“Still haven’t found her? How far could an injured girl possibly hide?” Qi Yunke’s gaze darkened. Anyone familiar with him would be shocked by his grim expression.
Li Wenxun replied coldly, “If we haven’t found her, we haven’t found her. Don’t forget, she’s learned at least 70-80% of Ning Xiaofeng’s disguise skills. She could easily blend in by changing clothes and altering her appearance at any farmhouse.”
Seeing Qi’s somber face, he added, “The greater mission is crucial. You should complete the Purple Micro Heart Sutra as soon as possible to avoid potential setbacks.”
After a moment’s thought, Qi decided, “Let’s return to Wanshui Qianshan Cliff. We’ll leave… Situ Huishan to handle the aftermath.”
Li’s eyes flashed. “Heh, you hold grudges.”
Qi retorted coldly, “Likewise.”
At Peiqiong Mountain Villa, now shrouded in mourning white for Zhou Zhizhen’s death, wails could be heard from a mile away. A group of gray-clad men with white waistbands came to pay respects. Zhou Yuqi, dressed in mourning clothes, bowed in thanks.
The leader, a plump man, smiled and bowed to Zhou Zhixian, “The demonic cult’s audacity to harm two great heroes is shocking. Our sect leader, worried about potential attacks on the Qingque Sect, had to return with Master Li overnight. He sent me to offer incense on his behalf. I hope Lady Zhou understands.”
Zhou Zhixian frowned slightly but responded politely before asking, “Are you also from the Qingque Sect? I don’t believe we’ve met. May I know your name?”
The plump man replied amiably, “I’m Situ Huishan. I used to do odd jobs for the old sect leader, Yin. It’s not surprising Lady Zhou hasn’t seen me before. If it weren’t for the current situation with all of Sect Leader Qi’s disciples away, I wouldn’t be here offering condolences. Please forgive me. Once this period passes, our sect leader will personally pay respects to the villa’s master.”
Knowing Yin Dai had secretly trained many skilled fighters for dirty work, Zhou Zhixian simply said, “I understand.”
After offering incense, Situ glanced at the nearly faint Lady Min behind the bamboo screen and casually remarked, “Is that the elderly lady? She doesn’t look well. Perhaps I should ask Master Lei to come and check on her?”
Zhou Zhixian sighed, “Ah it’s heartbreaking for a parent to outlive their child. My aunt-in-law was always proud of my cousin. Now… I just hope she can recover soon.”
Behind the screen, Mrs. Min Xinrou and other Min family members surrounded the elderly Lady Min, comforting her until she finally stopped crying.
Situ smiled, “Indeed, we hope the elderly lady recovers soon.”
The next night, the Min family, associated with the Zhou family for fifty years, was massacred by the demonic cult. Their estate, half a mountain away from Peiqiong Mountain Villa, was burned to the ground. Only the two Min wives married into the Zhou family and the soon-to-be-married Min Xinrou survived.
Upon hearing the news, the elderly Lady Min fainted and woke up paralyzed, unable to control her bodily functions.
East of Shang City, at the Bai Reed Yin clan’s settlement, Cai Zhao stood travel-worn at the manor’s gate, immediately sensing something amiss. The vast estate was eerily silent, devoid even of animal sounds.
As she entered, she discovered corpses and limbs of young men strewn about. Anxious, she abandoned stealth, pushing open empty rooms and calling out desperately, “Is anyone here? Where is everyone? Second Senior Brother, Senior Sister Lingbo?”
Finally, kicking open a storehouse door, she found a group of elderly, women, and children huddled fearfully behind jars and vats. An old man, voice trembling, told her, “The guards escorted Young Master Dai and the young miss westward.”
Cai Zhao sprinted west, soon hearing sounds of battle near a small mountain. Arriving, she saw bodies of gray-clad men and Yin clan members scattered about. Nearby, over ten gray-clad men surrounded a young man. Despite his excellent swordsmanship, he refused to leave the cliff wall behind him, leaving him at a disadvantage and nearing defeat.
“Fourth Senior Brother!” Cai Zhao exclaimed in surprise, recognizing Ding Zhuo. He glanced sideways, seeing only a short, sallow middle-aged peddler. “Who are you…?” he began, but before he finished, Cai Zhao had leaped into action, striking down the first gray-clad man.
Although she had previously lost to Mu Qingyan, Qi Yunke, and Li Wenxun, it was due to their strength, not her weakness. Now, unleashing her Yan Yang Blade, she enveloped the attackers in a golden-red glow.
Ding Zhuo, leaning on his sword and clutching his wounds, exclaimed, “Junior Sister Zhao!”
After quickly killing several men, the gray-clad attackers grew fearful. They abandoned Ding Zhuo to focus on Cai Zhao, calling to form a seven-man formation. Having experienced this formation’s difficulty twice before, Cai Zhao refused to let them complete it. With her agile movements, precise blade work, and keen eye, she prevented anyone from reaching their formation positions.
Soon, with fewer than seven men left, the formation became impossible. As Cai Zhao slowed her attacks, intending to leave some alive for questioning, the remaining men, guessing her intent and seeing escape impossible, committed suicide.
After the battle, Ding Zhuo stared in awe, forgetting to tend his wounds. “Fourth Senior Brother?” Cai Zhao called, wiping her blade.
Ding Zhuo sighed, “I had planned to challenge you upon returning to the sect, but now I see there’s no need. Your skills have improved tremendously during your year of seclusion. Especially that combination of ‘Sky-breaking Sun-slashing’ with your right hand and the fifth move of the Dragon-catching Technique with your left, locking an enemy’s throat from two zhang away—truly masterful…”
“Fourth Senior Brother!” Cai Zhao, seeing his daze, slapped him.
Snapping out of it, Ding Zhuo said, “Oh, I’m fine! Junior Sister, why are you here? And in this disguise?”
Cai Zhao frowned, “I should be asking you that. Where are Second Senior Brother and Senior Sister Lingbo?”
Ding Zhuo sighed deeply and stepped aside, revealing a small cave entrance. Inside, they found Dai Fengchi lying unconscious, covered in blood.
“I arrived just an hour before you,” Ding Zhuo explained, supporting Dai Fengchi and channeling his inner force. “I saw them knock out Sixth Junior Sister and take her away. They spared the elderly, women, and children but were relentless with Second Senior Brother.”
As Dai Fengchi regained consciousness, he saw Ding Zhuo and made hoarse sounds, reaching out, “Quick, save Lingbo! Fourth Junior Brother, you must save Lingbo…” His outstretched hand revealed half his palm had been sliced off, shocking Cai Zhao. She thought, despite Dai Fengchi’s unpleasant nature, his feelings for Lingbo seemed genuine.
After a few cries, Dai Fengchi passed out again, his injuries severe and blood loss significant. Ding Zhuo had to periodically channel inner force to keep him alive.
“Why did they take Sixth Junior Sister? To threaten Master? And why try to kill Second Senior Brother?” Ding Zhuo wondered, confused.
“Has your relative’s illness improved?” Cai Zhao suddenly asked, seemingly off-topic.
“Illness? I suppose it has. My great-uncle has passed away,” Ding Zhuo replied, startled.
“…My condolences, Fourth Senior Brother,” Cai Zhao responded.
“Oh, alright. Thank you, I’ll change.” Ding Zhuo looked puzzled. “My great-uncle’s condition has been fluctuating. The doctor says he’s terminally ill, possibly with only days or months left. While I was worrying about staying at home indefinitely, a sudden thunderstorm damaged his roof. The falling tiles might have startled him, and he passed away at dawn. During funeral preparations, the family suggested inviting the Second Senior Brother and Sixth Junior Sister, since Yin Family Village isn’t far…”
Cai Zhao couldn’t hold back anymore. “Why invite Second Senior Brother and Senior Sister Ling Bo for condolences? Are you all that close? I’ve never noticed.”
“My family is related to the Yins,” Ding Zhuo explained matter-of-factly. “So is Second Senior Brother, though the Dai family is closer to the Yins than mine. We reconnected with them because the late Patriarch Yin greatly valued and guided my late father twenty years ago.”
Cai Zhao’s lip twitched as he muttered, “Valued? If Yin Dai valued someone, wouldn’t they be obliged to serve him unquestioningly?”
Oblivious to this comment, Ding Zhuo scratched his head in confusion. “Junior Sister, what should we do now? Should we inform Master first? By the way, did you see the donkey I rode here? It has a white spot on its forehead…” Having been immersed in martial arts since childhood, he was at a loss when faced with non-martial emergencies.
“Let’s find a doctor for Second Senior Brother first.”
“…Huh?”
At Qingque Sect’s Twin Lotus Pool Palace, a sea of blood covered the ground, with Yin family’s secret guards lying dead everywhere. In the exquisite meditation room, prayer mats, scriptures, tables, chairs, and dishes were shattered across the floor. Yin Sulian, her beautiful face disheveled, crawled on the ground, weeping uncontrollably beside Madam Mao’s corpse. Hearing footsteps, she looked up and burst into tears. “You… why did you do this? If you were upset about me mourning Senior Brother Qiu, you could have just said so…”
Qi Yunke, his robes stained with blood, walked steadily towards the tall jade altar. Three tablets were enshrined there: Yin Dai, Yin Qinglian, and Qiu Renjie. He grabbed Yin Dai’s tablet, smashing it on the ground and crushing it under his foot. Yin Sulian screamed, rushing to pick up the fragments while pleading, “Why are you doing this? If I haven’t treated you well, you can beat me, scold me, even kill me, but why this?”
Qi Yunke coldly gazed at the beautiful face he had admired since youth. “There are two things I can finally tell you. Your father’s travel route that year – I secretly leaked it to Zhao Tianba and Han Yisu. I also drugged your father’s guards with Fine Rain Numbing Powder, causing them to suddenly lose strength while protecting him during his escape.”
Yin Sulian stared in disbelief, unable to utter a sound.
“As for your sister Yin Qinglian, she didn’t die from illness. She was poisoned.” Qi Yunke casually tossed Yin Qinglian’s tablet, shattering it on the ground as well. “Thanks to Nie Zhe for that – the Demonic Sect is truly skilled in poison. Suzi Incense and Qianxun Wood kill silently. Otherwise, given your sister’s caution, it wouldn’t have been easy to plot against her. Unlike Song Shijun, who remained oblivious despite my minimal cover-up.”
“Ahhhhhhh!” Yin Sulian’s eyes turned blood-red as she lunged at him madly, only to be kicked away by Qi Yunke.
“Why? Why did you do this?” Yin Sulian wailed, collapsing to the ground.
Qi Yunke gazed at the prostrate woman, his heart filled with self-mockery. “The first time I saw you, you were surrounded by guards and servants, distributing money and rice to villagers. Back then, I was just a poor widow’s dim-witted son. I thought you were a celestial maiden.”
He continued, “I misjudged not only you but also your father. I believed he was a great hero with hidden sorrows. When he invited me to be his disciple, despite Pingsu’s concerns, I couldn’t resist. Becoming the disciple of someone I admired and getting closer to a celestial maiden was my dream for years.”
“Little did I know that the revered hero was a hypocritical, despicable man, and the celestial maiden was narrow-minded and greedy.”
“Your father taught me self-preservation and that being a sect leader requires both overt and covert methods. So I learned from him, raising secret guards and manipulating situations. And you, before I decided to rush to Tu Mountain, you brought me a cup of tea that made me sleep for three hours.”
Yin Sulian rasped, “If you loved Cai Pingsu so much, why didn’t you marry her? Why marry me?”
Qi Yunke glanced at her contemptuously. “How vulgar. Is romance all you can think about?” His face softened as he reminisced, “Pingsu and I vowed to be righteous heroes, helping those in need and stemming the tide of chaos. We made this pledge before heaven and earth.”
Under the vast sky, an open-minded girl and a down-and-out boy made their vows, promising to never regret. In the end, the girl kept her word with her blood, not failing the common people, while the boy became someone he couldn’t recognize. Those were his most beautiful days, filled with boundless hope and passion. Even in tattered clothes and covered in mud, he knew he was pure and clean.
Yin Sulian cursed viciously, “If Cai Pingsu knew what you’ve done, she’d regret ever laying eyes on you!”
“Pingsu is dead,” Qi Yunke said coldly. “And I died long ago—thanks to your father and sister’s schemes.”
Li Wenxun entered, his sword still dripping blood. “Finished talking?” Seeing Qi Yunke nod, he asked, “Really not going to kill her?”
“Let her live,” Qi Yunke’s eyes gleamed with cruelty. “Everyone else dies, but she lives.”
“Then lock her in Yin Dai’s stone cell,” Li Wenxun said indifferently. “How do we explain this to the outside world?”
Qi Yunke replied nonchalantly, “Didn’t you already plan it? Demonic Sect spies infiltrated Twin Lotus Pool Palace. The inevitable casualties occurred during the cleanup.”
Leaving the blood-soaked palace, Qi Yunke returned to Muwei Palace’s secret chamber. He retrieved a scroll from a hidden compartment in the bookshelf. As he unrolled it, a long painting revealed eleven people in various poses—sitting, lying down, talking, laughing, holding wine cups, or eating meat—each vividly depicted.
Carefully wrapping his fingers in fine silk, Qi Yunke caressed each figure greedily. It was a clear afternoon when everyone rested at the foot of a windbreak mountain. Ning Xiaofeng complained of hunger, refusing to eat dried rations. Cai Pingsu took Meng Chao, a former hunter, to catch some pheasants and rabbits.
The Shi brothers chopped wood and started a fire, while Miu Jianshi bought some homemade wine from a nearby farm. He and Cai Pingchun diligently bled and plucked the game. Zhuge Zhengming stood aside, dropping literary references disdainfully, while his brother Zhuge Cong, a gourmand, eagerly produced various spices he carried.
After three rounds of drinks, Kong Danqing suddenly noticed the smooth, mirror-like mountain wall behind them, perfectly reflecting their merry scene. Inspired, he pulled out paper and paint from his pack and began to sketch. He sternly ordered everyone to stay still, threatening to end their friendship if they moved. Fortunately, he painted quickly, as Ning Xiaofeng’s neck was cramping, and he was about to pounce and bite Kong Danqing.
Kong Danqing, with his nimble fingers and eloquent speech, would patiently listen to descriptions of deceased mothers and paint portraits as keepsakes. When he died, his intestines were torn out, and his prized right hand was severed at the wrist and forcibly stuffed into his mouth. Upon seeing his corpse, Pingsu immediately vomited blood.
Qi Yunke’s eyes welled up with tears. He quickly turned his face away to avoid wetting the painting. He had become a demon and feared he wouldn’t be able to reunite with them after death. Nevertheless, he had long ago made up his mind: even if he fell into the deepest level of hell and could never be reborn, he would fulfill his wish.