The Path Toward Heaven

Gu Qing was uncertain about what Liu Shisui had just said, turning his head around to look at Liu as he asked, “What do you mean by ‘over there’?”

Looking around to make sure nobody was nearby, Liu Shisui whispered, “The Shenmo Peak.”

“I’m not an inherited sword disciple, so I’m afraid that I’m not qualified,” said Gu Qing, startled.

“But if you weren’t an inherited sword disciple, how could you stay on Liangwang Peak?” asked Liu Shisui.

“I was simply a sword attendant, like a caretaker,” Gu Qing said.

“Then you could go to Shenmo Peak as a caretaker,” Liu Shisui said. “It’s quite simple to take care of that guy; each day boiling water to make his tea, making his bed, cleaning the courtyard, then, nothing else to do for the rest of the day.”

“It sounds like very little work to do,” said Gu Qing.

Thinking about it, Liu felt kind of irritated, saying, “That guy is exceedingly lazy, resting with his eyes closed all day; what else would you do for him?”

“I heard some rumors about him. Can he really be that lazy?” asked Gu Qing.

“Whatever you imagine him to be like, he is even more lazier than that,” said Liu Shisui amiably while looking at Gu Qing.

Gu Qing was perplexed, and even more discouraged, wondering how such a lazy people could defeat him so easily.

And yet, Gu Qing felt somewhat enthusiastic.

Though his present state was higher than Jing Jiu’s, Jing Jiu’s performance that day at the Inherited Sword Competition proved Jing Jiu had the ability to advise him.

Right now, only Zhao Layue and Jing Jiu were on Shenmo Peak; if he could join them as a caretaker, it would be possible for him to get help with his Cultivation.

But would Jing Jiu be willing to take him?

Shaking his head, Gu Qing said, “Even if one were to assume he didn’t hate my brother Gu Han, he still has no reason to help me.”

Having thought about the relationship between Jing Jiu and Gu Han, Liu Shisui sighed.

“No matter what, I don’t think you should leave; Though you didn’t inherit a sword, and you could go to other sects, but…” Liu continued after a moment of silence, “something will happen soon, something that will be our turn to deal with; don’t forget, the disciples of Liangwang Peak should be prepared to sacrifice themselves at any moment for the Green Mountain, right?”
…
…

After a sleepless night, Gu Qing decided to listen to Liu’s advice, not leaving the Green Mountain Sect for the time being while also giving the other option a try.

The next morning, when the noises by the stream had just started up, he left his manor cave, heading toward Shenmo Peak.

Standing at the foot of Shenmo Peak and listening to the monkeys’ screams in the jungle now and then, Gu Qing felt slightly nervous.

Worrying that riding his sword might be considered ill-mannered, he walked all the way to the top of the peak. It was fortunate that those monkeys didn’t block his way to search him for food or something, instead merely showing a great deal of interest in the first guest since the reopening of Shenmo Peak.

As Gu Qing arrived at the top of the peak, the morning sun had already risen over the peaks, the cliffs reflecting the red sunlight, creating a feeling of warmth.

The dew on the bamboo chair had dissipated. Jing Jiu opened his eyes and saw Gu Qing standing there and was somewhat surprised, picking up a pebble from the ground then flicking it backward behind him.

The pebble acted as if had eyes of its own, flying through the front chamber of the cave, rounding the poles, and then hitting the bronze mirror precisely with a clear Dong!!!

“What’s the matter?” asked Zhao Layue while walking out of the manor cave.

Pointing toward Gu Qing standing not far away, Jing Jiu said, “It seems we have a guest.”

“Hi Big Sister…no…Senior Master,” greeted Gu Qing with a bow.

What Jing Jiu had said at the receiving arena already spread among the young disciples of the nine peaks.

Gu Qing was one year older than Zhao Layue, so he felt kind of embarrassed calling her “senior master”.

Zhao Layue was not used to being called Senior Master, asking after a brief moment of confusion, “What’s the matter?”

Gu Qing didn’t know how to say it.

Seeing his expression, Zhao Layue figured out what he intended to say, saying, “You are not an inherited sword disciple, so we can’t keep you here.”

“Does Shenmo Peak need a caretaker?” asked Gu Qing.

“This isn’t Liangwang Peak; we don’t need caretakers.” Looking at him, Zhao Layue added seriously, “On the other hand, you shouldn’t be delivering tea and pouring water. It’s meaningless to have one more caretaker for the Green Mountain Sect.”

Gu Qing understood what she meant, but didn’t feel disappointed; he merely wanted to give it a try.

The hidden encouragement and respect in what she said made him feel a lot better; maybe waiting for three more years isn’t too bad after all?!

Gu Qing bowed again and turned around, ready to climb down the peak.

Suddenly a voice called out.

“This is a large mountain.”

Stopping in his tracks and looking toward the place where the voice came from, Gu Qing didn’t quite catch it.

Lying in the bamboo chair, without turning his head around, Jing Jiu talked to himself, “It’s too empty with only those monkeys living here.”

Gu Qing suddenly understood.

Even though he couldn’t inherit the sword, he could build a house here, which was not prohibited by the rules of the Green Mountain Sect.
…
…

This was the first time Liu Shisui came to Shangde Peak, and his first time being questioned by Shangde Peak.

His face looked slightly pale, his two hands held to his side, trembling.

It was either due to nervousness or fear, or simply the cold weather.

The arrangement in the cave was simple and common, seemingly having nothing to do with jail or anything, but for unknown reasons, Liu Shisui still felt a constant wave of chilly air coming from the cliff walls and the ground. Not even energizing the Sword Source provided him with warmth.

Of course, the chilly feeling might have come from the immortal master of Shangde Peak opposite him.

This immortal master of Shangde Peak looked very gloomy and cold, like well water that was about to turn to ice.

This immortal master’s name Duan Liantian, and he was said to be quite ruthless in getting what he wanted

Looking at his childish face, Duan gave a very strange smile, asking, “That night you were not in your own room, where did you go?”

Upon hearing this question, Liu Shisui remained silent for a long time.

That night was when the Senior Master Zhuo of Bihu Peak was murdered, his corpse left by a stream.

And that night was when Liu Shisui secretly left his own cave for Jing Jiu’s manor cave, where he didn’t find him.

He learned the second day that it was Jing Jiu who killed the Senior Master Zhuo, because Jing Jiu told him so.

“I wasn’t feeling all that great since my sword practice hadn’t gone so well, so I went out for a walk,” said Liu Shisui while looking at the icy frost between the green stone blocks.

“Are there any witnesses to this?” asked Duan Liantian while staring into his eyes.

Liu Shisui lifted his head and said, “I don’t know, but someone should have seen me.”

Duan Liantian narrowed his eyes, asking, “Where did you go?”

“Just walking around; no place in particular,” said Liu.

“That statement doesn’t remove you from suspicion, as I’m sure you know,” said Duan Liantian.

“This case has nothing to do with me, so why should I need to rid myself of the suspicion?” retorted Liu Shisui stubbornly.

“Don’t think for a moment that I wouldn’t dare use torture methods on you simply because you are a personal disciple of Tianguang Peak.” Duan Liantian sneered, continuing, “Though your state is still low and you couldn’t have killed Brother Zhuo, delivering messages requires no cultivation whatsoever.”

Liu Shisui didn’t say anything.

“I will interrogate you again in a few days.”

Duan Liantian motioned for him to get out, adding, “I pray you give me a better answer.”

Walking out of the cave, Liu Shisui lifted his head and saw the scorching sun overhead, feeling a bit warmer.

Ma Hua was waiting for him.

At the Stream of Sword Washing, Ma Hua was responsible for taking care of him when Liu Shisui was living with his Class A peer.

It should’ve been Ma Hua who saw Liu Shisui leave his cave secretly that night.

Liu Shisui walked past him without stopping or saying a word.

Ma Hua halted his hand in the mid-air, which was going to pat Liu’s shoulder, and revealed an awkward smile on his fat face.