Xia Zhaoyun quietly slipped out of the inn. Accompanied only by the lonely moon, the streets were deserted, save for the occasional gust of cold wind that sent a chill through him, sparking an involuntary sense of dread. After half an hour, he exited Hengshan City and headed toward the outskirts. After walking for about an hour, he finally arrived at the base of Mount Heng. As one of the Five Sacred Mountains, Mount Heng towers over the southern skies with a majestic grandeur. Even standing at its base, Xia Zhaoyun couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by its imposing presence. The climb was arduous, yet he pressed on without pausing, determined to reach the summit. Only when a stone monument appeared before him, engraved with the words "Han Zhen Sect," did he finally stop.
The sky had not yet brightened. Sitting by the monument, Xia Zhaoyun intended to rest for a moment when he suddenly heard a rustling sound from the surrounding area. His heart tensed as he thought, "Could this be an ambush?"
Indeed, the next moment, a group of about a dozen young disciples encircled him. One of them asked, "Who are you, and why have you trespassed into Han Zhen Sect?"
Xia Zhaoyun cupped his hands in respect and replied, "I am a disciple of Yufeng Villa. I have urgent matters and seek an audience with Master Meng."
One of the disciples sheathed his sword, eyed Xia Zhaoyun up and down, and asked doubtfully, "What is your rank in Yufeng Villa? I've never seen you before."
Xia Zhaoyun responded, "It was always my master, Chang Jingyun, who came to visit Han Zhen Sect before. I am his disciple, Xia Zhaoyun."
The disciple appeared uncertain but, after a brief hesitation, said, "Follow me."
Led by this disciple, Xia Zhaoyun finally arrived at Han Zhen Sect's main hall. The hall was empty. The disciple invited Xia Zhaoyun to rest for a while and had refreshments brought to him, saying, "Young Master Xia, please have some tea. I will inform the Master."
Once the disciple left, Xia Zhaoyun was left alone in the hall. It was his first time at Han Zhen Sect, and his curiosity got the better of him as he looked around. His gaze fell upon a sword hanging on the wall. Intrigued, he approached for a closer look and saw that the hilt was engraved with the number "Seventeen."
"Could this be the famed Seventeen Sword that Master once mentioned? Legend has it that whoever wields this sword commands the martial world." Xia Zhaoyun murmured to himself as he examined the sword. However, he quickly sensed something amiss. "How could such an important sword be displayed so openly in the main hall? Something's not right. I'd better not provoke trouble." With that thought, Xia Zhaoyun returned to his seat and patiently awaited Meng Hantan's arrival.
Having traveled all night, Xia Zhaoyun was already exhausted. He only awoke when sunlight streamed onto his face, revealing Meng Hantan, leisurely sipping morning tea. It had been ten years since he last saw Meng Hantan. Time had not been kind to the once-beautiful woman; streaks of gray now adorned her temples, though her grace remained intact. She still favored a crimson robe, her attire bright and captivating, every movement poised and elegant, reminiscent of a high-born lady untouched by the roughness of the martial world.
Xia Zhaoyun quickly stood, cupping his hands again in greeting. "Master Meng, I apologize for my impudence. Please forgive me."
Meng Hantan responded coolly, "Why don't I see your master?"
"My master has not been well lately, unfit for travel. Hence, he sent me in his stead."
Meng Hantan put down her teacup, walked up to Xia Zhaoyun, and gave him a scrutinizing glance. "You look familiar. Have we met before?"
Xia Zhaoyun responded calmly, "Master, your memory is remarkable. Ten years ago, in Xuzhou, I was a young beggar, and you gifted me a piece of silver. I have never forgotten that kindness."
Meng Hantan gave a soft "Oh," waved her sleeve, and returned to her seat. She raised an eyebrow, a hint of calculation in her eyes, before saying, "Chang Jingyun is your master, and I am your benefactor. You must be conflicted—your benefactor harmed your master, and yet you still regard me as your benefactor?"
Meng Hantan's words struck deep into Xia Zhaoyun's heart. His feelings toward her were indeed complicated. Fate had a way of intertwining causes and consequences. Had she not given him that silver, Chang Jingyun would never have noticed the ragged boy on the streets, and Xia Zhaoyun would not be where he was today.
Xia Zhaoyun hesitated momentarily, not wanting to answer this question. Instead, he chose to cut straight to the purpose of his visit. "Master Meng, my master has entrusted me with the task of acquiring medicine. I humbly request that you grant it to me."
Meng Hantan sneered, "You haven't answered my question yet. If you give me an answer that pleases me, I will give you the antidote. If not, I'm afraid you'll leave empty-handed."
Xia Zhaoyun thought for a moment, swallowed, and replied resolutely, "I will repay the debt I owe you, but I will never forget my master's kindness for raising me. Should anyone try to harm him, I will stand in their way. Even if that person is my benefactor, I will find my own way to resolve this enmity, even if it costs me my life."
Meng Hantan chuckled, "Such an old soul for someone so young, yet it's clear you're a man of loyalty and deep sentiment. If Chang Jingyun entrusted you with fetching medicine from Hengshan, he must hold you in high regard. However, it's a pity you're not his chief disciple, and thus, the position of villa master won't pass to you. I see great potential in you—why not consider joining my Han Zhen Sect?"
Xia Zhaoyun cupped his hands respectfully, "Thank you, Master Meng, for your kind offer. But I, Xia Zhaoyun, have only one master in this life—Chang Jingyun. In life, I am a man of Yufeng Villa; in death, I shall be a ghost of Yufeng Villa."
"Very well, very well, each man has his own aspirations, I won't force you."
With that, Meng Hantan gestured to a nearby disciple to fetch the medicine. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the disciple emerged from the inner hall, handing five large bottles of antidote to Xia Zhaoyun. Xia Zhaoyun accepted them, his gaze lingering on the bottles in thought. Boldly, he asked, "Master Meng, my master has always treated others with kindness. Why must you control him in this way?"
Meng Hantan replied, "Your master has only himself to blame. If he had been even a little more selfish, he wouldn't need to beg me for the antidote year after year."
Xia Zhaoyun pressed further, "I beg you, Master Meng, please grant me the antidote to fully cure my master of the Half-Purple-Red poison."
Meng Hantan, growing impatient, said, "Haven't I already given you the antidote?"
"I meant the antidote that will completely eradicate the Half-Purple-Red poison," Xia Zhaoyun clarified.
Meng Hantan looked at him and asked, "And why should I give it to you?"
"My master's kindness to me is as profound as that of a parent. No matter what, I want to help him rid himself of this poison. I beg you, Master Meng, for the sake of the help my master once gave you ten years ago, please grant me the antidote."
Meng Hantan smiled coldly, "I owe no one any favors. Ten years ago, I gave your master a piece of blue amber. Do you remember? That was repayment enough."
Xia Zhaoyun persisted, "Blue amber is a rare treasure, but it cannot compare to my master's life. I implore you, Master Meng, to bestow the antidote upon me. I am willing to repay you with my own life."
Meng Hantan sighed, "You are too fixated. In fact, I've already given you the antidote."
Xia Zhaoyun was puzzled. "I'm afraid I don't understand, Master. Could you explain?"
Meng Hantan replied, "That piece of blue amber wasn't just an ordinary gem. The antidote for the Half-Purple-Red poison is inside the amber. If your master has kept it, then curing him will be no problem. But if he's given it away, there's nothing I can do."
At this, Xia Zhaoyun suddenly recalled that ten years ago, when Chang Jingyun attended Xiao Qing's wedding in Taiyuan, he had given the blue amber as a wedding gift—an idea that had been his own suggestion. Now, regret gnawed at him.
Realizing that his master's poison could be cured, Xia Zhaoyun was overwhelmed with emotion. He immediately thanked Meng Hantan and took his leave. His thoughts were consumed with how to retrieve the blue amber as he made his way to the marketplace. Only then did he remember that he had left Shangguan Shuoyue behind at the inn. He hurried back to where they had stayed the previous night.
Upon returning to the inn, he rushed to the room, but Shangguan Shuoyue was nowhere to be seen. He searched the entire inn but found no trace of her. Puzzled, Xia Zhaoyun thought, "Could she have gone to the marketplace?"
Just then, the innkeeper passed by, and Xia Zhaoyun inquired about Shangguan Shuoyue's whereabouts.
"Boss, have you seen the young gentleman who arrived with me last night?"
The innkeeper scratched his head and smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry, good sir. This inn sees many guests come and go every day. I didn't pay attention to the person you mentioned."
Disappointed, Xia Zhaoyun thought, "The most urgent task now is to bring the antidote back to Yufeng Villa." He left a note for Shangguan Shuoyue, which read, "Miss Shuoyue, I must leave urgently. If you see this note, please don't worry. Though we part today, I'm sure we'll meet again." When he signed the note, he initially intended to write "Xia Zhaoyun," but remembering that he had never told her his name and that she usually called him "Brother," he simply signed it as "Brother."
Xia Zhaoyun placed the note under the teapot and left the inn. He then went to the market, bought a fast horse, and rode away in a cloud of dust.
After about seven days of travel, Xia Zhaoyun arrived at the foot of Wuyin Mountain. The mountain was still shrouded in a blanket of mist, resembling a paradise on earth. Climbing the mountain, he entered Yufeng Valley and ran all the way back to Yufeng Villa. Upon seeing Xia Zhaoyun return, Chang Jingyun was overjoyed. "You've finally come back! I've been so worried about you after all these days."
Xia Zhaoyun knelt before his master, offering up the antidote. "Master, I've brought back the medicine."
Chang Jingyun nodded with satisfaction, his voice filled with emotion. "Good disciple, did you encounter any trouble on this trip?"
Xia Zhaoyun's heart skipped a beat. "Should I tell Master about the incident with Qin Sanniang in Jian'an City? If I do, he might worry and not allow me to leave next year." After a moment's hesitation, he chose not to say anything and replied, "No trouble at all, Master."
Chang Jingyun suspected nothing and instructed Xia Zhaoyun to rest well before returning to his calligraphy practice.
As Xia Zhaoyun left the Morning Breeze Pavilion, he still felt a heavy weight on his mind. Though the matter of the medicine was resolved, retrieving the blue amber had now become a priority. In the past ten years, apart from Xiao Qing's wedding day, he had not seen her once. If he were to suddenly go to Taiyuan in search of her, it would seem abrupt. However, if Chang Jingyun were to send him, that would be a different story.