Chapter 88: This Battle Had No Spectators

After descending Mount Hua, Zheng Jian rode alone toward Black Wood Cliff.

Along the way, he was constantly adjusting himself. This battle was, since the day he had first made his name, the least certain fight he had ever faced.

No one truly knew how formidable Dongfang Bubai really was. Everyone knew that he was the finest fighter under heaven, but no one could measure his strength, especially the upper limit of his power. No one could say it clearly.

From the events of the original story, one could roughly estimate that Ren Woxing was equivalent to two and a half Xiang Wentians, and at that time Linghu Chong was basically on par with Ren Woxing. That would mean two Xiang Wentians at most. In other words, Dongfang Bubai still held the advantage against five Xiang Wentians.

So Zheng Jian could not pin down Dongfang Bubai's true ceiling.

As for himself, after defeating Zuo Lengchan and then spending some time in seclusion and contemplation, his current strength was roughly equal to four Xiang Wentians. In plain terms, he was still a little weaker.

Even so, Zheng Jian was not afraid, because a battle was never decided entirely by raw strength. The weak could overcome the strong. It was difficult, but not impossible.

Besides, once Zheng Jian seized that fleeting opening, the third stage of the Primordial Art, the refinement of spirit into emptiness, would break through, and his strength would leap forward in a dramatic way.

That was Zheng Jian's confidence. There was an element of risk in it, and he might well be defeated before ever breaking through.

But battle itself was a grand gamble, one wagered with life itself.

From Hengshan eastward, then past Pingding Prefecture.

By the time he reached this place, he was not far from the main stronghold of the Sun and Moon Sect. There were many sect members moving through the city, and everywhere one could see followers dressed in the garb of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect.

Riding alone on horseback made Zheng Jian especially noticeable. And by now, his reputation had reached its peak; throughout the martial world, a saying had begun to spread.

"If you have never known the Heaven-Returning Sword, then even to call yourself a hero is in vain."

No one knew who first said it, but it soon swept through the jianghu.

Thus, not long after he entered Pingding Prefecture, someone had already sent the news back to Black Wood Cliff.

On the fifteenth day of the sixth month, what Zheng Jian did not know was that not long after he passed through Pingding Prefecture, another carriage also entered the city...

After leaving Pingding Prefecture and traveling not far, Zheng Jian saw seven or eight people approaching him head-on.

When they drew near, the burly man at their head waved a hand, and the seven behind him fanned out in a line.

"I am Tong Baixiong. You little brat, are you Zheng Jian?" The leader was none other than Tong Baixiong, the Hall Master of the Thunder and Wind Hall who had delivered the challenge letter to Mount Hua.

Zheng Jian remained seated on his horse, silent for two seconds before answering solemnly, "No, you've mistaken me for someone else."

Hearing this, Tong Baixiong scratched his head and turned back to ask one of the men behind him, "What is this supposed to mean?"

That man was also stunned, then looked Zheng Jian over in confusion and checked the portrait in his hand again. "No mistake. It is him, isn't it?"

Tong Baixiong turned back. "You brat, you're clearly Zheng Jian. Why won't you admit it? What, are you trying to make a fool of this old bear?"

Zheng Jian smiled. "Look, since you already know who I am, why ask me who I am? Isn't it you who's making a fool of me first?"

Tong Baixiong: "..."

He was a straightforward man, but to be fair, Tong Baixiong had traveled widely and seen all sorts of people. Yet in this instant, he was left so thoroughly twisted around that he could not find the words.

From Tong Baixiong's resentment, plus one hundred.

After thinking it over carefully, Tong Baixiong finally came to himself and muttered, "Fine, I can't outtalk you. I won't say another word. Come on then. Old Bear here was ordered to take you to Black Wood Cliff. Without me leading the way, it won't be easy for you to get up there."

At this, Zheng Jian immediately found the man rather amusing. A big, honest fellow, honest to an unsparing degree.

The group traveled another twenty or thirty li to the northwest, and from afar they saw a mountain, its rocks a deep blood-red, with a long sandbank below.

Traveling further north, sheer stone walls rose on both sides, smooth and bare, leaving only a mountain path no more than five feet wide in the middle. It wound in layers and turns, with members of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect stationed everywhere.

Tong Baixiong carried a token, and after the guards examined it carefully, they were allowed to proceed.

After passing three mountain paths, they came to a water crossing, where sect members had already rowed boats over to meet them.

Beyond the water lay a steep mountain trail, and the group dismounted to walk upward.

Zheng Jian felt no reaction to the heavily guarded Black Wood Cliff. By now, he was already gradually adjusting his aura. This was what it meant to accumulate momentum.

About halfway up, a clear bell rang from above. The sound came swiftly, and not long after it ceased, a sect disciple in yellow entered, unfolded a bolt of yellow cloth with both hands, and read aloud: "By decree of the Chief of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, the enlightened and martial, benevolent and wise Lord Dongfang: Tong Baixiong, in obedience to the command, has successfully returned. This is highly commendable. Escort the honored guest at once up the cliff for an audience."

Tong Baixiong bowed and said, "May the Chief live ten thousand years and rule the martial world forever."

Zheng Jian remained unmoved. If this had been earlier, he might have made some snide remark about such pomp, but with the great battle looming, he had no mind to care about the outside world.

After that, only Tong Baixiong accompanied Zheng Jian all the way up the cliff, passing several more checkpoints before gradually reaching Black Wood Cliff itself.

Through a stone gate, they came upon a bamboo basket. Tong Baixiong said, "Step into the basket. This is the only way up the cliff."

Zheng Jian stepped inside, and Tong Baixiong followed him in.

Above, a winch began to turn, and the two of them slowly rose.

The day was growing late. As they ascended, they passed through cloud and mist, changing baskets several times before finally reaching the cliff top.

Not long after entering the main hall atop Black Wood Cliff, they heard a cough, and a person emerged from behind a screen. He appeared to be under thirty, dressed in a dark red satin leather robe, broad of frame, with a full beard and a powerfully imposing bearing.

"I am Yang Lianqing. An honored guest who comes alone to such an appointment—I admire such courage. The Chief is already waiting at the summit. From here, I shall lead you to him."

This towering man was Yang Lianqing.

Zheng Jian nodded. In his memory, Yang Lianqing was a man of some substance. Though not highly skilled in martial arts, when Ren Yingying once held him hostage to threaten Dongfang Bubai, he had shown remarkable fortitude.

Following Yang Lianqing, the two passed through a cluster of quiet residences and finally arrived at the cliff edge atop the mountain.

By then, the moon was high overhead, and the time was nearing the hour of the dog, around ten o'clock at night.

At the cliff edge ahead stood a figure, facing the abyss, dressed in flamboyant garments. It was none other than Dongfang Bubai, the one acclaimed as the greatest martial artist under heaven.

The color of his robes was so garish that even on a woman it would have seemed overly vivid, too dazzling to behold.

Who could have imagined that such a heaven-shaking, earth-moving, world-renowned master would appear in this form?

Yang Lianqing stepped forward and said, "The person has been brought."

At the sound, Dongfang Bubai slowly turned around. His movement was graceful and soft. He wore no beard, though his face was lightly powdered. Seeing Yang Lianqing, he smiled brightly. "Good. Thank you, Brother Lian. After this is over, I shall see no one else, and only see you."

Yang Lianqing was silent for a moment, then turned and walked away. He knew this was a peerless master whom Dongfang Bubai had been waiting a long time to meet. In this battle, there would be no spectators.

...