Desperados Attack - Chapter 58 - Shadow

Indeed, at this moment, what intrigued Xiao Feng the most was the identity of the Black Robed Man.

Xiao Feng pondered.

“Sigh~”

He sighed, recalling his father’s advice when thinking about the “Red Lotus Palm.”

Although he was the least favored in the family, his father had also advised him that if he ever encountered someone with the surname Duan in the Jianghu, he must show them some courtesy.

However, he never took it to heart. First, as the Young Master of the Xiao Family, he was used to being respected; secondly, even if he did encounter one and things didn’t go smoothly, engaging in a fight wouldn’t necessarily mean he’d lose. Therefore, he never gave a place in his mind to someone with the surname Duan.

Upon hearing Xiao Feng call out to him, the Black Robed Man raised his hand and said, “I’ve said my identity is not important. Why do you insist on asking, Xiao-Ge?”

Xiao-Ge?

Xiao Feng’s heart skipped a beat. How did he know his identity?

Thinking this, Xiao Feng quickly dismissed the thought, reasoning, “This person is a guest of the Nine Star Manor; Duanmu Xun must have told him.”

Thinking this, he immediately said, “Mr. Duan, you have quite a leisure!”

Xiao Feng was convinced this person was a descendant of Duan Ming’en, so he kept a close watch on his expression after saying this, hoping to uncover clues. After all, it was an anomaly to have a male guest in Nine Star Manor-a place known never to accept male guests-and if this person was a descendant of the Duan Clan. Xiao Feng inwardly rejoiced, thinking, “If I can uncover clues, my position in the family would greatly improve. How could I not then be treated with more importance?”

“You call me Xiao-Ge, yet I don’t even know your name. How can you wander the Jianghu without a name?”

Xiao Feng intentionally mocked the Black Robed Man, but he remained unfazed and simply said, “I appear here purely for what my heart desires!”

“And what is it that you desire?”

“Heh, no wonder you’re the Young Master of the Xiao Family. Being eloquent seems to be your specialty!”

“Hmph!”

Seeing the Black Robed Man’s arrogant demeanor, Xiao Feng snorted coldly. He wanted to argue with him, but being a captive now, saying more would only invite ridicule. With this in mind, he decided to remain silent.

However, he kept pondering, pondering how if he could master the Fire Cloud Palm to its peak, it would not only be incredibly powerful, reaching an unparalleled level in the world, but would also have the ability to unify the Jianghu.

“……”

He thought, and then added, “I have some idea of who you are.”

The Black Robed Man stood up at this moment. He looked exceedingly scholarly, and it was hard to imagine such a person could execute such a powerful technique.

He didn’t respond to Xiao Feng’s words at all, instead clasping his hands and saying, “Everyone, I am a manor guest of Miss Duanmu Xun. Please do not harbor hostility towards me. If you wish to know more, you may ask Duanmu Xun.”

“You wretch, speaking nothing but nonsense!”

Duanmu Yun had already had her acupoints unlocked. Upon hearing the Black Robed Man’s words, she drew her sword, pointing it directly at him, and said, “Our manor never takes in guests, yet here you are, asking me to question someone who’s already dead. Aren’t you just speaking nonsense?”

With that, Duanmu Yun ordered, “Men, seize him!”

It seemed she didn’t care for the implications of the Black Robed Man’s words, and was in fact hoping he wouldn’t say more.

“Wait!”

The Black Robed Man gestured with his right hand, and a blazing fire ignited in his palm.

“What? Do you intend to resist? Do you not know the might of Nine Star Manor?”

“Lady, I’ll tell you: Nine Star Manor is nothing but a pile of dog dung in my eyes. Also, your elder sister is not dead. The one who died…”

As he spoke, he pointed at the lifeless body, “is just a shadow!”

A shadow?

What is a shadow?

Upon hearing this, everyone started to murmur.

A shadow is essentially a stand-in, someone who steps in to protect the Master at critical moments. It’s a puppet raised by the Master-a scapegoat.

“Shadow! What is that?”

Clearly, Su Xinghe didn’t know what a shadow was.

No one answered his question.

Duanmu Yun then asked, “Who are you? If you don’t reveal your identity, how can I trust you?”

“I am Duan Pingzhang!”

Duan Pingzhang, so this person was Duan Pingzhang!

And who exactly is Duan Pingzhang?

Anyone in the Jianghu with ears has heard the name “Jade-faced Yama.”

Coincidentally, anyone in the Jianghu with eyes wants to see the handsome face of the “Jade-faced Yama,” but none have managed to do so.

“So it’s King Chujiang of the Ten Yama Kings, Duan Pingzhang!”

Duanmu Yun said, feeling apprehensive.

It’s well-known that the Ten Yama Kings are ten of the most notorious figures in the Jianghu, wholly devoid of benevolence. They’ve committed every imaginable evil.

Even after forming a brotherhood, they schemed against each other, showing not an ounce of benevolence, truly angering both heaven and earth!

Their evil can only be compared to Li Xiuluo throughout history.

Upon hearing that this person was King Chujiang, one of the Ten Yama Kings, Xiao Feng’s heart skipped a beat. He had only ever heard of King Chujiang, never of Duan Pingzhang.

He hadn’t anticipated that this notorious King Chujiang would turn out to be the child of his father’s junior disciple, setting his mind racing.

“I won’t waste words with you. You can decide for yourselves; your elder sister, Duanmu Xun, is not dead-this was just a substitute!”

With that, Duan Pingzhang tossed the fireball in his hand into the air. It soared over ten feet high before exploding with a “bang.”

This move wasn’t intended to harm anyone, and it wasn’t particularly powerful.

Seeing that Duan Pingzhang wasn’t as terrifying as the rumors suggested, Duanmu Yun felt more at ease and said, “You think your words alone can deceive us? I’ve been with my elder sister day and night-do you really think I can’t tell the difference between her and a stand-in?”

She had heard of the concept of a “shadow” in the central plains, though she had never seen one. Despite her skepticism, she believed Duan Pingzhang: her sister, Duanmu Xun, was definitely not dead. Nonetheless, her words implied that the distinction between the real person and the substitute was negligible-both were equally overbearing.

The others didn’t grasp the implied meaning of her words. Then Duan Pingzhang called out, “Miss Xun, come out!”

With his call, people expected something to happen, but there was no movement at all amidst the silence.

The night was very still.

There wasn’t even a breeze, allowing even the faintest breaths to be heard distinctly between people.

“Hmm?”

After a moment with no response, Duanmu Yun pointed sharply at Duan Pingzhang’s face and cursed, “You scoundrel! You must be in cahoots with that pretty boy, trying to deceive me, are you? How dare you play tricks on me!”