Yuwen Yue heard the noise but feigned sleep to allow the bird to settle down.
Suddenly, a group of black-clad ninjas surrounded his room. Yuwen Yue felt a sense of danger as the bird's quacking grew more frequent. Quietly, he rose, placed the bird in a safe area, and closed his eyes to heighten his awareness. Though unarmed, having lost his sword in the icy lake incident, he had managed to acquire some small weapons, including a classic dagger for close combat. He also picked up the handmade bow and arrows he had crafted himself, ready to switch to an offensive strategy if necessary.
Since his last action at the frozen lake, Yuwen Yue did not practice his Gongfu martial arts but still confident, he has all these skills for a lifetime. With sharp and keen ears, the footsteps reveal that these were assassins. Though he did hear any clanging of the sword, heard footsteps running above the roof. He slowly put on his hood and waited for an attack.
Yuwen Yue also considered the father and son living below, who were wealthy merchants running their own lodge. He resolved that if he faced any unknown threat that night, he would not hesitate to protect the very people who had saved his life and continued to support him.
Suddenly, the sound of tiles being displaced from the roof reached his ears. Yuwen Yue counted five distinct pairs of footsteps, indicating that five men were on their way.
Yuwen Yue blew the candles in his room.
As the black ninja reached Yuwen Yue's room, Yuwen Yue seized him by the neck, strangled him with a rope, and slammed him into the rustic wooden wall. The darkness made it difficult for Yuwen Yue to see his opponent's face clearly. While he waited for the rest of the assailants to descend, no one else appeared.
The black ninja managed to reverse Yuwen Yue's hold, and the two began to grapple in the dark, their martial arts skills equally matched. Eventually, Yuwen Yue quickly retrieved a matchstick from his pocket and struck a small flame.
Neither combatant was willing to yield, and their struggle continued until the bird called out "Xinger" three times. At that moment, both fighters abruptly stopped fighting.
When the black ninja's attention was diverted by the bird's call, Yuwen Yue seized the opportunity. He captured the ninja, who was now facing the floor, and swiftly bound his hands.
Yuwen Yue clapped his hands together as if brushing off dirt. He had learned this gesture outside the Yuwen household, and it signified that the task was complete.
Despite his interests, Yuwen Yue showed he had no interest in seeing the black ninja's face, especially at this late hour. He dragged the ninja onto the veranda and was preparing to push him onto the adjacent roof when the black ninja suddenly shouted out.
"You cast a shadow!"
"Huh!?" Yuwen Yue looked the ninja in the eye.
"I said you cast a shadow!"
Yuwen Yue removed the ninja's mask, revealing the face of the young man he had fought in the arena earlier.
"I just realized you are not the Seventh Yue! Go now; I made a mistake!"
Yuwen Yue dismissed him and turned back toward his room. But just then, the young man called out, "Casting a shadow means you are a master who can either illuminate the lives of your followers or cast them into darkness!"
Yuwen Yue was taken aback; he hadn't expected the young man, who resembled Yue Qi, to elaborate on the code of expressions he and his servant used.
Yuwen Yue reflected on this and responded, "A master casts light when they act for the good of others but casts a shadow when they misuse their power. The slaves obey, but the servant not only helps but also guides the master when their actions are dark, ensuring that their power is used for good."
The black ninja did not blink or kneel before Yuwen Yue, instead casting him a mocking glance. Both men understood the significance of the code of expression, and the ninja declared, "I shall meet you again. Until then, you will have to wait for me!" With that, he vanished once more.
Yuwen Yue was left alone, his mind racing with new impressions and deep thoughts. He was surprised to find that someone other than his bodyguard understood the code of expression he had used in the fighting arena. It made him wonder whether he was being watched by the Yuwen household or if the ninja had been spying on him recently.
Yuwen Yue was not yet ready to confront the Yuwen household, nor had he gathered the strength to embark on the journey back, as his body was still recovering. He was burdened with unanswered questions, particularly concerning his mother and Xinger.
Reflecting on his past, Yuwen Yue remembered the time he had nearly been killed during a gatecrash at the Yuwen Huai household. He had managed to navigate through the complex traps and had forced himself to confront the third concubine of the Yuwen household. Believing her to be dead, he was shocked to find that she was alive but severely disabled, having been imprisoned for years. She revealed that she had become a prisoner of the most insidious and dangerous stratagems ever devised within the Jile Pavilion.
In the present, Yuwen Yue had come to terms with the fact that the young boy he encountered could not be Yue Qi but perhaps a doppelgänger. With no updates from the Yuwen household and his own bodyguards intentionally kept from finding him, Yuwen Yue surmised that the black ninja was not connected to the Yuwen household.
He could only hope that Yue Qi had survived, having defended him from a barrage of arrows. If Yue Qi had perished, it might explain why Yuwen Yue was still missing. Though he wanted to believe that Yue Qi was still alive and that his bodyguards were searching for him, Yuwen Yue chose to remain strong and not let his emotions lead him down a path of despair. He believed that his bodyguards would find him eventually, but not today.
The next day, Zuo Zong attended his usual duties at the Shaolin temple. He swept the floors, scrubbed the walls, cooked in the kitchen, and once the chores were completed, he engaged in his regular meditation and Kungfu practice. As the only master permitted to grow his hair, Zuo Zong was distinct from the chanting fighting monks and was responsible for overseeing specific tasks related to infiltration, espionage, and surveillance when the temple required such services.
During meditation, Zuo Zong was disturbed by persistent visions of Yuwen Yue. The face of Yuwen Yue kept intruding upon his thoughts, making it difficult for him to focus. He tried to redirect his mind to thoughts of his brother, Zuo Shan, but found that Yuwen Yue continually resurfaced in his consciousness. Unable to continue, he ceased his meditation, feeling as if the wind itself was guiding him to seek out the master.
Resigned to the calling, Zuo Zong hummed in acceptance and resolved to learn more about Yuwen Yue and the enigmatic secret code known only to his father and Zuo Shan.
Zuo Zong, dressed in his distinctive orange Shaolin monk outfit with a long bead sash draped over his right shoulder and his hair styled in a high ponytail, looked both dashing and charming. Unlike the other monks, his long hair set him apart. He was about to dismiss his distracting thoughts when he turned and was taken aback to see a man seated in the Buddha position in the center of the temple. The man's presence was so compelling that Zuo Zong found himself rooted to the spot, unable to look away.
The man was dressed in a neat, powder-blue peasant fighting costume, featuring wide pants, V-shaped long sleeves tied on the left side, and a black belt adorned with a jade stone. His black flat shoes, with brown laces perfectly crisscrossed up to his knees over white socks, complemented his attire. His hair was styled just as it had been during their first encounter in the fighting arena—neither too high nor too low.
The man's aura radiated like the sun, and as the winds gently blew, the scent of tea candles mingled with the atmosphere, creating a divine and mind-cleansing fragrance. Zuo Zong's eyes gleamed, and he was momentarily breathless, feeling like a butterfly fluttering in his stomach. The man's appearance seemed almost divine, and Zuo Zong couldn't help but whisper to himself, "Did a god come down today?"
After an extended period of meditation, the man rose and approached the Buddhist altar, where he placed the money he had earned from an accidental, forceful fight. Meanwhile, Yuwen Yue was searching for someone, knowing that the black ninja had been meditating in front of the temple earlier. Yuwen Yue wondered to himself, "Where has he gone now?"
Determined to track down the black ninja, Yuwen Yue followed the trail left by a dark brown wooden beaded bracelet that the ninja had accidentally dropped the previous night. The beads on the bracelet marked the levels of martial arts mastery the wearer had achieved. Yuwen Yue kept the bracelet tucked safely in his pocket, ready to use it as part of his plan should the owner reappear.
Yuwen Yue, a former master of the Eyes of God, was known for his relentless pursuit of his interests. Once he set his sights on something, he was nearly impossible to elude. Approaching the monks outside the temple who were sweeping the grounds with long stick brooms, he bowed deeply, his hands clasped in front of him as a gesture of respect. He asked the monks about the owner of the beaded bracelet he held.
The monks returned his bow, and one monk with slightly slanted eyes inquired, "What can we do for you, stranger?" Noticing the bracelet in Yuwen Yue's hand, another monk observed, "This is Master Zuo's bracelet. How did you come by it?"
Meanwhile, Zuo Zong was concealed nearby, watching Yuwen Yue and the junior monks. Realizing his bracelet had been missing since the previous night, he shook his head with a slight smile. He recognized that someone as swift as Yuwen Yue had managed to find it. The bracelet was not easily misplaced; its inscriptions could reveal his identity and location if discovered by someone who understood their significance.
By this time, Zuo knows that Yuwen Yue must be an elite master that hides an ordinary person in public. The way he carried himself today at the temple speaks a lot of him, a dignified master with integrity and honor. Concerned about the bracelet, Zuo knew he needed to retrieve it before the temple's master sifu learned of its loss. Otherwise, he risked punishment, which could include a perilous journey to the icy mountains of Woolong.
Meanwhile, Zuo Zong is forced to jump from a nearby lion headstone figure where he is hiding and come out to interrupt them. This time, Zuo not on his open and arrogant attitude, he showed a low attitude stature. The monks, upon seeing him, bowed deeply and showed their utmost respect. Zuo Zong then bowed his head to Yuwen Yue.
Yuwen Yue responded with a nod and a slight bow of his own, his eyes remaining cold but composed. Though he did not fully bow, but he knows his actions were intentional. Zuo Zong, still holding his prayer beads and keeping his eyes closed for a moment, suddenly opened them to meet Yuwen Yue's icy gaze. He did not wait for Yuwen Yue to introduce himself. Zuo Zong did not wait for Yuwen Yue to introduce himself. Part of being an intelligent spy in front of his subordinates, he must show there is nothing Zuo doesn't know, especially this man in front of him looking like a god.
"I see why the stranger has come," Zuo Zong said with a stern look in his eyes, addressing the young monks. "Let me handle this."
The monks bowed and promptly left, understanding the gravity of Zuo's command. Now, only Yuwen Yue and Zuo Zong remained, both with cold expressions and narrowed eyes.
Without hesitation, Zuo Zong launched a surprise attack, aiming to grab the beaded bracelet from Yuwen Yue's hand. Despite his meditation sharpness, Yuwen Yue quickly reacted to Zuo Zong's aggressive move. He threw the bracelet into the air, but Zuo Zong caught it effortlessly. Impressed, Yuwen Yue struck at Zuo Zong's right palm, only for Zuo to deftly switch the bracelet to his left hand.
The two continued their back-and-forth exchange, with Yuwen Yue's strikes and Zuo Zong's agile maneuvers creating a flurry of motion and dust. They leapt and performed flying kicks, mirroring each other's movements. As the fight progressed, Zuo Zong's temper flared, leading him to shift to more defensive tactics. Fueled by anger, Zuo Zong found it increasingly difficult to contain his frustration, while Yuwen Yue persisted in his playful engagement with the sacred bracelet.
The fight and their level of martial arts advances moved from one place to another. Suddenly, Zuo Zong found himself standing precariously on the edge of a cliff, balanced on one foot. With a sudden slip, he began to fall.
Yuwen Yue, maintaining his composure despite the urgency of the situation, instinctively reached out and grabbed Zuo Zong's left hand. In this dangerous and desperate moment, Yuwen Yue remained remarkably calm, though it was clear he was under strain. Realizing that his grip alone wouldn't suffice, Yuwen Yue swiftly untied the laces from his own shoes and expertly bound them to their joined hands.
Yuwen Yue on his closed eyes grabbed his left hand. Zuo Zong, in a dangerous and desperate situation, and yet Yuwen Yue not letting his guard off looking so calm but cannot hide in such distressful moment. Yuwen Yue knows his hands won't be able to endure, he quickly untied the ties from his shoes and excellently tied to their hands.
With no other option, Yuwen Yue exerted all his strength to pull Zuo Zong back from the brink. As he did so, Zuo Zong, feeling the gravity of the situation, was on the verge of giving up. Yuwen Yue's determination was unwavering, and he managed to pull Zuo Zong to safety using the makeshift knot connecting their hands.
Once they were both secure, Zuo Zong, still in shock, asked, "Why did you save me?"
"Because you were about to fall off the cliff and die," Yuwen Yue replied in his usual bland, cold tone, as he untied the makeshift rope he had fashioned from his shoelaces.
Once he had finished securing his shoes, Yuwen Yue handed the beaded bracelet back to Zuo Zong. The cold wind swept between them, but Yuwen Yue did not meet Zuo Zong's gaze. Zuo Zong, waiting for a response, found Yuwen Yue's stance remains unchanged.
Without another word, Yuwen Yue turned and began to walk away, leaving Zuo Zong standing there, holding the bracelet, as the wind continued to blow.
To Zuo Zong's surprise, he almost called out Yuwen Yue's name but hesitated, realizing he had little concrete information about him. Nevertheless, he felt a strong sense of duty to show respect to someone who had saved his life under such dire circumstances. Yuwen Yue's unexpected act of kindness—returning his bracelet—suggested that this encounter was more than just a random event.
"Master!" Zuo Zong shouted, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.
Yuwen Yue, although still within hearing distance, did not look back. He continued walking, his steps unhurried, and remained unaffected by the call.
Zuo Zong bowed deeply at the waist, a gesture of profound gratitude that went beyond mere words. Although not in a full kowtow, his bow conveyed his deep appreciation—he felt that no amount of service could ever fully repay Yuwen Yue's kindness. He performed a full bow to honor the life Yuwen Yue had saved and a half bow with his head lowered to thank him for returning the beaded bracelet.
Meanwhile, a young monk who had earlier inquired about Yuwen Yue watched the scene from a hidden spot. Yuwen Yue, however, spotted him immediately.
"You will not speak of today's events," Yuwen Yue warned, tightening his grip around the monk's neck.
"Yes, ma...mas...master," the young monk stammered, trembling with fear.
With that, Yuwen Yue turned and walked away, fully aware of Zuo Zong's respectful gesture behind him but choosing not to acknowledge it. He continued on his path, leaving behind a tense silence.