(Seventy Years ago)
The vast conference hall hummed with vibrant anticipation as the night's festivities began, the air thick with the lively strains of celebratory music. Every influential figure in the region was present, their whispers and laughter adding to the electric atmosphere.
At the head of the hall, flanking the main Chief's seat, were six ornate spots reserved for the Six Tigers of the Sunset Sect. These "Tigers" were the influential leaders of the Sunset Sect's various branches, who typically converged at the main headquarters only quarterly. Tonight, however, was special: they had gathered to publicly congratulate their Chief on a recent, decisive victory in a duel against a renowned southern martial artist.
The seats were prominently displayed, a stark indicator of the Sect's power, yet a subtle tension lingered. Of the six seats reserved for these branch leaders, only five were currently filled.
Yuan Yu, the eldest brother, noticed his fifth brother's empty cup and walked over. "Ah Dai, why don't you drink?" he pressed.
Yuan Dai stood up, offering his defense. "Da ge, I have a cold, and I just took some medicine. Lao Tang told me not to drink wine."
Yuan Yu, questioned the doctor. "Lao Tang... why won't you let Ah Dai drink tonight?"
Lao Tang met his gaze with a slight, knowing smile. "Da ge, are you the yisheng or am I the yisheng?"
Yuan Yu conceded awkwardly. "You are."
"That settles it then," Lao Tang stated simply, his medical authority unquestioned.
The feast was interrupted when a frantic guard raced in and dropped to his knee before Yuan Yu. "Chief Yuan, right-hand guard Zan and Wen guniang successfully defended our branch from the six sectors! Wen guniang wrote that they will be back in two days!"
Yuan Yu threw his head back and roared with triumphant laughter. "I knew Huangming would definitely win!" In a solemn tribute, he poured his wine onto the floor. "Zan shidi, I know that you are in heaven and looking down on us. Did you see your son grow into one of the greatest warriors we had in our sect?"
Lao Tang, the medic who couldn't save his comrade, sighed with sorrow. "My medical skills are not good, so I couldn't save Er ge at that time."
Fan Gen quickly offered comfort. "Don't blame yourself."
Wen Biyu's voice was fierce with shared pride. "Si ge, we have cultivated Huangming to be a great martial artist. The more successful Huangming is, the less we feel ashamed when facing Er ge in the underworld."
Yang Chao spoke of their collective fatherhood. "Although Er ge died young and Huangming has no father, everyone in this house has taught Huangming everything we know. He is truly our son and our disciple."
Yuan Dai, seizing the emotional moment, smiled and proposed an honor. "Da ge, how about we all teach Huangming our personal fighting moves? What does everyone think?"
Yuan Yu's eyes shone with paternal pride. "I agree. How about the rest of you?"
Wen Biyu immediately declared, "I agree!"
With unanimous nods, a powerful consensus was reached: they would pour all their unique skills into Huangming, the son of their fallen sworn brother.
Yuan Yu beamed. "Alright, that's good." He then adopted a heavy, serious tone. "I have one more thing to announce."
Fan Ge leaned in eagerly. "Da ge, what would you like to announce?"
Yuan Yu looked around at his sworn brothers and sister, letting out a heavy sigh, the moment of levity gone. "I have known since the longest time in the history of the martial arts world that the leader seat will be passed to one of my children."
Wen Biyu nodded, her interest piqued. "That is correct, so what do Da Ge have in mind?"
Yuan Yu explained his decisive change of heart. "I want to change this idea." His voice gained authority. "I hope the best person will take over the leadership seat. If my children want my leadership seat, they must prove that they are worthy." He shook his head, a gesture of honest self-assessment. "Even if my children are good, I know that their martial arts skills and critical thinking are not as good as Huangming." He grabbed his wine cup, making his final decree. "I thought about it for a long time... I decided that if anything happens to me, or when I decide to wash my hands in the gold basin, Right-Guard Zan should be the next leader of the Sunset Sect." He scanned the faces of his five tigers and the gathered guests, challenging them. "Does any of you have any objections to this? Feel free to say what you think."
Yang Chao immediately affirmed his support. "Da Ge, I don't have any objection."
Fan Gen agreed, smiling. "There are few leaders who think like Da Ge, and I have no objection."
Yuan Yu looked satisfied. "Very well, if everyone agrees, let's settle it. When Right-Hand Guard Zan returns, I will officially announce my decision."
Lao Tang subtly shifted the celebratory focus. "I also think that Huangming and Wen Guniang are always together." He looked at Wen Biyu with a suggestive smile. "Meimei, what do you think of the two of them getting married?"
Yuan Dai enthusiastically chimed in, leaning in. "That's a great idea! Meimei, don't be too picky about your son-in-law."
Wen Biyu, however, stood firm on the principle of choice, her own past coloring her view. "Let them decide for themselves." She shook her head sternly. "I don't want them to be like me, forcibly married to someone I didn't like. I already let Yiayi marry the person she chose, so Huifang should have the same choice."
Yuan Yu burst into hearty laughter, delighted by her spirited response. "Meimei, I like this idea! We should be free to choose who we want to be with, because life is very long. Drink up and enjoy the night!"
Inside the main conference hall of the Sunset Sect, the music, laughter, and sounds of drinking rang out loudly, masking the danger outside.
Along the dark, intricate corridors outside, designed with military precision by Zan Chongkung to make the mountain-top sect impenetrable, a maid ran toward the back entrance. As she approached a cross corridor, she was joined by another maid and two male servants. These were not mere staff; they were spies.
Cao Zhihan asked urgently, "Are you guys ready?"
Rao Zimo confirmed their mission. "They are waiting for us to send out the signal."
Gu Kexin reported their critical failure. "Zan Huangming survived the trap."
Wang Yang, frustrated by the resilience of their target, complained, "Why is it so hard to kill Zan Huangming? He is not even a man with eight heads and sixteen arms."
Cao Zhihan warned them of the closing window. "He will return in two days' time."
Rao Zimo then asked about their primary targets. "How about the main leaders?"
Cao Zhihan smirked with confidence. "Don't worry about them, they all consumed age under the sun." She referred to the poison used. "At this time tomorrow, they will die."
Wang Yang was pleased with his work. "My new poison works like a charm. Send out the signal!"
Gu Kexin gave the final command. "Let's go."
The four young martial artists—Cao Zhihan, Rao Zimo, Gu Kexin, and Wang Yang—split up, heading toward the four main and back entrances. With ruthless efficiency, they killed the twenty guards standing watch at the gates.
They pulled out two flares from their robes, aimed them at the night sky, and pulled the ropes. The flares shot into the darkness and exploded, forming a distinct signal: a beautiful white flower blooming briefly in the black sky.
Hidden by the mountain road below, Jia Jin saw the signal. He stood up, his voice ringing with command. "Jinfeng disciples... let's go!"
The seven allied sects, each leading two hundred disciples, began their coordinated assault, rushing up Sunset Mountain from all directions toward the now-exposed headquarters of the Sunset Sect. The final conflict had begun.