SS Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Substitute

 

The blade skillfully sliced through the skin but did not cut into the bone. Yet Ye Fusheng did not dare to move recklessly. He carefully grasped the edge of the blade, fearing that a light slip would cut off his fingers.

 

The blade trembled slightly between his fingers, and Ye Fusheng immediately released his grip. Xie Wuyi sheathed the blade and looked at Ye Fusheng with a sense of reflection. “In the forbidden land, I suspected that your skill with that finger was the ‘Shocking Thunder.’ However, the ‘Jinghong Blade’ has been silent for ten years. I had no choice but to test it… Ah, it seems that this is indeed a troubled time.”

 

Ye Fusheng replied humbly, “The glory of my predecessors from the sect, I dare not claim.”

 

The martial world was filled with various skills—blades, spears, swords, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks. Weapons were as strange and diverse as the people who wielded them. Some individuals, despite having little talent, would arrogantly give themselves absurd titles. However, there were only a few who were truly recognized. Over the past century, only a handful of figures had been acknowledged as reigning over the martial world, like a towering mountain, with their names immortalized.

 

— “One sword cleaves the clouds, splitting heaven and earth. Three blades divide the rivers and settle the cosmos. East and west, Buddhists and Daoists compete for supremacy, while north and south, Confucians and knights debate who stands tallest.”

 

The “Three Blades” referred to the three renowned swordsmen: “Duanshui”, “Wanyue*”, and “Jinghong*”. Over the past century, they had successively emerged, with “Wanyue” appearing first, “Jinghong” second, and “Duanshui” last. However, the legacy of “Wanyue” gradually weakened as it was passed down only through women, and “Jinghong” vanished as quickly as it appeared. Now, only “Duanshui” remained in the world.

 

But alas, beauty will fade, and heroes will meet their end.

 

By responding in this manner, Ye Fusheng had acknowledged that he was the current master of the Jinghong Blade.

 

Xie Wuyi said, “Your technique ‘Nianhua’ was executed perfectly. If you had the Jinghong Blade in hand and had combined it with ‘Baihong,’ you could have severed my left arm. I wouldn’t have been able to stop it so easily.”

 

Ye Fusheng wiped the blood from his hand with a dry cloth and smiled bitterly. “I came to seek clarity, not to make enemies.”

 

The coldness in Xie Wuyi’s face slightly receded. Ye Fusheng raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead and asked, “There are two types of stories. One is the idle gossip made up by others for entertainment, and the other is the recounting of things that have actually happened. In your opinion, which type of ‘story’ did Madam Rong tell?”

 

Xie Wuyi countered with a question, “Is this the puzzle you wish to solve?”

 

Ye Fusheng touched his nose, but before he could answer, Xie Wuyi let out a laugh. This laugh lacked his usual coldness and was full of mockery. “I think the question you truly want answered is… how can there be two Xie Wuyis in this world? The person before you—is he truly the master of Duanshui Manor? And the one who entrusted you with the jade pendant, who was he?”

 

Ye Fusheng slowly exhaled and bowed apologetically. “Indeed, it is my impudence to have offended you, Master. If this matter is of great significance, there is no need for you to feel troubled. I swear never to trouble you again in this life.”

 

Xie Wuyi said, “I only want to know why you would risk offending Duanshui Manor for something that doesn’t concern you?”

 

“A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of gratitude, let alone…” Ye Fusheng lowered his hands and smiled bitterly. “Let alone a life-saving grace.”

 

“He saved you?”

 

“If not for him, he wouldn’t have had to die.”

 

The candlelight flickered, stretching the shadows of the two men long. Xie Wuyi remained silent for a long time before suddenly waving his sleeve, shutting the half-open window that had been blown by the night wind.

 

“Rongcui’s story was indeed something that happened. I am Xie Min, and so is he.” Xie Wuyi picked up the teapot. Due to the medication, it contained no good tea, only warm water.

 

He poured half a cup of warm water. Ye Fusheng accepted it and drank it tastelessly, holding his breath as he listened.

 

“I left home as a child and wandered the Western Regions with my mother for many years. Even after Rongcui joined me, I remained ignorant of my ‘father.’ I resented him for not taking care of us for fourteen years, yet I couldn’t help but recall how attentive he had been to me and my mother in my early memories. So, thirteen years ago, after I avenged my mother, he finally sent a letter, asking me to return home with my mother’s ashes. I didn’t hesitate much and agreed. From the Western Regions to the Central Plains, I encountered several martial artists who had known him. They all said that Xie Zhongshan, the master of Duanshui Manor, had found a successor. I was pleased but dared not reveal myself for fear they would discover that the young master of Duanshui Manor was a disfigured monster. When I saw him at the foot of the manor, I felt both unfamiliar and deeply afraid.”

 

The so-called “fear of returning home” comes from the anxiety that the once-familiar people and places have changed over time.

 

“I had many questions for him, and so did he. I sent Rongcui to rest in the guest room and spent half the night drinking with him. He shed tears before my mother’s ashes and spoke to me with such warmth that the long-held resentment in my heart seemed to dissolve… I thought people must change over time. He must have regretted his indifference, and I should learn to let go of the past. So I complied with his request and removed my mask and cloak, revealing the scars that even disgusted myself…”

 

“In that moment, a glint appeared in his eyes. I thought it was a tear, but later realized… it was resolve.”

 

At this, Xie Wuyi slowly drank another mouthful of water. The slight warmth on his face turned cold again.

 

He stared at his reflection in the teacup, as if through the surface, he saw another version of himself. He laughed mockingly.

 

“He led me into the forbidden land beneath the Wang Haichao, saying there was a secret that concerned the survival of the manor. I followed him, but there I saw a man who looked somewhat like me, though he resembled my father more in his younger days. I immediately guessed who he was—my mother had mentioned more than once that if not for my birth, my father would have parted ways with a shameless courtesan who had secretly conceived his child.” Xie Wuyi sneered. “That man was the bastard of my father and that whore! When my mother was alive, she destroyed that bitch’s face, and my father promised never to see her again. Yet, just a year after my mother took me to the Western Regions, he brought that bastard back.”

 

Seeing that his son was still plagued with poisons, even after seeking remedies in the Western Regions, who could say if any cure would work?

 

Thus, Xie Zhongshan thought of the courtesan he had wronged and the child she had left behind—by now, the boy must be eight years old.

 

Because his wife’s departure had caused such a scandal, all his martial world friends knew that Xie Zhongshan’s wife and child had gone to the Western Regions. Hence, he couldn’t publicly search for his illegitimate son, sending only trusted men in secret. He eventually found the boy and the courtesan had died during childbirth, leaving her son to beg on the streets of Guyang City. The boy had no name and was known only as “Dog” by the other beggars.

 

Xie Zhongshan brought the child back and found that his potential was no less than Xie Min’s. Overjoyed, he took the boy into Duanshui Manor but kept him hidden in the forbidden land beneath the Wanghai tide, training him in secret every night. The boy had exceptional aptitude for both martial arts and scholarly pursuits.

 

The name “Dog” was discarded long ago, but Xie Zhongshan never gave him a proper name, fearing that his illegitimate son would bring disgrace to the family. Thus, the boy grew up without a name until Xie Min returned from the Western Regions.

 

The martial world had already been astonished by the battles fought in the Western Regions, and Xie Min’s skill with the Thirteen Blades of Azure Waves made him a legend. Such a son was the true heir Xie Zhongshan had envisioned—the next master of Duanshui Manor.

 

But his joy was quickly doused.

 

Xie Min had achieved great martial prowess and earned fame throughout the martial world, but his body was covered in wounds, and the root of the poison remained unresolved. Not only was he difficult to look at, but he was also incapable of bearing heirs. Even if he were to unite with a woman, the only result would be the birth of a deformed child like himself.

 

However, news had already spread across the martial world that Xie Min, the young master of Duanshui manor, had returned home. Even the Wulin Sword and Blade Conference had sent out invitations. All eyes were upon them.

 

Xie Zhongshan was left with no choice but to make a painful decision—he knocked Xie Min unconscious and imprisoned him beneath Wang Haichao, allowing the illegitimate son he had carefully taught for fourteen years to finally step into the light.

 

Although he had not mastered the “Thirteen Blades of Azure Waves,” Xie Zhongshan had trained him meticulously for fourteen years, imparting the essence of the Duanshui blade techniques, making him no less skilled.

 

Xie Zhongshan said, “From now on, you are Xie Min.”

 

Since no one other than Xie Zhongshan and Rongcui had ever seen Xie Min’s true face, the illegitimate child, previously nameless, was now the rightful young master. Especially after defeating all the heroes at the Wulin Sword and Blade Conference, no one could change this fact.

 

“I used to be inseparable from Rongcui, and many in the martial world knew of her existence. So, Xie Zhongshan didn’t kill her to silence her, but instead used my life to threaten her into staying by his side as a cover, making her responsible for delivering my daily supplies. She was beautiful and straightforward, eventually catching the eye of the ‘other Xie Min.’ She told me to be patient and that she would find a chance to save me.” Xie Wuyi sneered, “At least Xie Zhongshan had a bit of fatherly affection left—he didn’t cripple my martial arts, but set numerous traps to make escape difficult. Maybe it was out of guilt, but after that night, he never came to see me again. I was filled with hatred and practiced bitterly day and night in that confined space, hoping that one day I could escape and make him and the one who replaced me regret it!”

 

Ye Fusheng frowned slightly and listened as Xie Wuyi continued, “In my eighth year of captivity, Rongcui stopped coming. My meals were delivered by a mute servant. I feared she was being suspected and was in trouble, so I wandered around the forbidden area day and night. The exit was heavily guarded by Xie Zhongshan’s trusted men, so I dared not alert them. I searched for another way and finally found a blocked path deep in the forbidden area. I used a blade to dig day after day, and after two years, I finally carved out a path.”

 

So, that explained the marks left in the forbidden area.

 

Ye Fusheng connected the scattered events in his mind. This man was now thirty-four, imprisoned at the age of twenty-one beneath Wang Haichao, and escaped ten years later—exactly three years ago!

 

—Three years ago, a swordsman from the Western Regions challenged the master of Duanshui Manor on Lingyun Peak, and both fell from the cliff—one was injured, and the other disappeared.

 

A sudden realization struck him like a thunderclap, buzzing in his mind.

 

Xie Wuyi’s expression became somewhat dazed. “It was night when I escaped the forbidden area. Using my martial skills, I sneaked into the manor to find Rongcui. She was practicing her whip techniques in the courtyard, with no one else around. When she saw me, she was utterly shocked, but her gaze was complicated. At the time, I couldn’t understand the emotions in her eyes, so I simply asked if she was well and told her to leave with me immediately. Before she could speak, Xie Zhongshan and that person arrived… The moment he appeared, Rongcui broke free from my hand.”

 

Ye Fusheng felt a pang in his heart.

 

Xie Wuyi mocked himself, “It turns out she wasn’t being suspected or troubled—she just didn’t want to and didn’t dare to see me anymore. She had married the man who replaced me and bore him a son named ‘A-li.’ The three of them lived happily together—why would she want me to ruin that?”

 

In ten years, life and death can drift apart, and hearts can change.

 

His body was riddled with poison sores and chronic ailments, making him unfit to be seen. Rongcui had taken care of him out of kindness, but leaving him was only natural.

 

Moreover, the man who had taken his name and identity was gentle and talented, admired by all. What woman wouldn’t love someone like that?

 

In the end, he lost everything—his name, his family, and even his last remaining kin.

 

Ye Fusheng poured him another cup of water and said softly, “So, you challenged him to a duel on Lingyun Peak.”

 

Xie Wuyi asked in return, “Shouldn’t I reclaim everything that rightfully belongs to me?”

 

Ye Fusheng shook his head. “It’s only human nature, nothing wrong with it. However, I’ve heard that the duel on Lingyun Peak had some unexpected outcomes. Rumor has it you used poison to plot against him.”

 

“I’m not that despicable, and neither is he.” Xie Wuyi took a sip of clear water. “I had the ‘Thirteen Blades of Azure Waves’ by my side and had honed my skills under Wang Haichao for ten years. I thought I was bound to win, but I underestimated him—he wasn’t useless either.”

 

Ye Fusheng replied, “The Duanshui blade techniques are vast and profound. He had excellent teachers from a young age, was extraordinarily gifted, and trained diligently. Coupled with his victory at the Sword and Blade Conference ten years ago, he has faced countless challenges since then. Naturally, he’s not inferior to you.”

 

“Exactly. It should have been a fair fight, where the outcome was left to fate. But someone panicked.”

 

One person couldn’t bear losing the perfect heir, which would shake the foundation of Duanshui manor. Another couldn’t bear losing the man she loved or letting her son lose his father.

 

“He and I fought to a standstill, neither able to overcome the other. But Rongcui secretly smeared poison on the Duanshui blade beforehand. The poison was colorless and tasteless, but it clashed with the ‘Hundred-Day Poppy,’ triggering the latent poison in my body. After over a hundred exchanges, my chronic ailment flared up, and I fell into defeat.”

 

Ye Fusheng sighed, “A woman’s heart, indeed, is biased.”

 

“The only one who knew my weakness was Rongcui. Discovering her ruthless betrayal, I was both furious and shocked. I turned and struck her from outside the battle circle with a single slash.” Xie Wuyi’s eyes grew cold. “He was quite the loyal husband. Instead of seizing the chance to kill me, he rushed to save her life. So, I changed tactics midway and slashed the tendons in his right hand.”

 

Ye Fusheng gasped, and Xie Wuyi continued, “At that moment, both Rongcui and Xie Zhongshan were stunned. As I coughed up blood and laughed, I asked Xie Zhongshan, ‘Now that his hand is crippled, will you still continue to support him?’ Xie Zhongshan’s face turned grim. I asked again, ‘Maybe the poison in me can be cured, but his hand tendon, severed by my blade, can never be healed—not even by the Ghost Doctor himself. You’d better think it over.'”

 

Ye Fusheng said, “What goes around comes around; karma always finds a way.”

 

“Exactly. Xie Zhongshan is the kind of man who never values emotions, only profit and the interests of Duanshui manor.” Xie Wuyi’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “There could only ever be one Xie Min. So, after hearing my words, Xie Zhongshan decisively drew his sword, ready to personally root out this ‘perfect successor.’ At that moment, I felt triumphant. But, as the saying goes, ‘joy turns to sorrow,’ and that man pulled me down with him, and we both fell from Lingyun Peak.”

 

“Lingyun Peak is steep and treacherous, with a deep gorge below. If not for the trees breaking our fall, we’d have been dead with no remains to bury. When I woke up, I found myself in a cave, and he was sitting not far from me.” Xie Wuyi suddenly smiled, “Thinking about it, he and I had been each other’s worst enemy for ten years, yet this was only the third time we’d met face to face. My first instinct was to reach for my blade, but it was long gone. Instead, he hobbled over with the Duanshui blade as a crutch, handed me two wild fruits, and said, ‘Might as well eat something. Starving to death here wouldn’t be worth it.’”

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Wanyue: Moon Drawn

Jinhong: Startling Swan