The Quanqing Taoist Temple,nestled among the mountains and forests,was not particularly large.However,its influence resonated throughout the jianghu.The temple's abbot,Master Ma Su,was renowned for his exceptional"Sky Embracing Moon Dust-Brush Technique,"and his several younger brothers were also prominent figures in the martial world.Yet,now,the second brother,Master Xu,had tragically fallen to the Seven Kill Ghost Kings,with both him and his grandson meeting untimely deaths.
Upon entering the main gate of the temple,one would see a spacious and flat青stone courtyard,capable of accommodating over a hundred people.This was the practice area for the Taoist priests.At the end of the stone courtyard lay a complex of halls.At this moment,the practice ground was filled with people—representatives of various orthodox martial arts sects.They gathered in groups by their respective sects,about seven or eight in total.Some were acquaintances of Guo Xu Yang,such as the head of the Xin Yi Sect,Wan Zhongshan;others were adversaries he had crossed swords with before,like the master of the Yu Jian Manor,Mu Jianzong;and there were still others unfamiliar to him.As Guo Xu Yang pushed the wooden cart carrying the corpses into the temple,the crowd parted to make way.
Huang Yi Rong,disliking crowds,let Guo Xu Yang proceed with the cart while she followed slowly from behind.
A figure emerged from the inner hall,clad in a loose robe with three long strands of beard,exuding an aura of otherworldly grace.Guo Xu Yang immediately recognized him as the abbot,Master Ma Su.
No sooner had Master Ma Su stepped outside than he spotted Master Xu's lifeless body on the cart.Overcome with emotion,he rushed over,crying out,"Second Brother!Second Brother!"As if hoping to rouse him from sleep,tears streamed down his weathered face.
But as the head of a prestigious sect,Ma Su possessed the dignity and composure of his position.After a few heart-wrenching cries,he wiped his tears with his sleeve and looked at Guo Xu Yang,asking,"And you are?"
"Guo Xu Yang,"came the reply.
At the sound of this name,a wave of astonishment swept through the crowd—naturally,it was those unfamiliar with him who reacted thus.
Upon hearing this,Ma Su's voice trembled as he inquired,"How did they meet their ends?"
Guo Xu Yang's lips moved slightly as he gazed at Master Xu's face on the cart.Sharing their grief,he was momentarily at a loss for words.
Suddenly,a figure darted out from behind Ma Su and swiftly threw a palm strike toward Guo Xu Yang's chest.
Guo Xu Yang sensed the sharp palm wind approaching.Despite his severe injuries,years of combat experience instinctively prompted him to channel his energy and block the strike.
However,the attacker immediately cried out,"Master!"
At the word"Master,"Guo Xu Yang realized in a flash that this was Master Xu's disciple.Unwilling to harm him,Guo Xu Yang instantly retracted his palm.At the same moment,his own internal energy recoiled,and with a loud"Bang!"he was struck full force by the other's palm.Still recovering from his previous injuries,Guo Xu Yang staggered back two or three steps and promptly vomited several mouthfuls of blood.
Huang Yi Rong swiftly moved to support him from behind and exclaimed indignantly,"Why do you attack him like this?!"
The assailant raised his palm again,only to be halted by Ma Su's sharp command:"Zi Jing,cease!"
Young Daoist Zi Jing wailed,"He killed my master!I must avenge him!"His iron-like palms swung down once more.Ma Su stepped forward to intercept him.Turning to Guo Xu Yang,his eyes locked onto his,Ma Su declared gravely,"I believe my second brother was not slain by you!"
"Of course he wasn't!It was the'Seven Kill Ghost Kings'who did this!"Huang Yi Rong interjected.
"Seven Kill Sect?!"This revelation took Ma Su completely by surprise."Although the Quanqing Taoist Temple disapproves of the Seven Kill Sect's actions,we have always maintained a non-interference stance.Why would they resort to such brutality against my second brother?"
"Uncle,I..."Realizing his hasty and mistaken attack,Daoist Zi Jing choked on his words.
"Abbot Ma,right?"Huang Yi Rong's clear voice rang out.She pointed at Guo Xu Yang and said,"This man was already half-dead.Then your so-called well-trained disciple struck him again.He's still standing now,but within the time it takes to burn an incense stick,he'll collapse."
Huang Yi Rong's barbed words left the Taoist priests of the"Quanqing Temple"feeling uneasy.However,acknowledging their initial wrongdoing,they held their tongues.
Ma Su,well-versed in medicine,had been caught off guard by the sudden tragedy and overwhelmed by grief.But now,prompted by Huang Yi Rong's remark,he immediately noticed Guo Xu Yang's severe injuries.Recognizing her implication that Guo Xu Yang required immediate treatment,Ma Su prioritized saving a life over investigating his brother's death.He instructed his disciples to escort Guo Xu Yang to the rear hall for medical care.
Guo Xu Yang clasped his fists and said,"I thank Abbot Ma and all of you for your kindness,but this minor injury is nothing to trouble everyone over."
"Will you stop rambling?Or shall I silence you by sealing your mute point?"Huang Yi Rong's voice rose even sharper.
Guo Xu Yang gave a wry smile and thought to himself,"I'd rather not burden others,but as Miss Huang says,I'm indeed struggling to hold on...I might as well rest and recover here for a few days.It will also give me the chance to inform Abbot Ma about Master Xu in detail."With a nod to Ma Su,he said,"Very well,I shall impose upon you."
Huang Yi Rong watched silently as a young Taoist led Guo Xu Yang further into the temple,until they vanished from sight.She stood there,dazed.
Guo Xu Yang looked back three times,each time meeting Huang Yi Rong's gaze in silent farewell,until finally,he did not turn his head again.
After Guo Xu Yang had walked ten paces away,Huang Yi Rong turned,took two steps toward the temple's main gate,then stopped.She bit her lip fiercely,as if to draw blood,and suddenly spun around to catch up with Guo Xu Yang."I'll leave after you've recovered,"she said.
Guo Xu Yang glanced at the girl beside him,his pale lips curving into a faint smile,his eyes still bright.
"Wait!"Mu Jianzong,the master of Yu Jian Manor,bellowed on the practice ground,stepping forward to block Guo Xu Yang and Huang Yi Rong's path."Since Young Hero Guo is here,why not take this opportunity to display the Long Ying Treasure Sword before all the righteous martial artists present?Let us all broaden our horizons."
At these words,everyone present was deeply moved.
Guo Xu Yang stared coldly at Mu Jianzong,his sword-shaped eyebrows lifting."I'm afraid I can't fulfill your request."
"You..."Mu Jianzong's face flushed red with anger,yet he was powerless against Guo Xu Yang's refusal.As the head of a sect,he couldn't very well resort to force in public.
Wan Zhongshan,the head of Xin Yi Sect,burst into laughter."Brother Guo,go your way!Anyone who dares to trouble you will have to deal with me!"His words were clearly directed at Mu Jianzong.
Guo Xu Yang bowed to the assembly and said aloud,"Thank you,Brother Wan!I take my leave,gentlemen!"With that,he and Huang Yi Rong followed the young Taoist into the temple's inner hall,leaving the heroes outside the gate to exchange puzzled glances.
The guest rooms of the Quanqing Taoist Temple were spacious and plainly furnished.Inside,there was a bed,a long cabinet,a round table,wooden stools,and two bamboo chairs by the window—nothing more.
Two young Taoists were tending to Guo Xu Yang's injuries as he lay on the bed.Huang Yi Rong sat distantly on a bamboo chair by the window,gazing at the view outside as if she hadn't noticed Guo Xu Yang,with whom she had shared hardships for the past two days.
Ma Su entered the room and asked,"Zi Cheng,how is Young Hero Guo's condition?"
The young Taoist wrapping Guo Xu Yang's wounds quickly rose and replied,"Master,his injuries are severe,but his life is not in danger."
Guo Xu Yang sat up."Abbot Ma,does your temple have any ceremony today?"
Ma Su knew Guo Xu Yang was asking why the usually reclusive Quanqing Temple had gathered so many martial artists.With a sigh,he remained silent.
Young Taoist Zi Cheng glanced at his master and interjected,"Young Hero Guo may not know,but today was the day Master was to pass on the position of abbot to our second uncle.Master wished to devote himself to cultivation and intended to entrust the abbacy to our second uncle.However,our second uncle..."
Ma Su spoke gravely,"My second brother was a punctual man.For such an important event,he should have returned to the temple days ago.Yet,he remains missing to this day.I fear the worst."After composing himself,he continued,"Now that my second brother has passed on,I have yet to find a suitable successor.Consequently,most of the invited heroes have departed.Only the Yu Jian Manor faction,the Zhuo Jun Palace faction,and a woman of unknown origin but exceptional martial arts skills named Bai Qingmo remain in our temple."
Guo Xu Yang frowned."Zhuo Jun Palace?The one on Shao Hua Mountain?"
Ma Su nodded,his拂尘(fucha)sweeping through the air.
"Bai Qingmo..."Guo Xu Yang murmured,casting a sidelong glance at Huang Yi Rong,who sat silently by the window.He thought,"She too is a remarkable woman of mysterious origins and formidable martial arts prowess."
Unaware of Guo Xu Yang's thoughts,Ma Su assumed he wished to inquire further about Bai Qingmo's background and said,"This woman could be considered an uninvited guest.Though our temple is modest,we have always welcomed visitors from all directions.Thus,despite our lack of knowledge about her,we have treated her with courtesy.Now that others have left,she remains alone,perhaps with other intentions."
Guo Xu Yang laughed heartily."Whatever her intentions,under Abbot Ma's care,she can't possibly cause any significant turmoil."Pausing for a moment,he continued,"Abbot Ma,regarding Master Xu's death..."He was about to reveal the circumstances when a coughing fit,triggered by his injuries,overtook him.
Seeing this,Ma Su placed his hand on Guo Xu Yang's pulse and exclaimed in surprise,"Young Hero Guo,have you consumed the'Vajra Lotus Flower'?"
"What Vajra Lotus Flower?"Guo Xu Yang replied,puzzled.
"I gave it to him when I saw he was near death,"a clear voice floated in from the window.
Both Guo Xu Yang and Ma Su turned to look at the girl whose cheeks were flushed pink by the setting sun's rays filtering through the window.
"The Vajra Lotus is an ancient and miraculous flower with petals of five colors:red,yellow,blue,white,and brown,each as large as a sea bowl and shaped like a lantern.It is feared that in this world,there may not be more than three such flowers in existence,"Ma Su explained,pausing for a moment."Legend has it that it possesses the power to revive the dead.Should a martial artist consume it,their skills would greatly increase and their lifespan extended.May I ask,young lady,where did you obtain this rarity?"He glanced at Guo Xu Yang and Huang Yi Rong,and though he was a man of the cloth,a hint of a smile crept into the corners of his eyes as he added,"And might I inquire about your relationship with Young Hero Guo?"
Upon hearing this,Huang Yi Rong sprang to her feet,cast a disdainful glance at Ma Su and Guo Xu Yang,and declared,"I don't know him!"Without another word,she fled the room.