Chapter 28: Narrow Path
The dirt road ended at East Peace Village.
It was eerily quiet as they entered, not a sound to be heard.
"Seems like everyone's fled the famine," Fu Tingyun murmured.
"Places like Li Family Hollow are rare," Ninth Master Zhao remarked indifferently. "Most villages don't have such advantageous terrain."
Fu Tingyun nodded.
A Sen had already found a place to stay. "Master, what do you think? Can we rest here?"
The two walked over.
The house had a black-lacquered gate with brass rings, high stone walls, and a large courtyard inside. The main building was a three-room brick house. Beyond it lay a smaller courtyard with three side rooms, followed by a patio and a kitchen. It was quite impressive.
"We'll stay in the side rooms at the back," Ninth Master Zhao said with a satisfied nod.
This way, if anyone barged in, the two courtyards and main house would give them time to react.
A Sen responded loudly and cleared out the eastern side room for Fu Tingyun.
Noticing a stone table and stools beneath a withered grapevine in the corner of the courtyard, Fu Tingyun suggested, "Ninth Master, shall we have dinner outside?" Ninth Master Zhao wasn't particular about such details, so she was merely informing him. As she spoke, she began setting out the food.
Suddenly, Ninth Master Zhao tensed and turned toward the outside, covering the distance to the back door of the main hall in just a few steps.
Fu Tingyun was startled. By the time she reacted, Ninth Master Zhao had already vanished into the main hall, followed by a woman's piercing scream.
A Sen poked his head out from the open window of the eastern side room.
Fu Tingyun set down the bowls and chopsticks and hurried out of the courtyard.
The dark-faced man they had encountered on the road had somehow followed them and was now pinned to the ground, his shoulder gripped by Ninth Master Zhao. The delicate-looking woman knelt beside him, clutching her child and pleading desperately, "...We only came in because this house had the thickest walls and seemed the safest. We’ll leave right now, right now! Please, sir, show us mercy!" As she spoke, she pressed the child’s head down to kowtow to Ninth Master Zhao.
The sight made Fu Tingyun uncomfortable.
Using a child as leverage—how despicable!
Clearly, this couple was no good.
She quietly retreated and ran into A Sen.
"What happened?" A Sen asked.
"Nothing!" Fu Tingyun replied. "Someone else wanted this courtyard too. Ninth Master is handling it."
A Sen didn’t question further.
"Is the eastern room ready?" Fu Tingyun asked. "If so, let’s prepare dinner."
"Done ages ago!" A Sen grinned.
Just then, Ninth Master Zhao strode in. "A Sen, find another place. We’re moving."
Without hesitation, A Sen responded loudly, "Got it!" and turned to leave.
"Use the back door," Ninth Master Zhao added.
A hint of confusion flickered in A Sen’s eyes, but he quickly turned and exited through the rear.
Fu Tingyun hastily packed the food. "Ninth Master, are we giving this place to them?"
"No," Ninth Master Zhao said. "Better to be cautious."
She trusted his judgment completely and quickly finished gathering their things.
A Sen returned shortly. "The third house next door is decent, just a bit smaller."
Ninth Master Zhao didn’t respond but gave Fu Tingyun a meaningful glance. Pushing the cart, he led the way, with Fu Tingyun following, to the house A Sen had mentioned.After a hectic dinner, the sky was already filled with stars.
A Sen sighed, "Tomorrow will be another sunny day!"
"I didn’t expect you to know about constellations," Fu Tingyun enjoyed teasing A Sen.
"Ninth Master told me," A Sen glanced at Ninth Master Zhao, who sat silently eating his steamed bun. "He even knows where the Vega and Altair stars are. Brother Yucheng can also tell the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl."
"Have you heard the story of Chang'e flying to the moon?" Fu Tingyun asked with a smile. "Would you like me to tell you?"
"Of course I’ve heard it," A Sen waved dismissively. "Brother Yucheng can even tell the story of 'The Meeting of the Single Sword'! Do you know 'The Meeting of the Single Sword'? It’s about Lord Guan, and it’s really exciting. How about I tell it to you?"
Fu Tingyun burst into laughter but then inwardly groaned. Ninth Master was always secretive about his affairs. Would he be angry that she was joking with A Sen about his companions?
She stole a glance at him.
He sat quietly, watching them with a gentle smile. His clear eyes sparkled like the countless stars in the night sky behind him—brilliant yet serene, calming the heart at a single glance.
Fu Tingyun was momentarily stunned.
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In the middle of the night, Fu Tingyun was shaken awake by A Sen. "Miss, wake up!"
"What’s wrong?" For convenience, she had been sleeping in her clothes these days.
"Ninth Master heard the sound of horses’ hooves," A Sen’s small face was tense under the moonlight. "He’s afraid bandits might be raiding the village!"
"How could this happen? Didn’t they even send scouts? The villagers have long since fled!" Though she muttered complaints, her movements were swift. She quickly put on her shoes and followed A Sen out of the east wing.
Ninth Master Zhao stood in the courtyard with a furrowed brow. Seeing Fu Tingyun and A Sen, he pointed to a large water vat in the northeast corner. "Hide here first!"
"How?" The vat had long been empty and had a large broken gap.
She strained her ears, but the night was as silent as ever, with no unusual sounds.
Ninth Master Zhao effortlessly overturned the vat and placed it on the ground. "Hide inside," he instructed, then turned to A Sen. "Bring the lady’s bundle, waterskin, and steamed buns—hide them all inside the vat."
Fu Tingyun gaped, unsure what to say.
A Sen hurried off and soon returned with the items Ninth Master had mentioned.
"Use the bundle as a cushion and sit on the ground," Ninth Master Zhao said, lifting a corner of the vat and gesturing for her to crawl in quickly. "Don’t come out until I say so. Understood?" His tone was stern.
Fu Tingyun nodded repeatedly and clumsily climbed inside. A Sen stuffed the waterskin, steamed buns, and flatbread in after her.
Ninth Master Zhao and A Sen then climbed onto the kitchen’s crossbeam.
In the cramped, dark space, time seemed to slow in the utter silence.
Fu Tingyun felt a twinge of fear. But trusting Ninth Master Zhao, she remained motionless, curled up inside the vat.
After what felt like an eternity, a sudden burst of light shone through the broken gap in the vat.
"Zhao Jiu, I know you’re in there," a rough voice bellowed. "Fate brings us together across a thousand miles; without it, we’d never meet. Since fate has brought us face to face, shouldn’t we settle our accounts? I’ve dreamed of you every night!" The last words were uttered with a chilling menace.
Weren’t they supposed to be hiding from bandits?How to escape from Ninth Master Zhao's enemies?
Fu Tingyun's heart instantly tightened. Trapped inside the vat, she couldn't see a thing, leaving her frantic and helpless!
"Feng Laosi, I’ve been meaning to settle accounts between us," Ninth Master Zhao's voice rang out slowly in the quiet of the deep night, drawing closer and closer to Fu Tingyun. "Since you’re in such high spirits today, let’s settle it properly!" She knew he had stepped out and now stood in the courtyard. "But if I recall correctly, you once said that whether it’s talking or eating, it all comes down to fists. So today, why don’t we settle things with our fists?"
Then, Fu Tingyun heard a loud "bang," followed by a man’s furious roar, the neighing of horses, and the terrified shrieks of women—chaos erupted in an instant.
The moment Ninth Master Zhao saw the delicate face standing beside Feng Laosi, he knew he had no choice but to unleash a bloodbath. This woman had seen Fu Tingyun. If Feng Laosi realized he was traveling with women and children, he would surely assume they were his family and go to any lengths to capture them for leverage. That would spell trouble! As for how this woman ended up with Feng Laosi, he had no interest in finding out.
Moving like lightning, he charged at Feng Laosi with his eyebrow-height staff.
Feng Laosi hadn’t expected Ninth Master Zhao to rush at him while still exchanging pleasantries. He hastily yanked his horse’s reins to retreat.
The reins pulled tight, and the horse let out a sharp whinny—but before it could make another sound, Ninth Master Zhao’s palm struck its head. The horse collapsed without a sound.
Feng Laosi was stunned. The moment Ninth Master Zhao’s hand touched the horse’s head, he knew it was doomed. Before the horse hit the ground, he leaped off and drew his blade with a metallic "clang," holding it defensively in front of him.
But to his surprise, Ninth Master Zhao ignored him entirely. Instead, his fingers flicked, and a streak of white light—bright as a shooting star—flashed through the air.
"This is the second time I’ve killed a woman," Ninth Master Zhao murmured to himself. The woman beside Feng Laosi suddenly widened her eyes. Under the torchlight, blood slowly seeped from her neck…
Everyone on horseback instinctively retreated several steps.
The woman crumpled to the ground.
"Ninth Master Zhao’s Willow Leaf Blade truly lives up to its reputation!" Feng Laosi glanced at the fallen woman, his expression darkening. "I also wield a blade—but mine is a broadsword!" As he spoke, the gleaming edge surged toward Ninth Master Zhao like a tidal wave.
Ninth Master Zhao stepped back, raising his staff to block.
The wave receded instantly.
The staff snapped in two—one half thudded to the ground, while the other remained in Ninth Master Zhao’s grip.
Feng Laosi narrowed his eyes, then lunged forward, bringing his blade down with the force of a collapsing mountain.
Ninth Master Zhao met the strike with the remaining half of his staff.
A sharp "crack" echoed as the staff split down the middle. But Feng Laosi recoiled as if he’d struck iron, flipping several times midair before landing unsteadily and stumbling back a few steps.
Ninth Master Zhao’s expression grew solemn.
This was his first real exchange with Feng Laosi. In just two moves, Feng Laosi had demonstrated both soft and hard techniques—proof that his martial arts had reached a state of perfect harmony, the pinnacle of mastery.
He tightened his fists into a combat stance.
Feng Laosi pounced again.
A chilling web of blade-light enveloped Ninth Master Zhao, trapping him within its deadly weave.Ninth Master Zhao slowly threw his punches, one to the east, one to the west. Wherever his fist wind reached, the web immediately shattered.
Feng Laosi snorted coldly, swiftly mending the torn web.
Gradually, Ninth Master Zhao's punches grew faster and faster, while Feng Laosi's weaving slowed.
Suddenly, with a crisp clang , Feng Laosi was sent flying backward.
A few silvery fragments scattered on the ground, like shattered moonlight.
Feng Laosi stood there, his face pale, gripping the hilt of his now-blade-less sword. A trickle of crimson liquid seeped from the corner of his mouth.
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Bonus chapter!
O(∩_∩)O~
(End of Chapter)
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