Chapter 104:
Back from the Dead

 

YUAN XIUXIU SAID CALMLY, “I simply realized that I was very compatible with Daoist Master Shen, so I put in a few extra words. Where did you get that thought of stalling for time?”

Shen Qiao didn’t want to say any more to her. He turned to head back up the mountain, but Yuan Xiuxiu flashed in front of him once more.

“Is Daoist Master Shen that displeased at seeing me? Why are you running away after only a few words? If you don’t wish to be intimate associates, we can just be ordinary friends!”

Yuan Xiuxiu gave a faint smile, one that was like thousands of red flowers abloom, or a million purple blossoms returning with spring. Anyone else would at least pause, even if their hearts weren’t swayed entirely. However, Shen Qiao didn’t halt his steps in the slightest and continued walking forward, completely unhindered by her beauty. Having this level of focus, one could truly call Shen Qiao half-immortal. Other than that freak Yan Wushi, when else had Yuan Xiuxiu seen someone like this?

Shen Qiao saw that she was about to strike and said coolly, “Though my cultivation path doesn’t revel in reckless slaughter, that doesn’t mean I can’t kill. That day, Sect Leader Yuan personally witnessed her honored sect’s Huo Xijing perish at my hands. Has Sect Leader Yuan considered carefully what price she might have to pay for trying to stop me?”

Yuan Xiuxiu smiled. “Shen-lang need not get angry. I never intended for us to be enemies, but as a precaution, I need to keep you here so that you don’t end up ruining things. However, even if you head up now, I fear that you won’t be able to change anything. Out of consideration for our compatibility, this one will advise you: you are not a member of Chunyang Monastery. Even if you wish to make a name for yourself this time, Yi Pichen will remain ahead of you. So why must Shen-lang wade into these muddy waters himself?”

Her tone was soft, affectionate, and meandering, but would the great and lofty Hehuan Sect Leader say heartfelt words just because she took a liking to someone? Shen Qiao only wished to do the best for others while being unwilling to cause trouble. This did not mean that he was stupid or easy to deceive. He didn’t listen to her and swept straight up the mountain.

Yuan Xiuxiu originally wanted to stop him, but Shen Qiao used “A Rainbow Stretches Across the Heavens,” executing it to the utmost. Before she could catch up, he’d turned into a wisp of blue, leaving Yuan Xiuxiu with nothing but dust.

An ordinary person would take at least half a day to climb the mountain, but a martial expert would need only an hour. With a qinggong of Shen Qiao’s level, it only took fifteen minutes.

But since Yuan Xiuxiu had said, “Even if you head up now, you won’t be able to change anything,” it meant that some unexpected crisis had already occurred.

The Chunyang Monastery disciples who’d been on sentry duty at the mountain gate had already been defeated by Hehuan Sect when they came up. Now, as Shen Qiao climbed the mountain again, his path was completely unobstructed. But his unease only grew worse, all the way until he finally reached the summit and returned to the field before Chunyang Monastery’s main hall. There, he just happened to see Yi Pichen meet palms with someone under the full view of the crowd. The other party remained firmly in place while Yi Pichen took three steps back.

He took another look at the crowd around him—their expressions seemed to be frozen, fixed in a moment of great shock.

The person facing off against Yi Pichen was unfamiliar—Shen Qiao didn’t recognize him. However, the man in question had a prominent nose and deep-set eyes, and although he was handsome, with a heroic spirit, a glance told Shen Qiao that he wasn’t young. He was dressed in foreign garb, and at this moment, he pulled his hands back and stood tall, his expression indifferent. It was clear that he was a person of few words, but around him was a powerful, imperious aura of suppression that caused everyone to fall silent, like cicadas in late autumn.

Shen Qiao internally trembled; he didn’t need to ask the man’s name, for he too knew who this was.

The number one Göktürk martial expert, Hulugu!

Even though he’d mentally prepared himself, on suddenly seeing this person, a sense of disbelief still rose within his heart.

It really was him.

But how could it be him?

He really hadn’t died?

Sang Jingxing, who’d always been arrogant and egotistical, was currently standing respectfully behind the foreigner. When he saw him beat back Yi Pichen with a palm strike, he stepped forward with a smile, then said brightly, “This Abbot Yi is one of the best martial experts in the world, and he’s also an esteemed Daoist, yet he is unable to last even a round against Qianbei. It can be seen that the so-called ‘World’s Top Ten’ ranking is unfounded and untrustworthy. Qianbei’s grasp of martial arts is already far beyond the reach of mortals, so he truly deserves to be called the world’s true number one, backed up by merit!”

Hulugu showed no appreciation for his flattery, however—his face remained cool and empty of all emotion whatsoever. “I came to challenge Yi Pichen; that’s my business,” he said. “It has nothing to do with Hehuan Sect, and I don’t need you to take the lead for me either.”

Sang Jingxing’s expression didn’t waver. “Qianbei’s words are too much,” he said, still smiling. “We also came to take a look because we heard that there was a Sword Trial Conference here. We didn’t expect that Qianbei would arrive right after we did.”

If he’d heard Sang Jingxing’s words only, Shen Qiao might have really believed that both parties just happened to simultaneously arrive in their bid to wreck the place. But what he’d heard from Yuan Xiuxiu at the foot of the mountain was a reminder that it couldn’t be the case. Hehuan Sect had clearly known that Hulugu would come, so they’d arrived in advance. First to exhaust some of Yi Pichen’s fighting spirit, increasing Hulugu’s chances of victory, and second to pick up some benefits for cheap.

As for why Hehuan Sect wanted to take the lead for Hulugu, that was easy to understand. Yuwen Yong’s empress, Lady Ashina, must have also contributed to Yuwen Yun’s ascension to the throne. Though she wasn’t Yuwen Yun’s biological mother, Yuwen Yun had always loved to go against his father. Since the late emperor had kept the Göktürks at a respectful distance, Yuwen Yun must pursue a close relationship with them instead. In that case, it wasn’t surprising that Hehuan Sect, with Yuwen Yun as their backer, had also allied with the Göktürks.

Yi Pichen’s face betrayed nothing. He’d taken only three steps back, and that alone was incredibly impressive. Hulugu wasn’t an ordinary expert; he was the man who’d fought Qi Fengge over twenty years ago. Then two decades had passed, and everyone thought he was dead—even Duan Wenyang, as he walked through the Central Plains, had released false news of his master’s death. Who knew that the situation would suddenly change, bringing a legendary character back from the dead? Of course everyone would find it shocking.

Many of the people present had yet to figure out Hulugu’s identity. And those who’d vaguely guessed it probably still felt it as impossible as seeing a ghost in broad daylight.

But Shen Qiao was paying close attention to Yi Pichen, and he noticed that the man’s face had turned red for a moment just now. It was obvious that he’d suffered internal injuries—he wasn’t as unscathed as he appeared on the surface.

And if he could tell, naturally so could Hulugu.

Hulugu’s gaze fell on Yi Pichen, and he said coldly, “I heard that Chunyang Monastery is now known as the world’s leader for Daoism, but as a martial artist, you’re inferior to Qi Fengge from back then.”

It was incredible that Yi Pichen could still maintain his smile and composure under such crushing pressure. “Chunyang Monastery has never claimed to be the leader of Daoism, and I’ve never compared myself to esteemed Daoist Master Qi. Your martial arts are superb—this humble Daoist admires you greatly. May I ask if your distinguished self came to participate in the Sword Trial Conference? Or did you come for Chunyang Monastery?”

The former meant a normal spar, the latter meant that he was here to gatecrash and out for revenge.

Hulugu answered coolly, “The Sword Trial Conference’s sole purpose is for reputation fishing. Those who possess true strength would feel no need to participate. I originally thought that since the reputations of Chunyang Monastery and Yi Pichen resounded like thunder, they must have had some outstanding abilities. But as it turns out, they’re merely mediocre.”

He’d come to someone else’s territory and spoken such disparaging words—Yi Pichen could endure it, but the Chunyang Monastery disciples behind him couldn’t. Someone instantly stepped forward and said, “Your distinguished self is incredibly capable, yet you were defeated by esteemed Daoist Master Qi and cowered like a turtle outside the Great Wall for over twenty years. Only now when he’s gone did you rush back to sow misfortune in the jianghu of the Central Plains. What kind of hero are…”

As he was about to say the final “you,” Hulugu swept him a cold glance, and the speaker was so terrified he lost his voice entirely. He swallowed the word back, and his face instantly flushed red.

Hulugu didn’t speak, but Duan Wenyang behind him did. “Even after twenty years, your jianghu of the Central Plains couldn’t even find an opponent worthy of being Shizun’s rival, yet you have the guts to talk that big? If I were you, I’d be so ashamed I’d just bash open my head and die. What honored Daoist? In my opinion, of your entire jianghu, only Qi Fengge could match my shizun—if only he were still alive. To think that my shizun still believed the Central Plains to be flourishing with heroes. We heard that there was a Sword Trial Conference and rushed here with great enthusiasm. Tsk! Truly unworthy of your reputation!”

Under his mockery, Chunyang Monastery wished to sink into the ground out of shame, and most of the jianghu members in the crowd were rendered completely speechless.

They’d seen Yi Pichen’s martial arts, and seen them very clearly. His recent battle with Sang Jingxing had been a brilliant spectacle, and Yi Pichen was undoubtedly far superior to Hehuan Sect. But they hadn’t gotten the chance to be happy for long when Hulugu appeared.

Now that this man was here, regardless of whether it was Yi Pichen or Sang Jingxing, they all had to lower their heads.

For ordinary people, Sang Jingxing and Yi Pichen were already far beyond their own existence, and now this Hulugu had arrived as well. He was a moon suspended in the nine heavens, so far out of reach that despair filled their hearts.

People with aspirations were reminded even more of that battle twenty-odd years ago. They lamented that they’d been too young to catch it. The Qi Fengge of back then had been able to defeat even Hulugu—how magnificent he must have been!

But not everyone present was the kind who cheered for others while putting themselves down. Someone who was displeased with Duan Wenyang’s words stepped forward and said loudly, “You came to Chunyang Monastery, yet dare to spread such blasphemy, saying that the Central Plains lacks talent. Don’t you know how many experts exist in the land? There are the Buddhist sects in the north, Confucian sects in the south. Unless you’ve challenged them all? Just now, Liuli Palace has ranked the world’s elites, yet Hulugu’s name never appeared. Your esteemed master and disciple are just singing your own praises—how fun that must be! All you’re doing is providing others more fodder for jokes!”

Hulugu’s face remained placid, but Duan Wenyang narrowed his eyes. “What is your surname, and which sect are you from?”

The man’s heart trembled, but how could he let himself be intimidated in full view of the public? So he raised his voice and reported his background: “Wang Zhuo of Kuaji Commandery’s Wang family!”

His Wang family relied on neither Hehuan Sect nor the Göktürks for their survival, so why should he be afraid? With this in mind, Wang-sanlang couldn’t help but further bolster his courage.

Duan Wenyang arched an eyebrow, and the pitch of his voice rose slightly. “Oh, Kuaji Commandery’s Wang family?”

While he spoke, his hand darted out, quick as lightning. A whip’s silhouette appeared out of nowhere at the same time, sweeping straight toward Wang-sanlang!

Wang-sanlang watched helplessly as the other party attacked; he didn’t even have the time to draw his sword. He could only retreat to avoid it. But his speed was no match for Duan Wenyang’s. He hadn’t backed up very far when that whip had already curled around his wrist, twisting until he was overcome with agony and almost shattering his bones.

“Ah!” He let out a loud scream, and the longsword fell from his hand.

“Sanlang!” Wang-erlang’s eyes bulged with rage. He flew forward to save his brother.

But someone moved even faster than he did. They drew their sword and slashed at the air, and their sword qi flowed forth, instantly enveloping Duan Wenyang. Duan Wenyang made a sound of surprise, as if he hadn’t expected such strength from his opponent’s helper. He was forced to withdraw his whip and focus on the newcomer, and only then did he realize that the other party was a beautiful young woman.

When it came to martial arts, only speed was king. Duan Wenyang’s whip lashed out again and again, flurry after flurry, leaving his opponent no breathing room whatsoever. Yet despite such crushing pressure, the girl seemed to handle herself with effortless skill, never falling behind. One could tell that she must have come from a famous sect, trained by an extraordinary expert. With time, she might grow to achieve great things.

But Duan Wenyang ranked within the world’s top ten; even if he was last in the list, it was no empty title. Though this girl was skilled, her greenness showed, and she lacked actual combat experience. After a couple of moves, Duan Wenyang gradually discovered her openings, and he took the chance to strike, sending his whip right at them.

The girl didn’t seek to continue. Her original goal had been to help Wang-sanlang out of his predicament. Now that she’d achieved it, she retreated backward and drifted to the ground, refusing to confront Duan Wenyang head-on.

“Thank you, Gu-niangzi, for your help!” Wang-sanlang was a bit excited. He’d been taken with this beauty at first sight, but she’d only spoken bluntly to him. Yet when he was in danger just now, it was this beauty who’d extended a helping hand.

“Don’t mention it.” Gu Hengbo’s expression was indifferent.

Although Wang-sanlang’s behavior was reckless, it could not be said that he was wrong. Everyone had remained as silent as cicadas in late autumn in the face of Hulugu, and Wang-sanlang’s speaking out had demonstrated his courage. If someone had been able to save him, yet chose not to, it would only encourage that trend in the future.

Gu Hengbo truly proved that she’d been raised by Shen Qiao—her viewpoint was very much in line with her Zhangjiao-shixiong’s.

Though Wang-sanlang hadn’t sustained many injuries thanks to Gu Hengbo’s intervention, upon seeing that the master and disciple both possessed exceptional martial arts, everyone knew that they couldn’t even defeat the disciple, let alone the master. They couldn’t help but feel, from the bottom of their hearts, that they were looking at people who were out of reach, so much so that they could only see the dust they left in their wake.

To some extent, the plan of Chunyang Monastery to unite the various factions against Hehuan Sect and the Buddhist discipline had already failed.

Li Qingyu’s hand was already on the hilt of his sword, but another hand reached out and firmly grasped his arm.

That hand belonged to Yi Pichen.

Meanwhile, Hulugu looked at Gu Hengbo and suddenly asked, “Who was Qi Fengge to you?”

Gu Hengbo had noticed Shen Qiao standing at the edge of the stone platform sometime earlier. At this moment, she couldn’t help but glance at him, then said, “He was my master.”

Upon hearing about her relationship with Qi Fengge, Hulugu’s expression finally shifted a little. Even though he’d just faced Yi Pichen, he had not looked at him straight-on. At this moment, he scrutinized Gu Hengbo, then regained his calm and serene expression.

A disciple would know their master best. Duan Wenyang smiled and said, “Shizun, why do you find it a pity? If this disciple is not mistaken, this woman is Gu Hengbo, Qi Fengge’s sole female disciple. Though she’s lacking as a martial artist, she still has several shixiong, one of whom inherited the position of Xuandu Mountain’s sect leader, and even killed my shidi Kunye with his sword. Coincidentally, he’s also here today.”

With that, he looked in Shen Qiao’s direction and said, “Daoist Master Shen, I haven’t seen you for some time. Have you been well?”

In that instant, everyone’s gazes followed his voice and fell on Shen Qiao.

Shen Qiao was originally standing off to the side like an invisible man, but now he couldn’t remain a bystander any longer. He lifted his sword and slowly walked forward, stopping when he was a short distance away from the other man.

“Thank you very much for your concern. Fortunately, I have mostly been well.” His tone was very calm, without a hint of any nervousness caused by Hulugu’s appearance.

“So, you are Shen Qiao.” Hulugu’s gaze moved away from his face and onto Shanhe Tongbei, gripped in Shen Qiao’s hand. A trace of nostalgia swept across his face.

“Correct,” he replied, “this humble Daoist is Shen Qiao. I am fortunate enough to finally meet Qianbei in person today. Unfortunately, my master has passed away; otherwise, if he knew that Qianbei still walks among the living, I’m sure he’d have been overjoyed.”

Duan Wenyang suspected that Shen Qiao was mocking him, saying that his shifu had feigned death and cowered like a turtle in the Khaganate for over twenty years, only daring to emerge with Qi Fengge’s death. However, looking at Shen Qiao’s gentle expression, which seemed the picture of benevolence, it was hard to believe that was the case.

“You are greatly talented, but you are not my match yet. If you’d had another three to five years, you might have been able to fight me. But since you killed Kunye, I cannot let you leave this mountain alive now that I have met you today.” Hulugu’s face was indifferent, but his words suggested that he was already grasping Shen Qiao’s life in his hands.

Shen Qiao smiled and replied with a single word: “Really?”

In this kind of situation, further verbal disputes were meaningless. His expression might have been calm, but that didn’t necessarily mean he wasn’t nervous. The onlookers might simply be watching for the excitement, but only the person standing in the thick of it could feel the pressure and aura from Hulugu’s powerful presence.

Before, when Yi Pichen had exchanged blows with him, he too must have suffered through this torment.

Hulugu’s strength had already reached some kind of nameless, indescribable echelon.

Heaven encompasses all phenomena, and it was a mystery of mysteries. One could only perceive it, but not express it.

Could he win?

Shen Qiao looked at the person in front of him, lowering his breath until he was barely breathing at all.

This would be the most difficult battle he’d ever fought in the jianghu. The level of peril he was facing now was not inferior to when he’d battled Sang Jingxing.

He was a disciple of Qi Fengge, and from the moment he’d taken over his shizun’s mantle, his destiny had been set: this battle was inevitable.