Ma Jingguo led his twenty followers into the secluded back mountain of Jinfeng Sect. The only structure there was an ancient pavilion perched on the cliff edge overlooking the valley. A few yards from the pavilion, nestled beside an old tree, was a simple, old grave. Its wooden headstone was covered with weeds, the engraving long faded by time.
Ma Jingguo scanned the small, quiet cliff area, remembering his youth. He used to sit on the cliff's edge, drinking wine and watching the sunset. He looked toward the cliff where old, forgotten wine jars still remained. This part of Jinfeng Sect was utterly secluded; no disciples ever came here to practice.
"You stay here and be careful," Ma Jingguo instructed his men, who nodded their assent. He then looked at Zan Huangming. "Shifu, this way." Ma Jingguo carried his master and gently set him down in front of Ji Chujiu's tomb.
Zan Huangming looked at the lonely grave. "Chujiu, I am here now." His voice was soft and heartbroken. "You have been lying here for sixty-five years. I was thinking about what they did to your body. I didn't expect Jinfeng Sector still took you back and buried you here."
Ma Jingguo explained. "According to what I heard, the late leader Kuo—Kuo Jing Song's father—was a good xiong-di of Ji qianbei. He demanded the Four Households return Ji qianbei's body to Jinfeng Sector, but the elders refused to let him be buried inside the sector cemetery. So the late leader Kuo buried Ji qianbei here. He used to visit and clean the tomb monthly, but since his death, Ji qianbei's tomb has been abandoned."
Zan Huangming sighed. "Since the day he decided to run away with me, he was abandoned by Jinfeng Sector." He chuckled sadly. "At that time, we decided to put everything aside and live our own way. We didn't have to worry about who was orthodox or unorthodox. We were just two young people living a simple life of three meals a day." Ma Jingguo watched as tears streamed down Zan Huangming's face.
"Although the time we spent together was very short, those memories are the best memories. Those memories are what accompanied me in my lonely hours when I was locked in Gu prison." He coughed heavily and immediately vomited a mouthful of dark blood.
Ma Jingguo knelt beside him. "Shifu!"
Zan Huangming wiped the blood from his mouth. "Jingguo, do you remember what I told you in the Gu Prison?"
Ma Jingguo nodded, his face a mask of grief.
Zan Huangming continued, his voice strained. "I have taken their poison for a long time. If I don't continue to take it, I will die in a few days." He grabbed Ma Jingguo by the left shoulder, fiercely turned him around, and slammed his palms against Ma Jingguo's back.
"Shifu, what are you doing?!" Ma Jingguo cried out.
"Don't talk, concentrate! Open your meridians and accept my inner energy!"
Ma Jingguo's lips trembled with fear and anguish. "Shifu... If you do this, you will die!"
"Just concentrate! Don't let my efforts go in vain!" Zan Huangming commanded, pouring his last reserves into his disciple.
Yuan Chaomei started to rush forward, but Wen Huifang stopped her. Yuan Chaomei pleaded. "Wen qianbei, if Right-guard Zan passes his internal energy to Chief Xin, he will die!"
Wen Huifang's face was grim with sorrow. "He knew that he would die. He is transferring all his internal energy to Chief Xin."
Si Meifeng instantly positioned herself as a guard. "Yuan meimei, this is the most critical moment! Don't let anyone approach them, otherwise Right-guard Zan's inner energy will backfire!"
Yuan Zixin approached the group guarding Ma Jingguo and Zan Huangming. "I want to see Right-guard Zan now," he demanded.
Tong Keung firmly blocked his path. "Master Yuan, now is not a good time."
Yuan Zixin pressed on, his voice laced with emotion. "Right-guard Zan is my savior and the last person to have talked to Chief Yuan… I…"
Wen Huifang looked skeptical. "You what?"
"I want to thank him for saving my father and me," Yuan Zixin insisted.
Si Meifeng scoffed, completely unconvinced. "Really? I thought you were going to ask Right-guard Zan to hand over the leader seat to you."
Yuan Zixin grew agitated. "Nonsense! Even if I don't want the leader seat, it should be returned to the Yuan!"
Wen Huifang smiled, confirming her suspicion. "Now the truth is finally revealed."
Yuan Zixin argued back. "The truth has always been there, it's just that no one is willing to accept it!"
Tong Keung's voice was a low warning. "Leader Yuan, if you dare to disturb them, don't tell anyone that I haven't warned you."
Just then, Zan Huangming transferred the last pulse of internal energy into Ma Jingguo's body. His hands withdrew, and he immediately began vomiting a torrent of blood.
Ma Jingguo turned, his face pale with horror.
Zan Huangming spoke weakly. "Jingguo, because your cultivation level is not strong, even if my inner qi is flowing in your body, you must find someone with stronger inner qi and release the eight channels of meridians in your body to get the full benefit of my internal energy."
Tears streamed down Ma Jingguo's face. "Shifu… Thank You."
"Dig up Chujiu's body," Zan Huangming commanded softly.
The fifteen freed prisoners worked feverishly, digging out Ji Chujiu's grave in less than an hour. Zan Huangming painfully climbed into the freshly dug earth and collapsed beside the skeleton. He saw the remains of the dress Ji Chujiu wore on the day he was killed. He lay down next to Ji Chujiu's skeletal remains.
Zan Huangming turned his head to the left, looking at Ji Chujiu's skull, and smiled one last, heartbreaking time. "I spent my days wandering and waiting for you, as we travel down the path to the unknown, I toast to you. Let us stop often on this unknown path, and plucking our strings to accompany lonely souls who travel without their soulmate." He turned to the left, pulling the skeleton into his arms, kissing the temple of the skull. He closed his eyes. "Chujiu, you always said that sleeping inside my arms, there is no need for a blanket. I'm here; you don't have to worry about feeling cold anymore." He smiled peacefully.
Ma Jingguo watched, transfixed. When the dust and pollen near Zan Huangming failed to move, he knew. Zan Huangming had died holding his beloved one. His shifu's actions reminded him tragically of Brother Black and his lover.
Wen Huifang rushed to the graveside. "Right-guard Zan!"
Ma Jingguo stopped her, his voice choked with grief. "Wen qianbei, he is gone." Ma Jingguo quickly untied his own black cloak and covered the bodies of Zan Huangming and Ji Chujiu. "It's really not too bad to be buried in the same grave as your loved one."
Yuan Zixin stepped forward again. "Bring Right-handed Guard back!"
Ma Jingguo's eyes flashed with fierce protectiveness. "He wants to stay here with Ji qianbei, and we must follow his last wish!"
Yuan Zixin argued, "Even if it is, he is a respected person in our sect. He does not deserve to be buried in a lonely grave on such a secluded hill like this!" He stepped toward the open grave.
Ma Jingguo grabbed Yuan Zixin's arm, his grip like iron. "My shifu is going to be buried here! We respect his last wish!"
Yuan Zixin yanked his arm free. "You may be the new chief, but you have no power in the sect!"
Ma Jingguo delivered his order, his voice ringing with absolute authority. "Cover the grave!"
The men hesitated. "Yes, Chief!"
Yuan Zixin shouted, "Who dares to cover the grave?!"
Ma Jingguo turned to Wen Huifang. "Wen qianbei, whoever doesn't listen to the chief's instructions, you will kill that person directly." He turned back to Yuan Zixin, his gaze cold and deadly. "Including him!"
Wen Huifang immediately relayed the order. "You men heard the Chief's order!"
Yuan Zixin gritted his teeth, sputtering, "You..."
Ma Jingguo leaned in, his words a venomous instruction. "Yuan Zixin, remember in your brain that I am the Chief and you are my subordinate. Know your place!"
In the distance, Kuo Jing Song, Kuo Ju, Kuo Wenqian, Kuo Changchang, and Chen Dandan approached, accompanied by the three elders of Jinfeng Sect.
Ma Jingguo stepped forward to address Kuo Changchang and Chen Dandan. "My shifu is buried with Ji qianbei. Since this is a secluded mountain where no one comes, I hope you don't disturb their graves."
Kuo Wenqian, still defiant, scoffed. "You think we will listen to what you say?"
Ma Jingguo looked directly at Kuo Ju. "Kuo furen, this reminded me of that year when we stood face to face like this."
Kuo Ju, knowing the painful history, simply said, "Stop."
Ma Jingguo finished his threat, his voice full of hate and power. "Alright. I won't say a word if you leave the graves of my shifu and Ji qianbei alone. But if Jinfeng Sect fails to protect their graves, I will bring all of Sunset Sect members here to Jinfeng and wipe your sector out of Central Plains! I will kill everything inside Jinfeng Sect!" He glared at Kuo Ju. "Your three hundred disciples are no match for my thousands of members if we were to face off." He turned to walk away.
Wen Huifang called out. "Leader Tong, please stay behind."
Tong Keung nodded. "Don't worry."
As Ma Jingguo, Yuan Chaomei, Si Meifeng, and Wen Huifang started to walk out of the secluded hill, Chen Dandan ran after him. She shouted, "Ma ge… Ma ge…"
Ma Jingguo stopped, turning back. "Dandan…"
Chen Dandan asked, her voice small. "Ma ge, where are you going?"
"I'm heading back to Sunset Sect," he replied.
"Ma ge, are you really going to kill all of us?" she asked worriedly.
Ma Jingguo gave her a rare, gentle smile. "Shimei, no…"
"But you said..."
Ma Jingguo chuckled. "It's just mockery. I won't kill everyone. If I didn't mock them, they would disturb the graves of shifu and Ji qianbei. I have to say it very seriously, otherwise, they won't believe it."
Chen Dandan smiled, relieved. "Ma ge, don't worry... When I am in Jinfeng, or if I come to visit Jinfeng, I will take care of the graves."
Ma Jingguo looked at her. "Oh, where are you going? Have you finally decided to live with your da shixiong?"
Chen Dandan blushed shyly. "It's not that…"
"What's wrong?"
"I am getting married next month," she announced.
Ma Jingguo laughed. "Who is the unlucky man?"
"Yong Taihua of Sword Village," she said, looking at him sincerely. "I know it is not convenient for Ma ge to attend my wedding, so I wanted to inform you in advance."
Ma Jingguo considered it. "I was thinking of just sending you a big gift, but I didn't expect those martial artists to offend me. Maybe I will come to your wedding."
Chen Dandan's smile widened. "You are welcome anytime, as long as you cause as little damage as possible."
Ma Jingguo threw his head back and laughed. "Alright… deal…" He walked away from her.
Chen Dandan shouted after him, her voice filled with care. "Ma ge, take care of yourself and don't drink too much!"
Ma Jingguo waved his hand in farewell and disappeared down the mountain path with Yuan Chaomei, Wen Huifang, and Si Meifeng.