The twelfth month of the third year of Hongde, Shushan was covered in heavy snow.
Han Jing stood outside the Hall of Judgment, his hand resting on the long sword at his waist. His gaze pierced through the swirling snowflakes, falling upon the white-clad figure kneeling upright inside the hall.
Lin Wanying.
He had heard this name before—the personal disciple of Senior Uncle Zhou Tianhuan. She had only been in the sect for five years but was already somewhat famous among the younger generation. Not because her swordsmanship was exceptionally outstanding, but because she was always alone, coming and going in solitude, never associating with her fellow disciples. It was said she always held strange counting rods and stared blankly.
Han Jing had no particular impression of her, until today.
"Lin Wanying! Before you left Shushan, the sect commanded you to execute the Heavenly Law and kill the Qingzhou County Magistrate, Chen Hui, who was suspected of colluding with Japanese pirates! Now a month has passed, the assassination has failed, and you even helped him escape! Do you confess your crime?"
The voice of Feng Daoshan, the Elder of the Execution Hall, echoed from within the hall with unquestionable authority. Listening to this familiar voice, Han Jing felt a trace of strangeness in his heart.
Elder Feng was his adoptive father and also his mentor. For as long as he could remember, he had lived in Shushan, in the Execution Hall. Elder Feng told him he was an orphan whose parents were killed by the demonic path, and it was Shushan that saved and raised him. From then on, Han Jing regarded Shushan as his home and the maintenance of Shushan’s reputation as his mission.
He hated those disciples who violated the sect rules and those actions that tarnished Shushan’s reputation. Because in his heart, Shushan was perfect, sacred, and not to be desecrated.
So he practiced hard, set strict requirements for himself, and eventually became the head disciple of the Execution Hall. He wanted to protect this home with his own hands.
But at this moment, listening to the dialogue in the hall, something in his heart was subtly loosening.
"This disciple failed to execute the master's command and is willing to accept punishment." Lin Wanying's voice was so calm it didn't seem like she was facing judgment, but rather stating a fact.
"If you know you should be punished, do you know why this person must be killed?"
"This disciple does not know why this person must be killed, but I saw with my own eyes that the intelligence provided by Imperial Preceptor Chang Jin was incorrect!"
Upon hearing this, Han Jing’s heart was shaken.
Questioning the Imperial Preceptor?
Imperial Preceptor Chang Jin was the Sect Leader's junior brother and Shushan's highest representative in the imperial court. His words had never been questioned by anyone.
But Lin Wanying questioned them.
And in her voice, there was not a trace of hesitation, not a trace of fear.
"You dare to doubt the words of the Imperial Preceptor?"
"If the Imperial Preceptor's words were correct, why do the people of Qingzhou all say that Chen Hui is clean and loves the people? He worked hard to provide disaster relief and save the villagers, and he even personally entered the fire during a disaster to save the commoners. How could such a person be someone who would betray the country?"
Lin Wanying's voice remained calm, but every word was like a stone thrown into the calm water of Han Jing's heart, stirring up ripples.
He remembered that when he was executing missions down the mountain, he had also heard of the Qingzhou County Magistrate’s reputation. At that time, he didn't care, thinking it was just an ordinary official. But thinking about it now, those rumors were indeed inconsistent with the image of "colluding with Japanese pirates."
Could it be...
"Impudence!" Elder Yue Lingtian slammed the table and rose. "Wicked disciple! You dare to question the Imperial Preceptor's words and even criticize the sect's decisions? Shushan protects the Way with Heavenly Law; how can we allow you to speak such arrogant words? Guard, slap her fifty times and strip her of her status as an inner disciple!"
Han Jing instinctively tightened his grip on the sword hilt, preparing to enter and execute the punishment.
This was his duty.
But his steps did not move.
Because at this moment, another voice rang out—
"Stop!"
Zhou Tianhuan walked slowly into the hall.
Han Jing looked at this senior uncle, known as the "Soaring Firmament Sword," with respect. Zhou Tianhuan was one of the thirteen elders of Shushan, with superb swordsmanship. In the hearts of the younger generation, he was a legendary figure second only to the Sect Leader. Rumor had it that he once single-handedly hunted down the three Great Protectors of the Blood God Sect, leaving no trace behind for a thousand miles, his sword's light chilling nineteen provinces.
Such a person personally came to defend his disciple.
"Lin Wanying is my disciple; what she says is not without evidence." Zhou Tianhuan's voice was neither fast nor slow, but it had its own authority. "As far as I know, the imperial decree for Chen Hui's execution has not been seen in any legal documents; it was all handled by Imperial Preceptor Chang Jin. Unless it is confirmed, Shushan should prioritize caution. How can we easily kill?"
Han Jing's heart sank another notch.
Was what Senior Uncle Zhou said true?
The imperial decree for execution actually had no official document?
What did this mean?
He didn't dare to continue thinking about it.
Three days later, at the Execution Field's sparring stage.
Han Jing stood within the sword formation, his long sword pointing horizontally, his gaze locked on the white-clad woman opposite him.
Lin Wanying.
Today, she was a completely different person from the figure kneeling in the Hall of Judgment three days ago. She stood there, her white clothes fluttering, her long sword humming slightly, her eyes devoid of fear, containing only a calm battle intent.
"Lin Wanying, you disobeyed the master's command; today I will let you witness the true sword path of Shushan!" Han Jing said coldly; this was his duty, the words he had to say.
But a voice in his heart was asking: Are you truly defending Shushan's righteous path?
"Heavenly Dipper Sword Formation—Activate!"
He suppressed the stray thoughts in his heart and led the Execution Hall disciples to launch an attack. Sword qi crossed, enveloping Lin Wanying like a celestial net.
This was the treasure of the Execution Hall; for many years, no one could break the formation alone.
Lin Wanying turned her sword edge and responded.
Her swordsmanship surprised Han Jing—not because it was particularly sharp, but because...
She was calculating.
Every one of her dodges, every one of her counterattacks, was as precise as if she knew the path of the sword qi in advance. Han Jing could feel that she wasn't fighting by instinct but was using some rule to predict the changes in the sword formation.
"In one-third of a breath, the third sword qi on the left will weaken slightly..."
Lin Wanying's voice was very soft, but Han Jing heard it.
She was calculating time?
How was this possible?
What surprised him even more was that she was right. When the Heavenly Dipper Sword Formation reached the third style, the left side would indeed weaken briefly.
Lin Wanying seized that moment, her sword qi turning, actually tearing a rift in the sword formation!
"What?!"
The Execution Hall disciples were astonished. Han Jing's heart was even more turbulent.
What kind of swordsmanship was this?
No, this wasn't swordsmanship. This was...
"She is calculating the flow of sword qi!"
Someone shouted, and Han Jing finally understood—Lin Wanying wasn't using Shushan's swordsmanship to face the enemy, but mathematics!
This...
Could this still be considered Shushan swordsmanship?
Swordsmanship should conform to the world and its rules should not be arbitrarily changed. This was the principle he had been taught since childhood.
But Lin Wanying had violated this rule.
And she succeeded.
She nearly broke the Heavenly Dipper Sword Formation.
Almost.
*Boom!*
In the end, outnumbered, Lin Wanying's sword qi was completely suppressed, and she was thrown back, kneeling on one knee, the blade of her broken sword embedded in a nearby blue stone.
Han Jing looked at her, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
She lost.
But her loss... made it impossible for him to feel the joy of victory.
Because what she showed was not a demonic path, but a path no one had ever walked before.
"From today onwards, Lin Wanying's martial arts are stripped, she is expelled from Shushan, and she shall never return!"
Feng Daoshan's voice fell like ice.
Hearing this judgment, Han Jing's body trembled slightly.
Stripping her martial arts?
He looked at Lin Wanying and saw her clenching her teeth, looking down at her clenched sword hilt, her knuckles white.
At that moment, something in Han Jing's heart broke.
He didn't know what it was, only that it was a pain he had never felt in his life.
"Wait!"
Zhou Tianhuan stood up again.
"Expelling her from Shushan is acceptable, but my disciple's martial arts were taught by me; I have the right to decide not to strip them."
He stepped forward slowly, his gaze falling on Feng Daoshan's face, his tone calm but containing a power that allowed no rebuttal: "Senior Brother Feng, according to Shushan rules, she is my disciple and I have the right to handle her martial arts. Even the Sect Leader has no right to strip this power."
Feng Daoshan's face changed slightly, but he had nothing to say.
Zhou Tianhuan turned to look at Lin Wanying, his gaze full of pity: "Wanying, I am powerless to change the outcome... but I will protect your martial arts. The world is vast, and beyond Shushan, there is still your Path."
Lin Wanying looked up at her master, took a deep breath, and slowly stood up.
"...This disciple... will take her leave."
She picked up the broken long sword and turned to leave.
Han Jing watched her back until the white-clad figure disappeared into the mist, unable to look away.
He didn't know how long he stood there, only that when he regained his senses, the sky had darkened and the snow had started falling again.
In the days that followed, Han Jing seemed like a different person.
He still performed his duties in the Execution Hall, strictly judging every disciple who violated the rules, and treating every mistake with the most severe attitude.
But in his heart, there was always a voice asking:
Are you truly right?
Was Lin Wanying truly wrong?
If she was wrong, why were her eyes so clear, without a trace of guilt?
If she was right, why did Shushan expel her?
He remembered Zhou Tianhuan's words: "If the words of the court cannot be doubted, then why fear verification?"
Verification.
Shushan did not verify.
Just because of a single word from the Imperial Preceptor, a person was sentenced to death.
No, not just death. It was expulsion from the sect, never to return.
For a Shushan disciple, this was more painful than death.
Han Jing knew this because he was a Shushan disciple himself; he knew what Shushan meant to its disciples.
It was home.
It was faith.
It was the entirety of life.
Lin Wanying lost all of this.
And the reason she lost all this was simply because she refused to kill a good man.
A snowy night.
Han Jing went alone to the Lingxiao Pavilion.
This was Zhou Tianhuan's residence, located on the east side of Jianshen Peak, overlooking the sea of clouds, quiet and serene. Zhou Tianhuan didn't like noise, and few disciples dared to disturb him on ordinary days.
Han Jing stood before the pavilion, hesitated for a long time, and finally knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Zhou Tianhuan's calm voice came from inside.
Han Jing pushed the door open and saw Zhou Tianhuan sitting by the window, holding an ancient text in his hand, with a cup of steaming tea on the table beside him.
"Han Jing?" Zhou Tianhuan looked up, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes. "The head disciple of the Execution Hall visiting late at night, what is the matter?"
Han Jing bowed: "This disciple is presumptuous to disturb Senior Uncle's meditation; I hope Senior Uncle will forgive me."
Zhou Tianhuan smiled slightly, put down the book, and pointed at the cushion opposite him: "Sit. Would you like some tea?"
Han Jing was taken aback; he didn't expect this legendary swordsman to be so approachable. He sat down as told and took the tea Zhou Tianhuan handed him, but didn't drink it, just held it in his hand, feeling the warmth from his palm.
"Are you here for Wanying's matter?" Zhou Tianhuan asked.
Han Jing nodded: "This disciple has some questions he would like to ask Senior Uncle."
"Tell me."
Han Jing was silent for a moment, organized his words, and then slowly spoke: "This disciple participated in the sparing that day and saw with his own eyes Junior Sister Lin's way of fighting. That wasn't a demonic path; it was a path this disciple had never seen before. This disciple wants to know, why did she do that? Why would she rather be expelled than stick to her judgment?"
Zhou Tianhuan looked at him quietly and didn't answer immediately.
Han Jing continued: "This disciple grew up in Shushan, Elder Feng raised me, taught me, told me Shushan is the righteous path, and Shushan's decisions are always right. But that day, this disciple had doubts for the first time—if Shushan is wrong, then what have I been sticking to all these years?"
His voice trembled slightly, but he didn't stop: "This disciple knows these words are rebellious, but... this disciple truly wants to know the answer."
As Zhou Tianhuan listened to him, the look in his eyes gradually became softer.
"The fact that you can ask these questions shows that you have the true Path in your heart," Zhou Tianhuan said softly. "Not a path of blind obedience, but a path of thinking and questioning."
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the vast night.
"Wanying has been different from other children since she was a child. She comes from the Lin family of Qingzhou, a family of mathematicians. Later, because of a volume of 'Geodata Scripture' being slandered as a demonic book, the whole family was wiped out. She escaped with the 'Exquisite Counting Box' and was taken in by me."
Han Jing listened quietly.
"After she entered the sect, I taught her swordsmanship. She learned very quickly, but she always asked strange questions—'Master, can the angle of this strike be calculated with Pythagorean theorem?' 'Master, does the trajectory of sword qi follow some kind of rule?'"
A smile appeared on Zhou Tianhuan's lips: "At first, I just thought she was imagining things and scolded her for not focusing on her sword practice. But she didn't give up, and privately she had been studying how to integrate mathematics into the sword path. Until one day, she told me she found a flaw in the Heavenly Dipper Sword Formation."
Han Jing was shaken: "A flaw in the Heavenly Dipper Sword Formation?"
"Exactly." Zhou Tianhuan turned to look at him. "The Heavenly Dipper Sword Formation is the treasure of the Execution Hall, claimed to be unbreakable. But she used mathematics to deduce that when the sword formation reached the third style, the left side would be briefly weak. She asked me, if she attacked at that moment, could she break the formation?"
Han Jing remembered the match that day; Lin Wanying had indeed launched a counterattack at that moment.
"I told her that in theory it could be done, but in practice it was almost impossible because that weak point only existed for less than half a breath, and no one could grasp it precisely." Zhou Tianhuan sighed softly. "But she did it. She almost did it."
Han Jing was silent.
"Do you know why she could do it?" Zhou Tianhuan asked.
Han Jing shook his head.
"Because she has been using counting rods to calculate everything since she was a child. To her, the world is not composed of sword qi and internal power, but of numbers, rules, and probabilities. She doesn't look at the sword formation with her eyes; she calculates the sword formation with mathematics." Zhou Tianhuan's voice carried a trace of complex emotion. "Some say this is a heterodox path, but I think it's a path no one has ever walked before. A path... that might create a new sword path."
Han Jing listened intently, and it felt as if something was slowly becoming clear in his heart.
"But Senior Uncle," he spoke hesitantly, "if Junior Sister Lin's path was right, then why did Shushan expel her?"
Zhou Tianhuan was silent for a moment, and then slowly said: "Do you truly not know?"
Han Jing froze.
Zhou Tianhuan looked at him with profound eyes: "Do you think this judgment was truly because Wanying disobeyed the master's command?"
Han Jing felt a chill in his heart.
"The disobedience was just an excuse." Zhou Tianhuan's voice was light, but it was like a knife, cutting open the truth Han Jing had never dared to face: "The true reason is that she questioned the person she shouldn't have questioned."
Imperial Preceptor Chang Jin.
Han Jing's fist tightened.
"The Imperial Preceptor is the Sect Leader's junior brother and Shushan's representative in the court. His words represent not only him personally but also the court's attitude toward Shushan." Zhou Tianhuan continued. "If his intelligence was wrong, if his judgment was wrong, what does that mean? It means the person Shushan has trusted for many years might not be trustworthy. This truth, some dare not face, and some... are unwilling to face."
Han Jing's heart sank to the bottom.
He remembered his adoptive father Feng Daoshan's attitude during the judgment, he remembered Elder Yue Lingtian's anger, and he remembered those voices that echoed the accusations against Lin Wanying.
Did they truly believe Lin Wanying was guilty?
Or was it...
That they didn't dare to question?
"Senior Uncle," Han Jing's voice was hoarse, "this disciple has one more question."
"Speak."
"Is Shushan... truly on the righteous path?"
Zhou Tianhuan looked at him quietly, and after a long time, he smiled lightly.
"That question, I cannot answer for you," he said. "Because the answer is something you need to find for yourself."
He walked up to Han Jing and reached out to pat his shoulder: "Go. Go to the Jianghu, go see the 'demonic paths' killed by Shushan, go see the 'righteous paths' protected by Shushan. Use your own eyes to find the answer."
Han Jing looked up, his eyes flashing with complex light.
"But this disciple... is the head disciple of the Execution Hall and the adopted son of Elder Feng; how can I..."
"It is because you are the head disciple of the Execution Hall, and because you are Senior Brother Feng's adopted son, that you should go," Zhou Tianhuan interrupted him. "Only by finding the true answer will you know what you have been protecting all these years."
Han Jing was silent for a long time.
Finally, he bowed deeply: "Thank you, Senior Uncle."
He turned to leave, and when he reached the door, he suddenly stopped.
"Senior Uncle," he didn't turn back, "this disciple has one more question."
"Speak."
"If one day the answer I find is different from Shushan's position, what should I do?"
Zhou Tianhuan's light laughter came from behind him.
"By then, you will know what to do."
Han Jing was silent for a moment, then pushed the door open and left.
The next morning, Execution Hall.
Feng Daoshan sat in the primary seat, looking at Han Jing kneeling before him, his brow furrowed.
"What did you say?"
Han Jing looked up, his gaze calm and firm: "This disciple requests to resign from the position of head disciple of the Execution Hall."
"Nonsense!" Feng Daoshan slapped the table. "Do you know what this position means? I personally cultivated you to stand in this position! You say you're resigning just like that?"
Han Jing did not back down: "This disciple knows. I thank Master for his years of upbringing and teaching. But Master, I have some doubts in my heart that I must personally find answers to."
"What doubts?"
Han Jing was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Regarding Lin Wanying's matter."
Feng Daoshan's expression changed slightly: "You're still thinking about that wicked disciple?"
"She is not a wicked disciple." Han Jing's voice was very calm, but it carried an unprecedented firmness. "She just took a different path. And we didn't give her a chance to prove it."
Feng Daoshan narrowed his eyes: "Do you know what you're saying?"
"I know." Han Jing stood up and looked directly into his adoptive father's eyes. "Master, you've told me since I was a child that Shushan is the righteous path, and Shushan's decisions are always right. But Master, if the righteous path does not allow questioning, is it still the righteous path?"
Feng Daoshan was silent.
Han Jing continued: "This disciple wants to go to the Jianghu, to see Shushan's reputation outside, and to see if the 'demonic paths' we killed were truly beyond redemption. I want to know what we are protecting."
"Are you questioning Shushan?"
"This disciple is questioning himself." Han Jing's voice trembled slightly. "I am afraid, afraid that all these years, I might have mistakenly hurt the innocent and might have assisted in injustice. Master, I need an answer."
Feng Daoshan looked at him, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
He remembered when he adopted the child years ago, he was a baby in swaddling clothes, crying his heart out. He held him in his arms and said to him: "From now on, this is your home."
Now, the child had grown up, had his own thoughts, and his own doubts.
He didn't know whether to be happy or sad.
"Have you decided?" Feng Daoshan asked.
"I have."
"No regrets?"
"No regrets."
Feng Daoshan was silent for a long time and finally nodded slowly: "Go. But remember, no matter what answer you find, you will always be a Shushan disciple."
Han Jing's eyes were slightly red as he bowed deeply: "Thank you, Master."
He turned to leave, and when he reached the door, he suddenly stopped.
"Master," he didn't turn back, "this disciple has one more question."
"Speak."
"When you adopted me, were my parents truly killed by the demonic path?"
There was no response from behind for a long time.
Han Jing didn't wait for the answer; he pushed the door open and left.
Because he knew that some answers he needed to find for himself.
On the nineteenth day of the twelfth month, the heavy snow on Shushan had just stopped.
Han Jing stood at the mountain gate with a simple pack on his back, looking back at the peak where he had lived for twenty years.
Jianshen Peak was still majestic, the clouds were still swirling, and the cranes were still flying in the mountains.
Everything was the same as before.
But he knew everything had changed.
"Senior Brother Han!"
A call came from behind. Han Jing turned around and saw several Execution Hall disciples rushing over.
"Senior Brother, are you truly leaving?"
Han Jing smiled slightly: "Yes."
"But... why?" A young disciple looked puzzled. "You're the head disciple of the Execution Hall, the person Master values most, and you could inherit the elder's position in the future. Why leave?"
Han Jing looked at him and seemed to see himself back then.
The self who never questioned and only knew how to obey.
"Because some questions need answers," he said softly.
"What questions?"
Han Jing thought for a moment, and instead of answering directly, he asked: "What do you think Shushan is?"
The young disciple was stunned: "Shushan... is our home."
"Then what is a home?"
"A home is..." The young disciple frowned and thought. "It is the place we protect, right?"
Han Jing nodded and then shook his head: "Home is the place we protect, true. But if one day the way we protect it hurts someone who shouldn't be hurt, can it still be considered protection?"
The young disciple fell silent.
Han Jing patted his shoulder: "Practice hard and take good care of Master."
He turned and started walking down the mountain.
The voices of his junior brothers came from behind: "Senior Brother! Will you come back?"
Han Jing didn't turn back, just waved his hand.
He didn't know the answer.
But he knew that no matter what he found, no matter where he went, Shushan would always be the home in his heart.
Only, he first needed to find out what this home truly was.
The mountain wind blew, stirring up the remaining snow on the ground.
Han Jing's figure gradually disappeared into the mist, and he stepped onto the journey to find the answer.
He wanted to see this Jianghu, to see the "demonic paths" killed by Shushan, and to see the "righteous paths" protected by Shushan.
He wanted to use his own eyes to confirm a fact—
What exactly is Shushan?
A few days later, a piece of news began to circulate in the Jianghu:
Han Jing, the head disciple of Shushan's Execution Hall, resigned from his position and traveled the world, asking around about Shushan's reputation.
Some said he was expelled from the sect, some said he came to investigate the demonic path, and some said he just wanted to see the world.
Only Han Jing himself knew that he was just looking for an answer—
An answer about right and wrong, about faith and doubt.
And this answer might take a lifetime to find.
The December wind was very cold, blowing against the face like a knife.
But Han Jing's heart was more peaceful than ever before.
Because he knew he was finally living as himself.
No longer the head disciple of the Execution Hall, no longer just the adopted son of Feng Daoshan, no longer just a symbol of Shushan.
He was Han Jing.
A person who wanted to know the truth.
Nothing more.
And he believed that one day, he would find that answer.
Then, he would take that answer and return to Shushan.
No matter whether that answer was joy or sorrow, right or wrong.
Because it was his home.
Always.
(End)