### Chapter 53: Night Reconnaissance

### Chapter 53: Night Reconnaissance

Stay or come back tomorrow?

This was almost a question that didn't need to be asked.

On one hand, there was nowhere around Jade Willow Villa to rest; they couldn't possibly sleep out in the wilderness...

On the other hand, the variables within the villa were still unknown. If they left today, would they really see Liu Suifeng tomorrow?

The longer they delayed, the more unpredictable things would become, and this mission might never end.

He smiled and said:

"Since Jade Willow Villa has invited us, it would be impolite to refuse. So we'll stay here for the night."

The woman gave Su Mo another deep look before turning away without a word.

Seeing everyone agree to stay, Liu Qingkong nodded. "In that case, please follow me."

Liu Qingkong had everything arranged neatly. There were nine people in total, divided into three courtyards.

The monk, the woman, and the scholar stayed in one courtyard.

The two swordsmen and the brute stayed in another courtyard.

Su Mo, Yang Xiaoyun, and the gentlemanly man were assigned to the same courtyard.

At this moment, the two of them were already seated in the room, with candles flickering, casting an uncertain light.

Su Mo looked at Yang Xiaoyun and couldn't help but ask, "Xiaoyun, what happened just now?"

Given Yang Xiaoyun's abilities, there was no reason for her to lose focus in that situation. If she had thought of something, now would be the time to say it.

Yang Xiaoyun looked at Su Mo and frowned.

Suddenly, she said, "Hold out your hand."

"...?"

With some confusion, Su Mo held out his hand.

Yang Xiaoyun approached cautiously and gently grabbed his hand.

Then, under the candlelight, they stared at each other, both bewildered.

"???"

Su Mo felt as if three question marks were etched on his forehead.

"...Nothing."

Yang Xiaoyun shook her head. "I don't know how to explain it. It felt like I was poisoned... But after checking myself along the way, I found nothing unusual. This Jade Willow Villa is indeed hard to fathom!"

"Poisoned?"

Su Mo was taken aback. "What does that have to do with my hand?"

"When you were in the hall and touched my hand... I suddenly felt weak all over."

Yang Xiaoyun laughed lightly. "But now it seems I was just being paranoid."

"..."

Su Mo blinked and cleared his throat, then changed the subject:

"Along the way, did you notice anything strange, Xiaoyun?"

"Are you talking about Jade Willow Villa or those people?"

Although Yang Xiaoyun asked this, she continued without waiting for Su Mo's answer. "Jade Willow Villa is indeed peculiar. Along the way, even though I was secretly using my inner energy, I noticed that there seemed to be far fewer people in the villa than expected. And the few servants we saw all had sullen faces.

"Jade Willow Villa is well-known in the martial world, so their behavior is quite puzzling.

"And with such a large estate, it's impossible to manage with just these few people."

"That's true."

Su Mo nodded. "Apart from that, the gentlemanly man..."

At this point, he grimaced, feeling a bit guilty about saying it, especially since the man had shamelessly written those four characters on his fan.

Shaking his head, he continued: "He said they came to visit Jade Willow Villa today. It seems they arrived unexpectedly. However, the innkeeper in Pingfeng Town told us that while most people stayed in town, some had already come to Jade Willow Villa. Where are those people now?"

"Have they already left?"

"It's hard to say... The number of people who came from Pingfeng Town is probably only a small part. If you add those coming from other directions, it's not a small number. With so many people arriving at Jade Willow Villa, why isn't there any commotion?"

Su Mo shook his head slightly. "Those who came today likely have their own motives. Liu Suifeng's absence doesn't seem to surprise them. All of this gives me a bad feeling... By the way, can you tell where those people came from today?"

Yang Xiaoyun shook her head and sighed. "The martial world is vast, and my insight is limited. Apart from the two swordsmen, I can't discern much about the others. As for the two swordsmen... From the glimpse of their sword light, I recognized the style of Heavenly Blade Sect."

"Heavenly Blade Sect."

Su Mo's brows furrowed slightly. The Heavenly Blade Sect was no small matter.

This sect controlled a region north of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance.

If the Fallen Phoenix Alliance wanted to expand northward, they would first face the Heavenly Blade Sect... Yet, until now, the Fallen Phoenix Alliance hasn't moved an inch northward, indicating their deep wariness of the Heavenly Blade Sect.

"But if it's them, it's not hard to explain why they possess such swordsmanship and that cold demeanor."

Su Mo nodded slightly.

The Heaven Blade Sect's sword techniques are rigorous. It is said that the founding ancestor originally came from a Taoist lineage, cultivating the path of celestial beings, making their innovations extraordinary.

The deeper one delves into their inner techniques, the more their human emotions wane, and the more powerful their swordsmanship becomes.

At the pinnacle, one can merge with the blade, achieving unity between man and sword, leaving only sharpness in their wake.

However, this realm of man-sword unity is merely hearsay; it seems only the founding ancestor has ever reached such a level in the sect’s history.

It is said that at his peak, he cleaved through clouds and sea, sweeping across a thousand miles of clear sky, causing a stir throughout the world, and thus the name Heaven Blade Sect has echoed through the martial realm for three hundred years.

Of course, the past is gone, and whether these stories are true or false remains uncertain.

Martial artists often exaggerate tales, so the truth may not be as legendary as the legends suggest.

But the Heaven Blade Sect's sword techniques are universally acknowledged as formidable.

"Two swordsmen from the Heaven Blade Sect, unpredictable strangers from the martial realm, the visitor's whereabouts are now unknown, and Liu Suifeng avoids meeting them..."

Su Mo tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"What do you intend to do?"

Yang Xiaoyun glanced at Su Mo.

"I plan to investigate Jade Willow Villa tonight."

Su Mo spoke, "This night is too long and full of uncertainties. If I cannot meet Liu Suifeng soon, I will not feel at ease."

"Alright!"

Yang Xiaoyun nodded. "Be careful. I'll stay here just in case."

Su Mo smiled gently; Yang Xiaoyun's considerations always aligned with his own.

Yang Xiaoyun then patted the sword case. "Also, take this with you. If you can meet Liu Suifeng, there's no need to wait—just hand it over directly. Then, regardless of our next move, we'll have no further worries."