Chapter 197: Fish Nineteen and Master Jingkong

The iron-clad dusk enveloped the small town, nestled amidst sand dunes, in a pallid moonlight. Wind-worn mud walls gleamed with a cold light, and the copper bells hanging from the eaves had long been silenced by the abrasive sand. Only the inn on the west side of town glowed with light. More than forty riders from the Six Doors filled the already cramped main hall to capacity. Amidst the clatter of scabbards and the rustle of leather armor, steam rose from bowls of mutton soup served in coarse earthenware.

Gu Mo broke off half a piece of a flatbread, as hard as iron, crumbs scattering onto the rough wooden table. At the neighboring table, several constables were quietly discussing the day's events concerning the Qiongshan Sect, sand still clinging to the old cloth wrapped around their knife handles.

Suddenly, Gu Chudong tapped his hand with her bamboo chopsticks. Moonlight, filtering through the eaves, caught the silver hairpin in her tied-up hair, casting a dazzling shimmer. At their table were the familiar faces of Chen Xiuyuan and Deputy Commander Chen Yin. Commander Zhong Lianshan, meanwhile, had remained at Qiongshan to manage the aftermath.

"Where's Brother Zhuo?" Gu Chudong asked, distributing chopsticks. "Isn't he coming to eat?"

Chen Yin took his chopsticks. "Lord Zhuo is busy," he said. "He told us to go ahead and eat. Today's incident with the Qiongshan Sect will become a pivotal moment, influencing the entire martial arts landscape of Mobei. It's not just the Six Doors who know this; all the martial arts factions in Mobei are aware, and they know we will seize this opportunity to act."

Gu Chudong picked up the thread. "So, Brother Zhuo is going to arrange some underhanded tactics to deal with the various martial arts factions, isn't he?"

Chen Yin smiled but offered no reply. He understood Zhuo Qingfeng's relationship with Gu Chudong was akin to that of siblings, allowing Gu Chudong to freely jest about Zhuo Qingfeng. As a subordinate, however, he merely listened and dared not agree with her playful remarks.

"One must act according to their position," Gu Mo stated. "Brother Zhuo is an Inspector for the Six Doors; his duty is to suppress the Mobei martial arts world and establish order. There are no 'underhanded tactics' to speak of. Do you truly believe the martial arts factions are mere lambs? They will make their own moves as well. It's simply a contest of strategies, to see who gains the upper hand."

Gu Chudong chuckled. "Then I'm afraid we won't be able to help with what happens next."

Gu Mo nodded. "Indeed, we won't be able to help. The incident with the Qiongshan Sect has given the Six Doors a legitimate reason to fully intervene in the martial arts world of Mobei. However, this will also bring forth local gentry, powerful clans, native chieftains, and other forces with government backing. In essence, this marks the true beginning of the Six Doors' confrontation with Mobei's martial arts community. Brother Zhuo needs to select his representatives, and the local official powers will have their own. On the surface, it will still appear to be a struggle within the Jianghu, with various martial arts factions vying for territory and reshaping the existing order. But in reality, it's a strategic game between the Six Doors and the local government, employing entirely different methods. We two would simply get into fights; we certainly wouldn't be of any assistance."

Gu Chudong exclaimed, suddenly enlightened, "So that's how it is!"

Chen Yin and Chen Xiuyuan, meanwhile, continued eating in silence, offering no comments. They couldn't interject, for while Gu Mo spoke the truth, as public officials of the Six Doors, they were absolutely forbidden from articulating such matters.

Just then,

A Six Doors constable, who had been on watch outside, approached and bowed. "Hero Gu," he announced, "Master Jingkong and Young Hero Yu Shijiu are requesting an audience."

Gu Mo set down his bowl and chopsticks and exited the inn.

Yu Shijiu and Master Jingkong were standing at the inn's entrance. As soon as Gu Mo emerged, they quickly stepped forward, bowing in respectful greeting.

Gu Mo returned the bow. "Master, Brother Yu, have you eaten?" he asked. "If not, please come in and have something. I can have someone prepare some vegetarian dishes for you, Master."

"No," Master Jingkong replied, "Hero Gu, this monk and Benefactor Yu must depart soon."

Gu Mo looked puzzled. "It's so late," he remarked, "and the winds and sand in Mobei are relentless, not to mention the bitter cold at night. Aren't you going to rest?"

Master Jingkong shook his head. "Both Benefactor Yu and I have pressing matters," he explained, "making it inconvenient for us to linger. We must leave tonight, but we wished to express our gratitude to you before our departure."

"Thank me for what?" Gu Mo asked, confused.

Master Jingkong replied, "Some time ago, Lin Duanyun dispatched three Copper-Armored Corpses to assassinate this monk. Fortunately, Benefactor Yu arrived just in time with your sword, Hero Gu; otherwise, I fear this monk would have already passed on."

Yu Shijiu added, "Indeed, Hero Gu, the sword you once gave me contained your sword intent. It was by utilizing your sword intent that I was able to slay those Copper-Armored Corpses."

Gu Mo waved a dismissive hand. "Even if you hadn't arrived that day, Brother Yu," he said, "Master Jingkong would not have been in any real danger. Given Bai Qiliao's arrangements, he absolutely wouldn't have allowed Master Jingkong to die; he surely had a hidden contingency plan. It's just that since you intervened, his backup wasn't needed."

Master Jingkong clasped his hands together, uttered a Buddhist chant, and said, "This monk also shares that concern. We don't know what hidden schemes Bai Qiliao and Lin Duanyun each possess, nor how many individuals have cultivated the Zombie Arts. If those people infiltrate the Jianghu, it will bring calamity, not benefit!"

"That remains unknown," Gu Mo replied. "Those individuals are undoubtedly practitioners of evil arts, but to deal with them, we must rely on the Six Doors. Master, perhaps you could leverage your prestige to lend more support to the Six Doors. The sooner the Six Doors stabilizes order in the Mobei martial arts world, the sooner those who practice the Zombie Arts will be exposed. Master, you must also be aware that for hunting wanted criminals and maintaining stability in the martial arts world, the Six Doors is the most professional agency. The only drawback is that your support for the Six Doors might adversely affect your reputation."

Master Jingkong smiled faintly. "As one who has renounced worldly life, what use is such reputation to this monk?" he mused. "Hero Gu, you are correct: the sooner the Six Doors stabilizes the Mobei martial arts world, the sooner the people of Mobei will have a guarantee of safety. After this monk completes his current task, I will journey to various regions to persuade the major factions to jointly establish a stable Jianghu in Mobei."

"Master, your righteousness is profound," Gu Mo commended.

Master Jingkong clasped his hands together and bowed slightly, saying nothing further.

At that moment,

Yu Shijiu retrieved a small wooden box from his robes and handed it to Gu Mo. "Hero Gu," he began, "this is a medicinal pill I received from an esteemed elder. It has no specific name, but it's refined from dozens of rare natural treasures. When needed, you simply crush its contents and apply them to a wound; it has miraculous effects on external injuries. Your martial arts are exceptional, so you wouldn't typically need it yourself, but you could give it to Sister Chudong to carry, as a precaution. Please... take it!"

Yu Shijiu was not naturally eloquent; speaking so much in one breath was clearly a struggle for him, indicating he had practiced this speech many times in his mind.

Gu Mo could distinctly sense Yu Shijiu's nervousness and his obvious fear that the gift might be refused.

"Alright, then many thanks, Brother Yu," Gu Mo said, cupping his hands in a gesture of gratitude.

Only then did Yu Shijiu manage a faint smile. He nodded and stammered, "No... no need to thank me!"

Afterward, Gu Mo continued to chat with Master Jingkong and Yu Shijiu for a while, primarily engaging with Master Jingkong on topics of Buddhist philosophy and martial arts. Finally, before departing, Master Jingkong mentioned he would organize some scriptures and personal notes upon his return and send them to the Six Doors for onward delivery to Gu Mo.

The cold moon hung high, making the small town appear even more desolate under its pale glow. Yu Shijiu and Master Jingkong rode side-by-side, their horses' whinnies piercing the boundless silence.

The wind howled as sand swept in, threatening to bury everything. Their cloaks flapped loudly as their figures gradually faded into the night, leaving behind only a trail of hoofprints that were swiftly swallowed by the swirling sand.

Amidst the pervasive yellow sand,

Master Jingkong asked, "Benefactor Yu, were those two medicinal pills you gave Hero Gu made using your spiritual blood?"

"No," Yu Shijiu replied. "Hero Gu is a man of great righteousness; I believe even if he knew my identity as a Spirit Race member, he wouldn't harbor any ill intentions. However, I cannot guarantee the same for others. Although the pills were given to Hero Gu, there's no certainty they won't eventually fall into other hands. If someone with malicious intent were to discover their true nature, it could lead to grave trouble. Even for the slightest possibility, I wouldn't dare gamble with the lives of my people."

Master Jingkong nodded. "So, those two pills are purely medicinal formulations, then?"

"Yes," Yu Shijiu confirmed. "An elder in my clan is highly skilled in alchemy. Those two pills are rare and precious medicines, exceptionally effective for treating external injuries. When I roam the Jianghu, I inevitably sustain injuries, but the reason I can recover without shedding a single drop of blood is largely due to that precious medicine, in addition to my innate self-healing abilities."

"It's good that it won't expose you," Master Jingkong said. "Benefactor Yu, from this point forward, as you traverse the Jianghu, you must remember not to trust anyone lightly, regardless of who they are. In truth, your decision to trust me back then was far too risky. You must understand that one can know a person's face but not their heart. You are the guardian of your clan; any moment of leniency or soft-heartedness could potentially bring utter disaster upon your people."

Yu Shijiu nodded. "I know," he said. "There cannot be a second person like him; nor can there be a second Master Jingkong in this world."

Master Jingkong chuckled softly. "Let's go," he said. "Back to Shatuo Temple. The Ice Marrow Lotus that Yu Shiba left behind is ripening within the next few days. If you consume it, you can increase your cultivation by at least twenty years, which will help you cope with the upcoming turbulence when the Blazing Ruins open."

Yu Shijiu asked, "Master, that Ice Marrow Lotus is a rare and invaluable natural treasure. While its primary function is to help our Spirit Race activate spiritual power, it can also increase the cultivation and prolong the life of ordinary individuals. Yu Shiba entrusted it to your care for several years. Honestly, don't you feel even a slight reluctance to part with it?"

Master Jingkong chuckled softly. "It's not mine; even if it remained in my possession for a hundred years, it wouldn't truly belong to me," he said. "Furthermore, when Yu Shiba entrusted the Ice Marrow Lotus to me years ago, I promised him that once it matured, I would hand it over to someone named Yu Shijiu. This is a vow. Even if it could grant eternal life, I would not entertain the slightest flicker of greed."

"That's precisely why I said there cannot be a second Master Jingkong in this world," Yu Shijiu remarked.

Master Jingkong sighed deeply. "Alas," he murmured, "I only hope that when the Blazing Ruins open, there will be less bloodshed."

Yu Shijiu stated, "I only hope that this time, I won't encounter so many obstinate individuals. Otherwise, anyone who enters the Blazing Ruins, I will surely kill. Master, have you forgotten the immense bloodshed He Changqing unleashed upon Mobei when he escaped forty years ago? That chaos persisted for four decades, claiming countless innocent lives. Yu Shiba's failure to kill just one more person back then led to such a profound disaster. Killing within the Blazing Ruins not only saves my people but also saves Mobei!"

"Amitabha!"