Tingjian Manor is built halfway up the mountainside, at a natural stone platform that is neither too high nor too low. From the foot of the mountain, it seems half-submerged in swirling clouds and mist. The entire manor is shrouded in a heavy fog, yet it doesn’t exude an ethereal aura; instead, it conveys a sense of somber solidity.
The closer one gets, the heavier the somber feeling becomes.
Not far away, one can see the seven-story Xianjiang Treasure Pagoda of Dongfeng Buye Tower, which is strikingly vivid and enchanting, resembling a demonic tower. It stands alongside Tingjian Manor, both piercing the sky and forming a unique landscape.
Hua Yan, who had been traveling for several days, was still awestruck when she saw it.
She couldn’t help but turn to Qi Xiusi and say, “When will our sect ever be this impressive?”
Qi Xiusi replied coldly, “It’s all show and no substance.”
Alright then.
Their sect was quite poor. Every year, the elders responsible for management and maintenance had a hard time asking Xie Yingxian for money. After more than ten years, their sect still maintained a casual and relaxed demeanor. The elders and hall masters followed their own paths, and the Zhengyi Sect had no unified style.
Hua Yan thought about it and couldn’t help but take a few more glances.
Is this the place where Great Hero Lu grew up? It’s so different from hers.
However, Hua Yan knew why Tingjian Manor was named as such. Back then, the ancestor of the Lu family sought this place not to build a manor but to find a grave for his beloved sword. Over time, the descendants of the Lu family also buried their swords here, and gradually it became the place where the Lu family laid their swords to rest. Many heroes, upon hearing the name of the Lu family, also buried their swords in the Lu family’s sword grave after their deaths. Perhaps the famous swords had a spirit, for the Lu family produced many renowned swordsmen over generations. People came to seek apprenticeship and even to request swords.
Thus, after a hundred years, Tingjian Manor had grown to its current scale.
It had countless disciples and a large number of swordsmiths and forges. Its sword shops were spread all over the martial world. While other sects were still searching for good swords, the disciples of Tingjian Manor could pick and use any sword, each one worthy of being called a famous sword, just like the Chunhua Sword currently at Hua Yan’s waist.
Yet the more it was like this, the less Hua Yan understood.
Why, with so many famous swords, did Tingjian Manor have to give Lu Chengsha that particular sword?
The two of them slowly walked to the small town at the foot of Tingjian Manor, known as Jiancheng.
Though called a small town, due to its proximity to Tingjian Manor, it was bustling with people, various merchants, and shops. Together with the seven-story pagoda of Dongfeng Buye Tower, it was as lively as any major city.
The disciples of Tingjian Manor were not commonly seen, but nearly everyone carried a sword. There were many stalls selling swordsmanship manuals by the roadside, and even the small items sold by the surrounding vendors were mostly sword-related. For instance, there were sword-shaped bags, sword-shaped plates, sword-shaped wine pots, and even the street snacks were made into sword shapes. Hua Yan was amazed by the sight. The most exaggerated items were the portraits of the great heroes of Tingjian Manor.
Hanging most prominently was a portrait of the old manor lord, Lu Zhenxing. Despite being over seventy, he was still robust and vigorous. In the portrait, he had a stern expression and a long beard, looking almost like Zhong Kui, the ghost catcher.
“Miss, would you like a portrait? This is the latest image of Old Lord Lu, and it’s selling very well. Hang it at home to ward off evil spirits. Those demonic cultists will be scared witless at the sight of it,” a vendor touted.
Hua Yan remained composed.
Qi Xiusi, beside her, gave the vendor a cold glance. Due to his distinctive appearance, he was wearing a bamboo hat, but his eyes were sharp as lightning. The vendor immediately sensed danger and fell silent.
Hua Yan leaned over and asked, “Do you have portraits of anyone else?”
The vendor coughed and brought out another scroll from the side, handing it to her. “Here, take a look at this.”
Hua Yan took it, and upon unrolling it, she saw Lu Huaitian’s face.
“…”
She quickly closed the scroll, her expression unreadable. “Show me another one!”
The vendor hurriedly brought out two more, glancing nervously at Qi Xiusi, and said to Hua Yan, “Please, take a look…”
Hua Yan slowly unrolled the scroll in her hand. The person in the portrait had black clothes and black hair, holding a long sword. He appeared very young, but his expression was fierce, and his eyes were like those of a wild beast. He had the stance of someone ready to kill, which was intimidating even in the painting.
Hua Yan said, “I’ll take this one! Give me two more of the same!”
The vendor hesitated, “…Are you sure?”
This young lady seemed unusually enthusiastic. Realizing an opportunity, the vendor, using his business acumen, brought out a few more portraits. “Perhaps you would like to see these as well?”
Hua Yan took one casually and unrolled it to reveal Bai Yujiang’s face, adorned with a romantic, peach-blossom expression. Dressed in white fur and exuding an air of elegance, he held a feather fan lightly, with a peach blossom branch drawn beside him.
She disdainfully tossed the painting back. “No!”
The vendor was speechless. This pretty girl has quite an unusual taste, he thought.
Seeing Hua Yan clutching the painting like a treasure, Qi Xiusi held back his words and remained silent.
Entering Tingjian Manor required a gate token. Inside the mountain gate were layers of steps that seemed endless, disappearing into the clouds. The sight was magnificent, appearing to have ten thousand steps with only a few people coming and going.
Qi Xiusi glanced at the stairs, seemingly intending to go straight up.
Hua Yan pulled him back and said, “Wait.” She pointed to a side path along the mountain. “Let’s take that way.”
The veins on Qi Xiusi’s forehead began to throb. “How about you let someone else meet him? I’ll go up and bring him down.”
Hua Yan suggested, “How about I go up myself and you go back?”
Qi Xiusi replied bluntly, “So you want me to come back and collect your corpse?”
Hua Yan retorted, “…It won’t be that bad! Who says I’ll definitely die?”
Qi Xiusi thought for a moment and said, “First, get rid of the poison in your body.”
Hua Yan’s face fell. “That will take a long time…”
Qi Xiusi responded, “It’s better than dying.”
Alright, he had a point.
“Then I’ll stay here to detoxify, and you can go back,” Hua Yan calculated the days and realized that it was time for Xie Yingxian’s trial. “Go back and help the sect leader. Don’t worry about me!”
Qi Xiusi said, “My task is to deliver you safely to a secure place.”
Hua Yan replied, “What about the sect leader?”
Qi Xiusi’s expression was even more confident than Xie Yingxian’s himself. “The sect leader is resourceful; nothing will happen to him.”
He wasn’t like this before! Who knows what potion Xie Yingxian gave him to make Qi Xiusi, who once said, “If he’s stronger than me, I’ll kill him,” turn into such a devoted follower.
“You really don’t need to stay here with me! Detoxification will take at least ten days to half a month. You won’t have much to do here, and I’ll feel pressured!”
Qi Xiusi said, “I can practice.”
Hua Yan tried to persuade him, “Guardian Qi, think about our sect leader who is in a critical situation now! Although he’s very capable, he might still need help, especially from someone as strong as you! He must really need you now but just doesn’t say it. He’s probably eagerly waiting for your return! He originally asked you to escort me to a safe place, which should have taken just a day or two. He’s definitely hoping for your quick return now!”
Qi Xiusi was taken aback. “Really?”
Hua Yan patted her chest in assurance. “I know him that well!”
Qi Xiusi pondered for a moment and then said, “Alright, you take care.”
Hua Yan found an inn in Jiancheng. As soon as Qi Xiusi left, she immediately asked the innkeeper to buy her a set of light clothes. Looking at the rough black outfit in her hands, she resolutely put it on and sneaked back to the foot of Tingjian Manor.
If she went in through the main entrance, she would likely be stopped before even meeting Lu Chengsha.
Since Tingjian Manor is located halfway up the mountain, there are naturally other ways to reach it, and one of those is to climb the mountain.
If she had her internal energy, it would be much simpler, but right now, Hua Yan was eager to meet Lu Chengsha. She found a relatively easier path and began her ascent step by step. With her martial arts skills, it was somewhat easier for her than for ordinary people. However, the mountain path to Tingjian Manor was steep, and the muddy trail underfoot was unstable, causing frequent slips. The thick branches on either side of the path often scratched her face and body if she wasn’t careful.
After climbing for most of the day, Hua Yan felt she had only covered a small distance. Covered in dust, she wiped the sweat from her forehead and couldn’t help but stop to rest. Her foot slipped again, but thanks to her quick reflexes, she stepped forward a few paces and avoided falling.
As the sun began to set, it was a relief that the heat would soon dissipate, but traveling at night would only become more difficult.
Hua Yan sat by the roadside and slowly ate a bun she took from her pocket.
Little did she know, someone was watching her from a higher vantage point.
The sect leader’s prediction was accurate: no matter how persuasive she was, he couldn’t leave her unattended.
Qi Xiusi crossed his arms and pondered why Hua Yan was so determined to see Lu Chengsha. She had been pampered in the sect, never having suffered any hardships. This journey away from the sect was surely not easy, yet she seemed like she hadn’t had enough of the struggle.
Before Qi Xiusi left, Xie Yingxian had told him, “If she really doesn’t want to leave with you, just let her be. As long as she’s safe, that’s what matters.”
But now, she didn’t look like she was playing around at all. Dressed in coarse clothes, panting from exhaustion, sweating profusely, and with a dirty face, she still appeared surprisingly happy.
Forget it.
Hua Yan looked up and saw someone standing in front of her.
“Huh, why didn’t you leave?”
Qi Xiusi didn’t waste words. He grabbed Hua Yan’s wrist and checked her pulse, confirming she had no internal energy.
Before she could say anything, he transferred some of his internal energy to her.
Quick and efficient.
Hua Yan was momentarily stunned as he held her wrist. “What are you doing?”
Qi Xiusi replied, “Giving you some internal energy so you can climb up. I don’t want you getting eaten by wild beasts in the dark.”
Hua Yan sincerely said, “Thank you!”
Qi Xiusi merely grunted in response.
With internal energy, climbing was much easier. Hua Yan felt her body fill with strength, and she seemed to be as light as a swallow. Using her lightness skill, she leaped up the slope with ease. It had been a long time since she felt this way, and she felt like a mountain hare.
Qi Xiusi watched her bounce up the slope, his face almost breaking into a smile. He wanted to scold her, “Holy maiden, how unbecoming of you,” but he held back.
Just as night fell, they reached the mountainside.
From a distance, Hua Yan saw that the mountain gate was indeed guarded. Climbing the steps directly was out of the question.
They were now on the side of the manor, where they could see the tall, black walls, standing ominously. Inside, the buildings were brightly lit, with shadows of people moving about, but there was no sign of Lu Chengsha.
Qi Xiusi followed her, crouching low, and they hid on the roof of a woodshed at the edge.
Tingjian Manor was indeed tightly regulated. The disciples moved in orderly groups, and they didn’t see a single person alone during their time watching.
Hua Yan couldn’t help but ask, “How do you feel?”
Qi Xiusi replied coldly, “It’s nothing special.”
…But your eyes clearly show envy!
Qi Xiusi had always wanted to promote such an orderly style within their sect, but there were too many individualistic people, especially the sect leader himself, who didn’t follow the rules, making it even harder to manage.
“How long are you going to wait? We could just go down and grab a disciple to question,” Qi Xiusi suggested.
Hua Yan objected, “No, that would easily alert them.”
Qi Xiusi, impatient, said, “We could kill them, bury the body well, and they wouldn’t be discovered for a while.”
Hua Yan was alarmed, “Absolutely not!”
What had once seemed like a casual remark now filled her with fear.
She thought for a moment and said, “How about we check out the kitchen?”
Qi Xiusi couldn’t help but say, “…Are you really that gluttonous? The sect leader said it as a joke, but…”
Hua Yan was startled, “What did he say?”
Qi Xiusi repeated Xie Yingxian’s words, “He said you’ll soon eat yourself into a chubby girl.”
Hua Yan was exasperated, “…Don’t listen to his nonsense! I’m going to gather information!”
Qi Xiusi was skeptical, “Really?”
A moment later, Qi Xiusi watched as Hua Yan, now able to use lightness skills, snuck back with a plate of dried bamboo shoots and chicken wings.
Qi Xiusi: “…”
Hua Yan wiped her hands clean and started eating a chicken wing, “What’s the matter? Aren’t you hungry? We should study the food at Tingjian Manor.”
After finishing their meal, Hua Yan was indeed a bit puzzled. Though not as good as Dangshan Sect’s, the food at Tingjian Manor wasn’t bad either. So why did Lu Chengsha have no particular taste for food?
After finishing the plate of chicken wings with Qi Xiusi, Hua Yan wiped her hands and was about to explore further when she overheard two disciples with gray sword tassels arguing.
“I haven’t finished my sword practice for today, so you take it, junior brother.”
“Uh… I have something to do today as well. Uncle Master asked me to help transcribe the sword manual. You should go, senior brother.”
They bickered over who should carry the food box, making a very comical scene.
In the end, they settled it with a mock sword fight using their fingers as swords. The loser reluctantly took the food box and walked away.
Hua Yan was excited, “Let’s go, there’s a lone one!”
The two of them followed the disciple quietly for a long time, almost reaching the outskirts of the manor. Seeing that there was no one around, Hua Yan gracefully approached, lightly touching his shoulder, and used her bewitching voice technique: “Where is Lu Chengsha?”
The gray sword-tasseled disciple’s eyes immediately glazed over. “He’s in solitary confinement.”
Hua Yan’s heart tightened, and she asked, “Where is he being held?”
The disciple replied, “In the Meditation Cave.”
Hua Yan asked, “How do I get there?”
The disciple answered, “At the mountain top.”
Hua Yan blinked, unable to resist asking, “How long is his confinement?”
The disciple replied, “One year.”
Hua Yan was stunned. “A year?”
Fortunately, she came!
Feeling both relieved and lucky, Hua Yan casually opened the food box in the disciple’s hands. Inside were two steamed buns and a bowl of water. She couldn’t help but ask, “Who are you delivering food to?”
The disciple answered, “Lu Chengsha.”
Hua Yan immediately went back to the kitchen and stole four or five dishes, packed them into a food box, and even grabbed a jug of wine.
Qi Xiusi finally understood what was happening. He watched Hua Yan bustling about, even grabbing a jug of wine and heading straight for the cliff. He couldn’t help but ask, “What are you planning to do…?”
Hua Yan, as if just remembering his presence, said, “Oh, you don’t need to follow me up. You can go back!”
Qi Xiusi’s mouth twitched. “Are you planning to poison him?”
Otherwise, it couldn’t be that she was defecting, right?