Jianghu Demolition Squad

Unfamiliar with the Five Tastes of Life (Part One)

As the Qingming Festival approached, Lin Qingchao took Qing Jiu out shopping for new summer clothes.

After browsing several streets, they settled into a teahouse. A storyteller was entertaining the crowd with tales of the jianghu’s most intriguing events.

“Speaking of strange events in wulin, one cannot help but mention Hangzhou,” The man tapped his storytelling block and proclaimed, “The story goes that six years ago, in Hangzhou, there was a renowned martial arts family called the Lin family. On the day of the Lin family’s wedding, they came up with a novel idea to hold a wedding banquet on a boat while cruising the lake. It was a gesture of good intentions, but who knew it would be a self-made prison? A group of unidentified attackers boarded the wedding boat, slaughtering everyone on sight.”

“From the family head and guests to the servants and attendants, no one survived. On what was meant to be an auspicious day, it ended with a bloodbath with corpses everywhere and blood flowing like a river!”

Someone in the audience asked, “The Lin family was no ordinary family. Who were these attackers, and how could they dare to attack the Lin family?”

“In the jianghu, it’s all about ‘grudges’ and ‘revenge.’ It seems the Lin family had made many enemies in the Jianghu, and many of them chose that day to settle their scores. It’s all karma and retribution…”

The storyteller was interrupted before he could finish. Qing Jiu, overcome with emotion, suddenly slammed her teacup to the ground, causing a loud crash and drawing stares from everyone around.

Her eyes were icy as she stared at the storyteller, a thick murderous intent furrowing her eyes.

Lin Qingchao sensed something was wrong and called out, “Si’er.”

But Qing Jiu had already drawn her sword and charged toward the stage. The storyteller, seeing the gleaming blade, turned pale and scrambled back in fear.

Qing Jiu flicked a dagger from her waist and threw it forward. The dagger pierced the storyteller’s knee, eliciting a scream as he stumbled and fell, dark red blood soaking his pale trousers.

As the teahouse erupted in chaos with people scrambling to escape, someone shouted, “Someone is causing trouble. Quickly notify the Qixian Palace!”

Qing Jiu moved towards the fallen storyteller with her sword raised, ready to end his life.

Suddenly, a jade flute intercepted the sword, knocking Qing Jiu back.

Lin Qingchao stood in front of the storyteller, her voice stern, “Si’er, what are you doing!”

Qing Jiu gripped the hilt of her sword so tightly her entire arm trembled, “He said the Lin family ‘faces karma and retribution’—what right does he have to say such things!”

The storyteller, trembling and covered in blood, crawled to his feet, limping away.

Qing Jiu moved to pursue him, but Lin Qingchao continued to hold her back.

“He’s an outsider, merely repeating what he’s heard. Even if he spoke out of line, you could have simply given him a lesson. Why do you want to kill him!”

Qing Jiu, tears welling up in anger, retorted, “He deserves to die!”

Lin Qingchao frowned, “Si’er!”

“Do you take human life so lightly? What grave sin did he commit to deserve death at your hands? Such violence… Is this what your father and your mother taught you!”

Qing Jiu shot her a cold look, “No one taught me! Who is there to teach me! They all died! They died on West Lake!”

Lin Qingchao’s heart clenched. She realized her words had been insensitive, reopening Qing Jiu’s wounds. “Si’er…”

Qing Jiu angrily turned around, kicked a table blocking her path, and walked straight out.

“Si’er!”

Qing Jiu left the teahouse and didn’t head back to the Qixian Palace but walked towards the outskirts of the city. Lin Qingchao called after her, but she didn’t respond.

Finally reaching a small grove outside the city, with Lin Qingchao seeing Qing Jiu still angry and unsure where she might go, she called out, “Si’er, Si’er! Your aunt misspoke earlier, but you also did something wrong. We need to calm down and discuss this properly. How about we go back to the Qixian Palace with your aunt first, okay?”

Qing Jiu suddenly stopped and, with her back to Lin Qing Chao, asked, “Aunt, have you ever really considered avenging our family?”

“Si’er, why are you suddenly talking about this?” Lin Qingchao replied.

“In all my days at the Qixian Palace, you’ve never once mentioned revenge. You just want me to play the flute and zither, learn the palace’s mental disciplines, as if you want me to forget our family’s tragedy—as if it never happened! You drink wine, paint, and drunkenly sleep under the stars, enjoying your carefree life, but have you ever thought about the over a hundred members of the Lin family who died with their eyes open?”

Qing Jiu’s anger flared, consuming her with every word she spoke.

She bore a deep blood feud, as the sole survivor of her family. Although she had found a new home in a sect, a master to guide her, and a sense of belonging, the hatred was a burden she could not share. Her heart ached with a profound loneliness.

This boundless hatred was nearly crushing her.

Fortunately, she had found Lin Qingchao. She believed Lin Qingchao should be the person who understood her pain the most and could support her the best. However, reality proved otherwise.

Lin Qing Chao appeared carefree and unaffected by her family’s quest for vengeance. She even spared thoughts for the storyteller’s well-being.

The gap between Qing Jiu’s expectations and reality was unbearable. She felt a growing sense of disappointment, accusing Lin Qingchao of prioritizing her own comfort and pleasure above all else.

“Si’er, it’s not like that…”

Looking at Lin Qingchao, Qing Jiu was full of disappointment, “You’ve abandoned our family’s vengeance.”

Overwhelmed with despair, Qing Jiu shouted, “Coward!”

She wiped the tears from her eyes and resolutely turned around, “If you won’t seek our revenge, I will!”

Lin Qingchao swiftly moved in front of her, blocking her path, “Si’er, where are you going?”

“Get out of my way!”

Without thinking, Qing Jiu drew her sword and attacked Lin Qingchao. She didn’t intend to harm her but only to force her to move aside. However, in her rage, she couldn’t control her strength.

Lin Qingchao blocked the attack with her jade flute, holding back her full strength. Yet, the fragile jade couldn’t withstand the force of the steel. The flute cracked, several lines snaking across its surface.

Lin Qingchao’s expression tightened, she spun her flute and used a burst of internal energy to knock the sword from Qing Jiu’s grasp and swiftly tapped her acupoint to immobilize her.

“Si’er, calm down.”

Lin Qingchao sighed, “I haven’t forgotten about revenge, but I don’t want you to be consumed by it.”

She had initially focused on finding any surviving family members, and now her priority was raising Qing Jiu. The pursuit of revenge had been repeatedly postponed.

These were things she had never discussed with Qing Jiu, simply because she didn’t want to remind her of the horrors of the day their family was destroyed.

She caressed Qing Jiu’s cheek and spoke softly, “Si’er, do you know why you were given the nickname ‘Si’er,’ and why your parents named you ‘Zi Gui’? You had three older brothers. The Lin family had poor fortune, with few descendants. Your parents lost their first three children before they reached their first birthday, and your mother’s health was severely compromised. Everyone worried that the Lin family lineage might end.”

“Do you have any idea how happy your parents were when you were born?” she continued, holding the immobilized Qing Jiu close. ” They loved you dearly. They would have brought you the moon and stars if they could. They asked about everything concerning you with the utmost care. When you started to crawl, walk, and call them ‘mama’ and ‘papa,’ I would receive a family letter about it.”

“They wanted you to live, not to drown in hatred and suffer your entire life. I once advised your father not to spoil you too much, to prevent you from becoming arrogant. But he said your nature was pure, that you were kind and gentle, and that even if we spoiled you, you would grow up to be a gentle, kind, and caring person.”

“Look at yourself now. Are you anything like what they hoped for? If they saw you become so obsessed and suffering, they might wish they had taken you with them when they left.”

Tears choking her voice, Qing Jiu blurted, “Then why didn’t they take me with them? They should have taken me!”

“Si’er, all they wanted was for you to live. They wanted you to be happy.”

Lin Qingchao carried her back to the Qixian Palace, sealed her internal energy, and confined her to a room, forbidding her from leaving until she had come to her senses.

 When Gong Shang heard about the incident, he thought Lin Qingchao was disciplining Qing Jiu for the teahouse affair and advised “Zigui is still a child, and she has suffered a great loss. It’s understandable for her to be irritable and quick to anger. You should guide her with patience.”

However, Lin Qingchao felt utterly defeated, her heart heavy with weariness.

She believed it was her duty as an elder and Qing Jiu’s only remaining support to never show any sign of grief or weariness in front of Qing Jiu.

She feared that showing her vulnerability would unsettle the child. Little did she know that Qing Jiu was much fiercer than she thought, filled with thorns that cut her heart and made it bleed.

Lin Qingchao covered her eyes and whispered softly, “I don’t know what to do anymore.”

As they were speaking, a disciple hurried over and said, “Palace Master, Elder, something bad has happened!”

“What happened?”

“Miss Zigui, she… she suddenly fell ill. She’s lying on the floor, in great pain. But she won’t let us near her. She drove us all away.”

Their expressions changed immediately, and they hurried to the room. As they entered the courtyard, they saw several disciples gathered around the front of the room.

Lin Qingchao approached and saw that the door was tightly closed. She pushed against it, but it was bolted shut from inside.

With a surge of internal energy, she broke the lock and pushed the door open.

A teacup flew towards her face, but she sidestepped to avoid it.

“Get out, all of you get out! Don’t come in!”

Lin Qingchao turned to Gong Shang and said, “Senior Brother, take the disciples out and please call for Jueyin.” Jueyin was a member of the Qixian Palace and was well-versed in medicine.

“Alright.”

Everyone left. Lin Qingchao approached Qing Jiu, who was curled up on the floor, veins bulging on her forehead and her face flushed yet her lips pale.

Her Gu poison had acted up. It usually occurred only once every year or so, so she didn’t carry medicine on her. She had been keeping track of the dates, but this time it seemed to have come a bit earlier than last time, catching her off guard.

“Get out, don’t come near me!” she hissed like a wounded young animal, hostile to anyone around her.

Lin Qingchao ignored Qing Jiu’s resistance, holding her in her arms and gently soothing her, “Si’er, it’s alright, Si’er, it’s alright, Aunt is here.”

“Aunt is here.”

Qing Jiu struggled briefly but couldn’t resist and began to cry in her arms, “Aunt, they killed Father. Father is dead. They didn’t even spare him. They beheaded him. Mother collapsed beside him. Her body was so cold. Aunt, they weren’t human…”

Lin Qingchao felt her heart constrict with pain. She knew Qing Jiu had witnessed the massacre firsthand, but she had no idea she’d seen so much, that she remembered every detail.

Lin Qingchao carried Qing Jiu to bed, soothing her as she cried. When Jueyin arrived, she refused to release her.

After examining Qing Jiu, Jueyin frowned deeply, pondered for a moment, sighed, and then prepared two strong medicines, which he fed to Qing Jiu, causing her to fall into a deep sleep.

Qing Jiu slept restlessly, and Lin Qingchao sat by the bed, holding her hand, inquiring Jueyin about her condition. Jueyin shared the symptoms.

Qing Jiu had not taken any antidote from Ghost Sect, and when she woke up, she still felt miserable. As soon as she opened her eyes, she noticed something warm in her hand. She looked down to see that Lin Qingchao was holding her hand.

Those hands were soft, with a thin layer of calluses on the palm. Just holding it made her feel secure. The gentle spring breeze even made her temporarily forget the pain in her body.

Until Lin Qingchao called out to her, looking at her worriedly, “Si’er, why didn’t you tell me you joined the Ghost Sect?”

Lin Qingchao had suspected as much, and now that the Gu poison had revealed itself, Qing Jiu could no longer hide the truth. “I didn’t know how to say it…”

“Your aunt understands you faced many difficulties and doesn’t blame you,” Lin Qingchao soothed, patting her head. “But Si’er, the Ghost Sect is not a good place…”

Qing Jiu knew all too well that Ghost Sect, which dealt in silver and blood, was both righteous and evil. But she didn’t want to hear others speak ill of her sect. “What’s so bad about them? At least they saved me from a dangerous situation, took me in, and taught me martial arts!”

Lin Qingchao, concerned for her health and not wanting to upset her further, agreed with her. “That’s true. Knowing and remembering kindness is how it should be. But who from the Ghost Sect saved you and took you as a disciple? If your aunt has the chance in the future, I will thank them properly.”

Qing Jiu replied, “I don’t know my master’s full name, only that everyone in the sect calls her Qin Gui.”

“So… so it’s her…” Lin Qingchao’s expression changed several times before she sighed in resignation.

“Aunt, do you know my master?”

“She was my senior sister. How could I not recognize her?”

In her heart, Lin Qingchao wondered if Qin Gui had deliberately taken Qing Jiu as a disciple to exact revenge on her.

As Lin Qingchao mulled over this, unable to find peace, an idea suddenly struck her. She said to Qing Jiu, “Si’er, let’s put aside the matter of Ghost Sect for now. As for the poison in your body, your aunt must remove it for you, so that you will no longer be controlled by others and suffer this kind of torment.”

Qing Jiu endured excruciating pain every time the poison flared up. She indeed didn’t want such a tormenting thing in her body, “But the sect says only the Judge’s antidote can suppress the poison’s effects, and no one else can cure it.”

Lin Qingchao smiled and said, “There’s a place called Xuhuai Valley, known for gathering the best medical minds. The Palace Master of the Qixian Palace, Gong Shang, is on good terms with Xuan Shen, the Master of Xuhuai Valley. I sent him a letter last year asking for his help with your sense of taste, and he replied yesterday, indicating some progress.”

“I’ll take you to Xuhuai Valley so he can treat your sense of taste and also look at this poison. Valley Master Xuan Shen is not only an expert in medicine but also knowledgeable about poisons, and should have some ideas. If he can cure it, that’s best. Even if he can’t, he can restore your sense of taste, so we don’t make a wasted trip.”

The thought of potentially regaining her sense of taste and curing the poison made Qing Jiu feel excited. “Really?”

“Why would your aunt lie to you?”

After a few days, when Qing Jiu could walk again, Lin Qingchao arranged for their trip to Xuhuai Valley.

On the day they set off, Gong Shang came to see them off, saying, “I wanted to send some disciples with you, but you refused. At least let me ensure you’re safe on the road.”

Lin Qingchao replied, “Senior Brother, you’ve already made exceptions for her to learn the Qixian Palace’s techniques. After all, Si’er isn’t a member of the Qixian Palace. How can I allow you to bend the sect rules for her repeatedly? It’s only a trip to Xuhuai Valley, and we don’t need many people.”

“Alright, but be careful on the road.”

“Understood.”

They bid farewell to Gong Shang and headed to Xuhuai Valley, traveling day and night, not stopping until they reached Suolong City.

From there, it was only a short distance to Xuhuai Valley. Lin Qingchao decided not to rush and, after having lunch with Qing Jiu in the city, they went shopping and bought lots of snacks.

Lin Qingchao, arms full with bags of candied fruit and dates, also grabbed some dried meat and reached for a packet of chestnuts, but seeing she couldn’t hold it all, Qingjiu took it from her.

Qing Jiu knew her aunt liked these treats, but she didn’t understand why she was buying so much before visiting Xuhuai Valley.

When she asked, Lin Qingchao explained with a laugh, “These may be small treats, but they’re delicious. They’re just a tiny sample of the world’s delicacies. I want you to try them as soon as your sense of taste returns. You’ll definitely love them. In the future, Si’er, how about you join me in exploring the remaining ninety-nine percent of these flavors, okay?”

Qing Jiu felt a surge of happiness, though she playfully tossed the chestnuts in her hand, “I’m not a child anymore. I might not even like these things.”

Lin Qingchao chuckled, “I’m not a child either. And these aren’t all for you. I heard that Valley Master Xuan Shen has taken a disciple about your age. It’s good to bring some gifts for our first meeting.”

Qing Jiu wasn’t entirely pleased to hear that the treats weren’t all for her, responding sulkily with a subdued, “Hmm.”

As they approached Xuhuai Valley, they needed to cross a lake. Looking out over the vast lake surface, Qing Jiu felt an inexplicable panic.

Once on the boat, she began to sweat coldly. Lin Qingchao noticed her discomfort and asked, “Si’er, are you feeling unwell?”

Images of a blood-soaked boat flashed through Qing Jiu’s mind. Although she could no longer remember the faces of those people, the vivid images of their deaths and the blood-stained deck were all too clear.

Qing Jiu rushed out of the cabin and leaned over the side of the boat to vomit, her face turning deathly pale. Lin Qingchao followed her out and patted her back, “You must have eaten something bad. Why are you suddenly throwing up?”

The boatman handed her a glass of water and commented, “It looks like the young lady might be seasick.”

Lin Qingchao replied, “Impossible. She grew up on the water. She spent her childhood sailing and fishing. She’s always been fine…”

Before she could finish, Lin Qingchao’s expression suddenly changed, and she stepped in front of Qing Jiu, looking up at the roof of the boat.

At some point, a person had appeared on the boat’s roof, dressed in black, wielding twin Emei daggers, his gaze sharp, “Qing Jiu, the first disciple of Ghost Sect’s Qin Gui, has not returned to the sect for a long time. Disciples of the sect have reported that you betrayed the sect and colluded with Qixian Palace, intending to secretly assassinate your master Qin Gui.”

“Today, I’ve come to take you back to the Ghost Sect for punishment. Do not resist. You will only make your suffering worse.”

Turning back, Qing Jiu recognized the intruder as Gui Jianchou. Accusations of betraying the sect and conspiring with the Qixian Palace to assassinate her own master were absurd.

She opened her mouth to object, “I didn’t…” but a wave of nausea overcame her, and she clung to the side of the boat, wishing she could vomit out her stomach.

Her gaze drifted towards the water. She saw a small raft, a figure wielding a pole, pushing it towards the boat. It was none other than Dao Gui.

Such a grand spectacle for a single target. Did they really need two of their most skilled assassins to deal with her?

No, she realized, it wasn’t about her. This was about her aunt!

Dao Gui steered the raft closer, smiling, “Qin Gui is not here. If she were, she’d fight to take this task herself.”

As Gui Jianchou moved to capture Qing Jiu, Lin Qingchao spun around and blocked him with her sword.

Gui Jianchou wasn’t surprised, his voice calm, “Outsiders should refrain from interfering. The consequences will be severe.”

“Wait, I am Lin Qingchao of the Qixian Palace, and I mean no harm. I do contest your claims about the child betraying the Ghost Sect. Yes, she has been staying at the Qixian Palace, but she has done nothing to betray her sect.”

“No?” Gui Jian Chou remained impassive, then questioned further, “Then why are you taking her to Xuhuai Valley?”

Lin Qingchao hesitated, knowing she couldn’t mention the antidote, “The child has lost her sense of taste, and Valley Master Xuan Shen mentioned he might help restore it, so I brought her along.”

“You hesitated,” noted Gui Jian Chou. “I recall her claiming to be a mere servant of the Lin family. So it seems you care for her greatly?”

Lin Qingchao fell silent. Qing Jiu had already shared her Ghost Sect affairs with her; she had claimed to be a servant to escape numerous pursuers.

She had been away from home for many years and was not well-informed about the Fenghou Sword issue, especially since she lived in the Qixian Palace. Despite this, she had faced persistent harassment over the years.

If Qing Jiu’s true identity were revealed, whether it be the Ghost Sect or others, it would pose a great danger to her.

Yet, without a reliable relationship, how could she justify her actions and dispel Gui Jianchou’s suspicions?

Dao Gui had run out of patience for Lin Qingchao’s excuses and drew his sword, proclaiming, “It doesn’t matter how, since she’s involved with Lin Qingchao, as far as Qin Gui is concerned, that constitutes betrayal of the sect, and we don’t need to delve too deeply.”

With a light tap on the raft, Dao Gui leapt aboard, launching an attack towards Lin Qingchao.

Lin Qingchao couldn’t afford to be careless and drew her long sword to meet the attack.

As Dao Gui suddenly brought up Qin Gui, Lin Qingchao became even more determined not to let them take Qing Jiu away.

She knew of Qin Gui’s hatred for her and feared that if Qing Jiu fell into Qin Gui’s hands, that animosity would be redirected at the young girl, subjecting her to untold torment.

Fighting against both Gui Jian Chou and Dao Gui, Lin Qingchao found herself stretched thin. Although her skills were superior, both opponents were formidable, and she had to keep Qing Jiu safe, which was increasingly challenging.

The boatman, seeking to avoid the battle, had already jumped into the water.

Lin Qingchao quickly thought and shouted, “Si’er, jump into the water and swim to the other side! Once you reach the border of Xuhuai Valley, they can’t touch you!”

Qing Jiu, vomiting tears from her eyes, gasped out, “I am not a traitor, stop fighting!”

But Gui Jian Chou and Dao Gui didn’t cease their assault. Qing Jiu tried to help, but as she stood up, her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the boat. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around Dao Gui’s legs.

Dao Gui swung his sword, aiming a strike that would wound, but not kill.

Yet, Lin Qingchao, driven by her protective instinct, blocked the attack with her own sword.

Dao Gui’s sword, the divine blade Baihong, was not something ordinary weapons could parry. Lin Qingchao managed to block it briefly before her sword snapped under its force.

Distracted, Lin Qingchao was open to an attack from Gui Jianchou, whose Emei dagger pierced her stomach.

Lin Qingchao pushed him back with a palm strike, and as the dagger were withdrawn, blood sprayed from her stomach.

From the corner of her eye, Lin Qingchao could see they were not far from the shore. “I’m going to lose,” she thought, “but I have to protect Si’er, no matter what.”

Finding a brief opening, Lin Qingchao endured another hit from an Emei dagger, broke free from their encirclement, and plunged into the water with Qing Jiu in her arms.

As they plunged from the boat, Dao Gui wouldn’t give up and striked down with his sword, trying to strike them in mid-air.

The air sliced by his divine weapon was not to be underestimated. In that moment, Lin Qingchao had many thoughts flash through her mind but ultimately could only sigh, realizing she couldn’t escape.

She spun in mid-air, shielding Qing Jiu with her body, taking the full brunt of the sword strike on her back.

A piercing cry from Qing Jiu, “Aunt!” echoed as they hit the water, causing a spray of waves and a bloom of dark red to spread across the surface.

Dao Gui clenched his hand, clicking his tongue, “It’s a shame I didn’t manage to cut them both.”

He prepared to dive after them, but Gui Jianchou grabbed him, shaking his head, “We’re at the boundary of Xuhuai Valley now.”

Unbeknownst to them, the boat had drifted close to shore.

Dao Gui sheathed his sword, chuckling, “Well, let’s leave it be. The brat got a bit lucky.”

“Should we stay and watch or return to report?”

Gui Jian Chou pondered, “Aunt? This brat’s identity isn’t simple. Let’s head back and report.”