Chapter 27: Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor

"It wasn't easy, but I've finally arrived at this Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor."

In the Heaven-Dependent World, Zhang Jie, clutching his long sword, looked at the magnificent,

sprawling manor covering several acres before him and remarked with deep emotion.

It had been over half a month since he bade farewell to his master, Yu Lianzhou, and descended Mount Wudang.

During this time, he had suffered more than he had in over a decade on Mount Wudang.

Had it not been for the example of the Heavenly Dragon Zhang Jie, who had suffered far more,

he would have long since run to the Shared Space to vent his grievances to the Water Margin Zhang Jie.

The Heaven-Dependent World was currently in the chaotic era of the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, with various rebel forces like the Red Turbans emerging one after another.

That famous prophecy, found on a one-eyed stone statue unearthed from the ground—"Do not say the stone man of the Yellow River has but one eye,

stirring the Yellow River to revolt against the world"—had already spread throughout the land.

Under the crushing taxes and extortionate levies of the Yuan nobility,

and the constant tug-of-war between the rebel armies and the Yuan forces suppressing them,

the common people were living in misery, their lives as cheap as blades of grass.

As Zhang Jie traveled from Mount Wudang toward Mount Kunlun these past few days,

he saw no human habitation for a hundred miles, heard no rooster crow for a thousand, and found only one survivor in a hundred; the sight was enough to break one's heart.

Even though his master, Yu Lianzhou, had given him plenty of silver when he left the mountain,

with no people around, the silver was useless!

Zhang Jie had spent this time sleeping in the open, nearly turning into a wild man.

Even so, it was only because he possessed formidable Wu Gong

that he was able to safely cross the nearly thousand-mile journey from Mount Wudang to Mount Kunlun.

Along the way, small bands of routed soldiers, Yuan scouting parties, and even bandits who occupied mountains,

loudly proclaiming, "I opened this road, I planted these trees. If you want to pass,

leave your toll money," were as numerous as ox hairs.

In this short time, the number of damned souls who had died by Zhang Jie's sword was no less than a hundred.

Consequently, he himself had become imbued with a fair amount of baleful aura.

"In troubled times, a person is worth less than a dog in a prosperous age!"

Reflecting on the tragic scenes he had witnessed, Zhang Jie couldn't help but recall the poem written in his later years by Wang Anshi, the stubborn minister of the Song Dynasty who had declared:

"Ancestral traditions are not to be followed, Heaven's mandate is not to be feared, public opinion is not to be worried about; my Dao is the Dao of Heaven,

my laws surpass all laws":

"I wish to be a frivolous youth of the Five Mausoleums, born in the Zhenguan or Kaiyuan eras.

Spending a lifetime fighting cocks and racing dogs, knowing nothing of the world's peace or peril."

While Zhang Jie was lost in memory, the gatekeeper of Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor spotted him.

Seeing that Zhang Jie's attire was not that of an ordinary person, the gatekeeper walked over, cupped his hands respectfully, and asked:

"May I ask, young hero, what brings you to our Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor?"

"I am Zhang Jie, a third-generation disciple of Wudang, here specifically to pay a visit to the two masters of the manor."

Regaining his composure, Zhang Jie returned the salute and showed the gatekeeper

the standard long sword of a Wudang disciple, featuring the black and white yin-yang fish on the hilt.

"I never imagined I would be in the presence of a high disciple of Wudang!"

Upon learning Zhang Jie's identity, the gatekeeper exclaimed in surprise.

Wudang's reputation had grown daily over the years, surpassing major sects like Emei and Kongdong,

and standing on equal footing with the Western Shaolin Temple, which claimed that "all Wu Gong under Heaven originates from Western Shaolin," together holding the reins of the Wu Lin.

Not to mention that the founder of Wudang, Zhang Zhenren, was still alive.

That centenarian, still full of vitality, with his crane-like hair and youthful face,

and his immortal, Daoist bearing, was undoubtedly the number one person in the Wu Lin!

The value of Zhang Jie being a third-generation Wudang disciple was extremely high.

At the very least, their own young master of Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor, the nephew of Master Zhu Zhangling,

and the senior disciple of Master Wu Lie, Wei Bi, could not compare to Zhang Jie in status or position.

"Zhang Shaoxia, please wait a moment; I will go and invite the masters."

Not daring to be negligent, the gatekeeper led Zhang Jie into the reception hall,

and after having a maid serve fine tea, he went to invite the two masters.

"Thank you for the trouble, little brother."

Zhang Jie replied gently.

"This is my duty, Zhang Shaoxia, you are too polite."

The gatekeeper waved his hand, though a smile appeared on his face.

He had not expected Zhang Jie to be so polite to a mere gatekeeper like him.

"A Wudang disciple is truly worthy of being from a major sect,

as gentle as jade, just like the gentlemen in storybooks."

The delighted gatekeeper praised the Wudang disciple's upbringing in his heart while walking briskly to invite the two masters.

"Hoo~"

Zhang Jie lifted his teacup, blew gently to clear the foam from the surface, and took a light sip of the clear tea.

"Clack, clack."

Before Zhang Jie could finish his cup, a steady, powerful, and highly rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed from outside the hall.

Clearly, the person approaching not only possessed profound internal energy but was also a serious and dignified individual.

"Haha!

Zhang Shaoxia's visit truly makes our Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor shine with brilliance."

Before the person even arrived, a hearty voice reached Zhang Jie's ears.

As the words faded, a middle-aged man dressed in silk robes, with a sturdy build,

a handsome face, and an air of both dignity and nobility, walked into the hall.

The gatekeeper who returned with him introduced the man to Zhang Jie:

"Zhang Shaoxia, this is our Master Wu Lie of Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor."

Zhang Jie set down his teacup, stood up, and replied:

"If Master Wu and Master Zhu's Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor is but a humble dwelling,

then what other luxurious manor exists under Heaven? Master Wu, you are too modest."

"Haha, Zhang Shaoxia, you flatter me."

Wu Lie appeared humble on the surface, but he was quite proud inside.

This Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor was the result of the painstaking efforts of himself and Zhu Zhangling, which had led to today's flourishing prosperity.

Now that he heard such high praise from Zhang Jie, how could he not be pleased?

"Zhang Shaoxia, please sit."

As the host, and being more than a generation older than Zhang Jie, Wu Lie naturally took the seat of honor without hesitation.

"Is Zhang Shaoxia well?"

Wu Lie took the initiative to express his concern for the Wu Lin senior, Zhang Sanfeng.

"My grandmaster is doing very well."

Zhang Jie cupped his hands in the direction of Mount Wudang.

Next came another round of empty pleasantries.

Seeing that the small talk was sufficient, Wu Lie opened the topic to the main subject:

"I wonder what brings Zhang Shaoxia to our Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor?

If there is anything our Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor can help with,

please do not hesitate to speak, Zhang Shaoxia; our manor will certainly do its utmost to assist."

Not knowing exactly which cliff Zhang Wuji had jumped from, Zhang Jie chose to play along:

"I have come here specifically because I need Master Wu's help with an important matter."

Upon hearing this, Wu Lie's expression stiffened.

He had only intended to make a polite gesture; he never expected Zhang Jie to actually take him up on it.

Wu Lie: I only meant to make a gesture; I didn't expect this Zhang Jie to actually take me seriously.

However, having already made the grand promise, for the sake of his reputation, Wu Lie had to bite the bullet and say:

"Zhang Shaoxia, please speak freely."

Zhang Jie informed him of his purpose:

"I have a junior brother, Zhang Wuji, who has been wandering the Jianghu for several years and remains missing to this day.

I have descended the mountain this time specifically to find him.

My investigations revealed that the last place he was seen was in the vicinity of Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor.

I would like to ask Master Wu to mobilize your men to help me search for traces of my junior brother."

To make his performance more realistic, Zhang Jie even stood up and bowed deeply to Wu Lie.

Zhang Jie: Life is like a play; it all depends on acting!

For the sake of the Nine Yang Divine Art, for the sake of the secret realm in the Kunlun valley, he, Zhang Jie, was going all out!

"Zhang Shaoxia, you are too polite, too polite."

Wu Lie hurriedly helped the bowing Zhang Jie up.

However, his mind was racing:

Three years ago, Zhang Wuji, under the alias Zeng Aniu, came to Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor.

He and Zhu Zhangling, in order to obtain the Dragon-Slaying Saber from Zhang Wuji's godfather, Xie Xun—the saber known as "Wu Lin Supreme,

Dragon-Slaying Saber, commands the world, none dare disobey. If the Heaven-Dependent does not appear,

who can contend with it"—had stopped at nothing.

First, they used a honey trap, with Zhu Zhangling deliberately arranging for his daughter, Zhu Jiuzhen, to approach Zhang Wuji,

using her beauty and gentleness to deceive him into trusting her.

They attempted to use Zhang Wuji's trust in Zhu Jiuzhen to extract the location of the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Xie Xun.

After the honey trap failed, they laid another trap:

He and Zhu Zhangling falsely claimed that Xie Xun was dead, using the tragic news of Zhang Wuji's godfather's death to lure him in.

Then they used a bitter-meat trick, with him, Wu Lie, disguising himself as Xie Xun,

and engaging in a fierce fight with Zhu Zhangling in the manor to create the illusion that Xie Xun was dead.

As a result, both schemes failed, and having no other choice,

they attempted to forcibly capture Zhang Wuji to interrogate him about Xie Xun's location.

During the pursuit, they cornered Zhang Wuji at the edge of a cliff.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Wuji would rather die than submit, and actually jumped off the cliff.

When Zhang Wuji jumped, he hesitated, but Zhu Zhangling, completely blinded by greed,

actually grabbed Zhang Wuji and jumped off the cliff with him.

Now, three years later, Zhang Wuji and Zhu Zhangling were likely long since reduced to white bones!

To prevent the incident at Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor from attracting the attention of major sects like Wudang and Kongdong,

for these three years, he had played both roles, releasing the illusion to the outside world that everything at Zhu Wu Twin-Ring Manor remained the same.

He never expected that even with such tight information control, people from Wudang would still come knocking! ===== CHAPTER 28 =====