Chapter Seven
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At the hour of the Pig, the moon was absent from the sky. The carriage ascended the mountain along a perilous path. Fortunately, the snow was sparse. The coachman skillfully guided the carriage along the cliff's edge, relying only on a single bright lantern hung on the horse’s back to navigate the treacherous mountain trail, showing no hint of hesitation. Clearly, the lame coachman’s driving skills were extraordinary.
Halfway up the mountain, Lin He drew back the curtain to look outside, and a chill ran down his spine at the sight. Below stretched endless darkness; even the sound of stones dropping was swallowed without an echo. The cliff-like road was only slightly wider than the carriage itself—it seemed that a slight deviation would send the carriage plummeting down the precipice.
He asked the coachman, “How can you dare to drive so fast on such a road?”
The coachman sneered, “Finally, you’ve got the courage to ask. In the entire city, everyone knows me as Lame Liu, the ‘Thousand-Mile Talent Scout’!” He then boasted, “I lost sight in one eye from traveling these night roads. But it’s precisely because of that that I developed the keenest eyesight! Riding at night is no different from daytime. You don’t need to worry!” Lame Liu grew more excited as he spoke, his reins moving ever faster.
Tao Zhiming said to Lin He, “You two should rest first. We won’t reach the other side of the mountain until morning.” After Tao Zhiming finished, Lame Liu added, “Sir, there’s a cavalry behind us riding fast, and the mountain path is too narrow to yield! Shall I let them pass first?”
Lin He’s heart tightened. He looked at his teacher; Tao Zhiming gestured for him to look behind. Lin He and Mu Xiangming simultaneously drew back their curtains and looked out. Not far below the mountain, a cavalry was advancing swiftly uphill.
Lin He closed the curtain, his expression turning fearful.
“They basically look like them!”
Tao Zhiming’s face immediately grew grave.
Mu Xiangming shut the curtain and said to the coachman, “Can you go faster?”
The coachman laughed, “Miss, you should know the difference—those horses carry people, but my horses pull a carriage. Getting you to Jiuyang Dragon Town by tomorrow morning is already quite a feat!”
Tao Zhiming pondered for a moment, then said to Lin He, “They won’t attack Mu Xiangming for now; their target is you. Your martial skills are lacking. The most important thing now is to protect you.”
Lin He frowned tightly. “Teacher, what should I do then?”
Tao Zhiming replied, “Mu Xiangming and I will get off the carriage. You stay inside so we can buy you some time.”
Lin He immediately refused, “No! Teacher! How could I let you and Xiangming risk yourselves to buy time for me to escape?”
The teacher exchanged a glance with Mu Xiangming, who understood his meaning. She quietly placed her hand behind her back, and her fingers slowly slipped a needle from her sleeve. Tao Zhiming intended to use the technique taught by his mother.
Before Lin He could speak, he saw Mu Xiangming flick a silver needle. Lin He immediately felt alarmed.
“Teacher…”
His voice failed him as his consciousness blurred rapidly. Despite struggling, he fainted. Mu Xiangming caught his collapsing form. Looking at Lin He’s unconscious face, her heart involuntarily quickened.
“Teacher, is this really okay?”
Tao Zhiming sighed, “Only by doing this is there a chance he will survive…”
On his deathbed, he wrote a note and tucked it inside Lin He’s clothing. It read: “Wait for me at Chen’s Teahouse in Jiulong City.”
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Lame Liu said, “Sir, I’m just here for the money. I never expected things to turn out like this. Rest assured!” With that, he urged the horses and hurried away.
Tao Zhiming lit a torch and gazed toward the cavalry chasing from below. His face was lined like bark, his gaze deep and calm, lips pressed tight, his demeanor solemn and imposing. The biting cold wind could not penetrate his composure. The faint flame flickered weakly against the dark, chilly cliff.
Riding nearby, San Qingfeng noticed the small fire ahead and said to Qin Zhaotian, “That little blaze must be the people we’re after.”
Qin Zhaotian looked at the flame, “No, they’re waiting for us to come forward.”
San Qingfeng looked at him, “Whatever the case, that old man was a friend of my late father. We’ll hand him over later.”
Qin Zhaotian replied, “My orders are to bring those two back. If a fight breaks out, I don’t want you just watching.”
San Qingfeng cracked his whip and charged forward. “The man you want doesn’t have much skill, but the woman’s another matter!”
Qin Zhaotian snapped his whip and followed swiftly. “What do you mean?”
San Qingfeng smiled, “The Desires of Sound from the Ninth Heaven, the true legacy of the Lantern Yang Peak. If you capture that woman, aren’t you afraid she’ll come after you?”
Qin Zhaotian replied, “Let’s see if she’s got the ability.”
With that, he leapt from his horse, arms outstretched like an eagle soaring. The horse lost footing and tumbled off the cliff.
His speed was surprisingly faster than on horseback! San Qingfeng was not to be outdone. He shouted behind, “Keep up!” and, grabbing a torch, also leapt from his horse. Though not soaring as high as Qin Zhaotian, his speed matched closely. They bypassed the winding cliff path and instead climbed directly up the mountain cliff.
Mu Xiangming watched the figures flying closer.
“Teacher, it seems two formidable people have arrived.”
Tao Zhiming squinted, his eyesight poor in the dark. “Xiangming, I can’t see well. Can you describe their appearance?”
Mu Xiangming shook her head, “It’s too far; I can’t make them out clearly either.”
Suddenly, Qin Zhaotian landed before them.
Mu Xiangming’s eyes hardened. Judging by his movement, his martial skill was formidable. She whispered to her teacher, “One is a long-haired man, about thirty, with a sword hanging at his waist.”
Despite the faint torchlight, Tao Zhiming could still not discern the man’s true features. He said, “If you get a chance, describe that sword to me.”
Qin Zhaotian spoke up, “I’ve long heard of the literary Tao family, Mr. Tao!”
Tao Zhiming responded loudly, torch in hand, “Which sect are you from? Why are you harming my disciple of the Intimate Sound?”
Qin Zhaotian answered, “I’m just a messenger. Please, Mr. Tao, ask no more. Hand over the child.”
Tao Zhiming said, “You know the child’s mother is a disciple of Lantern Yang Peak, and yet you dare do this?”
Qin Zhaotian had heard of Tao Zhiming’s wisdom and reputation; their circles had overlapped in the martial world. Seeing this in person, he smiled, “Sir, if you keep asking, I might know your ancestors eight generations back!” Then he drew his sword and pointed it at Mu Xiangming. “Miss, if you tell me where that man is, maybe I’ll spare your life.”
Tao Zhiming turned at the sound of the sword and warned, “Be careful. This person is no ordinary opponent. Remember my words!”
Mu Xiangming nodded, “Understood, teacher!” With that, she flicked three silver needles and leapt into action. Qin Zhaotian raised his sword to strike; three clear sounds rang out, but the needles remained unbroken.
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“Even stronger than that woman’s!” Qin Zhaotian realized and grew wary. Leaping up with sword in hand, he charged.
They clashed. Mu Xiangming employed the "Desires of Sound Divine Palm," a technique from the Ninth Heaven. Her palm strikes were as hard as steel and as smooth as leaves, able to block any weapon barehanded. Qin Zhaotian moved with the grace of falling leaves, his sword flashing like light rays, each strike aimed precisely at vital points. Though night had fallen, his swordplay was relentless—truly worthy of the Sword Saint, Chen Shimin.
Mu Xiangming dared not slacken. She blocked every strike but gradually found herself overwhelmed. Qin Zhaotian’s sword style was ever-changing and flawless. Even her Divine Palm technique faltered, forced onto the defensive with no opportunity to counterattack. As she was about to fall, he seized the moment and kicked her hard, sending her crashing to the ground.
Qin Zhaotian landed and pointed his sword at her. The torchlight reflected off the blade and illuminated her delicate but elegant face, tinged with a hint of charm.
Mu Xiangming pressed her abdomen, saying, “If you want to kill, then kill. Why hesitate?”
Qin Zhaotian replied, “You have great martial skill but lack combat experience. If you practiced more, I wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Mu Xiangming retorted, “Kill or maim as you please, he won’t spare you!”
Qin Zhaotian stared at the woman before him. She wasn’t the first to make him draw his sword, but she was the first to make him hesitate.
“I told you, if you tell me where he is, I won’t harm you!”
Before Mu Xiangming could speak, a bundle of firewood fell from above, releasing thick purple smoke. Qin Zhaotian immediately sheathed his sword and flipped backward to dodge. As he landed, both his teacher and Mu Xiangming were overcome by the smoke’s poison.
“What a strong poison!”
Qin Zhaotian looked up to see San Qingfeng sitting atop a cliff ledge.
The smoke soon extinguished. San Qingfeng slowly descended, stepping on the smoldering wood before glancing at Mu Xiangming lying on the ground.
“That face, so pretty! Such a pity she’s a hot potato.”
Qin Zhaotian sheathed his sword, “You knocked both of them out. How am I supposed to question them?”
San Qingfeng laughed heartily, “Qin brother, didn’t you notice the carriage tracks on the ground during your fight? If you keep playing around, the man will find Lantern Yang Peak for sure!”
Qin Zhaotian stepped forward, picked up Tao Zhiming’s torch, and studied the tracks carefully. Suddenly, he understood—they were only stalling for time.
Turning around, Qin Zhaotian asked, “If you strike now, won’t the men below refuse to help me?”
San Qingfeng approached. “I’m just here to entertain the honored guests on the ground. As for that boy you want—he doesn’t know much martial arts. I’d rather avoid trouble. Don’t you agree?”
Qin Zhaotian looked at him, his face full of cunning.
Before parting, San Qingfeng warned, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you: if you don’t take that woman’s life, disaster will fall on you!” With a burst of laughter, he vanished into the moonlight.