Li Chengfeng and Yuehan looked nervously towards the source of the voice to see a figure slowly walking towards them from the other end of the cave illuminated by azure light.
The figure was wrapped in brilliant blue light, as if he was surrounded by a halo of light.
In Li Chengfeng's eyes, he could not see the figure's face. He was hunched over, his clothes torn and dirty. It looked like a Spiritual Mountain cultivator's robes but the bottom of his robes were so tattered that his thighs could be seen. Others dragged on the ground, covered in black dirt. It looked like it had not been washed for a long time.
The person was leaning on a staff that was about four feet long and two inches wide. It clanged against the ground. From the sound, it sounded like a stone staff.
His body was hunched over, the stone staff in his hand acting as his walking stick. As he walked closer, his face finally emerged from the halo of light.
This was an extremely old face that was covered in deep wrinkles and scars. However, the most eye-catching thing was not the wrinkles and scars that crisscrossed like ravines, but the pair of greyish-white eyes.
"He's … he's blind?" Yuehan whispered into Li Chengfeng's ear.
Li Chengfeng nodded slightly and pulled Yuehan behind him to protect her.
He whispered, "Step back a little, I don't know if he's a friend or foe."
Suddenly, the old man spoke, "Step back?
This place is airtight, where do you think you're going? "
The voice was old and powerful, reverberating in the cave. The old man raised his head and looked up, trying to identify the direction. He smiled and said, "I've lived under Shiwu Mountain for fifty years, but this is the first time I've seen a living person here … and two living people at that!"
As he spoke, he looked up and sniffed, then chuckled. "One of them is a girl?"
Yuehan's expression changed. She sensed a dangerous aura from this old man.
The old man walked to the middle of the cave. Li Chengfeng realised he was wearing the Hidden Sword Court's robes. He bowed in surprise. "Are you a senior from Hidden Sword Court?"
"Hidden Sword Court?"
The old man raised his head and thought for a moment. Suddenly, he chuckled, "Yes, I remember now. I was once an elder of Hidden Sword Court."
Li Chengfeng was pleasantly surprised. "Oh, it's Martial Uncle!
I am the new disciple of Hidden Sword Court, Li Chengfeng. Greetings, Martial Uncle! "
The Martial Uncle chuckled and said, "The Hidden Sword Court still exists?
Those guys from Hidden Brocade Court sure are slow! "
Li Chengfeng smiled bitterly. "Martial Uncle, you may not know this, but the other three courts are now very aggressive towards Hidden Sword Court. Now … Hidden Sword Court has very few people, it's no longer a threat!"
The Martial Uncle clenched his fists tightly. Although his blind eyes did not reveal any anger, his expression was extremely terrifying. "The three courts have gone too far!"
Li Chengfeng was a little excited as he said, "It must be fate that I met you this time!
As long as we can escape, please uphold justice for us, Martial Uncle! "
The anger on this Martial Uncle's face gradually dissipated. He grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "Go out?
Go out where? "
Li Chengfeng was taken aback. "Martial Uncle, there's still a month before the assessment. If Hidden Sword Court is given the lowest rating five times in a row, then Hidden Sword Court will be automatically disqualified, and Hidden Sword Court will cease to exist!"
The Martial Uncle tilted his head and 'looked' in Li Chengfeng's direction. He chuckled. "Oh?
Do you think I can help you pass the assessment just because I'm out? "
Li Chengfeng said carefully, "Right now, the Hidden Sword Court has no morale, and no manpower. If Master Uncle returns, it will greatly boost the morale of the Senior Brothers. When that time comes, the other three courts will have to think twice before doing anything.
Ah, look at my brain, I'm so rude. I haven't asked for your name yet, Martial Uncle? "
The Martial Uncle was silent for a while, then said slowly, "My surname is Chen."
Li Chengfeng hurriedly said, "Martial Uncle Chen!"
Uncle Chen laughed coldly. "Don't even think about getting close to me!
Do you think Hidden Sword Court will rise from the dead after I leave? "
"I wouldn't dare, but … there's always hope."
Uncle Chen snorted, "Hope?
Ever since Court Lord Chao Tianque went missing, Hidden Sword Court has lost all hope!
Without Court Lord Chao Tianque, Hidden Sword Court is like a tiger without claws and teeth!
How could the Three Heavenly Courts leave any hope for our Hidden Sword Court? "
"But …" Li Chengfeng was a little anxious. To him, meeting a Hidden Sword Court Martial Uncle in a place like this was a huge surprise. If he had a Martial Uncle here, the younger Senior Brothers would not be so arrogant.
Why was this Martial Uncle so pessimistic?
Li Chengfeng said, "Are you going to sit back and watch as Hidden Sword Court is wiped out by them in the assessment next month?"
Uncle Chen laughed coldly. "Do you think everything will be fine once I leave?
Why don't you ask why I've been here for fifty years without seeing the light of day?
Is it because I'm blind and can't get out?
Or is it because there are too many caves and I don't know the way? "
Li Chengfeng was speechless. He began to feel that something was wrong. The excitement in his eyes faded. "Then Martial Uncle …"
Uncle Chen said slowly, "With the Court Lord missing, Hidden Sword Court is like a group of dragons without a leader. Hidden Sword Court cannot defend against the combined attacks of the other three courts."
He spoke slowly, scenes of the past appearing in his murky, pale eyes … His tone was heavy and slow as he said, "Even if I go out, I won't be able to stop the three courts from killing Hidden Sword Court.
Plus, if I can't defeat the three Court Lords, then everything will be for naught.
Plus, I heard that Hidden Brocade Court has a young girl called Shanxue. She's very powerful, and her cultivation is almost on par with the Court Lord's. "
"Oh, and that girl from Hidden Beauty Court … the one with red hair. She must be even more powerful now, right?
When she first came to Spirited Mountain, I already knew that she was not an ordinary person.
And then … just as I expected, even Senior Brother Zhao died in her hands … Scary, scary! "
Li Chengfeng began to understand. This Senior Brother Chen in front of him was the only surviving Elder of the Hidden Sword Court. He had obviously been scared out of his wits by the experts from the other three courts. The reason why he did not go out was because … he was afraid!
He did not dare to leave!
Li Chengfeng was a little disappointed.
He thought he was a savior, but he turned out to be a coward?
Uncle Chen muttered to himself. After a while, he said, "The younger generation will surpass us in time!"
Li Chengfeng thought for a moment, then decided to provoke him. "So Martial Uncle Chen would rather live like this and watch Hidden Sword Court get razed to the ground?"
Uncle Chen laughed coldly. "Hmph, once I find the most important treasure of Hidden Sword Court, I can go out and save the day!
At that time, even if Hidden Sword Court is razed to the ground, it can still rise again in my hands! "
Li Chengfeng was stunned, then blurted out, "Uncle Chen, did you stay here for so many years just to find this treasure?"
Uncle Chen huffed, but did not speak. Li Chengfeng immediately asked, "What treasure is it?
Have you found it? "
= = =
2017 is over and I miss it very much. I wish everyone good luck and good health in the new year 2018!!