Chapter 10: The Dense Forest

The mountains at night are very quiet, with few birds or insects chirping. Occasionally, a wolf's howl breaks the darkness, making the wilderness seem even more dangerous. Tonight is overcast, and the moon has long since hidden behind the clouds, leaving the sky dark and black. It's fortunate that Situ Ping and Young Master Ma are martial artists with sharp eyesight, allowing them to move swiftly through the pitch-black night.

When they arrived at the base of Five Claw Peak, all was silent, with only the wind rustling through the trees. Five Claw Peak is a short, stout mountain, and in the darkness, it was hard to tell how tall it was. To the east of the peak was a flat area about four or five fen in size, covered in fallen leaves and dry grass. The ground crunched underfoot with a "rustling" sound. Young Master Ma looked around and said to Situ Ping, "This is the place. Let's wait here." Then, he crossed the flat area, walked to a large stone as big as a reclining ox, leaped up, and sat cross-legged, falling silent as if in meditation. Situ Ping followed him to the stone but did not jump up. Instead, she leaned against the stone, her hand on the hilt of her sword, her eyes scanning the familiar place, now strange in the night.

The wind continued to howl, and the two seemed motionless for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Suddenly, Young Master Ma opened his eyes and looked toward the northern forest. Sensing his movement, Situ Ping turned to look at the forest and listened carefully but heard nothing. Just as she was puzzled, she heard someone using lightness skills rushing from the northern forest. Situ Ping couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration: "No wonder he is a disciple of a renowned school."

Soon, the night traveler appeared, and it was Wen Wenhai and his junior sister. They had left their horses at the foot of the mountain and had run up on foot. Wen Wenhai did not jump down from the tree immediately but first surveyed the scene from above before calling his junior sister to jump down. He did not greet the people in the clearing but, like Young Master Ma, sat cross-legged under the tree, closing his eyes in meditation. His junior sister did not stand but took a cushion from her backpack, placed it on the ground, and sat on it, seemingly resting.

Young Master Ma also closed his eyes again, as if he hadn't noticed their arrival, and Situ Ping continued to stand silently.

After a while, all four opened their eyes and looked at the path on the opposite side of the mountain. From the end of the path came the sound of footsteps, which, in the silent, wind-swept wilderness, seemed somewhat eerie. The footsteps were steady and even, coming closer, but no one was yet in sight. The four were eager to see who was walking on the mountain path.

As the person approached, they could see it was two people, walking side by side with the same steps and movements. In the darkness, it was hard to tell if they were wearing the same clothes or had the same faces. However, seeing their unusually long strides, everyone already knew the answer and thought in unison, "So, the other party is them."

The two people stopped at the edge of the clearing, looking at the two groups of people inside without speaking or moving closer. They stood there motionless.

The four people in the clearing, seeing the two standing still, also closed their eyes to rest, as if waiting for more people to arrive.

After another cup of tea's time, just as everyone was getting anxious, a voice suddenly came from the sky: "The cicadas' mournful cries, the long pavilion at dusk, the sudden rain has just ceased." A figure suddenly appeared in the middle of the clearing. The six people present opened their eyes, seemingly unaware of how the person had arrived, but they all called out in unison, "Master Yan Ming?"

The newly arrived figure was tall and slender, and the color of his clothes and headscarf was indistinct, but his thin face and the long beard under his chin were familiar to those in the martial world. Everyone now approached and greeted him, "Master Yan Ming, we are honored to meet you."

Master Yan Ming stroked his beard with his right hand and smiled, "I am late, making you all wait. You are not familiar with each other, so let's introduce ourselves. We will need to support each other in the task ahead."

The first to speak was the young man in brocade, who bowed and said, "I am Ma Xiangyang of the Ten Thousand Sword Peak. This is Master Situ Ping of the Evil Tiger Gang." He then added, to avoid any misunderstanding, "The Evil Tiger Gang is local, and she is my subordinate, here to guide us."

Master Yan Ming smiled and said, "Young Master Ma, you are indeed thoughtful. Thank you, Master Situ."

Situ Ping quickly bowed and said, "It is an honor to serve you all."

Next, Wen Wenhai bowed and said, "I am Wen Wenhai of the Ethereal Sect. This is my junior sister, Xue Qing." Xue Qing then removed her veil, revealing her face, though in the darkness, no one could see her clearly. She did not speak but only bowed to everyone.

Master Yan Ming said, "I have heard much about Young Master Wen and Lady Xue. It is a pleasure to meet you both."

Finally, the two silent figures bowed and introduced themselves, "I am Tan Wen from the Tan family." "I am Tan Wu." Their deep voices, one after the other, matched their tall, imposing figures.

After everyone had introduced themselves, Master Yan Ming's smile faded, and he said, "Good. Let me introduce myself. I am Master Yan Ming, the head of Yan Ming Manor. Now that we all know each other and the four parties involved, our operation begins."

"When you arrived, your seniors must have given you instructions. Tonight, you will follow my lead. I have reached an agreement with your sects. We will discuss the details as we go. Now, take out your tokens."

With that, Master Yan Ming took out a square piece of leather from his chest, and Ma Xiangyang, Wen Wenhai, and Tan Wen also took out similar items. Master Yan Ming handed his piece to Ma Xiangyang and said, "Put them together." The others also handed their pieces to Ma Xiangyang. Master Yan Ming then took out a night pearl and gave it to Situ Ping, saying, "Please, Master Situ, examine this map."

Situ Ping took the night pearl, and under its light, Ma Xiangyang quickly assembled the four pieces of leather. In the dim light, everyone could see a map resembling five fingers, with a circle drawn in the middle of the ring finger. Situ Ping carefully examined the map and exchanged a look with Ma Xiangyang before saying, "This is indeed the map of Five Claw Peak. The proportions of the fingers match, with the thumb being longer than the index finger and the ring finger being the longest."

Everyone looked at Master Yan Ming, who said, "Very good. Take back your tokens." Ma Xiangyang returned the pieces to their owners, and Situ Ping returned the night pearl to Master Yan Ming. Master Yan Ming took the night pearl and said, "Master Situ, do you know what the circled area represents?"

Situ Ping said, "It is a hawthorn forest. I have been there before and once released a wolfhound into it, but it never came out."

Master Yan Ming said, "Very good. Then, Master Situ, please lead the way."

Situ Ping said, "Certainly. Please follow me." With that, she used her lightness skills and moved forward.

Master Yan Ming's eyes swept over Ma Xiangyang, Wen Wenhai, and Tan Wen, who nodded in understanding and followed in the same order, using their lightness skills.

Finally, Master Yan Ming carefully looked around, saw nothing unusual, and then shot off after them. The solitary ox-shaped stone remained, the wind blowing leaves and dry grass over it, erasing all traces of their presence, as if no one had ever been in such a remote place on such a night.

The seven of them, led by Situ Ping, moved like a gust of wind through the dark night. After about two incense sticks' time, they arrived at the hawthorn forest. The moon had set, and thick black clouds still covered the sky, making it the darkest part of the night.

In the darkness, the hawthorn forest was indistinct, like a giant monster crouching on the mountain slope. Situ Ping, looking at the place she had been to before, felt a sense of unfamiliarity. The difference between day and night was so stark. She wondered what secrets this mysterious hawthorn forest held, to bring four sects together in the middle of the night.

Situ Ping stopped and waited for everyone to catch up. She then said, "Everyone, this is the hawthorn forest marked by the circle on the map. According to the proportions, this is the place."

Master Yan Ming said, "That's correct." He did not approach to inspect but sat down on the ground, smiling at the puzzled looks on everyone's faces. "We have some time before we act. Rest for a moment, and I will explain, so you understand what we are doing and can avoid any mishaps."

The other six sat down in a semicircle around Master Yan Ming.

Master Yan Ming organized his thoughts and looked at the younger generation around him. "Do you know about the One-Armed Sword God from three hundred years ago?" Everyone shook their heads.

Master Yan Ming continued, "I didn't know about him until last year's Dragon Head-Raising Day, and neither did your masters."

"On that day, my wife and I went to Longshen Temple in Yucheng to burn incense. There, we unexpectedly met Wan Chengjiu, the head of the Ten Thousand Sword Peak, with his family, Ou Peng, the head of the Ethereal Sect, and Tan Yefeng, the head of the Tan family. We had known each other by reputation for a long time but had never met. When we finally met, we spontaneously left our families and found a place to practice martial arts and drink together."

"We brought our swords and wine to Wutong Mountain near Yucheng, planning to enjoy ourselves for a few days. However, as soon as we reached the top of the mountain, we encountered a strange event."