After learning about Yongzheng's true identity, everyone—including Cao Fengge—hesitated to make the first move. They knew exactly what Number One was capable of. Number One was the kind of killer you hired to kill other killers. Not many martial artists in the martial arts world could defeat him.
Standing his ground, Yongzheng refused to retreat, still holding Xue Horan's sword. He looked at the rest of the people and said simply, "Let us through."
Chief of Seventy-Two Islands attempted a desperate negotiation. "Leader One, if you are willing to go back, I will surrender Seventy-Two Islands back to you and rename the Seventy-Two Islands back to its original name, Men Of Thousand Faces. I believe everyone will welcome you with open arms, especially Wu Jinghua."
As Cao Fengge and the Chief talked back and forth, it finally hit Xue Longwei that they were stalling for time. They were waiting for more and better martial artists to show up. No matter how strong one martial artist could be, when faced with countless opponents, he would be exhausted and defeated.
Xue Longwei shouted, spitting more blood. "Horan, open your eyes and stop counting! We have to leave now! Dirty beggar, they are wasting your time. We need to leave now!"
Yongzheng instantly sent Xue Horan's sword flying towards Cao Fengge and the Chief of Seventy-Two Islands as a distraction. He rushed back at lightning speed, grabbed Xue Horan and Xue Longwei, and they flew over the burning house and disappeared into the darkness.
Cao Wenyan asked his father, eyes wide with astonishment, "Father, should we chase them?"
Cao Fengge scoffed. "What are you going to use against Number One?"
Chief of Seventy-Two Islands spoke with sober respect. "Cao Gongzi, believe me, if you want to survive, stay away from Number One." He looked pointedly at Cao Fengge. "Chief Cao, remember your words."
Cao Fengge returned the warning. "Chief of Seventy-Two Islands, must also remember his words as well."
Chief of Seventy-Two Islands flew back onto his single boat and sailed away quietly into the dark river, choosing discretion over confrontation.
Cao Wenyan, still reeling, asked, "Father, who is this Number One?"
Cao Fengge explained the terrifying history. "Number One is the official person in charge of an organization called The Men of Thousand Faces. There were one hundred assassins who were greatly skilled. These ruthless assassins were the assassins that you hired to kill other assassins. No one knew their real identity. If Number One hadn't used the 'Lightning Sword' technique, I wouldn't have been able to tell that he is Number One."
Cao Wenyan wondered aloud, "How did such a feared organization fall?"
Cao Fengge revealed the internal breakdown. "If the leader fell, then everyone else fell. When Number One suddenly disappeared without a trace, the other ninety-nine assassins wanted to become Number One. They fought against each other, and the big, fearful organization that everyone in the martial arts circles feared just crumbled like that. Everyone went their own way and was chased by the offspring of the people they had killed. The survivors finally came here. In order to escape the enemy, they called themselves Seventy-Two Islands."
Cao Wenyan pressed his father for a final judgment. "Father, if Mu Gongzi is still alive, who do you think is better?"
Cao Fengge put his hands behind his back and began walking toward his ship. He sighed, the comparison clearly demanding deep thought. "My money is still on Mu Dishi."
Cao Wenyan, stunned by the confidence in Mu Dishi, asked, "How?"
Cao Fengge offered a cryptic piece of martial philosophy. "Lightning can be cut by leaf. Leaf can be pulled down by threads. Threads can be grabbed by fist, and fist can be pierced by strings." He stopped and looked back at Cao Wenyan. "Do you understand?"
Cao Wenyan nodded slowly, comprehending the subtle hierarchies of skill and weakness.
Meanwhile, Yuan Xiurong and Shi Rou were hiding in a small, concealed cave. Shi Rou stood up nervously. "Yuan Gu Niang, you stay here. I will go see what happened. I hope we are not the only survivors."
Yuan Xiurong looked at her. "You be careful."
When Shi Rou was far enough away from the hidden cave, a hand lightly touched her left shoulder. Shi Rou turned around, recognizing the person's face. She smiled with relief. "Oh, it's just you. You scared me." She began to turn back toward the cave entrance.
The person walking behind her took out a small knife and, with brutal efficiency, slit Shi Rou's throat.
Early in the morning, Rao Zhengsheng walked towards the marked cave, carrying the gravely wounded Xue Luxia on his back. "Shimu, hang in there. We are almost at the entrance of the cave. Xiurong will help you."
Xue Luxia coughed violently, blood gushing from her mouth and nose. She gasped, "Zhen'er, let me down. My chest is pressed against your back; I can't breathe."
Rao Zhengsheng quickly lowered Xue Luxia to the ground and hugged her from behind. He looked down at her wound; blood was still pouring out. He saw Xue Luxia's face begin to turn pale. A moment later, Dong Lanying and Yuan Xiurong rushed in from a distance.
As soon as Yuan Xiurong saw Rao Zhengsheng covered in blood, she rushed to him. "Rao Gege, are you hurt?"
Rao Zhengsheng raised his head, tears already blurring his vision. "Xiurong, help my Shimu. Quickly check her. No matter what you do, you must save her!"
Yuan Xiurong nodded, tears forming in her own eyes. "I will try my best."
Xue Luxia weakly reached out. "Zhen'er… Lan'er… find Hao'er. Take care of him. Horan… he is such a naïve person, thinking that the whole world is like life on Butterfly Island. Zhen'er." She coughed.
Rao Zhengsheng wept. "I'm here, stop talking. When you are better, we can sit down and have a long conversation."
Xue Luxia breathed heavily, her voice softening. "Zhen'er, let me talk. This may be the last time you hear me complain."
Rao Zhengsheng's lips trembled. "Shimu, I never get tired of your complaints."
Yuan Xiurong, seeing the end approaching, whispered, "Rao Gege, let her speak."
Xue Luxia coughed and chuckled faintly at the same time. "Do you know that Horan loves you?"
Rao Zhengsheng nodded, tears streaming down. "I also love him very much."
Xue Luxia's lips began to turn purple and tremble. "That's great. He has been learning to cook, clean, and sew all his life. He dreamed that one day, when you marry him, he can become your good housewife."
Tears streamed from Rao Zhengsheng's eyes. "I know."
Xue Luxia continued, her voice fading. "Horan loves you. Love blinded his eyes. He didn't realize that the real life of our lives is different from what children's promises hold. I know that you are the last offspring of the Rao family. In the future, you are going to marry Yuan Gu Niang, who will be able to carry offspring for you."
Rao Zhengsheng, devastated by his choices, could only apologize. "I'm sorry, Shimu."
Xue Luxia chuckled again. "Sorry for what? You didn't do anything wrong. I am not angry with you. Why should I be mad at my own son? It's just that I want to ask you and Yuan Guniang…"
Rao Zhengsheng promised, "Go ahead. Whatever you want, I will make it happen."
Xue Luxia's final request was selfless. "Zhen'er, even if you marry Yuan Guniang, please don't leave Horan." She grabbed Yuan Xiurong's hand. "Yuan Guniang, I'm begging you."
Yuan Xiurong promised, tears filling her own eyes. "Xue Furen, don't worry. I know that no matter what happens in the future, Horan will always be the number one person in Rao Gege's heart. I will not treat him ill. You can rest assured."
Xue Luxia laughed softly. "Thank you, Yuan Guniang." She reached out her hand to her disciple. "Lan'er..."
Dong Lanying immediately held Xue Luxia's hand. "Shimu, I am right here."
Xue Luxia coughed up more blood. "Be like a woman in the future. If you don't lower down your masculinity, you may not get married."
Dong Lanying sobbed. "Shimu, why did you block that sword for me?"
Xue Luxia smiled her last smile. "Silly girl, every mother will do the same thing as me. The six of you were raised by me since you were young. I love each of you like my own."
Dong Lanying cried loudly. "Shimu, I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
Xue Luxia shook her head. "You didn't do anything wrong, don't be sorry." She looked up at the sky. She started gasping violently and had great difficulty breathing. She held Rao Zhengsheng's hand tightly. She looked up at Rao Zhengsheng and smiled weakly. "Xiao Gege, do you know that you weren't handsome at all when you cry?" She chuckled twice, and then the light in her iris began to fade.
Rao Zhengsheng shook Xue Luxia frantically. "Shimu… Shimu… wake up… Shimu!" He screamed at Yuan Xiurong. "Help her! Help her!"
Yuan Xiurong could only confirm the terrible truth through her tears. "Rao Gege, she is dead. Do you understand? She is dead."
Rao Zhengsheng hugged Xue Luxia tightly and let out a loud, agonized scream. He remembered the first time he saw Xue Luxia in the Rao Manor; until her last breath, she had been a mother to him, always regarding him as her son. He remembered how she stayed up all night to reduce his fever when he first came to Butterfly Island, even while pregnant with Xue Horan, refusing to leave his side.
Rao Zhengsheng finally stood up, his body trembling with grief. "Lanying, help put Shimu on my back." Dong Lanying helped place Xue Luxia's body onto Rao Zhengsheng's back. Rao Zhengsheng's lips trembled, tears streaming down. "Shimu, let's go find Horan together."