Chapter 380
Chapter 380
Zhuo Yizhen’s time in the Zhuo Clan could hardly be called pleasant. He was so exceptionally talented that all the other children of the clan grew jealous and ostracized him. Only his sworn sister, Zhuo Xiao'an, consistently helped and comforted him. From then on, Zhuo Yizhen fell hopelessly in love with Zhuo Xiao'an, who was six years his junior.
His adoptive father, Zhuo Guangfu, had exceedingly high expectations for Zhuo Yizhen. He would lecture him daily, telling him he must bring glory to the Zhuo Clan and that, in the future, he must serve his younger brother, Zhuo Zhaolin, well. Though Zhuo Yizhen was deeply grateful for the Zhuo Clan's kindness, his days there were not happy.
The Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion, by contrast, was different. It was a place of pure focus; half of each day was spent practicing martial arts, the other half studying various academic subjects. In the Zhuo Clan, he was only required to practice martial arts, not learn any academics. In fact, it was better for the Zhuo Clan if Zhuo Yizhen remained uneducated. At the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion, Zhuo Yizhen lived each day without a care, forgetting all the complexities of the outside world—even if it meant being beaten and berated daily. The one scolding and striking him was a fearsomely beautiful female teacher.
‘Just… just looking at her is a feast for the eyes and heart.’
No matter how much Zhuo Yizhen loved Zhuo Xiao'an, he was still a young man full of vigor, and he harbored a certain fantasy about his mature and beautiful teacher. Moreover, Zhang Yuyin was only six or seven years older than him.
So, why did Zhuo Yizhen end up studying at the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion? Because around the time he turned eighteen, he contracted a strange illness that made his voice hoarse and twisted his face. He had once been a handsome man, but as the disease progressed, his face became demonic, as if it had been burned or splashed with sulfur. The Zhuo Clan sought out every famous physician in the world, but none could cure him. As a last resort, they took him to the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion. Of course, Zhuo Guangfu’s status alone was not enough to send his adopted son there, but his connections with the Zhu Clan made it possible.
The Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion was truly remarkable. They managed to halt the progression of Zhuo Yizhen’s strange disease and even slightly improve his condition. Because Zhuo Yizhen's innate bloodline was exceptionally outstanding, the Master of the Left Pavilion was delighted upon seeing him and accepted him as one of his disciples. However, he was likely a nominal disciple, not a direct one. Princess Yinghan and Zhu Hongxue were the Master's true direct disciples. But even as a nominal disciple, having the master of the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion as his teacher, Zhuo Yizhen's martial arts progressed by leaps and bounds, to an astonishing degree.
Everything was heading in a good direction, but then, on that day six years ago, the Count of Anding's Estate suddenly met with annihilation. The once-renowned clan was wiped out overnight, and Zhuo Guangfu, who served as the Great General of Pacifying the South, was executed for reasons unknown. The Zhuo Clan was almost entirely exterminated. After that, Zhuo Yizhen could no longer remain at the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion.
No matter how unhappy his time with the Zhuo Clan had been, his adoptive family had shown him a kindness as vast as the sea. He had to avenge the Zhuo Clan and uncover the truth behind the incident. He eventually left the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion. Not long after, a strange wandering swordsman named Gu Douhuan appeared in the martial world, and soon after that, Xiao'an emerged as the Crown Prince's mistress. This was, in fact, how the Great Thief of Yue came to be.
***
“Hold out your hand!”
Zhang Yuyin shouted, and Gu Douhuan extended his hand by reflex.
*Smack, smack, smack, smack.*
Zhang Yuyin's cane struck Gu Douhuan's palm fiercely. Only after being hit several times did Gu Douhuan finally come to his senses.
‘Why did I just hold out my hand? I don't study at the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion anymore, do I? You're not my teacher anymore, so what gives you the right to hit me? With your pathetic martial arts, I could crush you with a single finger.’
In the real world, some people might go back and beat up a teacher twenty years after graduation, but upon seeing Zhang Yuyin, Gu Douhuan couldn't even think of resisting, let alone laying a hand on her. This teacher, though harsh with her words, had a soft heart and had treated him very well. Back then, when he was suffering from the strange disease that disfigured his face, she had desperately researched ancient texts to alleviate his symptoms, and she had even come close to curing him.
Zhang Yuyin paid no mind to Gu Douhuan's formidable martial prowess. She stepped forward and pulled the sword from the Marquis of Xuanwu's chest. Several of her assistants behind her rushed over to treat Jin Zhuo. Zhang Yuyin then reached out to remove Gu Douhuan's mask, and he tried to dodge. She grabbed him firmly by the scruff of his neck and said.
“Where do you think you're going?”
She ripped his mask right off. In that moment, a face that was neither human nor ghost was revealed. It was still twisted, rotten, and hideous. Zhang Yuyin slapped his cheek.
“Back then, your illness was almost cured. Why did you run away? Why did you run away?”
Gu Douhuan was speechless. He had to avenge the Zhuo Clan and investigate the truth of their annihilation. Zhang Yuyin asked him.
“You’re Gu Douhuan, aren’t you?”
“No… I’m not!”
*Slap!*
Zhang Yuyin slapped him again.
“When you lie, your eyes dart to the side.”
Zhang Yuyin examined Gu Douhuan’s twisted face again, prying his eyelids open to look at his pupils.
“If you don’t get more treatment, you’re done for. You imbecile! You will stay here. In a few days, I’ll take you back to the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion and figure out a way to cure you.”
Gu Douhuan subconsciously glanced at the Marquis of Xuanwu, Jin Zhuo.
‘Do I… still have to kill Jin Zhuo?’
Even if Teacher Zhang weren't here, he would have found it difficult to strike down such a man of noble character. Now, with Teacher Zhang right beside him, it was impossible.
“You idiots, this is your senior brother. He's even more of an idiot than you are. Take him away. We'll all leave together in a few days.”
“Yes, Teacher!”
Several students approached Gu Douhuan, took him by the arms, and led him out of the room. Gu Douhuan was in a state of severe panic.
‘What… what do I do now? No, I can’t go to the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion. I haven’t finished my work yet.’
Suddenly, Gu Douhuan violently shook off the hands holding him.
“Thank you, Teacher Zhang. I… must be going.”
And in an instant, his figure vanished without a trace. Zhang Yuyin shouted after him.
“Did Zhuo Xiao'an tell you to kill the Marquis of Xuanwu? Don't you dare see her again. Otherwise, I, on behalf of the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion, will issue a warrant for Zhuo Xiao'an's arrest.”
Hearing those words from outside, Gu Douhuan's heart trembled. Last time, he had failed to kill Xu Qianqian for a good reason, but today, he had failed to kill Jin Zhuo as well. He truly had no face to see Xiao'an again. The thought of the disappointment in Zhuo Xiao'an's eyes made it impossible for Gu Douhuan to face her.
‘In that case… I’ll run away!’
Zhuo Xiao'an was in the south, so Gu Douhuan fled to the west.
***
Marquis Jin Zhuo clasped his hands and bowed to Zhang Yuyin.
“Thank you for saving my life, Teacher Zhang.”
‘You’re my lover’s father-in-law, how could I just stand by and watch you die? Huh? That title sounds a bit strange, doesn’t it?’
Zhang Yuyin said.
“Zhuo Yizhen is a good kid. He just has some problems in his head. But even without me, he probably wouldn't have been able to truly kill you. He only kills villains.”
Marquis Jin Zhuo said.
“But to think Gu Douhuan was Zhuo Yizhen. The same Zhuo Yizhen who was the Military Champion that shook the entire State of Yue back then…”
“The term from the classics, the Calamitous Lone Star—a person fated to be ominous and bring disaster upon those around them, destined for a life of solitude—seems to describe Zhuo Yizhen perfectly. The Zhuo Clan suffered annihilation because of him, after all.”
Hearing her words, the Marquis of Xuanwu shuddered. The annihilation of the Zhuo Clan was a top secret. To this day, no one knew the real reason for their downfall, only that it was somehow related to the Great Yan Dynasty. The Count of Anding's Estate was, at the time, even more renowned than the Count of Xuanwu's Estate. More than half a dozen members of the Zhuo Clan held high positions as civil and military officials in the court; one could say the power of the court was tilted in their favor. Yet, overnight, without any warning, the Zhuo Clan was annihilated. And now, Zhang Yuyin was claiming that the reason behind this great mystery was Zhuo Yizhen.
“When Zhuo Yizhen displayed his heaven-defying talent in martial arts, some began to suspect he might be a descendant of Jiang Li. As such suspicions circulated, some piece of evidence emerged, leading to the Zhuo Clan's annihilation.”
Zhang Yuyin stated the truth as if it were a trivial matter, and the Marquis of Xuanwu’s heart skipped a beat.
‘Can such a secret be spoken of so casually? No wonder! So that’s why the illustrious Zhuo Clan was wiped out in an instant.’
Zhang Yuyin continued.
“Afterward, our Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion conducted a thorough investigation and confirmed that Zhuo Yizhen had no connection to Jiang Li whatsoever. The Pavilion Master personally wrote a letter to the Emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty, and thus the Zhuo Clan’s name was cleared.”
Come to think of it, in recent years, descendants of the Zhuo Clan had begun to re-enter official service, and Zhuo Xiao'an had become the Crown Prince's mistress. But even if their innocence was proven, almost all members of the Zhuo Clan were already dead. Such was the tyranny of the Great Yan Dynasty, and such was the influence of the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion to be able to uncover the truth.
Zhang Yuyin said.
“Now that they’ve sent an assassin to kill the Marquis of Xuanwu, a great war is about to erupt in Raging Tide City. We of the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion cannot appear on the battlefield, so we will be leaving tomorrow.”
Her words were undeniable.
Why kill Jin Zhuo? The goal wasn't just to kill one man, but to seize Raging Tide City. Zhang Yuyin had astutely realized that a great war was imminent. With Shen Lang absent from Raging Tide City, if the Marquis of Xuanwu were also assassinated, taking the city would be as easy as flipping one's hand.
The Marquis of Xuanwu said.
“I understand. I will see you off tomorrow, Teacher Zhang.”
“No, Your Excellency should not show yourself. You’ve already been stabbed, so it would be best if everyone believed you were dead. It might bring about a favorable outcome in the coming war for Raging Tide City.”
Just as Jin Zhuo was about to ask if Gu Douhuan didn't already know he was alive, Zhang Yuyin spoke again, more quickly.
“That child, Zhuo Yizhen, was born with a fierce destiny. He possesses incredible innate martial talent, but his character has a major flaw. He appears brave, but his heart is weak. When faced with a problem he cannot solve, he likes to run away. Since he failed to kill you today, he won't be going to see Zhuo Xiao'an for some time.”
The Marquis of Xuanwu's eyes narrowed, his heart filled with an unparalleled fury.
‘Your Highness the Crown Prince, I, Jin Zhuo, have never wronged you in my life. Why do you repeatedly push me toward death's door? It has always been you who has desperately provoked my Jin Clan. My daughter, Jin Mulan, clearly has a husband, yet do you see her as nothing more than your plaything? Despite all this, even when Lang'er went to the capital, he never once provoked you; his grudge was only with the Su Clan. And still, you refuse to leave us in peace?’
The Marquis of Xuanwu decided to take this opportunity to ask Zhang Yuyin about it.
“Teacher Zhang, I have a question that I cannot resolve.”
“Please, speak.”
The beautiful teacher was truly bold.
‘There is nothing in this world that our Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion cannot speak of.’
“Why does His Highness the Crown Prince target my Jin Clan at every turn? We no longer have any conflicting interests with him, do we?”
“Who says there are no conflicting interests? Raging Tide City is the most important trade hub for maritime commerce in the eastern part of the State of Yue. It was originally controlled by the Hidden Yuan Society, but after the Jin Clan seized it, the entire eastern sea trade was taken over by the Heavenly Dao Society. The strategic control of trade is far more important than you might think, Your Excellency. To reclaim control over the entire eastern sea trade, the Hidden Yuan Society will not hesitate to go to war.”