The wind and rain howled, shaking Mount Tianshan. Melting snow cascaded down like torrents, and the silver-white mountain suddenly became scarred and mottled. Everywhere lay withered trees and scattered rocks, presenting a scene of utter desolation.
The roar of avalanches and the howling of wind and rain merged into a majestic yet tragic symphony, like an angry deity bent on destroying all creation—a truly soul-stirring spectacle.
Just then, a white figure, ghost-like, sped up the steep and treacherous Zuyun Peak, muttering in agitation:
"This must be it. I still remember... when I was a child, Father brought me here several times. This is indeed Zuyun Ridge. It has to be!"
He repeated these words over and over, as if to bolster his own conviction.
He was a youth of about twenty, with sword-like eyebrows, star-like eyes, a straight nose, and rosy lips. Though his face was covered in dust, it could not conceal the deep sorrow etched between his brows.
The snow reached his knees and the rain soaked his clothes, yet he seemed entirely oblivious. He stared blankly toward the east, where Zuyun Ridge lay, looking like a man who had lost his soul.
In an instant, a torrent of thoughts surged in his heart, and a voice he could never forget in his lifetime echoed in his ears once more:
"Yun'er, you must never go to Tianshan. That place is not your home. Even though you and your father once lived there, returning to Luoxia Valley after fifteen years will only add to your emotional burden! Yun'er, you have many things to do. Therefore, you must never allow any evil or heterodox influences to invade your body and mind. Over the past fourteen years, Master has given you everything, even my own life. From this day forth, Reverend Xuanyu no longer exists in this world; you are my living incarnation. As for why Master did this, if anyone in the martial world still remembers me, they would surely never believe it. For Master was once a cruel, brutal, sinister, and selfish man. Yet, a chance occurrence awakened my conscience, allowing me to reclaim the humanity I had lost for so many years."
Immediately, the image of a white-haired old man with deep-set eyes and a somber expression flashed in his mind. He remembered that when they first met, he was certain the old man was evil. Yet, over the past fourteen years, the man had treated him with the gentle love of a mother and the strict guidance of a father, right up until his death.
Then, he seemed to catch a faint glimpse of the simple stone house nestled in that desolate valley, where he had lived for fourteen long years.
The howling of the wind and the roaring of the rain pulled him back to reality. He slapped his forehead hard several times, as if unable to suppress the anguish in his chest, and cried out:
"Master, you never told Yun'er why I couldn't return here. You only said I would understand in the future. But what should Yun'er do now? For the past fourteen years, the one I have yearned for day and night is my only remaining family in this world!"
He raised his sleeve to wipe the rainwater from his face, his voice growing sorrowful and weary as he continued to cry out:
"Master, Yun'er knows how much you loved me, but I must enter the valley. I fear that they have... truly taken away... my only remaining family..."
The only response he received was the rumbling of the avalanches and the howling of the wind and rain.
Finally, he leaped forward, hurtling due east toward Zuyun Ridge.
The high mountains and deep gorges remained as they had always been, with towering ancient pines growing in abundance throughout the valley. At the foot of a mountain to the west, a stone house covered in white snow came into view. The rain had partially melted the snow on the roof, revealing the thatch underneath, but the straw had turned a dark, rotting black, sloughing off onto the ground in clumps with the rainwater.
The face of the white-robed youth had turned deathly pale. He stood frozen in a daze for a long time before murmuring:
“It cannot be, it cannot be. Father must still be... he must...”
Yet, his voice no longer carried its former certainty.
He dragged his heavy steps toward the house like a jiangshi, as memories of the past flooded back into his mind one after another.
Fifteen years ago, he had a happy, loving family. As an only child, his parents doted on him and pampered him endlessly.
He could no longer remember which night it was, only that it was a pitch-black night when a storm was brewing. He had been startled awake by a horrific shriek. Before he could comprehend what was happening, his father rushed into the room, scooped him up in a panic, and leapt out of the back window. Only later did he realize that the terrible shriek had belonged to his mother. His father had silently handed him a piece of white silk, upon which was drawn a bloody skull with two large drops of blood dripping from its eyes.
Although his father did not say a single word, that face filled with grief, indignation, hatred, and sorrow was something he could never forget for the rest of his life.
Then came several long months of continuous flight and hiding—a period of time he could never erase from his memory. His father would sometimes carry him on his back, sometimes cradle him in his arms. The two of them hid by day and traveled by night, sometimes nesting in the treetops, sometimes taking refuge in mountain caves, and sometimes even hiding in graveyards.
Their food consisted of grass roots, tree bark, wild vegetables, and wild fruits. He remembered his father's beard and hair growing so long that they became hopelessly tangled, making him look like a wild beast.
After enduring countless hardships, the father and son finally arrived here. This stone house had been built by his father's own hands. After they settled down, his father never revealed who their enemy was, only patiently teaching him martial arts.
Hatred had driven him to practice diligently; hatred had erased his longing for his deceased mother—or perhaps it could not be said to have erased it, but rather redirected his will. Just like that, half a year passed, until those two drops of blood from the skull spilled into the valley once more.
The white-robed youth continued forward with heavy steps, rainwater mixing with his tears. The dilapidated stone house was now right before his eyes, yet the past still surged into his mind like a tidal wave.
On another pitch-black night, two long howls like the wailing of demons startled him awake. Instinctively, he grabbed the dagger by his pillow and rushed outside.
In the dim darkness, he saw his father locked in combat with a tall figure, with five other blurry silhouettes standing nearby.
The moment he stepped out the door, one of those figures lunged toward him. Even from a distance, a suffocating pressure bore down on him; before he could even raise his hand, he felt as though a thousand pounds had slammed into his chest. Just as he was about to lose consciousness, he faintly heard a horrific shriek. That familiar sound made him almost certain it was his father.
Although he was severely injured, he did not die under the opponent's palm strike. At that critical, hair-breadth moment, a figure as swift as lightning swept in and rescued him from danger. That person was his master, Daoist Xuan Yu.
He had asked a hundred times about his father's safety, but his master never answered, only telling him to focus on his martial arts training. And so, he spent another fourteen long years in a deserted mountain valley.
The howling wind and rain shattered his train of thought, causing him to halt in his tracks. He was standing right before his family home.
The dilapidated door hung slightly ajar. A dark premonition seized him, making the blood in his veins run cold. At last, he reached out with trembling hands and pushed the door open.
Struggling to draw in two deep breaths, he called out in a hoarse voice:
“Father... Father... Tianyun has returned...”
There was no sound from within. Looking at the desolation of the house, he knew deep down that everything was already a thing of the past. Yet, he could not stop himself from calling out, clinging to the hope of a miracle, only for the brutal reality to shatter his heart.
He stumbled inside. There was no sign of his father; instead, his eyes fell upon a limbless human skeleton lying in the center of the room, its severed limbs scattered all around.
The undisturbed state of the bones suggested that no one had touched the remains since the day of the tragedy.
The white-robed youth felt his vision go dark as his world spun. He swayed violently, nearly collapsing to the ground. He knew all too well that this skeleton belonged to his father—his only living relative in the world.
Shaking his head violently, he forced himself to look at the skeleton again. Suddenly, he noticed a square piece of silk resting upon it. Though it had faded with age to a dull, grayish-white, he could still make out the drawing of a bloody skull.
Outside, the wind and rain continued to howl. Inside, murky black water dripped from the leaks in the roof onto the youth's white robe, leaving dark, stained spots, but he was entirely oblivious. His heart was consumed by a raging fire of hatred.
After an unknown passage of time, the white-robed youth suddenly let out a chilling, razor-sharp laugh, his voice sounding eerie and macabre:
“You of the Xuegulou who left that mark... you destroyed the Chu family, but your work was sloppy. You left behind a seed of ruin.”
He stepped forward and bent down, intending to gather the limbs and piece the skeleton back together. But he suddenly drew his hand back, murmuring:
“Father, you have endured this for fourteen years. Please endure it a little longer. If I move your remains now, your Yun'er will feel deeply uneasy. I have not yet found the proper offering for your sacrifice. Only with fresh blood can you truly rest, and only then can you close your eyes in peace.”
He slowly stood up, his eyes bloodshot, staring unblinkingly at the skeleton as if trying to etch every single bone into his memory.
Unnoticed, the rain outside stopped. After another indefinite passage of time, the sky filled with stars, and the snow-covered ground grew even colder in the post-rain chill.
Chu Tianyun remained standing there in silence. He felt no fatigue, nor did he have any concept of time. His mind was entirely blank, save for a singular, lingering reluctance to tear himself away from the skeleton.
The darkness receded as the eastern sky began to brighten. Just like that, a night had passed.
The sun climbed over the mountain peaks, its weak morning rays gradually intensifying. The freshly refrozen snow began to melt once more under the heat, and the thick snowpacks high up on the mountains began to crack.
Sunlight pierced through the holes in the roof, dispelling the gloomy atmosphere inside and illuminating both Chu Tianyun and the white skeleton.
It was only natural for the dry bones to be devoid of sensation, but even Chu Tianyun, a creature of flesh and blood, seemed entirely numb to his surroundings. His bloodshot, star-like eyes remained fixed on the white skeleton, as though a whole day and night of staring were still not enough.
With an earth-shattering boom, the echoes reverberating endlessly in all directions, ice and snow collapsed a corner of the roof. Thatch fell all over Chu Tianyun and covered the skeleton on the ground.
Chu Tianyun lunged forward, intending to sweep the debris away, only to realize his legs were buried deep in the snow, making it impossible to take a step. Only then did he realize that an avalanche must have occurred on the peaks above Luoha Valley.
Thinking of his deep-seated hatred, Chu Tianyun also knew he had to leave this place. He cast a lingering gaze at the position of the skeleton and muttered:
“Father, Yun'er is leaving. Sometime soon, I will bring Mother here. Although neither of you can speak to me anymore, the day will surely come when we will never be parted again.”
Another thunderous rumble shook the air, followed by a low, rolling roar from all directions. Clearly, the avalanche was not confined to a single area.
Chu Tianyun cast one last look at the skeleton's resting place. Suddenly, he pursed his lips and let out a long, ape-like whistle. His body soared straight into the air, flying off like a great bird.
The winter wind blew desolate, yet the sunlight was warm and bright. On the peak of Mount Tai, the snow had begun to melt, turning into small streams that trickled down into the deep ravines with a steady, rhythmic murmur.
On Guanri Peak, to the west of Jade Emperor Peak, a youth in white suddenly appeared like a spectral figure. His snow-white scholar's robe fluttered loudly in the wind, giving him an incredibly elegant and otherworldly appearance.
He was Chu Tianyun. Having left Luoha Valley of Tianshan, he had sworn to search the ends of the earth to find his enemies.
Guanri Peak was a massive crag jutting out from the Jade Emperor Peak of Tianshan. Standing upon it, everything within a hundred zhang was clearly visible, inspiring a surge of heroic ambition in one's chest.
Chu Tianyun swept his gaze over the surroundings and let out a long, involuntary sigh.
Aside from a painting of a bloody skull, he only knew there were six killers. With nothing but this meager clue, searching for them in the vast jianghu would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
As he stood there lost in thought, the sound of clashing weapons suddenly drifted over on the wind. Chu Tianyun focused his senses, traced the sound, and immediately dashed toward it.
A moment later, he arrived at the source. In a mountain valley below, two men were locked in fierce combat.
One was a man in blue wielding a longsword, and the other was a burly man in red wielding a ghost claw. The burly man in red had a ferocious face and a sinister demeanor. He currently held the upper hand, forcing the man in blue to retreat repeatedly as his stances fell into disarray.
About five zhang away from the fight, two middle-aged men stood shoulder to shoulder. Both wore red robes, sinister smiles plastered on their faces. They were clearly companions of the burly man in red.
After a brief moment of surprise, Chu Tianyun immediately slipped behind a large tree, focusing his attention on the fight.
Just as he was hesitating over whether to intervene, the battle reached its conclusion.
The man in blue was struck by his opponent and fell to the ground. The burly man in red let out a harsh cackle, and the ghost claw in his hand lunged like lightning toward the man's Huagai acupoint.
Just as the man in blue was about to lose his life, a sharp shout suddenly rang out:
“Stop this instant!”
Simultaneously, a surge of hidden force shot directly toward the ghost claw in the burly man's hand. With a sharp clang, the burly man in red felt his right arm go completely numb, and the ghost claw nearly flew from his grip.
The burly man in red and the two middle-aged onlookers were all startled. Hurriedly turning toward the source of the voice, they felt their eyes light up. Standing just over a zhang away was a gorgeous young woman of about seventeen or eighteen, dressed entirely in a silver robe. A silver longsword was slung at her waist. With willow-leaf eyebrows, clear eyes, a straight nose, and rosy lips, she looked just like the Guanyin Bodhisattva in a painting, a beauty so dazzling that one dared not look at her directly.
Although the three men had roamed the jianghu for over a dozen years, they had never encountered a woman as beautiful as a celestial fairy. For a moment, they were all dazed, as if they had lost their souls.
Seeing the three of them staring at her like this, the silver-robed young woman grew even more angered. She glared at them and barked:
"Hey, are you the Three Ghosts of Wushan? What gives you the audacity to come and run amok on Taishan?"
The burly man in red cackled and said:
"That's right, we are indeed the Three Ghosts of Wushan. These two are my eldest brother, the Night-Roaming Ghost Liang Shan, and my second brother, the Fire-Faced Ghost Liang Hai. I rank third, the White-Faced Ghost Liang Jiang."
As he spoke, the White-Faced Ghost Liang Jiang took two steps forward with a teasing grin and continued:
"Little girl, this mountain isn't your family property. Why can't we masters come here?"
The silver-robed young woman raised her eyebrows and replied:
"Hmph, if you frequently travel the jianghu, you should have asked around first about what kind of place lies at the foot of Taishan's Yuzhu Peak. Today, this young lady will make sure you can come but cannot leave."
Upon hearing the words "Yuzhu Peak," the faces of the Three Ghosts of Wushan instantly changed color, revealing great fear.
As it turned out, an expert of the martial world lived in seclusion on Yuzhu Peak, known as Han Bing Laolao. No one knew her real name anymore.
Because she had suffered a heartbreak in her youth, Han Bing Laolao's temperament had become extremely eccentric, and she especially loathed men. Ever since she retired to this year-round snow-covered Yuzhu Peak, Han Bing Laolao had established a rule: no martial artist was allowed to set foot within a hundred zhang of her domain. Anyone who violated this rule would be severely punished.
At the time, many curious busybodies had sneaked within the hundred-zhang limit, but not a single one of them managed to leave unscathed. Since then, no one in the jianghu dared to test it again, and everyone came to view Yuzhu Peak as nothing less than a ghostly realm.
An area of a hundred li was vast indeed; how could Han Bing Laolao possibly know if someone had intruded? As it turned out, when she first established the rule, she anticipated that curious people would come to test it. Thus, she had trained two white parrots to patrol the area. The moment an intruder appeared, they would report it immediately. Therefore, no matter which direction an intruder came from, she knew of it like the back of her hand.
The silver-robed young woman was Han Bing Laolao's grand-disciple, though she could also be considered her disciple. Her name was Yue Rong. She had lived with Han Bing Laolao since she was five years old. Through daily exposure, she had gradually grown to hate men as well. However, because she was so beautiful, she could not avoid being harassed by many young men who fancied themselves talented and handsome. Yet, anyone who approached her was either severely punished with severed limbs or, at the very least, forced to leave behind some physical mark. Only then did she gradually rid herself of such harassment.
And because she always wore silver robes and possessed martial arts that surpassed all others of the younger generation, she had earned the nickname "Silver-Robed Rakshasa."
The eldest brother, the Night-Roaming Ghost Liang Shan, quickly cupped his hands in greeting, forced a smile, and said:
"We brothers truly did not know this was the place of quiet cultivation for the esteemed Han Bing Laolao, and have thus disturbed you. We beg for your forgiveness, Miss!"
The Silver-Robed Rakshasa, Yue Rong, was someone who could be swayed by soft words but not by harsh ones. Seeing that the Night-Roaming Ghost Liang Shan had humbled himself, she swept her gaze over to the man in green and said:
“What rule of your esteemed Fort Master did this person violate, that the Three Ghosts of Wushan had to pursue them over thousands of miles all the way to Mount Tai without letting go?”
The Night-Roaming Ghost, Liang Shan, replied with a helpless expression:
“The rules of Hongsha Fort are strict. My brothers and I are only acting on the orders of the Fort Master; we know nothing else!”
The Silver-Clad Rakshasa giggled:
“Yuzhu Peak also has the rules of Yuzhu Peak. Today, you had the audacity to trespass within a hundred-mile radius. Strictly speaking, it is a capital offense. However, out of consideration for how difficult it was for the Three Ghosts of Wushan to make a name for yourselves, this young lady will grant you a path to survival. But at the very least, each of you must leave behind an arm or a leg.”
Liang Shan’s expression shifted slightly:
“If you push us this hard, young lady... then there is really no room for negotiation.”
The Silver-Clad Rakshasa frowned:
“So, you intend to resist?”
With a sharp *shring*, her longsword unsheathed. With a flick of her wrist, she conjured three sword flowers, forcing Liang Shan to take a step back.
The Painted-Face Ghost, Liang Hai, could no longer contain his anger and bellowed:
“Are we, the Three Ghosts of Wushan, supposed to be afraid of a mere slip of a girl? Eldest Brother, let me kill her!”
Even as his shout echoed, he lunged forward.
Liang Shan frowned. Seeing that Liang Hai had already made his move, he had no choice but to wink at the White-Face Ghost, Liang Jiang, and the two of them rushed forward to flank him from the left and right.
Liang Hai was not wrong; the Three Ghosts of Wushan were indeed first-rate figures in the underworld. They did not fear the Silver-Clad Rakshasa herself; they only feared the Ice Matriarch.
The Three Ghosts then began to spin like a whirlwind. Forming a tripod formation, each of them drew a ghost claw, trapping the Silver-Clad Rakshasa in the center.
Hiding behind a large tree, Chu Tianyun saw everything clearly. The moment the Three Ghosts of Wushan attacked, they deployed their famous signature technique, the Three Talents Formation. He could not help but feel secretly worried for the silver-clad young woman.
The Silver-Clad Rakshasa, Yue Rong, sneered and said:
“If you want to fight, then hurry up! What is the point of spinning around like this?”
Liang Hai cackled:
“Girl, do not be in such a hurry. You will taste suffering soon enough.”
Instantly, a green glow emanated from the bodies of the Three Ghosts, swirling around Yue Rong. Under the cover of this green light, their three ghost claws launched a relentless assault.
Although Yue Rong possessed high martial arts skills, she lacked experience. She had never seen the formation of the Three Ghosts before. With the enemy attacking under the cover of the green light, her vision blurred, leaving her completely on the defensive.
With her longsword held close to protect herself, her lips tightly pursed and her forehead drenched in sweat, she could do nothing but desperately parry their blows.
Suddenly, Liang Hai bellowed:
“Soul-Snatching Ghost Claw, kill!”
This was the most lethal killer move of the Three Talents Formation, clearly intended to slay Yue Rong on the spot.
The moment Liang Hai’s shout faded, the three ghost claws suddenly struck at Yue Rong like three venomous serpents, fast as lightning.
Yue Rong, already exhausted and unable to defend herself, could not possibly withstand the lethal strike of the Three Ghosts. It seemed she was about to lose her life to the three ghost claws.
Suddenly, with three crisp *clang-clang-clangs*, the three ghost claws were deflected by three blasts of powerful inner energy.
The Three Ghosts of Wushan paled in shock. They retreated seven or eight steps in a flurry, spinning around to scan their surroundings. Not far from where the Silver-Clad Rakshasa had stood, they saw a white-robed youth of peerless grace.
This youth was none other than Chu Tianyun. Because his techniques and inner power had reached a transcendent level, the Three Ghosts of Wushan—experienced and sharp-eyed as they were—stood frozen in sheer terror, like stone statues.
Yinyi Luosha was no less shocked than the Wushan Three Ghosts. She glanced at Chu Tianyun, hesitated as if wanting to speak, but ultimately turned her face away.
Chu Tianyun paid no heed to this. Pointing at the green-robed man lying on the ground, he glared at the Wushan Three Ghosts and barked:
"Is this man Yan Nantian?"
Night-Roaming Ghost Liang Shan hastily cupped his fists in salute:
"Yes. May I ask who Your Excellency is..."
Chu Tianyun's face darkened:
"You are only to answer, not to ask! What taboo did Yan Nantian violate to offend your Fort Master?"
Night-Roaming Ghost Liang Shan frowned:
"We brothers are only acting on orders. We do not know..."
Chu Tianyun coldly interrupted:
"Then leave him here and get lost!"
Night-Roaming Ghost Liang Shan was stunned:
"But... but..."
Chu Tianyun shouted:
"I, Chu, never repeat myself!"
Night-Roaming Ghost turned to look at White-Faced Ghost and Painted-Faced Ghost, then gritted his teeth and said:
"Regrettably, bound by our master's orders, we cannot obey Your Excellency's command."
Chu Tianyun's eyes flashed with a sharp light, his voice freezing cold:
"So, you seek death?"
Night-Roaming Ghost turned pale:
"Though Your Excellency's martial arts are superb, we brothers are no nameless nobodies either. Do not push us too far!"
As he spoke, he secretly signaled the other two, clearly intending to launch a sudden attack while Chu Tianyun was off guard.
Chu Tianyun curled his lips into a cold sneer, killing intent flashing in his eyes as he said sharply:
"Since those words came from your mouth, you shall be the first to die!"
Knowing a clash was inevitable, Night-Roaming Ghost lunged forward, brandishing his ghost claws to strike first.
Chu Tianyun stood at ease, seemingly defenseless. But just as Night-Roaming Ghost's strike reached midway, Chu Tianyun suddenly thrust a finger forward.
A blood-curdling shriek rang out. The charging Night-Roaming Ghost abruptly froze, his body going limp as he collapsed to the ground. A thumb-sized, deep hole had appeared in his chest, blood gushing out. He had been killed instantly, his heart pierced by the sheer force of the finger strike.
Painted-Faced Ghost and White-Faced Ghost had intended to coordinate their attack with Night-Roaming Ghost, but before they could even swing their ghost claws, their companion was already dead. A cold shiver ran down their spines, leaving them frozen in shock.
Chu Tianyun sneered:
"The notoriously ruthless Wushan Three Ghosts... you shall die as well!"
With that, he thrust his finger toward White-Faced Ghost Liang Jiang.
Horrified, White-Faced Ghost had no time to react before Chu Tianyun's finger force struck. With a sharp *swoosh*, a hole appeared in his chest, sending him to follow in the footsteps of Night-Roaming Ghost Liang Shan.
Painted-Faced Ghost Liang Hai was scared out of his wits. His entire body trembled, and he shut his eyes tight. Knowing that any resistance would be futile, he chose to close his eyes and await his death.
Hearing a chilling laugh echo in his ears, Painted-Faced Ghost forced himself to calm down and opened his eyes. Chu Tianyun was standing right in front of him, barely five feet away.
With a pleading look on his face, Painted-Faced Ghost stammered:
"Why... why don't you strike?"
Chu Tianyun laughed aloud:
"It is not that I, Chu, have suddenly found mercy. Rather, I want you to deliver a message to the Master of Hongsha Fort."
Then, lowering his voice, he emphasized every single word:
"In the near future, I, Chu, will raze Hongsha Fort to the ground, leaving not even a chicken or dog alive."
Painted-Faced Ghost let out a silent sigh of relief and said:
"I, Liang, will certainly deliver this message. Thank you, Your Excellency, for sparing my life. We shall await you at Hongsha Fort."
Chu Tianyun barked coldly:
"Get lost, before I change my mind!"
Painted-Faced Ghost dared not say another word. He quickly turned, grabbed the two corpses, tucked one under each arm, and fled in a hurry, vanishing from sight in an instant.
Chu Tianyun watched the retreating figure of Hua Mian Gui, let out a cold sneer, and bent down to examine the injuries of the blue-robed man, Yan Nantian.
Although Yan Nantian had fainted, his injuries were not severe. After a brief period of regulating his breathing, he had nearly recovered, and before Chu Tianyun could even bend down, he struggled to his feet.
Chu Tianyun was about to speak when he suddenly heard a cold, sharp, yet clear voice ring out from behind him:
“Hey, you there, surnamed Chu! Do you think you’re so capable?”
Chu Tianyun did not need to look to know it was Yue Rong, the Silver-Robed Rakshasa. Feeling a flash of annoyance, he replied without turning his head:
“What has this Chu done wrong?”
“According to the rules of our mountain, the Three Ghosts of Wushan must all die. On what authority did you take it upon yourself to let one go?”
Her words were incredibly unreasonable. Not only did she show no gratitude for him saving her life, but she was actually blaming Chu Tianyun instead.
Chu Tianyun was about to lose his temper, but on second thought, he realized there was no point in arguing with such a headstrong girl. He gave a dismissive smile and said:
“This Chu did not know there was such a rule here. Besides, the man has already left. You can only blame yourself for speaking up too late, young lady.”
The Silver-Robed Rakshasa raised her eyebrows:
“Then you must make amends.”
Chu Tianyun sneered:
“I'm afraid that is impossible.”
“Then you shall take his place!”
No sooner had the Silver-Robed Rakshasa spoken than she thrust her sword straight at Chu Tianyun's chest, her stance marvelous and her execution lightning-fast.
Chu Tianyun had not expected his opponent to be so outrageous. Letting out a low, grim laugh, he waited until the tip of the sword drew near before flicking his right hand, sweeping it into the shadow of the blade.
The Silver-Robed Rakshasa could not even see what technique Chu Tianyun had used; she only saw a crisscross of finger shadows before her eyes, and instantly, her right wrist went numb. Her longsword was already in Chu Tianyun's hand.
Chu Tianyun let out a cold chuckle and flung his right hand. The longsword turned into a streak of silver light, embedding itself deep into a large tree over twenty zhang away, buried all the way to the hilt.
The Silver-Robed Rakshasa was stunned. Her face flushed red then turned pale with anger as she barked:
“This young lady will fight you to the death!”
With that, she struck out with both palms simultaneously.
Chu Tianyun stood proudly with his hands clasped behind his back, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips.
Suddenly, a deep, cold voice barked:
“Rong'er, come here!”
Upon hearing the shout, the Silver-Robed Rakshasa immediately withdrew her strike and called out aggrievedly:
“Grandmaster...”
She turned and sped away. It turned out that a silver-haired, rosy-cheeked old woman, dressed entirely in black, was standing over twenty zhang away. In her right hand, she leaned on a Buddhist staff as thick as the mouth of a tea jar, which looked to weigh at least fifty catties.
The old woman pulled the Silver-Robed Rakshasa into her embrace, gently stroking her silky hair.
Chu Tianyun watched coldly. He was about to speak to Yan Nantian again when he saw Yan Nantian also hurrying over to the old woman, bowing respectfully as he greeted her:
“Junior Yan Nantian pays respects to Laolao!”
Chu Tianyun suddenly understood. So this old woman was Han Bing Laolao. He heard her speak in a freezing tone:
“Rise.”
Yan Nantian stood up respectfully and stepped aside with a solemn expression.
Chu Tianyun found himself in an awkward position, unsure of whether he should approach and question Yan Nantian. While he was hesitating, he suddenly heard Han Bing Laolao bark in a voice like rolling thunder:
“Kid, are you still not going to come over here?”
Angered, Chu Tianyun let out a cold sneer and leaped forward, gliding over.
Han Bing Laolao cast her gaze upon Chu Tianyun, her face darkening as she barked:
“Kid, you have quite the nerve. Do you know my rules?”
Chu Tianyun smiled nonchalantly:
"With reason, one can travel the world; without it, it is hard to take a single step. I have always lived and acted according to heart and reason, never caring for anyone else's rules."
Granny Han Bing glared, her eyes flashing with cold light, and said in a low, harsh voice:
"Boy, do not wag your tongue. Anyone who dares to trespass within a hundred zhang of Yuzhu Peak without my permission has never left in one piece. Today, I must see just how many legs you have."
Chu Tianyun threw his head back and laughed aloud:
"Although the name of Granny Han Bing may strike terror into the hearts of many in the martial world, Chu Tianyun is not one of them."
The name "Chu Tianyun" was like a sudden clap of thunder, shaking both Granny Han Bing and Yan Nantian to their very cores.
Granny Han Bing's expression shifted rapidly. Deeply agitated, she said:
"Repeat that. What is your name?"
Chu Tianyun was surprised:
"Chu Tianyun... I have already made it quite clear."
Granny Han Bing grew even more agitated, her voice trembling as she asked:
"What is your honorable father's name?"
Chu Tianyun was moved by her sudden warmth and answered involuntarily:
"My late father was Chu Yuegao."
Granny Han Bing's face underwent a series of rapid changes—from shock to suspicion, from suspicion to sheer joy, and finally... a smile graced her lips, a rare sight indeed on her face. Then, two tears rolled down her cheeks. In a trembling voice that was almost a whisper, she murmured:
"You are Xiao Yun... You are still alive! Heaven truly has eyes, Heaven truly has eyes!"
Nestled in Granny Han Bing's arms, the Silver-Robed Rakshasa, Yue Rong, raised her sleeve to wipe the tears from the elder's chest and asked with concern:
"Grandmaster, what is the matter?"
Yan Nantian stood nearby, dazed as if possessed, staring blankly at Chu Tianyun.
Granny Han Bing gently pushed Yue Rong aside and took slow, deliberate steps toward Chu Tianyun.
Hearing Granny Han Bing call him "Xiao Yun," Chu Tianyun felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck him. He was so stunned he nearly fainted. That was his childhood name, and he remembered that apart from his parents and Uncle Zhou, almost no one knew it. Hearing Granny Han Bing call him by this name meant she must have known his parents.
Chu Tianyun asked in bewilderment:
"Senior, you are..."
Granny Han Bing had already reached him. With tears streaming down her face, she said:
"Do you truly not know who I am? I am your mother's master..."
Chu Tianyun suddenly remembered. His mother had once described her to him, but he had not known she was Granny Han Bing. He quickly said:
"So you are my Grandmaster! This grand-disciple has been most impolite!"
He then prepared to drop to his knees.
Granny Han Bing quickly stopped him:
"Xiao Yun, there is no need for such formalities..."
Before she could finish, Yan Nantian suddenly threw himself to the ground, kowtowing to Chu Tianyun and crying out:
"Young Master! Young Master! I, Yan Nantian, have traveled to the ends of the earth, and at last, I have found you!"
Chu Tianyun was utterly bewildered. He thought to himself:
"My family only had one servant, Uncle Zhou. Who is this Yan Nantian?"
It turned out that although he knew of Yan Nantian, he had no idea they shared such a deep connection. Seeing Yan Nantian about to kneel, he quickly raised his hands, and an invisible wave of energy stopped Yan Nantian in his tracks.
Granny Han Bing suddenly laughed aloud:
"Enough, let us return to the peak before we talk further... Rong'er, why haven't you retrieved your sword yet?"
As it happened, Yue Rong's longsword, which Chu Tianyun had flung away earlier, was still embedded deep in a tree trunk. Yue Rong pouted, standing still and staring at Chu Tianyun, clearly wanting him to go pull it out and return it to her. Her perception of him had obviously undergone a complete change.
Suddenly, she saw Chu Tianyun's expression change. Thinking he was displeased, she lowered her head, her face filled with a sense of grievance as she stepped forward to withdraw her sword.
Chu Tianyun suddenly looked up and asked, "Grandmaster, the three of you should return to the peak first. Your grand-disciple has a brief matter to attend to and will follow shortly!"
Hearing this, all three of them were deeply surprised, unable to understand why he wanted to stay behind. Yue Rong, in particular, felt extremely uneasy. Thinking that Chu Tianyun was still angry with her over what had just happened and did not want to travel with her, her eyes involuntarily cast a resentful, sorrowful gaze at him.
She herself did not understand. Usually, she regarded men as trash, so why was she now so unwilling to have Chu Tianyun angry with her?
Granny Han Bing said with a trace of displeasure, "Yun'er, what is the matter?"
A cold light flashed in Chu Tianyun's eyes. "Let Yun'er drive them away first, then I will go!"
Yue Rong was very surprised to hear this. Although she did not know who Chu Tianyun was referring to, she was certain it was not her. She asked, "Brother Chu, who are you driving away?"
Just then, a long, high-pitched whistle suddenly echoed from afar, piercing straight into the clouds, its reverberations lingering for a long time.
Granny Han Bing's expression changed, and she said coldly, "Who dares to court death by disregarding this old woman's forbidden grounds? Hmph!"
No sooner had Granny Han Bing finished speaking than several more long whistles sounded from very close by.
Yan Nantian said with a look of fear, "Those are the five guardians of Hong Sha Fort."
As soon as Yan Nantian finished speaking, five red-robed old men leaped down one after another from the opposite mountain peak.
Their red robes fluttered like five red clouds descending. They landed without making the slightest sound, leaving only extremely shallow footprints on the snow. Their lightness skill was truly superb.
The moment the five of them landed, a look of tension appeared on Granny Han Bing's face, though it vanished in the blink of an eye.
The five red-robed old men walked toward them. The leader, a man with snow-white hair and beard, laughed heartily at Granny Han Bing and said, "Old Madam Yang, do you still remember the Five Tigers of Tian Nan?"
Granny Han Bing sneered, "We have known each other for a long time, so there is no need for useless chatter. Today, the five chief guardians have graced my humble mountain with your presence. If you have any guidance, speak plainly. This old woman is all ears."
The old man laughed heartily again. "How delightful! Old Madam Yang is just as straightforward and bold as in the past. The five of us admire you greatly."
Then, his expression turned serious as he continued, "The five of us have indeed come to capture the traitor Yan Nantian and the one who killed the eldest and the third of the Three Devils of Wu Shan. I wonder if he is here?"
Indeed, the older the ginger, the spicier it gets. This old scoundrel clearly saw Yan Nantian standing there, yet he deliberately asked, intending to pin the crime of harboring another sect's traitor on Granny Han Bing.
How could Granny Han Bing not know of such a taboo? Thus, she did not answer directly, only sneering softly as she said, "Although this old woman cannot be considered a first-rate figure in the martial world, Jade Pillar Peak is my forbidden territory. No entry is permitted without my consent, as the five of you surely know. Now that you have trespassed on my domain, how do you intend to account for this to me?"
An old man in his fifties, missing his right ear, stood on the left and said coldly, "Old Madam Yang, do not beat around the bush. We brothers came here on official business. It is best that you answer clearly first. As for violating your ban, once our official business is concluded, as long as you propose a solution, we brothers will certainly not disappoint you. How about it?"
The words were indeed well-chosen. If Granny Han Bing stepped forward to protect Yan Nantian, she would be violating the rules of the jianghu; but if she did not intervene, she would be unable to swallow her anger. For a moment, she was caught in a difficult dilemma.
Just then, a cold laugh rang out, and Chu Tianyun spoke up:
"You Five Tigers of Tiannan are more like the Five Rats of Tiannan. You clearly trespassed into someone else's forbidden grounds, yet you stubbornly argue that it was on official business. Hmph!"
His sharp gaze swept across the faces of the Five Tigers as he continued:
"The one defending Yan Nantian is me. Aren't you five carrying out your official duties? Then you should be targeting me instead."
With that, he leisurely took two steps forward and looked up toward the distant sky, completely disregarding the five of them.
The Five Tigers of Tiannan were renowned masters in the current martial world. The one with silver hair and beard was the eldest of the Five Tigers, "Striped-Forehead Tiger" Yang Wenxiong. The second brother, who was missing his right ear, was "One-Eared Tiger" Nie Sheng. The third was "Toothless Tiger" Wen Jiang. The fourth was "Bobtail Tiger" Hong Yi, and the fifth was "Brocade-Furred Tiger" Yi Qing. The Five Tigers had been famous for over twenty years and were normally extremely arrogant. In the past, the Master of the Red Sand Fort, "Blood-Handed Soul-Chaser" Wu Tiantai, had to personally visit Mount Taibai—the residence of the Five Tigers—several times to invite them before they finally agreed to join the Red Sand Fort.
Now, a wet-behind-the-ears brat dared to look down on them like this. How could they possibly endure it?
"One-Eared Tiger" Nie Sheng roared in anger:
"Brat, who is your master? Why did he only teach you a few mediocre moves without teaching you that when traveling the jianghu, one must respect the elders and honor the wise? State your name so this old man can teach you a lesson!"
Chu Tianyun slowly withdrew his gaze, fixing his eyes on the One-Eared Tiger's face, and said coldly:
"You are not worthy. This young master is Chu Tianyun!"
Hearing that this white-robed youth was Chu Tianyun, the Five Tigers could not help but feel doubtful. How could martial artists like the Three Ghosts of Mount Wu, even with their Three Talents Formation, fail to last a single move against this refined brat? It was truly bizarre.
The One-Eared Tiger said disdainfully:
"So you are the one who killed two of the Three Ghosts of Mount Wu? This old man thought you would be some figure with three heads and six arms, but it turns out you're just a wet-behind-the-ears brat. Come on, today this old man will show you the ultimate techniques of the Red Sand Fort, so that you will be thoroughly convinced. Come, I shall yield the first three moves to you!"
With that, he took two steps forward and stood still, waiting for Chu Tianyun to make his move.
Granny Han Bing was extremely worried, for she knew that every single one of the Five Tigers of Tiannan was highly difficult to deal with. Like the Five Tigers, she did not believe that the Three Ghosts of Mount Wu could not even withstand a single move from Chu Tianyun.
Chu Tianyun sneered and said:
"This young master must first teach a lesson to an old ghost like you, who judges people with dog eyes!"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's vision blurred, followed by two crisp slapping sounds and then the painful shrieks of the One-Eared Tiger.
The One-Eared Tiger stumbled back four or five steps, spat out two large teeth, and clutched his cheeks, glaring furiously at Chu Tianyun.
Chu Tianyun still stood calmly in his original spot, as if the person who had just struck the blow was not him, and said coldly:
"First move!"
No sooner had his voice fallen than another series of sharp slaps rang out. Unable to bear it, the One-Eared Tiger let out a loud cry. His cheeks swelled up like balloons, and fresh blood flowed incessantly from the corners of his mouth.
Chu Tianyun remained standing in the same spot, saying coldly once more:
"Second move!"
Suddenly, a loud shout rang out:
"Stop!"
The Bobtail Tiger rushed forward and said with a sneer:
"Boy, taking advantage of someone in peril is no act of a true hero. If you have the guts, why don't you exchange a few moves with weapons against me, Duan Weihu!"
Duan then drew a silver flute over three feet long from beneath his robe, waiting in deep concentration.
Chu Tianyun sneered:
"So the famous Tiannan Five Tigers go back on their word. You claimed three moves, yet you could only withstand two."
Sweeping his gaze over the furious Five Tigers, he continued:
"Why would I need weapons to fight rats like you? If it isn't a senior showing indulgence to a junior, then it must be contempt for the opponent. In this case, it is naturally contempt."
Duan Weihu was so enraged his eyes bulged as if they would burst, and he roared:
"Boy, you are courting death!"
At the same time, he swung his silver flute, launching a lightning-fast attack toward the space between Chu Tianyun's eyebrows with the move 'Angry Sweep of the Temple Gate'. Midway through, however, he suddenly changed the technique to 'Sweeping Away a Thousand Armies', aiming a strike at Chu Tianyun's back.
Chu Tianyun smirked. Just as the silver flute swept toward him, he suddenly vanished, circling behind Duan Weihu at an unbelievably fast speed.
Duan Weihu was an experienced veteran of the Jianghu. Finding his strike hitting empty air, he did not even turn his head, swiftly sweeping his silver flute behind him with the move 'Striking the Golden Bell Backward' while simultaneously spinning around with the stance 'Strange Python Turning Its Body'. His prediction was correct, but unfortunately, Chu Tianyun's movement technique was too fast; when he turned around, there was not a soul to be seen. Right at that moment, a chilling laugh rang out from behind him, and Duan Weihu was so terrified that cold sweat broke out all over his body.
The other three Tigers watching from the side and Que'erhu, who had just scrambled to his feet, saw the pathetic state of the fourth brother, Duan Weihu, and were all so enraged that their eyes bulged.
Hua'ehu was the first to draw the longsword from his back, followed by Moyaohu and Jinmaohu, who also unsheathed their respective weapons.
Seeing this, Granny Hanbing sneered loudly and said:
"The Tiannan Five Tigers bullying the young is already outrageous enough. Are you planning to gang up on him as well?"
Granny Hanbing was not wrong. The Tiannan Five Tigers were never righteous figures to begin with; it was only after they became famous that they constantly spoke of Jianghu rules to gain respect. Now, seeing Que'erhu and Duan Weihu defeated one after another, they no longer cared about any rules.
Moyaohu glared resentfully at Granny Hanbing and said:
"Old woman, who do you think you are? We, the Tiannan Five Tigers, don't think anything of you!"
Because he had no front teeth, his speech was highly slurred and comical.
Yue Rong could not contain herself, giggling for a long moment before saying:
"You can't even speak clearly, yet you try to act like a big shot. You had better go back and ask your master's wife to teach you how to talk, and only come back when you've learned."
Over there, Chu Tianyun and Duan Weihu clashed fiercely once again.
Already furious, Moyaohu's anger flared even higher upon hearing Yue Rong's mockery, and he shouted:
"Little girl, make your move!"
Yue Rong's hands had long been itching for a fight. Not caring whether she was a match for Moyaohu, she let out a loud cry and swung her sword, attacking him along three paths—high, middle, and low—with incredibly swift movements.
Moyaohu was no ordinary opponent. Swinging the tobacco pipe in his hand, he skillfully neutralized Yue Rong's three moves, leaving her arm numb from the impact.
Granny Hanbing had already known that Yue Rong was no match for Moyaohu. Seeing her lose ground in the very first exchange, she raised the iron staff in her hand, intending to take Yue Rong's place.
Suddenly, a long laugh rang out, and Hua'ehu glided in front of Granny Hanbing, laughing loudly as he said:
"Are your hands itching for a fight too, old hag? Come on then, let this Huaehu trade a few blows with you!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the longsword in his hand thrust straight toward Hanbing Laolao's chest, swift as lightning.
Knowing things had reached this point and that anxiety was useless, Hanbing Laolao resolved to deal with whoever she could. Without the slightest hesitation, she swung her staff to meet the attack. The heavy monk's staff, weighing over fifty catties, moved in her hands as effortlessly as a reed in the wind.
Instantly, the shadows of the staff and the sword merged, locked in a stalemate where neither could gain the upper hand.
On the other side, Que'erhu and Jinmaohu struck at the same time, splitting up to join the fray. Jinmaohu brandished his longsword and lunged at Chu Tianyun, who was currently toying with Duanweihu. With two fighting against one, the pressure on Duanweihu was greatly relieved.
Meanwhile, Que'erhu rushed to attack Yan Nantian, who was standing there in a daze. Venting all his previous frustration onto Yan Nantian, he struck with vicious, lethal intent.
Yan Nantian's heart was already in turmoil, and he had not even retrieved his longsword yet. Seeing his opponent's ferocious onslaught, he dared not strike back—nor did time permit it. He could only rely on his agile footwork to dodge, his situation becoming extremely critical. At the same time, the Silver-clad Rakshasa, Yue Rong, was also being so utterly overwhelmed by Moyahu that she could only defend and evade, completely unable to counterattack.
Only the duel between Hanbing Laolao and Huaehu was at its peak of intensity. With a longsword in hand, Huaehu advanced like a flood dragon emerging from the sea and retreated like a fierce tiger returning to its mountain. He wielded his weapon with supreme agility, truly living up to his reputation as a master from a renowned school.
Hanbing Laolao's mastery of the monk's staff was even more astonishing. The shadows of her staff layered upon one another amidst flashes of silver light, enveloping her entire body in a glowing aura that, from the outside, made her look like a radiant bird.
From the look of things, Huaehu was clearly at a disadvantage, but it would not be easy for Hanbing Laolao to defeat him quickly either. As for Chu Tianyun, with his martial arts, even if all Five Tigers joined forces to attack him, they would be no match for him. Thus, even though Duanweihu and Jinmaohu unleashed all their ultimate techniques, they still could not harm him in the slightest. On several occasions, the two of them almost accidentally injured each other. Consequently, although the two tigers had surrounded Chu Tianyun, they could not secure a victory.
Suddenly, a horrific shriek rang out. It turned out that Yan Nantian, whose martial arts were far inferior to Que'erhu's, had ultimately been blasted over fifty feet away, fresh blood gushing profusely from his left chest.
Grief and fury surged in Chu Tianyun's heart. Sweeping his palms out rapidly, he forced Duanweihu and Jinmaohu back. Seizing the opportunity, he swiftly drew a sword and a flute—these were the Xuanyu Sword and the Lihun Flute, collectively known as the Xuanyu Twin Treasures, left to him by his master.
Holding the flute in his left hand, Chu Tianyun brought it to his lips and blew a series of piercing, deafening notes. Strangely, the moment the sound of the flute rose, the Tiannan Five Tigers felt their minds shudder and their blood boil, causing them to freeze in a daze.
Without a moment's delay, as soon as the flute music ceased, Chu Tianyun threw his head back and let out a long whistle. At the same time, the Xuanyu Sword in his hand swept out like a flash of lightning.
Two bloodcurdling screams echoed as Duanweihu and Jinmaohu collapsed to the ground. Their weapon-wielding arms flew over thirty feet away, and fresh blood gushed like a fountain from their severed limbs.
It all happened in the blink of an eye. With a single strike of his peerless technique, the "Jade-Vanishing Scattering Strike", Chu Tianyun used the Xuanyu Sword in his hand to take down two of the tigers. Before his feet could even touch the ground, he spun in mid-air, and in the posture of a "Goshawk Snatching a Rabbit", swept swiftly toward Que'er Hu, who had just wounded Yan Nantian.
Hearing two blood-curdling shrieks, Que'er Hu froze in shock. In that split second, a sky-covering sword light flew toward him with indescribable speed.
With a sharp *swoosh* followed by a muffled grunt, Que'er Hu's head tumbled to the ground. Blood sprayed over two zhang into the air, yet his headless corpse remained standing, still clutching the silver flute in its hand.
The moment Que'er Hu's head hit the ground, Chu Tianyun kicked the corpse, sending it flying over twenty zhang away. With a loud crash, it slammed into the cliffside, sending white snow flying as the headless body was reduced to a mangled mass of flesh.
Although Chu Tianyun had slain three of the tigers, his fury remained unappeased. Letting out a cold, sharp laugh, with a flute in his left hand and his sword in his right, he charged forward to attack Hua'e Hu and Moya Hu.
Before the two tigers could even swing their weapons, Chu Tianyun struck like lightning. A flash of red light gleamed, and both tigers shrieked in agony, collapsing to the ground as their right arms were severed from their bodies.
Chu Tianyun had wounded and defeated the Five Tigers in rapid succession. Just as he stayed his hand, he suddenly heard a voice so faint it was almost imperceptible:
“Young Master Chu… please, come here…”
That feeble voice sounded like a harbinger of death. Startled, Chu Tianyun hurriedly threw himself to Yan Nantian's side. Dropping to one knee, he cradled Yan Nantian in his arms and said in a panic:
“Uncle Yan, Uncle Yan! You'll be fine. Yun'er can save you, I definitely can…”
Yan Nantian smiled sorrowfully:
“It is impossible, Young… Young Master. The flute has pierced deep… into my lungs… Young Master… do not waste your energy. Let this Yan say… a few words. Ah! Ever since… your esteemed father departed, this Yan… has searched the ends of the earth… but… I failed. Later… I… sneaked into Hongsha Fort, and only then… did I hear that he was recently… recently murdered in… Luoxia Valley. I did not expect… to meet you here, Young Master… but I have… been mortally wounded, and can no longer… accompany you… Ah! Fate… is truly cruel…”
Yan Nantian stared intently at Chu Tianyun, his eyes already losing focus, yet he strained with all his might to continue:
“Young… Young Master, the enemy is… is… the Wunei Liu… Liu… ah!”
As if he had exhausted his very last breath, he died before he could finish the sentence. Chu Tianyun was left deeply bewildered. Who or what exactly was this "Wunei Liu"? Seeing that Yan Nantian had passed away, he reluctantly laid the body down, picked up the Lihun Flute from the ground, and walked step by step toward the Four Tigers.
By now, the wounded Four Tigers had circulated their inner energy to stem their bleeding. Gripping their weapons with their left hands, they stood up. Looking up to see Chu Tianyun approaching, they involuntarily took several steps back, the arrogance on their faces completely vanished.
Hua'e Hu shouted:
“Chu Tianyun, do you… do you intend to slaughter us all?”
Chu Tianyun gritted his teeth:
“You all should have died long ago!”
Suddenly, Hanbing Laolao sighed and said:
“Yun'er, why don't you let them go?”
Hearing Hanbing Laolao's words, Jinmao Hu did not miss the opportunity and quickly said:
“Let us set aside today's blood debt for now. Wherever we meet again in the future, we shall settle it then.”
With those words spoken, Chu Tianyun naturally could no longer make a move.
His face twitched for a moment as he suppressed his burning rage, and he said coldly:
"My young master repeats once more: in the near future, I, Chu, will raze Hongsha Fort to the ground, even if you flee to the heavens. Now that Granny Hanbing has spared your lives, get lost!"