Gale Lodge’s organization was secretive and large, and its influence not only extended across the Central Plains, but also beyond the pass.
The reason Gale Lodge was like this today, aside from “Cyclone God” Yun Feiyang’s lofty ambition and boldness of vision that was greater than anyone else’s, was because he had three good friends that would die with him, go through adversity with him, fight shoulder to shoulder with him and strive hard with him unremittingly.
These three friends were Sikong Xiaofeng, Zhao Jian, and Shangguan Ren.
They had established Gale Lodge with their own sweat and blood, so all the glory and success naturally ought to be shared with them.
Ever since Old Master Yun Feiyang had proclaimed he was going into closed door cultivation for five years to master a peerless swordplay, the heavy burden of Gale Lodge had fallen on their shoulders.
They were sworn friends. They not only went through hardships together, they also enjoyed wealth and honor together.
So there was never any scramble for power or wealth between them. They just wholeheartedly worked to help the weak and eliminate the strong.
But the three of them’s tempers and personalities were all different.
× × ×
Sikong Xiaofeng was the oldest. He had the mildest temper. He was a famed “sage” of the jianghu.
He never liked to quarrel with people, and he really didn’t like killing people or spilling blood.
He felt that no matter what, one could always use wisdom to resolve the situation. There was no need to use a blade.
So some in the jianghu secretly gave him a nickname, calling him “Granny Sikong”!
Even though the Gale Lodge disciples treated him with the utmost respect, in their hearts they didn’t necessarily admire him.
Those hotblooded youths full of piss and vinegar always felt the way he handled things was a bit hypocritical, a bit weak.
They were full of heroic zeal, but they could never put it to good use.
Because Sikong Xiaofeng had long ago made his policy for dealing with their formidable enemy, “Thunderbolt Lodge”.
If they don’t bother me, I won’t bother them.
Never attack unless it was absolutely necessary?
For the disciples of Gale Lodge, if they ever invaded Thunderbolt Lodge territory, they’d kill without mercy!
Shangguan Ren was a Buddha who, no matter what he encountered, would seal his lips!
Even his trusted followers who he’d been with for years found it rare to hear him speak.
He always felt everyone had the right to their own personal secrets. He never tolerated anyone asking too much about his private affairs.
His quarters were always heavily, strictly guarded. No one was ever allowed to take a step inside.
Like Zhao Jian, his wife had passed away young, and his only daughter had been sent away to a faraway place.
Now he not only didn’t have any close relatives, he also had very few friends.
He was unsociable and high-minded, and all the world knew that no one could get close to him.
So of the three of them, the one who was most adored by the disciples was Zhao Jian.
× × ×
When he was young, Zhao Jian had spurred his horse throughout the jianghu, freely getting into scrapes, drawing his sword right there in the middle of the street, spilling blood in a matter of steps.
As he got older his temper relaxed, but he was still of a frank and honest disposition!
If you really were his friend, even if you asked him to lop off his own head and give it to you, he wouldn’t even frown.
A person like that in the youngster’s minds was the model hero.
Everyone not only respected and admired him, they truly liked him. Today was his only son’s wedding day, so everyone naturally wanted to come and share a wedding toast with him.
Even Old Master Yun, who had been locked away on Granite Mountain Peak for two years, sent some especially to deliver a nice gift in congratulations.
Everyone was waiting to see the groom’s graceful bearing, and they were even more eager to catch a glimpse of the virtuous and dutiful and beautiful bride.
Wuji appeared and everyone gathered around him.
Hea hadn’t walked into the main hall, but there were still people in the rear garden. There were people packed in everywhere.
Everyone was surprised and happy to see the groom in his wedding clothes running around before he’d even done the ceremony of kowtowing to heaven and earth. No one thought he had breached any etiquette.
The son of Second Uncle Zhao ought to be the candid, straightforward kind of man who didn’t worry over trifles.
It was not easy for Wuji to shake them off as he passed through a peach grove in the rear garden and went down a winding little path until he reached a small compound overgrown with green bamboo.
× × ×
The wind soughing across the bamboo leaves was like the waves; the laughter and chatter of the crowd outside did not reach this place.
There were five rooms in the small compound, three lit, two dark. This was the meditation and study area at Gentle Breeze Villa.
Of course Old Jiang knew this place, and he of course looked here.
He didn’t find his Young Master here because there wasn’t anyone here. Not a single person in the entire compound.
But Wuji was not disappointed because he knew this place’s secret. Only he knew.
× × ×
The nice room in the very back was Zhao Jian’s study. There were bookshelves along every wall. Walking in here was like walking into a bookstore.
But there was no one here either.
Wuji strode inside, made sure there was no one inside, and he was not only not worried, he was actually relieved.
Because only he knew that the bookshelf on the left wall had a secret. This was the secret area where his father handled top secret Gale Lodge business.
He was sure his father would be here, quite possibly discussing some important top secret matter with Third Uncle Shangguan.
He didn’t go in directly. First he took a bronze paperweight off the desk and rapped lightly on the third shelf of the bookshelf.
He knocked three times in succession with no response.
Now he was a bit worried. He yanked a lever beside the shelf and the bookshelf turned open a crack and he slipped inside.
His father sure enough was in the secret chamber, still wearing the purple satin robe he’d had made specially for his son’s wedding, the green jade snuff bottle that he loved too much to part with in his hand. But his head was missing.
Wuji knelt down, and since he didn’t wail, he shed no tears.
In his eyes there were already no tears, only blood!
A gust of wind blew in from outside, blowing a couple pages over in an almanac on the writing desk, as if an unseen hand were turning the pages. The pages settled on the third page where it was written:
Twenty-seventh day of the third month, very auspicious, suitable for marriage.
× × ×
This day was truly suitable for all activities, a lucky day of great fortune and great prosperity.
Gale Lodge’s organization was secretive and large, and its influence not only extended across the Central Plains, but also beyond the pass.
The reason Gale Lodge was like this today, aside from “Cyclone God” Yun Feiyang’s lofty ambition and boldness of vision that was greater than anyone else’s, was because he had three good friends that would die with him, go through adversity with him, fight shoulder to shoulder with him and strive hard with him unremittingly.
These three friends were Sikong Xiaofeng, Zhao Jian, and Shangguan Ren.
They had established Gale Lodge with their own sweat and blood, so all the glory and success naturally ought to be shared with them.
Ever since Old Master Yun Feiyang had proclaimed he was going into closed door cultivation for five years to master a peerless swordplay, the heavy burden of Gale Lodge had fallen on their shoulders.
They were sworn friends. They not only went through hardships together, they also enjoyed wealth and honor together.
So there was never any scramble for power or wealth between them. They just wholeheartedly worked to help the weak and eliminate the strong.
But the three of them’s tempers and personalities were all different.
× × ×
Sikong Xiaofeng was the oldest. He had the mildest temper. He was a famed “sage” of the jianghu.
He never liked to quarrel with people, and he really didn’t like killing people or spilling blood.
He felt that no matter what, one could always use wisdom to resolve the situation. There was no need to use a blade.
So some in the jianghu secretly gave him a nickname, calling him “Granny Sikong”!
Even though the Gale Lodge disciples treated him with the utmost respect, in their hearts they didn’t necessarily admire him.
Those hotblooded youths full of piss and vinegar always felt the way he handled things was a bit hypocritical, a bit weak.
They were full of heroic zeal, but they could never put it to good use.
Because Sikong Xiaofeng had long ago made his policy for dealing with their formidable enemy, “Thunderbolt Lodge”.
If they don’t bother me, I won’t bother them.
Never attack unless it was absolutely necessary?
For the disciples of Gale Lodge, if they ever invaded Thunderbolt Lodge territory, they’d kill without mercy!
Shangguan Ren was a Buddha who, no matter what he encountered, would seal his lips!
Even his trusted followers who he’d been with for years found it rare to hear him speak.
He always felt everyone had the right to their own personal secrets. He never tolerated anyone asking too much about his private affairs.
His quarters were always heavily, strictly guarded. No one was ever allowed to take a step inside.
Like Zhao Jian, his wife had passed away young, and his only daughter had been sent away to a faraway place.
Now he not only didn’t have any close relatives, he also had very few friends.
He was unsociable and high-minded, and all the world knew that no one could get close to him.
So of the three of them, the one who was most adored by the disciples was Zhao Jian.
× × ×
When he was young, Zhao Jian had spurred his horse throughout the jianghu, freely getting into scrapes, drawing his sword right there in the middle of the street, spilling blood in a matter of steps.
As he got older his temper relaxed, but he was still of a frank and honest disposition!
If you really were his friend, even if you asked him to lop off his own head and give it to you, he wouldn’t even frown.
A person like that in the youngster’s minds was the model hero.
Everyone not only respected and admired him, they truly liked him. Today was his only son’s wedding day, so everyone naturally wanted to come and share a wedding toast with him.
Even Old Master Yun, who had been locked away on Granite Mountain Peak for two years, sent some especially to deliver a nice gift in congratulations.
Everyone was waiting to see the groom’s graceful bearing, and they were even more eager to catch a glimpse of the virtuous and dutiful and beautiful bride.
Wuji appeared and everyone gathered around him.
Hea hadn’t walked into the main hall, but there were still people in the rear garden. There were people packed in everywhere.
Everyone was surprised and happy to see the groom in his wedding clothes running around before he’d even done the ceremony of kowtowing to heaven and earth. No one thought he had breached any etiquette.
The son of Second Uncle Zhao ought to be the candid, straightforward kind of man who didn’t worry over trifles.
It was not easy for Wuji to shake them off as he passed through a peach grove in the rear garden and went down a winding little path until he reached a small compound overgrown with green bamboo.
× × ×
The wind soughing across the bamboo leaves was like the waves; the laughter and chatter of the crowd outside did not reach this place.
There were five rooms in the small compound, three lit, two dark. This was the meditation and study area at Gentle Breeze Villa.
Of course Old Jiang knew this place, and he of course looked here.
He didn’t find his Young Master here because there wasn’t anyone here. Not a single person in the entire compound.
But Wuji was not disappointed because he knew this place’s secret. Only he knew.
× × ×
The nice room in the very back was Zhao Jian’s study. There were bookshelves along every wall. Walking in here was like walking into a bookstore.
But there was no one here either.
Wuji strode inside, made sure there was no one inside, and he was not only not worried, he was actually relieved.
Because only he knew that the bookshelf on the left wall had a secret. This was the secret area where his father handled top secret Gale Lodge business.
He was sure his father would be here, quite possibly discussing some important top secret matter with Third Uncle Shangguan.
He didn’t go in directly. First he took a bronze paperweight off the desk and rapped lightly on the third shelf of the bookshelf.
He knocked three times in succession with no response.
Now he was a bit worried. He yanked a lever beside the shelf and the bookshelf turned open a crack and he slipped inside.
His father sure enough was in the secret chamber, still wearing the purple satin robe he’d had made specially for his son’s wedding, the green jade snuff bottle that he loved too much to part with in his hand. But his head was missing.
Wuji knelt down, and since he didn’t wail, he shed no tears.
In his eyes there were already no tears, only blood!
A gust of wind blew in from outside, blowing a couple pages over in an almanac on the writing desk, as if an unseen hand were turning the pages. The pages settled on the third page where it was written:
Twenty-seventh day of the third month, very auspicious, suitable for marriage.
× × ×
This day was truly suitable for all activities, a lucky day of great fortune and great prosperity.
