Chapter 17 The Lonely Grave

Ma Jingguo led twenty people into the back mountain of Jinfeng Sector. Ma Jingguo recalled the days he spent here. He would sit on the edge of the cliff and drink wine watching the sunset. He looked at the cliff, where the old wine jars still remained. This part of Jinfeng Sector is secluded, and no disciples will come to practice here. They approached a lonely grave, covered with weeds.

Ma Jingguo said, "You stay here and be careful." The twenty people nodded to him. He looked at Zan Huangming. "Shifu, this way." Ma Jingguo carried Zan Huangming and let him down in front of the tomb of Ji Chujui.

Zan Huangming said, "Chujui, I am here now. You have been lying here for sixty-five years. I have been thinking about what they did to your body. I didn't expect Jinfeng Sector still took you back and buried you here."

Ma Jingguo said, "According to what I heard from other qianbeis, the late leader Kuo, Kuo Jing Song's father was a good xiong-di of Ji qianbei, so he demanded the four households to return Ji qianbei's body back to Jinfeng Sector, but the elders refused to let Ji qianbei be buried inside the sector cemetery, so the late leader Kuo had to bury Ji qianbei here. He came to visit and clean the tomb monthly, but since his death, Ji qianbei's tomb has been abandoned."

Zan Huangming, "Since the day he decided to run away with me, he was abandoned by Jinfeng Sector." He chuckled. "At that time, we decided to put everything aside and live our own way. We don't have to worry about who is orthodox or unorthodox. We are just two young people living a simple life of three meals a day."

Ma Jingguo looked at Zan Huangming and he saw tears streaming down Zan Huangming's face.

Zan Huangming said, "Although the time we spent together is very short, those memories are the best memories. Those memories are the memories that accompanied me in my lonely hours when I was locked in Gu prison." He coughed heavily and vomited blood.

Ma Jingguo knelt beside him, "Shifu."

Zan Huangming wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. He said, "Jingguo, do you remember what I told you in the Gu Prison?"

Ma Jingguo nodded.

Zan Huangming, "I have taken their poison for a long time. If I don't continue to take it, I will die in a few days." He grabbed Ma Jingguo by the left shoulder and turned him around. His hands hit Ma Jingguo's back.

Ma Jingguo, "Shifu, what are you doing?"

Zan Huangming, "Don't talk, concentrate. Open your meridians and accept my inner energy."

Ma Jingguo's lips trembled, "Shifu...If you do this, you will die."

Zan Huangming said, "Just concentrate, don't let my efforts go in vain."

Yuan Chaomei was about to walk over, but was stopped by Wen Huifang. Yuan Chaomei said, "Wen qianbei, if right-hand guard passes his internal energy to chief Xin, he will die."

Wen Huifang said sadly, "He knew that he would die, so he transferred all his internal energy to chief Xin."

Si Meifeng, "Yuan meimei, this is the most critical moment. Don't let anyone approach them, otherwise right-hand guard Zan's inner energy will backfire."

Yuan Zixin approached the group guarding Ma Jingguo and Zan Huangming. He said, "I want to see right-hand guard Zan now."

Tong Keung, "Leader Yuan, now is not a good time."

Yuan Zixin, "Right-hand guard Zan, is my savior and the last person to have talked to chief Yuan…I…"

Wen Huifang asked, "You what?"

Yuan Zixin, "I want to thank him for saving my father and me."

Si Meifeng said indifferently, "Really? I thought you were going to ask right-hand guard Zan to hand over the leader seat to you."

Yuan Zixin, "Nonsense. Even if I don't want the leader seat, it should be return back to the Yuan."

Wen Huifang smiled and said, "Now the truth is finally revealed."

Yuan Zixin argued, "The truth has always been there, is just that no one is willingly to accept it."

Tong Keung said, "Leader Yuan, if you dare to disturb, don't tell anyone that I haven't warned you."

When Zan Huangming transferred the last internal energy's wave into Ma Jingguo's body, his hands were withdrawn from Ma Jingguo's back. Ma Jingguo quickly turned around and saw Zan Huangming vomiting blood.

Zan Huangming said, "Jingguo, because your cultivation level is not strong, even if my inner qi is flowing in your body, you must find someone with stronger inner qi and release the eight channels of meridians in your body to get the full benefit of my internal energy."

Ma Jingguo, "Shifu…" There were tears in his eyes. "Thank You."

Zan Huangming said, "Dig up Chujiu's body."

The fifteen people dug out Ji Chujiu's grave in less than an hour. Zan Huangming climbed to the tomb and fell into the dug tomb. He saw the dress that Ji Chujiu wore on the day he was killed. He lied down beside Ji Chujiu's skeleton.

Zan Huangming turned his head to the left and looked at Ji Chujiu's skull. He smiled and said, "I spent my days wandering and waiting for you, as we travel down the path to the unknown, I toast to you. Let us stop often on this unknown path, and plucking ours strings to accompany lonely souls who travel without their soulmate." He turned to the left, pulling the skeleton into his arms. He kissed the temple of the skull and closed his eyes. "Chujiu, you always said that sleeping inside my arms, there is no need for a blanket. I'm here, you don't have to worry about catching a cold anymore." He smiled.

Ma Jingguo stopped and watched for a while, but the dust pollen around Zan Huangming still did not move. At that moment, he knew that Zan Huanming had died holding his beloved one. Zan Huangming's actions reminded him of brother Black and his lover.

Wen Huifang rushed back to Ma Jingguo, "Right-hand guard Zan."

Ma Jingguo said, "Wen qianbei, he is gone." Ma Jingguo untied the rope of his cloak and covered Zan Huangming and Ji Chujiu. "It's really not too bad to be buried in the same grave as your loved one."

Yuan Zixin said, "Bring right-handed guard back."

Ma Jingguo said, "He wants to stay here with Ji qianbei and we must follow his last wish."

Yuan Zixin said, "Even if it is, but he is a respected person in our sector. He does not deserve to be buried in a lonely grave on such secluded hill like this." He stepped forward towards the grave.

Ma Jingguo grabbed Yuan Zixin's arm and said angrily, "My shifu is going to be buried here. We respect his last wish."

Yuan Zixin pulled his arm away, "You may be the new chief, but you have no power in the sector."

Ma Jingguo said firmly, "Cover the grave."

Men, "Yes chief."

Yuan Zixin, "Who dares to cover the grave?"

Ma Jingguo said, "Wen qianbei, whoever doesn't listen to the chief's instructions, you will kill that person directly." He turned around and looked at Yuan Zixin coldly. "Including him."

Wen Huifang said loudly, "You men heard the chief's order."

Yuan Zixing gritted his teeth, "You..."

Ma Jingguo said, "Yuan Zixin, remember in your brain that I am the chief and you are my subordinate." He glared at Yuan Zixin. "Know your place."

In the distance, Kuo Jing Song, Kuo Ju, Kuo Wenqian, Kuo Changchang, and Chen Dandan walked in with the three elders of Jinfeng Sector.

Ma Jingguo stepped forward to greet Kuo Changchang and Chen Dandan. Ma Jingguo said, "My shifu is buried with Ji qianbei. Since this is a secluded mountain where no one comes, I hope you don't disturb their graves."

Kuo Wenqian, "You think we will listen to what you say?"

Ma Jingguo stared at Kuo Ju, "Kuo furen, this reminded me of that year when we stood face to face like this."

Kuo Ju, "Stop."

Ma Jingguo said, "Alright, I won't say a word if you leave the grave of my shifu and Ji qianbei alone, but if Jinfeng Sector failed to protect their graves. I will bring all of Sunset Sector members here to Jinfeng, and wipe your sector out of Central Plains. I will kill everything inside Jinfeng Sector." He looked at Kuo Ju with a pair of hateful eyes. "Your three hundreds disciples are no match for my thousands of members if we were to face off." He began to walked away.

Wen Huifang said, "Leader Tong, please stay behind."

Leader Tong said, "Don't worry."

As Ma Jingguo, Yuan Chaomei, Si Meifeng, and Wen Huifang began to walk out of the secluded hill, Chen Dandan chased after Ma Jingguo. She shouted, "Ma ge…Ma ge…"

Ma Jingguo stopped and turned around, "Dandan…"

Chen Dandan asked, "Ma ge, where are you going?"

Ma Jingguo said, "I'm heading back to Sunset Sector."

Chen Dandan asked, "Ma ge, are you really going to kill all of us?"

Ma Jinggou smiled at Chen Dandan, "Shimei, no…"

Chen Dandan said, "But you said..."

Ma Jingguo smiled and said, "It's just mockery. I won't kill everyone. If I don't mocked them, they will disturb the graves of shifu and Ji qianbei. I have to say it very seriously, otherwise they won't believe it."

Chen Dandan smiled and said, "Ma ge, don't worry... When I am in Jinfeng or if I come to visit Jinfeng, I will take care of the graves."

Ma Jingguo, "Oh, where are you going? Have you finally decided to live with your da shixiong?"

Chen Dandan said shyly, "Is not that…" She blushed.

Ma Jingguo said, "What's wrong?"

Chen Dandan said, "I am getting married next month."

Ma Jingguo chuckled, "Who is the unlucky man?"

Chen Dandan said, "Yong Taihua of Sword Village." She looked at Ma Jingguo. "I know it is not convenient for Ma ge to attend my wedding, so I want to inform you in advance."

Ma Jingguo, "I was thinking of just sending you a big gift, but I didn't expect those martial artists to offend me, maybe I will come to your wedding."

Chen Dandan said, "You are welcome anytime, as long as you causes as little damage as possible."

Ma Jingguo laughed, "Alright…deal…" He walked away from Chen Dandan.

Chen Dandan shouted, "Ma ge take care of yourself and don't drink too much."

Ma Jingguo waved to Chen Dandan and disappeared down the mountain path with Yuan Chaomei, Wen Huifang and Si Meifeng.