The Smiling, Proud Wanderer: From the Moment He Picked Up Qu Feiyan

"Huh? Brother An isn't practicing his sword today, and Ruoyun doesn't have any stories to hear?" Qu Feiyan's world seemed to collapse slightly. "No way, we were just talking about Guo Jing leaving the desert for Zhangjiakou."

"Hmm," Shen An smiled apologetically, patting her head, "I had some important things to take care of this morning, sorry. As for the stories, I'll tell Ruoyun more tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay..." Qu Feiyan nodded understandingly, though a little disappointed, her big eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What's the important matter? Do you need my help?"

"Children shouldn't ask about adult matters." Shen An smiled and ruffled her hair, eliciting a protest from her. "Anyway, you should go home or find Grandpa, and don't run around. Understand, little busybody?"

"Okay, okay, you're the one who's nagging!"

Shen An smiled and turned to leave, not seeing behind him, Qu Feiyan's bright eyes darted around, a sly glint in them.

He headed east and soon found the bamboo forest located at the foot of the mountain on the east side of Huiyan Peak.

Sunlight filters through the dense bamboo leaves, scattering dappled patterns of light. The forest is filled with the fresh scent of bamboo and the slightly damp aroma of earth, and the bamboo leaves rustle in the breeze.

As soon as Shen Anfu stepped into the bamboo forest, he sensed two completely different auras. One was sinister and eerie, hidden in the shadows—it was Qu Yang. The other, however, was open and aboveboard, exuding harmony, and stood in a clearing in the forest.

The Ice Heart Manual is truly wondrous.

He followed the scent and saw a kind-faced, middle-aged wealthy man in a brocade robe admiring a newly sprouted bamboo.

It's Liu Zhengfeng.

"Uncle-Master Liu." Shen An stepped forward and bowed respectfully. His address of "Uncle-Master" was natural and spontaneous, fulfilling the etiquette of the Five Mountains Sword Sects being of one family, and also indicating his own stance.

"No need for formalities." Liu Zhengfeng turned around with a gentle smile on his face. "I have long heard that you are a young talent, my nephew. Meeting you today, I can confirm your extraordinary demeanor."

Qu Yang's figure also emerged from behind a large rock.

The three of them didn't exchange many pleasantries and went straight to the point.

"Nephew Shen," Liu Zhengfeng said solemnly, "you are probably already aware of my affair with Brother Qu. The reason I've invited you here is to discuss how to deal with the investigation from Songshan."

Shen An pondered for a moment and said, "It just so happens that Uncle Lu Bai has been pressing me hard lately. I've been worried about this matter for the past few days. If I keep reporting that there's no progress, even if it doesn't arouse his suspicion, he'll inevitably think I'm incompetent and send someone else. At that point, things will only get more complicated."

"That's right," Qu Yang nodded in agreement, "It's better to guide than to block. It's abnormal not to give any information at all."

"So, my idea is to throw out some seemingly plausible but actually reasonable information to keep them calm for now." Shen An looked at Liu Zhengfeng and explained his plan. "We can confirm the location, say it's somewhere in Huiyan Peak. Then, we can reveal some incomplete information."

"Not entirely true?" The two were somewhat puzzled.

Shen An nodded, paused, and continued, "Junior Uncle Liu and Senior Qu are both proficient in music, and it is common for them to play the qin and xiao together. I can report that I could hear music near the meeting place, so Junior Uncle Liu might be having a secret rendezvous with a courtesan here. However, it would not sound good if word got out that a reputable sect was having a secret rendezvous with a courtesan, so Junior Uncle Liu chose to go there secretly."

Journalism, isn't it amazing?

"Brilliant!" Qu Yang slapped his thigh. He didn't care at all that Shen An called him a singer. "This explains why we had to be so secretive and why there was music. Even if they searched high and low, they would only find some rumors, not anything about me."

Liu Zhengfeng stroked his beard and nodded, praising, "This plan is excellent. It satisfies our mission without exposing our true intentions. However... wouldn't fabricating a female musician out of thin air easily reveal our flaws?"

"This matter is not a problem. In the information I submitted, it was only a guess. The only certainty was that music could be heard at Uncle Liu's private meeting place. However..." Shen An hesitated slightly.

"How so?" Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang asked in unison, showing great understanding.

Shen An hesitated for a moment, then said:

"No matter what the kid does, it's just delaying things for a while."

"You mean?" Liu Zhengfeng immediately understood Shen An's meaning. The goal of the Songshan Sect was to unify the Five Sacred Mountains. As long as Liu Zhengfeng continued to be an obstacle to this goal, they would eventually take action against him.

"That's right, the key is still how Uncle Liu decides to proceed." Shen An nodded.

To Shen An's surprise, Liu Zhengfeng was clearly prepared for this, saying, "Actually, when I befriended Brother Qu, I had already decided that I would officially retire from the underworld after a while. That way, I'm sure no one will bother this old man anymore."

But this preparation was exactly what Shen An had anticipated. He sighed.

"Since Uncle Liu has decided to retire from the martial world, why not take advantage of the fact that my master and uncles haven't truly focused their attention on you yet, and simply take your whole family overseas, and elope with Senior Qu? Why bother announcing it to the martial world and holding a ceremony to 'wash your hands of the martial arts world'?"

"I am ultimately a Hengshan native." Liu Zhengfeng knew that he was thinking of him, so he patiently explained, "I have already wronged Senior Brother Mo enough over the years. If I just leave, I'm afraid the blame will fall on him."

With that, he sighed deeply, unwilling to say anything more, and clearly unwilling to accept any more advice.

Yes, Liu Zhengfeng and Mo Da have never been close due to their differing musical philosophies. But outsiders don't see it that way; they only perceive it as a sordid conflict arising from a struggle for profit.

If Liu Zhengfeng left quietly, others would definitely think that Mo Da had done something drastic. At best, they would think that he had ousted Liu Zhengfeng; at worst, they would probably think that he had poisoned Liu Zhengfeng.

Moreover, Songshan will certainly not let this opportunity pass by. They will definitely use this to stir up trouble and fuel the flames, spreading the news of the Hengshan Sect brothers fighting amongst themselves throughout the world.

No wonder Liu Zhengfeng chose to retire from his criminal activities in the original story.

Shen An remained silent, but then he thought that as long as his meeting with Qu Yang was not exposed, his life would be safe, so he was temporarily relieved.

Looking at the thoughtful and kind-hearted young man before him, Liu Zhengfeng's admiration deepened. He was about to say something more.

However, at that very moment!

"Rusting..."

From behind a dense bamboo grove not far away, came the very faint sound of clothes rubbing against bamboo leaves, accompanied by a suppressed, small "ouch".

"Who?!"