Chapter 73

"Looking at what?"

Lu Wushuang, who was following behind, saw Yue Yuan suddenly stop and couldn't help but ask, her gaze also following Yue Yuan's line of sight. However, she only saw passersby hurrying by, nothing particularly unusual.

"Nothing!"

While the lame girl was asking, the figure of Chilian Fairy had already disappeared from sight. Turning back, Yue Yuan casually replied, "I think we might not be able to stay in Xiangyang for long!"

"Oh?"

Confused, Lu Wushuang looked at Yue Yuan with a puzzled expression.

"If I'm not mistaken, the Heroes' Assembly will not be held in Xiangyang, but in a different place!"

Since coming to Xiangyang, Yue Yuan had found the Heroes' Assembly quite strange. In his memory, the Heroes' Assembly should be held at Lu Family Manor by Dasha Pass on the shores of Lake Taihu. However, the information Yue Yuan had gathered on his way to Xiangyang indicated that it was to be held in Xiangyang.

At first, Yue Yuan thought it was just strange, assuming that his presence had caused a butterfly effect. But after arriving in Xiangyang, he realized that things were not as simple as that.

Xiangyang was not suitable for hosting the Heroes' Assembly. Allowing countless martial artists to gather in the city would be a direct challenge to the imperial court. Although the Song Dynasty was already in decline, Guo Jing, known for his loyalty, would never do such a thing.

Moreover, Xiangyang was a crucial stronghold for the Song Dynasty, preventing the Mongols from advancing south. At this critical time, Xiangyang could not afford any chaos. If the Heroes' Assembly were held here, it would certainly divert the city's defensive forces and attract the attention of Mongol experts.

Therefore...

The news circulating in the martial world that the assembly would be held in Xiangyang could only have come from the Beggar Sect, and the person in charge must be the sect leader, Huang Rong.

But why would Huang Rong spread such news?

"..."

After some thought, Yue Yuan believed he had seen through Huang Rong's plan. She was aiming for a two-pronged strategy. Using her and her husband's reputation in the martial world, she would gather many martial artists to help defend Xiangyang, while they themselves would go to Lu Family Manor at Dasha Pass.

By using the name of the Heroes' Assembly to divert the attention of top martial artists and Mongol experts, even if Guo Jing and Huang Rong left Xiangyang, the Mongols would still be held back at Xiangyang until they returned.

Moreover, Yue Yuan was certain that even if Guo Jing and Huang Rong left, Huang Rong would have left some contingency plans in Xiangyang. These plans would need to be able to suppress ordinary martial artists, requiring both skill and reputation. There were not many people Huang Rong could use for this.

The most likely candidate was Ke Zhen'e remaining in Xiangyang.

With Ke Zhen'e's reputation, most martial artists would give him face, as long as they were not targeted by experts like Ouyang Feng or Jinlun Fawang. In most cases, Ke Zhen'e would be sufficient.

Of course...

Not everyone in the martial world was blind to Huang Rong's plans, like Yue Yuan himself. But the problem was that even if these experts saw through Huang Rong's intentions, they would still jump into the trap without hesitation. For example, Jinlun Fawang, who could serve as the Mongol imperial master, was no fool.

Why would he assist the army in attacking Xiangyang during the Heroes' Assembly instead of going to Lu Family Manor? The fundamental reason was that, in his eyes, only a direct blow to the morale of the Central Plains martial artists would be a true victory.

Not caring about the gain or loss of a single city, but focusing on breaking the spirit of the resistance, this was Jinlun Fawang's ultimate goal.

It was better to suffer losses in front of Xiangyang than to go to Lu Family Manor and challenge the Central Plains martial artists head-on, breaking their spirit.

Unfortunately, the plan, though good, ultimately resulted in...

Yue Yuan did not explain the details to Lu Wushuang. The lame girl was a delicate young lady, unsuited for such grand schemes. After all, not every female hero in this martial world had the potential to become a Huang Rong.

Lu Wushuang could only be the lame girl Lu Wushuang. It was better not to burden her with such difficult thoughts.

"Change the location?"

"Where to?"

Lu Wushuang scratched her ear, frowned, and asked, not understanding the intricacies.

"Lu Family Manor at Dasha Pass!"

Upon hearing this, Yue Yuan gave a straightforward answer to what he knew.

Lu Family Manor?

Lu Wushuang was taken aback, then seemed to recall something, her face slightly darkening.

Seeing the lame girl's expression, Yue Yuan knew that mentioning Lu Family Manor had triggered Lu Wushuang's memories. Although this Lu Family Manor was not Lu Zhan yuan's, the name was the same.

It was inevitable that it would bring back memories and sadness for Lu Wushuang.

Seeing this, Yue Yuan patted Lu Wushuang's shoulder, offering some comfort. There were some things Yue Yuan couldn't say, so he just suggested thinking about happier things.

But the question was...

How many happy things did the lame girl Lu Wushuang have in her life?

Meeting Yue Yuan's gaze, Lu Wushuang looked up, her eyes wide, and softly said, "Big Brother Yue, can we go to Dasha Pass?"

"..."

Yue Yuan was taken aback. Although Lu Wushuang didn't mention Lu Family Manor, Dasha Pass already implied its meaning. He then nodded, agreeing to Lu Wushuang's request.

Thus, the two turned and walked towards the Yue Lai Inn, preparing to set off for Dasha Pass immediately.

As for the figure of Chilian Fairy Li Mochou they had just seen... well, the lame girl's matters were more pressing. If they met Li Mochou again, she might still be angry. One could not underestimate a woman who loved and hated so deeply.

Especially when she was considered his predestined partner...

Such a woman needed to cool down, and should not be pushed too hard.

...

"Hmm?"

Sitting sideways on a donkey, Chilian Fairy Li Mochou suddenly paused, gently patting the donkey's head and feeding it a carrot. The donkey immediately stopped. Following her intuition, Li Mochou's gaze turned to the distant corner.

"Master, what's wrong?"

Beside her, Hong Lingbo, also riding a gray donkey, stopped and looked at her master, her eyes filled with confusion. As she spoke, her gaze also shifted.

At the corner, a figure in blue and white robes and a limping girl's silhouette flashed by.

The two peculiar figures disappeared from sight.

That's...!

Hong Lingbo's eyes widened; the limping girl's silhouette was too familiar!

Wasn't that her junior sister, Lu Wushuang?

Wasn't she at the small inn? Why did she come to Xiangyang?

Hong Lingbo didn't pay much attention to the figure in blue and white robes. She was worried about her junior sister's habit of running around and getting into dangerous situations. She thought, "Sister, if you're going to run, don't come here. This is like a lamb entering the tiger's mouth!"

Her heart racing, Hong Lingbo cautiously raised her head, observing her master's face for any changes.

Why is he here?

Li Mochou's expression was strange, a mix of shyness, anger, and resentment flashing across her face. Her hands were tightly clenched, her teeth gritted.

Hong Lingbo was terrified by Li Mochou's changing expression, thinking that the lightest punishment for her junior sister would be a severe beating, and the worst could be death. Before her worries could fully manifest, she heard Li Mochou exclaim in surprise, "Huh? Isn't that Lu Wushuang's back? That brat actually came to Xiangyang!"

Eh?!

Hong Lingbo stared at her master, Chilian Fairy, in shock, her face full of surprise.

Master, what did you see just now?

Hong Lingbo covered her forehead, speechless.