Chapter 10

As Du Yu witnessed the conflict between the two factions, he couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. He and Tian Boguang decided to sit back and enjoy the spectacle while planning to take advantage of the chaos.

However, his attention quickly shifted to an unassuming young man, and his eyes widened in surprise. Despite wearing the attire of the Qingcheng School, this individual's every move seemed out of place. Even if he intentionally tried to remain inconspicuous, there was an unmistakable air of nonconformity surrounding him.

Du Yu discreetly observed the young man, realizing that he must be one of the 30 adventurers. It was clear that he had joined the Qingcheng faction, most likely recommended by Yue Buqun. Du Yu vaguely recalled Yue Buqun praising this person's outstanding appearance and swordsmanship potential, foreseeing great achievements in his future. There had been a lengthy private conversation between Yue Buqun and the young man.

A sense of caution filled Du Yu's heart as he contemplated the situation. If an adventurer joined the Qingcheng faction, it would become known to them that the cassock mentioned in the evil sword manual was located in Xiangyang Lane, not Fuwei Escort. This led Du Yu to wonder why this individual chose to be here with the other two instead of heading directly to the unguarded Lin family's old house in Xiangyang Lane.

Two possible explanations surfaced. One was that this person had weighed the benefits of the evil sword manual to both the Qingcheng faction and himself, ultimately deciding to seek personal gain. Considering the tasks he was to undertake later, it seemed plausible that the Qingcheng faction's rewards might be limited.

The second possibility, which Du Yu suspected, was that since Yue Buqun held such admiration for this individual, why didn't he keep him as his apprentice within the Huashan School? In the world of martial arts, when masters encountered talented apprentices, they were often delighted and reluctant to let them go. It was possible that Yue Buqun, being cunning and self-centered, didn't want to send a capable apprentice to his potential rival, Yu Aizi.

Recalling Lao Denuo, who stood beside Yue Lingshan, attempting to dissuade him, a bold idea suddenly dawned on Du Yu. Lao Denuo, as readers familiar with the original work would know, was a spy from Zuo Lengchan's sect planted within Yue Buqun's side. He posed as an art investment teacher but was, in fact, a traitor lurking in the Huashan School, awaiting an opportunity to seize Zixia's magic power. Although Yue Buqun knew of Lao Denuo's true identity, he pretended to be oblivious. After more than a decade, Yue Buqun finally orchestrated a scenario where Lao Denuo unwittingly stole a fake "Sword of Exorcising Evil." This well-executed plan ultimately led to Yue Buqun becoming the leader of the Five Sacred Sword Sect.

Yue Buqun's proficiency in employing such internal treachery suggested that he was well-versed in these tactics. Therefore, why couldn't the person he recommended to Yu be a traitor as well? Yue Buqun would undoubtedly relish the opportunity to manipulate and extract benefits from this individual, given his high regard for him.

If this were the case, it would explain why the Qingcheng faction was unaware of the true whereabouts of the evil sword manual, offering a reasonable explanation for everything. It also meant that Yue Buqun probably knew the actual location of the manual and might have already made his move to seize it.

Du Yu felt a surge of anxiety. If the sword manual fell into Yue Buqun's hands, it would be exceedingly challenging to retrieve it. However, even if he rushed to Xiangyang Lane immediately with Tian Boguang, it would be difficult to stop Master Yue, who possessed the Zixia magic skill and Huashan swordsmanship.

Cold sweat trickled down Du Yu's brow. The amount of insight he deduced from a familiar face showcased his cautious nature, keen observation skills, and attentiveness to detail. If Yue Buqun discovered the truth, he would undoubtedly regret not eliminating this wolf Gu when he had the chance.

Quickly making up his mind, Du Yu pushed aside his worries. The only viable course of action now was to seize the opportunity.

But whom could he turn to?

Fuwei Escort Bureau, sworn to protect the evil sword manual, and Yu Canghai, who was vigilantly mobilizing forces everywhere.

Standing up, Du Yu said to Tian Boguang, "Brother Tian, get ready for a good show from your little brother!"

He walked towards the pond, smearing mud on his face, and then confidently entered the wine shop.

At that moment, Lin Pingzhi, who had been moving about, was already confronting Yu Renyan, Jia Renda, and the adventurers who were harassing Yue Lingshan. A confrontation seemed imminent.

Du Yu entered the wine shop with a loud laugh, took a seat, slammed the table, and called out to Lao Denuo for a drink.

Lao Denuo furrowed his brows, wondering where this beggar had come from, intruding on their plan to spy on the evil sword manual. Seeing that the Qingcheng faction was about to snatch it, Yue Buqun would undoubtedly take advantage of the chaos. Why was this troublemaker causing a scene?

Approaching Du Yu, Lao Denuo attempted to persuade him with good intentions, "Guest, our place is chaotic and dangerous. It would be best for you to leave as soon as possible."

Du Yu rolled his eyes and burst into laughter, "Enough with the nonsense! Serve the food and drinks quickly! I want to witness an exciting spectacle today."

Yu Renyan of the Qingcheng School glared at Du Yu, taking a few steps forward. "In the world of martial arts, having keen eyesight and strong legs are crucial. The rest of the skills can be ordinary. It seems your eyesight is poor, and your legs are weak. Be careful not to lose your life for no reason!"

These words carried a strong sense of threat, indicating Yu Renyan's impatience with someone interrupting his plans to seize the evil sword manual.

Du Yu looked up to the sky and let out a hearty laugh, "Well said, I understand! But Mr. Yu, as a thug, eyesight and leg strength are of no use to you! Do you even know what you're looking for? It's not in this Fuwei Escort!"

The room fell into stunned silence as everyone present reacted to Du Yu's words. Lin Pingzhi, in particular, was astounded that this unassuming troublemaker dared to target Fuwei Escort. Yu Renyan from the Qingcheng faction was bewildered as to how this passerby knew his hidden intentions. Lao Denuo of the Huashan faction was equally surprised to learn that the object of their search was not within Fuwei Escort.

Yu Renyan grew increasingly agitated, "My surname is not Yu! How do you know what I'm looking for and where it is?"

Before he could finish his sentence, he lunged towards Du Yu!

Although Lin Pingzhi was no martial arts prodigy, his quick-thinking mind immediately grasped the significance of the words "Lin's old house

" and "Evil Resisting Sword Manual." He swiftly mounted his horse and hurried back to Fuwei Escort. Once there, he relayed the details to Lin Zhennan, who was utterly shocked by the revelation that their family's core secret had been exposed in a wine shop. Moreover, there were reports of someone attempting to steal the secrets from their old house. Lin Zhennan wasted no time, assembling all the family's bodyguards, and setting off with hundreds of people towards the old house in Xiangyang Lane.

In an instant, the old house of the Lin family in Xiangyang Lane would become a convergence point.

Du Yu managed to escape, but Tian Boguang couldn't help but complain, "Brother, why did you disclose the secret of the Lin family's old house? Why don't we go and take it directly?"

Du Yu smiled knowingly, "I believe Yue Buqun has already reached the old house. Can you defeat him?"

Tian Boguang suddenly understood, "I see, we're fishing in troubled waters!"

Du Yu nodded, his gaze shifting towards Yilin, who was nearby.

With a grand plan in mind, he couldn't let this opportunity slip by. Fishing in troubled waters would not only allow him to obtain the sword manual for warding off evil but also provide a chance to rescue the lovely Yilin.

Just like the praying mantis and oriole, they each had their own strategies, constantly leveraging each other's strengths.