Volume 1 Chapter 9: The Last Wish of the Master

After speaking, he placed the incense stick into the burner, his gaze settling on an antique key resting before the ancestral tablet.

“Master, please bless me to succeed in my cultivation soon, so as not to disappoint your expectations.”

He picked up the key and slowly opened the wooden box. Inside lay a dragon-patterned sheepskin pouch.

Opening the pouch, he found eighteen long needles—nine made of gold and nine of silver—each intricately engraved with a lifelike flying dragon.

These were the legendary Five Mysteries Eighteen Needles, a treasure he had long dreamed of possessing.

In one corner of the box sat a small black case and an ancient blue-bound book titled The Five Mysteries Jade Purity Manual.

The moment he picked up the book, he recognized the ancient script and felt a surge of excitement.

He flipped through it briefly but found the text obscure and difficult to comprehend. Carefully, he returned the book to its place and turned his attention to the small case.

Just then, an elderly man appeared, carrying a box.

“Uncle Yan, long time no see.”

This man, Uncle Yan, had been his master’s personal attendant. Since his master’s passing, he had guarded this old manor.

Uncle Yan grunted in acknowledgment and then pointed toward the adjacent wooden box.

Fang Tao opened it to find a letter addressed “To Fang Tao, personally.” His heart raced as he took a deep breath and carefully extracted the letter.

The contents shocked him: “Fang Tao, your fate with the Wang family has come to an end. From this day forward, you will inherit my legacy…”

Reading further, he realized his master had known all along that he could only remain with the Wang family for three years before being expelled.

The letter revealed many startling truths: “I know you have many questions. If you seek answers, come to Spirit Island on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. Everything will then be revealed.

Also, to raise you, I borrowed money from the island lord of Spirit Island. Don’t forget to repay it when you go.”

The more Fang Tao read, the more incredulous he became, especially when he found several IOUs tucked in the envelope.

“Ten billion?” He pulled out one, dumbfounded by the amount.

There was more than one, each sum large enough to make anyone faint.

“Master, how much milk did you drink to spend this much money?” He clutched the IOUs, despair weighing heavily on his heart.

He then opened the lower compartment of the small case, where an ancient, mysterious aura washed over him.

Inside the dust-covered box lay a gleaming black ring. Its material was unknown, exuding an indescribable eerie energy.

Squinting, Fang Tao carefully examined the ring when suddenly a calm, firm voice thundered behind him: “Wear it, and you become Lord Wu.”

Not startled, Fang Tao didn’t even turn. He saw a man of about fifty, sporting a short beard, graying hair, and a slightly stout build, standing there with cold, steady eyes fixed on him.

“Lord Wu?” Fang Tao’s heart skipped a beat, his eyes filled with confusion.

“Uncle Yan, what is this?” he asked, holding up the ring with a puzzled look.

“This ring signifies the leader of the Five Mysteries Sect. In the martial world, the leader is known as Lord Wu.”

Fang Tao was stunned, unable to close his mouth in surprise. He had only known his master as Master Tianyang and had never heard of this other identity.

Uncle Yan stepped forward and respectfully bowed. “This was your master’s final wish. Please wear the ring.”

Though filled with questions, Fang Tao obeyed his master’s last command and slid the ring onto the ring finger of his left hand.

Strangely, the seemingly heavy ring fit his finger perfectly, as if tailor-made for him.

On its jet-black surface, golden flashes occasionally shimmered, resembling a golden dragon coiling upon it.

Uncle Yan knelt with a thud, face full of reverence. “Congratulations, Lord Wu. You are now the seventeenth leader of the Five Mysteries Sect. I am now your servant. Whatever you command, just say the word.”

Fang Tao hastened to help him up, curiosity brimming. “Uncle Yan, what kind of sect is the Five Mysteries Sect?”

Uncle Yan paused for a moment, his expression solemn, then slowly explained, “The Five Mysteries Sect commands all the world’s extraordinary arts—medicine, martial arts, mysticism, Daoist practices, and various skills. It is the supreme existence!”

Looking at his finger, Fang Tao felt as if struck by lightning and murmured, “So that’s how powerful Master was!” Then he asked, “Why did no one ever call him Lord Wu?”

“Only important members of the sect know the identity of Lord Wu. Even after inheriting the position, you cannot reveal yourself lightly—that is sect law,” Uncle Yan explained.

Fang Tao frowned in thought. “So mysterious… Could it be to hide from some enemy?”

No wonder his master never mentioned this before; the sect’s rules were so strict.

Yet, despite being the leader, his master had seemed unassuming—aside from his superb medical skills and solid martial arts, nothing else seemed extraordinary.

Uncle Yan said nothing further, standing silently.

At that moment, a woman’s voice called from outside: “Is Doctor Fang here?”

Hearing this, Uncle Yan frowned and glanced toward the door.

Fang Tao quickly locked the wooden box, lifted it, and went outside.

At the courtyard gate stood a girl of about twenty, dressed in a simple white gown, looking fresh and clean like a student, though her face was full of anxiety.

“What’s the matter?” Fang Tao asked.

Upon seeing him, the girl’s eyes brightened with surprise. “Are you Doctor Fang?”

“Yes, my surname is Fang,” he replied calmly.

“My name is Gu Qingshuang. My grandfather is seriously ill, and my third uncle sent me to ask you to come see him…”

Fang Tao abruptly interrupted, “Who is this third uncle you mentioned?”

Gu Qingshuang smiled, revealing two cute little tiger teeth. “He is my third uncle, Gu Yuanqin. Do you know him?”

Fang Tao shook his head. “I don’t remember. I have treated so many people, I can’t recall them all.”

Gu Qingshuang hesitated briefly, then explained simply, “He is the commander of the provincial defense battalion. He said you treated his injuries before, so he sent me.”

Fang Tao still shook his head but suddenly recalled the IOUs left by his master and asked, “Is there a fee for treating injuries?”

Gu Qingshuang quickly nodded, and Fang Tao pretended to ponder. “Alright, I’ll go with you.”