Ma Jingguo woke up to the sound of birds chirping. He stretched out his hand to feel for Mu Dishi, but the bed was empty. He opened his eyes and found that he was sleeping alone. He immediately felt a surge of anger, as Mu Dishi was the first thing he wanted to see every morning. He quickly sat up and saw that the door was open.
Seeing the open door, the anger he felt moments ago slowly subsided. He knew it was an old habit of Mu Dishi to leave the door open if he was just outside the hut.
With that feeling of relief, Ma Jingguo stretched his arms, put on his boots, and dressed. Just as he was about to get up to look for Mu Dishi, Mu Dishi walked in with a tray of food. Mu Dishi smiled at him.
Ma Jingguo smiled back and said happily, "Good morning, Xiao Shushu."
Mu Dishi replied, "Jingguo, I made congee, but it's slightly burnt." He handed Ma Jingguo a bowl of the burnt congee.
Ma Jingguo smiled and took the rice congee from Mu Dishi's hand. "Burnt or not, I eat everything Xiao Shushu cooked." He raised the rice congee toward his mouth, and as he smelled the aroma of the burnt congee, he looked at Mu Dishi once again. His eyes went wide, and his lips moved slightly. He lowered the rice congee bowl.
"What's wrong? Is it smell too bad?" Mu Dishi asked.
Ma Jingguo smiled at Mu Dishi and shook his head. "It just... it just... a little hot," he said happily as tears moistened his eyes. He raised the bowl again, blew the congee lightly, and started to drink the congee down. He quickly finished it in one go, placed the empty bowl on the table, and gave Mu Dishi a wide smile. "Mmm... This is the best rice congee I have ever tasted." He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Is there more?"
Mu Dishi looked at Ma Jingguo and simply said, "That's all; the rest is too burnt, it's not edible." He paused for a moment, and this time, his eyes met Ma Jingguo's. "Jingguo, I'm sorry. I…"
Ma Jingguo said with a smile, "What's wrong, Xiao Shushu?" He looked up at Mu Dishi and saw Wang Biming walking into the bamboo shed. Ma Jingguo's face turned dark instantly. "Wang Biming."
Wang Biming looked at Ma Jingguo and then at Mu Dishi. "Dishi, we are waiting for you," he stated, confirming Mu Dishi was expected to leave with him.
Ma Jingguo stood up, but his body felt weak. He looked at Mu Dishi and asked madly, "Why?"
Mu Dishi remained silent.
Ma Jingguo screamed, "Why? Answer me!" He slammed his fit down on the table.
Mu Dishi still refused to answer. He turned to Wang Biming and said, "I will come out immediately. I just have a few words for him."
Wang Biming nodded and walked out of the room.
Just as Mu Dishi gently put the trembling Ma Jingguo back down on the bed, Ma Jingguo looked at him with a pair of hateful eyes.
When Mu Dishi reached out for the blanket to cover him, Ma Jingguo said angrily, "Don't touch me!"
Mu Dishi gently pulled the blanket over Ma Jingguo. He stroked Ma Jingguo's face and said, "Jingguo, I'm sorry, I have to leave you. I know you are always afraid of me leaving you, but this time is different. You forget me and continue your life. Don't follow me, because I don't want to kill you with Wang Biming and Wang Zedong." He kissed Ma Jingguo's hand. "I... I will never be your enemy. Not then, not now, nor in the future."
Ma Jingguo's tears slid down the corners of his eyes. He pleaded, "Xiao Shushu, don't leave me. Please don't leave me. Stay with me... We will leave the martial arts world and go back home. I promised you that I will not complain about wanting to see the outside world again. I will obey every order you make... All I ask is don't leave me."
Mu Dishi simply said, "I'm sorry."
Ma Jingguo clung to past hopes. "We have not traveled down the Yangtze River as you promised."
Mu Dishi's voice hardened with urgency. "If you follow me, I will kill you with Wang Zedong and Wang Biming. I don't want to kill you. Do you understand?"
Ma Jingguo shouted wildly, "No! I don't understand. I don't understand." He looked at Mu Dishi. "Xiao Shushu, please let me go with you."
Mu Dishi smiled sadly at Ma Jingguo and said, "Jingguo... this time, don't follow me. The treasure cave is full of danger at every corner you turn. If they want to enter the treasure cave so much, then let them be added to the cave's collection of corpses." He took Ma Jingguo's hand and kissed it. "Please forgive me and forget me. Miss Zu will take care of you from now on."
Ma Jingguo's lips began to tremble with anger. He said furiously, "If you don't love me, don't push me to others." Suddenly, he was enraged, convinced that Mu Dishi was leaving him again for Wang Biming. "I'm not something you can throw away when you don't want it!"
Mu Dishi lowered his head to Ma Jingguo and said, "You are not an item... you are my soulmate." He kissed Ma Jingguo's lips. "Jingguo, I'm sorry, I can't keep my promise to you. I can't travel the Yangtze River with you." He then stuffed a pill into Ma Jingguo's mouth.
After a while, Ma Jingguo felt his eyes growing heavier. He exhausted his last strength and spoke with venom. "Mu Dishi, you hurt me many times, and I forgive you every time, but this time, if you walk out that door with Wang Biming, I will never forgive you. Every single pain you and him inflicted on me... I will return it back to you two ten times worse than what you two did to me. I will..." He struggled repeatedly to open his eyes but failed. Then darkness enveloped him. The last thing he heard was Mu Dishi saying, "Goodnight my love."
Mu Dishi gently pulled the quilt and covered Ma Jingguo. He smiled sadly and said, "From now on, there won't be me for you to hate anymore. Goodnight, my love." He took the jade hairpin from under Ma Jingguo's pillow and pinned the hairpin to his own hair. He got up and walked to the door. He turned around for a final look at Ma Jingguo sleeping on the bed, then went out and quietly closed the bamboo door.
Standing guard outside the small bamboo hut, Yong Taihua and ten Sword Village disciples waited solemnly. Yong Taihua stepped forward, bowing low to his master. "Shizun," he greeted, his voice thick with concern.
Mu Dishi's gaze was fixed back on the closed door, his expression unreadable. He spoke in a low, firm voice. "Taihua, remember no one is to be allowed near him. He will wake up in seven days."
Yong Taihua bowed deeply, accepting the severe responsibility. "I understand. Shizun, be careful," he urged.
The ten disciples immediately spread out, forming a tight perimeter around the hut. Mu Dishi, Yong Taihua, and Wang Biming turned their backs on the secluded forest and began their calculated march toward the Sword Village gates.
After a tense, half-hour walk, the trio reached the massive gates. A sea of martial artists from different sects stood rigidly, positioned behind Cao Fengge and Wang Zedong, all eyes fixed on Mu Dishi.
Cao Wenyan stepped slightly ahead of the crowd; his face etched with relief and anticipation. "Mu Gongzi, thank you for keeping your promise," he stated, his voice ringing with forced politeness.
Mu Dishi finally met Cao Wenyan's gaze, his expression now cold. "Among these people, I strongly recommend that you stay," he warned, his tone flat and utterly serious.
Cao Wenyan offered a rueful smile, shaking his head slightly. "Thank you for your concern, but I have already made up my mind."
Mu Dishi only gave a sharp, dismissive glance. "Whatever. I won't stop you if you want to die," he declared, the words dropping like stones, confirming the deadly nature of the quest they were about to begin.
Yan Zhanjin quickly walked up to Mu Dishi, his voice sharp with alarm. "Where is Ma-xiong?"
Mu Dishi answered simply, his gaze distant. "He is not coming."
Yan Zhanjin's eyes narrowed in fierce disbelief. "That's not right... He is very anxious about you; why didn't he come to such a big expedition? You killed him?"
Mu Dishi offered no reply, letting the accusation hang heavy in the air.
Cao Wenyan quickly interjected, trying to smooth the tension. "Yan Yisheng, are you not coming?"
Yan Zhanjin smiled faintly, shaking his head. "I will only become a burden for you all. I decided to stay in Sword Village."
Mu Dishi turned his attention to his loyal disciple. He looked at Yong Taihua and ordered, "Taihua, make sure he doesn't go near the bamboo shed."
Yong Taihua nodded once, his expression solemn.
With the morning sun at their backs, the group of martial artists—now fully assembled—headed up north toward the Mu Treasure Cave.