After Chen Shigu’s death, his disciples unanimously withdrew from the tomb-robbing industry and each sought their own way forward. The reason was that this group had strong martial arts skills and each had their own means of survival. Except for Wei Xun, who had no choice but to continue in order to find life-saving medicine, the others didn’t want to keep rolling around in the dirt.
The purpose of this sect gathering wasn’t to discuss their master’s relics, but to investigate who had sabotaged Pang Liangji’s wedding. Though the Seven Absolutes of the Setting Sun had a unified jianghu nickname, they were actually like scattered sand, mutually suspicious and trusting no one.
Dong Zhenzi’s disciple had been caught red-handed by Wei Xun, making him the prime suspect. Though he had defended himself, Xu Baozhen himself was a deeply scheming old fox whose words couldn’t be fully trusted.
Seeing this situation, Xu Baozhen deflected blame, pointing to Tuoba Sanniang: “I heard someone set an ambush in the green pavilion, scattering hidden weapons from the canopy, and even Eldest Senior Brother was hit. I never learned hidden weapons, and my disciples never carry such things. This is Third Sister’s specialty.”
Upon hearing this, Tuoba Sanniang’s willow eyebrows stood on end as she said sternly: “Though I excel at hidden weapons, I’ve never stooped to using poison—I rely purely on technique. I heard the ambushers used gunpowder fuses to release sulfur poison fog. Where did this gunpowder come from? That should be thoroughly investigated.”
With one move, she turned the situation around, pointing the spear at Luo Tuotuo, the Fire-Wielding Warrior who dealt with saltpeter and sulfur daily.
Luo Tuotuo’s expression was cold: “Bullshit! If this humble monk had acted, I would have blown the newlyweds and guests in that green pavilion to bloody pieces. How could I just release some smoke and call it done without killing a single person?”
Qiu Ren said: “I heard throughout the streets today that the bride’s appearance hadn’t changed, but she could no longer speak. Pang Liangji refuses to acknowledge her, insisting she’s a fake. This clearly sounds like substitution through disguise techniques. I think Seventh Sister isn’t clean either.”
Huo Qi Lang had been standing aside with her hands tucked away, watching the excitement, when a black pot was suddenly thrown at her. She spat and angrily said: “I was the wedding attendant, standing beside Eldest Senior Brother throughout the entire ceremony. Unlike you all who have disciples and subordinates, how could I split myself to impersonate the bride? The two servants who died in the well had their necks twisted by powerful hands. Eldest Senior Brother was forced to drink drugged wine with added datura at the bride’s family gate. Datura is a component of the anesthetic powder used for external surgery. Fourth Senior Brother excels at Remnant Lamp Hand and is proficient in pharmacology—don’t think you can stay out of this!”
Upon hearing this, Qiu Ren was stunned instead: “You’re saying Wei Da drank drugged wine with hyoscyamus and datura and could still stand and complete the entire ceremony?!”
Xu Baozhen said calmly: “Since it’s Eldest Senior Brother, nothing he does would be surprising.”
Though Tuoba Sanniang was shocked inside, she didn’t show it on her face. Instead, she accused Qiu Ren: “Datura is very expensive. Fat Fourth has never been willing to use anesthetic powder even once when treating our external injuries—he always sews flesh raw. But now to bring down Eldest Senior Brother, he’s suddenly generous.”
Qiu Ren fought back: “If I had known in advance I was drugging him, I would certainly have increased the dosage, combining aconite and rhododendron—I wouldn’t have settled for something so mild. Besides, I have no old grudges with First Brother or Sixth Brother. On the contrary, Third Senior Sister, you’ve always been fierce and love stirring up trouble, having some old resentment with almost everyone. Speaking of suspects, Fourth Brother doesn’t even rank.”
Tuoba Sanniang sneered: “If I were targeting Sixth Brother, his entire family’s heads should be arranged on the table in order of seniority. You all know how I entered the sect. I can kill entire families, but I never accept kidnapping jobs involving women.”
These people were all outstanding talents among humanity, dragons and phoenixes, possessing the natural traits of exceptional gifts: high pride and competitive ruthlessness. If scattered separately in other sects or other eras, each would be treasured like precious gems. But they happened to cluster under Chen Shigu’s tutelage in the small Canyang Court, like needle points against wheat awns, mutually displeasing to each other.
Having worked and studied together for years, everyone understood each other’s specialties and character well. They mutually despised yet couldn’t eliminate each other. Once they fell into accusation and attack, it became a chaotic mess—not only far-fetched but also full of personal grievances. If not for the number one person presiding at the head seat, they would have already come to blows.
The main hall was filled with smoke and miasma, Wei Xun’s ears buzzed with noise, yet no one could provide crucial information. By the end, they were all dredging up old accounts.
Feeling vexed and restless, his gaze didn’t want to fall on any of them. Unconsciously looking out the window, he saw peach branch shadows reflected on the paper window screen as rustling rain began falling again. He thought how wonderful it would be if he could take Bao Zhu out to enjoy the rain and drink wine in the peach grove, rather than waste his remaining precious time on these annoying troubles.
Everyone argued until their mouths were dry and wanted to call servants to boil hot soup to drink, but remembered they had already knocked out all the living people in the inn—no one was left to tend the stove.
Huo Qi Lang turned to see Wei Xun sitting silently, chin propped, gazing out the window in a daze. Thinking he was deeply contemplating the truth, she said loudly: “If we keep arguing like this until dawn, we still won’t reach a conclusion. Please let Eldest Senior Brother decide.”
Since Wei Da had convened this gathering, everyone felt Seventh Sister’s words made sense. They all quieted down, waiting for him to speak.
The main hall suddenly fell silent. Wei Xun was startled and looked back at everyone, seeing every pair of eyes staring at him.
Xu Baozhen repeated: “How should this matter be handled? Please let Eldest Senior Brother decide.”
Wei Xun steadied himself, forcing his wandering thoughts back with effort, and said slowly: “In the past, whenever any evil occurred in Guanzhong, regardless of whether Canyang Court was involved, the jianghu always made one of us take the blame. Over time, everyone has gotten used to being suspects. Each of us has the ability to completely exterminate Pang Liangji’s entire family, yet someone chose such a troublesome method to disrupt the wedding—this makes no sense at all. Sixth Brother lost his martial arts many years ago. If there were old grudges, action should have been taken long ago.
If we don’t view him as an individual but place him back in Canyang Court, he becomes the weakest vulnerable point among us seven. People coming because of those eight words ‘overthrow the Tang Dynasty and bring chaos to the world’ wouldn’t seek me out—that would be suicide. At most they’d harass you all, but wouldn’t dare use force because they’d gain nothing. Those few young ones who haven’t completed training have been following closely behind us top three, with no opportunities. But if they encountered Pang Liangji, he’d be the most convenient target to strike. Moreover, kidnapping the bride to control him would be the way to force information about the relic’s location.
We originally operated in Guanzhong, but now we’re scattering toward the Central Plains for development, threatening others’ territories, making us targets for all arrows. If we can’t get satisfaction in Sixth Brother’s matter and retaliate fiercely, the entire sect will be looked down upon and trampled. From then on, troubles will constantly come to our doors, giving us no peace. None of us will be able to establish firm footing in the Central Plains.”
These words hit the nail on the head, using martial arts principles to explain the situation clearly.
Everyone knew that “striking back fiercely” was also Wei Xun’s way of dealing with the world. If not for his consistently ruthless heart and hands, never letting grudges last overnight, at his age it would be extremely difficult to survive in such a treacherous and unpredictable sect. This kind of ruthless method could be understood to some degree by other sect members.
Tuoba Sanniang breathed a sigh of relief and said frankly: “Since it’s outsiders, there’s nothing to worry about—just slaughter them.”
Xu Baozhen shook his head: “The enemy has been hiding beneath the surface all along. The difficulty is rooting out the mastermind.”
Huo Qi Lang said: “Don’t forget Pang Liangji’s bride is still in the real culprit’s hands. We need to rescue her alive if possible. Sixth Brother is now going mad at home, holding a knife to interrogate the fake bride while being desperately restrained by his in-laws’ family.”
Xu Baozhen asked: “Now that you’ve come to the gathering, won’t that ghost thing run away?”
Huo Qi Lang said: “The person sits in the bridal chamber, supervised by both families, with Shisan Lang watching under the pretense of chanting prayers for blessings.”
Tuoba Sanniang said: “I arranged for two subordinates to crouch on the bridal chamber beams, so there’s no fear of escape.”
Everyone was startled, thinking of how “Pipa Demon’s” methods were like mercury flowing through ground, penetrating everywhere. They all admired her meticulous thinking.
Tuoba Sanniang snorted: “Always being treated as a suspect, I had to leave backup plans to avoid being wrongly accused by you all. Losing the only hostage would be unacceptable.”
Luo Tuotuo stood up, pulled out his tin staff, and was ready to leave: “Rescue isn’t this humble monk’s strength. Call me when you find the enemy.”
Qiu Ren said: “I told you all long ago that rescue is far more difficult than killing. If the hostage dies, for the sake of sect brotherhood, I can stitch up the corpse a bit…”
Huo Qi Lang spat: “Inauspicious!”
With future actions now having direction, no more discussion was needed. In the deep of night, the group was hungry and thirsty. They removed the door boards, preparing to go out and find some late-night food. Taking people’s money to eliminate their disasters, Huo Qi Lang was worried about Sixth Brother and quickly rode back to the Pang residence.
Wei Xun went upstairs, wanting to ask if Bao Zhu wanted to go eat together, but heard both rooms were quiet—they must have already gone to sleep. Knowing his martial arts had only this one weakness, he didn’t dare leave her alone at the inn. He had others help bring food back and went to his own room.
Bao Zhu had originally wanted to wait for them to argue to a conclusion before asking about it, but while waiting, she fell asleep in her clothes. Having attended the wedding with reversed day and night schedules for two days, her sleep pattern was completely disrupted. She slept for an unknown length of time before waking again. Seeing it was still pitch black outside the window, she didn’t know what hour of the night it was.
Drowsily stepping outside to look, the strange people in the main hall had all left, leaving only a red-clothed man sitting alone drinking wine—surprisingly, it was Pang Liangji, the only one who hadn’t attended the earlier sect gathering.
Bao Zhu went downstairs and asked: “How are you here?”
Pang Liangji still wore the crimson official robes from the wedding. He sluggishly raised his head to look at her, his gaze unfocused—he was already heavily drunk. Mumbling, he said: “I wanted to interrogate that fake, but was blocked by my in-laws’ family. Instead, they’re forcing me to consummate the marriage with that ghost thing, so I could only flee.” He filled his cup with wine, raised his head and drained it, then smiled self-mockingly: “Young Master Pang has been willful since childhood and has finally exhausted his family’s patience completely.” His words were full of desolation, his lapels soaked with spilled wine.
Bao Zhu knew he had lost his beloved and was at his most confused and helpless moment. Having fled from home with nowhere to go, he instinctively came to the place where his trusted senior brother was staying. Recalling how joyfully and wholeheartedly he had prepared before the wedding, now he could be called utterly desperate and dejected.
Bao Zhu sat across from him and comforted: “Just now your senior brothers were discussing how to help you find your bride back. They look… they look… quite capable. There should be results soon.”
Pang Liangji smiled bitterly: “They showed no such brotherhood back then. Each had their eyes on top of their heads, always bullying me.”
Bao Zhu was somewhat surprised: “Wei Xun bullied you too?”
Pang Liangji said: “He was the most ruthless.”
From their current relationship, Bao Zhu had always thought they got along well. Learning it was actually like this, she was momentarily speechless with shock.
Having drunk too much, Pang Liangji began rambling about past events: “I had martial arts talent from childhood. Whatever techniques I learned came naturally, and every instructor and master said I was a one-in-ten-thousand genius who would surely become a top expert in the world. Naturally I believed it, specializing in leg techniques and lightness skills. Before age twenty, I already had the nickname Swift Wind Guardian. My family had money and power, everyone in the jianghu flattered me, so I was arrogant and conceited all day long.
A-Ran’s father looked down on my family background and married her to someone else by parental command and matchmaker’s words. I was heartbroken for a while but didn’t become completely dejected. Being young then, I felt my aspirations lay elsewhere. Since I was a genius, I should climb the martial arts peak. Through countless connections, I finally found a supreme master in Guanzhong who could be called the world’s number one. I simply left Jade City and entered Chen Shigu’s tutelage with my skills.
At the time, I thought Master accepted me reluctantly due to jianghu obligations. Later I discovered he would never compromise for any worldly sentiment or relationships. He accepted me purely out of malicious intent, wanting to personally witness the complete collapse of someone as self-important as me.
On my first day as a disciple, a pale, gloomy child walked out of the long house, full of rebellious arrogance. He wasn’t even as old as Shisan Lang is now, yet all the other disciples respectfully called him Eldest Senior Brother. I secretly found this amusing, thinking this young boy probably entered early and had seniority, which was why he ranked highest. I was already a famous figure in the jianghu and naturally wouldn’t lower myself to argue with such an arrogant child.
Seeing my expression, Chen Shigu just smiled and ordered that child to spar with me as an entrance examination. Since Swift Wind Guardian was famous for leg techniques, we would compete in that single specialty.
I thought I must hold back—couldn’t cripple the chief disciple right after entering. That child seemed very unwilling, looking thoroughly annoyed. Chen Shigu called him over, personally tied his arms behind his back with hemp rope, then told him to remove his shoes and fight barefoot.”
Looking at Pang Liangji’s somewhat melancholy expression, Bao Zhu had already vaguely guessed what happened next.
Sure enough, he continued: “I thought I was a one-in-ten-thousand genius, but everyone in Canyang Court was one-in-ten-thousand, and there was even a genius among geniuses, one in hundreds of millions. That day, the Eldest Senior Brother with bound arms kicked me until I lost all face. I used every means and trick, even sneak attacks and deception, but nothing worked. I either knelt or lay prostrate—for two full hours, I couldn’t stand up even once in front of him.”
Pang Liangji stroked his severed leg and said calmly: “From that day I learned that in front of someone like Eldest Senior Brother, having legs or not having legs makes absolutely no difference in his eyes.”
Author’s Note: The term “late-night snack/xiaoyè” first appeared in the Tang Dynasty, in Tang Fanggan’s “Winter Night Moored at Monk’s Lodge”: “Without wine to pass the night, following monks to close doors early.”