Capítulo 1402: Chapter 54: Parting Ways (1/2)
When nurous Martial Artists were gathering in the First Estate, Sikou Tingfeng had not appeared behind the third gate.
Nor had she intended to go out and et the high-ranking mbers of the Jianghu sects directly.
To welco the grand ceremony today, she finally wore sothing other than her usual plain and simple clothes. Over her light-colored vigorous attire, she donned a broad-sleeved black robe, a creation of a Shu Land weaving lady. The stitching was fine, matching the high standards of the weaving workshops in the Imperial Palace of Shu Land back in the day.
The style leaned towards the garb traditionally worn by the great clans of the Central Plains, yet it was different. The collar extended downward, with jade white trims on the cuffs and collar, embroidered with dark golden ancient dragon sparrow patterns, lending a solemn and dignified appearance.
Sikou Tingfeng no longer displayed the casual deanor she had when she used to gossip about Xue Qinshuang’s personal life. Even the Heavenly Secrets Whip, which could transform into various weapons on her wrist, had been replaced. At her waist hung a Broad Sword, its sword edge enveloped in an aura of considerable refinent and purity, subtly stirring the surrounding Qi chanism.
In front of the secluded courtyard behind the third gate, an elderly man with white beard and hair stood guard at the entrance. He had stood there all night, his shoulders covered with dew. Seeing Sikou Tingfeng arrive, he had a complex look in his eyes, stroked his beard, and greeted her proactively:
“Greetings, Manor Master.”
Sikou Tingfeng raised her hand to support the old man, saying:
“Fourth Master, there’s no need for this…”
The old man silently lowered his arm, and the two stood side by side, their eyes raised to look at the courtyard. The once young Sikou Tingfeng and the old man stood in silence for a mont before entering the courtyard together.
The courtyard was tastefully arranged. Beneath a large tree stood a rectangular table, around which three n were either sitting or standing. The youngest among them appeared to be in his fifties or sixties, with white hair at the temples. Most of them were already in their twilight years, their aura as vast as a mountain or sea, yet seemingly constrained, unable to fully erupt.
Sikou Tingfeng, upon entering, went straight to the table.
There was wine on the table.
All in the courtyard remained silent. With a flick of her robe, several strangely shaped weapons fell onto the table, clanking. There was a blue Ei Watershed Spike, a thin, nearly translucent Short Sword, and a twisted, spiraling Qin Weapon. The woman glanced at the group and said softly:
“Masters, three days ago while I was in seclusion, assassins bypassed heavy defenses, reaching my Quiet Room. They didn’t wish to get entangled nor had the intent to harm, and I repelled them, seizing their weapons.”
“Do any of you recognize these weapons?”
The three elders did not respond.
Seeing no one answer, Sikou Tingfeng gave a self-deprecating smile and said: “There is still a stick of incense ti before today’s ceremony begins. We have plenty of ti. If one stick of incense isn’t enough, we can light another. Even if we miss this ceremony today, it’s of no serious consequence. After all, it’s important to clarify the matters.”
She then sat down, poured herself a cup of wine, gazed into her reflection in the wine, and then drank it down in one gulp. Though drinking by herself, it lacked the elegance of the past. The white-haired elder stood behind Sikou Tingfeng, noticing the bitterness in her posture, while the other three remained silent, not looking at the two beside the table.
There was no one else in the courtyard.
The sounds from the third gate afar were audible.
Disciples slightly acquainted with Sikou Tingfeng in The Number One Manor in the World knew she had attempted to break through to the Third Rank Grandmaster during her seclusion days ago. Despite the heavy defenses, assassins still found their way to her, forcing her to break out of seclusion. Though she repelled the three, her own montum, built over a long period, dwindled, preventing her from advancing to Grandmaster in one go.
The matter involved vast intrigue in secret, tightening the First Estate despite outward relaxation for days. Countless people tried hard to trace any clues of those assassins.
Who would have expected the reason would erge from the three masters, who personally taught Sikou Tingfeng Martial Arts? Even the Fourth Manor Master, most skilled in the calculation of Heavenly Secrets, never thought of such a reason, just assuming there were other masters disturbing the Heavenly Secrets on the enemy’s side, dismissing it casually.
As the undeniable truth surfaced, the old man’s hands trembled incessantly within his sleeves, his face filled with pain, closing his eyes and refusing to speak further.
Sikou Tingfeng rely continued drinking, though slowly. Each gulp felt surreal. This experience was far more profound than the stories she heard during her Jianghu ventures. After all, tales were about others’ love and woes, warranting only a sigh before being forgotten, never lingering in one’s heart.
Only when it happens to oneself does one comprehend the pain that cuts to the core.
The bronze bell obtained by the Manor Master from the Chu King was struck by soone.
The deep, resonant tone reverberated endlessly amidst the mountains, dispersing countless clouds and dropping many red maples. Sikou Tingfeng suddenly smiled and sighed:
“The ti has co…”
“It is said so, but as the host, you certainly cannot let the guests wait too long.”
Shaking her head, she chuckled softly:
“I never thought there would co a day I would voluntarily walk out from here, down the third gate, reminiscent of my childhood mories. Second Master, if I rember correctly, seventeen years ago, you carried all night up the mountain, didn’t you?”
“That year, the heavy snow nearly sealed the mountain road.”
“You feared I would catch cold and wrapped in your Inner Strength along the way. As a result, you got terribly cold yourself, while I ended up sleeping soundly. When you ca to hold , I even complained about your cold body, with ice forming on your beard.”
Reviews
All reviews (0)