Chapter 305 - 181: Fake Painting

Chapter 305: Chapter 181: Fake Painting

Instead, it was a long, rectangular oilcloth bundle, its surface stained with dried blood.

Everyone was stunned.

Dugu Xiang’s pupils contracted, and a tremor entered his voice. "Could this be..."

Cheng Xiao nodded. "The Spring Pond Willow Swallow Map."

It was the *Spring Pond Willow Swallow Map* from the Four Seasons Map!

In an instant, a glint appeared in everyone’s eyes.

The most surprised of all was Zheng Xiu. His deduction had come true. Here at Hidden Sword Manor, all four paintings Grandpa Gongsun had made—the legendary Four Seasons Map said to reveal the location of Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault—were finally gathered!

But Zheng Xiu felt no excitement.

Dugu Xiang took another deep breath, fell silent for a long moment, then turned and continued walking.

Left behind was the headless corpse of an unorthodox master, along with a head that had rolled to the side, ignored by all.

Cheng Xiao walked up to Zheng Xiu’s side and began walking with him, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Zheng Xiu was in the middle, with Cheng Xiao to his left and Xiaotao to his right.

This strange scene left the others stunned once again.

Everyone knew that Cheng Xiao’s sword had been broken by "Xiao Buping" at the Martial World tournament. Of course, Xiao Buping’s Iron Fan had also been broken, so in theory, they were even. But what kind of person was Cheng Xiao, and what kind of person was Xiao Buping? How could they compare? They had thought that if Cheng Xiao could kill the otherwise unknown unorthodox master "Purple Blood Sword" in a single encounter over a "personal grudge," then he had even more reason to cut down Bandit Xiao without a second thought. Yet, Cheng Xiao acted as if he’d met a friend he hadn’t seen in years, naturally falling into step with "Xiao Buping."

Zheng Xiu asked, "A personal grudge?"

"Yes." Cheng Xiao stared straight ahead, giving an answer that surprised Zheng Xiu with its directness. "I want to find Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault."

Zheng Xiu was slightly taken aback, then he understood and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. "Just because he took up one of the spots?"

Cheng Xiao nodded. "Yes."

Zheng Xiu asked again, "Then why him, and not me, or someone else?"

Cheng Xiao turned to look at Zheng Xiu. His pale face remained unchanged, but his brow furrowed as if in confusion. He was puzzled as to why Zheng Xiu would ask such a question.

After a moment of silence, Cheng Xiao, a man who cherished his words like gold, spoke a long sentence:

"I am not your equal. He was not worthy of his reputation."

Pausing for a beat, Cheng Xiao looked away and concluded, "Easy to kill."

HISS!

Cheng Xiao hadn’t bothered to hide his words, displaying a strange sort of frankness. But to the others who overheard, his words had a very different flavor.

The so-called "personal grudge" was simply because that man had stood in Cheng Xiao’s way.

And the reason he’d picked that unlucky bastard was because he was "easy to kill!"

Hearing this, the rest of them felt their scalps tingle. Any treacherous thoughts that had just begun to stir were forcefully suppressed; they didn’t dare let their minds wander any further.

The sky was dark, but the moon was bright. Night fell, and lanterns were lit throughout Hidden Sword Manor.

Within a certain courtyard, disciples armed with swords stood guard on all sides, sealing it off completely. Something important was clearly being kept inside.

GULP.

Zhang Da’er subconsciously swallowed.

The rumors about Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault in the Jianghu had grown more and more exaggerated over time. Legends claimed it held countless treasures of gold and silver, antique paintings and calligraphy, Divine Weapons, and Cultivation Technique Manuals. There were even stories of miraculous pills that could turn someone into a peerless master overnight. It was said that whoever entered Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault, whether they wished for wealth to rival a nation or to become invincible, could have their dreams come true.

If it were anyone else, it might be dismissed. But Lord Nie was a corrupt official from a former dynasty, one whose greed was written about at length by Historians. The idea that he would hide the treasures he had amassed over a lifetime in Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault was perfectly logical. It was better to believe it than to not.

’What if it’s real?’

Ten seats had been arranged in the main hall, five on each side—no more, no less.

Dugu Xiang said, "Everyone, please wait here a moment. I will go and fetch the painting."

Everyone looked at each other.

There was one thought on everyone’s mind, yet no one dared to speak it aloud.

Is this a trap?

"Please bring a pot of Guis Manor’s ’Northern Sword Travel’."

Zheng Xiu chuckled, led Xiaotao to a seat, and sat down calmly, ordering a pot of tea while he was at it.

Dugu Xiang smiled faintly and agreed.

Cheng Xiao silently sat down next to Zheng Xiu.

"Heh heh! Brother Xiao, what courage! I, Zhang Da’er, am impressed!" Zhang Da’er chuckled, gave Zheng Xiu a thumbs-up, and plopped down onto a valuable, ornately carved wooden chair, rocking back and forth and causing it to creak.

Even if the others were wary, they couldn’t afford to lose face at a moment like this. For people of the Martial World, life was first, but face was a close and extremely important second. If even the notorious Xiao Buping had such guts, they certainly couldn’t be seen as inferior. With varying expressions, they all puffed out their chests, chose a seat, and sat down.

Before long, a young man brought a pot of "Northern Sword Travel" to Zheng Xiu, and to no one else.

A short while later, Dugu Xiang returned to the hall, holding a rolled-up scroll.

This time, Dugu Xiang dispensed with the pleasantries. In front of everyone, he unfurled the scroll.

In that instant, the air froze.

The yellowed scroll depicted a forest of withered trees submerged in vast, white snow, the land utterly devoid of life. Yet in this desolate, snowy ground, a single plum blossom tree grew stubbornly, the white of the snow and the vibrant color of the blossoms weaving together in a powerful contrast.

"A magnificent painting! Truly worthy of the Gongsun Painting Saint!"

Everyone’s eyes were glued to the painting. Yue Chongyang, the Gentleman’s Sword, slapped his thigh and exclaimed in praise.

Someone stood up and took a few steps closer, but didn’t dare get too near for fear of being misunderstood.

Of all the people present, only Zheng Xiu frowned slightly the moment he saw the painting, causing a faint ripple to spread across the surface of the tea in his cup.

’It’s a good painting.’

’The workmanship is exquisite, definitely the work of a master.’

’The texture of the withered trees, the contours of the snowy ground, the shape of the plum blossoms—all of it is incredibly lifelike. You can’t find a single flaw anywhere.’

Zheng Xiu had no memory of the *Plum Blossoms in the Snow*, but the instant Dugu Xiang unfurled the scroll, Zheng Xiu looked at the painting and suddenly realized something.

This *Plum Blossoms in the Snow*...

...was a fake.