Huang Yu lost track of the two mysterious men. He returned to Bai Tu Shanzhuang and together with Li Qian helped Jinshui recuperate.
Jinshui suffered both external and internal injuries, and he was relying on Moying's inner energy given to him to stay alive. The external wounds from the scratches of Yuan Wancui's sword and the big tall man's blade had already been stitched up and healed by Li Taiyi, it wouldn't be dangerous. It's just the internal bleeding that might be bothering him for quite a while.
Lin Jixuan asked Xu Qiao out of the room. Xu Qiao could only sat on the steps of the corridor accompanied by Yanzi all night, waiting. In the next morning, Liuxin came with Han Budian and Yue Songdai who had already buried Yuanxia's body.
"How's Hua Gege?" Liuxin asked.
"Li Taiyi prescribes him some medicines," replied Yanzi. "And they are using their inner energy to heal his internal injuries now."
"Xu Guniang," Li Qian came out from the bedroom, "Jinshui is looking for you."
Xu Qiao immediately stood up, almost tripping over the stairs because she had been sitting all night with a very muddled mind. She immediately stepped inside the room, and found Jinshui sitting on the bed, the wound on his chest had been bandaged, and the other wounds had also been treated. His condition was weak but he had escaped death.
"Jinshui Gege," Xu Qiao sat by his side and held his hands. "Does it still hurt?"
"I'm fine," replied Jinshui. "Qiao-er, that girl… I didn't kill her."
"I know," Xu Qiao said. "You were busy fighting erniang, Yuan Zhangmen, and that mysterious man, you have no reason to attack a little girl who doesn't know martial arts during that kind of intense fight."
"Liuxin Meimei," Huang Yu spoke to Liuxin, "those two mysterious men, were they the ones who came to Yi Wangfu and injured you, forced you to go seek the protection of the leader of Jianyin Bang?"
"Yes," replied Liuxin. "That owner Wansui Gu and his loyal servant, unexpectedly they followed me all the way here."
"They are not the owner Wansui Gu and his loyal servant," Yanzi said. "That skinny man looks like Duan Meng, but he is not Duan Meng. And his friend is definitely not my yeye."
"Duan Meng?" asked Jinshui. "Duan Meng is Wansui Gu's servant, the attendant to Lao Duxie Zeng Baifeng? Are you saying that Laofeng is none other than Zeng Baifeng?"
Jinshui and Xu Qiao still remembered their meeting with the old man Laofeng and his servant Duan Meng in the hut on the mountain three years ago. Yesterday they realized that Laofeng and Duan Meng were the owners of Wansui Gu and his loyal servant when Yanzi said the same words Laofeng and Duan Meng had said about Yumen, today those words could finally be confirmed.
"That's right," said Yanzi. "Yeye likes to be called Laofeng, and Duan Meng is his loyal servant, always following him anywhere."
"Liuxin, those two men who followed and injured you were not from Wansui Gu," Huang Yu said to Liuxin. "They are the men who killed my parents, as well as massacred the entire Huofeng Lou. I really want to know who they really are, can you tell me now?"
"They are not from Wansui Gu?" Liuxin asked. "Yu Gege, then I don't know who they actually are. Liuxin really didn't know. They call themselves Wansui Gu people when they came to the capital. The other day when kidnapping me, that skinny one also said he would take me to Wansui Gu."
"They use the name Wansui Gu just to scare others," Lin Jixuan commented. "Liuxin Meimei doesn't seem to know their true identity either."
"Xu Guniang, you saw them yesterday," Huang Yu knew Liuxin didn't lie, he turned to Xu Qiao curiously. "Do you know them?"
"My eyes were only on Jinshui Gege, I didn't really pay attention to anyone else," Xu Qiao also replied honestly.
"Those two men left when they saw Qiao-er," Jinshui said. "They also wanted to kill me because I once called them the Jianyin Bang people. They are so worried about being recognized; they could be someone familiar."
"Next time we encounter them, I'll keep a close eye," Xu Qiao said.
"Hua Jinshui met them twice, injured twice, severely," Han Budian answered. "I don't think he would be able to survive the third time."
"Han Shaobangzhu, you know my identity," Jinshui spoke to him, "do you want to arrest me, the real Yumen Mowang, and hand me over to whoever gave your Jianyin Bang orders to catch the fugitive?"
"That day in Wuzhang, you should have killed me and my people, but you didn't hurt any of us," Han Budian said. "Based on this I am willing to give the Yumen descendants a chance to first show their purpose. It's still not too late to fight you all in the future if it's really going to repeat Yumen's past atrocities."
"All of you here are the descendants of Yumen, the ones rumored to be appeared in the martial world?" Yue Songdai asked. "Liuxin Junzhu, are you also one of them?"
"Yue Dage doesn't have to know," said Liuxin in her sweet manner.
When Liuxin arrived at Jianyin Bang's headquarters several days ago, Yue Songdai had just been caught by his senior Zhong Shaoyan and locked up in the warehouse. Liuxin was the one who asked Zhong Shaoyan to release him.
Knowing that the one who asked for his freedom was a nice little princess made Yue Songdai instantly reduce his 'madness' and no longer look for trouble with Zhong Shaoyan. He even followed Han Budian going after the killer later in hopes of finding the Liuxin who that day suddenly disappeared from the headquarters of Jianyin Bang without saying goodbye.
"Xu Guniang," Huang Yu talked to Xu Qiao again, his tone was rather sharp. "What did you promise Xu Furen?"
"Anyone can see, the Haitang Jian Pai ladies just leave, even Yuan Wancui also suddenly released Jinshui just because you spoke a word, "Lin Jixuan also looked suspicious of Xu Qiao. "Did you promise her to tell her all our identities?"
The descendants of Yumen were intelligent young men and women. Last night they had heard the words Xu Qiao said to Bao Xinfei and Yuan Wancui, they could easily relate to the previous incident when Xu Qiao left with the Haitang Jian Pai ladies, then came back with a look of disdain and an uneasy gesture.
Yuan Wancui hated Yumen very much and wanted to eliminate the descendants, but it wouldn't be easy to find them all without any help. The descendants could guess that the old woman intended to use a beautiful woman tactic.
"Qiao-er told me everything," Jinshui said. "I believe her allegiance is on us, and she will not betray me. You all don't have to worry."
"Jinshui Gege saved my life once," Xu Qiao continued, "I'm nothing but a girl to you, but I.. I will not do any harm to my savior."
"If Qiao-er Jiejie really stands on our side and doesn't intend to help outsiders, you should consider being married to Hua Gege," Liuxin suddenly said. "Therefore, we can trust you as one of our own."
Everyone looked at Liuxin in shock, not expecting that little princess to deliver such an idea. Liuxin didn't have the inner energy given by Yumen's guardian, in fact, she wasn't even counted as the real descendant. While the whole martial world wanted to eradicate the descendants, no one would even bother her, but she also already had a sense of friendship that was no less than the others.
Liuxin's words were influenced by Yuanxia's death at the hands of Yuan Wancui. Yuanxia was only a eunuch and low-level servant to her but had served her family for his lifetime, his loyalty to her was undoubted. Yuanxia died defending Jinshui from Yuan Wancui's sword, and Liuxin didn't want his sacrifice to be in vain.
Xu Qiao stood up and was about to leave the room. Liuxin's words really made her feel really bad. But she hadn't left yet when Jinshui caught her hand and held her.
"Qiao-er," Jinshui called her softly, "I agree with Liuxin. You are a girl, following me this demon head has troubled you for a while, and I want to give you official status, announce to the whole world that you are mine and no one can use you against us the descendants of Yumen."
He stood up too and looked at Xu Qiao intensely. Everyone there was silent, waiting for Xu Qiao's reaction, waiting for her answer. Xu Qiao just looked down deeply, not daring to look back at Jinshui, in her memory still vividly Yuan Wancui's words that Jinshui was the son of the late Yumen leader. She was the daughter of Huofeng Lou's owner, how could she marry the son of the late leader of the heretic sect of Yumen?
"Xu Guniang, today if you're not willing to marry Jinshui, then we're afraid we can only give you two choices," Huang Yu said, one hand grabbing the xuanlong sword that was lying on the side of the bed. "You can return to Bao Xinfei and stay at Huofeng Lou forever, or settle things here."
His words startled Xu Qiao. Xu Qiao didn't want to simply return to Huofeng Lou, nor did she expect to end her life today. Moreover, she didn't want to leave Jinshui, didn't want to change anything between them.
"Jinshui Gege, do you want me to leave?" she asked Jinshui in a trembling voice, trying to look into his eyes.
"I want you to stay with me forever," Jinshui said. "I want to protect you, take care of you, love you without anyone coming between us."
"Hua Jinshui," Han Budian stepped forward with his weapon drawn, aiming straight at Jinshui before Jinshui said more. "You force a girl like this, it really shows the behavior of someone from a true heretic sect."
"I don't," replied Jinshui sharply, "Yuan Wancui that rotten madam who had made it difficult for her, even Bao Xinfei didn't make it easier. Qiao-er was just a girl, an order like this was too much for her. I only gave her a chance to break free, and fully join our Yumen so as not to have the obligation to carry out Yuan Wancui's orders to kill me or betray my friends."
"If you kill her today, then I will pit my soul against you." Han Budian said again, aiming at Huang Yu, but the sword in his hand remained aimed at Jinshui.
"I won't let anyone kill her," said Jinshui. "But if Han Shaobangzhu wants to pit souls with me, Hua Jinshui will serve at all times."
"No one is killing anyone in Bai Tu Shanzhuang," Li Qian mediated to them. "Jinshui, Xu Guniang might need to think about this request first. You're injured, she's also in a state of restlessness. How about if everyone calms down first, then discusses this later."
His words were enough to calm Han Budian and make him put his weapon back. Even so, he still glared at Jinshui, also trying to get a chance to pull Xu Qiao away from him. Huang Yu also put the xuanlong sword back, not wanting to make bloodshed.
"Jinshui Gege, I will be with you forever unless you don't want me anymore," Xu Qiao said slowly. "It's just that I can't marry you for now. If you want me to fully join you, then I must first find the killers of my family, avenge them, and repay the favor for erniang that has raised me for these three years. Only then would I be able to break away from Huofeng Lou, also leave my status as Xu Chenghai's daughter, and then become a part of Yumen."
Xu Qiao's words were spoken tenderly, but they were clear enough to be heard by everyone present. An excuse that was acceptable to all, even Huang Yu didn't expect Xu Qiao to reveal in such a way.
"If anyone here don't believe in me, then you can use your skills and destroy all the Haitang teachings that I have in my body," Xu Qiao said again. "Xu Qiao will not blame you."
"Very good, Qiao-er," Jinshui greeted her words with a smile. "You know I can't enter your world, so I will gladly accept you into mine. It's just speaking of destroying your Haitang teachings, I don't think it's necessary. Your san liu bao lian shu can be said to be just an outer shell, no one will believe it even if you call yourself a disciple of Haitang Jian Pai."
"Xu Guniang, are you really going to become the wife of the primary descendant of Yumen?" Yue Songdai asked, representing Han Budian who showed discontent.
"Becoming his wife or not, will only be discussed later, but I have decided to stay with Jinshui Gege only for the rest of my life and will not marry anyone but Jinshui Gege," Xu Qiao replied without taking her eyes off Jinshui. "Jinshui Gege, you don't have to worry that Yuan Zhangmen will trouble me. I am the daughter of the owner of Huofeng Lou, the leader of Haitang Jian Pai is nothing to me, she won't be able to make me do something I don't want to do."
"Xu Guniang, she will spread the news to dishonor the reputation of your Huofeng Lou," Lin Jixuan said. "The martial world will call your father incapable of educating a daughter that you surrender yourself to a demon leader of Yumen. Do you think this is not enough to trouble you?"
"I and Huang Erge share the same enemy," replied Xu Qiao, "I can still say that I work together with the Yumen descendants to find that enemy. In time if all of us here really manage to catch those two men and expose their reasons, at least we can explain to erniang who our family's enemy is. Perhaps at that time, the whole world will no longer need to be hostile towards the descendants of Yumen."
Lin Jixuan was silent for a moment. "Xu Guniang apparently intends to use us the descendants of Yumen to avenge her family," he said later. "But no problem, good answer. In that case, I, Lin Jixuan, must admit that I admire you. It's just that, since you've already stated that you'll be with our jiaozhu forever, what if you...."
"Lin Gongzi, you should think before you speak," Han Budian cut his words. "Hua Jinshui, if you dare to touch her, then I Han Budian will fight you."
"She's mine now, Han Shaobangzhu doesn't have to know whatever I want to do with her," Jinshui spoke fiercely to Han Budian. "We Yumen people are not like you who have too many customs. From today onwards Qiao-er will be with me, whoever wants to get in the way is welcome to deliver his soul to me."
"Hua Jinshui, what are you talking about?" Han Budian almost drew his weapon again, Yue Songdai hold him back.
"He's just saying that to protect Xu Qiao Guniang, so that nobody thinking about secretly removes the thorn in the flesh," Yue Songdai said. "Liuxin Junzhu, am I right?"
Liuxin didn't answer, then stormed out of the room. Yue Songdai left Han Budian, following her, trying to ease the little princess's annoyance by comforting her. Yanzi also pulled Lin Jixuan away. The others then also came out one after another, leaving Jinshui to have some rest to recover his wounds accompanied by Xu Qiao.
--
They stayed in Bai Tu Shanzhang for a couple more days to give Jinshui the time he required to treat all his wounds.
Yuan Wancui had already taken her disciples back to Haitang Jian Pai, even taking Bao Xinfei with them. It seemed that she really wanted to give the eight descendants a chance to gather first and reveal their identities. Of course, Yuan Wancui had already asked several of her disciples to keep a close eye on anyone going in and out of Bai Tu Shanzhuang.
While Bao Xinfei purposely left her student Huang Lian and let her stay with her older brother Huang Yu. It could be that if in the end Xu Qiao really wasn't willing to betray Jinshui, this Huang Lian would become a valuable asset. However, Huang Lian was Huang Yu's younger sister. Bao Xinfei didn't tell her too much, all waiting for the right moment.
The mysterious man and his skinny friend had completely disappeared, there was no sign of either of them. The fugitive of Jianyin Bang, the fake Yumen Mowang has also disappeared. Huang Yu didn't want to mention this fake Yumen Mowang to his younger sister Huang Lian yet, wished to catch him first.
That day Han Budian said goodbye to Li Qian, then together with Yue Songdai left Bai Tu Shanzhuang and declared they would return to Jianyin Bang's headquarters in Wuzhang. Jinshui and the others of course knew that the two of them would only go out to catch the fugitive, eventually, they would come back tailing them.
Jinshui and Huang Yu also parted with Li Qian and his father without waiting for Han Budian's return, stating that they would go to meet the next descendant, Liao Xian, at a place called Mangren Gong (Blind Palace), bringing Xu Qiao, and Liuxin. with them as well as the two servants Xiaoshan and Xiaohu.
The next day, Li Jue and Lin Jixuan who was still holding Yanzi with him also left and went to Haitang Jian Pai's headquarters. They planned to find traces of Huling's descendant, Zhu Baique, who was last spotted there. Also, to find Li Jue's lover, Nan Xinglie.
Li Qian himself stayed at Bai Tu Shanzhuang accompanying Qin Liangjie who had not been able to leave his wife who had just given birth. Huang Yu asked him to take care of his sister Huang Lian temporarily.
The descendants had agreed to gather on the border of Yiling District, Hubei, at a place called Yongshi Bei (Fighters Monument), three months later.