Chapter Twenty-five: Wu Yuqiu Delivers a Secret Message for the Beggar Sect
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Elder Dugu nodded and sighed. “Liang Keyong and I have always been on good terms. Now that he has been driven into exile, I should naturally lend him a hand. But how does he expect me to help him?”
The Cold-Faced Scholar replied, “Guo Jian has recruited the Beggar Sect’s former followers in the south and won over some of its disciples in the north. He drove Chief Liang beyond the pass, forcing many of Chief Liang’s loyal former followers to submit to him. These trusted disciples know that you and Chief Liang share an extraordinary bond and that you can be trusted, so your word will serve as their token. Chief Liang hopes that you will lead his former followers from Shandong beyond the pass to meet him, escort him to safety, help him reclaim his authority, and wait for an opportunity to overthrow Guo Jian.”
As he spoke, he drew a metal ring from his sleeve and handed it to Elder Dugu. “Chief Liang has worn this ring for many years. He said you would recognize it at once.”
Elder Dugu accepted the ring and glanced at it. It was indeed Liang Keyong’s. He then looked at the Cold-Faced Scholar and asked, “The Hall of Wind and Cloud has never interfered in the disputes of other factions. They say you would not even save a man from death. Why are you running errands for Liang Keyong now?”
The Cold-Faced Scholar gave a half-smile. “This is not the Hall of Wind and Cloud interfering. It is merely my personal choice. You know that even our disciples are not free to come and go as they please. I had to conceal my movements as well. Once they discover that one of my subordinates came to seek you out, my superiors will certainly notice. To avoid unnecessary trouble, I must leave immediately.”
Elder Dugu stroked his beard and smiled faintly. “I knew only that the Hall of Wind and Cloud’s spies were as dense as a web. I never imagined that even its own people were under surveillance. The thought is terrifying. Take care of yourself.”
The Cold-Faced Scholar, Wu Yuqiu, clasped his hands in farewell, then vanished in a flash. Elder Dugu turned and left as well.
After receiving the news from Wu Yuqiu, Elder Dugu returned home, only to find that Meng Xiaoli had not yet come back. He sat alone beside the stone table, deep in thought.
“To take men from Shandong to Northern Peace and then beyond the pass, we will encounter countless eyes and ears along the way. Guo Jian is neither deaf nor blind; he will certainly notice. The former disciples in Northern Peace have already been won over and will not help conceal our movements. Guo Jian is stationed there now, so he will intercept us halfway. Northern Peace is currently building an imperial palace, and every able-bodied man has been seized for labor. If we disguise ourselves…”
Just then, Meng Xiaoli entered from outside and asked in surprise, “Eh? Master, why have you returned so early? Has something happened?”
“There is something,” Elder Dugu replied. “Tomorrow I am leaving for Jinan Prefecture. You will be alone here, so you must practice diligently. By the time I return, your inner power should have reached the fourth level, and you should be proficient in using the Avoidance Formula and the Guarding Formula.”
Meng Xiaoli did not dare ask further questions. She could only nod. “I’ll do my best.”
As Elder Dugu walked toward his room, he said, “Don’t do your best. If you fail to reach it, I will have no choice but to admit that you are a pig.”
The remark left Meng Xiaoli speechless where she stood. She could only turn and return to her own room. Before going to sleep, she practiced her inner power for an hour, then drifted naturally into slumber.
Early the next morning, Meng Xiaoli was awakened once more by the familiar pounding on the door. She rose and opened it, only to find Elder Dugu hurriedly instructing her, “Pack your things and come with me at once. I may not return for ten days or half a month. I cannot rest easy leaving you here alone. We are setting out immediately, so do not dawdle.”
The sudden order left Meng Xiaoli somewhat dazed. Fortunately, she possessed little while traveling. She slung a bundle over her back, took up her sword, and went outside.
The master and disciple each mounted a swift horse and rode straight for Jinan Prefecture. Once they entered the city, they saw misery everywhere. The streets were desolate, and sorrow hung over the land. Though Meng Xiaoli was not from Jinan, the sight pierced her heart, and she could scarcely bear to look. Yet she had neither power nor money; she wished to help, but lacked the means.
They went directly to the Jinan branch of the Beggar Sect. When the disciples saw Elder Dugu, they respectfully ushered him into the hall. The branch leader, Lu Dakuan, hurried out to receive him, ordered his men to prepare a meal, and arranged seats for the guests and hosts.
Elder Dugu turned the metal ring in his hand as a signal. “There is an important matter to discuss.”
Leader Lu already knew why he had come. Seeing the ring, he understood everything and ordered his trusted men to dismiss everyone inside and outside the hall.
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Afterward, he said solemnly to Elder Dugu, “Great Hero Dugu, we are deeply grateful that you are willing to help our Chief. Whatever instructions you give, we will follow without question. May I ask what arrangements you have made?”
Elder Dugu came straight to the point. “How many reliable men do you have?”
Leader Lu’s face tightened with worry. “To be frank, Great Hero Dugu, it is not only our Jinan branch. Qingzhou, Binzhou, Andong Garrison, Yanzhou, and the others have all been affected by various disasters. The common people can barely survive, and neither can we. Our forces have been greatly reduced. Even if we summoned men from all the nearby prefectures, we would have fewer than five hundred.”
Elder Dugu nodded. “That will be enough. We are not going to fight Guo Jian directly. Our primary purpose is to escort Chief Liang through the pass. Once that goal is achieved, we must withdraw and avoid becoming entangled in battle.”
He stroked his beard and continued, “When we go beyond the pass, you must remain behind to conceal our movements. Send only the most trustworthy men, disguised as merchants or commoners, at different times and in small numbers, so that Guo Jian’s spies do not notice them. Have them meet me in Northern Peace.”
Leader Lu nodded firmly. “Rest assured, Great Hero Dugu.”
Elder Dugu then turned to Meng Xiaoli and instructed Leader Lu, “This young girl will remain here with you for now. You must take good care of her. Once the matter is settled, I will return for her.”
Leader Lu did not know the relationship between the two and found it awkward to ask directly. In his heart, he merely assumed that Elder Dugu had fathered an illegitimate daughter during one of his adventures. He nodded and agreed at once.
After the discussion, Elder Dugu, Meng Xiaoli, Leader Lu, and the others ate together and arranged their lodgings. Before retiring, Elder Dugu summoned Meng Xiaoli and instructed her in a grave voice, “Although I have accepted you as my disciple, you must never address me as your master while we are outside.”
Meng Xiaoli was puzzled. “Why?”
Elder Dugu explained, “Once people learn that you are my disciple, those who fear my inner power will seek you out and provoke you. Countless people are eager to test themselves against my Nine-Character Formula. Unable to defeat me while I am at the latter stage of the eighth level, they will make you their target.”
Meng Xiaoli understood that Elder Dugu was trying to protect her. She nodded. “I understand.”
Elder Dugu took a sip of tea and smiled faintly. “Practice diligently over the next few days. Do not slacken. Go back and rest.”
Meng Xiaoli bowed farewell and left.
That night, Leader Lu sent trusted men to deliver secret messages to the other branches. The leaders of those branches secretly dispatched their disciples toward Northern Peace, each traveling under a different identity and at a different time.
Early the next morning, Elder Dugu mounted a swift horse and left Jinan Prefecture, leaving Meng Xiaoli behind at the Beggar Sect with a heart full of worry.
Elder Dugu reached Northern Peace and remained within the pass for several days. At last, he successfully reunited with all the Beggar Sect’s branches at the border crossing.
As soon as the reunion was complete, Guo Jian in Northern Peace received the news. He immediately dispatched several groups of disciples to intercept them and issued an order:
“Under no circumstances may Liang Keyong be allowed through the pass.”
Before Guo Jian’s men could arrive, Elder Dugu led his people straight through the border crossing. Beyond the pass, they engaged the disciples Guo Jian had stationed there in battle.
Guo Jian had fewer than several dozen men beyond the pass. With Elder Dugu joining the fight, they were utterly unable to resist. Elder Dugu swept through them without hindrance and led his people out of the pass.
At an inn beyond the border, Elder Dugu found Liang Keyong dressed in plain clothes. His face was haggard, and he looked even more travel-worn than Elder Dugu, despite having come from so far away.
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Liang Keyong was overwhelmed with emotion upon seeing Elder Dugu. Elder Dugu asked with concern, “It has been so long. Are you well?”
Liang Keyong clasped his hands and bowed. “Many thanks, Brother Dugu, for coming to rescue me. I am all right. I have merely dragged you all the way to this remote land beyond the pass.”
Elder Dugu waved his hand. “We can speak of that later. Guo Jian will certainly send men to block the pass. Leaving was easy enough, but returning will require some effort.”
“I thought of that long ago,” Liang Keyong replied. “That is why my disciples and I have already changed our appearances. We have placed wooden poles on our backs to confuse anyone watching us. We will force our way into the pass amid the chaos.”
“Then there is no time to lose,” Elder Dugu said cheerfully. “Let us be on our way.”
Elder Dugu assigned a detachment to protect Liang Keyong as they returned to the border crossing. Guo Jian had indeed brought his men and was waiting on the mountain above them, looking down from the heights.
“Liang Keyong!” Guo Jian shouted. “Even if you disguise yourself, I will not let a single one of you escape. You have nowhere to run.”
He ordered his disciples to attack Elder Dugu from four directions. Elder Dugu divided his men into four groups to hold them off, then led one group in an attempt to break through.
Guo Jian ordered his men to surround Elder Dugu’s group. Then he leaped into the air and landed before Elder Dugu.
“I have long wished to experience the power of Senior Dugu’s Nine-Character Formula,” he cried. “Today I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity. I must thank Liang Keyong for making it possible.”
Elder Dugu only smiled. “You are at the beginning of the seventh level, while I am at the latter stage of the eighth. How can you possibly fight me?”
Guo Jian gripped his sword. “We are comparing techniques, not inner power. My family’s Twelve Swords may not lose to yours.”
Elder Dugu nodded with a smile. “Your courage is admirable. Then I shall fight you while sparing you the use of your eyes. How does that sound?”
Guo Jian was enraged. “You are insulting me!”
With that, Guo Jian charged first, thrusting his sword in the level-sword stance. Elder Dugu lightly closed his eyes and listened for the sound of the blade, discerning the direction in which the sword energy approached. He used the Swallow Before the Hall technique and evaded the attack with ease.
Guo Jian rotated his sword and swept it across, following with a passage of the sweeping-sword stance. When he saw Elder Dugu bend and strike toward his lower body, he immediately brought his sword downward in the yielding-sword stance to suppress him. At the same time, he sprang into the air and avoided Elder Dugu’s Rice-Pecking Chick technique, a move from the “Probe” Formula.
Although the sword struck only empty air, Guo Jian had fortunately avoided Elder Dugu’s attack as well. Without waiting to recover, he sent a spray of sword flowers spinning outward, causing sword energy to cross and converge. Using the whirling-sword stance, he attacked Elder Dugu’s upper, middle, and lower positions simultaneously.
Guo Jian’s sword moved with astonishing speed. The blade itself could not be seen; only streaks of flashing silver were visible, each edge razor-sharp.
Hearing the sword whistle toward him, Elder Dugu used the Willow in the Wind technique, moving ahead of the sword energy. He twisted and turned, rising and diving with extraordinary agility as he evaded the blade. He avoided more than a dozen attacks, though several strips were cut from his clothing.
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