Training

"As you already know, we produce and provide alcohol to all the Peaks – except Ku Xing, of course – and several nearby cities." Zhuang Hao held out a scroll, which Yang Qinghui took and unrolled.

"Right. And we also produce potions?" The scroll listed a half-dozen cities, and the regular buyers – restaurants, entertainment halls, and others – in each.

Zhuang Hao nodded. "Qian Cao Peak research remedies and methods, and we mass-produce them. Then An Ding distribute them among the Peaks and beyond."

"I see…" Yang Qinghui surreptitiously copied the scroll's information to a list in the System files. She had a lot to think about, but she was not going to disappoint Zhuang Hao or Zui Xian Peak again.

Master and disciple stood overlooking the rice terrace valley. Below, farmers, hired from nearby towns, were hard at work harvesting the rice crops. Their brown cattle, harnessed to carts, lowed or chewed grass in boredom, and the junior disciples ran between the farmers, offering water or paper umbrellas to cool them down. It was a warm day, with barely a breeze to stir the grass around Yang Qinghui's feet. It would likely be one of the last days this warm – autumn was nearly upon them.

"I spoke with the farmers. They estimate the harvest will be complete in the next few weeks," Yang Qinghui recalled, wishing she had a paper fan like Shen Qingqiu's. "We'll start preparations for the Mid-Autumn Festival then."

"We're hosting one this year, shizun?" Zhuang Hao asked, surprised.

"Too soon after the banquet?" Yang Qinghui rubbed her forehead, considering. "Maybe just for the Peak and the farmers, then."

"That might be more feasible, shizun. Each Peak normally hosts their own Mid-Autumn Festival, anyway." Zhuang Hao hesitated, then added, with a half-smile, "The others will be glad to know we're having one this year."

Zhuang Hao affection level increased! +6 points. Current affection level: 40 points."

Yang Qinghui shot her disciple a smile. As they continued watching over the harvest below, her thoughts drifted.

It had been a day and a half since she'd gifted Zhu Huangu the hairpin. She still felt slightly faint remembering it: Zhu Huangu, her robes and hair a beautiful mess, nearly knee-deep in a pond and surrounded by lotus flowers; the way the black jade of the hairpin and her sharp eyes gleamed in tandem.

Of course, she also remembered her conversation with Mu Qingfang just afterwards. Yang Qinghui had told him she'd indeed been suffering from memory loss, but had remembered she was a demon, and the doctor had had an interesting tale to share. When he'd recovered from nearly fainting of shock, at least.

It turned out Mu Qingfang had known she was a demon since they were teenagers – soon after Yang Qinghui had killed her first bashe. Ke Peizheng, the former Zui Xian Peak Lord, had secretly called Mu Qingfang and his shizun out to a town to treat Yang Qinghui. She'd been injured from the battle, and suffering from a qi deviation.

Mu Qingfang's shizun had handled most of the treatment, but Mu Qingfang had overheard him and Ke Peizheng discussing Yang Qinghui's demonic ancestry.

He'd been shocked, of course. When his shizun discovered he'd overheard, he'd been sworn to the utmost secrecy.

When Mu Qingfang told Yang Qinghui this, he took her hand and promised, with a heartfelt, genuine, nearly teary expression, he would still never tell anyone. Yang Qinghui had been moved by Mu Qingfang's affection, and intrigued by what he'd revealed:

Ke Peizheng knew she was a demon.

"Hao'er?" Yang Qinghui turned to look at Zhuang Hao.

"Yes, shizun?"

"I wanted to ask… what do you know of the former Zui Xian Peak Lord, Ke Peizheng?"

Zhuang Hao stared at her with wide eyes. "Why do you ask, shizun?"

Yang Qinghui shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "It's been a while since I paid any attention to the Cang Qiong rumour mill. I'm merely curious to know what others say about my former shizun." 

These days, Zhuang Hao was usually much more comfortable around Yang Qinghui – more relaxed, more conversational. But some things or topics triggered a reversion to his tense, wary behaviour. Such as the mention of Ke Peizheng, it seemed.

Shifting on his feet, Zhuang Hao avoided her eyes as he said, "Well… you, shizun, are the only one still on Zui Xian Peak who knew the former Peak Lord personally. All of the former disciples left soon after you became Peak Lord."

And scarpered away to An Ding Peak, right, Yang Qinghui recalled distastefully.

"Of course, you have never told any of us about Lord Ke," Zhuang Hao continued, "But everyone is aware that he was a… poor master."

"How so?"

Zhuang Hao gulped nervously, like he was worried about saying the wrong thing. "He was… cruel. Manipulative. Harsh and overly demanding – or so the other disciples have said. And, of course, there's the treason."

Yang Qinghui blinked. Treason? "… And what have you heard about that? It's alright, Hao'er – I just want to know what you know."

Finally meeting her eyes, Zhuang Hao winced as he said, "I know Lord Ke betrayed Cang Qiong Mountain by consorting with demons, and was killed by the former Sect Master."

It took a moment for his words to sink in.

Treason… Demons… Oh god.

What did this mean? It couldn't be a coincidence, could it, that he was "consorting with demons" while his head disciple herself was a demon?

"What's more, he attacked the former Sect Master in a drunken rage." Zhuang Hao shook his head, his face twisting in disgust. "He was forced to kill Lord Ke in self-defense. It was right before the new generation became Peak Lords."

It couldn't be a coincidence – but how the hell did it fit? She had to learn more about Ke Peizheng.

"Is there anything else you know?" she asked Zhuang Hao.

He shook his head. "Sorry, shizun. Former Sect Master Du Peiyou is the only one who would know more than you."

"Scum Disciple's Revenge quest updated," the System announced, opening a screen beside Yang Qinghui. "Scum Disciple's Revenge – The Past: 30% complete."

So I should question Du Peiyou. Find out what he knows about my former master.

As she turned the new information over in her head, a gnawing sense of… unease grew in her gut. It just didn't sit right with her – her memories of the Zui Xian Peak Lord had been warm and positive.

Unless, of course, that was just what she remembered. According to Zhuang Hao – or, rather, the former Zui Xian disciples – Ke Peizheng had been manipulative. Maybe he'd tricked Yang Qinghui, too. The inherited jinbu hanging from her belt suddenly seemed much heavier. 

"Shizun, are you alright?" Zhuang Hao asked, eyeing her with concern.

"I'm fine." Yang Qinghui stretched out her arms. "Let's go check on the other disciples' training, shall we?"

They soon reached the courtyard, where the disciples were supposed to be training, but were, in fact, just watching Zongyin practice with her shiny new sword. The visit to Wan Jian Peak had gone well, and Zongyin already wielded the blade like an extension of her arm.

The disciples jumped to attention as Yang Qinghui passed by.

"Shizun!"

"Good afternoon, shizun!"

Yang Qinghui smiled, more easily than she thought she'd be able to. Her heart was always filled with pride for her disciples.

"You're doing well, Zongyin. Keep doing basic forms for now. Remember: the foundation is the most important part."

Zongyin beamed with pride. "Yes, shizun!"

"As for the rest of you: if you all work hard, soon you'll be able to get your own swords." Yang Qinghui signed as she spoke, for Shuang's benefit.

The disciples grinned, elbowing each other and whispering bets about who would be the next to get their sword.

"I've got some messages to deal with," Yang Qinghui said, more quietly, to Zhuang Hao. "You should spend some time training. I'll check on your progress by the end of the week."

Zhuang Hao bowed. "Yes, shizun."

Yang Qinghui patted his shoulder and continued on to her chambers.