Chapter One: Departure
Liang Xi had no inkling of his Senior Brother’s affairs in the Great Cloud Golden Valley, for his thoughts were wholly absorbed by Anran. Anran’s cold poison, contracted earlier in the Water Sovereign’s treasury, had flared up once more. At first, she believed she could endure it, but now the poison was growing ever more potent within her, and the martial arts she had mastered since childhood were of the yin, gentle sort, which only intensified the toxin’s effects. By nature, Ji Anran did not wish Gu Zhenzhen or Liang Xi to witness her in such a state, but now she truly could not hold on any longer. Before she met Liang Xi, she cared little for her own appearance, but now things were different.
Her brother cherished her unparalleled beauty above all else; how could she allow Liang Xi to see the faintest trace of her current ugliness? It seemed the old saying was true: a woman adorns herself for the one she loves. Three days had passed since Ji Anran locked herself within her room, not stepping out once.
“Anran, what are you doing? Isn’t it just the cold poison acting up? I’ve sensed your aura changing these past days.”
“Do you think I haven’t noticed? Even if I must traverse a thousand mountains and rivers, I will find a way to help you purge the cold poison from your body. Truly, the fact you’re in this state is my fault. I often wonder, if you’d never met me on Cold River Island, perhaps you wouldn’t be suffering like this now.”
Liang Xi was wracked with guilt and self-reproach. He hated himself for not realizing sooner, and now, Ji Anran suffered because of the cold poison—what could he do now? If possible, he would gladly bear her suffering himself.
Gu Zhenzhen’s heart was heavy as well; she realized that all this time, her elder sister Anran had been silently enduring the pain of the cold poison. Perhaps even back at Mingyu Manor, Anran was already afflicted, but Gu Zhenzhen hadn’t noticed. Had she discovered it sooner, the outcome might have been different.
“Anran, please don’t be like this. In the Yaksha Sect, there’s a Blazing Pill. Take it, and together, the three of us will search for a cure. You went to Mingyu Manor for my sake, to obtain the Radiant Jade; why shouldn’t I do as much for you? If I could, I’d trade my life for your safety. You must know, in Yuanhui’s heart, you are the most important person.”
Seeing Liang Xi so distraught made Gu Zhenzhen even more sorrowful. Unfortunately, the Radiant Jade was now fused with her own body; forcibly removing it would endanger her life, which Ji Anran would never do.
“Zhenzhen, come in. I have something to say to you. As for that man at your side, he’s not allowed in, nor is he permitted to eavesdrop.”
At last, Ji Anran spoke in a low voice, and Gu Zhenzhen felt a surge of joy. If Anran was willing to talk, the rest would surely be easier.
Inside, a graceful figure sat at the table. Even poisoned, Ji Anran’s beauty could not be concealed.
“Sit.”
Those two simple words revealed her crisp, commanding air, though she lacked Li Moqing’s imposing presence.
At first, Gu Zhenzhen had been intimidated by Ji Anran’s powerful aura, feeling like a timid rabbit before her. But as time passed, she saw beneath the resolute exterior a gentle heart.
“Zhenzhen, I want you to promise me something: in the future, take care of him well in my stead. He’s never been good at looking after himself. With you by his side, I can rest easy.”
“I don’t want to. We should both take care of him, together. If Yuanhui asks me where you’ve gone, how am I supposed to answer him?” Gu Zhenzhen found Ji Anran’s request unreasonable. “I know what you’re thinking—you want to leave without a word. I won’t agree to that. If you do, it will only make Yuanhui blame himself more. You know he’s someone who values feelings above all else.”
Ji Anran ignored Gu Zhenzhen’s protest and smiled, “Do you like Liang Xi?”
Gu Zhenzhen was startled by the question, but answered without hesitation, “Yes, I like him very much.” The answer had formed in her heart long ago; she hadn’t even needed to think.
“Good. Since you like him, you should agree to my condition. You’re right—I do intend to leave without saying goodbye. The usual methods are useless against the cold poison now. I must go alone so that one day, I can return stronger. Isn’t that what you’d want?”
“Zhenzhen, you know the martial arts I’ve learned are all of the utmost yin. The accumulated cold energy now clashes with the poison, so as long as I don’t fight intensely, I can manage. If my brother knew my current state, he’d never rest easy. You have the Radiant Jade protecting you, but you need more time to master it fully. You follow the path of spiritual power, so you must not make a single mistake. I’ve been stubborn and eccentric since childhood; you and my brother are the most important people in my heart. I see you as my own sister. What, now you won’t listen to your elder sister?”
Ji Anran’s upbringing was cold and lonely, so she yearned deeply for love. Now, the two before her—Gu Zhenzhen and Liang Xi—were the most precious to her; anyone who harmed them would not be forgiven. To achieve this, she needed her strength restored and herself made stronger. Otherwise, her words were but empty promises.
“My brother won’t make things difficult for you. If he asks, just tell him the truth. He’ll know what to do.”
Clearly, Ji Anran had planned everything. Since she’d said as much, how could Gu Zhenzhen not agree?
“Sister, since you insist, I, as your younger sister, would be remiss not to oblige. Rest assured, I’ll take good care of Yuanhui. Sister, do you have a plan? The world is vast—where will you seek a cure?”
Ji Anran drained her cup of tea, a flush of red blooming on her exquisite face, making her appear even more radiant.
“To be honest, I have no plan. I’ll simply wander and see. You know, I’ve only ever been to Forget River, Cold River Island, and recently Mingyu Manor. I’ve never seen much of the world. Now that I have the chance, I mean to make the most of it.”
“Since childhood, I’ve wished to see every corner of the world. Alas, this time, I must go alone; you and my brother can only watch.”
“No, I absolutely won’t agree to this. You can’t just leave me behind. You have Zhenzhen and me—no matter who, I will intervene. Since you treat me as family, you should know I will always help you.”
Liang Xi could not bear the thought of Anran leaving him. With her afflicted by cold poison, if anything happened on her journey, he could never forgive himself.
“I knew that telling you would bring such a reaction. But you know my nature: once I decide, no one can change my mind. Brother, you are the most important person in my heart; I’ve always wanted to stay by your side—that is my greatest wish. But if I want that wish to come true, the cold poison must be purged.”
“I know you care deeply for me, but I don’t want you endangered forever. Even if you come with me, what about Zhenzhen? You know her situation well—do you think she could endure such a journey? Wait here for me; I’ve already arranged with Zhenzhen that if you act rashly, she’ll let me know.”
Ji Anran regarded the young man before her, worried and weary. He was but sixteen, yet his eyes carried exhaustion, no longer bright as before.
“Don’t worry. You know my abilities; is there really anyone in this world who could harm me? I’ll take care of myself—I always have. If I could do it before, why not now?”
Love had softened the girl’s heart, making her unrecognizable from before.
“Yes, every time I see you, I want to protect you. But now I understand: you’ve always been independent. Since you’ve decided, I can only comply. If you truly face danger, I’ll know and come to your rescue the instant it happens.”
Ji Anran finally breathed a sigh of relief. If this troublesome boy hadn’t agreed, she really wouldn’t have known what to do. But he always understood what mattered most.
“Rest assured: once things here are settled, I’ll return. Take good care of Zhenzhen. I’m off—I meant to leave without a word, but in the end, I failed.”
Alone, Ji Anran rode swiftly away, newfound determination brightening her beautiful face. Though the cold poison was fierce, she believed she could break it.
“Yuanhui, don’t worry. I’ve made arrangements—wherever Sister goes, she’ll have all the care she needs. If only my strength were restored, I’d follow her myself, and you could rest easy. The Yaksha Sect commands the waterways; along the journey, Sister will be safe. But there’s one troublesome matter: Yuanhui, do you know Brother Yun Zhen has run into trouble recently? I hear he’s been seriously injured.”
This was the first Liang Xi had heard of it. “What? Senior Brother’s in trouble? Why didn’t anyone tell me? How is he? How badly is he hurt?”
He had many questions, but could only voice a few.
But with Senior Brother’s formidable power, few could harm him. His Xuangang force was nearly impregnable—who could have managed such a feat? Liang Xi had been secluded within the Yaksha Sect since the fierce battle at Mingyu Manor, needing rest and recovery.
“Don’t worry, Yuanhui. Brother Yun Zhen is safe now. According to Yaksha Sect intelligence, the one who injured Brother Yun Zhen and Sister Moqing was the Valley Master of the Great Cloud Golden Valley, Qin Boyu, whose strength is truly frightening. Neither Brother Yun Zhen nor Sister Moqing could best him. If not for Senior Feichen’s timely rescue, the consequences would have been dire!”
“Yuanhui, time is short—let’s go to the Great Cloud Golden Valley. I fear Qin Boyu, once healed, will still pose a threat to Brother Yun Zhen.”
“Excellent!”
The Yaksha Sect lay between the Yun and Xuan provinces, not far from the Great Cloud Golden Valley. Having rested, Liang Xi and Gu Zhenzhen made the journey in haste, reaching their destination in three hours, where it once took half a day. They bypassed Baishui Village; had they seen its current devastation, they would surely have been troubled. Yet even so, the Great Cloud Golden Valley had suffered grievous wounds.
Though Qin Boyu’s power was considerable, how could he compare to the madman Li Feichen? Yet for some reason, Li Feichen, though capable of killing him in one blow, chose to spare his life, saying as he left, “Soon, someone will come to take your life in my stead.” It now seemed that person was Liang Xi.
Bang!
Liang Xi smashed open the door and gazed at the pale man inside.
“You are Qin Boyu?”
Qin Boyu’s strength was formidable. In his prime, Liang Xi might have needed some effort to slay him; but now, there was no such worry.
“You are Qin Boyu?”
“Yes. Who are you?” The sudden appearance of this man and woman—so powerful, and undetected by others—was alarming. If only he had his full strength, he would never allow such insolence.
“You need not concern yourself with who we are. All you need to know is—we came here to kill you. That’s enough!”
Liang Xi gave Qin Boyu no chance to retaliate. With a single blow, the Snowflake Fist, he ended the man’s life.
“Now, you’re dead. Let me tell you who I am: I am Zhuang Yun Zhen’s junior brother. You should have known—hurt my Senior Brother, and this is the inevitable result.”
With that, Liang Xi departed with Gu Zhenzhen. The Great Cloud Golden Valley—so what if it was renowned? Today it was destroyed; what of it? As long as the Valley Master was dead, that was enough. Who cared what became of the valley? Let them do as they wished.
Qin Boyu’s consciousness faded. He had never expected to end like this. He had once prided himself on his invincible martial arts—yet now, what had they accomplished for him? Nothing.
His lifelong prowess, now reduced to this. Even in his final moments, his heart was full of unwillingness. Yes, he still had many unfinished endeavors—was this truly his end? Was this what he deserved?
But, no matter how unwilling, he had no strength left.
“Liang Xi, well done. As Zhuang Yun Zhen’s junior brother, you’re worthy. But do you think you can leave unscathed? If so, you underestimate my Great Cloud Golden Valley.”
“Hmph. Wherever I wish to go, no power can restrain me. Rather than worry about me, you’d do better to think about your own fate. Goodbye!”
Liang Xi vanished in an instant, his speed breathtaking.
The Valley Master Qin Boyu was slain in a single move by an unknown master. Even the four great hall masters could not take down such a person without paying a heavy price—is it truly worth it for a dead Valley Master? Everyone knew Qin Boyu’s nature was always domineering; his fate was no surprise.
“Valley Master, do you remember what you once said? You said I would be Valley Master one day. I think today is a fine day—why not grant me my wish?”
“Grant you? Hahaha, who would have thought I’d end up like this? Fine, I have no strength left. The Great Cloud Golden Valley is yours. My martial arts, too, I give to you. I believe, if you’re willing, the valley will flourish.”
“No, Valley Master, you’re wrong. Over the years, your heart has been consumed by hatred. If the valley remained in your hands, that would be disastrous. If it passes to me, all problems will be solved. Isn’t that so? Valley Master, I accept your Great Cloud Sutra.”
“Yan Feilong, I never expected you’d turn out like this. I trusted you, and now you betray me. Even in death, I will never forgive you!”
“Hmph, you need not forgive me. You have no power left; what can you do?”
“Go, from now on, I am your Valley Master. Hahaha, I’ve waited many years for this day.”
Leng Jiu and the other three hall masters cared little for who was Valley Master.
“Yes, Valley Master, you are already old. Remember the rules you set? The Great Cloud Golden Valley always revered the strong. Perhaps you never expected this day.”
Liang Xi was uninterested in these matters. He had intended to see his Senior Brother, but reasoned that Yun Zhen must have regained some strength. If he needed help, he would ask. For now, Gu Zhenzhen’s Heart Prayer method had not recovered.
“Now that this is settled, let’s return. You need rest.”
After the battle at Great Cloud Golden Valley, Zhuang Yun Zhen suffered severe internal injuries and was now at Su Yi Pavilion.
“Senior, how is she?”
“You’re in such a state, yet you’re worried about Moqing? Don’t worry, she’s under my protection; she’ll be fine. The one in trouble is you—look at yourself. Even so, I’m grateful to you. If not for you, my niece would’ve died. Now I know how much you care for her. That you love Moqing so deeply puts my mind at ease. With your internal injuries so severe, do not act recklessly; otherwise, you risk aggravating them. You wouldn’t want that.”
“Also, I must tell you: the reason I didn’t kill Qin Boyu before is because I knew your junior brother would come in the end. Now, Qin Boyu is dead by his hand. But your junior brother has many matters to attend—he won’t visit you soon. But you know his strength, don’t you?”
“His strength is truly astonishing; I never expected it myself. All right, focus on your recovery—the rest isn’t so important.”
“So that’s it. My junior brother has always been far stronger than me. If he’s taken care of things, I’m relieved. ‘Big brother, now all is safe. Your injuries stem from me; I truly don’t know how to repay your feelings.’”
“Moqing, you’re wrong to say that. Between us, such words are unnecessary, aren’t they?”
Zhuang Yun Zhen loved the woman before him deeply; he would give his life for her, if need be.
“You two, having been through so much, your bond has only deepened. That’s what I hoped to see. Now, both of you are badly injured—rest well!”
Ji Anran now appeared utterly calm. She herself did not know where she ought to go. The outside world was so vast, and she had never seen it before. It was a kind of sorrow—what she lost before, she could now regain. City markets and towns held no appeal; she wanted to immerse herself in mountains and rivers, hoping that only then would her strength grow. Ji Anran and Li Moqing were different—she believed that only by becoming strong herself could she accomplish more, could she protect more people. The wilds were richer in spirit—her brother worried for her, but she was well.
Today, she arrived at an unknown mountain and was surprised by its beauty.
“I realize now how monotonous my life once was. After meeting you, I see that all days can be lived anew. I wish I could be with you at this moment.”
After three days’ journey, Ji Anran came upon a pass: the Great Golden Gate. Beyond it lay the southern realm. Unknowingly, she had traveled so far. The Great Golden Gate, built centuries ago, still stood in grandeur. Its tall towers and walls whispered of past glory. In time, it had become a bustling city.
All around, yellow sand swirled, making the gate seem even more majestic. Standing beneath the city gate, Ji Anran felt a deep calm.
“Only those possessing divine martial arts may enter; ordinary folk must use the side door. Entering the main gate is a path with no return. Think thrice before proceeding.”
The inscription atop the tower was intriguing.
“Miss, are you headed to the southern realm? Come, walk the side door with me, for your own safety. You must know, since the main gate was built, no one has ever opened it. Such a beautiful girl shouldn’t attempt it.”
“Elder, are you saying that only someone who can push open this door may enter through the main gate?” The old man seemed to know much, so she asked.
“That’s only the first step. In pushing the door, you must also endure the Thousand Swords Formation—blade energy piercing the body. Not everyone can withstand it. My family has lived here for generations; no one has ever passed. It is said that not far from the Great Golden Gate, deep in the mountains, lies a place called Qingyang Sword Lodge, which crafted the formation. But whether it still exists, no one knows; for years, not one person has passed safely through.”
The old man truly knew much. Most hearing this would turn away, but Ji Anran was fearless.
“Haha, this is the first I’ve heard of such things. Well, that makes it all the more interesting. Elder, rest assured—I have my methods.”
Seeing he could not dissuade this beautiful girl, the old man could only sigh inwardly. Such a lovely girl, doomed to perish here—what a pity. But since it was her choice, she would have to face the consequences.
“If you won’t heed my words, you must rely on yourself. Beware—the Thousand Swords Formation’s power is beyond your imagination.”
“Miss, are you going to push the door?”
Ji Anran didn’t reply, but leapt to the massive gate. It was hewn from bluestone, weighing countless tons. Without great strength, none could budge it. But for her, such matters were trivial.
“Hmph, I thought this would be formidable. Turns out it’s nothing. Does a mere stone door intend to block my path?”
“Look! That beautiful girl is trying to use the main gate. Do you think she can succeed?”
Someone voiced doubt, and another replied, “Hmph, who can say? Let’s just watch and listen; nothing else matters. I’m betting on the girl.”
“The door doesn’t look so special. All right, since you all want to see my skills, I’ll show you what I’ve learned. Don’t worry—the outcome will surely satisfy you.”
“Little girl, have you thought this through? You only get one chance at the main gate. If you regret it, you can still leave. I’d rather nothing happened to you.”
“I don’t know who you are, but since I’m here, I won’t retreat. Now, I’ll show you my abilities.” Ji Anran did not step back. She extended her hands, and though the stone door was sturdy, she managed to push it open.
“The door moved! The door actually moved! I never expected this. She’s truly powerful. Do you think she can overcome the Thousand Swords Formation?”
“Of course she can. The Great Golden Gate has stood for years; such prodigies are rare. Soon, it will cause a sensation. The sect’s experts will surely want to meet her. Our business here is finished—let’s go.”
These were disciples of the Great Golden Gate. The gate was not just a city, but a sect. Though its foundations were weak, it housed many experts. Sometimes, such things are inexplicable. Once one entered the gate, even if Ji Anran wished otherwise, she would have to keep fighting.
But fighting was what she liked most.
“Hmph, I know you’ve been waiting for me. As it happens, I’ve been waiting for you. Now you see: since I entered, I can handle the stone door. You lurk in the shadows, wanting to fight me. Is that not so? Show me your moves. Your strength seems considerable.”
“Little girl, your strength is impressive. But if you think that’s enough to fight us, you’re mistaken. We old men have survived countless battles to reach today. Do you think you, alone, can defeat us? Well, over the years, we’ve seen many like you. Killing a few more means nothing. But first, you must survive the Thousand Swords Formation.”
All around the gate, figures and voices appeared. Each was a seasoned expert, now half-retired but stronger than ever. They looked down on Ji Anran—a mere girl, what skill could she possess?
“You all disdain me, don’t you? The Thousand Swords Formation—let’s see its power. There’s no need for words; a battle will reveal all!”
Ji Anran’s spirit soared, an aura she learned from Liang Xi. Most thought him unreliable, but that was only appearance—he was truly powerful.
“You have remarkable energy, and your skills are varied. But do you think that alone is enough to win? Do you know where your predecessors ended up? I’ll tell you: they all died. Do you know why? Simple—we never allow anyone to pass safely.”
“You old men, do you know my name? It contains ‘Anran’—which means wherever I am, I pass safely. Why won’t you act? What are you afraid of? Even if you don’t say it, I know—you fear me. Since I’m here, I’ll break your rules. Try me, if you dare.”
“Truly an arrogant girl! Fine, since you insist, I’ll see just how formidable you are. You are already within the Thousand Swords Formation—don’t you realize? You wanted to experience its power; now, you will. I’ll show you how strong this formation is!”
“No matter your great power, in the end, you can change nothing. I know you believe in yourself, but blind confidence is useless. Experience the formation’s might for yourself, and see if I speak the truth. If you wish to retreat, it’s too late—you should have given up before. Now, there is only one path left: death.”