Chapter 132: The Middle-Aged Man in the Brocade Robe

The group of onlookers led by the young man in brocade robes changed expressions drastically. They stood rooted to the spot, hesitant and uncertain whether they should rush forward to attack.

Ye Hua saw the Western region cultivator’s gaze gradually dim, his life force seemingly ebbing away with the flowing blood. He beckoned with his hand, and the Purple Cloud Chain vanished into a streak of red light with a soft sound. Deprived of support, the Western cultivator collapsed to the ground, his fate unknown.

Ye Hua chuckled, mounted his sword light, and flew away.

In the distance, the young man in brocade robes had a shifting expression. Gritting his teeth, he flew forward, landed beside the Western cultivator, and called out softly, "Bar-Meng! Bar-Meng!"

The Western cultivator seemed to stir, slightly opening his eyes, and whispered, "Quick... tell my father... let him... let him save me!"

A smile appeared on the young man’s face. Suddenly, he let out a loud laugh. "Hahaha, very well! I shall find someone to save your life! Just—wait—here—" He swung his hand downward sharply. A flash of silver light streaked across, followed by a dull thud as a large head rolled into the distance.

Without looking back, the young man whispered, "Let's go!" He turned and flew toward a distant mountain peak, followed closely by his companions.

One of the youths flying behind him leaned in and whispered nervously, "Young Master, this Bar-Meng... how will we explain this!?"

The young man sneered. "That Bar-Meng relied on his father being a commander of the Gelan Border Territory! He was arrogant and overbearing! I have long found him eyesore. Now that he has been dealt with by someone else, it is exactly what I wished for!"

The youth beside him looked troubled. After hesitating, he said fearfully, "Young Master, this... Bar-Meng was, after all, the son of a distinguished guest! Now that he has perished, the Master will surely exile us to the Western frontiers! There... in the seventy-two demon realms and kingdoms north and south of the Heavenly Mountains, what chance of survival would we have? I beg the Young Master to intercede for us!"

The young man’s eyes flickered with coldness. He smiled slightly and said, "In that case, I will plead for you, provided you all keep your mouths shut! Otherwise... heh heh!"

The group behind him hurriedly bowed their heads. "We understand, Young Master!"

Within a few breaths, they flew their swords to the mountainside. The young man waved his hand, and a green light flashed. The lush forest on the mountainside blurred, and the scenery shifted to reveal a path paved with fine white gravel.

To the left of the path was a bamboo grove. The stalks were sparse, each separated by at least six or seven feet at the base, yet the canopy was thick and lush. Branches grew only two or three zhang above the ground, their emerald foliage reaching for the clouds like a green canopy.

The group walked in silence, traversing the winding path until they reached a round jade gate inscribed with the words "Jingji Mountain Villa."

Passing through the gate and turning past a pavilion, they entered another courtyard paved with white stone and soft, fine moss. The perimeter was lined with orchids and fragrant herbs, flanked not by walls, but by man-made craggy cliffs reaching four zhang at their highest, each with its own unique charm.

Many orchids hung from the cliffs, their vibrant green leaves matching the path they had just traversed. The air was filled with a faint, lingering fragrance. Ahead, rows of fine bamboo surrounded a dozen or so exquisite cabins. These were made of fine bamboo only one or two zhang high, swaying gracefully and producing a clear rustling sound. Bathed in the light, the entire scene took on a verdant hue.

The cabins were not tall; they were constructed entirely from bamboo stalks and tubes, still retaining their fresh green color as if full of life. The carvings were exquisite, a work of divine craftsmanship. There were six rooms in total, four bright and two dark. The front four were open, with the entrance on the right. Curtains hung to the ground, and in the lamplight, the interior glowed with a cool, serene luster.

The group walked directly toward a cabin on the left. A maidservant stepped out and lifted the bamboo curtain for them. The pavilions and terraces within the garden were luxurious and elegant. While the interior was not as opulent as other places, it possessed a refined and scholarly air.

The floor was made of jade, polished to a mirror-like shine. Hanging on the wall were a pair of swords and a zither. On a low green jade table sat another zither, and in front of it was a small, ancient-looking three-legged jade burner, still trailing thin ribbons of incense smoke. A silk sachet lay beside the table, suggesting that music had just ceased and the person had not long departed.

Near the window stood a long golden desk, and opposite it were two large armchairs carved from ancient tree roots. The desk was neatly arranged with brushes and inkstones, alongside painting tools and a large bamboo brush holder filled with brushes.

Against the wall stood a long bookshelf filled with countless scrolls. In the center was a large round jade table with tea sets and four stone stools.

By another window stood a small square table carved from a tree root, set for Go. The board was carved directly into the table, accompanied by two fine bamboo baskets containing black and white stones made of high-quality jade.

The room was impeccably clean, without a speck of dust. Despite its size, it was sparsely furnished.

To the right, the two dark rooms were connected, separated only by a decorative red bamboo partition. Each side held a jade bed with a reed mat and a vermilion bamboo pillow.

In the center of the front room sat a small alchemy furnace, with two woven grass cushions and several low jade stools scattered nearby. On the long desk by the window stood a large vase filled with camellias and plum blossoms, and a large rectangular jade basin planted with dozens of narcissi, the base covered in multicolored pebbles.

By the north window sat a bamboo lounge chair, upon which reclined a middle-aged man in brocade robes. He had a broad face, square jaw, and a straight nose, exuding a formidable aura. He held an ancient book and was reciting:

"A single blast of the frost-horn brings sorrow to the grass and trees,
As clouds rise to meet the opening of the stone gate.
Northern winds and barbarian wine fail to bring drunkenness,
While fallen leaves and homing crows gather in multitudes.
If only the mysterious spear could dissolve this aura of slaughter,
I would not mind my white hair growing old in border service.
With whom shall I carve my name upon the peak?
Like General Li at the Sword-Dancing Terrace."

Seeing them enter, the middle-aged man set down his book and scanned them with eyes like lightning. He said in a deep voice, "Have you caused some trouble again!?"

The young man’s face turned pale. He stammered, "Father... that Bar-Meng...!"

The middle-aged man stared at him. "What about Bar-Meng? He is the son of Commander Miza. Do not provoke him!"

Cold sweat beaded on the young man’s forehead. "That Bar-Meng was... was killed by someone..." He made a gesture across his throat.

The man in the brocade robe stood up abruptly, his beard bristling. "What!? Killed!? Who is so bold!" He sat back down slowly, closed his eyes for a long moment, then opened them and said calmly, "Tell me the details."

The youth replied, "Today, while I was patrolling outside Xuwu Mountain, I discovered a young cultivator attempting to break in! He triggered our Taiyin Magnetism restriction!..."

"So you engaged him in battle, only to find that he was deceptively powerful despite his scholarly appearance!?"

"Fa... Father, how did you know!"

"You fool!" the man roared. "How many times have I told you! You will eventually suffer for this! Sigh, if you had even a tenth of the ability of your brother from the Yuan family, I would be at ease!"

The young man laughed nervously. "Father, how can I compare to him? He is a prince of the Yuan family, and one of the Four Young Masters of the capital! I am far behind him!"

He paused and added with a dry laugh, "Heh heh, regarding this matter of Bar-Meng, we should tell Miza the truth..."

"What do you know!?" The man stood up, frowning. "Did you notice anything unusual about the techniques the intruder used?"

"It seemed to be a Buddhist technique. In the Jiujin area, heh heh, who else but those old bald monks from Haiguang Temple would dare to oppose our Six Tribes of Beixi!"

"Haiguang Temple!?" The man paced back and forth. "If it truly is Haiguang Temple, things have become troublesome!"

The young man ventured carefully, "Although Haiguang Temple is powerful, don't our Six Tribes of Beixi..."

The man waved a hand, cutting him off. "Our Duan family acts under the orders of Prince Yuan to guard Jiujin, not to incite conflict! Do not underestimate Haiguang Temple. On the surface, it is a renowned Buddhist institution, but in the shadows, it maintains close ties with King Hongming of the capital! Who knows how many favors they have received!"

The young man seemed to have a realization. "Father, I understand. They are part of the faction of the Holy Emperor Hualuo!"

The man nodded. "Do not speak so freely! You may withdraw! Go to Xixi Pavilion and find Xu Tieshan. Tell him the details and have him investigate!"

The young man’s expression shifted, and he nodded before retreating.

After a moment of thought, the man rose and exited the cabin, heading toward a nearby building. Before he could enter, a gruff voice came from within: "Brother Ziquan, why have you come?"

The man stood outside the door for a long moment in silence, then said quietly, "Commander Miza, I have come to inform you of something. I hope you will be prepared for sorrow."

"What? Prepared for sorrow?" The voice inside was suddenly filled with extreme shock. "What has happened!? Could it be Bar-Meng!?"

The voice inside rose in urgency. Before the words were finished, the two exquisite sandalwood doors burst open with a loud "bang," and a gust of wild wind and mist surged out, causing the trees outside to howl. As the wind subsided, a tall man with green eyes and a hooked nose, his head covered in curly hair, stood at the entrance. He appeared to be in his forties, staring at the man in the brocade robe with a face full of shock and rage.