Chapter 030｜The Wushan Doubt

This woman is in her twenties, all dressed in black, a full moon face, a head of black hair, a medium size, a strong body, a few pockmarks on her face. Although it is not the kind of beauty that makes the heart enchanted, but her bright eyes and graceful eyebrows, vaguely revealing a heroic spirit. She walked straight over and looked straight at Xie Kangtu, as if the person with the broken leg in front of her was a monster.

Then, she stretched out her right hand and touched Xie Kangtu's severed limb before looking up at the sky as if she was taking measurements. This strange behaviour surprised Xie and Li. They had already sensed that this woman was most likely the Yue Xiu that the Wushan fisherwoman had spoken of.

"It is difficult to walk freely, but if there is a divine wood, the broken limbs can be renewed, it just takes some time." The woman was muttering to herself, seemingly contemplating how to make a prosthetic limb.

Li Jing hurriedly paid his respects: "Li Jing of Sanyuan pays his respects to Miss Yue Xiu"

"Yue Xiu knows who you are ..." the woman half-eyed him, "In ancient times Sun Bin had successfully renewed his leg, but the drawings have been lost, this could take some time... ..."

Seeing her talking to herself, Xie Kangtu couldn't help but say, "Many thanks to Miss Yue Xiu. However, I have lost both of my legs, so what's the point of even renewing the prosthetic limbs?"

Yue Xiu opened his eyes angrily: ''It's not your fault that you broke your leg, so there's no need to be discouraged. With me here, you don't have to be afraid .

As a man, if you can not stand, it's fine to recuperate at home, but when you go out to meet people, you should have some dignity. Otherwise, how can you conduct business? How can you lead people? Just do as you're told, why speak such disheartening words?"

Xie Kangtu opened his mouth and did not spit out half a word.

Li Jing suddenly realised that Xie Kangtu, who usually had a lot of wisdom, had become unusually well-behaved in front of this woman.

Yue Xiu no longer speak, a crouch, do not know how to force, Xie Kangtu actually body can not help but crouch on her back. But see her stand up and walk towards the stone forest. Li Jing hurriedly picked up the bag, followed closely. Yue Xiu zigzagged, choosing unexpected directions to walk in. In less than half the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, they had walked out of the stone formation.

Outside the stone formation is a path leading to the mountain, both sides of the strange stone forest, overgrown trees. The night has already drawn down, but that Yue Xiu walking as fast as flying, Li Jing, not carrying any heavy objects, was panting heavily as he struggled to keep up with her pace..

Entering a jungle, Yue Xiu turned back and said, "Master said you were gifted, why are you so exhausted?"

Li Jing was too breathless to reply. Xie Kangtu said, "Brother Li carried me all the way up the mountain and ran through the stone formations, he's really tired."

Yue Xiu said: "You can sympathise with others, it is rare. You know, the master returned to the mountain let me come to pick you up, but also let me take care of you for life, I dare not disobey, but I also do not want to take care of a cripple who has never met before, so I waited in the stone formation early, just waiting for you guys to arrive, I will kill both of you, even if the master chastised, the big deal is that it's a decade of confinement."

Li Jing's heart chilled as he listened, and his palms couldn't help but perspire. Xie Kangtu said, "It's not too late for the girl to start now."

"I changed my mind." Yue Xiu said, "Listening to you in the stone formation, I suddenly don't want to kill you anymore. I was originally an abandoned baby, taken by a wolf, my master snatched me from the wolf's mouth and passed on my skills, I wanted to guard the mountain gate for the rest of my life, but after listening to what this little brother said, I suddenly wanted to go outside and help the shipowner to achieve something."

"You ... girl are not afraid that I will delay ..." Xie Kangtu's voice is a little choked.

"If it were not for my master, I would have fed the wolves long ago, so what's the delay?" Yue Xiu said as she walked away, "Besides, you are good-looking, have many ideas, and seem to be able to love people, I like you from the first glance. If you were a fool like Mu Sheng, I would never agree even if you begged me on your knees!"

Li Jing's heart was touched, but he said, "Boat Owner Xie wanted to kneel, but he was unable to do so."

You, this pretty boy, will probably become a flirt as you grow up. The ship owner has lost his legs, so he can only love me alone. You know nothing!"

Li Jing found this woman very amusing and teased her again, "How does the girl know that the boat owner will definitely love you?"

Yue Xiu stopped and put Xie Kangtu on the ground, "If you don't love me, say it now!"

Li Jing didn't know whether to cry or laugh. Where in the world is there such a woman - demanding someone to immediately declare love or not?

Xie Kangtu said solemnly, "Earlier, when I did not see you, my heart was very apprehensive; now that I have seen you, I will never love anyone else till death do us part!"

Yue Xiu once again carried Xie Kangtu on her back. Li Jing still didn't see her technique clearly, he only saw a swing of her sleeve, and Xie Kangtu had landed firmly on her broad shoulders. The Wushan fisherwoman had once said that her kung fu was superior to Gu Musheng's, and it seemed that her words were true.

Yue Xiu opened his steps and walked forward, seemingly satisfied with Xie Kangtu's answer. After taking a dozen steps, he said softly, "In the future, never mention the matter of your broken leg. My leg can climb mountains and cross mountains as if it were flat, but I can't order the merchants to travel around the world. I volunteered to serve you because you are worthy of my service. I wouldn't even spare half a glance at those fully-abled princes and noblemen in the world."

Xie Kangtu said, "The girl's generous love is engraved in Xie Kangtu's mind for life. If I can be with you, I will not regret even if all my limbs are broken, not to mention breaking my legs!"

Yue Xiu said, "Your words sound good to the ear, but the reasoning doesn't make sense - your leg wasn't broken because of me, so why would you say that? However, as long as you listen well, no one can hurt you again!"

Li Jing followed her, and although the forest was chilly, warmth surged in his heart. He suddenly thought of Mei Niang. Although Mei Niang was eccentric, she also dared to love and hate. These two are more arrogant than those women who have been in their chambers for a long time and follow the orders of their parents.

The abode of the Wushan fisherwomen is under the Goddess Peak, and the houses are all built on the mountain. In mid-October, although there is fog in the mountains, the moonlight still shines through the clouds and mist, and the higher up the mountain, the brighter the moon is. In front of Li Jing's eyes appeared more than a dozen houses, all are wooden houses with grass roofs, scattered. Only one of the houses had lights.

Bypassing the fence, Yue Xiu entered the lighted room, placed Xie Kangtu on a small couch, and called out "mushengg". Not long after, Gu Musheng led Alone Star into the house. When Li Jing saw Alone Star dressed in green and neatly tidied up, he was stunned for a moment and walked over to pick him up. Alone Star softly called out "Brother". Li Jing remembered the hardships of the journey, and could not help but feel his nose sour, shedding tears.

Gu Musheng met Xie Kangtu and said, "The master is temporarily away and ordered me to wait here for Boat Owner Xie and Brother Li. That night at Jiangxia Mountain, mushengg was incompetent and allowed that Hua Qingfeng to snatch Boat Owner Xie away, so I hope Boat Master will forgive me."

Xie Kangtu waved his hand and said, "Brother Gu under the attack of Hua Qingfeng, you were still able to rescue Little Brother Mu Xing, which shows your great martial arts skills. I am an invalid, but also Sui Chen Liang three countries must capture the person, if I get away will attract experts to chase, brother Gu do not need to blame yourself."

Yue Xiu glared: "From now on, don't ever say that you are a useless person. Moreover, since you've lost the fingers for painting and no longer have utilitarian value, you should cherish and take care of yourself, focusing on business instead."

Xie Kangtu nodded her head in agreement. Li Jing realised that since Xie Kangtu had met Yue Xiu, he had followed all her opinions.

Gu Musheng said, "What senior sister said is very true. However, that Hua Qingfeng indeed has some skills. If he hadn't already been injured by my master, I'm afraid I would not be his match. This person is proficient in the art of Qimen, and the stone formation cannot trap him."

Yue Xiu sneered, "Even if he are proficient in the art of Qi Men, it's still hard to beat the master's ten moves. You're a person who is good at everything, but you just can't turn a corner."

Gu Musheng is older than Yue Xiu, but since he became a disciple later, so he called her senior sister. I respect and fear my senior sister on normal days, and I dare not argue with her. Bowing my head, he said, 'What senior sister teaches is right.' Then he remained silent.

Li Jing hugged Alone Star, seeing that his complexion was much better, his heart was greatly relieved, and he asked in a small voice, "Brother, how have these days been?"

Alone Star said, "Auntie gave me medicine and taught me luck. This brother taught me to climb mountains."

Li Jing certainly knew that the Witch Mountain Fisherwoman was a remarkable person of the time, and that receiving her guidance was a rare opportunity for the Lone Star, but Gu Musheng taught him to climb the mountain, it seems strange. Climbing this kind of thing for children, natural will, need to teach?

Yue Xiu saw him not understand, interface: "I this master brother climbing mountain extremely powerful, even if ten thousand feet of cliff is not difficult to defeat him. Usually I ask him to teach me he refuses, it's Starlet who is good, he likes Starlet."

Li Jing said, "Is there any wonderful method for climbing this mountain?"

Gu Musheng said, "My brother Shuisheng and I have been climbing mountains and playing in the water since we were young. Shuisheng is like a swimming fish in the water, while I am like an ape in the mountains. The secret to mountain climbing lies in the coordination of the limbs, and the harmonious movement of the limbs depends entirely on the strength of the waist. Starlet is extremely gifted and has learnt to flip upside down, stick to the wall, group body and swing arms in a few days. In time, he will become a master climber, even sheer cliffs and precipices cannot stop his steps."

Li Jing joyfully said, "Brother, don't quickly thank Brother Gu."

Alone Star clasped his fists and said, "Thank you brother. I will practice well so that I can go into the mountains to collect medicine to cure people."

Xie Kangtu laughed, "As the saying goes, 'three years old is a good indicator of ambition', I think Little Star will become a famous doctor in the future."

Yue Xiu was unimpressed, ''I don't think so. The day before yesterday, I took Starlet to the stone formation and he hid with me. I intended to make things difficult for him and introduce him into the stone formation. But he was actually able to recognise the direction and was not thrown off! Unlike you two fools, you were like headless flies after entering the stone formation."

Li Jing big surprise. That stone array is mysterious and unpredictable, Alone Star less than four years old actually did not get lost in the array, it is incredible. At that moment, squatted down and asked Alone Star how to do it.

Little Alone Star scratched his head and blinked his eyes, "... Brother, I don't know. Sister hid, I want to find her, I can only smell her smell ... Sister has a scent on her body ..."

The Xie Gu duo couldn't help but laugh. Yue Xiu, on the other hand, was red in the face, and the faint pockmarks jumped in the candlelight, making her look even more charming.

It was at this moment that the door of the house gently rattled, and the Wushan Fisherwoman walked in. She was not covered with a black scarf, but her complexion looks very bad. Yue Xiu and Gu Musheng saw their master, hurriedly saluted and stepped aside.

The Wushan Fisherwoman ignored the two servants and met with Xie Kangtu, saying, "Xie Boat Owner has worked hard all the way, Li Gongzi has suffered." Having said that, she sat down dejectedly, staring blankly at the night sky outside the window, appearing very desolate.

Li Jing had never seen the Wushan fisherwoman in such a state. Xie Kangtu who has been experienced in the ways of the world for a long time, did not hesitate to ask questions at this moment. Gu Musheng and Yue Xiu were so frightened that they dared not even breathe heavily.

Only after a long time did the Wushan fisherwoman coldly say, "Yue Xiu, Musheng, the eight guards in the back of the mountain have already killed five people due to dereliction of duty. The two of you can hardly escape the blame for this matter, so go down and punish yourself."

The two of them heard this and turned pale as they hurriedly exited the room.

The house was surprisingly quiet. The moonlight grew brighter. The wind whistled through the mountains and the forest waves gusted like waves. Li Jing guessed that something big must have happened to the Yue Nu Sword Sect to make the Wushan Fisherwoman go down and kill five of her men. What he could not figure out was that even if the men had failed in their duties and committed offences, punishment would suffice, so why did they have to kill?

He had expected Xie Kangtu to ask for the cause. However, Xie Kangtu sat still and did not speak.

Li Jing finally couldn't help but ask: "The matters in the Lady's door, I don't dare to ask. However, after all, eight human lives, and is a member of you own family, it seems inappropriate for the Lady Warrior to say kill, kill."

The Wushan Fisherwoman was not angry, and said lightly, "I will not hold it against you, considering your young and naive age. You will understand such matters when you grow up."

Xie Kangtu said, "Brother Li, the lady hero must have encountered a very serious matter to deal with subordinates according to the sect rules."

The Wushan Fisherwoman said, "Mr. Xie, since Yue Xiu has already accompanied you up the mountain, it indicates that she has agreed to be with you for life. After you have rested for a few days, I will allow Yue Xiu to send you back north.Li Gongzi, you can take Xiaoxing with you tomorrow to seek Mr Sun in Shu. In fact, this is already part of Shu, so if you go up the river to Wanchuan and change course, you can reach Yizhou."

Li Jing thanked her. At that moment, the Wushan Fisherwoman stopped talking and let Xie Li take Alone Star to rest in the inner room. Li Jing was tired from the journey and quickly fell asleep.

At dawn the next day, Gu Musheng pushed the door in and told Li Jing to pack his bag and go down the mountain. Li Jing had not eaten any food last night and was hungry, so he wanted to beg for some food, but Gu Musheng had a solemn look on his face, so he had to comply. At that moment, he said goodbye to Xie Kangtu, carrying Alone Star, and followed Gu Musheng out of the room. Thinking of the kindness of Boat Owner Xie along the way, Li Jing's eyes were moist. However, he had already finished what he had to say, after all, sending Alone Star to meet Mr Sun was the main thing, so he forced himself to hold back his tears and rode the mist down the mountain.

"Master ordered me to escort you to White Emperor City, therefore we won't disturb her peace." Gu Musheng didn't turn his head back. Obviously, the Wushan Fisherwoman did not want to bid farewell to the Li Jing brothers.

Li Jing followed Gu Musheng down the mountain. Soon after arriving at the stone formation, Gu Musheng pointed out the path. Li Jing memorised it by heart, but did not understand the beauty of it in the slightest.

Li Jing had thought that Gu Musheng would travel along the riverside, but did not expect him to carry Alone Star on his back and travelled towards the mountains.

The paths in the mountains were winding, some places were covered with thorns, and some places were narrow and cramped, which made it difficult to pass through if you were not a strong person. However, Gu Musheng despite carrying a person, still moved swiftly and steadily. Looking at this path, not to mention a group, even a pedestrian not paying attention might fall off the cliff and lose their life.

At around nine o'clock in the morning, Gu Musheng stopped at the bottom of a cliff in the mountains, took out dry food, and scooped up fresh water to quench his thirst. Li Jing ate it and couldn't help but ask: "I see that Brother Gu seems to have been up all night, I wonder what exactly happened?"

Gu Musheng said, "Not sleeping for one night is a minor matter, but my senior sister and I punished ourselves by standing on our heads at the Cliff of Reflection for an entire night, so I am somewhat tired. Unfortunately, our sect is in trouble, as our teacher's sister has escaped from Witch Mountain ... "

Li Jing had never heard that the Wushan Fisherwoman had a senior sister, so he asked the reason.

Gu Musheng sighed and briefly told the original story.

It turns out that Xiao Qiong, the junior sister of the Witch Mountain Fisherwoman, is a member of the Liang Dynasty's royal family. When Hou Jing caused chaos in the government, she was still in her swaddling clothes. She was saved by the master of the Witch Mountain Fisherwoman, the Witch Mountain Weaver Girl, who then took her to Witch Mountain, raised her, and taught her martial arts. However, Xiao Qiong had a peculiar personality from a young age and did not get along well with the Witch Mountain Fisherwoman, who was two years her senior. She would always complain about her to their master. At first, she managed to win their master's favor, but over time, naturally, suspicions arose. In the end, although the master still passes on the martial arts, but the secret of the school is only passed on to the Wushan fisherwoman. Xiao Qiong hated her sister to the bone, and at the same time, she hated her master's favouritism.

A few years ago, on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Wushan Fisherwoman found that her Master had suddenly died a violent death. With the master's high martial arts skills and healthy body, it was impossible for her to die a strange death at less than seventy years old. After examining the body, the Master was poisoned by a chronic strange poison. The Wushan fisherwoman suspected her junior sister was responsible and immediately imprisoned her in a stone chamber at the top of the mountain.

Xiao Qiong denied it and refused to admit it.

 Zhang Xian was in Wushan at that time, and his son Zhang Yu was sympathetic to Xiao Qiong and often visited her in the stone room. The Wushan fisherwoman was so angry that she broke Zhang Yu's right leg. As a result, Zhang Yu ran away in anger, and Zhang Xian searched for his son and wandered into the countryside. ...

After this incident, the Wushan fisherwoman's temperament changed drastically and she decided not to take on any more disciples.As a result, although Yue Xiu and Musheng were taught martial arts by her, they could only be called master and servant.

Li Jing and Gu Musheng continued to walking between the mountains.

Gu Musheng's few sentences about the feud between the Wushan fisherwoman and Xiao Qiong, but Li Jing vaguely felt that there was still a reason for it. Did Xiao Qiong kill her teacher? Could Zhang Yu's departure be related to Xiao Qiong? Why did Xiao Qiong suddenly escape after years of confinement?

However, this was someone else's hidden secret, so it was inconvenient for him to ask more.