The deepest affection in Gu Long's world

Chapter 166 Family
Now that he had already lured Afei over, Fang Yunhua wasn't in a hurry to see him immediately.

Right now, we should send Long Xiaoyun back to Xingyun Manor first, as Lin Shiyin is probably getting impatient.

Along the way, Long Xiaoyun quietly observed the changes in public opinion. First, the battle at the top of Mount Lu was repeatedly mentioned, then the ambition of the Demonic Sect was introduced, and now, as they got closer to Baoding Prefecture, the focus gradually shifted to the Plum Blossom Bandit organization that had just stirred up trouble.

The exposure of several members of the Plum Blossom Thief organization has sparked considerable discussion.

Of course, an important topic that cannot be avoided is why the leader of the Plum Blossom Bandits, who is probably in his seventies or eighties, is still able to maintain his virility, and why his subordinates are all lecherous lunatics.

This leads to a secret technique that no man, or woman, can resist.

After arriving in Baoding, Long Xiaoyun first went to a teahouse where martial arts practitioners often gathered. After staying there for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, she returned to the group with a heavy heart.

He also asked Fang Yunhua a question for the first time.

"Uncle, the relationship between my father and that young scholar Li Tanhua should be more than just sworn brothers, right?"

"Why do you say that?"

Fang Yunhua looked at Long Xiaoyun, whose little face was scrunched up.

The most important lesson he learned along the way was that public opinion can be manipulated. On this journey back, he witnessed firsthand how Fang Yunhua could turn the tide and manipulate the voices of the entire martial arts world to turn towards the Plum Blossom Bandit.

Upon entering Baoding Prefecture, he also realized that someone was using extremely crude methods to exploit the Plum Blossom Thief incident.

He discovered that the person spreading rumors in the teahouse was actually a servant from Xingyun Manor.

This approach is far too crude.

"My father intended to pin the identity of the leader of the Plum Blossom Bandits on that young Li Tanhua."

"Oh? What exactly did you talk about?"

"So the recent rumors that Little Li Tan Hua returned from beyond the Great Wall are because the Plum Blossom Bandit organization suffered a major blow, forcing the new leader, who has been hiding behind the scenes, to reveal himself. This baseless accusation is a completely forced connection."

Long Xiaoyun sighed, looking quite mature for her age.

Having witnessed how Fang Yunhua subtly and quietly shifted public opinion towards the focus she desired, her own father acted as if he were simply trying to extort money.

He felt that even if his father's methods were not sophisticated, they wouldn't be so crude. This could only mean that Li Xunhuan's return, especially the news of his return at this time, had deeply affected Long Xiaoyun.

He couldn't calmly make a series of arrangements; he would immediately launch a move as soon as he thought of it, like a wild, uncontrolled scramble of fists.

"Perhaps you can ask your mother for the answer."

The driver was a servant transferred from Wuyou Manor. Qin Xiaoyi had already begun preparations for the Northern Alliance, while Bai Xiaosheng continued his pursuit of Yuxiao Daoren. Apart from the preoccupied Long Xiaoyun, only Lin Xian'er accompanied him back to this place.

The scenery was familiar, but Long Xiaoyun, who was usually very courteous, was not there to greet them at the door.

Moreover, upon entering Xingyun Manor, Fang Yunhua sensed a repressive atmosphere permeating the manor.

"The situation looks very bad."

"It's because Shion-nee has been silent for too long."

Because of their private chats, Lin Xian'er was well aware of the immense resentment Lin Shiyin harbored. She resented Li Xunhuan and also Long Xiaoyun, but her submissive nature prevented her from lashing out.

Taking advantage of her previous outburst, and with her only remaining source of comfort—her son—taken away by Fang Yunhua, she naturally felt free to vent her long-suppressed resentment.

No one can imagine how much energy a woman who has been holding back her resentment for over ten years can unleash.

Just by looking at how Long Xiaoyun has made mistakes in guiding public opinion that Long Xiaoyun could see right through, one can imagine how much pressure this Lord Long is currently under.

With Li Xunhuan closing in from the outside and Lin Shiyin exploding from within, the situation is dire.

Tsk, if Long Xiaoyun were to be so reckless as to confront Long Xiaoyun at this moment and criticize the various rudimentary arrangements the other party had made, the Long family lord might be so pressured that he would vomit blood on the spot.

After clarifying the entire process with the informant they had placed in the manor, everything unfolded exactly as the two had anticipated.

The outbreak of marital conflict often only requires a trigger, and when that trigger burns to the point where no external force can extinguish it, the outcome is already predetermined.

"So, is this the start of revenge?" Lin Xian'er smiled as she looked at Fang Yunhua.

Fang Yunhua nodded slightly and then spoke.

"Yes, he destroyed the great situation he had built up over many years with his own hands, or rather, he put things that never belonged to him back in their original places."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes. He had not forgotten the other party's deliberate revelation of his existence to Bai Xiaosheng and Xin Jian. If he had not awakened his memories in time, he would have faced extremely bad consequences.

Now it's time for retribution.

Incidentally, using his plan as a prelude, he completed the final step of severing ties with his past.

"Give my regards to Sister Shiyin, and also express your support as appropriate." Fang Yunhua raised his eyebrows at Lin Xian'er.

The other party indicated that they understood.

She knows all too well how to stir things up when you're a best friend.

The strained relationship between the couple might have been salvaged by Long Xiaoyun's return, but this only glimmer of hope would be nipped in the bud by Lin Xian'er's instigation. Moreover, Long Xiaoyun's attention has now shifted to Li Xunhuan.

This is a ticking time bomb, especially since it was Long Xiaoyun who asked about this person and that past. Whether the person being asked was Long Xiaoyun or Lin Shiyin, it would only make their already calm emotions unstable again.

Fang Yunhua turned and left Xingyun Manor, his last gaze falling on the two couplets personally written by the emperor in front of the gate.

One school has seven Jinshi, and the father and his son have three talents.

This made him shake his head.

He genuinely couldn't understand Li Xunhuan's thinking about giving away the family's ancestral property. Perhaps, as Sun Xiaohong said, the other party's spiritual level was too high, exceeding the level of ordinary people, so such material possessions wouldn't concern him.

So you laugh at Old Li for being crazy, but Old Li laughs at you for lacking sophistication and being too vulgar!
At this moment, inside Xingyun Manor.

Lin Shiyin first carefully examined her eldest son, confirming that he had been eating well and was in much better spirits than before leaving Xingyun Manor. This further solidified her belief in Fang Yunhua's exceptional teaching skills. So, before Long Xiaoyun could even ask about Li Xunhuan, she promptly chased her eldest son out.

Because Lin Xian'er had been away these days, she had many things on her mind and didn't know who to talk to. Especially recently, news spread that Li Xunhuan had returned from beyond the Great Wall, and even some servants in Xingyun Manor were quietly mentioning it.

This made it impossible for her to calm down.

In addition, her relationship with Long Xiaoyun had been tense recently, and after letting loose, she felt a kind of inexplicable unease. Now that her good sister has returned in time, she has finally found her pillar of support again.

As Lin Xian'er listened to Lin Shiyin recount her experiences over the past few days, mostly about how she argued with Long Xiaoyun, how they had a cold war, and how she gave him attitude, even though they were just trivial matters, Lin Xian'er listened with great interest.

If Fang Yunhua was merely giving the other party a small act of revenge, then Lin Xian'er wanted nothing more than to torture Long Xiaoyun to the point of mental and physical collapse.

It was because the other party revealed Fang Yunhua's existence in front of Xin Jian that Fang Yunhua's previous situation became increasingly dangerous, eventually forcing him to consider sacrificing his body for a chance.

She could foresee that if she really did that, she would be too ashamed to face Fang Yunhua in her unclean state.

What kind of dark future awaits her?
That was a possibility she didn't want to imagine, and that's why she harbored the deepest hatred for Long Xiaoyun, who almost caused all of this to happen.

"So you actually want to forgive him now? Don't forget, he was the one who faked his illness and acted like that, which forced him to give up on you. Although he's not entirely mentally sound, he has his own problems too!"

"But he didn't seem to be faking illness at the time."

"Tch, you think you can just fake being sick and come back to life after seeing me? These days, it's incredibly easy to fake being half-dead. Many poisons can achieve that effect."

"Taking poison? That can't be! It's too dangerous!"

"What's so dangerous? There are antidotes for those non-lethal poisons, so why should we be afraid of anything going wrong?"
Don't forget that it was because of this illness that he got you, his beautiful wife, and had you give birth to a good son for him, as well as the entire Li Garden. He also used that person's identity to elevate his status in the martial arts world.

Looking back now, this illness was truly worthwhile; suddenly I had everything.

Lin Shiyin and Lin Xian'er were discussing how Long Xiaoyun got Li Xunhuan to let go on his own initiative. The latter was clearly trying to shift some of Lin Shiyin's resentment towards Li Xunhuan toward Long Xiaoyun.

“If it weren’t for his illness, you would definitely be living a better life now.”

Lin Shiyin nodded subconsciously, then realized that it was really inappropriate for her to have such a thought.

Because it was just her and her best friend Lin Xian'er in the room, they were less reserved in their conversation, and she didn't hide her thoughts too much.

"But it was all too late."

"Is it really too late?" Lin Xian'er smiled and pinched Lin Shiyin's cheek. "Sister, you have such good skin and such a unique, elegant and noble temperament."

Perhaps because you've released all your pent-up resentment lately, your health has improved considerably; you've at least gained some weight.

Lin Xian'er pinched her again, causing Lin Shiyin to gasp in surprise. The latter immediately retaliated, but when she touched the great softness that she could never reach in her life, she couldn't help but be stunned.

"Xian'er, you're really hiding your true abilities."

"I'm glad Brother Yunhua likes it." Lin Xian'er smiled sweetly. She rarely showed such an expression, especially the happiness between her brows, which made Lin Shiyin, a CP fan, both excited and envious.

Following up on the previous topic, she subconsciously said...

"Then I'll try again, pshaw pshaw pshaw! What is all this? It's all because of you, Fairy, that you've led me astray!"

Lin Xian'er did not press her advantage. She knew that it was enough to leave a seed in the other party's heart. At least she could ensure that Lin Shiyin would never have the idea of ​​reconciling with Long Xiaoyun again. This was already a great success for her.

Meanwhile, Long Xiaoyun, who had been chased out of the courtyard, wandered into the front hall.

After asking the servants, he learned that his father had been hosting a private banquet for a few people.

Zhao Zhengyi, known as the Impartial and Unyielding, was also known as Master Tian Qi of Luoyang Prefecture and Gongsun Moyun, nicknamed the Cloud-Piercing Hand.
Long Xiaoyun, the little tyrant of Baoding Prefecture, originally thought that his father's friends were all famous figures. However, after accompanying Fang Yunhua on his trip south, especially after the battle at the top of Mount Lu, he witnessed the skills of those who came to visit Fang Yunhua.

There are three senior figures from the three major schools.

There was a man known throughout the martial arts world as the wisest man, Bai Xiaosheng.

It has the Songyang Iron Sword, which was originally ranked fourth on the weapon ranking list.

The chief镖头 (chief镖头,镖局, meaning镖局, or镖局) of Tianxia镖局, whose influence extends throughout the martial arts world of the Central Plains.

The leader of a gang whose business involved transporting grain across the waterways from north to south.

Compared to this, none of the current ones seem qualified to enter. They would need to team up with a more famous expert to have a chance to meet Shang Yunhua as a group.

Thinking of his father's clumsy tactics at the teahouse, and judging from the current situation, it seemed that he was going to join forces with this bunch of scoundrels to plot against Li Xunhuan. Although he still didn't understand why Li Xunhuan, who was rumored to be his father's sworn brother, had made Long Xiaoyun show such great hostility.

But he felt that this approach was very unwise.

After all, if you really piss them off, they might throw a few throwing knives at you, and these guys would be taken down one by one!
A true strongman, when unleashed, cannot be dealt with by mere schemes and tricks.

He felt that his father was courting death!

Before things escalate, we must quickly withdraw these supernatural powers. Even if we want to scheme against the other party, we cannot use such hasty methods.

This made him anxious, pacing back and forth at the door. Finally, the door opened, and those guys he considered ugly walked out with smiles on their faces. Even Zhao Zhengyi, who usually had a stern face, had a slight smile on his lips.

Long Xiaoyun sensed something was wrong.

He intended to have a proper talk with Long Xiaoyun, but after Long Xiaoyun casually asked him a few questions about what he had gone out to do and received a clearly perfunctory answer, he simply nodded to indicate that he understood.

Long Xiaoyun's mind was not on Long Xiaoyun at all. The name Li Xunhuan was now imprinted in his mind, body, blood, and every limb!
"Father, I."

"Once you're back, get back to normal and don't forget to catch up on what you've missed."

Long Xiaoyun waved his hand, indicating that the other party could leave.

Seeing the other party's attitude, Long Xiaoyun knew that whatever she said would probably not be listened to. In their eyes, she was just a child with no say at all. Even if she gave some so-called advice, it might only make things worse!

At that moment, he suddenly remembered the hint Fang Yunhua had given him.

(End of this chapter)