Chapter 43

Tang Wanqiu isn’t a sheltered lady who never gets out of her home. Before this round of Lecture Hall starts, she has travelled the world alone for many years. She has already heard about Bai Ji’s notorious deeds. The tribe of this old fox has good skills with animal manipulation, and keeps giant fish. In West Taiqing, they are the de facto ruler. He is old but indecent, marrying many beautiful cultivators and producing a score of children.

There is a saying that there is quality over quantity. No one among Bai Ji’s children amounted to anything. They either suddenly died, or had poor cultivation level and a corresponding short life span. None of them lived longer than their cursed turtle of a father. Furthermore, all these years he has never made the effort to help anyone of them.

Yet he is crying for his grandson as if from real grief!

He doesn’t care about the tree, now he wants to care about the fruit?

Anger bubbling on her lips, Tang Wanqiu is about to speak up again, but the lord of the island waves his hand and stops her from causing more troubles.

The lord of the island says politely, “My subordinate is still young and impulsive. Please forgive her. Let’s focus on finding your grandson. The name of everyone who attends this term of Lecture Hall is in this list. Your grandson indeed never enrolled in Lecture Hall. Or maybe he was curious, but then left because he didn’t like the techniques taught on this island. In any case, if he was here, then someone must have met him. Lord Bai, if you have his portrait, I can send my disciples to ask around on the island.”

Hearing that, Yan Zhengming has to admire the generosity of the lord of the island. Assuming the post of sect leader out of the blue, he regularly treats other people in an unsatisfactory manner, then regrets it later. He holds Cheng Qian’s wrist while listening to what’s going on, and says at a whims, “If someone took a big worm to cause trouble in the lake behind our mountain, I wouldn’t bother to talk. I’d just fight and chase that one away and that’s that. Helping to find lost person would be out of question.”

As if he didn’t hear the ruefulness and self-reflection in Yan Zhengming’s words, Cheng Qian agrees, “Should fight.”

Yan Zhengming glares at him. They regularly absorb spiritual energy and reinforce their meridians, so they all know how meridians work to some extent. He has realised that besides the external injury, Cheng Qian has sustained some internal injury without apparent reason. Therefore he angrily slaps at Cheng Qian’s back and reprimands. “Why don’t you concentrate on healing yourself instead of talking nonsense?”

Cheng Qian: “…”

Where is Yan Zhengming’s heart? Cheng Qian just said a couple of words.

However, before he can talk back, a flow of warm energy enters his body from Yan Zhengming’s hand on his back, pouring into his limbs and organs and gently circulating around. Cheng Qian can’t help closing his eyes, but with his adolescent temperament, he is unwilling to admit that it feels good to be cared for by his most senior brother. He only mutters, “Fussy.”

Even so, he finally loosens the hand that has been tightly clutching Shuang Ren the whole way. Withdrawing into himself, he recites the Scripture of Serenity.

As the saying goes, one cannot hit a person who is smiling to you, not to mention that smiling person is the lord of the island. Whether Bai Ji is here really because of his grandson or he has another agenda, it’d look bad if he overdoes it. He can’t help toning down his arrogance, and says courteously, if rather reluctantly, “That’s right, please forgive me. I’ve lost all of my children. There is only this worthless grandson left. It’s…”

Maintaining his unique sorrowful smile, the lord of the island shakes his head and generously says, “That’s normal. Please give us the portrait of your grandson for my disciples to ask around. If you don’t mind, please stay here. We’re testing the skills of our talentless disciples. If you could spare the time to give them some pointers, that’d be their fortune.”

Even if Bai Ji weren’t the venerable lord of the Western Palace but a raging donkey, he’d be soothed by these words of the lord of the island.

Bai Ji hangs his head, his eyes glancing back and forth. As the lord of the island changes the subject, he can’t help feeling a little anxious. Lord Bai of the Western Palace’s health is precious. He doesn’t go all the way to the Eastern Sea for the sake of the grandchild, whose very name he needs a while to recall.

Even if Cheng Qian is closing his eyes while healing himself, he hears everything. His habit is to look at the trace that is left behind, and then think the worst of it. Several ideas already formed in his head, he muses, “This can’t end that easily. Otherwise, why would the lord send someone to lead us away as soon as disorder broke out on the island?”

What has the lord of the island discovered? Who is that shady Zhou Hanzheng? Were those masked figures his underlings? Why didn’t the lord of the island find an excuse and finish off Zhou Hanzheng?

And why did Tang Wanqiu warn them not to mention Fuyao Sect once they got outside?

Why did Xue Qing…

As soon as he thinks of Xue Qing, unrest roars in Cheng Qian’s heart like ferocious sea waves. Yan Zhengming, who has been helping him in the healing process, can sense that. As he sees that Cheng Qian’s face suddenly pales, he can’t keep a cold face anymore out of fear about complications of the internal injury. He hastily gathers Cheng Qian in his arms and asks in a low voice, “Xiao-Qian, what’s wrong?”

Cheng Qian feels very anxious, but he instinctively feels that this is not a good time to discuss sect affairs. So he swallows everything in, and, suppressing his feelings, he replies quietly. “I’ll tell you when we’re back.”

At his point, under the urging of the lord of the island, Bai Ji has no other choice than to point at the sky. A gust of thin white smoke flies from his fingertip. Afterwards, a life-size image of a young man appears in the air. The face of that young man is vague as it floats in the sky. The eyes keep getting bigger then smaller. In short, the image doesn’t look that much like a real person. It’s likely that Bai Ji doesn’t even remember the looks of his ‘precious grandson’.

Feeling rather awkward, Bai Ji tries to press on. “This is my useless grandson. If you’ve seen him recently, please tell me.”

The lord of the island glances at Tang Wanqiu. Tang Wanqiu looks closely at the image of that young man, then shakes her head with a serious face.

The lord of the island says, “Fine, tomorrow the portrait of young Bai Daoyu will be shown at the tournament, for our disciples as well as our rogue cultivator friends to see. It’s late already. Time for our guests to rest.”

Seeing that the night attack of Western Palace has become a giant wet cracker, the disciples are about to put their weapons away.

At this point, events take an unexpected turn.

A shadow suddenly runs forward straight into Bai Ji and is forced away by Bai Ji’s powerful spiritual energy, his back smashing into a great tree. That person doesn’t wear the white robe of the disciples of Azure Dragon Island, so he seems to be a rogue cultivator, whose cultivation level isn’t that high. After that fall which took away half of his life, he crawls to Bai Ji, leaving blood in his steps. “Please save me, my lord! Lord Bai, I recognise the young master!”

Everyone is stunned by these words. With the portrait given by Bai Ji, even the person’s mother might not recognise him, not to mention an outsider.

As Bai Ji just used his missing grandson as an excuse, he is temporarily surprised too. Then he quickly withdraws his aura and orders his subordinates to help that rogue cultivator stand up. He himself steps forward two steps, pretending to happily seize that man’s hand. “What, what did you say? You’ve met Yanli?”

In the presence of everyone, that rogue cultivator doesn’t seem to bother about his manly honour. He prostrates on the ground and cries. “Brother Bai has met his end. It’ll be my turn soon!”

The lines on the lord of the island’s forehead get deeper. He steps forward a little and says, “What is your name? Are you attending Lecture Hall too? No need to rush, let me have someone heal your wounds first.”

Before he can finish, the rogue cultivator acts terrified. He hastily hides behind Bai Ji and keeps pleading. “Save me, Lord Bai.”

It’s obvious he considers the lord of the island some sort of predators.

Bai Ji doesn’t really fully grasp what is going on yet, but sensing something, he goes with the flow and says loudly. “What happened? Speak freely.”

His legs shaking to the point that he seemingly can’t stand properly, that rogue cultivator has been hiding among the disciples of the Western Palace. Being asked, he shakily says, “We discovered that someone on this island has been practicing the ghost path and consuming souls. That villain preys on rootless rogue cultivators like us. Brother Bai told me in secret that we had to investigate this to the end, and report to the lord of the island. What happened was... He was sucked into the Soul Consuming Lamp of that demonic cultivator.”

Without an extraordinary cultivation level and a rarely seen determination, how long can a normal soul resist the consumption process? Furthermore, once consumed, the soul won’t be able to reincarnate again, and will become the puppet of another hand. Even moving onto another life is impossible. All that person can do is to wait until turning into dust. Hearing this, Bai Ji finally feels a vague sense of familial grief, and is genuinely stunned.

In the alarmed noise of the crowd, Tang Wanqiu has gotten to the front and shouts, “Who do you say that demonic cultivator is?”

Her shout can shake the heaven and earth. Letting out a terrified cry, that rogue cultivator falls down with his bottom first onto the ground and nearly becomes an upside-down onion. He keeps squirming in the dirt and babbles. “Don’t kill me, Lord Gu, don’t kill me… Save me, Lord Bai!”

This line has too many implications. Even if Tang Wanqiu were dumber than she really is, she would get it. She immediately raises her hackles. “You imply the lord of the island is that demonic cultivator who has been stealing souls? Insolent liar!”

However, except for her, no one dares to speak out so certainly. Before the disciples say anything, the rogue cultivators from outside Azure Dragon Island are already anxiously discuss with each other. Isn’t it the case that a thick infernal aura often surrounds a practitioner of the ghost path? In that light, the unhealthy looks and depressed face of the lord of the island is indeed a little… No wonder he is regularly in seclusion!

They recall that, when the celestial market opened, didn’t the visiting cultivators encounter a powerful practitioner of the ghost path when they crossed the Eastern Sea?

Even among demonic cultivators, a practitioner of the ghost path is the exceptionally cruel type, who would appear maybe only once in a lifetime. How can it be such a coincidence that they encountered one on the way to the celestial market?

If that powerful demonic cultivator appears around here, maybe he is a friend of someone powerful on the island, or even a form of someone powerful.

Tang Wanqiu can’t stand it anymore. “What even are you useless bunch? Even if the lord wanted to cultivate using souls, would he care for those with low cultivation level like you? Wouldn’t it be more useful to take my soul?”

As soon as she says that, the whisperings subside. What Tang Wanqiu says makes sense. With the power of the lord of Azure Dragon Island, it’d be easy to capture cultivators who have formed a primordial mind. There is no need for him to use a bunch of rogue cultivators, whose cultivation level is so low that they can’t even do qi absorption yet.

Tang Wanqiu isn’t good with words, but it doesn’t mean she is unintelligent. She immediately tries to defend the lord of the island. “You brat, do you dare to give your name? Who are you? What evidence do you have that there is a practitioner of the ghost path on the island? The Lecture Hall opens every ten days. Everyone knows someone there. How can no one notice that someone is missing? Who sends you here to smear Lord Gu? Speak!”

People with some sharpness can sense a conspiracy at this point.

As Cheng Qian already has a bad feeling, he decisively pushes aside all distractions, and seizes the time to heal himself. He doesn’t heed the noise around him, going into a meditative trance as soon as he wants to. Yan Zhengming has to quietly watch over him.

He only wishes Cheng Qian isn’t injured and bleeding. Looking at the blood-smeared face of his disciple brother, which is even more jade-like because of the paleness, Yan Zhengming has the illusion that Cheng Qian is made of iron.

That rogue cultivator evasively cries. “My cultivation level is like a worm’s. If not for desperation, how dare I touch the lord of Azure Dragon Island? Do I look that bored of living yet? The likes of you are powerful and have made a name for yourselves. Your disappearance would be noticed. But who would care about the lives of us rootless rogue cultivators?”

Tang Wanqiu looks like she is about to stab him into a beehive. “Damn you, it’s a unilateral accusation. What evidence is there?”

The rogue cultivator says, “Of course! Brother Bai said he coincidentally saw a ghostly image near the place the lord of the island went into seclusion. The Soul Consuming Lamp must be there!”

The crowd make an ooh sound.

They have never heard something like this. However, this evidence is as good as useless.

Whether the Soul Consuming Lamp exists or not, the lord of Azure Dragon Island can’t let outsiders search his cave where he secludes himself for cultivation.

After all, he is the teacher of the world and Chief of the Four Sages!

Even if Bai Ji were any less wise, he wouldn’t dare demand searching the cultivational cave of the lord of the island to his face. How can such an act be allowed?

At this point, someone laughs and says loudly, “How can this fellow say such words? Are you trying to incite people on Azure Dragon Island to rebel?”

Everyone turns and sees Zhou Hanzheng lead those masked figures like a flock of crows forward. It wasn’t clear when they flew with swords on the sky, but once they are on land, it can be seen that they keep an orderly formation, and don’t look very different from each other.

Watching from the outside, Yan Zhengming suddenly remembers that, back then at Lecture Hall, Zhou Hanzheng tried to talk Cheng Qian into “join his sect” - Yan Zhengming can’t help speculating. What is the background of this Zhou guy? What sect does he belong to?

Zhou Hanzheng waves his arm. All of the masked figures behind him orderly stand back; none among them makes a redundant step.

Opening the fan and waving it, he says, “This Zhou has received so many favours from the lord of this island, and worked as a guardian here for so many years, so I have to try and defend him. To identify a practitioner of the ghost path, it isn’t necessary to find his Soul-Consuming Lamp. Someone who practices the ghost path doesn’t have a clean soul. All we have to do is to borrow the Soul Mirror and check. My lord’s honour is like a cloudless sky. How can he be involved with such monstrous practices?”

Bai Ji doubtfully looks at this shit-stirrer Zhou Hanzheng, uncertain what his background is. When that strange cultivator appeared, the geezer already sensed that there was another force on the island. He immediately takes caution and says, “As far as I know, there is only one Soul Mirror in this world, which is hung at the Great Hall in the Imperial Palace. You want us to barge into there?”

Zhou Hanzheng smiles. “Lord Bai really hasn’t followed what is going on in the world. The Soul Mirror was granted to Celestial Divination Bureau by the previous Emperor. What a coincident. As a powerful demon of the ghost path appeared around the time of the previous celestial market, I have brought the mirror with me just in case.”

This line is like adding water to boiling oil. Even Tang Wanqiu is startled. “What, you work for the Celestial Divination Bureau?”

The lord of the island doesn’t say anything. It’s likely that he has guessed part of the truth already at the secret dock, when Zhou Hanzheng betrayed him. He just keeps his sentiments under control and doesn’t let the juniors know.

The Celestial Divination Bureau is part of the current dynasty’s Imperial Supervision Department. They are part of the mortal imperial government. Nominally, they manage the affairs of the ‘Immortals,’ but in reality, they can’t control anyone. Obviously, the Celestial Divination Bureau recruits cultivators to work for them, but most cultivators think of them as part of another world.

Many people would go through their lives until their death or ascension without meeting a living official of the Celestial Divination Bureau

Zhou Hanzheng says without much care, “Ah, it’s just a lowly position. Unlike those of you who are from a good background, I don’t have a sect to back me, so I rely on this empty title to make a living.”

The rogue cultivator, who has been miserably hiding behind the group from the Western Palace, clasps his hands and says to Zhou Hanzheng, “Left Guardian, you’re an honourable person. If you too don’t distinguish between good and bad, I should resign to my fate.”

He tries to keep his back straight; there is a kind of sorrowful courage in his words. Zhou Hanzheng glances at him, then without a word, raises his hand. Understanding his order, a masked figure goes forward and brings a small package. Inside the package is a bronze mirror in the old style. The edges of the mirror have been much worn; even the surface is rather dirty.

Zhou Hanzheng makes the hand sign and says softly, “Up.”

That bronze mirror flies into the sky and rotates slowly then lands on the head of the targeted person. The mirror reflects the moonlight, which shines on Zhou Hanzheng’s head and makes his shadow appear on the ground.

It’s no different from a normal shadow.

Glancing at his shadow, Zhou Hanzheng smiles. “Looks like I have all of my souls about me. My spirit is healthy. All’s well.”

Yan Zhengming’s heart beats like crazy. He doesn’t know what role Zhou Hanzheng is playing, but he is aware that the latter seems to be helping Azure Dragon Island on the surface, but is actually backstabbing its lord.

There’re three thousand paths of demonic cultivation. The ghost path is incredibly cruel, the lowest among the low. Could the lord of Azure Dragon Island take that path?

If this was like before, Yan Zhengming wouldn’t believe that even if he were beaten to death. However, as he sees that the lord of the island doesn’t say anything after the accusation of that rogue cultivator, he can’t help feeling anxious.

When he met Jiang Peng, he really was too young, so the impression was etched deeply into his mind. His disgust for practitioners of the ghost path is instinctive. The lord of the island has given shelter and protection for his sect all these years. If the lord really is...

Yan Zhengming tilts his head and looks at the lord of the island, completely at a loss about what to think.

He glances at Cheng Qian. The brat seems oblivious with everything around him, his concentration is off the charts. Yan Zhengming can’t help but feel some admiration.

Before the lord of the island even says anything, voices already rise from all directions. Yan Zhengming raises his head and looks at the soul inspection mirror that seemingly pierces through everything. A thought suddenly comes to his mind. Wenya Zhenren once said, Fuyao Sect breeds monsters every generation. What if someone of his generation carelessly gets into the wrong path?

As soon as this thought emerges, it stabs Yan Zhengming’s heart, making him feel like he chokes on a bone. His gaze sweeps through Li Yun, Han Yuan, and Puddle. Li Yun is both smart and careful, careful to the point of rather cowardly. He isn’t the type that gets out of bounds. Han Yuan cares about gossips on the streets more than his own cultivation. Puddle… Well, though she is still young, it can be seen that she is the carefree sort.

Finally, he can’t help fixing his eyes on Cheng Qian.

There is a smear of blood that lingers on Cheng Qian’s face, which seems incredibly still in his meditation.

Just thinking of this hypothetical scenario makes Yan Zhengming’s heart constrict. He stares at Cheng Qian for a while, feeling lost. Then, this sect leader, who has never been certain about anything in his life, silently makes a plan in his heart. What use is it to think about this? Even if Xiao-Qian turns out like that in the future, no matter what happens, I won’t hurt him. When push comes to shove, I’ll hide him away.