Two hours had passed yet Zhang Zheliang was not yet awake. Yue Songdai played the huanming yao pill in his hands, watching it like a dazed person.
Liao Xian was about to replace Zhu Baique to help restore Shuiyao's condition using his inner energy, but Shuiyao refused, saying there was no need and she could recover herself.
Yin Xiuchen walked over to Liao Xian, pulling him to the building where Zhang Zheliang was resting. Yue Songdai saw the two approached, he briefly looked inside the room, making sure his master Zhang Zheliang was still sleeping on the ledge. He signaled to Liao Xian that things had not changed.
"I heard some kind of music from far away, it was very faint," Yin Xiuchen said. She was a blind woman and her hearing was better than anyone else. "It's been quite a while, maybe since when Qingyi came."
Liao Xian tried to sharpen his hearing using the inner energy given by his master Baigu, and as his cousin said, he could faintly hear the sound of flute-like music being sent from a distance.
"Oh no, the sound of that flute..." he quickly understood one thing, rushed into the room, and looked at Zhang Zheliang. The old man was still sleeping soundly.
"What does the sound of the flute have to do with shifu?" asked Yue Songdai.
"The sound of the flute was sent out with a high level of energy in it," Yin Xiuchen said quickly. "Zhang Laoqianbei's hearing is much sharper than the rest of us. When we can't hear the sounds, he can. It's just that he's tired, helpless against it."
"Yue Shaoxia, just give that pill to your master, it should wake him up," Liao Xian said to Yue Songdai.
"Wait," Zhu Baique had followed the two and heard a similar sound. "Yin Guniang can you tell me where the sound of the flute is coming from?" she asked Yin Xiuchen.
"That way," Yin Xiuchen pointed east.
"I will use my bayinxiao to fight it."
She stepped out of the room, then jumped onto the roof, and ran in the direction she was pointing. Not long after, there was the sound of bayinxiao's flute blowing, blocking the sound of the flute aimed at Zhang Zheliang. It was an invisible battle. The descendant of Huling possessed the inner energy given by her master, she was able to use that inner energy to create a strong sound wave from her flute.
Liao Xian told Huang Yu what had happened, then Yin Xiuchen followed Zhu Baique, helping to block the sound of the flute being sent from a distance. The sound of bayinxiao's flute grew louder, making those who were still at the headquarters of Jianyin Bang wait anxiously.
While the battle of voices was still going on, at the front gate there was suddenly a commotion sound. Xiaoshan and Xiaohu were thrown into the yard, instantly falling unconscious. Someone had already arrived and was about to release Xun Qianniu who was bound above the gate. Jinshui and Huang Yu immediately rushed there, ahead of the others, in a moment they were already involved in a fight with Xun Qianniu's father, Xun Tianyi.
It was just Xun Tianyi who came, Huang Zhe was nowhere to be seen, while Xie Tianhu was supposed to be the one playing the flute in the distance, the voice aimed at Zhang Zheliang to kill the master he had betrayed.
Xun Tianyi fought Jinshui and Huang Yu while trying to save his daughter. He knew the girl's hip bone was fractured, if she was not lowered carefully she might suffer a broken bone. Xun Tianyi and Xie Tianhu captured and tortured another man's daughter only a brief moment ago, and now Xun Tianyi was very worried that his daughter would taste some vengeance.
Jinshui and Huang Yu's few punches hit the old man, but he paid no heed. His resistance was so chaotic, one time he let Jinshui hit his shoulder, and he kept trying to get Xun Qianniu down.
Jinshui saw that the old man still had some affection for his daughter, he slightly reduced his attacks, giving Xun Qianniu a chance to be taken down. Huang Yu was not the same, his grudge since witnessing the death of his parents three years ago had not subsided yet, and he did not want to let go of the opportunity to catch one of the killers. The punch, which was based on the power of Huang Weiqun's wu xie xin fa teachings, hit Xun Tianyi's neck, causing him to scream loudly.
Xun Tianyi still had time to put Xun Qianniu down and put her on the ground, trying to untie her. Huang Yu did not waste the opportunity, once again beating the old man's body, this time using wuqing xue energy, and was about to break his spine.
"Yu," Jinshui asked his friend, "we shouldn't oppress a man who can't put up a fight."
But Xun Tianyi was a vile person. Although his martial ability was not as high as Xie Tianhu, his nature was actually more rotten. Knowing that Jinshui was a little generous, he didn't waste a second. When Jinshui blocked Huang Yu and he was still trying to untie his daughter, he had already signaled the girl, simultaneously grabbing her waist and lifting her up.
Xun Tianyi's one palm aimed at Jinshui, Xun Qianniu's two still-bound hands aimed at Huang Yu, both of them used all their strength and were about to strike back with one blow at the same time. Jinshui and Huang Yu also needed to at least take a breath to block such an attack, but they didn't expect Xun Tianyi to turn around in such a way.
At that moment a shadowy figure jumped up, and landed right between them, receiving Xun Tianyi and his daughter's attack with two palms. A strong clash of forces occurred, Xun Tianyi and Xun Qianniu were thrown against the walls of the remaining Jianyin Bang headquarters and instantly knocked it down.
It was none other than Zhang Zheliang who hit the two, once again saving the lives of Jinshui and Huang Yu. Yue Songdai had already given his master a huanming yao pill and woke him up when he heard the flute's fighting sound which started to bother him. He was quite aware, his master hadn't been back long. His senior was dead, and he didn't want to lose the only person close to him.
Zhang Zheliang took a step closer to his fifth disciple, not wanting to let this disciple escape again and sow disaster, tarnish the name of their sect and use the abilities he had taught him to kill innocent people.
"Today I'm going to clean up my sect from traitors," the old man said, "Xun Tianyi, I used to take you as a disciple because your father once saved the life of my first disciple Zhang Xianghui. But you had joined Xie Tianhu, committed many crimes, and even helped him destroy his own sect."
"Why did you take me as one of your students in the first place?" Xun Tianyi questioned back, "You only taught me a few moves, then went to Baiyu Shan, befriended the master of the demonic sect, and never came back. No one believed me when I called myself the fifth disciple of the famous sword god. If it wasn't ershixiong who came to see me and still acknowledged me, from the start I would have no recollection of having any relationship with Liangtian Jian Shen or with Jianyin Bang."
"I also left Yue Songdai not long after making him my disciple. I didn't even teach him anything, but he didn't become like you," Zhang Zheliang said. "I know I am indeed a master who does not remember my own student, and today I will not kill you with my own hands for that."
He looked at Jinshui and Huang Yu. The massacre in Huofeng Lou and the death of Huang Weiqun and his wife could not be separated from Xun Tianyi's role. Jinshui's girl, as well as Huang Yu, were the remaining two.
"He's yours," Zhang Zheliang said to Huang Yu.
"Xu Guniang, let me represent your Xu Family to take revenge on this Xun Tianyi," Huang Yu said to Xu Qiao. Revenge had been stored in his heart for a long time, the look in his eyes showed cruelty. "Xun Tianyi has already helped Xie Tianhu kill all the residents of Huofeng Lou as well as my parents. His life only wouldn't be enough. Laoqianbei, leave everything to me, I will definitely give him justice."
Xun Tianyi witnessed the cruelty in his eyes. He laughed out loud and held Xun Qianniu's hand.
"Huang surname boy, you are not worthy. Ha ha ha!" the two strange father and daughter did not want to be tortured, preferring to commit suicide. They had some kind of poison in their bodies, Huang Yu didn't have time to stop them. The laughter grew louder as smoke was seen around the bodies of the two, smoke that spread too quickly. The stench smelled horribly, and those who were there quickly close their breath.
Zhang Zheliang moved away, Jinshui and Huang Yu also took a few steps back, and the others also quickly stayed away. Xun Tianyi and his daughter's bodies melted, and the laughter could no longer be heard, finally leaving only black blood clots. It was a terrifying suicide method.
The sound of the flute in the distance was no longer heard. Liao Xian and Yin Xiuchen returned with Zhu Baique who was deeply injured due to excessive use of inner energy. They informed me that Xie Tianhu had already fled.
At that moment, Liuxin's scream was suddenly heard. In Shuiyao's stomach was already stuck the short blade that was taken from her waist. It seemed that when the smoke spread just now Shuiyao had taken the opportunity to take the short blade and stabbed it into her own body.
Xianjing Wang quickly approached, taking over his beloved concubine from his daughter. For a moment he paid no heed to maintain his prestige as a prince, shouting for his subordinates to call a healer.
"Wangye," Shuiyao spoke weakly to him.
"Why did you do this?" Xianjing Wang asked. "You…."
"I sinned against Menggui Jiejie, I'll go apologize to her," Shuiyao stuttered, "Wangye, promised me to let Liuxin go, Ying-fei thanks you."
Some of the guards who were there suddenly fell to the ground holding their heads, Shangguan Ruyin and Yanzi also staggered. The others also immediately felt their heads hurt, presumably the effect of the poison Xun Tianyi and his daughter used to commit suicide just now. Those with inner energy could still overcome the effects of the poison, but those without inner energy felt terrible consequences.
Li Qian quickly helped Xianjing Wang, Qin Liangjie helped his wife Shangguan Ruyin, Xu Qiao, and Huang Lian helped Yanzi. It was then that Qin Liangjie realized that his baby son Qin Yujiang was sleeping too soundly in his mother's arms. Liuxin also realized that Shuiyao had already breathed her last.
--
Shuiyao's body was placed in a coffin, and after Liuxin paid her last respects, Xianjing Wang carried her from the ruins of the Jianyin Bang headquarters with all his guards and returned to the capital. Shuiyao's wish before she died was for Liuxin to leave with the Yumen descendants, and Xianjing Wang granted Liuxin to stay behind and go with Jinshui and the others to Baiyu Shan.
The baby Qin Yujiang was poisoned and his parents unbearably worried about him. Qin Liangjie tried to get rid of the poison using his internal energy and even asked Huang Yu to help. Yanzi also attempted to use the needle to dispel the poison. However, the baby wasn't like an adult who could hold his breath when he smelled the stench, the poisonous fumes immediately entered his weak little body.
The poisons can be neutralized using internal energy and needles, but not completely. Some fumes had entered the internal organs and apparently created some damage. The baby was weak, and his parents knew he had to be treated quickly by a poison expert.
"Zhou Guniang, how is he?" Shangguan Ruyin kept asking.
"He's fine for now," Yanzi said to her, "I will give him some herbs to keep him breathing. Only, he's just a baby, and I'm not sure how long the herbs will do any good. My advice is we have to bring him to see yeye."
"We have to take him to Wansui Gu?" asked Qin Liangjie.
"Unless the former leader of Yumen is still alive," Yanzi replied, "otherwise only yeye can save him."
At the same time, Jinshui had already approached Zhang Zheliang, taking out the white steel fan from behind his clothes. Xu Qiao followed, Huang Yu stood a little further away, wanting to give Jinshui a chance to face the man who killed his father and settle things between them.
"Laoqianbei, this fan was a gift from my father to you," Jinshui handed the fan to Zhang Zheliang. "It's a useless thing for me, and I'm sure my father also wants me to give it back to you."
Zhang Zheliang took the fan from him, opened it, and touched its surface for a few moments. He recognized it as a token of friendship given by Wu Youwei fifteen years ago.
"How could this fan be in your possession?" he asked Jinshui.
"Xie-shu entrusted Huang Erge's father to deliver this fan to our Huofeng Lou and hand it to my father," Xu Qiao was the one to answer. "This fan already brought disaster to the Huang Family and Xu Family three years ago."
"Who's Xie-shu?" asked Zhang Zheliang. "Ah, that traitor Xie Tianhu," he answered his own question. "Right, thirteen years ago after my fight with Wu Jiaozhu, I gave this fan to my first disciple Zhang Xianghui, telling him of its secret. Xie Tianhu couldn't accept me giving the fan to his senior, not to him. He killed his senior to take the fan and the copy of the yin shou yang zhang manual. He tried to kill me when I found out, but not before he asked about the secret map inside."
"Map?" asked Jinshui. "Is it the map of Baiyu Shan?"
"A map of the secret room behind your old Yumen Jiao headquarters," said Zhang Zheliang, "where your father and I discussed various manuals and attempted to crack the secret to obtaining the eighth level of wuqing xue."
"So it is true what people said about you secretly making a map of our Yumen headquarters," Jinshui said. "Laoqianbei, did you realize if that kind of map falls into the hands of our Yumen enemies, it will be very dangerous? Have you not thought about it beforehand?"
"That fan didn't have any maps inside," Xu Qiao said, "I'd tried putting it in water, pouring oil on it, and even heating it up, but nothing appeared."
"No?" asked Zhang Zheliang. "Songdai, get me a bucket of water," he gave an order to his sixth disciple. "I never told the traitor disciple Xie Tianhu the secret of this fan. That day I also broke both of his legs, but he was still able to escape, leaving me half-dead. Don't know how he is still standing today."
"It was his best friend, my father, who helped him," Xu Qiao replied. "My father found the best healer and medicine so he could walk again, but instead he retaliated by killing all members of the Xu Family."
"Laoqianbei, Huang Yu, and I also have a deep grudge against Xie Tianhu." Jinshui said. "I hope you don't have to bother finding him, we will kill that lowly human."
"Laoqianbei, Xie-shu was able to betray his own master and senior, but how could he be with his fifth junior Xun Tianyi?" Xu Qiao asked.
"Probably for the map," said Zhang Zheliang. "Xun Tianyi was no different from poisoner Wansui Gu. He was familiar with all kinds of medicines and poisons. His father saved my first disciple once and I took him as my fifth disciple to pay the debt of gratitude, but I never thought that Xun Tianyi was nothing but a petty child."
Yue Songdai had already returned with a bucket of water before Zhang Zheliang mentioned any more of his disciple's filth. Zhang Zheliang soaked the fan in his hand in the water for a few moments, then poured some liquid from the small bottle tucked under his sleeve.
"This liquid is what I used to infuse the map inside the steel, I got it from Xun Tianyi's father," the old man said. "This liquid can also be used to take out maps. This secret I have told Liuxin and had really troubled her over the past few years."
It didn't take long for Zhang Zheliang to take the fan out of the water, tapping it on the rock as if to get something out of it. But other than water nothing flows from the fan body.
"Ah, it seems that Xie Tianhu has managed to get the map and not put it back into the fan," the old man said. "In the past few years, this fan has also become an ordinary fan without any secrets."
Jinshui and Xu Qiao looked at each other for a moment. There was once a map inside the fan. The map of Yumen Jiao's headquarters had most likely already fallen into Xie Tianhu's hands.
"Laoqianbei, what kind of map was hidden inside the fan?" asked Xu Qiao. "Xie-shu already took it, does this mean he already knows all the ways inside the Yumen base in Baiyu Shan?"
"I will draw the map for you," Zhang Zheliang replied. "After looking at the map, perhaps you can find the answer to your question."
Zhang Zheliang asked Yue Songdai to fetch paper and ink, then returned the fan to Jinshui. When the paper and ink were prepared, he drew the map he said. It was a map of a mountain path, then there was an octagonal shape. The names of cities and mountains and rivers were written there. It was not much to be described, even the north or south direction was not clearly defined. Jinshui and Xu Qiao studied the map for a while after.
"Laoqianbei, where is this place?" Xu Qiao asked. "Feicui Peak, Bai Family Grave. The names of these places are so bizarre, I don't know any of them."
"The previous owner of Baiyu Shan was originally named Bai Qiuyi," said Jinshui, "Bai Family's grave is her family's grave."
"Yes," said Zhang Zheliang. "There is a tomb in Baiyu Shan, and that tomb has access to several secret caves inside the mountain," he pointed at the map he drew, "one of the secret caves heads to the octagonal room, your Yumen Jiao storage room."
He pointed to an octagonal image, apparently, it was a storage room. He didn't draw what kind of object was stored in that octagonal room, but possibly it was some precious treasure for Yumen Jiao that might attract anyone's attention.
"When I visited Yumen headquarters, Wu Jiaozhu took me to this octagonal room, showing me the various ancient manuals engraved on the walls," Zhang Zheliang said, expressing a hint of guilt. "As a man who had studied martial arts for decades, seeing so many theories of rare manuals, will naturally be tempted, and I myself was no exception. At that time, I knew that it was impossible to stay in Baiyu Shan forever, and I also knew that once I left, I would not necessarily come back."
"So you then made the map," said Jinshui. "Unbeknownst to my father."
"I drew it secretly on a piece of a special paper, divided it into several parts, peeled off the adhesive on the fan bones using the liquid earlier, then pasted the map fragments there," said Zhang Zheliang, "at that time I didn't think too much either, just I hope one day I, or maybe my disciples, would be able to return to the octagonal room, take the manuals, and use it for the sake of our Jianyin Bang."
"Or to destroy Yumen Jiao," replied Jinshui.
Zhang Zheliang nodded. "Yumen's reputation was already known throughout the martial world. Jinshui, Yumen's cruelty in the past did exist, you also can't help but admit it. But today I told you the secret of the Yumen storage room, I hope that in the future you will also be able to get all the manuals in it, and use it to continue your sect's original purpose."
"But, this map has also fallen into Xie-shu's hands," Xu Qiao said. "What if he gets there first?"
"Regarding this, you don't need to worry," Zhang Zheliang said. "Xu Guniang just said that she doesn't know the names written on the map, so I believe that traitor Xie Tianhu doesn't know them either, and he can't figure out where to find the place depicted on this map. Although he could guess that this map was a secret room in Baiyu Shan, he would not find it so easily either. Also, he doesn't have the key."
"Key?" asked Xu Qiao. "That's right, Yumen Jiao has a secret room containing various precious treasures, it can't be unlocked and can be casually entered by outsiders. However, Yumen's base was already destroyed thirteen years ago, it is not impossible that the entrance to this secret room has also been opened."
"If Xie Tianhu had obtained the manuals stored in that secret room, he wouldn't have dared to go against his master using only the sound of a flute sent from afar, then run away," Jinshui told him. "We will go to Baiyu Shan. In time, we can see for ourselves the contents of the secret room."
Zhang Zheliang folded the map and handed to Jinshui.
"Shuiyao is dead, and I only have three huanming yao pills left. If Laofu still wants to live, I must see Li Taiyi," Zhang Zheliang said later. "However, the huanming yao should only be allowed to drink after twenty days, and laofu has violated it. This body is old, also can't continue to depend on huanming yao."
"Laoqianbei, Jianyin Bang has been destroyed, how about we escort you to Huofeng Lou?" Xu Qiao asked. "There you can rest easy, Xie-shu won't break in easily either. We... will find the best apothecary for you, and...."
"Stupid child, speaking of security no one can match the Xianjing Wang residence. When it comes to medicine, the most skilled is my old friend Lan Duo Xie (Lazy Scorpion) Zeng Baifeng. This old wound was given by your Jinshui Gege's father. Even Zeng Baifeng may not be able to heal it. No one else can help me. Men get old, and sooner or later I will die anyway. My work in this world is done, there is nothing more to worry about."
"Laoqianbei, what will you do next?" Jinshui asked. "Shuiyao Shishu said, once you fall asleep, then when you wake up, without the medicine you might become an innocent child or a cold-blooded killer. There will be no memory or feelings. You are only allowed to take the medicine again twenty days after. But without the help of other people, you might not think of taking the medicine yourself. I guess you also don't want to be this kind of person with no memory, out there and being able to harm anyone, do you?"
Zhang Zheliang laughed briefly. Jinshui's words were a wedge in his heart, he deciphered exactly.
"That's right, that Zhang Zheliang naturally shouldn't be wandering around unattended. I would not be willing to destroy my decades of good reputation myself. Hua Jinshui, you seem to quite understand me," he looked at Jinshui with a deep gaze. "In the past, your father was arguably also a friend who really understood me. If we didn't go in opposite directions, maybe there would be no need for animosity, and could even become good friends."
"My father...." Jinshui didn't know a lot about his father.
"Laofu would rather give my life to Wu Youwei's son than let myself lose memory and become a ruthless devil or a heartless killer," said Zhang Zheliang.
"No," Xu Qiao disagreed. "Jinshui Gege, no...." she held Jinshui's hand, knowing Zhang Zheliang's request might change everything.
"Laoqianbei, you… please don't make things difficult for me," Jinshui forced a smile. "You've called my father a good friend, your duel with my father at that time was also a fair match, I'm sure each of you also hopes for no grudges. Today you'd saved me twice, I'd also promised Shuiyao Shishu and Shuiyao Shishu had told you, your suffering during these thirteen years was more than a man can bear. Shuiyao Shishu's body had not cooled down yet, Hua Jinshui can't break this promise."
Zhang Zheliang smiled for once. "Nice words," he complimented again. "Jinshui, I really like you. Yumen Jiao under your leadership will not repeat the mistakes of the past. The eight descendants would one day become respected defenders of justice, become guardians of the martial world as they should be."
"Laoqianbei, if this is your wish, then Jinshui will definitely put his whole heart into it," Jinshui replied.