Chapter Fifty-Nine: Entry

Last time we spoke about... Well, to be honest, I've recently made significant changes to the first three chapters, so my thoughts are a bit muddled. Please bear with me.

Oh yes, last time, we mentioned that Ye Pei intervened to save several of Huang Jifeng's young comrades, disabling the wrists of more than ten sword-wielding assailants.

Now, the group was seated in a tavern on the edge of the town near the hunting grounds. The parties had exchanged greetings and gotten acquainted. Huang Jifeng got straight to the point: "Alright, tell me in detail what you discovered about that tomb."

The young men glanced at each other before one finally spoke: "Boss, a few days ago, we couldn't find the swordsman rumored to be here and had planned to return. But late at night, Xiao Wu's horse suddenly acted as if possessed and wandered off. Xiao Wu noticed it when he got up, so we followed the tracks and found the ancient tomb. It seemed massive, but none of us went inside. Before we'd even opened the door, arrows shot out from it and killed two of our brothers."

If this were the modern era, the sudden appearance of a tomb riddled with traps would surely stir up a bloodbath, perhaps even trigger unrest across the martial world and introduce a new protagonist.

But not here.

Times have changed, and so have people's minds. Nowadays, when confronted with an ancient tomb, people no longer flock to it as they might in later centuries.

"Bah, maybe there are treasures inside, but if you go in, you need to make sure you can come out alive."

"I don't practice martial arts—I'm not getting involved in stuff like this."

"No desires... no ambitions..."

In short, word of the tomb's discovery couldn't be kept secret, but only two or three groups were drawn to it.

Having listened to their account, Huang Jifeng looked to Chen Mo and asked, "Xiao Mo, what do you think?"

Chen Mo closed his folding fan and shook his head: "Not enough information. I can't deduce anything valuable. We should proceed cautiously."

Huang Jifeng then turned to Ye Pei: "Young Master Ye, and you?"

Ye Pei considered for a moment before replying: "Indeed, the information is sparse, but perhaps you and I, Brother Huang, should scout the tomb first, with Xiao Mo following the path we've cleared. Now that we're here, there's no reason not to press forward."

Clearly, Ye Pei's suggestion was that of someone confident in their skills, and Huang Jifeng agreed. They decided to act the next day.

Early the following morning, Huang Jifeng sent his men ahead out of the hunting grounds. Then, he, Ye Pei, and Chen Mo set off for the tomb hidden in the wild hills, using the clues they had received.

"Hmm..." Huang Jifeng gazed at the wild mountain before them. "I think I've lost my bearings."

Chen Mo nodded: "Truthfully, so have I."

Ye Pei squinted at the landscape: "I might still have a thirty percent chance."

In reality, Ye Pei's estimate proved incorrect.

"This wild mountain is a nightmare! Everything looks the same—who knows where we've ended up?" Huang Jifeng's roar echoed through the desolate countryside.

At last, near dusk, the trio finally found the tomb's entrance.

Amid the barren depths of the mountain, a towering black door, nearly thirty feet high, embedded in the cliff like a black gemstone. In the fading sunlight, faint dots of black holes could be seen on the door, exuding waves of chill. Not only were there no birds or beasts nearby, even insects and ants were scarce.

"Someone arrived before us," Ye Pei declared before they got close.

Huang Jifeng stepped nearer, examined the area, and agreed: "Indeed, someone has been here. These aren't the tracks left by our brothers; their horses weren't so numerous."

On the barren ground at the entrance, several barely perceptible hoofprints could be seen, indicating at least fourteen or fifteen horses had passed through.

Ye Pei nodded: "And these hoofprints weren't all left at once."

Chen Mo then asked, "Surely the later arrivals have departed? Where else could the horses have gone?"

Ye Pei paused to sniff the air, then smiled: "Not necessarily. Wait a moment."

With that, Ye Pei took a deep breath, dashed forward, and leapt up, his toes tapping lightly against the opposite cliff. With several agile jumps, he floated up to the summit.

Watching Ye Pei disappear above, Huang Jifeng sighed: "I wonder how that kid mastered such lightfoot techniques."

Chen Mo thought for a moment: "His talent is unparalleled. He was already skilled in martial arts, and after speaking with him these past days, I’ve found his intellect exceptional as well. He’s adept with many weapons—a rare gift."

Huang Jifeng was puzzled: "How do you know he can use various weapons? Hasn't he only shown swordsmanship?"

Chen Mo replied: "You forget—I met him in Gathering City, watched him fight off pursuers. His best weapon is actually the spear."

Huang Jifeng blinked in surprise: "Can someone truly master so much at his age?"

Chen Mo said: "His only flaw might be his pride. Though he seems easygoing, I can sense an innate arrogance."

As they spoke, Ye Pei descended from the summit, spinning through the air with internal energy, landing gracefully after dropping more than thirty feet, unharmed. This feat elicited more praise from Huang Jifeng.

"Brother Ye, what did you find?" Chen Mo asked as Ye Pei landed.

Ye Pei replied: "They must have wasted a lot of time outside, used up all their supplies, and may not have exited yet. Up there, I found traces of fires and four piles of bones—the horses must have been roasted for food."

Huang Jifeng exclaimed angrily, "How could they eat their horses?"

To him, a horse was the most reliable companion in the martial world—better to starve oneself than one’s steed.

Ye Pei laughed: "They must have had no choice. If they could hold out, who would eat horse meat? It's hardly palatable."

Huang Jifeng asked, "Young Master Ye, have you tasted horse meat?"

Ye Pei did not deny it: "Yes, when my rations ran out once, I ate horse meat."

Huang Jifeng frowned, but said nothing.

Ye Pei took note of his expression and behavior, guessing at his thoughts but did not elaborate. "In any case, let's tie up the horses and go in."

The three fashioned torches from their supplies, ready to light them once inside, then approached the door.

Given their certainty there were people inside, or at least that someone had entered before, the trio were not overly cautious about traps as they neared the door. As planned, Ye Pei led, Chen Mo stayed in the middle, and Huang Jifeng brought up the rear, swaggering toward the entrance.

Suddenly, disaster struck!

From the chilling black holes in the door, a barrage of arrows shot forth toward the three.

Ye Pei reacted instantly, stepping back and shoving Chen Mo aside with his shoulder, while his right hand drew a long sword from his waist. Sword flowers whirled like a storm, blocking every arrow.

Meanwhile, Chen Mo climbed to his feet, clutching his chest, grimacing as he walked: "Brother Ye... your strength grows ever more 'affectionate' with me..."

"Stop joking. If I'd been a moment slower, you'd be riddled with holes."

Chen Mo laughed: "Ha, but weren't you the first target?"

Ye Pei snorted: "If my reaction were slower, I'd have dodged for myself and had no time to save you. Quick reflexes let me rescue you and draw my sword."

"Hmm..."

Behind them, Huang Jifeng had just drawn his blade, while Ye Pei's rapid moves had already concluded.

"This tomb’s mechanisms are extremely complex—even on well-trodden paths, it’s not safe," Ye Pei said, keeping his sword drawn as he strode toward the door. "But still, let’s go inside."

Huang Jifeng and Chen Mo exchanged a glance, hurriedly following.

At the entrance, the massive door, thirty feet tall, bore no handle or knocker, but was inscribed with several bold characters.

"Kick it open."

Ye Pei’s mind stalled for two seconds, then, after the others caught up, his expression grew complicated.

"Go on, Brother Ye, surely there’s no trick here," Chen Mo urged.

"And why’s that?" Ye Pei asked, somewhat puzzled. Though confident, he was not reckless.

Chen Mo smiled: "Intuition of a strategist."

Ye Pei scoffed: "Aren’t strategists supposed to trust their deductions, not intuition?"

Chen Mo flicked his folding fan: "Which is why I, Chen Mo, am the only strategist unique in all three realms."

Ye Pei scrutinized Chen Mo, found him earnest, and finally muttered, "Very well," before channeling his inner energy, stepping back, and infusing his right leg with power, while tightening his grip on his sword in case another trap triggered.

He took a deep breath, twisted his body, and unleashed a full-force spinning kick at the black iron door.

In martial arts, side kicks and spinning kicks deliver more power than a straightforward stomp. Though movies often show characters stomping others, that’s actually the least efficient method. (We might reference Master Bruce Lee’s stepping side kick and Jet Li’s spinning kick in "Fist of Legend" for their power—despite artistic embellishment, they offer valuable examples.)

To ensure he could break open the massive, solid iron door, Ye Pei used all his strength and optimal technique.

Yet—

"Damn..." With a crisp "crack," the door swung wide, and Ye Pei, propelled by his own powerful kick, flew inside.

He tumbled into the pitch-black hall, landing gracefully, sword raised, scanning the surroundings and stopping Huang Jifeng and Chen Mo from entering, though nothing stirred.

After several breaths, with no sign of danger, Ye Pei beckoned them in. As they stepped across the threshold, their feet pressed a floor tile, and a series of iron chains rattled. A gigantic axe blade dropped from above, hurtling toward their heads.

Huang Jifeng, a master of strength, reacted swiftly, raising his blade to block the axe.

With a deafening clang, sparks flew as the thick-backed broadsword met the axe. Huang Jifeng’s knees buckled, but he braced himself, forcing the weapon upward.

Chen Mo, knowing he could not help, quickly rolled out of the entryway. Huang Jifeng, seeing this, pushed the axe aside and tumbled in after him. Behind them, the axe struck the ground, its keen edge slicing a small patch from Huang Jifeng’s shoe sole.

The three looked at each other as they caught their breath. Huang Jifeng sighed, "This tomb... is truly formidable..."