“You…”
The middle-aged man in a crimson robe wiped the blood off his face, looking both shocked and angry, as he raised his hand to strike Meng Xiaoyu again.
However, he was stopped by Zhao Tianyu, who was seated at the main position.
Meng Xiaoyu was puzzled as she watched Zhao Tianyu slowly descend from the main seat.
She couldn’t understand why Zhao Tianyu had stopped the middle-aged man, so she could only stand there, curious to see what Zhao Tianyu intended to do.
“Today is the day of the Heroes’ Gathering. Could the two of you, esteemed warriors, grant this old man some face and discuss any grievances after the gathering?”
Zhao Tianyu said with a smile, slightly bowing to Meng Xiaoyu and the middle-aged man in the crimson robe.
Seeing the master of Lingyu Mountain Villa speak in such a manner, the previously furious middle-aged man could only glare at Meng Xiaoyu angrily.
Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he sat back down, ignoring the wound on his cheek that was still slowly bleeding.
Meng Xiaoyu, seeing that the man only glared at her before sitting back down, decided not to pursue the matter further since she had already gained the upper hand.
She touched her nose and sat back beside Han Rubing.
As Meng Xiaoyu and the middle-aged man in the crimson robe returned to their original seats, Zhao Tianyu smiled, stroked his graying beard, and said, “The matter is resolved. Can the two warriors on stage continue their duel?”
After receiving nods of agreement from Han Rushuang and the blue-robed man with a small mustache, he loudly announced the continuation of the duel and returned to his seat to watch.
However, shortly after he sat down, a man in a blue outfit hurriedly approached Zhao Tianyu and Tie Zhenhu, whispering a few words.
The crowd then saw Zhao Tianyu and Tie Zhenhu’s expressions turn grim.
Zhao Tianyu quickly stood up and called for the duel to stop.
Finally, he clasped his hands and bowed to the crowd, saying, “Esteemed heroes, I must apologize for the sudden interruption. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I have to pause the duel. I ask for your understanding.”
“Master Zhao, what urgent matter could possibly warrant stopping the duel?”
The crowd, already confused by Zhao Tianyu’s sudden interruption, was even more puzzled after hearing his words.
What could be so serious that it would cause Zhao Tianyu to halt the Heroes’ Gathering and stop the duel?
“Well…”
Zhao Tianyu hesitated for a moment before continuing, “Sigh! My second brother just sent a disciple to inform me that the sacred martial artifact, the Xuanfeng Token, stored in the Shenwu Pavilion, was stolen by the renowned thief Ling Yuer during the Heroes’ Gathering when the pavilion’s defenses were lax. This is all my fault! It was my poor arrangements that led to the theft of the sacred artifact. I am truly sorry to all the heroes present!”
As Zhao Tianyu finished speaking with a deeply remorseful expression, the martial artists present erupted into a flurry of discussions.
“What? Ling Yuer stole the Xuanfeng Token? How is that possible? Isn’t she afraid of being hunted by the entire martial world?”
one person exclaimed incredulously.
“Hunted? Don’t forget, the Xuanfeng Token contains the peerless martial art ‘Xuanwu Heart Sutra.’ If she learns it, she’ll be invincible. At that point, would she still fear being hunted by the entire martial world?”
another person retorted disdainfully.
“Hmph, I doubt it. Although it’s said that the Xuanfeng Token contains an invincible martial art, no one has ever deciphered its secrets. How can you be sure that Ling Yuer, having obtained the Xuanfeng Token, can unlock its secrets and learn the peerless martial art? Besides, that was just Zhao Tianyu’s one-sided claim. We can’t be sure if Ling Yuer really stole the Xuanfeng Token! Maybe it wasn’t stolen at all!”
a third person speculated mysteriously.
“Regardless of whether Ling Yuer stole the Xuanfeng Token, if it wasn’t stolen, why would Master Zhao claim it was? And look at Master Zhao and Master Tie’s grim expressions; they don’t seem to be faking it,” the second person countered.
“Hmph, you just mentioned that the Xuanfeng Token contains a peerless martial art. Since it’s a peerless martial art, every martial artist would want it, right? How do you know Zhao Tianyu and Tie Zhenhu didn’t steal it themselves and then frame Ling Yuer?”
a young man with a handsome face but a long scar on his left cheek, holding a large knife, said disdainfully.
Hearing the young man’s words, the others looked at him in disbelief.
“Are you suggesting that Master Zhao and Master Tie hid the Xuanfeng Token and then falsely accused Ling Yuer of stealing it? That’s impossible! Master Zhao and Master Tie are well-respected figures in Jianghu. They wouldn’t do such a thing!”
the first person argued, with the second and third nodding in agreement.
“Hmph…”
The young man snorted, then turned away with a mocking smile, ignoring the others.
Seeing the young man stop talking, the others also ignored him and resumed discussing the theft of the Xuanfeng Token.
“Rubing, who is this Ling Yuer they’re talking about?”
Meng Xiaoyu asked curiously, having heard the discussion about the Xuanfeng Token and the thief Ling Yuer.
“Ling Yuer, known as the Linglong Thief, is a famous thief in Jianghu. It’s said she started her career at fifteen and has been active for over six years. In that time, anything she set her sights on and declared she would steal, she succeeded in stealing, never once being caught,” Han Rubing explained calmly.
“Wow, she’s that amazing!”
Meng Xiaoyu exclaimed in awe after hearing Han Rubing’s explanation.
“Heh, maybe,” Han Rubing chuckled lightly in response to Meng Xiaoyu’s amazement.
Just as Meng Xiaoyu was about to ask more questions, Zhao Tianyu, standing at the main position, spoke loudly, “Esteemed heroes, I know you have doubts about the sudden theft of the Xuanfeng Token. Therefore, I hope you can join Master Tie and me in going to the Shenwu Pavilion to see for yourselves. Would you be willing?”
“Rubing, since the Xuanfeng Token has already been stolen, what’s the point of going to see it now?”
Meng Xiaoyu asked curiously as she stood up and walked alongside Han Rubing, following the crowd to the Shenwu Pavilion.
She couldn’t understand why they were going to see it now that it was stolen.
Would seeing it help recover the stolen item?
“It’s just to show everyone that the Xuanfeng Token was indeed stolen by Ling Yuer and not taken by Zhao Tianyu and Tie Zhenhu themselves,” Han Rubing replied with a mocking smile.
“Oh, I see!”
Meng Xiaoyu nodded in understanding after hearing Han Rubing’s explanation.
Then she noticed someone beside her and turned to see who it was, happily hugging the person’s arm.
“Rushuang!”
Seeing Meng Xiaoyu hugging her left arm, Han Rushuang’s usually cold expression softened, and she murmured, “Yuer, it’s good to have you.”
However, her voice was so soft that Meng Xiaoyu, nestled beside her, didn’t hear it.
So when Meng Xiaoyu looked up with her big, curious eyes, Han Rushuang just smiled gently and said nothing more.
Seeing Han Rushuang remain silent, Meng Xiaoyu didn’t press further.
She continued walking leisurely with Han Rubing and Han Rushuang, following the crowd.
However, within five minutes, Meng Xiaoyu released their arms, clutching her stomach with a pained expression.
“Yuer, what’s wrong?”
Seeing Meng Xiaoyu suddenly let go and clutch her stomach in pain, Han Rubing and Han Rushuang asked worriedly.
“Rubing, you and Rushuang go ahead to the Shenwu Pavilion. I need to use the restroom and will catch up with you there,” Meng Xiaoyu said before quickly running off.
“…”
Watching Meng Xiaoyu run off, Han Rubing held back the words “Do you want me to go with you?”
and turned to her sister, silently asking if they should wait for Meng Xiaoyu or go to the Shenwu Pavilion as planned.
She saw her sister standing there with her eyes closed, resting.
Seeing her sister’s silent answer, Han Rubing, as if expecting it, chuckled softly and stood there with a smile, waiting for Meng Xiaoyu to return.
