Blood sedge

Chapter 1171: Disaster
June 1st, dawn.

A carriage wrapped tightly in black cloth was running rampant on the streets in the north of Luoyang City.

Fortunately, it was still early in the morning and the dim streets were deserted, otherwise this aggressive carriage would have overturned many stalls and injured countless pedestrians.

A circle of copper bells were hung around the carriage, which made a jingling sound as it galloped along, causing great noise and disturbing the neighbors. Wherever it passed, it attracted people's attention and shouting.

A huge red "囍" character was posted on the left and right sides of the carriage, and on top of the carriage was a white flag with black characters on it. On the flag were written sixteen large and vigorous characters in a flamboyant manner: "The great hero Xunyi, restore his name and make his name famous. The Tatars invaded the south, and the whole world will punish them together."

Strangely, this carriage had no driver, but the horses were allowed to run freely.

After disturbing the streets and alleys in the north of Luoyang City, the carriage finally crashed into the vicinity of Danfeng Garden at daybreak.

When the disciples of the Xianwang Mansion who were guarding the gate saw such a strange scene, they immediately became alert, rushed forward with swords in hand, and carefully surrounded the unmanned carriage.

However, when the guards approached the carriage with curiosity, they suddenly smelled a fishy and pungent smell of decay, which made everyone frown and subconsciously cover their mouths and noses.

“This taste is…”

An older guard's face suddenly changed, and he quickly waved his hand to stop the others from approaching. He then once again looked up and down at the carriage. When he could make out the inscription on the flag, his face became more solemn, and he whispered, "Brothers, it seems...something is not right! Go and report to the Lord!"

"Should we take a look at what's in the carriage first before alerting the mansion master?"

"Yes! The mansion master hates others disturbing him for trivial matters. What if... wouldn't our brothers be scolded for nothing?"

"Alas! It's a pity that the Seventh Master and the Eighth Master are missing, and Bai Zhishan and Qing Zhishan are not in Danfeng Garden right now, otherwise we could ask them first."

"How about...we go ask Sect Master Xu and Sect Master Ling what they think?"

……

Facing the suggestions from others, the older guard pointed at the flag on top of the carriage and said solemnly, "Since it involves the young master, it can't be a trivial matter."

"This……"

"Stop talking nonsense and report to the Palace Master! Remember, don't alert the people from other sects."

"Okay... okay!"

Although the guards were extremely careful, there is no such thing as a wall that is impenetrable. Moreover, this carriage had just been driven through the streets, and there were many people and eyes around Danfeng Garden. How could a few disciples of the Xianwang Mansion conceal their true intentions?

Therefore, when Xie Xuan, whose sweet dream was disturbed, received the news, many other forces also received secret reports from secret scouts one after another.

Xie Xuan knew that the truth would come out sooner or later, so instead of hiding it, he took the initiative to send someone to inform Xiao Zhirou, Yun Zhuiyue and Xunzhen.

As for Liu Xunyi, ever since Yun Zhuiyue used Xu Ren's head, Yun Jianping's feelings and Pan Yuyin's kindness, and used both soft and hard tactics to force him to promise not to draw a clear line with Longxiang Mountain, he became disheartened and secluded himself in the inner court in the name of "recuperating", and has not come out to this day.

During this period, Tang Afu informed Liu Xunyi of the news of Qin Wei's murder, which undoubtedly added a touch of melancholy to his already depressed mood.

Knowing that Liu Xunyi had suffered a series of serious injuries and was depressed, except for Pan Yuyin who went to check on him every now and then, the others were very restrained. Even though they were quite worried about Liu Xunyi's condition, they only asked Tang Afu and Pan Yuyin privately and would never disturb him rashly.

Even when Qin Ku, Teng Sanshi, Xue Huzi and others had to return home due to sect affairs, they only left a letter and asked Tang Afu to convey it, and did not disturb Liu Xunyi who was "retreating".

As time passed, the huge turmoil caused by the anti-traitor conference gradually died down, and the previously bustling Danfeng Garden slowly returned to tranquility.

Although the Danfeng Garden today was not as crowded as it was when the Anti-Evil Conference just ended, there were still four forces gathered there. The first was the Xianwang Mansion headed by Xie Xuan, the second was the Jueqing Valley headed by Xiao Zhirou, the third was the Longxiang Mountain headed by Yun Zhuiyue, and the fourth was the Xilu Wuzong headed by Xunzhen.

In addition, there are Liu Xunyi’s friends such as Su He and Pan Yuyin. They neither belong to any faction nor have any obvious close factions. Instead, they have become the most comfortable, transcendent and free-spirited people in Danfeng Garden.

It is worth mentioning that since the Hexi Qin Clan, the Xiangxi Teng Clan and the Sanyi Gang left Danfeng Garden one after another, the four forces that used to interact with each other have gradually become estranged. Especially in recent days, except for occasionally asking Tang Afu and Pan Yuyin about Liu Xunyi's recent situation, they almost do their own things and don't ask each other about it.

Therefore, although there are many people living in Danfeng Garden, they all live in their own corner and rarely show up, so that the huge manor is dead and silent all day long.

At present, the most active among the four parties is the Xianwang Mansion headed by Xie Xuan. Although Danfeng Garden is not the territory of Xianwang Mansion, they consciously put themselves in the position of "host" and "do their best to be a good host" to the other three parties.

Especially after Teng Sanshi, the leader of the martial arts world, left, Xie Xuan, who had been low-key, actually took it upon himself to be the person in charge and began to arrange various matters in Danfeng Garden with great fanfare, and even began to arrange Liu Xunyi's "seal ceremony". During this period, he rushed between the Xianwang Mansion and Danfeng Garden every day, urging Su Tang and Luo Qi to renovate the Xianwang Mansion, sort out the roster of people, land deeds, money and grain accounts, etc., while he was worried about leaving Liu Xunyi "alone" in Danfeng Garden, especially afraid that Xiao Zhirou would take advantage of his unpreparedness to instigate Liu Xunyi to leave Luoyang City.

Therefore, no matter how busy Xie Xuan was during the day, he would always rush back to Danfeng Garden before dark, and personally confirm Liu Xunyi's condition with the disciples of the Xianwang Mansion who were guarding the inner court before he could feel at ease.

The strange thing is that Xiao Zhirou, Yun Zhuiyue and Xunzhen all remained silent, contrary to their usual behavior, regarding Xie Xuan's "unauthorized" arrangements and actions, and did not interfere at all, as if they all acquiesced to the fact that Liu Xunyi was about to take over the power of the Prince Xian's Mansion.

If you say they have a close relationship, they don't interact much. If you say they each work independently, they have a tacit understanding.

Such a contradictory relationship made the atmosphere in Danfeng Garden very subtle. If people from the four forces happened to meet in Danfeng Garden, those with bold temperaments might exchange a few words stiffly, which was awkward but polite. If they were eccentric, they would simply ignore each other and become strangers.

Liu Xunyi "retreat" for a day, and this weird atmosphere lasted for a day, and it seemed to be getting more and more intense.

If such a strange thing had not happened today, there would probably be no chance to bring Xie Xuan, Xiao Zhirou, Yun Zhuiyue and Xunzhen together.

Early morning, meeting hall.

When Xunzhen came slowly accompanied by four masters Abaolu, Xiao Yang, Su Hu and Xun Budao, and four helmsmen Yuan Ting, Yan Shun, Hong Si and Lei Zhen, Xie Xuan, Xiao Zhirou and Yun Zhuiyue were already sitting upright in the hall, and their disciples were all serious and solemn.

At this moment, Xie Xuan, with a gloomy face, sat in the main seat. Xiao Zhirou, with an indifferent look, and Yun Zhuiyue, who seemed to be thinking about something, sat on the left and right of the guests. The disciples of each sect stood upright behind the sect leader.

In the middle of the lobby, there was a rotten and maggot-infested corpse wrapped in a torn straw mat.

The stench from the corpse was almost pervasive, filling every inch of the meeting hall and assaulting the olfactory nerves of everyone present.

"Xunzhen, you're here!" Upon seeing Xunzhen, Xie Xuan's eyes moved slightly, and he said with a fake smile, "I have been busy with many things recently, and I'm afraid I can't take good care of you. If I have been negligent, please forgive me."

"Thank you, Lord." Xunzhen responded casually, but her eyes stayed on the corpse from beginning to end. Her expression kept changing at a speed visible to the naked eye, from calm to curious, from curious to suspicious, from suspicious to surprised, and from surprised to solemn. "What is going on?"

"It's obvious that someone doesn't want us to live too comfortably." Seeing that Xunzhen had no intention of greeting him, Xie Xuan stopped beating around the bush and asked directly, "Do you three know this person?"

"General Xijing, Sui Zuo!" Xunzhen answered directly, "Rumor has it that he led his people to burn, kill, plunder, and oppress Han merchants in Dengzhou. He happened to meet Jin Jianwu and his party heading south. Jin Fuyu stood up for him and killed him."

So far, there has been only one rumor about Sui Zuo's death in the martial arts world, but Xunzhen only mentioned the rumored "Jinjianwu" and did not mention other "Central Plains righteous men", as if she and Yan Wuji had long seen through Jin Fuyu's despicable tricks to cover up his tracks.

"When it comes to covering up one's faults and passing off fake things as genuine, Jin Fuyu is second to none. I'm afraid no one in the world dares to claim to be first." Xiao Zhirou said calmly, "Sui Zuo was clearly going after him, but he pretended to know nothing."

"The Mongols have underestimated Jin Fuyu's ability." Yun Zhuiyue's sneer was full of contempt and disdain for Sui Zuo. "This man has hidden troops and weapons, and is determined to seize the world. How can he be compared with ordinary martial arts sects? Sui Zuo used the means to deal with ordinary people to ambush and kill Jin Fuyu. What else can he do but to seek death?"

"The truly terrifying thing about Jin Fuyu is not that he turned the tables, but that he was able to handle such a grand drama, a bloody battle involving the lives of thousands of people, with ease and in secret. Now, apart from the news deliberately released by Jin Jianwu, no one else can find any clues."

"I'm not interested in the feud between Jin Fuyu and Sui Zuo." Xiao Zhirou waved her hand to interrupt Xie Xuan's sigh, and then changed the subject and got straight to the point, "Now I just want to figure out one thing, what did they mean by sending Sui Zuo's body here?"

"Of course they are trying to drag us into this." As if sensing Xiao Zhirou's hidden worries, Yun Zhuiyue spoke at the right time, "To be more precise... they are trying to drag Liu Xunyi into this. The banner that names him clearly says something like 'Xunyi the Great Hero'? What about 'The whole world will punish him together'? It's so bizarre, praising him openly but criticizing him secretly, it's clear that they are trying to divert the blame for Sui Zuo's untimely death onto Liu Xunyi. Their intention to confuse the public and frame him is nothing short of sinister and vicious."

"That's right!" Xie Xuan frowned and nodded heavily, "Everyone knows that Sui Zuo died at the hands of Jin Fuyu, and Jin Fuyu didn't hide it. It's just that he took advantage of this incident to gain fame and not only won himself applause, but also won the admiration of countless righteous men in the Central Plains. In the end, he sent Sui Zuo's body to us with great fanfare. This hot potato has made us unable to advance or retreat. We are inexplicably caught in the middle, wasting effort on both ends but pleasing neither side."

"This is a strategy of driving a tiger to devour a wolf. Jin Jianwu's use of such a banner is equivalent to confirming Liu Xunyi's crime of being an accomplice." Xunzhen thought, "Sui Zuo is the general of Xijing who commands thousands of troops. His Jingbei Camp is a powerful force deployed by Mongolia under the nose of the Song Dynasty. Such an important person has now died in a miserable way like a wild dog. It is bound to be regarded as a great shame by Mongolia, or even as a direct provocation to them. Therefore, Sui Zuo's death, whether due to his special status or for the face of Mongolia, cannot be easily absolved. The whole area should keep things quiet. But Jinjianwu is far away in Jingjiang Prefecture, which is the territory of the Song Dynasty after all. Although the Mongolian court is powerful, it is still out of reach. In this way, we in Luoyang City will be used as scapegoats by the Mongols. If we boldly admit this, I am afraid that within a month, the Mongolian army will be at the gates of the city and kill all of us. If we refuse to admit it, we will immediately become traitors to the Han people and running dogs of the Tatars. At that time, we will not only offend the Central Plains martial arts world, but also the Han people all over the world, and we will have no place to stand. "

"This……"

"Report!"

Xunzhen analyzed the key points without reservation, which made the people present tremble with fear. However, before Xiao Zhirou could speak out, a hurried shout suddenly came from outside the hall.

Immediately afterwards, a disciple from the Xianwang Palace rushed into the meeting hall with a hurried look on his face and bowed to Xie Xuan anxiously.

Seeing this, Xie Xuan's heart sank, and he asked in a serious tone, "Why are you so panicked?"

"Reporting to the Palace Master, Lieutenant General Zhang Xiong of Luoyang General's Mansion...leads his troops to knock on the door!"

……