Chapter 96: The Mantuo Manor! Troublesome Guests Arrive!

Three months passed in a hurry.

Within the Song territory, in Suzhou.

A water-town of Jiangnan, flourishing with blossoms like brocade.

At this time, within the Mantuo Manor.

The camellias were blooming everywhere.

A beautifully dressed noblewoman sat alone in a pavilion.

Her oval face was as smooth and lustrous as jade, faintly suffused with a rosy glow like a flower’s stamen. Her expression was distant as she gazed at the sea of camellias—sometimes revealing a look of foolish longing, sometimes one of deep resentment. Yet, because she was so exquisitely beautiful, even though she was already in her thirties, her beauty remained dazzling, and her sorrow seemed less like bitterness and more like an aura of charm.

Tap tap~

Somewhat hurried footsteps approached. The noblewoman slightly recovered herself, withdrawing her expression and becoming blank-faced.

“Madam, a young master with the surname Fang has come to visit!”

The noblewoman’s expression did not change. She seemed as if she had not heard, or as if she did not care. After a long silence, she finally said a single phrase: “Do not see him.”

The maid obeyed, seeing her mistress appear lost in thought, and hurriedly replied “yes.” She was about to turn to leave when a voice suddenly floated from behind her:

“By the way, this Fang—did he say where he comes from?”

The maid’s heart gave a small jump, secretly fearful. She turned back and stammered: “He… he said…”

Seeing her falter, the noblewoman’s suspicions flared. She frowned and commanded: “Speak!”

The maid whispered: “He said… he said he came from Dali.”

The moment the noblewoman heard the words “Dali,” her eyes flashed with vicious light. She suddenly rose to her feet and snapped: “Go call Granny Rui and Granny Duan!”

After a short while, a group of tall, brutish-looking servant women followed behind the noblewoman.

She walked all the way outside the manor gates, where she saw three people quietly waiting.

The man was handsome, while both women were of breathtaking beauty. It was none other than Fang Han and his companions.

Upon seeing them, the noblewoman momentarily lost focus. But remembering that they had come from Dali, her expression hardened and she shouted: “Take them down!”

Granny Rui and Granny Duan immediately echoed her order.

The former was indifferent, while the latter—having once been driven off in terror by Fang Han at Mount Wuliang when chasing Mu Wanqing—felt a faint sense of familiarity. Yet, with four months having passed since then, and because she had retreated in panic without looking closely, she failed to immediately recognize him.

The rest of the servants surged forward.

Facing such a commotion, Fang Han and his two companions showed not the slightest trace of alarm. They stood there at ease, merely watching.

In fact…They even seemed as if they wanted to laugh.

🍃

Half a quarter of an hour later.

Inside the flower hall of Mantuo Manor, the noblewoman was tightly bound with five-flower knots. The fine yet unyielding ropes wrapped around her body, accentuating exaggerated curves and an alluring silhouette.

Miss Cheng, upon seeing the noblewoman’s appearance, was stunned by her beauty. Yet alongside her amazement, she felt a sense of familiarity.

She looks just like that jade statue within the Langhuan Blessed Land. Could it be that she is…

But seeing the ropes tied so tightly around her, she could not help but feel a little awkward, casting a strange look at Fang Han.

Why does Brother Fang seem a little…

Mu Wanqing, meanwhile, stared blankly at the noblewoman.

Seeing the mature, radiant beauty exuding from her, Mu Wanqing frowned secretly.

So this is that wicked woman surnamed Wang! Too bad my attempt to assassinate her before failed, yet today she’s been captured so easily.

As she stared longer, her face faintly reddened.

Why does Fang Lang have to tie her up like this? Wouldn’t binding just her hands and feet be enough? This is… so shameful…

Fang Han, oblivious to the subtle and strange gazes of the two young women, remained calm and unbothered.

He addressed the noblewoman in a clear voice:

“Upon first arriving at this esteemed place, I wish to borrow Madam’s Langhuan Jade Cave for a time. I wonder if you would agree?”

Hmm…

Hmm?

As he spoke, Fang Han’s expression flickered strangely, though he quickly composed himself.

The noblewoman, bound as she was, already felt humiliated to the extreme. Her face flushed red, almost dizzy from rage, her whole body hot. She glared hatefully at Fang Han. But upon hearing his words, she suddenly froze.

This man… How does he know of the Langhuan Jade Cave!?

That place was where the secret manuals transported from the Langhuan Blessed Land of Mount Wuliang were stored. It was a closely guarded secret of Mantuo Manor.

Though her heart was shaken, her voice was icy:

“I don’t know what you are talking about! What is Langhuan Jade Cave? I advise you to release me at once! Otherwise—!”

Fang Han chuckled: “Otherwise what?”

The noblewoman was immediately stifled.

Her servants had just now been no match at all—crushed in a single exchange, with several killed outright. Now with only herself left, what threats could she possibly make?

Fang Han smiled faintly:

“Why must Madam be so unwise? At this moment, I am the knife and you are the fish upon the chopping block. Even if you refuse, what use is it?

Why not first agree, then bide your time and seek revenge later? Who knows—you might truly find the chance for vengeance.”

Hearing this, the noblewoman inexplicably felt there was some truth in it. But quickly she realized…

In Fang Han’s eyes was a faint glimmer of mockery.

She gnashed her teeth in hatred.

This dog thief! How dare he mock me!

Her face flushed bright red, her eyes wide and blazing with fury.

Fang Han merely smiled, raising his hand to channel sword qi.

With a light swipe upon the ropes, the unyielding bindings split apart.

Over the past three months, Fang Han’s martial skill had of course not remained stagnant.

On their journey, he had dealt with various bandits, villains harboring ill intent—sometimes punishing them, sometimes killing them outright.

Many among them were martial practitioners, and thus Fang Han’s inner force had grown even stronger.

With his inner strength refined, his lightness skill and external techniques had likewise improved greatly.

His “Six Veins Divine Sword’s” formless sword qi had been cultivated to the point of effortless control.

To gather sword qi at his fingertips and release or withhold it at will was nothing more than casual work for him now.

The noblewoman saw clearly. With no sharp object in his hand, he had simply brushed across the rope, and yet the tough bindings had parted cleanly. Fear welled up in her heart.

She was not ignorant of martial arts.

Her background was significant—her father Wu Yazi, her mother Li Qiushui.

Having grown up under the influence of two of the Xiaoyao Three Elders, she naturally understood martial principles.

Though her parents had long since departed and she had never received proper instruction, thus lacking profound martial training, she still knew this feat was extraordinary.

Only one who had cultivated both internally and externally to a deep level could possibly manage it.

Realizing this, she dared not say more, her expression showing fear as she looked at Fang Han.

And so Fang Han and his companions simply stayed at Mantuo Manor like cuckoos in another’s nest.

Though in truth, “cuckoo in another’s nest” was too light a phrase—“uninvited guests” was more accurate.

They ate the manor’s food, lived in the manor’s halls, and now demanded use of its treasured martial arts manuals.

Yet though the noblewoman was furious, she dared not resist openly. In private, however, she smashed no small number of objects in her rage.

🍃

A few days later.

Manduo Manor.

Inside the Langhuan Jade Cave.

Fang Han carefully studied the secret manual in his hand.

After a while, he set it down, frowning in deep thought.

The manuals within this Langhuan Jade Cave were indeed abundant. From the Jianghu of the Great Song to other nations, the martial arts of many sects and schools were collected here.

Only…

The martial arts stored here were, in the end, merely first- or second-rate skills.

The true signature techniques of famous sects were rarely to be seen.

Fang Han was not surprised by this. He had not expected to find peerless martial arts here. His goal was simply to record and memorize more of these various schools’ techniques: first, to broaden his understanding of martial arts, and second, so that when his realm reached a certain height in the future, he could draw upon them, glean insights from different perspectives, and prepare in advance.

By this measure, the Langhuan Jade Cave perfectly suited Fang Han’s needs.

🍃🍃🍃