215: Chapter 95 Hitting a brick wall

After the guests dispersed, Meng Li’s life quickly returned to normal.

Since he had just gotten married, he did not venture out to travel again, but stayed home to accompany Mu Nianci and his mother, Madam Quan.

Mu Nianci, who longed for stability, was overjoyed by this, and Madam Quan was equally happy.

After some time, Guo Jing sent a letter saying that the date for his wedding with Huang Rong had been set, inviting Meng Li and Mu Nianci to Peach Blossom Island for the celebration.

This was good news, and it was something they had agreed upon previously, so Meng Li and Mu Nianci made brief preparations and set off together.

Madam Quan did not say much, only urging them to return soon.

The day after Meng Li and Mu Nianci left, two uninvited guests arrived in Shanyin County—Ouyang Feng and Ouyang Ke!

In a room at the county's Inn.

Ouyang Ke held up a portrait and said to Ouyang Feng, "Uncle, I have inquired about everything. Meng Li is indeed from Shanyin County, but his surname is not Meng; it is Zhao, and his name is Zhao Yu Rui. Meng Li is likely an alias he uses while roaming the Jianghu."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Feng sneered, "This brat truly is of royal blood; he has quite a few tricks up his sleeve."

"If we hadn't encountered that person with a similar appearance to him in the Imperial Palace last time, investigating his background would have been truly difficult."

Ouyang Ke nodded slightly in agreement.

If they hadn't met Zhao Guicheng in the Imperial Palace, he wouldn't have thought that Meng Li was a scion of the Song Dynasty's royal family.

In an instant, he looked hesitant: "Uncle, since Meng Li is connected to the Song Dynasty's royalty, his family must be as well. In this situation, should we alter our plan? Otherwise, I fear we might anger the Song Dynasty's royal family."

Unexpectedly, Ouyang Feng replied, "What is there to fear?"

"The Song Dynasty's royalty are nothing but a bunch of cowards. What if we anger them?"

"Once the matter succeeds, we will rush back to White Camel Mountain."

"Don't tell me the Song Dynasty can send troops to the Western Regions?"

"As long as I master the Nine Yin Manual, my Martial Arts will surely reach a new level, making me the foremost expert under heaven."

"By then, we won't have to fear anyone."

Ouyang Ke found his reasoning sound, but still harbored doubts: "Can mastering the Nine Yin Manual really make one the foremost expert? Meng Li has also practiced it..."

Before he finished speaking, Ouyang Feng interrupted, "That's why, once we obtain the Nine Yin Manual, he absolutely cannot be allowed to live."

Ouyang Ke was speechless, then said after a moment, "But he is not that easy to deal with."

Ouyang Feng replied, "I know that. Therefore, after we capture his family, we need to plan carefully. However, that is a matter for later; we will discuss it later. What we must do right now is go to his house and seize people."

Seeing this, Ouyang Ke knew there was no use arguing, so he simply followed along: "Then I will have someone further investigate the situation at his home."

"Mm," Ouyang Feng responded lightly, waving his hand.

Ouyang Ke put away the portrait and turned to leave.

Not long after, he returned.

"Uncle, we arrived just in time. Meng Li left yesterday."

"Only his mother and some servants are at home."

"Additionally, he has an uncle and aunt who live not far from his house."

Ouyang Feng smiled, "That's excellent. We will capture his mother and have his uncle and aunt send him a message."

"We must act immediately; let's go."

"Yes."

A short while later, the two arrived at the Zhao residence, accompanied by several retainers and female Disciples.

The servant standing guard at the entrance saw them and proactively came over to inquire: "Who are you gentlemen?"

Ouyang Ke asked in return instead of answering: "Is your young master named 'Zhao Yu Rui'?"

The servant nodded.

Ouyang Ke continued, "We are his friends, coming here to see him on urgent business. I wonder if you could announce our arrival?"

The servant frowned: "What bad luck, our young master just left on a long journey yesterday and is not at the manor."

Ouyang Ke immediately showed anxiety: "Then is there anyone in charge in the esteemed residence currently?"

The servant replied, "My mistress is here."

Ouyang Ke immediately clasped his hands in a salute: "Then please announce us. This matter is of great importance, and the situation is urgent."

Seeing that his demeanor did not seem false, the servant hesitated briefly before agreeing: "Alright, please wait here for a moment, I will go announce you right away."

"Thank you for your trouble."

The servant turned and entered the manor, finding Madam Quan playing mahjong with her brother and sister-in-law in the pavilion in the garden. He explained the situation.

When Madam Quan heard they were looking for Meng Li and that it was urgent, she immediately left the table.

Not long after, she met Ouyang Feng and Ouyang Ke in the reception hall.

After a brief introduction and pleasantries, Madam Quan got straight to the point: "May I ask what urgent matter you two wish to discuss?"

Ouyang Ke said, "To be frank, my uncle and I wish to borrow a book from your son, Meng Li, for observation. But fearing he might refuse, we hoped to ask Madam to accompany us."

Madam Quan looked puzzled: "Borrow a book? Borrow what book?"

"The Nine Yin Manual," Ouyang Ke stated word by word.

Madam Quan thought for a moment, then shook her head: "I haven't heard of it."

"This is a book..."

Just as Ouyang Ke began to explain, Ouyang Feng beside him became impatient: "Why waste so much time talking? Just capture her directly."

As he finished speaking, he flashed forward and lunged toward Madam Quan, reaching out to grab her shoulder.

Just as he was about to succeed, Madam Quan stomped her foot, exerting force, causing the chair to slide backward with her, easily dodging the grab.

"You actually know Martial Arts?!" Ouyang Feng was very surprised.

Ouyang Ke was equally astonished.

Madam Quan did not respond but her expression turned cold: "Who exactly are you two?"

Ouyang Feng did not answer and attacked Madam Quan again.

Madam Quan, however, did not meet the attack head-on but leaped out, trying to flee.

Ouyang Feng followed without a second thought.

Ouyang Ke hesitated for a moment.

Madam Quan knowing Martial Arts was completely beyond his expectation.

This gave him a bad premonition.

Meng Li was unfathomably profound, Zhao Guicheng's Martial Arts were no less than Ouyang Feng's, and Madam Quan also seemed quite skilled just now.

Could this entire family be top-tier masters? If that were the case, they truly had kicked an Iron Plate!

When Ouyang Ke suppressed this absurd thought and rushed outside, his bad premonition came true.

Madam Quan was fighting Ouyang Feng to a standstill.

The Martial Arts she displayed were ones Ouyang Ke had seen before: Heart Shattering Palm and Hun Yuan True Qi!

Back when Zhao Guicheng fought Ouyang Feng in the Song Dynasty's Imperial Palace, he had used them too.

It was clear that this family knew both sets of Martial Arts; they must be inherited secret techniques.

Was this the foundation of the Song Dynasty's royal family?

Ouyang Ke was secretly shocked and did not go up to help.

Because he could not interfere in their fight, and rashly involving himself might end up being a hindrance.

On the other side, Ouyang Feng felt both shock and anger.

He was shocked that Madam Quan knew Martial Arts, and her level seemed no lower than his own.

He was angry because fighting Madam Quan felt stifling.

In terms of Moves, Madam Quan was clearly inferior to him, but her internal energy was exceptionally deep and unified like Hun Yuan, possessing a certain defensive property.

Ouyang Feng's Toad Kung Fu primarily relied on stillness to counter movement, which relatively speaking, had shortcomings in terms of proactive offense.

When facing an opponent whose level was lower than his, this shortcoming could be compensated for by the gap in levels and wasn't a big deal.

But when facing an opponent of the same level whose Martial Arts characteristics were similar, this shortcoming would be exposed, or even magnified.

Simply put, at this moment, Ouyang Feng, relying solely on Toad Kung Fu, lacked sufficient damage to break through Madam Quan, who possessed deep internal energy and the protection of Hun Yuan True Qi.

As for Martial Arts like Spirit Snake Fist, they were inferior to Toad Kung Fu.

Madam Quan, however, had Heart Shattering Palm.

It belonged to the secret techniques of Yihua Palace, just like Hun Yuan True Qi, and they were of comparable levels.

The combination of the two—one offensive, one defensive—complemented each other perfectly.

Thus, even though Ouyang Feng was highly experienced and his Martial Arts attainment was higher, he could not subdue Madam Quan in a short time.

Just then, a figure leaped over...