SS CH73

Qin Lanshang was already growing impatient waiting by the Guiling River.

When she was first yanked down into the hole, she had only been startled for a moment before realizing it was the forest guards making their move. Although she couldn’t figure out exactly what her grandfather was planning, she knew he wouldn’t harm her, so she boldly let herself fall.

What she hadn’t expected was for Lu Mingyuan to jump down after her. Although “Scholars did not speak of strange forces and chaotic spirits,” this scholar seemed naturally terrified of ghosts. Along their journey, just listening to others spin wild tales of spirits and deities had him trembling, and the slightest rustle of grass would make him jump like a startled bird. Qin Lanshang had thoroughly mocked him for it several times.

Yet, this incredibly timid fellow hadn’t hesitated to jump down, pulling her into his arms to protect her. If the hidden tunnel hadn’t been slanted and winding to absorb the impact, he would have been smashed to pieces.

Stupid scholar! Has reading completely rotted your brain? Qin Lanshang grumbled internally, though she couldn’t help but smile.

At the bottom of the hole lay a secret tunnel with nine twists and eighteen turns, so pitch-black one couldn’t see their own fingers. Fortunately, the people Shen Wuduan dispatched did not make things difficult; they simply guided them to the tunnel’s exit and retreated.

Beyond the secret tunnel lay a desolate, overgrown clearing, bordering a long river. This river was named Guiling, or “Returning Spirits.” Because of its violently surging undercurrents, it had swallowed countless boats since ancient times, burying an unknown number of corpses beneath its dark, murky waters. At night, the river blended seamlessly with the darkness. Because of this, when the Hundred Ghosts Sect was founded, this river was utilized as a natural moat. Even if outsiders possessed enough qinggong to cross a river on a single reed, they could not escape the “water ghosts” intercepting them from below.

When Qin Lanshang ran away from home this time, she had stolen a token to command the “water ghosts” to help her cross the river. Not daring to act recklessly now, she obediently waited by the riverbank with Lu Mingyuan. They ended up waiting for over an hour, and she was on the verge of plucking a small patch of grass bald when she finally saw three figures drifting down from the cliff face.

Iron chains hung down the sheer cliff, with no jagged rocks providing any footholds. Only those with exceptionally high qinggong and immense courage dared to take this path. In her entire life, Qin Lanshang had only ever seen her grandfather, her young uncle, and Sun Minfeng come and go this way. Today, there was one more.

Recalling the scene she had witnessed at Jinxing Residence in Qingxue Village, she blinked. Just as she was about to step forward and say something, she noticed all three men looked slightly off. Smartly changing her tune, she complained, “You finally arrived. I’m almost starving to death.”

Shen Wuduan pinched her cheek and laughed, “It looks to me like you’ve actually gained some weight since leaving home. You don’t look like you’ve suffered at all.”

Perhaps girls everywhere absolutely despised that word. Qin Lanshang immediately objected, placing her hands on her hips. “How is that possible? I even had to tighten my sash by half an inch!”

Pulling himself from his thoughts, Chu Xiwei delivered the fatal blow: “A carefree heart makes a plump body.”

Qin Lanshang stomped her foot. “Uncle, where is your conscience?”

As an outsider, Ye Fusheng wisely refrained from interrupting their family banter. He nudged Lu Mingyuan with his elbow and teased, “How did it feel to play the hero rescuing the beauty?”

Lu Mingyuan hid his face behind his fan, wishing the ground would swallow him. “I-I was dragged out by Miss Qin.”

Ye Fusheng: “…”

After joking around for a bit, Shen Wuduan’s expression suddenly shifted. He spoke strictly to Qin Lanshang: “Leaving the valley without authorization and acting so recklessly brought immense trouble to the sect. Do you admit your mistake?”

When he said the word “trouble,” his gaze briefly landed on Lu Mingyuan. Though the look was light, it pierced forward without warning like a sharp knife. A chill ran down Lu Mingyuan’s spine, but fortunately, he managed to stand his ground. Cupping his hands in a formal bow, he said, “This junior is Lu Mingyuan. I was acting upon my late master’s dying command. If I have caused any disturbance or offense, I beg for Senior’s leniency. I will certainly offer a formal apology and accept punishment afterward.”

Shen Wuduan merely uttered an “Oh,” remaining noncommittal. Knowing perfectly well that her grandfather could change his face faster than turning the page of a book, Qin Lanshang hurriedly jumped in to defuse the situation: “I admit my mistake! Later, I’ll kneel in the ancestral hall and confess to Grandmother, and then go to the Punishment Hall myself to receive my penalty!”

Shen Wuduan sneered. “The Punishment Hall judges the offense, not the person. Can you endure three knives and six holes?”

Before Qin Lanshang could respond, Lu Mingyuan bowed deeply. “Miss Qin was dragged down by this junior. The punishment should be borne by this junior. Please do not blame her unjustly, Senior.”

Shen Wuduan’s gaze flashed across his face and withdrew. “Since you have offered, I will place the debt on you. Do not try to deny it later.”

Qin Lanshang jumped frantically but was utterly powerless to object as Chu Xiwei held her firmly by the shoulder. Lu Mingyuan, however, looked as if a heavy boulder had been lifted from his chest, offering her a careful smile.

Having said his piece, Shen Wuduan brought his fingers to his lips and whistled. Shortly after, a bamboo raft drifted upstream against the current, yet there was no boatman polling it.

Ye Fusheng focused his eyes and vaguely spotted several dark silhouettes beneath the murky water. It turned out that people with exceptional water skills were submerged beneath the raft, pushing it forward. No wonder it could travel upstream without a pole. He had once heard that the southern water towns housed individuals with extraordinary aquatic skills and deep internal energy who could remain submerged for an entire day with only brief breaths of air, moving like fish and treating the water as their home. He hadn’t expected to see them here.

The five boarded the raft. With a slight shift, it steadied immediately. The “water ghosts” below used ropes to drag the raft toward the opposite bank, their skill rivaling that of any veteran boatman. In the blink of an eye, the mountain forest and grassy clearing were left completely behind.

Disembarking on the opposite shore, they walked several hundred steps through low shrubs before opening a hidden door in the cliff face. The five entered one by one, only to discover an entirely different world hidden within.

It was a deep, secluded valley, nestled against the mountains and encircled by rivers. Trees formed confusing arrays, stones were stacked into long walls, and pavilions, watchtowers, and living quarters were perfectly arranged. The sounds of birds, beasts, and insects filled the air, and occasionally, a black eagle would soar upward, disappearing into the vast sky.

Shen Wuduan led them along a quiet stone path, navigating around several trap-laden routes until they arrived at a concealed mountain gate. Standing at the entrance was the Ghost Physician, Sun Minfeng, who they hadn’t seen in days, alongside Er Niang, the woman in white.

Upon seeing them, Sun Minfeng walked up, circled the five people twice, and clicked his tongue. “Not bad, everyone came back whole. No missing arms or legs.”

Hearing this familiar manner of speaking, Chu Xiwei inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief. Qin Lanshang immediately stepped forward, hugged his arm, and rubbed against it, complaining pitifully, “Uncle Sun, Grandfather and Uncle are bullying me!”

When Sun Minfeng joined the Hundred Ghosts Sect, Qin Lanshang had been nothing but a tiny ball. He had treated and watched over her ever since. Their relationship was incredibly close, and since her father had died early, she genuinely viewed Sun Minfeng as a second father. Shen Wuduan and his wife had always turned a blind eye to this.

Hearing her complaint, Sun Minfeng patted her head comfortingly before turning to Chu Xiwei. “Master, I have already passed down your orders.”

No matter how immense Shen Wuduan’s authority was, the person currently sitting on the throne was Chu Xiwei. Sun Minfeng recognized this crystal clearly and positioned himself accordingly. With such an exquisite, tactful mind, it was no wonder he was heavily relied upon by two generations of Sect Masters.

Shen Wuduan paid it no mind, lazily adopting the posture of a retired emperor. Chu Xiwei nodded. “Notify them to gather at the Senluo Hall at a quarter to midnight.”

Watching from the side, Ye Fusheng’s heart suddenly softened. When giving orders, Chu Xiwei possessed a commanding, authoritative presence. The childishness of the past was completely gone. Suddenly, he acutely realized that he had entirely missed this disciple’s growth. A full ten years—everything and everyone had changed.

Ye Fusheng did not regret the deal he made with Chu Xun ten years ago; he only regretted not taking better care of Chu Xiwei during those ten years. Unfortunately, realizing it now was too late; the past could no longer be chased.

Once Chu Xiwei finished arranging official matters, Shen Wuduan spoke up. “Both outsiders brought back have passed the sect’s trials. Arrange for this scholar to stay at the ‘Ningmo Quarters.’ As for this one…”

His gaze shifted to Ye Fusheng. After pausing for a moment, he commanded, “Take him to the ‘Fuxue Courtyard’.”

The moment these words fell, the expressions of all four Hundred Ghosts Sect members shifted simultaneously. A flash of shock crossed Chu Xiwei’s eyes, and the amused expression on Sun Minfeng’s face instantly settled into something far more solemn as he re-evaluated Ye Fusheng.

The Ningmo Quarters were guest rooms—the place where the Hundred Ghosts Sect hosted outsiders visiting for business. Placing Lu Mingyuan there was perfectly normal.

But the Fuxue Courtyard was entirely different.

After Qin Liurong fell severely ill, Shen Wuduan had specifically chosen a warm, pleasant spot in the valley to build the Qingxu Pavilion for her recovery, subsequently taking up permanent residence there. But prior to that, he had lived in the Liufeng Residence, which sat adjacent to the Fuxue Courtyard.

These two courtyards were located in a slightly remote area but boasted absolute tranquility. Before the gates lay a babbling brook lined with plum blossoms; behind the walls stood a small pine forest that remained green all year round. The Liufeng Residence was planted with black and white autumn chrysanthemums, while the Fuxue Courtyard was covered in orchids that cast their faint fragrance into the wind. Together, the two courtyards gathered the “plum, orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo,” achieving an indescribable, elegant charm.

Because the previous owner of the Liufeng Residence was Shen Wuduan, and the current occupant was the Sect Master Chu Xiwei, it was definitively an inner sanctum. To place Ye Fusheng—a complete newcomer—in the Fuxue Courtyard, separated by only a single wall, was incredibly intriguing.

Concealing the shock in her eyes, Er Niang dared not question his orders. “Yes,” she replied respectfully.

Summoning a subordinate to lead Lu Mingyuan away, she personally guided Ye Fusheng. Only after both outsiders were far away did Chu Xiwei ask, “Yifu, this breaks the rules.”

“Rules are made by people. Whoever is dissatisfied can go dig up the dead people who made them and argue with me.” Shen Wuduan scoffed, glancing at him. “The older you get, the more useless you become. Don’t think I don’t know: you say it breaks the rules, but in your heart, you couldn’t be happier.”

Covering her mouth to hide a snicker, Qin Lanshang enthusiastically threw stones down the well. “Exactly! Uncle’s face is as stiff as a rock, but his heart is blooming with joy!”

“Lanshang,” Chu Xiwei turned to stare at her expressionlessly. “You suffered a fright while traveling. For the next three days, you will drink water boiled with lotus cores and coptis root. Good medicine tastes bitter but cures the illness. If you don’t like it, hold it in.”

Qin Lanshang: “…”

Pretending not to see his granddaughter being bullied right under his nose, Shen Wuduan coughed lightly. “Don’t be a stubborn dead duck either. Minfeng already told me. You were even willing to give him the Ice Soul Pearl as medicine. Is it really that hard to admit it just once?”

Chu Xiwei fell silent again. Whenever he didn’t want to speak, you couldn’t beat a single word out of him even with a club.

“Five years ago, I sent a girl to your room, and you tossed her out, claiming you were a cut-sleeve… Tch, I thought you were just lying to me.” Shen Wuduan rubbed the white jade archer’s ring on his thumb. “Later, I saw over a hundred portraits in your room. They were all of a man’s. That was when I realized you weren’t lying.”

After a pause, Shen Wuduan continued, “The moment I saw him today, I knew exactly who the person in your heart was. That kid is a few years older than you. From what I can see, he indulges you in everything. Even if it has nothing to do with romance, he still holds you in his heart. That’s good enough.”

Chu Xiwei remained silent, and Qin Lanshang covered her mouth, too afraid to interrupt. Only Sun Minfeng spoke up: “But he is still an outsider.”

“As long as this little brat doesn’t act foolishly, he will eventually become an insider.” Shen Wuduan cast a half-smile at Chu Xiwei. “Besides, I didn’t let him stay at the Fuxue Courtyard solely because of this.”

Chu Xiwei felt a flash of confusion, only to hear Shen Wuduan’s voice suddenly darken. “Minfeng said his name is Ye Fusheng. I’ve never heard this name before, but the martial arts techniques he just displayed… I am very familiar with them.”

Chu Xiwei’s heart skipped a beat. Shen Wuduan turned his head, his smile freezing into place like a heavy, dark stroke of ink upon a painted mask. His gaze deep and piercing, he asked, enunciating every word clearly: “Is he… the successor of the Jinghong Blade? Back then, you absolutely refused to say who taught you the Jinghong Technique. Now it seems… it was him, wasn’t it?”