silence.
The surroundings were so quiet that one could hear the sound of time passing. For a long time, no one inside spoke again, and the voice just now seemed to be just an illusion.
Gu Pinglin calmed himself down and stepped into the hall.
The hall was quite spacious, with pearls embedded on the beams, and a light blue pearlescent glow covering it. There were seven pillars on each side of the hall, and two half-person-high stone platforms in the corners, with incense burners on them. The aroma was lingering, and it was quite quiet.
On the high steps directly opposite, a white gauze curtain hung low, and a figure was vaguely seen behind the curtain.
"Is it a surprise?" The voice suddenly sounded again.
Gu Pinglin's breath was choked.
There was an imperceptible chill in the warm smile. It was indeed the same voice, but it seemed a little different. The invisible pressure seemed familiar.
Gu Pinglin stared at the figure behind the white curtain and asked, "Who are you?"
"Master of the Sword King Pavilion, Pavilion Master."
"name."
"The Pavilion Master is the Pavilion Master," the person on the other side said, "The name is just a code name, it can be changed at any time. Feng Jian Twelve may become Feng Jian Eleven tomorrow. I can say my name is Chen Qian, or Bu Shuihan, or even Gu Pinglin, or -" He paused: "Duan Qingming."
Even though he was prepared, Gu Pinglin was still silent when he heard the name: "If that's the case, why don't you show up?"
"Everything in this pavilion has a price. It's expensive to see me," the man on the other side said slowly, "Besides, are you sure you want to see me?"
A familiar tone. Gu Pinglin tightened his fingers, his eyes sharp: "What do you want?"
The person on the other side asked back: "Are you afraid?"
Gu Pinglin remained silent.
The person on the other side said: "It seems that you don't want me to be alive."
Gu Pinglin said: "I thought you already understood this."
The person on the other side said self-deprecatingly: "Yeah, how could you feel guilty?"
"Of course," Gu Pinglin said calmly, "You deserve it."
"oh?"
"Isn't it?"
The man opposite paused and said, "But at least, we were once brothers from the same sect."
Gu Pinglin was silent for a long time, and suddenly sneered: "The information network of the Sword King Pavilion is indeed very powerful. They even know our affairs so clearly."
The person on the other side said calmly: "What do you mean?"
"I mean, have you tested me enough?" Gu Pinglin walked to the center of the hall. "You have been paying attention to my reaction from the beginning, constantly using ambiguous words to induce me, testing me, guessing at the same time, and then using the results of your guesses to continue testing me. It's perfect."
"Is there a flaw?"
"It's not that there are too many."
After a while, the person on the other side chuckled: "Well, it was a mistake, but doesn't your reaction also prove that there is something else going on in Penglai?"
Gu Pinglin asked: "Continue to test?"
The groundman's tone became cheerful, sweeping away his previous attitude: "It seems you won't be fooled again."
Gu Pinglin breathed a sigh of relief imperceptibly and frowned secretly.
If it was that person, he would not have made such a pointless test, and it was even more impossible for him not to know the truth about the siege, but... they were too similar.
The person on the other side smiled and said, "Well, let's just let it go. It is a great honor for the Sword King Pavilion that Sect Master Gu has condescended to visit us."
Gu Pinglin decisively put aside his emotions after hearing this: "I think the Pavilion Master has guessed my intention."
"That little Yu Jian is really unreliable. I'm sure you've tricked him into saying a lot of things," the person on the other side said. "He's indeed a member of the Yu Jian Pavilion."
Gu Pinglin asked, "How about Rain Sword Pavilion?"
The person on the other side said, "As for Rain Sword, it means that the swordsmanship is full of flaws, just like a leaking roof. Almost all the people in Rain Sword Pavilion are like this."
Thinking of Rain Sword Thirty-Three's swordsmanship, Gu Pinglin's mouth twitched: "This metaphor is indeed novel."
The person on the other side asked, "Are you interested in the Xiaoyu Sword?"
Gu Pinglin did not deny it: "It's a pity that the temptation of the way of formation swordsmanship cannot overcome his loyalty to the Sword King Pavilion."
"The loyalty of a loser is not worth mentioning," the person on the other side said, "Besides, he has brought your eyes and ears into the Sword King Pavilion."
Gu Pinglin said: "No, Lan Feiyu came with sincerity, he will become a very useful chess piece in the Sword King Pavilion."
"I have no shortage of pawns here," the person on the other side said, "maybe it would be more useful to sell him to the Demon Realm."
Gu Pinglin said: "The person who came to seek refuge was betrayed as soon as he turned around. Does the Pavilion Master not intend to continue doing business?"
"Master Gu is truly my soulmate," the person on the other side said with a smile, "Indeed, you specially sent Lan Feiyu to me. If I send her away without even seeing her once, wouldn't that be a waste of your efforts?"
"Master, you worry too much. If you don't want to see him, how can he see you? I didn't expect him to get information in the first place." Gu Pinglin smiled slightly and suddenly raised his palm and clenched it.
The white veil in front was torn off in mid-air!
In the blink of an eye, Gu Pinglin disappeared from where he was and appeared on the stairs.
Without the white curtain blocking the view, the situation on the steps was clearly visible. In the middle stood an exquisitely carved seat, on which sat a sleeping man in black, with a sound transmission note attached to his shoulder.
"Master Gu completely dismantled my Sword King Pavilion." A light laugh sounded in the autobiographical notes.
Gu Pinglin threw away the white curtain, put his hands behind his back, and quickly glanced around: "How dare I? If the Pavilion Master takes action, I won't have a chance to tear it down."
The Pavilion Master said, "First, you used Lan Feiyu to confuse me, and then you exposed my temptation, letting me relax my guard, and then you took advantage of my unpreparedness to attack me. This tactic of deceiving the world and playing hard to get was used skillfully. If I hadn't been prepared, I would have been fooled. Is it so rude of you, Master Gu, on our first meeting?"
Gu Pinglin said, "Isn't it rude to use Xin Ji to ruin my business?"
"As expected, you are here to settle accounts," the Pavilion Master said with a smile, "Sword King Pavilion takes money to do things, and has no intention of targeting Sect Leader Gu. I hope you don't misunderstand. But you are so eager to confirm my identity... Are you still doubting in your heart, or have you determined that I am him?"
Gu Pinglin said: "If you are not, why are you hiding?"
The Pavilion Master's tone was light: "You can see me if you want, but have you ever thought that if I were really him, would I want to see you?"
If it was him, would he see him? Gu Pinglin was in a trance for a moment.
The Pavilion Master said: "Maybe he is disappointed in you and thinks you are no longer worth his attention."
Gu Pinglin was silent for a moment, then said coldly: "The Pavilion Master is really persistent in testing me."
"You want to meet him while you're afraid of his revenge?" The Pavilion Master said with a smile, "Don't worry, I really have nothing to do with your Senior Brother Duan. It's just that your reaction made me interested in what happened on Penglai Island."
Interested? Gu Pinglin lowered his eyes and did not answer the question: "I heard that the Sword King Pavilion accepts various businesses from outside. I came here to do two business deals with the Pavilion Master. What do you think?"
The Pavilion Master said happily: "Of course, I am a businessman, and there is no reason for me to refuse business. Please speak."
Gu Pinglin said: "I heard that the Pavilion Master has a lot of information. I want to buy two pieces of information. The first one is about the Wanfa Sect."
The Pavilion Master said, "News about the Wanfa Sect is quite expensive, one piece of news costs one color coin."
Gu Pinglin threw out a colorful feather coin.
"Master Gu is straightforward. I like straightforward guests," the Pavilion Master said. "What news do you want to know about the Wanfa Sect?"
Gu Pinglin asked, "The person behind the scenes asked you to stop me from going to the Paektu Mountain Spirit Eye. What is his ultimate goal?"
"You are testing me," the Pavilion Master laughed. "If I answer, wouldn't it be the same as admitting that the person behind this is from the Wanfa Sect?"
Gu Pinglin did not answer, but continued, "He knew that I might reach the Spirit Eye, or he thought that I would discover some secrets in Mount Paektu, so he asked you to deal with me. This person knows me very well."
The Pavilion Master sighed, "Yes, it's not easy for us to complete our mission if we can deceive someone as smart as you."
"What mission?" Gu Pinglin asked, "Are you using your spiritual eyes to mislead me?"
"oh?"
"There is nothing wrong with the Paektu Mountain Spirit Eye. You asked Yu Jian Sanshisan and Xin Ji to come and stop me, just to make me think there is something wrong with the Spirit Eye and draw my attention to it."
The sound transmission note was silent for a while.
Gu Pinglin didn't care about his reaction and continued, "I guess the key is not the Spirit Eye. The person behind the scenes is afraid that I will discover other secrets, so he asked you for help. You wanted to use other things to divert my attention. It just so happened that I was suspicious of the Spirit Eye at that time. If I didn't suspect the Spirit Eye, Xin Ji and the others would still show up to stop me."
After a while, the Pavilion Master spoke again, his voice full of laughter: "This is your guess. The Sword King Pavilion cannot betray its guests. This is the rule."
Gu Pinglin said: "Then answer the previous question, what is his purpose?"
"I refuse this deal," the Pavilion Master said with regret, "someone paid first and asked me to keep it a secret. You are too slow."
Gu Pinglin said: "What I mean is, you know the answer?"
The Pavilion Master said: "This is another question."
Gu Pinglin did not ask further questions, and said calmly: "Then let's change it. What is your position, or that of the Sword King Pavilion, on this matter?"
"As for this question," the Pavilion Master said with a smile, "I am grateful that Master Gu thinks highly of my pavilion, but I am actually just an insignificant businessman. The Sword King Pavilion will stand on the side of whoever has more money and offers greater benefits."
"really?"
"The news that Sect Leader Gu paid a high price for it is definitely true."
Gu Pinglin then nodded: "I hope Pavilion Master can remember today's answer. Goodbye."
The Pavilion Master tried to persuade him to stay: "The scenery of Blood Moon Miasma Valley is unique. It's rare for Sect Leader Gu to come here. Why don't you stay in the valley for a few days and enjoy the scenery?"
Gu Pinglin asked back: "If I stay, will the Pavilion Master personally accompany me?"
The Pavilion Master said with regret: "Unfortunately, the Pavilion has been busy with affairs recently and it is difficult to get away, but Xiao Yujian will entertain the distinguished guest for me, or Lan Feiyu can also do it."
Gu Pinglin said decisively: "That's not necessary."
"Master Gu, there is no need to be anxious. We will have a chance to meet sooner or later," the Pavilion Master paused, "probably not too long."
"Hmm?" Gu Pinglin frowned as if something was wrong.
"See the guest off." The Pavilion Master said in a gentle voice.
There was no wind, but the colorful feather coins floated up from the ground, as if held up by an invisible force, and landed on the carved seat. That was the strongest sword intent.
The man in black sitting on the table just woke up. He stood up and bowed respectfully to Gu Pinglin: "Dear guest, please come in."
Coming out of the hall, it was just after 3 p.m. outside and the sun was still bright. This time, Gu Pinglin did not walk along the cliff as he did when he came up. There was a crane parked outside the hall, which took Gu Pinglin to the bottom of the cliff.
Yu Jian Sanshisan and Lan Feiyu were nowhere to be seen, and it was another man in black who escorted Gu Pinglin out of the valley.
Not far away, I saw a person standing at the intersection ahead.
Gu Pinglin stopped when he saw him.
The man did not disguise himself. He had a handsome face, hair as sharp as a knife, handsome eyebrows and bright eyes, and a high spirit. He wore white arrow sleeves with borders and a moon-white embroidered belt. Although his attire was simple, he still looked like a true nobleman standing there.
"Your subordinate greets Master Yun Jian." The man in black stepped forward and saluted.
Gu Pinglin noticed that he had a white jade plate hanging around his waist with two ancient seal characters "Yun Jian" engraved on it. It seemed that the people in the Sword King Pavilion identified their identities by tokens.
Master Yun Jian waved his hand, and the man in black quietly retreated to a distance and waited.
Gu Pinglin politely cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Qi Thirteen, how are you?"
Qi Wan'er turned sideways to face him, but just sneered without returning the greeting: "Not bad, Master Gu must have lived well these years."
"Not bad," Gu Pinglin seemed not to hear the sarcasm in his words, and said calmly, "I haven't seen you for many years. I didn't expect you to be in the Sword King Pavilion."
Seeing that he had no shame at all, Qi Wan'er's face turned even colder: "I'm not here to talk about the past with you, I want to ask you something."
Gu Pinglin said: "Oh? Please go ahead."
Qi Wan'er asked, "Did you lead the Qi family to Penglai when they passed by?"
Gu Pinglin said: "Not bad."
Qi Wan'er suppressed her anger and asked, "You are using me for Duan Liu?"
"Brother Duan?" Gu Pinglin shook his head. "Of course not. He is my brother. The incident happened suddenly that year, and I had no choice but to expel him from the Lingxin Sect. I feel very guilty about it."
Qi Wan'er didn't believe it: "Then why did you lead Qi to the East China Sea?"
Gu Pinglin was puzzled. "Didn't your grandfather tell you? If you leave the Qi family, your journey will be difficult. Your grandfather asked me to persuade you. I couldn't bear to see you ruin your journey, so I revealed your whereabouts. But later I saw that you were determined, so I changed my mind. That's why I told you the news of their arrival and asked you to leave Penglai as soon as possible. But why did you fall into their trap?"
Qi Wan'er was speechless when asked this question.
Gu Pinglin did not ask further questions, but sighed, "I never thought you could really create a sword move. If your grandfather knew about it, he would definitely be very pleased."
He answered frankly, and Qi Wan'er was no longer sure. She pursed her lips for a long while before speaking again: "It is easy to improve sword moves, but it is difficult to improve martial arts." Her tone was a little gentler.
Being able to create the purest sword moves, his character is indeed extremely pure. Gu Pinglin did not test him as he did with Rain Sword Thirty-Three, but only said: "Pavilion Master is a genius, you will definitely gain a lot in Sword King Pavilion."
Qi Wan'er rarely refuted and asked, "Did you really not interfere in Duan Liu's affairs?"
Gu Pinglin was puzzled: "What do you mean?"
"Qi passed by and Duan Liu got into trouble. I just feel it's too much of a coincidence." Qi Wan'er said frankly. Although he was simple, he was not stupid, so he would naturally become suspicious.
Gu Pinglin did not ask any more questions: "The dead are gone. Anyway, congratulations on achieving your wish. I cannot stay for long now. If you are free, why don't you visit Lingxin Sect? Senior Brother Bu also misses you and Brother Yao very much. It's a good opportunity for you to learn swordsmanship when you meet again after a long separation."
Qi Wan'er hesitated: "This..."
Gu Pinglin turned around: "Brother Yao."
Yao Feng emerged from the miasma, still wearing a simple blue cloth shirt. He did not speak, but just nodded at Gu Pinglin and walked to stand beside Qi Wan'er.
This person is not Qi Wan'er, everyone can see clearly. Gu Pinglin smiled and said, "Let's do it another day. Lingxin Sect welcomes you two to visit at any time. Goodbye."
Qi Wan'er finally bowed and said, "No need to see you off."