Chapter 31 Fear

It was already evening when Rao Zhengsheng, Xue Horan, and Yuan Xiurong arrived in Sword Village. They happened to come from the back route with some people. When they walked past a small hill, they encountered seventy-one graves. Xue Horan had never seen such a scene before, and he was so scared that he held Rao Zhengsheng's hand tightly.

Rao Zhengsheng asked, "Afraid?"

Xue Horan asked, "Zhen ge, why are there so many graves."

Rao Zhengsheng said, "Those graves belong to the Mu Villagers." He pointed to the hill. "This hill is called Mu Village."

Xue Horan asked, "Why don't they bury the dead behind the mountain?"

Rao Zhengsheng, "I'm not sure. This is decided by the late leader of Sword Village."

Yuan Xiurong said, "I think I understand Yong qianbei's thoughts."

Xue Horan, "What do you mean?"

Yuan Xiurong, "Yong qianbei deliberately buried the people of Mu village here to remind everyone that they have made a big mistake. Also, he want to remind the younger generations not to follow their mistake."

Xue Horan, "Mistake? What kind of Mistake?"

Rao Zhengsheng said, "Many years ago, the three sectors and four clans killed seventy-one innocent Mu villagers. Then ten years later, Mu Dishi stormed into Shaolin to seek revenge."

Xue Horan, "Mu Dishi…the person everyone says look like me?"

Rao Zhengsheng, "You don't look like him."

A martial artist next to him said, "Young man, although you look somewhat like Mu Dishi, but Mu Dishi is a golden dragon among men. By looks and by skills, he suppressed those who are many years older than him. He even defeated the great shifu Kuo Jing Song."

Another martial artist interrupted, "I have seen Mu Dishi once. I understand why men and women praise his beauty." The arrogant martial artist laughed. "He is very beautifu…" Suddenly, he was hit hard from behind. The martial artist fell forty feet away on his stomach and vomited a mouthful of blood.

Other martial artists turned their heads to track down who had beaten the arrogant martial artist. To their surprise, it was Yong Taihua, the young master of Sword Village, and their host.

Yong Taihua said angrily, "Anyone who says bad things about my shizun must answer to me." He looked at the martial artists. "If any of you have the same thinking and feelings as this gongzi." He pointed at the injured martial artist. "Do not step into Sword Village." He made clear to the other martial artists that he would not tolerate anyone who speak ill of Mu Dishi.

Yong Taihua walked away from the group of martial artists and his juniors followed him closely. The other martial artist began to followed Yong Taihua towards Sword Village.

Xue Horan asked suspiciously, "Mu Dishi, is Yong Taihua's shizun?"

Yan Zhanjin, "Yes, and he respect Mu Dishi greatly."

Xue Horan startled, because Yan Zhanjin suddenly answered his question from behind. He said, "Yan gongzi, you startle me."

Yan Zhanjin smiled and said, "I'm sorry." He looked around. "Huh, where is the young Taoist hero?"

Xue Horan frowned, "He went home."

Yan Zhanjin nodded, "No matter how far you go, you will eventually go home, because there is no warmer place in the world than home." With his hands on his back, he walked quickly toward Sword Village with the rest of the other martial artists.

Xue Horan murmured, "You are right about that."

Rao Zhengsheng, "Let's go."

Once in Sword Village, the lower martial artists and those who had nothing to do with the murdered of the two gentlemen of Huangshan had already rested. The remaining martial artists in the main conference room are those involved or ranked higher in the martial arts world.

After listening to what Yong Taihua said to Yong Gui. Yong Gui said, "There must be a misunderstanding."

Li Kong Bai, "In the entire martial arts world, only Chief Cao uses red needle thread."

Yong Gui said, "I know what leader Li is worried about, but during the whole process of this incident." He looked at Li Kong Bai. "Chief Cao is here in Sword Village, discussing with other sectors and clans about who should hold the four household's competition this year. He only left a few days ago to visit his father-in-law and his mother-in-law."

Kuo Wenqian, "There might be another possibility?"

Li Kong Bai said, "Liu furen, what are you thinking?"

Kuo Wenqian, "Speaking of threads, chief Cao is not the only one that could use needles and threads."

Yong Taihua already knew what Kuo Wenqian was referring to. He interrupted, "Liu furen, are you referring to my shizun?" He looked at Kuo Weqian. "I want to remind you that my shizun does not use thread. If he wants to kill someone, he will do it in public, just like when he entered Shaolin."

Kong Jinhai said, "Yong gongzi, I know that you regard highly of Mu Dishi, but to be honest, no one is very sure that Mu Dishi is actually dead. Also, according to Zhou qianbei, they heard the flute melody from inside the Mu Treasure Cave. So, Liu furen may not be all wrong."

Yong Taihua who has always has short temperament said, "Those bad things that happened in the martial arts world, one by one, always point the finger at my shizun first." He raised his voice. "My shizun died in that cave. Why can't you leave him alone? Why are everyone so afraid of my shizun? Or is because everyone wronged him and afraid he will come for revenge?"

Yong Gui, "Taihua..."

Yong Taihua said, "Did I say something wrong?"

The martial artists inside the conference room were silent.

Yong Taihua continued, "It's all started with you so-called orthodox circles who vowed to protect the weak and innocent. As a result, some people in these so-called orthodox circles murdered seventy-one innocent unarmed villagers." He clenched his jaw tightly. "I'm not surprised at all. If one day, a very powerful martial artist appears to strive trouble in the martial arts world, because you push the martial artist too far and push him to the unorthodox side." He panted heavily, his eyes full of anger. "Each of you knows deep down who is right and who is wrong. Who is black and who is white." He rushed out of the conference room frantically.

Yong Gui said, "Everyone, I apologize to everyone for my son's impulsiveness. I suggest that since everyone wants to confirm the death of Mu Dishi, then after Shaolin's annual competition is over, we will return to the Mu Treasure Cave and look for Mu Dishi or Mu Dishi's body. I hope this will put closure to everyone's suspicion."

The martial artists in the conference room nodded in agreement of Yong Gui's suggestion.

Yong Gui, "When we get to Shaolin, I will also discuss this further with the clans in other sectors."

Chen Dandan hurried to catch up with Yong Taihua. She knew where Yong Taihua would be. Whenever Yong Taihua was angry, he would sit in the Mu cemetery. She saw Yong Taihua sitting in his usual place, next to the tombs of Yong Hao and Mu Jiao Long.

Chen Dandan sat beside Yong Taihua, "Yong gege, don't be upset anymore."

Yong Taihua's eyes were still red, and there were some wet tears. He sighed and said, "I know that Wenqian is still angry with shizun. I know the entire Jinfeng Sectors hated shizun for breaking up the marriage between Ma Jingguo and Changchang." He clenched his fists. "It's shizun fault that that crazy Ma Jingguo fall in love with shizun head over heel? They should hate Ma Jingguo not Shizun. Why does every little bad thing happened in the martial arts worlds is my shizun's fault? Why can't they just let shizun rest in peace? Whole bunch of bastards."

Chen Dandan chuckled softly, "Because those old bastards fear Mu ge greatly." She took Yong Taihua's arm and leaned her head on his right shoulder. "When I first saw Mu ge, I disliked him, but when I think about it carefully, if Mu ge is as bad as everyone said, why would Ma ge love him so much? Ma ge, is like my other gege beside da shixiong. Ma ge, he is not a bad person, so the person that he loves must be an incredible person."

Yong Taihua scoffed lightly, "Sometimes, I praised Ma Jingguo, only he could have such patience with shizun."

Chen Dandan smiled and said, "That's right, but I guess he loves Mu ge too much that he accept Mu ge's flaws." She looked at Yong Taihua. "It's like I admit that you always have a bad temper."

Yong Taihua leaned his head on her head. He said, "Fear will make people unreasonable." He dropped a kiss on Chen Dandan's forehead. "Since you know I have a bad temper, will you still marry me?"

Chen Dandan said, "I will love you like Ma ge love Mu ge."

Yong Taihua patted lightly on Chen Dandan's head, "Silly."

The young lovers sit side by side in the evening sky and watch the sunset. Chen Dandan frowned, "Watching the sunset like this makes me miss Ma ge very much." She hugged Yong Taihua's arms tighter. "When he was still in Jinfeng, he thought Mu ge died in the fire. He sat drinking and watching the sunset in the back mountain with the lonely grave of Ji qianbei every day."

In the distance, on the edge of the cliff below the waterfall, a melodious flute echoed inside the hollow wall of the Mu Treasure Cave. The soft melody is played for the wind and sunset, telling them this flute player is still waiting in this lonely cave.