Kuo Lok turned and saw Bazar Batu leaning against the tavern wall. Without a word, he turned and began to walk away. Bazar Batu quickly followed.
"Where are you going?" Bazar Batu asked.
"I'm going to Sword Village," Kuo Lok replied curtly.
Bazar Batu reached out and gently took his hand, stopping him. "I won't let you go there," he said. "If they treat you so badly, why should you go?"
Kuo Lok's voice was quiet. "My sisters are waiting for me there."
Bazar Batu smiled. "Fine. Then we will go to Sword Village."
"I can't travel as freely as you think I can," Kuo Lok said, his voice flat with a hidden bitterness. "Since you liked Ma Jingguo so much, you should follow him. He and Mu Dishi can wander the martial arts world as their hearts desire." He turned and continued walking, leaving Bazar Batu behind.
"But it doesn't mean I want to wander this martial arts world with him!" Bazar Batu yelled, his voice laced with frustration. "Yes, I admit, I like him very much!"
Kuo Lok stopped. Bazar Batu quickly caught up to him and stood in front of him. He was so much shorter than Kuo Lok, his head only reaching his shoulder. "Lok ge ge," he said, his voice soft and urgent, "lower your head."
Kuo Lok did as he was told. Bazar Batu reached up and gently kissed him on the forehead. "Even if I like Ma ge," he whispered, wrapping his arms around Kuo Lok's waist, "I still like you more."
"Are you sure?" Kuo Lok asked, his voice filled with doubt.
"I am one hundred and one percent sure," Bazar Batu replied, tightening his arms around him.
"Let's go to Sword Village then," Kuo Lok said softly, his resolve returning.
By the time they arrived at Sword Village, it was crowded with martial artists and lunch was already being served. Bazar Batu was greatly disappointed, but Kuo Lok promised to take him out to eat after he reunited with his sisters and brother-in-law. As they walked through the crowd, they saw a woman standing alone at the gate, wearing a light gray robe and hat. Kuo Lok immediately ran over and hugged her.
Kuo Lok smiled, a wellspring of relief washing over him. "Jie…"
"Benefactor Kuo," Kuo Changchang said, her voice soft but distant. "My name is Nun Ziyou."
His smile crumbled. "Nun Ziyou," Kuo Lok said sadly, pulling away from the hug. He gestured to Bazar Batu. "This is Batu."
Kuo Changchang smiled warmly at Bazar Batu. "We're staying inside Sword Village," she said.
"Jiejie," Kuo Lok began, his voice laced with the pain of his recent duel, "before I came here, I was fighting with Ma Jingguo and the seven disciples of Sword Village."
"Benefactor Yong has already told me," Kuo Changchang replied calmly.
Kuo Lok's face paled. "You know him?"
"Benefactor Yong and I have known each other for a long time," Kuo Changchang said calmly, her eyes never leaving Kuo Lok. "Why are you fighting with Ah Chen? No matter the reason, you should not use your fists to solve your problems. Do you understand?"
"Exactly," Bazar Batu said, looking at Kuo Lok frantically.
"You must apologize to him the next time you see him," Kuo Changchang instructed.
"Why?" Kuo Lok asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
"He did nothing wrong."
"Jiejie," Kuo Lok's voice trembled with a sudden fury. "I was told he was going to marry you. Did he force you to be a nun?"
Kuo Changchang sighed softly and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "He never wanted to marry me. That was Madame Kuo's idea." She shook her head. "He did not force me to become a nun. I chose this path willingly." Her expression turned serene. "Love cannot be forced."
Her demeanor suddenly changed. She looked at him with a chilling intensity. "Moreover, you are incredibly lucky that benefactor Mu did not release his full power. If he had, you wouldn't be standing here. I would have been the one collecting your dead body."
Bazar Batu, stunned by her words, blurted, "How is that possible? I believe Lok ge can easily defend himself against Mu Dishi!"
"There are heavens beyond the heavens," Kuo Changchang said, a flicker of awe in her eyes. "Two years ago, Mu Dishi fought the seven sects and four clan leaders. His skill passed like thunder and moved like the wind. If it weren't for Ah Chen's bravery that day, many people would have died."
"So that's why even though he did something unforgivable, everyone still forgave him?" Bazar Batu asked, the confusion clear in his voice.
"On the contrary," Kuo Changchang replied, a serene smile on her face. "He did nothing wrong." She looked at the two of them. "Forget about all this. Let's go back. Haven't you two eaten yet?"
"I was going to take Batu out to eat," Kuo Lok said.
Kuo Changchang smiled gently. "They're already preparing dinner. Let's wait and have dinner together tonight."
Not wanting to make a bad impression on his first meeting with Kuo Lok's family, Bazar Batu smiled at Kuo Lok and said, "I can wait. I'd rather have dinner with everyone than just the two of us."
Before sundown, the open courtyard was a bustling scene. Hundreds of tables were arranged in neat rows, where martial artists from all corners of the land ate and drank merrily. The air in Sword Village was filled with the sounds of their laughter, the vibrant murmur of conversation, and the cheerful clatter of plates and wine cups.
After dinner, Bazar Batu tossed and turned in his bed, unable to sleep. The day's events had left him with too many questions. He quietly slipped out of his room and walked toward the back door of the guestroom he stayed in. As he passed the courtyard pavilion, he was startled by a voice in the darkness.
"Where are you going?" Kuo Lok asked.
"I just wanted to go out," Bazar Batu replied.
"It's already late," Kuo Lok said, his tone serious.
"I overheard some guests mention that the night market in Sword Village is very interesting," Bazar Batu said, hoping to convince him.
"Curiosity will get you killed," Kuo Lok warned.
"I just want to walk through the night market. I'm not spying on anyone's personal affairs." Bazar Batu approached him. "Lok ge ge, how about we go together?"
A faint smile touched Kuo Lok's lips. He placed his arm around Bazar Batu's waist, and in a single fluid motion, they flew over the wall and into the open street.
Inside the Yong residence, in a small and serene Buddha room, Yong Hao sat cross-legged on a mat, his eyes closed in meditation. His senses, however, were wide awake. He had noticed a figure standing perfectly still behind a silk curtain. But just as he was about to act, the sound of the door sliding open broke the silence. A young disciple entered, carrying a tray with his dinner.
Not wanting to put the innocent young man in danger, Yong Hao decided to feign ignorance. The disciple placed the food on the small table in front of him, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Yong Hao.
"Monk Hao," the young disciple said, "I'll be back later to pick up the tray. If I'm not here and you'd like to sleep, just leave it outside the door."
"You don't have to come back," Yong Hao replied, his voice calm and gentle. "You can pick it up when you bring me my breakfast tomorrow."
"Okay," the young disciple said, before bowing and quietly closing the door behind him.
Minutes later, a heavy rain began to fall, and flashes of lightning lit up the night sky. The man in black, however, remained perfectly still behind the curtains.
Slowly, Yong Hao opened his eyes. He sighed, the sound a quiet puff of air in the silent room. "Amitabha," he said softly, his voice full of weary resignation. "Since you're already here, why are you still hiding?"
The man in black emerged from behind the curtains, his footsteps making no sound on the floor. He advanced slowly, his presence filling the small room with a silent menace.
Yong Hao, without any change in his calm expression, asked, "How can this old monk help you?"
The man in black's voice was soft, almost regretful. "Hao qianbei, among all the people who have walked into Mu Village, you are the only one I believe is truly worth living. For that, I am sorry. But you must die today."
He drew a small, gleaming dagger from his sleeve and approached the seated monk. Just as the blade moved within arm's reach, Yong Hao felt a sudden, profound weakness flood his body. His hands, which moments ago were poised to defend, felt heavy and powerless.
"Don't bother trying to resist," the man in black said with a chilling finality. "You've obviously been poisoned."
The man knelt before Yong Hao and plunged the dagger into his abdomen. He twisted the blade, then drew it out with a sickening squelch.
"Now you can go to the netherworld and beg the Mu villagers for forgiveness," he said, a cold scoff on his lips. "And help me send a message to Mu Jia Long: no matter where he's hidden it, I will find it."
With a last surge of strength, Monk Hao slowly reached out and pulled down the man's cloth facemask. His eyes widened in a look of profound shock and disbelief.
"You… how are that possible?" he gasped, his voice barely a whisper.
The man answered with a cold, ruthless silence, stabbing Monk Hao four more times. He then calmly walked out the door, leaving the monk to die.
As the rain began pouring harder, Kuo Lok and Bazar Batu touched down in front of a small inn. Just as they decided to go in for a midnight snack, Bazar Batu saw three familiar faces: Bazar Bataar, Li Jie, and Li Jia were sitting inside, eating.
Taken completely aback, a thought flashed through his mind: Why are they here, and why haven't they returned home? He gripped Kuo Lok's right arm tightly. "Lok ge ge, let's go back," he said, his voice a panicked whisper. "I think I've had enough fun for tonight. Besides, the rain is only going to get heavier."
Seeking refuge from the downpour, Kuo Lok and Bazar Batu ran toward the Yong residence. Kuo Lok then scooped up Bazar Batu and they flew through the back door, landing in the courtyard. There, a man lay motionless on the ground beside a pavilion. They rushed to his side.
Kuo Lok gently turned the man over, revealing his face. It was Yong Hao, the monk.
"Who is he?" Bazar Batu asked, his voice filled with alarm.
"I don't know his name, but I recognize him," Kuo Lok replied.
"He's a Shaolin monk," Bazar Batu said, his eyes widening.
Yong Hao, using his last bit of strength, reached out and grabbed Bazar Batu's collar. His voice was a ragged whisper. "He came back for revenge... He's back..." He clutched Bazar Batu's robe tightly.
"Who?" Bazar Batu cried, his voice frantic with confusion. "Who is back for revenge?"
Yong Hao gasped twice, his eyes fixed on Bazar Batu's face. "He's back..." he repeated, the words a final, dying breath. Then, his body went limp, his hand remaining clamped on Bazar Batu's collar. The monk was dead.
Suddenly, Yong Taihua burst into the backyard, his face a mask of contorted fury. "Let go of him!" he roared, unsheathing his sword in a flash of steel and swooping toward Bazar Batu with murderous intent.
In a fit of panic, Bazar Batu pulled the dagger from Yong Hao's abdomen to defend himself. It was at that precise moment that Yong Gui, Yong Caixia, and a crowd of other guests rushed into the backyard, their eyes widening in shock at the scene before them.
Yong Taihua's sword, only an inch from Bazar Batu's neck, was stopped by Kuo Lok. Yong Taihua swung his sword away from Bazar Batu and redirected his fury toward Kuo Lok, and the two men began to fight.
Yong Gui and Yong Caixia rushed to the side of Bazar Batu and the fallen Yong Hao. Yong Gui knelt and quickly checked the monk's pulse, his face turning pale as he realized the truth.
"Stop fighting!" Yong Gui shouted, his voice hoarse with sorrow. "Da ye is already dead!"
The reception hall was a somber tableau. In the center of the room, Yong Hao's body lay on a makeshift altar. Kuo Lok and Bazar Batu stood silently before it. To their side, Yong Caixia knelt and wept, her shoulders shaking with grief. Yong Gui sat stiffly in his chair, a grim look on his face, while many of Sword Village's elders watched on, their expressions full of mourning.
A hush fell over the room as Kuo Changchang, Kou Wenqian, and Liu Hung walked in. Kuo Changchang's eyes fell on her brother.
"Ah Lok, what happened?" she asked, her voice a quiet whisper in the solemn silence.
Before he could answer, Yong Taihua's voice boomed with indignant fury. "They killed my da ye!" he roared; his eyes fixed on them with a fierce, hateful stare.
Kuo Wenqian turned to her brother, her voice heavy with expectation. "Is it true?"
"No, jiejie," Kuo Lok replied, his voice firm. "We did not kill anyone."
Liu Hung stepped forward, his expression resolute. "My younger brother-in-law would never lie. If he did it, he would admit it. I can use my own head to guarantee his innocence."
A sigh of relief rippled through the hall, but Yong Gui's voice cut through it. "I've known Lok'er since he was little. He wouldn't do such a thing," he said, before his gaze shifted to Bazar Batu. "But... I can't say the same for that young man."
An elder then addressed Bazar Batu, his voice filled with authority. "What is your name, and where are you from?"
Bazar Batu stood tall, his voice clear and unwavering. "My name is Batu Bazar. I come from a small town on the border between China and Mongolia."
A collective gasp swept through the solemn hall. Everyone's eyes widened in surprise, except for Kuo Lok, who remained perfectly still.
"You're a Mongol?" Yong Taihua demanded, his tone filled with suspicion.
Kuo Changchang quickly interjected, trying to diffuse the tension. "He might just have a Mongol name. It doesn't mean he is actually a Mongol."
But Bazar Batu would not allow his identity to be denied. He looked directly at Yong Gui, his gaze firm and fearless. "I am a proud Mongol. Under no circumstances will I ever be so cowardly as to deceive others about my heritage to save my life."