Record of the Missing Sect Master Chapter 12

Why is… English… so difficult… who thought it was a good idea… to construct modern English like this… who…

Miracle Doctor Ji muttered, “How strange…”

Wenren Heng tightly clenched his hand. He wanted to ask a question but was afraid to interrupt the other's train of thought, so the only thing he could do was look on, unblinking. Ye You also looked at the Miracle Doctor, waiting for his next words.

Miracle Doctor Ji let go of the other's hand, but his mind remained faraway as he stroked his beard. After a moment, he finally said, “Your internal energy is still the same, sometimes there and sometimes not.”

Just as Ye You wanted to say something, Wenren Heng was already impatiently asking, “Why did elder say that it was strange just now?”

“Because the medicine I gave was a restorative, meant to stabilize internal energy. But his internal energy is not only useless but also hard to find.” Miracle Doctor Ji looked at Ye You. “The only thing I can say is that there is a problem with your internal energy. Since you've been injured, have you fought with anyone?”

Ye You shook his head.

Miracle Doctor Ji asked, “And you haven't used your internal energy? You haven't used martial arts?”

Ye You said, “I've tried using martial arts.”

Miracle Doctor Ji asked, “Was your dantian[1] sore?”

Ye You said, “No, it wasn't, or at least I didn't feel it.”

Miracle Doctor Ji handed over a tea cup from the table, indicating for the other to use his internal energy to grip it lightly so as to see how his body feels. Ye You took it and faintly used his strength on it. The only sound he heard was a crack before the tea cup shattered into pieces.

He loosened his hold and told Miracle Doctor Ji that he still didn't feel anything.

Miracle Doctor Ji looked at the pieces of the tea cup and once again felt the other's pulse, only to find that it was the same as before.

“After all these years practicing medicine, this is the first time I've seen a situation like yours,” Miracle Doctor Ji spent a moment to think before saying, “Come over every three days. And before I've found the cause, try not to use any internal energy.”

Ye You would naturally listen to the doctor. Seeing that the other wasn't going to prescribe more medicine, he unhurriedly stood up and, as he was about to leave, haphazardly asked after Elder Wang's current condition. Then he took his leave with his Senior Brother and returned to the small courtyard.

“Senior Brother, I have a…”

Ye You had said only a part of what he wanted when his wrist was suddenly grabbed and he was immediately pulled over by a strong force, falling into a warm embrace, his nose full of that familiar scent which carried a tender feeling.

He immediately froze, and Wenren Heng took this moment to hit his sleep acupoint.

Ye You lifted his head.

Wenren Heng and him looked at one another.

Wenren Heng had long known in his heart how the inn's “sleepwalking” incident from last time happened and had simply chosen not to discuss it. After listening to what Miracle Doctor Ji said today, he finally thought of this opportunity and wanted to try it. But he had originally thought that his Junior Brother had used a method to undo the hit acupoint. Never would he have thought that it was hitting the acupoint itself that was ineffective.

He let go of the person in his arms and rapidly hit his Junior Brother's other acupoints. Stepping back half-step, he asked, “How?”

Ye You took a moment to react before walking over to the table and sitting down. “It looks like hitting my acupoints doesn't work.”

This really was too unusual. Wenren Heng unobtrusively took a breath. He wanted to find out immediately precisely what was the issue with his Junior Brother's body. Could it be that he became like this because of a qi deviation[2]? But if it truly was qi deviation, why couldn't Miracle Doctor Ji see it?

He forced himself to calm, and looking at his Junior Brother, he said, “You truly don't feel in pain?”

Ye You honestly said, “Truly.”

Wenren Heng asked, “In your memory, is there a medicine that could've lead to this?”

Ye You said, “If there was, I would've long told Miracle Doctor Ji.”

Wenren Heng was silent for a while. He pushed down his heart's unease and considered the options. He thought that Miracle Doctor Ji's expertise was still extremely trustworthy, so he should first allow Miracle Doctor Ji to try. If it was still impossible, he'll bring his Junior Brother to Xiaoqing Mountain and see if the Demonic Sect members have any solutions.

He said, “If you feel any pain, immediately tell me.”

Ye You knew his Senior Brother was worried about him and so nodded his head.

Wenren Heng then unconsciously lifted his arm and couldn't help but hold his Junior Brother's hand.

Simply losing something wasn't painful. What's truly painful was losing something, regaining it, and then having it slip through his hands again before he's able to grasp it firmly enough.

Ye You looked at him, seeing that the other held his hand for only a short while before letting go. Wenren Heng had on a veneer of calm on his face, as if he had hidden away all his thoughts and moods underneath an expression that even great waves couldn't touch, not allowing anyone the slightest glimpse. He even poured a cup of tea for the other and returned the strips of papers that he had previously confiscated.

Wenren Heng asked, “What was it that you wanted to tell me just now?”

Ye You gave him another look. Slowly remembering that the thing he wanted to say “just now” was the sentence that had been previously interrupted, he composed himself and said, “I had a thought.”

Wenren Heng waited for him to continue.

Ye You tactfully said, “I asked Miracle Doctor Ji, and right now, Elder Wang's health is actually not bad. Even if he accidentally overheard something, nothing would happen.”

Wenren Heng indulgently gave a laugh. “I understand.”

Ye You felt especially at ease. He spread out the papers and relayed his conjectures, all smiles. Looking at him, he asked, “What do you say?”

“It's a possibility,” Wenren Heng said, “We can try it.”

Right now, the Masters of Jianghu's two great powers, Jianghu's Alliance Leader, and several Jianghu Elders were living at the Wang family residence. Fengxian Manor and Lingjian Pavilion had also brought over several experts to stand guard, so others probably thought that the estate was impenetrable, but for Wenren Heng, passing on information to Elder Wang secretly was still an easy thing to do.

Thus, two days later, in the morning when the sky had yet to lighten entirely, Ye You heard a noisy clamor outside, complete with the sound of a woman crying. He turned over and rubbed his face into the pillow before his mind suddenly flashed with realization and he immediately sat up.

Wenren Heng had been mistaken for a pillow, but even before he could think of what to do, he was mercilessly abandoned. Not knowing whether his Junior Brother had realized his mistake or some other reason, he asked, “Not going to continue sleeping?”

Ye You listened to the noise for a while before looking questioningly at Wenren Heng, wanting to know if it was something he did.

With this one look, Wenren Heng understood what the other was asking and said, “If you're no longer sleeping, let's get up. Elder Wang hasn't left his room for this long, I suppose he's lost his temper. Let's go see.”

The two tidied up and properly went to the front courtyard, arriving not too early and not too late.

By then, the front courtyard had already been in a complete mess for a while, and Elder Wang already couldn't use the excuse of simply having lost his temper to describe it. He had clearly heard about the announcement and was so angry he was shaking from head to toe. And perhaps due to the Lantern-Extinguishing Poison's torture, his cheeks were an abnormal white, currently rapidly turning red, his eyes sunken, and lips chapped. At this moment, with an expression of angry indignation layered over him, he appeared extremely sinister.

He pointed a trembling finger at the gates. “Open… Open the gates! Preposterous! This thing has to be explained clearly!”

The Wang family head hastily supported him, afraid that he had gotten too angry. Elder Wang was fuming at him, as in the past few days, Elder Wang hadn't felt any signs of dissatisfaction from him. Meanwhile, the Wang family head felt as if he had been through untold suffering. His heart had actually been wavering, and he had been afraid that his father truly had done something that year, thus he hadn't dared to make any sudden moves.

Ye You stood to the side, watching Elder Wang pushing his son to the side so as to head outside. Heaving a light sigh, he said, “Even if he has sinned, Elder Wang is already this old, yet just being poisoned wasn't enough for the other party, and they still wanted to post those announcements to provoke him. Whoever it is really is lacking in virtue.”

Wenren Heng nodded in agreement. “The one who thought of this idea is also lacking in virtue.”

Manor Lord Wei and Pavilion Master Ding and their men had also managed to rush here at this time. Seeing Elder Wang out of bed, everyone was startled and couldn't help but come forward with advice, afraid that the elder would get too angry. But Elder Wang's resolution was set, and the only thing the Wang family head could do was listen obediently and support his father out of the gates.

The sky gradually grew lighter, and there were still not many people on the streets. But by the time the elder had reached the main street's Luoyin Bridge[3], the townspeople had already heard the news and started moving, with a bustling crowd forming in the surroundings. The Elders of the Demonic Sect also came in their usual easy way. Miao Wang suddenly said, “Why do I feel that that person looks somewhat like the Sect Master?”

The others immediately asked, “Which one? Where?”

Miao Wang said, “That person next to Wenren Heng, the one with his face full of bandages.”

The group hastily lifted their heads. Right at this moment, a new group of people coincidentally arrived and conveniently blocked their line of sight. From within this crowd, they could see only a vague outline of a “white lantern”, looking especially wretched.

“…” They almost started collectively weeping out of sheer frustration. “Where are you looking that you see the resemblance to our Sect Master?”

Miao Wang said, “The silhouette looks somewhat similar.”

The group definitely didn't think that he was reliable and apprehensively muttered, “How could Sect Master be together with him? I saw them fighting with each other last time.”

“Exactly.”

“But Sect Master does treat him specially and had even told us before not to touch him.”

After discussing for a bit, they decided to go and take a look. Right at this time, Wenren Heng had a particular feeling and swept his eyes over in their direction. They immediately stopped and pretended to be looking earnestly in the direction of Luoyin Bridge.

“Let me just say that sometimes he really is extremely terrifying.”

“Yes!”

“This old man didn't come for any other reason today except to say a few words to the poisoner,” Elder Wang was speaking. Having not fully recovered from the poison, he had to take a breath every few words. “This old man has lived an upright and honest life, and done things openly and righteously, for all the years of life until now! This old man swears on the Heavens, on the Earth, on the Wang family's lineage, and especially on his own heart![4] You say that this old man has done evil deeds, then come out now in the presence of these heroes of the land and face me! If this old man is truly to blame, then this old man will immediately take responsibility and accept punishment[5]!”

Elder Wang already had the people's love and respect, and so there were originally some who didn't believe in the announcement. Right now, those people immediately gave their support, also drawing in many others' agreement. Ye You saw only up to this point before he left with Wenren Heng. The Elders of the Demonic Sect secretly followed behind a few steps and thought that there really was some resemblance.

When Wenren Heng looked over yet again, they took the opportunity to hide, deciding to look for a chance to confirm their suspicions.

Elder Wang's words weren't many, but after he spoke, he forced himself to stay for a while. Only when his body could no longer endure did he allow himself to be supported back to the residence. Even when the sun had sunk below the the mountain, the poisoner never showed his face.

In another blink, two more days passed.

The Wang family was waiting for the poisoner to make a move, the Demonic Sect was still trying to figure out a way to get into contact with the “lantern”, and the city's common folk and Jianghu figures were waiting to see what would happen next. The situation was as yet still unclear.

On the morning of the third day, Ye You received a strip of paper from the scarred man as usual. When he read the paper, he gave his Senior Brother a look before sending someone to invite Dingtian Academy's Sect Master Ge and Manor Lord Wei over. Wenren Heng said, “I heard this morning that Dingtian Academy had an issue last night with a thief who even fought with Sect Master Ge. Is everything all right?”

Sect Master Ge said, “Nothing's wrong. Just a petty thief.”

Wenren Heng said, “I heard that Dingtian Academy had an issue with thieves a few days before as well?”

Sect Master Ge gave him a look. “Yes, some unscrupulous men snuck in.”

Manor Lord Wei heard some other implications. “Xiao Heng, if you have something to say, just say it.”

Wenren Heng said, “I think I know why someone poisoned Elder Wang. That person had another goal in mind, so they created a diversion.”

The moment his voice dropped, Sect Master Ge's face changed.

[1] 丹田 A wuxia/xianxia term. Apparently the point where qi (energy) originates.

[2] 走火入魔 Another wuxia term. According to my dictionary, it literally means, “to misguidedly focus on hallucinations that arise during meditation.”

[3] 落銀橋 Uh, so the 落 in this is actually a 破音字, meaning it has two different pronunciations (là vs luò — and actually even lào, though that's rarely used). I kind of just picked the one that I felt I've heard more/sounded better, so.

[4] 無愧于天，無愧于地，無愧于王家的列祖列宗，更無愧于心 He's actually referencing Mencius here, and a more direct/literal translation would be that he's done nothing to dishonor himself (he has a clear conscience) in front of heaven, earth, ancestors/successors, and the heart.

[5] 引頸就戮 lit. to bare one's neck for execution. Really wasn't sure how to word this nicely. Just remember that Elder Wang is basically saying that he's willing to die if he's actually to blame.

Chapter end