Mount Hua in the west rises with precipitous peaks. It’s said that Song Taizu once wagered this mountain against the immortal Master Xiyi in a game of chess. After Master Xiyi won the mountain, he took up long residence here. From then on, Mount Hua became a place for Taoist cultivation, one of the seventy-two celestial caves.

Mount Hua in winter presented a desolate scene. Heavy snow fell like goose feathers, thickly carpeting the ground. Throughout the mountains and valleys, everything was white. Suddenly a mountain wind arose, stirring up great sheets of flying snow that rushed toward three travelers on the road. The two in front hunched their bodies and pulled their collars tight, fearing the cold wind would pour down their necks. But the person behind seemed completely oblivious to the cold – he wore a blue robe and his expression was quite calm, showing no concern for the bitter cold before him.

The three walked for a while, feeling the wind and snow growing heavier. Snow on the road had accumulated knee-deep, and each step required enormous effort. The two in front gasped for breath, finding it laborious and exhausting. But the blue-robed guest maintained an extremely composed manner, his steps light beyond measure. He seemed to float weightlessly over the snow surface, as if expending no energy at all.

After traveling about a li, the blue-robed guest suddenly stopped and called out: “How can I be worthy of Sect Master Ning personally coming to greet me?” His sharp voice carried far into the distance.

The two in front were startled and mumbled: “Sect Master Ning?” They both looked up and instantly saw a man standing on a pine tree branch, looking down at them. The fierce wind blew and the pine tree swayed violently as if about to break, yet that person’s body remained firmly attached to the trunk, rising and falling with the pine’s motion – his martial arts were truly extraordinary.

The man in the tree cupped his hands: “Since General Manager Liu has visited Mount Hua, as one who guards Mount Hua’s gates, how could I not come to greet you?” The blue-robed guest smiled slightly: “Sect Master Ning will soon retire from the world. For me to still come and presumptuously visit is truly inconsiderate.”

The two faced each other across several zhang of distance. Though mountain winds roared all around, their voices remained clearly audible, showing both men’s internal power was extremely deep.

The man said: “No need to be so formal. Since your journey was ordered by Consort Qiong, naturally I cannot refuse.” With that, his body trembled and he slipped down to the base of the tree like smoke, his movement unimaginably swift.

The blue-robed guest nodded: “Sect Master’s lightness skill is brilliant, worthy of the title ‘Number One Under Heaven.’ But for the sect master to retire to the mountains with such excellent abilities – wouldn’t that disappoint your heroic reputation?” The man shook his head: “No need to discuss this. Let’s speak ugly words first – this is the last time I’ll handle affairs for you.” The blue-robed guest nodded: “Understood. As long as we can find that person from Tianshan, everything will be manageable.” The two attendants heard the words “Tianshan” and their faces suddenly changed drastically. They quickly walked away, fearing to hear even one more word.

Seeing the two attendants had gone far, the man lowered his voice: “After so long, do you think that person from Tianshan could still be alive?”

The blue-robed guest sighed deeply, suddenly showing melancholy on his face: “I thought after thirty years my heart would have grown indifferent, but the older I get, the harder it becomes to forget this person. If I cannot find him in this lifetime, I won’t be able to close my eyes even in death.”

The man shook his head: “If this person has already died in Tianshan, what would you do?”

The blue-robed guest’s body trembled: “Even if he’s dead, I won’t let his corpse lie exposed in the wilderness. I must bring him back to the capital for proper burial.”

The man looked at the blue-robed guest and said gently: “If the person is already dead, why stir up such great turmoil? Just let it be!”

The blue-robed guest’s face flashed with murderous intent as he said coldly: “Enough! I only know to do what’s within my duty. I care nothing for other storms and disputes.”

The man nodded in understanding and asked: “Besides yourself, who else in the world knows this secret?”

The blue-robed guest sneered: “Who else could there be?”

The man made a sound of recognition, immediately understanding: “Jiang Chong again?”

The blue-robed guest didn’t answer, only gazed far toward the eastern capital, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth as he said icily: “Jiang Chong, ah Jiang Chong… this great battle between us is unavoidable…”

At that very moment in the Forbidden City, another person also gazed westward. This person wore python robes, appearing to be a first-rank court official. The setting sun stretched his shadow long, projecting it toward Wenhua Hall. The remaining sunlight slanted across his face, revealing gloomy features with a murderous air, frequently knitting his graying eyebrows as if pondering something.

Suddenly footsteps sounded. An adjutant said: “Reporting to Lord Jiang, Kunlun Mountain’s Sect Master Zhuo departed last night as you instructed for official business at Shenguiting in Liangzhou.” The man in python robes smiled: “Zhuo Lingzhao has gone? With this person’s help, things should be easier to handle.” He beckoned with his hand and said gravely: “An’dao Jing!” A person immediately knelt forward and declared loudly: “Your humble servant is here!” This person wore red robes with a face like red dates – it was Jinyiwei Commander An’dao Jing.

The man in python robes bent down and gently patted An’dao Jing’s shoulder: “Commander An, this time I’m secretly sending you to Xiliang with extraordinary purpose. Do you understand?”

An’dao Jing knelt and kowtowed: “Your humble servant will spare no effort and absolutely dare not forget your excellency’s instructions!” The man smiled slightly and said lightly: “You must do well and recapture all evidence. Be extremely careful in everything, especially don’t let anyone sense the secret in Tianshan.”

An’dao Jing kowtowed forcefully and declared loudly: “Your excellency may rest completely assured. Your subordinate will go through fire and water without hesitation.”

The red setting sun shone down. An’dao Jing remained on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing, while the gloomy-featured man, seemingly accustomed to official fawning, didn’t even glance at him, only gazing far toward the horizon.

Suddenly his mouth curved upward slightly, showing cold arrogance as he sneered: “Whether that person from Tianshan is dead or alive, this time he definitely cannot escape my grasp. Only then can we truly rest easy.” In that instant he looked up to the sky and laughed wildly for a long time, declaring loudly: “Liu Angtian, ah Liu Angtian! Do you think that possessing the sheepskin will let you do anything to me, Jiang? You old fool – could you have known you’ve actually done me a great favor!” That laughter was like a night owl’s cry, startling cold crows roosting in the distance. Instantly the crows cried in chaos and scattered in flight.