bookbashuk Chapter 35 Reunion of Master and Disciple
Chapter 35 Reunion of Master and Disciple
The mountain paths of Longhu Mountain were thick with the stench of blood.
The bluestone slabs were stained dark red with blood, and mottled bloodstains snaked down the mountain path like a crimson serpent. The grass and trees on both sides of the path were also splattered with bloodstains, trembling slightly in the morning breeze, exuding an indescribable desolation and chill.
Zhang Yulei's figure slowly emerged from the depths of the clouds and mist.
He was still wearing that coarse Taoist robe, which was already soaked in blood. The dark red bloodstains had congealed into scabs and clung to his back. His right hand gripped the black sword, the bloodstains on the blade dried, yet it still gleamed with a chilling light; his left hand held a bloodied head, its eyes wide open, its death unresolved. It was Gong Qing, the acting leader of the Quanxing Sect who had disguised himself as Xiao Yuzi.
His steps were steady, each step leaving a clear footprint on the bluestone slabs. The footprints were deep, stained with undried blood, as if proclaiming a swift and exhilarating slaughter. Along the way, more than twenty Quanxing demons had fallen beneath his sword. There were arrogant core disciples and sycophantic peripheral servants; without exception, all had been killed with a single sword strike. Not one of them could withstand a single blow from him.
Decades of quiet cultivation at Jingxin Cliff have worn away his outward ferocity, leaving behind a purer and more refined killing intent. Back in the battle at Blood Moon Valley, his sword still carried the madness and uncontrollability of youth; now, decades later, his sword is fast, accurate, and ruthless, each strike deadly, yet he controls it with ease, never again accidentally harming one of his own.
At the end of the mountain path lies the gate of the Celestial Master's Mansion.
The dazzling golden light still enveloped the entire Celestial Master's Mansion. Within the light, dragons and tigers roared and thrashed, their overwhelming power causing the air to tremble slightly. Beneath the golden light lay countless figures of Quanxing demons, some with severed limbs, some coughing up blood, and some already unconscious, all of their previous arrogance gone.
At the source of the golden light, on the roof of the Celestial Master's Hall, stood a majestic figure with his hands behind his back.
It was Zhang Zhiwei, the current Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain.
His gaze was fixed on Zhang Yulei, who was slowly walking towards him.
The moment Zhang Zhiwei saw Zhang Yulei, a barely perceptible flicker of emotion flashed in his eyes. There was relief, heartache, and a hint of helplessness. He knew that his junior brother had finally left the mountain. Decades spent at Jingxin Cliff had ultimately failed to extinguish his protective heart.
But when his gaze fell on the head that Zhang Yulei was holding in his left hand, Zhang Zhiwei's pupils suddenly contracted.
His body stiffened abruptly, and the calm on his face was instantly replaced by astonishment.
He knew that face all too well.
It's Xiao Yuzi.
That handsome, well-behaved little Taoist priest who always followed Rong Shan around. And that Xiao Yu Zi who frequently went to Tian Jinzhong's residence to help serve tea and water and clean the courtyard.
A storm raged in Zhang Zhiwei's heart.
He never imagined that the first thing Zhang Yulei would do after descending the mountain would be to kill this seemingly harmless young Taoist priest.
"Junior Brother!"
A gasp escaped Zhang Zhiwei's lips.
His figure, like a golden ray of light, leaped down from the roof of the Celestial Master's Hall and landed steadily in front of Zhang Yulei. The moment he landed, the golden light around him rippled slightly, stirring up a gust of wind that rustled the grass and trees on both sides of the mountain path.
Zhang Zhiwei's gaze was fixed on the severed head in Zhang Yulei's hand, his voice trembling with disbelief: "What are you carrying?!"
Zhang Yulei stopped and looked up at Zhang Zhiwei.
The eldest brother's hair had turned even whiter, and the wrinkles on his face had deepened, but his eyes remained as deep as an ancient well, exuding an aura of domineering majesty. However, at this moment, those eyes were filled with astonishment and confusion.
Zhang Yulei didn't speak, but simply raised the head in his hand slightly higher.
To make things clearer for Zhang Zhiwei.
Sunlight shone through the gaps in the clouds, illuminating the head's face and revealing its unseeing, lifeless eyes, as well as the lingering, sinister look on its face.
Zhang Zhiwei's expression grew increasingly solemn.
He looked at the head, then at the bloodstains on Zhang Yulei's body, and the corpses lying haphazardly on both sides of the mountain path. His heart felt as if it were being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand, and the pain made it hard for him to breathe.
"This...isn't this Xiao Yuzi, who's by Lao Tian's side?" Zhang Zhiwei's voice still trembled slightly. "You...how did you kill him?"
In Zhang Zhiwei's mind, Xiaoyuzi was just an ordinary young Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, well-behaved, diligent, and always taking good care of Tian Jinzhong. How could such a child have offended Zhang Yulei, this ruthless devil? How could he have ended up beheaded?
Zhang Yulei looked at Zhang Zhiwei's astonished expression and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
He knew that his senior brother would not recognize Xiao Yu's true identity.
Gong Qing's three years of infiltration and disguise were indeed flawless.
"Little Yu Zi?" Zhang Yulei's voice was hoarse and low, carrying a strong hint of sarcasm. "Senior brother, do you really think he's that obedient and sensible Little Yu Zi?"
Zhang Zhiwei's brows furrowed tightly.
He looked at Zhang Yulei, his eyes filled with doubt: "Otherwise, who else could he be but Xiaoyuzi?"
"He is Gong Qing."
Zhang Yulei's voice, like a thunderclap, exploded in Zhang Zhiwei's ears.
"Gong Qing, acting leader of the Quanxing Sect!"
"What?!"
Zhang Zhiwei's body trembled violently, as if struck by lightning. His eyes widened instantly, and the astonishment on his face turned into disbelief.
"Gong Qing?! Gong Qing, the acting leader of Quanxing?!" Zhang Zhiwei exclaimed in shock, his voice filled with profound disbelief. "This... how is this possible?! Shouldn't Gong Qing be at the Quanxing headquarters? How could he... how could he be disguised as Xiao Yuzi and infiltrating Longhu Mountain?!"
Zhang Zhiwei's mind was in complete chaos.
He simply couldn't understand how the acting leader of Quanxing would lower himself to disguise himself as an insignificant Taoist priest and lie low in Longhu Mountain for three whole years. During those three years, Gong Qing had been right under his nose, hiding beside Tian Jinzhong, and he hadn't noticed at all!
A chill ran from the soles of Zhang Zhiwei's feet straight up to the top of his head.
He dared not imagine what Gong Qing had been plotting for the past three years. He dared not even imagine whether Gong Qing's scheme would have succeeded had Zhang Yulei not descended the mountain.
Seeing Zhang Zhiwei's shocked expression, Zhang Yulei slowly spoke, his voice carrying a chilling killing intent: "He infiltrated Longhu Mountain for three years just to get close to Second Senior Brother. He wanted to force him to reveal the secrets of the Jia Shen Rebellion and the truth about the Eight Extraordinary Techniques!"
"What?!" Zhang Zhiwei's face turned deathly pale instantly.
He suddenly remembered something, his eyes filled with anxiety and worry: "Oh no! Rongshan! That kid Rongshan must have been misled by that bastard and ran to the front mountain to help! Old Tian, he..."
Zhang Zhiwei dared not continue speaking.
With both his legs and arms broken, Tian Jinzhong was confined to a wheelchair, utterly powerless to resist. If Gong Qing's plot succeeded, wouldn't Tian Jinzhong be...?
Zhang Zhiwei's heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by a large hand, the pain making it hard for him to breathe.
He finally understood why Zhang Yulei had suddenly come down the mountain. Why Zhang Yulei had killed Gong Qing, who was disguised as Xiao Yuzi, without hesitation. Why Zhang Yulei had fought his way here, showing no mercy with his sword.
Because Tian Jinzhong is Zhang Yulei's Achilles' heel.
She is the person he would protect with his life, no matter what.
Looking at Zhang Yulei, at his bloodshot eyes, and at the intense killing intent emanating from him, Zhang Zhiwei felt a deep sense of guilt welling up inside him.
It was his oversight.
He was too careless.
He only intended to use the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony to lure out Zhang Chulan and the hidden forces lurking in the shadows. Little did he know that the acting leader of Quanxing had already infiltrated Longhu Mountain and infiltrated Tian Jinzhong's inner circle.
If Zhang Yulei hadn't come down the mountain in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
"Is Lao Tian...is he alright?" Zhang Zhiwei's voice trembled slightly, and his eyes were filled with worry.
Zhang Yulei looked at him, slowly shook his head, and the murderous intent in his voice gradually faded, replaced by a barely perceptible gentleness: "Don't worry. When I arrived, Gong Qing was just about to attack Second Senior Brother. That bastard didn't even finish a sentence before I beheaded him with a single sword stroke."
"That's good...that's good..."
Zhang Zhiwei breathed a sigh of relief; the anxiety that had been hanging in the air finally subsided. He looked at Zhang Yulei, his eyes filled with relief, but also a hint of lingering fear.
He knew that although his junior brother was ruthless, he would never let his people suffer.
Seeing Zhang Zhiwei breathe a sigh of relief, Zhang Yulei's lips curled into a faint smile. He casually tossed Gong Qing's head to the ground. The head rolled onto the bluestone slab with a dull thud, its eyes still wide open, as if protesting something with resentment.
Zhang Yulei raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the dazzling golden light above the Celestial Master's Mansion, and then over the Quanxing demons lying haphazardly on the ground. The killing intent in his eyes intensified once more.
"Senior Brother, you've almost finished cleaning up the scum on the front mountain," Zhang Yulei's voice was resolute. "There are still some stragglers on the back mountain; I'll go and clean them up."
As soon as he finished speaking, he sped off towards the back of the mountain.