Winter's grip was finally loosening. The brutal northern winds had softened, and on sunny days, the snow on the rooftops began to melt. The once-hard, icy roads had turned into slushy, brown paths.
Three months after the incident at the Yueguang branch, Mu Dishi and Ma Jingguo went into town to restock their food supplies. During this time of winter, outdoor vendors were a rare sight.
Along the street, a few brave vendors had already set up their stalls. Ma Jingguo stopped at one to bargain with the owner. "Can you lower the price?" he asked.
"We had to walk a long way for these fresh vegetables," the vendor replied. "I don't think I can lower the price any more. If you're not going to buy it, please step aside so others can."
"Fine, I'll buy it," Ma Jingguo conceded.
The vendor smiled, took the money from Ma Jingguo's hand, and Ma Jingguo picked up the wooden box, placing it on the wagon.
Ma Jingguo surveyed the wagon, now full of supplies. "Fresh veggies, rice, oil, salt, pork, and beef... Xiao shushu, I feel like I'm missing something."
"Liquor," Mu Dishi said simply.
Ma Jingguo smiled. "You know me best. Let's go to the inn and buy some liquor, then we can head home."
As they entered the inn, Wang Niu greeted them with a wide smile and quickly walked over to them.
"Ma ge, are you here to pick up liquor again?" Wang Niu asked with a grin.
"Yes," Ma Jingguo replied.
"How many jars this time?"
"Give me ten."
Ma Jingguo directed Wang Niu and two other waiters on where to place the liquor jars, while Mu Dishi stayed by the register and paid the bill.
At a corner table, two Tianshan disciples were deep in conversation.
"It's such a shame that someone as beautiful as Miss Kuo decided to become a nun," said the first disciple.
"Would you marry her, knowing that she and that person might have...?" the second disciple asked.
"I would still marry her. Being the son-in-law of Kuo Shifu isn't a bad deal," the first disciple replied.
Ma Jingguo walked into the inn and stood beside Mu Dishi at the register.
"I've heard Miss Kuo was a very pretty lady," the first Tianshan disciple said. "She left the Jinfeng Sect and joined the Emei Sect."
"I heard that even in her plain gray nun's outfit, she is still beautiful," the second disciple added.
Ma Jingguo turned to Mu Dishi. "Xiao shushu, let's go."
When they got outside, light snow had begun to fall. Ma Jingguo lifted Mu Dishi and sat him on the wagon, then began pushing it out of town.
"Jingguo, you heard the two Tianshan disciples," Mu Dishi said.
"Yes."
"Are you all right?"
"Yes."
Mu Dishi knew that despite Ma Jingguo's reassurance, deep down, he still blamed himself for what had happened to Kuo Changchang.
Ma Jingguo saw ten nuns walking toward them. He pushed the wagon to the left side of the road to make way for them. As they approached, he realized the fourth nun was Kuo Changchang.
She stopped and looked at Mu Dishi and Ma Jingguo. She spoke to the first nun, then the other nuns continued on, leaving Kuo Changchang behind.
"Benefactor Ma," she greeted him.
"Shijie, why?" Ma Jingguo asked, his voice full of sadness.
"I've found my peace," she replied.
Ma Jingguo, consumed by guilt, looked at her with sorrow. "Is this because of me?"
Kuo Changchang smiled at Ma Jingguo. "Yes and no," she said. She glanced at Mu Dishi on the wagon, giving him a small smile and a nod before turning back to Ma Jingguo.
"At first, I wanted to become a nun because of you," she continued. "But when I first arrived at the Emei Sect, Nun Chingmei refused to accept me. She told me if I wanted to be a nun just to escape gossip, I shouldn't bother. But if I truly wanted to learn Guanyin's teachings and become a nun, she would welcome me into the Emei Sect."
"She gave me a month to study with the elder nuns. After that time, I realized I had found my peace. I didn't become a nun because I was embarrassed by what people said about us in that trap room. You and I, we are innocent. As long as we are true to ourselves and as long as heaven knows we are innocent, that is all that matters. So, please, don't blame yourself."
"Shijie, I'm sorry," Ma Jingguo said.
Kuo Changchang smiled. "There's no need. I became a nun willingly. You did nothing wrong. I wish you two the best. From now on, I am no longer your shijie. You can call me Nun Ziyou. Goodbye." She tucked her hands back into her sleeves to keep them warm and followed the other nine nuns toward the Tianshan Sect.
Ma Jingguo smiled at Mu Dishi. "Let us go home."
"Mm," Mu Dishi murmured, jumping off the wagon. He opened the umbrella and held it over both of them as thick snowflakes began to fall from the gray sky.
The next morning, Mu Dishi and Ma Jingguo were having breakfast at the dining table.
"I wonder what I will find today?" Ma Jingguo said.
"I think we have enough food for the winter," Mu Dishi replied. "In three months, it will be spring, and we can head back home."
"Xiao shushu, this is our home, too," Ma Jingguo said, looking at him. "I don't want you to be locked away inside that cave."
"I like it there," Mu Dishi said. "It's the only thing Long da ye left for me."
"I understand," Ma Jingguo said.
"Also, your parents were buried there," Mu Dishi added.
Ma Jingguo smiled happily. "Thank you, Xiao shushu."
"For what?"
"For not calling my parents dogs."
Mu Dishi's gaze shifted to Ma Jingguo, and he saw a wave of arrows flying directly at them. He swiftly flipped the dining table, using it as a shield. In the process, an arrow pierced his upper left arm.
Ma Jingguo's eyes were fixed on the injured arm. "Xiao shushu," he said, moving closer. "Let me help you pull the arrow out."
Mu Dishi pushed Ma Jingguo's hand away. "No. Don't touch it." He grasped the end of the arrow and snapped it. Then, using his internal energy, he delivered a hard blow to his own right hand, sending the arrowhead flying out of his left arm.
"Xiao shushu," Ma Jingguo gasped.
"Don't touch it," Mu Dishi said, his voice strained. "These are poisonous arrows."
"Mu Dishi, if I were you, I would not use my internal energy. The more you use it, the faster you will die. Ha...ha...ha..." Mo Ehuang's voice rang out. "Father, you are in heaven, please watch how I kill Mu Dishi and avenge you."
"Mo Ehuang, give me the antidote!" Ma Jingguo yelled.
Mo Ehuang laughed. "I don't have it. The Yueguang Sect didn't give me anything else. I only paid for the arrows."
"Jingguo," Mu Dishi said quickly, "she might not have any more arrows left. The Yueguang Sect doesn't give antidotes to their buyers."
"Whoever cuts off Mu Dishi's head will be the next leader of the Mo Clan!" Mo Ehuang shouted coldly.
Hundreds of people surrounded Mu Dishi and Ma Jingguo's house.
"When using Wuming, remember what I've taught you," Mu Dishi said to Ma Jingguo.
Ma Jingguo kissed Mu Dishi on the forehead. "I understand. Wait for me."
Ma Jingguo revealed himself, jumping out of hiding and flying toward the enemies. As he fought, more people appeared from behind the house, heading directly for Mu Dishi.
Mu Dishi used two golden needles to slow the poison spreading through his body. He put on his metal gloves and took out his golden bells. Sitting cross-legged on the icy ground, he pulled the two bells apart, sending a powerful guzheng ray at the charging crowd. In an instant, the people and the kitchen behind them were cut in half. The kitchen was completely destroyed.
Mu Dishi pushed the table away and saw Ma Jingguo still fighting ten people.
"Mu Dishi!" Mo Ehuang screamed, staring at the seated man. "Everyone, charge Mu Dishi! Kill him! Kill him!"
Ma Jingguo quickly broke away from his opponents and flew back to Mu Dishi. Mu Dishi unleashed another guzheng ray at the oncoming attackers, instantly killing those in front and severely injuring the last four, including Mo Ehuang. Mu Dishi's golden bells fell to the ground as he spit out a mouthful of dark blood.
Ma Jingguo had never seen Mu Dishi injured before. Mu Dishi was invincible—why was he bleeding? Ma Jingguo's knees buckled, and he dropped to the ground.
"Xiao shushu," he stammered, his voice choked with terror. He dropped to his knees, his hands trembling as he reached for Mu Dishi. "Let me pass some internal energy to you." The sight of the invincible Mu Dishi bleeding filled him with a cold, desperate dread he had never known.
"No need," Mu Dishi gasped, his body wracked with a violent cough that brought up a gush of dark, thick blood.
"Why?" Ma Jingguo asked, his voice trembling.
"It... won't help much," Mu Dishi choked out, his voice a low, pained rasp as he fought against the spreading poison.
"At least let me use my internal energy to stop the poison from spreading," Ma Jingguo pleaded.
"I already used the golden needles," Mu Dishi replied, his voice strained.
"It's my fault... this is all my fault," Ma Jingguo sobbed, tears streaming down his face. "If I hadn't stopped Xiao Shushu from killing her that day, none of this would have happened."
Watching Mu Dishi use his internal energy to force the poison from spreading beyond the golden needles, Ma Jingguo's heart ached every time he saw Mu Dishi squint his eyes or furrow his brow in pain. As his heart broke for Mu Dishi's safety, the giggling and chuckling of Mo Ehuang filled him with fury. Mu Dishi was the most important person in his life. He cared for him like the most precious gem. Just a single strained hair from Mu Dishi's head was enough to deserve death. How dare Mo Ehuang make his most precious person suffer, let alone bleed?
Ma Jingguo snatched an arrow from the shattered table and advanced on Mo Ehuang, his mind set on killing her. But as he knelt beside her, he hesitated. If she died, he'd never get the antidote to save Mu Dishi. A profound regret washed over him, a burning ache for the life he had so foolishly spared.
"Mo Ehuang," Ma Jingguo seethed, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "I saved your life once. Now, tell me where the antidote is."
A venomous smile spread across her lips. "I don't have it. You can start preparing for Mu Dishi's burial." She began to laugh maniacally. "Mu Dishi... ha... ha... ha... you're not invincible! You bleed like everyone else!"
Ma Jingguo's heart hammered in his chest, a cold fury unlike any he had ever known consuming him. He took the poisoned arrow and plunged it into her right arm. "If he dies," he snarled, "you will die too. You have until noon."
Ma Jingguo walked back to Mu Dishi, carefully carrying him to their bedroom, leaving a trail of blood and human carnage behind him.