Walking up Peach Blossom Mountain, a bright talisman floated in front of them, illuminating the dark night like a small lamp, casting dancing shadows. Guozhao Zhiqiang and Deming were making their way towards the home they shared. Deming couldn't help but wonder why, between Guozhao Zhiqiang and Yang Bao, it seemed that all the good fortune always fell to Guozhao Zhiqiang, never to Yang Bao, who had suffered so much.
Guozhao Zhiqiang noticed Deming's prolonged silence, a rare quietness from him. "What's the matter, Deming?" he asked, his voice a gentle inquiry, sensing his unease. "Do you have something on your mind?"
"I was just thinking about one thing, Zhiqiang," Deming admitted, his voice soft.
"What's the matter?" Guozhao Zhiqiang prompted, his gaze kind.
"Some people are just luckier than others," Deming sighed, a profound weariness in his voice. "Life isn't fair sometimes. It's just not."
"Why do you think so?" Guozhao Zhiqiang inquired, his brow furrowed with concern.
Deming looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang, a hesitant expression on his face, fearing his reaction. "If I ask you something that might offend you, don't be mad at me. Please."
Guozhao Zhiqiang smiled, a warm, reassuring smile. "Ask, Deming. I promise not to be angry with you. You can tell me anything."
Deming hesitated for a moment longer, but then decided to voice his thought, the question burning within him. "Brother Yang is older than you, so why isn't he the eldest disciple, but you are? It seems strange."
"I was accepted first, Deming," Guozhao Zhiqiang replied, a simple fact.
"Everybody seems to love you more than him," Deming continued, a sigh escaping him, a hint of bitterness. "I feel sorry for him. He deserves more recognition."
"Why do you feel sorry for him?" Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, genuinely curious.
Deming explained, "Because, in my opinion, everyone values and respects you more than Brother Yang. In addition, I think Master Fang is a little biased towards you. He seems to favor you."
"Why do you think so, Deming?" Guozhao Zhiqiang pressed, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Your sword is exactly the same as Master Fang's," Deming pointed out, a clear sign of favoritism. "Brother Yang has an old, worn-out sword. It's not fair."
Guozhao Zhiqiang stopped, a faint sigh escaping him, a profound sadness in his eyes. "I'm not worthy of that worn-out sword, Deming."
Deming stood in front of Guozhao Zhiqiang, confused. "Why, Zhiqiang? With your skill?"
Guozhao Zhiqiang's voice was surprisingly strong, filled with conviction. "Actually, I would trade this bright Dragon Sword for his worn-out sword any day. Without hesitation."
"Why?" Deming asked again, truly perplexed, unable to grasp the significance.
Guozhao Zhiqiang resumed walking up the mountain. After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice low and solemn. "Ah Bao's worn-out sword's last owner is Grandmaster Zhao. The founder of our sect."
"Your Grandmaster Zhao?" Deming gasped, stunned, the revelation hitting him hard.
Guozhao Zhiqiang nodded, his expression grave.
"Why isn't that sword yours, then, Zhiqiang?" Deming persisted, a sense of injustice.
"I already told you, Deming," Guozhao Zhiqiang replied. "I don't deserve it."
"With your skill, your power... you're not worthy of that sword?" Deming scoffed, disbelief coloring his voice. "I don't believe it. Your name has been mentioned more times than his. How could he be more worthy than you?"
Guozhao Zhiqiang chuckled, a rare, amused smile on his face. "I've been mentioned more times, but it doesn't mean I'm better than him. It's just that people don't dare to mention Ah Bao's name. I may be a better hunter and have stronger internal skills, but when it comes to swordsmanship, if Ah Bao said he was second, then no one dared to say they were first. He's that good."
Deming was taken aback. "Really? Is he that good, Zhiqiang? Better than you?"
"He is that good, Deming," Guozhao Zhiqiang confirmed, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "His swordsmanship is on par with that of the Third Master. When he unsheathed his sword, no demon or spirit dared to approach him. They feared his blade." He smiled, remembering their past adventures. "Back then, when we were traveling together to make a name for ourselves, when it came to fighting, Ah Bao has always been better than me. He always protected me."
Deming looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang's happy expression, a warmth spreading through him. "You and he make good partners, Zhiqiang. A formidable duo."
"We are good brothers, Deming," Guozhao Zhiqiang agreed, his voice soft. "When we first met, Ah Bao was weaker than me, but when we finished training, I admitted that I was his second. He surpassed me in every field: swordsmanship, medicine, talisman creation, and leadership." He looked at Deming, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Why do you always pair me with Ah Bao, Deming? You seem to compare us often."
"There are many times when I am thinking about him and you," Deming said sadly, a profound insecurity in his voice.
"What are you thinking about?" Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, his brow furrowed with concern.
Deming sighed, a long, weary sound. "Think about how I'm going to compete with someone you've known all your life, who knows you completely, who can even explain the meaning of your hidden words. He knows you better than I do." Deming frowned. "He knew what 'goddess' and 'city in the clouds' meant. I nearly died trying to figure out what that meant. I feel like an outsider."
Guozhao Zhiqiang reached out and gently took Deming's hand, his touch comforting. "Deming, I want you to understand that while Ah Bao and I have an unbreakable brotherhood bond, he's not someone I want to spend the rest of my life with. He's not someone I want to be by my side, sharing my bed. Do you understand?"
Deming's face lit up with a sudden, knowing smile, a profound relief washing over him. "I see... you don't need to explain, Zhiqiang. I understand perfectly." He chuckled, a joyful sound.
"What are you laughing at, Deming?" Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, perplexed, a slight frown on his face.
"I just thought of something interesting," Deming replied, his smile widening, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"What?" Guozhao Zhiqiang prompted, curious.
Deming's eyes twinkled mischievously. "I was just thinking, there are some people you are inferior to. Your title is 'The Black Hunter,' the Tam brothers' title is 'God of Bow,' so what is Brother Yang's title? What is he called?"
"Deadly Sword Hunter," Guozhao Zhiqiang answered proudly, a hint of admiration in his voice.
"Why 'Deadly Sword Hunter'?" Deming asked, intrigued.
"Because when you are fighting against him," Guozhao Zhiqiang explained, "it is like dealing with ten swords at the same time. As soon as he swung his sword, it is as if countless swords attacked from all directions in an instant. He's incredibly fast and precise."
"Did you fight him?" Deming asked, astonished, a hint of disbelief.
"Mmm," Guozhao Zhiqiang hummed, letting go of Deming's hand and continuing to walk forward, a playful evasion.
Deming quickly chased after him. "The result, Zhiqiang? Who won?"
"I lost," Guozhao Zhiqiang admitted, a faint smile on his face, a rare confession of defeat.
"You lost? This I want to see!" Deming chuckled, clearly amused, a competitive spark in his eyes.
"Well, you know that when we were hunting, people called us 'The Black Hunter Deadly Swords Masters'," Guozhao Zhiqiang added, a hint of pride.
"Zhiqiang," Deming said, a playful gleam in his eye, "you like men. Why don't you choose Brother Yang? You two are so powerful together."
"Are you crazy, Deming?" Guozhao Zhiqiang exclaimed, his eyes wide with mock outrage. "He's, my brother!"
"You two are invincible together," Deming insisted, a teasing note in his voice.
"He's my brother, so I can't love him romantically," Guozhao Zhiqiang stated firmly, his expression serious. He stopped and turned to look at Deming, his gaze unwavering. "Then I ask you, if he confesses, will you let me love him? Will you allow it?"
Deming smiled, a confident, knowing smile, his eyes sparkling. "Even if he confesses, Zhiqiang, I know you won't leave me for him. You chose me."
"You seem very confident, Deming," Guozhao Zhiqiang remarked, a hint of amusement.
"Of course," Deming replied, his smile unwavering. "After all, if you're going to leave me for anyone, why waste thirteen years? You waited for me."
Suddenly, Shan called Guozhao Zhiqiang's name, his voice cold and clear, startling Deming. The two men turned around to see Shan standing coldly behind them, his presence as abrupt and silent as ever, a chilling apparition.
"What's wrong, Shan?" Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, his voice calm.
"Three thousand gold ingots, Silver Peak Village," Shan stated, delivering his message, his voice flat. "A mission."
Guozhao Zhiqiang turned around, his voice cold, a hint of defiance. "I won't go. Let others go. Send someone else." He continued to walk up the mountain.
Shan pursued him, his voice equally cold, a reminder of duty. "When you became a hunter, Zhiqiang, you swore to protect those in need. This is your oath."
Guozhao Zhiqiang put his hands behind his back, his response equally frigid. "There are many hunters. Send others to go. I am injured."
"Master Baiyu says for you to go," Shan revealed, his voice devoid of emotion, a final, undeniable command.
Guozhao Zhiqiang stopped, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Why me, Shan? Why always me?"
"I don't ask, Zhiqiang," Shan replied, his voice flat. "I'm just a messenger who obeys the master's orders. You know the rules."
Guozhao Zhiqiang knew the reason. Guo Baiyu wanted him to face his past, to confront the trauma of his childhood. He sighed, a weary resignation. "Okay. Have Nianzu, Ah Lei, and Tian Xiang get ready. We will leave tomorrow." As soon as Guozhao Zhiqiang finished speaking, Shan disappeared, as silently as he had arrived. He turned to Deming, his expression serious. "You will stay in Cloud City until I return. It's too dangerous."
Deming shook his head firmly, his eyes resolute. "I'll go with you, Zhiqiang. I'm not staying here alone."
"I don't want to be like last time, Deming," Guozhao Zhiqiang said, a hint of concern in his voice, remembering the past. "I don't want you to get hurt because of me."
Deming smiled, a confident glint in his eye, his voice unwavering. "History will not repeat itself, Zhiqiang. I am no longer a weak and fragile Deming. I can protect myself. And I won't let you go alone."
"Let's go home and prepare for tomorrow's journey," Guozhao Zhiqiang conceded, a small smile touching his lips, accepting his companion.
Early the next morning, Guozhao Zhiqiang, Deming, and Gen arrived on the main road, where the three other hunters were already waiting with their horses, ready for departure.
Gen, looking embarrassed, admitted, "I don't know how to ride a horse, boss. I've never learned."
"It's okay, Gen," Lee Nianzu reassured him, a gentle smile on his face. "I will lead your horse for you. Don't worry."
"Thanks, Nianzu," Gen replied gratefully.
The six men mounted their horses and left Cloud City as the sun peeked over the morning horizon, embarking on their journey, a new adventure awaiting them.