The shattered wall of the old temple became their desperate escape route. Bursting out into the fading twilight, Zhu Mingyang was a powerful, determined figure, his muscles straining as he ran down a winding dirt path. On his back, slumped and semi-conscious, was the poisoned Yan Zhanjin, his weight a heavy burden. Beside them, Gu Yingjie, his eyes constantly scanning their rear.
Not far behind them, a whirlwind of speed and strength, came Kuo Lok. His powerful hand was clasped tightly around Bazar Batu's right hand, effectively dragging his heavily poisoned friend along. Bazar Batu, barely conscious, stumbled with every step, his legs threatening to give out, relying entirely on Kuo Lok's brute force to stay upright.
But their escape was far from clear. From behind them, the shouts and heavy footsteps of their pursuers grew louder. A relentless wave of members from the Seventy-Two Islands poured out of the temple, their grim faces illuminated by the last vestiges of the setting sun, their weapons glinting as they gave chase down the dusty path. The air was thick with their cries of pursuit and the panting breaths of the fleeing men, a desperate race against overwhelming odds.
Kuo Lok discovered that there were too many members of Seventy-Two Islands chasing after them. He stopped and shouted, "Take Zhanjin away!" He rushed to the members of Seventy-Two Islands and began to attack them.
Bazar Batu shouted, his voice strained, "Lok gege, be careful!"
Kuo Lok shouted back, throwing himself into the fight, "Batu... Leave with them!"
Bazar Batu stood and watched Kuo Lok fighting against the enemies. He shouted, heartbreak overcoming exhaustion, "No! If you want to leave with me, you'd better defeat them all!"
Gu Yingjie and Zhu Mingyang were already some distance from Kuo Lok and Bazar Batu. Gu Yingjie looked down at the ground and saw Yan Zhanjin's blood dripping, clearly marking their trail.
Gu Yingjie made a critical decision. "Mingyang, go straight to Sunset Mountain."
Zhu Mingyang asked, "Why?"
Gu Yingjie explained the tactical necessity. "Chaomei will not hurt us. Ma Jingguo is down there; as their chief, they will go help him and the rest of the martial artists. Also, Chaomei is the only person who can help Zhanjin."
Gu Yingjie quickly turned around and kicked an incoming sword to the ground, seeing Jiang Koshing and Yen Tung rushing towards him. Gu Yingjie shouted at Zhu Mingyang, "Mingyang… you go!"
Zhu Mingyang walked back and gently lowered Yan Zhanjin to the ground. He drew his sword, ready to fight. "Yingjie, leave with Zhanjin now."
Gu Yingjie protested, "Mingyang!"
Zhu Mingyang turned to Gu Yingjie and said coldly, his will absolute, "Now!"
Gu Yingjie obeyed the final command, hoisting Yan Zhanjin's arm over his shoulder, and the two slowly left Zhu Mingyang behind.
Yan Zhanjin spoke weakly, struggling against his internal loyalty. "Yingjie, will Mingyang be alright by himself? We should go back for him."
Gu Yingjie was firm. "No need. Mingyang can take care of himself."
Gu Yingjie and Yan Zhanjin slowly ascended the mountain path, leaving Zhu Mingyang to face the two leaders of Seventy-Two Islands alone.
Yen Tung swung a three-stage staff to block Zhu Mingyang, while Jiang Koshing released his nine-chain whip at Zhu Mingyang's feet. Zhu Mingyang flipped back, gracefully avoiding the nine-chain whip. Zhu Mingyang's swung sword sent a powerful blast of energy wave at Jiang Koshing and Yen Tung. The incoming blast made the two leaders of Seventy-Two Islands quickly separate and avoid the impact of Zhu Mingyang's sword.
Yen Tung spoke, a grudging respect in his voice. "Zhu Mingyang, you are really worthy of your good name. If you join us, I believe our leader will give you a good position that is no less than the Gu."
Zhu Mingyang sneered. "If your leader is Yingjie, then I will have no problem following him."
Yen Tung gritted his teeth, his tone turning venomous. "You are such a loyal dog."
Zhu Mingyang raised his sword, his stance resolute. "The only way you can go up the mountain is to walk over my corpse." He stared defiantly at the two leaders of Seventy-Two Islands.
The path winding up the Sunset Mountain was a single, steep dirt track, offering no cover and demanding every ounce of strength from the fleeing men. Yan Zhanjin, despite being an experienced yisheng, felt a chilling certainty about his own condition. The powerful poison was overwhelming his system.
He knew that the frantic movement was his undoing; the forced exertion only propelled the venom faster through his bloodstream toward his heart. His body was giving up, and the end was only moments away.
Clinging to this desperate awareness, a final, selfless decision crystallized in his mind. He would not allow his fate to claim his friend. If he was destined to die on this desolate mountain, he would prefer dying alone—he would not drag the already weakened Gu Yingjie to a pointless, tragic end with him.
Yan Zhanjin began to slow, his voice weak. "Yingjie… I can't keep up. You go ahead and leave me."
Gu Yingjie refused, his loyalty absolute. "Zhanjin, we have known each other for so many years. Apart from Mingyang, you are my other family member. I am not leaving you behind."
Yan Zhanjin vomited a mouthful of blood, the internal damage visible. "Yingjie, I have internal bleeding. I can't continue walking. My lungs are starting to congest. If I keep walking, my lungs will collapse faster. You leave me here and you go get Yuan guniang."
Gu Yingjie walked quickly in front of Yan Zhanjin and shifted him, carrying him fully on his back. "Let's go together. If I leave you and you die, I will regret it forever. I would rather have you die on my back."
Yan Zhanjin, facing his imminent end, found the courage to speak a truth long held secret. "Yingjie... I want to tell you something, but I'm afraid to offend you, but if I don't say it, and if I die…"
Gu Yingjie gave his word. "Say it. I promise you; I will not be mad at you."
Yan Zhanjin finally confessed. "Yingjie, I like Mingyang... I like..."
Gu Yingjie smiled, stopping his confession gently. "I know. Many years ago, I told Mingyang that if Mingyang likes you and is unable to leave me, I don't mind if the three of us live together."
Yan Zhanjin felt compelled to clear his conscience fully. "Yingjie, I have to come clean."
Gu Yingjie prompted him. "What's the matter?"
Yan Zhanjin confessed the memory that haunted him. "Many years ago, Mingyang kissed me."
Gu Yingjie was unfazed. "I know."
Yan Zhanjin quickly explained, fearful of misunderstanding. "Mingyang told me that you saw us kissing, but I want you to know that Mingyang was drunk at that time and thought I was you." He coughed violently. "Mingyang has made it very clear to me that the relationship between him and me is just brotherhood, nothing more." He smiled bitterly. "He said that he can't love another person except you."
Just then, they stood in front of the iron gate of the Sunset Sector's complex. A person on the observation platform shot an arrow into the dirt in front of Gu Yingjie. The man shouted, "Stop where you are. Turn around and leave, otherwise you will be shot!"
Gu Yingjie shouted the urgent news. "I wish to see Yuan Chaomei! He shouted. "Chief Xin Taiyang was captured!"
After a moment, the iron gate opened, and the Five Tigers of the Sunset Sector walked out.
Yuan Chaomei rushed to Gu Yingjie, worriedly examining them. "Yingjie, what's wrong?"
Gu Yingjie prioritized their immediate need. "Chaomei, save Zhanjin first."
Yuan Chaomei, now focused on the larger threat, asked about the former leader. "What about Chief Xin?"
Gu Yingjie relayed the disaster. "He was captured by Seventy-Two Islands. He and the rest of the martial artists were poisoned with lighter than a feather." Gu Yingjie then stood up, his mind set on rescue. "Chaomei, I am leaving Zhanjin. I am going to help Mingyang."
Yuan Chaomei acted quickly, giving orders to her allies. She looked at Tang Keung and Si Meifeng. "You two go to assist Yingjie and scout the place where Chief Xin is being imprisoned."
Gu Yingjie and the two leaders of Sunset Sector rushed back down Sunset Mountain. When descending, they quickly met Zhu Mingyang. Gu Yingjie rushed to him.
Gu Yingjie examined him anxiously. "What's wrong?"
Zhu Mingyang explained the tactical boundary. "I drove them back and rushed up the mountain. After passing the boundary stone, they stopped chasing me."
Si Meifeng confirmed the territory. "They know that once they cross the boundary stone, they are enemy of the Sunset Sect."
Gu Yingjie's focus returned to his lover's wounds. "Mingyang, you are bleeding. Next time, don't use your body to shield me."
Zhu Mingyang smiled, his devotion clear. "Yingjie, I would rather shed blood than letting you shed blood."
Tang Keung injected practical urgency. "Let's treat your injury first. Without a good plan, we cannot rescue the martial artists because they have been poisoned with 'lighter than a feather.'"
Zhu Mingyang and Gu Yingjie followed the two leaders of Sunset Sect up Sunset Mountain to find help.
As night fell, the sun went down, the people in the empty courtyard were exhausted, and their fate rested in the hands of Fu Yuanjun. They were like little chicks in Fu Yuanjun's hands. If he squeezed them, they would die; if he released them, they would survive. On the top of the wall and on the roof of the houses, guards watched them closely.
Leaning against the wall, Ma Jingguo sat next to Mu Dishi, leaning his head on Mu Dishi's right shoulder and holding Mu Dishi's hand tightly.
Ma Jingguo murmured, "Xiao shushu, do you hate me?"
Mu Dishi did not answer.
Ma Jingguo frowned. "I know you might hate me because I have done a lot of things in the past that hurt you."
Mu Dishi replied softly, "I also did things that I am not proud of."
Ma Jingguo smiled lightly, trying to understand the day's actions. "Why did you do it?"
Mu Dishi asked, "What?"
Ma Jingguo clarified. "You didn't destroy my acupoints, but opened the last four acupoints, and more, not to mention, xiao shushu… why did you transfer all your internal energy to me?"
Mu Dishi gave a final, heartbreaking justification. "I don't want you to die. Also, Yuan guniang once said, if I'm in your shoes, you will also do it for me." Mu Dishi reached out and gently stroked Ma Jingguo's white hair. "These white hairs are evidence. And I also know that the only reason you want to retaliate against the martial artists of Central Plains is because of me." He felt Ma Jingguo's tears wet his right shoulder. "Jingguo, what I said in the cave the day before we parted, is true. I'll go where you want to go. You lead and I will follow, you don't have to chase me anymore."
Ma Jingguo sobbed softly. "Xiao shushu… I'm sorry."
Mu Dishi urged him gently. "Jingguo… lay on my lap."
Ma Jingguo slowly lay down on Mu Dishi's lap. Mu Dishi reached into his robe, took out a pill, and quietly put it into Ma Jingguo's mouth.
Mu Dishi said, his voice low, "Zhanjin told me that the poison will take a few hours to dissipate. In the meantime, don't use internal energy."
Wang Biming watched their tender moment and interjected, his voice demanding obedience. "Dishi, it's cold outside, let's go inside and rest."
Mu Dishi didn't look at Wang Biming, continuing to massage Ma Jingguo's forehead.
Ma Jingguo chuckled, finding comfort in the simple action. "Xiao shushu, when was the last time you massaged my forehead?"
Mu Dishi replied, lost in the memory. "The last time I massaged your forehead was when we were in Tianshan."
Wang Biming snapped, grabbing Ma Jingguo by the collar and pulling him roughly away from Mu Dishi's lap. He slammed Ma Jingguo's body against the wall. Ma Jingguo let out a grunt of pain.
Wang Biming looked at Mu Dishi, issuing a cold threat. "You don't want me to kill him, just obey me, don't make me angry." He then picked up Mu Dishi.
Ma Jingguo grabbed Wang Biming's left ankle, his rage overcoming his pain. "Wang Biming, don't you dare touch my xiao shushu! If you hurt him in any way, I will kill you!"
Wang Biming grinned down at Ma Jingguo, twisting the knife of betrayal. "I treat him better than you treat him. I will not lock him up as a prisoner like you did to him." Wang Biming held Mu Dishi securely in his arms and walked to a room on the far right, away from Ma Jingguo, claiming his prize.