The mysterious senior soon returned to the cave, her robe and face stained with blood.
Bai Guo ran up to her in concern. "Are you alright, senior?"
"I''m fine." She replied.
Cui Shen, sitting cross-legged against a wall, spoke up next. "You were not gone long. What happened?"
"Deng Hong is dead." She declared.
The two regarded her with shock, and neither could muster up a response.
The woman sighed. "It''s not like I did it on purpose. But it turned out that way."
Cui Shen furrowed his brows when he heard her reply. "You did not kill him on purpose? Then what was your purpose in seeking him out?"
"I needed to know if any of his techniques were worth taking for myself."
Bai Guo realized something. "Test of skill..." He said, and the senior nodded.
Cui Shen closed his eyes. "I suppose it doesn''t matter how he died; only that he did. Though I will regret that it was not done by my hand for the rest of my life... in truth, I have no pride or honor left to speak of. It is of no consequence. Therefore, I am grateful to you. I have little time left. Tell me if there is some way for me to repay you, Golden Witch."
The woman''s eyebrow curved. "What did you just call me?"
Bai Guo''s heart chilled. He didn''t expect the title he made up to be sprung on her like that.
Cui Shen did not seem to expect such a reaction. After a pause, he spoke. "...It''s what the martial arts society has taken to calling you."
Bai Guo warily peeked at the senior''s reaction. His eyes widened.
She was grinning ear to ear. She bashfully brought her sleeves up to her cheeks, gleefully muttering to herself. "That''s such an enigmatic title... People think I can use magic?"
Bai Guo sighed in relief. Apparently it was received favorably.
The Golden Witch, after wallowing in her amusement for a time, brought down her hands. "There just might be a way. Do you know of someone called Five Venoms Devil?"
"...May I ask why you''re asking?"
"Test of skill."
Cui Shen''s brow creased at her answer. "Five Venoms Devil is nothing like Deng Hong. There is nothing to learn from fighting her. You will die even if you win. And even if by some miracle you survive, you will wish that you hadn''t. She cannot be reasoned with and kills all strangers on sight."
"You''re not a stranger, are you?"
"No. You could say that she is my master."
"Then may I ask you to bring me to her?"
"Out of the question..." Cui Shen replied immediately, but his voice was hesitant.
"Then I can''t think of a way for you to repay me, Desolator of Life..." The Golden Witch sighed. "I''ll still be going there on my own, though."
"Without someone she''s familiar with around, you''ll certainly be killed. Wait..." Cui Shen said, still hesitant. "Even a wretch like myself can''t stoop so low as to hurt my own master. But if you give me your word that you will not harm her, even if it costs you your own life, then I can take you there."
For a time, the Golden Witch stared at him. "...Very well."
Bai Guo paled at the idea. "Why do you want to meet this person so much, senior, that you''d even stake your own life like this?"
"He''s right that just fighting her would be meaningless. You can learn the secrets of a conventional technique by seeing it, but you can''t learn anything about a poison by just looking at its powder, and sometimes not even by ingesting it and suffering its effects. This test of skill must be conducted in a different way." She explained.
It did not do much to alleviate the young man''s worries. Suddenly, the Golden Witch began to stare at him.
"Moving on from that matter, what about you, Bai Guo? Do you still wish to become my disciple?"
Though that request had initially served as the catalyst for him to begin his journey, when confronted with it so directly, Bai Guo could not help but hesitate. Cui Shen half-opened his eyes to watch this exchange.
"I intend to travel the world," the senior said, "and see the jianghu''s greatest techniques with my own eyes. I took great care to stay hidden all throughout our trip here because you were doing me a favor. But I don''t intend to continue hiding anymore. If you agree to this, you understand the risks involved, right?"
As they stared at each other, Bai Guo struggled to muster up the last bit of courage. The danger turned out to be even bigger than he initially anticipated, but so did the rewards. Someone on a sect master''s level was a one man army. All the surrounding kingdoms were ruled by individuals of such caliber, the fates of nations were decided on the ends of their swords. And that there could exist someone who was perhaps even above those titans was a thought that defied all common sense.
Bai Guo knew that he could not let this opportunity slide, but neither could he bring himself to speak. So first, he bowed.
"This Bai Guo wishes to become senior''s disciple!" He finally shouted.
"Ah, well, sure, I guess..." The young man''s earnestness seemed to catch her off-guard.
"Please guide me through the rite!"
"What rite? Isn''t it good enough that we both know that you''re my disciple?"
"What are you saying?" It was Cui Shen who spoke up, flabbergasted. "There is a proper order to these things. I can understand how the boy may not know the details, but how could an expert like you claim to be oblivious? Do you really mean to claim that you''ve never had to take on a master, or bore witness to such a ceremony?"
"It was my father who taught me my skills, so I never had to do that..." The Golden Witch muttered uncertainly.
"Likewise." Bai Guo, sensing that the senior was being put in an awkward position, decided to back her up. "All my skills were taught to me by my late father as well. So I don''t think it''s unreasonable to not know."
Cui Shen sighed. "Well, be that as it may, you at least understand the implications of a master-disciple relationship, do you, boy? To agree to this is to put your life in your master''s hands. Once it is done, you will never be able to turn back. It is a lifelong contract, and to renege on it is to become the lowliest of scum."
"Of course!" Bai Guo exclaimed, his resolve carrying through his voice. On the other hand, the senior''s eyes briefly flickered with uncertainty, though she remained silent.
Cui Shen stared the young man down, but there was no hint of hesitation no matter how long he waited. He spoke, "The disciple must kowtow eight times to the one who shall become his master and swear an oath of loyalty before the heavens."
And Bai Guo did so. As Cui Shen observed, he spotted a hint of embarrassment trailing across the woman''s face.
When Bai Guo was done, his forehead remained pressed to the ground. Cui Shen closed his eyes. The more he thought about the Golden Witch, the more mystified he found himself, yet in his position could not ask any of the many questions on his mind, and felt that even if he had overstepped and done so, he would not be left with any answers.
"He can''t rise unless you tell him to." Cui Shen explained.
"Get up." The Golden Witch spoke with exasperation. "We should get out of here. There''s no telling what the sect members will do now that their master is dead. It will be easier to escape while it''s still dark."
Both the newly made disciple and Cui Shen stood up. The Golden Witch took the latter''s lack of protest as a sign that he was in good enough shape to flee together with them.
As they left the mountain, they saw no trace of pursuit.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
...
A few days later, the news of Deng Hong''s death had spread throughout the entire region. As the Wuyi Sect would not divulge any details, rumors and speculations festered across the country.
One such conversation unfolded in a shoddy inn a few days away from the Wuyi Mountains amongst a 5-man band of unaffiliated martial artists.
"I heard," one of the armed men said, idly swirling the contents of his cup. "That Deng Hong died shortly after meeting that maniac, the Desolator of Life."
"It seems that even after all the leaps and bounds that have been made to advance the world''s martial arts, emperors and kings can still be killed by mere poison alone." His companion scoffed.
"I heard," another one of the men pitched in. "That the Desolator of Life butchered a hundred disciples with just his sword."
"What use would a poisoner have for sword skills?" The second man protested, and the third found it difficult to argue against his point.
Suddenly, an unlikely arrival stopped their conversation dead in its tracks. A tall, golden haired, golden eyed woman had stepped into the inn, her long blue robe splotched by dried blood and the wear of travels. She strode across the room towards the innkeeper while boldly refusing to acknowledge the heavy silence and the dozen pairs of eyes gawking at her, and ordered 3 rooms and a bath. Very fittingly, she flashed even more gold to pacify the innkeeper.
After a while, four of the five men had all turned towards the fifth. The man in question, his eyes wide, hadn''t even realized he was being stared at until the nearest fellow patted him on the shoulder. He hadn''t needed to hear a word to instantly realize what was expected of him. He reached for his back pocket, and hastily pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from within. On it was a portrait of the woman in question, along with a few lines describing her all too remarkable appearance and the grave crime of murder of a high ranking member of the Wuyi Sect.
The other four leaned in to compare her to the poster, but it''s not as if such meticulousness was necessary; they all already knew as soon as they laid eyes on her. They simply couldn''t believe that such a person truly existed.
The five gripped their weapons and made to stand up, but one of their band had raised his hand. The others took it as the gesture it was meant to be: to remain where they are, though they couldn''t tell why. Their friend''s eyes were peeled to the door.
Two more had entered the inn: a man and a youngster. Their attire, too, was worn down by travel. The group recognized that the youngster''s attire denoted him as a disciple of the Wuyi Sect, which made it all that much more difficult to properly recognize the man in his company.
The leader of the band''s hand dropped to the table. He paled, and sweat began to run down his face. His companions regarded him with confusion.
Quietly, he hoarsely whispered. "That''s the Desolator of Life!"
As the others took measure of the man again, they realized that their compatriot was correct.
"Holy shit..." One of them muttered, planting his eyes down to the table to minimize his presence.
They all began to sweat. None dared to look for more than a moment in fear of reprisal. The two approached the golden woman and began to casually converse.
"Why is there a Wuyi Sect disciple with them?"
"I don''t know. Let''s just get out of here before they start killing people again."
The others concurred. While the mysterious trio engaged in conversation, the five took their leave as subtly as they could manage.
None of them dared to look back, and thus none of them noticed the young man watching them go.
"Do you think they''re going to cause trouble?" Bai Guo asked.
Cui Shen, without even turning his head, spared only a brief glance at the fleeing party. The Golden Witch didn''t care at all, and went with the proprietor to check their lodgings.
"With Deng Hong dead," Cui Shen said. "And with the leading theory being that we were responsible, independent martial artists like those are not going to dare to step up to us themselves. And I suspect the Wuyi Sect itself will not make any bold moves against someone who they believe to have bested their strongest expert, so even if they report us to them, it''s of no consequence. In all likelihood, the Wuyi Sect is currently bracing itself for an attack from the neighboring kingdoms. But with two out of three of their most senior disciples killed by your master, the Wuyi Sect''s days may be numbered."
"Well, that''s a relief." Bai Guo sighed. But why didn''t you tell us all that before we spent four days running through the wilderness, was his unspoken question. "I need to write a letter to my uncles. Uncle Zhong must be worried sick about me, and uncle Jin must be losing his mind trying to figure out what went on at the Wuyi Sect. I could at least help his investigation."
"...Your uncle is an investigator? Of the Jianghu Investigative Bureau?" Cui Shen warily asked.
"Yes. Why?"
"Nothing..." Cui Shen shook his head. Bai Guo seemed to think nothing of it.
"Say, sir Shen... What do you think is my master''s background?" He asked.
Cui Shen shook his head again, this time in disapproval. "I think it is not appropriate of you to gossip about your master behind her back."
"You''re right, but... But can''t you help but be curious too? I''ve already spent so much time with her, yet I can''t piece anything together. Perhaps someone with more experience such as yourself could glean something?"
As one whose life centered on martial arts, Cui Shen could hardly help but be curious about her origins as well. "She''s not very knowledgeable on the matters of the jianghu. Either she is sheltered, or she is pretending. But that she hides her background at all means there is a reason for that, and you would do well to respect your master''s boundaries, boy, and not question her judgment."
Bai Guo felt grateful, for in Cui Shen''s rebuke were mixed in his observations. "You are right, sir Shen."
It was at that moment that the Golden Witch had returned from her tour of the rooms upstairs.
"I can''t take a bath until I have something clean to change into." She said.
The other two concurred, and headed to the local tailor.
From the tailor, Cui Shen asked for an identical set of the clothes he was already wearing. He discarded the mourning white cloak, and walked in his pure black. Bai Guo picked out a fabric that most closely resembled his previous attire. The Golden Witch, on the other hand, was a lot less decisive about what she was going to wear.
Eventually, she settled on a robe of white silk.
"Young miss, you don''t have to settle on only one color, you know..." The whisker-mustached tailor, sensing an opportunity, coyly suggested.
"Master, are you sure white is the best choice? Considering our, you know, lifestyle..." Bai Guo chimed in.
"What!" The Golden Witch exclaimed, her long fingers running across the roll of fabric. "But I think it will look good! And since we won''t be snooping around anymore, I don''t think it will be a problem... But maybe you''re right; it could be quite the hassle to wash..."
"Well, while the young miss makes up her mind, let me go take your measurements, young man. Follow me." The tailor still held out a bit of hope, and decided to stall for a bit of time.
As the two left to another room, Cui Shen felt a subtle pressure as the golden eyes began to probe him.
"What is it?" He couldn''t endure, and asked.
"You know, the truth is... I don''t really know what a master is supposed to do."
Cui Shen sighed. Ever since their meeting in the cave, he had a feeling that that was the case.
"The relationship between the master and the disciple is not something that can be explained in a scant few words. The duty of the disciple is to take care of the master. The duty of the master is to take care of the disciple. The disciple obeys the master in all things. Much like the son obeys the parents and they guide him through life, so does the disciple obey his master and they guide him through martial arts. There is no method for this that can be imparted or learned. It is a matter of experience and judgment. His life and future is in your hands; do with it as you think is best."
"I don''t understand. He must serve me, and you said he cannot leave. But what incentive do I have to teach him anything?"
Cui Shen closed his eyes as he continued to explain. "First of all, it is a matter of integrity. It is simply your duty to do so. But even if you were an unscrupulous individual, those who have taken you as their master will not hide the fact that they have done so, and therefore will represent you directly in the jianghu with everything they do. A good disciple signifies a powerful master. An inept disciple makes a fool of his master. Needless to say, in the current age of strife and chaos, honor is not the guiding force that it once used to be. Yet neither is it completely gone, and still holds a great deal of value to all those who live a life of combat. You would do well to remember that."
The Golden Witch silently mused on his words for a while. "Thanks." She eventually muttered.
Bai Guo and the tailor returned at that time.
"Has the young miss decided?" The tailor asked with a smile.
"I''ll be taking the white." She said. With a smirk, she glanced at Bai Guo. "...Since I''ve got a disciple to wash it."
Bai Guo''s face soured. It was exactly as he feared.
Cui Shen opened his eyes as he realized something. "Maybe having your male disciple wash your clothes would not be appropriate."
The realization had suddenly dawned on Bai Guo as well.
The Golden Witch seemed indifferent, brushing the matter aside with her long sleeve. "Don''t take his side on this. It''s already decided."
Cui Shen and Bai Guo both swallowed their words.
The tailor interjected. "Please come with my little sister to have your measurements taken, young miss."
Because the Golden Witch had once again audaciously overpaid in gold, her attire was completed overnight.
The Golden Witch swapped her blue robe for one of a stark, pure white. Her already extraordinary appearance became positively ethereal. The woman waved her new sleeves about. She seemed to take delight in their length, or perhaps comfort in the fact she could hide her hands within them.
Meanwhile, Bai Guo set about writing his letters, moving his brush with a heavy and uncertain hand.
"Uncle Jin,
I hope this letter finds you well. There comes a time when the baby bird must leave the nest, and for me, that day has come. In pursuit of martial strength, I have been fortunate enough to be taken in as the disciple of an incredible expert.
I must first confess that I have deceived you. During our brief meeting in Shanlu, I let you remain under the impression that Wei Qing''s killer was fictional; that is not so. The golden haired woman the Wuyi Sect had been looking for was not my master at that particular time, but I was assisting her in the pursuit of justice against the Wuyi Sect.
Deng Hong, the sect master, had been using an evil technique to progress his cultivation by reaping the lives of innocents. I urge you to visit a small village called Qiaodu northeast of Ningde, and venture an hour north past its outskirts. There, you will find the evidence of sect master Deng Hong''s crimes. The entire sect is complicit, so please exercise caution if you choose to investigate further.
The sect master had also conspired with the Xiong clan to kill the wife of sir Cui Shen, whom you know as the Desolator of Life.
Justice was delivered by the hands of my master. She refuses to dispense with her name freely, and elected to go by the title of Golden Witch. But as we continue our travels, I imagine she will earn many more names.
With her tutelage, I will not allow anyone I care about to meet the same unfortunate end as my father."
As Bai Guo wrote the last strokes, his hand began to shake. He wanted to write more. He wanted to meet his uncles again, and exchange words and feelings that could not be expressed through the written word. He wanted to reassure them, and be reassured in turn. He realized that he might never see his family again.
His letter to uncle Zhong, his blood related uncle, the inn proprietor back in Ningde, ended up even more curt than his letter to uncle Jin, because he did not include anything related to the Wuyi Sect, and he couldn''t bear to write much more.
He could write to them whenever he pleased, but they would have nowhere to send their replies. Under his whimsical and eccentric master, his travels were sure to be hectic.
...