Waiting for you online - - - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Ghosts crying at night in the underworld, floating dreams in paradise became empty.

This is the Fumenghui in common people’s eyes.

Fumenghui is located in the southwest of Mount Luofeng, about not more than 20-30 miles away from Fengdu city. This place and Fengdu’s prosperity supplement and complement each other. Initially, it was named Fengmenggui, because it was in the portal of the underworld, where all the deceased gathered at Mount Luofeng, and its landform was strange and deformed, which is how it gots its name. There are rumours that it is the battlefield of the Great Emperor Beiyin and the demon supreme, but there is no way to verify whether or not it’s true.

Depending on the terrain blessed by heaven*, it gradually became a gathering place for all kinds of shady businesses. Later, it became more and more famous, and it became this piece of gold-sprinkled kiln for the living people to live as if drunk or entranced*. The name Fengmenggui was too ominous. Only after intimidating the bankroller, did he change it to its current name.

One barrier, two worlds. One side is a gloomy netherworld, the other side is a blessed place of pleasure, extravagance, greed, darkness, desire and sin. This is the mortal realm, and also a ghost city.

Fumenghui is a concave valley. The words “jagged rocks of grotesque shapes” are already inexhaustible. This valley is made up of countless large, small and other various kinds of peaks and caves that looked like skulls as if thousands and millions of evil ghosts were sealed in the mountain rocks. Whenever the wind blows, the terrifying, ghost crying noises will continuously sound between the valleys and deep caves.

Most of these countless large and small caves are interlinked inside, which are suitable for hiding and escaping. Therefore, at first, this was an illegal place for killing people, raising corpses and legendary venomous insects, and black-market trading. Many cultivators’ golden cores were offered and traded here. The spring breeze blows again* despite multiple eliminations from the immortal alliance. Later, wine shops, pawnshops, concert halls, brothels, casinos, battlefields, auction houses, etc. were gradually opened here. Illegal transactions became hidden and hard to find, yet many commoners depended on this place for their livelihoods. The immortal alliance can only close one eye and acquiesce to the existence of Fumenghui.

Fumenghui during the day is quiet and murky, but once it’s night time, red candles are lit up in each cave, illuminating the valley in a blood-red color. Stores open up and welcome people in, the guests come in on account of the shop’s reputation, the human shadows move around in the cave, music and dances are endless throughout the night and the scene is strangely beautiful, which doesn’t look like the mortal realm. When looked at from afar, it is like hundreds of ghosts walking at night.

Fan Wu She looked at the magical scene in front of him, seemed lost in thought.

“This is your first time coming here?” Xie Bi An asked, “how does this Fumenghui compare to the rumours?”

Ordinary people are unlikely to come to Fumenghui. One is because it is dark and sneaky here. Those who possessed nothing except bare necessities may fall sick after going home. Secondly, most people who came here spend money like water. If they don’t dress well, they will inevitably get glanced at scornfully.

“Not much difference.” This was once Song Zi Xiao’s last stop in the mortal realm. Fan Wu She travelled down his memory lane, yet his emotions were calm. His boiling hatred has calmed down in that hundred years and turned into a simmering flame, even thicker and longer. Only the person in front of him can add firewood to him and raise his salary.

“After you go in, don’t run around. It’s easy to get lost inside. You must follow senior brother.”

“Got it.”

The interior of Fumenghui is a huge cave. Relying on its natural mountain shape, a path opens when you see the rocks, bridges can be seen when you reach the valleys, constructing paths that are accessible from all sides. While looking up from the bottom, they are scattered about like stars in the sky or chess pieces on a board*.

The two, one black and one white, each has extraordinary poise. With one look, as if they are the sons of an immortal family. Immediately, there are people who come up to them to solicit business. Xie Bi An kindly rejected one, and another one refuses to give up. One fellow, who doesn’t know how to read the situation, came up and was about to drag Xie Bi An closer to his workplace. Before his claws touched that snow-white corner of his clothes, he was struck by the scabbard on the back of his hand.

That fellow screamed in pain and withdrew his hand.

Fan Wu She said coldly: “Scram.” The sharp sword was half unsheathed, guarding Xie Bi An by his side. No one dared to approach him anymore.

“Wu She, stay low-key.” Xie Bi An whispered.

Fan Wu She’s face was sullen: “Just walk.”

Xie Bi An shuttled between the passages, looking for something, and soon, he found two ghost servants.

This is the boundary of the underworld. There is no role as a city god, but occasionally there will be ghost servants patrolling around. It is a common occurrence to have a few people dying at Fumenghui. Sometimes a person disappears silently and no one finds out. Only ghosts will lead him.

Xie Bi An called the two ghost servants into a secluded corner.

“White Master.” The two greeted respectfully.

Xie Bi An just realized Fan Wu She can’t see them, so he summoned Wuqiongbi and told him to hold it.

Once Fan Wu She touched that cool jaded stick, he immediately saw what he couldn’t see earlier. The two ghosts looked surprised and looked at Xie Bi An helplessly.

“Don’t worry, he’s the new disciple Heaven Master accepted, and also my junior brother.”

“White Master has come here, is there a new soul to harvest? We haven’t found any.”

“No, I just wanted to ask both of you some questions.” Xie Bi An asked if there were any clues related to Meng Ke Fei’s golden core.

Generally, after the core thieves dug out the golden core, either they brought it back home for practice, or sold it at a high price in Fumenghui. Xie Bi An also thinks that no one would dare to trade Meng Ke Fei’s golden core when the struggle was the fiercest, but there are always traders here. Maybe there was a bounty on Meng Ke Fei. Maybe some people have inquired about his golden core. Maybe some people did discuss who killed Meng Ke Fei. In any case, the cultivation level of that core thief is profound, it is very likely someone knew his true identity or it was the work of many others. And those who dare not to speak in front of the people, are likely to be heard by ghosts.

“Reporting back to White Master, from yesterday ’til now, there are indeed many people talking about this. Last night, there was a one-armed cultivator who came here to arrest a lot of people.”

“Have you heard any useful clues?”

The two ghost servants thought for a while: “We don’t know if it’s useful. I heard someone say that the more powerful cultivators’ golden cores are harder to practice with. Ordinary alchemists, ordinary metal, stones and medicinal herbs, ordinary furnaces are not good enough either. Only those with special skills are the ones who have the guts, and have the ability, to practice with Meng Ke Fei’s golden core.”

“What else? Has anyone offered a reward for Meng Ke Fei’s golden core, has anyone heard who is the murderer is, even if it’s just speculation?”

The two shook their heads.

Fan Wu She asked: “What is the basis for Wuliang Sect to arrest people?”

“They took away all the bosses and workers from the elixir shops, those who often go in and out to deliver goods, those who work and those who looked suspicious. I think the majority does not have any basis.”

“That’s just arbitrarily arresting people.” Xie Bi An frowned, “To alarm commoners in such a way, I’m not sure if I can find any useful clues.” In his opinion, the ghost servants who patrolled here have not heard of anything important. Song Chun Gui most likely was also unable to get much information from those he had arrested.

The two asked some more questions, but there wasn’t much they could reap. It seems that the identity of the core thief is really secretive, and it was very likely that it was done by one person. Xie Bi An did roughly see Meng Ke Fei’s body, and judging from the injuries, there shouldn’t be a third person.

Fan Wu She said: “Senior brother, let’s go back.” Although there are no billows in his heart, after all, this place evoked too many dark memories for him, and he doesn’t want to stay for long.

“Alright.” Xie Bi An smiled at Fan Wu She, “But, we seldom come to Fumenghui, don’t you want to walk around?” Common people are usually curious about Fumenghui, especially young people.

“I don’t want to.”

“Then we’ll go back.”

Just as they were about to leave, they suddenly heard a commotion outside the door. When they looked down, a bunch of green-clothed cultivators rushed in. It’s Wuliang Sect again.

There were repeated complaints around: “Why are you here again.”

“Fucking come again? Didn’t you catch enough people yesterday? Wuliang Sect is really pushing people too hard!”

“Then what can you do? Be honest for awhile, don’t get ahead of yourself.”

Listening to what Wuliang Sect meant, they wanted to take away all the workers from the elixir shop. Obviously, they want to confirm whether the people at the elixir shop are concealing the people who came in and out recently. But there will be too many people to arrest.

Xie Bi An and Fun Wu She took advantage of the chaos and went downstairs, only to find that the only entrance had been blocked. Xie Bi An was debating whether or not to leave outside the cave by sword flight when several cultivators walked over, looked them up and down and asked: “Which sect do both misters belong to?”

Xie Bi An said: “My brother and I are casual cultivators, we just passed by here to watch the excitement.”

That cultivator glanced at Xie Bi An’s sword: “Casual cultivators? Mister’s sword doesn’t look ordinary. Which furnace was it produced from, which master handed it to you?”

Xie Bi An said sternly: “It has nothing to do with you.”

“Wuliang Sect is tracking down the murderer of brother Meng, any suspicious person will be interrogated. Please come with me.”

Fan Wu She has only one simple word: “Scram.”

The cultivator laughed coldly: “Then don’t blame us for being rude.”

“Wait.” Xie Bi An didn’t want to catch any unwanted attention here, “We were indeed just passing by, Wuliang Sect is indiscriminately arresting people at random, wouldn’t this be detrimental to the sect’s righteousness?”

“So I ‘invite’ mister to be a guest at the summit. Will mister honor me with your presence?”

Fan Wu She said displeasingly: “Why are you talking nonsense with them?”

Xie Bi An suddenly grabbed Fan Wu She’s collar and jumped up the suspended chain ladder: “Go, get out of the cave.”

“After them!” That cultivator gave an order, and a dozen people flew towards them.

The two fled back and forth between the passages. Most of the caves were connected inside and outside, and they could leave as long as they reached the main part of the stone peak. But the cultivators from Wuliang Sect gathered from all directions. As a last resort, Xie Bi An drew out his sword and instructed Fan Wu She: “Follow behind senior brother, try not to hurt people.”

A couple of cultivators attacked with their swords. Xie Bi An stood in front of Fan Wu She, forced them back with two moves, and jumped to another pavement. Only hearing a cry, he looked back. Fan Wu She kicked a person off the chain ladder.

“Wu She, over here!” Not far from the front is a tavern, which just happened to lead outside.

“Over here, chase after them!” A bunch of green-clothed cultivators cam one after another.

The chain ladder shook violently. The two steadied themselves but saw pursuing troops in the front and back.

Xie Bi An comforted: “Wu She, don’t be scared, senior brother is here.”

Fan Wu She said solemnly: “Kill them.”

“Do not kill.” Xie Bi An said, “We shouldn’t have been here. If anyone loses their lives, we will be creating karma, which is not good for anyone.”

“You think they will let us go?”

Xie Bi An looked around and pointed to a shop below, “We’ll go from there.” After saying this, he swung his sword to the thick hemp rope of the chain ladder.

Fan Wu She understood and raised his sword to cut the hemp rope on the other side. The chain ladder broke. The two grabbed the rope and swung down towards the direction of the broken chain ladder. They steadily jumped onto the pavement and dashed towards that shop.

They rushed out of the cave at once and flew on their swords.

Just at this moment, a sharp sword pierced through the air and turned into silver-white lightning in the dark red halo, coming straight towards Xie Bi An.

That sword’s speed was so fast, it was too late to make a move. Fan Wu She shot his sword out and Xie Bi An flew up.

With a “ding” sound, the weapons collided.

One after another, the two fell down from mid-air and tumbled a few rounds.

The two swords pierced into the mountain one after another, while the third one snapped into two pieces and fell to the ground.

Fan Wu She looked at the broken sword on the ground, a pair of extremely enchanting fox eyes overflowed with a murderous aura.

Xie Bi An looked at Fan Wu She, wanting to comfort him but didn’t know how to. This sword wasn’t a good sword, but to any swordsman, a sword being broken is a great humiliation.

A slender figure walked out from the darkness, his face was straight and his eyes were sharp, even if he only had one arm, it did not diminish his dignity.

This person is Li Bu Yu’s little disciple, Guwujian Song Chun Gui.

Song Chun Gui stretched out his hand, his sword swayed violently among the rocks. It pulled itself out and flew back into the hands of its master.

Xie Bi An also recalled his sword.

“If two misters are not guilty, why do you run away.” Song Chun Gui said flatly, “Wuliang Sect will not harm innocent people, we’re merely inviting the both of you to go to the summit to ask some questions. When suspicion is resolved, naturally we will send both of you back safely.”

Xie Bi An said angrily: “You all are too much.” He was debating if he should take action or not. Song Chun Gui is not easy to deal with, and once he takes action, his identity would definitely be exposed.

Fan Wu She suddenly recalled half of his broken sword and looked at Song Chun Gui’s eyes, as if he was looking at a dead person.

Song Chun Gui frowned: “Young mister, are you planning to use this broken sword against me?”

Fan Wu She said coldly: “It’s enough to take your dog life.”

Song Chun Gui has been famous for a long time. He cultivates with his sword and has few opponents. He has never seen such an arrogant young man before.

“Wu She, you are not allowed to…”

Before he finished speaking, Fan Wu She already raised his sword and closed in on Song Chun Gui.

Xie Bi An originally wanted to stop Fan Wu She, but he was a little curious about his sword-play, thinking that it would not be too late to help even after looking at 1 or 2 moves.

At this sight, he was astonished. Fan Wu She used a broken sword to return Song Chun Gui with a complete move, without showing any ignorance.

Song Chun Gui also had a strange expression: “Who did you learn from, how come I have never heard of your name?”

Fan Wu She didn’t answer, only attacking Song Chun Gui more fiercely, each move very frightening.

Song Chun Gui got serious and confronted Fan Wu She with a few moves, becoming increasingly more fearful. He forced Fan Wu She back temporarily and said sharply: “Who are you under?”

Xie Bi An has also been observing Fan Wu She’s sword-play. Sword-play accounted for the majority of the immortal families in the world, and he can fairly distinguish every house’s sword-play, but this one was very unusual. He has an indescribable sense of familiarity when he saw the moves, yet couldn’t remember where he had seen it before. With this hegemony of sword-play, he should have become famous long ago, and he will never forget it once he has seen it before.

Song Chun Gui’s expression was grave: “This is…Zongxuan sword?!”

Upon hearing this, Xie Bi An was shocked.

Zongxuan sword? Isn’t that the Song’s clan sword-play which failed to be handed down from past generations a hundred years ago?!

——

blessed by heaven* [得天独厚] —be richly endowed by nature, enjoying exceptional advantages

live as if drunk or entranced* [醉生梦死] —lead a befuddled life

The wildfire burns endlessly, the spring breeze blows again* [野火烧不尽，春风吹又生] —no matter how mercilessly the fire burns, as long as the spring breeze blows, there will be green weeds everywhere, vividly showing the tenacious vitality of the weeds.

scattered about like stars in the sky or chess pieces on a board* [星罗棋布] —spread all over the place

PS: let’s travel back into the past in the next chapter~~~~~ヽ(^。^)ノ