The Jianghu Has Always Been Thus

Du Sha led Gu Mo and the others to Tie Tou's weapon-forging lodge.

Tie Tou's weapon-forging lodge had now moved beside the Yunzhou Six Doors headquarters. Aside from the guards specifically assigned to Tie Tou as Du Sha had mentioned, it was also close to headquarters. In theory, it truly should have been impossible for someone to abduct him without anyone noticing.

"There is one Super-Class Expert over there, and three First-rate Masters over there..."

Du Sha introduced the security forces of the weapon-forging lodge to Gu Mo and the others.

"It would not be impossible for someone to take Tie Tou away from here, but leaving behind no trace at all has truly left us with nowhere to begin. We cannot fathom what method could accomplish this. For now, we can only investigate from the angle that all thirteen Weapon Forging Masters have disappeared," Du Sha said.

After relaxing his senses and sweeping the weapon-forging lodge, Gu Mo said, "By conventional means, it would indeed be difficult to take Tie Tou away without anyone noticing and leave no trace behind. But it is not entirely impossible. For example, a domain."

Du Sha hurriedly said, "That is impossible. Domains may be marvelous, but they only exert suppression. It is impossible to take someone away without leaving traces. Besides, Tie Tou himself is an expert. He could not possibly offer no resistance at all."

Gu Mo chuckled. "What if Nascent Soul Power were added to it?"

Du Sha asked in confusion, "What is Nascent Soul Power?"

Gu Mo thought for a moment, then explained, "It is the power of the Ascension Realm. Once Nascent Soul Power is attached to a domain, it can already be considered a world of its own. Use some mental method to knock Tie Tou unconscious, then swagger off with him. Unless the two Grandmasters of your Six Doors were here, they might perhaps notice something unusual. No one else would sense a thing."

Du Sha's expression grew grave. "Great Hero Gu, can such a method truly exist in this world? Would that not be like the arts of immortals and gods?"

"Isn't the Ascension Realm said in legend to be the realm of Attaining Dao and Becoming Immortal?" Gu Mo said.

Du Sha asked, "Then... are there many people with such methods?"

Gu Mo shook his head. "If there were many, the world would already be in chaos. Let me put it this way: even Su Qianqiu cannot do it."

At those words,

Du Sha and several Six Doors Constables all looked at Gu Mo with peculiar expressions. Du Sha seemed to want to speak but stopped himself. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Then... Great Hero Gu, aren't you talking about yourself?"

Gu Mo froze for a moment, then immediately understood.

On the Under Heaven Martial Ranking List, he was now Number One Under Heaven, while Su Qianqiu was Number Two Under Heaven. If Su Qianqiu could not do it, then that meant only he, Number One Under Heaven, could. After all, very few people in this world knew the Thirteen Taboos were real, or knew that there were ancient monsters living in seclusion.

"I am not the only person in this world who can do it," Gu Mo said. "I do not know exactly who they are, but I have already encountered several people capable of such a method.

"If Tie Tou was truly abducted by someone like that, then you will definitely find no traces by investigating the scene. However, I cannot determine whether such a person took Tie Tou either. Perhaps there is some other brilliant method of committing the crime."

Du Sha nodded. "For now, the only direction for case solving is that all thirteen weapon forgers have vanished. The people taken are all Yunzhou's most renowned weapon forgers, which means the other side must be forging weapons—and not ordinary weapons. We can investigate from that angle."

Gu Mo smiled lightly. "When it comes to investigating cases, your Six Doors are the professionals. I will not make an amateur's display before experts. How about this? I will stay in Yun City for the time being. If you need help or uncover any clues, come inform me."

Du Sha cupped his hands. "With Great Hero Gu standing guard, our Six Doors will have a few more measures of courage!"

"Master."

At that moment, Red Clothes suddenly spoke. "This servant has another direction we might pursue."

"Let's hear it," Gu Mo said.

Du Sha and the others also turned to Red Clothes.

Red Clothes slowly took several pieces of turtle armor from her sleeve and said, "Master, I am a Qi Refiner and know a little of the Art of Deduction. I can try deducing it."

Only then did Gu Mo suddenly remember that Red Clothes beside him was versed in all arts. As the finest human body of the previous generation's White Jade Capital, during her centuries of existence, the methods she had learned nearly encompassed every cultivation art. Moreover, it could be said that she was proficient in every one of them.

Take this art of deduction, for example. Though Red Clothes spoke modestly, by Gu Mo's estimation, her Art of Deduction was at least among the Top Ten Under Heaven.

Gu Mo immediately instructed, "Red Clothes, give it a try."

"As long as no one has concealed the heavenly secrets, I should be able to deduce something."

As she spoke, Red Clothes held the turtle armor in both hands, slowly crouched, and gently tossed it onto the ground.

At that instant,

Gu Mo saw strands of qi moving in orderly patterns and spreading around Red Clothes.

Red Clothes stared fixedly at the turtle armor. After a long while, she slowly raised her head and said, "Master, I saw four things in the hexagram symbols. First, the person you seek is still alive. Second, he will not be in danger for a short time. Third, at the second quarter of the Tiger hour today, if you travel east, you will meet a swordsman dressed in white who will invite you to his home. You need only follow him. Fourth, I saw a flood."

Gu Mo chuckled.

More of those mystical, cryptic hexagram symbols.

Last year, on the way to Penglai Island, he had asked Ji Wusuan, the Number One Diviner Under Heaven, to cast a divination. It had also been cryptic and mysterious, yet everything Ji Wusuan foretold had come true one by one.

At the time, if he had held back and not fought White Jade Capital, he really would have caught Jiang Ruoxu on Penglai Island.

Then,

Gu Mo cupped his hands toward Du Sha and said, "Chief Constable Du, let us leave it at that. Continue your investigation here, and I will try following the hexagram's instructions. If you find any clues, send someone to notify me at any time. In Yun City, it should be easy enough for you to find me."

Du Sha hurriedly said, "I had been thinking of arranging lodging for you, Great Hero Gu..."

"No need for the trouble."

"Then please forgive my inadequate hospitality."

Very soon,

it was the second quarter of the Tiger hour.

Gu Mo took Gu Chundong and Red Clothes eastward. They walked all the way out of the city without encountering a single person dressed in white.

Still, it was not strange.

Jianghu storybooks loved writing about heroes in white, but in reality, few true wanderers of the jianghu wore white—men and women alike. It was not that they could not afford white clothes, but jianghu folk traveled through dust and hardship, coming in wind and going in rain. White garments became dirty with the slightest carelessness. Who had the leisure to wash and change clothes all day?

Thus, under ordinary circumstances, one either had a particular reason to wear white, or did so purely to look impressive.

After leaving the city,

there were fewer and fewer people. Most were traveling merchants. After they had gone seventeen or eighteen li from the city, they reached a fork in the road where there was no longer a route due east. One road led southeast, the other northeast.

Just as Gu Mo was preparing to ask Red Clothes which road they should take, he suddenly heard a burst of hurried horseshoes behind them. They rapidly drew near, then thundered past Gu Mo and the others. The rider was dressed in white and carried a sword on his back.

Yet before Gu Mo and the others could react, the man had already swept past them.

Then he suddenly reined in his horse and stopped. Whirling around, he exclaimed in delight, "Brother Gu, Sister Chundong, what are you doing here?"

"Brother Shen, what a coincidence!"

Gu Chundong was somewhat surprised, because this white-clad swordsman was none other than Shen Bai, the famed hero of the Azure Wave Sword Sect, personal disciple of Grandmaster Ye Liuyun, and son-in-law of the previous Sect Leader, Qi Tianchu.

Shen Bai had once been a Second Generation Disciple of the Azure Wave Sword Sect. Now, after Qi Tianchu and the older generation had stepped down, his status had risen as well. He had taken over his master's former position and become the new Sword-Holding Elder.

Gu Mo was not surprised that Shen Bai wore white.

Like most young people, Shen Bai had initially done it to make a name for himself and become more recognizable. He deliberately traveled the jianghu in a full set of white clothes, gritting his teeth through all the hardships involved. Every time he went out, he had to carry a huge bundle filled with white garments for changing.

Whenever he attended a crowded gathering, he would first find a place to take off his clothes and change, acting like a thief, sneaking around in fear that someone would see him and leave him dying of embarrassment on the spot.

Later,

a white robe and a white Spotless Sword became the standard mark of the famed hero Shen Bai. Whenever he went out, countless people watched him. He represented the Azure Wave Sword Sect's reputation. This left him regretful and vexed afterward, yet helpless. He could not even stop wearing white.

At that moment,

on the official road, Shen Bai turned his horse around and returned. He jumped down excitedly and said, "Brother Gu, Sister Chundong, it has been a long time..." As he spoke, he glanced at Red Clothes. A flicker of alarm passed through his eyes, but he politely did not stare further and asked, "And this is?"

"A friend. Red Clothes," Gu Mo said.

Shen Bai hurriedly cupped his hands and addressed her as "Miss Red Clothes."

At Gu Chundong's introduction, Red Clothes also returned Shen Bai's greeting.

Afterward, Shen Bai asked, "Brother Gu, why are you here?"

Gu Mo said, "I just returned from Chang'an City and am wandering around."

Shen Bai hurriedly said, "Then why not visit the Azure Wave Sword Sect? My father-in-law and master often mention you. Ah, Brother Gu, you spend all year running east and west. It is truly too difficult to see you.

"The last time we met was when you sent that girl named Xiaobai to Azure Wave Mountain. I returned late that time and never got the chance to share a drink with you. But now is perfect. I have just finished some business and will be home for a month or two. I have a jar of century-old brew at home that I stole from my father-in-law. Heh heh, Brother Gu, if you come to my home now, you will be in for a treat!"

"An invitation of fine wine cannot be refused."

Gu Mo immediately swung himself onto a horse.

Naturally, Gu Mo had nothing to hesitate over. Red Clothes' hexagram had already come true. The white-clad swordsman was undoubtedly Shen Bai, so all that remained was to honestly follow Shen Bai.

Azure Wave Mountain, where the Azure Wave Sword Sect was located, was not far from Yun City, only around a hundred li away.

Gu Mo's group found a post station along the way and rested for the night. By noon the next day, they reached Azure Wave Mountain.

Azure Wave Mountain's peaks rose steeply into the clouds, its cliffs standing sheer for a thousand fathoms.

From afar, it was as it had always been: the summit and the foot of the mountain seemed like two different seasons. It was so high that snow flew year-round upon its summit, and its endless accumulated snow made the peak seem almost entirely composed of glaciers.

Gu Mo had specifically asked Shen Bai not to spread word of his arrival at Azure Wave Mountain. Thus, unlike his previous visit to the Azure Wave Sword Sect, there was no sea of people welcoming him.

The group arrived at the mountain in quiet simplicity and entered through the mountain gate halfway up.

However, the moment they entered, Shen Bai frowned. He noticed that something within the sect was amiss. There were far more patrols than he remembered, clearly as though some major event was about to occur.

Shen Bai immediately stopped several passing disciples and asked, "Why are there suddenly so many people from the Law Enforcement Hall?"

The Azure Wave Sword Sect disciple he had stopped hurriedly bowed in salute. "Reporting to Elder Shen, it is because Wang Dongli, Sect Leader of the Dongli Sect in Qingyang County, has sent our Old Sect Leader a challenge letter. He has arranged to fight the Old Sect Leader here on Azure Wave Mountain on the ninth of this month, and the Old Sect Leader has accepted.

"This matter has now begun to spread. In the coming days, people from various sects should gradually arrive to watch the battle. Therefore, the Law Enforcement Hall must prepare in advance. All disciples outside the sect have been summoned back, to prevent trouble when the various sects mingle."

Shen Bai asked in confusion, "When did this challenge letter arrive?"

"Almost a month ago," the disciple replied.

"Fine, I understand. You may go."

Shen Bai dismissed the disciple and said to Gu Mo, "I did not expect such a major event to occur while I was away. This time, I was ordered to make a trip to Feng Province. I had been hurrying along and never stayed in one place for long, so I received no letters from the sect. On the way back, I had been too eager to return home, and I did not even hear the slightest sound of wind."

Gu Mo asked, "Who is this Wang Dongli? He actually dares to challenge the old sect leader?"

Gu Mo had no impression whatsoever of the name Wang Dongli, so he found the matter puzzling. He could be certain that this man was absolutely not someone especially famous in Qian Kingdom.

Gu Mo had some impression of the top ten on Qian Kingdom's Heavenly Ranking, as well as the first or second ranked experts on the Heavenly Rankings of each of the eight provinces. He knew everyone in the top ten of Yun Province's Heavenly Ranking, but there was no Wang Dongli among them.

Yet since the man dared challenge Qi Tianchu and Qi Tianchu had accepted, he clearly could not be some clown seeking attention.

After all, while few people knew that Qi Tianchu possessed life-and-death techniques worthy of the Top Ten Under Heaven, even without that knowledge, Qi Tianchu's title as Qian Kingdom's sixth strongest expert was undeniably real.

Shen Bai explained, "Brother Gu, you have rarely been in Yunzhou these past few years, so you do not know. This Wang Dongli is an expert who suddenly began becoming active in recent years. He had previously been a fairly renowned expert in Yunzhou, considered among the first tier below Grandmasters. The Dongli Sect he founded had some reputation in Qingyang County.

"A few years ago, the Four Directions Sword Sect in Qingyang County collapsed like a landslide when the Cat Demon Case was solved. The Dongli Sect suddenly abandoned its former attitude of neither competing nor fighting and began seizing territory everywhere. It occupied nearly thirty percent of the Four Directions Sword Sect's territory.

"The Dongli Sect then began developing, though it remained relatively peaceful until last year. Wang Dongli suddenly began challenging experts from all walks of life. Within a few short months, he replaced Grandmaster Meng Qingkong, who had held tenth place on the Yun Province Heavenly Ranking, and became the new Grandmaster.

"This year, Wang Dongli has been very prominent in Yunzhou. I simply did not expect that, having only gained the name of Grandmaster for such a short time, he would already dare challenge my father-in-law. I do not know whether he truly has the strength, or whether fame and profit have blinded him along the way. Yet what truly puzzles me is that my father-in-law actually accepted the challenge."

"What is so strange about that?" Gu Chundong asked from the side.

Shen Bai smiled lightly. "Sister Chundong, you do not know. Ever since my father-in-law made that move during the Righteous-Demonic War stirred up in Dongping County five years ago, he has not made a single public move in these five years.

"He has always said he is old and does not wish to make a move anymore. He wants to find an opportunity to slowly fade from the jianghu and withdraw from the Heavenly Ranking. Unless there is an unavoidable reason, he would not possibly make a move."

Gu Chundong said, "Could he be planning to deliberately lose and retire from then on?"

"Impossible," Shen Bai said. "My father-in-law's sword is proud. He can be defeated and retire from then on. He can be forgotten and gradually retire. But he can never deliberately lose to another's hand. He is a very pure swordsman. He will not insult his own sword or true intent!"

"Wouldn't asking him settle it?" Gu Mo said with a smile.

The group immediately headed toward the summit.

Wind and snow howled, and the cold atop Azure Wave Mountain seemed capable of freezing one's marrow.

Shen Bai led Gu Mo, Gu Chundong, and Red Clothes through thick snow. Upon reaching the summit, they saw from afar a crude grass hut buried beneath the snow.

An old man sat on the covered corridor before the hut, holding a slender fishing rod as he fished.

A small hole had been cut into the ice. The fishing line hung down into the dark water beneath, while snowflakes silently settled on his head, accumulating into a thin layer. This man was Qi Tianchu, former Sect Leader of the Azure Wave Sword Sect, former Number One in Yunzhou, current Number Two in Yunzhou, and Qian Kingdom's sixth strongest expert.

"Father-in-law!" Shen Bai strode forward and bowed. "I have returned."

The bamboo hat lifted slightly, revealing Qi Tianchu's somewhat aged face. His gaze swept past Shen Bai and fell on Gu Mo and the others behind him. A trace of surprise flashed through his eyes before turning into a gentle smile. "Eh, Gu Mo, little Chundong? Did you also hear that I am going to fight someone?"

Gu Mo sat beside Qi Tianchu and said, "Not really. You fighting someone is not much of a spectacle to me. Would I travel thousands of li just to watch?"

Qi Tianchu curled his lips. "You do not leave this elderly person any face at all."

Gu Mo smiled, took a fishing rod, and said, "Fishing in a place like this has quite a unique charm." With a light flick of his wrist, he cast the hook directly into the little ice hole Qi Tianchu had opened. "Still, the fish atop Azure Wave Mountain are truly hard to catch."

"Haha." Qi Tianchu laughed heartily, his voice especially clear in the wind and snow. "Whether fish can be caught depends on fate. Sitting here, listening to the sound of wind and watching snow fall, the heart becomes calm. I am old, unlike you young people. I only wish to enjoy my remaining years peacefully and quietly."

Gu Mo curled his lips. "If I had not seen your sword intent from far away, nearly unable to contain itself, I might truly have believed you."

Qi Tianchu gave a "heh heh" laugh. "As expected, I cannot hide it from your eyes. Since returning from Penglai Island, my Sword Dao has moved forward another half step. Some time ago, Dharma Master Liansheng sent a letter and passed me the method to remove White Jade Capital's restriction. Then I completely took a full step forward."

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "Dharma Master Liansheng is indeed a man of his word."

Qi Tianchu nodded. "White Jade Capital placed restrictions within the Nascent Souls of people like us. Before we knew, it was one thing, but once we learned of it, it nearly became an Inner Demon. Dharma Master Liansheng did not merely help us remove the restriction—he also removed our demonic obstruction!"

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "Tell me about Wang Dongli. Why did you accept the challenge?"

"Wang Dongli..." Qi Tianchu's voice deepened, carrying a trace of distant reminiscence. "His reason for challenging me is very sufficient."

His gaze slowly lifted, finally settling on the goose feather snow tumbling in the distance. He slowly said, "You all know that I seized Azure Wave Mountain from someone else sixty or seventy years ago. I was only in my twenties then, young and hot-blooded. I acted solely on a surge of passion, so it was inevitable that I made mistakes."

The grass hut fell silent. Only the crackling of the fire and the howling wind and snow outside the window could be heard.

"The person who possessed this mountain then was a senior known as Lord of the Clouds, Wang Yunshen, who before me had been honored as Yunzhou's number one expert," Qi Tianchu said slowly. Each word was like a stone dropping upon ice. "At the time, I was young and high-spirited, my Sword Dao newly formed. I only wanted to challenge the strongest opponent and make a name for myself. I climbed to the summit of Azure Wave Mountain and challenged Senior Wang Yunshen."

"That battle..."

Qi Tianchu's gaze became complicated, carrying both remembrance of glorious past days and a trace of indescribable guilt. "The battle was extremely fierce. Senior Wang's Misty Cloud Sword was exquisite beyond measure, unlike anything I had ever seen in my life. We fought fiercely for three days and three nights. In the end... I won by half a move."

"But I was young and hot-blooded then, and did not understand the principle of leaving a line when doing things. I only thought that I had won—that I was the victor and he the loser. I made him hand over Azure Wave Mountain, took away his title as Yunzhou's number one, and left him no dignity.

"I never expected that afterward, he would fall into decline and never recover. In the end, he died despondent and bitter, passing away with resentment."

Gu Mo frowned. "Jianghu struggles have always been thus. There is no need for you to blame yourself, is there?"

Qi Tianchu waved his hand. "I do not blame myself. It is simply that when I recall that matter, I feel I was too young and hot-blooded. At the time, I thought sparing his life was already a heaven-sized kindness. I never considered that I should preserve his dignity.

"Now that I think of it, it is deeply regrettable. If I had restrained myself a little then, perhaps such a Martial Dao Grandmaster of limitless promise would not have died so young."

Gu Mo did not dwell on Qi Tianchu's reasoning and returned to the main point. "So Wang Dongli is Wang Yunshen's descendant?"

Qi Tianchu nodded. "Wang Dongli is Wang Yunshen's direct grandson. This time, he came bearing a challenge letter. His words were firm and certain, declaring that this mountain should return to its former owner. He wishes to seek justice for his grandfather and restore the name of the Misty Cloud Sword. Every word in the challenge letter wept blood, every sentence carried grievance."

He looked at Shen Bai. "He bears the legacy of his ancestors and challenges me openly and honorably in the name of bloodline, seeking to reclaim Azure Wave Mountain. This karmic debt, this obsession... how could I avoid it? How could I refuse?" He looked toward Gu Mo and smiled lightly. "As you said, the jianghu has always been thus!"

Gu Mo smiled and asked, "You should be able to win, right?"

Qi Tianchu thought for a moment and said, "If we fight to the death, I will definitely win. But if it is a sparring match, that may not be certain."

Gu Mo was somewhat surprised. "Even without fighting to the death, you are Qian Kingdom's sixth strongest. Surely it is not that bad?"

Qi Tianchu fell silent for a while before saying, "I investigated his record. His sword is strange. I do not know whether it is strange or fast, because thus far, no one has seen his sword. Or rather, everyone who has seen his sword is dead.

"But he was not strong before. Then a year ago, he suddenly changed. It was as though... he had been possessed by a ghost!"