The wind howled through the courtyard, whipping the robes of the converging martial artists. The two sides—rescuers and guards—locked eyes, the air thick with killing intent. Ma Jingguo gently set Zan Huangming down and let the retrieved silver leaves drop to the dusty ground. Without a word, he charged forward, meeting Gu Xunsu's immediate attack. Onlookers, prisoners and guards alike, stood transfixed, watching the lightning-fast duel.
Zan Huangming shouted from the side, his voice ringing with cunning advice. "Get closer, Jingguo! Her poor skills can't beat you!" He continued, his lips curling in a sneer. "Her only strength is her loudmouth!"
Taking the advice, Ma Jingguo eliminated the space between them, narrowing the distance to mere inches. The two martial artists fought in a desperate, deadly embrace, like two snakes entwined together, twisting their bodies, squeezing for an opening, their heads close to each other's necks.
Si Meifeng seized the moment, her voice cutting through the tension with taunting clarity. "Right-hand guard! She has such a bad temper. No wonder I heard that all the Gu women of her generation are married except for her. I guess no man would dare to propose to her!"
Wen Huifang played along smoothly. "Oh, meimei, this reminds me of a martial artist who ran away from home more than twenty years ago because his father forced him to ask a Gu lady for her hand. Could it be that she is that lady?"
Si Meifeng laughed, a high, mocking sound. "I undoubtedly believe it is her!"
Gu Tianjian interjected calmly, but his voice was tight. "Don't listen to them, Xunsu! They want to distract you!"
Hearing Wen Huifang and Si Meifeng's scornful giggles, Gu Xunsu's rage flared, blinding her. She broke the close-quarters fight, soaring over Ma Jingguo, and sent two silver leaves shrieking toward the two taunting women. Ma Jingguo spun around instantly, delivering a savage punch to Gu Xunsu's back mid-air, then darted forward to intercept the leaves.
Gu Xunsu slammed into the ground. As Ma Jingguo rushed to catch the leaves, Gu Tianjian reacted, sending two of his own silver leaves to intercept Ma Jingguo's. The four tiny blades clashed and deflected, and Gu Tianjian quickly helped his sister up.
"I told you to maintain better control of your temperament!" Gu Tianjian hissed at Gu Xunsu. He then turned to the Sunset Sect group, his demeanor regaining an icy composure. "Chief Xin, no matter how skillful you may be, the Gu Household's skills are no less than yours. If we continue to fight, there will be death on both sides." He tried a final appeal to reason. "I hope that Chief Xin can take away your people, but the prisoners will stay. These prisoners are all convicts of the Central Plains martial arts circle. If you take them away, you are declaring yourself the enemy of the martial arts world." He locked eyes with Ma Jingguo. "Does Chief Xin really want to walk that path?"
Ma Jingguo sneered, dismissing the threat. "I released these prisoners, and I plan to take them away." He countered Gu Tianjian's motive. "You must be afraid that once they join Sunset Sect, our sect will become stronger."
Gu Tianjian showed no fear, putting his hands calmly into his sleeves. "We are not afraid. Chief Xin, the lone tiger can't beat the wolves' pack. A gift from a bad man will never put a smile on anyone's face, no matter how big the gift is. If you keep going in the wrong direction, the consequences will be heavy. Throughout history, there is no exception."
Ma Jingguo's smiles vanished, his expression turning cold. "Don't preach to me if you haven't experienced it yourself. Please, Gu qianbei, tell me: who made these bad men?"
Gu Tianjian remained silent.
Ma Jingguo pressed him with chilling conviction. "Why do ordinary people suddenly become bad people?"
Gu Tianjian still offered no answer.
Ma Jingguo's smile returned, though it held no warmth. "I see you haven't answered that question. Maybe you don't know how to answer it." His voice lowered, charged with years of resentment. "Gu qianbei, let me tell you why an ordinary person becomes a bad man. Although you preach about good and evil, your so-called Orthodox Circle has never followed its own rules. Why do you think we are on opposite sides today? Seventy years ago, your so-called Orthodox Circles were afraid of the power of the Sunset Sect, so you decided to eliminate them. You created a powerful enemy, my shifu Zan Huangming—but no one learned from that mistake!"
The prisoners and the remaining Gu Household members stared at Ma Jingguo, momentarily stunned by his scathing indictment.
Ma Jingguo continued, his voice heavy with historical grievance. "After that, your so-called Orthodox Circles feared Mu Jiao Long and craved the Mu's treasures in the Mu Cave. So, everyone gathered and decided to kill seventy-one innocent people. Then you created Mu Dishi. When everyone decided to kill Mu Dishi, everyone created me..." He smiled, but it was a cold, fatal expression. "So, you see, every ordinary man who turns into a bad man and walks in the martial arts world is created by what you call an Orthodox Circle." He stared directly at Gu Tianjian. "I am not my shifu or Mu Dishi, so I will not tolerate your bullshit. If Gods block my way, I will kill the gods; if Buddhas block my way, I will kill the Buddhas!"
Gu Tianjian, unmoved, offered an old proverb. "Chief Xin, the heaven's net is as wide as the South Sea, and none can escape its mesh."
Ma Jingguo smirked at him, radiating lethal confidence. "I will build a ship large enough to sail through the South Sea. After all, the Orthodox martial artists are nothing more than some bad men who self-claim themselves good men."
Zan Huangming finally spoke, his voice weak but firm. "Stop talking nonsense, give me the bell." Ma Jingguo quickly handed him Mu Dishi's bell. "Everyone stands behind me!"
Gu Tianjian recognized the impending danger. "Everyone back away!"
No sooner had Gu Tianjian finished speaking than a powerful guzheng wave—channeled through the bell—slammed into the guards. Those closest to Zan Huangming were cut in half. The last ten guards near Gu Tianjian and Gu Xunsu suffered severe internal injuries. Zan Huangming returned the golden bell to Ma Jingguo and immediately spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Shifu…" Ma Jingguo cried out, supporting him.
Zan Huangming's final words were labored. "Jingguo, take me to see Chujiu. I want to be buried by his side. In life, we couldn't be with each other until we were gray-haired. I hope that after death, we can lie—"
Ma Jingguo understood, his eyes burning with grief. "Don't talk anymore, I understand." He gently lifted Zan Huangming and carried him on his back. Together, the two walked down the stairs. The three leaders and the newly freed prisoners followed Ma Jingguo, striding out of the ruined Gu prison.
Ma Jingguo carried his master, remembering the words Zan Huangming was too weak to finish: 'In life, we are unable to accompany each other until we grow white hair. In death, let us lie side by side until we turn into dirt.'
In Jinfeng Sect, outside the training grounds, the annual hero meeting had just concluded. Leaders from various sects, clans, and the Four Households were seated, mingling, and exchanging polite compliments in a jovial atmosphere.
Gu Tingfang stood up, commanding attention. "Everyone, I have something to announce." A hush fell over the training ground. "I want to announce to everyone that my daughter, Jingjing, and Chief Fu are engaged. Their wedding will take place in four months."
Yuan Zixin rose immediately. "Congratulations to you two, and congratulations to Chief Gu!" He looked around, seizing the moment. "I also have news to announce. In five months, my daughter, Xiurong, and Chief Rao will have a wedding. I hope everyone can attend their wedding in Rao Manor."
Li Kong Bai laughed. "This year is truly the year of marriage!"
A leader from a martial clan added, "Next month, it will be the wedding of Yong gongzi and Chen guniang."
Leaders of different factions stood, raising their wine cups. They announced in unison, "Congratulations to all the newlyweds this year!"
Wu Jianping smiled. "Next year we will be busy participating in the full moon celebration."
Wei Shuai joked back, "Wu-xiong, there's nothing wrong with that. What we have to consider is what gift to give to the newborn!"
The martial artists in the training ground erupted in sudden laughter.
Rao Zhengsheng smiled at the two jokers. "Thank you, Wu-xiong and Wei-xiong."
Just as everyone was basking in the celebratory mood, the main entrance burst open. Yuan Chaomei, Wen Huifang, and Si Meifeng walked in, followed by a figure clad entirely in black, wearing a large hat and a long black veil.
Whispers immediately broke the celebratory calm.
"It's Yuan Chaomei."
"Isn't she from Sunset Sect?"
"What is the Sunset Sector doing here?"
"Yes."
The martial artists chattered, their eyes wide with suspicion.
Yuan Chaomei ignored the scrutiny, looking directly at Fu Yuanjun. "Congratulations, Chief Fu. You have finally achieved your dream."
Gu Tingfang's genial expression hardened. "What business does Sunset Sector have with us?"
Yuan Chaomei replied smoothly, "We did not come in the name of Sunset Sect."
Gu Jingjing stepped forward, demanding, "Then why are you here?"
The man in black, Ma Jingguo, stepped forward, his voice cold and commanding, cutting through the silence. "We are here on behalf of the Mu Clan!"
Everyone instantly turned their attention to the figure in black, Ma Jingguo.
Gu Tingfang stepped forward, his face serious. "The Mu Clan no longer exists."
Ma Jingguo's voice was sharp with challenge. "Said whose? The Mu Clan exists in all sectors, clans, and those martial artists who participated in the campaign of 'Shooting Down The Dragon'. So, how can you say that the Mu are no longer exists?" His voice dropped to a lethal accusation. "You are all afraid of Mu Dishi, that's why you lured him back to the Mu Treasure Cave and killed him secretly, am I right?"
Enraged by the accusation, Gu Tingfang lunged at Ma Jingguo. Ma Jingguo forcefully pushed Yuan Chaomei and Wen Huifang away and prepared to strike. Gu Tingfang quickly twisted his body to avoid the immediate hit. Ma Jingguo reached into his robe, took out the familiar black metal gloves, and slowly put them on his hands.
This chilling ritual had been witnessed thousands of times: whenever Mu Dishi prepared to use the deadly guzheng string, he would put on his gloves to release devastating sound waves.
Gu Xiaowen and Gu Jingjing sprinted forward, releasing their volley of silver leaves at Ma Jingguo. Ma Jingguo's hands moved with blinding speed, catching the incoming leaves and instantly sending them back. The siblings were struck by their own weapons.
Gu Tingfang, seeing his children fall, sent a dense flurry of leaves at Ma Jingguo. Ma Jingguo hovered in the air and flew backward, but one of the leaves found its mark, knocking his long veil hat off his head.
Ma Jingguo's long white hair danced wildly in the wind, a shocking sight that made everyone gasp. The silence was broken by whispered gasps of disbelief.
"Ma ge..." gasped Chen Dandan.
"Ma Jingguo…" whispered the stunned Gu Xiaowen and Gu Jingjing.
"Ah Chen…" muttered Kuo Ju.
Ma Jingguo sneered, his eyes blazing with cold fury as he looked at the assembled martial world. "Did I not tell every one of you to better pray that I die? Otherwise, I will make you suffer so miserably to the point of wanting to die!"