Orden des Roten Lotus

Kapitel 1

Lan Yin Bi Yue

Author: Qing Lingyue

Introduction: Lan Yin Bi Yue is the most beautiful flower in the world.

The Orchid Moon is a supreme sacred object in the martial arts world.

That is what everyone who yearns for power and glory dreams of.

There were two men who regarded indifference to fame and fortune, benevolence and chivalry as the most foolish and ignorant things. Their ideal was nothing more than to hold Lan Yin Bi Yue in their arms, stand at the top of the martial arts world, and look down on all the heroes of the world.

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Chapter One: Introduction

Updated: [2008-11-28 14:06:39.0]

The bright moon is like frost, the gentle breeze is like water, and the scenery is infinitely beautiful. It is the perfect time to pledge one's life to the flowers and to bind one's hearts under the pines.

Unfortunately, there are some people who really spoil the fun.

Outside the serene and ancient palace, two dark shadows flew in from the north and south, over high walls, skimming over lakes, leaping over artificial hills, passing through long corridors, drifting through flower bushes... and heading straight into the depths of the palace.

One walks on water as if walking on flat ground.

A single, light wisp of petal drifts away on the wind.

A light and elegant one.

A free and unrestrained style.

Their feet landed silently and with lightning speed, demonstrating the extraordinary skill of light footwork.

Two dark figures stopped almost simultaneously in front of a building. However, since they were separated by the building, one to the south and the other to the north, they were unaware that another person in the darkness shared the same purpose. As they landed, both held their breath and used their inner energy to investigate. They were quite proud to find that they had not alerted anyone. It seemed that this world-renowned Guardian Palace was nothing special after all.

The two quietly opened a window each, then darted inside like nimble cats, the doors closing silently as they landed. The instant their toes touched the ground, a chill ran through them, causing them to shiver simultaneously. They wondered to themselves, "Is the floor made of ice? Why is it so cold?"

The building was dark, except for a faint light in the center. Everything else was shrouded in darkness. The two walked silently toward the light in the center, stopping a foot away and holding their breath as they stared in amazement at the center of the light.

That radiance was actually the glow of a pearl. A lotus-shaped glass palace lantern hung from the rooftop, containing a luminous pearl the size of a pigeon's egg. A layer of white gauze covered the pearl, obscuring its dazzling brilliance and illuminating only a soft, faint glow within a three-foot square area. Beneath the lantern stood a four-foot-tall white jade pillar, supporting a square piece of flawless, pure green jade, about a foot in size. But even more captivating were the two flowers resting on the jade.

It was a flower with one black and one white flower on the same stem. The petals were fully open, the flower was as big as a bowl, and the petals were like crescent moons. The black petals were as black as ink and the white petals were as white as snow. The white flower with black stamens and the black flower with snow stamens were closely intertwined, exuding a crystal-clear luster like jade. It was as beautiful as a dream!

Is this the "Lan Yin Bi Yue"?

The most wondrous and beautiful flower in the world!

Both were momentarily captivated by the wondrous flower, marveling at its beauty and strengthening their resolve to possess it. As they pondered, their bodies shifted, their hands instinctively reaching for the flower on the jade platform. At that very moment, they both noticed a hand reaching out from the darkness opposite them, with the same target. Startled, in a flash, each struck the figure opposite with a palm, while their other hand remained extended towards the jade platform.

Naturally, neither of them managed to land a blow; both were skillfully dodged, and neither managed to grab "Lan Yin Bi Yue." They stopped, both their figures simultaneously exposed to the hazy pearly light. Examining each other across the jade platform, both were shrouded in black from head to toe, their faces obscured. Only their eyes, brighter than luminous pearls, shone like cold stars in the darkness, captivating and mesmerizing.

The two hummed softly in unison, then swiftly attacked each other, using skillful techniques and exquisite grappling skills. However, their opponent seemed equally adept, and after a short while, neither had gained the upper hand. Neither dared to fight with their true skills, fearing that a fierce battle would damage the beautiful "Lan Yin Bi Yue" on the jade platform, or that the noise would alert the guards of the palace.

The two stopped fighting at the same time. Although their breathing was steady, they were secretly shocked by their opponent's skill. They looked at "Lan Yin Bi Yue" and then at their opponent. They both frowned. They both wanted the flower, but there was only one. So they had to fight to the death. But if they really fought, they would alert others, and then it would be difficult to end the fight.

"well!"

The two were locked in a stalemate when a sigh suddenly rang out, startling them both. There was a third person in the building? And they hadn't noticed at all. They were filled with shame and anger—shame that their supposedly superior martial arts skills had prevented them from detecting the other person, and anger that the other had distracted them.

"You two little brats, you can fight here for a hundred years if you want, but remember one thing: never touch that 'Lan Yin Bi Yue'." A somewhat vigorous voice sounded softly.

The two looked around upon hearing the sound, but saw no one and had no idea where the person was hiding. They were both shocked and angry.

What amazes me is the man's unfathomable wisdom, and what angers me is his contemptuous tone.

Hmph! You think I'll just stop touching it because you tell me not to?!

"If you don't obey, don't blame me for activating the guard mechanism." The man seemed to see through their thoughts.

The two looked back at each other, then nodded slightly, reaching a consensus: first take the guard's seal, then seize the "Lan Yin Bi Yue".

Just as the two reached an agreement, that soft, melodious voice rang out again, "The little brat is so ignorant of his own limitations, sigh." With a sigh, two light breezes swept towards the two of them.

The two men simultaneously gathered their strength and raised their palms to try and block the attack, but the gentle breeze they encountered felt like a thousand pounds of force. They instantly became alert and used all their skills to pull back their hands, twist their waists, spin around, and fly to the side, using all their strength to finally escape the powerful wind that enveloped their bodies. When they looked up, they found that they had retreated to the window where they had flown in, and were now far away from the "Orchid Moon".

At this moment, the two were not only shocked but also terrified. They still did not know where the person in the darkness was hiding, yet all their thoughts and actions were under the control of this person. At this moment, they clearly knew that they were no match for him and that they had no chance of obtaining "Lan Yin Bi Yue" tonight.

With a thought in mind, he made a decision in an instant. He stretched out his hand, lightly touched the ground with his foot, opened the window, and leaped out, quickly heading down the mountain from the palace along the way he had come.

"These two children are quite good. Who will be able to seize the 'Orchid and Jade Moon' in the future?" A powerful voice sighed from inside the building.

After leaving the Shouling Palace, the two were heading down the mountain, one to the south and the other to the north. However, they changed directions halfway down the mountain and walked separately for a while. At the same time, they both noticed the figure flying towards them.

They stopped and looked at each other.

If this person is not eliminated, he will surely become a formidable enemy in the future!

At this moment, they shared the same thought.

"Greetings, brother." The two men bowed to each other with clasped hands.

"I have always been proud of my martial arts skills, but tonight I am impressed by you, brother. I wish to become your friend, and I hope you will not find me unworthy." The voice from the south was clear and melodious, and he was probably a young man who had not yet reached adulthood.

"I have always enjoyed making friends with heroes and outstanding talents. Your martial arts skills are so excellent, you are truly the kind of friend I have been longing for." The voice of the person from the north was clear and slightly hoarse, a sign of a young man growing up.

From this, we can infer that the people in the north are slightly older than those in the south, but both are slender and tall, so their heights are probably not that different.

"That's wonderful! I'm so lucky to have you as a friend, brother." The man from the south happily walked toward the man from the north.

"It is my honor to make your acquaintance, brother." The man from the north happily walked toward the man from the south.

The two hurried closer, simultaneously reaching out to grasp each other's hands, shaking them tightly with a mixture of excitement and anticipation. Their reunion was truly like old friends meeting after a long journey. Of course, this would only be possible if they could remove the black veils covering their faces.

"This Ying Mountain is a place where heroic souls gather. I am honored to meet you tonight, and I would love to drink and sing with you. However, I have important matters to attend to and cannot stay. I would like to make an appointment with you to meet here again at this time tomorrow night, would that be alright?" The man from the south slowly released his hand and said.

The man from the north slowly released his grip and said, "What a coincidence! I also have another appointment. Let's make a pact to meet again tomorrow night at this time to enjoy ourselves together. See you then!"

"Then I'll take my leave." The man from the south clasped his hands in farewell.

"Farewell." The man from the north also clasped his hands in farewell.

"If you're still alive tomorrow, it's not too late to kill you then!" the two thought to themselves.

After saying goodbye, the two turned and left at the same time, their movements as swift as arrows. In just a short while, they arrived at the foot of the mountain.

"Pfft!" The man from the south spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed under a tree.

"Thump!" The person to the north fell into the grass, black blood flowing from his eyes, nostrils, mouth, and ears.

This was the thirty-ninth year of the reign of the Imperial Dynasty. The Imperial Dynasty had been established for 162 years, and the reigns of eight emperors had brought about an unprecedented period of prosperity and glory.

However, the martial arts world was not so peaceful.

As everyone knows, the current Imperial Dynasty Empire was a vassal state of the Eastern Dynasty Empire 162 years ago. At the end of the Eastern Dynasty, war raged, and ambitious individuals rose up to create unparalleled achievements. Among these figures, the Imperial Dynasty, Feng Lanxi of the Feng Kingdom, and Feng Xiyun of the Feng Kingdom were the most powerful and influential. The Imperial Dynasty married Princess Hua Chunran of the Hua Kingdom, greatly strengthening the alliance between the two nations. Meanwhile, Prince Feng Lanxi of the Feng Kingdom married Princess Feng Xiyun of the Feng Kingdom, uniting their powers to challenge the Imperial Dynasty for supremacy. Just as both sides were about to face off in a life-or-death struggle in the Eastern Kingdom, the two princes of Feng and Xi, citing their inability to bear further suffering for the people, abdicated, entrusting their kingdoms to the Imperial Dynasty, and retired into seclusion. Thus, the Imperial Dynasty unified the world and ascended the throne, becoming the founding emperor of the Imperial Dynasty Empire.

Although the world was at peace, the martial arts world remained chaotic and rife with conflict. Feng and Xi, who had been living in seclusion, once again rose to the challenge, using the "Lan Yin Ling" (Orchid Decree) at the foot of Ying Mountain to subdue various sects and heroes, and raising the "Bi Yue Hua" (Jade Moon Flower) to unite the outlaws and unify the martial arts world, commanding all its heroes. Only then did the world truly end its era of bloodshed and chaos, achieving true peace. Therefore, both ordinary people and martial arts heroes revered and submitted to the two from the bottom of their hearts. Because they were originally kings of a nation, and now held the positions of powerful figures in the martial arts world, combined with their childhood titles "Bai Feng Xi" and "Hei Feng Xi" (collectively known as "Bai Feng Hei Xi"), the martial arts world respectfully called them "Feng Huang Xi Di" (Emperor Feng and Emperor Xi).

Although both men were exceptionally talented, they were also impulsive and willful, and their reign as martial arts emperors lasted only ten years before they both abdicated and disappeared. The martial arts world lamented the loss of these two unparalleled leaders, yet a sense of relief followed. Who wouldn't covet the throne of the martial arts emperor? Thus, the heroes gathered once more at Ying Mountain to re-elect a ruler to command the martial arts world. However, all their hopes were dashed. Han Pu, the sworn brother of "Bai Fengxi," outwitted all the heroes, seizing the "Lan Yin Bi Yue" and ascending to the throne of the martial arts emperor.

He demanded that everyone address him as "Emperor Wu".

He is also the only overlord in the history of martial arts to have unified both the righteous and the evil paths of the martial arts world.

The martial arts world has always been divided into two paths: the righteous and the wicked. When "White Wind and Black Breath" ruled the martial arts world, the two, husband and wife, were one, controlling both paths and respecting them as their masters. However, although they were the masters of both paths, they knew that the two paths could never truly merge. Therefore, they used the "Orchid Decree" to command the righteous path and the "Jade Moon Flower" to command the wicked path, thus bringing a period of balance and peace to the martial arts world.

Emperor Wu, Han Pu, was revered and admired by heroes across the land for his unparalleled martial arts, talent, and character. He ruled the martial world for twenty years, and with the ten years of the "White Wind and Black Breath" era, those were the most peaceful thirty years in the martial world. In his later years, Han Pu retired and went into seclusion in Wushan, leaving the position of martial arts overlord vacant again. However, the martial world did not descend into chaos due to the struggle for power. After all, with the rule of "White Wind and Black Breath" and "Emperor Wu" for many years, the martial world was no longer the one that killed anyone who displeased it and seized any treasure it saw. It was now bound by various laws and regulations, and Han Pu left behind the Guardian Palace.

The "Luoying Mountain," which buried countless heroes during the chaotic Eastern Wei period, was renamed "Ying Mountain" after the Wind King annihilated the Eastern Dynasty's 70,000-strong army.

In the early years of the dynasty, "White Wind and Black Breath" commanded the heroes of the martial arts world here, making Ying Mountain a sacred place in the hearts of martial artists and a gathering place for heroic souls. When "White Wind and Black Breath" ruled the martial arts world, he built a palace on Ying Mountain and lived there. Later, Han Pu also lived there, so Ying Mountain also became a symbol of the residence of the martial arts emperor in the hearts of martial artists.

The Shouling Palace is located atop Yingshan Mountain. The "Lan Yin Bi Yue" (a legendary jade ornament) is housed within. The Shouling (guardians) are personally selected and trained by Han Pu, and their positions are passed down through generations. The palace is filled with countless traps and mechanisms. Before leaving, Han Pu issued his final order: "Until a new ruler is appointed, guard the palace. Anyone who moves or seizes without authorization will be executed without mercy!"

Before a new leader of the martial arts world was chosen, the "Lan Yin Bi Yue" was guarded by the Shouling Palace, and no sect was allowed to touch it without permission. It was only presented to the new leader by the Shouling Palace when he was chosen. Some people did not believe in the superstition and secretly harbored thoughts of it, but in the end, they all came but never returned. They either died by the Shouling Palace's sword or were buried by traps. After this, the martial arts world truly restrained itself and dared not act rashly. They gathered at Ying Mountain to hold a martial arts conference to compete for the position of martial arts emperor again.

However, after thirty years of recuperation, the martial arts world has established a firm foundation and its strength has gradually increased. It is no longer a place where martial arts speak for themselves. As the leader of the martial arts world, one must not only have the "martial arts" to subdue all heroes, but also the "virtue" to command respect, and the "power" to suppress the prestigious families of both the righteous and the evil.

That martial arts tournament lasted twelve days. Each side, representing both the righteous and the wicked, possessed unparalleled martial arts skills and wisdom, remaining undefeated. Their subsequent duel also ended in a draw. Both sides strongly supported their own, leading to a stalemate. Finally, the highly respected elder of the martial arts world, Yuwen Huai Ren, suggested that each sect appoint two leaders: one wielding the "Lan Yin Token" to command the righteous path, and the other wielding the "Bi Yue Flower" to lead the wicked path. Both would work together to protect the martial arts world and its people. This proposal was approved by everyone, and thus the third generation of martial arts emperors was born.

However, the imperial dynasty at that time had already been in power for thirty years and was a powerful country that dominated the world. All the surrounding small countries bowed down and submitted to it. Therefore, the new martial arts master did not dare to call himself "Emperor" so as not to really provoke the court's dissatisfaction and cause them to send troops to suppress him. The one who held the "Lan Yin Token" was called the "Token Master" and the one who held the "Bi Yue Flower" was called the "Honored Master".

The one who commands the righteous path is "Lan Yin Ling Zhu" Ming Zhen.

The one who rules the underworld is "Lord Biyue" Jiang Duyun.

Meanwhile, in order to ensure peaceful and harmonious relations between the Lord and the Venerable Lord, the martial arts tournament stipulated that Lan Yin and Bi Yue would advance and retreat together. That is, regardless of whether the Lord or the Venerable Lord dies or voluntarily abdicates, the other will abdicate simultaneously.

After that, the righteous and the wicked formed a tacit understanding. "Lan Yin Bi Yue" each had a master. The title of Commander and the title of Venerable Master were passed down from generation to generation in the martial arts world. Neither you were allowed to be the sole ruler nor can I be the sole leader. The righteous and the wicked were in a state of balance and restraint, and both sides were able to maintain peace. The situation of one person leading the martial arts world alone never appeared again.

Over a century passed, and the dynasty reached unprecedented prosperity, as did the martial arts world. Each sect possessed a deep foundation, abundant talent, and formidable strength—a truly welcome development. However, this also sowed the seeds of future conflict. Every powerful individual resented being overshadowed, and even more so, disliked having to share their power. Thus, they all harbored ambitions to dominate the martial arts world. As time went on, factional conflicts and feuds intensified, leading to frequent battles and bloodshed. Beneath the surface of a seemingly peaceful martial arts world lay simmering ambition.

In the thirty-ninth year of Yinghua, Bai Zhao, the "Master of Lanyin," passed away, and Zhan Yu, the "Master of Biyue," also abdicated at the same time. The "Lanyin and Biyue" returned to the Shouling Palace, and the competition for the position of the leader of the martial arts world will begin anew.

In the thirty-ninth year of Yinghua, two men secretly sneaked into the Yingshan Shouling Palace, but failed and left.

These two figures, who would later dominate the martial arts world, were still young men not yet twenty. Yingshan was their first meeting. That night, they didn't know who the other was; they only sensed that the other was a powerful figure, a formidable enemy in the future.

That year should have been the time for the two to make their mark in the martial arts world, but their "friendly" handshake at the foot of Ying Mountain delayed their ascent to the pinnacle of martial arts.

This is because one of them shattered the heart's meridians, while the other poisoned the five internal organs.

They each returned home to recuperate and treat their injuries, a process that lasted five years, during which they missed their chance to meet Yinghua's "Lan Yin Bi Yue" (a romantic encounter) after thirty-nine years.

When they met again, both their martial arts skills and mental fortitude had reached their peak, making them unparalleled in the martial arts world.

When they meet again, they are each other's strongest rivals and most important enemies.