64: Chapter 64 I Laugh: Beauty Dazzles the Eyes

"You are Meng Li?"

Hearing this, Meng Li, who had just washed his hands, was somewhat surprised, but not overly so.

Because he had just sensed two people approaching whose footsteps alone marked them as masters, but he hadn't expected them to be coming for him. After all, as far as he could recall, he didn't remember provoking such masters.

There was one who roughly fit the bill—Liu Xi—but he had already taken care of him.

However, when he turned and saw the appearance of the visitors, his heart couldn't help but skip a beat, thinking to himself that trouble had come knocking.

The visitors were none other than Yao Yue and Lian Xing.

When they clearly saw Meng Li's appearance, they both froze for an instant.

The reason was none other than this: Meng Li was good-looking.

Most of the Disciples of Yihua Palace were beautiful young women, and the only male Disciple, Hua Wuchuan, was also quite handsome. Therefore, Yao Yue and Lian Xing possessed a certain degree of being 'face-conscious'; otherwise, they wouldn't have fallen in love at first sight with Jiang Feng, who bore the title 'Jade-Faced Swordsman,' all those years ago.

Now, seeing Meng Li, whose face was as fair as polished jade and whose features were as exquisite as a painting, their 'face-conscious' nature was inadvertently triggered.

However, it was only a brief moment of stunned silence.

At this moment, Meng Li dried the water from his hands and gave a slight nod. "That's correct, I am Meng Li."

Then, he asked knowingly, "Might I ask who you two are?"

"Yao Yue of Yihua Palace."

"Lian Xing."

Seeing they had found the right person, Yao Yue and Lian Xing stated their identities and gracefully landed in the courtyard.

Meng Li feigned sudden realization. "So it's the two Palace Masters of Yihua Palace."

Then, he showed a puzzled expression. "We have never met before. May I ask what business you have with me?"

Yao Yue did not answer but instead asked a question. "How did you know about the events between us and Jiang Feng eighteen years ago?"

This was what puzzled her.

Old Red Leaf could know because Red Leaf Pavilion specialized in gathering intelligence and had existed for a long time.

But she had investigated Meng Li, and he did not possess such conditions. How did he know about what happened back then?

Meng Li replied, "I read it in a miscellaneous book of Jianghu rumors."

Hearing this, Yao Yue slightly frowned, finding it hard to believe, but she did not pursue the matter further. Instead, she followed up by saying, "Then do you know you almost ruined my great undertaking?"

Seeing her say this, Meng Li couldn't help but laugh.

Yao Yue's eyes turned cold. "What are you laughing at?"

Meng Li replied, "I laugh at how beauty blinds the eyes. Even figures like you two, whose names match your personas, standing atop the clouds looking down upon the common folk of the Jianghu, cannot avoid being ordinary. You were actually confused by momentary beauty, remaining stubbornly obsessed for so many years over a 'freeloader.'"

"'Freeloader'?" Yao Yue frowned slightly.

This was the first time she had heard this term and didn't fully understand it immediately, but she vaguely sensed it wasn't a good word.

Lian Xing directly asked, "What does it mean?"

Meng Li said, "Very simple. It refers to those who intentionally don't pay for things they buy, or who know they've received a favor from someone but have no intention of repaying it."

Yao Yue and Lian Xing suddenly understood.

Afterwards, Yao Yue asked, "Are you referring to Jiang Feng?"

Meng Li shrugged. "Who else could it be?"

Lian Xing was somewhat displeased. "Why would you say that?"

Meng Li spoke bluntly. "Because what he did to you back then was essentially freeloading."

Yao Yue and Lian Xing instantly felt offended and wanted to take action.

Meng Li immediately said, "Don't get angry just yet. If you don't believe me, we can review the events of that year. Let me analyze it for you, and you'll understand."

Immediately, without waiting for their response, he began speaking on his own.

"If I remember correctly, according to the book's record, back then, Jiang Feng was being chased by the Rat King, one of the Twelve Fiendish Stars, and accidentally fled near Yihua Palace. The one who first came forward to save him was Palace Master Lian Xing. Is that correct?"

Yao Yue and Lian Xing originally didn't intend to listen much, but seeing Meng Li start speaking on his own and even seriously naming Lian Xing, they couldn't help but feel a bit curious.

They wanted to know exactly how much he knew and what he could say.

Therefore, after a slight hesitation, Lian Xing nodded and said frankly, "That's correct."

"How did you save him at that time?" Meng Li asked.

Hearing this, Yao Yue sneered. "Don't you already know? Why ask? Could it be you only have a superficial understanding?"

Meng Li smiled and said indifferently, "Fine. Since Palace Master Yao Yue doesn't wish me to ask more, I'll just talk about what I know. It just so happens we can compare notes, to see if there are any mistakes or omissions."

As he spoke, he walked over to a nearby stone stool and sat down, simultaneously making a gesture of invitation to Yao Yue and Lian Xing.

"The story is a bit long to tell. Why don't you two sit down and listen slowly."

Yao Yue and Lian Xing sat down as suggested.

Meng Li cleared his throat and continued. "As far as I know, Jiang Feng was at his limit at that time, and the Rat King was preparing to kill him with a hidden weapon. Unexpectedly, Palace Master Lian Xing intervened halfway, not only intercepting the Rat King's hidden weapon but also eliminating him, completely resolving Jiang Feng's imminent life-threatening danger."

"Afterwards, due to the rules of Yihua Palace, Palace Master Lian Xing did not let Jiang Feng enter Yihua Palace. Instead, she told him the method to detoxify the poison, intending to let him leave."

"Is that correct?"

Meng Li directed the question at Lian Xing.

Lian Xing nodded.

That was indeed the situation at the time. Although she had fallen for Jiang Feng at first sight, her personality was not as forceful as Yao Yue's; she didn't have the mindset of 'if I fancy it, I must have it.' Coupled with the restrictions of Yihua Palace's rules, after saving Jiang Feng, she intended to let him leave and did not plan to bring him into Yihua Palace.

Meng Li continued, "Just as Jiang Feng was preparing to leave, Palace Master Yao Yue appeared."

"She stopped Jiang Feng from leaving and informed him that he was afflicted with a strange poison and would die within twelve hours if not detoxified."

"Jiang Feng insisted on leaving, but after saying a few words, he fainted."

"Don't you two Palace Masters find this matter somewhat suspicious?"

A flicker passed through Yao Yue's gaze as she said coldly, "Are you implying Jiang Feng intentionally fainted at that time, forcing us to save him?"

Lian Xing flatly denied it. "Impossible. Sister and I were very clear about his condition at the time; it couldn't have been faked."

"Correct," Yao Yue concurred, then added, "Even if he could fake it, how could he guarantee we would definitely save him?"

Meng Li said, "Jiang Feng's condition at that time indeed wasn't faked. Firstly, he couldn't have deceived you two. Secondly, he couldn't have risked his life faking it. But that doesn't mean his thoughts and actions were consistent at the time. What I mean is, is it possible that while he spoke of leaving, in his heart, he hoped you would save him?"

"Therefore, he intentionally spoke more to stall for time, waiting for the poison to take effect, then fainted, using silence to hand the choice over to you."

"In other words, Jiang Feng was gambling at that time, betting that you would save him. And that was the only bet he could make."

"Because at that time, he was afflicted with a strange poison. Without detoxification, he only had twelve hours to live."

"Twelve hours—he couldn't possibly wait for Yan Nantian, whose whereabouts were unknown at the time."

"You two were the only lifeline he could grasp at that moment."

At this point, he paused and changed the direction of his speech. "As for what Palace Master Yao Yue just said—how could he guarantee you would definitely save him?"

"I believe there are two reasons."

"The first is that Palace Master Lian Xing had already saved him once."

"At that time, Jiang Feng and the Rat King together caused a commotion right outside Yihua Palace. In the end, Palace Master Lian Xing appeared, killed only the Rat King, and not only refrained from killing Jiang Feng but also told him the detoxification method. Regardless of the reason, this easily led Jiang Feng to develop an idea: that Palace Master Lian Xing might save him again."

"The second reason is Jiang Feng's appearance."

"At that time, Jiang Feng not only bore the title 'Jade-Faced Swordsman,' but was also recognized by the Martial Forest as a handsome gentleman."

"He couldn't possibly be unaware of how much attraction and impact his looks had on women."

"I think this was also the confidence that allowed him to dare to gamble at that time."

"I imagine that when you two Palace Masters saved him back then, you were also attracted by his appearance, correct?"

Lian Xing remained silent.

Yao Yue snorted coldly. "So what if we were?"