for a moment, and the corners of his mouth curved into a slight smile.

"There’s someone inside. It must be Yu Yaoguang. Let’s go. Kill Yu Yaoguang, and search the Cold Ice Pond!"

Having said their piece, the two wasted no more words and pushed open the doors to the Cold Ice Pavilion.

Through the swirling white mist, they saw four White Jade Pillars draped with gauze curtains. On a stone platform beside the Cold Ice Pond, a figure sat, looking up at them.

But it wasn’t Yu Yaoguang, as they had expected.

Instead, it was a plainly dressed young man.

The young man looked at the two intruders and smiled faintly.

"You two have finally arrived. I have been waiting here for quite some time."

"Who are you?"

One of them demanded:

"Where is Yu Yaoguang? Is she so badly injured and beyond recovery that she sent you to die in her place?"

"Wait... There are almost no men in Yuqing Pavilion.

"Could you be... Fang Shuwen?"

The other man’s face drained of color. "Impossible! How can you be here? If you’re here, then who is on the front mountain?"

Fang Shuwen smiled faintly.

"The person on the front mountain is, of course, the Sect Leader of Yuqing Pavilion, Yu Yaoguang.

"Now, now, please calm yourselves. I only have one question...

"Between the two of you... which one is the Bone King?"