Chapter 7: The Person I Once Was

"Mansheng, you have slumbered for so many years; it is time for you to awaken!" atop a mountain peak, Mandala spoke with a chilling, fanatic tone. This was an obscure, desolate mountain. Upon its summit stood only a statue of a woman. Judging by the craftsmanship, the sculpture was truly lifelike; every single pore could be clearly seen. Would you believe this was merely a statue? In reality, it was not. This was a seal, and the woman sealed within was Mansheng, once the most formidable disciple of the Poison Sect, the only one who could master the Body of Extreme Poison. She was the singular love of Suwen’s life, and her current fate was entirely of Suwen’s own doing.

Years ago, Suwen had sealed Mansheng with his own hands, his face bathed in tears, hoping that she might sleep peacefully forever. No one knew what the consequences would be should she ever wake. Suwen had searched for a long time to find this desolate mountain, believing that Mansheng would finally find peace here. He never imagined that Mandala would eventually track her down. "Mansheng, I truly envy you. You have slept here in isolation for so many years, and now, it is time for you to wake up."

"If I had a choice, I certainly would not do this. Unfortunately, that man, my elder brother, must die today." Mandala’s voice sounded sorrowful, but such grief did not reach his eyes. As his fingers touched Mansheng, a slight ripple occurred. "Oh? A supreme secret seal? Big brother, you truly went to great lengths to protect this woman. Why not think back to the Kingdom of Bainu? Have you ever considered how much this woman once trusted and loved you? But now she has become like this. You never understood what Mansheng truly wanted, did you?"

"It was always you acting on your own whims. In truth, Mansheng has always harbored deep resentment toward you, and that resentment will ultimately become the power that destroys you."

Constructing a supreme secret seal is incredibly complex, but breaking it is surprisingly simple. One only needs to perform the three techniques of Scattering Flowers, Drifting Wind, and Striking Stone simultaneously. These three techniques are the foundation of all the Poison Sect’s divine arts, yet few in the sect over the years have truly understood this. After all, these techniques were originally intended only for physical strengthening; no one would have guessed that their combination could shatter a supreme secret seal.

*Ssssss!*

Three flickers of finger-chi struck the formidable seal. Moments later, cracks appeared upon it. After so many years, Mansheng finally opened her eyes slowly. As she awoke, memories from the past rushed back like a tidal wave. "Mansheng, I am sorry. The power of the Body of Extreme Poison is too immense; it should never have existed in this world. Rest peacefully; I will surely make amends to you in the future."

Suwen’s voice had been filled with guilt and reluctance, yet even with such hesitation, he could not falter in what had to be done.

Mansheng had smiled, and then she had wept. The wind rose, and the tears on her face fell with it. Since prayers were useless, why bother? Mansheng looked back one last time at the man she had loved since childhood; all the tenderness in her heart finally turned into a sigh. She accepted the seal calmly. One had craved greater power to protect his beloved from danger, while the other believed the Body of Extreme Poison was too volatile and that her radical nature would lead her down a path where even if she gained power, it would be as fleeting as a reflection in a mirror. He sealed her out of love, and she sought power out of love. Yet, why did the end result become such irreconcilable enmity?

No matter how many years passed, neither would ever understand. "Is that you, Mandala? How long have I been asleep? And how is he now?" Mansheng, of course, knew exactly what kind of person Mandala was, yet the person she cared about most remained the one in her heart. It seemed that even after all these years, Suwen had never left her thoughts.

Mandala laughed. "Naturally, it is I. Who else in this world would come for you? Are you expecting Suwen? But you should have known in your heart that no matter how many years pass, Suwen will never come to see you. As for how he is? Don’t you know him? Is there anything in his mind other than medicine?"

Mansheng ignored his cold barbs. "Did you wake me just to say this? You had better state your intentions. If it is within my power, I will help you, for it is thanks to you that I have awakened. But if I cannot, you should know that in advance."

"Hahaha! After so many years of slumber, to think you are still so calm, junior sister! Very well, you are right. I woke you because there is a thorny matter I need you to handle. It might be troublesome for others, but for you, it is quite easy. In fact, it is the very thing you have wanted to do all these years. Do you truly harbor no hatred for Suwen?"

"Now, I give you this chance. Come with me and kill Suwen, shall we? You have suffered the agony of the seal for years, a pain known only to you. You have become like this because of Suwen. I know you loved him deeply, but how much time has passed? No matter how much love there was, after all this, it must have been eroded away."

"After all these years, are you truly unwilling to seek justice for yourself? Of course, this is merely my own thought; the final decision is yours."

Love? Hahaha! Is there any such thing left in her heart? There is no need to speak of it. She awoke for this very moment. He was right; she had suffered greatly, and now it was time to unleash that bitterness. "However, you must be clear: although we are cooperating, it does not mean I will obey you. You know as well as I do that trying to control me is impossible."

Mandala knew this woman was ruthless. She had given all her tenderness to Suwen; no other man could catch her eye. No one knew that Mansheng was actually trembling with excitement. After so many years, she was finally looking forward to meeting the man she had once loved so deeply.

"Enough, this is no time for sentiment. Once this is done, you may do as you please. Although you have awakened, we must first go to a place to retrieve your equipment. Only then will you truly be yourself. Tell me, isn’t the air outside wonderful?"

"Yes, it is wonderful. I never thought I would wake again. Let us go. Are my things still in the old place?"

"Of course. I have kept them ready for you. Your gear has missed you dearly; I think you will be very pleased when you see it."

Treasure Mountain. It was named for treasure, but in truth, it was nothing but a pile of rocks. Yet, this was merely a facade; these stones were the raw materials for forging divine weapons. Of course, if one lacked skill, one should not come here, for there were many powerful experts, and it was dangerous to intrude. "Who goes there? How dare you act so brazenly on Treasure Mountain!" A group of elite warriors surged forward.

These people were nothing. Mandala looked at Mansheng with a smile. "How is that for a surprise? You have just woken up, and I am already letting you fight."

Mansheng did not mind. "Is this not normal? I have slept for years; it is a good opportunity to stretch my limbs. I wonder how much of my old skills remain?"

"How arrogant! Brothers, let us combine our strength and kill her! Let everyone know that the warriors of Treasure Mountain are not as weak as the rumors claim."

*Whoosh.*

The disciples of Treasure Mountain felt a blur before their eyes. What happened next was beyond their comprehension. The woman had not even touched them, yet they were swallowed by a powerful force. "Treasure Mountain remains the same as it ever was. It has not changed a bit. I never held high expectations for you, and in my eyes, you are already dead, are you not?"

"Old friends, after all these years, I have finally returned. Have you missed me? I have missed you all so much. I never thought we would meet again."

On a nearby mountain, a dazzling light erupted, followed by a shocking tremor. Moments later, several streaks of light shot out. In an instant, they arrived before Mansheng: a pair of twin blades and a set of ancient silver armor. This was the God-of-War set, sealed away for years. It belonged to Mansheng.

"Suwen, did you leave this for me? You are not lying to me, are you?"

"Naturally, it is for you. This armor and these blades suit you best. You are the Valkyrie of the Poison Sect; you were meant to have them. I spent much time searching and polishing them, and now, it is finally ready."

"Suwen, why treat me this way? You gave me these things yourself, have you forgotten? Did you intend to destroy even this set of armor along with me?"

"I am sorry. Even though you hate me now, I had to do it. It was my choice. If there is a chance in the future, I will apologize to you, but now is not the time."

Confusion reigned. The things she had tried to forget, no matter how many years passed, were destined to be remembered. Yet, why was her heart so calm now? Shouldn't she be even more furious?

Perhaps, after all these years, she had finally let go of the past. For some reason, there was a sense of sadness in her heart; perhaps this was not the outcome she had desired.

*Boom!*

*Boom!*

The first massive sound was a formidable strike, and the second was Mansheng returning the blow with equal force. "Who dares to ambush us? If you have the guts, come out and fight!"

"To think that after all these years, people have learned to reverse right and wrong! You two arrived at Treasure Mountain without greeting, injuring my disciples—that is your first offense. You took items without permission—that is theft, your second. Both are taboos of Treasure Mountain. Yet here you are, the ones in the wrong, playing the victim! Put down the treasures and I will let you leave, otherwise, die!"

The voice traveled from afar, and in moments, two white-robed elders appeared. It seemed they were the ones who had unleashed the powerful strike. They must have been shocked, for they were the two great masters of Treasure Mountain, and in their experience, no one could withstand their combined strike.

"Little girl, your skills are not bad; no wonder you are so arrogant. But you made one mistake: this is Treasure Mountain. Those who were arrogant here in the past never had a good end. Put down the treasures, and seeing as your skills are decent, I might spare you."

Arrogance requires capital, otherwise, offending the wrong person leads to a miserable fate. "Mandala, what else do you plan to do? The items are in hand; we should leave. As you can see, we don't have much time."

As for the two old ghosts behind her, she didn't care. Even using their full strength, they were no match for her. "Want to leave? I'm afraid it won't be that easy!" The two elders were hot-tempered and wanted everything to go their way. However, Mansheng had been a rebel since childhood; she hated being ordered about. Besides, both men were already severely wounded.

*Boom!*

The meridians of the two old men were shattered. "What did you do? When we were roaming the world, you were but a child! Even if we have rarely walked the world in recent years, our power remains! How could we be defeated by a little girl in one move?"

"Humph! I said it back then: the people of Treasure Mountain have always had ill intentions. If people like you gained great power, it would surely lead to disaster. That is why, back then, Suwen used great magic to alter the cultivation methods of Treasure Mountain. It was fine for simple physical strengthening, but if you ever engaged in battle, the power would trigger a terrifying backlash. At that point, no matter how great your skills, you would be unable to use them. You brought this upon yourselves. I know you cannot accept this, but it is the truth."

"Take my advice: go back and heal. You might find a glimmer of hope. If you discard that, the only result is death. Most importantly, the God-of-War set was always mine; you were merely keeping it for me. To think you claimed it as your own—how truly laughable."

The two elders of Treasure Mountain could not accept this. They were furious to the core. For years, they had reigned supreme here, and no one had dared to defy them. "You wretched girl, you are at death's door and yet you speak this way! Do you think you can walk out of here alive? Surround them and deal with them!"

"Mansheng, listen to me. We are in a dangerous spot; Treasure Mountain is full of mechanisms. Fighting here is unfavorable. These two are known as the 'Two Iron Walls' of Treasure Mountain, and they have remarkable attainments; they cannot be underestimated. Let us leave and fight in an open area where we have the advantage."

"I assume you don't want to lose your life here, do you?" It was unexpected that this mission would be so difficult. "Do you think you can escape? Friend, judging by your speech, have you been here before? Do you have some connection to Treasure Mountain? If so, this battle need not happen."

"Humph! I have no connection to you. I would never come to this wretched place if not for necessity. Our business is done, and you will not stop us. Do you rely on these pieces of trash you command?"

"Hahaha! You all heard that! You are called trash. Even if you are filled with rage, now is the time to unleash it! I did not let you fight before because I knew your power was insufficient. But now, I have undone the seals on you. Fight with all your might! You have waited for this moment for years, have you not? Prove yourselves; only then are you elite disciples of Treasure Mountain."

"But rest assured, this first battle is difficult for those who have never fought. We will take the lead. You need only charge. Remember, never stop moving forward. I know you can do it."

The two elders of Treasure Mountain possessed immense power, but it had been sealed until today. "Old friend, how many years has it been since we fought seriously? When was the last time we joined forces? Do you remember?"

The long-bearded elder in white robes looked like an immortal, earning him the name 'Long-Bearded Immortal.' The other, a lean man in green, had handsome features and bright eyes; he was known as the 'Green-Clad Guest.' "I don't know. Time has no meaning for us old ghosts. But it must have been decades. Too long. I know you are as happy as I am, for finally, there is someone worthy of our full strength!"

"Indeed, Green-Clad, we are truly happy! Let us strike!" Years ago, they were the world's top experts; their combined strength could rival the Divine Sword Xi Tongshen, though that was merely a saying. The truth was known only to them.

"The two old ghosts have decent power. To think that after retiring for so many years, they still have such strength. It seems their 'retirement' was just a facade. Mansheng, you can handle these two alone, right?"

"Humph! Naturally. Mandala, I hope you understand one thing: I have slept for many years, but my skills remain. They are just two old men; what is there to fear?"

As she spoke, Mansheng walked gracefully, as if strolling through her own garden. She ignored the two elders charging at her. Wherever she passed, a fragrant breeze drifted, making one feel incredibly comfortable. "Excellent. It seems that even though Mansheng was sealed, her power continued to grow. It seems I have nothing to worry about." Mandala had no intention of intervening; this battle was crucial for Mansheng to restore her strength.

*Bang!*

The combined strike of the two elders possessed at least a thousand pounds of force, containing profound mysteries. It was their ultimate killing move. Yet, facing such a formidable strike, Mansheng did not care in the slightest. Her fair hands easily parried their shocking move!

"What? Is this the full-strength strike you have worked so hard for all these years? It seems that no matter how much time passes, it is all in vain."

"Wretched girl, how dare you underestimate us! Our combined move is not so easily dissolved! Don't get cocky; if it were that simple, this wouldn't be a battle!"

Though old, their movements were as agile as a youth's. "How are they doing this? Have they practiced some powerful technique?"

Even so, she had nothing to fear. She had the Body of Extreme Poison. As long as she had this, their power was useless. She began to dodge continuously, the fragrant breeze adding to her elegance. "How is it? Am I beautiful? I imagine you two old fogies have never seen such a pretty girl. But it’s a pity; no matter your strength, I have no interest in you. The reason is simple: you are too ugly. I am a girl who likes handsome men."

"Damn it! This girl is strong! Why can't we land a hit? Why does she have such powerful footwork?"

"To think I just returned and people don't recognize me. How sad. Fine, since you like to play, I will play with you. Long-Bearded Immortal, Green-Clad Guest, it seems you have grown senile. Have you forgotten who I am?"

"Wretched girl, stop your nonsense! Who do you think you are, talking to us like we are your juniors!"

*Slap! Slap!*

Two loud slaps landed on the elders' faces. Mansheng wiped her hands with disgust. "Indeed, after all these years, your faces remain as ugly as ever. Think carefully: who am I? If you answer wrong again, don't blame me. I don't have much time, and I am not looking for you!"

"Look at your palms. Are they turning black? Now do you know who I am?"

"The Body of Extreme Poison? You... you are Mansheng? How is that possible? You should have died years ago! What happened?"

The name Mansheng was a nightmare for them. "Good. Since you remember, I don't need to waste effort. The God-of-War set is mine, is it not? Just answer me. As for the rest, don't worry. I am leaving. You know that even if you try to fight me, you are no match."

"I never died. I was merely in a deep sleep. Are you truly so terrified to see me? I have been waiting for this moment. Why won't you believe it? I am taking all my things back."

"I know you feared me, believing I would harm you. But I never would. Do you remember when I was a child and we first met?"

"Later, to master the Body of Extreme Poison, I absorbed centuries of Treasure Mountain's power, for only as a vessel could I bear this strength. The path was arduous, but I need not speak of it, for I know you understand."

Mansheng was of Treasure Mountain—that was the fact. "Hahaha! I knew you would return! We have been waiting for you all these years. Now that you are back, you must stay, for only you have the qualifications to be the master of Treasure Mountain."

"Uncles, you are mistaken. From the moment I left Treasure Mountain, I was no longer a part of it. The rule is that one may never leave. Once departed, one is a traitor. What qualification do I have to be here? I am simply happy to see that you are both well."

"Let us go, Mandala. You have always wanted to know my identity. Now you have your answer. Is it unexpected? If I could, I would not have said it, for in your eyes, I am useless. I don't even know what I want to achieve after this awakening. If I can see him again, I will be content."

"Rest assured, even if you don't say it, I know. You will see him. You are right; we have the items, so let us go. Elders, do not look so glum. Since your master has returned, all will be well. I guarantee it!"

"Guarantee? Mandala, you are joking. Everyone knows your nature—you always tear down bridges once crossed. Why did you forcibly awaken Lady Mansheng? We don't know, but we won't let you run wild!"

"Long-Bearded Immortal, you are truly forgetful. Have you forgotten how this young woman treated you both? Why were you so terrified when you heard the name Mansheng? It is because, even after all these years, you have never forgotten the humiliation she brought you. How quickly you forget!"

"As for my plans, if you want to know, just follow us and see. Unless, after all these years, you still have not grown and remain as cowardly as ever? It is true, this massive Treasure Mountain rests on your shoulders, so you dare not make a mistake, for if you do, you lose everything."

"None of us are good people, so don't pretend. I don't have the time to play with you. If you are truly dissatisfied, then strike, provided you think you can win!"

Mandala no longer wished to pretend. He looked at Mansheng. "Mansheng, I will tell you my plan. Yes, I have no good intentions. My goal is simple: to destroy Suwen. As long as he exists, I can have no peace. I have lived in his shadow for too long. You know how I have lived all these years."

"Forget it. It is meaningless to speak of it now. I have awakened you, but whether you cooperate is your choice. I never force anyone."

"Mandala, say no more. I know what you want, and you understand what I want. I am who I am today thanks to Suwen. You asked if I had no resentment. No, I have hatred. But while sleeping, I could do nothing. Now, I have awakened. I have power. And I have the help of the two elders. With this, I can fulfill my wishes. Elders, do you understand now? Are you willing to help me? Help me reclaim the self I once was."