The Man in Black had left, and Wuming finally breathed a sigh of relief. After all, bloodshed and killing among people were hardly good things. Could he possibly be an enemy of the Man in Black?
That seemed unlikely, as he had never made enemies with anyone throughout his life. How could there be any enmity between them?
Since the Man in Black was gone, Wuming did not want to dwell on the matter. He simply resumed his cultivation stance, acting as if nothing had happened at all.
He practiced until the second watch before finally stopping. It was about time to return to the temple to get some sleep, as he would have to get up early for martial arts practice the next day.
When Wuming returned to the temple, his master had already gone to bed. How could this be?
Ever since Wuming could remember, he was always the first to fall asleep. Why had his master beaten him to bed tonight?
Wuming felt something was amiss, as this was not his master's usual routine.
Thinking of this, Wuming hurriedly stepped closer. He lowered his head and took a careful look at his master's face. Sure enough, his complexion was pale and quite abnormal.
Oh no, his master's chronic ailment must have flared up again.
Realizing this, Wuming did not dare to delay. Full of concern, he asked anxiously, "Master, what is wrong with you today? Why have you gone to bed so early? Could something be wrong with your health?"
Hearing his disciple's words, Kaishan Zhenren slowly opened his eyes and answered with great difficulty, "It's nothing. Master just caught a bit of a cold; a good sleep will set it right."
"Since you've caught a cold, disciple will go and brew some ginger soup for you right now," Wuming said anxiously.
"Ah, there's no need for that. I'll be fine. Disciple, you've worked hard all day, you should go straight to sleep!" Kaishan Zhenren said, still weak and listless.
Wuming knew that his master was just caring for him and considering his disciple in everything. How could he possibly just obey his master's wishes at a time like this?
"Master, I'm not tired, and brewing a bowl of ginger soup won't take long."
With that, Wuming lost no time in brewing the ginger soup, brought it to his master's bedside, and then helped him drink it.
Looking at him with affection, Kaishan Zhenren said, "Disciple, go to sleep now!"
Wuming helped his master lie back down, tucked the blanket around him, and comforted him, saying, "Now that you've had the ginger soup, I'm sure you'll be fine soon. Master, get some good rest, and I won't disturb you any longer."
Having said that, Wuming tidied up the remaining odds and ends. Seeing that his master was resting comfortably, he went to bed as well.
As Wuming lay in bed trying to fall asleep, he suddenly remembered the visit from the Man in Black earlier.
Curious and wanting to share it with his master, he couldn't help but speak up, "Master, while I was practicing in the woods just now, I accidentally ran into a Man in Black."
"A Man in Black? What kind of Man in Black?" Kaishan Zhenren was very interested in the Man in Black. He instantly bolted upright in bed and stared intently at his disciple, pressing him for details.
Seeing his master react with such shock to the visit of the Man in Black, Wuming felt even more curious.
This showed that his master and the Man in Black must be connected in some way, because just a moment ago his master was weak and listless, yet now he had suddenly perked up and cast off his usual state!
Regardless, Wuming sat right up alongside his master and answered truthfully, "The Man in Black had a robust build and a voice like a booming bell, but in the dimness of the night, it was truly impossible to see his face."
"Did the Man in Black say anything to you?"
"He did. He said he wanted to see you, and I told him you were out and not at home."
"Did that Man in Black give you a hard time?" Kaishan Zhenren asked anxiously.
"He certainly did, because the Man in Black tried to make me go with him. I wouldn't agree, and then in a fit of anger, he actually attacked and tried to hurt me." Wuming described the scene as it had happened.
"Is that so? That Man in Black is too overbearing. Disciple, did he actually hurt you?" Kaishan Zhenren asked with deep concern.
"No, how could your disciple be easily hurt by him? It's just that I felt he was an elder, so I had to give ground to him; otherwise, it would have been disrespectful."
Hearing this, Kaishan Zhenren felt even more uneasy in his heart, though he had no idea what the Man in Black's true purpose might be.
Still, Kaishan Zhenren asked thoughtfully, "That Man in Black is indeed completely unreasonable. Disciple, did he say anything else to you?"
"Master, would you believe it? He even said that the martial arts I practice are the Spiritual Deity Sword Technique."
"Really? It seems that Man in Black knows a thing or two about our Spiritual Deity Sword Technique," Kaishan Zhenren analyzed thoughtfully.
"Indeed. And not only that, he also asked about the Spirit God Sutra," Wuming continued.
Hearing this made Kaishan Zhenren feel even more uneasy. He couldn't help suspecting that the Man in Black meant no good—either he was an enemy, or he had come specifically for the Spirit God Sutra. If that were true, the situation was grave.
With this in mind, Kaishan Zhenren pressed further, "And how did you answer him?"
"I said I had never seen the Spirit God Sutra."
"My child, to tell you the truth, not to mention you having never seen it, even your master has never laid eyes on the Spirit God Sutra. Legend has it that the Patriarch kept it hidden, though nobody knows whether that story is true or false. I've also heard there is a peerless Spiritual Deity Sword, but its whereabouts remain unknown," Kaishan Zhenren said with a sigh.
"So that's how it is. It seems the true Spiritual Deity Sword and the Spirit God Sutra were lost long ago."
"Precisely. Yet people in the martial world refuse to believe it, assuming that the Spiritual Deity Sword and the Spirit God Sutra are still hidden right here in Yuanshun Temple. Isn't this just asking for misunderstandings from the entire world?"
Hearing his master say this, Wuming suddenly felt a surge of yearning for the Spiritual Deity Sword and the Spirit God Sutra. Spurred by a wild fancy, he said, "Master, how wonderful it would be if the Spiritual Deity Sword and the Spirit God Sutra really were here in Yuanshun Temple! Then we could roam the pugilistic world and remain undefeated against all challengers."
"My child, which master wouldn't want to possess them? It's just that things rarely go as we wish!" Kaishan Zhenren said with a disappointed sigh.
"By the way, will that Man in Black come back?" Wuming asked with a worried heart.
"He will surely come back, and we must be on strict guard against him in the future. All right, it's getting late now, let's get some sleep!" With that, Kaishan Zhenren lay back down with his disciple's help.
After helping his master settle in, Wuming lay down as well, yet despite this, his eyelids refused to close.