Two corpses lay sprawled in a pool of dried, coagulated blood, their flesh already decaying, emitting a stench so foul and rancid it made one gag...
Piled on top of those two corpses was a third. Strangely, this corpse remained in a squatting position, its legs draped over the bellies of the two bodies beneath it.
The reason the third corpse remained upright in this position was due to a longsword that had pierced through the unfortunate soul's back, exiting his lower abdomen, with its tip driving deep into the chest of the first corpse.
Furthermore, the hands of the sitting corpse tightly clutched the robes of the two bodies beneath his feet.
A keen eye would notice that the two flaps of fabric the third corpse held in its iron grip were densely covered with crooked, tiny characters written in blood.
Stranger still, more than thirty people had gathered in a tight circle around the three corpses, keeping a distance of barely a zhang from the center.
Among them were young and old, men and women, Buddhist monks, laypeople, and no shortage of Taoist priests.
Every one of them brandished a weapon—swords, sabers, whips, or staffs—glaring at one another, poised for a life-or-death struggle.
The three corpses were already rotting, and they bore no valuable jewelry. Why, then, did this crowd disregard the foul stench to gather here, plotting to fight over what?
Looking closely at them, they were all well-fed, well-clothed, and in the prime of their strength. They were hardly starving vagrants driven by hunger to fight over dead flesh.
Or had they come to avenge some deep, unresolved grudge, determined to desecrate the corpses to satisfy their wrath?
That was even less likely. For if one looked into their eyes, they would see the unmistakable gleam of naked ambition and insatiable greed, all directed at the two flaps of fabric covered in tiny blood-written characters.
As it turned out, the two corpses on the ground were Donghai Qisou and Damo Yiren, two peerless masters of the present age, the two heaven-shaking pillars of the contemporary martial world.
Their martial arts had reached a transcendent level, unmatched by any other soul under heaven.
Driven by rivalry and fame, the two had agreed to meet at Tianshan Mountain, choosing the summit of Moyun Peak to test their skills and determine once and for all who was the true hegemon of the martial world.
In the end, however, both suffered fatal wounds. In their final moments before departing the mortal realm, they used the last of their strength to write down their lifetime of martial arts knowledge in blood upon their robes, hoping to leave behind a legacy of their legendary renown.
Little did they know that this final act of vanity would unleash a terrifying storm upon the martial world...
For when word spread, heroes from both the Orthodox and Unorthodox paths of the martial world flocked to Tianshan Mountain. They sought to seize the blood-written manuals on the robes of Donghai Qisou and Damo Yiren, hoping to become the supreme master under heaven and claim the throne of the martial world's hegemon—a position that had remained vacant for a hundred years.
Thus, a torrent of people surged toward Tianshan Mountain; yet, while countless set out, almost none returned...
And that third corpse was simply another fool whose ambition had cost him his life on this desolate peak, with not a single relative to shed a tear for his passing...
Day after day, Moyun Peak was dyed crimson with blood. Day after day, the paths of Tianshan Mountain became choked with white bones...
Most of all, along the imperial highway leading from Yumen Pass to Tianshan Mountain, in just a few days, ten corpses had already been left strewn across the road.
Most terrifying of all, each of these victims' bodies was pinned with one of five strange tokens.
– The Green Feather Command Arrow, the Red Leaf Talisman, the Blue Scale Dagger, the White Bone Banner, the Black Iron Token... Yet greed drove the survivors to forget all danger and disregard death; as those in front fell, those behind hesitated for only a brief moment before pressing forward one after another.
Counting from the very beginning, when the Eastern Sea Eccentric Elder and the Great Desert Outcast tragically perished while testing their martial arts against each other, only thirty figures had managed to reach Ma Yun Peak.
They arrived only to stare with greedy eyes at the two corpses and the third body that was tightly clutching the two flaps of a blood-written robe, yet none dared to draw near.
For within a wide perimeter around the three corpses, those five chilling tokens had been planted in concentric rings at some unknown time...
These death-laden tokens proved that the five masters who owned them were present, and that those two precious pieces of the robe already belonged to them. Anyone foolish enough to step forward would only be courting death.
If so, why hadn't they simply taken the two pieces of the blood-written robe and left? Why did they linger here to display their might to the world, and what was their intention?
At first, everyone was puzzled, but then they understood.
Perhaps the skills of those five formidable figures were evenly matched; if any of them greedily stepped forward to seize the prize first, the remaining four would join forces to eliminate them immediately.
Therefore, unable to fulfill their ambition, they had no choice but to leave their tokens behind and retreat, warily watching each other while waiting for an opportunity...
Among the thirty experts who had reached Mount Tian, there were nine highly unusual individuals dressed in identical attire:
all wearing black headbands, their faces completely covered, their extremely sharp eyes proving that they also possessed extraordinary martial arts.
Perhaps the gruesome deaths they had witnessed along the way made them hesitate before the five tokens, for every one of them wore a solemn, contemplative expression...
Time on the summit of Mount Tian passed heavily.
Day ended, and night fell...
Suddenly, the man standing third among the nine masked men in black slightly shifted his shoulders, his left foot moving half a step forward as if he wanted to rush ahead.
The man standing at the very front quickly reached out and pushed him back to his original position.
“Third Brother, you mustn't!”
Immediately after, a cold, sharp voice rang out, sounding as if it came from far away yet originated right beside them.
“Hmph! Do you wish to taste the Blue Scale Dagger?”
Another voice rang out, but this time it was clearly that of a woman.
“Hmph! Do not harbor foolish delusions and throw away your life!”
The voice seemed to rise from deep underground, right where they were gathered...
Next came the raspy voice of an old man.
“If necessary, this old man does not mind making enemies of the Nine Great Sects! If anyone touches those two pieces of the robe, they will die instantly, dying without even a groan.”
Immediately after, a burst of shrill, mocking laughter echoed.
“My, what big words. Aren't you ashamed?”
Just as the thirty experts had anticipated, figures from the Nine Great Sects were present on the field.
The owners of the five tokens that stood in place of the Grim Reaper had been warily facing off against each other for who knew how long, currently lying in wait somewhere nearby, though it was difficult to pinpoint where.
Perhaps they were both guarding against outsiders and waiting for an opportunity to eliminate one another?
Under such circumstances, how could those thirty experts dare to make a move?
Another period of heavy silence passed...
Suddenly, the third masked man in black let out a loud shout. With a twist of his body, he soared three zhang into the air. Holding an octagonal mace in his left hand and guarding his chest with his right, he swooped straight toward the three corpses.
Instantly, from all sides of the field, bursts of bizarre laughter rang out in every terrifying, shrill, cold, and sinister tone...
And the thirty masters on the field suddenly found their eyes dazzled by shades of blue, pink, black, and white, hazy and illusory like mist and swirling snow.
These colors seemed to flash simultaneously, shooting straight toward the figure of the black-scarfed man...
—Heavens!
Following a blood-curdling shriek that seemed to tear through the air, the bulky body of the black shadow thudded onto the snow. Blood gushed copiously from his mouth, and a blue dagger engraved with fish scales was buried deep in his chest, its hilt still quivering as fresh blood soaked his entire body.
At his Tianling point, his scalp had been clawed clean away, revealing a whitish-pink skull of bone mixed with blood. His Taiyang acupoint bore the clear imprint of a leaf-shaped red bloodstain. A green feather was plunged deep into the bridge of his nose. On his back, through his shredded black robe, the imprint of a hand as pitch-black as ink was clearly visible.
The summit of Tianshan, after that brief moment of clamor, suddenly fell back into its former silence.
All the heroes present looked at each other in pale-faced shock, beads of sweat drenching their backs even though they stood in the midst of snowy mountains in the biting cold...
While everyone was still immersed in absolute terror, the sound of horse hooves suddenly echoed from afar, rapidly drawing near.
One moment the pounding hooves sounded miles away; in the blink of an eye, they could already be heard clearly at the foot of the mountain...
It was an extraordinary white horse with a tuft of crimson mane on its neck, which further accentuated its snow-white coat; though its hooves trotted at a leisurely pace, its speed was beyond imagination.
In just an instant, rider and horse reached the scene and came to a complete halt.
The crowd of heroes turned their eyes to stare at the rider in white robes and a white headscarf, his face also completely veiled by a square of white cloth, sitting majestically atop the fine steed...
And they all blurted out in a low cry:
—Ah... Lie Ma Kuang Sheng!
The silent scene suddenly erupted into whispered discussions...
For the whereabouts of the man named Lie Ma Kuang Sheng were highly mysterious; he was present wherever there was a gathering of the martial world. His footsteps had seemingly trodden upon every perilous corner of the martial forest.
No one knew his background, nor had anyone ever seen his true face...
Though he had only appeared in the jianghu in recent years and never flaunted his martial skills, everyone understood that he possessed an extraordinary, supreme martial art...
The horse stopped, the rider remained motionless, and the entire crowd of heroes on the field also stood motionless, breathlessly watching the movements of the one who bore the title of Lie Ma Kuang Sheng...
But the owner of the five tokens seemed slightly unsettled and could not maintain his silence. A voice rang out:
—Lie Ma Kuang Sheng! Have you come here with the intention of seizing the two blood-stained pieces of the robe's lapel?
Feigning surprise, Lie Ma Kuang Sheng replied:
—Hmph! If not to seize those items, why else would anyone come to this freezing place?
As he spoke, he swept his gaze around. His eyes, flashing like cold lightning, suddenly stopped on the corpse of the masked man in black. Another cold snort echoed from behind the white silk veil.
Yet another voice followed:
—Lie Ma Kuang Sheng, you have arrived a bit too late! It would be better for you to abandon that idea!
Lie Ma Kuang Sheng laughed aloud.
—In my entire life, I have never abandoned any intention. If I want to do something, I must do it immediately!
—Hmph, hmph... you are arrogant to the point of disregarding death...
But before the mysterious speaker could finish, the white steed with the crimson mane suddenly raised its head and let out a long neigh, its sound echoing as if soaring into the high clouds...
Lie Ma Kuang Sheng also burst into a fit of arrogant laughter.
—I, Lie Ma Kuang Sheng—my name reflects my nature. I have long since grown accustomed to my wild ways, accustomed for a very long time!
The laughter suddenly cut short as the red-maned steed reared high on its hooves and charged straight toward the three corpses in the middle of the field.
Whoosh!...
Rip... rip...
With a movement as swift as lightning, Liema Kuangsheng ripped away two pieces of the robes from the corpses of the two peerless geniuses in the blink of an eye...
Then, quick as lightning, the red-maned white horse reared its hooves again and shot out of the field as if flying.
Five bizarre howls instantly rang out together, their voices filled with hatred and resentment...
Accompanying them, five streaks of light—green, black, blue, red, and white—shot like arrows after the white horse's hooves... But it was in vain!
The white steed, like a goose feather caught in the wind, sped away, and in an instant, it had already covered a great distance.
The nine black-masked men flew into a rage, letting out a loud shout as they lunged forward in pursuit...
Their eighteen arms thrust out simultaneously, sending eighteen blasts of inner energy shooting forward. Even more terrifyingly, the eighteen blasts of energy merged into one, creating an extraordinary force that roared like a sweeping hurricane...
Liema Kuangsheng, mid-leap on his horse, was utterly unable to dodge such a sudden attack...
After a heavy grunt, he coughed up several mouthfuls of fresh blood and hunched low over his horse's back, letting the blast of energy propel him down the mountain slope.
The horse's speed was already fast, and combined with the momentum of the palm strike, he vanished into the distance in an instant.
After a moment of chaos on the field, everyone looked at each other in disappointment and withdrew.
The owners of the five tokens also left their hiding places one by one and quietly slipped away.
On each of their faces, resentment and regret were clearly written...
From then on, no one knew where the wandering rider dressed in white, wearing a white headscarf with his face completely covered, known as Liema Kuangsheng, had gone to hide.
And the five owners of the tokens, who killed without blinking an eye, also vanished from the jianghu from that moment on.
Then, suddenly, ten years later...
To the north of Suzhou City, by the shores of Baima Lake, stood a grand manor with high walls and rows of intersecting halls, magnificent and splendid, looking as white as snow.
Throughout the wulin, it was known as Baima Manor.
The First Manor Lord was the Lingxiao Guest, Gongsun Yan. The Second Manor Lord was the Cangming Guest, Du Juntong, both ranked among the leaders of the martial world.
From within the manor walls, a burst of laughter suddenly rang out.
At that moment, the two Manor Lords were instructing their children in martial arts.
A youth spoke up in praise:
"Ah! Junior Sister Beilin has made great progress! Such inner strength is truly excellent."
Another youth chimed in:
"Junior Sister Beilin has indeed made rapid progress. If you hadn't shown us today, Brother Jun and I would never have imagined it."
A young girl's soft, warm voice immediately replied:
"Brother Jun and Brother Bin, don't embarrass me! Why do you keep praising me? Praising me at every turn makes me want to sink into the ground."
"Ah! Ah! Junior Sister Beilin is getting annoyed again. We only praise you because your skills have improved, how can you get annoyed at that? Ha ha ha..."
The girl pouted:
"No! I won't have it!"
A hearty laugh rang out, deep and majestic, filled with the confidence of a powerful man. Following the laughter, a voice spoke:
"Jun'er and Bin'er, do not be too modest. To my eyes, among the martial artists of today, there are very few who could defeat the two of you!"
The one who had just spoken was indeed the First Manor Lord, the Lingxiao Guest, Gongsun Yan. Having said this, the Lingxiao Guest paused for a moment and then continued:
"However, let me explain the whole story from beginning to end so that you may understand:"
Ten years ago, during the struggle for the two Blood-written Robes on Moyun Peak of Tianshan, many eccentric masters and extraordinary figures emerged, bearing tokens such as the Green Feather Token, the Red Leaf Talisman, the Blue Scale Dagger, the Black Iron Badge, and the White Bone Banner. These were five of the most sinister tokens of the era, whose appearance inevitably meant bloodshed. Although that struggle had ended and the jianghu had returned to its former tranquility, those who cared about the fate of the martial world had been filled with apprehension ever since. For reality showed that though the situation seemed peaceful, it was merely a fragile facade; a murderous intent was already brewing beneath the surface of the jianghu, and the storm had only temporarily subsided, bound to erupt again at any unpredictable moment.
The Chief Villa Master paused again, his expression turning even more solemn. He glanced at the young men and women before him, then continued:
"Among the senior leaders of the martial world today, only six remain: the Sacred Sword, the Blood Brush, the Divine Hand, the Snow Palm, and the Twin Flying Guests. Of those six, three have retired from the world, leaving only the Snow Palm and the Twin Flying Guests. My dear nephews, you also know that the reputation of the Twin Flying Guests of this White Horse Villa cannot be allowed to fade with time, especially now, when the fate of the martial world is about to face a murderous storm waiting to erupt in terror. I place all my hopes of maintaining that reputation upon the two of you."
It was unclear whether the Second Villa Master, Cangming Traveler You Juntong, was present at that moment, as not a single word was heard from him.
Hearing the Chief Villa Master's words, You Juntong's sons, You Wenjun and You Wenbin, dropped their hands and stood at attention, nodding from time to time in understanding.
At that moment, in a corner near the wall, a young man dressed in simple coarse cloth was leaning against the trunk of a locust tree. He had delicate eyebrows, handsome eyes, a fair face, and rosy lips, yet he bore a quiet, reserved demeanor.
His bright eyes were fixed directly on the young maiden named Pei Lin, the daughter of the Chief Villa Master, Gongsun Yan.
Naturally, Pei Lin possessed an extraordinarily striking and exquisite beauty, one that held an irresistible charm, capturing the eyes and hearts of any youth her age. The young man gazed at her as if unable to look away.
Lingxiao Traveler Gongsun Yan, along with the newly arrived Cangming Traveler You Juntong, both swept their eyes—sharp as steel and bright as lightning—toward the locust tree. Lingxiao Traveler sighed and said:
"Worthy brother! That young man is truly pitiable. More than ten years ago, the Wild Horse Mad Scholar brought him here, but before he could explain the boy's background, he left in a great hurry. Consequently, to this day, we still do not know his real name. The Wild Horse Mad Scholar was truly reckless; he has never returned since..."
Cangming Traveler also sighed softly and replied:
"During the struggle for the two Blood-written Robes on Tianshan, the Wild Horse Mad Scholar was wounded by a joint attack from nine masked, black-scarfed eccentrics, and his fate remains unknown. It seems that since then, the jianghu has been searching for his whereabouts, but no one has learned anything. Judging by the fact that he
– The hearts of orphans who live without love are frozen in cold suspicion and mistrust. The only way is to leave him be. If he wants to learn, I will teach him; if not, so be it. But do not stop him from secretly learning alongside the other children.
Shuang Fei Ke then withdrew from the martial arts training ground.
Once the two of them had vanished from sight, Du Wenjun and Du Wenbin lunged toward the locust tree. Letting out cold snorts, they barked:
“Boy! Have you come to spy on the young masters practicing martial arts again? Hmph! Did you think you could hide here without being seen? Hmph! Uncle and Grandfather might be easy on you, but we young masters certainly aren't!”
Two hands shot out, striking the boy in coarse clothes squarely across the face...
Smack! Smack!
The boy in coarse clothes, seemingly resigned to his fate as a dependent living on charity, did not react.
Wenjun and Wenbin barked again:
“Get lost! Get lost right now! Don't let us see you ever again! Remember that!”
Du Wenjun stepped forward and delivered a kick. The boy in coarse clothes was sent reeling back two steps. His eyes flared with a look of deep resentment.
Suddenly, a white figure swept into the clearing. The white figure was Gongsun Peilin. Her beautiful eyes widened as she looked at the boy in coarse clothes with goodwill, then she turned to her two cousins and spoke bluntly:
“Brother Wenjun, Brother Wenbin! You are looking down on others again!”
Wenjun and Wenbin snapped back:
“Who asked him to spy on us practicing martial arts?”
“Have you both forgotten that Grandfather once intended to take him in as a disciple? Even if he is watching, what harm could it possibly do? Why must you be so cruel to him?”
“Hmph! So he can just do whatever he wants? Who could tolerate that?”
Du Wenbin spat in the face of the boy in coarse clothes.
Gongsun Peilin spoke up indignantly:
“Brother Wenbin! Shouldn't you show a little decency? Grandfather once said that his latent talent is extremely rare in this world. Such a constitution is a heavenly blessing for a martial artist, making it easy to reach profound heights. Do you both still remember? Lie Ma Kuang Sheng obtained the two Robe-Lapel Blood Letters from Dong Hai Qi Sou and Da Mo Yi Ren. If he returns one day to take him away and guides him to train diligently according to the secrets of the Blood Letters, even if you both grew wings, you wouldn't be able to catch up to him!”
“Haha! Lie Ma Kuang Sheng! I'm afraid Lie Ma Kuang Sheng could hardly survive the combined palm strikes of the nine masked black-scarf eccentrics! Even if he did survive, who's to say he would still remember this brat? The proof is that he hasn't returned once in the past ten years!”
Gongsun Peilin glared at him, then turned toward the boy in coarse clothes, intending to offer him a few words of comfort, but he had already walked away.
He walked away, harboring humiliation and resentment. He did not show his feelings on his face or in his eyes, but his heart was deeply shaken.
Suppressing the surging emotions within him, he told himself:
“I must endure! I will bear this humiliation! I have not forgotten what Uncle Dugu told me. Otherwise, how could those two arrogant fools withstand a single palm strike from me? Kill them? I cannot do that! I must endure! Uncle Dugu said that though I have no father or mother, one day, I will have them both! Why did Lie Ma Kuang Sheng bring me to this Baima Villa? Ten years have passed, so why hasn't he returned? Is he dead? Did he forget about me?”
He trudged back to his designated room, his mind still occupied by the thoughts racing through his head.
Time passed; the day faded, and night fell.
A dark figure slipped out of Baima Villa. The figure's movement technique was incredibly light and swift, as if a single leap could carry them to the shores of Baima Lake.
Just then, a small boat silently glided across the lake toward the shore.
As the small boat drifted past, the dark figure sprang up and landed lightly upon it.
A voice spoke from inside the boat:
“Have you only just arrived? I have been here for a long time!”
The dark shadow replied, "Uncle Dugu, you've arrived so early?"
As if noticing something unusual, the shadow asked in a startled voice, "Uncle Dugu, you're crying? Has there been some unfavorable turn of events?"
The person in the boat replied, "It is nothing. In due time, I will explain it to you."
The dark shadow fell silent.
The person in the boat continued, "Tonight, I want to test you to see how far your martial arts have progressed."
"Let us go..."
Before the words had fully faded, the boat turned its bow toward the center of the lake and glided away.
Without any introduction, it was obvious that the dark shadow was the coarse-clothed youth from Baima Villa. Early that morning, because he had secretly watched the young masters of the villa practicing martial arts, he had been slapped several times by Yu Wenjun and Yu Wenbin. Had Gongsun Peilin not intervened, there was no telling how the matter would have ended.
Who was Uncle Dugu?
He was a middle-aged man with dark hair who, ten years ago, had arrived at Baima Villa in the guise of a servant from a wealthy, noble household.
He had thick, bushy eyebrows and moved with an easy grace. Everything about him stood in stark contrast to his servant's attire, giving the impression that he was by no means of servile origin.
Over the past ten years, he seemed to have suffered through several severe illnesses. Now, his face was pale and sallow, and his eyes held no lingering attachment to the things of this world—if there was anything left, it was only this coarse-clothed youth whom he cared about.
What was his primary purpose in coming to Baima Villa? No one knew. All that was certain was that three months later, he and the coarse-clothed youth had become inseparable friends despite the generation gap.
At least, that was how it appeared on the surface; how they addressed each other in private was something only they knew.
The coarse-clothed youth had never seen his face; he only called him Uncle Dugu because the man had told him to do so.
From then on, Uncle Dugu devoted himself to teaching him internal cultivation techniques. To say he "taught" him might be an exaggeration, for Uncle Dugu himself supposedly knew nothing of martial arts. He merely recited the mnemonic formulas aloud for the youth to ponder and practice on his own.
Gradually, using the same method, he guided him in practicing palm strikes, forms, hand techniques, footwork, finger techniques, internal and external lightness skills, and hard qigong—leaving absolutely nothing out.
Over the past ten years, how the coarse-clothed youth trained and how much progress he made was something Uncle Dugu had no way of knowing.
Yet, the moment the coarse-clothed youth stepped onto the boat, Uncle Dugu extended his hand and pressed it toward the water. A surge of inner energy erupted, propelling the small boat forward at a rapid pace, reaching the center of the lake in an instant.
The boat came to a halt.
Witnessing this, could anyone truly say that Uncle Dugu knew nothing of martial arts?
Uncle Dugu remained silent for a long while before speaking:
"My worthy nephew! You are an orphan, drifting and suffering, hiding away all alone in Baima Villa. How could one ever describe the sheer loneliness and coldness you have endured? Having no family, you naturally have no surname. Now, let me ask you: would you like to take my surname, Dugu?"
The youth replied quickly, "Uncle! I have wished for that for a long time! Over the past ten years, the way you have cared for me is no different from a loving father."
Uncle Dugu's eyes shone with a strange brilliance. Grasping the youth's hands, he said, "Good! Very good! From now on, your name shall be Dugu Qingtong. Qingtong symbolizes eternal, indestructible vitality. What do you think?"
The coarse-clothed youth smiled with delight. "I think I am absolutely thrilled! Dugu Qingtong! It sounds incredibly proud and lofty! I feel an instinctive surge of excitement."
Uncle Dugu nodded. "As long as you are pleased. Now, face the lake and strike the water's surface three zhang away with all your might. Let us see what happens."
In truth, ever since he began his training, Dugu Qingtong had never known just how deep his internal energy had become.
Hearing Uncle Dugu's words, a smile touched his lips. Channeling his full ten-tenths inner strength, he unleashed a palm strike toward the water's surface three zhang away.
To his surprise, not a single sound arose from the lake's surface.
On the contrary, Uncle Dugu was startled. He hurriedly cried out:
– This is bad! Back the boat up immediately!
Dugu Qingsong did not know what had made Uncle Dugu so anxious, but he complied immediately.
Following his uncle's method, he hovered his hand over the water, channeling his gang qi to push the boat back more than ten zhang.
Just then, a strange, rumbling sound echoed from the bottom of the lake.
Before their anxiety could fade, suddenly, at the exact spot where Dugu Qingsong had struck, the water swirled rapidly for a moment before erupting into the air, forming a massive column over ten zhang high. Around this water pillar, the lake's surface seemed to rise by three feet.
Dugu Qingsong was astonished, staring wide-eyed. After a long while, he gasped:
– Uncle, could there be some monster at the bottom of the lake causing this?
Uncle Dugu stared wide-eyed at Dugu Qingsong, his eyes shining with sheer disbelief, as if he could not believe what he had just witnessed. He was ecstatic, triumphant, driven mad with joy, a storm of conflicting emotions raging within him. Finally, he threw his head back and laughed out loud, unable to stop.
After a long time, he finally managed to stop laughing:
– My dear nephew! How could there be a monster at the bottom of the lake? Even I truly did not expect this!...
Dugu Qingsong asked:
– What did you not expect, Uncle?
– That your palm force would be this powerful!
Dugu Qingsong shook his head, still looking skeptical:
– My palm force? Is it really so?
He stared unblinkingly at Uncle Dugu, waiting for confirmation.
Uncle Dugu seemed to have drifted off to some far-off place, paying no heed to Dugu Qingsong's words. Pursuing a newly formed thought, his mind focused on a beloved figure, he muttered to himself:
– Big Brother! Big Brother! Your meticulous planning has finally received its worthy reward!
Dugu Qingsong found this strange and asked: – Uncle, what are you saying? Which Big Brother? Why are you shedding tears?
Indeed! At that moment, Uncle Dugu was crying. He wept out of joy, weeping with the complete satisfaction of the cotton-clothed youth's success, and he also wept for the perfect fulfillment of a trust he had undertaken for ten long years.
Uncle Dugu slowly turned to Dugu Qingsong, his entire body trembling, his voice shaking as he spoke:
– My dear nephew! The burden my heart has carried for the past ten years has finally been lifted today. Now, we must bid each other farewell. I am leaving! I must go.
Dugu Qingsong cried out:
– Uncle! Why do you want to leave? Has something here displeased you?
Dugu Qingsong recalled that for the past ten years, he and his uncle had been inseparable, like body and shadow. His uncle's sudden decision to leave him was like a cataclysmic upheaval in his emotional world.
Who else did he have as family besides Uncle Dugu? Once his uncle left, how cold and desolate would his lonely life become?
He felt pity for his own fate, grieving for his destiny. He wept!
He wept because fate had been so cruel to him, stripping away his sole spiritual anchor!
Dugu Qingsong continued through his sobs:
– Uncle! Your nephew is homeless, without father or mother. I only have you, Uncle. You are my everything. Now that you intend to leave, what will become of me?
Whether Liema Kuangsheng is dead or alive, who knows if he will ever come? If he doesn't, then your nephew's life will have no origin!
He cried out in anguish:
– No! Uncle, don't go. You cannot go! Your nephew has suffered too much! I don't want to suffer anymore!
Uncle Dugu replied:
– My dear nephew! I know you will be grieved and reluctant to see me go, but you must be patient!
I am certain that Liema Kuangsheng will come. He is not a man to break his word or fail an appointment.
He paused, lost in memories of the past, before continuing:
– Ever since he seized the two Blood-written Lapel Letters from Donghai Qisou and Dama Yiren, Liema Kuangsheng has been the target of countless ambitious men seeking supreme dominance. Naturally, he could not rashly re-enter the martial world, not to mention that back then, he was gravely injured when nine masked strangers in black headwraps joined forces against him.
He concluded:
– No matter what, I am absolutely sure he will come! He must come to find you.
Dugu Qingtong cried out:
– I must go find him! I must find him at all costs! It has to be this way!
Uncle Dugu added:
– My dear nephew, there is one more thing. For the past ten years, the two Villa Masters of Baima Mountain Villa have treated you with great kindness. This is a massive debt of gratitude that you must never forget! If the two young masters ever do you wrong, please show them some forbearance for the sake of the two Villa Masters.
Dugu Qingtong solemnly promised:
– I will obey your words, Uncle!
Uncle Dugu fell silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh:
– Under heaven, is there any gathering that does not end in parting?
If I remain alive, there will surely be a day we meet again.
He took out a canvas bundle and handed it to Dugu Qingtong, then continued:
– On this journey, my path is uncertain, and I do not know where I will end up. Stay here with a peaceful mind. I leave this bundle to you, but you must not open it to see what is inside between now and the fifth watch. Once that watch has passed, you may do as you wish.
Then he said resolutely:
– My dear nephew, walk with me a little way to see me off!
Dugu Qingtong once again used his internal energy to propel the boat to the opposite shore. He accompanied Uncle Dugu on foot for more than ten miles before they parted with heavy hearts—one fading into the dark night, the other returning with a soul weighed down by sorrow.
Dugu Qingtong watched Uncle Dugu's figure until it vanished from sight. He returned to the boat, used his internal energy to guide it back to the old dock, and made his way back to Baima Mountain Villa.
Stepping over the threshold of the gate, he froze. He was utterly astonished.
At this hour, the villa should have been deep in slumber, with only a few guards patrolling the grounds. Yet, the main hall was brightly lit, and shadows of people could be seen moving back and forth.
Even more shocking was the graveyard-like silence, the atmosphere heavy with an unimaginable gravity.
He immediately realized that some major incident must have occurred here during his absence.
Looking at the faces of the servants and attendants, Dugu Qingtong grew even more apprehensive. Their complexions had completely changed. They looked terrified, as if they were about to face some gruesome, horrifying disaster.
He approached a servant who was friendly toward him and asked:
– Has something serious happened at the villa?
The man replied in a low voice:
– Someone just brought news that the entire household of Juezhang, one of the Liuqi, numbering over fourteen people, has been slaughtered.
Dugu Qingtong found this strange:
– Juezhang's family being murdered—what does that have to do with Baima Mountain Villa?
– Hmph! How could it not be related? Don't you know? Of the Liuqi, three have already gone into retirement, leaving only three. Now that Juezhang has also been taken down, only the Shuangfei Ke of Baima Villa are left!
– And then?
– Can't you see? The killer who murdered Juezhang wants to completely wipe out the Liuqi. The three who retired are no longer considered threats, and now that Juezhang has been killed, sooner or later they will think of a way to eliminate the Shuangfei Ke. That is why the Villa Masters are so worried.
– Brother, did you hear who did it?
The young servant shook his head and said:
"Go in there and see for yourself!"
Dugu Qingtong looked through the window frame and clearly saw the two Manor Lords sitting in silence, their expressions grave and contemplative. Flanking the two Manor Lords were their respective wives, and standing behind them were You Wenjun and You Wenbin. Gongsun Peilin was also there, standing beside Madam Gongsun.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the tray placed before them.
On the tray lay three tokens:
The Azure Scale Dagger, the Black Iron Death Token, and the White Bone Banner—three of the five tokens that had appeared ten years ago, with only the Green Feather Order and the Red Leaf Talisman missing.
Behind the tray, two middle-aged men in black robes stood silently, awaiting orders.
The atmosphere in the main hall was unusually quiet.
The two Manor Lords sat as motionless as wooden statues.
After a long while, the wife of the First Manor Lord, Gongsun Yue, spoke up:
"The entire household of Elder Brother Mai, the 'Dragon-Slaying Absolute Palm'—more than fourteen lives—was slaughtered in a single night. Could such a horrific tragedy have occurred without a single witness?"
One of the black-clad men bowed respectfully and replied:
"Reporting to Madam! No one witnessed the tragedy. Even these three tokens, no one knows what they are or whom they belong to."
The First Manor Lord, the Lingxiao Guest Gongsun Yan, asked:
"Then where did you find these three items?"
The black-clad man's reply revealed that his terror had not yet faded:
"The Black Iron Death Token was hanging on the main door, the Azure Scale Dagger was plunged deep into the ceiling, and the White Bone Banner was planted in the incense burner."
Lingxiao Guest Gongsun Yan suddenly barked:
"What a despicable, vicious demon!"
No sooner had the First Manor Lord's shout faded than a strange wind, arising from nowhere, swept through the main hall. It formed a swirling whirlwind that moved with lightning speed, extinguishing all twelve white candles in an instant.
The main hall was suddenly plunged into pitch darkness.
Lingxiao Guest Gongsun Yan and Cangming Guest You Xuntong shouted:
"Watch out for concealed weapons!"
The two veteran martial artists leaped into the air, leaving their seats empty. At the same time, two shrieks rang out, followed by two muffled groans.
Madam Gongsun shouted:
"Attack!"
The two wives, Gongsun Peilin, You Wenjun, and You Wenbin simultaneously unleashed their inner energy and soared toward the roof.
Seeing that everyone was safe, Lingxiao Guest Gongsun Yan felt relieved. He looked down at the hall and bellowed:
"Which rat has dared to infiltrate White Horse Manor in the dead of night? Show your face and state your name!"
In response, a series of sinister chuckles echoed from the hall up to the roof. Then, like a shooting star, a point of light circled the hall once, and the twelve white candles flared back to life.
The main hall was once again brilliantly lit, as if nothing had happened.
But the two black-clad men were bleeding from their seven orifices, having died at the very beginning.
The servants and pages who had been hiding in secret corners, curiously watching the events in the hall, turned pale and lost their wits. Overcome with terror, they rushed back to their rooms, curling up in their beds and shaking like leaves.
Now that the lights were lit again, the Lingxiao Guest and the Cangming Guest swept down to inspect the hall. Aside from the deaths of the two black-clad men, nothing else seemed out of place.
The two looked at each other. The Cangming Guest said softly:
"Is Ma Youzi targeting White Horse Manor?"
The Lingxiao Guest looked doubtful:
"It's not certain yet! But it is highly likely him and no one else. Look, brother, of all those in the jianghu, how many can match my lightness skill? Yet the intruder who just broke in is a cut above me. If it weren't him, how could Brother Mai, the 'Dragon-Slaying Absolute Palm', have met such a tragic end?"
By then, the two wives and the three young masters and mistress had all descended to the hall. Madam You said:
“Did the two of you see the intruder clearly?”
Lingxiao Ke Gongsun Yan shook his head. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly looked out toward the main hall. At that exact moment, someone came rushing in like the wind, clutching a pitch-black iron tablet in his hand.
The newcomer was none other than Dugu Qingtong, his face still flushed with lingering resentment.
At the sight of the iron tablet, Lingxiao Ke's face paled. He rushed forward to meet him, snatching the tablet from his hand. With a quick glance, he cried out:
“The Black Iron Death Token! The Black Iron Death Token!”
He looked up at Dugu Qingtong:
“Where did you find this?”
Dugu Qingtong replied:
“Right at the main gate of the manor!”
Holding the Black Iron Death Token, Lingxiao Ke's hands trembled...
The appearance of the Black Iron Death Token at Baima Manor meant that, sooner or later, a bloodbath was bound to occur here.
The lives within Baima Manor would face a terrifying catastrophe, their survival hanging entirely in the balance.
Faced with such an imminent threat, how could the two Manor Lords not be worried? Their anxiety was palpable, and the most critical task now was to swiftly decide on a course of action and prepare for any sudden onslaught.
Beads of sweat broke out on their foreheads. The two Manor Lords were experiencing the most anxious moments of their entire lives in the martial world. Suddenly, the First Manor Lord spun around and said in a raised voice:
“Brother, go check the incense burner immediately and see if there is anything unusual on it!”
As for himself, he leaped over two zhang into the air, flipped mid-flight, and reached the ceiling in the blink of an eye. He swept back down instantly, holding a blue object engraved with fish scales. It turned out to be a dagger about seven inches long.
Holding the dagger in his hand, he called out to Cangming Ke:
“Brother! Is there a White Bone Pennant on the incense burner?”
By then, Cangming Ke You Juntong had already plucked the small pennant planted in the incense burner. His voice trembled as he replied:
“Brother! It is indeed a White Bone Pennant!”
Cangming Ke returned to his seat.
A heavy, chilling silence filled the room. It was a long time before Lingxiao Ke finally spoke:
“When the entire family of Brother Mai, the Dragon-Slaying Absolute Palm, was slaughtered, I still suspected it might have been due to some deep-seated personal vendetta. But now, those doubts have vanished. The killer is not anyone's private enemy, but the common enemy of the entire martial world.”
He paused for a moment before continuing:
“More accurately, that person views the entire martial world as their enemy. But what could the martial world have done to offend them so deeply that we must face such a terrifying massacre?”
Dugu Qingtong stood silently in a corner of the room, casting a sharp gaze at the White Bone Pennant. He thought he saw the faint outlines of characters on it. He wanted to bring it to the Manor Lord's attention, but felt it was not yet his place to speak.
Gongsun Beilin had noticed the same thing. She quickly cried out:
“Father! There are characters written on the pennant!”
Gongsun Yan asked skeptically:
“Are you sure?”
Even as he asked, he did not wait for Gongsun Beilin's reply before picking up the pennant.
Cangming Ke You Juntong also focused his gaze on it immediately. The faces of both men paled.
Cangming Ke said hurriedly:
“The situation is extremely critical. Do you have any ideas, Big Brother? The enemy is in the dark while we are in the light; they are prepared while we are caught off guard; they strike by surprise while we are lax. How can we prevent disaster? It would be better for us to temporarily withdraw, so we have enough time to devise a safe plan.”
Lingxiao Ke's eyes flashed with sparks of hatred, and he hissed:
"For decades, our White Horse Villa has enjoyed a resounding reputation in the jianghu, and has even been ranked among the Six Marvels of the martial world. You know this full well, Junior Brother. So why entertain the thought of retreating when that Ma Youzi has only cast a fleeting shadow and has not even shown his face? Who is to say we won't fall into their insidious trap if we act recklessly and hastily? Are you really going to let yourself be frightened by a mere empty threat?"
Still fuming, he added bitterly, "Our White Horse Villa is not a place that anyone can just insult at will!"
Cangming Ke looked momentarily embarrassed and replied in a low voice, "I spoke out of turn, Big Brother. Please forgive me!"
You Wenbin suddenly asked, "Uncle! What was written on that banner?"
Lingxiao Ke did not answer. He was lost in his train of thought, searching for a way to handle the situation. After a long while, he suddenly raised his head and said resolutely, "Wenjun, Wenbin! Both of you must set out immediately. One to Suqian, the other to Siwang, to summon your two senior martial brothers back here. I demand they return within three days, without any delay."
He turned to Gongsun Beilin, "As for you, notify all the manor guards, servants, and maids. Tell them that the villa is about to face a major catastrophe. Whoever wants to leave and seek refuge may do so; let them do as they wish."
You Wenjun, You Wenbin, and Gongsun Beilin immediately entered the main hall, each attending to their assigned tasks.
For decades, White Horse Villa had been peaceful and serene. Suddenly, in a single night, three tokens appeared, and storms immediately brewed, throwing the entire villa into panic and turmoil.
Dugu Qingsong was not included in the discussions, nor was he allowed to listen; he felt like an outcast.
Coldly and silently, he returned to the room that had been his for the past ten years. He did not worry about what had unfolded or what was about to unfold at the villa; instead, his thoughts turned to Uncle Dugu, who was currently dragging his feet through the dark night on an endless, uncertain road.
Did Uncle Dugu know of the impending disaster here, which was why he had left the villa so abruptly, leaving him behind in loneliness?
Before leaving, Uncle Dugu had earnestly urged him never to forget the great kindness of the two Villa Masters, who had provided him with food, clothing, and shelter for ten long years.
He was hardly an ungrateful soul who would forget such kindness. Even if Uncle Dugu had not reminded him, he would still have vowed to himself to repay this great debt of gratitude if the opportunity arose.
As for the two young masters of the You family, even though they treated him with disdain, he did not take it to heart. After all, isn't that just human nature? Naturally, what hope does someone with no support, both physically and spiritually, have of being treated well by the world?
Since he did not take it to heart, he naturally harbored no resentment or grudges.
His thoughts turned to Liema Kuangsheng, and he grew even more puzzled. For some unknown reason, ten years had passed, yet that old man had never returned.
He tossed and turned restlessly.
At times, he wondered what words were written on that banner that had made the Chief Villa Master make such a lightning-fast decision to disperse White Horse Villa.
It was a move born of necessity; the Chief Villa Master simply did not want innocent people to be caught up in the impending trouble, not because he feared the enemy over an indirect, vague threat.
Leaving the three tokens here did not necessarily mean that some arch-demon intended to completely wipe out the Twin Flying Guests. Perhaps there would be terms for an exchange?
He tossed and turned in bed until the crowing of a rooster signaled the end of the night, and he suddenly got up.
Peering through the crack in the door, he saw the east already glowing with a rosy dawn. He figured it was finally time to open Uncle Dugu's bundle.
He assumed Uncle Dugu probably wanted to leave him a keepsake as a token of trust, but if it was just a keepsake, why did he have to wait until after the fifth watch to look at it?
He smiled, thinking that Uncle Dugu certainly knew how to make a dramatic gesture...
He slowly began to unwrap the bundle...
But...
The moment Dugu Qingtong’s eyes fell upon the contents of the bundle, his smile vanished completely. His body trembled, and his face turned ashen.
He wanted to weep, but no tears would come. A terrifying, icy glint flashed in his eyes, forcing the welling emotions back down into the depths of his heart.
He stared wide-eyed at the items inside the bundle.
Seven items in total:
The Red Leaf Talisman, the Green Feather Token, the Blue Scale Dagger, the Black Iron Plaque, the White Bone Banner, and two Blood-written Lapels.
Beside them lay a slip of paper left for him by Uncle Dugu:
"My dear nephew! Now that you have opened this bundle, you must surely be in utter shock. You probably feel as though you are dreaming, for how could you have ever suspected that you are the son of the foremost of the Six Wonders, the Sacred Sword Warrior? Furthermore, the very person you have spent the last ten years waiting to return has been by your side every single moment, never leaving you. For Liema Kuangsheng has been right beside you all along, disguised as your Uncle Dugu!
The five tokens in this bundle represent the five threats that forced your father into hiding, concealing his identity. To this day, no one knows his whereabouts, or if he is even still alive. As for the truth of the matter, even I do not know.
More than ten years ago, I went to Lingwu Valley on Tianmu Mountain and discovered these five tokens. Because of this, I spent all my time trying to find your father, but to no avail. From now on, this task must fall to you." As Dugu Qingtong read further, his face grew paler. Yet, he suppressed his swirling emotions to read on:
"For the past ten years, the lightness skill, finger technique, and palm technique you have practiced are actually the secret arts recorded on the Blood-written Lapel of Donghai Qisou. They are the supreme techniques:
Jingdian Feihong, Hanman Zhi, and Jiuyin Shengong. As for the Blood-written Lapel of Mo Dai Yiren, it does not contain martial arts secrets; rather, it is a mysterious map that you must study in the future. You must guard it with absolute care, for one day it will bring you enlightenment..." Anxiously, Dugu Qingtong rushed to read the final section:
"During the struggle for the two Blood-written Lapels, I was severely wounded by the joint attack of nine masked, black-scarfed strangers. As a result, my inner power was completely destroyed, reducing me to an ordinary man. On this journey, I do not know to which corner of the earth I will drift, so I cannot promise when we shall meet again. My only hope is that you will surpass others and always tread carefully in the future." At the bottom of the paper was the signature:
"Your Uncle, Dugu Xing."
Even before reading the note, just looking at the five tokens had already made Dugu Qingtong's blood boil with anger. Perhaps he had thought those five tokens were related to Uncle Dugu, making him pity the man who had to embark on a desolate path, continuing a life of wandering.
He wanted to shed tears of sorrow, while simultaneously harboring deep hatred for those cruel, devilish fiends.
But having finished reading the note, he felt an even deeper, agonizing sympathy as he thought of the boundless sacrifice made by the old hero, Liema Kuangsheng.
He truly wept now. Sobbing, he choked out:
"Uncle! How could I have ever guessed that you were Liema Kuangsheng? No wonder you always said that Liema Kuangsheng would eventually arrive! Ten years by each other's side, so much kindness, so many memories... For the grudge of Tianshan, I swear I will hunt down those nine masked, black-scarfed strangers and avenge you! And also the five great devils who forced my father into hiding!"
Dawn was likely approaching; outside, the hurried sound of footsteps could be heard, yet no one uttered a word.
He suspected that something else had occurred following the midnight incident. Carefully wrapping the bundle, he hid it away, then opened the door and dashed outside.
A few servants passed by. He stopped them to ask, but they did not answer, their faces filled with unmistakable terror.
Just then, Gongsun Peilin walked over. No matter how calm she usually was, she could not hide her anxiety and concern.
Seeing Dugu Qingtong, she said in a low voice:
"Tonight, you must have heard Yeye's orders clearly, right? What are your plans? Are you staying or leaving?"
Dugu Qingtong looked at her with a strange gaze and did not answer. Meeting his eyes, Gongsun Peilin was startled. She took two steps back and asked in a low voice:
"Why are you looking at me so strangely?"
Dugu Qingtong did not answer either of her questions. Instead, he asked in return:
"Has something important happened in the Manor?"
Gongsun Peilin's face darkened, and she spoke in a sorrowful tone:
"Brother Jun and Brother Bin, on Yeye's orders, went to Suqian and Siyang to recall Senior Brother. But they hadn't even left the estate by more than a few miles when they were ambushed and severely wounded. They barely managed to drag themselves back here and are currently unconscious. Yeye is both worried and furious!"
Dugu Qingtong exclaimed:
"Was it the work of Ma Youzi again?"
Gongsun Peilin nodded, then shifted to another matter:
"In three days, I'm afraid the Manor will not be able to escape a great calamity. I think it would be best for you to avoid it and go elsewhere. Besides, from what I can see, Liema Kuangsheng will never return. No matter how long you wait, it will be in vain!"
Dugu Qingtong chuckled softly and replied in a low voice:
"For over ten years, I have grown into manhood here. Although I am not a relative of the Manor Lord, I have been treated far better than the ordinary servants. If the Manor faces a crisis, I must share its trials and tribulations. How could I just run away? What do you mean by this, Young Mistress?"
Gongsun Peilin nodded:
"You are loyal and kind to think of Yeye, and your reasoning is sound. In the past, Yeye accepted Liema Kuangsheng's entrustment; he has never forgotten that friendship, nor has he ever looked down on you. But..."
"But what, Young Mistress?"
"Suddenly, a crisis threatens Baima Villa, and it could strike at any moment. Yeye is worried that everyone will be too busy with their own affairs to look after you as well as before. That is why I suggest you go into hiding for a while. Once the storm blows over, you can return and live here as you did before."
Having said her piece, Gongsun Peilin walked away without waiting for his reply.
Deeply moved, Dugu Qingtong quickly called out after her:
"I will never forget your kindness, Young Mistress. Not just today, but for the past ten years, I have always received such special treatment. Your benevolence is truly immense!"
He stepped...