New Hatred and Old Grudges

Just as dawn broke, Xu Han slung a backpack basket, a wooden bucket, and a bamboo basket over his shoulders and walked out of the small courtyard. Was there really any need to carry so much just to step out the door? To Old Xu, not one of these three items was superfluous. The backpack basket was for medicinal herbs, the bucket was for night soil, and the bamboo basket was for wild greens. Each had its distinct purpose. Walking along the mountain path, he spotted a sprig of shepherd's purse. This naturally went into the bamboo basket. Walking into the woods, he found a shiitake mushroom. This also went into the bamboo basket. Beside the mushroom stood a cocklebur plant. This was a medicinal herb, so it had to be collected in the backpack basket. Beside the cocklebur was a patch of tangled weeds, and crouching in the weeds was a man. His name was Gong Ziming, a disciple of the Sage, and he needed to be collected in the night soil bucket. Old Xu pinned Gong Ziming with a pitchfork. Wailing in agony, Gong Ziming was hauled to his side. "Friend, you've kept watch over me on this mountain for so many days, and now you're leaving without saying goodbye. Aren't you looking down on me just a bit?" Gong Ziming waved his hands frantically. "This junior was merely passing through and disturbed Senior's peace. Please forgive me, Senior!" Xu Han sighed. "You're not an honest man." The moment the words left his mouth, the bucket slung across Xu Han's back suddenly swelled and widened until it resembled a large wooden washtub. Old Xu gave the gleaming, golden sludge a stir with a spade and was just about to toss Gong Ziming inside when Gong Ziming shrieked, "Old Xu, spare my life! I was sent from the Peak of the Sages by order of my master to visit you, Old Xu!" It was a tactful way to put it—calling surveillance a visit—yet in a sense, it was technically the truth. Back when the Sage's disciple Zhong Huai'en was afflicted by the Lüshui Beggar's ailment, Old Xu had placed Zhong Huai'en into the tub to soak in night soil for three days. Zhong Huai'en couldn't pull through and died in the bucket. Afterward, Old Xu dispatched two eggplant men to carry Zhong Huai'en's corpse back. From start to finish, Old Xu felt he had not breached etiquette in the slightest. He hadn't expected the Sage to throw a tantrum and insist on sending Gong Ziming to spy on him. And so Gong Ziming had stayed on watch right up until today. Yet Old Xu had known about him from his very first day. Old Xu asked, "What's the rush to leave?" Gong Ziming replied, "Watching over you here was entirely beyond my station. That you didn't stoop to my level all these days was your way of leaving me a way out. No matter how dim-witted I am, I still understand when to advance and when to retreat, and the difference between life and death. Before you truly lose your temper, I intended to flee back to the Peak of the Sages at once. Perhaps then I might keep this life of mine." Old Xu asked, "If you return to the Peak of the Sages, won't your master blame you?" Gong Ziming sighed. "No matter how Master punishes me, I must preserve my life first." The excuse was airtight, without a single flaw. Old Xu voiced his admiration. "To weave a lie so thoroughly—I truly admire that wit of yours!" With that, Old Xu hooked Gong Ziming with the fork and moved to dump him into the bucket once more. Gong Ziming screamed, "Old Xu, spare me! I'll tell the truth! The day before yesterday, Master sent an order commanding me to return to the Peak of the Sages immediately to discuss an urgent matter with me!" Old Xu asked, "What urgent matter?" Gong Ziming sighed. "Old Xu, you ought to know what kind of temper my master has. He only orders us to do things; he would never explain the details." "You didn't inquire with your fellow disciples?" "This was an order handed down by Master himself. How would I dare pry? Even if I asked, my fellow disciples wouldn't tell me." Old Xu gave a faint smile. "The way you put it, do you distrust your brothers, or do you distrust me?" "Old Xu, I'm telling the truth! It's really the truth..." *Splash!* Gong Ziming was tossed into the bucket. He bobbed in the golden broth for a moment and tried to leap out, only to be shoved back down by Old Xu's pitchfork. "Old Xu, spare my life! I'll tell the truth! *Gurgle, gurgle...*" Old Xu pulled back the fork. Gong Ziming coughed and wheezed for a long while before rasping, "Master moved Daogui Ridge right next to the Peak of the Sages, claiming he wanted to build an army with them. But something went wrong with the Daolao ghosts. Not only did they refuse to submit, they slaughtered many of my fellow disciples! Then they charged down Daogui Ridge and stormed the Peak of the Sages! Now Master's situation is critical. The Array of Overlapping Peaks has been broken, and he has recalled all disciples from outside back to the peak to put up a full-scale defense against the Daolao ghosts!" Old Xu shook his head and sighed. "He's been out of power for so many years, yet he still has no sense of proportion. To dare move a place like Daogui Ridge right to his front doorstep... Though it truly is bizarre. Daolao ghosts never venture down Daogui Ridge easily. Storming the Peak of the Sages means their nature has truly changed." Gong Ziming said, "Old Xu, my past offense against you was done under orders; I had no choice. Now our sect hangs by a thread. This junior only wants to return to the Peak of the Sages, risk this life of mine, and repay my master's kindness for teaching me. Old Xu, this junior has only this single wish. Please, be magnanimous and grant it!" Xu Han sighed. "What kind of man do you take me for? How could the grudges of our generation be dragged onto you? Your master and I do have some old scores to settle, but now that he's facing such catastrophe, I cannot simply sit by and watch. Wait here a moment; I will be right back." Leaving Gong Ziming in the bucket, Old Xu turned and departed. Seeing Old Xu walk away, Gong Ziming tried to leap out of the bucket. He struggled several times, but failed. Within the night soil, an invisible force seemed to bind Gong Ziming tightly. The more he struggled, the tighter the hold became. Old Xu went to the fields, planted eighteen eggplant men, penned eighteen letters, and stuffed them into the eggplant men's bellies. The contents of the letters were identical. They first described the situation on the Peak of the Sages, and then offered a recommendation to the recipient. Old Xu's recommendation was simple: *The Sage was once the ruler of an entire nation. Now that he has fallen on hard times, none of you should stand idly by. Repay vengeance with vengeance, settle grudges with grudges. Today is the perfect opportunity to beat a drowning dog.* With the eggplant men dispatched and the letters sent, Old Xu felt a twinge of regret. He dearly wanted to visit the Peak of the Sages in person to see what that Sage looked like right now, and perhaps give him a final shove on his way. Yet he could not go. He had promised the Peddler that he would guard Yaowanggou. Within the agreed timeframe, he would not leave Yaowanggou. Still, curiosity lingered in his heart. Just what did the Peak of the Sages look like right now? *** An old farmer, accompanied by his grandson, pushed a cart laden with grain up toward the Peak of the Sages. The grain was heavy, and the mountain road was treacherous; grandfather and grandson could barely push it forward any longer. An old man wearing a dome-topped skullcap and round-framed glasses, leaning on a cane, asked from the roadside, "Brother, where are you off to?" The farmer smiled. "Delivering grain to the Sage." "You're still delivering grain to the Sage at a time like this?" The farmer was quite surprised. "What's wrong with a time like this?" The old man said, "Haven't you heard that trouble broke out on the Peak of the Sages?" The farmer waved a dismissive hand, not minding in the least. "I heard. Just a few monsters making a ruckus on the mountain. Those monsters are courting death. The Sage is benevolent and values life, letting them live a couple more days. If they know what's good for them, they'll clear off quickly. If they fail to appreciate his kindness and the Sage truly loses his temper, he'll blast them into ash before they can even blink." "Just by blinking?" The old man seemed skeptical. "Does the Sage really have that much power?" "You dare say such things right here at the Peak of the Sages?" The farmer was frightened out of his wits. "If your heart isn't sincere, I advise you not to see the Sage! Do you see that mountain over there? That mountain wasn't originally here! The Sage simply moved his mind, and in the blink of an eye, he hauled it over! If he can move an entire mountain, what do a few monsters amount to? Some folks in the village are scared to go up the mountain now, which only proves their hearts aren't sincere. People like that will never become disciples of the Sage!" Having said his piece, the old farmer resumed pushing the cart up the mountain with his grandson. The old man in the dome-topped skullcap gave one final piece of advice: "In everything I do, I have always put virtue first. Now I'll offer you an honest word from the bottom of my heart. Brother, if you want to court death, go by yourself. Don't drag the child along." The old farmer stopped the cart. A sudden pang of guilt struck him. What if they really ran into those monsters? An old bag of bones like himself could be tossed away without much loss, but what if he got the child killed? Yet they had already made it this far, and hadn't encountered a single monster along the way. When they set out, the whole point was to seize this very moment to demonstrate sincerity to the Sage. How could a few words from that old man make him shrink back? The more the old farmer thought about it, the more unsettled he felt. He wanted to say a few more words to the old man, but when he turned around, the old man in the dome-topped skullcap had vanished into thin air. *Heavens! Was that old man a monster too?!* A wave of terror washed over the old farmer. He grabbed his grandson at once, turned the cart around, and hurried back down the mountain. Before he had gone far, he saw a beggar and a young man walking up the slope. The old farmer dared not ask questions, hurrying past them with his cart to make his escape. The Lüshui Beggar glanced back over his shoulder. "Why is that man leaving in such a hurry? We should have stopped him to ask." He Jiaqing shook his head. "No need. He probably saw a Daolao ghost. I spotted one in the woods just a moment ago." The Lüshui Beggar chuckled. "Wicked indeed. Daolao ghosts actually broke out of Daogui Ridge. I'd love to know whose handiwork this is." He Jiaqing frowned slightly. "The methods at work here truly defy explanation. Someone laid a massive trap for the Sage, hitting him link by link until he was caught completely off guard. In a moment, don't rush to strike. Let me sweep through his estate first. Whatever we find, we split fifty-fifty." The Lüshui Beggar shook his head. "Keep it for yourself. I don't care for that junk; I only want his old life." He Jiaqing smiled. "Wait until you see the goods before talking. Fine imperial treasures—who wouldn't be tempted?" The Lüshui Beggar weighed the alms bowl in his hand. "Before doing anything, weigh your own worth. The Eight Dou Scholar is here, the Hundred Flowers Painter is here, the Smiling Ghost King is here, the Half-Mouth of Yellow Broth is here, and the Three Bowls of Pipe Smoke is here too. Every single one of them has a cultivation well beyond above the clouds. And there are plenty of other ruthless figures above the clouds already on their way. If you sweep up all the good things, leaving Jianrengang alive might prove difficult." He Jiaqing was taken aback. "Why are you so concerned about me today?" The Lüshui Beggar sneered. "Whether you live or die is none of my concern, but this business cannot splash onto me. I only want that old bastard's life; I have no desire to offend those people." *** The old farmer pushed his cart down the Peak of the Sages and hurried toward his village. As he neared the village entrance, he saw a man in a black suit and a Westerner walking toward him. Li Banfeng remained silent, while Critick stepped forward to greet him. "Old gentleman, where were you planning to deliver this cart of grain?" Seeing a foreigner, the old farmer felt intimidated. He stammered for a moment before answering, "Th-this was to be delivered to the Sage." Critick asked again, "Isn't the Peak of the Sages over that way? Why are you heading in the opposite direction?" The old farmer smacked his dry lips, frantically pondering how to reply. The customs of Jianrengang were somewhat different from other parts of Puluo Province. Westerners rarely appeared here, and most locals had never seen one. Those who had were exceedingly deferential toward them. Now that a foreigner had asked him a question, the old farmer didn't dare refuse to answer. Yet if he admitted he had grown scared and didn't dare go up the mountain, the Sage would surely hear of it, and any hope of his grandson being accepted as a student would vanish into thin air. This foreigner across from him clearly had no ordinary background; words had to be measured carefully. The old farmer replied, "The Sage said the quality of the grain was subpar, so I'm heading back to exchange it for another cartload." With that, the old farmer pushed his cart and scurried away. Critick sighed. "When I first arrived in Puluo Province, I didn't understand why this place was called Jianrengang—the Ridge of Wretches. I couldn't fathom why a place would be given such a name. Now, I understand." He looked toward the Peak of the Sages, his face full of yearning. "We manufactured a catastrophe here with our own hands. I cannot wait to witness what this catastrophe looks like." Li Banfeng sighed. "I feel that my contribution to this matter was utterly negligible." Critick said, "There is no need to be so modest. Regarding the mutation of the Daolao ghosts, I provided the technology, and you created the opportunity. Our contributions are entirely equal." Li Banfeng had nothing to say to that. Critick let out a soft sigh. "Who knows how many people live here. In my recollection, there should be tens of thousands. After this great tribulation passes, I wonder how many of them will survive. The disaster is already unfolding on the Peak of the Sages. My friend, are you prepared? Are you ready to join me in witnessing this grand achievement?" Li Banfeng shook his head slightly. Along the way, shivers had run down his spine time and again. Certain high-level perils could not be perceived directly. But the coachman had once told him never to overlook the details; many details were the key to staying alive. Critick said, "You are a journey cultivator. I know you possess the ability to pursue good fortune and avoid calamity. I can understand why you don't wish to go up the mountain, but personally, I would never miss such a momentous occasion." Critick walked toward the Peak of the Sages alone. Li Banfeng retreated to a secluded spot and slipped into the companion dwelling. When he reemerged, more than a dozen cabbage people trailed behind him. The cabbage people set off in different directions, while Li Banfeng himself headed into the nearest village. At the village entrance, he ran into a young man. Stepping forward, Li Banfeng asked flatly, "Do you want to die?" The young man took fright. Keeping his head down, he stumbled backward repeatedly, not daring to answer or even look Li Banfeng in the eye. "If you don't want to die, bring your entire family out and wait at the village entrance. I will lead you away." Without waiting for the man to react, Li Banfeng pulled down the brim of his hat and continued into the village. Stopping before a woman carrying a child, he said, "If you don't want to die, bring your family to the village entrance and wait for me." Jianrengang was filled with wretches, and they were thoroughly repulsive. Yet they deserved at least a chance to live. One man, who had sought apprenticeship under the Sage for eighteen consecutive years without ever being accepted, still harbored an unwavering devotion toward him. Standing in the middle of the village road, he pointed an accusatory finger at Li Banfeng. "Fellow villagers, do not listen to this outsider's bewitching slander! The shifts of heaven and earth begin with the Sage's will! With a single thought, the Sage can annihilate all fiends! We reside here under the Sage's protection—how could we be swayed by such a petty rogue? Fiend, I saw through your venomous designs long ago! I advise you to pull back before the precipice and cease your delusions! Once the Sage unleashes his divine might, you will be crushed to pow—" *Snap!* Li Banfeng snapped the man's neck. "Those who wish to die may accompany him on the road," Li Banfeng said, pointing at the corpse. "Those who do not, wait for me at the village entrance." *** On the Peak of the Sages, corpses littered the ground amid smoking ruins. Aside from the Sage's personal estate, almost every other building had been razed. The Sage had recalled hundreds of disciples from across Puluo Province, but only around thirty remained by his side, mounting a desperate defense within the residence. Outside the courtyard walls, things had quieted down slightly; the Daolao ghosts besieging the residence had dispersed. They had retreated to Daogui Ridge to replenish their yin energy, but another wave of Daolao ghosts would soon arrive. Never underestimate the intellect of Daolao ghosts—they understood the tactic of fighting in shifts. In close combat, they made full use of their tough, resilient physiques; at range, they capitalized on their lethal firing reach. Particularly in group combat, they excelled at launching coordinated assaults within toxic mists, executing maneuvers with seamless familiarity. Originally, the Sage had harbored a sliver of hope, thinking he could uncover a method to control the Daolao ghosts through these days of combat. In the end, he tested thirteen pathways that possessed control techniques, yet not a single one produced any substantial influence on the behavior of the Daolao ghosts. Both sides had suffered heavy casualties, but the sheer number of Daolao ghosts vastly exceeded the Sage's estimates. Nearly all of the Sage's disciples were dead, while less than ten percent of the Daolao ghosts appeared to have fallen. With things having escalated to this point, the Sage's estate was clearly indefensible. Yet it was already too late to flee. The disciples had already gathered intelligence: Pan Dehai, the Lüshui Beggar, the Eight Dou Scholar, the Half-Mouth of Yellow Broth, the Hundred Flowers Painter, the Smiling Ghost King, and the Three Bowls of Pipe Smoke had all ascended the Peak of the Sages. The Sage knew precisely what caliber of people they were. He let out a long sigh. "You have followed me for many years, and now you will die alongside me on the battlefield. Do any of you harbor regrets in your hearts?" The crowd chorused, "Your ministers have no regrets!" Tears welled in the Sage's eyes as he lamented, "You are all loyal and righteous. My heart is deeply comforted!" The scene was solemn and stirring. Then, a disciple hurried forward to report, "Pan Dehai, the local spirit of Haichiling, has arrived before the estate gates." Hearing this, the Sage gritted his teeth and barked, "To partake of the ruler's stipend is to serve the ruler's cause! Pan Dehai, you were once a minister of the court, yet now you commit treason and seek to murder your sovereign! Do you know your crime? Do you know shame? You style yourself a man of virtue, but do you even know how to write the word 'virtue'?!" Standing outside the gates, Pan Dehai chuckled. "Twenty years of bitter study by the cold window, and I passed the imperial exams at age twenty-eight. I served as an official for ten years, diligent and conscientious. You know in your heart how much I did for you. When I was thirty-eight, you slaughtered the donkey once the grinding was done, banishing me under the pretext that 'virtue must come first in employing men.' At forty-eight, when the realm trembled, you reinstated me once more. I stabilized the country for you for two years, only for you to banish me again with the claim that I had 'talent but lacked virtue.' "Back then, I could never fathom it. I was loyal and devoted to you with a clear conscience—why was I so devoid of virtue in your eyes? Only after I later stepped into virtue cultivation did I finally understand the truth of it. Virtue does not reside in your heart; it resides on your face! The thicker your skin, the deeper your virtue!" The Sage raged, "Shameless madman! How dare you commit such insolence!" Pan Dehai laughed. "Virtueless tyrant, with death at your doorstep, what's the point of acting tough?" "Pan, my darling, well scolded!" A painted scroll materialized in midair, and a breathtakingly glamorous woman stepped out from within the canvas. She wore an old-fashioned brown robe with a high collar, diagonal lapel, wide sleeves, and circular floral patterns. The style was aged, yet it did not diminish her world-toppling beauty in the slightest. Upon seeing the woman, Pan Dehai hurried to bow. "Elder Senior Mu, junior pays his respects." The woman frowned. "Calling me Senior would have been enough; did you really have to tack on 'Elder'? You make it sound as though I'm your grandmother." Pan Dehai smiled. "Strictly speaking by seniority, calling you Grandmother wouldn't be shortchanging me either." A wave of unease rippled through the Sage inside the courtyard. The Hundred Flowers Painter, Mu Yuejuan, had arrived. "Whose woman is this, stepping out so shamelessly to claim a grandson?" A drunkard ambled over, swaying toward Mu Yuejuan with a beaming grin. "As if I don't know you. You've slept with plenty of men, but you can't bear children. You don't even have a son—where would you get a grandson?" The Half-Mouth of Yellow Broth, Qiao Wuzui, had also arrived. A middle-aged man carrying a long pipe said, "Even if Lady Mu has slept with countless men, it would never be the turn of a drunk like you. Drooling won't do you any good!" The Three Bowls of Pipe Smoke, Ye Jianhuang, had arrived. Qiao Wuzui scowled. "If she looks down on a drunk like me, would she look down on a chimney like you? Why don't you take a leak and look at your own reflection?" Ye Jianhuang chuckled. "I've had too much internal fire these past couple days, so my piss is dark and yellow; wouldn't reflect a silhouette anyway. If you don't believe me, how about I take a leak right now and you can try looking into it?" Another middle-aged man, his face pallid and devoid of blood, stepped forward with a smile. "Everyone, let's not quarrel here. We've come today to see the Emperor; let's not lose our manners." The Smiling Ghost King, Gui Jianchou, had also arrived. Mu Yuejuan swept her gaze across the men. "Since we are here to see the Emperor, it is hardly appropriate for a woman like me to take the lead. Who among you is willing to face the sovereign first?" The men lowered their heads in silence. Mu Yuejuan sneered. "This is why I look down on you lot. Any young lad chosen at random would have more backbone and more guts than you." Qiao Wuzui chuckled. "Lady Mu, how do you know I lack guts? I haven't stepped into that courtyard not because I fear this tyrant, but because I fear someone slipping a blade into my back." Ye Jianhuang tapped his pipe bowl. "What do you mean by that? Who are you talking about?" Qiao Wuzui said, "Whoever slipped the blade knows who I'm talking about. Could anyone truly forget what they've done?" Ye Jianhuang sneered. "What's the point of dredging up old accounts? If you have the guts, go in right now and bring out that tyrant's head for me to see." Qiao Wuzui said, "I truly have the courage, but you must walk ahead of me. Otherwise, I can't put my mind at ease." Gui Jianchou chuckled. "Brothers, let's not engage in internal strife. Everyone who showed up today is a hero." Mu Yuejuan said, "If you're such a hero, why don't you go first?" Gui Jianchou shook his head. "It's not that this little brother is timid. I have plenty of ghost servants by my side, and sending a few ahead to scout wouldn't be difficult. Right now, the Array of Overlapping Peaks is indeed gone, but who can say whether the Sage has other hidden tricks up his sleeve? Old Xu didn't explain clearly in his letter, nor did he show his face, so I think this matter..." "Quit your nonsense!" Qiao Wuzui snapped in irritation. "Old Xu is helping Yao Xin guard his territory; it's only right that he couldn't come. If you've got no balls, don't try dragging other people down with you." Critick watched from a distance. Such an occasion was hardly a place for him to speak, yet the behavior of these individuals was utterly incomprehensible to him. A nightmare cultivator, a smoke cultivator, a liquor cultivator, and a painting cultivator. The strength of these four individuals was unimaginably high. Now that Jianrengang no longer had the Array of Overlapping Peaks, killing the Sage seemed like child's play to them. Yet they hesitated. None of them wanted to strike first. Their animosity toward the Sage was not even comparable to their wariness of one another. The Lüshui Beggar raised an eyebrow and shook his alms bowl. "I'll go." Ye Jianhuang looked down at the Lüshui Beggar and scoffed, "Is it your turn to meddle in this?" From his tone, the Lüshui Beggar's status and cultivation were both beneath his. Yet in Critick's eyes, the Lüshui Beggar possessed far more guts than the rest of them. Lü Huazi looked up at the gathered crowd. "You won't go, and you won't let me go either. So what, we just wait here? Wait until the Daolao ghosts charge down and turn this into a chaotic melee?" No one uttered a sound. Shaking his bowl, Lü Huazi walked toward the grand gates of the estate. The gates suddenly burst wide open. The Sage's disciple Song Deke charged out at the head of a dozen men. They had been ordered by the Sage to act as the vanguard, to blunt the enemy's momentum first. Charging inside to fight might have carried some reservations, but taking care of a few disciples right outside the front door was naturally effortless. The Smiling Ghost King, Gui Jianchou, summoned his ghost servants, preparing to strike first. Yet Song Deke showed no fear whatsoever. Puffing his chest and holding his head high, he swept up the hem of his robe, led his subordinates, and dropped to his knees before the crowd with a loud *thud*. The situation developed a bit too quickly, leaving everyone slightly bewildered. Song Deke said nothing. Placing both hands firmly on the ground, he led his men in delivering a resounding kowtow! *Bang!* A dozen people kowtowed simultaneously, producing a single, unified sound. What did this prove? It proved that this kowtow was performed in perfect unison! It proved the utter sincerity of Song Deke and his men! Three kowtows were struck in succession. Needless to say, their intention had been made abundantly clear. The Lüshui Beggar asked, "Which of you will lead the way?!" The disciples scrambled over one another to volunteer, but Song Deke overpowered them all, declaring firmly, "I have the most seniority! This way must be led by me!"