The afternoon sun was scorching, its blinding light making it hard for anyone to open their eyes. The long stretch of blue stone slabs covered the entire street. One particular mansion stood out, with two large red lanterns hanging on either side of the entrance. The stone lions beneath them seemed even more majestic under the radiant sunlight. A plaque hung prominently at the center of the door's beam, inscribed with four golden characters: "Sword Guardian Manor." Few people passed by the front, and those who did merely stole a quick glance without lingering.
Moments later, a galloping horse emerged from one end of the stone road. As soon as it reached the manor's entrance, the horse came to an abrupt halt. A young gentleman swiftly dismounted. Barely had he arrived at the door when an old man came out to greet him. Though elderly, the man's attire indicated that he held some degree of status within the manor. The young gentleman followed the old man into the estate, passing through a small garden before arriving at the main hall. The old man did not enter but stood waiting at the entrance for further orders.
Inside the hall sat an imposing elder, exuding authority as he rested in the grand wooden chair at the center. He was none other than Helian Yi, the master of Sword Guardian Manor. Upon seeing the young gentleman enter, Helian Yi's eyes lit up with anticipation. The young man stepped forward and respectfully saluted, "Disciple Zhou Luo greets the Manor Master!"
"No need for formalities! How did the task go?"
"Master, the task is completed. The poison of the Thousand Cranes has been spread."
Helian Yi smiled knowingly, then asked, "Were there any traces left behind?"
Zhou Luo replied, "Rest assured, Master! The people of Twilight Sword Manor have taken the blame for the incident. No one will suspect us."
Helian Yi's face brightened with delight. "Well done! My daughter Jing'er has reached the age of marriage. Once we choose an auspicious day, I will marry her to you. The position of the manor's master will be yours in due time. Do not disappoint me!"
Overjoyed, Zhou Luo responded, "To marry Miss Jing'er is the greatest fortune of my life. I am deeply grateful to you, Master. I will serve Sword Guardian Manor with all my heart and soul, even if it costs me my life."
Helian Yi nodded. "Good. Now, go and see Jing'er."
After Zhou Luo left, Helian Yi signaled for the man standing at the entrance to come in. Turning to the old man, he said, "This is only the first step for Sword Guardian Manor. One day, whether it's the six great manors, Han Zhen Sect, or Fan Flower Valley, they will all bow to us." The old man nodded repeatedly, echoing, "Congratulations, Master. Congratulations indeed."
After several days of travel, Chang Jingyun finally arrived at the foot of Mingyue Mountain. Compared to the mist-shrouded Wuyin Mountain, Mingyue was clear and unclouded, with the entire landscape laid bare to the eye. At the base of the mountain stood a tavern sign, its presence vivid. Having traveled for days without a taste of alcohol, Chang Jingyun could no longer resist his craving. He decisively leaped off his horse and made his way to the tavern for a rest.
Scanning the area, he saw no sign of anyone. A sense of vigilance arose in him. "How strange that there's a tavern here in this desolate wilderness. Could it be a trap?" he thought, his hand instinctively gripping his sword, Liuguang, in case of an ambush.
Moments later, a figure emerged from the house, startling Chang Jingyun. He sized her up—a woman, clad in coarse linen, her face marked with black spots, and a mole at the corner of her left eyebrow. She seemed no older than twenty, her steps light and graceful. Chang Jingyun found it curious why such a young woman would run a tavern alone in such a remote place.
The woman approached quickly and asked, "What would you like to order, sir?"
As she drew nearer, Chang Jingyun caught a faint fragrance and blurted out, "What smells so pleasant?"
The woman smiled and replied, "It's datura flowers. There are many datura plants growing in the nearby ravines of Mingyue Mountain, so I picked some and made sachets to carry with me."
Chang Jingyun complimented, "You're quite clever and resourceful! But why are you running a tavern alone in this desolate wilderness?"
"You may not know, sir, but my family was once a household of three. A few years ago, my parents, seeing I was of marriageable age, sought a match for me. But my appearance is unsightly, and none of the suitors were interested. It troubled my parents greatly. Last year, my mother passed away due to illness, leaving just me and my father to rely on each other. Today, my father went to the market to buy wine and likely won't return until nightfall."
"I see. It seems I've brought up a sad memory. I apologize for that."
The woman smiled. "It's no matter. I know my looks are unfortunate. At worst, I'll stay by my father's side for the rest of my life."
Chang Jingyun remarked, "Your optimism is truly rare! Since you've been running this tavern, I assume people pass through here often?"
The woman replied, "Most of those who stop by here are martial artists, likely headed to some place called Fan Flower Valley, though I'm not entirely sure. We just run the tavern; the affairs of the martial world have little to do with us. We're just trying to earn enough to make a living."
Chang Jingyun nodded, "You're quite right." With that, he finally loosened his grip on the sword and said, "Please, bring me two jars of Bamboo Leaf Green wine."
"Right away! Please wait a moment."
In no time, the woman brought out the wine and returned inside. Seeing her leave, Chang Jingyun pulled out a silver needle to test the wine, finding it free of poison, and began drinking in large gulps. Perhaps it was because he hadn't had a drink in a while, but soon enough, the two jars were empty. Suddenly, he felt dizzy and lightheaded. Could it be from drinking too much? Normally, he could handle ten jars without issue—why was he feeling unsteady after only two?
Chang Jingyun stood up, hoping to clear his head, but he seemed to have no strength left to rise. Dazed, he noticed the scent of datura flowers growing stronger, and when he turned around, he found the woman standing behind him, smiling faintly. That smile grew more and more sinister until everything went dark.
When Chang Jingyun awoke, he saw a string of wind chimes swaying gently above his head, their soft melodies filling the air. He recalled the events that had transpired and felt deep regret—despite all his caution, he had still fallen into someone else's trap. As he wallowed in frustration, the door creaked open, and someone walked in. His head throbbed painfully, and then he heard a voice say, "You're awake."
The voice was familiar, like one he had heard before. He rubbed his aching temples and suddenly realized—it was the voice of the woman from the tavern! He looked closely and saw before him a woman with delicate features, fair skin, and bright, piercing eyes, looking nothing like the rough-hewn woman from the tavern. But despite the change in appearance, Chang Jingyun was certain—it was her!
"Who are you? Why did you harm me?" Chang Jingyun demanded.
"I am Hua Caiyi of Fan Flower Valley."
The woman spoke calmly, pouring herself a cup of tea and drinking it leisurely. Chang Jingyun tried to summon his strength, but his limbs remained weak and unresponsive.
"There was no poison in the wine—how did you drug me?"
The woman rose and pointed to the sachet hanging from her waist. With a bright voice, she said, "The datura flowers carry a pervasive fragrance. I concealed Dragon's Breath powder within the scent, making it nearly impossible for anyone to detect."
"Hua, since you are from Fan Flower Valley, I ask that you help me meet with your master, Gu Yuntian. I have a matter of great importance to discuss."
"You can barely protect yourself, and yet you dream of meeting my master? You're deluding yourself."
With that, Hua Caiyi slowly approached Chang Jingyun, smiling again. Before he could react, she swiftly struck several acupoints on his body, rendering him immobile. She held a small pill between her fingers and placed it directly into his mouth, releasing his acupoints only after he had swallowed it.
"What did you make me swallow?" Chang Jingyun demanded.
Suddenly, he felt his breathing grow rapid, and even speaking became difficult. His vision blurred as the woman's voice echoed in his ears. "That was the 'Four Divisions Four Days Pill.' Anyone who takes it will die within half an hour. This is the fate of all who trespass in Fan Flower Valley."
As his breathing grew more labored, and darkness began to consume his sight, Chang Jingyun thought to himself, "I haven't even obtained the antidote—am I truly going to die here?"
Night had fallen, and Mingyue Mountain was cloaked in darkness. Chang Jingyun awoke in a daze, the blackness around him making him question if he had crossed into the underworld. But a cold wind quickly dispelled that notion. Looking around, he found himself lying amidst a pile of stones. Using every ounce of strength, he dragged himself out. The effects of the drug and the fragrance had weakened him considerably, but he pressed on. Soon, a cave appeared ahead of him. Despite the day's failures, Chang Jingyun refused to give up. "It's already dark," he thought, "I should rest here tonight and venture into Fan Flower Valley tomorrow."
The fire crackled warmly before him, casting light and heat into the darkness. Reflecting on the day's events, Chang Jingyun realized that the people of Fan Flower Valley were not as easy to confront as he had expected. However, he was surprised that he hadn't died. "That woman, Hua Caiyi, gave me poison, yet here I am, still alive. Could it be that she didn't intend to kill me, but only to discourage me? That must be the only reasonable explanation. If that's the case, then not all the people of Fan Flower Valley are heartless." This thought renewed Chang Jingyun's determination.
The following day, Chang Jingyun once again arrived at the foot of Bright Moon Mountain. The mountain was densely covered with rocks and forests, and finding the entrance to Shanhuagu was no easy task. Before coming, he had only heard that the valley rarely interacted with outsiders, though it wasn't completely isolated. The people inside would occasionally purchase some daily necessities from outside, so surely someone would know how to enter Shanhuagu.
Lost in thought, Chang Jingyun suddenly noticed two porters approaching. He walked up to them and asked, "Might you both be heading to Shanhuagu?"
The two porters nodded and asked, "Are you from Shanhuagu, young master?"
Chang Jingyun nodded in return, "Yes, I am also from Shanhuagu. My master sent me out on an errand, and now that it's done, I'm on my way back to report."
The porters stopped. Glancing at their load, Chang Jingyun saw bolts of cloth and vegetables. One of the porters wiped the sweat from his brow and pounded his back. The other porter said, "Is your old problem acting up again?" The porter rubbing his back responded, "Yes, but it's much better than before, all thanks to Miss Hua's miraculous medicine!"
Upon hearing the name "Miss Hua," Chang Jingyun wondered, "Could they be talking about Hua Caiyi?" Curious, he asked, "Are you referring to Miss Hua Caiyi?"
The porter replied, "Indeed! Do you know her, young master?"
Chang Jingyun smiled, "Of course I do! She's my junior sister. We grew up together; no one knows her better than I do." The other porter added, "Miss Hua is truly a kind soul. Every time we deliver goods, she always gives us a bit more silver and often gifts us medicine, curing many of our old ailments."
"Since you're feeling unwell, let me carry the load for you."
"We couldn't possibly trouble you, young master."
"It's no trouble at all. My junior sister always tells me to help others whenever I can."
"You and Miss Hua are both good people; you'll surely be rewarded."
"Thank you for your kind words, uncle."
With that, Chang Jingyun picked up the heavy load. One of the porters led the way, and the three of them arrived at the entrance to a rocky forest. The area was filled with oddly shaped stones. After walking for about an hour, they stopped at a stone gate. The porter knocked gently three times, and the gate swung open. Chang Jingyun smiled inwardly, "If it weren't for them leading the way, who knows how long it would've taken me to find the entrance!"
After entering, they finally arrived inside Shanhuagu. Chang Jingyun bid farewell to the porters and began to move alone. With a leap, he reached the rooftops, where he could survey the entire valley. Suddenly, Hua Caiyi caught his eye, and he murmured, "If I ask her, I should be able to see Gu Yuntian."
Hua Caiyi was leisurely watering a mandrake flower when she suddenly sensed a force approaching from behind. She spun around, striking with her palm, but missed. Two silver needles shot out from her left sleeve at lightning speed, but Chang Jingyun dodged them. Before she could make another move, Chang Jingyun had already seized her and sealed her acupuncture points, leaving her immobilized.
"It's you! Why have you returned?"
"Miss Hua, please don't misunderstand. I have no intention of harming you. But I must meet with Senior Gu Yuntian, and I humbly ask for your help in arranging an introduction."
Seeing that Hua Caiyi's expression softened, Chang Jingyun unsealed her acupuncture points.
"Your name is Chang Jingyun. Could it be that you are the master of Yufeng Manor?"
"I am indeed."
"If you belong to one of the Six Great Manors, I advise you to abandon this thought."
"Why do you say that?"
"Every year, the Six Great Manors come to Shanhuagu to stir up trouble, especially those from Twilight Sword Manor. The real enmity lies between your group and Han Zhen Sect, yet you drag Shanhuagu into it. I disguised myself at the foot of Bright Moon Mountain hoping to dissuade you troublemakers. I never expected someone as fearless as you would show up."
Chang Jingyun suddenly understood, "So the disciples of the Six Great Manors have been enemies of Shanhuagu for years. If I'm seeking their help, it may be more difficult than I thought. But regardless, I must try." He then said, "Miss Hua, you misunderstand. I've not come to cause trouble or seek vengeance."
Hua Caiyi looked puzzled, "Then what is your purpose here?"
"A few days ago, something terrible happened at Li Yun Peak. The disciples of the Six Great Manors were mysteriously poisoned by a rare toxin from Japan called 'Thousand Cranes.' We are utterly helpless and desperately hope that Senior Gu Yuntian will set aside past grievances and help us find a cure."
Hua Caiyi rested her chin on her hand, her brow furrowed in thought, "How do you know it's the 'Thousand Cranes' poison?"
"To be honest, Senior Meng Hai Tan of Han Zhen Sect was present that day. She told me."
"So it was my martial aunt. I assume she sent you here to ask for the antidote?"
Chang Jingyun replied, "Miss Hua, your intelligence is unmatched. Nothing escapes you."
"However, my master will never save you. You should abandon this hope. He despises the people from the Six Great Manors the most."
"Regardless, I still implore Miss Hua to arrange a meeting. I am confident I can persuade Senior Gu to offer his help."
Hua Caiyi's expression wavered, a hint of unspoken fear flickering in her eyes. Yet, in an instant, that fear gave way to resolve. She said firmly, "Very well, I will take you to see my master. But what happens afterward, you will have to handle on your own."
"Thank you, Miss Hua."