Chapter 9: A Perilous Plan

Du Yu was immediately startled by a cold prompt: "Out of the 30 people who entered the space for the first time, 28 participated in the first phase of the task, and only 12 managed to complete it. The remaining 16 individuals who failed to complete the task will be eliminated!"

Echoing in his ears were several distant screams. Although it sounded unbelievable, Du Yu had a strong intuition that if the notification claimed 16 people were eliminated, then they would not survive tomorrow.

In this strange space, lives were disposable, and death could come without warning or notice. Du Yu shuddered at the thought of the imminent danger he had narrowly escaped.

However, he quickly remembered that he still had two tasks to complete in this incredibly treacherous world.

"The second phase of the mission is now open, and adventurers from all factions will set out to complete their respective tasks."

Du Yu recalled that the tasks assigned to others were to assassinate a character from a rival faction and survive for 90 days. These individuals had the support of powerful sects and could afford to play it safe. But Du Yu was alone, facing the daunting challenge of overthrowing either Yue Lingshan, Ren Yingying, or Yilin, and even seizing the Evil Resisting Sword Manual or the Sunflower Book. It was easier said than done.

Given the circumstances, he needed to devise a solid plan for his future actions.

Out of the three targets—Yue Lingshan, Ren Yingying, and Yilin—Du Yu deliberated carefully and decided to focus on Yilin for three reasons:

Firstly, in terms of proximity, Yilin was the closest. Yue Lingshan might already be in Fuzhou, while Ren Yingying resided in Heimuya or Luoyang City, secluded places that would be difficult to reach and establish contact.

Secondly, based on the level of favorability, Yilin already had 20 points of favorability after spending a month with Du Yu. Yue Lingshan would likely have negative favorability, while Ren Yingying, being a villainous character, might have either 20 points or zero.

Lastly, considering the level of protection from their respective allies, Yue Buqun, Ning Zhongze, and Linghu Chong stood behind Yue Lingshan. Furthermore, Lin Pingzhi, who had mastered the evil sword art, might also be a formidable obstacle. As a holy aunt, Ren Yingying held control over the entire Sun Moon God Sect and commanded the respect and loyalty of numerous Jianghu heroes. She was an entity that could not be easily offended. On the other hand, Yilin had her father, Monk Bujie, and her mute mother, but they were the weakest presence.

With these factors in mind, Du Yu observed the young nun, Yilin, who had watched the scandalous underwear show. Due to her shyness, her delicate cheeks flushed and her autumn eyes became hesitant. It was truly captivating.

With a thought in his mind, Du Yu approached and bowed, saying, "Master Yilin, you are my compassionate Bodhisattva, saving me from suffering. Please accept my respects."

Blushing, Yilin replied shyly, "I... You... Will your enemies no longer come to kill you?"

Du Yu chuckled, "I've taken Xiao Huan Dan, and my skills have greatly improved. I'm no longer afraid."

A hint of sorrow flickered in Yilin's eyes, "You are saved, but I don't know when I can escape from this sea of suffering."

Du Yu's heart skipped a beat. It was crucial to gain Yilin's favor and help her break free from Tian Boguang's control.

His mind raced, contemplating how to accomplish this seemingly impossible task. Forcing his way was out of the question. Tian Boguang was a martial arts master who had taught Du Yu the "Walking Alone" skill up to the third level.

He needed to be clever about it.

Tian Boguang laughed and exited the room, his arms laden with the sexy underwear designed by Du Yu and sewn by Yilin. Inside the room, the kiln sisters clamored, "Master, we don't need money. Just give us those bellybands. We'll become your slaves..."

Du Yu wondered why these women weren't chasing after them. Tian Boguang chuckled, "I've stripped these treasures off them, so they won't chase us. Haha! I acquired these treasures with Xiao Huan Dan. How could I easily give them away to these vulgar women? Let's go quickly!"

He grabbed Du Yu and Yilin, tossed a few banknotes, and rushed out.

Du Yu had made up his mind. He grinned, "Brother, what are your plans for the future?"

Tian Boguang replied nonchalantly, "I don't have any plans. Let's go and present these treasures to my lover. Where should we go?"

Du Yu responded slowly, "I don't know if you're aware, but do you remember where we went when we encountered Yu Canghai in Luoyang City last time? What was he doing?"

Tian Boguang smacked his lips and admitted, "I really don't know."

"Let me share some news with you," Du Yu smiled cunningly. "In Fuzhou, there's a Fuwei Escort Agency owned by Lin Zhennan. It's rumored that he possesses the Evil Resisting Sword Manual passed down by his ancestor, Yuan Tugong. It's an exceptionally formidable skill."

"Are you suggesting...?" Tian Boguang's eyes gleamed with interest. He was no stranger to this rumor. "Are you proposing that we scheme to acquire the Lin family's Evil Resisting Sword Manual?"

"I'm afraid that's precisely it," Du Yu said. "Moreover, I've heard that Yue Buqun of the Huashan School also has ambitions for the sword manual. He has dispatched his second disciple, Lao Denuo, and his only daughter, Yue Lingshan, to Fuzhou. Other factions have long coveted the sword manual as well. This is an opportunity we shouldn't miss. Even if our strength isn't exceptional, obtaining the sword manual would be an achievement."

Greed glimmered in Tian Boguang's eyes. Martial artists were always drawn to exceptional techniques. A single technique could ruin the fortunes of many heroes, yet others relentlessly pursued it for its glory and power.

Du Yu sought to recruit Tian Boguang, even though his elder brother wasn't known for his loyalty. However, Tian Boguang was still the foremost figure in the martial arts world, and having him on their side would divert attention from Du Yu.

Additionally, judging by the hints in the plot, there were still 12 adventurers in the space who had completed the first stage of the test and embarked on the second phase of the task. Du Yu could confidently conclude that most of them would head to the old Lin family residence in Xiangyang Lane, Fuzhou.

In the world of Swordsman, there were two places where one could rapidly improve their martial arts skills. One was by seeking out Feng Qingyang in the cave behind Mount Hua to learn the Dugu Nine Swords technique. The other was by visiting the old Lin family residence to acquire the Evil Resisting Sword Manual.

Though the former option was attractive, it

 was nearly impossible to cross the front mountain of the Huashan School unless one was a disciple of the sect, such as the bespectacled man resembling a white spirit piercing the sun. Feng Qingyang possessed extraordinary discernment, and without exceptional talent like Linghu Chong, it was impossible to gain his inheritance. The requirements were simply too high and difficult to achieve.

However, anyone could practice the Evil Resisting Sword Manual, as long as they were willing to be ruthless toward their opponents.

Du Yu couldn't help but chuckle at the irony. As the weakest of the villains, once those individuals discovered his true identity, it was no wonder they would chase him down relentlessly.

If it weren't for his "Walking Alone" skill, which specialized in escaping, and if the mission hadn't cornered him, he would never have ventured to Xiangyang Lane in Fuzhou.

After pondering for a while, Tian Boguang cursed, "Damn it, count me in! Lead the way, brother. We can't miss this golden opportunity."

Du Yu nodded, employing lightness kung fu and swiftly heading to Fuzhou with Tian Boguang and Yilin. Along the way, he felt as light as a swallow, his steps buoyant as if treading on cotton. His speed surpassed his previous capabilities, propelled by the wind beneath his feet. It was twice as fast as before.

After some experimentation, Du Yu was pleased with the results. The "Walking Alone" running skill was indeed the perfect choice for theft, assassination, and evading pursuit. It allowed him to move swiftly and elude danger like a guerrilla fighter.

No wonder Tian Boguang, known for his licentious ways, lived a prosperous life. He had mastered "Walking Alone" up to level 7, amplifying his speed significantly. Combined with his innate agility, his velocity surpassed 40 points, equivalent to covering 100 meters in 5 seconds. No one could catch up to him.

Du Yu admired Yilin for her agility despite her delicate appearance. It showcased the rigorous training of the Hengshan School and the high caliber of its disciples.

The three of them journeyed onward. Du Yu continued practicing "Walking Alone in Thousands of Miles," aiming to level it up to level 4 as soon as possible—a satisfying endeavor for a martial arts enthusiast. Five days later, they arrived in Fuzhou City.

Upon reaching the Fuwei Escort, Du Yu hurriedly made his way there with Tian Boguang and Yilin, fearing that others might seize this most accessible adventure ahead of them.

However, Du Yu's worries were unnecessary. The first task assigned to everyone was to acquire a minimum of three skill points within a month; otherwise, they would face obliteration. Given the time constraints and the sect's rule against leaving the mountain, who would dare to embark on a journey to Fuzhou, thousands of miles away, to steal the sword manual? Most likely, the only adventurers who had completed the apprenticeship task and come to Fuzhou with Du Yu numbered twelve.

Arriving at the Fuwei Escort Bureau, Du Yu spotted Yue Lingshan, the Huashan School's sole daughter, being harassed by two men in a wine shop. A weathered wine seller was trying his best to defend her. Despite the men's ordinary attire, Du Yu's sharp eyes recognized them as Yu Renyan, the son of Qingcheng sect master Yu Canghai, and his disciple Jia Randa. The girl selling wine, Yue Lingshan, was none other than the daughter of Yue Buqun, the head of the Huashan School. The wine seller was Lao Denuo, alias Old Man Sa, the second senior brother of the Huashan School.

This time, the Qingcheng faction sent people to seize the Evil Resisting Sword Manual. They dispatched the head's son to stir up trouble in the wine shops near Fuwei Escort, leveraging injustice as an opportunity to instigate conflict. On the other hand, Yue Buqun sent his daughter and Lao Denuo to open a wine shop at the unassuming entrance of Fuwei Escort in the Jianghu. Their intentions were far from benevolent. They conspired with Yu Canghai, whose plans were even more sinister. While secretly monitoring Fuwei Escort, they aimed to take advantage of the chaos and seize everything as desired. Yue Buqun, a hypocrite with a pleasant facade, sought to forge alliances when it suited him.