183: Chapter 63 A Premeditated Crime

"Then how about we make a bet?"

Hearing about a bet, Huang Rong was instantly interested: "What kind of bet?"

Meng Li pointed at Qiu Qianzhang: "Let Guo Jing fight him with all his strength."

"If Guo Jing loses, I will teach him a set of Martial Arts."

"If Guo Jing wins, you give me one of Peach Blossom Island's Martial Arts."

"How about it?"

Huang Rong was stunned, then asked in confusion: "With your strength, you shouldn't need to learn Peach Blossom Island's Martial Arts, right?"

Meng Li said: "It doesn't have much to do with strength."

"Mainly, I like collecting Martial Arts, especially those that are powerful and look good when performed."

In short, strength is temporary, but style is forever.

"Aren't you afraid my father will cause trouble for you?"

Meng Li spoke truthfully: "I was a little worried before, but now it doesn't matter."

This was confidence brought about by his verified strength.

Before meeting Hong Qi, he hadn't fought any of the Four Masters. Even if he felt he wouldn't lose to any of them, it was ultimately just a feeling and uncertain. After sparring with Hong Qi, he was certain his strength was definitely greater than the Four Masters, so naturally, he didn't fear Medicine Master Huang.

Nearby, Lu Chengfeng was shocked by what he heard.

He knew Meng Li knew Martial Arts, but he didn't know the specifics.

Looking at this now, it seemed the other party didn't fear Medicine Master Huang, this...

He found it hard to believe.

Because Meng Li was too young.

However, Meng Li indeed had skills, so he didn't say anything.

But Qiu Qianzhang, who was nearby, felt dissatisfied.

He didn't know the identities of Meng Li and Huang Rong, so he didn't fully understand the meaning of their conversation, but he knew he was being looked down upon.

Immediately, he slapped the table and said angrily: "You brat, you girl, your words simply don't take this Great Hero seriously."

Then, Qiu Qianzhang pointed at Guo Jing and said: "This kid doesn't even have the qualifications to compete with this Great Hero."

After saying that, to prove his prowess, he flipped his hand and took out a metal cup, then sliced it with a swipe of his hand, instantly cutting off a corner of the cup.

Seeing this display of skill, everyone present except Meng Li was shocked.

Seeing this, Qiu Qianzhang smiled triumphantly: "How about that?"

After asking, he put on an air again and glanced sideways at Guo Jing: "It's normal for young people to be hot-headed, but if you don't know the heights of the heavens and the depths of the earth, be careful not to lose your life."

Huang Rong looked at Meng Li, giving him an inquiring look.

Meng Li ignored her and instead asked Qiu Qianzhang: "Since Your Excellency has high Martial Arts and doesn't care about empty fame, why did you suddenly come to this Guiyun Village with such fanfare?"

This was something he had been wondering about just now.

In the original plot, Qiu Qianzhang came to Guiyun Village because Yang Kang had returned to the Jin Dynasty and, through some maneuvering, became a special envoy sent by the Jin Dynasty to the Song Dynasty. While passing by Guiyun Village, he was captured by Lu Guanying and his men who had received word. Qiu Qianzhang heard the news and, wanting to curry favor with the Jin Dynasty, ran to Guiyun Village to act with borrowed authority, intending to rescue Yang Kang.

But now Yang Kang was at Zhongnan Mountain, so it was impossible for him to be captured by Lu Guanying.

Then what did Qiu Qianzhang come to Guiyun Village for?

To swindle food and drink?

As for the claim of just passing through...

Meng Li didn't believe it for a second.

Qiu Qianzhang said: "This Great Hero only passed through Guiyun Village and came in to take a rest. However, this Great Hero's current emergence is indeed for a major matter."

"What major matter?" Huang Rong asked curiously.

Qiu Qianzhang stroked his beard and said: "This Great Hero's eyes and ears are all over the country, and I recently learned of a military secret of the Jin people."

He paused, put down his chopsticks, and said with a solemn expression: "Within six months, the Jin Dynasty will march south."

"The Song Dynasty will surely perish."

Guo Jing's expression changed immediately: "The Jin people dare to be so insolent?"

"Senior, does the imperial court know about this?"

Qiu Qianzhang answered with a question: "So what if they know? Can they stop it?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the scene fell silent.

After a while, Meng Li spoke up: "I heard that some time ago, Prince Zhao of the Jin Dynasty, Wanyan Honglie, was assassinated..."

Just as he spoke, Guo Jing said in surprise: "Wanyan Honglie is dead?!"

"Elder Brother Meng, is it true or false?"

Meng Li said: "Naturally it's true. This matter has already spread. Don't you know?"

"I..." Guo Jing was speechless.

Since parting with Meng Li and Mu Nianci last time, he had encountered many things:

First was the marriage with Hua Zheng; he felt caught in a dilemma. In the end, even without Yang Kang's persuasion, he chose to hide it from Huang Rong, just like in the original plot. However, while struggling with it, he accidentally sent out the confession letter.

Hua Zheng received the letter and, just like in the original plot, mixed into the Great Desert's southward-bound group.

Huang Rong saw through Guo Jing's inner conflict and pretended not to know about him and Hua Zheng, just getting by day by day.

Thus, neither of them mentioned the matter again.

Guo Jing focused on learning the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms from Hong Qi, and Huang Rong managed to keep Hong Qi for a while longer, allowing Guo Jing to learn the full set.

After Guo Jing learned the Dragon Subduing Palms, Hong Qi left without saying goodbye.

Later, Hua Zheng sent a message saying she was in danger and asking Guo Jing for help.

Guo Jing set off to save her without a second thought, but he was a step too late. Midway, he received a message from Tolui, learning that Hua Zheng was "dead."

Guo Jing was heavily struck by this, and his frustration was hard to resolve.

To comfort him, Huang Rong took him traveling around. They came near Taihu Lake and happened to meet Lu Chengfeng, who was enjoying the scenery on the lake. That was how they came to Guiyun Village.

During this time, neither Guo Jing nor Huang Rong had paid attention to Wanyan Honglie's affairs, so they naturally didn't know he had been assassinated.

There were quite a few things, and Guo Jing was clumsy with words, not knowing how to explain for a moment.

Seeing this, Huang Rong said concisely: "Brother Jing and I haven't gone to crowded places lately, so we didn't know about this."

"How did Wanyan Honglie die?"

Meng Li replied casually: "I'm not clear on the specifics either. I only heard the assassin was Jiang Bieli of the Custody Soul Pavilion."

Jiang Bieli of the Custody Soul Pavilion?

Huang Rong frowned and thought for a moment, finding that she had never heard of this organization or person.

Lu Chengfeng also had no impression of them.

Qiu Qianzhang's eyelids twitched, but he returned to normal in an instant.

Guo Jing clapped his hands and cheered: "Well killed!"

"Wanyan Honglie committed many evils; he should have died long ago! This Great Hero Jiang Bieli is truly a righteous man."

Mu Nianci gave Meng Li a strange look. Seeing him acting as if nothing was wrong, she also remained silent.

Meng Li had told her that to avoid trouble, it was best not to mention his killing of Wanyan Honglie to anyone.

As soon as Guo Jing finished speaking, Qiu Qianzhang retorted: "Righteous man my foot! According to the news this Great Hero received, it is precisely because he assassinated that Prince Zhao that the Jin Dynasty intends to deploy troops against the Song Dynasty. His momentary bravado has caused the Song Dynasty to be on the verge of war. Such a person is a scourge!"

Hearing this, Lu Chengfeng frowned and asked: "Is that Jiang Bieli a person of the Song?"

"Presumably."

"Presumably?"

Lu Chengfeng had objections to these vague words, his brows furrowing deeply: "If you say so, the matter is not yet certain. How can the Jin Dynasty use this as an excuse to attack the Great Song?"

Qiu Qianzhang said: "The Jin are strong while the Song are weak. Even if the assassin wasn't a person of the Song, if the Jin Dynasty insists on using this as an excuse to raise troops, what can the Song Dynasty do?"

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