The Affairs of the Martial World - Vol 3: Chapter 12

On this day, Zhu Que and Xie Tingyu returned from hunting. A man in black appeared in front of Qian Yan’s grave. The two dropped their prey and ran over. As they got closer, Xie Tingyu saw the man’s back, and his whole body trembled. Suddenly kneeled down and called out, “Master.”

Zhu Que realized that this was the mysterious man in black who had taught Xie Tingyu martial arts for two years. He wondered why he lingered so long in front of Qian Yan’s grave.

The man in black did not turn around; a deep, resonant voice came through: “Get up, when did your mother leave?”

Xie Tingyu stood up and replied, “Half a year ago.”

The man in black nodded and said, “Do you know who I am?”

Xie Tingyu replied, “Disciple does not know. Please enlighten me, Master.”

The man in black slowly turned around, revealing a delicate face that looked at the two. Upon seeing him, Zhu Que couldn’t help but exclaim, “Ji Wuyou!” In that instant, he understood why he felt that Xie Tingyu’s martial arts and sword techniques seemed familiar. He had sparred with disciples from Tianshan, and upon reflecting on Xie Tingyu’s swordsmanship, he found certain similarities. Many vague thoughts suddenly became clear. How could Xie Tingyu and Qian Yan hide in this desolate valley, and why would a man in black come to teach Xie Tingyu martial arts secretly? Moreover, why did this man linger by Qian Yan’s grave? Now that he knew it was Ji Wuyou, everything made sense.

The man was in his fifties. Although he wore black clothing, a snowflake was embroidered on his collar. Members of the Tianshan Sword Sect all wore white except the sect leader. Upon closer inspection, aside from the white hair at his temples, his handsome and robust face bore a resemblance to Xie Tingyu, which is why Zhu Que immediately recognized his identity.

Xie Tingyu trembled all over upon hearing this, seemingly unable to believe it. He suddenly drew his sword from his waist, pointing it at Ji Wuyou, his whole body quivering as if he could not control himself, ready to strike. Zhu Que looked at Ji Wuyou; Ji’s face was filled with sorrow, and he ignored the sword in Xie Tingyu’s hand, seemingly unconcerned that he would kill him. Xie Tingyu’s eyes widened, his heart in turmoil, unable to make a decision. Seeing this, Zhu Que also drew his sword to block Xie Tingyu’s, asking, “Are you crazy? He is your father!”

Xie Tingyu trembled even more upon hearing this, seemingly at a loss for what to choose. Finally, he threw away the sword in his hand and turned to run back to the wooden cabin, not coming out again. When Zhu Que looked at Ji Wuyou, he found Ji equally agitated, Ji’s hands shaking. With Ji’s level of martial arts, if he couldn’t control his body, it was clear how intense his inner turmoil was. Zhu Que said, “Senior……”

It seemed that Ji Wuyou did not hear. After a long while, Ji suddenly asked, “Do you know how much pain I’ve endured in my heart all these years? Ever since you left, I searched for you for ten years and finally found you in this valley, only to discover you have already married someone else.”

Zhu Que only realized at this point that Ji Wuyou was not talking to him but was speaking to Qian Yan, who had already been buried in the flower grave.

He continued, “Back then, when we were together, I had to leave immediately due to important matters in my sect. It was not that I abandoned you; you should believe me. When I returned to find you, you had already left. I searched everywhere like a madman, but I couldn’t find any news of you. Qian Yan, you must have misunderstood me, which is why you left. You must have been very heartbroken at that time, thinking I was someone who started something and then abandoned it. But all these years, my heart has only had room for you. Qian Yan, this is all my fault, all my fault!”

This handsome and extraordinary swordsman seemed unable to control his suppressed emotions any longer and began to sob. Zhu Que gradually understood the truth of the matter; it turned out that it was not Ji Wuyou who abandoned Qian Yan and left, but rather he had to leave immediately due to circumstances, leading Qian Yan to misunderstand him and marry someone else with resentment. From then on, the two became like strangers, yet they still cared for each other. Later, when Ji Wuyou discovered that Qian Yan was already married, he did not want to disrupt her peaceful life, but he couldn’t help but worry about their son and secretly taught him martial arts for two years. And Qian Yan certainly could not forget Ji Wuyou; even in death, she did not share a grave with Xie Tongxuan.

Ji Wuyou was speaking not only to the buried Qian Yan but also to Zhu Que so that Zhu Que could explain clearly to Xie Tingyu, hoping to gain his understanding.

Zhu Que felt a stir in his heart and said, “Senior Ji, can’t you see that Qian Yan has long since forgiven you?”

Ji Wuyou turned around and asked, “What do you mean?”

Zhu Que replied, “Think about it. Why is this place called the Wangyou Valley? It is precisely because she cannot forget you.”

Ji Wuyou trembled all over upon hearing this.

Zhu Que sighed but thought of something else. Since Ji Wuyou already knew that his junior brother was killed by his own son, he must be feeling a mix of emotions. As for the duel with Murong Hanshan, the outcome was still uncertain. Murong Hanshan was genuinely angry about the person who killed Liu Hehongtang, and Xie Tingyu was the prime suspect in that murder. Now that the father and son were meeting, they couldn’t afford to discuss these matters at the moment, but these issues would have to be resolved sooner or later.

Zhu Que urged Ji Wuyou to return to the cabin and personally talk to Xie Tingyu. Ji Wuyou did not respond, merely standing in front of Qian Yan’s grave as if he were a stone statue or wooden carving. Zhu Que had no choice but to go to the cabin alone to find Xie Tingyu.

Xie Tingyu sat indoors, holding a wine cup, hoping to forget his troubles in the drink. Zhu Que snatched the cup away and set it aside, saying, “Did you hear what your father just said?”

Xie Tingyu asked, “What did you hear?”

Zhu Que conveyed what Ji Wuyou had said to him. After listening, Xie Tingyu shook his head, expressing disbelief. He said, “What major event in the sect could be so urgent? He can’t even care for his own woman? These are all just excuses. Do you know? My mother waited at the inn for half a month, confirming that he wouldn’t return, which is why she left in sadness. I think he really had nothing going on; he was probably hiding nearby, watching. When he saw my mother leave, he most likely breathed a sigh of relief, glad to be rid of the burden of her so that he could become the leader of the Tianshan Sword Sect.”

Xie Tingyu was lost in his own thoughts, immersed in the self-pity and sorrow of how his mother had carried him alone and was abandoned by Ji Wuyou. Suddenly, Ji Wuyou burst in and slapped Xie Tingyu. Xie Tingyu stood up, ready to fight back, but upon seeing Ji Wuyou’s tears streaming down his face, he hesitated and did not strike back. Ji Wuyou said, “You can criticize me, but you cannot speak ill of your mother! Do you think a mere sect leader is more important to me than your mother? With your mother, I would give up everything! Not long after I returned, I took over the position of the Snow Mountain (1) leader, but do you know that was because my master was murdered the day before I returned? I rushed back to avenge him! After I finally killed the murderer with the disciples of Snow Mountain and avenged this great grievance, I immediately hurried back, but by then, your mother had already left. And you, you speak so recklessly, making me feel so heartbroken……”

Xie Tingyu was left speechless, unable to say another word, but to untie this knot in his heart would take more than just a moment. Zhu Que said to Xie Tingyu, “After all, you are his own flesh and blood, and moreover, he taught you martial arts for two years, making him your master……”

At this point, the three simultaneously heard a voice from outside, “Excuse me, is there a friend with the surname Ji here?”

(1) Snow Mountain — Snow Mountain is one of the Tianshan mountain ranges.