Streaks of lightning flashed across the sky... rumbling and booming. The heavens seemed about to collapse, and the earth writhed as if shifting and rising... A wild wind snapped tree branches thicker than a man's arm, sending them crashing down into the ravine... The entire Wojiao Mountain range (in Sichuan Province), under the terrible storm, was submerged in a pitch-black darkness shrouded in a terrifying mystery... and from time to time, its silhouette loomed starkly against the sky under the lashes of thunderous lightning.
It was late at night! At that moment, in front of the Meigui Grave in Jingu Ravine, by the Menxin Pool behind Huitou Peak—a place where human footprints had rarely trodden since ancient times—the sound of someone sighing suddenly arose! Though the sigh was very soft, it sounded as if it could shatter stone and melt gold, filled with deep sorrow and bitter resentment!
In the dead of night, amidst a terrifying storm, in such a desolate mountain and deep valley, who could possibly come to sigh before the Meigui Grave, which symbolized a "pure and supreme love"...
Suddenly, a blinding flash of lightning accompanied by a clap of thunder revealed the slender, graceful silhouette of a young lady clad in a thin black robe standing before the Meigui Grave. The rain-soaked fabric clung tightly to her exquisitely proportioned body. It was a pity that the lightning flash vanished as quickly as it came, and since her face was covered by a thin veil of gauze, her features could not be clearly seen!
Another bolt of lightning tore through the darkness, revealing the young woman trembling all over. She took two steps forward toward the tombstone of the Meigui Grave, her hands clasped together before her chest.
By now, the wind had died down, and the rain had thinned. Suddenly, from behind the grave, in the pitch-black darkness, a low but distinct voice asked:
“Who goes there! Stop! Unless you meet the two established conditions... you are not permitted to come to this Meigui Grave to pay respects or make any prayers!”
Hearing this, the young woman stopped in surprise, her bright eyes seeming to pierce through the thin veil as she stared into the darkness behind the grave. The low voice from before continued:
“The first condition! You have forgotten to bring a fresh Meigui flower to offer before the grave...”
The young woman shuddered slightly. Slowly opening her left hand, she lowered her head to look at the Meigui
Three years ago, my beloved and I, sparing no effort to travel thousands of miles and enduring all kinds of hardships, scaled Huidou Peak, crossed Menxin, and came before this grave to offer two beautiful Meigui blossoms. Together, we chanted the words carved on this tombstone, praying for a miraculous, divine power to sweep away all the obstacles dividing us, so that we might become husband and wife.
Before the young woman could finish her words, an interrupting voice rose from behind the grave:
"There are three Meigui Messengers in total who guard this grave, taking turns every three years. When you came here last time, lady, it was during the term of the Second Meigui Messenger. As for me, I am the Third Meigui Messenger..."
Without waiting for the Meigui Messenger to finish, the young woman continued:
"...Who would have thought that the sacred wishing power of the Meigui Grave was nothing but an empty sham! Before coming here, we were of one mind, swearing oaths by the mountains and seas. But after we came here together to pray for that sacred power, my lover suddenly turned into a heartless betrayer, changing his mind to love another. He left me like a 'withered flower and a broken moon,' harboring a brokenhearted... bitter resentment..."
The surprised voice of the Meigui Messenger called out from the darkness:
"Is that truly so? How could it be a withered flower and a broken moon?"
The young woman let out a tragic, shrill laugh, cutting off the Meigui Messenger's words. At the same time, she raised a hand as white as jade and lifted the gauze veil covering her face. She was about twenty-two or twenty-three years old. The right side of her face was as fair as flowers and jade, as exquisite as a heavenly fairy—but the left side was rough and crisscrossed with black and purple scars, looking like a demon's face!
Slowly letting the thin gauze veil fall back down, the young woman gritted her teeth, sighed, and spoke in a mournful voice:
"Then, O Meigui Messenger, who swore the oath 'May all the lovers in the world be united as couples'! Let me ask you this: I was disfigured like this by the very person who came here with me to offer flowers and pray. Is this not what you call a withered flower and a broken moon? Is this not harboring a brokenhearted resentment? That is why tonight, despite the wind and rain, I have risked my life to return here, determined to smash this demonic, powerless Meigui Grave to pieces! From now on, it will no longer harm the infatuated young men and women of the wulin, sparing them from wading through streams and climbing mountains only to find despair and heartbreak!"
With these words, she clasped her hands before her chest and bowed slightly. A gale-force gust of wind, like a tempest, erupted from her hands and struck toward the Meigui Grave.
The fierce wind she unleashed roared, shaking the trees and scattering leaves, but immediately, a gentle breeze blew out from behind the Meigui Grave. Though it was as soft as a mild, cool breeze, its power miraculously dissolved and neutralized her violent gust. Even more wondrously, the young woman was not harmed in the slightest by this breeze.
This black-robed young woman was a master from one of the eight great sects of the current wulin. Throughout her life roaming the jianghu far and wide, she had never encountered a palm force with such miraculous efficacy. As she stared in stunned bewilderment, the voice of the Meigui Messenger spoke from the darkness in surprise:
"The wishing power of the Meigui is surely sacred! The Meigui Grave cannot be destroyed so easily! Just now, you used the Eight Chan Palms, and your mastery has reached ninety percent of its peak. Could you be Chai Wugou, known as the Lingbo Jade Maiden, the younger sister of the Divine Nun Bingxin, who is the current Sect Leader of the Luofu Sect?"
Seeing that the Meigui Envoy had immediately recognized her background from a single Ba Chan Palm, the Lingbo Jade Maiden could not help but admire the envoy's vast knowledge and profound martial arts. Hearing the question, she clenched her ivory-white teeth and hissed:
"A single blind infatuation, forged into a mass of hatred! Chai Wugou has been ruined like this—not only is my body defiled, but even the Luofu Sect has been stained with disgrace. And yet, Envoy, you can still praise the power of the Meigui vow?"
The Meigui Envoy spoke in a contemplative voice:
"Miss Chai Wugou! Please do not be rash and reckless! Have the patience to let me ask you about the details from beginning to end first. After that, if the power of the Meigui vow is indeed no longer efficacious, I will summon all three Meigui Envoys, and we ourselves will decide to destroy the Meigui Tomb!"
Ever since the Meigui Envoy had neutralized her Ba Chan Palm from a distance with a gentle wave of palm wind, Chai Wugou knew that the martial arts of the Meigui line were miraculous and supreme, and that she could not resist them. Hearing these words, she quickly withdrew her palms and said:
"Please ask, Envoy. Whatever Chai Wugou knows, I will answer truthfully!"
"Three years ago," the Meigui Envoy asked, "with whom did you come here to offer flowers?"
Chai Wugou appeared hesitant. A moment later, she lowered her head slightly and replied:
"The Longfei Swordsman, Situ Wei!"
The Meigui Envoy asked in astonishment:
"The Longfei Swordsman is one of the three top swordsmen of the Diancang Sect. Currently, there is bad blood among the Eight Great Sects of the martial world, and the feud between Diancang and Luofu runs particularly deep. As the biological sister of the Luofu Sect Master, how could you fall in love with a key figure of the Diancang Sect like the Longfei Swordsman?"
Chai Wugou said with bitter resentment:
"Precisely because the Longfei Swordsman, Situ Wei, and I shared a mutual affection, while the situation between the Diancang and Luofu sects was like water and fire, we braved mountains and rivers to come here, burn incense, and pray for the power of the vow! Situ Wei personally plucked three Meigui flowers from Jinyu Valley. Each of us offered a fresh flower at this tomb. As for the remaining one, Situ Wei pinned it to my buttonhole..." (At this point, she choked back a sob). "The Meigui flower... alas! Even though it has long withered, I still kept it pinned to my chest. And then, who could have expected that by that very hand—Situ Wei's hand, using the Purple Flame Divine Sand—my face would be ruined... to this extent!"
At this point, tears streamed down her face, wetting her clothes. She sobbed soundlessly, her hand instinctively tearing the Meigui flower away, its petals scattering in the wind along with her tears.
The surroundings fell dead silent, save for the chirping of insects keeping rhythm with her choked sobs. After a while, Chai Wugou raised her head to look into the shadows behind the tomb and asked:
"Meigui Envoy! I have finished speaking. The moon has waned, and withered flowers cannot bloom again! My body already bears this hatred; how can I bear to let it bring harm to those who come after? Therefore, this Meigui... Tomb, in the end, shall be destroyed by my own hands!"
Another moment of silence passed before the Meigui Envoy's voice drifted out:
"Three years ago, you and your lover made a vow, yet it did not come to pass! On the contrary, you were left with resentment and a ruined countenance. As such, this Meigui Tomb indeed deserves to be destroyed. But could you delay this destruction for another three years?"
Chai Wugou asked in surprise:
"How strange. Since you agree that this tomb should be destroyed, why delay it for three years?"
"During this period of postponement..." (The Meigui Messenger's voice was extremely solemn) "...I wish to investigate the root of your tragic love affair with Swordsman Long Fei, to see what hidden grievances still remain. If the two of you truly loved each other with utmost sincerity, and there were no other hidden reasons for him to suddenly betray your affection, then three years from now, on this very day, we three Meigui Messenger brothers will invite the Sect Leaders of the three great martial sects to witness the destruction of this tomb. On the other hand, we three Meigui Messenger brothers have long sworn an oath: 'May flowers always bloom, and the moon always be full. May all lovers in the world be united in marriage.' We vow to dedicate all our strength to you and Swordsman Long Fei, leveling every obstacle so that 'the withered flower may bloom even fresher, and the waning moon may shine brighter than ten years past,' allowing the two of you to stand before the Meigui Tomb to reunite your broken bond, turning the bitter enmity between the Diancang and Luofu sects into a gentle spring breeze of harmony."
The Meigui Messenger's words were filled with boundless spiritual resolve, possessing a resonant power that could penetrate even stone. It could be said that even the stubborn rocks surrounding them would have nodded in agreement at that moment. This was why Chai Wugou, the Lingbo Jade Maiden—a woman whose pride reached the heavens but whose fate was as thin as paper—had arrived with a heart burning with resentment, yet upon hearing the Meigui Messenger's vows, her true nature flashed awake and her inner demons instantly vanished. As if unable to control herself, she suddenly fell to her knees before the Meigui Tomb, clasping her hands to her chest and bowing deeply in respect.
Realizing that the Lingbo Jade Maiden had attained a state of "clarifying the mind and seeing her true nature," which prompted her to prostrate herself before the tomb, the Meigui Messenger could not help but sigh:
"It is the nature of women to cherish their beauty more than their own lives. Your beauty has been ravaged by the Diancang Sect's poisonous concealed weapon, the Purple Flame Divine Sand. Is this why you dare not return to Luofu to face your Sect Leader senior sister?"
Seeing that the messenger had read her innermost thoughts, Lingbo Chai Wugou could not help but sigh and nod. Before she could voice her grief, the Meigui Messenger continued:
"...Therefore, the very first task I must consider and undertake is to find a way to restore your countenance to its former beauty..."
Chai Wugou slowly stood up, her face filled with despair. She shook her head with a sorrowful smile and said:
"The Purple Flame Divine Sand is one of the four treasures used to guard the Buxu Daoist Temple of the Diancang Sect, containing seven incredibly lethal and exotic poisons. According to the Cangshan Hermit, Sai Hankang, who once treated me, his miraculous medicine could only save my life. As for the charred, scarred skin on my face, unless one can obtain the Thousand-Year Zhi Sap from the East Sea and the Vermilion Snow Lotus from the Great Snow Mountain, and blend them into a face-restoring medicine, there is no cure. Of these two items, one grows on the Xuanbing Plains, the secluded cultivation grounds of the Ice Soul Divine Lord, Shentu Hai, the Sect Leader of the Xueshan Sect. The Divine Lord and my senior sister, the Divine Nun Bingxin, have long been at odds. The other item grows in the far reaches of the East Sea, on the Diaoyao Reef, where the Divine Monk Yiba Zhuoxi lives in seclusion, having never associated with anyone from the mainland! With such difficulties... how could they ever be obtained?"
The Meigui Messenger uttered a soft exclamation, interrupting Wugou:
– So, after you were injured, you were treated by Sai Hankang, the greatest divine physician of our time! He is quite right. Those two miraculous medicines are indeed rare in this world. But... (Hesitating for a moment, the messenger continued in a comforting and hopeful voice) ...but Shentu Hai and I share common roots, and as for Zhuo Xi, I also have my ways of dealing with him. Since I have made this vow, why should I fear a trip to Donghai? Next year, on the Double Ninth Festival, the ninth day of the ninth month, you must be at Tianxin Flat, where Sai Hankang resides, to await my good news.
Overjoyed and deeply moved, the Lingbo Jade Maiden hastily prostrated herself in gratitude before the tomb. Then, turning around with a flick of her sleeves, her dark robe fluttered as she soared away like the wind, vanishing into the shadows of Jingu Ravine in the blink of an eye. The moonlight grew brighter, and the stars became sparser, fading into obscurity. From behind the Rose Tomb, an ash-colored robe suddenly flickered into view. Before the features and figure of the Rose Messenger could be clearly discerned, a soft gasp was heard, and the robed figure retreated back into the shadows, muttering:
– How strange, someone else is coming. Why am I so popular tonight?
Sure enough, a few minutes later, a dark figure emerged from Jingu Ravine. With a few consecutive leaps and bounds, he arrived before the Rose Tomb. Though his lightness skill was slightly inferior to that of Chai Wugou, it was still of a high caliber, lacking only the maturity of long practice.
As the figure neared the Rose Tomb, he gradually slowed his pace. Under the bright moonlight, he was revealed to be a youth of about seventeen or eighteen, with long arms like an ape's, broad shoulders like a bear's, sword-like eyebrows, and large eyes as bright as stars. His appearance and stature were exceedingly dashing—indeed, a remarkably handsome young man. His green robe fluttered gently as he held a purple rose in both hands, stepping lightly past several rows of rose bushes of various colors—yellow, black, red, and white—planted in front of the tomb.
Upon reaching the tomb, he reverently placed the flower before a stone stele carved in the shape of a giant arrow. He then stood tall, cupped his fists in a traditional martial arts salute, and fixed his eyes on the lines of characters engraved on the stele, softly reciting them.
"Heaven may grow old... Earth may turn to waste..."
"Flowers may wither... The moon may wane..."
He followed the characters on the inscription, but just as he read up to this point, a voice called out from the darkness behind the Rose Tomb:
– Young friend! Please do not read the inscription any further. Starting tonight, the Rose Tomb is sealed. For a period of three years, the Rose Vow will temporarily not be granted to anyone.
The youth was surprised. He peered into the darkness and asked:
– Who are you?
The voice replied:
– I am the Rose Messenger, in charge of all matters concerning this Rose Tomb.
Hearing this, the youth gave a cold smile and continued to recite the inscription:
"Seas may run dry... Stones may erode..."
"Yet... a love most pure and supreme..."
"Shall... never be destroyed..."
Seeing that the youth paid no heed to his words, the Rose Messenger asked in surprise:
– I have already told you that the Rose Vow is suspended for three years and will not be granted to anyone. Why do you still recite the inscription?
The youth asked in a curious tone:
– May I ask, Messenger, has this temporary sealing of the Rose Tomb been announced to the martial world?
The Rose Messenger, caught off guard and rendered speechless by the question, could only stammer in reply:
– There has been no time to announce it yet!
The youth immediately pressed further:
– Have notices been posted at places like Huidou Peak, Mentam Pool, and Jingu Ravine?
Seeing the Rose Messenger remain silent, the youth continued:
"Since no new announcement has been made and no notice has been posted, I, having traveled thousands of miles to this place, naturally have the right to offer flowers before the Meigui Tomb and recite this epitaph. Unless the Meigui Envoy admits that the Meigui Tomb is merely an ineffective illusion. If you refuse to admit that, then you must grant me the Meigui wish-power."
Confronted by this young man of proud demeanor and steel-hard logic, the Meigui Envoy was left speechless after a moment of debate. After a brief pause, the Meigui Envoy clicked his tongue and said:
"You make a fair point, but you still cannot be granted the Meigui wish-power. Because you do not meet the conditions established by the rules of the Meigui Tomb!"
The young man asked in surprise:
"I have offered flowers... I have recited the epitaph! What else is there?"
The Meigui Envoy replied:
"To come here and pray, the mandatory condition is that there must be a pair of a man and a woman from the wulin, and both sides must share a sincere and pure love."
Without waiting for the Envoy to finish, the young man suddenly threw his head back and burst into a fit of wild, mad laughter. Annoyed, the Meigui Envoy quickly asked:
"Are you mad, my friend? What are you laughing at?"
His eyebrows arching slightly, his eyes flashing like lightning, the young man peered into the darkness and asked:
"Meigui Envoy, what you say is so muddled and absurd, who could possibly listen to it?"
Knowing the youth was a formidable talker, the Meigui Envoy snorted and said:
"Very well. Have you found an error in my words? Why do you call it absurd?"
The young man said solemnly:
"If I could already walk side-by-side for thousands of miles with the one I love in perfect harmony, why would we have waited to make our vows of eternal love under the blooming flowers and full moon long ago? Why would we need to trudge all the way to the Meigui Tomb here on Wojiao Mountain just to pray for the wish-power?"
Hearing such a counter-argument, the Meigui Envoy found himself unable to refute it. Amused, he couldn't help but chuckle and ask:
"So, you have set your heart on someone, but that someone doesn't feel the same way about you, is that it?"
The young man blushed, shaking his head as he said:
"To be honest, I love her, but I do not know if she loves me. That is why I made my way here to seek the Meigui wish-power."
Hearing the young man speak so honestly and naively, the Meigui Envoy, far from being annoyed, found it quite amusing. He smiled and asked:
"How long have the two of you known each other?"
The young man blushed even deeper and shook his head:
"We only met in passing! I don't know her name, nor do I know which sect she belongs to!"
The Meigui Envoy grimaced with a smile, thinking to himself: "What a real mess. Tonight, a woman and a man have come here asking for help, both with mind-bogglingly difficult problems. I'm afraid even if all three of us Meigui Envoys join forces and exhaust ourselves, we might still get nowhere."
However, the more bizarre the story became, the more intrigued the Meigui Envoy felt. He continued to ask:
"Let's set the young lady aside for a moment. What about your name, and who is your master? I must know!"
The youth said:
"My name is Xia Tianxiang. It would be best if you just do your utmost to help me! Do not ask who my master is! My master has an eccentric temperament and forbade me from revealing his name to anyone. One thing is certain: I do not belong to the Wudang, Emei, Shaolin, Kunlun, Qilian, Xueshan, Diancang, or Luofu sects."
Hearing this, the Meigui Envoy could only shake his head, frown, and force a smile, saying:
"Your story really has neither head nor tail! Honestly, I don't even know where to begin unraveling it! Ah, how difficult! Well then, what does this young lady look like? What is her stature? Is there anything special about the clothes she wears or the weapon she uses?"
Xia Tianxiang thought for a moment, then nodded with a smile and said:
"Yes... I do! That day, near the forest of the Jiuyi Mountains in Hunan, I saw her from afar riding a dark blue-black steed, wearing a black windbreaker. As for the weapon she used, because we were too far apart, I couldn't make it out clearly! If I'm not mistaken, it was either a Tiger-Locking Basket or a Wu Hook sword." (Pausing for a few seconds, he continued) "Her horse galloped too fast. By the time I ran over, her beautiful figure had already vanished without a trace, leaving behind only the disemboweled corpses of the Four Devils of Qilian on the ground."
The Rose Envoy asked in astonishment:
"Ah, she alone managed to defeat the Four Devils of Qilian, who are not only highly skilled in martial arts but also use extremely toxic hidden weapons?"
Tianxiang showed an expression of admiration for the girl and said:
"Exactly. Not only did she kill them easily, but it was also in the blink of an eye. At that time, I was standing on the slope of the Jiuyi Mountains and saw her blocked by the Four Devils of Qilian from afar. The two sides fought. The distance between us was only about a hundred zhang. I rushed over on foot... but the Four Devils of Qilian had already turned into four headless ghosts, their guts spilled out."
Hearing this, the Rose Envoy thought to himself that since he had already decided to temporarily seal the Rose Tomb and personally leave Wojiao Mountain to investigate the grievances between Swordsman Long Fei and Jade Maiden Lingbo, he might as well pay attention to Xia Tianxiang's silly unrequited love story to see how it turned out. His main intention was to test whether the power of the Rose Vow truly possessed boundless efficacy. Having made up his mind, he said to Tianxiang:
"Although your feelings are somewhat silly and laughable, they are indeed sincere. Therefore, I will make an exception and grant you the power of the Rose Vow. However, in this vast sea of people, finding that girl's background on one hand, and figuring out how to level any obstacles between the two of you on the other, so as to give you both a chance to be of one heart and mind, is truly no easy task!"
Tianxiang quickly interrupted:
"I know it is very difficult. If it weren't, why would I have traveled thousands of miles to come here?"
The Rose Envoy said:
"I will set a time limit of three years to fulfill your wishes. But starting tonight, you must act strictly according to my words."
Tianxiang nodded and said:
"Since I am asking for your help, it is only natural that I willingly let you guide me. But once the three-year limit is up, if the wishing power proves ineffective, do not blame me if I use the Qantian Explosive to blast this Rose Tomb into flat ground."
The Rose Envoy shuddered and sighed:
"No wonder you said you do not belong to the Eight Great Sects of the martial world. It turns out you are a disciple of the Divine Crone of the Northern Dark, Huangfu Cui. As far as I know, Huangfu Cui's Qantian Thunderbolt, also known as the Purple Bead, has immense destructive power, capable of collapsing mountains and shattering forests, but there are only three of them in total. You are still young and hot-blooded, and now you carry that deadly explosive on your person; you must be extremely careful. Do not abuse it at will and cause monstrous sins!"
At this point, the Rose Envoy suddenly raised his voice and said:
"After the three-year limit, if the power of the Rose Vow is not effective, you will use the Qantian Thunderbolt to level the Rose Tomb. Very well! But if the power of the Rose Vow does prove effective... what will you do then?"
Tianxiang slightly raised his sword-like eyebrows, his expression turning solemn as he said:
"Your question is highly reasonable! If the power of vows is truly sacred... then after the three Meigui Messengers have lived out their hundred years, that girl and I will carry on their legacy, vowing to devote all our strength to continue the work of bringing perfect unions to fruition, helping all the lovers in the world become husband and wife..."
Hearing him make such a vow, the Meigui Messenger was highly delighted. From behind the Meigui Tomb, a burst of clear, ringing laughter erupted, echoing through the mountains and forests. After a moment, the voice spoke:
"Around this Meigui Tomb, all seven colors of the rarest Meigui roses in the world are planted. This tomb is merely symbolic... therefore, inside, it does not contain the remains of humans or beasts, but only half of a red jade Meigui rose, encased in a white stone box. As for the other half... tonight, I shall bestow it upon you. Take this half of the jade Meigui rose, which serves as the Meigui Command Token, cross the Eastern Sea, and make your way to the Diao Ao Reef to pay your respects to Divine Monk Yiba, requesting that he grant you two drops of the Thousand-Year Essence."
"On this journey of a thousand miles, keep an eye out for a man nicknamed Tianya Jiuxia, the Wine Knight of the World's End, whose name is Mu Wuyou. His whereabouts are unpredictable, making him very difficult to find. His knowledge is vast, and his experience in the jianghu is unmatched. With any luck, he might know and be able to reveal to you the background of your black-clothed maiden. This is the Meigui Command Token; you must guard it carefully and never lose it." (As they spoke, they tossed an object that flashed with a red streak—Tian Xiang caught it—and the messenger continued their instructions.) "Take this token to meet Divine Monk Yiba and obtain the two drops of Thousand-Year Essence. Afterward, whether you manage to meet Mu Wuyou or not, as long as it is exactly on the ninth day of the ninth month, you must go to Tianping Plain on Cangshan to meet the Divine Physician, Sai Hankang, where you will receive my further orders..."