“Those years were the most painful time of my life. Chen Shigu was the world’s best master—his martial arts were unfathomably deep, and he never held back in teaching, willing to impart everything no matter what you wanted to learn. But he was also the world’s worst master, always wearing a cruel, contemptuous, and terrifyingly calm smile that made you constantly doubt you were an incorrigible fool. My martial arts advanced by leaps and bounds, making tremendous progress daily. Yet compared to other disciples in Canyang Court, it was like standing still, mediocre and ordinary.
Especially in front of Eldest Senior Brother, all the talent and spiritual gifts I had once been proud of became jokes. No matter how desperately and diligently I tried to catch up, his level was always unreachably distant. I hated him, envied him, and thought every day about giving up martial arts to return home and live as a country landlord. But having devoted myself to martial study since childhood, taking it as my belief, I really couldn’t swallow this humiliation…
Eldest Senior Brother looked down on everyone. Either he would ruthlessly beat us during sparring, or he would be preoccupied as he went out to locate burial sites and rob tombs. I had never worried about money and greatly disdained the tomb-robbing trade, feeling that such an unparalleled genius shouldn’t dirty his character with such lowly work. Only later did I learn that he was already ill at that time, constantly searching ancient tombs for a special kind of medicinal pill.”
Bao Zhu gasped and murmured, “Wei Xun robbed tombs to find medicine for his illness?”
“More accurately, life-saving medicine. Great-grandfather Barefoot Taoist once prophesied that Eldest Senior Brother wouldn’t live past twenty, and his illness indeed grew more severe each year. Someone like Chen Shigu, with supreme internal power, could live to his natural lifespan as long as he didn’t die by an enemy’s hand. But the yin qi and corpse poison in tombs were extremely heavy—even he couldn’t avoid being gradually contaminated, losing years of life. So the more actively Eldest Senior Brother searched for medicine, the sicker he became. It was truly a deadlock.
He stole medical texts from everywhere, trying to treat himself, but couldn’t recognize many characters. Though he had learned some by stealing into studies, it wasn’t nearly enough for reading such obscure medical texts. Chen Shigu was both literary and martial, broadly learned and talented, but simply refused to teach us reading. He often said the poison in books was far more potent than corpse poison in ancient tombs.
Written language isn’t something you can naturally comprehend through talent alone. Eldest Senior Brother would spend entire nights futilely fumbling through medical texts. I thought I would gloat over this and be pleased to see his early death. But watching coldly from the side, I felt he was just a child desperately wanting to live…
It was meddlesome of me, but I really couldn’t bear watching. When no one was around, I would help him read aloud twice. After listening through once, he could memorize it and connect the characters he recognized. Eldest Senior Brother never said thanks, but from then on he would give me some face during sparring and quietly give me hints when I couldn’t grasp certain techniques.”
Because of that phrase “won’t live past twenty,” Bao Zhu felt her heart sink into an icy deep well, a bone-chilling cold. She couldn’t speak for a long time, her throat dry. After a while she said, “So… so this is the great favor he owes you.”
Pang Liangji laughed drunkenly, “Yes, this is truly the world’s greatest joke. In that pile of monsters in Canyang Court, the only advantage I had over my sect brothers was that my family had some money when I was young to hire a tutor, so I knew a few characters.”
The two sat in silence for a long time. Pang Liangji drank much more wine and muttered to himself, “Actually, I still don’t understand why I was expelled from the sect. During those years in Canyang Court, I endured everything, following Chen Shigu’s wishes in all matters. Even when he forced me to keep watch and carry corpses during tomb robberies, I endured it. That day, taking advantage of Eldest Senior Brother’s distant journey, he suddenly attacked violently, severely injuring my Ren Chong point and shattering my kneecap and ankle bones. I think he knew in his heart that if Eldest Senior Brother had been present, he would have tried to stop it.”
But Bao Zhu thought: The only thing you ever did against Chen Shigu’s wishes was reading medical texts to Wei Xun. Since that man was determined not to let him read and become literate, he naturally wouldn’t tolerate others teaching him either.
Pang Liangji’s complete loss of martial arts and reduction to a cripple was entirely due to this disaster. Wei Xun understood this clearly, which was why he was willing to risk his life to repay this debt.
Pang Liangji continued, “Honestly, on the day I was expelled from the sect, though my body felt bone-deep pain, deep in my heart I secretly felt relieved. Becoming a cripple meant I could legitimately return home, resolve my martial arts obsession, and be free of attachments from then on. If not for those unbearable days in Canyang Court, I would never have recognized clearly what life should really pursue. Like accompanying family and friends, winning back one’s beloved…”
Speaking of this, Pang Liangji’s face was already covered in tears as he said miserably, “It seems that to punish my former frivolity and foolishness, Heaven wants to take everything away from me again.”
Young Master Pang of Jade City had lived smoothly all his life, loved and well-treated by family and friends. If he hadn’t suffered several head-on blows, he would probably have remained an arrogant and willful rich man his entire life, never gaining such profound understanding or having anything to treasure.
Bao Zhu had never expected to hear so much old news this night and felt her mind in complete chaos. With Wei Xun’s temperament, to repay his junior brother’s debt for reading books aloud, he would certainly not consider his poisoned wounds and would continue fighting fierce battles repeatedly, making his condition even worse.
Given Wei Xun’s usual hearing and alertness, after she and Pang Liangji had talked for so long, he should have noticed long ago. That he still hadn’t come downstairs showed that “nothing serious” was false—either his physical exhaustion had made him sleep so deeply he couldn’t maintain vigilance, or the poison he’d been hit with had sedative and sleep-inducing effects.
Bao Zhu mentally reviewed the details of the bride substitution case, forcing herself to calm down, and said confidently, “Stop crying. I’ll help you find your bride.”
Pang Liangji was startled and looked at Bao Zhu as if in a drunken dream, seeing her confident appearance of certain victory, just like when she had cleanly solved the trap hidden in the wedding poetry.
Bao Zhu commanded directly, “First, you go home and make peace with Steward Pang. Get me a well-fitting set of men’s clothing or Hu dress, and send the makeup woman as well—when I act, I must look presentable. Second, no matter what means you use, even if you have to steal from the ancestral hall, I want to see the genealogical records of both the bride’s Xiao family and her former husband’s Lu family before dawn. Third, I need a personal bow case that can hold a strung horn bow for convenient combat readiness.”
Pang Liangji had already felt he’d reached a dead end, but now hope kindled in his heart. Still unable to collect himself, he said dazedly, “You can find A-Ran?”
Bao Zhu said with full pride, “Have you heard of the White Snake Pearl Theft case in Xiagui County? I personally solved that—your eldest senior brother only helped as an assistant. Since there are many people who can assist this time, there’s no need for him.”
As dawn broke, the members of Canyang Court gradually reassembled at the inn, holding hot steamed cakes or sesame flatbreads, tearing and eating them while exchanging information gathered during the night.
Xu Baozhen said, “The flagpole in front of the military gate had already been secretly sawed through most of the way, disguised with thick paint. They just waited for the wedding carriage to pass and strike it down with force. The terrain was scouted in advance—trapped on the bridge with nowhere to dodge.”
Tuoba Sanniang said, “The poison on the hidden weapons in the green pavilion used rotten gut grass and snake venom. There are five Central Plains sects that habitually use these two poisons. It’s not too far away—I’ve already sent people to investigate.”
Qiu Ren said, “The hyoscyamus in the drugged wine is the most common paralytic drug. Farmers often use it when castrating cattle, horses, and other livestock—it can be bought anywhere. Datura is rare though. I checked all eight medicine shops in Lingbao County and Jade City—none had stock. These two drugs definitely weren’t purchased together.”
Huo Qi Lang said, “That fake bride wore a leather face mask, different from my disguise techniques. The expression was fixed during creation—the features couldn’t move. I wanted to force some information out of her, but that ghost thing threatened in sign language that if she lost one finger, the bride would lose two.”
Luo Tuotuo said, “That’s actually good news. It means the bride is still alive—dead people don’t care about fingers.”
Huo Qi Lang asked, “Where’s Eldest Senior Brother? He had us busy all night while he slept peacefully.”
Qiu Ren said, “He was hit with too many types of poison this time. Even forcing out most of it, much would have entered his meridians and organs. To recover his power will probably take several days.”
Everyone fell silent for a moment, each with their own thoughts, wondering if they could take this opportunity to bring down Wei Xun. But his usual intimidating presence remained, and under absolute power suppression, they didn’t quite dare act rashly. Besides, Sixth Brother’s matter was unresolved. If the head of the Seven Absolutes died in internal fighting, Canyang Court would be finished in Lingbao County this time, which seemed harmful rather than beneficial to future development.
Suddenly a bright young woman in red men’s clothing with bow and arrows came out from the second floor. She glanced at everyone but didn’t come downstairs, instead running quickly to Wei Xun’s room and knocking to enter.
Xu Baozhen frowned, “He wouldn’t want to bring that woman along in our operations, would he? She’s not from the jianghu—just an extra burden.”
Qiu Ren said, “Did you see how she was dressed just now? Could she actually know some martial arts?”
Tuoba Sanniang sneered, “Fool. When looking at women, don’t look at clothes and accessories—look at her skin and hands. Her hands are clean, delicate, and spotless, without a single scar or callus. That’s not the appearance of someone accustomed to weapons. Seventh Sister, what exactly is that little girl’s background?”
Huo Qi Lang said with interest, “I only know Jiu Niang is from Chang’an, her family is particularly wealthy, she’s very clever, and she hired Eldest Senior Brother to escort her east to find relatives. As for her martial arts, I haven’t seen them. If it’s about fighting enemies, we’re enough. But if it’s about finding and rescuing people, bringing Jiu Niang wouldn’t be a loss—she was the first to discover the well where the bodies were hidden.”
While everyone discussed downstairs, Wei Xun had just finished his breathing exercises. After resting for the day, he estimated his power remained at about sixty to seventy percent—sufficient for fighting enemies, but he feared prolonged battles. If poison penetrated his meridians and triggered cold paralysis symptoms, that would be troublesome. However, kidnapping cases always meant that every minute of delay reduced the hostage’s chances of survival—he couldn’t worry about too much.
Just as he was considering how to rescue the hostage with minimal cost, familiar footsteps suddenly sounded outside, followed by knocking. Wei Xun went to open the door and was immediately stunned to see Bao Zhu enter wearing a crimson round-collared robe, with a gold-inlaid chased belt at her waist and cloud-patterned black leather six-seam boots—exactly the wedding attendant clothes from Pang Liangji’s ceremony.
The same men’s clothing showed a different style on her—seventy percent bright and charming, thirty percent heroic spirit, illuminating the entire room.
Wei Xun was dazed for a moment, forced to look away by her radiance, but inwardly marveled sincerely: Such a vibrant color naturally looked best on her.
Seeing his expression, Bao Zhu knew her outfit was quite striking. Proudly she said, “How is it? It’s a spare attendant outfit that I had the tailors alter to my measurements overnight.”
Wei Xun noticed she had a new bow case hanging from her belt, with a horn bow already strung.
Bao Zhu’s archery and horsemanship had been taught by famous military instructors. Her habits were completely consistent with Tang Dynasty soldiers—during long journeys, to properly protect horn bows, they would unstring them and store them in leather bow cases, only stringing them before battle upon officers’ orders. Though this followed regulations, most jianghu encounters were sudden, making it too late to string bows during the moment.
She carried her weapon personally and had already strung it, ready to draw at any time. Clearly she had accepted his advice. Wei Xun felt comforted and smiled:
“It seems you’re prepared to join us in great slaughter today.”
But Bao Zhu’s smile faded as she said seriously, “Just me, not you. You’ll obediently stay at the inn to recover and drink hot water.”
Author’s Note: For Wei Xun, a genius who lived in lifelong solitude, Sixth Brother might be the only existence close to the definition of “friend.” He wants to protect him, but alas…
After Pang was driven away, he might have secretly visited him, or might not have. His legs were too shattered to save, but Pang still had family who loved him. In Canyang Court where the entire sect couldn’t assemble one set of nine generations of family, having a home to return to was another thing that made Sixth Brother superior to other sect members besides literacy.
Shortly after the expulsion incident, Wei Xun broke with Chen Shigu, forcibly completed his training, and left Canyang Court (connecting to Volume 1 Extra – Graduation)