Chapter 28: Washing Hands in the Golden Basin — The Gift

“Wait!”

Just as Liu Zhengfeng was about to perform the Golden Basin Washing, a sharp cry came from outside the gate.

The people in the courtyard were slightly startled, then turned to look, and saw four men in yellow robes quickly enter through the main door.

As soon as they entered, the four men stepped aside to either side, then another tall man in yellow robes stepped forward from behind them, head held high—it was Songshan Sect disciple “Thousand-Zhang Pine” Shi Dengda.

Shi Dengda held up a five-colored brocade flag and walked to Liu Zhengfeng’s side, saying: “Uncle Liu, I carry the order of Left Alliance Leader of the Five Peaks Sword Alliance—I ask you to temporarily postpone your Golden Basin Washing ceremony!”

Hearing Shi Dengda’s words, Liu Zhengfeng’s heart fluttered, but his face remained calm as he bowed slightly toward the Five Peaks flag: “Young Shi, what is the Alliance Leader’s intention behind this order?”

Shi Dengda bowed slightly to Liu Zhengfeng: “I am merely carrying out orders; I do not know the Alliance Leader’s intent. Please forgive me, Uncle Liu!”

After saying this, Shi Denda quickly led the four people behind him to approach Yue Buqun and the others, bowing respectfully to each of them.

At this moment, Dingyi Shitai of Hengshan Sect still did not know the full situation; seeing Songshan Sect willing to stop Liu Zhengfeng’s ceremony, she happily said to Shi Dengda: “If your master is willing to intervene, that’s best of all! We cultivators should value righteousness above all—why not remain free and unrestrained in the Jianghu? Why become an official? But Liu’s resolve is firm; I cannot persuade him further!”

Liu Zhengfeng’s expression turned solemn as he continued to Shi Dengda: “Young Shi, when our Five Peaks Sword Alliance was formed, we agreed only to aid each other in defense and uphold justice in the Jianghu. When matters concern our five sects, we follow the Alliance Leader’s orders. But now, I merely wish to retire from the Jianghu—it is a personal matter, neither violating righteous principles nor involving our Five Peaks Alliance! Please convey to Left Alliance Leader: Liu will not obey this flag order. I beg his forgiveness.”

With that, Liu Zhengfeng turned and walked toward the golden basin, determined to complete the ceremony by force.

Seeing this, Shi Dengda stepped swiftly forward, blocking the basin.

He raised the Five Peaks flag high and said solemnly: “Uncle Liu, our master has always said our Five Peaks are of one breath, brothers in blood. He sent me this flag to stop you not only to preserve our alliance’s bonds, but to uphold justice in the Jianghu. Please do not make me suffer this dilemma!”

Hearing this, Liu Zhengfeng inwardly sensed danger, yet his face showed no change: “I merely wish to wash my hands in a basin—how does this relate to upholding justice? Moreover, I sent invitations to Songshan long before this. If Left Alliance Leader had objections, why did he not intervene earlier?”

At that moment, a cry suddenly rang out from the rear courtyard of Liu’s mansion.

Liu Zhengfeng, sensing something amiss, turned to investigate—only to see over a dozen people emerge from the inner hall: his wife, children, and several disciples!

Behind each of them stood a Songshan Sect disciple, dagger pressed against their backs.

Liu Zhengfeng realized the dire situation and turned to the gathered crowd: “Friends, I do not act out of stubbornness—today, Left Alliance Leader has resorted to such threats. If I yield, what face do I have left to stand beneath heaven and earth?”

Saying this, Liu Zhengfeng moved swiftly, attempting to sidestep Shi Dengda and continue the washing.

Shi Dengda, being a junior disciple, could not possibly stop Liu Zhengfeng’s full-force strike.

As it seemed no one could halt Liu Zhengfeng’s ceremony, a flash of silver light appeared, followed by a projectile hurtling through the air.

Liu Zhengfeng was forced back two steps; a soft *ding* rang out, and the golden basin was struck down, spilling its clear water everywhere.

Then, a yellow shadow flickered on the roof, and a figure in yellow robes appeared before them all.

He was around forty, of medium build, extremely thin, with two thin mustaches above his upper lip—it was the famed Songshan Sect master, Fei Bin, the “Great Songyang Hand.”

He bowed to Liu Zhengfeng: “Brother Liu, by order of Left Alliance Leader, you are forbidden from washing your hands.”

Seeing the basin overturned, Liu Zhengfeng asked coldly: “Brother Fei, why does Left Alliance Leader forbid me from washing my hands?”

Fei Bin gestured for Shi Dengda to raise the Five Peaks flag, then said: “Left Alliance Leader orders us to ask you: what secret dealings have you had with the Demon Cult? What scheme are you plotting against the righteous sects of the Jianghu?”

At these words, everyone around was stunned.

The Demon Cult was their sworn enemy—if Liu Zhengfeng had truly allied with them, their own lives were now in grave danger!

Liu Zhengfeng’s face changed slightly, yet he held his composure: “I have never had contact with any member of the Demon Cult. What ‘scheme’ are you referring to?”

Fei Bin snorted coldly: “Brother Liu, does the Demon Cult’s Elder Guardian Qu Yang mean nothing to you?”

At the mention of “Qu Yang,” Liu Zhengfeng’s face turned pale, his lips tightly shut, refusing to answer.

All present understood: Liu Zhengfeng must know Qu Yang.

“Indeed.”

After a moment, Liu Zhengfeng slowly nodded: “I not only know Qu Yang—brother Qu is my only true confidant, my dearest friend.”

“Brother Liu, since you admit it, Left Alliance Leader offers you two choices!”

Fei Bin smiled faintly: “Left Alliance Leader gives you one month to kill Elder Qu Yang and bring his head. Then all past offenses will be forgiven. Otherwise, the Five Peaks Sword Alliance must purge its own ranks!”

Hearing this, Liu Zhengfeng’s face twisted into a bitter smile: “Brother Qu and I met as kindred spirits—we bonded through music, never speaking of anything else. You may not believe it, but though he is of the Demon Cult, his character is pure. I will never harm such a gentleman.”

“Yet after befriending Brother Qu, I long foresaw this day. One side is my alliance brothers; the other, my closest friend. I cannot aid either. Thus, I chose to wash my hands—retire from the Jianghu entirely, never again meddling in its feuds. I only ask you to let me stand apart, uninvolved.”

“Hmph!”

Fei Bin snorted again: “You wish to stand apart—but what of Qu Yang?”

Liu Zhengfeng hurriedly replied: “Brother Qu swore before me—he will never again interfere in the conflict between the Five Peaks and the Demon Cult!”

“And what of that?”

Fei Bin sneered: “The Demon Cult employs every trick of manipulation and deceit. This promise is worthless. Brother Liu, I ask you one final time: will you obey Left Alliance Leader’s order—or not?”

“If Left Alliance Leader wishes to issue an order, Brother Fei may kill my entire family!”

Liu Zhengfeng said firmly: “But you will never make me betray Brother Qu.”

Fei Bin immediately took the Five Peaks flag from Shi Dengda and turned toward the others of the Five Peaks Sword Alliance: “Brother Tianmen of Taishan, Brother Yue of Huashan, Shitai Dingyi of Hengshan, all of Hengshan—Left Alliance Leader declares: the Demon Cult and our Five Peaks are sworn enemies, irreconcilable. Liu Zhengfeng has consorted with villains and sided with our foes. All Five Peaks disciples, unite and slay him! Those who accept this order, step to the left.”

Tianmen Daoist and Dingyi Shitai, seeing Liu Zhengfeng’s unwavering resolve, felt deep disappointment, and quickly led their disciples to stand on the left.

The Hengshan disciples also bowed apologetically to Liu Zhengfeng, then joined them on the left.

But Yue Buqun remained where he stood.

Fei Bin glared: “Brother Yue, what is your meaning?”

“Brother Fei, please remain calm.”

Yue Buqun smiled gently, then looked up toward the roof: “Qu Yang, Brother Liu refuses to reveal your whereabouts even unto death—will you not show yourself?”

Hearing Yue Buqun’s words, everyone in the courtyard was stunned.

Qu Yang, who had intended to find an opportunity to rescue Liu Zhengfeng’s family, now realized his cover was blown—there was no chance left.

He laughed aloud, leapt from the roof, and stood beside Liu Zhengfeng.

“Brother Qu, why must you do this?” Liu Zhengfeng sighed bitterly.

Qu Yang laughed heartily: “I have loved music all my life, lamenting the rarity of true companions. Meeting you, Brother Liu, has made my life complete. If you go alone today, would I not carry regret till my dying breath?”

On the other side, Fei Bin’s heart leapt at Qu Yang’s appearance.

After all, the courtyard now held a gathering of elite warriors from the Five Peaks and righteous Jianghu—Qu Yang could not escape now, and Liu Zhengfeng would have no further excuse.

He was about to order the crowd to attack, when Yue Buqun’s voice sounded again.

“Brother Liu!”

Yue Buqun smiled at Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang: “I hear the two of you, devoted to music, spent years crafting a melody never before heard—the ‘Laughing Proudly at the Jianghu.’ Might I be allowed to hear it?”

Hearing Yue Buqun’s words, Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang were both startled.

They had never told anyone of their composition—how did Yue Buqun know?

Yet the ‘Laughing Proudly at the Jianghu’ was their life’s work—there was no reason to hide it.

They exchanged a glance, then nodded: “Brother Yue, though we do not know how you learned of this, Qu Yang and I did indeed compose the ‘Laughing Proudly at the Jianghu’—and we believe it is peerless in all history.”

“Excellent!”

Yue Buqun said at once: “Could you play it for us here?”

Watching Yue Buqun speak so casually with Liu and Qu, Fei Bin erupted in fury: “Brother Yue, what are you doing?”

“Brother Fei, please remain calm.”

Yue Buqun said slowly: “Brother Liu said he bonded with Qu Yang through music. Let us test this. Moreover, so many righteous cultivators are gathered here—do you truly fear they will escape?”

Meanwhile, Liu and Qu, already resigned to death, retrieved their ancient zither and jade flute, determined to play one final duet before dying.

*Zheng zheng*—the zither’s notes rose, elegant and serene.

Fei Bin, who had intended to speak again, fell silent upon hearing the music, instead watching Liu and Qu with wary eyes.

The zither’s melody continued, the soft flute weaving through it, deeply moving.

Soon, the zither’s tone grew higher, while the flute’s faded lower—yet never ceased, like a thread drifting on the wind, unbroken, deepening the emotion.

Suddenly, the zither rang with sharp, martial tones—as if of battle—yet the flute remained gentle and refined.

A while later, the zither softened again; the two sounds rose and fell, then abruptly changed—suddenly, as if eight zithers and eight flutes played together.

Though the zither and flute melodies were wildly complex, each note was precisely pitched, pleasing and stirring.

Finally, a sudden *zheng*—the zither fell silent, the flute ceased.

Silence filled the courtyard.

Liu Zhengfeng smiled joyfully: “All men must die. To have one true friend—I die without regret.”

Qu Yang said: “You speak truly. Our duet has rendered the ‘Laughing Proudly at the Jianghu’ perfectly. Now that this melody exists, and we have played it—what more could life demand?”

The crowd, witnessing their calm acceptance of death and moved by the sublime music, were touched—and many now believed Liu Zhengfeng’s claim of bonding through music.

After hearing the peerless ‘Laughing Proudly at the Jianghu,’ Yue Buqun felt deeply pleased.

For this melody was the gift he prepared for Group Master Lu Qingshan.

Among the group members, his help to the Group Master could not match Han Li or Pang Bo;

His wealth could not rival Cao Cao’s;

To prepare a fitting gift, he had to be original.

And this ‘Laughing Proudly at the Jianghu’ was undoubtedly the perfect choice.

After all, the story Lu Qingshan had uploaded bore the same name—though no direct link was certain, this melody clearly expressed his heart.

(End of Chapter)