That voice was unfamiliar and old. Chuxia listened, her heart inexplicably stirred—it was indeed a human voice, yet not quite like one. It seemed as if an old tree in the forest was speaking or a bird was calling. The voice blended seamlessly with nature, impossible to locate yet everywhere. The young master let go of the Fisherman’s Sword, gently took Chuxia’s hand, and squeezed it in reassurance before speaking in a deep voice, “Elder, please show yourself.” “With form, without form; with appearance, without appearance; all is emptiness. This way of speaking is sufficient,” the voice responded. “Young Master Jun, how is your father?” “My father has passed away. I’ve come tonight to seek answers about this matter. I have some confusions, please enlighten me, Master.” The voice fell silent, the wind growing louder. Chuxia shivered, tugging at the young master’s sleeve, “Is it… a ghost?” He smiled reassuringly at her, shaking his head gently. “I haven’t spoken to humans in over ten years, I’ve almost forgotten how.” The voice sighed softly. “With a lady present today, it’s inconvenient. Young Master Jun, let’s converse like this.”
The young master pursed his lips and said respectfully, “I was presumptuous in asking you to show yourself.” Before the voice could respond, Chuxia whispered, “So it’s an old monk! Scaring people like that…” The young master, seeing her adorable expression, didn’t interrupt, just smiled. Chuxia, emboldened by his silence, continued, “Old monk, I think what you said earlier wasn’t quite right—why does it matter if there’s a female visitor? You said yourself, with form, without form, all is emptiness. Gender barriers are for ordinary people. In the eyes of an enlightened monk, aren’t all beings equal?” The wind softened, whispering like a confession. After a long pause, the aged voice admitted, “Yes, it is my attachment.”
As soon as the words were spoken, there was a rustling sound from the southwest. The young master stepped forward half a step, shielding Chuxia. A withered figure, like a piece of deadwood, slowly rose from under a tree. He was so close, yet even with Jun Ye’an’s profound inner strength, he hadn’t detected his presence just a few meters away. Jun Ye’an’s eyes darkened as he looked at the figure, silent. “I’ve been cultivating alone here for over ten years, and it’s embarrassing to be reminded by a young girl,” the figure said, moving forward, shedding dirt, moss, and leaves from his body. He looked up at Jun Ye’an, “Child of an old friend, I first met you when you were just a baby. Time flies, indeed.” Chuxia then saw that this was an extremely thin old man, his hair and beard all white, his clothes tattered like a sack, with moss even growing in his fingernails, indicating he had been in seclusion for who knows how long, perhaps losing track of time. He seemed like a human figure but also not—resembling a tree, a blade of grass, or even a speck of dust, all one with this piece of earth, leaving no trace. Jun Ye’an bowed respectfully, “Master Tufeng.” The old man slightly raised his hand, speaking with utmost tranquility, “If this old monk’s guess is correct, Young Master Jun must be assessing my martial skills at this moment.” The young master’s expression remained unchanged, only replying faintly, “I wouldn’t dare.” “This old monk used to possess some martial arts skills, but after being in seclusion for over a decade, I’ve forgotten them all.” Master Tu Feng smiled, “You didn’t notice my breathing technique because I practice the breath control method that came from India to the Central Plains. I breathe with the heavens and earth, and my spirit is one with all things. I am all things, and all things are me.” The young master was silent for a moment, concealing the brightness in his eyes, though his tone had lightened somewhat, “Master is too modest.”
Seeing the old man’s ribs starkly visible, Chu Xia hesitated and glanced at the young master, whispering, “You’re not going to fight him, are you? He’s… so thin, he wouldn’t be your match.” The young master, seeing her worried expression, couldn’t help but curve his lips slightly. “The young lady has a kind heart,” Master Tu Feng smiled, then turned to the young master, “May I know what troubles the young master, that he seeks my guidance?”
The young master concealed his smile, bowed deeply, and said, “Twenty years ago, my father was close with Master Hui Feng and Master Tu Feng. After Master Hui Feng was killed by the Tian Gang, my father, on his deathbed, ordered me to eradicate the Tian Gang. Just a few months ago, I fulfilled my father’s last wish by destroying the Tian Gang’s armor, but there are still some unresolved issues I would like the Master to clarify.” Master Tu Feng, whose face was as dry as old bark, finally showed a slight change in expression, “You have destroyed the armor?” The young master nodded, “Yes. However, before the Tian Gang’s leader died, he said something.” After a long silence, Master Tu Feng asked, “What?” “He asked if I knew the cause of my father’s death.” The young master replied word by word, “Later, I heard that my father’s heart disease developed after Master Hui Feng passed away. Twenty years ago, he came here to talk with you, Master. May I know what was discussed during that conversation?”
Master Tu Feng lowered his gaze, his long white eyebrows hanging down to his shoulders, sighed, and said, “Events from over twenty years ago, this old monk has been in deep meditation for many years; even names are forgotten.” The wind howled strangely. Chu Xia suddenly said with displeasure, “Master, this is not right. Monks do not tell lies; if you don’t want to speak, just say so. Why use the excuse of not remembering?” The old monk was taken aback, silently turned around, and sat back down under the same tree.
“If the Master finds it inappropriate, Ye An won’t insist. However, the remnants of the Tian Gang’s evil might not be fully eradicated, and there have been recent reports of murders in the martial world. Ye An will investigate slowly.” Jun Ye An sighed lightly, “I apologize for disturbing the Master’s meditation.” He was about to leave with Chu Xia when the old monk called out from behind, “Wait, is that the only question you have?”
The young master’s eyes darkened like black jade, “There is another doubt, I wonder if the Master knows.” “Go ahead.” “What exactly is the ‘Shan Shui Yao’?” Master Tu Feng sighed softly, with leaves falling around him in the forest, he clasped his hands at his side and closed his eyes, “What you want to know is not something I am unwilling to say… but something I must not say. It involves a grave mistake from the past, and the reputation of several old friends is at stake. Although I have transcended worldly concerns, they might not have.” His words, though calm, hinted at a significant event in the martial world’s history. A trace of disappointment flashed through the young master’s eyes, but he said no more, “In that case, Ye An will not put the Master in a difficult position.”
“Young friend Jun… did you know your father once…” The old monk coughed several times, hesitated, and after a long while, continued, “Let it be, come back tomorrow, I have something for you.” The young master nodded, “Alright, thank you.” He said no more, turned, and left with Chu Xia. However, Chu Xia stood still, her eyes flickering as she looked at the young master and then at the old man on the ground, “Master, monks do not lie. You must keep your word.” Master Tu Feng smiled at Chu Xia for a long time, then responded, “Yes.”
