After dinner, Xue Yao suggested that Ouyang Yixun get some rest, as they would be heading to Changlong Inn in Jeju City the following day. Changlong Inn, the largest and most renowned inn in Jeju, it was a hub for many prominent sects, including the Liangyi Sect and the Qinghu Sect.
As Mu Miefeng was about to retire to his room, Su Ran stopped him with a grim tone. "Doctor Mu, a reminder—do not forget why you are here. You have three days to find a cure for the poison."
Mu Miefeng bowed respectfully and replied, "Understood. I will do my best." With a sigh, he bid Su Ran farewell and left.
Ji Chun, who had been standing nearby, remained cautious. He found Su Ran cunning and unpredictable, so he stayed on guard until Mu Miefeng was safely out of sight.
The next day, Ouyang Yixun, accompanied by a small group, left the villa and made their way to Changlong Inn in the heart of Jeju City. The inn, located in the city's most bustling district, was a lively place with a constant flow of guests. As the five entered, a waiter eagerly approached them. "What may I get for you, gentlemen?"
Mu Miefeng stepped forward and asked, "Is the leader of the Liangyi Sect staying here, along with the other sect leaders?"
The waiter smiled and nodded. "Indeed, sir. Ye Bang Zhu[1] and the other leaders are all here."
"Please inform them that Ouyang Yixun wishes to see them," Mu Miefeng said, discreetly slipping a silver ingot into the waiter's hand and whispering instructions.
The waiter hurried upstairs, and soon a young man dressed as a gangster approached the group. "Excuse me, which of you is Ouyang Gongzi?"
Ouyang Yixun, the smallest among the five, stood up and replied softly, "That would be me."
"Ye Bang Zhu has invited you," the young man said respectfully.
Ouyang Yixun's eyes flickered with unease as he glanced at his companions, hesitating. Sensing his apprehension, Xue Yao spoke up. "We'll accompany him."
The young man reassured them, "There's no need to worry. Besides Ye Bang Zhu, other sect leaders are also present. If you wish, you may all come."
Mu Miefeng, however, shook his head with a smile. "I won't be joining." He subtly pinched his eager Shidi, signaling his reluctance to get involved. Xue Yao also declined, sitting back down listlessly.
"I'll wait here," Ji Chun said, unwilling to interfere. As a representative of Shaolin, he couldn't make decisions without consulting his master. Besides, he believed Ouyang Yixun would be safe, given they were just outside the room.
Just as it seemed no one would accompany Ouyang Yixun, Su Ran stood up. Ji Chun quickly grabbed his arm, worried that Su Ran's presence might escalate tensions. If Su Ran's identity as the Demonic Cult leader were revealed, it could endanger everyone, including Ouyang Yixun.
"What are you doing, monk?!" Su Ran hissed, sitting back down.
"Remember your identity," Ji Chun whispered sternly.
Su Ran shot him a cold glare. "Mind your own business," he snapped before leaving.
Ouyang Yixun followed the young man upstairs, while Ji Chun watched Su Ran exit the inn with a mix of suspicion and concern. Where was he going? Ji Chun decided to follow.
Su Ran slipped into a hidden alley beside the inn and leaped onto the roof. Ji Chun caught up to him, frowning. "What are you doing? Ouyang Yixun made it clear we shouldn't eavesdrop. If your identity is exposed, it will endanger us all."
Su Ran rolled his eyes. "You're just worried about yourself, hypocrite. Stay out of my way."
Ji Chun, suppressing his irritation, compromised. "Fine, but don't alert anyone inside."
Su Ran scoffed but complied, carefully moving a few tiles to listen in on the conversation below.
Inside the room, Ouyang Yixun was speaking. "My father once argued with a man who mentioned that the Di Mang was hidden in the most sinister place in the west. However, he didn't specify its exact location. To enter, one must find certain items, which were originally kept by the eight major sects. Four of those sects have already been targeted. Strangely, the man didn't obtain what he sought, leading us to believe the sect leaders entrusted those items to my father for safekeeping ten years ago."
Ouyang Yixun's voice grew somber. "That man seeks the Di Mang to sacrifice the blood of the righteous and achieve immortality, unparalleled power, and dominance over the martial world."
Gasps filled the room as the gravity of the situation sank in. If the mysterious figure succeeded, everyone present would be doomed.
"Is the Di Mang truly that powerful?" Ye Bang Zhu demanded, grabbing Ouyang Yixun's wrist with a fierce expression.
Ouyang Yixun winced but answered earnestly, "I haven't seen it myself, but from what I've heard, its power is immense. That's why I've come to you, the leaders of the righteous sects, for help. Shaolin and Medical Valley have remained neutral in recent conflicts, so I can only rely on your wisdom and strength."
As Su Ran listened, his frown deepened. Why had Ouyang Yixun concealed these details earlier but revealed them so freely now? He turned to Ji Chun and whispered, "Come here. We need to talk."
Ji Chun approached Su Ran with a puzzled expression, only to see him pointing downward, signaling him to listen. Ji Chun frowned and attempted to leave, but Su Ran grabbed him and held him firmly in place, growling, "Listen!"
Reluctantly, Ji Chun stayed put. Though he disliked eavesdropping, he dared not cause a scene with Su Ran on the roof, fearing it would alert the people below. With a cold expression, he remained still, and the conversation from the room below naturally reached his ears.
"Ouyang Xian Zhi, please stand up," Bang Zhu Ye said, helping Ouyang Yixun to his feet. "Did the mysterious man succeed in obtaining the item from your father?"
"I'm afraid he did," Ouyang Yixun replied bitterly. "However, he was likely severely injured in the fight with my father, which may delay his search for the Di Mang."
"I see..." The head of the Dragon Sword Sect nodded thoughtfully before asking, "What do you propose we do?"
Ouyang Yixun stood tall, his thin frame radiating determination. "I hope all of you, as respected leaders, can unite to stop this conspiracy and prevent the upheaval of the martial world. We must journey west to hunt down this man and destroy the Di Mang before he can obtain it. Its existence is a threat—whether it brings blessing or curse, we cannot risk it falling into the wrong hands."
"Destroy the Di Mang?" The room erupted in murmurs of astonishment. "If such a thing were to fall into the hands of evil, it would undoubtedly bring disaster. It must be destroyed... it must be..." Yet, what each leader truly thought remained hidden behind their expressions.
"In that case, let's discuss the specifics. Ouyang Xian Zhi, you've endured much,"Ye Bang Zhu said, gently patting Ouyang Yixun's shoulder in consolation. Suddenly, he recalled the tragic fate of the Tiangang Sect and asked, "How could the Tiangang Sect have been wiped out? They weren't one of the eight major sects. Sect Leader Xu Zhen was a great hero... If he were here, our chances of finding the Di Mang would be far greater."
"Ye Bang Zhu, Xu Zhen was no hero!" Ouyang Yixun exclaimed, his voice trembling with anger. "After Xu Zhenchu took me in, he treated me well at first. But once he learned about the Di Mang, he began threatening me repeatedly. I truly knew nothing about it! I'm the youngest in my family, frail and weak. My father never shared such important matters with me. Yet Xu Zhen refused to believe me. He imprisoned me, subjected me to torture day and night, and even replaced me with an imposter in the mansion to deceive the Jianghu people associated with the Tiangang Sect. Xue Shenyi, who was treating me, was also barred from seeing me under the pretense that my injuries had healed. From then on, I was cut off from the outside world..."
Hearing this, Ji Chun was overcome with regret and anger, his grip tightening so hard he nearly crushed a roof tile into dust. He had been sent by his Shifu to assist Young Master Ouyang but had only seen him once before retreating to his room to focus on his scriptures and martial arts. If only he had visited Ouyang Yixun more often, perhaps things wouldn't have turned out this way.
"Fortunately, I was rescued by Xue Shenyi and Ji Chun Dashi, which is why I'm here today to reveal the truth," Ouyang Yixun continued.
"Xue Shenyi is from the Yisheng Valley, and Ji Chun Dashi is from Shaolin," remarked the head of the Qinghu Sect, Fan, narrowing his eyes. "Does this mean the Yisheng Valley and Shaolin are preparing to take action?" His tone was ambiguous, as if addressing Ouyang Yixun but also speaking to himself.
Ouyang Yixun seemed to hesitate before replying, "Xue Shenyi and Ji Chun Dashi happened to save me by chance. They haven't yet returned to report the situation to their respective sects."
"Very well, we understand," Ye Bang Zhu said with a nod. Though he smiled, his expression remained grave. "Ouyang Xian Zhi'er, please return to your room at Changlong Inn and rest. Don't worry about food or lodging—we'll take care of everything."
[1] Honorific- Gang Leader [criminal/mafia undertone]