Sitting alone in a small pavilion, Cao Fengge listened to the falling rain, the steady patter on the roof reminding him of the day Li Liqin came to him. He sighed softly just as he heard a faint footfall behind him. He set down his teacup.
"Yan'er," he said without turning, "your foot agility is still poor. You need more practice."
Cao Yanmei stepped into the pavilion, her face in a slight frown. "Father, you always knew it was me. How come you can't tell when brother is behind you?"
A voice spoke from the shadows behind them. "Because my skills are much better than yours," Cao Wenyan said, stepping out of the rain and taking a seat in front of his father.
"Report," Cao Wenyan said, his tone turning serious.
"Go on," Cao Fengge replied calmly.
"Monk Hao of Sword Village is dead," Cao Wenyan announced, his voice tight. "Everyone is blaming Mu Dishi, saying he went back for revenge. But I know he didn't do it. He wasn't even in Sword Village when the murder happened."
Cao Fengge's eyes narrowed. "Wen'er," he said, his voice a low, dangerous warning. "I've told you before. You can have any man or woman you want in this world, but not Mu Dishi."
Cao Yanmei quickly interjected, her voice firm. "Father, my brother wasn't anywhere near him. The five-colored mice can vouch for them. We saw Mu Dishi in a nearby tavern."
"Alright," Cao Fengge said, his expression softening slightly. "For now, I'll believe you. Your mother has been missing you."
Cao Yanmei's face brightened. "Then I'm going to see her, Father," she said with a smile.
Cao Fengge returned her smile and simply said, "Go."
Once she was out of sight, Cao Wenyan's expression turned grim. "Father, Devil Fist has surfaced. There's still no news of the Rao survivors or Dong Donghai."
"Wen'er," Cao Fengge said, his voice hard as stone. "You must kill three people at all costs. The first is Mu Dishi, because he has the 'Killer String Manual.' The second is the person who uses the Devil Fist, and the third is Dong Donghai and the survivors of the Rao family."
Cao Wenyan's brow furrowed in confusion. "Father," he said, his voice hesitant. "I understand the first two, but I don't understand the enmity between the Rao survivors, Dong Donghai, and us."
"Dong Donghai and the Rao survivors are a personal matter," Cao Fengge began, his gaze turning distant. "But the person who uses the Devil Fist cannot coexist with Mu Dishi's 'Killer String.' " He sighed, the sound heavy with a history his son didn't know.
"Many years ago," he explained, "two martial arts grandmasters became friends through music. Experts on the Guzheng, they created the powerful 'Killer String' manual together. But they soon realized their creation was too deadly—if it fell into the wrong hands, it would unleash a bloodbath across the land. So, they developed the 'Devil Fist' as a counter-manual, a way to defeat the Killer String.
"But when one of the masters practiced the Devil Fist, something went terribly wrong. He lost control, and the result was a complete failure; it destroyed his inner energy, and he went mad. The other master had no choice but to lock him up and protect him until they both died. The manuals for both the Killer String and the Devil Fist were lost to the world forever. Many years ago, I came so close to getting the Killer String manual, but my plan failed." He looked at his son, his expression now completely cold. "Go visit your mother."
"Yes, Father," Cao Wenyan replied, his voice flat. He stood up and left the pavilion, his face an emotionless mask.
Cao Fengge watched him go, then his gaze returned to the falling rain. It reminded him of the day Li Liqin came to him. The rain then had been as heavy as it was now.
Standing in the relentless rain outside the Beixing Sect, Li Liqin waited patiently. She had been there all day, and as the cold began to seep into her bones, her lips turned purple and she shivered uncontrollably, huddled on the cold stone stairs.
Suddenly, a carriage pulled to a stop directly in front of the gate. Li Liqin's heart leaped; she saw Cao Fengge step out, holding a large umbrella. Overwhelmed with a rush of hope and joy, she used the last of her strength to slowly push herself to her feet, leaning on a dragon statue for support.
Just then, the curtains of the carriage opened, and a woman emerged, walking directly into Cao Fengge's waiting embrace. The sight of it shattered Li Liqin's heart. Driven by a desperate need for answers, she stumbled forward and rushed toward them.
"Cao ge ge," Li Liqin cried out, her voice a mix of relief and joy. "I've finally found you!"
Madame Cao looked at her, a hint of disdain in her eyes. "Who is she?" she asked Cao Fengge.
"I don't know," Cao Fengge replied, his voice flat and cold. His gaze met Li Liqin's for a brief, empty moment before he turned away and asked, "Who are you?"
Tears immediately welled in Li Liqin's eyes, and her body began to tremble in disbelief. "Cao ge ge," she sobbed, "how could you have forgotten me? It's only been five months! You told me you would be back for me in three months, but it's already been five!"
"To be honest," Cao Fengge said, his voice flat. "I don't know who you are."
"Really?" Madame Cao asked, her eyes narrowing with fury as she looked at him.
Cao Fengge turned his full attention to her, a placating expression on his face. "My dear furen, I truly don't know who she is."
"Very well," Madame Cao said, a cruel smirk on her lips. "Then slap her three times."
Without a moment's hesitation, Cao Fengge struck Li Liqin across the face, the first slap a sharp crack in the cold air. He delivered two more, his face a mask of cold rage. "You filthy woman," he spat, pushing her to the ground. "Leave us alone."
Li Liqin landed on her stomach with a painful grunt. Cao Fengge didn't even glance at her; instead, he held the umbrella over his wife and calmly escorted her into the Beixing Sect.
Li Liqin slowly pushed herself up, crawling on her hands and knees after him up the stairs. Just as she reached the top, the two servants inside closed the heavy door on her face.
Crying and pounding on the wood, she screamed, "Cao ge ge, open the door! I have nothing left! All I have is you! Please, open the door!"
Li Liqin cried for a full two hours, but the door of the Beixing Sect remained shut, no matter how much she pleaded. Slowly, she got to her feet and began to walk away from the cold, indifferent building. Blood from the slaps slowly trickled down her face, staining her clothes as it went.
She walked in a daze, oblivious to the passersby who stared, pointed, and whispered about her on the street. She paid no mind to the pain, only the crushing sense of loss. After walking for a long time, she finally made it outside the village. The loss of blood and emotional exhaustion finally overwhelmed her, and she collapsed, fainting onto the cold ground.
When Li Liqin regained consciousness, she found herself in an old temple. A man with a sword on his back sat beside a small campfire, patiently roasting a chicken. He looked up at her, and then walked over, holding a broken bowl filled with water. She took it slowly and drank, the cool liquid a balm to her parched throat.
"May I know your name?" Li Liqin asked, her voice a fragile whisper.
"Mu Jiao Long," he replied. He looked at her with a profound sadness in his eyes. "I'm sorry for your loss."
Li Liqin knew exactly what he meant, and a soft sob escaped her lips. "Are you related to the Mu family?" she asked through her tears. "Or do you just happen to have the same surname?"
"I am related to the Mu family," Mu Jiao Long confirmed.
Li Liqin clenched the broken bowl so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Mu Jiao Long looked at her with pity. "I'm sorry," he said. "I don't know any medicine. You will lose too much blood."
"Mu xia," Li Liqin said weakly, "I'd like to make a deal with you."
Mu Jiao Long's expression hardened. "If you want me to kill someone, then forget it. My family only saves lives."
Tears streamed down Li Liqin's face. "I want you to slap someone for me," she sobbed. Reaching inside her robe, she took out a small bamboo tube, a small wooden box, and a manual with a pair of black gloves. "According to your family's policy, I must trade my most valuable items for your help."
"These are?" Mu Jiao Long asked, his voice full of curiosity.
Li Liqin coughed, a thin, rattling sound. "According to rumors, the map in this tube is for a tomb full of treasures. In the wooden box is the corpse-preserving powder. And these black gloves and manual," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper, "are the 'Killer String Manual'."
A chill ran through Mu Jiao Long's entire body. His eyes wide with dread, he asked her, "How did you get the 'Killer String Manual'?"
Li Liqin coughed heavily, a mouthful of blood splattering onto the ground. "My great-grandfather was a woodcutter," she said weakly. "He stumbled upon it on a secluded mountain many years ago."
Mu Jiao Long was not interested in the maps or the powder. The 'Killer String Manual' was the rarest item that all martial artists desired. His eyes remained fixed on the manual as he asked, "Who do you want me to slap?"
"Cao Fengge of the Beixing Sect," Li Liqin replied softly. "Slap him three times for me and three times for my child. Then, go to Chen Village and slap Chen Fa three times for me."
Mu Jiao Long's gaze was solemn and unwavering. "I agree," he said, his voice a low, final vow.
Li Liqin handed him the three items, her hands shaking so violently the objects rattled. "Mu xia," she whispered, her voice frail as a ghost's, "are all men truly alike? Do they all only care about their ambition to reach the top?"
A profound sadness touched Mu Jiao Long's face, but his voice was gentle, a calm balm to her bleeding heart. "No," he replied. "I'm going to win back the one I love, and then we're going to run away together."
A quiet, profound peace settled over Li Liqin's features. A soft, knowing smile touched her lips, and she whispered, "Mu xia, thank you." As the smile held, she closed her eyes and died.
After Mu Jiao Long buried Li Liqin, he traveled to Chen Village. He found Chen Fa standing outside the burnt remains of his house, meticulously repairing the front gate.
Mu Jiao Long stopped and stood at the entrance. "May I know if you are Chen Fa, the village's doctor?" he called out.
Chen Fa climbed down the wooden ladder and walked to the front of his home. "I am Chen Fa," he replied.
Without another word, Mu Jiao Long slapped him across the face—once, twice, then a third time.
Chen Fa roared in a fit of rage. "Why are you hitting me?" he demanded, his face contorted. "I've never seen you before!"
"If you know someone named Li Liqin," Mu Jiao Long said, his voice cold and flat, "those slaps are from her."
Chen Fa's rage was instantly replaced with a chilling selfishness. "Where is she?" he demanded. "Tell her to return my powder invention to me."
"She died," Mu Jiao Long said quietly. He turned and walked away.
Two months later, Mu Jiao Long stood on the practice field of the Beixing Sect, waiting patiently. After a short period, he saw Cao Fengge approach, followed by a large group of twenty apprentices.
"I don't believe we've met," Cao Fengge said, his voice cold and arrogant.
"I was asked to slap you," Mu Jiao Long replied, his voice flat and unemotional.
"How dare you?" one of the disciples shouted, stepping forward in a fit of rage.
Cao Fengge drew his sword in a flash and rushed toward Mu Jiao Long, his face a mask of fury.
Mu Jiao Long calmly slipped on his black metal gloves and sent a single guzheng string hurtling toward Cao Fengge. Caught completely off guard, Cao Fengge twisted in midair, doing two desperate backflips to avoid it. But as he landed, Mu Jiao Long let go of another string, which wrapped itself tightly around Cao Fengge's neck, yanking him forward.
Mu Jiao Long then slapped Cao Fengge six times in rapid succession, the sound echoing across the field. When he was done, he pulled the strings back, and Cao Fengge fell to the ground.
"Those slaps," Mu Jiao Long said, his voice flat and unforgiving, "the first three are for Li Liqin's three months of tears waiting for you. The other three are for her dead, unborn child."
Cao Fengge was in a frenzy of rage and confusion. He touched his burning, stinging face and demanded, "Who are you?"
"Mu Jiao Long of the Mu clan," Mu Jiao Long replied, his voice as cold as ice.
"Are you using the 'Killer Strings'?" Cao Fengge asked, a note of disbelief in his voice.
"Yes," Mu Jiao Long said simply.
"Who gave it to you?" Cao Fengge pressed.
"Li xiaojie," Mu Jiao Long said, turning to leave. "She gave it to me as a deal to slap you." He walked out the front gate of the Beixing Sect and disappeared into the street.