Chapter 220: Peach Blossom Island

Several days later——

The former thousand-year-old ancient Shaolin Temple's back mountain was destroyed overnight; amidst the shattered mountain stones, five desiccated corpses were discovered.

After examining the relics, it was confirmed that one was the Shaolin Temple's venerable Master Ku Hui, one was the Tibetan State Protector Dharma Master, one was suspected to be the feigned corpse of the former world's top expert Wang Chongyang, and the other two could not be identified.

A Shaolin disciple confirmed that on that day, an earth-shattering battle beyond mortal comprehension took place in the back mountain, breaking the Five Milk Peaks and thus destroying the Damo Cave.

This shook the entire martial world.

For a time, various rumors spread.

Most people thought these rumors were not credible, but after someone went to see for themselves, the rumors grew more intense.

This matter alarmed many, until the Jin State court sent troops to blockade the entire Shaoshi Mountain, after which the turmoil gradually subsided.

Half a month later.

Prosperous State County, Boat Mountain Island.

Sails stood thick as forest, like clouds' shadows falling on the jade sea; where the wind passed, the sails moved like dance, the wave sounds and shouts intertwined, painting a picture of prosperous ancient charm.

"Sir, would you like to take a boat?"

At the dock, a boat boss saw a black-clad man standing ahead and enthusiastically went up to solicit him as a passenger.

"Peach Blossom Island!" the black-clad man gazed at the sea, not turning back.

The boat boss's smile froze on his face; he quickly waved his hand, saying, "Sir, you'd better look for someone else! I don't know that place!"

"You really don't know?"

The black-clad man slowly turned his head, calmly staring at the boat boss.

"It's you!"

The boat boss exclaimed in shock.

"Are you going or not?"

Niu Dingtian slowly stepped forward.

The boat boss instinctively stepped back, flustered, saying, "Go! Go! I must go! I, back then, had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai, and left you behind; you must never hold it against me—I'll hoist the sail right now!"

Saying that, he hurried toward a sea vessel; once aboard, Niu Dingtian instantly flashed to the bow.

Hoisting the sail, they set off.

Watching seabirds fly over, the waves surging, Niu Dingtian's heart was as restless as the sea.

That day, after dodging the lightning strike, he hid in the Spirit Spring Cave for ten full days before the heavenly thunder finally dispersed.

But as soon as he stayed out of the cave for more than half a day, heavenly tribulation would strike again.

Eventually, he unintentionally discovered that the Spirit Spring Water could temporarily shield against the heavenly tribulation's aura, so he carried two buckets of his own bathwater and left Peach Spring.

He returned joyfully to Nine Palaces Mountain, originally intending to hurry to the wedding ceremony, but given the limited Spirit Spring Water, his remaining time was also limited.

But upon hearing of Miss Huang's plight, his heart felt as if it had been violently tugged.

"Perhaps I had neglected her before," Niu Dingtian murmured to himself.

On the same boat, the same island, what he saw this time might no longer be that elf-like Miss Huang.

Recalling the scene of his first arrival at Peach Blossom Island five years ago, Niu Dingtian couldn't help but feel a sigh.

Peach Blossom Island——

Maples blazed like fire, the sea breeze gently blew; it was the crisp, clear autumn, with fallen petals scattering in profusion against the azure sky, maple leaves drifting away with the waves, tranquil as an endless painting.

At noon, mealtime, Huang Yaoshi remained in his study researching medical texts, showing no sign of going out.

These past two years, he seemed obsessed, constantly gathering medical secret manuals from all over, studying the treatment of leg ailments; even his martial arts had deteriorated considerably.

"Master, it's time to eat."

Mei Chaofeng, in plain white robes, carrying several delicate dishes, tiptoed into the study and softly called out.

Her eyesight had now been restored; her once-pale complexion had gained color, and the marks time had left on her face seemed softened by a touch of tranquility.

"Didn't I say not to disturb me while reading?" Huang Yaoshi frowned slightly, his sword-like brows knitting together, a flicker of displeasure passing through his deep eyes.

Mei Chaofeng gently placed the dishes on the table, whispering, "This was made personally by Junior Sister; if Master doesn't eat, she'll be angry soon."

Upon hearing this, Huang Yaoshi's expression eased; he set down his medical book and looked at the dishes—they were indeed his favorite.

"Alright, let's eat first." He sighed lightly, rose, and sat at the table.

Mei Chaofeng did not leave; she picked up the wine jug, poured a cup of Immortal Drunk into the wine cup, then stood aside, silently watching her master eat.

At first, her attentive care might have earned a couple of reproaches from Huang Yaoshi, but over time he grew accustomed to it.

"Any major events happening outside the island lately?" Huang Yaoshi suddenly paused his ivory chopsticks, lifted his head slightly, and asked.

Mei Chaofeng startled; her master had always been indifferent to outside affairs, and even more so after Junior Sister's incident.

But over the past six months, he has periodically inquired about outside conditions.

After a moment's thought, Mei Chaofeng said, "Junior Disciple Lu wrote that half a month ago, the back mountain of Shaolin Temple witnessed a battle beyond mortal comprehension, causing the Five Milk Peaks to collapse and the Damo Cave to be destroyed."

"The Five Milk Peaks collapsed?" Huang Yaoshi stared at Mei Chaofeng, wondering if this disciple of his had lost his mind.

"Disciple dare not deceive Master; Junior Disciple Lu indeed said that." Mei Chaofeng whispered, "Later, five desiccated corpses were found at the scene, as if their inner energy had been sucked dry."

"After examining the relics, one was identified as the Western Regions Shaolin's Master Ku Hui, one as the Tibetan State Protector Dharma Master, one suspected to be the former Chongyang True Person, and the other two could not be identified."

"Shaolin disciples and the citizens of Dengfeng City confirmed that night, two clusters of golden and silver blazing light hovered in the air, like daylight, with heavenly thunder occasionally striking them; eventually they all moved southward, appearing within the borders of Peach Spring County."

"There are also rumors saying that, in fact, a spirit was undergoing tribulation on the back mountain that night."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Huang Yaoshi slightly furrowed his sword-like brows, set down the wine cup; aside from the talk of spirits, he was already seventy percent convinced.

Although it sounds hard to believe, that disciple would not dare to deceive himself with hearsay; he must have investigated early on.

Seeing this, Mei Chaofeng's tranquil eyes flickered slightly, and she whispered, "Master said not to bother you with outside affairs; seeing you these days so weary, I dare not let you worry further."

In truth, she feared the outside world was too dangerous and did not want Master to leave the island again to investigate.

If Junior Disciple Lu's account is true, in such a battle, even with the Five Absolutes' martial prowess, the odds would likely be grim.

Mei Chaofeng felt that the present peaceful life on the island was quite good; she did not want it to be disturbed, so after informing her junior sister and obtaining consent, she did not proceed to report.

But now that the master actively inquired, she dared not conceal it any longer.

Huang Yaoshi was extremely perceptive; after only a slight pondering, he basically understood the crux.

However, he did not voice blame, merely heavied his heart slightly as he waved his hand, saying: "Take it away, and tell Rong'er I've used it; I'll write a letter shortly, Chaofeng, you take it off the island for me."

Mei Chaofeng opened her mouth to advise further, but seeing a hint of impatience on the master's face, she could only relent, after putting away the food and drink, she softly said: "Disciple takes her leave."

Having said that, she lightly withdrew.

Leaving the study, Mei Chaofeng returned the food and drink to the pantry for storage, then came to the Lush Green Pavilion in the bamboo grove.

On the island, the mute girls and mute slaves cannot speak; nowadays she daily pushes her junior sister out after meals to bask in the sun.

In the bamboo grove, the Lush Green Pavilion held Miss Huang dressed in white like snow, seated upright, her head slightly bowed, lightly stroking the strings of her long zither; the clear melody was pleasing to the ear, seeping into the heart.

Around, the tall emerald bamboo swayed gracefully; sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting down patchy shadows.

Mei Chaofeng, meanwhile, sat quietly at the side, listening intently.

The zither's melody grew urgent, like rushing tides, surging and tumultuous; Miss Huang's fingers flew across the strings, the faster she plucked, the more urgent it became.

"Clang—"

Finally, amid a ringing clang, the zither string snapped abruptly.

At this moment, the Lush Green Pavilion was filled with an ineffable silence; Miss Huang's hand hovered in midair, her eyes showing a hint of desolation and helplessness.

Mei Chaofeng slowly opened her eyes, gazing at the zither with its broken string; a vague wistfulness welled up in her heart.

A gentle breeze blew, bamboo leaves fluttering down; she rose and walked to the wheelchair, softly saying: "Junior sister, it's time to go out and see the sun."

Miss Huang nodded slightly; Mei Chaofeng pushed the wheelchair slowly out of the Lush Green Pavilion, arriving at the seaside, where sunlight fell upon them, bringing a hint of warmth.

Sea and sky merged into one, vast and boundless; the waves tirelessly struck the shore, each crash resounding mighty.

When the two reached a flat hillock, the mute girl was already waiting there, still holding a crutch in her arms.

Mei Chaofeng stepped forward to take the crutch, smiling at Miss Huang: "Junior sister, if you persist another fifty steps today, adding a little each day, you will surely stand one day."

Miss Huang remained silent, dejected; after a long while she sighed softly: "What use is standing if I'm still a cripple? In the future people will only know that Heretic Huang has a daughter called Lame Huang."

"Pfft~"

The mute girl couldn't hold back, covering her mouth to laugh; upon realizing, her face instantly flooded with panic, she hurriedly knelt on the ground, waving her hands continuously: "Wu wu wu, wuwu..."

"Servant! What are you laughing at?" Mei Chaofeng shouted angrily, raising her hand to strike.

"All right, Senior Sister Mei, laugh if you want." Miss Huang promptly stopped her, took the crutch, tucked it under her arm, with difficulty stood, then said lightly: "Even a servant will laugh; outsiders might laugh in all sorts of ways—worst case, we simply never leave Peach Blossom Island."

If it were her former temperament, whoever dared mock her like that would have already felt the lash of the bamboo whip in her hand.

But now she could not summon anger; everyone here is disabled—mutes laughing at the lame, what's there to laugh at?

Seeing this, the mute girl relaxed, furtively glanced at Miss Huang, then obediently stood to the side.

Miss Huang pushed away Mei Chaofeng's supporting arm; her skirt and hair flew wildly in the wind, she clenched her lips, gripped the crutch tightly with both hands, and laboriously moved her heavy legs.

Each step felt as if bearing a thousand jin, yet after a moment, fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

"Wu wu wu!"

The mute girl suddenly raised her hand pointing at the sea, uttering a "wu wu" call.

Miss Huang frowned and looked back, only to see at the horizon where water meets sky, a black speck of a ship sailing toward them.

"It must be Xiao Ying sister and her party again; Senior Sister Mei, just say I've gone out to heal my leg."

To be frank, Miss Huang did not wish to display her current appearance before others; she murmured, then braced the crutch and walked toward the wheelchair.

Mei Chaofeng hesitated slightly, then mused: "The master today inquired about the outside situation and ordered me to return to the island to send a letter; at that time I will inquire about that person's news for my junior sister."

Miss Huang blinked slightly, then decisively shook her head, saying: "Senior Sister Mei, no need to trouble yourself; if…"

As she spoke, her voice cut off abruptly; she slowly lifted her gaze, staring blankly at the figure ahead. (End of chapter)