Chapter Fifty-Nine: Betting for the Staff

In these times, it was indeed rare for women to roam the martial world. The women of Jade Purity Sect, however, were an exception.

Jade Purity Sect took its name from Mount Jade Purity in Jin Prefecture, and within its ranks there were only women—no men. According to rumors in the martial world, Jade Purity Sect was as ancient as Sword Manor in You Prefecture. In ages past, some of their elders had mastered sword arts to such a degree that they could ride their swords through the air. Some even claimed that their founding ancestor ascended to the heavens in broad daylight.

But legends are just legends. For centuries, no one had witnessed anyone from Jade Purity Sect or Sword Manor flying on swords, let alone soaring to immortality.

Jade Purity Sect was famed for its alchemy and medicine. It was said that their ancestor’s ascension was closely tied to the sect’s ability to craft high-level elixirs. The reason no disciple in later generations could achieve such feats was not for lack of the recipes, but because the rare ingredients required had become impossible to find.

Many of the ingredients listed in their ancient formulas were treasures of heaven and earth, things one might encounter only once in a hundred or a thousand years. How could obtaining them be easy? Even if such treasures appeared, getting them for oneself was another matter entirely. Far too many eyes coveted these wonders, and the martial world was full of powerful and ambitious people. Possessing such a treasure could bring calamity rather than fortune; after all, "an innocent man gets into trouble by holding a precious jade."

The group of women on the narrow path at the foot of Sunset Glow Mountain were none other than Jade Purity Sect’s leader, Jade Mist, and her disciples. Some among the wandering martial artists recognized them and quietly spread the word, prompting everyone to step aside and clear the way.

The group numbered fewer than twenty, all dressed in Daoist robes. Jade Mist, the sect leader, was of average appearance but maintained an excellent figure, looking to be around thirty, though she was in fact over fifty. They too had come in response to rumors that Sunset Glow Mountain had produced a miraculous treasure, something unseen in a century or even a millennium. Based on ancient records, Jade Mist speculated that this treasure might be a medicinal herb—though its exact nature remained unknown.

But whatever it was, she was determined to see it for herself, and, if possible, to claim it.

At the height of its power, Jade Purity Sect had boasted more than a thousand direct and indirect disciples. Now, it had declined to barely twenty. There was nothing to be done. For centuries, no one believed that practicing the sect’s arts would lead to flying on swords or ascending to immortality.

Jade Mist had left a few elderly and young disciples to guard the sect, while she led the remaining seventeen—every able member Jade Purity Sect still had—on this all-or-nothing expedition to Sunset Glow Mountain, hoping to seize the legendary treasure.

Xiao Ding knew little of martial sects or aristocratic clans. He merely listened as the wandering martial artists around him gossiped about Jade Purity Sect.

The women of Jade Purity Sect paused at the foot of the mountain to rest. Several minor sect leaders who had already gathered there greeted Jade Mist cordially, exchanging the usual pleasantries.

The vagabond martial artists around Xiao Ding looked on with envy. To have ties with Jade Purity Sect meant at the very least one could buy top-quality healing salves.

Just then, a party of more than a dozen people appeared on the road. At their head was a young man dressed like a gentleman, but a down-and-out one: his white robe was old and worn, and the paper fan he carried was tattered, clearly used for years.

By his side walked a burly man with a thick beard. His clothing was also shabby, though at least it was free of patches. His jacket was open, exposing a chest covered in dark hair, and his sleeves were rolled high to reveal tattooed arms. In his hand he held a jujube-wood staff as thick as a man’s arm.

Xiao Ding, seeing this burly man, thought to himself how small the world could be! Wasn’t this the second-in-command of Flying Cloud Peak, Sun Loudvoice? What was he doing here? And could the gentleman beside him be none other than the chief bandit of Flying Cloud Peak?

Xiao Ding studied the young gentleman closely. The man paid no attention to the vagabond martial artists, his gaze fixed on the group of Daoist women from Jade Purity Sect.

Yet Sun Loudvoice had already spotted Xiao Ding. With his tall stature and the heavy iron staff in hand, Xiao Ding stood out in the crowd.

Pointing at Xiao Ding, Sun Loudvoice shouted, “Hey! You, big guy! Give me back my iron staff, and I’ll let bygones be bygones!”

The ragged bandits trailing behind Sun Loudvoice and the gentleman also recognized Xiao Ding. They instinctively shrank back, cursing their luck. If this fellow stripped them of their clothes again, they truly would have nothing left to wear.

The other martial artists eyed the new arrivals. Dressed in rags, they looked like beggars, yet they were not from the Beggars’ Sect. As they wondered about this, the bearded man bellowed at Xiao Ding, drawing everyone’s gaze.

“Well, if it isn’t the second chief of Flying Cloud Fortress! Here to join the fun?” Xiao Ding called out with a grin.

But inwardly, he was wary. This man knew martial arts, while he himself knew nothing of the sort. Still, in his former life he had been a special forces soldier, trained in close-quarters combat, military wrestling, and other fighting techniques. He wondered how such tactics would fare against a martial artist—and what if he added in a bit of spiritual power?

“Cut the nonsense! Give me back my staff!” Sun Loudvoice, having been knocked out by Tang Yunzhi’s handkerchief last time, had awoken to find himself robbed by Xiao Ding—clothes, staff, and all, not even a pair of underwear left. He had been so enraged that he wanted to rush down the mountain for revenge, but the chief, Stone Firm, had stopped him, telling him it was too late at night and that a gentleman’s revenge could wait ten years.

Though furious, Sun Loudvoice had heeded Stone Firm’s advice and, after cooling off, found his anger lessened. He was a straightforward man, and if not forced by circumstance, would never have become a bandit.

“Why should I? The staff is mine now. If you can’t rob travelers, lose your staff, and still have the nerve to ask for it back?” Xiao Ding, though somewhat intimidated, refused to yield an inch.

“Well…” Sun Loudvoice, never much of a talker, found himself at a loss.

The surrounding martial artists, hearing Xiao Ding’s retort, finally understood that the bearded man had lost his staff because he failed at highway robbery. They looked down on Sun Loudvoice and his crew.

Of course, some among these martial artists were no strangers to petty theft or grave robbing themselves. But standing together with bodyguards and martial escorts, they all put on airs of righteousness.

Xiao Ding, seeing the crowd jeering at Sun Loudvoice, found it amusing. Watching Sun Loudvoice fidget in embarrassment, he laughed and said, “You seem awfully attached to that staff. How about this: care to make a wager? If I win, the staff is mine; if you win, it’s yours!”

“A wager?” Sun Loudvoice echoed, curiosity piqued.

And everyone turned to look at Xiao Ding…