They all returned to Laoli's hut, and for the time being there would be no one disturbed the descendants of Yumen.
"Where's Liuxin?" Yue Songdai immediately asked everyone. Lin Jixuan knocked him unconscious just this morning and brought him back to this hut, tied him to a tree to keep him from making any trouble.
"She's with her father," Lin Jixuan replied annoyingly, "will soon be brought back to the capital and becoming a sweet princess she was."
"What?" Yue Songdai immediately fell silent, even when Li Qian untied him, he didn't go looking for his little princess, didn't ask anything, and just sit under the tree like an absent-minded person.
Yue Songdai knew Liuxin was a princess, and he wasn't oblivious to the vast difference in status between them. He was just an orphan, even his master had long left. He also knew that one day, Liuxin would return to her father, and at that time there would be nothing he could do to stop her. Only he didn't expect that day to come so soon.
Huang Yu gave orders to Xiaoshan and Xiaohu to take Zhu Baique into one of the huts and treat her wounds and help her change her clothes. Shangguan Ruyin also took her baby son to the room to rest. Li Jue and his family moved to a corner and told each other what had happened since they separated.
"Lin Jixuan, my father was there saying that Yuan Zhangmen even asked our Wansui Gu for help against you Yumen descendants," Yanzi said to Lin Jixuan. "I didn't know that Wansui Gu was on good terms with Haitang Jian Pai. Haitang Jian Pai disciples were all female, it seemed impossible for them to ask a group of rotten poison makers for help."
"Haven't you ever heard the rumor in the martial world?" Lin Jixuan asked her back, "It is said that Yuan Wancui was Zeng Baifeng's lover. But no one knew why they weren't together, and Yuan Wancui then became the head of Haitang Jian Pai. She was not married for life."
Yanzi immediately pinched his arm. "Nonsense," she said. "Yuan Wancui is not a young woman now, but still, she's in perfect age to be yeye's daughter, how could she ever be his lover? Rumor spreading in our Wansui Gu is that Yuan Wancui liked my father once."
"Ah?" Lin Jixuan laughed. "No offense but your father is…. " he didn't say the word. "It's a miracle he has a beautiful daughter."
"None is taken," Yanzi replied slowly while her face blushed. "I know my father."
"But if the rumor is not true, then where did Yuan Wancui get the poison produced by your Wansui Gu people?" Lin Jixuan retorted, "Jinshui had tasted zhaobai du given by that old madam. Zhaobai du is created by your Wansui Gu, are you saying your father sold it to Haitang Jian Pai?"
"The rumors in the martial world can't be trusted completely," Liao Xian said, "Even though Yuan Zhangmen doesn't like all of us, we don't need to talk about her behind her back or ruin her reputation."
"Today she just backed away, doesn't mean she'll let us continue our path." Huang Yu said. "She was the only one of the three alliances leaders who came yesterday. Huan Jiaozheng and Lin Tongtian have not to say taken any part. She would definitely go to see them soon, gathering more alliances. We have our luck today, but we still have to struggle another day."
"Yes," said Li Qian, "she will find another chance."
"Huan Jiaozheng wasn't present, perhaps because he wanted to analyze the situation first," Qin Liangjie said, "but I don't get why did he send his second-in-command and his son instead, and these two don't seem to care much about Yongjun Hui's reputation, one might say embarrassing, and deliberately demeaned the name Hei Bao Jiangjun?"
"I thought about it too but I also don't get it," said Huang Yu. "It seems that there is an insider dispute in Yongjun Hui. This is actually good for us because there will be one less opponent to worry about."
"And there's Lin Tongtian," Yanzi said. "Lin Jixuan formally announced himself as one of the Yumen descendants in public, soon the news will be heard by his father and he will have to explain."
"He will find out soon or later," Lin Jixuan replied shortly. His expression was rather different now. He had often caused trouble and provoked his father's annoyance, but regarding his identity revealing as Xiezhang's descendant was no small matter, he also hadn't really thought about the consequences.
"Jinshui, what are you thinking?" Huang Yu asked Jinshui. Jinshui had been silent all this time, stood stiff at his spot, and didn't even look at Xu Qiao who stayed by his side.
"I have two," replied Jinshui. "One is the invitation from Xianjing Wang. He asked us to meet him at Yunshan Inn. We would have to come, no matter what, so that Liuxin Meimei can return to us and continue her role. But I'm not sure Xianjing Wang will let his little princess come with us. However, we are just a group of martial wanderers."
"Xianjing Wang is also the creator of Wuyuan Dian, the hall once led by Banye Xiake Lin Tongtian, Lin Daren," continued Liao Xian, "Wuyuan Dian is still active, only it was under the leadership of some unknown figure in the last few years."
"Is it possible Xianjing Wang will offer us to join Wuyuan Dian and work for the imperial?" asked Yin Xiuchen.
"It's not a bad idea," replied Huang Lian, "Qian-ge was a part of the imperial army a few years ago, he helped deal with border tribes."
"We live in the martial world, and we don't work for the imperial," said Huang Yu. "But you all don't have to worry that Xianjing Wang will offer these conditions in exchange for Liuxin Meimei."
"Yu, do you know something?" asked Li Qian.
"We will go and see Xianjing Wang," Huang Yu didn't tell much, his mysterious smile told the others that he had something in his mind. "Jinshui, can you tell us the second thing that bothered you?"
"Xie Tianhu and Xun Tianyi, those two killers," said Jinshui. "They came here to Yiling District too. They tried to kill Zhong Shaoyan and all his disciples, slaughtering the members of Jianyin Bang who were basically his own juniors, and it wasn't the weirdest thing. But this morning he spared me, spared Qiao-er, and I felt it completely different from the previous situation when they wanted to eliminate us."
"They killed lao zhu wang?" Yue Songdai asked without moving from his spot, and he was still partially an absent-minded person.
"Still alive," replied Lin Jixuan.
"Oh," Yue Songdai didn't actually care about the answer.
"My brother Huang Zhe had joined them, along with the lunatic woman, the daughter of Xun Tianyi," Huang Yu said, "what happened to the people of Jianyin Bang this morning was a little unexpected, not really in keeping with the characters Xie Tianhu and Xun Tianyi, who had been so worried about being recognized by anyone else."
"Our brother?" Huang Lian asked. "He is in Yiling District too?"
"Sanmei, I'll explain it to you later," Huang Yu said to her. "Xiaohu, Xiaoshan," he called his two loyal servants, came closer to those two as they just finish treating Zhu Baique's wound. "You two quickly find Zhong Bangzhu and Han Shaobangzhu, and tell them to come to meet Xianjing Wang in Yunshan Inn. Tell them, we will also be there."
The two servants didn't ask much and did as he asked.
"Huang Erge, are you saying that Xie Tianhu and Xun Tianyi will go after Zhong Bangzhu and Han Dage?" Xu Qiao asked.
"They may have the intention of taking over Jianyin Bang, or they may raze it to the ground," said Huang Yu. "Yue Shaoxia, your Jianyin Bang has a problem, you better hurry back to Wuzhang City and ask all your brothers there to evacuate."
"Why?" Yue Songdai asked blankly, "Shifu actually wanted to pass the leadership of Jianyin Bang to First Senior, and if at that time First Senior was not willing, the leadership naturally will fall to Xie Tianhu. Zhong Shaoyan is so stupid, if Xie Tianhu wants to be the leader of the Jianyin Bang, let him be the leader of Jianyin Bang."
"Xie Tianhu is so evil, how can you let him take over Jianyin Bang?" Yanzi came to Yue Songdai and hit his arm.
"I'll go to Wuzhang City with him," said Lin Jixuan. "We will warn the people of Jianyin Bang."
"I'll come with you," Yanzi said.
Lin Jixuan deliberately didn't want to go see Xianjing Wang with Jinshui and the others for his own reasons, because he didn't want Xianjing Wang to ask him to replace his father Lin Tongtian as the leader of Wuyuan Dian, and work for the imperial. He loved his freedom, and surely he wasn't interested to become the head of an organization, moreover, he didn't like working under the control of an old prince.
He left with Yue Songdai, leaving the others behind. Yanzi followed him, not wanting to part again. Li Jue then also said goodbye to his older brother Li Qian and the others, that day also returned to Bai Tu Shanzhuang taking Nan Xinglie and their daughter with him. Jinshui asked the remaining to rest well for the night, the next day they would meet Xianjing Wang and pick up Liuxin.
--
Jinshui found Xu Qiao standing on the edge of the cliff that night, standing alone staring into the distance. He knew what the girl was thinking, stepped closer, and took her hand, pulling her gently from the edge of the cliff.
"Qiao-er, Bao Xinfei renounced you, you don't have to worry so much," he said quickly. "Bao Xinfei after all was only your father's second wife, she had a status but had never given a son to your Xu Family, she had no right to carry Huofeng Lou's name, nor does she had the right to disown you."
"I know," replied Xu Qiao quietly, "she renounced me, but my father's four disciples are still alive, and there's Huang Lian too. They are still my family, and I can return to Huofeng Lou anytime I want. But I cannot throw away our good relationship for the last three years easily. I really didn't expect Erniang to cut her own arm, announce my death, and return to her master, all just because she doesn't like you."
"She doesn't like me because she loves you so much," Jinshui said. "You are Xu Louzhu's only remaining daughter. During these three years she has been very nice to you because she loved your father, am I right?"
Xu Qiao nodded once.
"But then you left. Instead of seeing anyone, you met me, the head of the demon that she didn't like," said Jinshui again. "We were seen together at Jianyin Bang's headquarters in Wuzhang City, and this news shocked Bao Xinfei as soon as it reached Huofeng Lou. Bao Xinfei didn't have a chance to prevent this, immediately felt that she had failed to take care of you, and she had disappointed your father."
"If only my father knew I'm with you, he won't…."
"If your father was still alive, things would be very different," Jinshui said. "Your father has full control over your life, he could have taken you back to Huofeng Lou, locked you there forever, or set you up with someone he chose, or even killed you. But Bao Xinfei couldn't do all of that. She has no right, nor would she have the heart. As a result, you continued to follow me, causing a lot of nasty rumors to circulate in the martial world, defaming Huofeng Lou. The only thing that Bao Xinfei could do to stop the rumor, and as her responsibility towards Xu Louzhu's legacy, was to announce that you were dead and that the girl by my side wasn't Xiao Qiao."
Xu Qiao hugged him, realizing that every word he said was true. Bao Xinfei was indeed just a stepmother. She was not her legal parent however she had tried to be for the last three years, and she was unable to stop her from falling in love with a demon head.
"Don't worry, one day she will accept you back," Jinshui continued. "At that time, I will also force myself to call her mother-in-law."
The sound of a whip splash was heard before Xu Qiao gave an answer. They let go of each other's arms, looking in the direction of the sound. On the small path nearby, two figures were seen, one male and one female. The one playing the whip was the female, while the male did not even seem to try to run away.
"Yang Lei, you have followed me from Wuzhang City to this place, do you also want to follow me to Wansui Gu?" it was the woman's voice, a very sharp voice. The voice familiar to Jinshui and Xu Qiao.
"Zhou Xiangnu," kata Jinshui.
"And dashixiong," added Xu Qiao. "We saw them just this afternoon and I don't understand why the two of them could be together, captured by Lin Jixuan and Yue Shaoxia to become the fake descendants and all."
"You promised me...." the young man Yang Lei replied. "You promised to let me be by your side. That day when in Wuzhang City you were injured by the people of Jianyin Bang, your nine-tailed whip was destroyed, I later helped you, even bought you a new whip."
Zhou Xiangnu's original nine-tailed whip had already been broken by Xu Qiao that day in Wuzhang City, assisted by Jinshui. At that time Zhou Xiangnu was actually unharmed. Perhaps it was just that because her favorite weapon had been destroyed, due to her temperamental nature, she might then engage in fights with other people and get injured.
"This cheap whip is nothing compared to my jiuwei bian," Zhou Xiangnu said. Yet she was still using the one-tailed whip as the replacement for her favorite weapon. "If you are good enough, you should be able to find the exact replacement."
"I'll find one," replied Yang Lei. "I promise I will find you the same nine-tailed whip."
Zhou Xiangnu simply walked away from him. Yang Lei followed like a loyal little puppy. Xu Qiao shook her head once, not knowing whether she had to help that first senior of hers or not.
"He's just like you," Jinshui mocked her. "You followed me the demon head, your senior followed the most poisonous woman of Wansui Gu."
They walked around the mountains, the darkness of the night already shrouding all of Yiling District. Even though they didn't sleep the night before, this time they didn't want to get earlier rest.
"Jinshui Gege, Liuxin Junzhu doesn't have the inner energy of the Yumen guardians like the others," Xu Qiao said to Jinshui. "I once asked her if this meant that her predecessor, Shuiyao, is still alive, but she was unwilling to tell me. Liuxin Junzhu is Xianjing Wang's daughter, then this Shuiyao is likely also Xianjing Wang's subordinate. Shall we go to that Yunshan Kezhan tomorrow to meet him?"
"Ten years ago when the guardians first brought together the descendants to Xuanwu Lake, they then attended a meeting in Zilan Hua Yuan at the invitation of Xianjing Wang," Jinshui said, "if I remember correctly, Moying Shifu also told me that the person he met in Zilan Hua Yuan at that time was not Xianjing Wang himself, but one of his concubines, Ying-fei (Concubine Ying)."
"Concubine?" asked Xu Qiao. "Shuiyao is a prince's concubine?"
"The guardians leave Shuiyao Shishu alone because of her serene character. In the future she will be able to become the thread that connects us, the descendants who know nothing, back to the path that had been prepared," said Jinshui. "So even though during these few years Shuiyao Shishu was able to hide very neatly, even the people of the martial world don't know that there is one Yumen guardian alive."
Xu Qiao tried to calculate. The Yumen guardians had the inner energy as the result of decades of training. Xianjing Wang was at most fifty years old, his concubine was probably the same age.
At first, she thought that Yumen's guardians were a number of strange elderlies of the martial world. She couldn't imagine any of them being a favorite concubine of an old prince, living in the palace and no one ever even heard of her actions.
"Menggui and Shuiyao Shishu were the youngest of the eight guardians, therefore you can see that Qin Liangjie's inner energy is not as high as that of the rest of us." Jinshui understood what she wanted to ask. "Moying Shifu and the others were geezers in their sixties when I last saw them. Menggui and Shuiyao Shishu were also the only females. They were selected by my father when they were five years old, and originally they were two special maids of jiaozhu furen."
Jiaozhu furen, the wife of Yumen leader, had four special maids. Three of them also served as bodyguards. They were deliberately chosen from talented girls and required to train wuqing xue and also yun xia shen gong (red clouds manual) since childhood. While the other servant was not allowed to practice any martial arts, she was just a servant.
Jiaozhu furen arranged these four maids with their respective purposes. Menggui managed to train wuqing xue to level five at the age of thirty but was not talented at training yun xia shen gong. Shuiyao managed to train wuqing xue to a level below Menggui at the same age, mastering yun xia shen gong to level four. Another maid, Miaoqin (Magic Harp) was ten years younger, and only mastered level three of wuqing xue, but managed to master yun xia shen gong to the highest level.
While the last maid, the one who never learn any martial arts, as arranged by jiaozhu furen as well, was later giving birth to Jinshui.
"My father found Menggui and Shuiyao Shishu talents, and decided that they would replace the retired Qiwang (King of Chess) and Heisha (Black Sand) as the new guardians," said Jinshui.
"The guardians had such weird names," commented Xu Qiao.
"Those are nicknames given by Yumen leader," replied Jinshui. "I don't really know their original names. I only remember, Moying Shifu's real surname was Ren, Chailang Shishu's real name was Cai Wennian, Ducao's real name was Li Chongxing, Menggui Shishu's was Yue Ling, Shuiyao Shishu's was Fu Xueying. That's all."
"Does Xianjing Wang know that his concubine is a guardian of Yumen?" Xu Qiao asked again.
"I guess he knows, only he didn't speak of it. Liuxin's father was a prince who held military power. He spent his youth in a lot of war, tactics, and politics. Having a Yumen guardian as his concubine might give him control over the future of Yumen, and I believe he knows how to use it."
"He will try to recruit you, ask you to join the military," said Xu Qiao. "Jinshui Gege, if the descendants of Yumen work for the imperial, you can protect the martial world from the real threat without resurrecting any heretic sect. It will save you a lot of energy and no one will call you a demon head anymore."
"Yes," said Jinshui.
"But I know that's not what you want," Xu Qiao continued. "You want to continue your father's legacy. You want to prove to the whole martial world that Yumen can be an ally. You want to tell everyone that the descendants of Yumen will create a new protector sect."
"Yes, I know," replied Jinshui. "It's a good thing Lin Jixuan already left. Xianjing Wang will take him as a good reason for us all to work for the imperial."