Su Yingxia felt a pang of unease. Gongsun Zheng’s presence and aura were overwhelmingly powerful, more so than anyone she had ever encountered. After Su Yuhua’s return, the Su family had risen to prominence, and she had met many influential people. However, compared to Gongsun Zheng, those so-called influential figures merely possessed an air of authority stemming from their wealth and power. Gongsun Zheng’s aura, on the other hand, was intrinsic, born from his own strength. Su Yingxia felt as though Gongsun Zheng could effortlessly end her life with a mere flick of his finger. This thought filled her with both trepidation and a strange sense of exhilaration. She eagerly awaited Gongsun Zheng’s intervention to make Chen Fan disappear from this world forever. Only then would her nightmare end, her past foolishness and blindness be erased, and her mistakes transformed into foresight.
"Brother Zheng, are you sure?"
Amidst her fear and anxiety, Su Yingxia heard the woman’s voice. Then, her hand felt heavy as Gongsun Zheng clasped her wrist. Startled, she tried to pull away but was held immobile by his imposing presence. A warmth flowed from Gongsun Zheng’s hand, spreading throughout her body, bringing a tingly sensation. Su Yingxia found it peculiar and grew even more apprehensive.
Gongsun Zheng soon released her hand and said, "She's an excellent prospect. Though a bit older, she's still very suitable for martial arts training!"
"If Brother Zheng says so, she must have a rare constitution," the woman nodded, a hint of joy and anticipation on her face. She kindly asked Su Yingxia, "What's your name?"
"Su... Su Yingxia!"
As she spoke her name, Su Yingxia felt a fresh wave of nervousness. Anyone who heard her name would inevitably associate it with Chen Fan. Though no one openly mocked her, the judgmental and peculiar glances she received had become unbearable.
The woman indeed recognized her identity and exclaimed in surprise, "Chen Fan's ex-wife?" Su Yingxia wished she could disappear into the ground. However, the woman's tone was not one of mockery. She continued, "It's said your Su family has a very poor relationship with that Chen Fan, so this connection is of no consequence."
She paused, then added, "Su Yingxia, my name is Gu Yueqing. I am a practitioner of ancient martial arts. Your physique is exceptionally suited for cultivating ancient martial arts. Would you be willing to return to my sect with me?"
Su Yingxia was taken aback. Gu Yueqing smiled gently and softly said, "My sect is called the Misty Rain Sect, one of the ten remaining ancient martial arts sects in the world today. You have one day to consider this. Discuss it with your family. If you agree, come find me at the Flowing Cloud Martial Arts Hall tomorrow."
Grateful for the time to consider, Su Yingxia quickly nodded.
"This is a rare opportunity!" Gongsun Zheng suddenly spoke. "Su Yingxia, given your physique, you must be a prodigy in martial arts. While you are a bit older, there are ways to compensate. As long as you are willing to work hard, your future achievements will surely not be inferior to mine. Do not let yourself be buried in the mundane world!"
"Furthermore, the Misty Rain Sect is far more powerful than you can imagine. It has transcended the secular world. If you become a formal disciple of the Misty Rain Sect, your entire Su family will soar because of you, and a mere Mr. Long will be insignificant."
Su Yingxia didn't know how to respond and simply nodded blankly. These matters seemed too fantastical for her to comprehend. She had only ever encountered such things in television dramas and novels. Gongsun Zheng and Gu Yueqing, understanding Su Yingxia's current state of mind, said no more and turned to board a Rolls-Royce. Gongsun Yuan and Gongsun Liang, however, couldn't help but stare at Su Yingxia for a moment before following them into the car.
As they departed, Su Yuhua and Yuan Liangping immediately approached her. "Yingxia, what did Mr. Gongsun say to you?"
"They... that elder Gu, she wants me to join her sect, the Misty Rain Sect!" Su Yingxia replied.
Su Yuhua's expression shifted. "Did you agree?"
"Elder Gu gave me a day to consider and told me to come find her here tomorrow if I decide to," Su Yingxia answered truthfully. Su Yuhua fell into thought. He knew little about Gu Yueqing, but her close relationship with Gongsun Zheng indicated she was no ordinary person.
"There's no rush. Let's make a decision after this fight," Su Yuhua said. Su Yingxia nodded, feeling a sense of relief. She was torn. On one hand, she wanted to escape her current circumstances and cultivate ancient martial arts with Gu Yueqing. On the other hand, her deepest desire was to marry into a wealthy family and become a prominent socialite, not a martial artist engaged in constant fighting. Moreover, training in martial arts would likely be arduous and isolated, which she felt she couldn't endure. Therefore, without fully understanding the situation, she was hesitant to agree. Yet, the thought of Gongsun Zheng easily crushing Chen Fan under his heel made her waver.
The three of them said no more and got into their respective cars, heading towards the broken bridge. En route, Yuan Liangping and Su Yuhua were constantly sending messages, communicating with others. They were not far from the broken bridge, only about two to three miles away. Soon, they arrived at the nearest parking area to the broken bridge. After parking, the three of them alighted.
In the darkness, a long bridge stretched out like a dike, spanning the dividing point of West Lake, connecting North Mountain Road on one end and Bai Causeway on the other. The ancient bridge under the night sky, illuminated by moonlight and the shimmering lake, possessed a unique charm. This ancient bridge was rumored to be the meeting place of Madam White Snake and Xu Xian, giving rise to many legends and making it one of the eight scenic spots of West Lake.
The tourists had been cleared, and the scenic area staff were guarding the ends of the bridge. Disciples from the Flowing Cloud Martial Arts Hall, cooperating with the staff, directed all spectators to gather on North Mountain Road. The lights on the bridge were brilliant, ensuring a clear view of the upcoming confrontation. Gongsun Zheng had already arrived and stood on the bridge, hands behind his back, gazing at the lake and the moon. His robes fluttered gently, as if he were an immortal about to step onto the moon, exuding an extraordinary presence that commanded admiration.
After getting out of the car, Su Yuhua squinted, looking towards Bai Causeway on the other side of the scenic area. He had received word from Blood Thorn that the assassins from the Blood God Hall were in position, but he couldn't discern their hiding places. This was perfectly normal; if Blood God Hall's operatives were easily spotted by an outsider like him, they wouldn't be in business.
"Where are your people?" Su Yuhua asked Yuan Liangping in a low voice.
Yuan Liangping replied, "They're already in the vicinity!" The plan was to intercept Chen Fan after the fight, if he survived, and eliminate him. Su Yuhua nodded. "Don't make any mistakes. Ensure Chen Fan realizes the danger and tries to escape." He was beginning to suspect Chen Fan was the Lord of the Night, a formidable figure in the underworld. If his suspicion was true, Chen Fan's skills would make it difficult to find another opportunity to confront him once he escaped. Moreover, though not involved in the underground world, he knew that with the Lord of the Night's influence, his own life would be filled with constant anxiety.
Yuan Liangping said, "I'll go and see for myself!" With that, he turned and left to personally ensure everything was in order. Just then, a convoy of cars arrived and stopped on North Mountain Road. From the Bentley in the center, Chen Fan and his companions alighted.