Volume 1: Forgetting Each Other in the Jianghu Chapter 336

“I couldn’t have imagined it?”

Ou Peng’s heart stirred when he heard this and was about to speak, but just then a commotion rose from the foot of Piaomiao Peak.

Looking up, he saw Zhang Chengyue, covered in blood and wielding a longsword, leading a group of equally bloodstained disciples as they staggered back to the mountaintop.

With a casual glance, Ou Peng immediately noticed that most of the returning disciples were female disciples from Mingcui Hall; Shi Niu, Wen Wenhai, and Lu Yueming were nowhere to be seen, nor were any of the other hall masters like Shi Yukun. His heart sank.

Zhang Chengyue’s pale and exhausted face was still filled with confusion, but as soon as he reached the summit and saw the three bald monks and the woman in palace attire, understanding dawned in his eyes. He walked over to Ou Peng and whispered: “Sect Master, our disciples couldn’t withstand the combined assault of the three sects. Only a few hall masters are still fighting below. Shi Niu had all his joints crushed by an unknown monk from Dalin Temple. Junior Brother Wen and Junior Brother Lu had their dantian destroyed by the Incense-Wiping Palm of the Incense Spreading Sect. Most of our elite disciples have died in battle, and the rest are all gravely wounded. Even the low-ranking disciples guarding the mountain have… mostly been slain.”

Ou Peng nodded. He had already anticipated these losses the moment he saw the sect leaders of the two factions. These people always spoke so righteously, but when their sect’s interests were at stake, where was even a shred of mercy left in their hearts?

Ou Peng reached out and patted Zhang Chengyue on the shoulder, saying: “Chengyue, you’ve done well.”

Then he turned to Elder Changsheng and Abbess Jingyi and said: “Is this how your two sects treat my Piaomiao Sect? Is this what you call ‘all for the secret ground’? Like boiling beans over a bean stalk, do the two sects not remember our ten thousand years of shared heritage?”

Knowing they would not answer directly, he turned to Zhang San and asked: “Alliance Leader Zhang, you just mentioned the one who attacked my Huanxi Villa. Could it have been Wan Chengjiu of Ten Thousand Swords Peak?”

Zhang San was first startled, then smiled and said: “Sect Master, your insight is truly remarkable. Yes, it was him. I learned this from Situ Ping. Wan Chengjiu wanted to monopolize the resources of the secret ground and, blinded by greed, tried to use your sister to force you to hand over the sheepskin scroll. He used similar tricks on the other two sects as well, but none succeeded.”

“Alas, such a petty schemer is not fit for grand designs! If not for his wolfish ambition, would things have come to this today?”

“You are mistaken, Sect Master Ou. In this world, there’s no such thing as a wall that lets no wind through-secrets may be hidden for a time, but not forever. It seems you’re admitting there really is a ‘Secret Ground’. In that case, I ask that you hand over the sheepskin scroll.”

“Alliance Leader Zhang, do you have trouble with your ears? Or did all your internal energy get cultivated into a dog’s body? Which ear of yours heard me say I have the sheepskin scroll? I’m still baffled as to why that shameless Wan Chengjiu from Ten Thousand Sword Peak would attack my sister!”

“You… you!” Zhang San pointed at Ou Peng, momentarily at a loss for words.

“Me? What about me? You kill my brothers, destroy my sect, and still expect me to submit to you? Hahaha! How about this, Alliance Leader Zhang, let’s settle this with a duel to the death. If I lose, I’ll tell you everything you want to know. How about it?”

“This…” Zhang San hesitated, not responding. After all, they had already fought once, and his hands were still injured by invisible sword qi. If he agreed now, the two sects backing him would have an excuse not to interfere, and in that case, it wouldn’t just be the Piaomiao Sect facing annihilation; perhaps even Heaven’s Way Alliance would be next in line.

“In any case, I’m not the only one desperate for that sheepskin scroll. Why should I be the one to charge ahead? I’ve had my eye on the Ten Thousand Sword Peak’s scroll for a long time and already placed my best men there. With the help of the two sects this time, it should be easy to obtain. No matter who ends up with the last scroll, it makes no difference to me, I’ll just sit back and watch the show.”

“Besides, I was just played by Dalin Temple and the Incense Spreading Sect, losing two vice alliance leaders. Why would I be foolish enough to rush in again?”

Having made up his mind, Zhang San folded his arms and stood aside, silently watching how things would unfold.

At that moment, the sun was setting in the west, the distant sky ablaze with crimson clouds. The wind howled atop Piaomiao Peak, trees shuddered, and robes fluttered in the wind. Yet, of all those gathered on the mountain, who had the heart to admire such a scene? All eyes were fixed on the calm, white-robed middle-aged man at the center of the field.

Seeing Ou Peng’s near-rogue response, the veiled Abbess Jingyi said: “Ou Peng, if you keep answering like this, it really takes all the fun out of things. Are you trying to force my hand?”

Ou Peng’s expression shifted slightly. He closed his eyes for a moment, then smiled and said: “Abbess, you’re too attached to appearances. When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken. At a time like this, how can I afford to worry about anything else? If you wish to test my martial arts, I would not dare refuse.”

Abbess Jingyi’s aged laughter rang out as she said: “Even when your master was young, he was no match for me. Your formless sword qi may be impressive, but it’s still not enough to defeat me. How could I, as an elder, bully the young?”

She then raised her voice and called: “Ruping, come out.”

“Ruping?”

The moment these two syllables were spoken, the entire summit of Piaomiao Peak fell into silence. Everyone looked at each other in confusion, unable to guess what Abbess Jingyi was planning.

But Ou Peng, the great sect master of the Piaomiao Sect, turned noticeably pale.

Seeing no response, Abbess Jingyi’s voice grew sharper, tinged with anger: “Ruping, do you no longer acknowledge me as your master?”

At that, a middle-aged, beautiful woman with a face as pale as paper gracefully stepped out from among the Piaomiao Sect’s family members. She approached Abbess Jingyi and bowed deeply, saying: “Ruping greets Master.”

In that instant, the summit of Piaomiao Peak was so quiet it seemed even breathing had ceased.

Everyone was stunned.

This middle-aged beauty was none other than the wife of Sect Master Ou Peng, the same lady who had never once involved herself in the affairs of the Piaomiao Sect!

Ou Yan’s phoenix eyes widened, her mouth opening and closing as if trying to call out “Sister-in-law”.

Li Jian and Liu Qingyang were first shocked, then seemed to suddenly understand, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

Zhang Chengyue and the other disciples were astonished to the extreme, their gazes a mix of confusion, resentment, hostility, and jealousy.

Only Ou Peng’s eyes remained calm, as if he had known all along.

Abbess Jingyi said: “Ruping, stand aside.”

She then turned to Ou Peng and said: “Sect Master Ou, you are the son-in-law of our Incense Spreading Sect. How could I not know your every move? You’d best hand over the sheepskin scroll and come to Incense Spreading Peak as our live-in son-in-law.”

Ruping rose, looked at Ou Peng from afar, and said calmly: “Husband, you must believe me. Since marrying into the Piaomiao Sect, I have never once sent a single word back to the Incense Spreading Sect.”

Ou Peng smiled and replied: “Actually, I knew everything before you even married into the Piaomiao Sect. You never once asked about sect affairs, never stepped foot into the meeting hall, and I always understood your good intentions. But I’ve always had a question for you. I thought I’d never get the chance to ask, but now, at last, I can.”

Ruping’s face regained a hint of color as she asked: “We are husband and wife, what could we possibly not be honest about? Husband, please, ask whatever is on your mind.”

Ou Peng said: “It’s actually very simple. I just want to know, back then, by the side of Emerald Lake, beneath the willow trees, when we met by chance and began our journey together in the martial world, was that encounter orchestrated by the Incense Spreading Sect, or was it truly a fateful blessing from heaven?”

Hearing this, Ruping’s face blossomed with happiness, a faint blush appearing on her face. She replied: “That was my first time venturing into the martial world, just a simple journey. Of course, I remember. It was a day at the end of spring, with light rain falling, when we met under that tree. You immediately guessed that my surname was ‘Yang’ and not ‘Liu.’ In that moment, I knew you were the one I would wait for my entire life! It was only after that encounter that I reported the matter to Master. If you don’t believe me, you can ask her directly right now.”

Before Ou Peng could speak, Abbess Jingyi gave a cold snort and said: “Even I never expected that my most beloved final disciple, on her very first trip out, would reel in the golden son-in-law of the Piaomiao Sect. But at the time, you were only the third disciple of the sect; how could I have foreseen you would one day become its leader? The saying is true: a married daughter is like water poured out. Ruping’s loyalties have always leaned toward your Piaomiao Sect, she never sent a single word back to her master’s sect. My affection for her was clearly misplaced.”

Yang Ruping said softly: “Master, once I married my husband, he became my priority. As for sect matters, I made it clear before leaving: if I ever learned anything important, I would report it. But if I knew nothing, what could I possibly report?”

Abbess Jingyi sighed: “Ah, girl, how could I not know your heart? If it weren’t for today’s situation, why would I have called you out? Your happy marriage brings joy to me as your master.”

The conversation between master and disciple was not hidden from anyone. At first, many in the Piaomiao Sect harbored resentment toward the usually quiet sect leader’s wife. But now, hearing that their chief had long known the truth, and that the chief and his wife had met by chance before learning each other’s identities, they realized it was nothing like the trap or conspiracy they had imagined. Moreover, thinking back over the decades, the sect leader’s wife had never once interfered in sect affairs, making her true intentions clear to all.

The once suspicious and alienating glances had long since vanished, replaced by envy for the couple’s love and concern for their current predicament.

Ou Peng, satisfied with the answer, showed a look of relief and joy in his eyes. He bowed deeply to Abbess Jingyi and said: “In truth, I have always wished to pay my respects to you, Master, but never had the opportunity. Today, I finally have the chance to do so properly.”

Abbess Jingyi chuckled: “Ou Peng, after today, there will be plenty of opportunities for us to talk as a family, there’s no rush.”

After finishing his bow, Ou Peng smiled and said: “There’s still one matter I’d like to ask Master about, how do you intend to deal with your son-in-law?”

“This matter…” Abbess Jingyi hesitated slightly.

Author’s note: Don’t worry, everyone, this ‘Sorrow of Piaomiao’ marks a small wrap-up in the story.