Walking down the long steps of Jinfeng Sect, the descent instantly reminded Ma Jingguo of the days when he first arrived. Every step down brought back fragments of memories he had long suppressed. He was only fifteen years old then, still pure and innocent. At that time, he couldn't understand why Mu Dishi had suddenly changed his mind and kicked him out of their home. Was it because his well-hidden feelings had somehow shown, or did Mu Dishi simply dislike him? He tried to recall who had brought him back to Jinfeng Sect, but as he sifted through his memories, that specific detail was erased.
He wasn't surprised that parts of his memory were now foggy or completely missing. He admitted that what Mu Dishi had told him was true: although the Devil Fist was one of the strongest martial arts skills, the price that came with it was heavy. He confessed that as his Devil Fist skill progressed, he often forgot the small details of daily life. For instance, sometimes he forgot which hand he should hold his chopstick with, or occasionally, he forgot how to put on his own clothes.
Although there were many faces, he could no longer put a name to, and conversations he'd entirely forgotten, there was one face he could never erase, even if he tried: the face and name of Mu Dishi. For Mu Dishi, he remembered every single little detail, even down to how many moles were on his body.
As his boots hit the last step of the long stairwell leading down from Jinfeng Sect, Ma Jingguo paused, turning to Wen Huifang and Si Meifeng.
"Wen Qianbei and Leader Si, you two take our disciples back to the Sunset Sect," he commanded, his voice heavy with finality. "Chaomei and I will detour to Wu Village—just to see if my Xiao Shushu has returned." He forced a grim lightness into his tone. "After that, we'll crash Dandan and Taihua's wedding at Sword Village." He gave Si Meifeng a sharp, meaningful look. "Leader Si, remember our conversation."
Si Meifeng gave him a wide, fierce smile. "Don't worry, Chief. If they dare lay a hand on you, I'll ensure they die right where they stand."
Wen Huifang offered a quieter, more genuine concern. "Be careful, Chief."
Ma Jingguo and Yuan Chaomei watched the women disappear, then turned and began the journey back toward Wu Village. When they reached Mu Dishi's small, beloved house, a crushing sight greeted them: spider webs draped everywhere. The home was abandoned, silently collecting dust. Before stepping inside, Ma Jingguo's eyes fixed on the table, where his own faded, desperate handwriting remained.
Ma Jingguo sank onto the wooden bench, a hollow, bitter chuckle escaping him. "As expected, Xiao Shushu has gone home."
Yuan Chaomei pressed him gently. "Should we go?"
Ma Jingguo shook his head, his gaze distant. "Chaomei, he kicked me out of the house years ago. Even if I stood in front of the ten-thousand-pound stone door, he wouldn't open it for an apology."
"Chief, you're strong enough to break the door," Yuan Chaomei pointed out.
"It's pointless to open the door if he won't let me in," Ma Jingguo sighed, his voice thick with resignation. "Xiao Shushu is stubborn, and too proud to show his feelings."
"What's next, Chief?" Yuan Chaomei asked.
A bitter smile stretched Ma Jingguo's lips. "I've never been to a wedding. I even prepared a gift." His eyes flashed with a dangerous spark. "Let's go trash Dandan's wedding."
That night, alone in the simple, small bedroom, Ma Jingguo collapsed onto the bed. He grabbed the blanket, pulling it tightly into his arms, burying his face in the folds. He inhaled deeply, desperately trying to pull in the faint, lingering scent of Mu Dishi—the last connection he had to his lost love.
Ma Jingguo suddenly felt a crushing sadness; tears welled in his eyes. He buried his face deeper into the blanket and whispered, brokenly, "Xiao Shushu, if you could stay for just another minute, I could explain everything clearly. If I could only go back to that day, I wouldn't let those sad tears hang from your chin." He wept like a lost child, clinging to the blanket. "If time stole our youth, then you stole my heart. I want to tell you that this chest still longs for your warmth."
Standing just outside the door, Yuan Chaomei listened to Ma Jingguo's soft, desperate cry. It was the first time she had heard him weep like this in all the years she had been with him. Since the day Fu Yuanjun had broken her heart, she had stopped believing in true love, yet Gu Yingjie and Zhu Mingyang had slowly begun to change her mind.
She reflected on Ma Jingguo's behavior: although he occasionally kissed Li Howin, it was nothing more than a passing gesture. Ma Jingguo had always been surrounded by beautiful women and men, but he had never taken them to bed.
Yuan Chaomei sighed, her heart heavy with the observation. "The more you love someone, the more you hurt yourself."
In the dead of night, the Chief Leader of Seventy-two Islands disembarked from his single boat. He was met by his six subordinate leaders and walked into the large conference hall where hundreds of members waited, their faces solemn. The Chief Leader walked directly to the head seat and sat down.
The Chief Leader of Seventy-two Islands began with a declaration of war. "There is no doubt that Leader Li and his brothers were killed by the martial artists of Central Plains. We will march into Central Plains to seek justice for Leader Li and his two brothers."
Yao Qianfan, the Fourth Leader of Seventy-two Islands, injected a note of caution. "Even if we have a lot of people, we should not underestimate the martial artists of Central Plains. They have a long history in the martial arts world, and we should not ignore their fighting skills."
Yen Tung, the Sixth Leader, immediately took offense. "Leader Yao, why do you look down on us?"
Yao Qianfan sighed. "Hey…I didn't underestimate us, I just said that we may have the numbers, but they have the skills. Who here will volunteer to fight Kuo Jinsong?" He surveyed the room. "Or Monk Liang? Or the chiefs of the households and the chief of the six sectors?" His gaze swept over the silent faces. "Are any of you willing to volunteer?"
Everyone remained silent.
Hu Hong, the Third Leader, admitted the truth. "Leader Yao does have a point. We can't march into the Central Plains unprepared; we will be defeated. We need a plan."
The Chief Leader of Seventy-two Islands smiled, confidence returning to his posture. "I already have a plan."
Everyone in the conference hall looked at the Chief Leader.
Wu Jinghua asked, "Chief, what are your suggestions?"
The Chief Leader revealed his lethal strategy. "I'm going to use Chief Xin of the Sunset Sect to get rid of our toughest opponents for us." He looked at his six leaders, his eyes gleaming. "What does everyone think of Sword Village?"
Yao Qianfan pondered this. "As far as I know, Yong Gui of Sword Village has a great reputation in the martial arts world, and people in the lower and upper ranks respect him very much."
The Chief Leader pressed his point. "What do you think would happen if a close family member of the Yong got hurt or perhaps killed?"
Jiang Koshing remembered a historic event. "Back then, when Yong Hao was murdered, everyone showed up in Sword Village to fight against the murderer."
The Chief Leader smiled, a bitter and calculating expression. "This time is no exception. I believe it will be the wedding of Sword Village's beloved Gongzi. We haven't prepared a wedding gift for Yong Gongzi yet."
The day before the wedding, Sword Village was a dazzling spectacle of color. Red decorations were everywhere, transforming the quiet village into a scene of joyous celebration. From the great stone statues guarding the entrance to the smallest wall, every surface was adorned with festive bows, flowers, and handwritten words of congratulation. The guests had already begun pouring in, and the servants were running ragged, directing the arrivals to their accommodations. Despite the exhaustion that left everyone sweating profusely, the excitement was palpable. Yong Taihua and Yong Gui rushed constantly from one group to the next, personally greeting the endless stream of guests and accepting their lavish gifts.
In a clothing store not far from Sword Village, Chen Dandan, Yong Caixia, Kuo Wenqian, and Liu Hung waited patiently for the owner to repair Chen Dandan's wedding dress.
"Dandan, if you didn't run around with Da Ge, this matter would have been resolved a few days earlier," Yong Caixia teased.
Liu Hung smiled. "Yong Guniang, you should change the way you're addressing her."
Yong Caixia delighted in the new address. "Saozi…"
Chen Dandan blushed. "You still have a whole day to call my name."
Yong Caixia feigned deep consideration. "Should I start earlier?"
Kuo Wenqian joined the fun. "Yes, early practice is a good thing; Dandan will get used to this term earlier too." She looked at Chen Dandan and corrected herself with a smirk. "I mean Yong Furen." She chuckled lightly.
Chen Dandan pouted. "You guys... don't tease me. I'm already very nervous."
Liu Hung offered a sympathetic story. "You weren't as nervous as Wenqian on the day of our wedding. Wenqian was so nervous that she vomited four times before entering the ceremony hall." He laughed. "At that time, everyone thought she was pregnant."
Kuo Wenqian reminisced. "Thinking about it, I still want to laugh. I believe every newlywed couple has their own funny story." She then looked at the situation. "The wedding should have been held in Jinfeng Sect so you wouldn't need to wait here for the seamstress to fix your wedding gown."
Yong Caixia shrugged. "It can't be helped; there's only this store nearby."
Liu Hung added gently. "Father, respected Chief Yong, Dandan also agreed to hold the wedding here."
The shopkeeper returned, holding the gown. "Chen Guniang, would you like to try it before you leave to see if it fits to your liking?"
Chen Dandan, eager to leave, said, "If the sleeves are fixed, then it should be good enough."
The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Let me wrap it up for you." After a moment, the shopkeeper came back with a box and handed it to Chen Dandan.
Chen Dandan, Kuo Wenqian, Liu Hung, and Yong Caixia thanked the shopkeeper and began to walk toward Sword Village.
Yong Caixia noted the landmark. "Mu Village is ahead."
Kuo Wenqian screamed and pushed Yong Caixia away abruptly to avoid being cut by a flying dagger. Chen Dandan and Liu Hung immediately shielded themselves behind Kuo Wenqian and Yong Caixia.
Wu Jinghua, one of the invaders, smiled. "Not bad for being named the beauty of Central Plains."
Kuo Wenqian demanded, "Who are you?"
"Wu Jinghua," she replied simply.
Kuo Wenqian scoffed, recognizing her. "What are you doing here? Should you be enjoying sunbathing in the South Sea?"
Yen Tung walked out from behind Wu Jinghua. "She hates sunbathing because she is afraid that her skin will turn dark."
Kuo Wenqian turned around and said softly, "Lao Gong, leave now with Dandan."
Liu Hung, trusting his wife's judgment, grabbed Chen Dandan's hand. "You two be careful." He pulled Chen Dandan and ran toward Sword Village.
Seeing their targets escaping, Wu Jinghua sent two daggers directly at Liu Hung and Chen Dandan. Yong Caixia quickly sent her scabbard flying, knocking the two daggers away. Kuo Wenqian sprinted forward, engaging Yen Tung.
Yen Tung swung his three-section staff and blocked Kuo Wenqian's sword. Kuo Wenqian swung her sword fiercely at Yen Tung's head, but Yen Tung dropped low and swung his staff at her feet. Kuo Wenqian leaped up and swung her sword down, unleashing a powerful ray of energy. Yen Tung pushed his body away to avoid the attack, but then Kuo Wenqian's scabbard flew directly at his face. He blocked the scabbard with his forearm. The powerful blow made him stumble a few feet away.
Yen Tung looked at his bleeding forearm. "Not bad for being the daughter of Kuo Shifu."
Meanwhile, Yong Caixia struggled to protect herself against Wu Jinghua, who was clearly the more proficient fighter. Wu Jinghua switched her daggers from left to right, making it difficult for Yong Caixia to block. Yong Caixia swung her sword at Wu Jinghua's neck. Wu Jinghua flipped back and quickly released a dagger, which pierced Yong Caixia's right front shoulder. Wu Jinghua immediately flew forward and hit Yong Caixia's upper chest heavily. Yong Caixia flew forty yards away and vomited a mouthful of blood.
Kuo Wenqian flew back, swung her swords at Wu Jinghua, and started fighting both Wu Jinghua and Yen Tung. As Kuo Wenqian dodged Wu Jinghua's daggers, Yen Tung rushed forward, released his three-section rod, and hit Kuo Wenqian's left chest. Kuo Wenqian stumbled back, collapsing into the injured Yong Caixia.
Yong Caixia coughed. "Wenqian Jiejie."
Yen Tung smirked. "That is for the scratch on my forearm."
Kuo Wenqian wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, preparing to fight on.
Yen Tung took his three-section staff and rushed forward again. Immediately afterwards, he suddenly felt that his weapon was being yanked from his hand by some powerful energy force. Yen Tung and Wu Jinghua spun around. They saw two men standing not far behind them. The shorter, younger man took the three-section staff from the taller man's right hand.
Yen Tung looked at the two men and demanded, "Who the hell are you?"
The shorter man swung a section of the three-section staff in a circular motion with his right hand. He smiled at the taller man. "Lok Gege, I guess this is what they meant by failing to recognize Mount Tai when you are standing right in front of it." He chuckled, looking at the taller man. "Am I right?"