The next day, Tang Lici hired a wet nurse in Jiufeng Town and temporarily left Fengfeng in her care. The party of four set out for the Wuyi Mountains.
The Wuyi Mountain Range.
Endless stretches of deep mountains—though not particularly high, the forests were dense, filled more with insects, snakes, mosquitoes, and gnats, vines and poisonous plants. It was much more difficult to traverse than the snow-capped Cat Bud Peak. Sometimes Chi Yun had to take his blade and clear the path, yet after half a day of cutting, they wouldn’t travel very far. After walking through the dense forest for several days with no other choice, the group had to leap up to travel along the treetops. However, running atop the forest consumed enormous amounts of energy, and in the vast sea of trees, they had no idea where Praying Soul Mountain might be.
“Since Praying Soul Mountain has white strange soil behind it, and graves made there become indestructible after burial, this white strange soil must be extremely hard,” Tang Lici said while running through the trees. “And since Xue Xianzi was willing to bury his deceased wife on Praying Soul Mountain, it must have many rare and exotic flowers. What kind of rare flowers grow specifically on hard rock?” Shen Langhun and Chi Yun frowned. When it came to martial arts, both were experts, but regarding flowers and plants, they were completely ignorant. Zhong Chunji said, “There’s a type of rock plum that grows specifically on stone, but Master likes white flowers, especially large ones like magnolias. Small rock plums probably wouldn’t suit Master’s taste.” Tang Lici glided smoothly onto a large tree. “Perhaps Praying Soul Mountain has other rare flowers… perhaps the strange soil and flora of Praying Soul Mountain is the reason Wind and Flow House chose it as their stronghold… could it be that the ingredients for making Scarlet Ghost Nine Heart Pills grow on Praying Soul Mountain?” Shen Langhun said flatly, “It’s possible.” Tang Lici suddenly stopped. Chi Yun, caught off guard, nearly crashed headfirst into him. “What is it?” Tang Lici swept his sleeve. “Look.”
Among the rolling mountains, they suddenly saw a sunken valley. The lush trees and vines gradually became gentler here. In the mountain valley, they could see graves everywhere—not white strange soil, but gray-green stone tablets. What place was this? Who was buried here? What kind of lives and stories did those buried in the earth once have?
The four stood silently on the treetops, surveying the many graves in the valley. Who had first discovered this place, and who had buried the first person here? Tang Lici observed for a while, then gracefully descended. He saw the valley floor covered with flowers, though not exotic varieties—just common yellow flowers. Looking up, among the graves, deep within a bamboo grove, there was a courtyard. Shen Langhun’s gaze moved among the graves. Most of the names on the tombstones were unfamiliar, but they should all be famous martial artists from decades or even centuries ago. Some graves didn’t even have names left behind.
No matter how great the achievements or sins committed in life, people inevitably face death. And when later generations face these graves, how many remember? Those accomplishments—how illusory; those transgressions—how ephemeral. Though life is ultimately illusory and ephemeral, people can never escape their restless pursuit of things they cannot let go. Tang Lici walked slowly among the graves, his steps not lingering, heading toward the courtyard in the bamboo grove.
It was a gray-black courtyard with tightly closed gates. The gray powder-coated walls showed a dull color different from ordinary households, and there was an oppressive fragrance in the air. Shen Langhun followed behind Tang Lici. “Strange smell.” Tang Lici pushed open the black gate with a creaking sound. Inside was empty—the place had long been abandoned.
“Hehe, Wind and Flow House’s lair. This wall powder is ash made from burning Forgetfulness Flowers,” Chi Yun said coldly. “This stuff is a first-rate soul-confusing drug. Back in the day, I nearly suffered a loss under this drug’s influence.” Shen Langhun touched the gray wall and forcibly broke off a piece. Wall powder scattered down, making the oppressive feeling even more obvious. “This explains why all the women in Wind and Flow House are extreme and savage, and obsessed with their ‘Venerable Master’ as if bewitched.” Chi Yun said coolly, “That’s because they really are bewitched.”
Tang Lici stepped into the main hall. Though Wind and Flow House had gray wall powder, the interior was furnished with white tables and chairs—an arrangement different from ordinary households. Silver candlesticks on the tables, white candles for lighting, crystal wine decanters, silver cups—some cups still held half-full portions of dark red wine. “Forgetfulness Flowers… that means everyone within could be affected by this drug…” He picked up an exquisite silver cup left on the table, swirled it slightly, and said quietly, “These vessels… this wine… you…”
“Weird paintings. White-haired fox spirit, isn’t this painting you? Haha…” Chi Yun strode into the hall. There was a long corridor with paintings hanging on both sides—not landscape ink paintings, but portraits made with unknown pigments. One showed four strangely dressed young men in a strangely decorated room, two leaning against a door, two sitting on a table. Another showed white bones scattered everywhere, skulls piled high, and amid pools of blood and severed limbs, a skeleton figure stood atop the bone remains, holding a skull and weeping. Chi Yun studied them carefully for a while. Both paintings were very lifelike, but in the first painting of the four youths, only three had clear faces—the fourth had no features drawn, just a blank face. Obviously one of the four in the first painting was Tang Lici, and the skeleton figure in the second painting was most likely Liu Yan himself. This master of Wind and Flow House was truly multi-talented—not only could he play that ghostly pipa to kill people, his painting skills far exceeded Chi Yun’s own.
Tang Lici’s gaze swept over the two paintings without much comment. Zhong Chunji’s eyes stopped on the painting of four people gathered together. “Why would Young Master Tang’s portrait be in Wind and Flow House?” Chi Yun said coolly, “Because the madman of Wind and Flow House is his friend. Haha, good friend.” Zhong Chunji frowned. “Good friend?” Shen Langhun suddenly interjected, also coolly, “That’s right, lifelong good friend.” Zhong Chunji stared at the painting for a while, vaguely feeling something in it looked quite familiar, though she couldn’t remember what for the moment. She repeated, “Good friend?” Why would Tang Lici be good friends with the utterly wicked master of Wind and Flow House?
“This is Fang Zhou,” Tang Lici, who had already walked past, saw the three weren’t moving and turned back to lightly point at one figure in the painting. “Three Sounds Fang Zhou.” Chi Yun examined carefully and saw the painted man had disheveled long hair, especially dark and bright eyes, with a hint of fierceness in his gaze. Though just a painting, it emanated an aura of arrogance and coldness. “This is the dead man you’re so determined to find?” Zhong Chunji’s heart trembled slightly. So he was searching for his good friend. But why come to Wind and Flow House to find his friend’s corpse? Could his enmity with Wind and Flow House actually be about avenging his friend?
“He’s someone with a cold exterior but gentle heart,” Tang Lici’s gaze finally slowly settled on that painting. “He’s three years older than me and always considered himself the big brother. Though his exterior seemed cold and difficult to approach, he actually took very good care of people… He’d rather suffer in his heart than show weakness to anyone.” He had only glanced at the painting before, but now stared at it intently for a long time, smiling slightly. “When he wakes up, you’ll know my words are true.”
Chi Yun coughed, Shen Langhun sighed softly. Only Zhong Chunji was puzzled. “Didn’t he pass away?” Tang Lici had clearly said he came to find a corpse. If it was a corpse, how could it wake up?
“He will wake up.” Tang Lici walked through the corridor, and the three followed closely behind. Wandering Eyebrow Garden didn’t look sinister or terrifying, but Tang Lici made people somewhat uneasy. Through the corridor was another room furnished with white tables and chairs, these even more exquisite with complex carved patterns. The walls also hung paintings, depicting the yellow flowers from the valley outside. This room was quite large with four doors leading to four different corridors—a layout never seen before. Shen Langhun’s pupils contracted slightly. “Everyone stay together.” Chi Yun gripped his blade. The four corridors put both men on high alert. Even if the room was empty, traps might remain.
“Chi Yun, you and Miss Zhong wait here,” Tang Lici slowly examined all four entrances. “Shen Langhun and I will enter to investigate.” Zhong Chunji said, “I think we should listen to Brother Shen—it’s better if the four of us don’t separate.” Tang Lici smiled slightly. “If there are traps inside that can contain Tang Lici and Shen Langhun, then all four entering together still wouldn’t escape. You two stay here. If we’re not back after one meal’s time, tear down the house—don’t come in.” Chi Yun said coldly, “Go ahead. What trap in the world could contain you, Tang Lici, you old fox? If you can’t get out, I’m leaving.” Tang Lici turned around. “That would be excellent.”
Shen Langhun looked at the corridor entrance. “If you need to tear down the house, you’d better find some mud and water to wet the walls before demolishing.” Chi Yun spat. “You think this is my first day in the martial world?” Shen Langhun ignored him and said flatly, “Which direction first?” Tang Lici looked toward the eastern entrance, his smile elegant and gentle. “East, west, south, north—let’s start from the east.”
The two figures disappeared into the eastern entrance. Though that entrance was luxuriously decorated without any sinister feeling, in Zhong Chunji’s eyes it was heart-stopping. Chi Yun leaned against the wall with arms crossed, extremely impatient. The white-haired fox spirit wanting this girl to travel with them—who knew what he was scheming? What benefit was there in having her along? Besides getting in the way, she was just annoying, especially since her master was that disrespectful old lecher—that cost ten points! Zhong Chunji stood dazedly in the center of the room. She didn’t know if Tang Lici’s invitation for her to travel with them was because he sensed the evil thoughts in her heart, or detected that she had heard the black-robed Liu Yan’s words and accepted a bottle of medicine from him? Or perhaps he had no suspicion of her at all and felt favorably toward her, which was why…
In the silent room, a soft “crack” suddenly came from the wall. Chi Yun spun around, a Moon-Crossing Ring already between his fingers. The yellow flower painting had somehow fallen from the wall on its own, crashing to the ground with a “snap” and shattering into pieces. Zhong Chunji’s face went pale, her right hand on her sword. There was no one in this room—how had that painting fallen? In broad daylight under clear skies, could there really be ghosts?
Shen Langhun and Tang Lici entered the eastern corridor. The corridor walls had white paper lanterns and round holes for light—it wasn’t dark. After walking a short time, they saw door after door. Shen Langhun lightly pushed one—it opened to reveal a woman’s boudoir. “So many women in Wind and Flow House apparently lived in these rooms, but this isn’t a good place for burial.” Tang Lici lightly drew his five fingers down the wall. “Still ash from Forgetfulness Flowers. These women, day and night, affected by this drug… perhaps they originally only felt goodwill toward Liu Yan, but over time it would turn into bone-deep longing. However… Liu Yan doesn’t know the effects of Forgetfulness Flowers. There must be another poison expert in Wind and Flow House.”
The two walked side by side, opening every door to investigate. Though searching for Fang Zhou’s corpse, they were also trying to understand Wind and Flow House’s secrets. After checking dozens of rooms, the corridor suddenly darkened at the end. The space opened up, light decreased sharply—it was a very large empty room. White candles were arranged on the floor in the shape of willow leaves extending to the distance, and at the far end of the room was a door painted with gold. The two exchanged glances. Shen Langhun asked flatly, “What do you think?” Tang Lici smiled slightly. “Retreat.” The two returned by the original route to seek another entrance.
Returning to the previous room, Tang Lici suddenly stopped. Shen Langhun glanced around and saw the room was completely empty—the two people who had been waiting here had vanished without a trace!
“What happened?” Shen Langhun’s expression changed slightly. “How could this be?” The room looked exactly the same as before, except two living people had disappeared. With Chi Yun’s martial arts skills, it would be impossible for him to be captured without making any sound! Tang Lici’s eyes moved slightly, his gaze passing over each wall. “There seemed to be the sound of something falling earlier.”
“But there’s nothing broken here.” Shen Langhun crouched to listen carefully. “No footsteps, but there are people within ten paces.” Tang Lici stared at the yellow flower painting. “The things in this room are simple. If there are people, they couldn’t just disappear, so—” Shen Langhun stood up and said flatly, “If there are people, they must be behind the walls.” Tang Lici raised his hand with a thunderous crash. The wall hanging the yellow flower painting collapsed, revealing a large hole. Through the opening, there were indeed people, and a series of metallic clashing sounds rang out as blade light like snow came toward them! Tang Lici swept his sleeve to deflect the blade. As the blade light passed, his black hair by his forehead rose in the wind, and a silver ring flying blade was caught between his fingers.
“Eh? How did you come back from the wall side?” Chi Yun leaped through the hole Tang Lici had smashed. “Hey—” Shen Langhun flatly continued, “How can this room be identical to the one on the other side of the wall?” Zhong Chunji followed by climbing through the wall, her face showing surprise. “How can this be?”
“This room is originally circular, divided in two down the middle, each with four doors, both sides furnished identically,” Tang Lici said. “When people step into the room, the different weights on each side cause the room to begin rotating. It turns very slowly, making it hard to notice. After it rotates, the four doors of the room no longer face the original passages, and those returning from the passages don’t return to the original room.” He tapped the wall lightly with his knuckle. “However, this wall is so thin, this kind of mechanism isn’t particularly sophisticated. Rather than being used for traps, it’s more like a game. From this view, Wandering Eyebrow Garden is a maze filled with mechanisms.”