The Affairs of the Martial World - Vol 3: Chapter 5

Zhu Que wanted to find someone to go to Jinan with, but Fuying, who had just parted ways not long ago, was nowhere to be seen, so he had no choice but to set off alone.

On the lonely road, Zhu Que felt a strong longing for Yi Xue, whom he had encountered a few days ago. Was her arrival also for Murong Hanshan?

If that was the case, would they also head back to Jinan since they couldn’t meet Murong Hanshan?

It would be great to run into her over there, but who was the old man she was with that he mistakenly thought was Yin Wuxing?

With countless questions in mind, Zhu Que cracked the whip as if the sooner he arrived, the sooner he would get answers.

Yin Wuxing was a renowned master of swordsmanship from the Shandong region, with a large family and significant business, holding considerable prestige in Jinan.

When Zhu Que arrived in Jinan, he inquired along the way, and the Yin residence was the most enormous mansion on the outskirts of Jinan, making it relatively easy to find.

Zhu Que bought some incense and offerings at the funeral shop and headed straight to the Yin residence.

Upon arrival, he noticed that the white paper lanterns in front of the Yin residence had not yet been taken down. Zhu Que stepped forward to announce his name, and a servant went in to report. After a while, Yin Wuxing’s son, Yin Tianyun, came out with a group of people to greet him.

Yin Tianyun kept calling out in admiration.

With someone of Zhu Que’s status coming to pay his respects, Yin Tianyun was naturally grateful. The people following Yin Tianyun were all disciples of Yin Wuxing, and they gathered together, still discussing matters of avenging Yin Wuxing.

Although Yin Wuxing had already been buried, a memorial tablet had been set up in the west room, and Yin Tianyun led Zhu Que over there.

Zhu Que bowed before the spirit tablet of Yin Wuxing and lit incense. Yin Tianyun also knelt and returned the gesture to Zhu Que.

After paying their respects, the group returned to the hall together. Yin Tianyun invited Zhu Que to take the seat of honor and instructed the servants to prepare tea.

Zhu Que said, “Old Master Yin was a man of chivalry throughout his life, yet he unfortunately fell victim to the schemes of wicked people. I wonder if any of you have any leads on the murderer?”

Yin Tianyun’s eyes were bloodshot as he shook his head and said, “Master Ji of Tianshan Sword Sect has sent word that he will come personally to investigate who will take responsibility for it. However, after several discussions among us brothers, we still believe that Murong Hanshan is the most suspicious.”

Zhu Que nodded and said, “If we only consider swordsmanship, indeed, not many can match Master Yin. Therefore, Murong Hanshan has become a suspect. I wonder if anyone has any other evidence?”

Yin Tianyun shook his head again, but his hand was clenched tightly. Zhu Que asked, “Can you tell me what happened at that time?”

Yin Tianyun pondered in silence, then turned to a man about his age and said, “Zhenjiang, you tell Brother Zhu about what happened back then.”

Zhu Que looked at the man named Zhenjiang and suddenly remembered that the two people he encountered at Taibai Tower in Suzhou, walking together with Yi Xue and Murong Jiao, were Yin Tianyun and this man named Zhenjiang; he just didn’t know who that old man was.

Earlier, it was because Yin Tianyun changed into home mourning clothes that he didn’t recognize him; as soon as Zhenjiang was with him, Zhu Que immediately remembered.

It seemed that back then, Yin Tianyun did not notice him and Fuying at the tavern; otherwise, he wouldn’t have shown such a surprised expression upon hearing his name earlier.

Zhenjiang said, “More than a month ago, the master received a letter. After reading it, he said nothing and burned the letter. He then told Young Master Yin that he would be out for a day and would return the next day. He didn’t say where he was going, and no one dared to ask. As a result, the next day, officials came to the Yin residence and reported that, unfortunately, someone had murdered the master.”

Zhu Que asked, “Where was it discovered?”

Zhenjiang replied, “Outside of Jinan, there is a Jade Water River, and beside the Jade Water River, there is a flat riverbank where the remains of our late master were discovered.”

Zhu Que then asked, “Has the coroner clearly determined the cause of the injuries?”

Zhenjiang nodded and said, “Aside from the sword wound on the throat, there were no other injuries.”

Zhu Que nodded, wondering if Yin Wuxing had been killed in a fair sword duel. If so, why didn’t the killer want others to know?

The Shadowless Sword, Yin Wuxing, held a very high status in the martial world, and defeating him was definitely something to boast about; there was no need to act in secret.

If it was not a fair duel but rather a scheme for murdering, then what was the motive?

For wealth? There was no need to set sights on him, especially since he was out alone; how much money could he carry?

Revenge? In the martial arts world, who had not taken a few lives? However, it was said that Yin Wuxing had always been chivalrous and upright, and there was no word of him having any unresolved grudges. Moreover, Yin Wuxing had not set foot in the martial world for a long time; if it were an old matter, why wait so long?

Old Master Yin was not young anymore; if to say that the love for a beautiful woman had led to a tragic love affair, it was even harder to bring it up.

Since he had received a letter, it must be a significant clue, but the letter was burned by Yin Wuxing. Zhu Que asked, “Have you heard who wrote this letter?”

Yin Tianyun said, “The house servant brought it in, and the envelope only had ‘For Yin Wuxing’ written on it. The letter was delivered by a child who said someone had given him a coin to do this. Afterward, we looked for the child, but he couldn’t describe what the messenger looked like, only that it was a young man.”

Zhu Que hummed in agreement, indicating that the messenger was highly suspicious. The content of the letter was crucial, yet it was frustratingly unclear what was really going on.

The group continued to discuss many possibilities, but none of them were getting anywhere.

At this moment, a servant came in and said, “There is someone outside asking to see Young Master Yin; it’s a young man.”

Yin Tianyun and the others immediately stood up, and he asked, “Where is the person?” Could it be the man who brought the message?

The servant said someone was waiting at the door, and Yin Tianyun immediately followed out. Zhu Que and Yin Wuxing’s disciples also followed from behind together.

A man in his twenties stood outside the door, dressed in a dark warrior attire, with a hero’s scarf tied around his head, an extraordinary appearance.

Yin Tianyun approached him and asked, “Who are you? What do you……”

Zhu Que interrupted him, saying, “Why not invite him to talk?” He could see that the man was tall and imposing, full of vigor, not an ordinary person.

Yin Tianyun stared at the man for a while and said, “Come in!”

Everyone returned to the hall, and after taking their seats, before anyone could ask questions, he introduced himself first, “I am Han Jinsong from Wudang, and I apologize for coming unannounced.”

Everyone felt a jolt in their hearts upon hearing this. Han Jinsong and Zhang Yunbai of Wudang, known as the Wudang Pine and Cypress Duo, were the most prominent rising stars in the martial world. They never expected such handsome and elegant individuals to emerge, and a sense of reality matching their names arose in their hearts.

Yin Tianyun also introduced everyone to Han Jinsong. When Han Jinsong saw Zhu Que, who was about the same age as him, he couldn’t help but take a few more glances. Zhu Que asked, “I wonder what brings you here, Brother Han?”

Han Jinsong did not answer but instead asked, “I heard that the old master Yin Wuxing was struck in the throat and passed away. Is that true?”

A few of them exchanged glances, and Yin Tianyun nodded and said, “That’s right. How did you come to know this? Do you know who was behind it?”

Han Jinsong shook his head and said, “My Master Uncle Ying Hua also died from this move. I came here to work with all of you to find the murderer.”

Everyone was astonished to hear this. The renowned hero Ying Hua of Wudang, famous throughout the martial world, was no less than that of the Shadowless Sword. It was unexpected that he had been killed; this was the first time they had heard of such a thing, and they couldn’t help but exchange glances.

Zhu Que saw him hesitate to speak and couldn’t help but ask, “Is it possible that besides Old Master Yin and Elder Ying, there are others who have also died from this move?”

Han Jinsong said, “What I know also includes Chang Qingzi of the Taishan Sword Sect and Liu Yunfeng of the Huashan Sword Sect.”

Although the reputations of these two individuals were not as resounding as those of Ying Hua and Yin Wuxing, they were still pillars of the community, and unexpectedly, they were both murdered.

Zhu Que asked, “With Wudang disciples all over the world, can any clues be found?”

Han Jinsong said, “We originally suspected that the murderer was Murong Hanshan because there are not many who can kill these people with a single sword. But look.” He took out a letter from his bosom and continued, “This was found in my master uncle’s study room a few days ago. According to the attendant who served him, my master uncle went out to meet someone after seeing this letter, and as a result……”

Zhu Que saw the envelope addressed to Ying Hua and couldn’t help but recall the letter Yin Wuxing had burned. His heart trembled again as he took it, pulled out the letter, and began to read. It said, “To the Honorable Lord Hua, it has been many years since we last met. The elegance of those days is still vivid in my mind. I lament how time passes like a fleeting horse; thirty years have gone in the blink of an eye. I have often thought of your kindness since that meeting at Yueyang Tower. Now, I am gravely ill and fear my days are numbered. I hope you can come to Gucheng for a visit, and then I will have no regrets. The beauty of youth is fading, but you remain eternal.” Signed, Qian Yan. It seemed to be a woman’s name.

After Zhu Que finished reading, he handed the letter to Yin Tianyun. Once Yin Tianyun and the others had finished reading the letter, he asked Han Jinsong, “Who is this person named Qian Yan? Are there any findings?”

Han Jinsong nodded and said, “She was a woman who once dominated the martial world, and many famous figures in the community fell at her feet, including my Master Uncle Ying. But then she suddenly vanished without a trace. Many rumors circulated that she married an ordinary man who was not from the martial world and didn’t even know any martial arts. She feared that those who had once been close to her would pose a threat to her husband, so she chose to live in seclusion. That’s what they say, but no one ever saw her again after that, and the truth remains unknown.”

Zhu Que nodded and said, “So, it seems that the predecessors who are known to have been murdered all had ties with her. The problem is that there is no compelling reason to want to kill anyone.”

Han Jinsong said, “I can’t figure this out either. I wanted to see if Elder Yin received a similar letter.”

Zhu Que recounted the circumstances of the burned letter while also considering that although Yin Wuxing had gone to the appointment, he was, after all, a married man. Therefore, he might not want to leave any evidence against himself, which was why he burned the letter. He asked Han Jinsong, “Has your master uncle ever married?”

Han Jinsong shook his head and said, “He remains unmarried. I heard that Chang Qingzi is also without a wife. I once thought this was a common point, but both Old Master Yin and Liu Yunfeng of Mount Hua have married and have children. In this light, it seems to indicate nothing.”

Yin Tianyun heard that his father might go to an appointment because of a woman’s letter, and he couldn’t accept it for a moment. He said, “The letter my father received has already been burned, and no one has seen its contents. I do not wish for this matter to bring shame to my late father. Until the truth comes to light, I hope everyone will not associate my father with this woman.”

This was human nature. Zhu Que also agreed, saying, “That’s right. Since we haven’t seen the content of the letter, we can’t be sure that Old Master Yin is connected to this woman named Qian Yan. It could be someone else looking for an excuse to trick Old Master Yin into coming out.”

Han Jinsong knew that everyone believed the relationship between the two was quite deep, but it was not appropriate to acknowledge it openly, so he nodded without saying anything.

Zhu Que asked, “I wonder if Brother Han has ever been to Mount Tai and Mount Hua to inquire about the situation?”

Han Jinsong said, “Mount Hua is not far from Wudang. Some time ago, I went to inquire about it. Although the disciples tried their best to cover it up; in order to find the murderer, Liu Yunfeng’s children secretly told me. Before Liu Yunfeng left, he also received a letter signed by a woman named Qian Yan, inviting him to meet at a particular place. Coupled with the letter received by Elder Yin, it can be inferred that Elder Chang Qingzi of the Taishan Sect also received a letter, most likely written by this woman named Qian Yan.”

Zhu Que thought of Wudang and Shaolin as prestigious sects that stood shoulder to shoulder in the martial world. Their actions were upright; although others may not want scandalous matters to be made public, Wudang was clear about right and wrong. In order to find the murderer, they would not deliberately cover up the facts. This courage alone was something that other sects could not match.

In his heart, Zhu Que held respect for him, and his words became polite as well. He asked, “Since that’s the case, can you find out the whereabouts of this woman?”

Han Jinsong shook his head and said, “My master once said that the reason Master Uncle Ying Hua has never married is because of this woman. He once advised him, but he never took it to heart. In recent years, Master Uncle has been solely focused on martial arts. My master said Master Uncle’s skills have surpassed my master’s, but Master Uncle only has a wound on his throat, which indicates that the opponent’s skills are either extraordinarily high, to an unbelievable degree, or he willingly went to his death without resistance. Before finding the letter, my master also suspected that the killer was Murong Hanshan, but after seeing the letter, he dismissed that idea. If Murong Hanshan wanted to kill someone, he would never use such roundabout methods.”

Zhu Que nodded. Han Jinsong’s master was the head of Wudang, and since he said that Ying Hua’s martial arts were superior to his, it was certainly not an empty claim.

If it was said that Ying Hua went to his death without resistance due to love, that was certainly not the case for Yin Wuxing. He came from a prominent family, had a thriving business, and was already married with children; he was not the kind of person who would risk his life for a woman from the past.

Excluding this point, there was only one possibility left: the killer’s martial arts skills were extremely high.

But who was this murderer? Would there be another victim? Zhu Que thought for a moment and asked, “How many people are actually related to Qian Yan?”

Han Jinsong said, “I don’t know. If I hadn’t seen her letter, I wouldn’t have known that my master uncle had any connection with this woman. I’ve only heard that at that time, she kept a distance from all her admirers and had no relationship with them.”

It was hard to determine who had a good relationship with her, making it difficult to determine who might become the next victim. But why did she want to kill these people? Moreover, as mentioned in the letter, Qian Yan is gravely ill. Even if this was merely a deceptive rumor, as a woman, it was hard to imagine she could wield such a ruthless and swift sword technique to kill everyone related to her from the past.

Could the murderer also be someone who once loved her back then?

The group discussed for a long time, but there was no progress.

What they did not know was that, far away in Qujing, Yunnan, there was also a martial arts master who received the letter. He was Lan Jingyan, the leader of the Black Mist Sect, a name that sent shivers down the spines of everyone in the martial world.

The Black Mist Sect was located in the barbaric lands of southern Yunnan. The locals were fierce and domineering, yet they regarded the Black Mist Sect respectfully and kept their distance, daring not to provoke those within the sect easily. This illustrated the mystery and terror of the Black Mist Sect.

Lan Jingyan had recently made fewer appearances in the Central Plains, and among the martial artists of Yunnan, he held supreme power.

The Black Mist Sect was most skilled in using poison, and those who were poisoned suffered a terrible death. Unlike the poisons used in the Central Plains, the toxins employed by the Black Mist Sect have no antidote, which made outsiders extremely wary of them.

Many years ago, Lan Jingyan had a brief encounter with Qian Yan. Later, for Qian Yan’s sake, Lan Jingyan traveled to the Central Plains. However, due to his incompatible temperament with the local warriors, he ended up taking the lives of many in the Central Plains martial arts community. Ultimately, he was subdued by Master Beidou, who happened to pass through the area and vowed to return to Yunnan, never to set foot in the Central Plains again, thus eliminating a significant threat to the martial arts world.

After receiving the letter this time, the agreed meeting place was by the banks of the Panjiang River in southern Yunnan. Going to the appointment did not violate his vow to Master Beidou that day, but he did not want his subordinates in the sect to know about his personal matters, so he went alone.