Outside the Scripture Pavilion, the warm sunlight fell on the bluestone slabs, and a few fallen leaves danced in the wind, landing beside the ancient book Zhong Yun had spread open. Shen Yao's words brushed across his heart like a spring breeze, chasing away the lingering gloom. He raised his head and looked at the ethereal and refined woman before him, his eyes filled with gratitude.
"I'm fine, I just figured some things out." Zhong Yun closed the book, a look of relief on his face. "Thank you, Shen Yao."
Seeing that his expression had returned to normal, Shen Yao felt somewhat at ease and said softly, "It's good that you've figured it out. Remember, you aren't alone."
Zhong Yun nodded, and after watching Shen Yao leave, he cast his gaze back down at the ancient text in his hand, though his mind was no longer on the pages. The letter from the Mysterious Man was like a thorn, piercing deep into his heart. The phrase "Beware of those around you" from the letter echoed endlessly in his mind, leaving him restless.
"Who is it? Who on earth is manipulating all of this from the shadows?" Zhong Yun clenched his fists tightly, fury surging in his heart. He had originally wanted to cultivate quietly and avoid contention, but now it seemed that had merely been wishful thinking. Since someone refused to let him live in peace, he would make that person pay the price!
He abruptly stood up, tearing the letter to pieces, his gaze turning incomparably resolute. Running away could not solve the problem; only by facing it bravely could he break the impasse and be reborn!
Zhong Yun found Shen Yao and Fatty Wang, laying out the entire matter of the mysterious letter and making clear his determination to meet the Mysterious Man's conspiracy head-on.
"What? There's something like this!" Hearing Zhong Yun's account, Fatty Wang instantly blazed with righteous indignation. "Zhong Yun, just say the word. Whatever needs to be done, I, Fatty, will back you all the way!"
Shen Yao's delicate brows furrowed slightly, a trace of worry flashing in her beautiful eyes, but seeing Zhong Yun's resolute gaze, she chose to support him unconditionally. "Zhong Yun, I believe you. No matter what happens, we will face it together with you."
Feeling the trust and support of his friends, Zhong Yun's heart warmed deeply. He nodded heavily, a resolute light flashing in his eyes. "Good! In that case, we'll fight side by side and uncover the truth behind this!"
After discussing it for a while, the three decided to start with the letter itself, investigating the messenger in hopes of finding some clues. As night fell, the three split up to conduct their respective investigations, and an undercurrent surrounding the mysterious letter began to quietly stir...
Zhong Yun, Shen Yao, and Fatty Wang split up, spending the entire night searching for news both inside and outside the sect. However, the person who delivered the letter had acted with extreme secrecy, leaving behind scant clues and yielding nothing at all.
Early the next morning, the exhausted trio regrouped outside the Scripture Pavilion, their faces bearing undisguised disappointment.
"Are we just going to give up like this?" Fatty Wang punched a tree trunk, the thick trunk actually shaking several leaves loose from the force.
"Of course we can't give up!" Zhong Yun's gaze was resolute, his tone filled with unwillingness. "I refuse to believe the person behind this can stay hidden in the shadows forever!"
Just then, a booming voice came from behind them: "Senior Brother Zhong, I heard someone is trying to harm you?"
The three turned back to see a sturdy young man walking toward them. His name was Zhao Hu, an outstanding outer sect disciple known for his upright and bold disposition, who enjoyed considerable prestige within the sect.
"Senior Brother Zhao, why are you here?" Zhong Yun asked with some confusion.
Zhao Hu walked up to the three, speaking with a solemn expression, "I heard about what happened yesterday and that you're investigating the person who delivered the letter. Senior Brother Zhong, this matter is of grave importance. You've stepped forward for the safety of the sect, and I, Zhao Hu, admire that! I am willing to do everything in my power to help you!"
A stir went through Zhong Yun's heart. He had long since heard of Zhao Hu's prominent reputation, knowing that this man possessed no small amount of strength and was fiercely loyal. Having him join would undoubtedly be a major boost.
"Senior Brother Zhao, are you truly willing to help us?" Zhong Yun asked tentatively.
"Of course!" Zhao Hu patted his chest, his tone firm. "Even though I, Zhao Hu, am only an outer sect disciple, I know the principle of the lips dying if the teeth are cold. If we let this mastermind get away with impunity, our entire Qingyun Sect will fall into danger!"
"Good! With Senior Brother Zhao's words, I can rest easy!" A gratified smile appeared on Zhong Yun's face. "In that case, let's fight side by side and drag this mastermind out into the open!"
With Zhao Hu's addition, the fourfold strength swelled considerably. They gathered in Zhong Yun's room and began discussing countermeasures.
"Since we currently know nothing about the mastermind, we can only respond to changes with steadfastness." Zhong Yun analyzed, "Since he wants to deal with me, we'll play along and set a trap for him!"
After a fierce discussion, a bold and meticulous plan gradually took shape. They decided to utilize their respective advantages to deal the mastermind a surprise blow...
After listening to Zhong Yun's plan, Elder Li stroked his gray beard while his cloudy eyes flashed with a sharp light. "Good! A brilliant plan to turn the tables! Ah, Zhong Yun, you rascal, you truly haven't disappointed me. You have both courage and strategy—you really do show a bit of your master's demeanor back in the day!"
"You flatter me, Elder. This disciple is merely doing what he can. It's just that the risks of this matter are too great, and we still require the Elder's approval," Zhong Yun said, cupping his fists respectfully, though inwardly he breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that Elder Li's support was crucial.
"Go ahead and do it boldly; this old man believes in you! If you can really dig out this mastermind, this old man will certainly petition for your merits!" Elder Li waved his hand generously, his deep voice brimming with trust and anticipation.
Having obtained Elder Li's backing, Zhong Yun and the others grew vastly more confident. As night fell, four shadowy figures silently slipped into the Back Mountain Forbidden Area of the Qingyun Sect. This place was shrouded in dense fog year-round, gloomy and terrifying. Legend had it that it was where the sect's criminals were imprisoned, and they deduced it was the most likely hiding place for the Mysterious Man.
"Everyone be careful, the yin energy here is extremely heavy. Keep your guard up at all times!" Zhong Yun lowered his voice in a reminder, gripping a short sword tightly, its blade reflecting a bone-chilling gleam in the moonlight.
The four advanced cautiously, the slight rustle of dead branches and fallen leaves beneath their feet sounding exceptionally grating in the silent night. Suddenly, a gust of chill wind struck, accompanied by a hair-raising sound akin to the low growls of beasts or the wails of ghosts.
"Who goes there?!" Zhao Hu barked sharply, pulling the saber at his waist and scanning his surroundings vigilantly.
"Don't be nervous, they're just a few stray ghosts," Shen Yao's cold voice rang out in the darkness. Her slender fingers flicked slightly, and a few flashes of silver light later, those bizarre sounds vanished without a trace.
"Senior Sister Shen has remarkable skills!" Fatty Wang couldn't help praising, his eyes filled with admiration.
"Better safe than sorry. Let's keep moving," Shen Yao replied flatly, pressing onward.
Along the way, they encountered various mechanical traps, but the four of them dismantled them one by one through tacit teamwork and extraordinary intelligence. Finally, after passing through a narrow cave, the view suddenly opened up, revealing a spacious valley. In the center of the valley, an ancient altar emitted an eerie glow under the moonlight, carved all over with dense runes that emanated a heart-palpitating aura.
"It looks like we've found the right place." Zhong Yun took a deep breath and lowered his voice. "Everyone stay on high alert; the mastermind is likely very nearby!"
The four of them lightened their steps and slowly approached the altar. At that moment, an icy voice suddenly rang out across the empty valley: "You're finally here. I've been waiting for you a long time..."
That voice seemed to come from the nethermost depths of hell, filled with evil and madness, making one's hair stand on end. Zhong Yun and the others felt a chill strike their hearts, and an inexplicable sense of terror welled up within them. They realized a great battle was about to unfold...
The chilling voice echoed through the empty valley like a ghost's whisper, making one's hair stand on end. "Heh heh, you're finally here. I've waited for this moment for a very long time..."
Following the sound, Zhong Yun and the others saw a dark figure standing atop the altar with his back to them. A wide black robe obscured his form, revealing only pale, withered hands that continuously shifted gestures while he chanted incantations under his breath. With his movements, the runes on the altar blazed with brilliant light, and a heart-palpitating wave of energy rippled outward in all directions.
"Not good! He's activating the array!" Shen Yao's expression shifted drastically as she gasped in alarm.
"What array?" Zhao Hu asked nervously, the palms holding his saber already slick with sweat.
"It's... It's the Sect-Destroying Array!" Fatty Wang's face turned pale as he said with a trembling voice, "Legend has it that once this array is activated, a radius of a hundred miles will be turned to scorched earth, and no one will survive!"
"What?!" Zhao Hu and Fatty Wang instantly turned ashen, their eyes filled with despair.
"We can't let him succeed!" A trace of resolve flashed in Zhong Yun's eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, he sprang up, shooting toward the altar like an arrow released from a bow.
"Junior Brother Zhong, don't be reckless!" Shen Yao wanted to stop him, but it was already too late; she could only shout anxiously.
Zhong Yun turned a deaf ear. In his heart, there was only a single thought: to stop the Mysterious Man and protect the sect!
"Seeking death!" Sensing Zhong Yun's intent, the Mysterious Man abruptly spun around, a flash of cold light in his eyes. With a wave of his right hand, a pillar of black light carrying a world-destroying aura blasted straight toward Zhong Yun.
"Junior Brother Zhong, watch out!" Shen Yao cried out in alarm, her delicate hand waving to project a screen of silver light before Zhong Yun, blocking the attack of the black beam.
"Boom!"
With a loud crash, the beam and the light screen shattered simultaneously, scattering into myriad points of light that dissipated into the air.
Taking advantage of this opening, Zhong Yun had already rushed onto the altar, coming within arm's reach of the Mysterious Man.
"Who are you? Why are you doing this?" Zhong Yun glared furiously at the cloaked figure before him, demanding sternly.
The Mysterious Man let out a cold laugh. "Want to know who I am? Go down to hell and ask King Yama!"
Before his voice even faded, the Mysterious Man struck again. This time, instead of using spells, he channeled his physical strength and struck out with a palm toward Zhong Yun's chest.
A shock ran through Zhong Yun; he hadn't expected this Mysterious Man to also be a martial arts expert! Daring not to be negligent, he hurriedly circulated his true qi, thrusting both palms forward to meet the attack.
"Bang!"
Their palms collided with a muffled thud. Zhong Yun felt a mountain-toppling force wash over him, and his body involuntarily slid backward.
The Mysterious Man had it no easier. He had originally thought Zhong Yun was merely a wet-behind-the-ears kid he could dispatch with a casual wave, never expecting the opponent to actually receive his palm strike while even managing to make him feel a trace of pain!
"Interesting!" A flash of surprise appeared in the Mysterious Man's eyes before he sneered, "However, do you think this is enough to stop me? You're too naive!"
With that, the Mysterious Man attacked again. This time, his strikes were even sharper and deadlier—he was clearly going for the kill!
Daring not to meet the blows head-on, Zhong Yun could only rely on his agile footwork to dodge repeatedly while searching for the opponent's flaws.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Atop the altar, the two traded blows in a fierce engagement. The powerful energy fluctuations caused the entire valley to begin vibrating violently.
Watching the battle from afar, Shen Yao, Zhao Hu, and Fatty Wang felt agonizing anxiety, yet they were utterly powerless to help. They knew this battle had far exceeded their capabilities; the only thing they could do was trust Zhong Yun and pray he could work a miracle!