Chapter 06 Time's Up

After Yong Hao finished telling his story, he closed his eyes and sighed deeply. He continued, his voice heavy with sorrow, "I ordered Sword Village disciples to gather the dead villagers. Other than the nineteen men and the young teen, Mu Dishi, no one else in the village knew martial arts. That night, we killed seventy-one innocent people."

Yong Gui said, his tone gentle, "Er shixiong, don't blame yourself too much. You gave them proper burial. For that same reason, you stepped down as Sword Village's leader and became a monk."

Ma Jingguo said, his voice sharp with accusation, "You led a group of skillful martial artists up the mountain and killed seventy-one people because of a letter and words of two dead men. Senior Yong, don't you think that is a little irresponsible on your part?"

Yong Hao replied, his gaze distant, "At that time, I did not know the real reason."

Yong Taihua asked, his voice urgent, "What is the real reason, da ye?"

Yong Hao sighed sadly, the sound heavy with regret, "The Mu treasure map." He paused, the words hanging in the air. "The Mu were among the richest in the land. Their ancestors were doctors in the palace for generations until Mu Jiao Long. Mu Jiao Long loved martial arts, so he moved the Mu household and established Mu village. The three hundred martial artists who died that night was all because they wanted to get their hands on that treasure map, including the Ma Clan."

Ma Jingguo asked, his voice tight, "How did the Ma Clan die?"

Yong Gui replied, his expression grim, "The Ma Clan was believed to have the treasure map, and they were assassinated by people who wanted the map. Ma Shufen, his wife, and their son were on the run. There seemed to be no news of them."

Ma Jingguo asked, his voice quiet, "How did the Ma Clan get the map?"

Yong Gui replied, "That, we don't know; it remains a mystery. I guess those who know will have to be Mu Dishi and the Ma couple."

A disciple walked in, breathless, "Yong shifu, there is a young man standing outside the village gate asking for Monk Hao."

Yong Hao sighed, a look of grim resignation on his face. "He is here."

Yong Gui said, his voice firm, "Er shixiong, you cannot meet him."

Yong Hao said, struggling against his hold, "I had prepared myself for this day to come. The one who was meant to come had already come. I am ready to pay for my sins."

Yong Taihua quickly tapped on Yong Hao's chest, his voice pleading, "Hao da ye, you can't go. You are sick and you've already destroyed your internal energy."

Yong Hao said angrily, his voice strained, "Taihua, Release me."

Yong Caixia said, her voice sharp with fear, "Hao da ye! You are in no position to fight Mu Dishi if he is that skillful. Fighting Mu Dishi without your internal energy is like hitting an egg on a rock."

Yong Gui stepped forward, his expression troubled, "Er shixiong, you know that the kids are right."

Another disciple rushed inside, his eyes wide with panic, "Yong shifu! Yong shifu! The intruder stated by the time the incense stick burned to the ground, if Monk Hao didn't go out, he will come in and anyone who stands in his way will be killed."

Yong Hao said, his voice desperate, "Release me, if he says he will kill, he will kill. Release me... I don't want anyone else to die again because of my mistakes and negligence."

Yong Taihua said, his voice ringing with defiance, "I don't believe that the people of Sword Village will not be able to defeat just one Mu Dishi." He stormed out.

The five young martial artists chased after Yong Taihua, their faces set with determination.

Yong Hao shouted, his voice filled with anguish, "Taihua! Come back!" He turned to Yong Gui. His voice was a desperate plea. "Release me... Letting Hua'er go is like sending him to his death."

When the six martial artists got to the front entrance of the village, Ma Jingguo saw Mu Dishi standing alone in the evening sun, a solitary figure silhouetted against the light. Mu Dishi's eyes were closed, and his hands were clasped behind his back.

Ma Jingguo had always liked that posture of Mu Dishi, especially when the wind blew across Mu Dishi's face and his neatly tied hair danced with the wind. After hearing the story, the terrible story of the massacre and the greedy motive, he really wanted to run over and hug Mu Dishi. Ever since he was young, he had been fantasizing about how it feels inside Mu Dishi's embrace, clinging to that image even now, in the face of the dark truth.

Upon realizing that the person standing before them was someone they had met a few days earlier, Kuo Changchang looked at Ma Jingguo. Her voice was hushed with recognition. "Is it him?"

Yong Caixia asked, her eyes wide, "You know him?"

Kuo Changchang replied, her voice cautious, "Acquaintance."

Yong Taihua stepped forward, his voice attempting reason, "Mu ge, I know the reason you are here today, but consider what my da ye had done, and he is also ill..."

Mu Dishi said coldly to Yong Taihua, his voice cutting like ice, "When he led his dogs up Mu village, Bai tai ye, who was in his nineties and he was very sick, maybe he only had a few days left to live. Dog Hao and his dogs' followers had no problem ending Bai da tai ye's life." He looked at Yong Taihua coldly, his phoenix eyes hard and unforgiving.

Ma Jingguo's heart trembled with desire as he watched Mu Dishi roll his phoenix eyes at Yong Taihua.

Yong Caixia said, her voice pleading, defending Yong Hao, "Hao da ye gave the seventy-one Mu members very good burials. He felt so bad for what he had done. He destroyed his internal energy and became a monk for that same reason. Right now, he is toward the end of his life, and he had repented for his mistake."

Mu Dishi replied coldly, a harsh laugh escaping him, "Should I pity him?" He took a deep breath, his expression hardening. "If I pity him, then who will pity Long da ye, my father, my mother, my four-year-old sister, Biming, and the innocent lives of Mu Village?"

Ma Jingguo's mind reeled. He had never heard the name Biming. He had wiped the spirit tablets, but there was no Biming among them. Who is this, Biming?

Yong Taihua said, his voice earnest, arguing against revenge, "Those who are dead cannot be revived. Why would you choose to seek revenge? Revenge will only hurt you in the end."

Mu Dishi said, his voice chillingly calm, "I came for those who owe me a debt. If I truly wanted revenge, I would capture every single member of those dogs' families, then kill them one by one and let the dogs watch as I slowly slit the dogs' families' throats, one dog at a time." He scoffed, a sound devoid of humor, "That would be a very satisfying revenge. Just like what they had done. A life for a life is an equal trade. The moment those dogs set foot on Mu village, their fate was sealed along with Mu Villagers."

Mu Dishi closed his eyes. Again, he was trapped inside his memories, paying no attention to Yong Taihua as he talked.

Deeply immersed in his memory, he recalled that at that time, Mu Jiao Long, Mu Jiao Long's nine disciples, eight nephews, Wang Biming, and Mu Dishi fought with Yong Hao and the four clans. After some time, The Mu successfully chased Yong Hao and the four clans away. They thought that was the end of it, but soon afterward, three hundred martial artists rushed into their guest hall. As everyone was fighting and shouting, Mu Jiao Long tapped twice onto Mu Dishi's front chest.

Mu Dishi cried out silently, straining against the sudden pressure, "Long da ye, release me."

Mu Jiao Long replied, his voice urgent but firm, "Silly boy, they are here to kill. You are the successor after me and a child prodigy. Even if everyone of us dies, you must live. One day you will seek revenge for us, but that day is not today. Do you understand?"

Mu Dishi nodded, tears welling in his eyes.

"Biming," Mu Jiao Long commanded, "seat him on the chair."

Wang Biming carried Mu Dishi and placed him on Mu Jiao Long's throne. He smiled at Mu Dishi and whispered softly inside Mu Dishi's right ear, his voice full of affection, "Dishi, I love you." He gave Mu Dishi a quick kiss on Mu Dishi's right cheek before Mu Jiao Long made his way up.

Mu Dishi cried, his voice choked with tears, "Long da ye, I don't want to live alone."

Mu Jiao Long replied, his expression pained but resolute, "You must." He tapped at Mu Dishi's neck. He took out two manuals and a pair of black gloves inside his inner robe and placed it on Mu Dishi's lap. He reached out his left hand and wiped Mu Dishi's tears. His voice was gentle. "Silly boy... After twelve hours, you will be free." Mu Jiao Long turned around. "Biming, turn on the switch."

Wang Biming smiled at Mu Dishi, a sad, knowing smile, and he turned on the switch behind the chair, and the chair slid Mu Dishi backward, toward the wall that was filled with painted dragons over clouds, mountains, and lakes.

Mu Dishi screamed his heart out, but there was no sound coming out because Mu Jiao Long had blocked his vocal cords, and his lips were sealed shut. Inside the small hidden room, there were two holes through one of the dragon's eyes, and he could see what was happening down in the guest hall.

Mu Dishi watched as his mother, father, and his little sister step behind Mu Jiao Long, Wang Biming, and his seventeen cousins.

Mu Jiao Long asked, his voice calm and strong despite the intruders, "How may I help you?"

Fu Susu pointed his sword at Mu Jiao Long, his voice contemptuous, "Mu Dog."

Mu Chen said, stepping forward angrily, "Fu Susu, how dare you point at Long shushu? Don't you remember two years ago, if it was not for Long shushu who passed his internal energy to cure you, you would be dead now?"

Mu Chung added, his voice echoing the sentiment, "Not just him, but I am sure every single one of you had received some treatments from us."

Suo Baojing asked, his voice impatient, "Just hand it over?"

Mu Ai asked, her brow furrowed, "Er shixiong. Why did you bring these people up here?"

Suo Baojing asked again, his voice flat, ignoring her question, "Hand it over?"

Mu Lan asked, confused, "Hand what over?"

Zu Minsheng said, his voice sharp, "The map."

Mu Jiao Long asked, his voice calm, understanding dawning, "So, everyone who gathers here today is here because of the map?"

Wen Xing Fu said, his voice deceptively smooth, "If you hand over that map, no one will get hurt."

Mu Jiao Long asked, a hint of sadness in his voice, "So everyone wants a piece of the Mu's treasure?"

The three hundred or so martial artists inside the small meeting hall chattered.

"Mu Treasure cave."

"I've heard the cave is full of treasure, for generations after the next."

"Whoever gets that map will be richer than the emperor himself."

Mu Jiao Long said, his voice seemingly helpful, "The map is inside a bamboo hut two miles from here. You can go over there, grab the map, and leave."

After an hour went by, Peng Boqin came back and shook his head at Suo Baojing.

Peng Boqin said, his voice tight with frustration, "It's not there?"

Mu Jiao Long asked, his voice feigning surprise, "How could that be? One of you must have taken it?"

Inside, Mu Dishi was screaming silently, his heart pounding. He yelled, "Long da ye, let me out! I have the map! Let me out! Somebody!" but all he heard from himself was some muffled sounds and whimpering breaths.

Wen Xing Fu whispered to Mo Jing Seng, his voice low and cunning, "He must still have it. Let's capture someone and force him to give us the map."

Mo Jing Seng flew over, kicked Mu Lan down on the ground, and grabbed Mu Lan, but Fu Susu kicked him, sending Mo Jing Seng away. Fu Susu placed his sword at Mu Lan's neck.

Mu Ai pushed Mu Mei toward Mu Jiao Long, but Peng Boqin sent four daggers at Mu Jiao Long, and Suo Baojing grabbed Mu Mei. Peng Boqin grabbed Mu Ai.

Suo Baojing said, his voice strained, trying to control the chaos, "We are on the same side. No need to fight each other."

Mu Jiao Long screamed, his voice filled with anguish, "Let them go!" He flew forward toward his brother, sister-in-law, and his niece. Leung Yat Sen, Wen Xing Fu, and Shui Laquan attacked Mu Jiao Long.

Wang Biming and the seventeen cousins also joined the fight, and so did the rest of the small sectors and clans who were there.

Behind the hidden wall, Mu Dishi struggled as hard as he could, but he was unable to move. He tried using his internal energy to release himself from Mu Jiao Long's dianxue, but he was unable. He dug his nails into the two armchairs until his fingers began to bleed, but he didn't feel any pain as tears fell from his eyes, and he heard his heart thumping inside his own chest as if his heart was about to burst out.

After an hour of fighting, many small clans and sectors lost many people, and they started to back away, and the seventeen cousins and Wang Biming were badly injured and were now hostages.

Mu Jiao Long stood alone against the one hundred or so people.

Peng Boqin said, his voice cold and demanding, "Bring him over." Two Tianshan disciples brought Mu Fai to Peng Boqin. Peng Boqin kicked Mu Fai on the back of the knees. "Where is the map?" He placed his sword on Mu Fai's neck.

Mu Jiao Long said, his voice pleading, "You're really going to kill an innocent man? I've already told you. I left it on that table back in the bamboo hut."

Peng Boqin said, his voice flat, starting the count, "One."

Mu Jiao Long said, desperately, "I don't have it."

Peng Boqin said, unmoved, "Two."

Mu Jiao Long said, his voice breaking, "Let him go."

Peng Boqin said, his voice final, "Three." Peng Boqin slit Mu Fai's throat.

Mu Dishi breathed in and out heavily, grabbing hard on the armchair. Mu Dishi watched as his seventeen cousins being killed one by one.

Fu Susu kicked the back of Mu Lan's knee, and Mu Lan knelt on the floor. "Give me the map."

Mu Lan said, her voice strained but firm, "Da ge, no matter what, they are going to kill us anyway. Don't give them the map. You hear me!"

Fu Susu said, his voice filled with hatred, "You Mongol dog." He slit Mu Lan's throat.

Mo Jing Seng said, his voice harsh, "Mu dog... hand over the map."

Mu Jiao Long begged in tears, his voice raw with anguish, "Let her go. She is only a child. She is innocent. She has not done anything wrong. Let her go."

Mu Ai went down on her knees in front of Suo Baojing, her voice trembling, pleading, "Er shixiong, I beg you, let my child go. She is only four years old. As disciples from the sector, please let her go."

Suo Baojing said madly, his face twisted with coldness, "Mei mei, marrying into the Mu is your mistake." He slit Mu Mei's throat.

Mu Jiao Long and Mu Ai both screamed, their voices tearing, "Mei'er!"

Mu Dishi whimpered hard; he bit down the inside of his mouth as blood dripped from the corners of his mouth, and tears fell from his eyes. He watched as Mu Mei struggling on the floor, blood gushing out of her tiny mouth. Mu Dishi felt like Mu Mei was struggling forever, then finally, Mu Mei's tiny feet stopped moving.

Mu Ai saw her little girl lying dead in a pool of blood. She turned around and grabbed Suo Baojing's front collar and held it tight with her two hands. She spit on his face and said angrily, her voice a raw cry of pain and fury, "You are not human! You! Give me back my child's life! Give me back my child's life! Even if I die, I will haunt you!"

Peng Boqin yanked Mu Ai away, and he threw two punches onto Mu Ai's stomach. Peng Boqin looked at Mu Jiao Long. "I will continue punching her until you give me the map." He began punching Mu Ai's stomach as blood gushing out and dyed her beautiful yellow dress red.

After over fifty punches, Peng Boqin dropped Mu Ai's dead body on the floor.

Mu Dishi screamed and struggled hard to break free.

Zu Minsheng kicked Wang Biming's knees, and Wang Biming knelt onto the floor. Zu Minsheng said, his voice cold, "Mu Jiao Long, he is your first disciple. Tell me where the map is?"

Mu Jiao Long's anger took over, and he no longer wanted to speak to anyone. He only breathed angrily through his nostrils.

Zu Minsheng said, a cruel smile playing on his lips, "You are not a Mu, tell us where the map is, and we will let you go."

Wang Biming said weakly, raising his head slightly, "Come closer, I will tell you where the map is." Zu Minsheng lowered his head toward Wang Biming. Wang Biming said, his voice barely a whisper, but filled with defiant contempt, "Let me fuck you. You will be happier than getting that map." He burst out laughing, a ragged, dying sound. He looked at the wall and smiled.

In anger, Zu Minsheng slit Wang Biming's throat.

Mu Jiao Long said firmly, his voice cutting through the chaos, "Pay attention. This is the last part of the Killer String Manual."

The people chattered.

"What is he talking about?"

"He has gone crazy."

"Are we going to get a chance with that map?"

Mu Jiao Long threw a single guzheng string, hitting on two pillars that stood opposite each side inside the guest hall. He said, his voice clear and instructional, "Gather all of your chi energy onto your right palm, then concentrate on transferring all of your chi energy onto the tip of your finger." He grabbed the guzheng string with his right middle finger and thumb. Mu Jiao Long pulled the string back past his waist.

The three Clans and the four Sects' leaders knew what Mu Jiao Long was talking about. This was the last move of the Killer String Manual, called 'Together In Hell'. They quickly ran out of the guest hall, leaving behind the other martial artists who were not familiar with Mu Jiao Long's technique.

Mu Jiao Long released the guzheng string, and everything in front of him was cut in half, including his index and middle fingers. The four Clans and three Sects made it far enough out from the guest hall but were badly injured internally from the powerful force. They vomited mouthfuls of blood.

Mu Jiao Long vomited blood and knelt onto the floor. He murmured, his voice weak, "Did you remember it?"

Mu Dishi nodded with tears as he watched blood gushing out from Mu Jiao Long's mouth. Mu Dishi screamed loudly inside. He tried hard to move his lips, but he could only taste blood in his mouth. His eyes were wet with anger, hate, and vengeance. He saw the four Clans and three Sects' leaders slowly walked back inside, badly injured.

Suo Baojing said, his voice cold and triumphant, "Mu dog." He stabbed Mu Jiao Long in the heart.

Zu Minsheng asked, his voice strained, "What are we going to do?"

Peng Boqin said, his voice decisive, "We are the only people who knew about this. We should never speak of this ever again."

Mo Jing Seng asked, his voice practical, "What about Yong Hao?"

Suo Baojing said, his voice ruthless, "If he opens his mouth, then Sword Village will be just like Mu Village." He shook Mu Jiao Long's blood from his sword. He scoffed. "Ah... I shouldn't have stabbed that dog. No matter what, he would have died shortly anyway."

The sound of swords unsheathing brought Mu Dishi back from being trapped inside his own memories. He looked down on the ground, and the last ashes from the burning incense had fallen onto the ground. He looked coldly at the young group of martial artists and said, his voice flat and final, "Time's up."