Chapter 115: Lu Ling’s Plotting
Lu Ling had a face full of joy, seemingly relieved that his junior brother and junior sister had returned safely.
But the faint trace of gloom at the bottom of his eyes that was barely detectable revealed his duplicitous thoughts.
“Third Senior Brother”
Bai Yun and Su Yan only responded faintly, not particularly enthusiastic.
Among the several true disciples, there were degrees of closeness, and they usually spoke in this tone, so it didn’t arouse Lu Ling’s suspicion, though the gloom in his eyes flashed again.
Li Jinshan was on the bed, having used second-order healing medicine, and was much better. Seeing Bai Yun and Su Yan come together, joy appeared on his face.
“How come even you two came? It’s just a minor injury, I was just caught off guard by that brat Long Rui’s sneak attack.”
Li Jinshan tried to prop himself up, but was pressed back down by Su Yan.
“Rest properly if you’re resting, don’t move around. Your injury is on your chest.”
Li Jinshan’s upper body was bare, covered with a thin blanket. Up close, one could see bandages wrapped from his left shoulder diagonally to his right lower ribs.
Thickly wrapped, he looked quite disheveled.
“How do you feel?”
Bai Yun stood beside Su Yan, looking at Li Jinshan and asking.
“Ribs have been set, but it still hurts a bit, need a few days.”
Su Yan examined him. Though not a physician, he knew quite a bit about pharmacology and pathology from medicine refining, and nodded slightly: “It’s a bit better, but though there are no visible injuries to the lungs and internals, there is some hidden injury from blade qi, making you uncomfortable.”
Li Jinshan looked at Su Yan in surprise: “You understand this too? There is indeed some faint pain, but circulating true essence eases it a bit. Probably from that guy Long Rui’s true essence.”
In martial artist combat, true essence is the method.
Li Jinshan didn’t mind such injuries. As long as he recovered, he could use his own true essence to expel the opponent’s residual true essence erosion.
“Use this.”
Su Yan handed over the porcelain bottle of Five Aggregates Pills and said: “Five Aggregates Pills can nourish the internal organs. I slightly adjusted the medicinal property; the nourishing effect is a bit weaker, but it has more blood-tonifying and healing properties, perfect for Senior Brother.”
When the item was taken out, Li Jinshan dazedly received it, his face full of shock: “You know medicine refining too?”
He only knew his junior brother had exceptional cultivation talent, but he absolutely hadn’t expected that this junior brother also knew medicine refining.
Even Bai Yun and Lu Ling beside him showed the same astonished expressions, the latter with a flash of jealousy and hatred.
‘That thief, how does he have such skills?!’
Su Yan smiled: “I’m on good terms with Old Master Song; he asked Old Man Xu Zhongdao to teach me a bit.”
“Hahaha, but you still need talent for that.”
Li Jinshan laughed heartily, happier that his junior brother had medicine refining skills than receiving the Five Aggregates Pills.
They chatted a few words, then left the room together without further disturbing Li Jinshan’s rest.
“Sigh, it’s all my fault. If I could have returned earlier, Senior Brother wouldn’t have had to fight injured.”
Once in the courtyard, Lu Ling sighed heavily, a self-blaming expression on his face.
“Seven Blades Martial Arts School acts insidiously; what does it have to do with you?”
Bai Yun’s tone remained flat, but Lu Ling wasn’t annoyed; instead, he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Junior Sister is right. Right now, Seven Blades Martial Arts School is borrowing the Little Mountain Association’s momentum and will surely press step by step. You and Junior Brother are often out; you must be extra careful.”
“Senior Brother, they can press step by step, but we have to take it lying down?”
Su Yan raised his gaze, showing a bit of sternness.
Lu Ling was slightly startled and asked: “What do you mean, Junior Brother? You want to challenge their school too?”
He immediately dissuaded: “Since Long Rui has already defeated Senior Brother and taken the shop on South Street, they’re surely waiting for us to go challenge them. Going rashly might be a trap.”
Challenging a school is never settled in one go.
Unless utterly crushing the opponent without suspense, showing an insurmountable gap.
But clearly, Seven Blades Martial Arts School’s actions this time couldn’t achieve that effect.
Their defenses were inevitable.
Su Yan smiled: “They can exploit a weakness, but can’t we lure the tiger away from the mountain?”
Lu Ling was stunned, showing a puzzled expression: “Junior Brother, what do you want to do?”
“Little Mountain Association has Qing He Mountain in the inner mountain area; that’s their medicine field, especially important. If a beast tide or bandit disaster happens there, how many true disciples do you think they’ll send to suppress it?”
Lu Ling looked surprised, having thought this junior brother was an honest person, but unexpectedly so ruthless.
His eyes flickered as if hesitating, and he said: “Junior Brother, if our movements are exposed, it might lead to an all-out fight.”
“Senior Sister and I returned without anyone knowing; how would our movements be exposed? Once their true disciples are lured away, Senior Brother goes to challenge the school and take back the martial arts school’s things—that would be great merit.”
‘Great merit? You two hide behind the scenes while I do the dangerous challenging… what shrewd calculation…’
Lu Ling sneered inwardly, having seen through Su Yan’s intentions, but then thought: ‘No matter how shrewd the calculation, I can turn it against them. If that kid has an accident and I win, then Golden Ape Martial Arts School will naturally be mine to inherit…’
His eyes brightened slightly, and after pondering, he said: “Junior Brother, this plan is dangerous; we must tell Master first.”
“No, if Master knows, how would he agree? This matter will only be handled by us three. Is Third Senior Brother willing to help?”
Su Yan looked at Lu Ling, who showed a troubled expression, pondered for a long time, then nodded: “Alright, we’ll act according to Junior Brother’s plan. Tomorrow night you act at Qing He Mountain to lure their true disciples there; I’ll go challenge the school early the next morning.”
“Thank you, Senior Brother.”
The three settled the matter in the courtyard. Lu Ling carefully instructed that Qing He Mountain might have true disciples guarding it, so even if causing trouble, they must be careful not to expose themselves.
Once the time was set, Lu Ling left first.
Seeing Lu Ling’s departing figure, cold light flashed in Bai Yun’s eyes, and Su Yan’s face was full of amusement.
“Do you think he’ll act?”
Bai Yun’s tone was icy. Though she had suspected someone leaked the news of Senior Brother Li Jinshan’s injury.
She hadn’t expected it to be Lu Ling.
“He will.”
Su Yan said darkly: “Back then, it was his doing with Gu Hong. He’s truly someone all talk no action, blind to the situation—who else would act if not him?”
Earlier, though Lu Ling hid it well, it was too contrived.
In Su Yan and Bai Yun’s eyes, he was like a clown deliberately posturing.
Bai Yun nodded slightly: “I’ll wait for your message.”
Time passed in a flash. With the plan and arrangements made with Su Yan, Lu Ling showed no reaction during the day.
Due to Li Jinshan’s injury, he temporarily took over teaching the inner disciples martial arts and handling martial arts school affairs.
The day passed in a circle without even stepping out of Golden Ape Martial Arts School’s gate once.
Night fell, moonlight hung on treetops, like a jade disc hanging on black cloth covering the sky.
At this time, the martial arts school was quiet all around; disciples had all returned to their rooms to sleep. Except for a few servants on night watch at the gate and courtyards, no other figures were present.
Lu Ling gauged the time, quietly flipped out his window, movements light without a sound, and slipped out of Golden Ape Martial Arts School.
Yun Cang Town was now deep night; aside from flower and willow alleys, all streets big and small were pitch black, occasionally passing wealthy households with two or three lanterns hanging at their doors, dimly lighting street corners.
Moonlight was bright, illuminating Lu Ling’s figure. Wearing a face mask, he moved lightly and swiftly toward one direction.
Soon he arrived outside Seven Blades Martial Arts School, didn’t knock, found a spot, quietly flipped in, and entered a rockery in the inner courtyard.
He took out a strange short flute, blew it, emitting a crow-like strange sound.
After three times, suddenly rustling sounds came from outside the rockery.
“You’re quite punctual.”
The arrival was tall, in black clothes and boots, a man in his thirties, decent-looking but with somewhat gloom eyes.
“Long Rui, take me to see Hall Master Long.”
Seeing the arrival, cold light flashed in Lu Ling’s eyes, his face darkening.
“Follow me.”
Long Rui walked ahead, Lu Ling followed with a gloom face; he could feel Long Rui’s contempt for him.
But he was helpless, not even daring to retort openly.
‘That fool Yin Ruguang, even in death leaves me trouble.’
Lu Ling and Yin Ruguang had long cooperated to eliminate rivals, their relationship close.
That day Yin Ruguang died in Miasma Valley, killed by his own junior brother Su Yan.
He had long been uneasy, fearing Yin Ruguang revealed something before dying.
He had prepared countless excuses, even planning to hire killers to eliminate Su Yan and cut off future troubles.
But unexpectedly, what came wasn’t Su Yan’s death, but Long Rui with their past correspondence letters.
That fool Yin Ruguang, to blackmail him later, had kept a large amount of evidence.
Just this was enough to control him.
That day in Seven Blades Martial Arts School, Long Qidao was high above, while he groveled like a dog.
Long Rui brought Lu Ling to a hall, quiet with only one lamp lit, somewhat dim and yellow.
In the hall sat one person, one hand on the table edge, the other twirling iron gallbladders, draped in a tiger hide coat.
“Dad, I brought the person.”
“Mm.”
Long Qidao responded, lowering his gaze to Lu Ling, eyes like knives, and asked: “Lu Ling, so eager to sneak out—you’re not afraid Old Man Bai Changlin will find out?”
His words carried clear contempt; after all, Lu Ling was Bai Changlin’s disciple.
“I could come out, so Master naturally doesn’t know.”
Hearing Lu Ling say “Master,” not only Long Qidao but even Long Rui beside him showed disdain.
Long Qidao narrowed his eyes and said: “Impressive skills. I see it won’t be long before you break through to true intent; then Golden Ape Martial Arts School will be yours to command, right?”
Lu Ling didn’t answer, only saying: “The person you’re looking for has returned.”
Long Qidao’s tiger eyes brightened; the iron gallbladders in his hand clacked together, gripped tightly, no longer twirled.
“That brat Su Yan is back at Golden Ape Martial Arts School?”
“Returned quietly last night.”
Lu Ling narrowed his eyes, staring at Long Qidao: “I’ve told you the news; when do I get my letters back?”
Lu Ling didn’t want to be manipulated, but how would Long Qidao let him have his way.
‘Fool.’
Long Qidao mocked inwardly and said: “Keep a close eye on his movements, and you’ll naturally get your letters. Those letters are nothing; if you cooperate obediently with me, once Bai Changlin is dead, I’ll let you become Golden Ape Martial Arts School’s school master.”
Long Qidao envisioned dominating alone, becoming Yun Cang Town’s sole martial arts school—no more Black Stone Martial Arts School, Golden Ape Martial Arts School, or others.
As long as those martial arts schools vanished entirely, he could recruit disciples on a large scale, train promising talents, and soon Seven Blades Martial Arts School would be among the strongest forces.
Unfortunately, Zhao Pan wouldn’t allow it, nor would local snake Lin Family or other forces.
So he took another path, planning to cultivate a puppet school master for his use.
Lu Ling was foolish but could tell this was just Long Qidao painting a pie.
He said coldly: “One piece of news for the letters—don’t paint big pies to fool me; I’m not a child. If you really want cooperation, show sincerity.”
“What news? About Su Yan?”
“I don’t care what you want with him; that’s not my business. I only know this news will let you catch him.”
At this, Long Qidao’s eyes flickered, showing a thoughtful expression.
Though Su Yan had reappeared, it was hard to act immediately in Golden Ape Martial Arts School.
That old man Bai Changlin was still there; if they really fought, his subordinates would suffer heavy casualties.
And they might not even win.
“A Rui, give him the things.”
Long Qidao quickly decided. Long Rui went out and soon returned with a small box of letters.
Many were just coded messages instructing Yin Ruguang to eliminate someone.
Not much, but enough to control Lu Ling, even enough for Bai Changlin to cripple this true disciple.
Getting the items, joy flashed in Lu Ling’s eyes as he clutched them close.
“Su Yan and Bai Yun secretly rushed back to Yun Cang Town, arrived last night. This morning they told me something—they plan to strike at you…”
Lu Ling recounted today’s events in detail. Long Qidao showed surprise and kept saying: “Lu Ling, what are you trying to do?”
Lu Ling was clearly luring Su Yan and the others to Qing He Mountain.
“Kill him. You take his life; the day after tomorrow I’ll challenge and defeat one of you, using that merit to rise to power.”
“Hahaha, you’re ruthless to your fellow disciples, even more to Bai Changlin. Bai Yun is his only daughter; aren’t you afraid he’ll slaughter you?”
“The Qing He Mountain trip is known only to us three—not even Master knows. Even if they die, he absolutely won’t suspect.”
Lu Ling’s tone was icy; this was his plan—borrow a knife to kill.
Cooperation with Yin Ruguang, why not with Long Qidao?
Even dancing with a tiger was better than watching Bai Changlin give Golden Ape Martial Arts School to Li Jinshan or Su Yan.
He was the one who contributed most to Golden Ape Martial Arts School.
Managing shops, handling internal and external connections—which wasn’t done best by him?
Long Qidao pondered briefly. Lu Ling stared at him unwaveringly.
Long Qidao considered if this was a trap, pondered Bai Changlin’s reaction.
‘Hmph, even if he reacts, so what? According to Little Mountain Association’s news, that kid progressed so fast—likely got some opportunity, probably Pang Tianfeng’s things. If I miss it, I’ll regret it for life.’
Having decided inwardly, he said: “I agree. Tomorrow night Long Rui will take men to Qing He Mountain to catch them. I’ll leave junior disciples to guard the school for you to challenge and defeat. You gain fame from winning; I’ll help you rise.”
The two reached agreement, the atmosphere instantly easing.
“They’ll attack Qing He Mountain tomorrow night. Bai Yun and Su Yan aren’t weak; prepare yourselves. To avoid accidents, after tonight until they die, I won’t come again. You send men to stake out.”
“I know; once they enter Qing He Mountain’s mountainous area, they absolutely can’t escape my surveillance.”
Long Qidao agreed readily. Lu Ling nodded satisfied, took the letters, and left Seven Blades Martial Arts School.
Likewise flipping over the wall out, holding the past letters in hand, suddenly decisive like a bird into forest or fish into sea—no longer easily controlled.
Footsteps echoed on the street. On the quiet road back to Golden Ape Martial Arts School, suddenly two figures appeared.
“Senior Brother, where are you coming back from in the middle of the night?”
