Jianghu Demolition Squad

Between Buddha and Demon (Part Six)

That day, everyone settled into their accommodations within Xuhuai Valley. Bai Sang was a gracious host, arranging a small courtyard for them to stay together, which made it convenient for them to meet.

Bai Sang hosted a banquet in their honor and inquired about who was in need of treatment. They casually mentioned Yan Li’s leg ailment to deflect attention, and were relieved when the banquet finally concluded and the people of Xuhuai Valley returned to their quarters, leaving them alone in the quiet of the night.

Tang Linzhi could not hold back her frustration: “Mo Wen’s letter clearly stated she was in Xuhuai Valley. Valley Master Bai is obviously lying. Why didn’t you confront her to find out the truth?”

Tang Linzhi paced back and forth, and Hua Lian quickly grabbed her, fearing she might impulsively run out to confront Bai Sang. Hua Lian said, “If she doesn’t want to talk, asking her directly won’t make her tell the truth. Besides, this whole situation is suspicious. Mo Wen knows she and Valley Master Bai don’t get along. She would normally avoid her at all costs, so why would she deliberately come to Xuhuai Valley? Did she mention that in her letter?”

Tang Linzhi shook her head: “She just told me to come and get her…”

Though Tang Linzhi said ‘get her’, the letter actually read ‘come and assist me’.

Yu’er speculated, “She probably came here looking for a way to cure Qing Jiu’s Gu poison.”

Yan Li added, “Regardless of what Valley Master Bai is hiding, now that we’re here, we can slowly investigate…”

Before she could finish, they heard someone approaching and fell silent.

Moments later, there was a knock on the door. Yang Chun, who was nearest, sprang up to open it. Upon seeing the visitor, he said, “Miss Zelan, it’s so late, is there something wrong?”

Zelan looked mysteriously over her shoulder and whispered, “Let me in first.”

Yang Chun stepped aside to let her in and then closed the door.

Once inside and seeing everyone present, Zelan gave a small bow. Hua Lian toyed with his folding fan, sizing up Zelan: “Miss Zelan, you made several gestures when we mentioned Mo Wen earlier today. You must have something to say about her.”

Zelan got straight to the point: “Our Eldest Senior Sister has been imprisoned by our master.”

This revelation shocked everyone.

Yan Li stood up and asked, “Is what Miss Zelan says true?!”

Zelan nodded, “Our Eldest Senior Sister entered Xuhuai Valley’s secret archive and triggered a trap. She was caught by the master and the elders and has been detained.”

Tang Linzhi blurted out, “Then why would your master lie about it!”

Although Zelan had come to help against her master’s wishes, hearing Tang Linzhi speak disrespectfully about Bai Sang made her somewhat upset, and she pouted, “Breaking into Xuhuai Valley’s secret archive is a grave offense. Moreover, our Eldest Senior Sister is already regarded as an outlaw here. When they caught her this time, the elders revived past grievances, accusing her of lawlessness and extreme wickedness. They said she had narrowly escaped severe punishment before, and now that she dared to return, they demanded strict punishment! If it weren’t for our master protecting her, it would involve more than just imprisonment!”

Yu’er, seeing her get upset, knowing the close bond between disciples and their master observed during the day, and understanding Zelan’s protective feelings for Bai Sang, quickly soothed, “Valley Master Bai is benevolent and virtuous. Linzhi was just speaking out of concern and didn’t mean any offense. Don’t take it to heart.”

Zelan huffed softly. Yan Li said, “Valley Master Bai could have told us directly during the day.”

Zelan replied, “Though my master has not sentenced her to death, she won’t easily release her. Seeing that you came looking for someone, she didn’t want to start a conflict, so of course, she wouldn’t disclose it.”

Hua Lian, tapping his fan against his palm, asked, “Did Miss Zelan come here in the middle of the night specifically to inform us about this?”

Zelan said, “Actually, I came to lead you to rescue our Eldest Senior Sister.”

This left everyone looking at each other in bewilderment.

“You don’t believe me?”

“It’s not that we don’t believe you, it’s just surprising…”

Zelan twisted her mouth slightly, “She has saved the disciples of Xuhuai Valley twice. She doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would kill her master. I think there might be more to the old stories. If she stays here and our master cannot withstand the elders’ protests and decides to kill her, she won’t escape death. Even if our master ultimately spares her life, she still won’t be completely forgiven for her crimes.”

Yan Li bowed to her and said, “Miss Zelan remembers past kindness and understands the deeper truths.”

Zelan, genuinely flattered by the earnest praise, blushed and became bashfully uncomfortable, “Alright, don’t say anymore. Let’s go rescue her. I sneaked out without my senior sister knowing, and we can’t delay long or she’ll discover I’m gone.”

After a brief discussion, Yu’er, Hua Lian, and Tang Linzhi agreed to follow her. The location wasn’t far from where they were staying, and they crossed the flower fields and approached a group of buildings nestled against the mountain. It was hard to make out in the dark night.

They followed Zelan closely into the prison. Mo Wen’s cell was in the deepest part. Zelan unlocked the iron door, and the three entered, amazed at how unusual Xuhuai Valley was—the cell was clean and tidy, equipped with cabinets, a desk, and chairs, making it more comfortable than a room at an inn.

Mo Wen was reading at the desk and looked up at the sound of them entering.

Mo Wen stared at them, her eyes sparkling, “You… what took you so long to come?”

Hua Lian sat on the desk, grabbed a date from the fruit plate, and tossed it into his mouth, his fan tapping on Mo Wen’s head, “We thought you were suffering here, but it turns out you’ve been living in luxury. We were worried for nothing.”

Tang Linzhi walked in, her eyes following the thick chains on the ground to where Mo Wen’s feet were shackled.

Tang Linzhi drew her Chini bow-sword from her back, impatiently waved at Hua Lian, “Move.”

Hua Lian twirled his body and moved from the table to stand beside Yu’er.

Tang Linzhi brought down her blade, the divine weapon exceptionally sharp. It sliced through the chains, and the blade tip penetrated deep into the stone floor. “Caught by a trap, how did you not die of stupidity.”

Mo Wen retorted, “Everyone has their strengths. I’m not like you…”

Tang Linzhi pulled her up. Yu’er asked, “Mo Wen, do you have ‘Yan Shou’ on you?”

If she had this divine weapon, cutting through chains and unlocking doors wouldn’t be a problem; she wouldn’t even need their rescue.

Mo Wen nodded. Tang Linzhi remarked, “You have it and yet you chose to stay here comfortably!”

Mo Wen responded, “I was waiting for you. I can’t enter the Xuhuai Valley secret archive alone.”

Upon hearing this, Zelan exclaimed in alarm, “You still want to enter the secret archive! If the elders discover this, not even our Master can protect you! No, I won’t allow you to go in…”

Before she could finish, Zelan felt a sharp pain at the back of her neck and blacked out.

Yu’er caught her collapsing body. Mo Wen asked, “Yu’er, why did you knock her out?”

Yu’er explained, “Sooner or later, they’ll find out you escaped. If she didn’t cover her tracks well, it could bring trouble from Xuhuai Valley’s thorough investigation. I knocked her out to make it look like we forced her to come here, clearing her of suspicion. Also, when you mentioned going to the secret archive, she tried to stop you at all costs. Knocking her out saves us that trouble.”

Mo Wen eyed Yu’er curiously. Yu’er asked, “What’s wrong?”

Mo Wen noted, “It’s just that you sound more and more like Qing Jiu these days. Is it just my illusion…?”

Yu’er remained silent.

Tang Linzhi hooked an arm around her shoulder and began to lead her out. “Enough, enough! No more idle talk. You want to go to the secret archive, so let’s go now.”

Yu’er laid Zelan on the bed and followed Hua Lian out without closing the prison door, so by the next day, the people of Xuhuai Valley would find Zelan.

“Mo Wen, are you going to the secret archive for Qing Jiu’s Gu poison?”

Mo Wen turned her head back and said, “The secret archive in Xuhuai Valley contains thousands of medical scrolls, along with countless secret and forbidden techniques. I want to go in and take a look; maybe I’ll find some clues.”

She turned back to Tang Linzhi and added, “But the secret archive was built by skilled craftsmen from the Tang Sect for Xuhuai Valley. It’s full of traps and is not easy to enter.”

Tang Linzhi responded with enthusiasm, “Built by the Tang Sect? I must take a good look at that. It’s a chance to learn and compare skills. You should have called me here earlier.”

Mo Wen spoke with a hint of resentment, “I sent a message before I even set out, asking you to meet me, but you only just arrived.”

Tang Linzhi was momentarily speechless.

As the group left the building, they hadn’t gone far when they spotted three dark figures in the flower field.

“There’s someone there!” Mo Wen whispered urgently.

The three figures seemed to notice them and started walking towards them.

Mo Wen was the first to notice the leader, a person dressed in black and wearing a silver mask, someone she had never seen before. In such a moment, encountering strangers made her wary, “If they shout and bring more people here, we’ll be in trouble. Let’s knock them out first.”

Tang Linzhi grabbed Mo Wen and gestured towards the approaching figures with a nod, “They’re with us.”

Only then did Mo Wen notice the two following the masked figure; one was Yang Chun and the other was Qi Tianzhu.

“Yang Chun, Brother Qi.”

Qi Tianzhu spoke up, “You’ve rescued Miss Mo Wen, but where is Miss Zelan?”

Hua Lian answered, “She was too involved and it could have caused trouble; Yu’er has already knocked her out.”

“That’s probably for the best.”

Mo Wen pointed at Qing Jiu and asked Tang Linzhi, “What about this one?”

Tang Linzhi started to say, “This is…”

Yu’er interjected, “This is Miss Zhi Huan from Ghost Sect.” She briefly recounted to Mo Wen the various events that had transpired since they met in Jiangnan.

Yu’er then asked Qing Jiu, “Miss Zhi Huan, what are you doing here?”

Qing Jiu calmly replied, “I couldn’t sleep, so I went for a walk.”

Earlier that night, when Zelan had visited and they were discussing the rescue plan, Qing Jiu wasn’t present. However, she had guessed that they would go and rescue Mo Wen, so she had come out, looking for an opportunity to escape.

Unbeknownst to her, Qi Tianzhu and Yang Chun had openly stayed outside the house, and when she used the excuse of a walk to reach the flower field, they followed her.

Yu’er said, “It’s good that you’ve come; we’re just about to enter the secret archive. The more people, the better.”

Mo Wen glanced suspiciously at Qing Jiu and leaned to whisper in Tang Linzhi’s ear, “We’re going to the secret archive. Will having an outsider like her cause trouble?”

Tang Linzhi glanced at Yu’er and responded hesitantly, “It should be fine.”

Qing Jiu asked, “From what Third Miss Jun says, it seems I’m included too?”

Yu’er’s lips curled into a slight smile, “Miss Zhi Huan is quite clever.”

Qing Jiu was speechless.