Chapter Nine: Reunion with Han Guo (Part One)

After recounting the events that led them here, the pair insisted on returning to retrieve the bodies of their fallen companions. Ghostbane tried to dissuade them, but his words fell on deaf ears. He glanced at Zhao Ji, whose skin was dark and yellowed, yet her features and figure were undeniably beautiful. It pained him to think such a lovely girl would return only to meet her doom; if she fell into the hands of the Zheng army, what fate could await her? Unable to bear the thought, he looked to Bu Jingxian for guidance.

"Since we must travel forward, why not go together? We can help you bury your companions along the way."

The pair, fearful of implicating their new acquaintances, hastily declined. Only after seeing their insistence did they, deeply moved, kneel and bow in gratitude. "Thank you, heroes!"

Ghostbane had not expected Bu Jingxian, rather than persuading the siblings to stay, to offer his company in their quest. This unsettled him, but he dared not voice his apprehensions.

The four of them journeyed for most of the day. Yet, not only were the bodies of the Zhao siblings’ companions missing, even the soldiers of Zheng whom they had slain earlier were nowhere to be found. The only traces left were bloodstains from fierce combat.

Bu Jingxian had anticipated that the Zheng army would have removed the bodies, but kept silent.

"It seems our brothers’ bodies have been taken by the Zheng army, perhaps to claim credit for their deaths," Zhao Tian said, his handsome face contorted with grief, tears streaming down his cheeks, his brows tightly knit in sorrow.

"In that case, what do you plan to do?" Bu Jingxian asked.

The siblings had no answer.

"We had hoped to seek fortune in Chu, but now all our brothers are gone. We… we do not know where to go," Zhao Ji replied, biting her lip, as if recalling the horror of her companions’ deaths. Though beautiful and spirited, her face was now twisted with hatred and fury, lending her a fierce air that matched her military attire perfectly.

Ghostbane had been considering their situation for some time, and now suddenly spoke, "It’s not right for you to wander alone. Revenge is not easy, and without skill, you’ll find it impossible. Fortunately, my brother here is of extraordinary ability, unmatched in the world…" As he boasted, he caught Bu Jingxian’s annoyed glare and quickly amended, "…fearless, yes, he fears nothing. Not even the Zheng army. I doubt you know any martial arts. Why not become my brother’s disciples and join us?"

Ignoring Bu Jingxian’s expression, Ghostbane was determined to take the siblings under his wing.

Ordinary villagers, the siblings were strong but had never witnessed Bu Jingxian’s supernatural power. Upon hearing Ghostbane’s suggestion, they eagerly knelt and called him "Master."

Bu Jingxian saw their aptitude was decent. Ghostbane, meanwhile, grinned and pleaded with his eyes. "Call him Second Brother," Bu Jingxian instructed. The pair obeyed, bowing to Ghostbane, who was immediately displeased.

"We’re brothers—how am I now your disciple?"

"You wanted to learn my internal arts. Having learned them, how can you not be my disciple?" Bu Jingxian’s solemn demeanor made Ghostbane wary of jesting, but he could not help but grumble, "Lowering my rank for no reason—what sense does that make? Damn it…"

"Brother Ghost, remember: my martial arts are not to be learned lightly. Once you do, you must obey me for life. Otherwise, by the rules of our sect—death without mercy! This is no joke. If you do not wish to proceed, once the crisis passes, I will strip you of your martial arts as if you never learned them."

Ghostbane was deeply unhappy, having never seen Bu Jingxian so serious. Forced to choose between martial arts and seniority, he could not bear to give up his newfound abilities. "If I become your disciple, and Bilian is Moon Worship’s junior sister, what’s the point of all this?"

"Our sect cares not for such matters. You could even marry your own master or grandmaster—no one would mind."

"Such a strange sect. Brother, could you not, like Moon Worship, take me as a disciple on behalf of your master?"

"First, my master would never accept you. Second, with Senior Brother present, only he can accept disciples on behalf of the master. Don’t even think about it."

"Alright, alright… But in front of others, I will still call you brother."

"Though we are master and disciple, our brotherhood remains, but titles must follow the rules of the sect. This is not for us to decide."

"Brother, can’t you bend the rules a little?"

"Rules are rules."

"Damn it, fine! Master, please accept your disciple’s bow!" Ghostbane, annoyed, knelt and bowed, expecting Bu Jingxian to stop him. Instead, Bu Jingxian solemnly accepted, leaving Ghostbane no choice but to bow for real, his face full of displeasure.

Bu Jingxian ignored him and addressed the Zhao siblings, "You know the rules now. You may reconsider whether to become my disciples. To be honest, my martial arts are not the greatest in the world; there are plenty stronger. Our sect disregards much of worldly morality, but to learn everything, you must pledge yourself to the sect. Violation means death without mercy."

"Master, please accept your disciples’ bow!" The siblings cared nothing for the extent of his martial arts. For them, the chance to learn was already extraordinary. Choosing a sect was a privilege of the powerful; they had neither the right nor the luxury.

"Rise. On the road, let Second Brother teach you the basics."

Ghostbane, forgetting his sulking, suddenly asked, "Why am I ranked second? Do you have other disciples?"

"Yes. I’ll tell you more about our sect in the future." As Bu Jingxian spoke, he recalled Shaoyuan from North Spirit Mountain and wondered how he fared now.

Hearing their destination was the territory of the Black Wolf Army, the Zhao siblings hesitated. Bu Jingxian reassured them, "Let your conscience be clear. Would you forsake your future just to prove your innocence to the Zheng army, who believe the words of scoundrels and wrongfully accuse you?"

The siblings, convinced, bowed. "Your disciples are slow-witted. Thank you for your guidance, Master."

Zhao Tian: Physical 100, Internal Energy 70, Spirit 9.

Zhao Ji: Physical 100, Internal Energy 50, Spirit 10.

Their aptitude was quite good, so Bu Jingxian did not refuse Ghostbane’s request. Meeting them was fate, and he would need many hands in the future.

On the journey, they moved intermittently, leading their pursuers to the very edge of Zheng territory. They left deliberate traces to suggest they had slipped inside the border, then carefully erased their tracks and doubled back into the mountains. After another seven or eight days of travel, they encountered no further Zheng soldiers.

On the eleventh day, they reached the mountainous border of Han, awaiting the arrival of the Evening Glow Sect.

Though peasants by birth, the Zhao siblings keenly observed etiquette and rank, serving Bu Jingxian diligently along the way, refusing to be dismissed. Ghostbane, now acting as senior brother, made them run errands, which they did without complaint. Seeing that after more than ten days they still had not mastered the first level of the Soul Art, Ghostbane mocked them daily and boasted of his own skill.

He had reached the seventh level of the Soul Art, and upon learning that Bu Jingxian was only at the eighth, often bragged that he would soon surpass his master, at which point he should become the master and Bu Jingxian the disciple. Bu Jingxian did not reveal the secret behind Ghostbane’s rapid progress.

Ling Luo had once said that exceptional talent of this sort, though rare, could achieve greatness, but most would be stuck at a stage of internal cultivation, unable to break through for life. Yet, if they did, their innate gifts could propel them past innumerable barriers, reaching depths unattainable for many gifted practitioners.

Bu Jingxian did not wish to dampen Ghostbane’s confidence and instead hoped he might be that one-in-a-million miracle.