Chapter 123: Weal and Woe
Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
During the journey from Iron Mountain, Gu Shenwei prepared many questions for Zhang Ji. He was the first one Gu Shenwei wished to consult.
He was now considered as a wealthy man thanks to all the gold and silver he received. He had talked to a black-market businessman in East Castle, and had bought several bottles of expensive wine, sending them directly to Zhang Ji.
A few days later, with the excuse of paying respect to the Miss, Gu Shenwei went to the school and coincidentally bumped into Zhang Ji.
Zhang Ji had dismissed the pupils early and when he tasted the excellent wine, willingly answered every question Gu Shenwei asked. Zhang Ji was familiar with the history of the fort, except for the top secret information which exceeded his clearance level, but he presume to know any information. Rather, he strove to preserve the image of the fort.
Zhang Ji corrected the many mistakes in Shangguan Ru's memory. It had not been the Barren Sect who had wrestled with Golden Roc Fort and made the deal in the Four Truths Temple, but the another "Golden Roc Fort."
"The New Moon Hall was originally the subsection of the fort, which specialised in training female killers. But later they became too ambitious and dared to usurp Lord's power. This is what I want to tell you, never trust a woman. They seem weak and fragile, helpless without the men but they are actually cruel and merciless. Once they have a chance, they'll seize your power, and everything you own."
Zhang Ji wet on and on about women. He was even full of indignation, and could not calm down even after several cups of wine.
The New Moon Hall called itself Golden Roc Fort, too, for they wished to claim supremacy for themselves. But their female killers' ways were deviant, focusing the Mercy powder and other herbs and potions. Zhang Ji said, "The fort chose to never use the Mercy Powder, which was an absolutely correct decision. Teal killers never need to rely on powder."
Though there was no one else in the school, Zhang Ji still hesitated before he telling Gu Shenwei the secret, "The killers in the fort love a nameless powder, which was actually a less effective variation of the Mercy Powder, which can be easily neutralized."
The way to neutralize it was straightforward. Add traces of the powder to one's food every day, and slowly increase the quantity. After three months, the knockout-powder would no longer be ineffective.
Gu Shenwei told Maid Lotus afterward, and they both began to use this powder. By wintertime, they were both immune to it.
The female killers were not only good at the powder arts but also other unspeakable sorcery. Zhang Ji knew a little about them but despised them, thinking they were just meant to scare, and entirely not something a real kille should use. "If they only use killers, they will be doomed. Moreover, their methods are entirely not alighned with others. If they try to take down the fort, defeat is inevitable."
The war between these two forces was so dreadful that even the troops in the Western Region felt the shockwaves. Thus the other families interfered and forced them to sign the agreement in the Four Truths Temple. "At that time, Golden Roc Fort, was not strong as we are today. We had to sign. But if we were given just one or two years more, those women would not exist anymore. Such a pity."
The content of the agreement was not classified, and Zhang Ji remembered it well. By authority and fairness, the Lord possessed the fort, but he had to promise that he would never use sorcery methods in assassination. The New Moon Hall reserved the right to use these methods, but they had to live in the desert and never come out.
They drew a line between them and agreed not to cross it.
From then on, the Golden Roc Fort stopped differentiating male and female killers. Maid Lotus, for example, learned whatever any male killer learned.
After several years, the Barren Sect appeared once again in Jianghu.
The New Moon Hall had taken advantage of a loophole in the agreement to form another school, which only recruited female apprentices. They also created some new kung fu, using iron knuckles and claws as weapons. The war with Golden Roc Fort continued.
Yet, this school did not inherit the sorcery methods, which was unfortunate. The Barren Sect was defeated quickly. Though they ceased activites and appeared to give up, never showing their face publicly again, they would attempt an assassination every few years. Of course, they failed every time.
"The Tenth Young Master was lured into the desert, meaning that the women from New Moon Hall are planning something in Jianghu. They will surely blame this on Golden Roc Fort. If you ask me, these women were too foolish. Maybe it come from being in the desert too long, their minds are no longer as sharp. Golden Roc Fort is at its peak condition, challenging us is suicide!"
Gu Shenwei now truly understood. The dark robe woman belonged to the Barren Sect, and the red-robed woman must be the apprentice of the New Moon Hall. Only, he was still confused about why New Moon Hall wanted everyone to blame Golden Roc Fort for restarting the war. Since treachery was the habit of both sides, why did it matter?
"No one is free, not even the Supreme King. Their agreement was made in Four Truths Temple and is sacred." Zhang Ji felt that he had said enough, and raising up his cup, drank deeply.
After their gathering, Gu Shenwei commissioned a man in the black market to send the best wine to Zhang Ji every ten days. Zhang Ji did not refuse. More importantly, he liked that Gu Shenwei had consulted him. The best tasting wine for him was passing on his 10-year cultivated understanding of history to a good student.
Gu Shenwei was disturbed by the information. The mysterious woman in his dreams must be part of some conspiracy. Some part of New Moon Hall's sorcery. Gu Shenwei was afraid he might become an unknowing sacrifice.
Ten days are returning to the fort, he obtained the proof he sought. But, it was not him who was "possessed". It was Shangguan Ru and some other youth.
The incident happened in bright daylight, which only made it more unbelievable and terrifying.
Shangguan Ru had been staying with her mother and talking about about the family affairs. It would be the Tenth Young Master's birthday in less than a month, and she was making demands one after the other, when suddenly, she became quiet, turned and left the room.
The women there were dumfounded, wondering what kind of trick she was playing.
Shangguan Yushi stood up almost simultaneously, following her. People thought she wanted to stop Tenth Young Master. Instead, they fell down together at the doorstep, convulsing violently.
Everyone was scared speechless.
Seeing her daughter convulsing, Lady Meng became frantic. She immediately sent for the doctor, the Taoist, and monk. The Inner Residence was thrown into an uproar.
At the same time, the same thing was happening in the "Little Flag Battalion."
While Wildhorse was silently exchanging views with his mute followers, his expression abruptly changed, and pushing out of the crowd, seemed to see something strange. After taking ten steps, he fell down and began convulsing, just the like the two Young Masters.
Liuhua, who was good at hiding his tracks, fell from a tree and lay on the ground, until he was finally discovered.
News of this incident dwarfed the rumor that Slave Huan once passed out.
This four events of "being possessed" were not connected until close to midnight. The strange news had finally been circulated and someone had realised that those two killers in Little Flag Battalion had once followed the Tenth Master to the desert.
Doctor Sun of the Jade City came uphill specially to see the two masters. Four brown-belt assassins, however, were taken into custody and investigated. Several rounds of investigators came and asked almost the same questions. It seemed like they had seldom come into contact.
The forces surrounding the fort were numerous and complicated. Each of them tried to take advantage in the chaos and got hold of the information so that they could profit from it.
The Eighth Young Master, Shangguan Nu, was not in the fort, thus his uncle, Blademaster Shen Liang of Heart Cleansing Yard, took the four killers, and imprisoned each of them in different rooms, telling Slave Huan and Maid Lotus to keep quiet about it.
Slave Huan and Maid Lotus were suspicious because they were not "possessed". Gu Shenwei told Shen Liang about the mysterious woman and described in detail about how she looked. He knew that he could only survive the crisis by Eight Young Master's protection.
However, the four brown-belt assassins escapade was more complicated than Gu Shenwei could imagine.
After Doctor Sun's diagnosis, he confirmed this had come from the New Moon Hall. The doctor was extremely knowledgable, but still have to consult with the public, who did not even recall the name until the doctor introduct it alonside the Barren Sect.
Doctor Sun also found something strange with the Internal Strength in the bodies of Wildhorse and Liuhua, whereas in the bodies of Slave Huan and Maid Lotus, he could only detect Peripheral Force. "Both of these men's Internal Strength are similar but also different. These two youths are fine, but they won't live long." The doctor explained. He still remembered Slave Huan, and tried to persuade him to get a diagnosis. "You don't much time now."
Doctor's explanation proved Wildhorse and Liuhua's innocence. However, Slave Huan and Maid Lotus had to stay until they could explain how the Peripheral Force had come to be in their Xuanji acupoints.
Shangguan Nu came to the fort immediately when he heard the news. He guaranteed the innocence of his subordinates, claiming that the one who planted the force had already died.
But things were still not finished though it was confirmed that Slave Huan and Maid Lotus were not involved. Other Young Masters also came home to visit their sisters, at least that was their explanation. However, this became a hidden reason for feuds to start. They argued about the two killers, the Barren Sect and the New Moon Hall. They even poked holes in Tenth Young Master's journey in the desert. They claimed this journey meant that the fort had broken the treaty. Not to mention the daughter of the Supreme King now was possessed by New Moon Hall. She could be a hidden danger.
People began to spread rumours which only existed in the ancient stories, like how the New Moon Hall used sorcery to control people's mind. They claimed the controlled person might even kill his or her parents without any consciousness.
The battlefield was not ideal either. Golden Roc Fort and Iron Mountain were in the midst of ammassing stocks and provisions and could only send small forces into the desert, with little result and much loss. Shangguan Nu's capability was under suspicion again.
The fierce arguments actually saved the life of Slave Huan and Maid Lotus.
When Lady Meng realised that her daughter had become a mere tool and the target of criticism, she flew into a rage. She tore into the White Robe Academy and rebuked the Young Masters for their heaertlessness. Seeing her great anger and ceaseless tears, these masters stopped arguing and dared not even defend themselves.
The eighth day after the incident, the two masters and four brown-belt assassins went to the Four Truths Temple and seek the help of the Buddha. As Tie Hanfeng said, "My apprentice, you profit in adversity."