Mount Tai Sect Elder Gao Ling had been feeling restless these past few days.
The Sect Leader’s direct disciple had gone berserk while cultivating, her internal energy going awry and severing her heart meridian, dying in the meditation chamber. Her family hadn’t even seen the body before she was hastily buried, causing a huge stir within the sect.
This female disciple was beautiful, skilled in martial arts, and kind-hearted. She had a good reputation within the sect, and Gao Ling had a good relationship with her.
Initially, she thought this incident had disturbed her state of mind.
But even after circulating her internal energy, meditating, and adjusting her mindset for several days, there was no improvement. A heavy, stuffy feeling persisted in her chest, as if a storm was brewing, making it hard for her to breathe.
She wanted to go down to Tai'an city to walk around and get some fresh air, thinking it might help.
Gao Ling, forty-five this year, was a renowned female master in the Qi-Lu Region. In her youth, she was strong-willed and hated evil as if it were her enemy, killing many villains in the martial arts world, earning her a considerable reputation.
However, she never married. As she grew older, her temperament gradually softened, and she only practiced martial arts and taught disciples within the sect, so not many people recognized her now.
She disguised herself and went down the mountain alone, finding an inn in Tai'an city to eat.
Halfway through her meal, Gao Ling heard several martial artists at the next table, already tipsy, enthusiastically chatting about martial arts anecdotes.
“The Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) causing trouble for the Mount Tai Sect a few days ago… did you guys go see it?”
“Saw it, saw it! Good heavens, I thought Fei Junxuan was finished, but who knew Zuo Lishan personally came down to fight, and still couldn’t win!”
“Who exactly is that Jinyi (Embroidered Clothing)? Everyone’s been asking these past few days, but there’s no news at all. When did the imperial court hide such a supreme master? Even Master Zuo isn’t her match. I really don’t know how she cultivated.”
“The Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) came alone, and the Sect Leader personally came down but couldn’t win. The Mount Tai Sect is in for serious trouble this time!”
“I originally planned to watch the excitement of the Five Mountains Alliance Meeting, but given the current situation, it’s better for us to stay far away. The imperial court’s lackeys are ruthless and heavy-handed; don’t let them drag us in too.”
“Yes, yes. Life is most important.”
The few men did not avoid others and talked and laughed freely.
When Li Miao went to find trouble with Fei Junxuan, he did so ostentatiously, intending for everyone to know. Fei Junxuan was forced to go to the restaurant to buy food, and the martial artists present at the time all witnessed it.
As for the fight between Zuo Lishan and Li Miao the next day, the martial artists near the Mount Tai Sect, wanting to give Zuo Lishan some face, did not go close to watch, only observing from a distance.
They did not see Zuo Lishan’s injuries, nor did they know how badly he lost. But they clearly saw his embarrassed figure fleeing.
This matter was already common knowledge in Tai'an city.
Gao Ling grew anxious listening and no longer bothered to conceal her identity. She directly drew her sword and walked to the table of these people.
“Tell me in detail about what you just said.”
“Who the hell are you!?”
In her urgency, Gao Ling spoke impolitely, her tone unfriendly. One of the martial artists felt uncomfortable hearing it and, being reckless, raised his head to look at Gao Ling.
It so happened that Gao Ling had not traveled the martial arts world for many years; while her name still existed, not many people recognized her anymore. Coincidentally, this person was one who did.
At first glance, this person felt a sense of familiarity. Upon closer inspection, his face stiffened, and he revealed an awkward smile: “Elder… Elder Gao…”
They were gossiping behind someone’s back, not only caught red-handed by the person herself but also by someone they couldn’t afford to offend.
Knowing he was in the wrong, and with Gao Ling’s martial arts far superior to theirs, he meekly began to recount in detail everything that had happened over the past few days to Gao Ling.
The more Gao Ling listened, the more alarmed she became.
Fei Junxuan’s life and death unknown?
Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) coming to their door?
The Sect Leader defeated?
Why had no one in the sect mentioned any of these matters?
She suddenly understood the reason for her anxiety these past few days—Zuo Lishan hadn’t appeared for several days. His female disciple had died mysteriously, yet her family showed no reaction.
Several of Zuo Lishan’s trusted confidants had also been absent these past few days, and the disciples responsible for procurement in Tai'an city had also disappeared.
She vaguely sensed something was wrong but couldn’t form a concrete idea. Under her restless state, her internal energy became agitated and could not be calmed.
The most urgent task was to return to the sect first and check on Zuo Lishan’s condition. He hadn’t appeared for days; could he be severely injured?
Gao Ling stood up, not bothering to ride a horse, and immediately used her full light-body martial arts to rush back to the Mount Tai Sect.
Upon returning to the sect, she knew she couldn’t make a fuss. She went directly to the small courtyard where Zuo Lishan resided and knocked heavily on the door: “Sect Leader!”
“Gao Ling requests an audience!”
“Sect Leader!”
There was no response from inside the door.
This was not the time for formalities. Gao Ling gritted her teeth, directly kicked open the courtyard gate, and quickly walked towards the main house.
She pushed the door open, and the room was empty.
Gao Ling walked around the room. The Mount Tai Sect was halfway up the mountain, and it was usually windy. There were some fallen leaves blown in through the windows, indicating that no one had lived there for two or three days.
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She searched around and found some women’s clothing. When she brought it closer, it looked familiar.
It belonged to the deceased female disciple; Gao Ling had seen her wear it. How could it appear in Zuo Lishan’s bedroom?
Gao Ling recalled some unsavory rumors she had heard before, her expression changed, and she put the clothes back where she found them, closing the cabinet door.
Master and disciple having an illicit affair, going against human ethics.
If such a matter involving the Mount Tai Sect Leader were to spread, the people of the Mount Tai Sect would likely be unable to hold their heads high in the martial arts world in the future.
However, this was not the time to dwell on this matter.
With the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) making such a grand entrance, and Zuo Lishan disappearing after his defeat, the Mount Tai Sect was already on the brink of disaster. They had to get through the immediate crisis first, and then discuss other matters later.
Gao Ling turned and walked towards the meditation chamber where Zuo Lishan cultivated.
For the past decade or so, Zuo Lishan would cultivate internal energy in the meditation chamber every morning; everyone in the sect knew this habit of his.
Gao Ling walked to the door of the meditation chamber, held her breath, and listened intently for any sound inside.
She was afraid that Zuo Lishan was inside using internal energy to heal his injuries, and if she rushed in rashly, it might cause Zuo Lishan to go berserk.
Gao Ling listened for a while; there was no breathing sound inside, so it should be empty.
Only then did she push the door open and enter.
As soon as she entered, Gao Ling smelled a strong scent of blood.
The meditation chamber was not large, and the walls were built thick for soundproofing, with no windows. The smell had accumulated inside and lingered for a long time.
Gao Ling used the sunlight from outside the door to observe carefully.
In one corner of the meditation chamber, there was a patch of dried blood on the ground, already blackened, indicating it had been there for some time.
Next to the blood was a broken floor tile, and beside the tile were some fragments that looked like they came from a jar.
Gao Ling walked over and picked up a fragment, which had heavy bloodstains on it. She ran her hand over it and picked up a strand of long hair from the dried blood, which still had some bits of flesh attached.
Just then, she heard footsteps in the courtyard behind her.