0 Chapter 15

The moon was full that night and the clouds that were moving in front of the moons light. Linghu Chong and Dongfang Bubai sat outside the cave drinking wine. Linghu Chong handed the bottle to Dongfang Bubai. “Want to tell me why you’ve been disguising as a man?” he suddenly asked.

Dongfang Bubai stared angrily at him. “Why do you always poke your nose into other people’s business?!” she grunted.

Linghu Chong grinned and said, “Aren’t we friends? There should not be any secrets between friends.”

Dongfang Bubai pursed her lips and looked down to the ground annoyingly. Ever since her master took her back to the Dark Wood Cliff, she had been keeping her angst to herself. Other than her master and Yi Lin, no one else under the heaven knew about her past.

Linghu Chong noticed the unhappy expression on her face. “Let it out! You will feel better when you let it all out,” he said with a grin.

Dongfang Bubai looked up at the moon and sighed, “This happened fourteen years ago. During that year, my village was raided by a group of notorious bandits. My parents left me and my two younger siblings behind while they ran away with my baby brother. He was bore by my stepmother hence she had always loved him more. I had no knowledge of martial arts back then and had to make sure that the bandits did harm them. Hence, I had no choice but to hide them in two separate barrels while I lured them out of the village. They caught up with me and surrounded me at a nearby river. I thought that I was going to die but my master showed up and killed all of them. He insisted that he had no intention to save me and was only trying to stop them from interrupting his martial arts training.”

Linghu Chong hummed and said, “Your master is weird for sure. There is no need to come up with other excuses to save someone from danger.”

Dongfang Bubai smiled dryly, “Now that I think back again, I’ve a feeling that he was telling the truth. Only you, Linghu Chong will blindly go your way out to save a complete stranger.”

Linghu Chong snorted, “My master has always taught me that the reason for learning martial arts is to defend the weak and punish the wicked. I don’t think I did anything wrong. Furthermore, if I was not so nosy you would never have gotten to know me!”

Dongfang Bubai looked away and pursed her lips to contain her smile. She agreed with Linghu Chong that it was his interesting character that caught her attention but refused to admit it to him.

Linghu Chong looked at her and continued, “So what happened next? You had to disguise as a man to be able to learn martial arts from your master?”

Dongfang Bubai nodded and said, “He said that it was one of the conditions that I had to fulfill. Saving my younger siblings was the only thing in my mind. I agreed to disguise as a man so that he would take me in as his disciple. Unfortunately by the time I got back to my village both my siblings had already gone missing.” She paused for a moment and looked down to the ground disappointingly. She then let out a sigh of relief, “Thank heavens I finally found Yi Lin…But my younger brother is still missing…”

After hearing her past, Linghu Chong was convinced that she is a good sister. “Someone who sacrifided so much for her loved ones cannot be bad person,” he thought to himself. He turned toward her and said, “Miss Dongfang, you’ve my word that once I’ve completed my punishment I’ll go to Mount Heng with you to clear things up with Junior Martial Sister Yi Lin. I don’t want to see her get all worked up because of me too.”

Dongfang Bubai knitted her brows and stared at him. “You don’t really have much of a choice. I’m going to hang around here till you’re done with you punishment. You’ve nowhere to run,” she smiled wickedly.

Linghu Chong looked at her with his eyes wide open. “You’re not going to share the same bed with me right?” he asked shockingly.

Dongfang Bubai glared at him and said, “I’m not such a casual girl!”

Linghu Chong looked at her in distress. “You’re not going to ask me to sleep on the floor so that you can occupy my bed right till my punishment is over too right?” he asked worriedly.

Dongfang Bubai laughed and said, “That is a great idea!”

Linghu Chong shook his head and let out a sigh, “Heavens…what have I do wrong to deserve such treatments?”

After talking and drinking for an hour, Linghu Chong finally felt sleepy. Since he knew that Dongfang Bubai was a girl and had saved his life once, he obligingly allowed her to sleep on the bunk bed while he sleeps on the floor.

Dongfang Bubai woke up in the middle of the night and noticed Linghu Chong sitting against the side of the bunk bed asleep. Seeing that the fire stove was about to die off, she climbed out from the bunk bed and added some wood into the stove to keep the fire burning so that Linghu Chong wouldn’t feel cold.

She crouched beside Linghu Chong, propped her face with her hands and fix her eyes on at him. “He indeed a gentleman,” she thought to herself.

The sun had risen. Linghu Chong woke up and found himself lying on the bunk bed. “When did I get on here?” he thought to himself.

The fire stove was still burning but Dongfang Bubai was nowhere to be found. Linghu Chong climbed out from the bunk bed and went around the cave looking for her.

“Breakfast is here,” Dongfang Bubai walked into the cave with a meal basket in her hand

Linghu Chong ran toward her. “I thought that you left,” he said.

Dongfang Bubai gave him a cold stare. “Didn’t I say that as long as you’re not leaving I wouldn’t leave either?” she replied. She placed the meal basket on the round table. “I bought some dim sum from a nearby teahouse. Help yourself with it.”

Linghu Chong took a sniff, “Wow! It smells good!” He then paused for a moment. “Did you carry me to the bed last night?” he asked curiously.

Dongfang Bubai grinned, “Your Grand Apprentice Uncle was nowhere to be seen so it’s either me or a ghost who did.”

Linghu Chong folded his arms and continued, “This won’t work. If anyone sees us in the cave they might start to gossip.”

Dongfang Bubai glared at him and said, “I know that too. I’ve found a quiet and secluded place not far from here to stay. You’re not going to get rid of me so easily! You might also regret getting rid of me because there won’t be anyone who will send you fat chicken and good wine that often anymore.”

Linghu Chong shook his head with a smile. For once he was completely lost for words. Dongfang Bubai had outwitted him completely.

Another month had passed. It was a quiet morning at Mount Hua. two fierce looking men in their forties armed with swords stormed their way into the main hall. One of them casted a quick look around the hall to see if there was any Huashan Sect disciple around.

Liang Fa, one of the Huashan Sect apprentices ran toward them. “Seniors, may I know who you’re looking for?” he bowed with his hands cupped.

One of the middle aged men channeled his inner energy to his hand and struck his pam out at Liang Fa’s chest.

Liang Fa flew backwards and fell down on the floor in pain.

Lu Dayou ran into the main hall and helped his junior martial brother up from the floor. “Junior Martial Brother, are you alright?”

Liang Fa stared at the two middle aged men angrily. “They barged into the hall and attacked me for no reason!” he groaned.

The middle aged man who attacked Liang Fa was Chen Buyou while the other middle aged man was his senior martial brother, Cong Buqi. They were the Huashan Sect’s Sword-Branch members.

Cong Buqi glazed at Lu Dayou and Liang Fa viciously. “Who would have thought that Yue Buqun’s disciples martial arts skills are so weak,” he smirked.

Lu Dayou stepped forward and retorted, “How dare you barged into our premise and injured our disciple!”

Cong Buqi shot his hand out and grabbed Lu Dayou by the throat and strangled him, “Go and tell Yue Buqun to come out and see me!”

Lu Dayou grabbed Cong Buqi’s hand tightly as he gasped for air.

“You two are seniors but yet you’re picking on a junior. How can you still call yourself a hero? If words gets out you’re going to be a laughing stock,” a voice male suddenly came from the back.

Cong Buqi glanced over his shoulder and noticed that it was Yue Buqun talking. He let go of Lu Dayou and placed his hand behind his back.

Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze took a seat on the pedestal. “The two of you have retired from the martial arts world for over a decade now and severed all relationship with our Huashan Sect ever since. What brings you to Mount Hua today?” Yue Buqun asked.

Chen Buyou snorted in anger, “How funny! Apprentice Brother Yue! Are you claiming that it was you who bought Mount Hua? And we members of the Sword Faction are not allowed to come?!!”

Yue Buqun calmly replied, “Of course you’re welcome to visit Mount Hua. It’s just that I no longer have any martial ties with any of you. Therefore you don’t need to call me apprentice brother.”

Cong Buqi got up from his seat. “Very well. Since you’ve severed our previous martial ties completely then don’t blame us for being rude and disregarding our previous sect brotherhood.”

Chen Buyou glared at Yue Buqun and growled, “Your master seized control of the Mount Hua Sect by using devious methods that year. Today we’ve come to settle our old score!”

Yue Buqun smiled and replied, “So you’re come to settle an old score?” He stood up and walked down the pedestal and continued, “How do you want to settle it?”

Cong Buqi stared at him coldly and said, “You’ve seized theHuashan Sect’s head master position for twenty years now. It’s time you relinquish your position.”

Yue Buqun burst out laughing, “So the two of you came to Mount Hua to seize my position as the sect head master? Unfortunately the sword-branch has entered the unorthodox path. If our Huashan Sect falls into the control of the sword-branch then our apprentices will suffer a tragic fate.”

Cong Buqi retorted angrily, “Nonsense!”

Chen Buyou started laughing, “If Brother Yue is such a great leader then how come the Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance is now being headed by the Mount Song Sect? And how come you’re willing to follow Mount Song Sect’s command like a dog?”

Ning Zhongze finally spoke up, “Chen Buyou! So you’re trying to say that you’re more capable? Fine! Then how about I seek some pointers from you today?!”

Chen Buyou hummed angrily, “Heroine Ning is a top martial artist of the Mount Hua Sect qi-branch (qi means energy). Everyone in the world knows that! Today I, Chen Buyou, of the sword-branch would also like to seek some pointers from Heroine Ning. I would like to see which branch’s martial arts skills are better!”

Ning Zhongze drew her sword and flew toward Chen Buyou.

Chen Buyou reached for the handle of his sword and started attacking each other at full speed.

Ning Zhongze leapt into the air to dodge a thrust and subsequently kicked Chen Buyou’s chest.

Chen Buyou stumbled two steps back. He quickly regained his balance and caught Ning Zhongze’s ankle with his hand, and spun her around numerous times, before hurling her back to her husband.

Yue Buqun leaped toward his wife and caught her with his arms before returning to ground. After that, he drew his sword and dashed toward Chen Buyou, attacking him relentlessly. He swirled his sword at Chen Buyou’s sword with an exceptional speed, knocking Chen Buyou’s sword off his hand and sent it plunging into a wooden pillar.

Before Chen Buyou could make another move, his right shoulder was struck by Yue Buqun’s palm. He lost his footing and stumbled twenty steps backward.

Cong Buqi went forward and propped his junior martial brother from behind.

Cheng Buyou pressed his right shoulder and coughed painfully.

“Yue Buqun, your Violet Twilight Divine Skill was executed very well. But this inner energy skill alone isn’t enough to put Mount Hua Sect at the top. The Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance’s top sect should be determined by using sword skills. You persistently practice inner energy to the point of falling into the unorthodox path. You’re heading the Mount Hua Sect but yet you entered the unorthodox path therefore it is you who is ruining our apprentices!”

“Head Master Yue!” a voice coming from the outside called out. A group of sword wielding men dressed in red stepped into the main hall. They were the members of the Mount Song Sect.

Yue Buqun bowed at them, “So it’s Senior Martial Brother Ding of the Mount Song Sect.”

Ning Zhongze walked toward Ding Mian. “Senior Martial Brother Ding, you came at the right time. These three former Mount Hua members have the nerves to come to Mount Hua and create trouble. They’re forcing Senior Martial Brother to step down as the head master. Don’t you think that this is ridiculous?”

Ding Mian replied, “I actually came here because of this matter.”

Yue Buqun nodded with a smile, “Great! Senior Martial Brother please help us resolve this matter.”

Ding Mian rasied silk flag in five colors, “Chief Alliance Zuo had ordered that the Mount Hua Sect head master position to be handed to Feng Buping of the sword branch!”

Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze were shocked by Ding Mian’s words.

“So the two of them are secretly consorting with the Songshan Sect…,” Yue Buqun stared at the three sword-branch members. “Ding Mian mentioned the name Feng Buping…I don’t see him here…where is he?” he thought to himself.

In the meantime, Linghu Chong was lazing at the edge of the cliff daydreaming. It was one of those days where he just didn’t have the mood to practice his sword skills.

Lu Dayou ran toward the cliff hurriedly. “Big Apprentice Brother! Bad news!” he shouted frantically.

Linghu Chong sat up and turned his head to look at him. “What’s going on?”

“Master and Mistress are back!” Lu Dayou replied.

Linghu Chong scratched his head, “Isn’t it good that Master and Mistress are back? Why are you worrying over nothing?”

Lu Dayou shook his head and replied, “No! What happened was the moment Master and Mistress got back, some people showed up and started causing trouble. They claimed to be part of our Huashan Sect but Master refused to acknowledge them as martial brothers.”

Linghu Chong looked at Lu Dayou confusingly, “How come the more I hear the more confuse I become? Did I not have enough of wine today?”

“Anyways it’s big trouble! Mistress has already engaged in a fight with them!” Lu Dayou exclaimed.

Linghu Chong showed an astonished expression and said, “That’s bad news!”

Lu Dayou nodded, “Big Apprentice Brother! Let’s go and help! I’m just worried that the situation will become worst!”

Linghu Chong pulled himself up from the ground. “Let’s go!”

As Linghu Chong and Lu Dayou ran along the pathway as they head towards the main hall.

Suddenly a loud female voice started calling out, “Linghu Chong! Where are you?!” Dongfang Bubai somersaulted in the air and landed in front of him. “Didn’t you say that you will not get down from the cliff until you’ve completed your one year term? Why are you breaking your own promise?” she stared at him fiercely.

Linghu Chong gasped as he replied, “Master and Master-Wife are in danger. I can’t stay here and chat!” He finished his sentence and walked off with Lu Dayou.

Dongfang Bubai looked at them with a cold smile on her face. “Could Huashan Sect be in trouble? That’s good news,” she thought to herself.

She placed her hands behind her back and went after them. “How about if I go with you?” she said.

Linghu Chong paused and turned around to look at her. “But why?” he asked.

Dongfang Bubai stood in front of him and replied, “How am I going to catch you if you happen to run away?”

Lu Dayou walked up to her and said, “Where did this long winded girl come from? We’ve urgent matters to attend to! Get out of the way!”

Dongfang Bu Bai shot her hand out and thrust her index finger at Lu Dayou’s right shoulder, sealing his acupoints.

Lu Dayou felt numbness all over his body and became startled.

“Why did you seal his acupoint? Unseal it quick!” Linghu Chong yelled.

Dongfang Bu Bai smiled at him coldly, “I’ll unseal it if you let me go with you.”

Linghu Chong nodded hesitantly, “Fine! Fine! You can come with me but don’t blame me if I implicate you in this matter.”

Dongfang Bu Bai unsealed Lu Dayou’s acupoints and sneered, “There’s nothing that can implicate me!” She then turned to the left and walked away with a long smile on her face. Since she was the leader of the biggest unorthodox sect there was nothing in the martial arts world that could frighten her.

All the other Huashan Sect disciples had gathered in the main hall as Yue Buqun debated with the uninvited guests. “Brother Cheng, your sword branch broke up all ties with us twenty years ago hence you’re no longer a disciple of the Huashan Sect. So why are you coming here to cause a commotion today?” he gave Cheng Buyou a stern look as he asked. “If you really think that your martial arts skills are really so great, why don’t impress me by establishing your own sect and make a name of it across the martial arts world?”

Chen Buyou responded, “Apprentice Brother Yue, there is no animosity between you and I. By right I should not do anything to disrupt the harmony between us. However, you forcibly seized the Huashan Sect leadership and incessantly teach your disciples to cultivate inner energy instead of learning sword skills. You’ve thus disgraced our Huashan Sect and should be held responsible for it!”

Yue Lingshan clenched her fist and took a step forward.

Ning Zhongze immediately grabbed her hand and pulled her back. She then shook her head at her signaling her to stay out of it.

Chen Buyou continued, “Moreover, during that year the Qi branch used treacherous and dishonorable methods to expel the sword branch from Huashan Sect. None of our sword branch disciples finds this acceptable. We have endured this for twenty years…twenty years! Whatever it is, you will have to handover the Huashan Sect’s leadership post to us today!”

Yue Buqun grinned wickedly and said, “The disagreement between the Qi branch and Sword branch had already been settled in a competition at the Jade Maiden Peak years ago. The winner was announced and everything was cleared.”

Cong Buqi interrupted, “Mind if I ask you who was there to actually determine the results on the day of the competition? The two of us are disciples of the Sword Branch but we did not see anything! In short, your leadership post was attained though devious methods! Otherwise why would you think that Chief Alliance Zuo, leader of the Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance issue an order for you to step down? ”

Yue Buqun cast a cold side glance at Ding Mian. After seeing how the Songshan Sect used unscrupulous methods to deal with Liu Zhengfeng, he was not surprised that the Songshan Sect would do the same to him. He folded his arms and said, “Chief Alliance Zuo has wise judgments. Under normal circumstances, he would never let our Huashan Sect undergo a sudden leadership change.”

Cong Buqi growled fumingly, “Are you saying that this command flag is fake?!”

Yue Buqun shook his head with a smile, “The command flag is real but the flag is mute and cannot speak on its own.”

Ding Mian glared at Yue Buqun coldly. “Head Master Yue! Are you trying to say that I, Ding Mian is also mute?!” he asked angrily.

Yue Buqun turned toward Ding Mian and responded calmly, “Looks like Martial Brother Ding insists that I handover my leadership post to these two Huashan Sect traitors today.”

Ding Mian hummed and said, “I am just carrying out Chief Alliance Zuo’s commands. If Head Master Yue stubbornly resist then I will have no choice but to be rude!” After finishing his words, he reached for the handle of his sword and pulled it out from the scabbard.

Yue Lingfeng stepped in of Yue Buqun. “Adopted Father! Let me get some pointers from Senior Martial Uncle Ding!” he muttered.



“Hold it!” a loud male voice shouted.

All the Huashan Sect disciples looked toward the direction of the voice.

Linghu Chong ran into the main hall with Lu Dayou and Dongfang Bubai following him from behind.

Dongfang Bubai casted a quick look at all the people inside the main hall. Other than Yue Buqun she did not recognize anyone else.

Lu Dayou quickly ran over to his master and mistress and stood behind them.

Linghu Chong walked over to Ding Mian with a smirk on his face. “My Master is a highly prominent figure in the martial arts community. How could he fight with a commoner like you?” he said impolitely.

Ding Mian looked at Linghu Chong up and down. “I was wondering who it was. Looks like it’s the Huashan Sect’s head disciple who visited the Qun Yu Yuan brothel in Mount Heng,” he sneered.

Dongfang Bubai folded her arms and stared at Ding Mian indifferently as she listened to his words of insult.

Linghu Chong looked at Ding Mian shockingly, “How did you know that I visited the brothel? You must have been there frequently yourself too.”

Ding Mian pointed his finger at Linghu Chong angrily, “How dare you…”

Yue Buqun interrupted his disciple, “Chong’Er!”

Linghu Chong immediately knew that he master wanted him to stop talking nonsense. He ignored Ding Min and walked over to the two sword branch disciples instead. “Our Huashan Sect has a prestigious reputation in the martial arts world. We will never allow some useless expelled disciples become the leader of our sect,” he commented.

Cong Buqi clenched his teeth and stared at Linghu Chong, “How rude!” He then raised his arm and sent his palm out at Linghu Chong’s head.

Linghu Chong quickly moved to the side to evade the strike. After that, he drew his sword and started attacking Cong Buqi with the Dugu Nine Swords moves. Though he had grasped most of the techniques but due to his low inner strength and lack of experience he was unable to gain any advantage over a more experienced and stronger opponent.

Cong Buqi was able to parry and dodge every single attack launched at him very easily.

Dongfang Bubai raised her brows as she watched Linghu Chong fight his opponent attentively.

Linghu Chong leaped to the back to evade a strike. He then paused and figured out what moves should he use to defeat his formidable opponent. After a short moment, he raised his sword and dashed towards his opponent once more.

Cong Buqi stepped to the side to evade the attack and subsequently sent his palm out at Linghu Chong’s chest with full strength.

Linghu Chong coughed out a mouthful of blood as he flew backwards crashed into the chairs.

Yue Lingshan ran to the front and stared at him in alarm. “Big Apprentice Brother!” she shouted.

Ning Zhongze gasped in shock as she called out Linghu Chong’s name.

Yue Buqun took a step forward as he looked at his eldest disciple worriedly.

Dongfang Bubai quickly ran over to Linghu Chong and propped him up under his armpit. Seeing that he was in great pain, she looked up at glare at Cong Buqi viciously. She was angry with him for injuring Linghu Chong. Without uttering a single word, she thrust her index and middle fingers out and leaped straight at Cong Buqi at light speed. She flashed through him like a violet beam of light.

Cong Buqi felt numb as he saw a violet blur going inside his body. It was already too late to block or avoid it. He felt a cold wind penetrating his bones. In the spur of the moment, all his internal organs were ruptured by a powerful force. He stumbled forward and coughed out a mouthful of blood.

Dongfang Bubai lowered her hand and casted a vicious glance over her shoulder looking at Cong Buqi collapsed to the floor motionlessly.

Everyone inside the main hall looked at Cong Buqi slumped to his death terror and then looked at Dongfang Bubai astonishingly.

Linghu Chong slowly lifted up his head to look at Dongfang Bubai. He was in great pain and was took weak to utter a word.

Dongfang Bubai stooped down beside Linghu Chong and propped him up under his armpit. “Linghu Chong, are you alright?” she asked concernedly.

Linghu Chong pressed his chest and gasped in pain, “I won’t die…so easily.”

“Let’s go!” Dongfang Bubai helped him up from the floor and flew out of the main hall.

Everyone looked at Linghu Chong and Dongfang Bubai disappeared from the scene in a blink of an eye.

Cheng Buyou turned toward Yue Buqun and growled, “Yue Buqun! How dare you collude with the evil demoness and killed my Junior Apprentice Brother!”

Yue Buqun looked at Cheng Buyou speechlessly. Everything had happened so abruptly and unexpectedly that he was still trying to figure out what was going on.

Ding Mian pointed his finger at Yue Buqun. “I’ll definitely report this matter to Chief Alliance Zuo!” he said loudly. He then looked at his apprentice brothers and said, “Let’s go!”

Cheng Buyou turned around and followed the Songshan Sect disciples out of the main hall.

Yue Lingfeng squatted beside Cong Buqi to take a look at his injuries. There was not a single trace of cut wound on his body. “That girl who killed him has immensurable inner energy…” he uttered.

Later, Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze exited a room and walked along a corridor. Yue Buqun placed his hands behind his back and said, “Dayou said that he is also not sure about this woman’s background.

Ning Zhongze heaved a sigh, “This woman’s martial arts moves are extremely brutal. I’m worried that Chong’Er…”

Yue Buqun raised his hand and said, “Since she came forward to help I doubt that she would harm Chong’Er. I am more worried about Chong’Er’s injury.” He halted his steps and looked at his wife. “Junior Apprentice Sister, did you notice sword skills that Chong’Er was using earlier?”

Ning Zhongze nodded, “The sword skills that Chong’Er used were exquisitely ingenious…” She paused for a moment and knitted her brows, “But…”

Yue Buqun responded, “But those were not our Huashan Sect’s sword skills.”

Ning Zhongze gave her husband a serious look and said, “Senior Apprentice Brother, you’re saying that Chong’Er has been secretly learning other sect’s sword skills?”

Yue Buqun pressed his lips and narrowed his eyes. “Ever since Chong’Er returned from Hengyang City he’s been staying at the Repentance Cliff. He should have any opportunity to learn skills from other sects,” he explained.

Ning Zhongze suddenly thought of something. “Could it be that he learned it while he was at Hengyang City?” she asked anxiously. “Could it be the Resisting Evil Swordplay?”

Yue Buqun looked down on the ground as he walked away. “This is puzzling indeed,” he murmured.

Ning Zhongze looked up at the dark sky worriedly. “I wonder how Chong’Er’s condition is right now…” she thought to herself.

After walking short distance, Dongfang Bubai decided bring Linghu Chong to an abandoned temple to take a rest.

Linghu Chong in his unconscious state coughed up a gulp of blood.

Dongfang Bubai immediately placed him in a sitting position with his back against a pillar. She reached for his wrist and felt his pulse. “Heavens! His pulse is chaotic. If I don’t do something quick I’m afraid that he won’t make it,” she thought to herself. She shook his shoulder and tried to wake him up. “Linghu Chong! Linghu Chong!” she called out but there was no response.

She knitted her brows and looked at him nervously. “His injury is too serious. His internal organs and meridian channels are all injured. His old wounds have yet to heal and now he has fresh wounds. What can be done now? I don’t want him to die. My only choice now is to transfer my inner energy to him to extend his life…” she slowly pulled him away from the pillar and sat down behind him, transferring her inner energy to Linghu Chong.

Linghu Chong started to shiver as the inner energy inside his body started to overflow. He subconsciously let out a gasp of pain.

Dongfang Bubai immediately pulled back her hand and looked at him startlingly.

Linghu Chong slumped to the back and dropped his head on Dongfang Bubai’s shoulder.

Dongfang Bubai pursed her lips, looked down at him and suddenly remembered, “Oh no! I transferred my inner energy to him once. Qu Yang also transferred half of his inner energy to him. Now that he is injured his body won’t be able to hold the vital energy down. The two different streams of inner energies are now colliding against his own inner energy and cannot be suppressed. If I want to transfer him more inner energy than it has to be more powerful than the other two streams of inner energy. But this is going to create four different streams of inner energy inside his body. And when these different streams of inner internal energy starts to clash against each other inside he will most definitely lose his life…But If I don’t transfer him my inner energy he’ll die for sure. What should I do…” She pondered to herself for a moment and finally said, “When there is no other way anything is worth a try.” She placed him in a sitting position and transferred a more immense stream of inner energy into his body.

Linghu Chong’s entire body started to shiver as the blazing hot energy flowed through his meridians.

After transferring an extremely power stream of inner energy to Linghu Chong, Dongfang Bubai finally retracted her hands and leaned him against a pillar.

Linghu Chong felt as though his entire body was frozen. “It’s so cold…” he stuttered subconsciously.

Dongfang Bubai stared at him for a moment. She then took off her outer garment and placed it on the lower half of his body.

“It’s so cold…” Linghu Chong continued stuttering.

Dongfang Bubai pursed her lips and stared at Linghu Chong worriedly. Fearing that Linghu Chong had a fever, she placed her hand on his forehead to check on his body temperature. His temperature was normal but he was shivering. She hesitantly sat behind him and wrapped her arms around him to keep him warm. She then looked away and reminded herself that her younger sister loved Linghu Chong very much and that she and Linghu Chong were only good friends.

It was already dawn. Linghu Chong slowly opened his eyes and noticed a pair of arms wrapped around him. He turned his head and saw Dongfang Bubai resting her head on him. His looked at her with his eyes wide open.

Dongfang Bubai was awakened by Linghu Chong’s body movements. She quickly took her arms off him and said, “I’m doing this because of Yi Lin. I’m scared that you’ll die.”

Linghu Chong fixed his eyes on her without saying a word. He could not help but feel confused. He somehow felt that Dongfang Bubai was trying to hide something from him but he was too weak to figure out what it was. “I owe you my life…once more…” he uttered.

Dongfang Bubai got up from the ground and took back the outer garment. “Are you able to get up?” she asked while putting on the outer garment.

“I’ll try…” Linghu Chong said as he slowly pulled himself to his feet. He started to feel pain in his chest. “I don’t know why I feel like there are multiple energies circulating inside my body…” he sighed in pain.

Dongfang Bubai looked away as she replied indifferently, “It’s the four streams of inner energy. There of it are from me. If I didn’t transfer it to you, you will die for sure. I had no other choice.”

Linghu Chong looked at her and said, “Bring me back to Mount Hua. Maybe my master can save me…”

Dongfang Bubai gave him a stern look. “Your master’s inner energy level might not be able to save you,” she said.

Linghu Chong replied, “I still have to go back. I’ve already broken the sect’s rule by leaving the mountain without getting master’s permission. I cannot commit another mistake.”

Dongfang Bubai smirked, “How pedantic!”

Linghu Chong looked at her and continued, “Don’t worry. You’ve my words that I will clear things up with Junior Martial Sister Yi Lin.”

Dongfang Bubai folded her arms and looked away ignoring him.

Seeing that Dongfang Bubai was not going to bring him back to Mount Hua, he stepped away from the pillar and walked toward the gate by himself. After walking a few steps, he tripped and fell to the ground.

Dongfang Bubai immediately reached out and grabbed Linghu Chong by his arm.

Linghu Chong turned toward her looked without saying a word. Deep inside his heart, he was grateful to her for all her help.

Dongfang Bubai frowned at Linghu Chong and she walked him out of the abandoned temple. She was really hoping that she could use this opportunity to bring him to see Yi Lin so that they could clear things up once and for all. But since he was adamant to return to Mount Hua she had no choice but to oblige to his request. He was after all, her only friend.

Yue Buqun and a group of Huashan Sect disciples exited a hall and hurried down the stone steps.

Dongfang Bubai propped Linghu Chong by his shoulder as they toward the courtyard. She halted her steps and waited for the Huashan Sect disciples to come and get Linghu Chong.

Linghu Chong bowed at Yue Qun and greeted him.

Dongfang Bubai took her hands off Linghu Chong and stepped to the side so that his sect apprentices could take a look at him.

Ning Zhongze and Yue Lingshan rushed toward Linghu Chong.

“Chong’Er …how are you feeling?” Ning Zhongze asked with concern.

“Big Apprentice Brother…are you alright?” Yue Lingshan took a look at him.

They stood on each side of Linghu Chong, held up his hands and slowly walked him into his room.

Lu Dayou went forward to help the two ladies to prop his apprentice brother. “Big Apprentice Brother, let me help you,” he said.

Yue Buqun walked over to Dongfang Bubai with a smile on his face. “Miss, thank you for taking care of Chong’Er. Mind if I ask what is Miss’s name?”

Dongfang Bubai ignored him. She straightened her sleeves and said, “I’m just a simple village girl. I don’t come from any sect. I’m your disciple, Linghu Chong’s friend. He got injured so I’m just brining him back.”

Yue Buqun replied with a grin, “Since you have already brought him back, could I offer you a simple meal before you go?”

Dongfang Bubai casted a glare at him and said in a cold voice, “Head Master Yue! I hope that you won’t mind if I stayed for a few days. Linghu Chong and I still have some unfinished business. So I won’t be leaving for the time being.”

Lin Pingzhi walked up to Dongfang Bubai and stared at her angrily. “Hey you! How dare you talk to my Master in such a rude manner!” he said loudly.

Dongfang Bubai turned her nose up at Lin Pingzhi as she walked toward at him. “Even your Master talks to me politely. A lowlife like have no right not come up here and make such a big fuss,” she sneered. She raised her arm and gently poked him in the left shoulder with her index finger. “Do you know how to behave yourself properly?”

Lin Pingzhi quickly pulled back his shoulder and took a step to the back as he felt a tingle of chill.

Yue Buqun looked at Lin Pingzhi and said, “Pingzhi, step back.” He then looked at Dongfang Bubai and continued, “If Miss does not mind our humble residence then we certainly welcome you to stay.”

Dongfang Bubai stared at Lin Ping Zhi as she responded, “The Gentleman Sword is indeed a gentleman. You better behave yourself when we meet again the next time, cripple boy.” She turned towards the dormitory and laughed coldly.

Lin Pingzhi snorted, “Cripple boy? Who are you calling cripple?!” Just as he was about to go after Dongfang Bubai, he felt a sudden numb all over his left leg and almost fell. When Dongfang Bubai poked his left shoulder she had actually sealed one of his acupoints without him realizing it.

Yue Buqun turned toward Dongfang Bubai and looked at her blankly. From the way she sealed Lin Pingzhi’s acupoint he could tell that her inner energy level is way above his.

Yue Lingfeng placed his hands behind his back as he looked at Dongfang Bubai. Ever since the first time he met her at the main hall he had this strange feeling running inside his heart. He knew that it was not love at first sight. It was some kind of weird feeling which he just could did not know how to describe, a feeling that he had lost years ago.

Inside a room, Yue Buqun sat behind Linghu Chong and transferred his inner energy into Linghu Chong body to heal his injuries. As soon as his inner energy entered Linghu Chong’s body, several streams of weird inner energy inside Linghu Chong’s body immediately countered it with a big shock and almost shook his palms off. He then exerted his strength and tried using his inner energy to suppress the different streams of inner energy flowing inside Linghu Chong’s body. A strong shock coming from Linghu Chong’s body struck his palm so hard that even his own chest started hurting. He retracted his palms and stepped out of the bed, wiping off the sweat on his forehead.

Ning Zhongze reached out for Linghu Chong and slowly laid him down on the bed. “Senior Apprentice Brother, how is Chong’Er?”

Yue Lingshan walked over to the bed and wiped the sweat off Linghu Chong’s forehead with a handkerchief.

Yue Buqun looked at his wife and replied, “There are four weird energy streams inside Chong’Er’s body. It was probably that girl who transferred it into Chong’Er’s body.”

Lu Dayou looked at Linghu Chong disheartened expression on his face. “What a venomous woman! She transferred so many streams of energy into Big Apprentice Brother’s body so that he can’t live nor die. I’m going to make her pay!” he yelled angrily.

Yue Buqun turned toward Lu Dayou and said, “Dayou! Don’t be impulsive. We’re still unsure if she truly has ill intentions. There is no one in this world who will take the risk of exhausting tremendous amount of inner energy just to harm someone. No one would do such a stupid thing.”

Ning Zhongze walked toward her husband and said, “Could it be that this woman wanted to heal Chong’Er’s injury?”

Lu Dayou sigh agitatedly, “Mistress! This woman got Big Apprentice Brother in such a bad condition. Nobody would heal someone like that!”

Yue Buqun pursed his lips and said, “This is a very odd situation. Looks like we have to be careful with this woman.”

Yue Lingshan sighed, “Father, please think of a way to save Big Apprentice Brother…” Even though she was now in a relationship with Lin Pingzhi but her still cared for Linghu Chong. Only difference now is that Linghu CHong was only her Big Apprentice Brother.

Yue Buqun responded, “The only way to save Chong’Er now is to dispel those four streams of energies inside his body. But these four streams of energies are extremely weird. They flow in an erratic manner and cannot be controlled.”

Yue Lingshan looked at Linghu Chong and sobbed, “So Big Apprentice Brother is going to…”

Ning Zhongze interrupted and said, “Shan’Er! Stop saying such things!”

Yue Lingshan turned toward her father. “Father…please save Big Apprentice Brother…” she sighed.

Yue Buqun looked at the unconscious Linghu Chong as he hummed softly.

Later, Ning Zhongze accompanied her husband back to their room. “Junior Apprentice Sister, what’s your opinion on why this woman would torture Chong’Er so badly? What are her motives?” Yue Buqun asked.

Ning Zhongze said, “Pessimistically speaking, maybe she is trying to force Chong’Er to disclose our sect’s secrets. Chong’Er probably choose to die than to give in which is why she is torturing him.”

Yue Buqun nodded, “I was thinking the same thing. But our Huashan Sect doesn’t have any secret. Moreover, this woman don’t know us at all and have no grudges against us. Even if she mistakenly think that our Huashan Sect has some sort of secret martial arts skills, all she needed to do is to capture Chong’Er and use him to threaten us. Why would she want to make him suffer like that?”

Ning Zhongze knitted her brows and said, “If we think from an optimistic point of view, she probably wanted to save Chong’Er. She knew that using such method would be dangerous but she had no choice other than giving him continuous streams of energy to temporarily extend his life.”

Yue Buqun narrowed his eyes and said, “This woman has a peculiar behavior. We cannot use normal I feel that she has some other intentions.” He then pressed his chest and started coughing.

Ning Zhongze took a look at him, “Senior Apprentice Brother, are you alright?”

Yue Buqun nodded, “I’m fine. I must have exhausted too much of my inner strength when I was using my Divine Art of Violet Twilight to heal Chong’Er’s injury earlier.”

Ning Zhongze suddenly thought of something. “Senior Apprentice Brother! Could it be that the woman used Chong’Er’s internal injury to exhaust your inner strength and then find the right opportunity eliminate us at one go?” she asked worriedly.

Yue Buqun looked at his wife frightfully. “Who exactly is this woman? Why would she hate our Huashan Sect so much?” he narrowed his eyes and said solemnly.

The following morning, a pale looking young man dressed in black robe escorted Ying Ying to a mountain. There was a stone signage on the left with the words Mount Hua engraved on it.

Ying Ying turned toward the pale looking young man. “You are sure that Dongfang Bubai is here?” she asked in a stern voice.

The pale looking young man bowed at Ying Ying with his hands cupped. “Subordinate has double checked many times,” he responded.

Ying Ying narrowed her eyes and looked up at the top of the mountain. “What is Dongfang Bubai doing in Mount Hua? If she wanted to eliminate them she could have just sent the cult’s elites to do it,” she thought to herself.

The pale looking young man smiled wickedly, “Even the heaven is aiding you. We can use the Huashan Sect’s hands to get rid of her once and for all.”

Ying Ying turned toward him and looked at him menacingly. “Yang Lianting oh Yang Lianting, for once you’re able to use your brain wisely and not just flatter me,” she said in a cold voice.

The pale looking young man bowed at her with his hands cupped. “Subordinate will arrange for someone to send a message to Yue Buqun telling him that the woman in his sect is the Chief of the Divine Sun Moon CUlt,” he said.

Ying Ying reached out and slapped his face. “Idiot! If Yue Buqun sees such a message he’s going to hold back for sure! Everyone in the martial arts world knows that Dongfang Bubai is the number one martial arts exponent. He would not be dumb enough to go head to head with Dongfang Bubai!” she shouted angrily. She then looked away and continued, “Send him a message and tell him that the woman in his sect is a member of the divine cult and that she was sent by Chief Dongfang to spy on his sect. That should be more than enough for Yue Buqun to take action against her.”

The pale looking young man lowered his head, “Yes, Holy Maiden!” He then turned around and walked away.

Ying Ying folded her arms and stared at the top of the mountain viciously. “Uncle Dongfang, you were the one who forced me to do this. I will never forget how you attacked my father from behind and take over his position as the divine cult’s Chief,” she thought to herself.

End of Chapter 15