Hidden Shadow – CH 181
by MTL TranslationChapter One-Hundred-Eighty-One: Silver Needles
The light was extremely dim; only a section of the second floor had been dug out in the center, revealing a cage hanging inside. Four iron chains, as thick as an arm, pierced through the four walls, binding the figure inside.
“Child, come here,” the man said again.
“Who is it?” An Jiu gripped her dagger tightly.
“I am Wei Yunshan.” The man moved slightly, the chains rattling around him, followed by a muffled groan.
Wei Yunshan?! The old master of Piaomiao Mountain Mansion—how could he be locked in a cage?!
“There’s nothing here, but the walls are full of traps. If you trigger them, you will be buried here.” Wei Yunshan, his earlier agitation gone, seemed much calmer now. “I’ve been imprisoned here for years, never seeing the light of day. My power was drained by that beast, so I am powerless to harm you. Come up here, and I will show you how to get out.”
An Jiu paused, then asked, “How do I get into the cellar? Are there any traps in it?”
“You want to retrieve that crossbow, do you not?” Wei Yunshan thought for a moment. “There are only about four or five crossbows left. They are not in the cellar but in the pillars around here. Light an oil lamp, and you will see them.”
An Jiu was skeptical. She looked at the pillars, as thick as a basin. The space was indeed large enough to hold the crossbows, and the building did not need such thick load-bearing pillars. An Jiu squinted and searched carefully. She could see a blurry lamplight. She took out a tinderbox from her pocket, tore a corner of her clothes, soaked it in oil, wrapped it around an ordinary arrow, lit it, and fired an arrow at the lamplight.
With a whoosh, the oil lamp was lit.
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An Jiu looked up again and could vaguely make out the disheveled old man in the cage.
A look of surprise flashed in Wei Yunshan’s eyes, followed by relief. Anyone who could enter this place must have some skill. “Wait a moment.”
An Jiu took a few steps, fully alert.
After about two quarters of an hour, the pillar cracked open at the bottom, revealing what looked like a door. An Jiu released a crossbow to hold the door in place, then pulled hard. Inside were two explosive crossbows.
There were no hidden weapons.
Wei Yunshan seemed to read her mind. “These walls can kill you at any moment if you touch them carelessly. You cannot get out even with these.”
“Why not use these explosive crossbows to blast through the walls?” An Jiu asked doubtfully. She had seen the power of these crossbows. They could blast through more than ten layers of walls in the Pagoda, let alone two. But Wei Yuzhi, being so cunning, would never be so careless.
“If you wish to die together with me, you can try,” Wei Yunshan sighed. “Death is fine too; I only wish for release.”
An Jiu took a crossbow and, using the leverage of the crossbow against the roof beam, finally got a close look at this legendary master of the Transcendent Realm.
Wei Yunshan’s emaciated body was tightly bound by two iron chains, his face covered by snow-white hair and beard. His features were obscured, and what puzzled An Jiu most was that his head was covered with acupuncture needles.
“If you cannot take me out, then I beg you to kill me with your sword,” Wei Yunshan said slowly. “It’s a small favor. Please grant my request; I will tell you the way out.”
An Jiu was silent for a moment, then asked, “You know?”
Wei Yunshan replied, “I often see people coming and going; of course, I know.”
“Fine!” An Jiu looked at him and said calmly. “Tell me the exit, and after I verify it, I will grant your wish.”
Wei Yunshan frowned slightly. “You child, so suspicious! Very well, the exit is that pillar. The main gate is never opened, and I do not know if there are any mechanisms inside. Go quickly and return quickly; I do not have much time left awake.”
An Jiu saw that Wei Yunshan was indeed eager to be free, and knowing he would not harm her before he was free, she did not hesitate any longer and entered the door where the crossbow was placed.
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After entering the pillar, there was a staircase leading upwards.
An Jiu climbed the narrow, steep staircase. The pillar looked thick, but once inside, every movement was extremely difficult; even with light-footed skills, it would be impossible to move freely.
The staircase led to the roof. An Jiu gently pushed, finding the roof tiles loose, and the sounds of fierce fighting outside seemed to be right beside her. She lifted a tile or two, and suddenly, the sound of a zither arose, as if it were not far from her!
That zither music… Mei Ruyan!
An Jiu had only ever heard her play the zither once; the plaintive, sorrowful sound seemed to pluck at the heartstrings, unlike any ordinary zither music, and was unforgettable once heard.
She quietly retreated, looking again at the iron-clad walls surrounding the building, and suddenly found it amusing. After all the effort, risking her life to break in, the crossbow was placed in the least dangerous spot!
But even without Sang Nu’s information, if she had chosen to remove the roof tiles, she would not have so conveniently encountered these two pillars. She would still have had to navigate the numerous traps on the second floor, which might not have been easier.
“Are you certain now?” Wei Yunshan asked. “Have I lied to you?”
“Tell me your true purpose,” An Jiu said. “I do not want to waste time with you. Show me the way, and if I can fulfill your request, I will help you.”
Wei Yunshan had been trying to appease her, saying he only wanted relief, even death, but that was not the truth. An Jiu had once suffered from mental illness, and through her long experience, she had become somewhat of a psychiatrist. Although she could not control her emotions, she understood people better. Someone so desperate for liberation should not be so calm when faced with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, at least not when she was beating around the bush. This was just one point that made An Jiu suspicious. Furthermore, Wei Yunshan, as a master of the Transcendent Realm, was practically a goldmine of martial arts knowledge. Even without his internal energy, he still possessed various unique techniques, mental methods, and experience. Any martial artist would be moved by such things, yet he remained so calm, not taking advantage of this.
Wei Yunshan was silent for a few moments, then asked, “How did you see through me?”
“I guessed.” An Jiu had many suspicions, but they were just that—suspicions—without concrete evidence.
“Looks like I really am getting old, actually fooled by a little girl like you.” Wei Yunshan’s voice grew increasingly weary, his words becoming urgent. “I still have things to do. These silver needles stuck in my head only allow me to stay awake for an hour at most each day. I have something to say! I am about to collapse. Come up and help me pull one out, and I will talk to you for a few more minutes. Whatever you want, I will give you. I will teach you my life’s secret techniques.”
An Jiu ignored him, instead lighting all the lamps, taking out the last four explosive crossbows and placing them at the exit, then climbing onto the cage. “Which one do you want me to pull out?”
“The one on my head,” Wei Yunshan hurriedly said.
An Jiu twitched her lips, reached into the cage, and pulled out the silver needle stuck in his temple.
The needle had been embedded in the skin for so long that it was almost ingrained. With An Jiu’s sudden yank, a spurt of blood gushed out.
Her companions were still fighting for their lives outside, and An Jiu could not linger here too long. She did not have time to crave any special techniques, but Wei Yunshan had saved her life; removing a silver needle for him was her way of repaying him.
An Jiu was about to leave when what she saw before her filled her with horror.
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