Chapter 49: Master of the Flying Skull Pavilion

Far away, a villain named Zheng Fulu rode in a carriage, leading eight mounted disciples as he entered the Dabie Mountains.

Deep within the mountains lay an assassin organization known as the Sorrowless Pavilion, which kept numerous demons and practiced the trade of killing for money. The master of the pavilion, Flying Skull, was an even more bizarre figure whose background remained unknown to the martial arts world. People only knew that he was a head—yes, just a head, with no torso.

To harm someone, the villain Zheng Fulu had traveled thousands of miles to this place to hire assassins. He had not washed or rinsed for several days; his face was filthy, his feet smelled, and the non-stop journey had exhausted him completely.

Upon reaching a stone memorial archway, he was guarded by an eight-legged demon. The demon's hair was quite distinctive: bald and shiny on top, surrounded by thick, lush blue hair.

Zheng Fulu got down from the carriage, presented a silver ingot to the demon, and smiled as he said, "I am Zheng Fulu, master of the Azure Dragon Guild. I have come to pay my respects to Pavilion Master Flying Skull regarding a matter of great importance."

The eight-legged demon said, "Our pavilion master is not here; he has gone hunting. He probably won't be back for a few days!"

Zheng Fulu produced another silver ingot, offered it with both hands, and pleaded, "I do not know your esteemed name. Might I trouble you to find a place for us to stay and rest?"

The eight-legged demon introduced himself, saying, "My name is Zhu Changfa. There is a place to stay, but it is very expensive—one hundred taels of silver for a single night."

Lodging was a major expense, but Zheng Fulu took out a bank note and said, "Brother Zhu, this is the lodging fee for ten days. Please accept it. I shall only stay for one night, and meet the pavilion master tomorrow. You may use the extra money to buy wine."

Zhu Changfa said, "Seeing that you have traveled thousands of miles to reach this place, you are somewhat pitiable. Follow me."

Zheng Fulu followed him along a rugged and steep path, arriving at a crude shed. Inside the shed stood a large table covered in dust, a filthy large teapot, and an open-air stove that looked as though it had been abandoned for a long time. Fortunately, the shed was sheltered from the wind and faced the sun, making it fairly comfortable. Zhu Changfa then said, "You all rest your feet here for now. I will go have a look at the Sorrowless Pavilion's estate. If the pavilion master returns early, you won't have to suffer here."

Zheng Fulu did not dare to show his displeasure. Although his expression was unhappy, he held back his temper and spoke courteously, "Thank you for the trouble, Brother Zhu."

After Zhu Changfa left, some of Zheng's disciples felt a sense of injustice and cursed loudly, "Master, this is no inn at all; it's clearly an abandoned shed. Have we been scammed?"

Zheng Fulu said, "Do not speak nonsense. Guo San, Zhao Si, follow behind Brother Zhu and protect him secretly. In these wild mountains, it is inevitable that beasts roam. Chen Long, Zhang Rui, go find some firewood."

Having assigned tasks to his disciples, Zheng Fulu stepped down from the carriage and began to stretch his legs. As one grew older, no matter how good one's kung fu was, lumbar and leg pains were inevitable.

Guo San and Zhao Si followed Zhu Changfa from a distance, exercising extreme caution so as not to be exposed. After walking for about an hour, they passed a deep ravine bridged by a spiderweb. Zhu Changfa walked across it as if he were a spider. Guo San and Zhao Si dared not follow. Watching Zhu Changfa step onto the silken web and disappear into the barren mountains on the other side, the two looked at each other in dismay.

Guo San said, "We've lost track of the demon. What are we going to tell Master when we get back?"

Zhao Si said, "Tell the truth and let Master handle it himself."

Guo San walked to the edge of the cliff and kicked a loose stone down. The stone fell into the valley without a sound. Looking down, he discovered that below were intricate layers of spiderwebs, with an extremely large web suspended in the air, upon which sat a courtyard compound. A striking plaque on the main gate bore the inscription: Main Estate of the Sorrowless Pavilion.

Zhao Si said, "This must be the Sorrowless Pavilion!"

Guo San said, "If we go back and report this to Master, won't that be a meritorious service?"

Having made this new discovery, the two turned to leave, but their ankles were suddenly snared by two threads crawling up from the bottom of the valley, dragging them down. The two let out alarmed cries of "Ah!" before plummeting downward.

Acting as if nothing had happened, Zhu Changfa walked back casually from the barren mountains on the other side to find Zheng Fulu.

Zheng Fulu had not waited for his disciples, but upon seeing Zhu Changfa again, he could only host him warmly and ask, "Brother Zhu, did you manage to see the pavilion master?"

Zhu Changfa said, "The pavilion master asked me to inquire about your business. Speak freely."

Zheng Fulu said, "I have made an enemy of the Demonic Cult, and I wish to spend some silver to hire the Sorrowless Pavilion to help me kill a demon."

Zhu Changfa asked again, "Kill whom?"

Zheng Fulu said, "The pig fiend Gao Daazhuang."

Zhu Changfa said, "If we kill a demon, it is equivalent to making an enemy of the Demonic Cult. Your calculation is quite shrewd."

Zheng Fulu held up one finger and said through clenched teeth, "I am willing to spend ten thousand taels of silver."

Hearing that there were ten thousand taels of silver, Zhu Changfa's eyes lit up. He said, "Wait here while I go report back to the pavilion master," and cautioned, "Do not let your disciples follow me. If other monsters catch them, they will eat them."

Zheng Fulu produced another bank note and handed it to Zhu Changfa, pleading, "Brother Zhu, I treat those two disciples as my own flesh and blood. Please do not harm their lives. I beg you to spare them."

"Rest assured, I will do my best." This time, Zhu Changfa's pace was brisk; without taking any detours, he came to the edge of the deep cliff and leaped straight down. His eight feet stepped across the successive layers of spiderwebs, leaping downward until he reached the main estate of the Sorrowless Pavilion to pay his respects to Pavilion Master Flying Skull.

Pavilion Master Flying Skull lived up to his name: he had no torso, only a head adhered to a large web. His hair was long and pliable. Two strands of his hair had entangled Guo San and Zhao Si. Their mouths were stuffed with hair, leaving them only able to utter incoherent murmurs. After struggling vainly for a long time, they suffocated and died.

Pavilion Master Flying Skull used his hair as feet, supporting his single head as he walked down from the spiderweb. He admired the corpses of the suffocated men and asked Zhu Changfa, "Which of these two bodies do you think looks better?"

Zhu Changfa pointed at Zhao Si's corpse and said, "This body is slender; the pavilion master can try this one."

Pavilion Master Flying Skull's hair was as sharp as a blade. He used a single strand to encircle Zhao Si's neck, slicing it directly into two sections. Zhao Si's head rolled to the ground, while Flying Skull's severed neck secreted a green slime that fused with the headless torso.

Zhu Changfa flattered, "Pavilion Master, truly formidable!"

Pavilion Master Flying Skull retorted, "Where did these two men come from?"

Zhu Changfa said, "Zheng Fulu, master of the Azure Dragon Guild, came to buy a life. These are his two disciples."

Pavilion Master Flying Skull asked again, "Whose life has he come to buy?"

Zhu Changfa said, "He wants to kill Yu Datou, one of the Seven Fiends of the Demonic Cult. He is offering a price of ten thousand taels of silver."

Pavilion Master Flying Skull said, "He wants to make us enemies of the Demonic Cult. He wants to make me an enemy of Shi Yuhuan."

Zhu Changfa asked, "Then shall we do it or not?"

Pavilion Master Flying Skull pondered for a moment and said, "Do it! The Azure Dragon Guild alone would never dare to confront the Demonic Cult. Behind the Azure Dragon Guild stands the Martial Arts Alliance, and Tiger Wang possesses something I desire. I will go with you and the Zhu brothers."

Zhu Changfa said, "The pavilion master is going as well?"

Pavilion Master Flying Skull said, "I am bored staying here anyway. I'll go out for a stroll."

Zhu Changfa said, "Then I shall go summon my brothers right now."

Pavilion Master Flying Skull instructed, "Be sure to call your sister Zhu Xiu along as well; her kung fu is better than yours."