M49S Vol 1 Chapter 13. The Sound Of The Bell

Dai Xiaoshan turned and reported his discovery to Chen Boyan. After a moment of thought, Chen Boyan beckoned Xiao Yu’er to follow him.

“I need to take a look. You’re too conspicuous here. We’ll go rest in a corner and act after midnight.” Before leaving, Meng Qiqi reminded him, “If anything happens while we’re gone, keep Wang Ziling covered for me. If anyone needs to be killed, I’ll take responsibility.”

“Yes, Little Martial Uncle.” Chen Boyan didn’t so much as flinch at the bloodthirsty implication in Meng Qiqi’s words.

Satisfied with Chen Boyan’s tact, Meng Qiqi immediately led Xiao Yu’er to a corner where the rogue cultivators had gathered, keeping a low profile as they sat down to meditate and rest.

Dai Xiaoshan finally found a chance to ask, “Senior Brother, who is that person really? Don’t tell me he’s the Little Martial—”

“He’s a lake friend,” Chen Boyan replied.

“Lake friend?” Dai Xiaoshan’s mind clouded over with the drifting mists of Gushan. It took him a long moment to realize that lake friend meant someone who had crawled out of the same lake.

Fate. It was fate.

By then, Meng Qiqi had already settled into the corner, but he could still sense the occasional glance drifting his way. Those gazes carried scrutiny and curiosity, lingering for a moment before quickly shifting elsewhere.

Wang Ziqian sat by a bonfire, casting a sidelong glance at Wang Ziling, who was occupying the best spot with the utmost nonchalance. His eyes were blank, clouded with shadow.

“Young Master, that rogue cultivator doesn’t look like anything special. Completely ordinary. I’d say it’s more like he’s the one clinging to Chen Boyan. Chen Boyan probably didn’t want to make a scene, which is why he let him sit beside him earlier.”

Hearing this, Wang Ziqian finally stirred, and spare Meng Qiqi a glance. The man did look unremarkable, not even as striking as his little disciple.

Wang Ziqian considered for a moment, then pulled out a small jade bottle from his robes. “Go give this to that boy. Tell him it’s a token of my thanks.”

The man hesitated for a moment, unsure of Wang Ziqian’s intention. But he didn’t dare ask questions. He took the jade bottle and walked over to deliver it. Xiao Yu’er, now receiving his second gift of the night, was both surprised and delighted. He looked up to ask his master, who simply nodded.

Wang Ziqian carefully watched Meng Qiqi’s reaction, but failed to see anything unusual. Thinking back on the man’s behavior earlier in the day, it seemed he genuinely had no particular fondness for the Wang clan. Among rogue cultivators, there were many with eccentric temperaments who wore their likes and dislikes openly. In that regard, Meng Qiqi wasn’t especially out of the ordinary.

Having come to that conclusion, Wang Ziqian lost interest in probing further. He instructed his men to keep watching, then closed his eyes and began to meditate. The cultivation session earlier in the rain had produced decent results. It had been painful, but if it truly helped to expand his meridians and improve his aptitude, then the pain had been worth it.

In the latter half of the night, Meng Qiqi woke precisely on time. The bonfire before him had nearly gone out. In the darkness, he swept his gaze over the cultivators scattered around. Most were either fast asleep or still deep in meditation. He quietly roused Xiao Yu’er and gave him a few brief instructions, then calmly walked out of the main hall.

One of the Wang clan disciple, tasked with keeping an eye on him, blinked sleepily in his direction. Seeing that Xiao Yu’er was still there, he didn’t think much of it. After all, it had been a long day, and he was exhausted.

What trouble could a rogue cultivator possibly stir up anyway?

Meng Qiqi followed the path Dai Xiaoshan had described, flying swiftly through the night. After about the time it took for one stick of incense to burn, he finally found the hidden cave Dai Xiaoshan had mentioned.

To avoid drawing suspicion, the people from Beidou had withdrawn thoroughly, not even leaving anyone to stand guard. Cautious of a possible trap, Meng Qiqi kept his guard up but still proceeded boldly inside. Yet the moment he stepped into the cave, his expression shifted sharply.

In almost the same instant, he sprang up lightly, clinging to a crack in the rock at the top of the cave entrance. Like a giant gecko, he flattened himself against the ceiling and held his breath, watching as a wave of beasts burst through the bushes outside and rushed into the cave.

Only once the entrance had fallen silent again did Meng Qiqi drop down, his expression grim. He stared into the depths of the cave, deep in thought. What was inside? Could it be another beast den?

No, it didn’t feel right. The scent was off.

Meng Qiqi couldn’t quite describe the smell drifting from the depths of the cave. It carried a note of decay, yet not so strong that it turned the stomach. It was more like the stench of a centuries-old corpse dried by the wind and sealed in cold air. The rot had been muted, leaving behind mostly a biting, bone-deep chill.

Of course, there was still the scent of beasts. But in a typical beast den, there would be traces of droppings and a much heavier stench. That wasn’t the case here.

Whatever the truth was, Meng Qiqi had to go in and see for himself.

He waited patiently for a while, confirming that beasts were entering the cave at regular intervals. It wasn’t a random occurrence. Only then did he sprinkle his body with a powder meant to disrupt a beast’s sense of smell. Quieting his breath and presence, he slipped inside.

The cave wasn’t very deep. Meng Qiqi advanced slowly, observing his surroundings with care. He soon realized the tunnel looked freshly carved. The tool marks were still sharp and raw. This was likely the work of the Wang clan. Who else would have had the chance to dig something like this in a secret realm?

If that was the case, then the Wang clan must have been aware of Beidou’s operations here. That pale-faced brat Wang Ziqian, young as he was, how many schemes was he hiding behind that composed exterior?

Remaining on high alert, Meng Qiqi finally reached the innermost part of the cave. It was pitch-dark. The only glimmers of light came from the beasts’ eyes, cold and gleaming in the dark, dozens upon dozens of pairs, enough to make his scalp prickle.

He froze, unable to take another step, staring at the horde of low-growling beasts. There had to be over a hundred of them. If his eyes weren’t deceiving him, they were digging.

The creatures were spread across the cave’s interior, clawing at the walls with sharp talons, widening the space bit by bit, relentlessly.

Meng Qiqi frowned. Could it be that this tunnel had been dug out by the beasts themselves? Did the Wang clan have nothing to do with it?

Just then, more beastly sounds echoed from the cave entrance. Meng Qiqi pressed himself silently against the ceiling once more, cautiously shifting within the narrow space above.

More sounds came from the cave entrance. Meng Qiqi once again pressed himself silently against the ceiling, inching along with great caution.

The beasts were focused on digging. Their low growls carried a mix of anger, urgency, and other hard-to-name emotions. The newly arrived beasts quickly joined in, all of them seemingly desperate to dig deeper, as if something lay hidden within the mountain.

Meng Qiqi furrowed his brows and kept watching. Suddenly, an excited roar came from the northwest corner. He turned his head just in time to see a beast dragging something out from a pile of dirt and broken rock. Clamped in its jaws was an object it yanked forcefully outward.

Several other beasts rushed over, apparently trying to snatch it away. Meng Qiqi narrowed his eyes for a clearer look. The thing the beast was biting down on was a hand. That hand still gripped a broken sword, and despite the brute force tugging at it, the sword did not slip free.

But why would there be a body buried in the mountain? Who could it possibly be?

Startled by the thought, Meng Qiqi’s grip faltered slightly. Dust and fine bits of rock slipped from his side, trickling down and landing on the beasts below.

A sudden growl echoed through the cave. One of the beasts looked up, its eyes gleaming coldly in the darkness as it scanned the ceiling where Meng Qiqi had just been clinging. But it saw nothing.

Suspicious and agitated, the beast swept its gaze a few more times across the area, its killing intent palpable. Meng Qiqi shifted quickly, narrowly avoiding its line of sight, though the move brought him farther from the severed limb.

But he didn’t dare make any sudden moves now. There were too many beasts below, and only one way out.

He carefully steadied his breathing and, with a subtle motion of his fingers, retrieved several thin willow-leaf knives, each no wider than half a finger from his spatial ring. Clenching them between his teeth, he began inching along the ceiling, quietly circling back from his previous position to make his way toward the severed hand.

After the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, Meng Qiqi finally reached the spot. By then, the beasts had finished unearthing the hand. But contrary to what he had expected, there was no body at all. There was only a severed hand.

The beasts seemed irritated, gnashing at the hand in frustration before flinging it aside and continuing to dig. A few others came over and sniffed it, but quickly lost interest.

Whatever they were looking for must lie deeper underground.

Meng Qiqi had half a mind to retrieve the severed hand and examine it closely, but the time wasn’t right. For now, he remained hidden, waiting and watching.

Another half hour passed. A chill seeped in from all directions, creeping into Meng Qiqi’s body and dulling his nerves. Yet his eyes remained bright and steady.

Suddenly, the beasts in the northeast stirred again. They all surged toward a single spot, pawing at the dirt and rock. Then they opened their massive jaws and clamped down on something, dragging it out with force.

It was a beast. More precisely, a dead one.

No, not just one. There were more inside.

Meng Qiqi watched as the beasts dug with increasing frenzy, pulling out corpse after corpse. His eyes lit up with a flash of excitement and astonishment. He felt as if he had brushed against the edge of some hidden truth. Whatever it was, it might prove useful to him.

Or it might bring danger.

But Meng Qiqi was not afraid of danger. Danger made the heart tremble, but it also stirred the blood.

The beasts were now fully consumed by their frenzy, fixated on dragging out the dead. It was the perfect moment. Meng Qiqi began moving slowly toward the severed hand.

He loosened his grip and dropped down. His feet touched the ground as lightly as a feather, without drawing a single reaction.

Good.

Meng Qiqi looked at the hand now lying within reach and allowed a faint smile to rise on his lips. But just as he stepped forward and bent down to pick it up, a deep, distant bell rang out from outside the cave.

The ancient chime was long and resonant. The startled beasts all turned their heads. One by one, their chilling gazes swept toward him, leaving Meng Qiqi completely exposed.

This really was thrilling. In the blink of an eye, he snatched up the severed hand and slipped it into his spatial ring. As he looked up, the willow-leaf knives in his mouth shot out with a sharp whistle, piercing cleanly into the eyes of the nearest beasts.

The beast let out a long, anguished roar. Blood streamed from its eyes as it howled in pain. It charged after Meng Qiqi in a fury, but its loss of direction threw the entire pack into chaos.

Meng Qiqi flew toward the cave entrance, drawing Xiujian, raised his hand and unleashed a move of Lotus Bloom. His Little Martial Uncle had once scoffed at the way he used Lotus Bloom, saying he made it look like some crude technique from a third-rate sect.

But in Meng Qiqi’s view, a dazzling and powerful sword move was meant to be used right away, something that could blind everyone the moment it appeared.

He had never believed in saving it for last. He preferred to blind them all from the start.

At that moment, the sudden ringing of the bell awakened the beasts that had quieted with the night. In a matter of moments, the land was filled with howls rising and falling like crashing waves. The sound was piercing and overwhelming.

The cultivators rose into the sky on their swords to investigate. The heavy rain had just passed, and a bright moon now hung overhead. Its light fell upon the lakes below and the swarming beasts, so many that they looked as though they might flood the entire mountainside.

“They’re here!” someone shouted, and a longsword rang as it was drawn from its sheath.

Moonlight streamed down like silk, catching on the edges of sword blades and casting flashes of cold light. In the blink of an eye, the mountainside was lit by the gleam of countless weapons. The cultivators gripped their swords tightly, the air thick with tension.

There were far too many beasts. And that where had the bell come from?

“Young Master Wang, what is going on?” Dozens of gazes turned toward Wang Ziling. This secret realm belonged to the Wang clan. If something had gone wrong, it was on them.

Wang Ziling was soaked in cold sweat. He had spent years drifting on the edges of the clan’s inner circle. How could he possibly know the answer?

“Brother Chen,” he called out, forcing his trembling legs to carry him toward Chen Boyan.

Chen Boyan’s expression showed a hint of gravity, but his composure never wavered. The disciples of Gushan Sword followed behind him in perfect order, calm and unshaken. Their presence alone revealed the steadiness of a renowned sect.

Xu Mengyin sheathed her sword and landed, striding toward Chen Boyan. “Senior Brother Chen.”

Chen Boyan replied, “This is not yet the ideal moment to use Ten Thousand Swords Return to One. But we cannot delay. We need to spread out and drive the beasts back into the valley.”

“Amitabha.” Master Yinian pressed his palms together. “Brother Chen, act as you see fit. We will give it our all.”

The situation was urgent. The beasts would likely charge again within moments. There was no time left to argue. Even Jiang Xie stood silently among the group, tacitly accepting Chen Boyan’s words.

Chen Boyan turned to face the gathered cultivators and cupped his hands in salute. “Once the beasts have been forced back into the valley, I will unleash Ten Thousand Swords Return to One. Many of you may not have your life-bound swords at your side, so I urge you all to take extreme care.”

In that moment, Chen Boyan’s tone was sincere and steady. He stood tall with quiet grace, as calm and luminous as the moon in a clear sky.

The cultivators returned his salute, each with solemn respect. In the next instant, Chen Boyan and the disciples of Gushan Sword rose into the air on their swords. The others quickly followed, rushing from all sides to meet the oncoming wave of beasts.

Beneath the moonlit sky, battle loomed on the edge of eruption.

Wang Ziling followed closely behind Chen Boyan. Though his cultivation was lacking, he was still capable of riding his cudgel. Mu Guinian had been instructed to stay by his side and guard him, keeping him at the rear of the formation. Even so, the blood and severed limbs flying through the air nearly made Wang Ziling’s legs give out.

“Strike!” Mu Guinian shouted into his ear. The beasts’ howls were tearing at Wang Ziling’s nerves. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and swing the Huntian Chu, striking whatever he could reach.

“Ahhh!” Wang Ziling drove the Huntian Chu into a beast’s belly. Panting hard, he caught a glimpse of the battle elsewhere. Fear that had just started to rise in his chest was quickly overtaken by a flicker of relief.

Thank heavens he was behind Chen Boyan. With the man holding the front line, very few beasts made it as far as him. Other parts of the battlefield were not so lucky. Even though a single cultivator could still overpower a single beast, the numbers were too lopsided.

That comparison gave Wang Ziling a boost of confidence.

With Chen Boyan ahead of him and Mu Guinian guarding his side, what did he have to fear?

“Come on!” Wang Ziling swallowed a pill to restore his qi. He gathered what little force he had left and poured it into the Huntian Chu and shouted loudly to steel his nerves.

Cultivators were all here, gathered within the formation of Chen and Wang. The most brilliant talent the Chen family had produced in a hundred years was right ahead of him. If he could fight alongside that man, did it mean that one day he too might become someone who could stand tall in the world?

Even if that hope was no more than a fool’s dream, Wang Ziling wanted to believe in himself, at least for now.