Entering the Spirit Void 128. How Strange and Peculiar

Gu Yi remarked, "These two children are not yet fifty years old, yet there is no martial art in the world they do not know."

Both the black-clad and white-clad children were able to execute every single attacking and defending move thrown at them by their opponents. Rather than spending arduous time practicing forms, having the opponents teach them directly was far more efficient. Once they finished demonstrating, the two of them shouted in unison, "Grandpa! This is how we learned our martial arts."

Although the internal energy of the black and white children was not profound, their youth endowed them with natural vitality. Their moves and strikes were not ferocious, but they possessed extreme agility. This cleverness made up for the inadequacy of their inner strength, allowing them even as flashy novices to contend with renowned martial arts experts.

Gu Yi asked, "Little ones! Are you two really orphans?"

The black-clad child nodded and replied, "I only know I have a mother, but I have never seen a father. When I asked my mother what my father's surname was and where he was now, she couldn't answer."

Gu Yi asked further, "Where is your mother now?"

The black-clad child answered, "She died a long time ago."

Gu Fang asked, "If the two of you are not brothers, how did you come to know each other?"

The white-clad child replied, "I only had a father and no mother. My father couldn't work while carrying me, and we had nothing at home. I only remember a drafty thatched hut."

Gu Fang pursued, "Was your home anywhere near here?"

The white-clad child shook his head and said, "My father brought me to live in that thatched hut. When I was hungry and couldn't find anything to eat, he made me beg for food everywhere. I don't remember when or where it was, but I ran into the black-clad child's mother, and after that, we stayed together."

The black-clad child said, "I still remember the first day we met. It was an afternoon of howling wind and driving rain, and we both entered a ruined temple to take shelter from the storm. After we began talking, my mother and the white-clad child's father both wept."

The white-clad child continued, "That's right! Ever since taking shelter from the rain that day, we lived together there. My father would go up the mountain to gather firewood and carry it to sell in a nearby village, while my mother swept the ruined temple. We children played nearby, and after that, the days of going hungry became fewer."

The black-clad child said, "I remember quite a few things too. After my mother swept the ruined temple and patched it up here and there, it no longer leaked when it rained. It became clean with no spider webs, and even the statue of the Buddha began to glow. My mother used to burn incense and pay respects to the deities every single day."

The white-clad child chimed in, "My father sometimes chopped two loads of firewood—one load in the morning and one in the afternoon—and went to the market to sell them. When he came back, we had rice, vegetables, cooking oil, and salt."

The black-clad child added, "Later on, he and I often went to the mountain behind the temple to pick wild vegetables and catch small birds. One day, we saw a burial vault. The cave was filled with all sorts of snakes, big and small. It was so terrifying!"

Gu Fang said, "Snakes are poisonous and will bite people. If a person is bitten by a snake, they will die. Were you two not afraid?"

The white-clad child said, "I told my father to go look. He said they weren't snakes and that snakes would run away. Those in the burial cave were eels. Eels can be eaten, but adults didn't dare eat them."

The black-clad child said, "Eels are extremely delicious."

Gu Yi asked, "Have you eaten them?"

The black-clad child nodded and replied, "The white-clad child and I often gathered orange tree branches near the burial vault to build a bonfire, caught the large eels, and roasted them to eat. They tasted truly fragrant."

The white-clad child went on, "I remember one day, a very large eel leaped out of the burial vault and rolled around on the ground. Neither of us could hold it down. We picked up a thick tree branch and struck it many, many times before finally beating that big eel to death. Roasted, it was especially fragrant. Both of us ate our fill, yet we still couldn't finish eating that large eel in one meal. After eating, we went up the mountain to pick wild fruit, and only when we returned at dusk did we finish eating the rest of that fish."

Gu Fang asked, "Do you two know where the ancient temple is located?"

The black-clad child shook his head and said, "We don't know. We lived in the ancient temple for a very short time. We never went down the mountain, and very few outsiders went there."

Gu Yi asked, "Do you remember how your mother died?"

Hearing Gu Yi ask about the cause of his mother's death, the black-clad child could not help letting fall sorrowful tears as he replied, "I heard she died of jaundice."

Gu Yi turned to ask the white-clad child, "And your father?"

The white-clad child answered, "Not long after his mother died, my father also contracted the same illness as his mother and died."

Gu Fang asked, "Which of you two is older?"

The white-clad child replied, "According to the adults, we were born in the same year and the same month. The black-clad child is older than me by ten days."

Gu Yi asked, "After your parents passed away one after another, did you leave the Mountain God Temple?"

The white-clad child nodded and answered, "After our parents died, we couldn't find anything to eat, so we went down the mountain to beg for food. When we were full, we would fight and play. Wherever night fell, was where we slept. Sometimes the nights were very cold, so we would wrestle to ward off the chill. At dawn, we would run off to beg for food, and once full, we would race each other. We had no home. Regardless of north, south, east, or west, as long as there was a road, we walked it."

The black-clad child continued, "Whenever we saw people fighting, we would follow along to watch. After watching many times, we learned quite a few moves."

Gu Fang asked, "Where did you get your swords?"

The black-clad child answered, "We picked them up beside the bodies of heroes who had been beaten to death."

Gu Yi asked, "Is it convenient to go begging for food while wearing swords?"

The black-clad child said, "During the day, we wrapped them in rags so other people couldn't see them."

Gu Yi smiled and asked, "How about the two of you come with us brothers? Would that be good?"

The black-clad and white-clad children shook their heads in unison and said, "No, we want to wander around and see the world. When we grow up, we want to contribute our strength to the country."

Gu Fang gave a thumbs-up and smiled, saying, "You have ambition!"

Gu Yi reached into his robe, took out a gold ingot, handed it to the white-clad child before him, and said, "I am also someone traveling far from home, and I don't carry much money with me. Please accept this small token, little brother, to buy yourself a set of clothes."

Gu Fang chimed in, "If the two of you ever wander as far as the Min River, just mention the Fang family brothers of the Fangyi Fortress, and someone will guide you there. We two old brothers will warmly welcome you two little brothers."

The white-clad child shook his head and said, "We have no use for money at all. Since Grandpa is traveling far from home and doesn't know when he will return, you should keep it for your own use, Grandpa!"

The black-clad child smiled and said, "We've heard the Min River is a fine place; we will definitely go there."

Seeing how adorable these two children were and genuinely wishing to make their acquaintance, Gu Yi tucked the gold ingot back into his robe and said, "I also know how to roast beggar's chicken. I'll go buy a few chickens and roast them right here. How about we become sworn friends across generations with you two brothers tonight?"

The white-clad child smiled and said, "Speaking of eating beggar's chicken, we are certainly very fond of it."

Suddenly, with a rustling sound, two figures drifted down from a tree. Gu Fang and Gu Yi were secretly startled. Casting their eyes outward, they saw a beautiful young woman and a masked person. A shudder ran through their hearts, and the brothers exchanged a glance, stepping backward step by step.

The figures drifting down from the tree were, of course, Yang Yifei and Feng Jiezhen.

After landing on the ground, Yang Yifei smiled at the black and white brothers and asked, "Hey! Do you two want to come with me to watch a fight?"

The black and white children nodded simultaneously and replied, "Yes! Yes!"

Yang Yifei beckoned with her hand and said, "If you want to watch a fight, follow us. We guarantee you'll find it immensely thrilling." With that, she waved to Feng Jiezhen and turned to leave.

The black and white children waved goodbye to the elderly Gu brothers and hurried off behind Yang Yifei.

Gu Yi shouted, "Little brothers, didn't you promise us you'd eat beggar's chicken here?"

The black-clad child replied, "Grandpa, buy it and roast it first. We'll come right back after watching the fight."

Gu Fang stepped one pace sideways to Gu Yi's side, gently tugging at his sleeve, and whispered, "Be careful. That masked person is likely the fiend roaming the jianghu who is rumored to slaughter martial arts figures indiscriminately."

Gu Yi nodded and said, "The two children were lured away by that young woman. Isn't that extremely dangerous?"

Gu Fang said, "We will follow them in secret. If we see that the two children are in mortal danger, whether we can save them or not, giving up our old lives will at least mean dying for a righteous cause."

Gu Yi said, "So it should be. We brothers have spent half our lives upholding chivalry; we can certainly not be cowards and stand by idly while watching people die."

Thus, they followed behind Yang Yifei and the others.

Just as Yang Yifei and her group reached the edge of the mountain, they suddenly saw Mo Dao, Jiezhenzi, and Jieqingzi hurrying toward them. They raised their hands in greeting and asked, "Are you few looking for us?"

Jieqingzi stopped in his tracks and said, "Brother Gao and the two senior predecessors have decided to go scout immediately and verify whether the news you gathered is accurate."

Yang Yifei asked, "Did Gao Yunxiang and the others leave first?"

Jieqingzi replied, "They are waiting at the mountain pass."

Yang Yifei said, "Will the two of you act as our experienced guides?"

Jieqingzi turned and strode forward, saying, "Sister Fei, you really know how to scold people. We don't even know where 'Twin Herds Fortress' is; how could we possibly act as guides who know the way?"

Twin Herds Fortress was situated within a deep valley. The terrain was perilous and the scenery uniquely striking. The entrance resembled a person's spread thighs, with ridge lines stretching straight along both sides and terraced rice paddies crisscrossing the middle. The deeper one went into the valley, the narrower it became. Confronting one another across the two mountains was a stream of crystal-clear mountain water dotted with strange rocks.

To the left of the rushing water were thousands of steep, perilous cliffs, featuring a waterfall cascading down from the heavens. Its sparkling splashes were wondrous and bizarre, presenting a delightful scene. To the right, the mountain ridges were densely wooded, connecting undulating peaks as far as the eye could see.

Beneath the waterfall lay a deep pool of crystal-clear water, its depth unfathomable. The road entering Twin Herds Fortress led only as far as the pool; the land route was a suspension bridge, and the water route required boats.

As the old beggar and his companions marched from the entrance toward Twin Herds Fortress, each of them heightened their vigilance. The heavy dark clouds made it impossible to see one's hand before one's face. Walking a pitch-black night road on perilous terrain to infiltrate a fortress of unknown friends or foes would inevitably cause anyone's heart to flutter with anxiety, no matter how formidable their martial arts.

The group of eleven—consisting of old and young, male and female—was led forward by Gao Yunxiang and Li Hao, with the old beggar bringing up the rear. They penetrated two or three li into the valley without encountering any obstacles, interceptions, or checkpoint facilities. The heavier the silence, the more oppressive it felt.

Suddenly, on the mountainside, eleven skyward firecrackers were set off in rapid succession, shattering the silence of the earth. The fireworks soaring into the clouds were of two colors: first four red ones, followed by seven blue ones, and after a brief pause, two more red flames were launched.

Young men and women lacking jianghu experience were temporarily unable to decipher the meaning of the quantity and color of the flames, simply assuming it was an alarm signaling that someone had been spotted scouting the fortress.

The old beggar fell into a brief contemplation, reached out, and tapped the shoulder of the impoverished scholar who was walking ahead. He whispered softly, "Poor ghost! How many of us are there? They figured us out long ago."

The impoverished scholar said, "We walked single-file along the main road. With people counting in the dark, how could a few men and women escape their night vision?"

The old beggar said, "I have another premonition."

The impoverished scholar asked, "What premonition?"

The old beggar replied, "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."

The impoverished scholar said, "Are you saying someone is tailing us?"

The old beggar said, "Those last two red flames indicate there are still two people behind us."

The impoverished scholar stopped in his tracks and said, "How about you and I, two poor ghosts, briefly act as highway robbers?"

The old beggar said, "Fine, let us lay an ambush."

The impoverished scholar said, "If our highway robbery succeeds, we must first make a gentleman's agreement."

The old beggar said, "State your terms."

The impoverished scholar said, "Any wine we seize belongs to me, and all gold, silver, and treasures belong to you to distribute among your impoverished disciples."

The old beggar said, "Poor ghost, your mind is warped. In the end, worry about your own old life."

The two of them immediately concealed themselves within the grass. Only a moment later, the sound of light, rapid footsteps approached them.

The old beggar let out a deep shout, "Halt! Leave behind your wine, gold, and treasures, and we'll let you pass!"

The people coming up from behind were the brothers Gu Fang and Gu Yi. Hearing the voice, it sounded familiar, though they couldn't place it at first. Straining their night vision to look, they burst into loud laughter and said, "Ha! Ha! Ha! An esteemed elder of the Beggar Sect, renowned for chivalry, actually wants to live a life of luxury and has turned into a highway robber!"