Liao Lan began to wail again as she heard her threat. She dove back into the woman''s knees. The mysterious woman grabbed her by the head and slowly pried Liao Lan out of her lap.


    "What''s wrong?" She asked, still wearing that strange smile. "You told me you were stronger than him."


    "I''m not that much stronger than He Yong! A fight could go either way. Unarmed I think I could win, but with weapons, I don''t know. And there''s his entire sect to worry about too!"


    The Fairy shook her head. "You''re a clever lady, aren''t you? You''ll figure something out."


    "I don''t know... I don''t know..." She sobbed. "We didn''t part on good terms. I came here just for a chance to spite him! He might not give me the time of day."


    "Come on..." The tall woman gently patted her on the back.  "Go in the morning. Oh, and don''t tell your disciple about this. Just tell her to wait until you''re back."


    Liao Lan shuddered hard. "What are you going to do to my disciple? Please..."


    "Nothing. You just need to hold up your part of the deal. Okay? And then she''ll be alright."


    The Fairy finally let go of her. "I''ll be watching." She said.


    The blonde stepped behind her. Liao Lan whipped her head to follow her, but when she turned, there was nothing behind her but a field of pure white snow glistening in the moonlight. The scenery was undisturbed by so much as a single footprint. She dashed to check around the tree, and still found no one.


    "A ghost!" Liao Lan gasped. "I''m cursed! Just what did I do to deserve this?!"


    She hesitantly raised herself off the ground, her head still whipping around in search of terrors lurking just out of sight. But not a soul was around. Liao Lan fled back to her inn.


    ...


    The next morning, Liao Lan set out. No longer had she resembled the teary-eyed wreck from last night. She struck the image of a dignified lady. She was well-dressed, her hair done and secured with her second best hairpins. Her cheeks blushed with just a hint of makeup.


    As Liao Lan set about the task, she worried more for her disciple than for herself. She fed the girl some convenient lies and silently prayed that she was more obedient than perceptive.


    Her trip into He Yong''s domain at the top of the mountain had gone undisturbed. The guards held her at the door, but it was not long at all until she had been invited into his mansion.


    His enormous figure sat in the armchair, his fist propping up his chin. The young man she was supposed to rescue stood beside him, a stern and bitter look on his face. He spared her only the briefest of glances. Liao Lan had been very surprised to find He Yong so composed, not at all curious about her arrival.


    She grew suspicious and decided to remain silent, offering only a coquettish smile for a greeting.


    "That''s the Liao Lan I know." He Yong spoke in his soft, bassy monotone. "Where there''s profit to be had, there you are. Even if it means running back into my arms."


    "Well, you''ve really outdone yourself this time." Liao Lan spoke vaguely.


    He Yong grunted. "Why, the credit is all yours."


    Confusion wracked the woman''s mind, but it hadn''t showed on her face.


    He Yong peered behind her. "Well, where''s the little heroine? Her little tip is the reason we''ve all gathered here today. She deserves some praise."


    Liao Lan''s mind reeled. It took a titanic effort to maintain her composure.


    "I thought the occasion would be better celebrated with a little more privacy." She batted her eyelashes. "Are you disappointed?"


    He Yong leaned in. His eyes bore hungrily into her body. "No. It suits me just fine. I figured it was you who sent her."


    His palms suddenly came together and resounded like thunder. He ordered a feast.


    As Liao Lan went about receiving his hospitality with pleasant cordiality, her heart was in turmoil.


    "How is Shao Luli involved? How? I don''t understand. How is this possible? I took that girl for someone intelligent, but while I wasn''t paying attention, she tried to conspire against that golden haired senior? I feel like I''m losing my mind. I need to get to the bottom of this or I''ll go crazy."


    Liao Lan was steaming on the inside. But she knew that if she continued to speak so vaguely He Yong would eventually catch on to her cluelessness. She bid her time and waited for an opportunity to present itself.


    In the afternoon, a guard rushed in to announce a new guest. The man was furious.


    "Sect master He, there is a man at the door." He explained. He derisively spat the next words as if he was retelling an insult. "He calls himself the King of Jianghu!"


    "What did you say?" He Yong''s eyes went wide.


    Liao Lan cackled. "What a thing to go around calling yourself! The undisputed peak of arrogance! Might as well tattoo ''death wish'' on your forehead!"


    But as the woman glanced at the sect master, she realized that something was off. That unflappable giant suddenly rose from his seat, sweat on his brow.


    "Let the man in! Hurry! Don''t you dare to treat him impolitely!"


    His orders baffled everyone present. The flabbergasted guard bowed and ran off to carry out his will.


    "What''s going on?" Liao Lan asked. "What''s gotten into you? Do you know this man?"


    "Yeah, I know him." He Yong flicked off the bead of sweat with a thumb. "You might know him by his other title. The Invincible Blood Sea."


    "Ta- Ta- Tao Geming?!" Liao Lan nearly shrieked. "Why is he here?! How do you know him?"


    "A few years ago, he killed my martial brother for trying to cheat him at dice. He completely erased that brother of mine. Nothing but blood was left. I had to pacify Tao Geming with gifts and hospitality." He Yong explained. "I don''t know why he''s here now of all times."


    He Yong glanced around, his mind racing. "That man is impervious to weapons and can kill with a brush of his fingers. I witnessed it myself. He''s taken up the title of royalty, so we''ll regard him like royalty. If any of you disrespect him, I''ll wring the life out of you myself. Heavens know it might be the only way to keep the rest of us safe."


    He looked behind his broad shoulder. "And that goes for you too, boy. Your master''s manual be damned."


    Shao Luli followed him out of her seat, her feet unsteady. Her life was leaping from one extreme to another.


    ...


    Servants and martial artists alike lined up along the hall, their heads lowered.


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    The esteemed guest slowly approached in the company of the guards.


    "All hail the King of Jianghu!" He Yong bellowed and dropped to his knees. The others followed suit. Behind them, only Bai Guo remained stubbornly upright.


    The short Tao Geming, dressed in an old green tunic and brown pants, passed them by, sparing the procession scarcely even a single glance. But Bai Guo noticed pride subtly glinting within the man''s eyes.


    "Nicely done, He Yong." Tao Geming praised. "Your hospitality makes these mountains less insufferably dull."


    The kneeling martial artists rose. Tao Geming took a seat at the head of the table, right beside the young hostage. Somehow Bai Guo hadn''t earned a crumb of his attention.


    A feast that was originally meant for just two had briskly evolved into a grandiose affair.


    As he watched the dishes being brought in, Tao Geming called out with a laugh. "You shitty Taoist! You still chow down meat by the catty!"


    They then all ate in silence for a while. The late guest tossed back a considerable amount of wine and greedily devoured the meats.


    He Yong rubbed his hands as he finally gained the courage to speak. "What brings your esteemed self to this He Yong''s humble abode?"


    A smile slowly crept up Tao Geming''s face. He discarded a chicken bone and halted his feeding.


    "I so happened to catch wind of your antics and decided to take a look myself."


    He stood up from his chair and finally examined the helpless hostage. The smirk on his face turned insufferable.


    "Well, well. It really is the genuine article!" He erupted into laughter. "You''ve really done it now, He Yong, you idiot!"


    The giant glanced around nervously.


    Tao Geming returned to his seat. "What do you know about this kid''s master?"


    Liao Lan kept her mouth shut. He Yong spoke meekly. "She knows a profound cultivation method."


    "So you don''t know crap." Tao Geming rubbed the stubble on his chin. "Well, aren''t you lucky? I know her quite well."


    His words captivated the attention of both martial artists. Bai Guo''s nose twitched in irritation.


    "Now, let''s see..." Tao Geming mused. "Which tale should I regale to best help you grasp the enormity of your fuck up?"


    They waited for him to arrive at a decision with bated breaths.


    "You''ve all heard what happened to Qin Yan of the Qin Royal Dynasty Sword School?" Tao Geming asked.


    "I have." Liao Lan replied. "Actually, I''m well acquainted with the man. Back when we were both younger, our paths crossed quite frequently..."


    Ye Hong interjected. "Riveting stories for another time, I''m sure."


    Liao Lan cleared her throat. "Anyway, I''d heard that he recently lost an eye... in a fight against your highness."


    Tao Geming shook his hand at her. "It wasn''t me that took his eye. I haven''t fought the man in, I don''t know, at least a decade. But I witnessed their battle. It was her!"


    Liao Lan seemed to be in utter disbelief. "Are you serious?"


    "Who gave you the right to doubt me?" Tao Geming glared at her. Liao Lan shirked back. "You think I''d lie about my own feats?"


    "Certainly not! I wouldn''t dare." She hastened to correct the misunderstanding. Tao Geming turned away from her, though the woman''s complexion continued to worsen as she took in the new information.


    He Yong, meanwhile, seemed less impressed. He recognized the name, but it originated from far enough away that it rang hollow.


    Tao Geming seemed to catch on to the big man''s doubts. "How about something a little closer, then? You''ve heard of the Five Venoms Devil, haven''t you?"


    Liao Lan''s head shook nervously as she nodded.


    He Yong, on the other hand, shrugged his shoulders. "Not for a very long time."


    "She surpassed the old woman in a contest of poisons."


    Liao Lan turned a shade of green.


    He Yong asked, "How did you find out about this?"


    "I was there." His blunt tone left little room to argue.


    "From the way you speak," He Yong supposed, "that woman must be a companion of yours."


    Tao Geming closed his eyes, as if the matter required some deep thought on his part.


    An arrogant snort had suddenly interrupted the merriments.


    All sound seemed to drain out of the room. He Yong and Liao Lan both froze, their eyes scanning for the source of the rude outburst. Their gazes were brought to the prisoner standing near the corner of the hall.


    He Yong glared at his stubborn grimace with hateful, bloodshot eyes.


    Tao Geming sluggishly parted his eyelids. "That''s not entirely accurate. I suppose you could say that we just walk in similar circles."


    He Yong breathed a subtle sigh of relief when it turned out that Tao Geming was willing to let the faux pas go.


    "May I ask..." Liao Lan spoke in a shaky voice. "Just who is this woman?"


    "Does it matter?" Tao Geming asked. "A man''s achievements are what makes the name. I haven''t even listed all of her feats, but for plebs like you, this already should be more than enough. You''ll call her whatever she damn well pleases to be called, just like you''re doing right now with me. Well, in any case, quibbling over such matters with lives as short as yours isn''t the best use of your time, don''t you think so? You get it now, right?"


    Tao Geming leaned back in his chair and kicked his feet up onto the table. "Even if you got that manual you wanted and studied it for ten years straight, you still wouldn''t even reach up to her waist."


    Liao Lan sipped her wine with a shaking hand. He Yong stared with a grave expression.


    "Well, now that you understand the gravity of the situation, I''m willing to lend you a hand." Tao Geming declared. "I''ll take the kid off your hands and get him back to her. I know how to patch things up with her on your behalf."


    A sudden realization dawned upon He Yong. He broke out into sweat. To think that this was all just a lengthy prelude to Tao Geming''s own designs for the secret manual!


    Liao Lan''s eyes, meanwhile, glimmered with uncertain hope. To think that her task might have turned out to be so easy!


    And then, a voice interrupted their thoughts.


    "I''m not going with you."


    Bai Guo''s instantly drew the eyes of all three. Each one of them burned with a desire to strangle the young man, all for different reasons.