Love & Redemption
Chapter 166: Volume 4 Hua Meng’s Sudden Rift - 23 Eve (Part 5)

Chapter 166: Volume 4 Hua Meng’s Sudden Rift Chapter 23 Eve (Part 5)

Yu Sifeng smiled and caught up to her, grabbing her wrist, just about to speak, when he suddenly heard a rustling nearby, someone seeming to brush past flowers and willows, approaching them. The two looked intently and saw that it was Zhong Minyan. Upon seeing Xuanji and Yu Sifeng, he immediately raised his eyebrows and smiled, saying, "So you’re here, you had me searching for you."

Both were stunned, both wondering how he could have come out alone so soon when he had just been so affectionate with Linglong in the courtyard?

Zhong Minyan, seeing the two of them staring blankly, smiled and said, "What’s the matter? Staring at me like that. Master asked me to call you over, he seems to have something to instruct."

Xuanji expressed surprise, "Weren’t we supposed to go eat?"

Zhong Minyan paused, then smilingly said, "Ah... right. But just now he mentioned having something to discuss."

Xuanji had no suspicions and was about to follow, when Yu Sifeng suddenly asked, "Xiao Liuzi, where is Linglong?" The nickname Xiao Liuzi was exclusively used for Linglong, with others only using it jokingly or in annoyance, and Yu Sifeng had never called him that since they became acquainted.

Zhong Minyan kept a straight face and replied, "She went ahead. Just waiting on you two."

Yu Sifeng suddenly laughed coldly, "She went ahead? I doubt that!" No sooner had he spoken than Zhong Minyan’s expression drastically changed, and with a leap, he jumped more than ten feet high, as if trying to escape. Yu Sifeng was prepared, and he threw out the pellets from his palm, listening to several muffled "puffs" as they hit the person’s back. His body swayed as though about to fall, and just as Yu Sifeng’s Sword Qi was about to severely injure him, the person suddenly grabbed a branch and swung like he was on a swing, twisting and turning in mid-air, then disappeared into the distant woods. By the time they pursued him, it was already too late, leaving only a few drops of blood on the ground, the person having escaped very quickly.

"Was it a fake?" Xuanji asked in shock and uncertainty, thinking of how this Zhong Minyan resembled the real Zhong Minyan, from stature to eyes, even the tone of voice, which made her skin crawl. Could there really be someone in the world capable of impersonating another person so perfectly?

Yu Sifeng dipped his finger in some of the blood and sniffed it at his nose. There was a faint stench, and the blood’s red hue was tinged with green, much different from that of ordinary blood. Not human! His brows slightly furrowed, he realized it was a demon. He turned back and said, "It was a fake. Provoked by my words, it exposed itself and fled."

Xuanji, with a trembling voice, said, "He... he’s so good at disguising. Could it be him who impersonated my father and deceived Sixth Brother? He... He has infiltrated Fuyu Island?"

Yu Sifeng suddenly recalled the words of the Fuyu Island disciples he had heard earlier; there had been something bothering his mind, feeling that something was not right, and it was only now that he realized, exclaiming, "I know now! The demons have infiltrated!"

He told Xuanji about the encounter he had in the afternoon; hearing that Chu Lei had brought some new disciples to the island, he hadn’t taken it to heart, but the more he thought about it, the more it felt wrong—how could Chu Lei be reminiscing with Dongfang Qingqi and then suddenly bring new disciples to the island?

"It is those demons! Among them must be one skilled at transformations! Once it has seen a person, it can impersonate them flawlessly. I should have thought of it earlier! Ting Nu was right; their plan included Min Yan’s return this time! They took the opportunity to change their appearance and infiltrate Fuyu Island while everyone was unsuspecting!"

Yu Sifeng had no time for further explanation and turned to leave, "Quick! Let’s find your father and Dongfang Island Master!"

The two hurried to the main hall, and on the way unexpectedly ran into Linglong. Seeing Yu Sifeng and Xuanji, she immediately grinned and waved, "You’re here! Let’s go together to the main hall!"

Xuanji, frightened by the shape-shifter, was afraid that Linglong was also a fake and without a word, drew the Bengyu with a "clang." Linglong was taken aback and asked, "What are you doing?" Xuanji raised it as if to chop down on her head, but Linglong, frozen in fear, simply watched as the Bengyu fell towards her.

With a "clang," Yu Sifeng intervened with his sword to block the Bengyu, and said in a heavy tone, "Wait!"

Linglong turned pale, looking at them incredulously. After a moment, large tears began to roll in her eyes, and she asked with a quivering voice, "What’s... what’s wrong with you? Xuanji? Si Feng? What happened?"

Yu Sifeng spoke softly, "Where did you come from? Why isn’t Min Yan with you?"

Linglong said, "I... I just came from Min Yan’s courtyard... that man with white hair said something about dinner..."

Xuanji let out a long sigh, hurriedly put away the Bengyu, stepped forward, and embraced Linglong tightly, whispering, "I’m sorry... I scared you."

The initial terror having passed, Linglong’s wilful nature surfaced immediately. She stamped her foot and said sharply, "What are you playing at?! Am I a monkey to be toyed with? Yu Sifeng! Explain yourself!"

Yu Sifeng said, "Those demons had infiltrated Fuyu Island. Just now someone disguised as Min Yan came to call us, but I spotted a flaw and injured them in the fight before they fled. Seeing that you were alone just now, I naturally became suspicious. Where is Min Yan?"

Linglong was startled too, and said anxiously, "Min Yan was just called away by Dad! I wanted to go too, but Dad put on a stern face and wouldn’t let me, so I had no choice but to leave on my own..."

"That’s not right! That wasn’t your dad!" Yu Sifeng shouted, "He’s an impostor! No good! We’ve got to find them!"

Xuanji loathed this shape-shifting person with a passion, and thinking that they had tricked Zhong Minyan made her wish she could skewer him like a hornet’s nest with the Bengyu. Linglong was still somewhat bewildered, but hearing they had to look, she naturally didn’t want to miss out, so the three of them turned back and flew swiftly toward the direction Min Yan was taken, using Sword Control.

The green forest rolled by like waves, endless and flowing beneath their feet. Xuanji, with her keen eyesight, saw Zhong Minyan’s dark blue garments from afar. He was kneeling on the ground, facing Chu Lei. Just as she was about to call out, Linglong had already started screaming, "Min Yan! Don’t listen to him! Your dad is a fake!"

Zhong Minyan looked up in astonishment, only to see the three flying in swiftly on their swords and landing. Before Xuanji could speak, she drew her sword and attacked Chu Lei, who stepped back to dodge the thrust neatly, and said sternly, "Impudence! What is the meaning of this?!"

Zhong Minyan didn’t understand what was happening. Seeing Xuanji’s every move was lethal and aimed at Chu Lei’s vital points, he cried out in alarm, "Xuanji! Have you gone mad?!" Before he could finish, Yu Sifeng joined in to assist with his sword, creating even more confusion, as he kept saying, "What’s going on? Have you... all gone mad?"

Linglong grabbed him and said anxiously, "You’ve been deceived! Dad said he never ordered you to go undercover! Someone impersonated him and tricked you!"

Zhong Minyan felt as if struck by lightning, and her words left his mind blank. After a while, he said, trembling, "What... what did you say?"

Linglong added, "Just now someone else took your shape to deceive Xuanji and Si Feng, but they saw through the disguise and even wounded the imposter! Wise up! How could a man like Dad ask you to do something as vile as undercover work?! That person isn’t Dad at all!"

Zhong Minyan was anything but clear-headed, his mind was a mess, and the fierce battle occurring before him, with the intense sounds of clashing swords, only added to his turmoil. He slowly wrapped his arms around his head, squatting on the ground, unable to say a word, feeling like all his past experiences were shrouded in mist, unclear and indistinct.

Xuanji, unable to overcome her opponent for so long, felt frustrated and suddenly changed her sword technique. Like a dragon emerging from the sea, her moves linked together seamlessly. Faint flickers of flame twinkled on the Bengyu, and as she danced faster and faster, the sword became like a fierce fire-snake, hissing and lashing its tail. Chu Lei had initially coped with their dual assault, but now he was finding it hard to keep up. Her movements were blindingly fast, while Yu Sifeng’s form was unpredictable, often thrusting his sword from unexpected angles. Chu Lei managed to fend off a few strikes, but ultimately leapt back, shouting, "Have you two gone rogue?! What exactly are you up to?!"

Linglong, seeing his demeanor, tone, and expressions were identical to Chu Lei’s, was first convinced he was fake, but now she started to feel uncertain, whispering, "Wait... wait a minute! Is he really not an impostor?"

Xuanji gave a cold laugh, formed a Sword technique in her hand, and said chillingly, "You can fool others, but you can’t fool me! I can’t be deceived by the stench of blood on you, you’re reeking of demon energy!"

The person exposed by her accusation leapt away to escape immediately. Yu Sifeng hurled his treasure sword with force, and as the man could not dodge mid-air, he had to protect his vital chest area, causing the sword to graze his cheek. His complexion changed, he tapped lightly on the tree canopy, and like rising smoke, he whirled upwards and rapidly dispersed, vanishing without a trace.

"He escaped again!" Xuanji spat in frustration and slammed the Bengyu angrily back into its sheath.

Yu Sifeng laughed and said, "It doesn’t matter, he’s injured on his face, he won’t be able to change his looks now. No matter who he turns into, we’ll know it’s him by the scar on his face."

They turned back to see Zhong Minyan looking utterly bewildered and both sighed.

"Let’s go," Yu Sifeng said, patting his shoulder, "We’ll find Sect Leader Chu and explain everything clearly."(To be continued. For more, please visit www.qidian.com. More Chapters are available, support the author, support genuine reading!)