0 Chapter 17

The moon was shining over the mountain. Linghu Chong was sound asleep in his bed. He and Lu Dayou were the only ones left on the mountain. The other disciples had followed their master and mistress to Mount Song.

Lu Dayou sat at a table with his head propped on his hand and tried to get some sleep. Just then, he noticed a black figure walked by from the outside. From the black figure’s stature he could tell that it was a woman. He sat up straight and glared at the window with his eyes wide open. “Could it be that devil cult’s demoness who came back to take revenge?” he muttered. He quickly reached for his sword and stood in front of the door waiting to stab the black figure the moment it enters the room.

Just then, the room door swung open. Lu Dayou immediately thrust his sword toward the doorway.

The black figure dodged to the side and subsequently grabbed Lu Dayou’s hand. “Dayou! What are you doing? It’s me!” a female voice yelled.

Lu Dayou turned his head to look at the black figure and noticed that it was his junior apprentice sister, Yue Lingshan. He quickly pulled back his hand and smiled at her. “Little Apprentice Sister! How come you’re back?” he asked excitedly.

Linghu Chong woke up to their voices. He slowly pulled himself up and looked at them. “Little Apprentice Sister…” he muttered.

Yue Lingshan ran toward the bed to look at her big apprentice brother. “Big Apprentice Brother, how are you feeling?” she sat on the bed and propped his arm.

Linghu Chong was delighted to see her. “I feel much better. I’m fine,” he said with a smile.

Yue Lingshan pulled a folded manual out from the side of her boot and showed it to Linghu Chong. “Look! It’s the Divine Art of Violet Twilight manual!” she said with a smile.

Both Linghu Chong and Lu Dayou looked at her astonishingly. “Divine Art of Violet Twilight Manual?” they uttered together.

Lu Dayou grabbed hold of the manual and took a closer look at it. The words Divine Art of Violet Twilight were written on the front cover of the manual.

Yue Lingshan looked at Linghu Chong and said, “My father said that the inner energy in your body originates from the unorthodox group. Only our sect’s ultimate inner energy skill can eradicate it.” She then looked at Lu Dayou and said, “Dayou! You will read word by word to Big Apprentice Brother.”

Lu Dayou nodded with a smile, “Alright!”

Yue Lingshan looked at Lu Dayou and sneered, “But you are not allowed to learn it secretively! You know what will happen to you father finds out that you learned it secretively!”

Lu Dayou replied, “Little Apprentice Sister, my martial arts foundation is weak. I wouldn’t dare to learn it secretively.” He placed the manual in front of Linghu Chong and continued, “Big Apprentice Brother! Look! It’s the Divine Art of Violet Twilight manual! Master made an exception and passed the manual to you! You’re going to be saved this time!”

Linghu Chong nodded with a smile. “Yes…I’m going to be saved…”

Yue Lingshan pursed her lips and said, “It was not father who gave me this manual.”

Lu Dayou was shocked. He threw the manual back to Yue Lingshan and stepped to the back astonishingly. “You….you…you stole it?!” he stuttered. “If…if….master finds out about this…what are we going to do?!!”

Yue Lingshan grabbed the manual, walked over to Lu Dayou hit the back of his head with the manual. “What do you mean by what are we going to do?!” she snorted. “It’s not like father will kill me!” She paused for a moment and looked at Linghu Chong. “I am sure father and mother will be happy that I saved Big Apprentice Brother. By then they probably would not care about it anymore.”

Lu Dayou responded with a nod. “You’re right! If it can really heal Big Apprentice Brother, Master will definitely not blame us!” he said.

Linghu Chong winced upon hearing their words. “No way! Return the manual to Master at once!” he grunted. Since his master had always taught him that it is wrong to learn a martial art skill deceitfully hence he did not want to learn the skills in the manual.

Yue Lingshan glared at him and said, “Why? It wasn’t easy getting the manual! Big Apprentice Brother! It’s not like I am making you learn skills from other sects. You’re just learning our sect’s inner energy skill!”

Lu Dayou walked over to Linghu Chong and let out a sigh. “That’s right Big Apprentice Brother! Furthermore, you don’t need to learn everything. You just need to learn whatever you need to eradicate to four streams of inner energy from your body. Beside, you are our sect’s head disciple. It’s just a matter of time before Master imparts the skill to you. Right now, you’re just learning it a bit earlier.”

Linghu Chong grabbed Lu Dayou by the collar and looked at him fiercely. “I’ll say this one more time! Unless Master personally imparts the skill to me otherwise I would never learn the Divine Art of Violet Twilight!” he uttered angrily. After finishing his words, he felt a pain in his chest and started to choke.

Lu Dayou quickly helped him lie down. “Big Apprentice Brother, please calm down,” he said.

Linghu Chong closed his eyes to get some rest.

Yue Lingshan grabbed Lu Dayou’s hand and pulled him to the side. “Dayou, you must think of a way to make Big Apprentice Brother learn the Divine Art of Violet Twilight, Don’t let my effort go in vain,” she muttered.

Lu Dayou replied, “Little Apprentice Sister, don’t worry. I will persuade Big Apprentice Brother to learn it. Oh by the way, where are you all staying tonight?”

Yue Lingshan smiled and said, “Fulai Inn.”

Lu Dayou raised his eyebrows, “Fulai Inn? That is thirty miles from here. So it’s sixty miles to and fro!”

Yue Lingshan looked at Linghu Chong in despair. “My only wish now is that Big Apprentice Brother can recover quickly,” she sighed. She then looked at Lu Dayou and said, “I need to go. Take good care of Big Apprentice Brother!”

Lu Dayou pursed his lips and nodded, “Little Apprentice Sister, be safe.”

Yue Lingshan looked down on the floor as she walked out of the door.

Lu Dayou walked over to the bed and sat beside Linghu Chong.

“Little Apprentice Sister… Little Apprentice Sister…” Linghu Chong murmured.

Lu Dayou patted Linghu Chong’s shoulder. “Big Apprentice Brother! Little Apprentice Sister has left,” he said.

Linghu Chong slowly opened his eyes and looked at Lu Dayou. “She has left?” he muttered.

Lu Dayou responded, “Big Apprentice Brother, Little Apprentice Sister is really concerned about you. She travelled all the way from Fulai Inn to back here just to bring you the Divine Art of Violet Twilight manual. Before she left she repeatedly instructed me to make you learn this skill to heal your injuries. Big Apprentice Brother, you should not waste Little Apprentice Sister’s good intention. I’m going to read it out to you now so listen up…”

Linghu Chong extended his hand outward with all his strength and thrust his finger at Lu Dayou’s chest, sealing his acupoint.

Lu Dayou felt numb all over his body and became still.

Linghu Chong slowly climbed out of the bed. “I’m sorry about this. Your acupoint will unblock itself in two hour,” he said. He held the manual in his hand and continued, “I want to stay as far away from the Divine Art of Violet Twilight Manuscript as possible. I don’t want anyone to see my dead body next to the manuscript and think that I learned the Divine Art of Violet Twilight and died from fire deviation. Understand?” He then paused for a moment and continued, “Look properly…the manual is under the pillow. Remember to return it to master.” He tucked the manual under the pillow and limped his way out of the room.

............

It was a bight sunny day. Ying Ying walked along the forest by herself enjoying the fresh air.

All of a sudden, a shadow flashed by and stood in front of her. Tian Boguang rubbed his chin and stared at her lustfully. “Young lady, don’t you know that it’s dangerous to travel by yourself? How about I keep you company?” he said with a sly smile.

Ying Ying folded her arms and stared at him. “I think you probably don’t want to live anymore,” she replied in a cold voice.

Tian Boguang sighed and said, “Actually my life isn’t going to last that long. It would be good if I could consummate with a beauty like you before…”

Ying Ying suddenly her right hand out and struck Tian Boguang’s chest with her finger. Her movements were so fast that Tian Boguang did not have the chance to make his move.

Tian Boguang felt numbed all over his body. He let out a sigh and said, “Not another exponent! What have I done wrong lately to have such bad fortune?”

Ying Ying lifted up her leg, kicked Tian Boguang in the abdomen and sent him falling to his back. “You’re quite daring! There isn’t anyone in the martial arts community that has the guts to even come close to me except you,” she yelled.

Tian Boguang laid on his back with his eyes fixed on her. “You are…?” he stuttered.

A man dressed in black strode in the air at lightning speed and landed beside Ying Ying. He got down on one knee and bowed at her with his hands cupped. “Subordinate, Yang Lianting pays respect to Holy Maiden.”

Tian Boguang was startled by his words. “Holy Ma….iden? Devil cult’s Holy Maiden…?”

Ying Ying raised her arm and slapped Yang Lianting’s face. “Useless! How could use simply disclose my identity to a lowlife?!” she shouted angrily.

Yang Lianting lowered his head and bowed at her repeatedly. “Subordinate deserves to die! Subordinate deserves to die!” he stuttered.

Ying Ying turned her back against him and said in a cold voice, “Make sure you take care of this villain before you die!”

Yang Lianting returned to his feet and stared at Tian Boguang. “Villain! Our Young Lady Ren is such a prominent figure in the martial arts world that even Chief Dongfang has to give her some respect. How dare you try to meddle with the soil in front of the lion!” he shouted. He lifted up his arm and generated his inner energy to his palm.

“Hold it!” Ying Ying suddenly said. “Killing him with a single blow will only benefit him. I have another way to deal with him.”

Moments later, Tian Boguang was shoved into a barrel with his head sticking out of a hole on the cover. He shed some tears and gasped, “Who would have expected the Ten Thousand Miles Loner Tian Boguang to suffer in such a way…”

Ying Ying walked toward him and said, “I’m giving you a chance now. If you roll down from this slope and not die I will let you go.” After finishing her words, she pushed her palm out at the barrel and knocked it off the edge of the slope.

“Help me!!!” Tiang Boguang closed his eyes and shouted loudly.

Yang Lianting bowed and said, “Our spies hiding around Mount Hua disguising as Huashan Sect disciples caught Dongfang Bubai leaving and tried to kill but failed. Yue Buqun and his disciples have also left the mountain.”

Ying Ying smirked and said, “Yue Buqun’s plan was probably discovered by Dongfang Bubai before he even had the chance to make his move. He is afraid that Dongfang Bubai will be back to seek revenge and decided to run away. Why is it that the righteous sects are so incompetent? They only know how to pick on a defenseless woman like my mother…”

Yang Lianting grinned and said, “Should we use this chance to hunt down the Huashan Sect disciples?”

Ying Ying narrowed her eyes and thought to herself for a moment. “No! Dongfang Bubai will help us get rid of them. Now that she thinks that the Huashan Sect disciples are going all out to harm her, she will definitely strike back. It won’t be long before she wipes out the entire Huashan Sect and turns it into a ghost sect.”

Yang Lianting became silent trying to guess what her next cause of action. After thinking for short moment, he finally said, “Holy Maiden, subordinate will continue to send more people to go after Dongfang Bubai then.”

Ying Ying swept her hand out and slapped him in the face.

Yang Lianting lost his balance and fell sideways. He quickly pulled himself up and remained on his knees. “Subordinate deserves to die!” he stuttered in fear.

Ying Ying stared at him coldly and said, “Do you think that we have anyone competent enough to kill Dongfang Bubai? Sending more people to go after her will only cause us to lose more people!” She then paused for a moment and continued, “Get our people to be on standby! We will tail the Huashan Sect disciples closely instead. The moment Dongfang Bubai and Huashan Sect gets into a battle we’ll make use the opportunity to wipe out all of them!”

Yang Lianting cupped his hands and said, “As you wish, Holy Maiden!”

………………

Due to his injuries, Linghu Chong took a much longer period of time to reach to the bottom of Mount Hua. He held on to a stick and walked through the wood. There was a man lying inside a smashed up barrel up ahead next to a rock. He curiously walked up to the man to see who if he was still alive or needed any help. To his surprise, the man lying inside the smashed up barrel was Tian Boguang. He stooped down beside Tian Boguang to look at him. “Brother Tian! How come you’re here? Are you alright?” he asked.

Tian Boguang slowly looked up at Linghu Chong and muttered, “Dizzy…”

The two of them propped each other and walked through the woods. “Are you okay?” Linghu Chong looked at him and asked concernedly.

Tian Boguang shook his head. “I am not okay…not okay at all,” he gasped.

Linghu Chong started to feel tired and exhausted. He halted his steps to take a short break. “I didn’t except that the last person I would see is you,” he said.

Tian Boguang laughed and said, “I…I…I also never expected that we would end up dying together…”

Linghu Chong responded, “Brother Tian, don’t you think that it would be great if we could have some nice wine right now…”

Tian Boguang nodded with a smile, “Yes! It would be even better if a woman comes along…”

Linghu Chong stared at him and said, “A leopard never changes it spots!”

“Huashan Sect’s head disciple has degraded himself by making friends with a lecherous bandit! This is truly funny!” a male voice from the front suddenly said.

Linghu Chong looked up and noticed that it was Ding Mian from Songshan Sect. He smirked and said, “I thought you had already gone home. Why are you still here?”

Ding Mian stared at him fiercely and replied, “Don’t think that just because you have a demoness on your side this matter would end so easily. Let me tell you this! Good will always be good and evil will always be evil. They can never coexist! Even if Yue Buqun and his wife appeals to Chief Alliance Zuo nothing will change. The two of them left the mountain not too long ago and the two of you have now fallen into my hands!”

Linghu Chong smiled faintly. After knowing how the Songshan Sect treated Liu Zhengfeng and his family, he had completely lost respect for Songshan Sect hence he could care less about Ding Mian.

Tian Boguang stepped forward and said, “Let me deal with this scoundrel.”

Ding Mian clenched his teeth and dashed towards them. He swept his arm out and knocked Linghu Chong to the ground first. After that, he went up to Tian Boguang and started attacking him. He was able to overcome Tian Boguang in less than ten moves. He lifted up his right leg and sent a swift kick to Tian Bo Guang’s chest.

Tian Boguang flew backwards and fell to the ground in pain.

Linghu Chong stooped down and propped Tian Boguang up by the arm. “Brother Tian, are you alright?” he asked.

Tian Boguang coughed painfully and said, “Of course I am not alright! Why don’t you take a kick from him and see if it hurts!” He then stared at Ding Mian and continued, “I was not poisoned he would be no match against me.”

Ding Mian interrupted and said, “Cut the crap! Linghu Chong! If you still consider yourself a member of the righteous sect then kill him with your sword!”

Linghu Chong helped Tian Boguang up and responded, “I don’t think that you’re any better than him. You want me to kill someone for you? No way!”

Ding Mian smiled coldly and said, “Very well. I’ll just kill the both of you then. After that I will strip your corpse and parade throughout the center of town and say that you two were indulged in some inappropriate behavior when I found you and see if your Master still can be called Gentleman Sword!”

Linghu Chong laughed and said, “Indulge appropriate behavior? I would only indulge in such an appropriate behavior with you.”

Ding Mian immediately drew his sword and slashed it down at Linghu Chong.

Linghu Chong quickly raised the stick to block the sword. The blade of the sword struck downward and sliced the stick apart.

Ding Mian sent a kick at Linghu Chong’s chest and knocked him to the back.

Linghu Chong flew backward, knocked against Tian Boguang and fell down to the ground.

Tian Boguang let out a cry, “Why am I so unlucky…”

Ding Mian walked up to them and said, “Would you like me to help you strip or would you like to do it yourself?”

Suddenly, a figure flashed out from the bushes and struck Ding Mian in the back with a palm. Ding Mian coughed up a mouthful of blood and fell to his death.

Linghu Chong looked toward the direction of the figure and noticed that it was Dongfang Bubai.

Dongfang Bubai retracted her hand and stared at Linghu Chong viciously.

Tian Boguang was delighted to see Dongfang Bubai. He slowly crawled towards her and grabbed her by her legs. “I’m so happy to see you…” he said with a smile. He looked at up at her and said with a smile, “Can you give me the antidote please…”

Dongfang Bubai glared at Tian Boguang intently and slapped him in the face.

Tian Boguang flew to the side, knocked against a tree and fell down to the ground unconsciously.

Linghu Chong was startled to see how Dongfang Bubai treated Tian Boguang. He turned toward Dongfang Bubai and said, “Miss Dongfang…”

Dongfang Bubai stooped down and grabbed him by the collar angrily. “I treated you so well. Why did you treat me this way?” she asked disappointedly.

Linghu Chong looked at her and asked confusingly, “How have I treated you?”

Dongfang Bubai pursed her lips and said angrily, “Why did you tell your Master that I’m from the devil cult and sent the Huashan Sect disciple to attack me? Did you collude with your hypocrite Master to kill me?!!””

Linghu Chong had no clue what she was talking about. He knitted his brows and said, “Why would I want to kill you?”

Dongfang Bubai replied in a cold voice, “Because I am a demoness from the devil cult.”

Linghu Chong responded, “Are you then?”

Dongfang Bubai looked at him with her eyes wide open. “Would you kill me if was really a demoness from the devil cult?” she asked nervously.

Linghu Chong laughed and said, “What are you talking about? Of course I won’t!”

Dongfang Bubai fixed her eyes on him and asked in a soft voice, “You really wouldn’t?”

Linghu Chong stared at her sternly. “I won’t!” he yelled.

Dongfang Bubai looked at him doubtful look on her face. Since he was Yue Buqun’s disciple, she was still unsure if she should trust him.

Right at that moment, Yue Buqun, Yue Lingshan and Yue Lingfeng appeared at the scene. “Let go of my Big Apprentice Brother!” Yue Lingshan shouted.

Linghu Chong turned toward them with a surprising look on his face. He thought that his Master and the other apprentice siblings were already on their way to Mount Song and was surprise to see them come back. “Master?” he uttered.

Dongfang Bubai casted a side glance at them and noticed her biological brother with them. She glared at Yue Buqun coldly.

Yue Buqun was also very surprised to see Dongfang Bubai. He raised his sword and got prepared to fight her.

Dongfang Bubai pulled herself up onto her feet and walked towards him. She smiled coldly and said, “Yue Buqun, it’s good that you came. I have a score to settle with you.”

Yue Lingfeng pursed his lips and shook his head, telling Dongfang Bubai to leave at once.

Yue Buqun stared at her intently and said, “What do you want?”

Dongfang Bubai responded, “You plotted against me and sent your disciples to ambush me. You still dare to ask me what I want? I want to kill you!” After finishing her words, she generated her inner energy and raised her palm.

Suddenly, she felt a pain in her left shoulder and dropped to her knees. “Oh no! When I transferred my inner energy to Linghu Chong I must have exhausted too much inner strength suppress Qu Yang’s inner energy. Right now I can’t seem to generate my inner energy at all…” she narrowed her eyes and thought to herself.

Yue Lingfeng and Linghu Chong immediately rushed toward Dongfang Bubai, squatted down beside her on each side and propped her on her back.

Yue Lingfeng looked at her concernedly and said, “Elder sister, are you alright?”

Yue Buqun looked at Yue Lingfeng astonishingly.

“Father, she seems to be heavily injured,” Yue Lingshan said.

Yue Buqun hummed angrily and said, “Evil demoness! Guess you didn’t except this to happen to you? Prepare to face your death!” He then drew his sword and ran toward Dongfang Bubai.

Yue Lingfeng and Linghu Chong immediately darted towards Yue Buqun to hold him back.

Dongfang Bubai remained sitting on the ground as she stared Yue Buqun. Even though she knew that there was no way she could retaliate but she was reluctant to show any sign of fear. She could only blame herself for being reckless.

Linghu Chong looked at Yue Buqun in shock and said, “Master! What has she done wrong? Why do you want to kill her?”

Yue Lingfeng nodded, “Adopted Father! She is innocent! Please let her go!”

Yue Buqun retorted, “She is a demoness from the devil cult! If you don’t kill her there will be more trouble!”

“But she has not done anything to harm us!” Linghu Chong shouted in distress voice.

Their loud voices woke Tian Boguang up. He slowly pulled himself up from the ground and leaned against a tree to see what was going on.

Yue Buqun struggled to break himself free. “But we still can’t let her go!” he shouted angrily.

Upon noticing that Tian Boguang was conscious, Linghu Chong quickly looked toward him and shouted, “Brother Tian! Take her away quick!”

“Alright!” Tian Boguang got up from the ground and ran toward Dongfang Bubai hurriedly.

“Get out of my way!” Yue Buqun shouted angrily.

Dongfang Bubai looked at her brother and Linghu Chong with her eyes wide open. She was started to get worried about their safety. She was afraid that if she got away the two of them would be punished by Yue Buqun severely.

Tian Boguang carried Dongfang Bubai in his arms and quickly ran away.

Dongfang Bubai looked back at her brother and Linghu Chong with a concern look on her face while she was leaving the scene.

Yue Buqun generated his inner energy and unleashed a strong gust of wind at Yue Lingfeng and Linghu Chong, knocking them to the back. After that, he stepped forward and noticed that Tiang Boguang and Dongfang Bubai had completely vanished from the area.

Yue Lingshan propped Linghu Chong by the arms. “Big Apprentice Brother! Are you alright?” she asked worriedly.

Yue Buqun turned around and glared at Linghu Chong angrily. “Chong’er! You’re too muddleheaded! How can you let a tiger return to the mountains!!” he shouted.

Linghu Chong kneeled at his master and said, “Master, please forgive this un-filial disciple!”

Yue Buqun hummed angrily. He then glared at Yue Lingfeng viciously recalling him addressing Dongfang Bubai as elder sister.

Yue Lingfeng got to his knees and looked down to the ground silently.

Yue Bqun looked back at Linghu Chong and said, “Where is the Divine Art of Violet Twilight manual?”

Linghu Chong looked up at his master and said, “It’s with Dayou. Master, Little Apprentice Sister only stole the manual to save me. Please don’t be angry with her. Without Master’s permission I would never dare to look at the manual!”

At that moment, Yue Buqun was more concerned about the Divine Art of Violet Twilight manual than anything else. He pursed his lips and said angrily, “Let’s go back to Mount Hua!”

After reaching Mount Hua, Yue Buqun made his way into a room.

Yue Lingfeng and Yue Lingshan propped Linghu Chong by his arms as they walked him into the room.

Lu Dayou was seated on the stool with his hand pointed to the front and his eyes closed.

Yue Lingshan walked up to him with a smile on her face. “Dayou!” she called out. Seeing that Lu Dayou was not moving at all, she started to panic. “Dayou!” she called out once more.

Linghu Chong took a step forward. “Don’t worry. I only sealed his acupoint,” he explained.

Yue Lingshan looked at Linghu Chong and let out a sigh of relief. “So that is what it is. I was worried for a moment,” she said.

Yue Buqun turned toward Linghu Chong and said, “Chong’er! Unseal his acupoint quick!”

Linghu Chong bowed at his master and walked over to Lu Dayou. “I was unwilling to look at the manual so he read it out to me. I could not stop him and resorted to sealing his acupoint,” he explained to Yue Lingshan. He stretched his finger out and unsealed Lu Dayou.

Lu Dayou remained seated and unmoving.

Linghu Chong looked at him and called out, “Dayou! Dayou!”

Yue Buqun walked up to Lu Dayou and placed his finger at the side Lu Dayou’s neck to check his pulse. He turned around and glared at Linghu Chong fiercely. “Which acupoint did you seal? He’s dead!” he said fiercely.

Linghu Chong was startled by his master’s words. He looked at his master with his eyes wide open and said, “Dead?”

Yue Lingshan took a step back and uttered a cry of shock, “He’s dead…?”

Yue Buqun placed his hands behind his back and walked to the side.

Suddenly, Lu Dayou’s body fell to the ground motionlessly.

Yue Lingshan and Linghu Chong squatted beside Lu Dayou and cried out in tears.

Yue Buqun suddenly remembered about the Divine Art of Violet Twilight manual and casted a side glance at Linghu Chong. “Where is the manual!” he asked loudly.

Linghu Chong rushed over to the bed and lifted up the pillow to look for the manual but it was no longer there. “The manual…where is the manual!” he uttered in shock. He searched all over the bed nervously but could not find the manual. He walked up to his master and said, “Master, I definitely placed the manual under the pillow before I left.”

Yue Buqun clenched his teeth and slapped Linghu Chong on the face angrily. “Nonsense!”

Linghu Chong lost his balance and fell down to the ground.

Yue Lingshan crawled over to Linghu Chong and propped him up.

Yue Buqun stared at Linghu Chong furiously. He was angry with Linghu Chong was misplacing the the Huashan Sect’s ultimate skill manual.

Linghu Chong kneeled at his master and let out a sigh. “Master, I know that I’m wrong. I’ve been disobedient…”

Yue Lingshan looked up at her father and said, “Father, it is all my fault. Please don’t blame Big Apprentice Brother…”

Linghu Chong responded, “Someone must have stolen the Divine Art of Violet Twilight manual. Even if I have to climb a mountain of swords or plunge into a sea of flames, I’ll definitely find it and return it to Master.”

Yue Buqun narrowed his eyes and retorted fumingly, “What if you can’t find it? If someone copies it how can it still be our Huashan Sect’s ultimate skill!” He paused and hummed agitatedly, “Chong’er tell me honestly, if it is you who took it, just return it to me and I won’t be angry with you.”

Linghu Chong looked at his master astonishingly. He was just shocked to know that his master did not trust him at all. “Master, I assure you that I will kill anyone who looks at the Divine Art of Violet Twilight manual. If Master still doesn’t believe me then you can kill me with a single blow!” He closed his eyes and waited for his death.

Yue Buqun clenched his fist and stared at Linghu Chong viciously. The room was suddenly filled with a strong killing aura.

Yue Lingshan looked at her father and said, “Father! Big Apprentice Brother would never steal the manual….”

Yue Buqun turned away and stormed out of the room fumingly.

Linghu Chong leaned against the bed and stared at the wall blankly. Everything had happened so sudden that he just could not accept it. He was devastated to see his most favorite apprenticed lying dead on the floor.

………………..

The sky was getting darker. Ning Zhongze stood at the doorway of the Weituo temple and looked outside. Seeing that there was still no sign of her husband and daughter, she felt a surge of anxiety.

Just then, Lin Pingzhi came running into the temple. “Mistress! Master and Senior Apprentice Sister are back!” he said.

Ning Zhongze exited the temple and walked toward the courtyard.

Yue Buqun walked through the main doors agitatedly with Yue Lingfeng, Yue Lingshan and Linghu Chong following him from behind.

Ning Zhongze walked up to them with a smile. “Senior Apprentice Brother, you’re back,” she said.

Yue Buqun let out a sigh and proceeded walking into the temple.

Ning Zhongze could sense that something had happened. Since Lu Dayou did not come with them she suspected that it had something to do with him.

It was almost midnight. Most of the Huashan Sect disciples were fast asleep. Linghu Chong sat in a corner with his back against a wall. He stared at a wall mulling over Lu Dayou’s death. They had been very close to each other since the day Lu Dayou joined the Huashan Sect. Now that he is suddenly gone, Linghu Chong could not help himself but to feel depressed and guilty.

There was a sound of a woman crying another corner. Linghu Chong looked towards the direction of the sound and saw that it was Yue Lingshan. Just as he was about to go over to comfort her, he noticed Lin Pingzhi walking toward to her. He got back to his sitting positing and remained silent.

Lin Pingzhi stood behind Yue Lingshan and said, “Senior Apprentice Sister, don’t cry anymore. You were only trying to heal Big Apprentice Brother’s injury.”

Yue Lingshan turned around to look at Lin Pingzhi. “It was all my fault...If it wasn’t for me Dayou would still be alive…Father’s Divine Art of Violet Twilight manual would not have gone missing too…” she sobbed.

Lin Pingzhi cupped her face in his hands gently and wiped her tears. “You and Big Apprentice Brother grew up together and have been very close with each other. There is no way you would not help him when his life is at stake,” he explained.

Yue Lingshan looked Lin Pingzhi in the eyes and replied, “You are not angry with me?”

Lin Pingzhi shook his head and said, “Don’t be silly. Why would I? If it was me I would have done the same.”

Yue Lingshan looked down on the ground and continued, “Little Lin, why is heaven so unfair? Why take away Dayou’s life when he is still so young…”

Lin Pingzhi tapped her shoulder and said, “Senior Apprentice Sister, don’t be sad. I believe that Senior Apprentice Brother Lu’s soul is in heaven. If he knew about how depressed you are right now, he would not be able to be at ease.”

Yue Lingshan leaned forward and rested her head on Lin Pingzhi’s shoulder and let out a cry. “Little Lin….”

Lin Pingzhi stroked her on the back and said, “If Master and Mistress sees how sad you are right now, they would feel even sadder. You know what I mean?”

Yue Lingshan nodded her head and tried to stop crying.

Linghu Chong felt sorrow and pain in his heart while he heard their conversation. Feeling disheartened, he got up from the floor and walked out of the hall.

Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze were standing in a corner talking among themselves. “Who would have expected all this to happen after we left Mount Hua…” Ning Zhongze let out a sigh. She looked at her husband and continued, “Who was it that stole the Divine Art of Violet Twilight manual?”

Yue Buqun knitted his brows and said, “Chong’er and Dayou were the only ones in Mount Hua when it got stolen.”

Ning Zhongze pursed her lips and said, “You are not suspecting that Chong’er killed Dayou and stole the Divine Art of Violet Twilight manual are you?”

Yue Buqun turned toward his wife with a stern look on his face.

After that his master would see him, Linghu Chong immediately hid himself behind a stone pillar and continued to eavesdrop his master and mistress’s conversation.

Although Yue Buqun did not say it out loud but the expression on his face indicated that he suspected that Linghu Chong killed Lu Dayou and stole the Divine Art of Violet Twilight manual.

Ning Zhongze shook her head and said, “Senior Apprentice Brother, Chong’er grew up at Mount Hua. You should know his character very well.”

Yue Buqun looked away and said in a cold voice, “I have just realized that my judgment is terrible. I adopted a child who is related to the evil demoness without even realizing it till now.”

Ning Zhongze was startled by her husband’s words. “Feng’er is related to the evil demoness?” she asked with her eyes wide open.

Yue Buqun nodded with a long sigh. “If I did not hear it with my own ears I would not believe that he is the evil demoness’s biological brother.”

Ning Zhongze quickly responded, “We’ve been taking care of Feng’er since he was a child and treated him like our own son. Even if he is related to the evil demoness, I’m sure that he would never turn against us.”

Yue Buqun looked up at the dark sky and said, “Feng’er is very easily affected by emotions. He would betray his adopted father because of emotions. It is truly disgraceful to have a cold blooded killer thief and a devil cult relative as our disciples.”

Ning Zhongze snapped him out of it and said, “I have confidence that Chong’er and Feng’er would never do anything to dishonest.”

Yue Buqun heaved a sigh and said, “I hope so too…”

Linghu Chong looked down on the ground disappointingly. “Never thought that Master would still be suspicious of me,” he thought to himself.

Yue Lingfeng was standing at the other end of the courtyard, hiding himself behind a wall. He pursed his lips and looked up at the dark sky. “Elder sister, why did you have to be a disciple of the devil cult? Adopted Father is starting to lose faith in me because of your background….what should I do now?” he said to himself. “If I really need to choose between you and Adopted Father, who should I choose…?”

Qu Feiyan’s image suddenly appeared in front of him. Yue Lingfeng stretched his hand out with a sigh, “I lost Feiyan because I strongly believed that good and evil cannot coexist. I cannot allow myself to make the same mistake again…I cannot afford to lose another loved one…I rather lose all that I have built for myself over the years than to take the life of my biological sister…”

End of Chapter 17

0 Chapter 13

Linghu Chong gave Tian Boguang a puzzled look. “Feng Qingyang?” he asked astonishingly.

The old man started laughing. “It’s truly amazing to know that there’s someone in this world who still remembers my name.”

Both Linghu Chong and Tian Boguang looked at the old man admiringly.

The old man looked away and continued, “Huashan Sect apprentices these days are getting more disorderly. He looked at Linghu Chong, pointing his index finger at him. “Very well, since you’ve asked me to teach you then I’ll teach you a few moves. “

“Yes!” Linghu Chong and Tian Boguang responded concurrently.

Linghu Chong glared at Tian Boguang agitatedly.

Tian Boguang took a step back and coughed softly as he realized that the old man meant teaching Linghu Chong. He was too excited to meet the Huashan Sect’s legendary martial art exponent and was really hoping that he could get some pointers from him. He bowed at the old man and said, “Senior Feng, take your time to teach him. I’m going to relieve myself.” After that, he slapped Linghu Chong’s arm and said sternly, “You better learn properly!” After finishing his words, he turned around and walked away.

Linghu Chong smirked at Tian Boguang. He then bowed at the old man, “Junior pays respect to senior.”

The old man replied, “Actually it isn’t difficult to exchange a few moves with him without losing. I’ll teach you thirty moves. You’ve actually learnt these moves before. All you need to do is change the sequence.”

Linghu Chong nodded his head thought he wasn’t sure what the old man meant.


Tian Boguang hid behind a rock looking at them from a distance. He wanted to see what extraordinary sword moves the old man was going to impart to Linghu Ching.

“First move is White Aurora Shooting The Sun. Then its A Phoenix Comes With Grace. Next is Golden Geese Crossing The Sky. Followed by Sword Interception Stance,” the old man went on naming thirty Huashan Sect sword moves.

Linghu Chong listened to him tentatively, memorizing the sequence.

The old man stroked his long beard and looked at Linghu Chong. “Your name is Linghu Chong?” he asked.

Linghu Chong nodded his head. “Yes, I’m Linghu Chong.”


The old man laughed and said, “Linghu Chong, it’s not easy to remember these thirty moves. Furthermore, you need to perform all thirty moves in one go. With your current abilities it’s definitely not easy to do it. Why don’t you try them out slowly, first?”

Linghu Chong bowed, “I’ll give it a try.” He performed a few sword moves but got stuck half way through. He lowered his sword and walked back to the old man. “Senior, The White Aurora and A Phoenix Comes With Grace don’t seem to connect at all. There’s no way this is going to work,” he uttered.

The old man hummed agitatedly, “Idiot! Idiot! No wonder you’re Yue Buqun’s disciple. When your sword arts are rigid of course it wouldn’t work. The essence of swordplay is to be dynamic and flexible. After you’ve finished the White Aurora Shooting the Sun move and had your sword tip pointing up, couldn’t you just follow the flow and slash it downwards? Even though there’s no such posture in the move, why can’t you be more innovative and adjust to the circumstances?”

Linghu Chong scratched his head. “You’re right Senior! Why didn’t I think of that? Thanks for the advice!” He walked to the front and performed the sword moves all over again. This time his moves were more graceful.

The old man stroked his long beard and said, “You got it right. However, you’re still too stiff and rigid. If you fight against an exponent you’ll definitely not be able to win.” He paused for a moment and stared at Tian Boguang. “But you should be able to beat that little kid there. Give it a try!”

Tian Boguang waved at the old man with a smile.

Linghu Chong replied the old man, “Yes, Senior!” He then walked over to Tian Boguang and said, “Brother Tian, please go ahead.”

Tian Boguang snorted, “What do you mean please go ahead?! We’ve already fought for many rounds. The winner has been decided. There’s no need to fight anymore!”

Linghu Chong replied, ““If you don’t want to fight, that’s alright. You may leave now. Farewell.”

Tian Boguang glared at him agitatedly. “How dare you…” He paused for a moment and cast a quick glance at the old man.

The old man ignored them and went to sit on a big rock.

Tian Boguang bowed at him and said, “Senior Feng, I, Tian Boguang is a junior. I’m not worthy to exchange moves with you. If you join in the fight, it would really be beneath your dignity.”

The old man nodded with a smile, indicating that he would not get involved in the fight.

Tian Boguang turned toward Linghu Chong and reached for the handle of his short saber. “Stinky kid! Let’s carry on!” he yelled.

Linghu Chong jumped towards Tian Boguang and started attacking him with a flurry of slashes, thrusts and chops.

Each time Tian Boguang blocked an attack he would instantly strike back. But this time Linghu Chong was able to dodge and block all of his attacks very well. The two of them exchanged over two hundred moves with no apparent winner. Linghu Chong finally swung his sword downward at Tian Boguang’s hand and knocked the short saber off his hand.

Tian Boguang retracted his hand and stepped to the side, crying out in pain.

Linghu Chong immediately thrust his sword at Tian Boguang’s chest.

Tian Boguang dodged the attack and subsequently extended d his hand out to grab Linghu Chong’s throat. He strangled Lighu Chong frustratingly and groaned, “If you don’t want to die you better leave with me!”

Linghu Chong struggled for breath as he replied, “I’ll never leave with you! I’ve fought a hundred rounds with you. It was you who lost to me…”

“I don’t care if it’s one hundred moves or two hundred moves, it doesn’t matter. As long as I am winning you’ll have to leave with me!” Tian Boguang shouted angrily.

Linghu Chong sneered, “I’m not leaving with you!”

The old man shook his head frustratingly. “Idiot! Your finger can be used as a sword too. Do you have to use a real sword for that Gold And Jade Fill The Hall move?” he shouted.

Linghu Chong narrowed his eyes and thought to himself for a second. He quickly thrust his hand out and stabbed Tian Boguang’s chest with his index and middle fingers.

Tian Boguang let out a cry of pain and felt numb all over his body. His acupoints had just been sealed.

Linghu Chong gently thrust the tip of his finger at Tian Boguang’s forehead and pushed him to the ground.

The old man nodded and started laughing. “Good! Come with me,” he said. He turned around and walked into the cave.

Linghu Chong knelt at the old man, “Grand apprentice pays respect to Grand Apprentice Uncle. Thank you for your guidance.”

The old man pulled him up as he responded, “Stand up.”

Linghu Chong returned to his feet. “Thank you, Grand Apprentice Uncle,” he said with a smile.


The old man grinned, “Do you still think that I’m swindling and bluffing now?”

Linghu Chong bowed and replied, “Grand Apprentice doesn’t dare. I am so fortunate to be able to meet Grand Apprentice Uncle! Are you hungry? I have some food in the cave. Let me go get them.”


Feng Qingyang shook his head. “That won’t be necessary.” He stretched his arms and said, “It has been a long time since I last stood under the sunshine.”

He then looked at Linghu Chong and said, “You have sealed Tian Boguang’s Tan-Zhong (chest center) Point. With his inner strength, he will be able to regain his conscious in two hours. By then, he’ll harass you again. You can then defeat him again and he would have no choice but to behave and leave. After you’ve defeated him you must force him to take a vow that he would never mention to anyone that he had seen me.”

Linghu Chong nodded and said, “I understand. But Grand Apprentice Uncle, my victory just now is only by chance. It was pure luck. In terms of skills I’m afraid that I can’t beat him.”

Feng Qingyang frowned and said, “You are Yue Buqun’s apprentice. I really don’t want to teach you any martial arts. But that year I made a vow that I would never fight anyone in the remaining of my life. When I demonstrated the sword moves to you the other night, I only wanted to let you know that the Huashan Sect’s Nineteen Stances of the Jade Maiden Sword that you used wasn’t well performed. Otherwise how could I hit the sword away from your hand? Since we’ve come to this, I I can only use your hands to drive Tian Boguang away and make him take a vow of secrecy. Come with me.” He turned to the right and walked into the secret cave.

Linghu Chong obediently followed him from behind.

Feng Qingyang pointed at a rock wall and said, “These are the Huashan Sect’s sword techniques drawings on the rock wall. You’ve already seen them and remembered them. But when you perform it, it’s another thing. That kid Yue Buqun is really a stupid person. You have great potential but he taught you to become a stupid just like him.”

Linghu Chong was annoyed with Feng Qingyang for humiliating his master. “Grand Apprentice Uncle is insulting my master. I’m not learning from you anymore,” he sneered.

Feng Qingyang looked at him with much surprise. “Throwing your temper like a little kid? Angry that I scolded your master?” he shook his hand at Linghu Chong annoyingly. He really needed Linghu Chong to drive Tian Boguang away so he finally gave in. “Fine! I won’t insult him again, okay? Since you master calls me Senior Apprentice Uncle there’s nothing wrong if I calls him a kid!”

Linghu Chong smiled and said, “As long as Grand Apprentice Uncle doesn’t insult my master I’ll do whatever you want me to do.”

Feng Qingyang raised his brows and said, “This is almost like I am begging you to learn from me.” He pointed at the drawings of the Mount Hua style sword art on the rock wall and started explaining. “These moves are our sect’s most unique sword moves. Most of them have long been lost, and even your master doesn’t know about it. Even though the stances are exquisite but when you use them it will be countered by others.”

Hearing these words, Linghu Chong pondered to himself for a moment and said, “Grand Apprentice Uncle means that I have to shuffle the sword moves so that the opponent is unable to counter it?”

Feng Qingyang looked at him pleasingly. “You have potential indeed. You’re a fast learner. Devil cult’s elders are formidable martial arts practitioners. They’re talented and intelligent. They were able to counter all the Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance sword techniques completely. But they didn’t know that regardless of how great your martial arts skills are or how exquisite your stances are you are still unable to win the cunning tricks and traps of the opponent. If you fall into the traps set by your opponent, no matter how great your martial arts skills are you’ll still not be able to use them,” he commented.

“It was indeed the elders of the devil cult. What Brother Dong said was true. Could it be that our Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance lost in a fight and ended up using traps to defeat the opponent? Wonder how is Brother Dong doing now,” Linghu Chong thought to himself. He looked away and took a deep breath as he remembered that Tian Boguang was still outside. “Linghu Chong! Stop thinking of other things! Tian Boguang is going to wake up in another hour. If you keep thinking about other things you won’t have time to learn sword arts!”

Feng Qingyang went on talking. “In terms of martial arts understanding the devil cult elders can’t be counted as experts. They didn’t know that moves are fixed but the one executing the moves is flexible. Fixed stances can be countered but if they were to come across inconsistent stances, they will be restrained and left to be slaughtered by the opponent. You must remember this word; ‘flexible’. When you learn a move, you need to learn it in a flexibly. When you execute a move, you also need to execute it flexible. If you only rigidly adhere to formalities without adding your own lively elements, even if you have mastered thousands or tens of thousands unique moves, as soon as you encounter a true expert, he would still be able to overcome every single one of them.”

Linghu Chong understood Feng Qingyang’s words right away. “I understand! It must be flexible and unrestrained!”

Feng Qingyang responded, “Being flexible and unrestrained is only the first step. You must reach to a level where you can attack with no particular move. Only then can you reach the level of an expert. Just now you said shuffling the sword stances so that the opponent has no means of countering it. You’ve only spotted a small part of it. It’s not about shuffling the sword moves but to have zero moves to be undefeated. When you shuffle your stances there will be intervals between stances. Your opponent will make use of this to attack. But if you don’t have any form of stances, then the opponent would not be able to counter attack.”

Linghu Chong knitted his brow. “How to counter attack when there are no form of stances?” he pondered to himself. A whole new concept had suddenly appeared in front of his eyes.

Feng QIngyang picked up a sword from the ground and pointed it at Linghu Chong. “Try and counter this sword stance of mine,” he instructed.

Linghu Chong fixed his eyes at Feng QIngyang’s sword and said, “This is not a move, so there’s no way I can counter it.”

Feng Qingyang laughed and responded, “As the saying goes, if you want to slice a piece of meat, you need to have the piece of meat before you can slice it; if you want to cut some firewood, you need to have the firewood before you can cut it. If your opponent wants to counter your sword move, he needs to have your sword move before he can counter it. When an ordinary person who has never learned any martial arts slashes a sword randomly, no matter how knowledgeable you are, you still wouldn’t be able to predict where his next move will slash in which direction. Even martial arts exponents wouldn’t be able to defeat his move. Because there is no move, it’s impossible to counter the move. If this person has never learned any martial arts and has no stances, than others can knock him down easily. True advanced sword art is to be able to notice the loopholes of your opponent’s stances and use your zero stances to attack him. When he is unable counter your stances while you are able to counter all his stances then you’ll win.”

Linghu Chong suddenly thought about something. “But what if the enemy doesn’t have any stance either?” he asked.

Feng Qingyang replied, “Then he must be an expert too. When the both of you fight sometimes he may be better and sometimes you may be better.” He paused for a moment and let out a sigh, “However, It’s very difficult to meet such a person. In my entire life, I’ve only met three of them.”

Linghu Chong curiously asked, “Who are these three?”

Feng Qingyang frowned, “Why are you so nosy? Just practice you sword arts properly.” He then stepped to the side and pondered to himself. “Wonderful…wonderful…” he sudden said.

Linghu Chong bowed at him and apologetically said, “I admit my mistake.”

“No, you didn’t make any mistake.” Feng Qingyang replied. “You just the type of person that I like. However, we don’t have much time left. You better hurry up and master Huashan Sect’s thirty four sword stances and perform it in one go. After that you need to forget all of them completely without leaving a single stance in your head. Then use the Huashan Sect’s Sword Art With No Moves to fight Tian Boguang.”

Linghu Chong hesitantly bowed, “Yes, Grand Apprentice Uncle!” After finishing those words, he performed all the Huashan Sect sword techniques on the rock wall, connecting all the distinct and separate sword moves together. Since all he had to do was to follow the natural flow, it became an easy task for him to connect them. He waved his sword, sometimes slashing to the left, sometimes chopping to the right, without thinking about any moves drawn on the rock wall. He didn’t care if his posture or position was close to the drawing and simply followed his own will.

Tian Boguang started shouting from outside. “Brother Linghu! Please come out! We’ll have another contest.”

Linghu Chong stopped and stood still. He looked at Feng Qingyang and asked, “Grand Apprentice Uncle, do you think this random slashing and chopping style sword form of mine will enable me to block his fast short saber attacks?”

Feng Qingyang knitted his brow and shook his head. “You won’t be able to block it,” he replied.

Linghu Chong’s heart skipped a beat. “I can’t? What should I do then?” he asked nervously.

Feng Qingyang hummed and said, ““If you can’t block it then don’t block it.”

Linghu Chong immediately understood what Feng Qingyang meant. “I got it, Grand Apprentice Uncle. You mean that since he wants me to leave with him naturally he won’t take my life. Therefore I can simply ignore his attacks and just focus on my own attacks. Am I right, Grand Apprentice Uncle?”

Feng Qingyang nodded with a smile.

Linghu Chong exited the cave and exchanged a furry of stances with Tian Boguang. His attacks were fast and random but it was still not fast enough to fend off Tian Boguang’s attacks. Tian Boguang swished his short saber downward, slashed Linghu Chong’s hand and subsequently pointed it at his neck. Linghu Chong retracted his hand in pain.

“Do you really think that I don’t dare to chop you?!!” Tian Boguang asked angrily.

Linghu Chong moaned and said, “Brother Tian, look at my hand! It’s already bleeding.”

Tian Boguang sneered, “So what?”

Linghu Chong pushed Tian Boguang’s hand away and replied, “I need to rest for a night. How about this? Once I’m done resting we can duel again tomorrow. You should get some rest too.” He patted Tian Boguang’s shoulder and joyfully hopped back into the cave.

Tian Boguang was dumfounded and lost for words. He dropped to the ground and squeaked annoyingly.

Feng Qingyang wrapped Linghu Chong’s hand with a piece of cloth.

Linghu Chong sighed, “Grand Apprentice Uncle, this jerk has changed his mind. He’s for real this time. What should I do now?”

Feng Qingyang replied, “Luckily you held him off for a night. I don’t think you should sleep tonight. We’ll use one night to tech you three sword moves. You look intelligent but I’m not sure if you’re really that intelligent. If you are really that smart you might be able to master the three moves in one night. But you’re not as intelligent and slow then you should…” He paused and heaved a long sigh. “Then you don’t have to fight Tian Boguang tomorrow morning. Just admit defeat and leave the mountain with him.”

Linghu Chong raised his brows and uttered, “Three moves?” He couldn’t understand why it would take the entire night to master three sword moves.

Feng Qingyang smirked, “Do you think it’s that easy to master three moves in one night?”

Linghu Chong shook his head and grinned, “I didn’t mean anything like that. If I can’t master three moves in one night I’d rather let him kill me than to give in and leave with him.”

Feng Qingyang raised his brows and continued, “These three moves are extremely ordinary. But it would take a miracle for you to master the three moves in one night. You don’t need to learn the second move just yet. Let’s just focus on the first move and third move for now. The first move alone has three hundred and sixty five variations. If one of the variation is not performed well then you can forget about the third move.”

He then rose from his seat and started reciting a long verse. After finishing his sentence, he looked at Linghu Chong. “Chong’Er, it took me three months to master one move. To learn two moves in one night is almost impossible,” he explained. “Just think about it…” He started reciting the verse again but noticed Linghu Chong looking away. “Chong’Er, did you hear what I said?” he asked.

Linghu Chong responded by reciting the entire verse in one go.

Feng Qingyang looked at him in sheer amazement. “This is the General Index of the Dugu Nine Sword. Have you learned it before?” he asked.

Linghu Chong shook his head, “I’ve never learned it before. I’ve no idea that it’s called Dugu Nine Swords either.”

Feng Qingyang narrowed his eyes and asked, “How did your recite it when you’ve never learned it before?”

Linghu Chong replied, “That was how you recited it moments ago.”

Feng Qingyang nodded with a smile. “You’ve got a good memory. Then I’ve an idea. Dugu Nine Swords first move, the General Index Stance has many variations. Let’s not rush into how to implement the general index just yet. The second move is Sword Defeating Stance. It’s used to counter swordplay styles from any sects. We can ignore that for now too. The third move is Saber Defeating Stance. It is used to counter single saber, double saber, willow leaf cutlass, ghost-beheaded saber, machete, and cavalry blade. Tian Boguang uses the single saber’s Swift Saber technique. You’ll just learn the portion that specifically deals with his saber techniques tonight.”

Linghu Chong was stunned by Feng Qingyang’s explanation. “Wow, the Dugu Nine Swords is truly brilliant. I’ve really not heard of it before.”

Feng Qingyang continued, “Dugu Nine Swords third move stresses on using light to resist heavy and fast to overcome slow. Tian Boguang’s fast saber chops are really fast, so you will have to be even faster than him. You’re younger than him so it’s easy to be faster than him. But it’s difficult to predict who will win. As for an old man like me, to be faster than him would be rather difficult. If you have to know what kind of a move he will be using and you must be faster than him. The moment he raises his hand, your sword should already be pointing at his vital parts. That way he would no longer be able to perform his techniques.”

Linghu Chong nodded and said, “That mean’s anticipating your enemy beforehand.”

“Of course! First I’ll teach you how to foresee your enemy beforehand. It can block Tian Boguang’s fast saber,” Feng Qingyang explained.

After spending the entire night learning the complicated Saber Defeating Stance variations diligently Linghu Chong lowered his sword and walked toward Feng Qingyang. “Grand Apprentice Uncle, how did I do?” he asked anxiously.

Feng Qingyang grinned, “Considering the limited time that you have, I would say that you’ve done pretty well.”

Linghu Chong bowed, “Thanks for the compliments, Grand Apprentice Uncle.” He then paused for a moment and asked, “Grand Apprentice Uncle, there’s something I don’t understand though. How come all the sword variations are all attacking techniques with no defending techniques at all?”

Feng Qingyang stroked his long beard as he spoke, “Dugu Nine Swords only moves forward and not backward. When every move only attacks, your enemy can only defend and retreat. Naturally there’s no need to defend yourself. The senior who created this sword art is called Dugu Qiubai (Qiubai means seeking for a loss). Think about it. His name is seeking for a loss. Seeking a loss all his life but couldn’t get one. Once he uses this sword technique he was unbeatable. Why would he still need to defend? If anyone could make him draw his sword to defend, he would have laughed with joy and be delighted beyond measure.”

Linghu Chong looked away and pondered to himself. “This senior became matchless under heaven. It’s difficult to find anyone who could match against him. He’s really someone to be respected. Once Tian Boguang is gone I must plead Grand Apprentice Uncle to teach me the entire sword arts.”

Right at that moment, Tian Boguang started shouting from the outside. “Brother Linghu! It’s already morning! Are you awake yet?! Come out now!”

Feng Qingyang smiled coldly and said, “Go out and fight Tian Boguang. Kick him off Mount Hua!”

Linghu Chong bowed with a smile, “Yes! Grand Apprentice Uncle!”

He exited the cave and walked toward Tian Boguang. “Brother Tian, I’ve thought about it the whole night. I’ve decided…”

Tian Boguang put on a sad face and interrupted him. “Don’t say it anymore. I, Tian Boguang is already quite dishonest. I didn’t think that you’re even more dishonest than me! You want to fight? Fine! I’ll fight you till the end.”

Linghu Chong looked at him depressingly. “Alright! Brother Tian! Stop crying! If you continue to cry I’ll start crying too. I’ll fight with you, ok?”

Tian Boguang pressed his lips together and moaned, “Okay!” After finishing his words, he swung his short saber at Linghu Chong’s head.

Linghu Chong instantly raised his sword to block the attack. After that, he went on to attack Tian Boguang with a series of lightning fast slashes, chops and thrusts. His attacks became faster and faster.

Tian Boguang started to feel lost and did not know how to fend off the flurry of lightning fast attacks.

In a blink of an eye, Linghu Chong pointed the edge of his sword at Tian Boguang’s throat.

Tian Boguang lowered his short saber and let out a sigh, admitting defeat. “Senior Feng Qingyang’s sword art is exceptional. No one under the heaven is unable to defeat him. Stinky kid! I’m afraid after today I won’t be able to defeat you again.”

Linghu Chong smirked while he retracted his sword. “Forget it, Brother Tian. Before this you had many opportunities to kill but you did not. So I’m returning you a favor this time.”

Tian Boguang did not respond this time. He only smiled coldly.

“However, you’ve to promise me something,” Linghu Chong continued.

Tian Boguang folded his arms as he responded, “What is it?!”

Linghu Chong grinned, “My Grand Apprentice Uncle Feng has been residing in the mountain for decades. I don’t wish to outsiders disturbing him. Therefore I hope that you won’t leak a word about him.”

Tian Boguang nodded, “You have my words!”

“That’s great!” Linghu Chong gave him a thumb up.

Tian Boguang laughingly said, “Stinky kid! I’m starting to like you even more. Listen up, this isn’t over yet!”

Linghu Chong responded with a sneer, “I’ll be waiting!”

Tian Boguang returned a smirk and walked off from the cliff.

Feng Qingyang exited the cave and noticed that Tian Boguang was gone.

Linghu Chong knelt at him and bowed. “Grand Apprentice Uncle saved my life and taught me advanced swordplay. I’ll never forget your kindness.”

Feng Qingyang held his hand out and said, “What you’ve learn can’t really be considered as advanced swordplay yet.”.

Linghu Chong bowed and asked, “May I boldly request Grand Apprentice Uncle to teach me all of the Dugu Nine Swords techniques?”

“Are you sure you won’t regret it later for learning the Dugu Nine Swords?” Feng Qingyang asked.

Linghu Chong shook his head. “This is the most fortunate thing in my entire life. I can only be grateful,” he said.

Feng Qingyang smiled, “Very well, I will teach you then. If I don’t teach the Dugu Nine Swords to you, this advanced sword art would eventually be lost. Tian Boguang definitely won’t just give up so easy. Even if he decides to come back again, it’s going to be at least ten to fifteen days from now. When that time comes your martial arts skills would have surpassed him. And you certainly have more tricks than he does. I don’t think you’ll ever be afraid of him again. We have plenty of time now, so you must study from the very beginning to strengthen the basic.”

Linghu Chong bowed, “Thanks for your guidance, Grand Apprentice Uncle.”

In the meantime, Dongfang Bubai and Yi Lin were waiting at the forest not far from Mount Hua. Dongfang Bubai dressed in a man clothing, placed her hands behind her back and took a quick look around to the area to see if Tian Boguang had arrived.

Yi Lin walked up to her elder sister. “Sister, why are we here?” she asked curiously.

Dongfang Bubai turned around and looked at her with a smile. “I brought you to see the person you’ve most wanted to see,” she replied.

Yi Lin knitted her brows. “Who is that?”

“Linghu Chong,” Dongfang Bubai replied with a grin.

Yi Lin was stunned. “Big….Big Brother Linghu…?” she stuttered.

Dongfang Bubai replied, “I know that even since we rescued him in Hengyang City there isn’t a day that you don’t think about him or miss him. I’m here today to help you fulfill your wish. I’ve already ordered Tian Boguang to bring him down from Mount Hua. Once he’s here…”

Yi Lin interrupted, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?!” She stomped the ground and walked off angrily.

Dongfang Bubai held her hand out as she yelled, “Yi Lin! Where are you going?”

“Going back to Mount Heng!” Yi Lin replied agitatedly .

Dongfang Bubai ran towards Yi Lin at the speed of light and appeared in front of her in a blink of an eye. “Yi Lin! Wait up!” she uttered.

Yi Lin moaned, “Sister! Big Brother Linghu already has someone that he likes. Besides, I’m a nun. It’s impossible for us to be together. If you’re still like this again in the future…then I won’t see you again.” She then walked past Dongfang Bubai and head off from the area.

Dongfang Bubai cast a disappointing glance at her little sister. “Yi Lin...You’ve no idea how lucky it is to be able like someone. There are some people that can’t even express their feelings no matter how much they like a person. They can only hide it in their heart,” she uttered to herself.

Tian Boguang arrived at the forest moments later.

Dongfang Bubai turned around and looked at him indifferently. “Where is he?” she asked in a cold voice.

Tian Boguang grinned as he responded, “I’m useless. I did not manage to bring him here.”


Dongfang Bubai glared at him fiercely “You probably don’t want to live anymore then,” she shouted.

Tian Boguang shook his head. “Of course I want to live! But what can I do? I’ve been begging him at the Repentance Cliff for days but he rather die than to come down. I tried using soft talks and by force but it didn’t work. What can I do?” he grumbled. “I think you should just give me the antidote and find someone else to do this.”

Dongfang Bubai narrowed her eyes. “Repentance Cliff…” she uttered. She suddenly recalled her conversation with Linghu Chong at the prairie. inghu Chong told her that if he ever got sent to the Repentance Cliff for punishment he would like her to bring him fat chicken and good wine when she comes to see hm.

“Looks like I’ll have to bring him some fat chicken and good wine myself,” she murmured. After finishing her words, she turned around and strode off in a flash.

Tian Boguang folded his arms, “Go ahead.” He suddenly remembered something. “Hey wait! You haven’t given me the antidote!” he yelled loudly.

Feng Qingyang stood at the edge of the cliff, stroking his long beard and started laughing. “It’s so good to be young. You wanted to learn sword arts so much that you won’t allow me to sleep. When you wanted to sleep, you fell asleep the moment your head touches the ground,” he uttered. “Oh well, I might as well come out here and get some fresh air.”

He then noticed a figure holding on to a meal basket ascending the cliff. The figure leapt from mountain to mountain in a single bound. “Extraordinary lightness skills,” he murmured. “Looks like I might end up making a trip instead of getting some fresh air.”

The figure ascended into the air and landed on the Repentance Cliff shortly. The figure was none other than Dongfang Bubai.

Feng Qingyang strode towards her at the light speed and appeared in front of her in a blink of the eye. He stared at her fiercely and asked, “Little kid, where did you come from? Your lightness skills are not bad.”

Dongfang Bubai stared at him coldly. “Your martial arts skills are not bad either. How about this little kid here exchange a few stances with you, old kid?,” she tossed the meal basket to a rock table and leapt off the cliff backward.

Feng Qingyang immediately ran after her.

The two of them fought in the air, exchanging relentless palm strikes fingertip strikes and hand strikes at light speed. Each time Feng Qingyang launched an attack at Dongfang Bubai she would be able to block it and subsequently returned a strike at him. Their inner strength was so immense that whenever they traded a stance it would produce short bursts of air.

After trading two hundred stances, the two of them finally landed at a nearby lake. Since the winner wasn’t determined yet, they continued to exchange intense stances. Feng Qingyang went on an attacking stance. He executed a series of swift attacks with his hands, as though it was his sword.

Dongfang Bubai swished and thrust her hand fan countering his relentless attacks at light speed.

Feng Qingyang channeled his inner energy to his hand and thrust out his fingers at Dongfang Bubai’s right shoulder.

Dongfang Bubai immediately thrust out her hand fan out at his fingers. Their inner energy collided and produced a powerful air blast that pushed them to the back.

Feng Qingyang stared at Dongfang Bubai sternly and said, “Little kid, I’ve concealed my sword my years. I don’t want to fight with you. Let’s call it quits.”

Dongfang Bubai grinned, “No way! You have formidable martial arts skills and that’s a threat to me. The more something threatens me, the more I’m curious about it.”

Feng Qingyang laughed and replied, “You may be young but you’re very daring. Do you know that there are some things that are not meant to be touched?!”

Dongfang Bubai put her hands behind her back and smirked. “You’re old but your curiosity is no lesser than mine. You’ve profound inner energy and extraordinary sword skills out of the ordinary,” she commented.

Feng Qingyang burst out laughing. “Great! It’s the first time I get praised by a youngster. You’ve unfathomable body movements. How about taking a stroke from me?”

Dongfang Bubai gave him an untroubled and indifferent gaze as she waited Feng Qingyang to make his move.

Feng Qingyang swished his sleeve and shot a surge of spherical shaped gust of wind from the tip of his finger at Dongfang Bubai.

Dongfang Bubai bent forward and generated a field of energy force to repel the oncoming gust of wind and knocked it back to Feng Qingyang.

Feng Qingyang instantly waved his hand and shot another blast of wind at the oncoming gust of wind, producing a powerful blast. He lowered his hand and glared at Dongfang Buba, “You’ may beyoung but you have great martial arts skills. What is your motive coming to Mount Hua? You did not come here to fight me, right?”

Dongfang Bubai hummed with a smile. “Would you believe me if I said that I came to Repentance Cliff to deliver food?” she replied.

Feng Qingyang stroked his beard, glaring at her suspiciously.

Dongfang Bu Bai cast a side glance at him and said coldly, “Alright. I’m not playing with you anymore. The food is getting cold.” After those words, she leapt into the air and flew back to the Repentance Cliff at light speed.

Feng Qingyang somersaulted in the air and landed behind her. He stared at her in disbelief. “Your body movement is extremely ghostly. Where exactly do you come from?!” he asked loudly.

Dongfang Bubai pointed to the meal basket on the table. “I told you already. I’m here to deliver food,” she replied. She then turned toward the cave and shounted, “Linghu Chong! Come out here!”

Linghu Chong came running out of the cave shortly. He gave Dongfang Bubai a surprising look. “Brother Dong! How come you’re here?” He then looked at Feng Qingyang and said, “Grand Apprentice Uncle, this is my friend. He saved my life before.”

He looked back at Dongfang Bubai and asked, “How come you’re here?”

Dongfang Bubai glared at him indifferently as she replied, “I came to deliver my promise. I didn’t think that you would really be confined at the Repentance Cliff. Since that’s the case, I’ll have to bring fat chicken and good wine to come and visit you. ” She then paused for a moment and continued, “Who would have known that I would meet this old man who has high skilled sword arts the moment I got here. Is he your Grand Apprentice Uncle?”

Linghu Chong quickly made a hand gesture singaling her not to saying anything rude about his Grand Apprentice Uncle.

Feng Qingyang looked at Linghu Chong and asked, “Chong’Er, is it really like that?”

Dongfang Bubai turned toward him. “If it’s not like that what else could it be?” she asked in a cold voice. “The food got cold because of you. You’re not allowed to eat it later.”

Linghu Chong immediately interrupted her. “Brother Dong! Don’t be rude! My Grand Apprentice Uncle is a senior and a martial arts expert. You’re not allowed to talk to him like that!”

Feng Qingyang responded, “Forget it. Since you know him then there’ nothing more to say. Chong’Er, he has very high martial arts skills.”

Linghu Chong looked at Dongfang Bubai in astonishment while Dongfang Bubai shot a smiling side glance at Feng Qingyang.

Since it came out from his Grand Apprentice Uncle’s mouth that Dongfang Bubai’s martial arts skills were high he was certain she was at the level of exponents. He was just surprised that she had such good martial arts skills.

Feng Qingyang looked at Dongfang Bubai and said, “Little kid, I have no appetite. I don’t want any of your food.”

Dongfang Bubai just fixed her eyes on him with a cold smile on her face.

“You two go ahead and talk. I’m going to get some rest,” Feng Qingyang finished his words and started to walk away.

Linghu Chong immediately ran up to him and blocked his way, “Grand Apprentice Uncle, my friend is only joking with you. Please don’t take it seriously,” he explained

Feng Qingyang burst out laughing, “Of course I won’t. I’m going to sleep.” He stepped to the left and walked away.

“Your Grand Apprentice Uncle is quite interesting,” Dongfang Bubai said as she watched Feng Qingyang leave.

Linghu Chong gave her an annoying look. “You still dare to mention it?! You almost offended him just now,” he grumbled.

Dongfang Bubai smirkedm “I’m not afraid of him. He is unable to threaten me neither can I threaten him so we aren’t afraid of each other.”

Linghu Chong propped his hands on his waist and grinned, “Your martial arts skills are really that high?”

Dongfang Bubai grinned as she looked away.

“Oh well, let’s not talk about this anymore. Let’s just drink wine,” he walked toward the table and grabbed hold of the meal basket.

Dongfang Bubai responded, “What’s the hurry. Let me ask you this first! Are there any places to sit in the cave?”

“There’s even a place to sleep. Let’s go!” he replied while walking towards the cave

Dongfang Bubai stared at him annoyingly. “Alcohol addict,” she grunted.

End of Chapter 13

0 Chapter 16

After resting in bed for many days, Linghu Chong was finally feeling a little better and could at least move around. Feeling bored lazing around in his room he decided to go out and get some fresh air. He pressed his hand to his chest and slowly limped his way down the stone steps of the corridor.

Right at that moment, there was sound of swords clashing coming from the flower garden. Linghu Chong curiously walked toward the flower garden to see who was it practicing sword arts. To his disappointment, it was actually Yue Lingshan and Lin Pingzhi who were exchanging sword stance in the flower garden.

Lin Pingzhi waved his sword upward to fend off an attack and jumped two steps back. “Senior Apprentice Sister! Watch this move!” Lin Pingzhi said.

Yue Lingshan nodded with a smile, “Bring it!”

Lin Pingzhi dashed towards Yue Lingshan and slashed his sword vertically downwards.

Yue Lingshan took a step back as she raised her sword to block the oncoming attack.

Lin Pingzhi immediately shifted his arm and thrust his sword straight at Yue Lingshan’s face. His movement was so fast it took Yue Lingshan by surprise.

Yue Lingshan staggered backwards to evade the oncoming sword.

Lin Pingzhi raised his eyebrows and said, “Senior Apprentice Sister! Why are you not blocking?”

Yue Lingshan looked at him dumbfounded and said, “Pull back your sword quick!”

Lin Pingzhi shook his head, “I can’t seem to pull his back! I really can’t!”

Yue Lingshan quickly halted her steps, stepped to the side to evade the sword and subsequently lost her balance.

Just as she was about to fall to the ground, Lin Pingzhi reached out to grab her and pulled her close. He looked her in the eyes with a smile.

Yue Lingshan let out a sigh of relief as she lied in Lin Pingzhi’s arm. She looked up at him and retuned a smile.

Seeing how close they had become, Linghu Chong felt extremely disheartened. His eyes were filled with grief. He took a step back and sighed in pain.

Dongfang Bubai was standing at the corridor right behind him. She cast a glance at Yue Lingshan and Lin Pingzhi and then looked back at Linghu Chong. She could tell that Linghu Chong was upset to see the couple being so intimate.

Lin Pingzhi helped Yue Lingshan get back to her feet. “How was that? I managed to catch you in time,” he said with a smile.

Yue Lingshan smirked, “You’re not allowed to do that again. I’ll tell my father if you do this again.”

Lin Pingzhi smiled and said, “Really? Would you have the heart to do it?”

Yue Lingshan leaned forward and rested her head on Lin Pingzhi’s shoulder affectionately without saying a word.

Linghu Chong stared at them in quiet despair.

Yue Lingshan then noticed Linghu Chong looking at her. She quickly pulled herself away from Lin Pingzhi felling awkward.

Linghu Chong stepped to the side and looked away speechlessly.

Yue Lingshan placed her sword behind her back and walker over to Linghu Chong with a smile on her face.

Dongfang Bubai simultaneously stepped away from the corridor and walked up to Linghu Chong.

“Big Apprentice Brother, are you feeling better?” Yue Lingshan asked with a smile.

Linghu Chong looked down on the ground not knowing what to say.

Dongfang Bubai interrupted and said in an affectionate voice, “Linghu Chong! Why are you running all over the place?! I was looking for you to have a chat but couldn’t find you.” She then reached her hands out and gently held Linghu Chong’s arm.

Yue Lingshan looked at Dongfang Bubai with her eyes wide open.

Linghu Chong looked at Dongfang Bubai awkwardly and noticed the expression on Yue Lingshan’s face. He immediately knew that Dongfang Bubai purposely pretended to be close to him to make Yue Lingshan feel jealous.

Dongfang Bubai hummed and said, “These kids here are having some moments of affection. Why are you so concerned?”

Linghu Chong kept his head down without saying a word.

Dongfang Bubai sighed affectionately and added, “Don’t you have me already?”

Linghu Chong raised his eyebrows at Dongfang Bubai silently. It was one of those moments where he felt completely lost. He did not have the heart to tell Dongfang Bubai off and at the same time did not want his little apprentice sister to feel bitter.

“Once you feel better I’ll practice sword arts with you, okay?” Dongfang Bubai said. She gently stroked his hair and continued, “I’ll be with you every day, okay?”

Linghu Chong pursed his lips and remained silent.

Dongfang Bubai casted a side glance at Yue Lingshan and said, “Your Big Apprentice Brother is bashful. From now on I’ll be the one who decides what is best for him.” She looked back at Linghu Chong and added, “Once you have fully recovered the four of us can practice our sword arts together, okay?”

Yue Lingshan just could not stand it anymore. She looked at Linghu Chong and said with a smile, “Big Apprentice Brother, I’ll go back to my room first.”

Linghu Chong watched his little apprentice sister walk away with her head down. He could tell that Dongfang Bubai was successful in upsetting to her but did not like it. He pursed his lips and cast an annoyed glance at Dongfang Bubai.

Lin Pingzhi remained in his position looking at Linghu Chong and Dongfang Bubai enviously. Dongfang Bubai was in so many ways better than Yue Lingshan. She was much prettier and had better martial arts skills. He only wished that he had known her much earlier.

Linghu Chong looked at Dongfang Bubai and said, “I need to talk to Junior Apprentice Brother Lin about something.”

Dongfang Bubai took her hands off him with her eyes looking at him affectionately. “Your wish is my command,” she said in a soft voice. After that, she turned around and walked away with an air of elegance.

Lin Pingzhi walked up to Linghu Chong and said, “Senior Apprentice Brother, me and little apprentice sister…”

Linghu Chong raised his hand and interrupted him, “I just want to tell you your father’s last words to me before his death.”

Lin Pingzhi replied eagerly, “What were his last words?”

Linghu Chong continued, “He said that there is an item in your ancestral home in Fuzhou that you must protect it well. You are not to look at it as it will lead to a disastrous aftermath.”

Lin Pingzhi knitted his brows and uttered, “Ancestral home in Fuzhou? It’s been so long since anyone has ever been there. What kind of thing would be so precious that no one is allowed to look at it?”

Linghu Chong shook his head and said, “I am not sure. He died before he could finish his words.” After relaying the message, he turned to the right and walked away.

Lin Pingzhi propped his hands on his waist and fixed his eyes on the ground as he tried to figure out what item was his father talking about.

………………………

Yue Buqun placed his index and middle fingers on Linghu Chong’s wrist examining his pulse.

Linghu Chong look at his master and said, “Master, am I really incurable?”

Yue Buqun took his fingers away and sighed, “Chong’Er, the different streams of inner energy inside your body is strange and ferocious. I am unable to cure you for now. I can only use my inner energy to suppress it and reduce your pain. However, from now on there will be six streams of inner energy accumulated inside your body. You don’t have to worry. I will find a way to cure you.”

Linghu Chong kneeled at his master and said, “Master, you’ve exhausted so much inner energy because of me and cares so much for me. I die with no regrets.”

Yue Buqun rose from his seat and helped him up, “Get up first.”

Linghu Chong bowed. “Thank you, Master.”

Yue Buqun placed his hands behind his back. “Do you remember what I told you to remember when I first taught you martial arts?”

Linghu Chong nodded and said, “Learning martial arts is a long process and needs to be done one step at a time. Nothing can be achieved hastily.”

Yue Buqun continued, “That’s right. The world’s martial arts knowledge is broad and profound as well as diverse. If you become greedy and secretly learn the martial arts of other sects then you would suffer fire deviation and destroy your own life.”

Linghu Chong replied, “Disciple has never forgotten Master’s teachings.”

Yue Buqun glared at him and asked, “Why don’t you tell me what sword skills were you using against Chen Buqi the other day?”

Linghu Chong was startled. “Master, disciple did not use other sect’s sword arts,” he explained.

Yue Buqun retorted, “But it was not the sword arts that I taught you either.”

Linghu Chong looked down and became silent. Since he promised Feng Qingyang that he would not tell anyone about learning sword arts from him there was no way he could reveal the truth to his master.

Yue Buqun patted Linghu Chong’s shoulder and continued, “Chong’Er, everyone makes mistakes. But one needs to recognize their mistakes and make corrections. Just tell me if you have secretly learned the Resisting Evil Swordplay. I won’t be angry with you.”

Linghu Chong sighed as he replied, “Master, please trust me. The sword arts that I was using is not the Resisting Evil Swordplay.” He paused for a moment and then said, “The sword arts I was using was imparted to me by a martial arts exponent.”

Yue Buqun stared at him suspiciously, “Who is this martial arts exponent?”

Linghu Chong pursed his lips and replied, “Disciple promised this senior that I will not disclose his identity. Please forgive me, Master.”

Yue Buqun looked at him dubiously. He could tell that something was not right but he also knew that if Linghu Chong had decided not say a word he will keep his words even if his life is at threat. “Very well. I am not going to make things difficult for you then,” he said. “But you must tell me who is the girl that brought you back. I want to know where did she come from.”

Linghu Chong responded very quickly, “She is my friend and her name is Dongfang Bái. She saved my life twice and is my life savior.”

From his body language Yue Buqun could tell that he was not hiding anything this time. “What about those streams of inner energy in your body?” he asked.

Linghu Chong continued, “She transferred those inner energies into my body to save me.”

Yue Buqun hummed as he nodded. “Do you know that using such a method to save you is actually bringing harm to you? Your body has been greatly damaged because of these energies.”

Linghu Chong nodded and said, “I understand. But if it wasn’t for her I would have died a long time ago. It was her who brought be back to life. So even if my body is now badly damaged I can’t blame her for it…”

Yue Buqun asked, “What sect does this girl come from?”

Linghu Chong shook his head, “I did not bother to ask her. I only know that she has great martial arts skills.”

Yue Buqun narrowed his eyes and stared at Linghu Chong dubiously.

“Grand Apprentice Uncle once said that he suspects Miss Dongfang is from the devil cult. I cannot let Master know about this. Master hates the devil cult. If he finds out about this he will certainly harm Miss Dongfang,” Linghu Chong thought to himself.

…………………..

The sun had risen. Yue Lingshan decided to go down the mountain to collect some herbs by herself. It was one of those moments where she wanted to be alone.

Seeing that Yue Lingshan was all alone, Dongfang Bubai decided to sure of the opportunity to have a word with her. Dongfang Bubai placed a basket behind her back and said, “The place that we passed earlier had a wider selection of wild herbs. Why did we have to come all the way here instead? The herbs here are not that good anyway.”

Yue Lingshan looked at Dongfang Bubai with a smile, “You don’t need to tell me where I should or should not go. I just like to pick herbs from here.” She placed a herb into the basket and returned to her feet.

Dongfang Bubai replied in teasing voice, “Of course I have no right to tell you where to go. It’s just that some people’s perception of things tend to be different from others. For some people, when they stumble upon gold they will truly treasure it. There are also some who does not appreciate it at all.” She paused for a moment, then added, “Your Big Apprentice Brother treats you so well but why is it that you can’t see it? If you don’t crave for a good man like your Big Apprentice Brother there are many others who would crave for him.”

Yue Lingshan cast a glare at Dongfang Bubai. “You crave for him?” she asked in a stern voice.

Dongfang Bubai nodded, “Of course I do! Am I not allowed to do so?”

Yue Lingshan looked away and hummed softly. “It’s good that you are happy. You don’t need to tell me about it.”

Dongfang Bubai smirked, “That’s because I’m fear that one day you will change your mind and snatch him back from me. I will be heartbroken when that happens.” She looked at Yue Lingshan and pretended to be depressed.

Yue Lingshan looked at her and said confidently, “You don’t have to worry. No matter what happens I will never snatch him away from you.”

Dongfang Bubai smiled lightly and said, “If that is the case I don’t have to worry anymore.” After she finished her words, she looked to the front and walked away.

The two of them were on their way back to Mount Hua. Yue Lingshan halted her steps to look at some mushrooms on the summit of a cliff.

Dongfang Bubai noticed Yue Lingshan looking at the mushrooms. She smiled coldly and said, “Some people are always like that. They prefer to admire the flowers in the distance over the ones up close. Just like those mushrooms up there. It may look big and beautiful from here but when you eventually get your hands on it you may start to realize that it is actually nothing impressive.”

Yue Lingshan looked down and ignored Dongfang Bubai’s flattery words. She already knew that Dongfang Bubai was trying to tell her that Linghu Chong is a gem and she should appreciate him.

Dongfang Bubai noticed the uninterested looks on Yue Lingshan’s face. Thinking that she had yet to deliver the message across to Yue Lingshan effectively, she decided to use another method to prove her point. She suddenly ran in circles around Yue Lingshan and subsequently sprang toward the cliff and climbed toward the summit in a flash.

Yue Lingshan felt a strong wind around her and was completely startled. Before she knew it Dongfang Bubai was already at the summit. She had never seen anyone with such extraordinary lightness skill.

Dongfang Bubai looked at the mushroom and then looked down at Yue Lingshan.

Yue Lingshan looked down to avoid an eye contact with her.

Dongfang Bubai pursed her lips and plucked three mushrooms off the rock. After that, she turned around, descended the cliff and landed in front of Yue Lingshan in a blink of an eye. She raised her arm and looked at the mushrooms in her hand. “These mushrooms are indeed not as nice as the one I picked earlier,” she snorted and threw the mushrooms to the ground. “I’m done collecting herbs. I’m leaving now.” She turned around and walked away with a cold smile on her face.

Yue Lingfeng coincidentally appeared at the scene. He folded his arms and walked towards Yue Lingshan.

Yue Lingshan heard his footsteps and quickly turned to look at him. “Big Brother!” she called out childishly.

Yue Lingfeng ignored his adopted sister and fixed his eyes on Dongfang Bubai. “Her lightness skills look familiar,” he thought to himself. He knitted his brows and pondered to himself for a moment. “Oh yes! It’s similar to devil cult…Qu Yang had the same skill but his was not as profound as this lady here.” He looked at Yue Lingshan and said, “Adopted Mother is looking everywhere for you. You better return to the mountain now.”

Yue Lingshan nodded without saying a word.

…………………….

It was a cold and wind night. Yue Lingfeng stood at a corridor playing his flute. The melancholic tune floated in the air.

Dongfang Bubai exited a room and cast a quick look at Yue Lingfeng. She recognized him as one of the Huashan Sect disciples.

Yue Lingfeng returned a side glance at her and started playing another song. This time the music was relaxing and calm.

Dongfang Bubai took a step forward and was startled to hear the music. She took a deep breath and asked, “Little kid, where did you learn this music from?”

Yue Lingfeng replied in a cold voice without looking at her, “I heard this nursery rhyme from my mother when I was a little kid. My elder sister likes singing it too. The both of them are no longer around. I’m the only one left.”

Dongfang Bubai listened to him with her eyes wide open. His body language and tone reminded her of someone. “Where is your home?” she asked in a soft voice.

Yue Lingfeng placed the flute behind his back. “My adopted parents saved me from a village in Dingzhou prefecture,” he said indifferently.

“Adopted parents?” Dongfang Bubai murmured.

Yue Lingfeng nodded, “My Big Apprentice Brother may be the Huashan Sect’s head disciple but I have been selected as the one who will succeed my adopted father.” After finishing his words, he turned toward Dongfang Bubai. “Sorry if I bore you. I’m not even sure why I’m telling you so much. I rarely tell anyone about myself,” he uttered.

Dongfang Bubai felt sudden warmth from Yue Lingfeng, as though they had known each other for a long time. This was the first time she had such a feeling. Instead of teasing him like how she does to the other Huashan Sect disciples, she just smiled and said, “It’s okay. You did not bore me. My village is in Dingzhou prefecture too. Oh, I also enjoyed listening to your music.”

“Feng’Er!” a female voice called out. Ning Zhongze exited a room and walked towards Yue Lingfeng.

Yue Lingfeng bowed at Ning Zhongze, “Adopted Mother, how come you are still awake?”

Ning Zhongze replied, “Your Adopted Father wants to have a word with you.” She reached for Yue Lingfeng’s hand and walked him to a room.

Dongfang Bubai folded her arms and stared at Yue Lingfeng. “Dingzhou prefecture…nursery rhyme…could this kid be little brother? Is heaven really trying to play a joke on me? My sister is with Hengshan and my brother is with Huashan? No wonder Master once said that the martial arts world is every changing and unpredictable....” she thought to herself. “No matter what, I’m going to find out if this kid here is really my biological brother!”

………………………………………

Linghu Chong lazed on his bed mulling to himself. He reached for a cup and took a gulp of tea. “Sigh…if only I had wine with me now…” he sighed. “Oh well, it’s still good to be sleeping in my own bed instead of that bunk bed in the cliff!”

Just then, there was a knock on the door. “Linghu Chong!” a female voice from the outside called out.

Linghu Chong slowly climbed out of the bed and limped over to the door. He pulled the door open and noticed Dongfang Bubai was standing outside the room.

“Miss Dongfang? What are you doing here so late?” he asked.

Dongfang Bubai showed him a bottle in her hand. “Since you’re still awake, care to join me for a drink?” she asked.

Linghu Chong held the bottle in his hand and pulled off the lid. He took a sniff and let out a sigh of joy. “This smells like a good wine…” he uttered.

Dongfang Bubai looked left and right. “If you don’t want anyone to see you drinking here we better go inside your room,” she said.

Linghu Chong raised his brows and said, “Drink in my room?”

Dongfang Bubai folded her arms and replied in a stern voice, “What? You’re worried that I’m going to eat you up?”

Linghu Chong smirked, “I only have half my life left. Why would I even be afraid? If you are not afraid of others seeing you in my room then you can come in!”

Dongfang Bubai smiled faintly, “You can’t even beat me in a fight so there’s nothing to be afraid of.” She stepped into the room and closed the door behind them.

Linghu Chong filled a bowl with wine and handed it to Dongfang Bubai.

“There’s something I want to ask you,” Dongfang Bubai said in a stern voice.

From the tone of her voice, Linghu Chong knew that it was a serious matter. “Other than our Huashan Sect secrets I can tell you anything you want to know,” he responded.

Dongfang Bubai stared at him and said in a serious voice, “I only want to know about your Master’s adopted son.”

Linghu Chong looked at her with his eyes wide open. “You’re interested in him now? Hey! What about me? Thought you said that you will be with me every day!” he jokingly replied.

Dongfang Bubai narrowed her eyes and replied in a fierce voice, “Stop talking nonsense! You knew that I was only trying to help you win back your little apprentice sister the other day!”

Linghu Chong poured the wine down his throat and then replied, “Alright! Alright! Why don’t you tell me why you are suddenly interested with my second apprentice brother?”

Dongfang Bubai lifted up the cup and finished drinking the wine in one gulp. “He may be my long lost brother!” she murmured.

Linghu Chong was completely startled. “Second Apprentice Brother is your long lost brother? Sworn brother?”

Dongfang Bubai snorted, “Biological brother! I got separated with him and Yi Lin years ago. How much do you know about him?”

Linghu Chong popped a peanut in his mouth. “After taking me in, Second Apprentice Brother is the second most senior disciple in Huashan Sect. He is also the best martial artist in the entire Huashan Sect. We may be under the same master but we rarely talk so I don’t really know much about him. He likes to keep everything to himself. Mistress is probably the only one who knows a lot about him,” he explained.

“How come he became your Master’s adopted son?” Dongfang Bubai asked.

Linghu Chong took another gulp of wine and replied, “Master said that Second Apprentice Brother had the perfect stature to learn martial arts and carries an air of chivalry. Hence, he adopted Second Apprentice Brother and gave him the name Yue Lingfeng. Master hopes that his successor would bear the Yue family name and continue to lead Huashan Sect for generations.”

Dongfang Bubai looked away and muttered, “His stature is inborn…My Master once said that I had that kind of stature too. Yi Lin is probably the only one who does not have it…” She then looked back at Linghu Chong and said, “Do you know where your Master found him?”

Linghu Chong nodded, “Dingzhou Prefecture. Master said that a group of bandits raided a village and killed many people. He found Second Apprentice Brother running around looking for his elder sister. Master and Mistress took pity on him and brought him back to Mount Hua.”

Dongfang Bubai rose from her seat and stood beside a window. “Could it be really him?” she muttered.

Linghu Chong smiled and said, “Since you’re already here why don’t you go and ask him yourself. I’m sure that he would be very happy to see you again.”

Dongfang Bubai pursed her lips and nodded. “Reuniting with both my siblings would be the happiest moment of my life. I will go and ask him myself tomorrow,” she muttered.

…………………………….

Yue Buqun handed a piece of paper to Yue Lingfeng. “I received this note moments ago,” he said.

Yue Lingfeng took a quick look at the paper. He was startled by the words written on it. “The girl that brought Big Apprentice Brother back is associated is a spy from the devil cult? Could it be that someone is playing a trick on us?” he stuttered.

Yue Buqun hummed as he shook his head. “The person who sent this message signed off as Priest Chongxu. The Wudang Sect is one of the top righteous sects in the martial arts community. I doubt that Priest Chongxu would play such a trick on us,” he explained.

Ning Zhongze looked at her husband worriedly. “Senior Apprentice Brother, we cannot allow a devil cult disciple to watch over us,” she sighed.

Yue Buqun clenched his teeth and said, “I will never allow a devil cult disciple to run riot in our Huashan Sect. I already have a plan to deal with her.”

Yue Lingfeng placed the paper behind his back as his hand started to tremble. “The girl said that her village is also in Dingzhou prefecture. What if she is really my sister…? I cannot allow Master to harm my biological sister…neither can I do something to betray Huashan Sect….What should I do…?” he thought to himself distressingly.

………………………..

Dongfang Bubai returned to a room and saw a jade hairpin lying on top of a note on a table. She held the jade hairpin and looked at it with her eyes wide open. “This jade hairpin is mine….” She then reached for the note and read it: ‘I’ll be waiting for you at the Repentance Cliff; Dongfang Xióng’ Dongfang Bubai staggered to the back and fell onto a chair. “It’s definitely my little brother who left me this note!” She tucked it into her pocket and rushed out of the room.

It was extremely quiet at the Repentance Cliff. Yue Lingfeng was sitting under a pavilion by himself. He looked up at the moon and heaved a sigh. “Feiyan, if you can see up from up there can you please tell me if that girl is my biological sister…”

“She is indeed your sister,” a female voice said. Dongfang Bubai gracefully landed on the ground. “My father named me Dongfang Bái and my little brother Dongfang Xióng.”

Yue Lingfeng rose from his seat and turned toward her. He looked at her astonishingly. “Sister?!!” he uttered with his mouth wide open.

Dongfang Bubai nodded. Her eyes got wet the moment she realized that the young man standing in front of her was her biological brother. She showed him the jade hairpin, “I gave an amulet to your little sister and the jade hairpin to you when you were a kid.”

Yue Lingfeng ran over to Dongfang Bubai and embraced her. “Sister! It’s really you!” he sobbed.

Dongfang Bubai patted him on the back. “I’ve never thought that I’ll be able to see you again…” she sighed joyfully.

“Ever since I first saw you at Mount Hua I could tell that you’re closely related to me…A family bonding is something that cannot be hidden…” he said.

Dongfang Bubai nodded, “Yes! Especially the two of us! Father used to say that we’re the closest….”

Yue Lingfeng’s eyes were filled with tears. “Sister! You have no idea how much I missed you…I climbed out of the barrel to look for you but could not find you…” he said.

Dongfang Bubai held his arm and walked him to the pavilion. They took a seat and continued chatting. “I did go back to look for you and little sister too but I was too late…” Dongfang Bubai explained.

Yue Lingfeng suddenly remembered that he came here to warn him about something. “Sister, you’ve to leave Mount Hua at once!” he said in a stern voice.

Dongfang Bubai looked at him confusingly. “Why? We just reunited. I want to spend more time with my little brother…” she said.

Yue Lingfeng shook his head, “Not now. Adopted Father got to know that you’re from the devil cult. He is going to try and ambush you.”

Dongfang Bubai asked astonishingly, “How did he know about it?”

Yue Lingfeng continued, “That is not important right now. Your safety is more important! I would never allow anyone to harm you!”

Dongfang Bubai knitted her brows and thought to herself, “Could it be Linghu Chong who disclosed my identity to Yue Buqun? But how would Linghu Chong know that I come from the divine cult? Perhaps Feng Qingyang told him…we fought for many bouts and he could probably tell me background from my skills.” She looked at Yue Lingfeng and patted his arm, “Alright. I will certainly come and visit you again. When you have the time, go to Hengshan Sect and visit Yi Lin. She’s our little sister.”

“Little sister is alive too? She became a nun?!” Yue Lingfeng said shockingly.

Dongfang Bubai nodded with a sigh, “I told her to leave with me but she refused…”

Yue Lingfeng pursed his lips and then asked, “Sister, are you with the devil cult…?”

Dongfang Bubai looked him in the eye and nodded. Since Yue Lingfeng was her biological brother she felt that he had the right to know the truth. “My Master saved me and brought me back to Dark Wood Cliff years ago,” she explained.

Yue Lingfeng looked away as he shook his head. “The Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance and devil cult have been sworn enemies for decades. It is truly shocking to know that we belong to opposing sides…”

Dongfang Bubai looked down and sighed. “Why don’t you leave Huashan Sect and come with me,” she said.

Yue Lingfeng shook his head. “Adopted Father treats me like his own son and I’m his successor. I can’t just leave like that,” he explained. “I am not going to ask you to leave the devil cult too. Perhaps there will come a day when the two of us can clear all enmity between the two sides and leave harmoniously.”

Dongfang Bubai nodded with a smile. “You’re willful like me. I’m certain that there will come a day that you will lead the righteous sect. I have confidence in you,” she said.

Yue Lingfeng rose from his seat and said, “Though it is the Songshan Sect that controls the Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance now but I’m confident that things will turn around real soon.”

Dongfang Bubai smiled and said, “I will help you to achieve your dream. Zuo Lengchan isn’t really that powerful.”

“Let’s not talk about this now. You better leave before Master sees you,” Yue Lingfeng said.

…………………………...

Lao Denuo ran into a room. He bowed at Yue Buqun with his hands cupped, “Master, the woman is nowhere to be found. I suspect that she had left Mount Hua.”

Yue Buqun glared at him and said, “What? She is gone?!”

Lao Denuo looked down as he nodded.

Ning Zhongze walked up to her husband with a worrying look on her face. “Senior Apprentice Brother, she left so suddenly. Could it be that she found out about our trap and ran away? Would she come back and take revenge? I don’t know why I’m feeling unease…”

Yue Buqun pursed his lips and mulled to himself. “Could it be that there is a traitor in Huashan? Only Junior Apprentice Sister and Feng’er knew that we were planning to trap that evil demoness. Could it be Feng’er who alerted her?” he thought to himself.

Ning Zhongze continued, “How about we descend the mountain and hide for a while?”

Yue Buqun narrowed his eyes and uttered in a cold voice, “Hide?” He thought for a moment and then nodded his head. “Sounds like a good idea. How about this, notify all the disciples and tell them that we will set off the Mount Song to find Zuo Lengchan.”

Ning Zhongze looked at her husband confusingly, “Go to Mount Song?”

Yue Buqun stepped to the side. “That’s right. If words get out that we left Mount Hua to hide from that demoness we will surely become a laughingstock. But if we go Mount Song to negotiate with Zuo Lengchan people will only admire us for our courage. But this time we can’t bring Chong’er along with us.”

Yue Lingshan overheard her father’s words while she was on her way to the room. She hid behind a pillar and continued to eavesdrop.

Ning Zhongze looked at her husband and said, “Why can’t we bring Chong’er with us?”

Yue Buqun responded, “Long journey can be tiring. With his current condition I’m afraid that he won’t be able to take it.”

Ning Zhongze sighed, “What will happen to Chong’er then?”

Yue Buqun hummed agitatedly, “If he did enter the path of the sword branch while he was at the Repentance Cliff, I would have imparted the Divine Art of Violet Twilight to him long time ago. By practicing according to the methods of the art he would be able to cure his injury on his own and he wouldn’t have come to such a state!”

Ning Zhongze walked toward her husband. “Senior Apprentice Brother, since Divine Art of Violet Twilight can cure Chong’er’s injury why don’t we leave him with the Divine Art of Violet Twilight manual so that he can heal on his own?”

Yue Buqun interrupted, “Absolutely not! The Divine Art of Violet Twilight is our sect’s ultimate skill. If it falls into the hands of the devil cult how am I going to face our ancestors?”

“How about we get Feng’er to stay behind to teach Chong’er the Divine Art of Violet Twilight? He has been practicing it for a long time now,” Ning Zhongze said.

Yue Buqun folded his arms without saying a word. “If Feng’er is really the traitor, I can’t let him stay be alone with Chong’er. I should keep a close eye on him,” he thought to himself. He then looked at his wife and said, “Feng’er may have learned the Divine Art of Violet Twilight but he won’t be able to impart it to Chong’er the right way. A single mistake can cause Chong’er his life.”

Yue Lingshan pursed her lips and looked down on the ground feeling upset. Linghu Chong had been treating her very well ever since they were kids. Now that he was injured there was nothing she could do to ease his pain and her parents are even going to leave him in the mountain all by himself. She was completely saddened by this.

…………..

Yue Lingfeng propped Linghu Chong up by the shoulder and helped him sit at a table.

Linghu Chong looked at him and said, “Second Apprentice Brother, there is something that I need to tell you about. It’s regarding Miss Dongfang.”

Yue Lingfeng nodded, “Senior Apprentice Brother, I already know about it. Sister left Mount Hua late last night after we had a long chat.”

Linghu Chong knitted his brows, “Miss Dongfang is gone? How come she left so sudden?”

Yue Lingfeng sighed, “She said that she had something urgent to attend to. She will come back to see us real soon.”

Linghu Chong shook his head with a smile. “She’s always like that. Come like a wind and go like wind…”

Yue Lingfeng patted his senior apprentice brother’s shoulder. “Senior Apprentice Brother, Adopted Father already knows that sister is associated with the devil cult. I hope that…”

Linghu Chong raised his hand said responded, “Miss Dongfang saved my life twice. I would never do anything to betray her neither will I tell him that you’re related to her. I know Master’s behavior very well.”

Yue Lingfeng got down on his knees and bowed at him. “Thank you, Big Apprentice Brother.”

Linghu Chong reached his hand out and helped Yue Lingfeng up. “Get up first. You’re my apprentice brother and Miss Dongfang is my friend. Your secrets are save with me.”

End of Chapter 16