CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48: YOU RECOGNIZED ME, DIDN’T YOU?

Lu Chengfeng was stunned for a moment and then smiled, saying, "If Senior Sister is willing to come, I would naturally be more than happy."

Lu Lingxi nodded and didn’t speak further.

"In my opinion, why don’t we set a date and have another drink together then?" Xu Changge suggested.

Having spent more than a month together, they had developed quite a rapport and naturally didn’t want to just let it fade, hence the proposal for another meeting.

Interaction among disciples from different Inner Peaks greatly benefits one’s own cultivation, and during training, cooperation with the Five Peaks’ disciples is indispensable.

Lu Chengfeng was naturally pleased with this outcome. His connections on the Inner Peak were sparse, knowing only Zhou Tong, so forming ties with other True Inheritances could only be a good thing.

Hearing this, Tan Xiong glanced at Lu Chengfeng and said, "That’s fine, but this time when we return, everyone will likely exchange their pills and enter closed-door cultivation. It’s uncertain when they’ll emerge."

"Why not plan once we’re out of seclusion?"

The others naturally had no objections. They just didn’t want their friendships to completely sever; as for when to gather again, it wasn’t crucial.

They traveled swiftly and managed to exit the Enchanted Swamp before sunset, returning the Profound Iron Armor at the Dragon-breaking Stone, agreed to meet for a banquet another day, and then parted ways.

By this time, night had fully descended. Lu Chengfeng walked alone under the night sky. Having removed his armor, he was dressed in black, with his copper crown taken off as well, his long hair hanging loosely.

Instead of returning directly to Bixiao Peak, he slightly altered his route, heading to another nearby Outer Peak, Azure Dragon Peak.

He had previously visited Azure Dragon Peak with Zhao Changzhen to meet Elder Xiao, and remembered the location and Elder Xiao’s residence clearly.

Halfway there, it began to drizzle lightly, a cloud covering the sky, even obscuring the moonlight, making the night ever darker, nearly impossible to see one’s hand in front of them.

Upon reaching the foot of Azure Dragon Peak, Lu Chengfeng tore a piece of cloak with his sword and covered his face, using the Thousand Shadows Body Technique to move swiftly like a ghost through the night.

His mastery of this body technique had reached the Eighteen Layers of Perfection, making him truly ghost-like in the cover of night.

Halfway up the mountain, as it rained, two Mountain Guardian disciples sheltered in a pavilion, avoiding the rain. A dim lantern hung in the pavilion, swaying gently in the wind.

Lu Chengfeng slipped through the darkness without a sound, and the two Mountain Guardian disciples didn’t notice anything amiss.

The night was pitch black, and the rain grew heavier, drenching Lu Chengfeng. His hair clung wetly to his face, but his eyes remained indifferent.

Traversing the rain-soaked night, he relied on his memory to precisely locate Elder Xiao’s residence.

The place was unmistakable; as the First Seat Elder of Azure Dragon Peak, the most exquisitely luxurious three-story wooden building on the peak was his residence.

When he arrived, the three-story building was still brightly lit, and faint sounds of women’s laughter could be heard.

BAM!

The door was suddenly flung open, a gust of wind mixed with rain rushed in, startling the two night watch disciples inside.

"What kind of damn weather is this? Even the door got blown open?" One of the disciples cursed as he walked over, intending to close the door, but suddenly froze in place, his words abruptly cut off.

A thin line of blood appeared on his throat, causing him to slowly lose his breath, his pupils gradually dilating, reflecting the silhouette of a man in black.

"When did he draw his sword?" This was his last thought in life.

"Who isn’t saying the same? While the Master enjoys himself upstairs, we’re left to listen down here. It’s damn frustrating," the other disciple mumbled in displeasure, taking a swig of wine.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

While he was drinking, he suddenly heard footsteps. They were light but accompanied by the sound of water dripping, prompting him to turn his head in puzzlement.

Buzz!

A gleam of sword light appeared out of nowhere, piercing straight through his forehead.

He held the wine gourd in his hand, slightly turning towards the door, but there was a blood streak on his forehead, his body frozen on the chair, completely still.

Lu Chengfeng was completely drenched, half of his face wrapped in black cloth, leaving only a pair of cold eyes visible.

Thud!

Only then did the body standing at the door slump to the ground.

Lu Chengfeng leisurely walked to the door, securely closed it, locked it from inside, and then slowly proceeded upstairs.

The second floor housed the maids and servants; most had already fallen asleep after a day of toil. Only three or four maidservants remained on the third floor attending to things.

In the dark and silent corridor, soft footsteps suddenly sounded, accompanied by the water dripping, creating a remarkably eerie atmosphere.

Perhaps they were in too deep a slumber, or they heard but dared not respond, yet Lu Chengfeng ascended to the third floor without any maids or servants emerging to investigate.

On the third floor, the sounds of banter and debauchery became even clearer, revealing that three women were accompanying Elder Xiao in revelry.

The lewd sounds emanating were enough to make one blush; one could only imagine the obscene spectacle unfolding within.

With a click, the door was opened, yet the revelry within continued unabated.

Two maidservants who were preparing hot water and wooden tubs looked up at the doorway in confusion.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

A glint of sword light fleetingly passed, and two bodies fell instantly, with no trace of fear in their eyes even in death.

Everything happened so swiftly, their death even more sudden, leaving no trace of the sword light in their eyes which had severed their life force.

"Who’s there?" Elder Xiao finally sensed something amiss, kicking away the woman beneath him and hurriedly pushing aside the two women in his arms, swiftly turning to reach for the treasure sword hanging by the bed.

In the next moment, however, his entire body froze, not daring to move an inch, as a sharp sword blade was held against his neck, its chilling coldness terrifying him.

"Spare my life, good sir. Whatever you want, just take it, as long as you spare me," Elder Xiao hurriedly pleaded, afraid that the man before him would decapitate him.

"Which of these women is your concubine?" the man in black unexpectedly asked a seemingly irrelevant question.

Elder Xiao paused, quickly grabbing a naked woman on his left side and dragging her forward, saying, "This is my new concubine, Xiuzhu. She looks innocent but possesses an alluring nature, captivating on the bed."

"As for the other two, they are my personal maidservants, recently replaced. They’re twin sisters offering a unique charm."

"If you fancy any of them, you can take them."

"Master, no!" The woman named Xiuzhu cried in terror, her face turning pale, tears streaming down her cheeks as she curled her body in fear.

The other two women huddled together, trembling violently, unable to speak from fright.

"So, you’re giving her to me? From now on, she’s my woman?" Lu Chengfeng asked slowly.

"Yes, of course!" Elder Xiao responded with a flattering smile.

Lu Chengfeng nodded, suddenly asking, "You’ve recognized me, haven’t you? Or perhaps my sword?"

Elder Xiao’s pupils contracted, his expression changed abruptly, yet before he could react, his head was already severed, blood gushing like a fountain.

Xiuzhu’s bare body beside him was stained with the splattering blood.

"Ah..." she let out an ear-piercing scream.

With a thud, a head rolled and fell into her lap, causing the woman to faint dead away in terror.