The mountain in the dark night was very quiet, with few birds and insects calling. Occasionally, the howling of wolves from an unknown source cut through the darkness, making the wilderness even more dangerous. Tonight was a cloudy day, and the moon had long since hidden behind the clouds to sleep. Looking at the pitch-black clouds in the sky, it was unknown when the tender crescent moon would reveal its face. It was fortunate that Situ Ping and Young Master Ma were martial artists, with sharp eyesight, so they could walk like flying in the dark night.
When they arrived in front of Hill Peak, it was dead silent, with only the sound of wind blowing. Hill Peak was a short and fat little hill, and its height could not be seen clearly in the dark night. On the east side of the mountain peak was a flat land with an area of about four or five minutes. The ground was very smooth, covered with fallen leaves and withered grass, making a "shasha" sound when stepping on it. Young Master Ma looked around and said to Situ Ping, "Here we are, let's wait here." Then he crossed the withered grass on the flat ground, walked to the large stone protruding from the ground like a reclining ox, jumped up, sat down with his legs crossed, and stopped talking, as if he had entered a state of meditation. Situ Ping followed him to the stone but did not jump on it. Instead, she leaned against the stone, holding the treasured sword at her waist, and looked around, observing the familiar place and the unfamiliar night.
The sound of wind blew like this, and the two seemed to have no movement, passing by in a tea time like this.
Suddenly, Young Master Ma opened his eyes and looked towards the north forest. Situ Ping noticed Young Master Ma's movement, turned to look at the forest, and listened carefully, but found nothing. She was wondering when she heard someone using flying skills, rushing toward them from the north forest at breakneck speed. Situ Ping couldn't help feeling a surge of emotion in her heart: "Indeed, they are from famous families."
In a short while, the nocturnal traveler arrived at their side, who was Wen Wenhai and his junior sister. They seemed to have abandoned their horses at the foot of the mountain and rushed up on foot. Wen Wenhai did not rush down from the tree but first looked down at the situation from a higher place and then signaled his sister to jump down from the tree as well. They did not greet the people in the field but sat down cross-legged under the tree like Young Master Ma, with eyes closed and concentrating. His sister did not stand but took out a cushion from her backpack, placed it on the ground, and sat on it. She seemed to be resting.
Young Master Ma closed his eyes again, as if he had not seen them coming, and Situ Ping had no choice but to stand there quietly.
After a while, several people opened their eyes at the same time and looked towards the small road opposite the mountain peak. From the other end of the small road came a series of footsteps. In this quiet wilderness, where only the wind was heard, the ordinary footsteps somehow seemed eerie. As the footsteps approached neither slowly nor hastily, and although they could not see the person yet, all four of them were very expectant, wanting to see who this person was walking in the mountain path.
As the person drew closer, they saw clearly who it was, and they were even more amazed—it was actually two people who were walking side by side, their movements in sync. In the night, they could not see whether they wore the same clothes or had the same faces. However, seeing their steps, they were one and a half times longer than ordinary people's. In fact, everyone knew the answer in their hearts, thinking in unison: "So, it's them."
When the two men arrived at the edge of the field, they didn't make a sound or approach anyone. Instead, they stood there without moving. The four people inside the field, seeing that the two men did not move, continued to close their eyes and concentrate on their tasks, as they could see that some people had not yet arrived.
After another tea time, just as everyone was getting anxious, a sudden voice came from the sky: "Cicadas mourn the cold night, facing the long pavilion in the evening, the sudden rain has just stopped." A figure suddenly appeared in the middle of the field, and the six people who were present opened their eyes at the same time, apparently without noticing how the man appeared. However, they all shouted together: "Yanming Hermit?"
Looking at the figure in the field who had just arrived, he was tall and thin, but his clothes' color and the scarf on his head could not be seen clearly. Still, his thin face and the few whiskers under his chin were familiar to everyone in Rivers and Gardens. At this moment, everyone stepped forward and said, "Yanming Hermit, the juniors are honored."
Yanming Hermit stroked his beard with his right hand and smiled, "I came late, sorry to have kept you all waiting. You all don't know each other well, so let's get acquainted first. We need each other's support for the upcoming tasks."
The first to arrive, Young Master Ma in brocade armor, bowed to everyone and said, "I am Ma Xiangyang of Wan Sword Peak. This is Situ Ping, the Gang Master of Evil Tiger Group." Then, fearing that everyone would misunderstand, he added, "The Evil Tiger Group is local. She's my subordinate and will guide us."
Yanming Hermit smiled and said, "Young Master Ma is very thoughtful. I appreciate Gang Master Situ's assistance."
Situ Ping quickly saluted, "It's an honor to be able to serve everyone."
Then Wen Wenhai also saluted with a fist: "I am Wen Wenhai of the Piaomiao Sect, and this is my junior sister Xue Qing." Xue Qing then removed the veil from her face, revealing a genuine expression that was both charming and happy. However, no one could see it clearly in the dark night. She didn't say anything but bowed to everyone with her fists.
Yanming Hermit said, "I have long heard of the reputations of Young Hero Wen and Heroine Xue of Piaomiao Sect. It is indeed as expected, and I am relieved."
Finally, the two quiet individuals standing together bowed to everyone and said simultaneously, "Tan's Family, Tan Wen." "Tan Wu." With their rough voices and their tall stature, they were quite imposing.After listening to everyone's introductions, Yanming Hermit put away his smile and said, "Alright, let me introduce myself too. I am Yanming Villa's Manor Master, Yanming Hermit. From now on, we all know each other, and we know the four factions involved in tonight's mission. Our operation starts now."
"Your elders also instructed you when you came, right? Tonight, you will listen to me in everything. I have reached agreements with each of your factions. I will explain the details as we go along. Now, please take out your tokens."
After finishing his sentence, Yanming Hermit took out a square piece of leather from his chest, and Ma Xiangyang, Wen Wenhai, and Tan Wen also took out similar objects. Yanming Hermit handed his piece to Ma Xiangyang, saying, "Please put them together." The other people also handed their leather pieces to Ma Xiangyang. Yanming Hermit took out a Night Pearl from his chest and handed it to Situ Ping, saying, "Gang Master Situ, please take a look at this pattern."
Then, Situ Ping took the Night Pearl, and Ma Xiangyang quickly put the four leather pieces together under the glow of the pearl. In the dim light of the Night Pearl, everyone saw a map drawn on the leather, resembling five fingers, and a circle drawn in the middle of the unnamed finger. Situ Ping carefully examined the map and exchanged glances with Ma Xiangyang. Then he said to everyone, "That's right, this map is of Five Hill Peaks, and the lengths of these five fingers are consistent. Look, the thumb is longer than the index finger, and the unnamed finger is the longest."
After hearing this, everyone looked towards Yanming Hermit and he said, "Very good, now everyone take back your things." Ma Xiangyang returned the four leather pieces to their original owners as instructed, and Situ Ping also returned the Night Pearl to Yanming Hermit. Yanming Hermit took the Night Pearl and asked, "Gang Master Situ, do you know what the place circled in the map should be?"
Situ Ping replied, "It is a sour date grove, I've been there before. I once released a wolf dog inside but never saw it come out."
Yanming Hermit said, "That's very good, then please take the lead, Gang Master Situ."
Situ Ping agreed, "Alright, then please follow me." After saying that, he exerted his flying skills to move forward rapidly.
Yanming Hermit's eyes looked at Ma Xiangyang, Wen Wenhai, and Tan Wen in turn, and they nodded, following the order one by one, using their flying skills to catch up.
Finally, Yanming Hermit carefully looked around and found no abnormalities, so he got up like a bolt of lightning and followed them. Only the lonely Reclining Ox Stone remained there, with the wind blowing fallen leaves and withered grass, covering all traces in a short while. It seemed that no one had ever been to such a remote place on such a night.
As the seven of them moved swiftly through the dark night like a bolt of lightning, led by Situ Ping, they arrived at the previously mentioned sour date grove in about the time it took to burn two sticks of incense. The moon had already set in the west, and thick black clouds still covered the sky. Dawn was probably not far away, and it was the darkest time of the entire night.
Unable to see clearly in the blackness, the sour date grove looked like a huge monster crouching on the hillside. Situ Ping stared at the place he had been to before, but felt a little strange, because the difference between day and night was so significant. He didn't know what secrets the mysterious sour date grove hid, but the four sects had come to this place overnight to cooperate closely.
Situ Ping stopped and waited for everyone to arrive. Then he said to everyone, "This is the sour date grove marked by the circle on the map. According to the height comparison, it should be here."
Yanming Hermit said, "It should be correct." After saying that, he didn't proceed to inspect the place but sat down and, seeing the puzzled faces of everyone, laughed and said, "Our time to act is still a little way off. Rest for a while, and let me tell you the story. Otherwise, you'll still be confused and may even cause a mess inside."
Then, the other six people sat down in a semicircle in front of Yanming Hermit.
Yanming Hermit sorted out his thoughts, looked at the juniors sitting around him, and asked, "Do you know about the One-Armed Sword God from 300 years ago?" Everyone shook their heads.
Yanming Hermit continued, "Before last year's February 2nd, the Dragon Raising Head day, I didn't know either, and neither did your masters."
"On last year's Dragon Raising Head day, I went with my wife to burn incense at the Dragon God Temple in Yu City. In the Dragon God Temple, I unexpectedly met your Sword Peak's Lord of Sword, Wan Chengjiu, with his family, your Piaomiao Sect's Ou Peng, and Tan's Family's Family Head, Tan YeFeng. We four had never met before but were already spiritually acquainted. As soon as we met, we spontaneously left our families behind and went to a place together to compare martial arts and alcohol."
"We took swords and wine and went to Leaf Mountain outside Yu City, ready to indulge for a few days. However, as soon as we reached the mountain peak, we encountered a strange incident."