Mysterious Martial Arts: The Record of the Swordsman

Chapter 310 At Dusk, the Pavilion is Filled with Sorrow

Chapter 310 At Dusk, the Pavilion is Filled with Sorrow

In the main hall of the Hundred Refinements Martial Arts School in Xiamei Town, the blue brick floor, worn smooth by years of footsteps, is gleaming. In the center stands the ancestral tablet of the founder of the Pi Gua School, with three sticks of incense still lingering. On both sides, weapon racks stand upright, filled with wooden spears, single-edged swords, long staffs, and other tools used for roaming the martial arts world. The shafts of the staffs have also developed a smooth patina. Since the martial arts school disciples who usually train their strength here have been driven out, the hall now appears quite empty.

Jiang Wen was very familiar with this place and immediately noticed two shiny wooden dummy figures that had been newly erected by the window. They had obviously been placed there recently, with their joints and vital parts carefully wrapped in coarse cloth and hemp rope, which was out of place with the rough pottery teacups and towels haphazardly piled up in the corners of the walls.

He was distracted for a moment, but Zhou Long's mournful lament continued, recounting with resentment what they had experienced since leaving Guangzhou a few months ago.

Those who escaped from the secret passage in Qin Town, Guangzhou, all followed the secret route left by Li Chengdong and Hao Shangjiu. The exit was actually the Qinglong Ancient Temple on the west side of Hanjiang River in the south of Chaozhou City.

The group naturally changed their appearance to try to avoid disaster, but Zhou Long came from the Vajra Sect, a branch of the Southern Shaolin Temple, and the Guangzhou turmoil was inextricably linked to the Southern Shaolin Temple. It was obvious that he could not reveal his identity, so he could only lead the few remaining disciples who had not yet escaped to hide and flee the war.

In ancient times, there were no train stations where one could buy a ticket to travel far away. Zhou Long and his group could only head towards their hometown in Fujian. However, before they even passed through Fenshui Pass in Raoping, they encountered Qing troops who were intensifying their attack on Zheng Chenggong. They were looting and burning everywhere, and the two prefectures of Zhangzhou and Quanzhou were almost completely razed to the ground. The group had no choice but to detour through Meixian and enter Longyan. Along the way, they ventured deep into the mountains and suffered greatly. It was not until they heard that Jiang Wen of the Wuyi School wanted to hold a martial arts conference that they finally found the end of their wandering journey.

Jiang Wen glanced at him sideways.

“I didn’t ask you about that. I’m asking why you’re using my name to swindle and deceive people.”

Zhou Long chuckled awkwardly, "I was already ashamed that I couldn't stand by and fight alongside Sect Leader Jiang back then, so I was naturally embarrassed to show myself. I thought I'd just come and lend a hand. As for the storytelling on the street..."

After he finished speaking, his eyes flickered, and he would steal glances at Jiang Wen's back from time to time. Jiang Wen also turned his head and saw a figure in purple.

Yuan Ziyi immediately stepped forward with her almond-shaped eyes wide open: "Sect Leader Zhou, you can't slander an innocent person."

Zhou Long shrank back, adopting a submissive posture, and remained completely silent. Jiang Wen's gaze selectively skipped over Yuan Ziyi, knowing that she must have played some dishonorable role in this.

In the end, Yan Yongchun couldn't stand it anymore and pulled Jiang Wen aside to whisper to him.

"Sect Leader Jiang, actually, when Sect Leader Zhou arrived, he also came to the Hundred Refinements Martial Arts Hall for a sparring match, but it just so happened that my junior sister answered the door..."

Yan Yongchun still gave his junior sister face and did not expose her directly, but Jiang Wen was a man who could see through such crooked things at a glance and instantly reconstructed the whole story.

When Zhou Long, a member of the martial arts world, came to Xiamei Town, it was like a monk or Taoist priest staying at a nearby temple. The first thing he did was naturally to challenge the town's only Hundred Refinement Martial Arts Hall. Whether he won or lost, he could still earn a living. As it turned out, Yuan Ziyi was the one who accepted the challenge.

At Luo Yuantong's "Golden Basin Retirement Ceremony" in Guangzhou, besides the Jiang Sect Leader with his own background music, the two graceful female warriors performing the lion dance and picking green leaves left the deepest impression on the martial arts world. Zhou Long instantly knew he was no match for them and was directly manipulated by them, thus beginning his unspeakable conspiracy...

"A sin..."

Jiang Wen sighed, then turned to Fan Xinghan, who looked embarrassed, and asked, "Chief Fan, how did you get involved?"

According to Jiang Wen, the Xinghan Beggars' Gang was a gang from Hubei, and beggars were naturally good at moving around. There was no reason for them to stay in Fujian for so long and act as protectors of the underworld on the streets.

Fan Xinghan had lost even more weight, his beard was unshaven, and his fists were clenched, revealing a dejected look of a hero losing his spirit. He spoke through gritted teeth, each word uttered slowly and deliberately.

"It's all those corrupt officials' fault! I will kill them!"

Upon seeing this, Zhou Long quickly stepped forward to explain that Fan Xinghan had only been traveling with them briefly and planned to go their separate ways in Longyan.

However, due to the outbreak of the Guangzhou Rebellion, the Qing court was bound to find someone to take responsibility. Among them, Prince Pingnan Shang Kexi, who was still leading troops in battle, could not be held accountable. So the scapegoat could only be chosen from either the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, Li Qifeng, or the Governor of Guangdong, Dong Yingkui. Dong Yingkui then shifted the blame to Liu Shifang, the Prefect of Guangzhou.

Liu Shifang was well-informed. Although he had already fled to Foshan, he came from an official family and naturally knew how to handle such matters. He immediately ordered his staff to gather relevant intelligence and then investigate the rebels one by one.

While reviewing the list of rebels at Luo Yuantong's "Golden Basin Washing Away His Wrinkles" ceremony, he saw the names of the Jingnan Prince's envoy, the Fuwei Escort Agency, and Jiang Wen. Knowing that this matter must not be implicated in the overall campaign to suppress Zheng along the coast, he crossed out those two names. Then, when he saw the Xinghan Beggars' Gang on the list, and that its leader was also named "Xinghan," he immediately and excitedly instructed his staff:

"This treacherous and wicked man has secretly come from Hunan and Hubei, and has falsely claimed to be a rebel. He has close ties with the rebel Luo who is living in the Liangjiang area. He must be the ringleader. You should immediately write this down and send it to Governor Dong. Together, we should submit a memorial to the court and demand that the Governor-General of Huguang punish him severely without leniency!"

Thus, the Guangzhou riots immediately became important evidence in the mouths of the Guangzhou prefect that the Hunan and Hubei rebels had spread throughout Guangdong and Guangxi. The only unlucky one was Fan Xinghan, who became one of the top bandit leaders because of his name and was wanted by several provinces. If it weren't for his superb martial arts skills, he would have been captured in Longyan City.

"..."

Jiang Wen remained silent for a long time, unable to find the right words to comfort Fan Xinghan. Fan Xinghan's face flushed red and then turned pale, finally settling into a long sigh.

"Sect Leader Jiang, there's no need for further words. I can only trouble you for a few days now. I'll go and seek refuge with some relatives and friends."

Jiang Wen patted him on the shoulder, showing his goodwill: "Chief Fan, what are you saying? My disciple is very fortunate to have received your instruction. You are certainly capable of staying in the Wuyi Sect. Tonight, let's find a place to drink until we're drunk."

Fan Xinghan finally smiled, his face etched with the marks of time. He was about to exchange a few more polite words when Jiang Wen continued, "...Besides, our sect still has several of your old friends. If we don't see them, Chief Fan will probably regret it."

Fan Xinghan seemed to stammer something, then fell silent.

After this matter was put behind them, Jiang Wen took the opportunity to stroll around the vicinity of the Hundred Refinements Martial Arts Hall with Zhou Long. When Zhou Long introduced the martial arts sects that had come from afar, Jiang Wen was surprised to find that no less than two or three hundred people from the Rattan Shield Gang, Yanqing Fist, Drunken Eight Immortals, Duck Formation, Innate Fist, Earth Hall Fist, Double Swords Sect, and Five Lakes Sect had arrived.

These martial arts figures gathered around the Hundred Refinements Martial Arts Hall. Those who arrived early occupied the hall's guest rooms, while those who arrived late slept on the floor in the corridor. Those who arrived later had to find a place to stay in the town. In just half a month, they had filled up the limited number of guest rooms in Xiamei Town and started fighting and brawling along the streets, causing a lot of trouble.

Just a short while later, Jiang Wen witnessed the Tengpao Gang and the Zui Baxian Sect fighting over a dry sleeping spot in the martial arts hall corridor. Two disciples from each side grabbed whatever they could find and started fighting, overturning tables and chairs, knocking over weapons, and creating a mess. They were only subdued by others after provoking the wrath of the crowd.

"This is quite unexpected..."

Jiang Wen pondered how to handle the situation. Xiamei Town wasn't a major city, and if more people arrived later, things would likely descend into chaos.

Now Jiang Wen only has two options: go up the mountain or go to the countryside. One is to follow Ding Dian's method and live on Wuyi Mountain, letting each of them find a cave with a hanging coffin to live in. The other is to send these pests to Chong'an County to fight poison with poison, make the people of Chong'an suffer, and let Guan Shengjun bear the infamy.

So Jiang Wen chose the third option...

"Is the Holy Mother of the Red Lotus here? I, Jiang, have a favor to ask!"

The Hongyang Sect group stayed at an inn in town. Judging from the innkeeper's reclusive and introverted demeanor, this was one of the Hongyang Sect's properties.

His response from the Holy Mother of the Red Lotus put him at ease.

"Sect Leader Jiang, there's no need to worry. Although this matter is somewhat tricky, there is still a way. Do you still remember Sanliting?"

Jiang Wen was startled. Sanliting was a small village five miles south of the city, abandoned more than a hundred years ago. It was called Sanliting. The first confrontation between the Holy Mother of the Red Lotus and him took place there, where she pretended to be a ghost. Even earlier, before the pavilion was inhabited, it was a little-known place with a name called Caoxie Gorge.

Legend has it that in ancient times, there was an immortal in Wuyi Mountain who wore straw sandals and spent his days in seclusion in the Grass Sandal Gorge. This person looked like a woodcutter, but he was knowledgeable in the secrets of alchemy. He would often climb cliffs to collect herbs in the morning mist and guard his furnace under the moon at dusk.

One day, a sudden gale arose, and clouds covered the sun. There was no trace of the immortals in the gorge, only scattered medicinal residue and the ashes of the still-burning alchemy furnace. Not long after, a stone tower was erected at the place where they lived to house the skeleton. Whenever there was wind, rain or overcast skies, the sound of bells and drums could be heard in the valley.

"Isn't it a bit inappropriate for the Holy Mother to place them there?" Jiang Wen asked worriedly.

The Holy Mother of the Red Lotus smiled slightly and said, "It's alright. That place is just a former residence of Song dynasty remnants. The strange tales that circulated there are long gone. Besides, I have entrusted the Right Protector to manage it. Nothing will go wrong. At the latest, those dilapidated houses will be repaired in three days."

Upon hearing that Ding Dian would also be guarding Sanliting, Jiang Wen immediately felt relieved. With this powerful figure personally overseeing things, these lawless people in the martial arts world would have no chance of turning their lives around.

"Alright, thank you for your great help, Holy Mother! I was planning to hold the martial arts tournament ten days later, but to avoid any unforeseen complications, it would be better to hold it as soon as possible."

The Holy Mother of the Red Lotus had spent a great deal of effort on this matter and nodded slightly: "Indeed, it is not advisable to delay any longer. Housing is easy to arrange, but food and provisions are difficult to obtain. Currently, the Qing government is forcibly requisitioning food and provisions everywhere. With the strength of our sect, we can at most support the consumption of one or two hundred more people."

Jiang Wen nodded, not fooled by the other party's modesty.

To be aware that being able to readily provide enough provisions to supply four or five hundred people in the mountains is something only the Hongyang Sect's immense wealth could accomplish—if they were to instead raise assassins, they would be enough to influence the political situation around Chong'an.

"By the way, our spies have also learned that the distinguished guests you are waiting for are about to arrive. Once things are settled here, I will also need to return to Fuzhou to deal with some matters."

Upon hearing this, Jiang remembered that he was the Left Protector of the Red Sun Sect and owed them such a great favor, so he quickly asked, "Has there been any change in the situation?"

The six goddesses around began to whisper among themselves, but after the Holy Mother of the Red Lotus glanced around, they stopped. She adjusted her temples and said, "It's just some trivial matter within the sect, and some people are just being nosy. Sect Leader Jiang, you don't need to take it to heart. If you need anything, I will speak up."

Hearing the other party's statement, Jiang Wen felt at ease and sat back down. After chatting for a few more minutes, he took his leave with his disciples.

After greeting Zhou Long, who was waiting at the door, they left the inn where the Holy Mother of the Red Lotus was staying. Jiang Wen felt a great weight lifted from his heart. However, as soon as they turned the corner, a commotion came over them. Two drunken men, one staggering like a duck and the other unsteady on his feet, were grabbing each other by the collar and shoving each other over the last roast chicken at the entrance of the tavern. It looked like they were about to fight. The disciples of their respective sects were also on the verge of drawing their swords nearby.

"These two sects are always at odds. The last few times, it was fortunate that Miss Yuan intervened to stop them, otherwise the trouble would have been even greater."

Zhou Long sighed softly, while Jiang Wen thought to himself that, based on his understanding of Yuan Ziyi, it was possible that she had instigated this whole thing.

As he swept his gaze across the street, he indeed caught a glimpse of Yuan Ziyi leaning out of the second-floor window of the teahouse across the street. She was covering her mouth and laughing hysterically. When she saw Jiang Wen looking over, she quickly withdrew, leaving only a string of silvery echoes.

Jiang Wen frowned, about to step forward and stop them, when an invisible chill suddenly enveloped the noisy street corner. The voices of the crowd seemed to be cut off by a sharp blade, instantly falling silent. Both the fighters and the onlookers felt a chill run down their spines, involuntarily following the direction of that unsettling sense of oppression.

At the end of the street, in the dim light, stood a tall, lonely figure dressed in gray cloth. It was Ding Dian. His face was calm and composed, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the center of the chaos without lingering, as if he were merely passing by. He did not reprimand, make any move, or even reveal a trace of his presence.

However, the two men who had been entangled seemed frozen in place, as if struck by lightning, and awkwardly let go of each other's hands. The man from the duck-shaped gate shivered, and the drunken man from the Eight Immortals also instantly sobered up considerably.

The two glared at each other, but dared not cause any more trouble. They each led their disciples and slunk out of the crowd. The once noisy street corner quickly returned to order due to Ding Dian's silent appearance, leaving only whispers and awe-inspiring glances as Ding Dian, dressed in gray cloth, slowly left.

Upon returning to the Hundred Refinements Martial Arts Hall, he immediately instructed Zhou Long: "Sect Leader Zhou, please take this opportunity to work with a few influential sect leaders to immediately notify all the martial arts friends stranded in the town—everyone must move to Sanliting, five miles south of the city, early in the morning three days from now! The Red Sun Sect has already sent people to repair the houses. You will also assist in maintaining order."

He paused, then emphasized, "Remember, warn everyone that the Right Protector Ding of the Red Sun Sect will personally oversee the Sanliting area to maintain order. Anyone who disobeys the rules or causes trouble..."

Jiang Wen didn't finish speaking, but Zhou Long, recalling Ding Dian's silent pressure just now, couldn't help but shudder and nodded vigorously: "Sect Leader Jiang, don't worry! I know what's important! Anyone who dares to cause trouble under that master's nose, not even the Heavenly King himself can save them!"

Having arranged everything, Jiang Wen let his disciples disperse to their respective locations for free activities, leaving him, Fan Xinghan, Master Luo, and Zhou Long each carrying a wine jar, to sit cross-legged on the blue brick floor of the Hundred Refinements Martial Arts Hall and begin drinking together.

But Fan Xinghan's eyes were unusually clear, burning with suppressed fire. He slammed the wine jar open and smashed it onto the polished blue brick floor.

He grabbed the wine jar and gulped down the murky liquid, which dripped down his stubble. "Longyan City... Hey! Five or six scoundrels, armed with graffiti, are blocking the city gate. I just caught a stray dog ​​to sell for some money to buy some dry rations... and that corrupt official Dong Yingkui's official seal is slapped right on my forehead!"

Jiang Wen picked up the wine bowl, silently filled it, and held it up to Fan Xinghan: "Chief Fan, right and wrong are clear to everyone. Wuyi Mountain is peaceful, so please settle down here for now. We can discuss this further after the martial arts tournament."

"This is truly an undeserved disaster; no one could bear it."

After drinking a bowl of wine, Zhou Long also advised, "I don't know if this character 'Han' is too hot to handle. Whose eyes are they offended by this world..."

Fan Xinghan's voice was hoarse and filled with anger, "I killed those three and made my way out of the city! I won't leave until I'm drunk! Only when I'm drunk can I forget this damned world!"

Master Luo probably didn't understand Fan Xinghan's feelings of being forced to join the Liangshan bandits. He just watched with a bit of heartache as Fan Xinghan desperately drank, saying, "Heroes, drink slowly. Things in town have been going up in price lately."

Jiang Wenze said generously, "No problem, no problem. There will be plenty of drinks and food today. I've found a wealthy family to help us this time, so even if another hundred or two come, it won't be a problem..."

Hong Wending suddenly flashed into the martial arts hall, and with slightly short breaths, he bowed to Jiang Wen and said, "Master, there is a lot of dust on the official road south of the city. About three hundred men are heading towards Xiamei Town."

Jiang Wen, who was drinking with Fan Xinghan, suddenly jerked his wrist, spilling half of his wine bowl mid-air: "Damn it, which major sect has a grudge against me and sent over a bunch of freeloaders?!"

"The horses were strong and well-groomed, clearly government cavalry. Judging from the direction of the dust they were carrying, they were heading straight for Xiamei Town."

Fan Xinghan, who was already completely drunk, suddenly sat up upon hearing the news of the government troops. He abruptly overturned the wine jar, sending leftover food and broken dishes flying. He grabbed the dog-beating stick leaning against the corner of the wall and was about to rush out.

Fortunately, Zhou Long reacted quickly, his towering frame taking a step to the side, his large, fan-like hand pressing firmly on Fan Xinghan's shoulder: "Chief Fan! Calm down! They're not pursuers!"

With a calmness beyond his years, Hong Wending continued, his youthful face bearing the words "Geng" inscribed on it. "The leading general's armor was gleaming, and his banner was flying high."

"...It really is three hundred 'men and horses,' both men and horses."

Jiang Wenze's face was ashen as he downed the wine in his bowl. "Let's go, Wending, let's hurry back up the mountain—it seems we still have to clean up the hanging coffin and corpse-hiding cave."

Warmest congratulations on the publication of the physical copy of "Craft's Notebooks on Anomalies"!