In Yun City, the Liu Mansion indeed ranked among the top residences, with vast estates, glazed tiles, and numerous buildings standing majestically. Its grandeur could even surpass many aristocratic estates.
"Young heroes, please have a seat."
After entering the Liu Mansion, Liu Chengfeng led Ling Chen and Xu Ruoyan's group to the living room.
"Just a humble meal, please help yourselves." Liu Chengfeng had already set up a feast, even arranging the seating, clearly prepared specifically for the five of them.
"Young Master Liu certainly is hospitable; we won't stand on ceremony then."
Gazing at the lavish banquet before them, Huang Xuan, Fang Long, and Yu Wei all beamed. Starved from a day of travel, they immediately dug in heartily.
As everyone began to eat, a subtle gleam flashed in Liu Chengfeng's eyes.
"Let's discuss the important matters."
Xu Ruoyan, who had tasted all sorts of delicacies, had only taken a few bites before she spoke, "Young Master Liu, weren't you going to share important information about the 'Ten-Li Fragrance' with us? It wasn't convenient to talk at the inn, but here should be fine."
"Yes, yes, I almost forgot about the main issue."
Liu Chengfeng's face broke into his signature smile, then he became serious. "Surely you all know, that the Flower-Stealing Thief has committed crimes in Yun City over ten times now. Not only the timing of his crimes but even the locations follow a certain pattern."
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Ruoyan became interested.
Liu Chengfeng definitely had more information about the Ten-Li Fragrance than the City Lord Mansion. Moreover, his analysis was logical and convincing.
"Listening to your analysis, you're saying that the thief's next target is your cousin, Han Cuier, and he may strike within the next two days," Ling Chen sipped his tea and asked.
"Not in the next two days; the Flower-Stealing Thief may strike tonight," Liu Chengfeng said.
"Tonight?" The group was somewhat taken aback.
"Yes, otherwise, I wouldn't have so urgently invited you young heroes here. I'm afraid if we're too late, my cousin will also fall victim to that Flower-Stealing Thief. By then, it would be too late for regrets." Liu Chengfeng wore an anxious expression. He then clapped his hands, and a mature, attractive woman walked out from behind a screen and bowed to everyone.
"This is my cousin, Han Cuier," Liu Chengfeng introduced.
"Young heroes, whether I can preserve my innocence depends entirely on your aid," the mature woman said, appearing pitiful, instantly captivating Huang Xuan and Fang Long.
"Miss Han, rest assured, this matter is on us! We disciples of the Divine Intent Sect are born to uphold justice. As long as we're here, the Flower-Stealing Thief cannot harm a single hair on your head!" Huang Xuan was instantly filled with a surge of righteousness, his chivalrous spirit kindled, and he patted his chest in assurance.
"Regrettably, my cousin has no martial arts training. If she's targeted by the Flower-Stealing Thief, I fear she will have no power to resist." Liu Chengfeng sighed, then his tone changed abruptly, his eyes turning to Xu Ruoyan. "However, if a highly skilled martial artist takes her place and strikes when the thief is off guard, I speculate we could certainly succeed."
"That works."
Xu Ruoyan's beautiful eyes brightened. "Ask Miss Han to leave the mansion for the night. I will wear her clothes, disguise myself as her, and wait in her room."
"This sounds a bit dangerous."
The ever-silent Ling Chen spoke up. He shot a glance at Liu Chengfeng, a curve flickering at the corner of his mouth. "I see that Young Master Liu has a rather feminine appearance. Why don't you make a small sacrifice and disguise yourself as a woman? Even if the Flower-Stealing Thief 'defiles' you, there will be no real harm done. Perhaps he'll be so disgusted by mistakenly defiling a man that he'll wash his hands of thieving and retire from the Jianghu. That would save us the trouble."
"What kind of absurd idea is this?"
Xu Ruoyan gave Ling Chen a speechless glance. This guy's way of thinking is certainly unique.
A cold gleam flashed in Liu Chengfeng's eyes, then his signature genial smile returned. "If it means success, I would certainly be willing to make some sacrifices. However, that Flower-Stealing Thief is exceptionally cautious and has been with countless women; how could he fail to distinguish between a man and a woman? Furthermore, with my weak martial arts skills, I would be no match for him if we were to fight. If he manages to escape this time, alerting him, it will be much more difficult to catch him in the future."
"Young Master Liu makes a valid point."
Xu Ruoyan nodded, a sharp light flashing in her beautiful eyes. "Let me be the bait. I guarantee that he won't return alive."
"With Miss Xu, a skilled martial artist, on hand, success is assured! This is truly a blessing for the people of Yun City," Liu Chengfeng said with a smile.
"This is our responsibility as sect disciples," Xu Ruoyan replied.
The feast lasted for more than an hour. At Liu Chengfeng's suggestion, they finalized the plan to ambush the Ten-Li Fragrance that night, with everyone assigned a specific role. The plan was quite comprehensive.
After the feast dispersed, Ling Chen stopped Xu Ruoyan. Unlike the others, he wasn't optimistic. A slight unease lingered in his heart.
Although he couldn't pinpoint the reason, it was the kind of inexplicable foreboding that perhaps only those who had hovered between life and death could experience.
"What are you worried about? As for Liu Chengfeng, even if he has designs on me, he wouldn't do anything too outrageous, would he? The Liu Family is an aristocratic family of martial arts, and its head, Liu Chuanxiong, enjoys a sterling reputation in the Jianghu. They wouldn't do anything to destroy their family's standing."
Xu Ruoyan was quite confident in her status. After all, she was the little princess of the Sky Void Palace. The Liu Family, however prominent, wouldn't dare lay a finger on her even if they had a hundred times the courage.
"I hope so."
Ling Chen also felt something was amiss, but having just arrived, he had no evidence; it was all speculation.
After the banquet, Ling Chen was led by a servant to the guest room Liu Chengfeng had arranged for him to rest. The operation against the Flower-Stealing Thief would commence once Xu Ruoyan was ready.
Returning to his room, Ling Chen had just sat down to circulate his energy when he felt an anomaly in his body.
While circulating the Ling Tian Sword Scripture, Ling Chen discovered worm-like toxins in his blood. When he circulated his energy slightly, these toxins immediately emitted a paralyzing wave that interfered with his mind, causing him to feel dizzy and disoriented.
Is this... Mind Confusing Powder?
Ling Chen was taken aback. Having read extensively since childhood, he recognized this as a nerve-paralyzing poison. Once it enters the body, it lies dormant for half an hour, after which the poison flares up, causing the victim to fall into a coma.
Did Liu Chengfeng actually dare to poison disciples of the Divine Intent Sect?
Ling Chen's heart sank. Since he was poisoned, it meant the others likely were too. Within the Liu Mansion, the one capable of poisoning them was undoubtedly Liu Chengfeng.
This Liu Chengfeng is truly audacious.
Without thinking further, Ling Chen immediately circulated his Lingtian True Qi to eliminate the Mind Confusing Powder toxins from his body.
Fortunately, he had discovered it early. Otherwise, if he had waited half an hour, it would have been too late for everything.
HISS... HISS...
Lingtian True Qi spread through Ling Chen's body like a flowing river. As it passed, his meridians emitted subtle sounds, and those minute traces of poison were gradually repelled and broken down by the Lingtian True Qi, vanishing completely.