Chapter Twenty-Nine: What Brought You Here

Seeing this, Li Chongyuan could only give a wry smile and say, “So your name is Lin Qingli; it does sound quite pleasant.” The young woman, Lin Qingli, shot him a glare and replied, “If a disciple goes missing from Tianshan Sect, what face would the sect have left? Wouldn’t they search heaven and earth for me? By leaving this letter, the elders will know I left of my own accord and was not abducted. Naturally, they won’t launch a massive search for me.”

Let us set aside Li Chongyuan and Lin Qingli’s descent from the mountain for now. The next morning, a disciple from the Mingxin Cave noticed that Lin Qingli’s room had not opened for a long time, so he went in to check. But there was no one inside. Upon seeing the words written on the wall, he immediately reported to the head elders. The news was delivered swiftly, and the entire Tianshan Sect was thrown into confusion.

Du Nan, the sect leader, guessed that Li Chongyuan must have escaped from Ascension Peak and, for whatever reason, taken Lin Qingli with him. Yet he could not say so openly. Otherwise, people would deduce there was a secret passage on Ascension Peak, and the mountain would no longer be able to keep its disciples in check. He had no choice but to strictly forbid the matter from spreading.

The disappearance of a disciple from Tianshan Sect—especially a strikingly beautiful and much-noticed woman—could hardly be concealed. Rumors ran wild. The most rampant tale was that the golden-maned lion, mount of Manjushri Bodhisattva of the Western Paradise, had come down to the mortal world, devoured Li Chongyuan at Ascension Peak, and then went to Mingxin Cave intending to eat Lin Qingli. At the crucial moment, Manjushri descended from the heavens to rescue her, subdued the lion, and, seeing Lin Qingli’s remarkable talent, took her back to the Western Paradise to cultivate immortality and attain Buddhahood. The rumor only grew wilder as it spread. Miao Kewei, upon hearing it, even went alone to Ascension Peak to burn paper money and mourn for Li Chongyuan. Others claimed to have seen Li Chongyuan’s ghost roaming at night, frightening even the night patrols, so that no one dared patrol the mountains anymore. Du Nan and Miao Wushuang were forced to take turns personally leading night patrols. Only after half a year did the rumors gradually die down. When the disciples recalled how, for half a year, their usually formidable elders had patrolled the snowy mountains with lanterns and wooden clappers, faces drawn with worry, they could not help but find it both laughable and pitiable.

Now, Lin Qingli had originally been a disciple of Kongtong Sect, and was personally brought up by the sect leader Xu Qianfan. How then did she come to join Tianshan Sect?

After the fierce battle in Hengyang, Xu Qianfan lost his disciple Qinggao, and returned in sorrow with Qingyuan, Qingbai, and Qingli. Reaching Sanhu Town late in the day, the four sought lodging at an inn. Their spirits were low; after a simple meal, they gathered in Xu Qianfan’s room.

Xu Qianfan said, “Today I have important words for you. This matter is a calamity for Kongtong Mountain, and whether we can overcome it, I cannot say. We can only do our best and leave the rest to fate. The Ghost Sword, though once of the righteous Kongtong Sect, has now turned to evil and is the enemy of the martial world. I know my skills are no match for his, but I cannot stand by while he harms the innocent. The Ghost Sword is proud and unpredictable—he likely will not let me go. Fortunately, he values his own reputation and will not trouble you juniors. Tonight, we must part ways. I will seek out the Ghost Sword for a final reckoning. Qingyuan and Qingbai, take your senior brother’s ashes back to Kongtong Mountain and give him a proper burial. If I meet with misfortune, the position of sect leader will pass to your uncles according to the rules set by our founder. From now on, you must train diligently at Kongtong and, I hope, one day, restore the sect’s glory. I have written a letter—Qingyuan, take it and deliver it to your uncles when you return.” With that, he produced a letter and handed it to Qingyuan for safekeeping.

Qingyuan, Qingbai, and Qingli cried out, “Master, we will not go! We want to fight the Ghost Sword to the death!” Xu Qianfan gave a bitter smile. “Your skills are too shallow; you could not withstand even a single move from him. Do not throw your lives away in vain. You are good children, and the revival of Kongtong rests on your shoulders. As sect leader, though I cannot turn the tides, I must do my utmost. This time, I may have to give my life for our founders. If you remember our bond as master and disciples, one day you may search for my remains and return them to Kongtong Mountain, so that I do not become a wandering ghost in a foreign land.”

The three burst into tears. Xu Qianfan, eyes brimming, waved his hand and said, “Qingli, you need not return to Kongtong Mountain.” Qingli wept, “Master, are you abandoning me?” Xu Qianfan sighed. “I have always regarded you as my own daughter—how could I abandon you? But this is an extraordinary time. If you return to Kongtong, the road is fraught with danger, and even if you arrive safely, should the Ghost Sword come seeking vengeance, who among your uncles could stand against him? No one could protect you. So I have found a safe haven for you—so secure that not even the boldest would dare trouble you there.”

Tears streaming down, Qingli asked, “Master, I do not understand. Why may my brothers return to Kongtong, but I cannot?” Xu Qianfan replied, “Today I finally unraveled the mystery of the strange case from ten years ago. Qingli, you know your father was murdered, but you do not know how. When you were younger, I spared you the details, only telling you he was killed by treachery. I had hoped to explain once you were older, but time no longer permits. Ten years ago, your father was slain at midnight in his study. When we found the body, doors and windows were intact, the room undisturbed. Your father gripped his sword, bearing only two wounds: one at the huantiao point on his leg, and one at the qimen point on his chest. Your uncles and I reconstructed the scene. Likely, the killer tricked him into opening the door, chatted with him, then suddenly drew his sword. Your father, a master of lightness skills and the best on Kongtong Mountain, would have responded with his signature move—Thunderclap Slash—leaping up and slashing down. The killer seized the moment, wounding his huantiao point to throw him off balance, then, as he fell, stabbed him through the qimen point, which was also his vital training spot. He died instantly, unable even to cry out.”

Lin Qingli listened in a daze. She had known her father died mysteriously, but never heard these details, and was horrified.

Xu Qianfan continued, “To kill your father so swiftly, the culprit must have been someone he knew well—he was too cautious to admit a stranger at midnight. Second, the killer had to know your father’s style and vital points, otherwise could not strike so accurately. Third, the killer’s skills were at least equal to your father’s—knowing the weakness is not enough; one must be able to exploit it instantly. We investigated, but your father had few friends outside Kongtong. So the killer must be from within. Yet only I and your second uncle Zhao Shouyi matched these criteria. That night, Zhao was on Tianshan, discussing swordsmanship with Yang Wuji, chief of the Thunder Temple. I was far away on Mount Hua, invited to help verify the new sword style of their leader, Ling Kongzi. I was even wounded during practice.” He loosened his robe, showing a long, worm-like scar on his left side. “I recuperated several days on Mount Hua, with Ling Kongzi personally attending me. Neither of us was on Kongtong. So who could have killed your father? We were baffled, suspecting a formidable enemy from the martial world had come for revenge, but no such person appeared. For months we were on guard, but nothing happened. Those with old grudges either sent word or came in person to clear themselves. Frankly, none had the skills for such a deed. So the matter dragged on, unsolved. Fearing for your safety, I kept you by my side ever since. Now, though, I realize we overlooked someone—Ghost Sword Han Qinghua. He had vanished into Broken Sword Valley ten years before, presumed dead. Who would have suspected him? Now I see it must have been him—returning by night to Kongtong, knocking on your father’s door. Your father, seeing his long-lost senior brother, would be overjoyed. The Ghost Sword then struck, knowing your father’s every move, his swordsmanship superior, and, taking him by surprise, killed him in one blow before fleeing into the night. Your father was always proud, but the Ghost Sword was narrow-minded. Their feud likely began in their youth, when learning the sword… Sigh.” He shook his head, sighing deeply.

After a pause, he added, “But this is only my conjecture. We have no proof, and have never confronted the Ghost Sword. To blame him outright would be unfair. Still, it is wise to remain vigilant. If the killer is not the Ghost Sword, then his skills must be nearly as great. Yet even my own swordsmanship cannot surpass his. If you continue learning from me, what hope have you for vengeance? Not only would you fail to avenge your father, you would struggle to protect yourself. So, I have written a letter for you. Take it to Tianshan, to Purple Wuzhuo of Mingxin Cave, and ask him to accept you as a disciple. Purple Wuzhuo and I have been close friends for decades; with my letter, he will surely take you in. His skills are far beyond my own. Under his tutelage, you will master the sword and vengeance will be within your grasp. Even if you do not succeed, you will have the protection of Tianshan Sect and a safe life, and your father’s lineage will endure. I have thought long and hard, and this is the only sure solution I can offer.”