Chapter 9: The Eve of the Opening

The Thunder Gang met its end in such a tragic manner. Though the mission was accomplished, everyone’s mood was heavy and unsettled. It turned out that Qing Shu and Lei Pengfei had harbored feelings for each other for many years, but neither had ever spoken of it. When their love was finally exposed to the world, it marked the conclusion of their story. Perhaps, in Qing Shu’s heart, the pain was unbearable every moment—a conflict between her lover and her duty to her sect. Anyone faced with this dilemma would find it impossible to choose easily. In this light, perhaps such an ending was the best that could be hoped for. Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzhen had never imagined things would unfold in this way.

For the two of them, this was a tremendous shock. Their master had always said that right is right and wrong is wrong. If their master were present today, how would he judge this? Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzhen’s expressions turned grim, and neither knew what to say. “Forgive us, this is the first time we have witnessed such a scene. We are deeply shaken and intend to depart now,” Liang Xi said. “But before we leave, we wish to bury Qing Shu and Lei Pengfei together. These two, for various reasons, could not be together in life. Now, at last, they may be united. We will not allow anyone to harm them further. If anyone disagrees, they may test our strength!” Liang Xi finally spoke his true thoughts. “Indeed, whatever grudges there may have been, it is time for them to end,” Zhuang Yunzhen added proudly.

Their actions now were instinctive, simply because it was the right thing to do; and if something is right, why not do it? “Senior Lao Dao, we know you had deep grievances with the Thunder Gang. Now, is it time for these enmities to be resolved?” Liang Xi asked.

“Resolved? Enmities? Ha! What enmity do I have now? The disciple I cherished most has left me. This outcome is all my fault as his master. Obsessed with revenge, I transformed Qing Shu, a fine young woman, into this, forcing her to endure endless suffering. The one who truly deserves to die is me!” Lao Dao’s expression was dazed; the vigor he once possessed was gone. It was as though his strength had been drained entirely, leaving him a mere shell, muttering endlessly about his own failures as he walked away.

“Liang Xi, you need not look at me. You are right—when people die, grudges die with them. If I continued to pursue these matters, what sort of man would I be? I will take my leave now. Regardless, you two have shown great kindness to our Yaksha Sect. I, Gu Chuan, will surely repay this debt someday. Until we meet again!”

Gu Chuan was decisive; once matters were settled, he would not linger. “Senior brother, let us bury Qing Shu and Lei Pengfei together. I never thought it would come to this. Truthfully, I am deeply saddened—they deserved a different fate.” At that moment, Liang Xi felt he had matured greatly. Though he was usually cheerful and playful, Zhuang Yunzhen knew that his junior brother was deeply affectionate.

Burying Lei Pengfei and Qing Shu together was the last thing they could do for them. “This is Yunjiang. The scenery here is beautiful. I believe they would like it. Senior brother, everything is done. Let’s return. Our master must be waiting anxiously.” Despite the upheaval in his heart, Liang Xi was aware that he and Zhuang Yunzhen still had greater duties ahead.

Without further delay, Zhuang Yunzhen and Liang Xi invoked the Bird Flight Technique and disappeared into the distance. It was truly time to return; after all, the sect’s grand tournament was the most important event. About an incense stick’s time after they departed, Yun Hailan arrived at the new grave. His face was complex with emotion. “Pengfei, I remember telling you before to let go of your obsessions. There was no need to revive the Thunder Gang. You are my disciple, and with your strength, you could have achieved anything in Yunzhou.”

“But in the end, you did not do so. I’ve always known that once you made your mind up, you would never change it. That was the quality I admired most in you. If someone else had harmed you, I would never have forgiven them. But the one who defeated you was Liang Xi. His father, Liang Yunsi, and I are sworn brothers. My methods may be ruthless at times, but I value friendship and brotherhood deeply. Moreover, Liang Xi buried you and Qing Shu together—surely that is a kindness.”

“All grudges were settled just now. Therefore, I will not act. If I insisted on a confrontation, what would I do, given my character?” Yun Hailan was a truly good man, disliking unnecessary conflict. Liang Xi was a promising youth, and he could not bear to make an enemy of the Liang family. He had come here to express these thoughts.

Returning to Yunzhou felt like awakening from a dream, everything so unreal. Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzhen exchanged a smile—they were home again. In truth, Yunzhou was the best. The familiar feeling was indescribable. “Yunzhou, Master, your disciples have returned.”

Some were happy at their return, others not. Their master was pleased, while Yan Shiyu and Mu Chenyuan were not. Jun Cailin had always been worried about Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzhen. Though both were clever, the challenges of Tianzhi Yun were immense. She had been anxious since losing contact with them, but now she finally smiled, sensing their presence. “Cailin, what did I tell you? These children would return safely. Now you can relax. Our children will be just fine.”

Liang Yunsi, though concerned, was reserved with his emotions and would not express them easily. “Xi’er, Yunzhen, you’ve finally returned!” Seeing his mother again, Liang Xi felt his heart settle. “Uncle, aunt, as you see, my brother and I have returned safe and sound.”

“Haha, nephew, if you hadn’t come back, your mother might have turned Yunzhou upside down! If things had really come to that, it would have been dreadful, wouldn’t it?” Yun Hailan spoke honestly. “Uncle, you’re here as well. This mission was dangerous, but we gained much. Mother, I’ll go speak with Master first—he’s been worried, too. Once the sect matters are settled, I’ll return. Is that all right?”

“Of course. Your master may not have said anything, but as your mother, I know he was worried for you both. While you were gone, your master had a fight with his senior brother, the sect leader. If Yan Shiyu hadn’t intervened, Mu Chenyuan might have been finished! That battle has become the talk of Yunzhou. You two have just returned, so you wouldn’t know.” Jun Cailin never expected that Qi Ying, who had been reclusive for years, would come out again for his disciples. Clearly, he valued his two disciples greatly.

Neither Zhuang Yunzhen nor Liang Xi knew about these events—Master taking action again? Was it possible? He had such serious internal injuries; could he have recovered?

Now, Liang Xi and his brother were eager to see their master. They felt useless, causing their master worry even at this stage. Climbing the familiar steps of apprenticeship, they invoked the Bird Flight Technique and soon reached the mountaintop. Passing the grand relief sculpture, they returned to Lingyun Palace. On the small square before the palace, they saw their master after many days.

“You two brats! Did you have too much fun outside and only now remember to come back? Wait till I deal with you! But seeing you both well puts my mind at ease. This is truly wonderful! Both of you have made great progress—that pleases me most. No, as I’ve always said, your safe return is more important than anything!”

“Now, your skills have improved. At this grand tournament, you’ll both do well. Why? Because you are Qi Ying’s disciples, trained personally by me. I was formidable in my day, so you must not fall behind. Even if you do, it doesn’t matter—dealing with Mu Chenyuan will be no problem.”

Master, how do you have this trait of self-admiration? Ten years together and I never noticed. Truly, you hid it well. But, as they say, like master, like disciple. My brother and I are so likable; we must have inherited your true teaching!

Would Liang Xi still be himself if he did not joke? Of course not.

“Junior brother, our master has always been vain. Haven’t you noticed he always wears a scented pouch? That’s his old habit. You’ve only followed him for ten years. I grew up with him. If you want to know more about Master, it’s easy—just ask me. I have all the exclusive firsthand stories.” Zhuang Yunzhen, too, had become mischievous. Truly, people are shaped by their company. He had been so honest before—look at him now!

After their playful banter, Qi Ying’s heart was truly glad. His disciples had become stronger after leaving his side. “I see your bodies contain not only the Lingyun Codex but also a surge of righteous sword energy. Especially you, Zhuang Yunzhen—you’ve gained such formidable sword energy as your internal skill. I am very pleased.”

“Mu Chenyuan doesn’t dare come now. He senses your presence, but I’ve nearly neutralized his power. In the grand tournament, you’ll finally settle things with him.”

“Damn it, Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzhen have returned! How is this possible? What happened to them that their skills are now stronger than mine?” Mu Chenyuan had been training ceaselessly, but now only half his power remained. How to fully utilize this remaining power was his main concern, but no matter how he trained, the results were unsatisfactory.

His limits seemed reached, yet the grand tournament was only days away. How could he defeat Zhuang Yunzhen and Liang Xi? His master refused to help, saying that his aid in the past made Mu Chenyuan reliant and incapable of gaining strength through his own efforts.

This was problematic; Mu Chenyuan now had to rely solely on himself for power. Yet, he seemed stuck at a bottleneck—whatever he did was wrong.

“Master, please help me one last time. Without your help, I cannot match Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzhen. If I lose, you will be disgraced!”

Was this a threat? If so, Mu Chenyuan was mistaken. Yan Shiyu never feared threats. His eyes were cold and ruthless. “You’re wrong. I don’t fail. If you lose, I’ll kill you myself!” Yan Shiyu was always ruthless; extra emotion was useless to him. Coldness pervaded his heart. Mu Chenyuan once imagined he was his master’s most important disciple, but perhaps Master was supposed to act this way!

“At least with Qi Ying, he came out of seclusion for his disciples, even with serious internal injuries. That man’s determination is impressive—a true grandmaster. You’ve trained under me for years, but you turned out like this. My reputation is ruined. Do you think you have the right to bargain with me?”

“If you want my respect, the only condition is to defeat Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzhen in the grand tournament. If you cannot do that, you know the outcome.”

Mu Chenyuan now hated Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzhen deeply. Because of them, his master treated him differently. His past honors were gone, but he vowed to reclaim them. The method of manipulating vital energy was forbidden, but many had cultivated it over the years. If others could do it, why not him?

If he secretly mastered this skill and shone in the grand tournament, his master would surely value him again. For victory, Mu Chenyuan would do anything. The method of manipulating vital energy breaks the natural balance, granting immense strength for a short time, but afterwards, the practitioner suffers fatal consequences.

Upon discovering this technique, Mu Chenyuan treated it as a treasure. He had trained it for years, waiting for the right moment. Now, the grand tournament was the perfect opportunity.

Time passed, and Mu Chenyuan, Zhuang Yunzhen, and Liang Xi each honed their skills. The righteous energy within Liang Xi grew ever stronger; he seemed more ethereal and agile. Already handsome, he now became the focus of all attention, though he did not care. His daily training was rigorous; playful though he was, at critical moments he revealed a confidence and power that inspired others.

Zhuang Yunzhen mastered the unity of sword energy, able to wield the Rainbow Sword with ease. Neither he nor Liang Xi sought too much—perfecting the first level was enough. Most importantly, their unique abilities from the Lingyun Codex made defeat unlikely in the grand tournament.

“Excellent! You two now possess such great power—I am truly at ease. Soon the grand tournament in Lingyun Wonderland will begin. You need not train further; overdoing it can be harmful. Take some time to relax. I never wanted you to train for the sake of training. In ten years, I let you grow freely. You have not disappointed me!”

“You are both smart. As long as you comprehend power in combat, you’ll find your own path. From the start, I believed in you!”

“My greatest purpose in accepting you as disciples was not to make you strong, but to keep you safe and happy. From today, you are officially graduated—I am no longer your master. Truly, I have nothing more to teach you. Your future achievements depend on yourselves.” Qi Ying felt his internal injuries about to erupt; he could not let Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzhen see this, or they would demand answers.

But, they were still not strong enough. Even if they knew, it would only bring them great risk. He had not trained them to lead them into danger.

The moment of graduation had come. Liang Xi thought he would be sad, but he was not. The once tearful boy had grown up. “Master, no matter how you view us, in our hearts you will always be our master. This will never change, no matter how many years pass. Without you, I would have perished long ago. I will never forget your kindness!”

“Oh my, is this the same Liang Xi I remember? After just one trip down the mountain, your tongue has become so eloquent. Don’t say that. Though we are no longer master and disciples, we are still friends. I don’t believe that if I were ever in danger, you two would ignore me!”

“Never!” Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzhen replied together. Their master’s skill was profound—one of the top experts in Yunzhou. Who could threaten him?

“Liang Xi, Zhuang Yunzhen, you two must broaden your horizons. Yunzhou’s top experts—ha, is that so impressive? There are many masters in Yunguan. Compared to them, I am nothing. I have said too much. These matters are not for you to worry about now. Your only task is to win the grand tournament!”

Ultimately, their master departed. Where he went, he did not say, nor did Liang Xi or Zhuang Yunzhen ask. Their training had reached a turning point; to continue would be unwise. To learn in combat was their master’s advice, and now they eagerly awaited the tournament.

Qi Ying had not left. He was simply healing in a hidden place. His disciples had not yet won, so he could not die; he had to witness Mu Chenyuan’s fate before he could rest.

“Senior brother, the tournament is about to begin. Are you nervous? I truly am—it’s my first time.”

“Isn’t it mine as well? Nervous, but excited. The grand tournament is Yunzhou’s most important event. Our uncle and aunt will surely come—they want to see you shine. Even for that, you can’t lose. But don’t worry; we always support each other. If you’re in danger, I’ll help at once.”

“The tournament values our teamwork. After so many years, we can finally settle things with Mu Chenyuan. That boy bullied you since childhood, but now you have the power to surprise everyone.”

“Master says martial artists must not be aggressive for aggression’s sake—it brings no benefit to cultivation. Speaking of Mu Chenyuan, I haven’t seen him lately. Who knows what he’s up to? Perhaps training a powerful new technique.”

“Father, let’s go to Yunzhou. Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzhen are about to compete in the Lingyun Wonderland tournament. Their strength is impressive, and surely has grown even more.” Gu Zhenzhen had missed Liang Xi greatly; it was a new feeling for her.

Gu Chuan was now the top man in Tianzhi Yun, and felt relaxed. “Girl, are you sure you want to say that before your father? I know what’s in your heart. You claim to want to see the tournament, but really you want to see Liang Xi. Still, you’re right—I admire both Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzhen. They are honorable. Though Lei Pengfei was their enemy, they buried him and Qing Shu together. Such magnanimity is rare!”

“Such people will achieve much wherever they go. Knowing them benefits us, too. They are our benefactors—without their planning, Yaksha Sect would have been destroyed long ago, and we would not have today’s glory.”

Gu Zhenzhen’s eyes sparkled. “So you agree, Father? You’re wonderful!” She was always like this—when her request was granted, she praised her father. It had happened many times, so Gu Chuan was used to it. “Let’s prepare to leave. It’s been years since I visited Yunzhou. I can see old friends—very nice.”

Three days later, the Lingyun Wonderland grand tournament officially began. For Yunzhou, it was momentous—the last tournament was years ago, mainly because Lingyun Wonderland had long been dormant. What happened in those years remained a mystery, now a secret of Lingyun Wonderland. But these matters were no longer important; the crucial thing was that the grand tournament had finally begun!

All prominent figures of Yunzhou were invited. The Liang family was naturally among the first to arrive. Jun Cailin’s beauty shone even in the simplest attire; true beauty needs no embellishment. Liang Yunsi dressed modestly but his refinement was evident. Husband and wife were first to arrive, eager to see their son.

“Mother, you look wonderful today.” Liang Xi was as pure and sweet as ever with his mother. Jun Cailin knew she looked good, but hearing compliments from her husband and son made her very happy. “You’ve always been sweet-tongued—much better than your father. Remember to keep this skill alive!”

Liang Yunsi did not know what to say—was he really the dumbest? Surely not. He had a sweet tongue as well—he ate a piece of candy before coming. “Xi’er, are you nervous? The tournament isn’t such a big deal; you and your brother are clever. Winning should be easy. I only hope you stay safe—fighting is dangerous.”

“Mother, don’t worry. Now is the best time. I’ll show you how much I’ve grown after years of training. Will you trust me?”

“Jun Cailin, after so many years, you’re still beautiful. Truly, I pity you. Sadly, I who once rivaled you, am now a different person. Yunzhou’s families are led by the Liangs, thanks to you.” A disagreeable voice sounded—a woman, aged and ugly, yet possessing a remarkable presence, surprising everyone.

“Cen Yu, you’re here as well? We haven’t seen each other for years. I know much about you, but I never expected you to become like this. You were once stunning, but sacrificed your looks to train the Sun Extinguishing Method. You haven’t mastered it, have you? I told you back then, once you begin, you must never stop—or you’ll face terrible consequences!”

“We were friends, but I truly didn’t want you to end up like this. Seeing you now makes me sad.”

“Yes, I’ve lost not only my strength, but everything. I am like this because of you. I came today not for anything else, but to see what kind of son you have. You know no martial arts—what kind of son could you raise? I’ve always wanted to know.”

She turned to Liang Yunsi. “With your skills and character, you chose Liang Yunsi? Truly poor taste. If he were offered to me years ago, I would never have accepted such a plain man.”

Liang Yunsi was not angry—the other woman had become like this, and her words were meant to comfort herself. Once he understood, there was no need to be angry. “I am indeed lucky. To win Cailin’s favor makes me happy beyond measure!”

“Yunsi, why say that? Cen Yu was once Yunzhou’s greatest beauty, admired by many. Only I would choose you—without me, you’d be nothing, right?” Jun Cailin was still as proud as ever.

“Yes, yes, thank you for your affection, Lady Jun. I will never forget it. Let’s go—we came early to secure good seats. Son, do your best. If you lose, I’ll mete out family discipline when we return.”

“Father, I know my strength well. Don’t worry—I have no desire to experience that discipline. Mother, watch my fight soon!”

“Uncle, aunt, rest assured. With me here, no one will harm Brother,” Zhuang Yunzhen said. “Hello, big brothers! We meet again. I told you we would, but I never expected it would be so soon.” Gu Zhenzhen bounced up to them. “Haha, young brothers, greetings! You’ve both improved greatly.”

“Yes, our skills have grown stronger. Training in Yunjiang helped us a lot. Realizing the world around us improves our strength.”

“Master says to comprehend power in combat, but I believe anything in this world can be understood.”

“Haha, remarkable! At fifteen, you have such insight. Your future will surely be outstanding. Someday, I might even need your help. Zhenzhen, let’s go to the stands. Soon you’ll see their strength. You don’t like training, or you could fight alongside them—but now you’ve missed your chance. Truly a pity.”