Early in the morning, Kuo Wenqian and Liu Hung were supervising the younger disciples practicing their routines in front of the open conference hall. The peaceful rhythm was violently shattered when a disciple suddenly flew through the air, crashing hard behind three stunned juniors. The disciples whipped their heads around, looking towards the main stairs. Wang Zedong, Chief of the Yueguang Sect, approached, followed by his menacing entourage of disciples.
Kuo Wenqian quickly pulled one of the younger disciples aside. "Go get shifu and shimu!" she whispered urgently. She then turned to face the oncoming leader. "Leader Wang, what can I do for you?"
Wang Zedong's expression was grim, his voice sharp with hostility. "Where is Mu Dishi and Kuo Jing Song?"
Meanwhile, the young disciple tasked with giving the warning ran into Ma Jingguo and Chen Dandan. Chen Dandan grabbed the hurried junior's arm. "Why are you in such a rush, little junior?"
The young disciple panted, "Wang Zedong is here looking for shifu and Mu Dishi."
Ma Jingguo immediately stormed out, his anger and grief overriding his caution, leaving Chen Dandan and the young disciple behind.
"Go quickly," Chen Dandan urged the junior, pointing the way. "Shifu is meeting Leader Gu and Leader Yong inside the west meeting room." She then chased after the rash Ma Jingguo. "Ma Shixiong!"
The disciple rushed into the West Hall. "Shifu... Shimu..." he cried, running inside.
Kuo Ju's head snapped up, alarmed. "What's the matter?"
"Wang Zedong is here! Wenqian shijie is stopping him right now," the young disciple reported, confirming the full-scale crisis.
Kuo Ju's face was pale with worry. "Why is he here?"
"He is asking for Shifu and Mu Dishi," the young disciple reported.
Yong Taihua looked furious. "He killed my shizun and my da ye, and he dares to make trouble here!"
Gu Tingfang frowned, a deeper political understanding in his gaze. "Lao Wang, after so many years, he still refuses to let it go." He looked at Kuo Jing Song. "Let's go see what he wants."
Kuo Ju knew exactly why Wang Zedong was there and she was gravely worried. Right now, Kuo Jing Song's internal strength had only recovered one-third.
When the group of masters arrived at the front gate, Ma Jingguo and Wang Biming were already engaged in a furious duel. The strength of their combined qi was so great that when their forces collided, the shockwave forced the two men apart.
Wang Biming smiled, a contemptuous look in his eyes. "Little nephew, what's the point of fighting with me? You know, you can't win."
Wang Zedong looked at Ma Jingguo, offering a cold choice. "You either step away or stick with Jinfeng Sector and be vanquished with them."
Ma Jingguo stood his ground, his gaze unwavering. "The only family members I know is standing around here. I won't let anyone in and out as they please."
"Very good. An ungrateful bastard," Wang Zedong sneered. He looked at his son. "Ming'er, if he stands in our way, kill him."
Kuo Jing Song stepped forward, his manner outwardly calms despite his weakened state. "Cheif Wang, how can I help you today?"
Wang Zedong smiled, a cruel, satisfied curve of his lips. "I came to return your strike to you." He looked at Yong Gui and Gu Tingfang, issuing a direct challenge. "If you want to be my enemy, you are very welcome to join."
Yong Gui shouted, his sword already half-drawn. "Sword Village prepare!"
Sword Village disciples unsheathed their swords alongside Jinfeng Sect's disciples, standing ready for war.
Wang Zedong screamed, his face contorted in madness. "Yong Gui!" He looked angrily at the amassed defenders. "Kill everyone!"
With that command, the disciples of Yueguang Sect collided with the combined forces of Jinfeng Sect, Sword Village, and the Gu guards, plunging the sect into chaos and blood.
During the intensifying chaos at the gate, Wang Zedong flew straight over the battling disciples, aiming his attack directly at the vulnerable Kuo Jing Song and Kuo Ju.
Meanwhile, in the quiet of the guesthouse, Zhu Mingyang swiftly packed their few belongings. "Let's go," he instructed. Mu Dishi put on his long, veiled hat, and the two walked out, heading toward the commotion.
When they reached the main entrance, the fighting was a horrific spectacle: disciples from multiple sects were colliding fiercely. Zhu Mingyang kept his voice steady as they navigated the edge of the battle. "My task is to bring you back," he reminded Mu Dishi. He looked pointedly at the veiled man. "I have to remind you that you are just healed, so don't use your inner energy at will."
"I know. Let's go," Mu Dishi replied.
The two slowly left the fighting crowd, heading down the stairs. Just as they were about to reach the bottom, Yan Zhanjin and Cao Wenyan flew over the battling disciples and landed directly in their path.
Cao Wenyan immediately pushed Yan Zhanjin toward Zhu Mingyang. "I couldn't wait for you two to return, so I came instead," he announced with a triumphant air.
Zhu Mingyang's focus was singular. "What about the poison?"
Cao Wenyan smiled, an infuriating display of smugness. "I am a man of my word."
Yan Zhanjin, already embracing his friend, confirmed the news. "Before we came, he had already given me the antidote."
Across the fighting ground, Chen Dandan spotted Yan Zhanjin. "Shixiong!" she cried out, tears welling up.
Yan Zhanjin looked over, relief washing across his face. "Dandan!" He waved at Chen Dandan, signaling that he was safe.
Zhu Mingyang looked past Chen Dandan, his gaze locking onto the chaos where Gu Yingjie was fighting Wang Zedong alongside Kuo Jing Song. He clenched his hands, the conflict raging within him, but forced himself to look away, focused on his mission to leave.
Just then, Wang Zedong delivered a devastating strike. He hit Kuo Jing Song on the chest, sending the master crashing onto the stairs, and immediately followed up with another fierce blow aimed straight at Gu Yingjie.
Without a thought for his own safety, Zhu Mingyang flew over instantly, intercepting Wang Zedong's blow with his body. The force of the attack sent Zhu Mingyang crashing next to Kuo Jing Song.
Wang Zedong let out a mad, triumphant laugh. "Ha... ha... ha... ha... fifteen years, I finally return your strike back to you!"
Gu Yingjie and Yan Zhanjin both abandoned the fight and rushed toward the injured guard. "Mingyang..."
Seeing that Kuo Jing Song was now severely injured, everyone else nearby rushed to the sect leader's side.
Wang Zedong surveyed the scene of destruction, his eyes burning with fanaticism. "Today, I will destroy Jinfeng Sector and those who stand in my way!" He pointed his finger directly at Gu Tingfang. "Included you!"
Despite the pain of the impact, Zhu Mingyang turned his head to look at Gu Yingjie, his first concern unwavering. "Are you injured, Yingjie?"
Gu Yingjie nodded. "I'm fine." He reached out and gently wiped the blood from the corners of Zhu Mingyang's mouth with the edge of his right sleeve, their old, deep connection evident even in the chaos.
Cao Wenyan, however, remained aloof, simply observing the escalating fight. "There are many great shifu here, and it is impossible for Wang Zedong to kill them all," he commented dismissively. He then smiled at Mu Dishi. "Should we go?"
Suddenly, the battle shifted again. Miao Mingzhu flew over the fighting crowd and shot many small pink balls at the group of people surrounding the injured Kuo Jing Song. A debilitating powder spread among the crowd. Once the cloud dissipated, the people surrounding the master became weak, their defenses instantly collapsing.
Mu Dishi watched the sudden change in the battle's dynamic. "Help me," he said, his voice decisive.
Cao Wenyan's smile widened, anticipating the unexpected request. "What do you want me to help you with?"
"I need a guzheng instrument," Mu Dishi demanded.
"I brought the one you used from home," Cao Wenyan confessed, his foresight alarming. He waved his hand, and a servant immediately walked toward him. "Go get Childe Mu's guzheng."
The male servant quickly bowed. "Yes, Master."
Mu Dishi and Cao Wenyan watched the horrific scene unfold below. The disciples of the Yueguang Sect began to slaughter the disciples of the Jinfeng Sect, Sword Village, and House of Gu.
From the heart of the battle, Wang Zedong roared, his voice cutting through the noise. "Where is Mu Dishi?"
Two minutes later, the servant returned, holding Mu Dishi's personal guzheng. Mu Dishi took the instrument and sat cross-legged on the concrete floor.
Mu Dishi looked at Cao Wenyan. "Cao Gongzi, do you know the reason why your father wants to own the Killer String manual?"
"I don't know," Cao Wenyan admitted. "Don't worry, I won't take it away from you."
Mu Dishi slowly placed his hands over the strings. "I will show you right now why those who know the truth about the Killer String want to own the manual or destroy the manual."
Mu Dishi closed his eyes, put his slender fingers on the guzheng strings, and began to pluck the strings.
The sound was instantly arresting. Everyone on the battlefield paused and turned to look at the veiled man sitting next to Cao Wenyan. The music was terrible—it didn't sound like any melody. It was just a bunch of random notes, some soft, some harshly discordant, but all of them unnatural and deeply unnerving.
Zhu Mingyang was the only one who reacted differently to the terrible music. His ears rang, and he closed his eyes as the discordant notes invaded his mind. He instantly understood Mu Dishi's silent command: the music ordered him to stand up and move to face Wang Zedong. His eyes were red, he took a deep breath, and he tightened his fists.
Zhu Mingyang looked at Wang Zedong, his voice a cold roar. "You wish to destroy me, but you will never succeed." He directly threw a heavy punch at Wang Zedong.
Wang Zedong was caught completely off guard and stumbled back seven steps. "Impossible," he muttered, stunned.
Gu Tingfang was as stunned as everyone else; Zhu Mingyang, who had been defeated by his own guards years ago, was now fighting Wang Zedong alone.
As the long-veiled man continued to pluck the guzheng strings, Zhu Mingyang threw punch after punch at Wang Zedong. It didn't take long for everyone to discover that the veiled man was somehow commanding Zhu Mingyang to fight. Wang Biming and Miao Mingzhu immediately lunged at the source of the power, engaging Cao Wenyan in a sudden, fierce fight.
Miao Mingzhu broke free from Cao Wenyan's blockade, darted straight to the back of the veiled man, and struck the man's back with a fierce punch. The man quickly waved his sleeve at Miao Mingzhu, flipping her back, but she was ready instantly. Miao Mingzhu's second punch fell squarely on the man's left shoulder, the force causing him to fly from the impact toward the other side, right into the path of Wang Zedong.
The man grunted sharply in pain. Hearing the sound, Ma Jingguo, who was already running on pure adrenaline, exhausted the last of his internal strength, stood up quickly, and grabbed the long-veiled man mid-air.
As the two flew past Wang Zedong and Zhu Mingyang, Mu Dishi used his remaining strength to throw three golden needles at Wang Zedong, one of which instantly pierced Wang Zedong's left eye. Wang Biming, aghast, hurried back to tend to his father.
Ma Jingguo put his arms around the slender waist of the veiled man, and the two crashed into one of the large statues.
Cao Wenyan rushed over and immediately pulled Mu Dishi away from Ma Jingguo's embrace. Just when Mu Dishi and Cao Wenyan began to walk away, Ma Jingguo, clinging desperately to his last hope, grasped Mu Dishi's hem tightly.
Ma Jingguo whispered sadly, his voice raw with despair. "Xiao shushu, please don't go!" He sobbed. "Please don't go!"