Chapter 22

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

In which our heroes go into a dinky cave and dig a lot of holes.

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The cave was pitch-black, with spiderwebs hanging messily everywhere, and the floor was sprinkled with bits and pieces of animal remains. Just looking at it made people not want to enter. Junior Sect Master Ge pointed to a place near the stone wall that had a four-sided indentation and said, “The box was found here.”

The Alliance Leader’s group looked and examined the nearby surroundings but didn’t see anything out of place. They sent out a few people to keep watch in all directions before picking out a few experts and then finally disturbing the spiderwebs and heading inside.

Wenren Heng was naturally in the lineup, and after Ye You’s outstanding achievement in seeing through the true meaning of Pursued Until Scattered, he was also allowed to follow behind. From afar, those Demonic Sect Elders watched anxiously, afraid that the Sect Master would encounter some mishap. But right now they were “nobodies”, and the only thing they could do was wait outside along with everyone else.

The cave was big enough for only two people to walk side-by-side. Upon the stone walls, the torchlight cast shadows shaped like silent and twisted creatures. Everyone carefully moved forward step-by-step, movements extremely slow, but they quickly discovered some new worries. Other than the spiders and spiderwebs, there were no other vexing things within the cave. Moreover, the cave itself wasn’t deep, only around seventeen to eighteen meters[1] in length, and at the end was a chunk of smooth rock.

On it was carved a sentence, written with powerful force: The ones who can enter have been brought by fate, so go ahead and take away Pursued Until Scattered.

The expressions of the Alliance Leader’s group changed. Holding the torch in hand, they examined the surroundings but found nothing. One person couldn’t help but say, “What if he’s talking about the book in Academy Master Ge’s hand?”

Academy Master Ge immediately said, “Impossible, or else why would he still carve a ‘can’t see the forest for the trees’? Wouldn’t that have been entirely unnecessary?”

Another person interrupted with, “Perhaps he simply wanted to mess with people, or maybe he wanted them to rush in here to read his hard work, and the real Pursued Until Scattered truly is that book.”

“That’s even more impossible. I’ve already tried everything, and there’s nothing special about this book. Furthermore, Pursued Until Scattered has been passed down for so many years, but this book was written not even ten years ago!” Academy Master Ge’s tone carried a trace of gravity and urgency. If the book truly was real, then it’d be better not to let anyone know. Otherwise, if it was known across the land, then what he’s currently holding was practically a talisman of death.

He couldn’t help but look at Sir Xiao. “You agree, right, young sir?”

Ye You said, “Whether I agree or not, let’s look a bit more before speaking.”

The Alliance Leader waited first for the elders to order people to start searching. And just as he himself had finished his thorough preparations for searching the cave, it turned out that, as before, there were further considerations this time. Using only basic breathing techniques, they had discovered a small, wooden box that had been buried beneath the rock. This box was made of the same materials as the previous box containing the book.

Academy Master Ge immediately let out a breath. “Like I said, it’s impossible that it was my book.”

The cave was too narrow, and everyone couldn’t crowd around it, so they decided to turn back and exit from whence they came.

Everyone else had already raised their heads in expectation, and seeing them come out in a crowd with cheerful cries, they quickly heard that they had discovered a wooden box. Immediately, all their eyes lit up, and everyone was curious about what was inside.

Although the whole thing went off smoothly, the Alliance Leader’s group still didn’t lower their guards. They opened the wooden box very cautiously, only to be met with the sight of a strip of leather. The Alliance Leader took it out and opened it, discovering that it was a letter.

The first page was the same as the one in the book that Academy Master Ge was currently holding, full of sentiments. But it had a different tone to it than the previous seasonal melancholy. This one said that it had been ten years since he had obtained Pursued Until Scattered, and he had studied it day and night, not daring to slack. But because he was naturally slow-witted, he wasn’t able to penetrate its meaning. Now that his age was steadily getting higher, he feared that this exceptional book would be ruined in his own hands, so he wanted to gather all the heroes of the land and respectfully lend it out, hoping that a time will come when they can bear witness to such a miraculous skill reappearing under the heavens.

“Is there anyone in the world who is truly so generous?” Manor Lord Wei said, “I don’t believe it could ever possibly be this convenient.”

The Alliance Leader declined to comment. When he finished reading one side, he turned it over to the back. On it was written where the book was located: From the cave, go ten steps south, then five steps east, then one hundred steps south, one hundred steps west, then one hundred steps north, then fifty steps east.

These people weren’t idiots. After thinking about it for a bit, they knew this was a circle.

The next words on the leather also confirmed their guess: Pursued Until Scattered was within these directions.

Manor Lord Wei’s omen had come true.

The group, “…”

In the surroundings, a group of people were standing on tiptoes, stretching their necks to look, while gossiping. Finally, there were some who couldn’t hold back and asked, “Alliance Leader, what does it say?”

The Alliance Leader silently gave them a look. He suppressed the desire to knead his head and let out a sigh, thinking that he’d someday be tossed around to death by these strange people from Jianghu.

He then matter-of-factly told them the contents of the leather once all the way through.

At first, the people stood unmoving for an instant before some of them suddenly jumped a meter[2] into the air and then excitedly rushed forward to start digging holes, with more and more people steadily joining them.

The Alliance Leader’s group looked at each other in dismay, not knowing why they all had a sort of murky feeling. As someone who had dug holes[3] before, Academy Master Ge took the initiative to ask, “Do you think that whatever is dug up would be the real Pursued Until Scattered?”

The people gave him a look, none of them really wanting to speak. But the Alliance Leader also couldn’t not speak, so he sighed and said that he didn’t know. Academy Master Ge looked to the side. “What does Sir Xiao think? Is this real or fake? It’s not all a trick, right?”

Ye You smiled and returned the question, “If I said it was fake, would everyone stop and go home?”

The group knew that wouldn’t happen and could only resign themselves to fate.

 

That area quickly became stuffed full of people. Every single sect sent their subordinates over, and even Wenren Heng sent a few people and stood outside the circle, looking in with his Junior Brother. Seeing the shadow of Lady Wei coming over, he took his Junior Brother with him to go to the side of those pack of scoundrels. Since this entire group were men, as a single woman, she couldn’t continue advancing.

As expected, Lady Wei walked halfway before stopping and hesitantly looked for a while before going back disappointed to look for Wei Jiangyue.

Ye You faintly said, “Senior Brother, you really have a heart of stone.”

Wenren Heng had a mind to say, “Why don’t I give my luck with women to you,” but had second thoughts after realizing that this person might actually want it. Although most of what this person said were lies, the one who’d be hurt emotionally would be himself, so the only thing he could say in the end was, “Your Senior Brother unfortunately doesn’t enjoy it.”

Ye You asked, curious, “Then when will Senior Brother find me a Sister-in-Law[4]?”

Wenren Heng looked at him. “Let’s leave it up to fate.”

These past few days, Young Master Li had heard no end of rumors about Pursued Until Scattered. He now knew that this thing was incredible, but that it was difficult to master. Never mind owning it, barely ten people have ever mastered it, and every one was the finest martial arts expert. He looked at the excited expressions on that crowd of people and asked, unwilling to give up, “Sect Master Ye really isn’t going to be joining in on such a big incident?”

Those pack of scoundrels weren’t surprised in the least, used to this strange sight, and said earnestly and sincerely, “Your Sect Master Ye’s heart is too difficult to understand, so it’s hard to say.”

In deep thought, Young Master Li realized that that made sense and once again repeated the words about joining the Demonic Sect. After he started talking, he also took out a barrel of alcohol from his carriage and, walking around the perimeter, started to drink. The alcohol Young Master Li brought was sure to be good wine, with a fragrance that could be smelled practically five kilometers[5] away, and the neighboring drunkards all couldn’t help but look over.

From afar, Lady Wei looked at that crowd of people talking and laughing and muttered, puzzled, “Why does Brother Heng like to stay with them so much? Those kinds of people…”

Wei Jiangyue also looked over.

Within that group of people were mostly children from wealthy families, not many people truly from Jianghu. They often came together to play, going wherever was the most fun, watching whatever was the most interesting, never considering propriety or reputation. Their only consideration was to have fun. However, having said that, they also had many accommodating masters. His sister was looking only on the surface and couldn’t see beneath that initial layer.

He said, “If you look more closely, you’ll understand.”

Lady Wei still didn’t understand. “What is there to look at?”

Wei Jiangyue said, “At least Wenren Heng is willing to be together with them.”

Lady Wei immediately said, “That’s true.”

“…” Wei Jiangyue kind of wished he could toss her out like the bathwater.

 

That crowd of people dug from the time the scorching sun was at its peak until sunset, but not even half a sheet of paper was found, and complaints filled the air. But while they complained, the allure of Pursued Until Scattered was still too big, and no one was willing to give up easily. They were still resigned to dig more holes.

At this time, Wenren Heng had already eaten a simple dinner with his Junior Brother and was currently standing underneath a tree, looking over at the soil that had been dug beyond recognition. He asked, “What do you think?”

Ye You said, “He’s waited this many years, and used this many people, so there probably will actually be something. It’s only that his way of doing things is just begging for a spanking.”

Wenren Heng nodded his head in agreement. “And?”

Ye You laughed and said, “But it’s quite interesting. I still really want to meet him.”

Wenren Heng gave his Junior Brother a look.

These past few days, he had been ruminating over the past and future, and he still couldn’t fully comprehend the reason behind his Junior Brother’s actions. So he thought of two possibilities — either his Junior Brother previously learned of this matter from who knows where and simply gave others a push in secret, or his Junior Brother was the actual person who placed the book and did so wanting to plot against someone.

The question was, who was his Junior Brother plotting against?

At the time his Junior Brother left, he had thought that there were still some secrets relating to his Master’s incident and had forced himself to go through his recollections carefully, one-by-one, but he had not remembered anything suspicious. What’s more, Martial Uncle was already an important general at that point in time. With such military power in his hands, he was certainly more than a match for any person from Jianghu. If the person who murdered Master really did have other accomplices, it would’ve been better for Junior Brother to tell Martial Uncle directly. Why would he keep it to himself?

Ye You became aware of his line of sight and asked, “What is it?”

Wenren Heng didn’t even have time to open his mouth before a shout came from faraway, “Found it!”

They looked over and saw that the person who had dug it up was from Lingjian Pavilion. Holding a muddy chest, that person went over to Pavilion Master Ding, and countless people in the surrounding area looked over at them.

Pavilion Master Ding didn’t hesitate. He took out his sword and cut open the outside lock. Underneath thousands of eyes, he opened the chest, only to see that the inside contained not a book but strips of leather, and many strips at that.

The Alliance Leader picked up the uppermost strip. On it was written that because of fears that the book would be misappropriated, he thought of a good idea and hid the book in a certain location. After drawing a map, he ripped said map into pieces. With every person holding a piece, if they followed it in order, they’d be fine.

The search still had to be continued.

Everyone felt as if their breaths were stuck in their throats, unable to be dislodged.

Even the always good-tempered Manor Lord Wei couldn’t help but say, “He sure can torment us.”

Everyone collectively nodded.

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[1] Again, 丈 is used here, and specifically, the text says the cave is around 5 to 6丈. As mentioned before, 5丈 is around 16.7 meters, while 6丈 is around 18 meters.

[2] 3尺, specifically.

[3] Another play on words. The word for 坑 can mean both “holes” and “defraud”.

[4] 師嫂 The wife of one’s Senior Brother.

[5] Actual unit used is 10里. 1里 is apparently 500m.

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I’m now lowkey regretting my decision to convert all ancient measurements to the modern metric system. I don’t think I’ll change it though, since 5 km really does convey more information at a glance than 10 li. I might reconsider when I do my final edits once I finish this whole thing. Maybe.

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