Mysterious Lotus Casebook

Chapter 25: Encounter On a Narrow Path

“Yun Biqiu! Yun Biqiu! Master…”

Suddenly there was a sound like a lion and tiger roaring in the quiet Baichuan Courtyard. A man first rushed into Ji Hanfo’s room, then exited his back door and rushed into Bai Jiangquai’s room. Then he exited that back door and broke in through Yun Biqiu’s window.

Yun Biqiu, who was writing with a calligraphy brush, looked up. The man grabbed him and shouted, “Master!”

Yun Biqiu frowned and looked at the apprentice that he had brought up according to Li Xiangyi’s teachings. This apprentice was none other than Guo Fu.

When Guo Fu was eleven years old, he was sent to Sigu Sect’s Fobi Baishi and was named a disciple of Yun Biqiu. However, Guo Fu constantly confined himself to his room and could not be taught either reading or martial arts. Often, other disciples of the Sigu Sect looked at him pitifully and gave him constant guidance. On the good side of things, this child had a straightforward and pure character.

Although his intelligence was not high, his memory was very good. Over the past ten years, he learned a few skilled moves and techniques, and even developed solid martial arts skills. Maybe it was because he felt guilty about the child, and also that the late Li Xiangyi disliked pretentious people, but Yun Biqiu never restrained Guo Fu’s reckless behavior.

He did regret it a bit now– maybe he should have at least taught the boy how to enter through a door properly.

“Didn’t you go home?” Biqiu asked tiredly.

“Master Biqiu, I got married,” Guo Fu replied.

Yun Biqiu smiled bitterly, a slightly gloomy look in his eyes, “Congratulations. I’m sorry, I really didn’t pay attention, otherwise I would have given you a gift.”

Guo Fu had a sad look, “But she died again.”

Yun Biqiu was startled, “Oh my, I…”

Guo Fu gasped as if he remembered something. Excitedly, he grabbed Biqiu and said, “I met a strange person at my home! His name is Li Lianhua. The day before yesterday, I suddenly remembered that you and second uncle had told me about this person. He is my family’s benefactor, so could you please tell me where he lives? My father and I want to bring him gifts to thank him.”

“Li Lianhua?” Yun Biqiu hadn’t yet understood what this reckless disciple was excited about, but there was suddenly a faint tremor in his heart – it was Li Lianhua again!

While Guo Fu was waiting for an answer and Yun Biqiu was calculating in his mind, suddenly there was a burnt smell in the air, and a faint stream of hot air blew in through the window.

The two of them looked outside and saw that an old building in Baichuan Courtyard had suddenly caught fire. The fire was spreading very strangely, with the raging flames rolling out the window as if the fire in the room had started very big and only now started to spread to the outside.

“Nan Fei, bring water!” A loud voice sounded outside the window. Ji Hanfo was already at the scene, instructing his disciples to get water to put out the fire.

Bai Jiangchun had arrived quickly like a swimming duck. Another man had also just arrived. This man had a face like green iron, with a large mole on his nose and a few black hairs here and there. This ugly-looking man was Shi Shui. He lived up to the meaning of his name, which was Water. He sent out several palm moves, and the wind of his palms carried a cold and icy aura. There was a sizzling sound, and bursts of white steam rose from the burning house. The fire was suppressed immediately.

Guo Fu shouted, jumped out of Yun Biqiu’s window, and carried dozens of buckets to put out the fire. After more than half an hour, the fire was completely extinguished, but black smoke was still rising into the sky.