Scripture of Days Past

"Your Heaven Weep Saber Techniques grow more masterful every time I see you, Nephew Liu," Wu Wei praised. "In a few more years, perhaps the Seven Kill Faction will teach you the Fiend Subjugation Saber."

The brawny man casually thrust his saber into the ground, and it sank into the earth all the way to the hilt.

"The Fiend Subjugation Saber is one of the twenty-five orthodox arts. The older generation of the faction is very conservative. Even my junior brother, Jiang Longyu, hasn't inherited the Fiend Subjugation Saber, so I highly doubt it'll be passed down to me."

As he spoke, the brawny man cast his gaze toward Wu Wei and his companion.

Wu Wei had arrived with Hao Wen, and the latter stepped forward with an awkward expression to break the news of Hao Xiangtong's unannounced departure.

The brawny man's name was Liu Yao, and he was Hao Xiangtong's arranged marriage partner. The Liu Clan had been established in the Heavenly Melody Manor since the founding of the Great Han Empire and had already existed for dozens of generations.

Not only was Liu Yao the wealthiest man in the entire Heavenly Melody Manor, he was also Jiang Longyu's senior brother in the Seven Kill Faction.

Several months ago, he had seen Hao Xiangtong for the first time while hunting in the Northern Mountain Manor.

At the time, Hao Xiangtong had already taken Chu Qiguang's advice and began cultivating Dao arts. As her mental state improved, she became more free-spirited and disdainful of restrictive social norms, and she began spending her time hunting and drinking just as men did.

Liu Yao had never seen a woman so skilled in horseback archery, and it was love at first sight. He proposed marriage on several occasions, but was turned down every single time.

He had heard that Hao Xiangtong was vehemently opposed to the marriage, but that only made Liu Yao even more drawn to her.

After his failed marriage proposals, he devised an elaborate scheme to plunge Hao Yongtai into massive debt, and only then did the Hao Clan agree to let Hao Xiangtong marry him.

"I heard that Hao Xiangtong eloped with another man. Is that right?" Liu Yao asked coldly. "Don't forget that you've already accepted a betrothal gift of fifty thousand taels of silver from me."

"No, no, it's not like that," Hao Wen hurriedly said. "The man that she's with is a hundred-man commander of the Demon Vanquishing Department named Chu Qiguang. She didn't elope with him. She just likes playing around, so she wanted to go hunt fiends and demons with the Demon Vanquishing Department. I assure you that nothing will happen between the two of them. Xiangtong likes to get up to a lot of mischief, but she's a good girl with strong morals."

Liu Yao had to take a deep breath to contain his fury. The mere thought of his fiancée running away to another province with another man was enough to make his blood boil.

Even if nothing happened between them, in his eyes, his reputation had already been ruined, and he knew that there had to be many people making jokes at his expense behind his back.

"Where did they go?" Liu Yao spat through gritted teeth.

"I think they went to Shu Province," Hao Wen replied.

"If the stories I've heard are true, Chu Qiguang seems to have defeated my junior brother several times. It looks like it's up to me, as his senior brother, to avenge him," Liu Yao said with a cold smile.

"Nephew Liu, about the stocks..." Wu Wei began.

"I'll invest in the Azure Sun Trade Association," Liu Yao declared. "You'll receive my initial investment in a few days."

The next day, a group of around a dozen riders, led by Liu Yao, sped out of the city on horseback en route to Shu Province.

***

Late at night, it was pitch-black inside Lake Mountain Relay Station, and the only source of light was a dim lantern hanging in front of the relay station's entrance.

Just then, a group of five arrived on horseback. Alerted by the clopping sound of approaching hooves, a shadowy figure opened the door a tiny sliver and peered outside.

"Is this Lake Mountain Relay Station?" Zhang Jitian asked. "We're from the Demon Vanquishing Department, and we need a place to stay for the night. Hurry up and prepare some supper and hot water for us, as well as some hay for our horses."

"I am the station official, Lei Yi," the shadowy figure behind the door said. "I'm afraid we're full for the night, so you'll have to go elsewhere."

"You're full? Then kick some people out!" Zhang Jitian harrumphed coldly. "Hurry up and open the door!"

Under the dim moonlight, Lei Yi could see that all five members of the group were quite young. They were severely underdressed for the conditions, but they didn't appear bothered by the cold at all, clearly indicating that they were martial artists.

Initially, Lei Yi had been very excited to hear that they were from the Demon Vanquishing Department, but he was quickly disheartened by their youthful appearance.

Even if they were from the Demon Vanquishing Department, they would only lose their lives here.

With that in mind, Lei Yi insisted, "I'm afraid you'll have to leave. You've come at a bad time."

"Do you know who you're speaking to right now?" Zhang Jitian snapped. "Open the damn door, or I'll demolish this shitty relay station of yours!"

Right at that moment, a seductive voice rang out from within the darkness.

"Who're you talking to, Old Man Lei? Do we have some guests? Bring them in!"

Lei Yi heaved a forlorn sigh, then opened the door to let everyone inside before making his way back into the dark interior of the relay station.

"Something doesn't seem right about this place," Hao Xiangtong said with a suspicious expression.

"I agree," Zhang Haizhu chimed in with a nod.

"Haizhu, stay here with Chen Gang and Hao Xiangtong. Zhang Jitian and I will go in first," Chu Qiguang instructed.

"Huh? Why me?" Zhang Jitian exclaimed.

"You need some combat training ahead of the martial examination," Chu Qiguang said.

"What if we raise the alarm?" Zhang Jitian asked.

"So what? It's not like a bunch of ants like them can do anything even if they're alerted to our presence," Chu Qiguang replied indifferently, then kicked Zhang Jitian in the backside, sending him stumbling into the relay station.

A loud cacophony of voices instantly rang out from within, and the dark and silent relay station suddenly erupted into a massive commotion.

Chu Qiguang entered the relay station after Zhang Jitian, then closed the door behind him.

***

"Are they going to be alright? Should we go in and help them?" Hao Xiangtong asked with concern as she listened to the loud commotion inside.

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