After walking down two streets and turning into a dead-end alley, Su Ran arrived at the meeting place with his cult members. A dozen men, dressed as martial artists and bearing black eagle emblems on their right arms, stood in a neat line. They were none other than his loyal followers.
At the front stood a man in his forties—Elder Hua. When he saw Su Ran approaching, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He quickly knelt, followed by the dozen men behind him, who bowed their heads and greeted in unison, "Master."
"Elder Hua," Su Ran said coldly, his eyelids lifting slightly. "What brings you here?"
Elder Hua, still kneeling, spoke with urgency. "Master, Chen Yuan has led the remnants of Cang Jinwu in a rebellion. They attacked our elders in an attempt to seize control of the Demonic Cult. Elder He is gravely injured, and Elder Bai and Hall Master Gao Shen of Qinglong Hall are managing the sect's affairs, but they are locked in a stalemate with Chen Yuan. I've come to request your immediate return to take command of the situation."
"Chen Yuan!" Su Ran's voice erupted in fury. "I spared your life, and this is how you repay me?" His eyes burned with rage as he turned to Elder Hua and the others. "This matter must not leave this room. Return to the sect at once. I will follow shortly. When I return, Chen Yuan and his traitors will pay with their lives."
The bloodthirsty glint in Su Ran's eyes sent a shiver through the kneeling men. They had witnessed their leader's cruelty firsthand, and the ferocity in his expression now erased any notion that his clean-shaven face made him less intimidating. If anything, his striking appearance only heightened the sense of danger—like a beautiful yet deadly poppy, alluring but poisonous.
The men kowtowed and left swiftly, leaving Su Ran seething with anger. His aura was so menacing that passersby on the street, though drawn to his striking looks, dared not approach. They glanced at him curiously but quickly looked away when met with his icy glare.
As evening fell, Ji Chun emerged from his room. His gaze immediately fell on the beautiful figure of Su Ran, who stood with an air of cold indifference. Su Ran glanced at him briefly before pushing open the door and descending the stairs.
Ji Chun watched as Su Ran carried a bag downstairs, his expression puzzled. Why was Su Ran leaving now, with the poison still unresolved? It was unlike him to abandon his goals so easily. Despite his curiosity, Ji Chun's rational side urged him to keep his distance. He lowered his head slightly, pretending not to notice Su Ran, and walked past him.
As the two men passed each other, the distance between them grew. Ji Chun felt a strange mix of emptiness and relief, as though a weight had been lifted. Yet, something lingered in his mind, unresolved.
Throughout the evening, Ji Chun found himself restless. He went up and down the stairs repeatedly, his eyes unconsciously drifting toward Su Ran's dark, empty room. Shaking off the odd thoughts, he clasped his hands together and murmured, "Amitabha," before retreating to his room.
Just as he was about to enter, the leader of the Liangyi Sect, Ye, approached and bowed. "Ji Chun Dashi, tomorrow we will hold a martial arts alliance meeting on Changchun Street, in front of Changlong Inn. We hope you can attend."
"Amitabha. I understand," Ji Chun replied calmly before returning to his room.
After washing up, Ji Chun sat cross-legged and began meditating, circulating his internal energy. To his surprise, he detected an unfamiliar force within him—subtle but distinct, neither conflicting with nor merging into his own energy. Frowning, he tried to reconcile the two forces but found them stubbornly incompatible. After an hour of futile effort, he gave up.
As he prepared for bed, his thoughts turned to the upcoming meeting. The martial artists were likely preparing for the search for the Di Mang. He had just sent a letter to his Shifu, but he had yet to receive a response. What was the sect planning?
Then, unbidden, Su Ran's face appeared in his mind—wild, arrogant, and fiercely ambitious. As the leader of the Demonic Cult, Su Ran would surely not give up the Di Mang without a fight. So why had he left so abruptly?
Unable to find answers, Ji Chun eventually drifted into a fitful sleep. His dreams were chaotic. One moment, Su Ran lay gravely injured, and Ji Chun moved to help him. The next, Su Ran stood amidst a sea of corpses, his cold, beautiful face streaked with blood, a crimson whip in hand. The scene filled Ji Chun with an inexplicable rage, and he found himself wanting to strike Su Ran down.
He woke suddenly, drenched in cold sweat, his breath ragged. The dream had felt too real. Rising from the bed, he wiped his face with a damp cloth, trying to calm his racing heart. Gradually, his breathing steadied, and his mind cleared.
The next morning, after breakfast, Xue Yao emerged from his room, yawning. "Ji Chun Dashi, are you attending the conference today?"
"Yes, I promised Ye Bang Zhu yesterday," Ji Chun replied politely.
"Perfect! My Shixiong asked me to go as well. Shall we walk together?" Xue Yao clapped his hands, his tone cheerful.
"Of course," Ji Chun agreed.
As they walked, Xue Yao tilted his head thoughtfully. "It's strange... I haven't seen that demon today."
Ji Chun glanced at him but said nothing, continuing on in silence. When they arrived at the open space in the middle of Changchun Street, a stage had already been set up. A crowd of martial artists had gathered, mostly from smaller, lesser-known sects. The major sects, such as the Liangyi Sect, the Qinghu Sect, and the Longjian Sect, were the main figures of the conference and would be the ones addressing the assembly.
Sure enough, Ye Bang Zhu stepped onto the stage, clearing his throat to draw attention. The murmurs below ceased as everyone turned their eyes to the stage, curiosity etched on their faces. The atmosphere grew still, as many had already guessed that the conference would address the recent series of massacres in the martial world.
"I am Ye Chaohua of the Liangyi Sect. It's an honor to address you all," Ye Chaohua began, bowing slightly to the crowd. "As you may know, there have been a number of horrific massacres in the martial world recently. The leaders of the Wudang, Emei, Qingkun, and Xuandu sects were killed one after another. Later, the family of Sect Leader Ouyang and the Tiangang Sect were wiped out, though Young Master Ouyang himself survived. Today, I stand before you to reveal the heinous conspiracy behind these tragedies."
The crowd erupted in murmurs and gasps. The rumors were true—so many lives had been lost! And now, the word "conspiracy" hung heavy in the air.
"Listen carefully," Ye Chaohua continued, his voice rising. "All of this was orchestrated by a mysterious man who has uncovered the secret to finding the Di Mang. His goal is to reach the most sinister and evil place in the west. If he succeeds in obtaining the Di Mang, he will sacrifice the blood of the righteous in the martial world to the heavens, granting him immortality and dominion over the world!"
The crowd buzzed with excitement and fear, voices rising in a chaotic clamor. Ye Chaohua took a deep breath, channeling his inner strength to amplify his voice. "Everyone, please remain calm!" His voice boomed, cutting through the noise and restoring order.
"For the sake of the martial world and the safety of all, our sects have decided to journey west to find the Di Mang, destroy it, and capture this villain alive. We aim to eliminate this scourge once and for all! This conference is to inform you of our plans and to invite those willing to take the risk to join us in this mission."
The crowd exchanged uneasy glances. The Di Mang was undoubtedly a powerful temptation, but many realized that venturing into such danger would likely lead to their demise. Why risk their lives when they could remain safe and secure?
Those confident in their martial skills, however, remained silent, their minds already calculating. They preferred to act independently rather than follow the larger groups. Perhaps they could achieve their goals by using the others as a means to an end.
Ji Chun observed the scene with cold detachment. He felt nothing but disgust and contempt for these so-called heroes clamoring to "eliminate evil." He knew that beneath their righteous slogans lay selfish motives. Who would remember their noble words when faced with the allure of the Di Mang?
After the conference, Ji Chun returned to the inn, where he found a letter from his Shifu. Opening it, he read that Shaolin had already learned of the Di Mang's emergence and the impending catastrophe in the martial world. After deliberation among the elders, it was decided that Ji Chun would represent Shaolin in the journey west, contributing to the mission while maintaining a low profile. The letter emphasized that Shaolin's role was to support, not lead.
Additionally, Ji Chun's master mentioned Yisheng Valley. Upon learning that a miracle doctor from the valley was present, Abbot Hui Kong instructed Ji Chun to deliver a hidden Yisheng Valley token along with a secret letter. The token was a small, exquisitely crafted piece of red jade.
Ji Chun carefully took out the secret letter and tucked it close to his body. Holding the token, he knocked on Mu Miefeng's door.
"Ji Chun Dashi, please come in," Mu Miefeng said, opening the door with a look of mild surprise. He gestured for Ji Chun to enter.
"Mu Gongzi, I apologize for the intrusion," Ji Chun said, getting straight to the point. "I've received a letter from my Shifu, which includes a secret message for the master of Yisheng Valley." He opened his palm, revealing the small red jade token. "This is a token of trust."
Mu Miefeng's eyes widened in surprise. He took the red jade and examined it carefully before bowing respectfully. "Ji Chun Dashi, this is my master's personal red jade. When do you plan to leave for the Yisheng Valley? I will accompany you."
Yisheng Valley was located in a secluded area, inaccessible to ordinary people. Relieved by Mu Miefeng's offer, Ji Chun nodded. "Thank you, Mu Gongzi. Shall we depart early tomorrow morning?"
"Agreed," Mu Miefeng said with a nod. The two then returned to their rooms to pack and prepare for the journey.
That evening, Ye Bang Zhu invited Ji Chun to a banquet. Remembering his master's instructions to remain discreet, Ji Chun attended. The room was lively, filled with drinking and conversation. After exchanging pleasantries, Ji Chun learned that the groups would set out the next day, dispersing according to their sects. The general direction was west, with each group choosing its own path. The goal was to locate the mysterious man, send a signal if found, and regroup to eliminate him.
After learning the signals and communication methods, Ji Chun excused himself and returned to his room. He planned to deliver the letter to the Yisheng Valley first before joining the journey to the west.