Chapter 3: Struggle for the Throne |
The biting cold of winter could not turn flowing water into ice, so the waterfall cascading from the mountains could still be heard.
Stars and moon hung low in the sky. Along the riverbank, a rider galloped on horseback. Steam rose hotly from the horse. The rider wore a black cloak, racing along the riverbank towards the mountain forest.
The rider sped through the mountain forest, raising a hand to release a pale beam that illuminated the path ahead. The light that lit the way turned out to be a butterfly, flapping its wings. This butterfly was called a "Little Moon Butterfly" because it glowed like a small moon. It had armor, and a bony spur inside its wings. During the day, this light didn't seem special, but at night, the butterfly's illumination appeared soft and warm. It lit up everything within a distance of 2 zhang (a zhang is approximately 3.3 meters). The butterfly's speed matched that of the horse.
When the butterfly flapped its wings back, the illuminated area ahead diminished, as the light primarily emanated from the butterfly.
And so the butterfly constantly flew forward, lighting the way.
Suddenly, another butterfly flew out ahead, blocking the rider's path.
The rider stopped and summoned his butterfly, and the Little Moon Butterfly flashed under the rider's cloak. The black-cloaked rider raised his face, revealing the countenance of an old man with a long white beard. His eyes were spirited. He tossed a wooden tablet forward.
A silhouette hiding in the tree caught the wooden tablet, glanced at it, and then returned it. His butterfly vanished into the darkness.
So the rider continued his journey, and the Little Moon Butterfly once again began to illuminate the path in the mountain forest.
Upon arriving, the rider dismounted. As he removed his hood, his noble face was revealed. This was none other than Tang Mu, the head of the Supreme Purity Sect.
A disciple respectfully greeted him:
— Master!
Tang Mu said nothing, tossing the horse's reins to the disciple, then swiftly walked along the cliff. Rotating characters rose towards him, forming a staircase upwards. Taking a few steps, Tang Mu ascended to the palace hovering in the air near the cliff's peak and continued onward.
Near the building with upturned eaves, stood a beautiful woman. Her veiled hair fell over her shoulders. Her eyebrows were like weeping willow leaves, her eyes like a phoenix's, and her clear gaze resembled black jade. She had a delicate nose and cherry lips—all combining to make her as exquisite as a blossoming lotus. Her fair, tender skin, like fine porcelain, her noble, full chest, graceful figure, and fitted grey skirt gave her an alluring yet cold beauty. An ethereal aura emanated from her.
This was Tang Mu's daughter, Tang Yi. She stood there alone, admiring the moon.
Suddenly, she noticed the butterfly's light. Although Tang Mu had put away the butterfly as he ascended the cliff, Tang Yi still caught sight of its glow.
Turning her head, Tang Yi saw her father ascending the staircase. She immediately went to meet him and asked curiously:
— Father, you've returned alone? What about the brothers?
Who would have thought that Tang Mu's silhouette would sway, and he would stumble on a step, falling to the ground. He even coughed up blood.
Tang Yi was frightened. With her father's cultivation, such a thing shouldn't happen. She immediately rushed to him and began to support him.
Only upon approaching her father did she smell blood. When she touched him to help him up, she noticed his clothes were wet and sticky. Under the light of the house lamps and the butterfly's glow, she now clearly saw it was blood. Tang Yi asked, alarmed:
— Father, are you wounded?
Tang Mu waved his hand slightly, signaling her not to make a fuss.
It was already cold winter, and even colder in the mountains. But inside homes, where a cast-iron stove for making pills burned, one could warm oneself well, watching the blazing fire. The heat from the fire radiated into every corner of the house. And when one opened the door and stepped inside, a gentle warmth immediately enveloped them.
Supporting her father, Tang Yi entered the house, her gaze anxious, preparing to examine her father's wound.
But her father stopped her and said in a grave voice:
— Immediately summon the three elders and all disciples. I have something important to say!
Tang Yi replied, worried:
— Father, your wound...
Tang Mu interrupted her:
— Hurry, go quickly!
Tang Yi bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes, as if she understood something. She turned and quickly ran off.
A short while later, many disciples rushed in first. Seeing Tang Mu, they all trembled with fear. Under the good lighting, they noticed he was severely wounded.
The disciples immediately rushed to examine his wounds, especially his personal senior disciple, Wei Duo. He spoke with extreme anxiety:
— Mas...master...you...wh...where did you get such a wound...why such a severe wound...disciple will heal...disciple will heal you! — Wei Duo was born with a stutter, which caused him to speak like this constantly.
Tang Mu waved his hand, indicating for them to step back and pay no mind. Only Wei Duo remained kneeling, refusing to rise.
Tang Mu closed his eyes, as if he no longer had the strength to speak to them.
A little later, the three elders of the Supreme Purity Sect arrived. Two men and one woman entered the door shoulder to shoulder.
The elders were named Luo Yuan Gong, Su Po, and Tang Su Su. All of them were already advanced in years. They were the elder generation of the sect. They had once been sect heads themselves, and when Tang Mu took over as head, the elder generation had retired.
Although the three had mentally prepared themselves before coming, they were genuinely shocked when they entered the house. They all quickly approached to examine Tang Mu.
After the three had examined him, they became gravely alarmed. They understood why Tang Mu refused treatment. The wound was so severe that it was beyond healing. All his internal organs were damaged, and he was only alive thanks to his True Qi.
The three understood why he had so hastily summoned everyone here.
— Who did this? — Tang Su Su asked angrily. She was Tang Mu's paternal aunt, after all. She had personally brought him into the sect and put considerable effort into making him the sect head. Now that something like this had happened to her own nephew, how could she not be enraged?
Tang Mu slowly said:
— Let's wait until everyone has gathered!
They had to wait a little longer until everyone was assembled.
Tang Yi returned, having already summoned several dozen disciples of the Supreme Purity Sect. Inside the house, everyone took their places according to their hierarchical ranks.
After this, Tang Mu, clutching the armrests of his chair, sat upright and, using his strength, clearly declared:
— Due to my injury, I can no longer remain the head of the Supreme Purity Sect. Today, everyone listen to my command. You will all bear witness. I officially transfer my position as head to my fellow disciple Dong Guo Hao Ran. Everyone has heard my command. No one shall deceive another. There are rules, and they cannot be broken. Violators will be strictly punished!
The crowd of disciples merely exchanged bewildered glances, while the three elders were considerably startled. Transfer the position to Dong Guo Hao Ran?
According to the rules of the Supreme Purity Sect, the head can appoint the next sect head from among their inner circle disciples. If something happens to the head, they must choose the next head from their own disciples. Only if the head has no direct disciples can they choose a new head from other inner circle disciples.
Dong Guo Hao Ran was Tang Mu's fellow disciple and also an inner circle disciple of the sect. He could indeed be chosen as head. However, for Tang Mu, he belonged to a different lineage of disciples, and there were other reasons not to appoint him as head.
Tang Su Su could not bear it and said gravely:
— I beg the head to reconsider. Dong Guo Hao Ran has long been associating with Shang Jian Bo, and Shang Jian Bo constantly dreams of uniting the world under his rule. That is why the uncles persuaded our brother back then to transfer the position of head not to Dong Guo Hao Ran, but to you. And today, you want to transfer this position back to him? If this happens, Dong Guo Hao Ran will bring disaster upon the sect, and the current incident will seem like mere child's play!
Tang Mu calmly replied:
— On my way here, I learned that Shang Jian Bo has passed away. Therefore, the matter with Shang Jian Bo is a thing of the past.
"Shang Jian Bo has passed away?" Shang Jian Bo was the Yan Kingdom Emperor's own younger brother. He was a military advisor to the Yan Kingdom. How could such a powerful man have passed away? Why hadn't they heard such news here until now?
However, Tang Su Su continued, her head held high:
— I object!
Tang Mu squinted at her and asked:
— Why do you object? Do you wish to go against the sect's laws?
Tang Su Su:
— I have never gone against the sect's laws. But according to the rules of the Supreme Purity Sect, the sect head appoints the next head from their own lineage of disciples. Only if they have no direct disciples can they appoint a head from the inner circle disciples. You wish to appoint a disciple from a different lineage as head. What grounds do you have for this?
Tang Mu closed his eyes and sighed, replying:
— This time, when I set out with my disciples, I was the only one who managed to return.
Everyone fell silent. When they saw the wounded Tang Mu, they had only guessed at the fate of the other disciples. But now they were completely certain that the other disciples were dead. But what, in the end, had happened?
Tang Su Su, pointing at Wei Duo again, said:
— Wei Duo is your senior disciple, why won't you make him head?
Tang Mu said indifferently:
— Wei Duo is a sincere and magnanimous person. However, the position of sect head is not suitable for him. It is too great a responsibility.
This time, no one objected. Wei Duo was still a stutterer, and such a sect head might be disadvantageous to the sect.
Tang Su Su pointed at Tang Yi again:
— What about Tang Yi? The sect rules don't state that a woman cannot be sect head.
Tang Mu:
— Tang Yi is my daughter. And the Supreme Purity Sect is not my personal property. How can I, out of selfish feelings, pass the position of head to my own kin?
Tang Su Su, raising her voice, said:
— For the sake of virtue, one can appoint a relative. Who would dare to disobey?
Tang Mu calmly replied:
— It is improper!
Tang Su Su asked angrily:
— Tell me, in the end, why do you want to pass your position to Dong Guo Hao Ran? Is there some improper reason for this?
Tang Mu suddenly opened his eyes and looked at her. He sternly stated:
— Have the elders of the Supreme Purity Sect already disregarded the sect's laws?
— ... — Tang Su Su was speechless. She hadn't expected her own nephew to speak to her like this, in front of all the disciples. To show her no respect at all.
— I have already decided! — Tang Mu took out a wooden tablet and handed it to the elder Luo Yuan Gong, who stood nearby:
— Fellow disciple Dong Guo Hao Ran is not here. According to the sect's laws, I entrust this tablet to the elders for safekeeping. And when my fellow disciple returns, he may officially lead the sect. All disciples of the Supreme Purity Sect are witnesses. There must be no error!
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Stratagem Three — "借刀杀人" — Kill with a Borrowed Knife (fig. to use another's hand to do one's dirty work)