The Wusheng Sect

In Qingyuan City, one afternoon.

The early spring sunshine cast dazzling patches of light across the bluestone streets.

The charred aroma of roasted lamb drifting from Zhang's Deli mingled with the sweet scent of Wang's herbal drinks, filling the air.

Just then—

A sound, crisper and more lively, suddenly disrupted the fragrant air.

"Hahaha, you can't catch me!"

First came the laughter, clear as silver bells tumbling onto a jade plate, bright enough to splash like water.

Then two small figures shot past Cui Hao's side.

The one in front was a little girl of about six or seven, her hair tied into twin buns, wearing a faded apricot-red jacket.

She ran while looking back, her beaming smile brighter than the sun overhead.

In her hand, she held up a little ring woven from fresh green willow twigs, as if it were some priceless treasure.

Her playmate was chasing her.

The two of them were having a wonderful time.

Six or seven days had passed since the City Guard joined forces with the martial arts academies and the three great lineages to wipe out the three major gangs with thunderous force.

Qingyuan City seemed to have come alive.

As he walked the streets, Cui Hao could clearly feel a greater sense of peace and warmth.

But... although the streets and alleys had fewer gang members swaggering about than before, there also seemed to be more unfamiliar faces around.

People in strange clothing, their expressions numb or feverish, had quietly begun appearing on the streets.

At noon, Cui Hao walked into Zhanhong Martial Arts Academy.

The place was utterly silent. There were no shouts, no sounds of fists meeting flesh as students sparred.

"Brother Hao..." Lin Da hurried over at once and asked in a hushed voice, "Why are you late today?"

"I went hunting."

"Senior Brother Xiao reached the peak of Mortal Martial Arts this morning!" Lin Da lowered his voice even further. "Master took him on as a personal disciple right then and there."

Cui Hao's heart gave a leap!

The peak of Mortal Martial Arts! It was only one stage above the minor level, but the difference in strength was like heaven and earth.

His total qi and blood, how thoroughly they were refined, the explosive power of his force, even his control over his body—all had undergone a qualitative leap.

More importantly, there was the speed of his cultivation. Xiao Li had broken through to Mortal Martial Arts just one month after joining. Now, two more months had passed, and he had charged ahead from the early stage, breaking through the entry and minor stages in succession to reach the peak!

That speed was astonishing—not only at Zhanhong Martial Arts Academy, but among the younger generation of all Qingyuan City!

No wonder the whole courtyard was as quiet as a grave. Even the students of the Mingqing branch were silent. They had all been stunned.

Cui Hao didn't concern himself with other people's affairs. He went about his routine and practiced on the stakes.

Before long, Xu Liqing came over. "Junior Brother Cui, this is Gu Li. He just joined today. Take him under your wing."

Cui Hao leaped down from the plum-blossom stakes and cupped his fists in acknowledgment.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Cui." Gu Li returned the salute. "I'm Gu Li. Please guide me."

Cui Hao nodded slightly.

After Xu Liqing had walked away, Gu Li asked, "Senior Brother Cui, what should I do now?"

Just as Sun Cheng had taught him, Cui Hao told Gu Li to start by building up his strength.

Gu Li did as he was told.

What surprised Cui Hao was that during his breaks from training, Gu Li chatted with the other new disciples about the Wusheng Sect.

Judging by what he said and the look in his eyes, he was clearly preaching!

It was dark when Cui Hao returned home. Su Yun hurriedly closed the courtyard gate and lowered her voice, speaking rapidly. "Brother Hao, Lingdang... she's at our house."

"It's so late. Did something happen?"

"Aunt Hua! She... she's gone mad!" Su Yun was furious and upset. "She sent Lingdang to the Wusheng Sect, saying she was going to be... going to be sacrificed!"

"Sacrificed?" The word itself sounded sinister. Cui Hao asked, "Sacrificed to whom? How?"

"They said it was an offering to some 'God of Rebirth'! They were going to beat her to death with stones! They said that way her soul could go to the divine kingdom pure and serve the gods... die first, then be reborn. Aunt Hua even said she was doing it for Lingdang's own good, that it was a tremendous blessing!"

"That's insane!"

"Tell me about it!" Su Yun was angry and frightened. "Luckily, Lingdang was quick-witted. While those people were preparing the sacrifice and everything was in chaos, she sneaked out and hid all the way here... She doesn't dare go home."

Cui Hao entered the main room and saw little Lingdang curled up on a low stool. She wore only a thin, threadbare padded jacket, and her small face was pale with cold.

Her body trembled uncontrollably, and her teeth chattered softly.

When Cui Hao came in, Lingdang flinched like a startled fawn. Once she recognized him, tears rolled down her cheeks in big drops. She didn't dare cry aloud, only sobbed softly.

Cui Hao softened his voice. "Are you hurt? Did they hit you?"

Lingdang shook her head, her voice as faint as a thread and thick with tears. "N-no... They only tied me up. My mother... my mother was standing right beside them, watching. She even smiled and told me to be obedient."

Cui Hao sighed inwardly. "Stay here for now."

"Thank you, Brother Hao. Thank you, Sister Yun."

"Sister Yun, go make Lingdang some hot soup and rice. Then find one of your jackets for her to wear. We can't let her get cold."

"Of course. I'll do it now," Su Yun replied at once.

Deep into the night, after Lingdang—still shaken, but having eaten a little—had been settled into bed and fallen sound asleep, Cui Hao returned to his room with Su Yun. From a hidden spot, he took out the pen-shaped concealed weapon he had taken from the bandit and handed it to her.

"Brother Hao, what's this?" Su Yun took it. It felt cold and heavy in her hand, and she didn't understand.

"A concealed weapon." Cui Hao pointed at its tail. "This is the opening. It's loaded with steel needles or something like that. It should be powerful. Remember, never point this end at yourself or me."

At his words, Su Yun instinctively tried to turn it around and look at the tail. Cui Hao hurriedly caught her hand and turned it away. "It's dangerous. Don't get curious!"

Su Yun stuck out her tongue, still shaken. "All right, I understand. So... how do you use it?"

"From the way it's made, it looks like it can only be used once."

Cui Hao pointed to a rotating ring at the head of the weapon and a tiny protrusion nearby. "The trigger is probably here. Either you turn this ring or press or pull this little protrusion."

"I'm not sure exactly, but it's definitely for self-defense. Keep it on you, hidden close to your body. If... I mean, if some thugs break in while I'm away, point it at them and try to set it off."

After a pause, Cui Hao's voice grew heavy. "I have a feeling something's wrong with the atmosphere in this city. Try not to go out unless you have to. Leave fetching water, buying rice, and getting firewood to me."

Su Yun nodded softly and carefully put the weapon away.

Just then—

"Knock! Knock! Knock!"

A steady series of knocks suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate, jarringly loud in the still night.

Su Yun jolted in fright.

Cui Hao's eyes instantly sharpened. "I'll take a look," he whispered.

He grabbed the woodcutter's knife he usually kept beside the bed, hid it behind his back, and stepped into the courtyard. "Who's there?!"

There was a brief silence outside. Then a hoarse male voice called out, "We're looking for Lingdang."

"You've got the wrong place."

Silence fell outside the courtyard gate again, but this silence carried an unsettling pressure.

Cui Hao didn't foolishly stand around waiting. He immediately retreated to the main room and grabbed the steel-limbed bow and hide quiver hanging on the wall.

He slung the quiver where it was easy to reach on his waist, drew a steel arrow, and set it on the string, silently watching the courtyard gate.

He blew out the lamp. In the still darkness, Cui Hao could hear his own heartbeat.

Suddenly—

A pair of hands reached over the courtyard wall from outside.

After seeing where the intruder was climbing over, Cui Hao didn't draw his bow.

The intruder thought the homeowner was asleep and boldly climbed over the wall. Both feet landed...

"Click!" A crisp sound, like a metal mechanism triggering and snapping back into place, came from the darkness by the eastern wall!

"Ah—!!!"

A piercing scream followed, so inhuman it seemed to combine agony, terror, and some bizarre excitement, abruptly ripping through the night!

The trap had been triggered!

Now!

His bow arced into a full moon in an instant. He didn't need to aim carefully; instinct and the muscle memory built from thousands upon thousands of repetitions guided him—

"Twong—whoosh!"

The bowstring shuddered. The steel arrow flew, tearing through the air with a shrill whistle!

"Thud!"

The dull sound of an arrow sinking into flesh nearly overlapped with the fading scream!

The black-clad figure, silenced by the pain of having his ankle clamped, staggered unsteadily—and Cui Hao's steel arrow pierced the side of his head with unerring precision!

The scream cut off.

The figure jerked rigid, like a rag doll nailed to the wall. The arrow had driven deep into the earthen wall through his head. His body drooped limply from the wall, lifeless.

A panel notification flashed by.

[Archery: Minor Mastery (185/600)]

[Effects: soreness -10, arm strength +10, accuracy +10, critical hit +1]

With a heart of iron, Cui Hao moved like flowing water without the slightest pause. As he killed one attacker, his left hand flashed to the quiver and pulled out a second steel arrow, setting it on the bowstring in an instant.

He drew the string back slightly, holding himself ready.

His eyes, sharp as knives, slowly swept over the rest of the courtyard wall, especially to the left and right of where the intruder had climbed over, and above the main gate.

Time passed in silence. No one else climbed over before dawn. Only then did he deal with the body.