In the jianghu, behind some faces lurk shadows that dampen the crimson petals of pomegranates. In the deep night, they thicken into a chasm-like hue.

Ye Jinglan emerged from the inner chamber, his face as calm and cold as water.

“Brother Ye, how is it?” Xie Sichen supported the swaying Tang Miaomiao, stepping forward hastily and asking loudly. The crowd, armed with various weapons, shifted nervously, their faces tense. Only Ling Yiran continued to fan himself leisurely, calmly observing everything around him.

“One strike, fatal,” Ye Jinglan replied, as sparing with words as ever.

“One strike, fatal?” “How is that possible?” “Who is this villain? So powerful!” “It must be Riyao Sect.” “Riyao Sect has such skilled fighters? This is troubling.” Whispers erupted instantly, and everyone was shocked.

“No poison?” Tang Miaomiao asked weakly. “No drugs? No other traces?”

Ye Jinglan shook his head lightly and silently moved away from the center of attention.

“Impossible! Impossible!” Tang Miaomiao clutched Xie Sichen’s sleeve tightly, hysterically exclaiming, “With my father’s skills, how could he be killed in just one move! Brother Ye, please examine it again carefully—there must be something we missed, there must be!”

Ye Jinglan stopped, emotionless, and said, “One strike, fatal, no other traces.”

A burly man with a golden-hooped saber and fierce eyes pushed through the crowd, raising his arm and shouting, “No need to think too much! It must be the remnants of Riyao Sect! Kill the villains, and we can avenge Master Tang!”

“I agree with Brother Tie. Let’s chase them down tonight and eradicate those rats once and for all!”

“Yes!” “Yes!” “Let’s go!” One man raised his arm, and a hundred echoed. In an instant, the crowd grew agitated.

“Go? Where to?” Xie Sichen spoke low and gravely. “We don’t even know where the villains are. Where should we go?”

His words were like cold water dousing the flames, silencing the crowd.

“Amitabha,” Elder Yuexi stepped forward, palms clasped. “I believe the most urgent matter now is to properly arrange Master Tang’s remains and send him off to the west. As for who did this, we should deliberate carefully.”

“The master speaks wisely,” Lin Chengbi, leader of Wuyan Sect, nodded in agreement. “Perhaps the villains are hiding in the shadows, waiting for us to panic so they can strike.”

Qiu Jingchen, mistress of Xuan Palace, narrowed her beautiful eyes and scanned the crowd sharply. “Perhaps the villains are among us.”

“Among us?” “Who?” Everyone looked at each other, bewildered.

Seeing this, I sighed, took two steps back, and hid in the shadow of a tree, muttering softly: “Hmm… Attacked in the restroom, conscious, killed in one strike—it must have been someone familiar.”

Suddenly, the surroundings fell silent. Slowly raising my head, I met the somewhat enlightened gazes of the crowd. Stunned for a moment, I pursed my lips: I had forgotten how sharp the ears and eyes of martial artists are. Careless of me. Leaning on Sister Rumeng, I chose to remain silent.

Ling Yiran snapped his fan shut and walked forward, hands behind his back. “As Miss Tang said, Master Tang was a skilled martial artist. He wouldn’t have gone down without a fight, nor would he have died without a sound.” His captivating eyes turned toward me, half-smiling. “I quite agree with that young lady’s view. Master Tang must have seen someone familiar, let his guard down momentarily, and was struck down.”

“Familiar?” Xie Sichen murmured, then said, “Most acquaintances of the master sit in the southeast and southwest corners. Junior here has an impolite request: those seated at those tables, please recall if anyone left their seats.”

Everyone looked at each other. Some stroked their chins in thought, others voiced confusion. After a while, two or three figures stepped out from the crowd. A burly man with broom-like eyebrows spoke gruffly: “I went to relieve myself too, but I didn’t see Master Tang.” Feeling the suspicious gazes around him, he flushed red and hastily defended himself: “Not me! Damn it, what are you looking at!”

“Alright, Uncle Liu, don’t get angry, and everyone else, stop making baseless accusations,” Xie Sichen, now taking charge, stood in front of the burly man and addressed another man who had stepped forward. “May I ask, Brother Pei, where did you go at that time?”

The white-clad man raised his long brows and glanced at him arrogantly: “I couldn’t handle the wine and went to the lakeside to cool off.”

Xie Sichen hesitated, then asked softly, “Did anyone witness this?”

The man sneered: “At that time, the willows by the lake were swaying gently. I was alone—you can believe it or not!” With that, he flicked his sleeves and turned away, his chest heaving with anger.

A palace maid from Xuan Palace glanced at Qiu Chenlu beside her and explained softly: “Our Holy Maiden has been feeling unwell recently. Not long after the banquet began, she left with her attendants.” She glared hatefully at Ye Jinglan standing in the corner.

Xie Sichen nodded slightly, looked at the three, and said slowly: “If the Holy Maiden is unwell, she may rest in the western wing first.”

“Brother Si Chen!” Tang Miaomiao called out discontentedly. “We haven’t figured it out yet. How can you let her leave?” She squinted, eyeing Qiu Chenlu suspiciously.

“Is Miss Tang suspecting my disciple?” Qiu Jingchen’s tone was icy and merciless. “Though I understand Miss Tang’s grief over her father’s death, the reputation of Xuan Palace cannot be slandered at will!”

Tang Miaomiao bit her lip and dared not speak further. “Alright, Miaomiao,” Xie Sichen looked at her tenderly and explained softly, “Think about where your father was attacked.” Tang Miaomiao thought for a moment and suddenly realized. “Do you understand now? Men and women have different proprieties. How could your father see the Holy Maiden in such a place and remain calm and silent?”

“Mm.” She nodded, then bowed to Qiu Jingchen and Qiu Chenlu. “Miaomiao was ignorant. Please forgive me, Mistress and Holy Maiden.”

With that, only two people remained. How to identify the murderer? Just as I was pondering, Ling Yiran stepped up to Ye Jinglan: “After examining, Brother Ye, can you tell what kind of technique was used? Was there any palm print on Master Tang’s body?”

Ye Jinglan glanced at him coldly: “This person deliberately concealed it; nothing special.”

“In that case, the palm print is still clear?” Ling Yiran smiled, but his eyes held no warmth.

“Purple-black.” Ye Jinglan spat out two words coolly, turning his face away, his eyes full of understanding.

Clever of him to think of that. I chuckled and shook my head. After a moment, Xie Sichen clapped his hands and shouted, “What a great suggestion, Your Highness!” Seeing the crowd still confused, he quickly explained, “Quickly, make a mold of the palm print on Master Tang’s body and let Uncle Liu and Brother Pei compare it carefully.”

“So that’s it.” “Oh~”

Under the watchful eyes of hundreds, the man surnamed Liu rolled up his sleeves and slapped his hand onto the paper with a loud smack.

“Hmm, not Brother Liu.” “I said it couldn’t be Brother Liu!”

The burly man glared wide-eyed and spat: “Damn it, a bunch of Monday morning quarterbacks! I told you it wasn’t me!”

“Brother Pei.” Xie Sichen spread his hands. “Please.”

The white-clad man solemnly raised his right hand and slowly pressed it onto the paper. After a pause, he flicked his sleeves: “Believe it now? I, Pei Zimo, have never been so insulted. Excuse me!” Without waiting for Xie Sichen’s response, he strode away.

“Eh?” “Not him either?” “Strange? Could it not be someone familiar?”

“It’s possible they disguised themselves as someone Master Tang knew and then struck.”

“Disguise? Master Tang was known as the ‘Hundred Faces.’ To wear a disguise in front of him is like announcing outright that you’re there to kill him.”

“Everyone, quiet, quiet!” A thin man suddenly jumped onto the stone steps and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Whether it was someone familiar or not, it must have been the Riyao Sect’s dogs who did this. Instead of arguing here in chaos, let’s discuss the bigger picture. Don’t forget the purpose of this martial gathering!”

The arguments gradually subsided, leaving only the rustling sounds. The thin man rolled his eyes and continued: “But before that, there’s something more urgent.”

Someone interrupted: “What is it?”

“With Master Tang gone, who will lead us against Riyao Sect?” At these words, everyone’s gaze turned to the four major sects on the steps.

“Uncles, elders, peers, friends, please hear me out,” Xie Sichen clasped his hands, his thick brows relaxed. “In terms of seniority and strength, Elder Yuexi is the undisputed choice.” Everyone nodded, with no objections.

A Buddhist chant rang out. “Amitabha.” Elder Yuexi opened his old eyes, looked down at the steps, and slowly said, “Having entered the Buddhist path, I am a person outside worldly affairs. Tanji Temple came here not to support killing with killing but to hope that the members of Riyao Sect will lay down their swords and achieve enlightenment immediately. Therefore, I’m afraid I must decline Brother Xie’s kind offer.”

“No, it was presumptuous of me,” Xie Sichen bowed and slowly stepped back.

After a brief silence, a loud shout rang out: “Our Front Mountain Sect is willing to follow the orders of Hero Lin Chengbi!”

“I, Wu Junqi, nominate Young Hero Xie! Young Hero Xie is generous and sincere—he’s the one I respect!”

Elder Sister, fearing the world wasn’t chaotic enough, jumped up excitedly and shouted: “Feng Wuyu! I nominate Feng Wuyu, Young Hero Feng!”

“Bird!” My usually silent senior brother cast a reproachful glance at her. “Don’t cause trouble.”

Elder Sister stuck out her tongue playfully: “It’s fun!”

“Young Hero Feng treats people kindly and is the direct disciple of Elder Wangshan. Our Dinghui Temple also agrees to let Young Hero Feng take charge!”

“Young Hero Xie!” “Hero Lin!” “Young Hero Feng!” In an instant, three names were proposed, with equal support for each.

Amused at the tragedy turning into a farce, the myriad forms of the martial world, tangled interests—this jianghu isn’t as clean as it seems. Raising my eyes absentmindedly, I suddenly saw Ling Yiran leading Liu Yao whispering to the leaders of the four major sects, then turning to look at the heated argument. A gleam of excitement flickered in his half-lowered peach-blossom eyes, like a cat that had caught its prey, filled with interest. Lazily turning his gaze, he stared directly at me, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly, his brow arching. Glancing behind, he took elegant steps and quietly departed.

“Hmph!” A heavy snort came from the steps. Qiu Jingchen disdainfully glanced at the fiercely arguing crowd. “It seems there’s nothing for me to do here!” She impatiently looked at Senior Brother and the two nearby candidates, saying sourly, “Master Lin, Young Hero Xie, Young Hero Feng—I’ll take my leave first!” With that, she led a group of white-clad beauties and quickly left the scene.

Seeing this, the crowd suddenly lost momentum, wilting and closing their mouths.

“Alright, it’s late. Let’s reconvene tomorrow.” With Xie Sichen’s suggestion, hundreds of people began to disperse sparsely, still arguing as they left. Some pairs were red-faced and shouting until someone intervened to stop the commotion. Elder Sister watched the crowd with excitement, nodding at Liu Xunhe. The two shared a mischievous smile before flying off into the distance. It seemed someone would have bad luck tonight. I sighed helplessly.

“Qingqing, let’s go,” Sister Rumeng called from behind my senior brother, who was surrounded by several people, waving me over.

I nodded, my gaze passing through the bustling crowd. Tang Miaomiao was buried in Xie Sichen’s arms, crying so hard her body trembled. Xie Sichen gently stroked her long hair, nodding to the suspicious man and woman beside him. They bowed respectfully, took two steps back, then leapt onto the courtyard wall.

It felt as if I’d been struck by a bolt of purple lightning, standing motionless in the flow of people: If a white Chinese cabbage flower bloomed atop that wall, it would be just like that scene in Qianzhou City. It was them—Tang San and Shi Jiu! It had to be!

“Qingqing!” Sister Rumeng was being pushed further away.

I waved to her: “I’ll be there in a moment.” Big Sister nodded reassuringly and turned to leave.

Avoiding the crowd, I slipped into the pomegranate grove. Stepping on fallen pomegranate petals, my sleeves fluttered as I moved silently, neither too close nor too far, following the pair. I watched as they crossed the side courtyard and headed straight toward Dream Lake.

The gentle waves lapped softly against the shore, whispering tenderly. In the night sky, dark clouds chased the bright moon, and the crescent moon’s faint glow fell intermittently on the earth. In the reeds, fireflies flickered endlessly, and birds stirred in the shadows. On the lake, lotus leaves swayed wildly in the wind, concealing eerie spirits within the reeds. Moving silently, I followed closely, skimming over the water and slipping into the dense forest.

Balancing on bamboo branches, holding my breath, I saw the two glance cautiously behind them before disappearing deeper into the bamboo grove. A night breeze swept through, rustling the dense bamboo leaves, creating a pleasant susurrus. Accompanying this beautiful melody, I leapt upward, using slightly drooping bamboo stalks to follow quietly.

After walking for about half a cup of tea’s time, they finally stopped in front of several speckled bamboo trees. “Lord of the Shadows!” The two knelt halfway in salute. Perched on a high branch swaying in the wind, the thick bamboo leaves obscured my view of what was happening below. Not wanting to reveal myself but also hesitant to move the leaves, I could only catch glimpses of several other figures moving faintly, making it impossible to see clearly.

“How is the situation over there?” A deep male voice asked.

“Just as the two young masters predicted, chaos has erupted in Chilu Manor,” the woman replied smugly.

Two young masters? I frowned tightly, focusing intently on their words.

“However, some have already guessed it was someone familiar who did it, and they’ve thought of using palm prints to eliminate suspects.”

“Oh? I didn’t expect there to be a few clever ones among them, but alas, they will never understand!” The Shadow Lord chuckled lowly. “With Tang Kuangsong dead, as long as Chen takes in that foolish woman, Chilu Manor will be under our control. With the Tang family’s support and Xuan Palace’s betrayal, the position of Wulin Alliance Leader will fall right into our hands.”

“But, Lord of the Shadows, without mentioning the incident from eight years ago, we probably wouldn’t have been able to control Qiu Jingchen of Xuan Palace.”

“Of course not, or else our identities would be exposed. However, aside from that incident, Qiu Jingchen has another secret that makes her uneasy.” The Shadow Lord grunted deeply. “Normally, the Holy Maiden of Xuan Palace can reveal her true face after coming of age, but this Holy Maiden remains veiled even though she’s past sixteen. Third Uncle, do you know why?”

“I am dull-witted, my lord.”

“It’s because Qiu Chenlu looks too much like her master.”

“What does my lord mean?” Tang San’s tone was shocked.

“Yes, exactly. Shi Jiu, this task falls to you. Make sure that hypocritical old witch understands the consequences and submits obediently!”

“Yes!”

“My lord, today, besides the young masters, two others were widely praised by the crowd.” Tang San reported.

“Oh?”

“One is Lin Chengbi of Wuyan Sect, and the other is Feng Wuyu, disciple of Elder Wangshan.”

“Hmm.” The Shadow Lord murmured, then continued, “Feng Wuyu has no sect or faction, so he’s not a concern. But Lin Chengbi is an obstacle. His background is deep, and despite repeated investigations, his origins remain unclear. If necessary, we’ll have to eliminate him.”

“Yes.”

“Heheh, if that old fool Ye Fengju knew that the evil sect he desperately wanted to destroy not only rose again but will unify the martial world, the look on his face would be priceless!” The Shadow Lord chuckled lightly. “Fifth Uncle, don’t forget to visit Jinyu Palace and deliver the Ming King’s item to the Seventh Prince.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Standing amidst the bamboo peaks, I suddenly noticed a white snake coiled around a nearby bamboo branch. It trembled precariously on the slender tip, half its body already suspended in the air. I watched it nervously, afraid it might fall and alert those below. Carefully extending my hand, I was just about to reach it when a sudden gust of wind shook the bamboo violently. There was a snap, and the white snake fell to the ground. Tang San and Shi Jiu looked up in alarm, astonished to see me.

Realizing the danger, I leapt away. The bamboo leaves rustled as the western wind blew, lifting my long hair. Feeling a surge of killing intent, I quickly leaned forward, dodging the sword strike. Several swift sounds echoed, and under the crescent moon, atop the lush bamboo, eight red-clad figures appeared. Their sleeves billowed in the wind as they silently surveyed the surroundings, their qi surging within their bodies.

Dark clouds obscured the moon, casting the earth into a vast expanse. The bamboo grove swayed in the wind, and the mountain hues grew somber.

Here they come! Leaping upward, I dodged the dual attack. Before I could catch my breath, red gauze filled the air, resembling the transparent wings of dragonflies, densely enveloping the space above. Just as I tried to break free from the entangling gauze, four dark shadows descended from the red fabric. Sword sounds rang out, and the four figures hanging upside down simultaneously drew their blades, exuding fierce killing intent. I swiftly bent backward, narrowly avoiding the lethal chain of attacks. My body naturally fell downward, and below me, the four had formed a sword array, intending to strike me down as I descended.

But it wouldn’t be that easy! Twisting mid-air, I used the tips of their swords to launch myself, kicking all four away. Then, channeling strength into my legs, I soared into the sky like a wild crane. Drawing Xiaohun (Soul-Dissolving Sword) from my waist, I slashed horizontally while flying upward. The sword hummed softly as I unleashed two techniques—”A Rainbow Over the Sandy Plains” and “White Clouds Laugh Beneath the Azure Sky”—shattering the obstructive red gauze into pieces. Without the gauze’s support, the four figures above plummeted, landing on the bamboo branches. Using the swirling red fabric strips as cover, I spun around and dove downward.

Planning to intercept me mid-air? Hmph, then I’ll ascend to the heavens and cleave the red dragonflies to the ground!

Hiding amidst the dense bamboo beneath their feet, I watched as the eight curiously glanced around, gradually letting their guard down. The clouds parted, revealing the moonlight flowing freely. Calm in heart, I suddenly sprang up. My arm rotated lightly, and Xiaohun sang mournfully, streaking forward like moonlight. At the moment the eight were distracted by Xiaohun , I flashed behind one of them, clamped my elbow around their neck, and twisted sharply. There was a crack of bones, and a red-clad figure’s neck tilted awkwardly, falling like a broken-winged dragonfly. Silver light shimmered, and with several swift sounds, the sword pierced through their bodies, returning to my palm with a bloody elegance.

Standing at the pinnacle, my height matched the peaks. Looking at the remaining four, my lips unconsciously curled into a smile. Extending my arm, I rotated my wrist, and with a soft hum, I merged with the sword.

Under dim stars and sorrowful winds, rouge faded. Red dragonflies skimmed the surface of Dream Lake.

Xiaohun sighed softly: Look, life is short.

Glancing at the eight fallen red figures, I turned to leave. Suddenly, I sensed a swirl of air behind me. Spinning around, I raised my palm, releasing a surge of qi. Tidal waves surged through my meridians, violently bursting outward.

“Young lady, impressive skills! In the jianghu, fewer than five can break my Red Dragonfly Array within ten moves.”

The moon blushed shyly, half-hidden by clouds. The bamboo branches beneath my feet swayed slightly, while the shadow ahead grew thick.

Ghostly lanterns gleamed, startling the crows in the darkness; the mountain wind sliced like an axe through the bamboo groves.

How could there be… two of him?!