Chapter 20: Moon Valley (1):

Moon Valley was called the ghost valley before Han Shan Yue became the leader. Ghost Valley was known as a scary cult that produces assassins, using them as their weapon. The old leader Master Feng was said to be a ruthless leader who took in innocent young girls and taught the martial arts to kill their target. Whoever pays enough money to kill a person then they will assassinate that target. Truth being said that was the truth, but the person would have committed a great evil to be killed. Sometimes I wonder what is truly right and wrong. What may seem black could also be white. What seems white can also be twisted into black.

I came to Moon Valley when I was 13 whilst running away from the Imperial Scholar Academy. I fell into a very deep lake when saving Yu Xuan from drowning it was the master who saved me. I'm indebted to her so no matter who tried to bribe me over these coming years it hasn't worked though. Even when everyone accused the master of killing the passed away Jiang Hu leader Yu Wen Jiang Yue*(1) who had a very deep relationship with her. A typical man loving her but married and another. On him and his wife's wedding she cursed him for never having kids and dying a young life. Indeed he never had a son so when he died master was the main suspect. But his murder had nothing to do with us. I left Moon Valley when I was 16 so I could roam around Jiang Hu and gain more experience. The Shang Guan twins were master's apprentices when I was 15 so I was happy enough to leave the master in their hands. I've made quite a name for myself in Jiang Hu for having a good reputation but Yu Wen Jiang Yue's death changed it all.

FLASHBACK:

Four years ago:

I was 19 at that time and rushed back to the Ghost Valley when I heard the news. I blocked everyone from entering the cave master uses for cultivation as she was severely wounded. They gave us three days to get the master back to a state where they could talk peacefully.

Three days later I led them all into the meeting room. There was: Yu Wen Jiang Lao, his son and some of his inner disciples*(2) representing the Mount Hua Sect based in Yushan Mount Hua. Wen Shao Mei and her inner disciples representing Emei Sect are based in Su province. Ku Jun Lin and his disciples from the Yue Yang sect are based in Yue yang Province. Cao Wen Ning from the Gentle Wind Sword sect based in Cheng'an. A Zhong was the leader of the beggar sect. These were the five main martial arts sects, the rest were known but not widely.

" Fu Feng Yu your such a poisonous woman it's you who killed my brother," shouted Yu Wen Jiang Lao as soon as he met his master. "Master Yu you can't just speak like that there is no evidence pointing to master killing your late brother," I interrupted. "You're a Junior how dare you disrespect me." He shouted back angrily glaring at me. " Master Yu I don't think I was a junior who disrespected you. Senior Yu, you killed everyone to reach here, yes you have a reasonable reason to attack here because you suspect your brother's death had something to do with us but don't you think it quite hilarious that the first thing you do when you find out his death is not to find the culprit, arrange his funeral but call everyone to kill your way here. You killed so many of our disciples yet you find it disrespectful when I haven't laid a single hand on your disciples. And besides these few months master has been in isolation seeing to one so how could she have killed your late brother?" I sneered. ' A bunch of useless fools. " How can you be so sure that your master has been in isolation I believe you just got back," He replied " I am sure as I've been here the whole time," Shang Guan Yue said. " Master that is one of the Shang Guan twins sent here to learn martial arts by their father. They are people from the imperial court, we can't touch them. Their father is the Imperial astronomer. We had a deal with the imperial court they don't touch us we don't touch them," someone whispered not quietly enough, he replied, " I understand,".

"No need to continue asking. Yu Wen Jiang Yue died at my hand," Someone shouted as he flew in, ' What does Ghost Valley not have any doors?'. " Who are you why did you kill my brother?" asked the Emei sect leader " Second brother do you still remember me?" Ning Wan asked as he peeled off a fake mask " Y...Your Ning Wan our sworn brother, didn't you die. He wasn't just my brother but also yours. Ning Wan why did you kill Elder Brother ?" shouted Master Yu

" Would you like to hear a story? 30 years ago I lost my parents due to the war. It was Yue yang sect leader Ku Geng ta who saved me and kindly fostered me. 20 years ago I found my long lost sister but would you like to know fate loves to make fun of people my sister was lucky enough to be the Emei sect's eldest apprentice Wen Qing but she ended up marrying Yu Wen Jiang Yue who had the heart of the person I loved most. Haha, you could all say I did it for love but that wasn't the case. Not long after Jie Jie married I went to find her, I heard her story. Yu Wen Jiang Yue that bastard failed to keep his promise to Feng mei*(3) and married someone else. He married my sister to get the support of the Emei sect so he could be the next Supreme leader of Jiang Hu. Sadly for him he didn't succeed, Mount Tai's Master Mo became the next supreme leader but a few months later he was killed and surprisingly my dear brother in law became the next supreme leader. He felt that he betrayed his lover and made my sister drink a slow-acting poison every day from their marriage until her death. He cased my sister aside after getting Emei sects to help and caused her death," tears began to fall on his face as the mood changed from anger to sorrow. " I faked my death shortly after Jie Jie's death and worked every stepped to kill him. I did everything I could. Jie Jie I've finally been revenged for you. Since I killed him then I wouldn't let anyone take the consequences," He grabbed the nearest sword and stabs himself in the belly with it. "Master Feng we are so sorry I accused you without proof," bowing his head Yu Wen Jiang Lao apologized as everyone left for their own home. ' too suspicious why did Ning Wan know where to appear from. And he doesn't seem to want to die so why kill himself? Too suspicious,'

END OF FLASHBACK

Glossary:

1. Yu Wen Jiang Lao's older brother. When Yu Wen Jiang Yue died Yu Wen Jiang Lao succeeded as the next leader. He has a son called Yu Wen Feng.

2. There are two types of disciples: inner and outer. Disciples who want to be an apprentice of Mount Hu first start their way as outer disciples and move up to inner if they beat one of the inner disciples. Or apprentice who becomes inner disciples when they first come here either are sent by their parents who know the sect leader or are personally taken as an apprentice by the leader. This applies to all five martial art sects.

3. Master Feng's nickname.