Chapter Two: Let Go of That Girl

Heavenly White Jade Palace,
Twelve towers and five cities.
Immortals touch my brow,
And bind my hair for eternal life.

——

On the distant, snowy peak of a mountain, an elder dressed in white, with crane-white hair and the youthful visage of a child, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing toward the horizon and murmuring softly. Remembering the instructions left by the sect leader before his departure, the elder fell into reverie.

Eight hundred years ago, the Abyss of Demons descended upon the world. In the direst moment between life and death, a man clad in black strode through the skies. With a single sweep of his sword, he subdued the abyss. Since then, the Heavenly Mountain Sword Sect has had but one sect master.

"Brother Liu, are you still thinking about those days?"
On the mountain summit, a figure flashed by—a beautiful woman appeared beside the elder. Her features were exquisite, as if the years had failed to steal her radiant beauty.

"In the past, before the sect master left, he instructed us to secretly seek someone bearing the mark of this sword..."
"But so many years have passed, and still there’s been no news. I am ashamed to have failed the sect master’s trust..."
The elder gazed at the scroll in his hand, upon which was engraved a lifelike azure sword mark.
He was Liu Ruofeng, the current Sword Chief of the Heavenly Mountain Sword Sect.

"Brother Liu, you need not blame yourself. Back then, the sect master said that within a thousand years, this sword mark would surely appear in the Sky Azure Realm..."
"I believe it won’t be long before we find this person."
At her words, Liu Ruofeng turned around.
Looking at the beautiful woman before him, he spoke in a deep voice, "Sister Nangong, our sect has grown ever stronger these years—even the other two sects can no longer hope to compare..."
"Our advancement into new realms is all thanks to the sect master..."
"To this day, whenever I recall the power of that sword, my heart still trembles with fear..."
"What realm did he ultimately attain?"
Hearing this, Nangong Yan’s face was full of reverence.
Back then, she was merely an elder of the outer sect.
In the Heavenly Mountain Sword Sect, where powerful figures abounded, she was of little status.
If not for the sect master’s guidance, she would never have achieved her current rank as the grand elder.
Now, aside from Sword Chief Liu Ruofeng, she was the first in the sect to reach that realm.
Thus, her feelings toward that man were not only admiration, but deep gratitude.

"Sister Nangong, summon the sect for a council tomorrow..."
"Yes, Brother."
Liu Ruofeng watched the snowflakes drifting from the sky, his gaze profound and distant.

………

Qingyang Town’s main street bustled with crowds.
Vendors called out from roadside stalls, their cries blending into a scene of prosperity.
Qingyang Town, the largest settlement near the foot of Qingyang Mountain, attracted villagers from over a hundred surrounding hamlets to purchase supplies or sell their goods.
Over time, it had naturally become a thriving hub.

At this moment, Lin Cheng and his companion were haggling in a shop, clearly having bought a good deal of merchandise.

"Boss, I said you’re a real businessman. You turned a tiny stall into this big shop..."
"I, Fat Lin, truly admire you. We’re old customers now, so give us a discount..."
"We’ve trekked all the way from Lin Family Village just to visit your store."
Fat Lin’s round face brimmed with admiration as he spoke to the shopkeeper, his small eyes gleaming.

The shopkeeper, sporting a handlebar moustache, enjoyed Lin Hu’s flattery.
He stroked his moustache and said, "Since you’re regulars, I’ll give you twenty percent off, and waive the delivery fee as well..."

——

Lin Cheng secretly gave Fat Lin a thumbs-up.
He reached into his coat and handed the silver to the shopkeeper.

"Splendid! Boss, you’re so generous. We are utterly impressed. Please take care of these goods for us."
Fat Lin cupped his hands respectfully to the owner.

Leaving the shop, the pair strolled on.
Lin Cheng nudged Lin Hu’s arm and laughed, "Fatty, your bluffing skills are improving."
"Heh heh heh..." Lin Hu grinned, showing his teeth.
"When we get back, the village chief will be thrilled to hear we’ve been accepted into Qingyang Sect..."
"Our village hasn’t produced anyone with spiritual roots in years, Lin Cheng—you’ve really brought honor to Lin Family Village..."
"Your parents will be so pleased."

"Don’t worry, Fatty. Once I join Qingyang Sect, I’ll find a powerful master. There’ll surely be a way to help with your spiritual root problem."
Lin Cheng slung an arm over Lin Hu’s shoulder, and the two, arms around each other, headed out of town.
It was time to return.

——

Lin Family Village lay beyond a range of mountains separating it from Qingyang Town.
With their pace, they would reach the village before sunset.

Walking the mountain path, they joked and laughed, full of youthful innocence.
Neither knew what awaited them in the cultivation world, but nothing could change their brotherly bond.

From the mountain came the calls of insects and birds, wildflowers blossomed along the path, their fragrance invigorating.
They picked up stones and tossed them at birds in the trees, hoping to knock down one or two.

Playfully, they journeyed on. After a while, Lin Hu, panting heavily, plopped down by the roadside.

"Let’s rest... just a bit..."
"Fatty, you really need to lose some weight. Look at you, a few steps and you’re exhausted..."
Huff... huff... huff...
Lin Hu gasped, retorting, "You know nothing. This is called security, understand? Look at my ‘robust’ physique—so reassuring..."
He waved his arms to show off.

Lin Cheng laughed at his antics, teasing, "I’m just looking out for you. What if Qingyang Sect is full of beauties..."
"Don’t say I didn’t warn you, cultivator girls like handsome, elegant men..."

At Lin Cheng’s words, Fat Lin’s eyes sparkled.
They glanced at each other, grins stretching into sly expressions.
"Heh heh!"

Just as they were lost in pleasant daydreams, a startled cry sounded from the slope ahead.

"You... who are you... stay away..."
"Heh heh, little lady, where are you off to? Come have some fun with us before you go..."
Lin Cheng and Lin Hu quickly crept forward.

Through the grass, they saw several men with bandit airs leering at a girl in green.
Her face was unclear, but her figure revealed a genuine beauty.

The leader, a burly man with half his arm bare, muscles bulging and a scar across his stubbled face, was clearly a bandit or rogue.

Lin Hu looked at Lin Cheng and whispered, "What do we do? Three of them, all tough guys—can we take them?"
Though young, whenever they encountered injustice, they never ignored it.
Both had grown up brave and martial, and the hero-saving-the-beauty scenario had played out in their minds a thousand times.

Lin Cheng thought a moment, then whispered a plan into Lin Hu’s ear.
Fat Lin’s eyes lit up.

The scarred man advanced slowly toward the girl in green, his gaze full of predatory desire.
Perhaps emboldened by the deserted wilderness, or driven by lust, he tore off his shirt and, panting, leered, "If you know what’s good for you, serve us well and maybe you’ll keep your life..."
"Don’t worry, we’ll make you feel heavenly... ha ha ha..."

The girl in green, never having faced such a situation, burst into tears.

——

"Please, sirs, my parents are waiting for me at home, I beg you to let me go..."
"I’ll give you whatever money you want..."
"This is all the silver I have, please, let me go..."

She pleaded, hurriedly tossing a pouch of silver at the scarred man.

"Ha ha, brothers, looks like we not only get a beauty but make a little profit today."
Seeing her fear, the scarred man grew even more arrogant.
His accomplices laughed wantonly.

The scarred man reached out to grab her arm, and she stumbled backward in terror.

Just as she could retreat no further, a loud shout sounded from behind the slope.

"Let go of that girl!"

With the cry, Fat Lin leapt from the grass, landing in what he thought was a perfectly heroic pose.

His bulk, trembling with the jump, actually stunned the bandits.

The girl in green, seeing Lin Hu appear suddenly, felt hope where there had been only despair.
She looked at Lin Hu with pleading eyes, "Fat brother, please save me, they’re bad men..."

Despite her words, she was still anxious; after all, there were three fierce-looking men.

Hearing her call him "Fat brother," Lin Hu’s face flushed.
He turned, grinning at her, and reassured, "Don’t be afraid, with me here, they won’t bully you..."
"Just three of them..."

Though he said so, Lin Hu’s heart was uneasy.

"Th-thank you..."
"If... if you can’t beat them, you should save yourself, don’t worry about me..."

The girl in green wanted to believe him, but deep down she knew she wouldn’t want to drag anyone else down if things turned ugly.

Lin Hu thought to himself that the girl had a kind heart.

He steeled himself, ready to risk it all.

"You three big men, bullying a good girl in broad daylight—what does that prove? If you’ve got guts, fight me one-on-one..."

"Ha ha..."
"Ha ha ha..."
"Ha ha ha ha..."

The three bandits burst into laughter.

"One-on-one? You think you, you fat oaf, are worthy?" sneered the scarred man, twisting his neck.

Fat oaf!

He dared call me a fat oaf!

Damn!

Lin Hu, enraged, seized the moment as the scarred man was distracted, sprang forward, and punched him squarely in the face.
Caught off guard, the scarred man’s nose spurted blood.

Stung by pain and fury, he prepared to strike back.

Lin Hu leapt away to widen the distance.

"Today you’ll learn what Fat Grandpa can do—let’s see if you dare call me a fat oaf again."

Wiping the blood from his hand, Lin Hu readied himself for another round.

Everyone paused, surprised by the sudden turn.

Behind, the girl in green gazed at the figure shielding her, her eyes filled with an inexplicable emotion.

——