The morning sunlight streamed through several large windows, casting a soft luminescence across the Wuji Hall.
The jade statue radiated a crystalline sheen. In front of the rows of meditation cushions beneath it, Abbess Zhuzhao sat centrally in the foremost row. Her jade-colored monastic robes highlighted her delicate features, her almond eyes rippling with emotion.
Beside her were Wen Yinyue and Li Muchen. Opposite them sat Yang Zhong, the Pavilion Master of Penglai Pavilion, with Wang Xiaoyao, Yang Xingyun, He Fengxia, and Elder He seated behind him.
After fighting side-by-side and killing Nie Wangqiu, the rapport between the two sects instantly changed. Yang Zhong spoke to Abbess Zhuzhao with a cheerful laugh, delight surging within him.
Abbess Zhuzhao had never given Yang Zhong a pleasant look before; her current gentle and amiable demeanor astonished him. The Abbess was rarely kind to men, yet he seemed to be the exception.
“Revered Master, we have imposed long enough; it is time for us to depart…” Yang Zhong laughed, his date-red face glowing, spirit high; with Nie Wangqiu gone, a major threat had been neutralized.
Abbess Zhuzhao glanced at Wang Xiaoyao: “Yang Zhong, Xiaoyao is a good child. Don’t push him too far.”
Yang Zhong grunted, “This Ghost Diviner, once we return, he’s confined to reflection for three years!”
Wang Xiaoyao offered a wry smile and glanced at Wen Yinyue. His master’s nagging echoed in his ears: “You scoundrel! You’re both chief disciples. Look at Miss Wen, then look at you! Your third-rate skills don’t even qualify you to carry her shoes!”
His master then shifted to a tone heavy with deep meaning: “Scoundrel, I’ve always been suppressed by Abbess Zhuzhao, unable to stand tall. Do you want to follow in my footsteps? To be suppressed by Miss Wen your entire life? Wouldn’t that be a waste of being a true man!”
His master’s expression changed again, glaring fiercely at him: “When you return, you will enter immediate seclusion! Do not dream of emerging until you master the Jade Void Qi Guiding Art!”
Abbess Zhuzhao looked at Wang Xiaoyao and nodded, smiling: “Mmm, confinement is not a bad thing. His temperament is too volatile; it needs tempering!”
“Master…” Wang Xiaoyao managed a wry smile.
Abbess Zhuzhao chuckled, “Little fellow, if it were me, I would punish you the same way. Romantic entanglements obscure great matters. How can one act like a Young Pavilion Master while preoccupied with such things!”
Wang Xiaoyao flushed and lowered his head. He Fengxia also blushed in tandem.
Yang Xingyun interjected, “Revered Master, Senior Brother was also forced by circumstances.”
Abbess Zhuzhao shook her head: “Xingyun, do not try to defend him. Regardless of the reason, maintaining the status of the sect’s foremost figure is the foundation of a Young Pavilion Master. Without this basic awareness, how can one shoulder heavy responsibilities?”
“The Master speaks the absolute truth!” Yang Zhong quickly nodded, adding with a grunt, “This scoundrel only looks out for his own pleasure and cares nothing for the life or death of the sect. He deserves punishment!”
Abbess Zhuzhao smiled lightly: “It’s easy to say, but difficult to do. Worldly matters seldom allow for both sides to be satisfied. Which youth hasn’t been reckless? You are still young. While your master bears the burden, making a few mistakes is acceptable.”
Yang Zhong shook his head with a bitter smile: “Master, who are you actually supporting!”
Abbess Zhuzhao pursed her lips and smiled: “I am not taking sides; I am merely speaking the truth!”
………………
Just then, a crisp voice was heard from outside: “Sect Leader, Senior Sister Xu requests an urgent audience.”
Abbess Zhuzhao’s delicate eyebrows arched: “Jingying, enter!”
The thick felt curtain at the door moved, and a graceful young woman in yellow floated in. She took two graceful steps forward and performed a formal bow: “Sect Leader Martial Aunt.”
Abbess Zhuzhao looked up, frowning: “Jingying, what is the matter?”
“Master, Junior Sister An is gone…” Xu Jingying reported.
Abbess Zhuzhao’s beautiful face darkened: “An Shaoqi?!”
Seeing Xu Jingying nod, Abbess Zhuzhao’s expression grew even gloomier. She took a slow, deep breath and asked evenly, “What happened?”
“Junior Sister Zhao Yuyan and Junior Sister Xiang Xiaohong descended the mountain with Junior Sister An. The two of them brought back Junior Sister An’s corpse,” Xu Jingying explained.
“Who did it?!” Abbess Zhuzhao’s almond eyes narrowed slightly, asking in a cool tone.
The air in the great hall suddenly thinned, making it difficult for everyone to breathe.
“Sanxiao Hall,” Xu Jingying replied.
Abbess Zhuzhao murmured, “Sanxiao Hall?”
Li Muchen asked, “The Sanxiao Hall within the Southern Territory?”
Xu Jingying nodded: “Yes, precisely that Sanxiao Hall.”
Yang Zhong interjected: “South of Nanli, the Three Laughs reign supreme—is it that Sanxiao Hall?”
Xu Jingying confirmed: “Precisely.”
Yang Zhong turned to Abbess Zhuzhao: “Revered Master, if it is truly that Sanxiao Hall, then this presents a considerable problem.”
Abbess Zhuzhao squinted her almond eyes, then suddenly burst into a series of light, clear laughs, startling everyone. Li Muchen, however, recognized this as a sign that the Master’s intent to kill was boiling over.
Her smile was as beautiful as a blooming flower: “Good! Good!… A fine Sanxiao Hall!”
Yang Zhong turned and inquired: “Miss Xu, why would Sanxiao Hall kill Miss An?”
Abbess Zhuzhao’s beautiful face instantly hardened: “Why should we care about their reasons? Whoever kills someone from my Canghai Mountain must pay with their life!”
Li Muchen clenched his fist: “Master, I will make a trip to Nanli.”
Abbess Zhuzhao slightly narrowed her almond eyes, then shook her head: “Your injuries have not healed. Yinyue, you go with Jingying and raze Sanxiao Hall!”
“Yes, Master,” Wen Yinyue nodded.
Yang Zhong hesitated, wanting to speak, but observing Abbess Zhuzhao’s grim face, knowing she wouldn’t listen to reason, he ultimately shook his head and stopped trying to persuade her.
Sanxiao Hall was no soft persimmon to be easily squeezed. They were fierce tigers reigning over the Southern Territory, wielding considerable prestige. Though Nanli was small, its martial world was not weak.
Among the Five States—Dayan, Nanli, Xizhao, Dongchu, and the Great Khanate—Nanli was the smallest and possessed the weakest national strength, yet its martial arts circles flourished, surpassing even Dayan’s. Sanxiao Hall was one of Nanli’s foremost sects, not to be underestimated.
………………
To antagonize such a powerful sect meant an all-out war once embroiled. Even if victory was achieved, it would mean killing a thousand enemies while sacrificing eight hundred of their own, potentially giving others an opening.
For this reason, major sects acted with extreme caution. They dealt with minor factions with thunderous force, tolerating no provocation, but approached major sects with the utmost circumspection, striving to keep any conflict within defined limits.
The Changbai Sword Sect and the Canghai Sword Sect had always been at odds, yet they had never engaged in open warfare, instead engaging in skirmishes where each side fought according to their skill. Abbess Zhuzhao’s immediate decision to wipe them out seemed imprudent.
But he could see that whatever he said now, Abbess Zhuzhao would not listen. It was better to remain silent.
“Go!” Abbess Zhuzhao waved her hand dismissively.
Li Muchen quickly said, “Master, since the incident has occurred, there is no need to rush. Wait until Pavilion Master Yang and his party depart; it won’t be too late for Senior Sister to leave the mountain.”
Abbess Zhuzhao’s almond eyes narrowed as she fixed her gaze on him. After a long moment, she slowly nodded: “Mmm… That is acceptable.”
Yang Zhong stood up: “Revered Master, we will not impose further and will descend the mountain now. Should you require assistance, a single letter will suffice; our Pavilion will certainly not stand idly by!”
“Mmm, thank you for your kindness,” Abbess Zhuzhao replied coolly.
The atmosphere immediately grew heavy and oppressive. Yang Zhong did not linger. After leaving the hall, Li Muchen said, “Master, allow me to escort Pavilion Master Yang.”
Abbess Zhuzhao stood on the steps and nodded, cupping her hands towards Yang Zhong. Yang Zhong said gravely, “Revered Master need not see us off; let Master Zhanran accompany me.”
“Good.” Abbess Zhuzhao offered no further words.
Yang Zhong and Li Muchen walked side-by-side, Wang Xiaoyao, Elder He, and the two women followed behind, slowly making their way down the mountain. The outer disciples, busy carrying water, all paused to salute Li Muchen.
Canghai Mountain was situated in the south; though it was deep winter, it was not very cold, and a gentle breeze blew. These outer disciples were all breathing out wisps of white mist.
Li Muchen, his moon-white robes flowing, nodded slightly while speaking with Yang Zhong.
“Pavilion Master, please bear with her. Master is truly enraged.”
Li Muchen sighed regretfully.
Yang Zhong nodded: “How could I not understand?… If it were me, I would have slammed the table and roared long ago.”
Li Muchen gazed at the floating clouds in the sky, sighing deeply, “Master treats all the Senior Sisters, Junior Sisters, Senior Brothers, and Junior Brothers like her own children. Losing any one of them is heart-wrenching. Last time, when Senior Brother Lu and the others perished, Master barely managed to suppress her grief. This time…”
Yang Zhong said, “Master Zhanran, I am also a sect leader… How could I not understand the Master’s feelings?”
“This time, the Master intends to unleash a massacre,” Li Muchen stated.
Yang Zhong hesitated, pondering, “Does Master Zhanran know much about Sanxiao Hall?”
Li Muchen shook his head: “A little. I only know they are a major power in the Southern Territory, dominating the south, but I know nothing else.”
“This humble one has some knowledge of Sanxiao Hall’s strength,” Yang Zhong said gravely.
………………
Li Muchen frowned: “Are they very formidable?…”
Yang Zhong replied, “Not just ordinarily powerful. In my estimation, they are even stronger than my Penglai Pavilion.”
Li Muchen sighed and shook his head: “No wonder they dared to kill Junior Sister An. It’s not that they are brave; it’s that they have the foundation…”
Yang Zhong continued, “Though your sect is strong and might defeat Sanxiao Hall, if a real fight breaks out, even victory carries danger. Don’t forget there is also Xiankong Island!”
Xiankong Island being at odds with the Canghai Sword Sect was common knowledge throughout the martial world.
Li Muchen smiled: “Master should be aware of these things. I absolutely support the Master’s decision.”
Yang Zhong frowned: “I suspect the Master only knows of Sanxiao Hall but does not truly understand them. If our Pavilion hadn’t suffered a loss at their hands once, we might have also dismissed them lightly, just as the Revered Master did.”
Li Muchen raised an eyebrow to look at him but asked no further, simply nodding.
Yang Zhong chuckled, “However, with Master Zhanran here, and Fairy Wen accompanying, Sanxiao Hall won’t have an easy time. Perhaps I worried too much!”
“Thank you for your generous concern, Pavilion Master Yang,” Li Muchen replied with a smile.
He escorted Yang Zhong’s party to the foot of the mountain, then turned and slowly ambled back, taking one step at a time up the stone stairs, deep in thought.
He moved his fingers, his brow furrowed in concentration.
He slowly arrived back at Wuji Hall. The atmosphere inside was suffocating. Abbess Zhuzhao sat with a grim expression, silent, opposite Wen Yinyue and Xu Jingying.
“Master…” Li Muchen sat down.
Abbess Zhuzhao snorted, “Zhanran, don’t even think about it. Your body hasn’t recovered enough for anything useful. Recuperate for a while. Yinyue and Jingying will be enough…”
Li Muchen said, “Master, Sanxiao Hall cannot be underestimated. Pavilion Master Yang suffered a loss.”
Abbess Zhuzhao’s delicate eyebrows furrowed: “Whether they are powerful or not, this debt must be repaid!”
Li Muchen pressed, “Master, let me go with Senior Sister. I won’t fight; I will only advise and strategize.”
Abbess Zhuzhao shook her head: “No. Stop talking nonsense. You will enter seclusion with me!”
Li Muchen saw her beautiful face set, her expression resolute. Knowing further argument was useless, he could only nod slowly. (To be continued)