Chapter 176: Chapter 119: Information on Undying Island

Miao Feichan was, of course, only joking.

Xiao Yanyu, standing beside her, paid it no mind, nor did Fang Shuwen, who was currently giving the Vermilion Bird Hall Master a sound beating.

After breaking one of the Vermilion Bird Hall Master’s legs, Fang Shuwen grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and found the boat captain.

After that battle, the ship’s cabins were all but destroyed.

Fang Shuwen took out a silver note and gave it to the captain as compensation.

The captain verbally refused over and over, but his hand never let go of the silver note.

Fang Shuwen thought nothing of it. Without waiting for the ship to change course, he flew off with the Vermilion Bird Hall Master in tow.

Miao Feichan and Xiao Yanyu followed.

Once everyone had landed and settled, Fang Shuwen finally looked at Xiao Yanyu.

"What happened to you?"

"Sigh. It’s a long story."

A wry smile appeared on Xiao Yanyu’s face.

"Young Hero Fang, have you heard... that something has happened to Ye Feihua?"

"Something happened?"

Fang Shuwen was taken aback.

"What happened? Is there a problem with the Seven-String Ancient Chapter?

"But what does you getting captured have to do with whether something happened to her or not?"

Miao Feichan was the perfect spectator. Hearing there was gossip to be had, she found a large boulder by the shore and sat down.

She then pulled a handful of melon seeds from her robes and began cracking them between her teeth. CRACK, CRACK.

Both Fang Shuwen and Xiao Yanyu couldn’t help but stare at her.

"You two go on with your conversation. Don’t mind me."

Miao Feichan waved her hand dismissively.

The corner of Fang Shuwen’s mouth twitched.

"Gimme some. Watching you eat is making me hungry."

Miao Feichan might have wanted to get back at Fang Shuwen, but she wasn’t so petty as to deny him a handful of melon seeds. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

After a moment of hesitation, Xiao Yanyu’s lips twitched, and she asked for a handful as well.

After hitting the Vermilion Bird Hall Master’s acupoints and tossing him aside, Fang Shuwen simply shattered the large boulder with a single palm strike, splitting it into three pieces.

The three of them sat in a circle. Cracking open a melon seed, Xiao Yanyu began to speak.

"This affair has already caused a huge uproar. How could you not know, Young Hero Fang?

"Ever since Ye Feihua took the Seven-String Ancient Chapter from you outside Flying Snow City..."

"Wait."

Miao Feichan interrupted, looking at Fang Shuwen.

"How could she possibly be skilled enough to snatch the Seven-String Ancient Chapter from your hands?"

"I gave it to her."

Fang Shuwen said nonchalantly.

"Don’t interrupt... What happened next?"

"..."

Xiao Yanyu was also stunned for a moment. The Seven-String Ancient Chapter was something one couldn’t obtain even if they begged for it, yet Fang Shuwen had just given it away?

But this wasn’t the time to delve into that matter, so she continued.

"After that, it was like Ye Feihua went mad. Jinghua Pavilion began assassinating renowned masters of the Jianghu.

"In just over a month, more than ten renowned masters of the Eastern Domain Martial World met violent deaths, including ’Iron Sword’ Zhang Yun, ’Dragon-Caging Hand’ Ning Feiwu, and ’Broken River Flow’ Yin Jiuli.

"The incident caused a massive stir, throwing the entire Eastern Domain into an uproar.

"Many people used this as an opportunity to cause trouble, demanding that Ye Feihua come out and give an explanation, but she was nowhere to be found.

"Groups of people began searching for traces of Jinghua Pavilion. Some of them wanted to avenge the dead, but more, I suspect, wanted to fish in troubled waters—to find Ye Feihua and seize the Seven-String Ancient Chapter for themselves.

"In this chaotic situation, some of the heretical and demonic sects that had been in hiding have started to show their claws.

"The masters from the Joyful Zen Temple and the Flower Sect that I encountered are examples of this.

"Fortunately, I still had my identity with the Golden Bell Tower as a shield. Although they captured me, they didn’t do anything to me directly... They probably wanted to negotiate terms with the Golden Bell Tower.

"But once you’ve fallen into a pack of wolves, who knows what fate awaits...? I’m just glad I ran into you here."

After she finished speaking, Fang Shuwen and Miao Feichan exchanged a look.

Both could tell there was something strange about the whole affair.

Fang Shuwen crunched on a couple of melon seeds before asking:

"Those people who died, how can anyone be certain it was Jinghua Pavilion who acted?"

"Jinghua Pavilion’s secret sign was left by the bodies."

Xiao Yanyu glanced at Fang Shuwen and said softly:

"Young Hero Fang, you think Jinghua Pavilion wasn’t behind this?"

Fang Shuwen nodded.

Hearing this, Xiao Yanyu sighed.

"Actually, many people know this is likely a frame-up."

Miao Feichan suddenly snorted coldly.

"But no one will care.

"At best... they’ll reflect on it after the fact. It’s even possible some will raise the so-called banner of righteousness and go after the ones who orchestrated the frame-up.

"But that will only happen after Jinghua Pavilion is destroyed, Ye Feihua is dead, and the Seven-String Ancient Chapter has fallen into their hands."

Those words sounded familiar.

Fang Shuwen was suddenly reminded of the story Zuo Qingshuang had told him back in the treasure vault of Zhuji Pavilion, the one about Divine Pill Valley.

The same kind of frame-up, the same manufactured public outrage, the same feigned ignorance...

Fang Shuwen sighed softly.

The Jianghu wasn’t lacking in chivalrous heroes, but by the same token, it also had no shortage of people who would disregard the truth for their own benefit.

In the end, all they’d do is beat their chests and stamp their feet, crying that they too were deceived... As the saying goes, the law doesn’t punish the masses. Could you really kill every last one of them?

For a moment, all three fell silent.

It was Xiao Yanyu who finally broke the silence. She stood up and said with a smile:

"I will remember what you’ve done for me today. In the future, if there is anything I can do to help, Young Hero Fang and this esteemed lady, you need only ask. I, Xiao Yanyu, will not refuse."

But Fang Shuwen immediately replied:

"As it happens, there’s something I need your help with right now."

"Oh?"

Xiao Yanyu was slightly taken aback.

"Please, Young Hero Fang, don’t hesitate to speak."

Fang Shuwen held up two fingers.