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墨書 Inktalez
Emei Mountain, located west of Bashu, is a supreme treasure of Taoism. The Emei Golden Summit often shimmers with celestial light, making it a sacred pilgrimage site throughout history. Behind Emei Mountain, two peaks stand closely together, forming a remarkable sight known as A Ray of Hope. Beneath A Ray of Hope lies the Plum Blossom Cave, which is considered a forbidden area of Emei Mountain.
A century ago, during the Dark Turmoil, Miao Zhong emerged with an unmatched prowess that commanded respect from all. His One Sword Technique was so formidable that even the older generation of masters had to swallow their pride in defeat. His sword was said to be unbreakable, and no one dared to confront him, earning him the title of Sword Saint until he finally met his match.
Since the establishment of the Emei Self-Created Sect, it has maintained a high profile in the world. Its sword techniques are intricate and multifaceted, unfolding like blooming flowers and cutting off any escape routes for opponents. The sect also possesses accompanying Daoist Arts known as Phantom Layers. Historically, the sect's founder mastered Phantom Layers to such an extent that he could conjure tens of thousands of illusions, leaving any enemy unable to discern reality.
For many years, Emei has adhered to the principle of eradicating evil and safeguarding justice. It has taken in women from the secular world as disciples, resulting in a scarcity of male members. This imbalance has led to a decline in the sect's overall quality, with each generation proving less capable than the last.
Nevertheless, Emei remains one of the Five Major Sects and holds a prestigious position within the Daoist Sect.
Now, I stand with Guo Huaiyi at the entrance of Emei, gazing at the bodies of Emei Female Disciples scattered haphazardly along the path up the mountain, feeling a deep sorrow in my heart.
Guo Huaiyi stepped forward to check the pulse of one woman and said, "These people have only just died; we must hurry up the mountain!"
A few hours earlier, near Emei's surrounding mountains, two female disciples were resting on a large tree when suddenly one opened her eyes and said, "Junior Sister, someone is coming! You go inform the Sect to prepare."
The other disciple nodded and flew towards the direction of Emei Sect. However, she had only taken a few steps before she fell to the ground with an arrow piercing her head.
"Junior Sister!" The first disciple was horrified. As she jumped down from the tree trunk and turned back, she caught sight of a man’s face illuminated through the branches—Nangong Lin.
Nangong Lin swiftly slashed the throat of this female disciple and signaled for those behind him to advance up the mountain. Each person was armed with bows and crossbows and wore clothing belonging to the Disciples of the Serpent Cult as they stealthily ascended under cover of night.
As the Daoist Catastrophe approached, Emei intensified its defenses. Yet all around them, mountain-guarding disciples were killed without anyone noticing until one female disciple crushed a jade stone in her hand just before her death. This sudden act jolted the Grand Elder from his sleep.
The Emei Grand Elder opened a yellow bronze mirror on his dressing table and traced a symbol on its surface. A golden light radiated from Golden Summit and reflected in the mirror. The Grand Elder saw what was happening below—the Serpent Cult members were attacking in droves while all Mountain Guardian Disciples had been slaughtered.
"Rouer, quickly wake up the Sect Leader and sound the battle bell for Emei! Hurry back!"
"Yes!" replied Rouer as she dashed towards the back courtyard of Golden Mist Hall.
Soon, the urgent bell of Emei rang, waking all the disciples. Miao Shengnan, accompanied by a group of Emei elders, walked towards the Grand Elder's courtyard. Miao Shengnan asked, "Senior Sister, what has happened?"
The Grand Elder replied, "The Serpent Cult intends to destroy Emei. Our great calamity has arrived."
"How can this be? Emei has always kept to itself and never interfered with the Serpent Cult. Why would they suddenly attack us?" Miao Shengnan exclaimed in anger.
The Grand Elder said, "The Sword Pavilion has destroyed Wudang. With the Sword Pavilion leading the charge, the Serpent Cult has every reason to target Emei. We are now at a critical moment; all these notions of righteousness in the martial world are useless. The Mountain Guardian Formation of Emei won't hold for long. Prepare for battle."
Miao Shengnan nodded. This elder sister, who had raised her and once intended to pass on the leadership to her, had retreated to the back mountains in recent years due to age and declining health, yet she still worked tirelessly for Emei.
Miao Shengnan led the elders and elite disciples towards Golden Mist Hall when the Grand Elder added, "Bai Xiaoxiang, Rouer, you two stay behind."
Bai Xiaoxiang and Rouer stopped in confusion and looked at the Grand Elder. The Grand Elder continued, "Before leaving, Yushi Luo left a seal at First Plum Blossom Cave. There is a passage that leads to a safe place east of Emei. You should leave through there; if the seal is broken, Yushi Luo will come to rescue you."
Bai Xiaoxiang said, "Since Senior Sister will come, how can I leave? Besides, I am now Emei's Grand Disciple. If I flee without fighting, what morale will be left for my fellow sisters?"
The Grand Elder shook her head. "This time Emei is isolated and helpless; there is no need to stay behind and die."
Rouer said, "Isn't our ancestral teaching to vow to live or die with Emei?"
"What do you know?" The Grand Elder glared at Rouer, who immediately fell silent. She had served the Grand Elder for years and had never seen her angry before.
Bai Xiaoxiang said, "Great Aunt, Emei raised us; if we leave here, we will be adrift without support. Let Rouer go; I cannot leave. The Serpent Cult's forces will soon ascend Emei via the Western Shu path. I will go to battle."
After saying this, Bai Xiaoxiang stepped out of the Grand Elder's courtyard.
The Grand Elder sighed and said, "Rouer, you have suffered over the years. I have watched you grow up and treated you like my own granddaughter. Listen to me; escape through A Ray of Hope. I do not want to see a white-haired person send off a black-haired one."
Rouer nodded, kneeling down to bow to the Elder, saying, "Take care, Elder."
After finishing her words, she headed towards A Ray of Hope on the back mountain of Emei, where a chain hung between two mountains leading directly to A Ray of Hope.
"Rouer, what was the name of that person who came looking for you the other night?" the Elder asked.
Rouer paused and replied, "His name is Lu Wu."
With that, Rouer stepped onto the chain leading to A Ray of Hope.
Not long ago, after refining the Mountain Spirit at Leiyin Temple, Wu's power surged dramatically, allowing him to enter the initial stage of the Dao Fruit Realm. His Nascent Soul matured, bearing Dao Fruit. He sensed what his Divine Ability was, but no matter how he used Dao Qi, he couldn't manifest it.
On his way back to Yang Sanqian's courtyard in Jiangnan, Wu suddenly recalled a few days prior when he was with Yang Hao and Yang Sanqian at the cliff edge of Qilian Mountain in the Underworld. Using petals from a Red Spider Lily, he caught a glimpse of a corner of the future and wondered what his future wife would look like.
In that future vision, he saw Bai Xiaoxiang. He initially thought Bai Xiaoxiang would be his future wife. However, the scene kept revolving around a woman beside Bai Xiaoxiang. This woman was gentle and charming, with a smile in her eyes that stirred excitement in Wu's heart. He then remembered the moment in Dunhuang Desert when he saw Bai Xiaoxiang; there had been a woman pressing behind her while Bai Xiaoxiang was buried in sand. It was this woman who pulled Bai Xiaoxiang out and asked, "Senior Sister, are you alright?"
Wu vaguely heard their conversation and recalled that the woman's name was Rouer. Thus, his originally straightforward journey to Jiangnan Courtyard was delayed as he made a detour to Emei.
Soon enough, Wu found Rouer living on the back mountain. Rouer recognized him because she had witnessed his reckless behavior in the desert. When they met, Rouer naturally wasn't pleased and questioned why he intruded into Emei's back mountain. Wu seriously told her that she was his future wife, which only made Rouer angrier. They ended up fighting; naturally, she was no match for him and was subdued by Wu.
That night, Wu and Rouer sat at the edge of the back mountain cliff. They talked for a long time. With Rouer's acupoint sealed and unable to move, Wu took off a golden lock pendant from around his neck and placed it in her hand. He said, "This is a longevity charm I've carried since I was young. Now I'm giving it to you. Although I may seem crazy for saying so much to you abruptly and unfairly, since you are my future wife, I will treat you well. If you don't believe me, I'll pick another Red Spider Lily for you to see if your future husband is indeed me."
"And by the way, my name is Lu Wu." After finishing his words, he kissed her hand lightly before unsealing her acupoint and flew away.
Rouer pouted as she watched him disappear into the distance and shouted, "Come back here, you crazy pervert!"
Aside from being with the Elder all day long, Rouer's life consisted mainly of delivering meals to Rain Master Luo practicing swordsmanship at A Ray of Hope. Her life was simple and carefree; no one had ever shared so many stories with her before—especially not men. She had hardly seen any men before this except for that time when she followed Bai Xiaoxiang down the mountain to search for treasures; only then did she realize how oddly shaped men could be—ugly even.
Rouer looked at the golden lock pendant in her hand, her brow furrowed as she contemplated whether to throw it away. What if she didn’t discard it and the Grand Elder found out?
“Rouer, what are you doing here? It’s not even dawn yet,” came the Grand Elder's voice from behind her.
Rouer quickly tucked the golden pendant into her bosom and replied, “Nothing, nothing at all. I couldn’t sleep, so I came out to watch the sunrise.”
“Rouer has her own worries now?” the Grand Elder chuckled.
“Not at all.” Rouer’s face turned crimson as she dashed back inside.
At that moment, Rouer stepped into A Ray of Hope. The area was filled with plum blossoms, which were in full bloom during this twelfth month. Petals scattered everywhere within A Ray of Hope. Rouer approached the entrance of Plum Blossom Cave and noticed a stone sculpture at the entrance, sealed with a barrier of power.
Gently touching the sculpture, it shattered, and a calm voice emerged, “Rouer?”
“Senior Sister Yu, is that you?” Rouer asked.
“It’s me. Did the Grand Elder tell you about the seal here? What happened?” came the voice from within the sculpture.
Rouer replied, “The Serpent Cult is attacking Emei Mountain. The Grand Elder sent me to find you and told me to leave first.”
“What about Bai and the others? Why aren’t they coming here?” Rain Master Luo inquired.
Rouer said, “Since ancient times, Emei has been united; we vow to live and die together with Emei.”
A sigh echoed from within the sculpture. After a moment, Rain Master Luo said, “I’ll break the sculpture and come through directly.”
Rouer nodded and shattered the sculpture in front of Plum Blossom Cave before stepping back. Suddenly, the void twisted, and countless plum blossom petals were drawn into it. Rouer saw Rain Master Luo emerge from the void and called out, “Senior Sister.”
In the distance, the sounds of battle echoed from the Golden Summit. Rain Master Luo said, "You should leave Plum Blossom Cave first. I sense that there are powerful experts from the Serpent Cult present. Nangong is determined to succeed today; there's no need to throw your life away."
Rain Master Luo was about to fly towards Emei Golden Summit when Rouer interjected, "Senior Sister, Sister Bai is still there, and the Grand Elder is too. Although my skills are lacking, I have no other family left."
As Rouer spoke, she suddenly recalled the perverse individual she had just met the night before, clutching the longevity lock he had given her.
Rain Master Luo shook her head and took Rouer with her as they flew towards the Golden Summit.
In front of Golden Mist Hall, disciples of the Emei Sect were retreating towards the main hall, each covered in blood. The Serpent Cult had surrounded Emei Mountain and was converging on the Golden Summit. Miao Shengnan was struck by Nangong's palm from the entrance to the center of the plaza, spitting blood and gasping for breath.
Nangong Dao remarked, "I've always heard Miao Master say that women are no less than men, but from what I see, it's not much different."
Two elders helped Miao Shengnan to her feet. She said, "Nangong, you disregard Daoist Sect rules by killing my Emei disciples and occupying my mountain gate. Do you really think the Serpent Cult can establish a foothold on Emei Mountain?"
Nangong Dao replied, "Whether we can establish ourselves here is a matter for later; for now, we must seize it first."
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