Chapter Seven: Li Kuang

When Ling Luo and the others heard these words, they already sensed something was wrong. By the time the old man of the Northern Spirit finished speaking, his eyes closed, and he drew his last breath.

With trembling hands, Ling Luo reached out to feel for a pulse. The next moment, he collapsed to the ground, all he could do was call out in grief for the old man of the Northern Spirit and Zheng Feixian.

Thus did the mighty Zheng Feixian pass from this world atop Maple Leaf Mountain.

It was on this day that Ling Luo finally learned the true name of the old man of the Northern Spirit—Li Kuang.

According to the secret annals of Zheng, this man once led thirty-seven tribes in battle, drove the state of Zheng to the very brink of destruction, and annihilated Jin, a great power twenty years ago. He was the Left Grand Marshal of Zheng, sworn brother to Ling Luo’s father, yet ultimately became an enemy due to matters of allegiance. Because Li Kuang had many aliases, his true name was not widely known. Only Zheng Feixian, who had contended with him for decades, knew nearly all his identities.

For instance, the Wolf God venerated by the Black Wolf Tribe to this day was a title earned by Li Kuang under an alias. At that time, he took the name Black Wolf and aided the tribe in repelling invaders. It’s said that he alone held a mountain pass against thirty thousand troops for seven days and nights. When the Black Wolf Tribe was on the verge of death from starvation and thirst, it was Li Kuang’s unimaginable strength that finally forced the besieging army to retreat in terror. From then on, the tribe took his name as their own and modeled their guardian deity after the armored, blade-wielding figure he presented. After driving off the enemy, Li Kuang refused the tribe’s plea to stay. To this day, stories circulate in the tribe that the heavens sent the War God Black Wolf to protect them.

Another tale tells how, when the current King of Chu was once besieged by thousands of troops, it was Li Kuang—then using the alias Northern Wind—who saved him, driving off the enemy and escorting him thirty miles to safety. This, too, is why Chu Gaoge sought out the old man of the Northern Spirit, then residing in Zheng, as his master.

All these accounts of Li Kuang were recorded by Zheng Feixian herself.

When Ling Luo finished reading these records, he could not hold back his tears.

Before her death, Zheng Feixian had given clear instructions: she was to be buried in the tomb prepared on Maple Leaf Mountain, with no public mourning and no announcement to the world. The official story was that she and the old man of the Northern Spirit had left mortal affairs behind to wander the world. For the sake of Zheng, she made this sacrifice willingly. When the King of Zheng received the news, Zheng Linran had already succeeded as clan leader, yet he still braved great risk to come visit the dying Zheng Feixian on Maple Leaf Mountain. With tears in his eyes, he insisted on holding grand funeral rites for his sister.

Zheng Feixian, however, urged him against it. In the end, she said, “When Your Majesty unites the world, hold a ceremony for us then! I have never asked you for anything in my life. I know well that this is a difficult request, but I must trouble you for this wish. I have contended with Li Kuang for half my life, loved him for half my life, and yearned for him for half my life. Alas, we could not become husband and wife. When Zheng is unified, I hope you will place our memorial tablets together in the ancestral temple.”

The king was moved to tears, blaming himself for his powerlessness. In his youth, he could not keep her safe in the palace and had let her wander the world, enduring hardship. Yet for decades, she had devoted herself wholly to Zheng. Now, at her death, he could not even arrange a proper funeral for his own sister. He promised her that no matter what, he would fulfill her wish—even if everyone opposed him, as king, he would see it done.

Brother and sister wept together for half an hour, reminiscing about the past. Even when night fell, the king could not bear to leave and had to be urged back to the palace by Zheng Feixian.

The king was filled with guilt over her passing and could not eat for several days. When he saw Zheng Linran, thinking of the bond between himself and Zheng Feixian, he resolved to support this heir of the Feixian Sect.

“Linran... There have been many doubts about you at court, that you are too young to hold the position of sect leader. But I have always trusted my sister’s judgment. In the past, I could not openly take your side because of your fiancé. The Soul Sect once had a great enmity with Zheng. Only for the sake of the old man of the Northern Spirit did I pardon that fugitive’s grave crime. Even though my sister insisted, even though I believed her, how could the officials support you? Now, since he sacrificed himself to save the princess and Lord Xin, all know how keen my sister’s vision was; no one doubts you anymore. Now that my sister is gone, the Feixian Sect must rely on you. From this day forward, should anyone dare question your position, I will pay them no heed! You are of the royal family, and my sister’s most cherished disciple. Never forget your duty; never betray her trust!”

At this, Zheng Linran felt all the more that Bu Jingxian’s death was fortunate. She had been on edge these past days—before her passing, Zheng Feixian had clearly suspected her involvement in Bu Jingxian’s death and had intended to strip her of her position. Though she had not finished her sentence, it was as good as spoken. If the Princess Tianlai or Ling Luo had told the king what was said, her future as sect leader would be in grave doubt.

She had suspected that Princess Tianlai might covet the position of sect leader herself, but after hearing the king’s words, she was finally at ease and secretly grateful to both Tianlai and Ling Luo.

“Your Majesty, rest assured! I will always remember to serve Zheng and uphold the honor of the Feixian Sect.”

“Good, good! My sister did not choose wrongly.”

After leaving the palace, Zheng Linran went to visit Ling Luo to express her gratitude.

When she arrived at the Left Grand Marshal’s residence and saw Ling Luo still pale and wan, she knew he had not yet recovered from his grief. Princess Tianlai had been keeping him company every day. The king had intended to arrange their marriage at once, but both Ling Luo and the princess felt it was inappropriate so soon after their master’s death and asked for a three-year delay. Seeing their filial piety, and being himself lost in sorrow for his sister, the king agreed.

Hearing Zheng Linran’s words of thanks, Ling Luo merely waved it off.

“Though you are now sect leader, you will always be the wife of my third brother in my eyes. When Feixian Sect’s leader was dying, her words were unclear and likely not in her right mind—perhaps she only meant to blame you for not arriving in time. Why take it to heart? Why let it count for anything?”

Zheng Linran was stunned by these words.

Back then, she had only submitted to Zheng Feixian’s demands for the sake of the sect and the Soul Sect’s secret manual. In truth, she cared little for the manual—what mattered was inheriting the sect. Whether she possessed the manual or not was of no consequence. The Ten-Thousand Sovereign Art was already unrivaled. The so-called vital essence bodies were, in her eyes, useless. With so many experts in the sect, why should she obsess over her own martial skill? Others could always handle matters for her.

Thus, when she saw Bu Jingxian at the cliff’s edge, she struck without hesitation.

If she could avoid marrying Bu Jingxian, she was willing to forego the Soul Sect’s secret manual.

Now, however, Ling Luo’s words made it clear he still saw her as Bu Jingxian’s wife. They had never formally married; she, Zheng Linran, was perfectly entitled to marry another. The notion of remaining unmarried for life over a beggar like Bu Jingxian was utterly unacceptable to her.

The angry words Zheng Feixian had uttered on her deathbed made Princess Tianlai even more suspicious. Knowing Zheng Linran well, unlike Ling Luo who believed she truly loved Bu Jingxian, Tianlai had already suspected her involvement in his death. But the man was dead and there was no evidence; to stir up trouble would only bring unrest and threaten the kingdom’s stability. So she could not pursue it further.

“Lord Xin, you and Sect Leader Linran never completed the marriage rites. Should she find a worthy match in the future, we ought to offer our blessings.”

At this, Ling Luo’s face clouded with anger. His brows knitted as he rebuked, “How can you say such a thing, Princess? For the leader of Feixian Sect to remarry after her husband’s death would be the laughingstock of the world! Even if the marriage was not formalized, it was as good as done—the whole world knew of the betrothal! My third brother sacrificed himself for Zheng, and yet his fiancée would marry another? Even setting aside that Linran is a model for all martial sects, simply as a royal of Zheng she would never do such a thing.”

“My lord, forgive me. I misspoke and failed to consider all aspects.”