Chapter 28: The Songshan Sect

Chapter 28: The Song Mountain Sect

On the other side, Lao Denor traveled through the night with the Evil-Dispelling Sword Manual, fearing that the members of the Huashan Sect would catch up to him. He disguised himself and used every trick in the book. What he did not know, however, was that after Zheng Jian’s explanation, Elder Yue had already let go of the sword manual, so Lao Denor, who was jumpy and paranoid, was actually fighting shadows.

The harrowing journey left him visibly thinner. When at last he arrived at the foot of Song Mountain, his heart finally settled.

“Who goes there?” Song Mountain Sect was the overlord among the Five Mountains Sword Sects, and its leader, Zuo Lengchan, was the alliance chief of the Five Mountains Sword Sects. Not only ordinary martial artists, but even the great sects like Shaolin and Wudang had to show the Song Mountain Sect some respect.

Especially now, when the Song Mountain Sect was at its peak, with masters emerging one after another. Beneath Zuo Lengchan, there were the Thirteen Guardians, each capable of holding their own, and together with their leader, their power commanded the respect of the entire martial world.

“I am Lao Denor, and I have urgent business with the sect leader!” Lao Denor had already resolved that after this affair, he could never return to Huashan, so he boldly revealed his identity.

“Lao Denor? Aren’t you from the Huashan Sect?” The Song Mountain Sect’s gatekeeper stared at him in confusion.

“I am the third disciple of Leader Zuo, placed in the Huashan Sect by his orders. I return now with important intelligence, and I have a token personally bestowed by Leader Zuo as proof!” Lao Denor hastily produced a token from his breast, bearing the characters for Song Mountain on one side and “Zuo” on the other.

The gatekeeper looked it over, but could not discern its authenticity and hesitated.

Lao Denor grew impatient. “You fool! If you can’t tell if it’s real, why don’t you hurry and report to the sect leader!” He was helpless; the token was genuine, but he didn’t know if this gatekeeper was new or what—he couldn’t even distinguish it.

Just then, an elder passed by. “What is the commotion?”

This elder was short and stout, his skin sallow and swollen, appearing around fifty years old. His hands were particularly remarkable: thick, stubby, and small.

The gatekeeper was delighted to see him, and bowed deeply. “Greetings, Elder Le. This man is Lao Denor from Huashan, but claims to be the third disciple of the sect leader and bears his token, requesting an audience. I cannot tell if it’s genuine, and ask that you examine it.”

Le Hou, the master of the Yin-Yang Hand, glanced at Lao Denor, then took the token, gave it a quick look, and returned it. “It’s genuine! Just in case, Lao Denor, you shall come with me to see the sect leader.”

Lao Denor had no objection—his sole aim was to meet Leader Zuo.

…

A short while later, Lao Denor followed Le Hou to the Song Mountain Sect’s grand hall, where Zuo Lengchan was already waiting.

Le Hou led Lao Denor in, bowed, and announced, “Sect leader, Lao Denor has urgent business to report.”

Zuo Lengchan raised his head. His face was stern, his eyes sharp as lightning, his lips thin, and his every gesture exuded the air of a master strategist. He spoke slowly, “Brother Le, you may withdraw.”

Le Hou was exceptionally respectful to Zuo Lengchan and did not question further, leaving the hall. He could tell from Zuo Lengchan’s demeanor that Lao Denor was indeed one of their own; thus, everything was within the sect leader’s plans and Le Hou, admiring this, asked no more.

Seeing this, Lao Denor hurriedly knelt, choking with emotion. “Greetings, Master… After so many years, you are as magnificent as ever. My heart overflows with joy.”

Zuo Lengchan rose, his wide sleeves sweeping as he approached Lao Denor. “Enough, rise. I know you’ve endured much these years.”

Hearing this, all Lao Denor’s bitterness vanished. With Zuo Lengchan’s recognition, he felt he could sacrifice everything without regret.

Watching Lao Denor stand, Zuo Lengchan’s thin lips curled slightly, almost smiling. “Denor, I ordered you to infiltrate Huashan and forbid any communication unless necessary. Yet now you return unexpectedly—what is the reason?”

Lao Denor trembled, understanding that the sect leader was dissatisfied. He knew he must have a proper excuse, or he would not escape punishment.

He promptly produced a small, folded bundle from his breast, holding it above his head. “Your command is engraved in my heart, Master. I would never forget. Yet this matter is so urgent that delay could bring disaster, so I rushed back by night. Please examine this item, Master.”

Zuo Lengchan’s interest was piqued. Among all his undercover disciples, Lao Denor’s loyalty was the most reliable. For him to risk exposure just to hand deliver something—what could it be?

Zuo Lengchan took the bundle, and with a shake, its contents were revealed: a very old monk’s robe.

“Master, please look at the back of the robe,” whispered Lao Denor.

Zuo Lengchan turned it over, and saw the fabric densely covered in writing. At the top, four characters leapt into view: Evil-Dispelling Sword Manual. Even with his composure, Zuo Lengchan could not help but exclaim in surprise.

“The Evil-Dispelling Sword Manual? Denor, where did you acquire this?” Zuo Lengchan could no longer maintain his aloofness, for the fame of the item in his hands was overwhelming.

Lao Denor then recounted the entire story in detail, concluding, “Master, I dare not claim the manual’s authenticity, but it seems highly likely to be genuine. Whether it is or not, I leave to your judgment.”

Zuo Lengchan listened, closed his eyes in thought, then said, “Genuine or false, I will judge for myself. You have worked hard; go rest. And you need not return to Huashan for now.”

Lao Denor was elated. He understood Zuo Lengchan’s mind—if the manual proved genuine, his mission would be fulfilled.

Inside the secret chamber, Zuo Lengchan held the robe, his expression puzzled. The first line of the manual, “To master this skill, you must first castrate yourself,” left him dumbfounded.

To be honest, Zuo Lengchan’s martial talent and insight were exceptional. After the great battle between the Five Mountains Sword Sects and the Sun-Moon Cult, the sects were severely depleted, almost all their experts dead or wounded. Zuo Lengchan gathered the surviving elders, distilled their sword techniques, and forged the now-famous Seventeen Song Mountain Sword Forms—majestic and severe, unfolding like a thousand cavalry charging forth, spears and lances under endless yellow sands. This alone illustrated his deep understanding of martial arts.

With his experience, he could see that the sword techniques in the manual were rather ordinary, hardly the legendary art said to terrify even the supernatural. Yet he felt certain that this manual, brought back at great risk by Lao Denor, was authentic.

If there was any secret, it must lie in the line: “To master this skill, you must first castrate yourself…”

…

Chapter end.