Morning at Jiuli Mountain.
Fan Xingjia followed the crowd ahead, walking towards the mountain. He adjusted his fur collar, feeling the chill of late autumn creeping in.
The soft laughter of girls rustled in the breeze, tickling his ears. He looked up and saw Furong and Feicui ahead, carrying their purchases from the market below.
Since Cai Zhao’s release, these two girls finally found their laughter again.
Over a year ago, at the end of that summer, after Cai Zhao was lifted from the execution platform, the heads of the Five Sects finally remembered to discuss the duration of his penance. Yang Heying didn’t hold back, speaking harshly for ten years. However, it was Song Shijun who first opposed, nearly cracking a teapot over Yang Heying’s head, as though his family line was about to be extinguished.
Thus, his sentence was halved to five years. After much protest from the Cai Pingchun couple, it was reduced to just over a year. Cai Zhao was finally released a half-month ago by Qi Yunke—his reason being the wedding of Qi Lingbo and Dai Fengchi.
Indeed, Qi Lingbo and Dai Fengchi were finally going to be married. After catching them together for the eighth time looking at stars and chatting about “life ideals” beside the rockery at midnight, Li Wenxun, who was responsible for the night watch, finally couldn’t bear it and demanded an explanation from the Sect Master and Mistress.
Qi Yunke hesitated, but Yin Suliang had already spoken: “Let the two children marry.”
Thinking of Mistress Suliang, Fan Xingjia couldn’t help but sigh lightly, a faint mist appearing before his mouth and nose.
Since Qiu Renjie’s death, Mistress Suliang had changed drastically, spending her days reciting scriptures and practicing asceticism. The once splendid and spacious Shuanglian Hua Chi Palace gates were tightly closed, surrounded by a serene quietness. The smoke from burnt incense lingered above the palace tiles for months on end.
What surprised Fan Xingjia was Qi Lingbo’s immediate acceptance, much to Dai Fengchi’s joy.
Curiosity getting the better of him, Fan Xingjia couldn’t help but ask, “Lingbo, are you giving up on Third Senior Brother?”
Qi Lingbo paused from arranging her jewelry, asking in return, “Fifth Brother, do you remember the incident at Taichu Hall over a year ago?”
Fan Xingjia was puzzled.
“I saw the skills of that scar-faced demon myself. Back then, we exposed him as not Chang Ning in the Muwei Palace, in front of Senior Li, Senior Ouyang, Senior Chen, and that Qiu surname, with many minions. He calmly slipped away. I think his cultivation must be quite profound.”
Fan Xingjia thought, more than just “quite profound.”
“He was captured because he wanted to see that little … to see Seventh Sister before he was caught.”
Qi Lingbo murmured, “I hope my future husband, regardless of his abilities, will make a good Sect Master’s wife, must be sensitive and considerate. Mother has thought about it. After the wedding, Second Senior Brother and I will settle in the old home of the Yin family, where we can still live in splendor.”
Seeing Miss Qi suddenly mature, Fan Xingjia felt inexplicably melancholic.
With plans to settle back home, Mistress Suliang allowed her daughter and future son-in-law to return to their ancestral home before the wedding, to pay respects to their ancestors and repair the Yin family ancestral house. Concerned, Zeng Dalou took Fan Xingjia and other disciples of the sect to accompany Dai and Qi on their journey for three days. If not for Zeng Dalou’s impending departure in a few days, he needed to return to handle matters, he might have sent them directly to their destination.
The familiar and rhythmic sound of the iron cable twisting echoed on the peak of Fengyun. Zeng Dalou stumbled slightly as he stepped onto the iron cable. Watching his slightly stooped figure, Fan Xingjia felt like sighing for the third time. He knew that Big Brother loved Qi Lingbo and had long wanted to take care of sect affairs for her once she became Sect Mistress, but now he had to settle for something else.
However, Fan Xingjia still felt that Zeng Dalou had been unusually silent recently, often lost in thought even when dealing with sect affairs, wondering what he was thinking.
After the two senior brothers arrived at the back hall of Muwei Palace, they learned that Master Cai and Song Yuzhi had just arrived and were talking inside. Cai Zhao and Song Yuzhi were also present.
After reporting Qi Lingbo’s itinerary to Zeng Dalou, Zeng Dalou went out to prepare for his departure, while Fan Xingjia eagerly squeezed into a corner of the room to watch the drama unfold.
Ning Xiaofeng complained to Zeng Dalou, “Luoying Valley has been indifferent to world affairs for more than ten years, you know that. What does it have to do with Guangtian Gate and Siji Gate? Why must Xiao Chun go over to mediate…”
“If it were an ordinary dispute, why would I come to you? Guangtian Gate and Siji Gate are on the verge of fighting.” Zeng Dalou was also upset, “Now the orphan of the Huangsha gang has accused Guangtian Gate of refining living people into corpse slaves, and killed the entire Huangsha gang to kill them!”
“What does this have to do with Yang He Ying? Since when did he become a champion of justice?” Ning Xiao Feng pouted.
Cai Ping Chun gently replied, “It might be because the Yellow Sand Gang has some connection with Lady Yang’s family, the Sand Tiger Gang.”
Qi Yun Ke agreed, “Yes, the deceased leader of the Yellow Sand Gang was the father-in-law of the Sand Tiger Gang’s leader. Now, Yang He Ying demands an explanation! It’s pitiful, an entire village wiped out. No matter who did it, we can’t ignore it.”
Song Yu Zhi stood up and bowed, “Master, Valley Master Cai, my father would never commit such atrocities.”
“We know, we know. Sit down,” Qi Yun Ke waved his hand. “We’ve known your father for decades; we understand his character.”
Ning Xiao Feng frowned, “That Song Shi Jun, who fell for the same courtesan’s scam three times, could never come up with such a sinister plot.”
Despite the inappropriateness of such remarks in front of the younger generation, Qi Yun Ke and Cai Ping Chun could only lower their heads and smile bitterly.
“Such cruelty, who could be responsible?” Song Yu Zhi’s expression turned grave.
Everyone in the room exchanged glances, all thinking the same thing but reluctant to voice it.
Finally, Cai Zhao spoke considerately, “Could it be the work of the Demon Sect?”
The room fell into sudden silence.
Over a year had passed since the shocking upheaval of last summer. Zhou Zhi Zhen had secluded himself in Pei Qiong Villa, Qi Yun Ke had more white hair, Yin Su Lian had become deeply immersed in her cultivation, Li Wen Xun Shibo’s authority had grown, Lei Shibo had become increasingly nagging, and Song Yu Zhi appeared even more coldly handsome.
Time flowed, seasons changed, and nothing remained unchanged, including Cai Zhao.
The girl had grown taller, her delicate collarbones resembling small bowls, her waist slender. After over a year of confinement in a cave without sunlight, her skin had become as smooth as jade, and a faint flush appeared on her cheeks as white as thin rice paper.
Fan Xingjia recalled how, upon first meeting her, she had been a pretty but playful and naive girl with a round, teasing smile. Now, she had transformed into a refined and radiant beauty, fragile yet resilient, a mysterious contradiction.
Qi Yun Ke broke the awkward silence with a light cough, “It shouldn’t be. This happened months ago, and the Demon Sect has been embroiled in fierce battles for over a year, too busy to manage this.”
“That’s a relief,” Cai Zhao said.
Ning Xiao Feng frowned, “What’s good about that?”
Cai Zhao smiled, “This way, my parents and master won’t have to worry about me or whether I’m still concerned about Mu Qing Yan. That’s truly good news.”
At the mention of that forbidden name, the room fell silent again.
“Enough, don’t involve yourself in this,” Ning Xiao Feng said irritably, then added worriedly, “It’s not that I don’t care about the lives of innocent people, but once you’re involved in these matters of the Jianghu, you can’t escape.”
Qi Yun Ke reassured, “Don’t worry. You go to Guang Tian Gate and stabilize the situation. I’ll invite Master Fa Kong and Brother Zhou. You just observe.”
Seeing Ning Xiao Feng’s reluctance, Song Yu Zhi frowned, “Why doesn’t Master go to Guang Tian Gate while Valley Master Cai and Lady Ning invite Master Fa Kong and Master Zhou? Wouldn’t that be better?”
Fan Xingjia nodded, “Right.”
Cai Zhao explained meticulously, “Because Master is the head of the six sects. If Yang He Ying presents conclusive evidence, what should Master do? Enforce the law impartially and take down your father, Song Men Zhu. My parents don’t have the authority to adjudicate, so they can stall for time until Master Fa Kong and Uncle Zhou arrive to mediate.”
“What? Conclusive evidence? Zhao Zhao, are you saying my father…” Song Yu Zhi was agitated.
“Don’t worry, Senior Brother,” Cai Zhao said soothingly. “The Jianghu is treacherous, ever-changing. Even ‘conclusive evidence’ might not be real. Yang He Ying wouldn’t make such a fuss without something substantial.”
Her implication was clear, and even Fan Xingjia understood, though Qi Yun Ke and Ning Xiao Feng pretended not to.
“Is that so?” Song Yu Zhi asked.
Cai Ping Chun said gently, “We’ll go stall for time. Some people can help smooth things over.”
Cai Zhao sighed, “It’s a pity Uncle Zhou hasn’t been going out lately. Otherwise, Master wouldn’t need to run to two places.”
Ning Xiao Feng glared, “It’s all because of you! You injured him at Tai Chu Temple and broke his heart. He’s been disheartened, using his injuries as an excuse to stay out of Jianghu’s affairs!”
Cai Zhao sincerely offered to go back to Pei Qiong Villa for another year of reflection and attend Zhou Yu Qi and Min Xin Rou’s wedding.
Ning Xiao Feng was almost apoplectic, “You better behave!”
Song Yu Zhi hurried to intercede, “Please calm down, Lady Ning. Junior Sister Zhao has realized her mistakes. She has already suffered severe punishment and confinement for over a year. Let’s not dwell on the past.”
Cai Ping Chun said contentedly, “Yu Zhi understands. Those days of confinement were hard, but thanks to your care, Zhao didn’t suffer too much.”
Ning Xiao Feng reluctantly agreed, “Yes, I heard you had Guang Tian Gate’s chef send her good food daily. Thank you on Zhao’s behalf.”
The Cai couple had initially disliked the playboy Song Shi Jun and his children, but compared to their daughter’s previous entanglement, Song Yu Zhi seemed like the perfect choice.
“When you were young, your master and Uncle Zhou adored you. How could you hurt them so badly?” Ning Xiao Feng admonished. “The past is over. Zhao, you must behave and not cause any more trouble.”
“Mother, what I did has a name: ‘Peach Blossom Maze’,” Cai Zhao said softly. “Think positively; I didn’t cause trouble for just anyone. Mu Qing Yan is a significant figure.”
“So don’t worry. I won’t make the same mistake again. Even if I wanted to cause another ‘Peach Blossom Maze’, where would I find another Demon Sect leader?”
The room fell silent once more, leaving everyone speechless.
“Why don’t we set out for Guang Tian Sect today?” Cai Pingchun suggested, turning to his wife.
Qi Yunkuo was taken aback, “What? You just arrived. Why not stay a couple of days?”
Ning Xiaofeng sighed, “Let’s leave before we unpack. I don’t want to be driven mad by that girl.”
She couldn’t help but retort, “Seriously, what kind of reflection and penitence is your Qing Que Sect practicing? After over a year, not only hasn’t that girl improved, she’s become more sarcastic!”
Qi Yunkuo awkwardly laughed, “After Lingbo’s wedding, we’ll have Zhao Zhao stay with you at Ning Old Madam’s for a while. You can teach her properly then.”
Fan Xingjia glanced at Song Yuzhi to gauge his reaction.
Song Yuzhi, however, focused intently on the view outside the window, pretending not to hear anything.
Five or six days after the Cai couple left, Qi Yunkuo prepared to depart as well.
Before leaving, Qi Yunkuo carefully advised Cai Zhao, “Zhao Zhao, don’t blame your parents. They’re terrified you’ll end up like your aunt. I know you’re unhappy about us pairing you with Yu Zhi, but don’t act impulsively. Yu Zhi has a good character and is learning to be more considerate. You’ll see his good qualities in time.”
Cai Zhao listened quietly and finally asked, “Master, do you also blame Uncle Zhou a bit?”
Qi Yunkuo stroked his beard without responding.
Cai Zhao continued, “Uncle Zhou got injured and was enraged by me, bedridden for over a year. You’re so kind and righteous, yet you never visited him until now when you need something at Pei Qiong Manor…”
Qi Yunkuo sighed, gazing at the distant, glowing mountain peaks. “I’ve often wondered over the years, if Zhou Zhizhen had been more responsible and treated your aunt better, maybe she wouldn’t have been deceived by that scoundrel Mu Zhengyang. Such a good woman deserved a renowned, honorable hero.”
After a while, he snapped out of his reverie, shaking his head repeatedly. “I’m being unfair to Brother Zhou… unfair…”
As Qi Yunkuo and the Cai couple disappeared down the slope at Feng Yun Peak, Zeng Dalu dismissed the disciples.
Song Yuzhi stifled his smile, tugging at Cai Zhao’s sleeve and motioning towards a side path. When she pretended not to understand, he forcefully pulled her arm, ignoring the disciples’ teasing laughter behind them.
“What’s with you?” Once they reached a secluded corner, he confronted her, “You’ve been gloomy for a year, barely speaking. Why are you suddenly so talkative and cheerful these past few days?”
“Young Master Song, be reasonable. I was reflecting in silence. Naturally, I shouldn’t talk during that time!” Cai Zhao straightened her sleeves. “But you, taking advantage of Master turning a blind eye, sneaked into the Reflection Gorge every few days to ‘console’ me. Who asked for your consolation? When did I ever need you to cheer me up?”
Song Yuzhi’s face darkened, “Yet you accepted everything I brought!” – Isn’t it said that a girl only accepts gifts from a man she likes? Those stories are all lies!
“I just didn’t want to talk, not to starve myself to death. Why should I wrong my own heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys?”
Song Yuzhi stared at her for a moment, then said slowly, “You still believe Mu Qingyan is innocent. You think there’s a traitor in the Six Sects who killed Master Wang.”
Cai Zhao’s eyes were clear and unwavering, “I never doubted it. So, are you going to report me?”
Song Yuzhi was momentarily speechless.
“I know, you’re still doubtful about this.” Cai Zhao said, “Actually, I need your help. Before that, we should talk and clarify things. Do you know Lu Fengchun?”
“Yes,” Song Yuzhi replied, “He’s one of the Seven Stars Elders of the Demon Sect. But compared to the elders we fought twenty years ago, he’s far inferior. A few days ago, you suddenly asked to enter the library to investigate his background, right?” – Every book and scroll in the library was organized by him, so he knew what she had read.
Cai Zhao sighed, “It wasn’t just a few days ago. I wanted to go long ago, but I was stuck in the Reflection Gorge. I was only released recently.”
She continued, “Lu Fengchun is cautious and calculating, too devious to be a loyal minister, yet too timid to be a treacherous courtier. When Nie Hengcheng was alive, he stayed in hiding. After Nie Zhe took power, he remained fearful of Nie Hengcheng’s disciples and influence, not daring to act rashly. What could make such a man rebel so decisively in just a few days?”
Dry leaves drifted down from the thinning branches. Cai Zhao squatted, picking up a yellowed leaf and placing it in her small, white palm. “The elders say the ‘person behind the scenes’ was fabricated by Mu Qingyan. But Lu Fengchun’s rebellion convinced me there’s indeed a traitor in the Six Sects.”
“Explain clearly,” Song Yuzhi said gravely.
Cai Zhao said, “First, Lu Fengchun was defeated and killed, so the rebellion wasn’t a ploy between him and Mu Qingyan.”
Song Yuzhi couldn’t help but laugh, “His whole family was wiped out, hardly a ploy.”
Cai Zhao continued, “Since it was a real rebellion, what made a cowardly old turtle suddenly decide to act?”
She opened her palm, letting the leaf blow away, “It must have been something that convinced the old turtle he’d succeed.”
Song Yuzhi’s mind raced, and he blurted out, “Someone told him Mu Qingyan was captured!”
“Exactly,” Cai Zhao said, “To make Lu Fengchun believe Mu Qingyan was truly trapped, not faking it, the informant had to be someone he trusted deeply, even someone who saw Mu Qingyan imprisoned. Only then would the old turtle dare to act.”
Song Yuzhi paced, troubled.
He knew the details of Mu Qingyan’s captivity a year ago. It was heavily guarded, like a fortress. If he hadn’t closely guarded Mu Qingyan, Li Yuanmin would have killed him. Without Cai Zhao’s unexpected intervention, Mu Qingyan would have been crippled.
He stopped and asked, “Why didn’t you tell Master and your parents about this?”
Cai Zhao smiled, “If I thought of it, so did they. But without concrete evidence, just reasoning, they’d rather believe the Demon Sect is up to more tricks. Even you can’t fully believe this yet, right? It’s fine, as long as you’re willing to help.”
Song Yuzhi was curious, “You believe there’s a traitor in the Six Sects, yet you don’t suspect me and even confide in me?”
Cai Zhao smiled, “I don’t suspect you, or Master Song, because I’ve checked your meridians. The injury from the Netherworld’s cold energy hasn’t healed and requires the Purple Jade Golden Sunflower for treatment.”
“But the Purple Jade Golden Sunflower has been lost for years. What if my aunt destroyed it or it was lost at sea? Your cultivation would be stuck. You and your father wouldn’t take such a risk.”
Song Yuzhi felt a twinge of bitterness, thinking, “You trust Mu Qingyan without hesitation, but need all this reasoning to trust me.”
He pondered and said, “Did they injure me with the Netherworld’s cold energy to make me find the Purple Jade Golden Sunflower?”
Cai Zhao’s eyes shone with admiration, “You figured it out. Yes, I guess the person behind the scenes searched for it for years without success, so they needed more people to help.”
Song Yuzhi frowned, “Didn’t the Demon Sect say the Purple Jade Golden Sunflower was useless? Why is it essential for that person?”
“To practice the ‘Purple Micro Heart Sutra.'” Cai Zhao said and saw Song Yuzhi’s pupils contract slightly.
She continued, “For over a century, Demon Sect leaders forbade practicing the ‘Purple Micro Heart Sutra,’ warning their descendants. But Nie Hengcheng found a way and wreaked havoc with it. We learned from Lu Chengnan’s last words that the Purple Jade Golden Sunflower is essential to master the ‘Purple Micro Heart Sutra.’ I suspect the person behind the scenes wants to practice it too!”
“Third Senior Brother, this is the favor I need from you. I hope you can show me Elder Master Yin’s records on the ‘Ziwei Heart Sutra.’ I need these clues to further my research.”
Song Yuzhi’s gaze turned serious. “Why do you think my grandfather has any information about the ‘Ziwei Heart Sutra’?”
Cai Zhao explained, “For two reasons. First, Elder Master Yin was renowned for his exceptional intelligence and strategic mind. He spent years investigating Nie Hengcheng’s unusual cultivation methods, even at the cost of many skilled disciples. I don’t believe he found nothing.”
Song Yuzhi replied coldly, “You give him too much credit. Perhaps he found nothing.”
Cai Zhao continued, “Second when my aunt went to Mount Tu alone, no one knew what would happen. As the head of the Six Sects, Elder Master Yin’s cautious approach would have been to deploy assistance and set traps to ensure Nie Hengcheng’s death. However, he didn’t, and he even stopped my master from helping her, as if he was certain that my aunt would succeed if she fought with all her might.”
“No matter how much people criticize Elder Master Yin’s selfishness, it’s undeniable that he was a hero who ruled the Northern State for decades. If my aunt had failed, the righteous path would have had no one to stop Nie Hengcheng, with dire consequences. Elder Master Yin wouldn’t ignore such stakes.”
“My aunt said that Nie Hengcheng hadn’t fully mastered his evil skills; otherwise, he wouldn’t have died. This was her conclusion after risking her life. But how did Elder Master Yin know beforehand? I guess he discovered something.”
“This kind of secret, Elder Master Yin would only share with someone he trusted deeply—like your late mother, Lady Qinglian.”
“Third Senior Brother, please.”
Song Yuzhi was silent for a long time, letting the western wind blow fallen leaves around like dancing butterflies. Finally, he spoke. “I know about the ‘Ziwei Heart Sutra,’ but I didn’t know it was Nie Hengcheng’s evil skill. If I had, I would have told our master long ago.”
“Now I realize that my grandfather knew about Nie Hengcheng’s secret back then but told no one, leaving Lady Cai to fight alone. I’m sorry, Zhao.”
“Come with me, and I’ll tell you everything.”
—
Late night at Funiu Fortress.
Drums pounded at the fortress gates amidst intense battle. The blazing torches, fire pits, and burning straw stacks illuminated the dark mountain, creating an eerie daytime-like commotion.
With a loud crash, the thick gates cracked open under the force of a battering ram. After two more strikes, the gates shattered, and a dozen black-armored warriors charged in like phantoms. The bandits resisted fiercely, but despite their numbers, they were outmatched and defeat was imminent.
The second-in-command, his face covered in blood, saw the situation worsening and rushed to a burly man, shouting, “Brother, these guys are too tough. We can’t hold them off. You need to escape!”
The burly man swung his nine-ring broadsword and roared, “If I leave, what happens to you? We vowed to live and die together!”
“Brother, just go!”
Amidst their brief exchange, cries of pain and flying limbs filled the air as the fortress’s defenders dwindled. The remaining fighters were soon surrounded by the black-armored warriors.
The second-in-command shouted, “May I ask who you are? Our Funiu Fortress has always kept to ourselves and never crossed the Funiu Mountain borders. How have we offended you?”
Funiu Fortress, one of many mountain strongholds, was modest, relying on ambushes and small robberies to survive. They weren’t ruthless but weren’t saints either. There was no reason for them to attract such deadly enemies.
The black-armored warriors parted like a stream, allowing a tall, handsome young man in a black robe to walk forward. He appeared to be in his twenties, yet commanded respect and silence from his formidable subordinates.
The young man spoke loudly, “I do not quarrel with your fortress. I just want to ask your leader a few questions. However, he ignored my messages and secretly sent his family away. So, I had no choice but to take this approach.”
The bandits turned to their leader.
“Shao Youfu, what do you say?” the young man asked.
The second-in-command quickly responded, “You must be mistaken. Our leader is Shao Zhengshan, not Shao Youfu. He—ah!”
A scholar next to the young man kicked a small stone, hitting the second-in-command’s forehead. He collapsed, unconscious.
The bandits were horrified. The third-in-command, furious, shouted, “Leader, we’ve fought for you! Say something!”
Shao Zhengshan remained resolute. “I am Shao Zhengshan, not Shao Youfu. You are mistaken.”
The young man said nothing, giving a signal with his eyes. The scholar ordered someone to bring forward a shabbily dressed old woman. Her face was wrinkled and sorrowful, but her hair was adorned with bright flowers.
As soon as she saw Shao Zhengshan, she screamed, “It’s him! He’s Shao Youfu from Sui Shi Village! He ruined my family. I’d recognize him even if he turned to ashes!”
Shao Zhengshan sneered, his eyes venomous. “Ah the third aunt of the village head. I should have killed you long ago, but I wanted you to suffer longer.”
The old woman, full of rage, was dragged away, cursing loudly.
Mu Qingyan stepped forward. “Leader Shao, do we need more witnesses?”
Shao Youfu, covered in blood, said, “Yes, I’m Shao Youfu from Sui Shi Village. Shao Zhengshan is the name he gave me. Seeing your face, I know who you are. You look just like him.”
Mu Qingyan said calmly, “Why cause all this trouble? I just want to ask you a couple of questions.”
Shao Youfu laughed bitterly. “Kill me if you want. No matter what you ask, my answer is ‘I don’t know.’ I promised him I’d never reveal his past. Do your worst, I won’t flinch!”
Mu Qingyan replied, “Torture is too much work. I’ll just ask you nicely. If you refuse, I’ll kill your second-in-command.”
The second-in-command lay motionless on the ground.
Shao Youfu remained defiant. “We live and die together. Do what you want.”
Mu Qingyan continued, “If you refuse a second time, I’ll kill everyone in your fortress.”
The bandits shivered. The third-in-command pleaded, “Leader, please answer. We’ve followed you for years!”
Shao Youfu stayed silent, glaring.
Mu Qingyan said, “If you refuse a third time, I’ll send your family to the underworld ahead of you.”
Before he finished, a group of ragged women and children were brought forward, Shao Youfu’s family. Under the sharp blades, the children cried.
Shao Youfu’s face twitched. After a struggle, he said, “Fine, we’ll all die together.”
“Good! You’re tough,” Mu Qingyan praised. “Bring up the old lady.”
An elderly woman was brought up. Though her hair was white, she had a hint of former beauty.
Mu Qingyan said, “You sent your family away to protect your mother, didn’t you?”
Shao Youfu’s eyes reddened. “Mother!”
Mu Qingyan said, “Let me tell you three things. First, the person you promised is dead. Whether you talk or not doesn’t matter to him. Second, his death is a mystery. If you help me, maybe he can rest in peace. Third, your mother has suffered enough. Don’t make her die because of you.”
Shao Youfu, desperate, tried to reach his mother but was restrained by the black-armored warriors.
After a long internal struggle, he lowered his head and said hoarsely, “Don’t harm my mother. I’ll tell you everything.”
Mu Qingyan nodded. The black-armored warriors slowly released the bandits.
The third-in-command sighed in relief. “That’s right. We’ve all heard of the Divine Sect’s reputation.”
Before he could finish, Mu Qingyan struck, decapitating him. The body slumped, spilling blood and brains.
In the cold moonlight, surrounded by corpses, only the children’s cries broke the silence, quickly muffled by their mothers.
Shao Youfu gritted his teeth. “No need to intimidate me. I know your sect’s power. I promised, so I’ll talk.”
Mu Qingyan nodded. “You’re wise, Leader Shao.”
The bandits were led away. The elderly woman and other family members were taken inside to warm up, and a quiet room was prepared for questioning.
Shao Youfu, with his pressure points sealed, was seated on a low stool. He looked at Mu Qingyan, who sat calmly, “Have you been to Sui Shi Village?”
“Yes, it’s desolate, with some white bones in the grass. You and Mu Zhengyang did that, didn’t you?”
Hearing the name, Shao Youfu sighed. “It’s been over ten years. I guessed something happened to Zhengyang. He would’ve come to see me otherwise.”
Under the dim light, Mu Qingyan’s familiar face seemed almost nostalgic.
“What do you want to ask?”
“I haven’t decided. Why don’t you start from the beginning, as a way of catching up?”
Sui Shi Village was remote and barren, with poor soil and scarce water. The villagers barely survived on meager crops and hunting.
In the village, two boys were extremely disliked. The older one was called Sangmen Xing, while the younger one was known as Gou Zazhong.
Sangmen Xing was not a native child of the village; he had been abandoned by a passing beggar one year. Guo Sanwang and his wife, who lived at the village’s end, had been childless for years and decided to take him in. However, the following year, the couple had a son of their own. From then on, they treated Sangmen Xing harshly, often beating and scolding him. The village children also loved to bully him, throwing stones and mocking him with songs.
Despite this, Sangmen Xing was stubborn and defiant. Even when beaten until his head was bloody, he never shed a tear.
From the beginning, Sangmen Xing had been called by that name, but Gou Zazhong was not always known as such.
Initially, his name was Fubao.
Fubao’s father was the village’s most capable hunter, able to catch snakes and kill bears. His skills provided the family with a comfortable life. Fubao’s mother was a gentle and kind woman who often helped the elderly and poor in the village.
One bitterly cold winter day, she saw the three or four-year-old Sangmen Xing being pushed out by the Guo couple to fetch water. Feeling sorry for the child, she took him into her arms, made soup and porridge for him, and frequently cared for him afterward.
Fubao’s happy and prosperous childhood ended when he was eight years old. His father died after falling while hunting, plunging the family into poverty.
Initially, Fubao’s mother, Madam Xue, managed to scrape by by doing laundry and mending clothes for the villagers. However, the village chief and his son, under the pretense of having her do embroidery, took advantage of her. They shamelessly bragged about it afterward, claiming she seduced them for money.
From then on, Madam Xue was seen as a promiscuous woman everyone could insult, and Fubao became known as Gou Zazhong. The village children eagerly bullied him. Each time this happened, Sangmen Xing would step in to stop them.
By the time he was nine, no child in the village dared to bully Sangmen Xing. Although thin, he was tall and strong, with a deadly aim when throwing stones and never missing a punch or kick. His gaze was as fierce as a hungry wolf’s, scaring even grown men. The Guo couple no longer dared to mistreat him.
With Sangmen Xing’s protection, Gou Zazhong’s life improved slightly.
However, the village women no longer allowed Madam Xue to work for them, and the men harassed her even more. In the closed-off village, there were no other means of livelihood. Several times, the frail woman thought of ending her life but endured for her young son’s sake, becoming the village’s outcast.
Unable to defeat Sangmen Xing physically, the children resorted to taunting Gou Zazhong with cruel words.
“Who was your dad yesterday, Gou Zazhong?”
“I saw Uncle Qian and two others go to your house. Wow, three men at once! Gou Zazhong can have meat tonight!”
“My dad says your mom is worn out, like a tattered sack. She’s worthless now!”
“She was always trash, ha ha ha…”
Even as the two boys clenched their fists until they bled and cried rivers of tears, the harsh and cruel world around them did not change.
Fortunately, time is the best healer, and the two boys gradually grew up.
By age twelve, Sangmen Xing had grown tall and handsome, with fair skin, long bones, and a strikingly beautiful face that made him stand out from the other rough villagers.
Curious about his origins, Sangmen Xing repeatedly questioned the Guo couple. They no longer dared to mistreat him and reluctantly revealed the truth: a well-dressed and beautiful woman had left him there. They described her as a celestial beauty, though cold and full of resentment. She had sought out the most remote village, found out the Guo couple was childless, and left the two-year-old boy with them, saying his father was the most heartless and unfortunate man in the world.
The beautiful woman never returned, and the Guo couple speculated she must have been a noble lady deceived by a man, abandoning her illegitimate child in this remote village.
Hope and fantasies could not feed them, and for the sake of the now mentally unstable Madam Xue, Sangmen Xing and Gou Zazhong went to the town to work as laborers at a young age. Because of his striking appearance, Sangmen Xing had to endure the advances of the town’s bullies.
After working hard for a few years, they managed to save some money. Just as they were planning to move Madam Xue to the town, they happened to save a dying traveler by a creek at the foot of the mountain.
Initially, Gou Zazhong did not want to get involved. His heart had hardened, remembering how no one had shown compassion to his mother when she had helped so many. However, Sangmen Xing noticed the man’s luxurious accessories and speculated that he must be someone important. If they saved him, they might receive a reward or other opportunities. If he died, they could at least take his valuables.
Gou Zazhong always followed Sangmen Xing’s lead, so he agreed.
The two boys used all their strength to revive the traveler, but he only managed to say two sentences before dying.
“Y-Young Master? How did you get here?!” the delirious traveler mumbled through his injuries and fever. “Young Master, you’re worth a fortune. Hurry, go back before the Northern Star dogs catch you, or the Divine Sect will be in turmoil!”
These two sentences changed the boys’ lives forever.
The Northern Star Six Sects were renowned, as the leaders of the righteous martial world. The boys had heard stories about them while working in town. It was a world of elegance and mystique, far removed from their impoverished, remote village.
Sangmen Xing, exceptionally sharp, gleaned several pieces of information from the brief words.
First, there was a “Young Master” who looked exactly like him.
Second, this “Young Master” held a very high status, and any mishap involving him would shake the “Divine Sect.”
Lastly, the “Young Master” was part of a faction opposing the Northern Star Six Sects.
Suppressing his greed for the traveler’s valuables, Sangmen Xing left everything untouched and carried the body downstream to the town outskirts, where it was collected by the local mortuary.
Soon, a group of imposing, masked men in gray arrived at the town, retrieved the body from the mortuary, and generously rewarded the mortuary staff.
Sangmen Xing quickly inquired about these men from a familiar mortuary worker. He learned they had mentioned returning to Youming Huangdao—the headquarters of the Demon Sect—while purchasing supplies.
Excited, Sangmen Xing decided to visit the Hanhai Mountains.
Gou Zazhong found it too dangerous to venture to the legendary Demon Sect’s headquarters based on a dying man’s words and tried to dissuade Sangmen Xing.
Finally, Sangmen Xing revealed he had some memories from before he was two or three years old.
He vaguely remembered a child his size, with people feeding them, comforting them when they cried, their exquisite tiger-head shoes adorned with large beads, and silver bells hanging above their heads. They played on a spacious, soft bed, and whenever they fell, many people rushed to catch them.
“No matter what, I must see for myself! Whether I die or return empty-handed, I have to try! I can’t rot away in this miserable village forever!” The tall, slender boy, with his ragged clothes and resolute voice, had a stunning beauty that no dirt could hide.
A mongrel dog only deserves an agreed share.
“Fubao, when I return, I’ll build a big house for you and Mother Gan, dress you in fine silk and satin, and feed you chicken, duck, and fish every day!”
These were the last words before the star of misfortune departed.
And that departure lasted three years.
As the candlelight dimmed, Mu Qingyan rose to change to a new, thick oil candle.
“When he left, Zhengyang was not even fifteen. The journey to the Hanhai Mountains was long and treacherous, and he had hardly any money on him. I asked Zhengyang later, but he didn’t say a word. He’s not like when he was a child when he used to tell me everything—has Zhengyang been treated well where you are?”
Mu Qingyan didn’t answer, instead asking, “When he returned three years later, did he kill everyone in the village?”
Xue Youfu sighed again. “…Six months after Zhengyang left, a group suddenly came to the village and took away the Guo couple and several neighbors near his home. They returned months later. I later learned that the ones who took them were Nie Hengcheng.”
Initially, Xue Youfu didn’t pay much attention to this incident. At that time, he was busy working everywhere to earn money for his mother’s comfort. It was much later when he heard rumors that the families taken away had suddenly become wealthy. But no matter how the neighbors asked, they didn’t dare to reveal a word.
Two more years passed. One day, after finishing his work in the town, Xue Youfu returned home with an aching waist and back, boiled water to make porridge, attended to his elderly mother’s eating and sleeping, and prepared dry rations for the next day, ensuring his mother wouldn’t go hungry when he wasn’t home.
The seventeen-year-old inherited his hunter father’s sturdy physique, broad shoulders, and strength. Originally, he wanted to continue his father’s trade of selling hides and animal bones for quick money. However, Xue Niang, who had already become foolish, would cry and make a fuss whenever she heard words like ‘hunting in the mountains,’ so Xue Youfu had to give up.
Late at night, with the moon rising above the treetops, he saw a red glow and black smoke in the direction of the village’s end through the window—the Xue family’s thatched house happened to be located in the middle rear of Sui Shi Village, otherwise, Xue Niang would not have met Mu Zhengyang, who came from the end of the village to fetch water.
Xue Youfu immediately got out of bed and ran towards the village’s end. What met his eyes was a terrifying sea of blood, burning houses emitting scorching heat, and several neighboring households near the Guo family lying in a pool of blood. The bodies either had tongues cut off or jaws shaved flat, limbs scattered around, leaving behind crying children on the ground.
Xue Youfu’s heart skipped a beat as he dashed towards the Guo family.
He saw Mr. and Mrs. Guo Sanwang both with severed limbs, nailed alive to the broken wall, while their only beloved son, Guo Dabao, lay on the ground, head separated from his body.
Xue Youfu knew how much Mr. and Mrs. Guo loved their son, who had everything comparable to a young master in the city in terms of food and clothing.
He remembered a cold day when he was six years old, Xue Niang cooked two extra hot chicken eggs for him to secretly give to Mu Zhengyang. As Xue Youfu approached the Guo family’s door, he saw Mu Zhengyang wearing a tattered single-layer shirt, shivering in the cold wind, almost unable to stand due to hunger. Mr. and Mrs. Guo sneered and splashed him with a bowl of sour water and rice soup. At the same time, Guo Dabao, dressed warmly and elegantly, sat on the kang gnawing on braised chicken legs.
At the back of the room stood a tall young man with a bloody sword in his hand. As he turned around, Xue Youfu saw his face and rushed forward with joy: “Big brother!”
As he approached, he noticed a fierce red flower mark on Mu Zhengyang’s slender neck. He trembled as he touched it, “Did they brand you with a hot iron? Did they torture you?!”
After three years apart, the poor and emaciated young man had become a well-dressed and handsome youth.
“Fubao, I’m back,” Mu Zhengyang smiled, shaking his wrist to flick off the blood drops from the tip of the sword and sheathing it. “We have grudges to settle and debts to repay.”
It was then that Xue Youfu learned of Mu Zhengyang’s current situation. Although he had struggled to reach the Hanhai Mountains, he had been mistaken for an impostor and barely escaped with his life, still unrecognized.
Inside the bed frame, there were two hidden holes filled with gold and silver.
Mu Zhengyang pointed to the first hole, neatly filled with over a dozen round silver ingots. “This is the reward money they got for betraying me over two years ago.”
He pointed to the second hole piled with gold and jewels. “This is the jewelry my birth mother left with them over a decade ago.”
Xue Youfu stared dumbfounded. Aside from the silver bars, just a couple of pieces of jewelry would be enough to support ten rural children. Yet the Guo couple had treated Mu Zhengyang so cruelly.
Mu Zhengyang drew a shining short knife from his waist and solemnly placed it in Xue Youfu’s hand. “Fubao, this world is as dark as night, and you can’t tell if you’re in the human world or the underworld. Without gods or Buddhas to bring us justice, we have to find it ourselves. Those who bullied Mother Gan in the village, men or women, we won’t let a single one go.”
Xue Youfu raised his head, looking into those cruelly beautiful eyes tinged with blood-red. Deep-seated resentment surfaced from the bottom of his heart, and he firmly gripped the knife…
“…And then you two slaughtered the entire village,” Mu Qingyan gently blew out the flickering candle.
Xue Youfu shook his head. “We only killed those who insulted my mother and those ungrateful animals. After that, we set fire to the whole village, and Zhengyang scattered bags of poisonous snakes and scorpions in the fields. Sui Shi Village couldn’t house people anymore, and those who didn’t die could only escape.”
Mu Qingyan was very patient. “What happened next? What are Mu Zhengyang’s plans?”
Xue Youfu shook his head. “Brother Zhengyang said Nie Hengcheng has many eyes and ears, so he cannot meet with me frequently to avoid endangering my mother and me. He provided me with a substantial amount of silver, allowed me to change my name, and found a kind-hearted master for me to apprentice under, laying a solid foundation. My aptitude for inner cultivation was lacking, so I could only practice some external martial arts. According to my abilities, Brother Zhengyang compiled a booklet of suitable internal techniques and guided my training.”
Mu Qingyan asked, “So, Master Zhengyang deeply resents Nie Hengcheng? He would never work for him?”
Xue Youfu chuckled. “Work for Nie Hengcheng? Impossible. Brother Zhengyang dreams of annihilating Nie Hengcheng and reclaiming the Mu family’s legacy.” His expression darkened. “Unfortunately, Nie Hengcheng not only has numerous lackeys but also possesses exceptional martial prowess. The Nie faction seems impenetrable, like a solid iron plate, impervious to any attempt to infiltrate.”
Mu Qingyan furrowed his brows as he paced around the room, seemingly understanding something.
After stopping, he said, “Master Xue, please continue.”
Xue Youfu continued, “Over the next few years until Brother Zhengyang disappeared, we met four times in total.”
“The first time, three years later, I had just begun to master martial arts and had gathered over a dozen men to establish a small stronghold in the Funiu Mountains. Brother Zhengyang came late at night to toast me with wine on the rooftop. He was very pleased that night, saying he had finally found a way to defeat Nie Hengcheng. If successful, not only Nie Hengcheng but the entire Nie faction would collapse, allowing him to reclaim the Divine Sect and unify the realm, securing his place in history.”
Mu Qingyan raised an eyebrow. “Did he mention what this method was?”
“No,” Xue Youfu shook his head. “Brother Zhengyang said no matter how difficult it would be, he was determined to execute the plan successfully.”
He continued, “The second meeting was two years later. One night, Brother Zhengyang suddenly brought a crystal box containing a fresh Snow Lingzhi, a rare plant that only grows on the remote peaks of snowy mountains. Once removed from the snow region, it withers within ten days.”
“Snow Lingzhi?” Mu Qingyan’s interest was piqued. “Such a precious item grows only in such inaccessible places. He happened to obtain it while handling matters in the snowy mountains and gave it to my mother to replenish her health.”
Mu Qingyan’s lips curved slightly with a hint of amusement – good, things were starting to connect.
“Besides the Snow Lingzhi, what else did he say?”
Xue Youfu replied, “That time, Brother Zhengyang was even happier than before, drinking over a dozen barrels of wine with me. He laughed and mentioned… he had met a girl with whom he could share life and death. She not only came from a good background and had a good character but was also gentle and cheerful. When Nie Hengcheng meets Yama, Brother Zhengyang plans to bring the girl to meet my mother.”
“I was worried the girl might look down on my mother, but Brother Zhengyang assured me she would not. He described her as the best girl in the world, pure-hearted like a clear sky. Oh yes, her name seemed to be ‘Xiao Shu’. Although I heard that women from the demonic… Divine Sect is fierce and domineering, this name sounded like that of a virtuous lady.” – He instinctively thought that Mu Zhengyang’s sweetheart might also have left the church.”
Mu Qingyan’s face revealed a trace of strangeness. “Does Mu Zhengyang really like that girl?”
“Of course.”
“Not just pretending?”
“Brother Zhengyang wished he could take out his heart for her!”
Mu Qingyan asked again, “Has Mu Zhengyang ever used that girl?”
This time, Xue Youfu hesitated. “This… the third time I met Brother Zhengyang was more than a year later. That time Brother Zhengyang looked a little lost, saying… he said…”
He hesitated and glanced at Mu Qingyan, who said coldly, “Xue Da, the person has died, so what does it matter to you and me?”
Xue Youfu bit his teeth. “Brother Zhengyang said he had accidentally hurt his twin brother, the great Master Miao’s father, Miao Zhengming!”
Mu Qingyan abruptly turned his head, his eyes like lightning.
Xue Youfu continued. “Although Brother Zhengyang often complained about Master Miao, saying that he was too tepid and lacked any ambition, I knew that Brother Zhengyang still deeply respected this elder brother. He often said that after defeating the Nie, he would let his eldest brother Miao go wherever he wanted and do whatever he wanted, and he would be free.”
Mu Qingyan’s menacing aura gradually subsided. “Why did he injure my father?”
Xue Youfu looked puzzled. “Brother Zhengyang was drunk and spoke unclearly. I didn’t quite understand. It seemed like there was something he wanted to do, but Father didn’t agree, so the brothers quarreled, and he accidentally injured Father. Brother Zhengyang also mentioned that luckily ‘Xiao Shu’ didn’t know his intentions. If she knew she had been used, I don’t know if she would forgive him.”
“Was that all he said during that meeting?” Mu Qingyan asked.
“That time, Brother Zhengyang was distressed and came to me to vent. After sobering up, he left, and that was all.”
Mu Qingyan sat down heavily, his expression grave. “What about the fourth and final meeting? Tell me.”
Xue Youfu looked saddened. “About half a year later, it happened to be my mother’s birthday. Brother Zhengyang came late at night to bring gifts—this time, he was smiling. He eagerly said that Xiao Shu had accepted his proposal, and he planned to choose a good day to propose formally. He also said that Nie Hengcheng’s days were numbered, and his wish would soon be fulfilled.”
“Little did I know, that was the last time I saw him. It’s been almost twenty years now, and I haven’t heard any news about him since. I’ve always suspected… suspected that he might have… might have…”
The burly man suddenly shed tears, choked with emotion, unable to continue. “Brother Zhengyang suffered throughout his life. He encountered a mother like Ouyang who couldn’t understand anything, a couple like Guo who were heartless beasts, and Nie Hengcheng, the cunning old bastard. Just when he was finally seeing better days, he… he…”
“It’s nothing that can’t be overcome,” Mu Qingyan said calmly. “Mu Zhengyang’s hands were stained with blood, and he killed those who deserved it and those who didn’t. He turned the martial world upside down, leaving mountains of corpses. Many talented and extraordinary heroes died without anyone to hold them accountable. Even if Mu Zhengyang went to Yama’s underworld, he didn’t lose out.”
As the candlelight extinguished and the sky brightened, Mu Qingyan strode out of the house. You Guanyue hurried to catch up.
After they had walked several dozen steps, You Guanyue spoke, “Master, surname Xue may not have told everything.”
“I know, there’s no rush,” Mu Qingyan said lightly. “These matters can’t be forced. We’ll let him remember slowly.”
“However, I’ve already learned quite a bit.”