Volume 7: Looking back at the rivers and lakes, the road ahead is long Chapter 345: Drinking, Watching the Snow, Listening to the Sword
Bare feet, red hair, snow skin...
Under the charming lights, several graceful Yi women are dancing gracefully.
Outside the door, there was heavy snow and a vast expanse of desolate ground, but inside the door, there was debauchery and drunkenness.
Jin Laoqi was sitting on a large chair covered with tiger skin, holding a delicate beauty in his arms, who was offering him wine and fruit, and was very intimate.
Since the establishment of the Twelve Linked Docks, no leading boss has ever been as successful as he is today.
This is because he controls at least 90% of the world's waterways, including several water routes such as Taihu Lake and Dongting Lake, which require him to command pirates. He is even more comfortable than being an emperor.
Nowadays, all the heroes in the world, both black and white, have to curry favor with him, and all the officials and gentry have to please him. How can he not be happy?
But now, Jin Laoqi has not slept for several days.
Of course, he also received the news that Li Muchan was about to return to the Central Plains.
At the same time as he received the news, this powerful lord of the waterways rushed back to the water stronghold as quickly as possible, and at the same time ordered the 72 captains to immediately lead their elite troops back to defend the water stronghold.
Not only that, Jin Laoqi also spent a lot of money to recruit many killers and ruthless people in the underworld, especially the rising stars who have become famous in recent years.
These people all yearn for fame, and naturally they can disregard life and death. More importantly, they have never experienced Li Muchan's methods, so they will not retreat in fear.
Now he has set up a tight net around this water fort on the Yangtze River, with layers of checkpoints set up. Anyone who dares to break in will have no chance of survival.
But even though Jin Laoqi had racked his brains and used all his tricks to guard against that man, he still couldn't sleep and didn't dare to sleep.
His eyes were filled with thin bloodshot lines, his eye sockets were sunken, and his cheeks were tense. Even with a beautiful woman sitting in his arms and fine wine in his throat, he didn't seem to enjoy it at all.
Jin Laoqi knew Li Muchan. This person might have returned to the Central Plains long before the news was released, and he might be secretly watching him now.
So, how could he dare to fall asleep?
These days, he never left this hall even to relieve himself, and he never let his guard down for a moment.
"He holds such immense power, yet he is now terrorized by one person. How sad, ridiculous, and pathetic."
The sound came from a corner of shadow where the light could not reach.
Beneath the curtain, a gray-robed swordsman with a slight beard stood holding a sword, as if he had completely merged with the darkness. Only a pair of cold and ruthless eyes were watching everything quietly.
Jin Laoqi said expressionlessly, "You're right. But don't forget that I, a pathetic, ridiculous, and pitiful person, am the one who can give you 30,000 taels of gold and ensure you have plenty of food and clothing for the rest of your life."
The swordsman looked out at the falling snow and said calmly, "If that's the case, why did you betray him?"
The wine glass in Jin Laoqi's hand shattered with a bang, and his voice deepened as he said coldly, "Rather than saying it's a betrayal, it's better to say that I never truly submitted to him. They say people strive for higher positions, especially when a person's power grows, and it's inevitable that they will have the desire to go further. Besides, even if I don't do this, can others really keep to themselves? I'm doing this to save myself."
He turned his head and looked at the gray-robed swordsman.
This person was the expert he had spent a lot of money to recruit. His surname was Xue and his name was Xue Qingbi. He had superb swordsmanship and was on the verge of dominating the martial arts world . He could almost compete with Yan Shisan and Xie Xiaofeng.
Jin Laoqi's expression grew increasingly grim, and he let out a strange laugh, "Haha, how many leaders are there in the Thirteen Provinces martial arts world? It wasn't until Li Muchan left for sea travel that he remembered me, his life-and-death companion, and bestowed upon me the position of leader as if it were alms."
Jin Laoqi rubbed the wine glass residue in his hand until it was reduced to powder, then laughed sternly, "Shangguan Xiaoxian was already pregnant back then. If I didn't take action, would I have to wait until his son and daughter grew up? Li Ye'er, alone with his horse, took Luoyang without a fight. Do you think Li Muchan was defenseless? He's been waiting for this day. He's been killing us all along, just to get rid of us all in one fell swoop, so that the world alliance will be named after the Li family."
Xue Qingbi's eyes turned, and she looked at him dimly, "So that's what you think. Li Muchan doesn't care whether you're loyal or not, or even if you betray her. But you shouldn't have colluded with the remnants of the Azure Dragon Society, and you certainly shouldn't have practiced that evil method of replenishing yin with yang. Not only did you betray the Tianxia Alliance, you also betrayed Murong Qiudi, secretly mingled with the Zhu clan elder, and even secretly ordered people to abduct women for you to practice your evil skills."
Figures rose and fell in the hall, and the women danced gracefully and beautifully under the lights.
But just after Xue Qingbi said these words, the surroundings suddenly became eerily quiet.
Jin Laoqi's eyes also became sinister and hysterical, and an evil wind rose from his body. Then, with some disbelief and confusion, he asked, "Who are you?"
Xue Qingbi said expressionlessly, "Don't you want to know how many leaders the Tianxia Alliance has?"
Jin Laoqi's eyes suddenly widened. He remembered Li Muchan saying that since the Tianxia Alliance commands the martial arts world of thirteen provinces, there must be thirteen leaders.
"That's impossible? I know the leaders of the Tianxia Alliance very well. There's no way there could be someone else."
Xue Qingbi just said softly: "Li Ye'er."
"So that's how it is. That girl is actually the leader of the alliance..." Jin Laoqi's distorted features suddenly froze. He straightened up but lay down again, mumbling with lifeless eyes, "Could it be that you are one too?"
Xue Qingbi said slowly, "Actually, we, the leaders, don't have to show up. As long as the martial arts world is peaceful and there are no disasters, you will always be the leaders... Otherwise, someone will naturally take your place."
After hearing these words, Jin Laoqi's hands and feet turned cold and he slumped down in the big chair.
He suddenly pushed the woman in his arms away, fearing that she was also trying to get close to one of his allies.
Xue Qingbi shook her head with regret, "You were a man of great courage and daring in your time, a hero of the time. It's a pity that you were blinded by power, wine and women, and actually did something so evil that it's truly despicable."
Jin Laoqi was originally shrinking his head, seeming to be very scared and terrified, but he suddenly started laughing again, and his laughter grew from small to big, from a low laugh to a loud laugh, and finally to a wild laugh.
"Hahaha, you forgot, I started out as a pirate, and my business is plundering everywhere."
Suddenly, murderous intent arose outside the hall, and dozens of figures emerged from the heavy snow.
"Hmph, you dare to break into my water fort alone? Even if Li Muchan really comes, I will make sure he never returns today."
Xue Qingbi said coldly, "There's no cure."
As soon as he finished speaking, he moved and took a step out of the shadows. In an instant, snow rushed in and all the lights were extinguished.
Amidst the exclamations, a three-foot-long bright green sword light suddenly appeared out of thin air, moving aimlessly and changing unpredictably, which was truly shocking.
At the same time, on the roof of the hall, a figure was sitting quietly in the cold wind, drinking wine, looking at the snow, and listening to the long clang of swords...
