Seeing Huo Xiao Di still unwilling to let the matter go, Zhan added with a faint smile, “To be honest, you’re not wrong. Like you, I’ve not only offended Commander Shao but also the Xiang Yang Prince.”
Huo Xiao Di immediately felt a sense of camaraderie and nodded sympathetically. “Fine, I won’t tease you anymore. The people of Xiang Yang are definitely not to be trifled with. You haven’t seen Little Shao when he draws his sword—” He stopped mid-sentence, realizing how contradictory it sounded to speak of Shao Ji Zu’s swordsmanship after so boldly criticizing him earlier. It felt like he was undermining himself.
Glancing at Zhan, he reluctantly added, “Anyway, despite everything, you stepped in to block Mu Xiu Quan’s sword for me. I haven’t even thanked you yet.”
But Zhan Ri Fei shook his head and replied, “And yet, Brother Huo, despite knowing the Xiang Yang soldiers were nearby, you still intervened to deflect the spear that could have harmed innocents. You even saved that child who was about to die at Ge Yun Fei’s hands. Such chivalry is truly admirable. For you to thank me now would be too formal.”
Huo Xiao Di couldn’t help but feel pleased, but his bright eyes darted around as he continued to press. “Still, how did you know Mu Xiu Quan was going to attack me?”
Zhan Ri Fei sighed softly. “The hearts of people in the martial world can be unfathomably sinister. Mu Xiu Quan had no choice but to kill you. Your lightfoot technique is extraordinary, so his only option was to use underhanded means.”
Huo Xiao Di scratched his head, still puzzled. “I don’t even know him, and I helped him resolve a problem for Xing Yun Manor. Why wouldn’t he show me any gratitude and instead try to kill me?”
Zhan Ri Fei replied, “Because he recognized you as someone from Ling Long Manor. Seeing you wield the Yin Yang An and display such exceptional lightfoot skills, a well-traveled man like Mu Xiu Quan could easily deduce your identity as a distinguished figure from Ling Long Manor. Surely, you’re aware of the secret rivalry between Ling Long Manor and Xing Yun Manor.”
Huo Xiao Di muttered, “The rivalry between Ling Long Manor and Xing Yun Manor? How come no one’s ever told me about this?”
Zhan Ri Fei gave him a curious look.
The young man in the yellow robe, though possessing unparalleled martial skills, spoke with a childlike innocence, as if he had no understanding of the complexities of the world. How could someone like him be allowed to roam the martial world, representing the renowned Ling Long Manor?
Huo Xiao Di continued, “Even if I’m from Ling Long Manor, isn’t it better to resolve enmities than create them? Why couldn’t he just go with the flow and show some goodwill? Why did he have to try to kill me?”
Zhan Ri Fei, hearing such naive words, sighed. “If everyone in the martial world were as straightforward as you, Brother Huo, there would be far fewer conflicts.”
–– “This time, the third master of Xing Yun Manor and his entourage were completely wiped out by Tang Sect’s ‘Hall of Unwavering Righteousness’ assassins, which was already a major loss for Xing Yun Manor. Then you went and took down the leader of Tang Sect’s trio. For Mu Xiu Quan, killing you was the only way to restore his pride and assert dominance over Ling Long Manor.”
–– “Brother Huo, since you’ve seen the Dragon-Tiger Rankings, you should know that Ling Long Manor and Tang Sect are on friendly terms. Moreover, your presence at the scene of the treasure ambush would undoubtedly make him suspect that you were also after the item Xing Yun Manor desires.”
–– “Given that a feud with Ling Long Manor was inevitable, whether or not he killed you, he probably thought it would be better to eliminate you first, saving himself extra trouble in a future clash with Ling Long Manor. That’s why he had no choice but to target you.”
Huo Xiao Di’s large eyes slowly filled with a strange expression. After a long silence, he finally said, “So, you used Ge Yun Fei’s spear to kill Mu Xiu Quan in secret, to scare off Jiao Chao Gui and prevent him from causing me trouble after Mu Xiu Quan’s death. Isn’t that right?”
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