Never Heard of It

Lately, Murong Bo had begun to question his entire existence. He had spent half his life toiling for the restoration of the kingdom, wearing himself out for decades, only to end up estranged from everyone around him—and to discover that the so-called grand undertaking of restoration was nothing more than a fraud. Following the woodcutter to the grave of his "parents," his heart churned with conflicted emotions as he burned paper offerings. He left some money behind for his "younger brother," then drifted away into the distance. He simply could not face the prospect that he might not be "Murong Bo." If he could not even be certain who he was, what had he lived his whole life for? Why, then, had he faked his death all those years ago and endured over twenty years of suffering? Had he known it would come to this, he would have been far better off living peacefully as a wealthy gentleman of leisure from the start. Now, the single greatest motive keeping him alive was to find out whether Murong Fu was truly his son. *** While Murong Bo was steeped in utter despair, the woodcutter had already returned to Juxian Manor to report back to Qin Zheng. Catching sight of "Murong Bo" approaching, Xue Muhua turned pale with terror. In his panic, he snatched up a fistful of poison, clutching it tight as he stammered, "Murong Bo, how dare you come back?!" Qin Zheng clamped down on his arm and explained, "Don't move! He's my man—he just happens to look a bit like Murong Bo!" Originally, Qin Zheng had worried that Murong Bo might not show up at the Heroes' Assembly, so he had specially brought in a man to impersonate him. Later, when Murong Bo actually arrived at Juxian Manor, Qin Zheng sent this man to dupe him instead. Now that the man had returned unharmed, the scheme had clearly succeeded. A smile broke across the fake Murong Bo's face. "Chief, it went just as you foresaw. Murong Bo is nearly out of his mind. He's gone off in search of Murong Fu now, desperate to find out whether Murong Fu is truly his son." Qin Zheng nodded and instructed, "Head to Changbai Mountain and lie low for now. If everything goes smoothly, I'll have your family sent over to reunite with you before the new year." He had found this fake Murong Bo three years earlier. At the time, Qin Zheng had just returned from the Scripture Library of the Shaolin Temple and noticed that this man bore a fifty- or sixty-percent resemblance to Murong Bo. He had the man keep his appearance groomed to match Murong Bo's from that time, and now that preparation had finally paid off. Taking his relocation pay, the fake Murong Bo shaved off his beard, altered his appearance, mounted a horse, and rode out beyond the pass. A'Zi's eyes were wide, and a prickle of dread ran through her scalp as she stared at Qin Zheng. "You really are sinister! You aren't keeping me around because you have some wicked design on me, are you?" Qin Zheng did not bother answering her. Turning to Xue Muhua, he asked, "Did you turn up any word on Duan Zhengchun?" Xue Muhua's expression was conflicted. "We did. Duan Yanqing chased Duan Zhengchun all the way to Piaomiao Peak in the Western Regions. Jiumozhi and Ding Chunqiu went after them too..." Qin Zheng froze for a fraction of a second, then realization struck, sending a shiver through him. "No good, we have to hurry over there! Piaomiao Peak is Tianshan Tonglao's domain, and all her disciples are women. We can't let the disciples of Lingjiu Palace get poisoned by Duan Zhengchun!" *** At the foot of Piaomiao Peak, Duan Zhengchun was nestled together with a disciple of Lingjiu Palace, whispering sweet nothings and pledging their eternal love, when suddenly a dense surge of true qi howled through the air, hurtling straight toward the pair. "Brother Chun, look out!" Without a thought for her own safety, the Lingjiu Palace disciple shoved Duan Zhengchun aside, then threw herself into a roll across the ground, kicking up a wave of snow that blocked the attacker's line of sight. Her name was Fu Minyi. She was the head of Lingjiu Palace's Yangtian Department, known by the moniker Needle Deity. A direct subordinate of Tianshan Tonglao, she was one of the core directors of the Nine Departments of the Nine Heavens. A few days earlier, while patrolling the mountain, she had run into Duan Zhengchun by chance and fallen for him at first sight. She had been on her way to report to Tianshan Tonglao, intending to leave Lingjiu Palace and follow Duan Zhengchun down the mountain, never imagining they would be ambushed before she could even speak of it. "Brother Chun, are you hurt?" "I'm fine. Seeing you safe and sound is all that matters, Minyi." Just then, Duan Yanqing dropped down from midair, leaning on his crutches, and sneered, "Truly worthy of your reputation as the Seed-Slinging Madman of the jianghu. Had I arrived a moment later, I suppose you would have slung your seed all over again!" Duan Zhengchun assumed an expression of noble self-sacrifice and said sternly, "Crown Prince Yanqing, all grievances and hatreds are internal affairs of our Duan clan of Dali! If you want a life, take mine—just spare Minyi!" "Brother Chun, run!" "No, you go first—" Duan Yanqing was thoroughly disgusted by the sight. He lifted a crutch and shot a blast of One Yang Finger toward Duan Zhengchun's forehead, but before it could hit, a burst of flame plummeted from the heavens, extinguishing the finger force. Amid swirling snowflakes, Jiumozhi descended from the sky. His face was a mask of solemn dignity as he pressed his palms together. "Heaven cherishes all living beings. Benefactor, why must you harbor such ferocious hostility and take life so lightly?" Duan Yanqing looked Jiumozhi up and down. Taking in his features and his attire as a foreign monk from the Western Regions, his gaze hardened. "Jiumozhi, State Preceptor of Tubo?" Jiumozhi pinched his fingers into an orchid posture in a ready stance and smiled. "Indeed, this humble monk!" Duan Yanqing's face darkened. "My well water has never crossed with your river water. Why do you make trouble for me?" Jiumozhi assumed an expression of sorrowful compassion. "This humble monk is merely guided by benevolence. I cannot bear to watch you take life, that is all." Gritting his teeth, Duan Yanqing thrust a shot of One Yang Finger straight at Jiumozhi. Jiumozhi leaped high, dodging the strike. While still airborne, he rubbed his palms together and unleashed a barrage of Flame Blades rushing fiercely at Duan Yanqing. Sensing the peerless might behind the strikes, Duan Yanqing hastily dodged. In his scramble to avoid them, a burst from the Flame Blade set his sleeve on fire. Knowing at once that he was outmatched, he drifted backward, barking a parting threat: "For every day you shield him, I will have one of your Tubo monks slaughtered! Let us see how long you can protect him!" With that, his figure vanished into the boundless white snow. Seeing him gone, Duan Zhengchun eased his stance and said, "My thanks to the master for coming to my aid." Jiumozhi suddenly shot out an index finger, sealing his acupoints like lightning, a faint smile on his face. "No need to thank me. I only intend to use you to draw out your son. We are each getting what we need." Cold sweat immediately broke out on Duan Zhengchun's brow, and he panicked. "You mean to harm Yu'er? Yu'er has been kind and gentle since childhood; he has never crossed anyone! How could he have offended you?" Jiumozhi stared blankly for a second, then ground his teeth. "I will settle my score with Duan Yu another day! For now, I am using you as a hostage to draw out your son Ding Chunqiu, so he will return the Northern Darkness Rebirth Art, the supreme treasure of our Great Wheel Temple!" Duan Zhengchun froze, utterly dumbfounded. Ding Chunqiu, the Old Freak of Xingxiu, is my son?! I've wronged countless women in my life... how is it that I can't recall who his mother was at all?! *** Meanwhile, Ding Chunqiu was storming up the snowy mountain, fuming with rage. Damn it all, who started the rumor that Duan Zhengchun is my father?! When I find them, I'll tear them to shreds! Ding Chunqiu had previously fled to the Central Plains after being hunted by Jiumozhi, only to hear rumors that Duan Zhengchun was his father. Enraged, he had immediately rushed over for vengeance, intent on slaughtering both the rumor's creator and Duan Zhengchun to vent his fury. After inquiring in every direction, he had finally caught word that Duan Zhengchun had fled to the foot of Piaomiao Peak. As he ascended the mountain searching for his quarry, a woman veiled in light gauze suddenly appeared ahead, blocking his path. "Fifteen years ago," she asked, "did you ever buy a baby girl near Xinyang?" Ding Chunqiu paused, staring at the woman before him in total confusion. "A'Zi, what are you doing? Get out of the way! Your master has serious business to attend to!" A'Zi's expression stiffened, and she turned helplessly toward Qin Zheng at the side. "Hero Qin, he isn't sticking to your script!" Qin Zheng gave a hearty laugh and stepped out from behind a pine tree with unhurried ease. Facing Ding Chunqiu, he declared, "I am Qin Zheng, Chief of the Longmen Escort Agency, the Great Hero of Guanzhong, and Emperor of Chu! Ding Chunqiu, hand over the Northern Darkness Rebirth Art at once, and I shall spare your life!" Hearing this, Ding Chunqiu stared at him, flabbergasted. What in the world is this Northern Darkness Rebirth Art, and why does everyone keep demanding it from me?! I've never even fucking heard of it!!