He couldn’t help but ask:

"What?"

"...So, the physician from Jinghua Pavilion... how did he become an assassin?" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Fang Shuwen said helplessly,

"My memory is failing in my old age."

"..."

Wu Changzai gritted his teeth. He pressed his hands against the ground, struggling to pull himself out.

Fang Shuwen’s palm suddenly shot out, stopping right before Wu Changzai’s face.

His hand halted just three inches from the tip of Wu Changzai’s nose, but the gusting Palm Wind sent his white hair flying and caused a fine sheen of sweat to break out on his forehead.

Then Fang Shuwen said,

"I’m a bit of a coward, so I advise you to speak to me just like that. If you dare to jump out, I’ll most likely send you to the afterlife with a single palm strike."

Wu Changzai’s mind was in chaos. ’This man calls himself a coward?’

’How is he a coward in any way? He’s clearly audacious to the extreme!’

However, looking at his current predicament and then at Fang Shuwen before him, his spirit finally sagged in defeat.

"It’s simple. If Wu Lingxiao can do business with Jinghua Pavilion, so can I."

"However, he wanted Jinghua Pavilion to heal him and save his life, whereas I had Jinghua Pavilion send someone to kill him."

In truth, this could have been deduced from the moment Ye Feihua was seen joining forces with him.

After all, it was one of Ye Feihua’s people who had attacked Wu Lingxiao.

As the Pavilion Master of Jinghua Pavilion, for her to team up with Wu Changzai against Murong Qingchen... it would be utterly inexplicable if there wasn’t more to the story.

But even so, when Wu Changzai actually said those words aloud, it was still hard to believe.

"What did I just hear? The one who wants Wu Lingxiao dead... is his own father?"

A voice suddenly came from the doorway. It was Chen Yan, leading his donkey.

But no one was paying him any mind. Murong Qingchen stared at Wu Changzai in disbelief.

"Even a vicious tiger won’t eat its own cubs. You... why would you do such a thing?"

"That has nothing to do with any of you."

Wu Changzai sneered and looked at Fang Shuwen.

"I am not your match. Kill me if you want. As for the reason why, don’t even think about finding out. I will never tell you."

Fang Shuwen nodded and turned to Ye Feihua.

"Then perhaps Pavilion Master Ye can tell us why you violated the terms of your deal and switched clients?"

Ye Feihua shrugged.

"Because what Wu Lingxiao said wasn’t necessarily true."

"What makes you say that?"

"It’s simple. The whole story about him being gravely injured is riddled with suspicion."

Ye Feihua said,

"I even suspect he wasn’t injured at all, and that this whole series of events was orchestrated by him."

"I didn’t know his objective at first, but when Wu Changzai came looking for me later, I figured out the general idea."

"Flying Snow City is far less peaceful than one might think."

"Wouldn’t you agree, Brother Fang?"

"..."

Fang Shuwen’s lip twitched. This Ye Feihua might look like a handmaiden right now, but with the Non-Flower Attraction technique allowing for endless transformations, who knew what her true appearance was?

’What if she was actually some foot-picking brute, calling me "Brother Fang" over and over?’

The mere thought of it made Fang Shuwen feel nauseous.

He immediately waved his hand dismissively.

"Pavilion Master Ye, you are a senior in the Jianghu. I dare not accept the title of ’Brother Fang’ from you."

He paused for a moment after saying this.

"But, since you had these concerns, didn’t you consider that if he really wasn’t injured, then this is all clearly Wu Lingxiao’s scheme?"

"By siding with Wu Changzai, aren’t you afraid of incurring the thunderous wrath of the City Lord of Flying Snow City?"

"I was just testing the waters."

Ye Feihua said nonchalantly,

"The Seven-String Ancient Chapter is tied to a massive secret. If I can get my hands on it, it might lead to an extraordinary opportunity."

"If Wu Lingxiao really was on the verge of death from his injuries, I’d send him on his way, get the item, and everyone would be happy."

"Conversely, if this was all truly a setup by Wu Lingxiao, the worst that could happen is I turn and run. I doubt he’d be able to catch me."

"..."

If anyone else had said that, Fang Shuwen might have questioned it, but coming from Ye Feihua, it was very convincing.

Not only could this person shapeshift at will, but their ability to conceal their tracks and aura was also outstanding.

Otherwise, with Fang Shuwen’s level of Martial Arts, how could he have gone so long without realizing she possessed such extraordinary skills?

Fang Shuwen thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"But if I recall correctly, Wu Lingxiao had already promised to give you the Seven-String Ancient Chapter as payment if you sent someone to heal him. Why go to all this extra trouble?"

"Brother Fang, since when is the Jianghu filled with so many saints and believers?"

"Just because Wu Lingxiao said it, am I supposed to just believe him?"

Ye Feihua said coolly,

"Who is Wu Lingxiao?"

"Three Immortals, Two Kings, and One City Madman—is any one of them a simple character?"

"Let’s not even mention that he doesn’t have a reputation for keeping his word. Even if he did, I wouldn’t dare to trust him."

"What if he really gave me the Seven-String Ancient Chapter, then broke my legs and told me I was never allowed to leave Flying Snow City for the rest of my life?"

"Or what if he just killed me outright?"

"That way, he would have fulfilled his promise, but Flying Snow City wouldn’t have lost the Seven-String Ancient Chapter."

"And taking a step back, let’s say he really was seriously injured, and I sent people to heal him. If he then refused to hand it over, what could I do?"

"If I came, I might not have been able to leave."

"But if I didn’t come... what if he said the Seven-String Ancient Chapter was too important and required me to come get it personally? Tell me, Brother Fang, should I have come or not?"

These few simple possibilities all revealed immense danger.

Fang Shuwen was struck speechless for a moment, then chuckled. He had to admit, she had a point.

"But didn’t you say that if you wanted to run, he might not be able to stop you?"

"Yes, but that’s only if I *wanted* to run. If I wanted to snatch the Seven-String Ancient Chapter from his hands, a fight would be unavoidable. At that point, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have the chance to run anymore."