Chapter 59: A Hardcore Ruse to Lure the Tiger from Its Mountain

The reason for choosing Xiang Wentian was because Zheng Jian’s strength had already far surpassed the level of the usual leaders of the great sects in the martial world.

As for “Heavenly King Xiang” Xiang Wentian, according to the original novel’s depiction of his abilities, he had just stepped into the realm of peerless masters—slightly inferior to the likes of Ren Woxing, making him the weakest among the supreme experts. Using him as the benchmark for this level was just right.

Zheng Jian believed his own strength was roughly at this level as well, perhaps about 1.2 times that of Xiang Wentian. Thus, it was most appropriate to start by challenging him and accumulating experience.

After only one day back on the mountain, Zheng Jian bade farewell to the Yue couple and set off down the mountain.

“Eldest senior brother, where are you going this time?” Linghu Chong happened to run into Zheng Jian as he was leaving, seeing his travel-worn appearance, and asked curiously.

“To break through the heights!” Zheng Jian replied without even turning his head.

“…???” Linghu Chong scratched his head, puzzled by the answer.

Seeing Linghu Chong’s utterly bewildered face, Zheng Jian sighed inwardly. He was still missing someone to play the straight man. His punchline fell flat without a proper setup—how frustrating.

“Junior brother Linghu, you shouldn’t react like this. You should ask, ‘What if you never return?’” Zheng Jian pressed on undaunted. If nobody else would set him up, he’d do it himself—even if it was awkward, he’d see it through to the end.

Linghu Chong was even more confused, but under Zheng Jian’s insistent gaze, he obediently said, “What if you never return?”

Zheng Jian nodded with satisfaction. The boy could be taught.

“Then I shall never return!”

As he spoke these words, Zheng Jian felt a sudden sense of transcendence. Is youth even worth living if not for a touch of melodrama? Forced or not, he thought it wasn’t half bad.

“…,” Linghu Chong couldn’t keep up with Zheng Jian’s thought process at all. Still puzzled, he saw Zheng Jian already striding off into the distance and muttered sullenly, “Is it really that urgent…”

Leaving Mount Hua overnight, Zheng Jian recalled the trajectory of the original plot and deduced that Xiang Wentian was likely with Ren Woxing now, both of them probably plotting their grand “counterattack” against Black Wood Cliff.

“Perhaps I should make another trip to Hangzhou!”

…

Over the next few days, Zheng Jian gathered information about the martial world as he made his way toward Hangzhou. However, there was still no news about Ren Woxing spreading through the martial world, so his search yielded little.

When he reached Meizhuang by the West Lake in Hangzhou again, five days had passed.

With a leap, he landed atop a tall tree and looked into the villa, only to find it unexpectedly lively.

A tall man with a pale face and refined features sat boldly in the main hall. At his side stood another man in white, with a clear, sharp countenance and a sparse, long beard hanging down his chest.

A few others were also present, standing across from them, their faces full of fear.

Zheng Jian’s mind stirred with speculation. If he was not mistaken, he had arrived just in time to witness Ren Woxing and Xiang Wentian’s return to Meizhuang!

In the original story, Linghu Chong had only just escaped his predicament at this point and, upon returning to Meizhuang, encountered Sun Moon Sect Elders Bao Dachu and the others, who had come to investigate Ren Woxing’s escape. Only then did Huang Zhonggong and the rest realize Ren Woxing had fled, and it was at this moment that Ren Woxing and Xiang Wentian returned, intending to rescue Linghu Chong and subdue the Four Friends of Meizhuang.

Now, with Linghu Chong absent, Ren Woxing and Xiang Wentian had still come, and Zheng Jian had run into them by chance.

Better to be lucky than early!

If he missed this opportunity, it would be much harder to track down Xiang Wentian again.

“Should I simply proceed to formally challenge Xiang Wentian?” Zheng Jian pondered. Judging by the original, Ren Woxing’s arrogance would likely prevent him from interfering in Zheng Jian’s challenge against Xiang Wentian.

But this was just a guess. Zheng Jian couldn’t be certain Ren Woxing would refrain from intervening. After all, Xiang Wentian was his most valued subordinate—his right-hand man in reclaiming Black Wood Cliff. If the battle grew intense, Ren Woxing would never stand idly by.

Zheng Jian had no intention of gambling his life on Ren Woxing’s disposition.

He was far from arrogant enough to think he could contend with two supreme experts at once.

If martial skill was insufficient, then wit must make up for it!

“The only option now is to lure the tiger from the mountain…” Zheng Jian thought, and suddenly an idea struck him. He immediately raised his voice:

“Hahaha! So, the former leader of the Sun Moon Sect, Ren Woxing, has returned to the martial world!”

With that, he leapt away, pretending to flee the villa.

His voice echoed throughout Meizhuang, startling everyone inside—especially Ren Woxing and Xiang Wentian, whose expressions changed dramatically.

“Who goes there!” Ren Woxing roared, his deep internal strength causing the very roof tiles to tremble. The Four Friends of Meizhuang and Bao Dachu and the others felt their ears ringing.

“Master, the news must not leak. I’ll go after him at once,” Xiang Wentian said immediately.

Ren Woxing nodded. He had full confidence in Xiang Wentian’s abilities—unless their pursuer was Dongfang Bubai, Xiang Wentian would be in no real danger. “Be quick! Bring him back alive—his skills are impressive, and I want him myself.”

Ren Woxing wanted to go himself, but he dared not leave the villa unguarded. The experts inside had yet to take the “Three Corpse Brain Divine Pill”…

“Rest assured, Master. I will bring him back!” Xiang Wentian dashed out of Meizhuang, pursuing Zheng Jian’s direction.

In the distance, he could see a figure “fleeing swiftly,” but the speed was not particularly fast. Xiang Wentian shouted, “Now that you’re here, why rush to leave?”

Zheng Jian’s plan had succeeded. Glancing at the island in the West Lake, he made straight for the small island at the lake’s center.

Xiang Wentian was relentless in pursuit, following him onto Xiaoyingzhou Island. Seeing Zheng Jian come to a halt ahead, he laughed aloud, “Such a clumsy decoy—what are you really after?”

Zheng Jian turned, smiling slightly. “Clumsy though the ploy may be, it worked, didn’t it? Here you are, Chief Xiang.”

Xiang Wentian snorted. “You’re so young—you must be the newly risen ‘Swordmaster Who Turns Back Time.’ Who would’ve thought Yue Buqun could train a disciple of your caliber.”

“Surprised you’ve heard of me, Chief Xiang? Is it fair to say you’ve been eager to meet me?” Zheng Jian grinned.

“…,” Xiang Wentian’s composure faltered. Was that really how “eager to meet” is used?

“Resentment from Xiang Wentian +200.”

After a pause, Xiang Wentian recovered some of the tension of a duel between masters and said coldly, “Enough nonsense—why are you looking for me?”

“It’s a small matter. I just want to borrow something from you, Chief Xiang,” Zheng Jian replied cheerfully.

“What is it you want?”

“Your head, Chief Xiang! You helped Master Ren escape—your cunning is admirable. But you deceived my junior brother. Surely, as a man of honor, you wouldn’t deny that debt?”

As he spoke, Zheng Jian slowly drew his sword, pointing it at Xiang Wentian.

Xiang Wentian was taken aback. Was this… all for the sake of that foolish junior brother?

…

(End of Chapter)