Martial Arts Secret Realm: Only I Can Know the Plot?

Ling Tuisi sat in a grand chair, holding a cup of tea in his hand. The tea had gone cold, but he seemed unaware. He didn't look well; his eye bags were much heavier than when they last met, clearly indicating he hadn't slept well for the past few days.

"Young Master Sun." Ling Tuisi raised his chin, gesturing for him to sit down in the chair next to him.

Sun Fan sat down, accepted the tea offered by the butler, and slowly took a sip.

Ling Tuisi didn't rush to speak, but stared at him for a long time, as if he were examining a piece of merchandise, or interrogating a criminal.

"Young Master Sun," he finally spoke, his voice neither warm nor cold, "you said a few days ago that you had discovered traces of Qi Changfa?"

"Yes." Sun Fan put down his teacup. "I've already found out."

"Where?"

Sun Fan did not answer immediately. Instead, he took out a folded piece of paper from his pocket, placed it on the table, and pushed it in front of Ling Tuisi.

"Lord Ling, please take a look."

Ling Tuisi picked up the paper and unfolded it.

A simple map was drawn on it, marking several locations and routes. At the bottom were four characters: "City South Land Temple".

"The Earth God Temple in the south of the city?" Ling Tuisi frowned. "Are you sure?"

"I'm about 70% sure," Sun Fan said. "These past few days, I've had the Shen family inquire around and found out that someone saw a suspicious middle-aged man near the land temple in the south of the city. The man is of medium build, with an honest face, but his eyes are very alert, unlike an ordinary person."

He paused for a moment, then said, "I had a portrait drawn and showed it to the Wan family for identification. An old servant in the Wan family said that the man bore a resemblance to Qi Changfa."

Ling Tuisi stared at the map for a long time, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.

"You've explained it in detail," he suddenly looked up at Sun Fan, "but I have a question."

"Please speak, Lord Ling."

"If Qi Changfa truly cares so much about Di Yun, why wouldn't he care about his daughter?"

"As far as I know, Wan Zhenshan's son, Wan Gui, recently married Qi Changfa's biological daughter!"

"And in all these years, he hasn't even seen his daughter once!"

When Ling Tuisi spoke, his voice was low, but there was an uncontrollable anger in it!

God knows how shocked he was when he received the news.

You bastard Wan Zhenshan, you bastard Sun Fan!

If it weren't for this unexpected investigation, he wouldn't know how much longer he would have been kept in the dark!

How could Qi Changfa, a heartless man who doesn't even care about his own daughter, possibly care about his disciple?

He subconsciously regarded Qi Changfa as someone like himself through this behavior.

Sun Fan felt a chill run down his spine.

"There's something else," Sun Fan said, "Has Lord Ling noticed Qi Fang's martial arts skills?"

Ling Tuisi opened his eyes: "What do you mean?"

"I've inquired about it these past few days. Wan Gui's new wife, Qi Fang, also knows swordsmanship. But the swordsmanship she uses is completely different from the Wan family's, and it's full of flaws. She doesn't seem like someone who has practiced martial arts at all."

"Wan Zhenshan wouldn't be fooling his own son, would he? But Wan Gui's martial arts skills aren't particularly outstanding among his peers. On the contrary, Di Yun—this disciple taught by Qi Changfa—fought against many in prison and defeated Wan Gui and several other Wan family disciples."

He looked into Ling Tuisi's eyes: "Lord Ling, don't you find it strange? A master teaches his own daughter to fool people, but teaches his disciple the real stuff? What does that say?"

Ling Tuisi's expression changed.

"This shows that Qi Changfa is a very cunning person," Sun Fan said. "He taught his daughter fake skills so that the Wan family would think he was nothing special. He taught his apprentice real skills because he regarded Di Yun as his true successor."

"Martial arts skills are passed down to men, not women; this is an old rule. Qi Changfa is a very traditional person, and he won't easily break this rule."

He paused, then continued, "Therefore, Di Yun is more important to Qi Changfa than his daughter. A daughter can marry, but a disciple is the one who will inherit his mantle. Qi Changfa may not need his daughter, but he will not abandon his disciple."

Ling Tuisi remained silent for a long time.

The study was so quiet you could hear the candle flame popping.

"What you're saying," he finally spoke, "do you have any evidence for it?"

"Lord Ling can investigate himself," Sun Fan said. "Qi Fang is Qi Changfa's daughter; that's not hard to find out. When the Wan family held their wedding, invitations were sent all over half of Jingzhou City, so many people know about it. As for Qi Fang's martial arts skills, Lord Ling can just ask anyone in the Wan family."

"As for Di Yun's defeat of Wan Gui, there are quite a few people who know about it. If Lord Ling wants to find out the details, it shouldn't be difficult."

Ling Tuisi stared at him for a long time.

"Young Master Sun," he said slowly, "you are a man who leaves no room for error in your work."

Sun Fan smiled and said, "I've just thought a few steps ahead of others."

Ling Tuisi didn't say anything more, but picked up the map on the table, looked at it again, folded it, and put it into his sleeve.

"I'll have someone investigate Qi Changfa's matter," he said. "As for Di Yun, don't make any moves yet. I'll decide on the next step after I've investigated thoroughly."

"I understand." Sun Fan stood up, bowed, and said, "Then I'll take my leave."

Ling Tuisi nodded and did not try to stop him.

Sun Fan turned to leave, but as he reached the door, Ling Tuisi suddenly called out to him.

"Young Master Sun."

Sun Fan stopped and turned around.

Ling Tuisi sat in the armchair, the candlelight casting a half-light and half-shadow on his face.

"If even one of those things you said is false..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

Sun Fan remained calm: "Lord Ling, rest assured, every word I have said is true."

He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips: "However, some things are true, and Lord Ling needs to verify them himself."

After saying that, he pushed open the door and went out.

Ling Tuisi sat in the study, watching Sun Fan's figure disappear into the night, remaining motionless for a long time.

"Someone come here."

A man in black emerged from the shadows and knelt on one knee.

"Investigate something," Ling Tuisi said in a low voice. "Find out the details of the fight between Di Yun and Wan Gui."

"Yes."

The man in black accepted the order and left.

Ling Tuisi leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

He was finding it increasingly difficult to understand Sun Fan.

Why would a scholar traveling abroad know so much about the affairs of the martial arts world? Why is he so interested in the "Liancheng Jue" (a legendary martial arts novel)? Why did he go to such lengths to help him investigate Qi Changfa?

He said he wanted a future.

That reason makes sense, but something just doesn't feel right.

Ling Tuisi opened his eyes and looked at the candlestick on the table that was almost burned out.

The candlelight flickered, as if it might go out at any moment.

One day later.

The man in black returned, bringing news that Ling Tuisi needed.

"My lord, we've investigated thoroughly." The man in black knelt on the ground, head bowed. "Qi Fang is indeed Qi Changfa's daughter. When the Wan family held their wedding, the invitations listed her as 'Qi Changfa's eldest daughter.' Many people know this; it's not a secret."

Ling Tuisi tapped his finger on the armrest.