Death Scripture

The news that Lady Meng and the Eighth Young Mistress were patching up had spread across the entire Golden Roc Fort and the whole of Jade City at a speed that was faster than a gust of wind. The accompanying shockwaves were even greater than when the news of the two master’s death had broken out.

Many people outside the Castle were suspicious of the accuracy of this piece of information, and until both women officially made their peace at the Six Kills Temples, there would also be doubts about whether it was true. However, nothing could stop the countless theories that had begun to spring out. Everyone wanted to know: Who had blinked first?

When Luo Ningcha questioned Slave Huan, the issue of public perception was also her main concern. “You want me to make peace with her? Dream on. People will say that I could not win and had to beg for forgiveness.”

Gu Shenwei had came prepared with a reason for her, “Miss, this is not compromise, but rather it is to retreat first to give yourself options for a future attack…”

“To retreat first? I have taken in her daughter, and I even co-operated in the rescue. What more do you want? I’m already at the cliff’s edge, and if I were to retreat further, I would fall off the cliff.”

“Miss, what is your motive in requesting for the 20 female slaves from the Bighead Kingpin?”

“It was for… You already know, so why ask?”

“You will eventually have to let the Lord see them, otherwise what is the point of keeping them? Now, this path is controlled by Lady Meng, and if you don’t make peace with her, it will never be open to you. This is to retreat first to strike later.”

Luo Ningcha thought for a moment before she said, “Slave Huan, I know you are close to that little girl, perhaps too close. Tell me the truth, what’s going on between you two?”

Gu Shenwei had not considered that Miss Luo would have changed the subject, and was speechless for a while. He gave a few coughs before he managed to say, “She is my master, and I am her killer, that’s all.”

“Humph, don’t think that you are the only smart person here. I’m no fool either. I know very clearly that all this rescuing and making peace were all her ideas, and that so many people would be helping her without anything to gain. As for me, other than some false glory, I will earn nothing. No, you have to tell me the truth. What are you two trying to achieve? I want in if there are any benefits to be gained.”

Gu Shenwei could only manage to cook up a story to counter her, “It is because there is a secret hidden in the Six Kills Temple…”

“The map leading to the hidden treasure in the Stone Castle!” exclaimed Luo Ningcha, her breathing becoming heavier. Although she was rich, she would never reject an offer to make herself richer.

“Maybe.” Gu Shenwei could only continue to play along.

Luo Ningcha immediately gave her conditions. “I want half of it.”

“Regarding this, I have to get the approval of Lady Meng,” replied Gu Shenwei. He continued to lie to make his words seem more convincing. He was not afraid of getting into Luo Ningcha’s bad books because she would not remain useful for long.

The next day, Gu Shenwei came back to Miss Luo and told her that Lady Meng could only agree to a 60 – 40 split between herself and the younger lady. Luo Ningcha finally agreed to it after a long period of consideration.

As for Lady Meng, firstly, she was willing to do anything for her daughter, and secondly, she had never regarded Luo Ningcha as a worthy adversary. Thus, she was willing to take this opportunity to make peace.

This was the inside story of the reconciliation between mother and daughter-in-law.

The Six Kills Temple was the ancestral shrine of the Shangguan Family and, as a show of sincerity for both of them, Lady Meng chose it as the place to put aside her differences with her daughter-in-law. However, they were women and were thus prohibited from entering the main hall – they could only pay respects to the ancestors by burning incense at the entrance of the hall.

All women who had some title were invited, and who amongst them would miss such an opportunity?

On the 14th day of the seventh month, even elderly ladies, who were between 70 to 80 years of age and had to be supported by their maids, insisted on coming to witness the event. No less than 300 people, including masters and servants, formed up on the steps to the main hall’s entrance in accordance with their title. Those that could not squeeze in could only peek from the bottom.

Lady Meng looked as poised and gorgeous as usual. She held onto her daughter-in-law’s hand and, with an amiable smile across her face, they burned incense and prayed together in front of the Six Kills tablet.

Those that had thought that the Eighth Young Mistress would have changed her habits were disappointed. Luo Ningcha was still wearing a thick veil which hung down below her waist. As such, many felt both of them had fought to a standstill and that that the younger woman might even have had a slight upper hand.

The two ladies at the hall of the Temple were without a doubt the focus of everyone’s attention. Even the Sacred Masters who were pure of mind and standing a distance away could not help but a steal a few glances in their direction. The killers who provided security for the hall were, however, not so bold, and basically stood outside the walls. They only did a thorough search after everyone had left, and they picked up many trinkets such as handkerchiefs and jewelry.

Under such circumstances, no one who has noticed that a maid had gone missing.

The original plan was to have three people to eavesdrop during the recital – Slave Huan, Maid Lotus and Shangguan Ru.

Shangguan Ru was not able to participate because of her mother’s disapproval. Once Lady Meng heard that her daughter would be suspended on a cliff for three days and two nights, she immediately forbade her daughter to take part. Lady Meng said, “Let the killers do it, as it’s their job. You are the Tenth Young Master, how could you take such a risk?”

As for Gu Shenwei, he felt he would have trouble if he tried to sneak into a group of women. Furthermore, he was under surveillance and his movements were severely restricted.

Even though Blademaster Shen Liang was still personally in the city to investigate both assassinations, he did not become less vigilant on the movements of the young killer at the Castle. The Heart Cleansing Yard had the Eighth Young Master’s main yard on surveillance, and there would be several people tailing Gu Shenwei whenever he stepped out of its doors. Therefore, he decided to remain in the residence so as to avoid raising any suspicion.

Therefore all of the burden fell on Maid Lotus.

When everyone’s attention was on Luo Ningcha and Lady Meng, Maid Lotus sneaked up to the cliff on the east side of the Temple. She began to climb up until she reached a blindspot at the north side of the main hall. She had to hide there for three days and two nights. When the recital began on the 15th day of the seventh month, she planned to sneak to the open windows to her east or west and record what she heard.

The only safety precaution she took was to use a very thin rope. Other than that, there would be no one to help her, so she had to take care of herself, regardless of whether she was caught in a torrential rain or a lightning storm.

The reason she gave for accepting this mission was simple and straightforward, “This would save my life too.”

They had to find a way for her to make a record; using paper and brush was out of the question. She would most definitely not be able to write with a brush when she was busy fighting with gravity. Then they finally came with an idea. They found a few soft wooden planks and cut them into many pieces. After that, they ground out fine tips on two metal pieces for her to carve with. Maid Lotus had practiced writing with them for a few days. To prepare her for the possibility that the recital could be in the night, and she even had to learn to write with her eyes blindfolded.

In order for them to safely exfiltrate Maid Lotus, the show of Lady Meng and Luo Ningcha making peace had to last for three days. On the first day, the daughter-in-law would express her goodwill while Lady Meng would return the favor on the second. Finally, on the last day, both of them would offer a sacrifice to the ancestors of the Shangguan Family together.

While Maid Lotus was carrying out her potentially fatal mission, the others were waiting anxiously. Every few hours, Shangguan Ru would come running to Slave Huan to ask him questions, such as: Was Maid Lotus’ rope sturdy? What if she was noticed? Is the wind out there too strong? Gu Shenwei could only answer that Maid Lotus was very nimble, and would definitely be all right. However, he was not too sure himself.

Fortunately, Luo Ningcha did not cause any trouble, and was waiting patiently for her huge monetary reward. To keep her happy, Gu Shenwei reminded the Tenth Young Master to not expose his lie.

Two incidents occurred on the 15th day of the seventh month. As Shangguan Ru was extremely worried, she insisted on dressing up one of Luo Ningcha’s maids and had gone along to the Six Kills Temple. Just after the ladies had left, people from the Heart Cleansing Yard came to look for Slave Huan.

Shangguan Ru had reminded him not to follow anyone back to the Stone Castle. However, this yellow-belt torturer had come with a gift. Gu Shenwei received him at the front yard.

“The Blademaster asked me to pass these two items to you,” said the yellow-belt torturer. He closely observed for any changes in Slave Huan’s expression as he opened his palm to reveal the items.

It was a gold hairpin and a jade ornament. Gu Shenwei did not receive them. He replied, “These are not my things.”

“A madman known as Wu Shengqing had abducted a woman, and now they are dead. These two items were left behind by the woman, and the Blademaster said that you may be able to identify them, as they had come from the Inner Residence.”

Gu Shenwei took a closer look and said, “No, I don’t recognize them. And also, I’m not familiar with the Inner Residence. I believe Blademaster Shen must have been confused.”

The torturer clasped his palms together and replied, “That is possible. I shall let him know that you said ‘You don’t recognize them’.”

“That’s fine.”

This was an intimidation technique meant to test him. If Gu Shenwei was not able to remain calm, he would have given himself away. He did not understand why Shen Liang had wanted to keep a close watch on him; there was no cause for animosity between them – they did not even have any small arguments before.

After the ceremony was over, Luo Ningcha explained the reason to him. “You are always not in the Castle, and are not aware of many things. Sheng Liang and Lady Meng used to be in cahoots, but are now not on good terms. It was all due to them fighting for spoils. Shen Liang had wanted one of his own people to take over Mister Guo’s position, and had wanted to gather more killers for my husband, but was unsuccessful on both counts. It’s most likely because you are a killer for the Tenth Young Master, and he wants to make things difficult for you and strike at her at the same time. Tsk, tsk, it should be like this. So you see, I have become more observant than before…”

Shangguan Ru became blank for a long while after she heard about the death of Wu Shengqing and Parro. After she came to, she asked, “Should we let Third Elder Brother know?”

“If you don’t tell him now, he will hate you if he knows about it later.”

Shangguan Ru could not bear to tell her Third Brother in person, so she sent Slave Huan with her mother’s waist token to pass on the bad news. “How should we tell him? He would be devastated.”

“Did you see whether Parro was happy when she left the Stone Castle?”

“She was happy, I’ve never seen somebody who was so emotional. I… I feel that the Stone Castle has owed her too much.”

“Wu Shengqing was also very happy. That was enough, nobody can be happy for his or her entire life.”

Shangguan Yun reacted much more calmly than his sister did. He sat on his bed of stone, and looked at the full moon outside his cell. “It has always been the case that no one could escape from the Stone Castle. You have already achieved a feat by letting the two of them meet,” he said. After a momentary pause, he added, “Thank you.”

Gu Shenwei did not feel the usual anger or sorrow after getting to know that the love of his life and his best friend had been killed. As he looked at the moon, the same mysterious and yet mischievous smile came across his face again. It was as if he no longer felt any emotions, and he had even become unsound and mad.

Gu Shenwei walked to the edge of the wall, and felt around the area where Shangguan Yun had written the words for his sister. There were no tools in the cell, and Shangguan Yun had used his fingers to carve the words, and his palm to wipe them off- all of which were done on stone. The level of his Internal Strength stunned Gu Shenwei and also made him feel at ease.

Before leaving, Gu Shenwei passed something to Shangguan Yun as he clasped his hand.

It was a small piece of a compass saw, and it could be used to saw off the chains from his legs.

Shangguan Yun looked in bewilderment at the killer as he left. He thought about it for so long that the full moon had moved beyond the view of his tiny window. He finally understood that the killer was giving him a chance to take revenge. He had tried it once, but it was unsuccessful, which resulted in his imprisonment. Now, he had a golden opportunity to do it again as the ‘old animal’ did not have any Internal Strength in him now.

As he stood outside the underground dungeon, Gu Shenwei’s thoughts were not about Shangguan Yun’s reaction. Instead, he was thinking about Maid Lotus, and if she had been successful, about how she would be busily inscribing the Wayless Qigong now.