Yue Songdai and Han Budian rode their horses along the path between the river and the cliff, unintentionally entered a gap that was getting narrower, and the path ended in a waterfall.
Han Budian saw a cave behind the waterfall. He took Xu Qiao and Xiu-er off his horse and asked the animal to leave. Yue Songdai did the same before following him into the cave.
Only a little light from outside penetrated the cave, not enough to see everything. The cave was very wide and deep and they couldn't tell how far it will end. Yue Songdai gathered some logs around him, arranged them, and tried to start a fire using his lighter.
Jinshui and Huang Yu were coming after them, followed by Zeng Baifeng and Yanzi. Han Budian and Yue Songdai thought the enemy was coming, they immediately drew their weapons and fought in the dark. Yanzi quickly lit her lighter and made a torch, then shouted and told everyone that they were not enemies.
Huang Yu and Yue Songdai were no longer attacking each other. Jinshui tried to snatch Xu Qiao from Han Budian. Han Budian recognized his opponent but he was not willing to give up just yet, he still held Xu Qiao to protect her.
"Qiao-er," Jinshui called. Xu Qiao was already very weak, and couldn't clearly see who was coming, but Jinshui's voice sounded familiar to her ears, causing her to react. Han Budian was forced to hand her over to Jinshui.
"If you dare to leave her again, I will take her from you." the young bangzhu Jianyin Bang said fiercely to Jinshui.
Jinshui ignored him. He put Xu Qiao on the floor of the cave and tried to use his inner energy to regain her life. But he wasn't able to hail the inner energy given by Moying because of his own physical condition. For a moment, it left him confused.
"Jinshui Gege, I and yeye are here," Yanzi reminded him, "do you forget that we came from Wansui Gu and are well-known for dealing with poisons as well as medicine?"
"You talk too much," Huang Yu grunted, "just help her."
Yanzi walked over to Xu Qiao and directly handed her a medicinal pill to swallow, then checked the condition of her wound. Zeng Baifeng just oberserved. He could not help because Xu Qiao was a girl.
"This wound must be stitched up," Yanzi said. "But I can't do it here."
At that moment Xiu-er slowly pointed at the ceiling of the cave, letting out a low, indistinct sound, as if she saw something up there. The others all looked in the same direction and realized that the living beings in the cave were not just human.
Above the ceiling there could be seen hundreds or perhaps thousands of other creatures, one by one opening a pair of sharp and shining eyes, looking at the strange figures that entered their nest. The fire that Yanzi lit just now seems to have woken them up.
"Woe, this place is full of bats," Yue Songdai hissed quietly. "Let's just go..."
It was a late warning. Some of the bats had already flown down, not attacking immediately but they were blocking the entrance of the cave so that the humans wouldn't be able to easily go out. Xiu-er covered her ears, Liuxin felt something unnatural.
"I think someone controls these animals," she said. "My father once told me, there is only one person who has the ability to control bats in this world."
"I'd also heard from my master," said Han Budian. "But it was said that the man died long ago. His title was Bianfu Daren (Bat Lord), and his name was Yin Luohuang. This person was not only famous for being good at controlling bats, but also for all kinds of other animals. This person doesn't like enmity, he can easily befriend anyone."
"Yeye, can you control them?" Yanzi asked Zeng Baifeng. "There's no need to kill them, just drive them away."
"I can control snakes, I've never controlled bats." Zeng Baifeng replied. "This place is their home, it seems impossible to have them evicted."
"If there's someone like Bianfu Daren Yin Luohuang controlling them, is there still a chance that they won't attack?" Liuxin asked.
The bats did not show any intention to attack. They just surrounded and sealed off the exit in their own way, some were flying around, and the rest stayed where they were as if waiting for further instructions. Liuxin and the others know there was no point in initiating an attack on those animals.
"You don't have to worry," Huang Yu suddenly said. "I know what place is this. Jinshui, we have arrived."
"Arrive where?" asked Jinshui.
"Mangren Gong."
Huang Yu stepped slowly into one of the cave walls, finding a black stone array there. He took the stones, then flicked them into the other walls in turn. The sound of the stone hitting the wall seemed to make a certain rhythm, making everyone there silently watching. Chailang's descendant was indeed the only outsider who knew how to knock on Mangren Gong's door.
A few moments later from the dark cave passage appeared a pair of man and woman holding no light source in their hands. They were a young man and a girl, handsome and beautiful, but their faces seemed like they had never been touched by the sun at all.
The young man blew a short flute, but strangely there was not the slightest sound of the flute was heard. It was not because the whole cave was covered by the sound of the waterfall, but because the flute didn't make a sound that humans' ears could hear.
At the same time, another pair of young man and woman also barged into the cave through the waterfall. The light from the torch in Yanzi's hand was very limited, but those who were present could still recognize the two new arrivals as Huang Zhe and Xun Qianniu. It seemed that they had already caught up.
The two tall and skinny mysterious men were nowhere to be seen, probably been bitten by the snake summoned by Zeng Baifeng or they were waiting outside the cave thinking the waterfall was the only way in and out.
Huang Zhe quickly realized he had barged into the wrong place. Hundreds of bats flying around the entrance of the cave immediately surrounded him and his friend Xun Qianniu. A number of other bats that were still half asleep on the ceiling of the cave also flew down, apparently following the command of the silent flute.
"What the….?" Huang Zhe didn't have much experience in the martial world and had never had to deal with hundreds of bats, obviously.
"Catch Liuxin first!" Xun Qianniu was really impatient. "You can deal with the rest later."
But Huang Zhe didn't have time to answer yet, the cold-faced young man again blew his flute. The girl beside him didn't move an inch, and her eyes stared blankly as the bats swiftly charged toward Huang Zhe and Xun Qianniu, both of whom quickly disappeared from sight amidst the siege of the animals attacking them.
"Liao-xiong, enough," Huang Yu didn't want his own brother to be killed by a swarm of bats. "Don't let anyone die in the Mangren Gong area."
He called the cold-faced young man Liao-xiong. Jinshui and Liuxin immediately recognized him as Liao Xian, the descendant of Baigu, a rather stiff boy who was also present at Xuanwu Lake ten years ago.
One by one the bats returned to their resting place on the ceiling of the cave. Liao Xian's short flute stopped their attack, leaving Huang Zhe and Xun Qianniu in a miserable condition. Their clothes were tattered, their skin and faces covered in wounds, and they were lying on the cave floor in a semi-conscious state. But everyone can see that both were still alive.
Huang Yu's attention was on Xun Qianniu for a moment. That lunatic woman was the daughter of one of the two mysterious men who killed his parents. He had a chess piece in his hand, ready to kill the girl using his signature secret weapon, avenging his parents' death in one strike.
But seeing that the lunatic woman Xun Qianniu was already in such a pathetic state, he lowered his hand and canceled the shoot. Part of him wanted to kill Xun Qianniu in front of her evil father, another part simply didn't want to take the life of a lunatic girl.
"You all may leave now," Liao Xian said to not only Huang Zhe, but also to Han Budian and the others. The girl beside him had already turned around, about to return to the dark cave passage. The girl had never looked at the guests at all. Her mind was probably as empty as her eyes.
"Leave?" Yue Songdai came closer. "You asked us to leave, just like that? It will be wasting your help."
"Zaixia never helped anyone," Liao Xian spoke coldly, "you should all leave this place."
"Those two over there, one is a fugitive, the other is a crazy one, and they have friends out there, ready to kill us all. Perhaps, they will be trespassing anytime soon," Yue Songdai was exaggerating. "You see, now, we have an injured girl here, and we won't be able to get away from them."
"Talk too much," the pale girl cut his words coldly and sharply. "If you don't want to go, that's fine." she held Liao Xian's hand. "Biaoge (brother cousin), we go."
Liao Xian did not refute it, immediately leading the girl into the cave passage. Yue Songdai did not want to give up as he saw Huang Zhe and Xun Qianniu trying to get up.
"Let's put it this way," Yue Songdai said again, "if you want us to leave, you help us kill them first."
"Liao Xian Gege, do you forget Liuxin?"
It was not Yue Songdai's words that made Liao Xian and the girl stop their steps, but Liuxin's words.
"Ten years ago my father invited several leaders in the martial world, and gave us a chance to meet for the first time," Liuxin continued. "Yin Guniang, I know you can't see me, but you should remember Liuxin's name too, don't you?"
Only Liao Xian turned his head towards her, his girl did not move a muscle. The expressions of the two didn't change, but Liao Xian's eyes stared intently at Liuxin for a while, trying to recognize this young girl as a little princess in a red coat who brought various kinds of snacks to the young descendants back then.
Ten years ago, Xianjing Wang, Liuxin's father, held a meeting at Zilan Huayuan - Purple Orchid Garden, inviting a number of major wulin figures including Lin Tongtian, Yin Luohuang, Huang Weiqun, Yuan Wancui, and Li Taiyi. Lin Tongtian's son was already in the hands of Xiezhang, but he brought his daughter Lin Xiaoyan with him and briefly discussed an arranged marriage with Huang Weiqun's son. Yin Luohuang brought his daughter and nephew. Yuan Wancui brought several disciples including Zhu Baique. Li Taiyi brought his two sons.
The eight children who were chosen to be the eight descendants were first gathered in that place. The meeting did not last long, and their introductions were not long either, but their destiny at that time began, as if there was also a bond between them, Liao Xian very clearly felt it.
"Liao-xiong," Huang Yu walked over to Liao Xian and called out. Jinshui also rose to his feet. A moment later the three of them recognized each other and patted each other on the shoulder.
"How did you get here, all of you?" Liao Xian asked them.
"Biaoge, he came?" the girl beside Liao Xian asked with a blank expression as if she didn't care what the answer was. "Are they here to pick you up and take you away?"
"It's okay," Liao Xian said to her, "they will not ask me to leave you."
"We should talk inside," Huang Yu said.
Liao Xian looked around there were so many people there, for a while he was doubtful. He only knew Huang Yu, Jinshui and Liuxin, and his Mangren Gong never had a guest in a long time.
"They're friends," Jinshui told him.
Liao Xian nodded, realizing that there were still some outsiders there who didn't need to know about the Yumen descendants. He then led his girl through the dark and winding passages of the cave, the others following cautiously. The place was pitch black, Liao Xian and the girl came without holding any light source, it was obvious that both of them had gotten used to the dark. The cave had many branches, and both of them had memorized each, finally bringing their guests to a place that was also covered by darkness.
They arrived at a small valley-like area, surrounded by high and steep cliffs. There were three major buildings there, scattered in three different directions. Strangely, the buildings were all dark with no light, no lanterns or candles of any kind, only limited lighting from the sky that helped the vision of those who came. Liao Xian didn't say much, ushering them to the buildings to the west. Several maids came over.
"There are many rooms there, you can pick any of them." Liao Xian said calmly.
"You don't have any candles?" Yue Songdai asked him.
"This place is called Mangren Gong (Blind Palace), surely there's no light here," Liao Xian replied. "The sun is about to set, but you can still help your friends under the remaining light. After that, you should just go to sleep. If you need anything, wait for the sun to rise before asking it."
Xu Qiao was already unconscious when she was brought into a clean room. Jinshui laid her on the bed. Yanzi asked everyone to get out, telling them to wait outside the room except for Liuxin and little Xiu-er, who then closed the door. Jinshui stood silently by the door, his face showing extreme anxiety. The others were also waiting in the courtyard in front of the room, a garden full of fragrant wildflowers.
Liao Xian left them with his girl, apparently not very interested in getting acquainted with Han Budian or even with Zeng Baifeng. Huang Yu let him leave, he understood that Liao Xian's blind girl, the owner of Mangren Gong, didn't like dealing with strangers.
Yanzi carefully cut Xu Qiao's shirt. She found something under the shirt and took it out, placing it on the edge of the bed. Liuxin saw it, she was a little surprised, then took it. It was a folding fan that was covered in a little blood. Liuxin cleaned it briefly with her handkerchief, confirming her guess that the folding fan was made of white steel, and it was a familiar object.
She put the folding fan back on the bed after cleaning it, keeping her thoughts to herself. Yanzi didn't pay attention to her, continuing to stitch the wound and spread some medicine powder carefully. Liuxin wiped off the remaining blood and sweat on Xu Xiao's forehead, and clean her face carefully.
When the girls were done, they covered Xu Qiao with a blanket before opening the door, letting Jinshui in to meet and see his girl. Liuxin deliberately shifted the position of the folding fan so that Jinshui could clearly see it. Xiu-er was watching everything with a child's bewilderment, but it was not the fan that concerned her but Jinshui.
"She's still unconscious," Yanzi said. "Let her rest for the night."
Jinshui just wanted to make sure Xu Qiao would stay alive, he quickly sat on the edge of the bed and checked the girl's condition for a while. The folding fan that was there was clearly visible to him, all he did was pick it up and place it in Xu Qiao's hand. Liuxin watched, she widened her eyes but didn't say anything.
"Yanzi," Zeng Baifeng called from outside the room.
"Yeye," Yanzi run to her grand master. "I'm done, Qiao-er Jiejie is fine now."
"We go home," Zeng Baifeng pulled her hands.
"But we just arrived," protested Yanzi.
"Kid, I left the valley by setting three rules for myself, I have already told you this, do you still not understand the purpose?" Zeng Baifeng nagged her.
"Yeye didn't want to be recognized," Yanzi said quietly as she looked around. Huang Yu already knew that this old man was the famous real owner of Wansui Gu, but others didn't know yet, she assumed.
"Huang Gongzi, laofu has no business to do here," Zeng Baifeng said to Huang Yu. "Please tell your friends, laofu have to take my leave now, maybe another day I will visit Mangren Gong again."
Huang Yu nodded once and thanked him, then asked Liao Xian's servant to escort Zeng Baifeng as well as Yanzi out of the place. Han Budian watched for a moment, he could guess the identity of the old man because he knew who Yanzi was, but he didn't say a word.
"Yanzi," Liuxin stepped out of the room and called Yanzi before leaving. "That lunatic woman Xun Qianniu gave Xiu-er a qiuxiangwei poison, can you cure it?"
"Qiuxiangwei?" Yanzi released herself from her grandmaster's hand. "qiuxiangwei can only be cured with one of nine kinds of herbs every twelve hours for five days. Yeye, looks like I still have some work to do, can't come home with you yet."
"What's a Xiu-er?" protested Zeng Baifeng.
"Laoqianbei, I'll take good care of her," Huang Yu said. "I promise you she will return to Wansui Gu safely when she's done with us."
Zeng Baifeng nodded, then walked away, whether he was really going back to Wansui Gu or just waiting outside the waterfall cave. He was the owner of Wansui Gu who had only known to live in his valley, and similar to Yuan Wancui, he did not like to stay in other people's places.
Han Budian stepped into the room, and approached Jinshui but kept his distance from the bed. He also watched Xu Qiao for a while, just didn't feel the need to come any closer.
"Why did she get hurt like that?" he asked Jinshui. "I thought Yumen's primary descendant had extraordinary abilities, being able to protect her."
"Won't happen again," Jinshui replied concisely.
"If you don't protect her well, I'll take her away from you." Han Budian said firmly.
"We were brought by Xiaohu and Xiaoshan to the hut on top of the cliff, they said Hua Gege and Yu Gege can take care of themselves," Liuxin stepped back to the room, telling Jinshui what had happened. "But Qiao Jiejie was very worried that you didn't come back, so she asked Xiaohu and Xiaoshan to look for you. That's when the lunatic came, took Xiu-er with her, and asked us to come with her."
"Who is she?" Jinshui asked in a deep voice.
"Her name is Xun Qianniu, the daughter of one of those two mysterious men, the skinny one," said Liuxin. "We were very weak at that time, and that lunatic also threatened to kill Xiu-er. We had a fight with her, I almost managed to snatch Xiu-er, but she then stabbed Qiao Jiejie with a knife, then also forced Xiu-er to swallow poison. We had to go with her, not knowing where she was going or who she was going to meet."
Jinshui just snorted, not wanting to hear more. He remained sitting on the edge of the bed, quietly, apparently not intending to leave Xu Qiao until she gained her consciousness and escaped death for sure.
Liuxin led Han Budian out of the room, and they all headed to other prepared rooms. Jinshui realized that Xiu-er was still in the room he was in, a knife was already held in the girl's hand, the knife she pulled from Xu Qiao's chest this afternoon, and there was still blood on it.
"You want to avenge your twin," Jinshui said to her. "Why don't you do it?"
Xiu-er stepped closer, holding the knife in her hand tightly, the memory of her twin sister's death at the tip of the xuanlong sword lingering in her eyes, the look in her eyes showing hatred.
"I won't fight back," Jinshui said, "you can just use that knife."
Xiu-er really gripped the dagger with both hands, she screamed and with all her might stabbed into Jinshui's waist. The dagger plunged deep enough, Jinshui really didn't put up any resistance. Xiu-er let go of the dagger in shock, watching Jinshui while shaking her head.
"It wasn't you who killed Shuang-er," the little girl said. "It wasn't you"
She just left the knife, quickly turned around, and ran out of the room. It was at this time that Xu Qiao moved slowly, the sound of Xiu-er's scream just now seemed to wake her up. Jinshui didn't pull the knife out, he helped Xu Qiao sit on the bed.
"Qiao-er," he called gently.
"Jinshui Gege," Xu Qiao grabbed the knife from his waist, only to realize that it had only pierced Jinshui's clothes and slightly scratched his skin. When the knife was pulled out, Jinshui didn't feel anything either.
"That little girl doesn't know how to take revenge properly," Jinshui said. "Qiao-er, how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine," said Xu Qiao. "Jinshui Gege, you and Huang Erge disappeared for hours. I was really worried about you. Xiaohu and Xiaoshan said you two met an enemy, the person on the boat was not Lin Jixuan. Are you okay?"
She found that the dagger in her hand had a few drops of fresh blood on it, so she quickly looked at the wound it had made. Jinshui had not been able to use his inner energy to block, and Xu Qiao was able to easily unveil his clothes, finding the scars from Lin Tongtian's lashes.
"Jinshui Gege, you…."
"It's fine," said Jinshui.
"Who did this?" asked Xu Qiao.
"It was Lin Jixuan's father Lin Tongtian," replied Jinshui, "Huang Yu and I were caught by him. But never mind, he let us go at the end. This wound has also been treated properly and will get better soon."
Xu Qiao hugged him, crying silently. She knew that it was her fault that Jinshui get caught and tortured. Jinshui was in a weak state after helping her get rid of the poison. She really felt Jinshui's deep affection for her, making her realize, she wanted to stay with Jinshui more than just for the sake of returning the favor.