Chapter 174: Chapter 169: Bad Tidings (Part 2)
The letter was from Gao Yuan, the Eldest Senior Brother of the Liuhe Sect.
Zhao Lin’s heart jolted. ’Why would Eldest Senior Brother write to me?’
With Master Zhu Huaishan around, Gao Yuan shouldn’t have contacted him privately. Not unless it was something so serious that it had to be kept even from their master.
Besides, he had just received a letter from his master a few days ago, and now this one had arrived right on its heels.
No matter how he looked at it, the situation felt deeply unusual.
Zhao Lin clutched the letter, his knuckles turning white. For some reason, he felt a strange reluctance to open it.
"Was the letter delivered to the right person?" the servant asked, seeing Zhao Lin staring blankly.
"No, it’s for me. Thank you for your trouble."
Zhao Lin offered a smile and dismissed the servant. He turned, walked into the courtyard, and sat down on the steps before slowly unfolding the letter.
The first sentence that met his eyes made his heart clench: "Junior Brother Zhao, Master passed away yesterday from a sudden illness..."
’Master is dead!’
Zhao Lin couldn’t believe his eyes. He stared at those first few words without blinking.
’Didn’t Master just say a few days ago that he was in good health and would come to Yan Province next year? How could he have died so suddenly?’
His mind was in turmoil. After a moment, he picked up the envelope from the ground. The sender’s details read: Gao Yuan, Liuhe Sect, Qinghe County...
’Yes, it’s from Eldest Senior Brother.’
Zhao Lin rubbed his temples and turned his gaze back to the letter.
The letter was brief, just a few short sentences. Gao Yuan said their master had died of a sudden illness and that the disciples were handling the funeral arrangements.
He told Zhao Lin to mourn but not to rush back, as his cultivation at the Xingyun Sect was more important.
Zhao Lin read the letter over and over, his heart filled with confusion.
Although his master was old, he was a martial artist with a strong constitution. Logically, he should have had no problem living for another eight or ten years.
’Could Master have been lying to me? Was he actually on his deathbed and just didn’t want me to be distracted?’
At this thought, Zhao Lin returned to his room, took out the last letter his master had sent him, and read it carefully.
He searched between the lines for any final instructions or last words.
But there were no such fragments to be found.
’No, Master had no reason to lie to me.’
Zhao Lin stared at his Eldest Senior Brother’s name on the signature line, his brow deeply furrowed.
’Eldest Senior Brother is honest and considerate. Is it possible he deliberately hid the truth to let me focus on my cultivation at the Xingyun Sect?’
’If Master didn’t die of an illness, then who could the murderer be?’
’The remnants of the Drilling Mountain Leopard’s gang?’
Zhao Lin shook his head.
The bandit leaders were all dead, and those who remained were just common thugs. Given his master’s cultivation level, they wouldn’t have been able to get close to him.
’A conflict with another sect?’
’That’s not very likely either. Master has a calm and steady temperament; he wouldn’t personally get involved in such matters.’
’Besides, there are rules between sects. Even in a challenge match to shame a rival school, no one would attack an old man.’
’Everyone gets old someday.’
Zhao Lin mulled over several possibilities, but he simply could not accept "sudden illness" as the reason.
The sunlight fell, warming his body, but a chill settled in his heart. The image of his master’s smiling face flashed through his mind.
’No, I have to go back and get to the bottom of this!’
’If Master really did die of an illness, then so be it. But if someone murdered him...’
Zhao Lin gritted his teeth, abruptly stood up, and strode out the door.
...
「Water Mirror Department, Meditation Room.」
"What? You want to take a leave of absence?"
The Water Mirror Elder was stunned. It took him a moment to ask, "Where are you going? For how long?"
"Back to Ying Province. A month at the shortest, but at most... it shouldn’t be more than two," Zhao Lin said in a low voice.
"The Grand Competition is in two days. Why must you leave at a time like this? I remember you brought your family to Yan Province, so what else could there be?"
The Water Mirror Elder was a bit speechless. He had been counting on Zhao Lin to win some glory for the Water Mirror Department in the competition.
"My master has passed away," Zhao Lin said, his expression pained.
"Ah, well..."
The Water Mirror Elder fell silent, unsure of what to say. After a long moment, he finally said, "My condolences."
He reached out and patted Zhao Lin’s shoulder in a gesture of comfort.
"We martial artists don’t get hung up on formalities. Let’s put the Spring Competition aside; it’s no great loss to miss it in your first year. But you’re currently on the verge of breaking through to the Third Layer of the Qi Realm."
"Your cultivation is at a critical juncture. I suggest you postpone your trip to attend the funeral. It wouldn’t be too late to go back after you’ve reached the Third Layer of the Qi Realm. I’m sure your master’s spirit in heaven wouldn’t blame you."
"Besides, don’t you have other martial brothers in your sect?"
Water Mirror advised earnestly.
"Elder, I must go back."
Zhao Lin’s voice wasn’t loud, but his tone was exceptionally firm.
Water Mirror sighed helplessly. He couldn’t press the matter further. After all, he was something of a teacher to Zhao Lin himself. To keep trying to persuade him would be tantamount to telling Zhao Lin not to respect his master and his teachings.
"Very well. I will explain your absence from the Spring Competition."
"While you’re away from the sect, try not to let your cultivation fall behind. I’ll have the Medicine Pavilion send over your daily cultivation medicine for you to take on your journey."
"However, I can only prepare a one-month supply at most. Try to make your trip as quick as possible."
Zhao Lin nodded heavily. "Thank you for your understanding, Elder," he said gratefully.
The Water Mirror Elder nodded slightly and asked, "When do you plan to leave?"
"There’s no time to waste. I will leave tomorrow."
"Then go, and come back soon. Don’t worry about things here at the sect."
...
The next day at dawn, Zhao Lin left Yongning City with a pack on his back.
He had gone home the previous afternoon to tell his parents he was leaving on a long journey. He didn’t mention his master’s death, only saying that he was running an errand for the sect and would be back in about a month.
He went to the horse market in the south of the city and spent fifty taels of silver on a dun horse.
