“Greetings to the Cult Master, Azure Dragon Hall has a highly urgent secret order to report–”
The purple guard rushed in holding the Holy Cult’s token and knelt on one knee. He was about to eagerly report the happenings under the cliff to his Cult Master when half-way through he had to halt and his eyes looked strangely at the two people within the room. Yang Lianting was kneeling on the floor seriously injured. Noticing his unstable breath and the condition of his injury, the purple guard could determine in a glance that his injury was caused by the divine martial arts the Cult Master cultivated.
Dongfang Bubai stood not too far away from Yang Lianting. Faintly frowning, expression cold and gloomy. The purple guard could not see through the Cult Master’s thoughts.
The purple guard could not avoid feeling shocked. He feared that he too might provoke the Cult Master’s displeasure and end up like Yang Lianting, so he remained kneeling on the floor and lowered his head. Silently sighing. On Blackwood Cliff the wind blew the strongest and Yang Lianting was caught in the midst of the storm.[12] Nearly everyone on the cliff knew that the Cult Master had favored him recently. He had risen from a minor handyman to a yellow guard, then to the Cult Master’s personal guard. His promotions had been so quick, most could hardly believe it and speculated how long he could remain in favor. Today, it seemed, the Cult Master’s displeasure had finally been provoked and his wrath incurred.
Once someone abruptly stormed into his chambers Dongfang Bubai wanted to vent his rage but seeing the cult’s token held by the purple guard he suppressed his anger. A glint in his eyes, he briefly glanced at Yang Lianting who still knelt on the wet floor. Noticing the complex feelings in his heart, he smiled wryly yet maintained a frigid expression. Acting as if nothing were wrong, he questioned the guard, “Speak.”
“Azure Dragon Hall’s urgent–”
Before the purple guard replied he abruptly halted, hesitated and frowned. Staring at Yang Lianting without saying a word. He carried a secret report of the Holy Cult, while Yang Lianting was part of Blackwood Cliff, precautious still needed to be taken during this critical period.
Dongfang Bubai pursed his lips and was about to speak when Yang Lianting stood up by supporting himself against the wall. Dongfang’s palm strike really hurt. He gritted his teeth to endure the pain that seemed to break apart his whole body yet his heart could not help but soften. His wife[13] just lost his temper, outsiders may not understand yet he understood.
“This Subordinate shall take his leave.”
Yang Lianting rubbed his aching chest, preparing to leave he took the medicinal wine jug and the broken pieces with him. Not speaking, Dongfang Bubai pursed his thin lips and watched his actions. Only after Yang Lianting walked out the doors and was about to disappear from sight did Dongfang Bubai clench his fist and speak up.
“Leave this Seat’s wine.”
Yang Lianting came to an abrupt halt, his lips curving into a smile little by little. He turned around, respectfully responded to him, placed the wine jug back on the bedside table, and then took his leave. Quickly, he raised his head and quietly glanced at him. Cult Master Dongfang still maintained his alienating expression that was as cold as ice. Yang Lianting sighed lightly in his heart and smiled, This person in red speaks harshly but his heart’s soft. Clearly, his face appeared frigid yet his earlobes were likely red. Yang Lianting grinned, rubbed his aching chest, and withdrew in a good mood.
The undercurrents surging between the two were only known to the two of them.
The purple guard simply assumed that Guard Yang had fallen out of the unpredictable Cult Master’s favor. Initially, he entered the Cult Master’s chambers to report that the Azure Dragon Hall had repeatedly received intelligence on the so-called Righteous Path of the Jianghu. One by one, the sects united and planned to hold a general assembly to forcibly suppress their Holy Cult. The Sun Moon Holy Cult dominated the Wulin and their Cult Master was the world’s number one martial artist. But if the so-called righteous sects united, the Holy Cult would still be affected. Such a major matter he naturally did not dare fail to report.
After sending the purple guard away Dongfang Bubai swiftly summoned several reputed and trustworthy elders, among them Hall Master Tong Baixiong and Incense Master Sang Sanniang[14] of the Wind and Thunder Hall.
It was deep into the night, once they finished discussing the specific measures that urgently needed to be implemented before the sects made a move. Dongfang Bubai did not truly care about the hypocrites of the Righteous Path forming an alliance, but he had to shoulder the heavy responsibility of leading the Holy Cult to greater heights.[15] Sighing slightly, he was about to drink the tea that had been offered by his maid upon his order when his sight swept over the medicinal wine Yang Lianting had brought over.
Pursing his lips, he stretched out his hand, and reached out.
Already cold.
Dongfang Bubai recalled the first sip’s odd taste and frowned faintly. He wanted to place it back when his hand halted, he tilted his head and took a second sip.
It tasted neither bitter nor irritating.
Despite having cooled, after the wine ran down his throat, the strong alcohol warmed, burnt his yin qi that usually chilled him to the bone.
Insight[16] struck him.
Intending to improve his martial arts, Dongfang Bubai waved his hand and announced his intention to retreat into seclusion to the Elders present. He then headed up the other side of the cliff range. He estimated that his seclusion should not take too long, maybe half a month at most. The unification of the Righteous Path may be an important matter, but he had just deliberated the Sun Moon Holy Cult’s next course of action with his trusted senior cultists and there would be someone presiding over Blackwood Cliff’s general affairs as well. He could wholeheartedly focus on further improving his martial arts.
Dongfang Bubai had always been obsessed with martial arts, yet the moment he stepped into the cavern dug into the cliffside he suddenly thought of Yang Lianting without knowing why and froze.
Hesitation and confusion, indiscernible feelings in his heart.
“Cult Master, do you have any orders?” Noticing his pause, Sang Sanniang who saw him off could not help but ask. Hearing her ask, Dongfang Bubai snapped out of his trance, coughed and shook his head in response. Then turned around and entered the stone cavern.
The Cult Master retreated into seclusion for half a month. A few days later, Yang Lianting went to Dongfang Bubai’s doors but the maid on duty stated that the Cult Master had left and gone into seclusion, no one was allowed to disturb him. In his past life Dongfang Bubai had done this many times, so Yang Lianting was accustomed to his actions.
He did feel a little disappointed but did not think more.
However, once this scene was seen by outsiders it took on an extremely different meaning. As expected Guard Yang’s flattery did not result in benefits and instead offended the Cult Master. The Holy Cult had a vast congregation; some wanted to watch a good show, some gloated at his misfortune, and some simply minded their own business. Of course, what they truly thought was only known to their hearts.
In his past life, Yang Lianting had been skilled in instigating factional strife and kept an eye on the congregation’s opinion of him. In this life, Yang Lianting focused all his energy and spirit on Dongfang Bubai. He couldn't care less about what the cult’s members thought of him. But even if he did not look for trouble, trouble would find him.
One day.
The guards had trained and were eating their evening meal.
“I heard that those righteous sects are going to make a move against our Holy Cult?”
“What’re you afraid of? They’re a bunch of weak hypocrites, they wouldn’t even dare to provoke our mighty Sun Moon Holy Cult. Besides, we still have the Cult Master, the world’s fist, the unrivaled Invincible East! Take one good look at Zuo Lengchan[17] and his ilk, and you’ll know they wouldn’t dare to compete with our Cult Master.”
“Hahaha, that’s right.”
“By the way, didn’t the Cult Master go into seclusion again recently? He’s so strong already, who knows how powerful he’ll be once he improves his martial arts.”
“If I were just half, no, a tenth as powerful as the Cult Master that’d be great, hahaha.”
“Forget one tenth, if we properly train for a few more years we might be able to gain the Cult Master’s approval one day.”
“How could it be so easy? Don’t you know, the Cult Master’s temper…” Once this topic was mentioned they all quieted down. Dongfang Bubai was moody and unpredictable, the guards could not remember exactly how many cultists he had killed in the past few years.
“Hey, where’s that Yang Lianting?” A yellow guard abruptly asked with a gloating sneer.
“He tried his best to flatter the Cult Master, but a couple days ago I heard from a Brother in the Purple Guard that he actually offended the Cult Master and was even smacked straight out the room.”
“Hahahaha.”
The whole dinner hall was filled with laughter.
Yang Lianting originally sat in the corner and silently ate his meal, but hearing a guard mention him he paused and could not avoid sighing. He stayed silent, as if he had not heard anything.
“He really doesn’t know his place. How could a little guard dare to please the immortal-like Cult Master?”
The group of Jianghu brutes laughed loudly and chatted with each other without inhibitions. A different guard grinned, saying meaningfully, “But our Cult Master sure is good-looking.”
“Right? I had the courage to look up and peek during the last liturgy,[18] who would’ve thought the Cult Master’s this beautiful?”
“Some of my old Brothers let slip that during the Former Cult Master’s reign he was merely handsome, but now he looks even better than before.”
Hearing them speak, Yang Lianting who still sat in the corner felt unhappy. He frowned, clenched his fists, and suppressed his surging anger. Seeing them gather together and listening to them lower their voices and laugh in a tone that all men understood he immediately paid close attention to these unfamiliar guards.
“Say, if there’s a male prostitute[19] as good-looking as the Cult Master, I bet he’d taste better than the Sisters from the brothel.”
“Now that you’ve said not to think about it, I’ve imagined it and the old one’s burning up.”
“You guys–”
Bang–
Before the group could finish speaking, they suddenly heard the sound of a wine jug being smashed and everyone’s attention shifted immediately.
Yang Lianting moved his hand.
Using his entire strength he smashed the wine jug on the man who had brought up the topic. Instantly fresh blood poured down his head, looking hideous and appalling.
Yang Lianting panted heavily.
His pitch-black eyes were bloodshot red, dark and terrifying, lacking their usual low-key gentle and polite look. Grasping the sharp fragments of the wine jug in his hand, he fiercely stared at the guard who had just spoken.
“What did you say? Repeat it for me, your father!”