Chapter 80

Everyone is quiet. Puddle picks up the card Wu Changtian left behind, muttering, “Tai Xing Congress on the fifteenth of the first month… Most senior brother, what is this for? Are we going?”

Yan Zhenming considers not replying.

Li Yun says, “Celestial Divination Bureau has been travelling day and night to deliver summon cards everywhere. They obviously want to let the whole world know about this gathering. If I were Han Yuan, I’d show up with my side and deal with it once and for all. This is an arrangement for a battle, isn’t it?”

The demonic cultivators of Nanjiang don’t follow any system or order. They wreak havoc everywhere and cause terrible hardship to civilians. The Celestial Divination Bureau doesn’t have enough power or charisma to unite people. If the two sides just keep fighting at whims like in the present, peace will never return. The best course of action is to find an empty place and gather everyone there for a fight to their heart’s content. Tai Xing is that place.

“If I were Han Yuan, I wouldn’t go to this noisy gathering,” Yan Zhengming says in a low voice, “I would take advantage of everyone being in Tai Xing, and go straight to the Capital to kill the Emperor and destroy the lair of the Celestial Divination Bureau. It’d be more convenient like that, wouldn’t it?”

Li Yun says, “There’s no way to know if what that Wu guy rambled was true or not, but I’ve heard some other news. Currently, there is definitely a conflict within the Celestial Divination Bureau. It looks like the original core of the Celestial Divination sect wants to separate from the imperial court. They don’t necessarily care if the Emperor is dead or alive.”

Then, sorrow clouds Li Yun’s face as he says, “Han Yuan… Oh man, he must be starting this great fight as a revenge against the Celestial Divination Bureau. But consequently he will have to bear the retribution for the damages caused by the Nanjiang demonic cultivators, won’t he?”

With a grave face, Yan Zhengming turns and says, “Send Zhe Shi a message that we’d like to find Han Yuan before the Celestial Divination Bureau.”

Cheng Qian, who has been quiet so far, suddenly speaks up, “I keep feeling that something is not right.”

Li Yun asks, “What?”

“There is a saying that ‘Compassion and honour emerge when the Way is lost. Deception appears when there is wit. Filial piety is formed when there is conflict in the family. Devoted officials become known when the nation falls in chaos’. The Celestial Divination Bureau claims to ‘maintain the Way in the name of the Heavens’, but doesn’t that course of action itself contradict the principle of ‘the Way lies in following the flows of nature’?” Cheng Qian frowns, “That kind of attitude is really out of sync with what our Master taught us. I can’t think of any reason why our Fuyao ancestors would sign this kind of oath with the Celestial Divination sect. There must be something else going on. Second Brother, I remember that when we lived on Azure Dragon Island, we found a chronicle of the island, which recorded many major events. Do we still have it?”

“Probably,” Li Yun says, “Back then, Zhe Shi was worried that what we brought from Fuyao Mountain and the books we copied and collected on Azure Dragon Island would get lost, so he brought them with him all the time. That’s how we still have those, even after our hasty escape from Azure Dragon Island. Have a look in the new Library Tower behind the bamboo grove.”

Hearting that, Cheng Qian immediately stands up. At the same time, he recalls what Ji Qianli told him. There are quite a few clues in the words of that weird geezer.

Following Li Yun’s direction, Cheng Qian goes to the bamboo grove and finds the reputed Library Tower.

Although this place is also called Library Tower, it can’t compare to the old nine-floor Library Tower where books from the whole world were collected. It is just a small building with two floors made from wood, which is so fragile that it looks like it is about to collapse.

The first floor stores the cultivation techniques Yan Zhengming and the others have collected from everywhere, which include both practices of the righteous path and shady tricks. Some of them were already incomplete at the time of purchase and got revised by Yan Zhengming or Li Yun into new sets of techniques.

The second floor has none other than the properties of Fuyao Sect. There are scriptures copied by Yan Zhengming, guides to the Fuyao Wooden Sword that were revised by Cheng Qian himself, as well as various books they brought with them when they left Fuyao Mountain. These books have been through many ups and downs. Although they all have protective spells on the covers to protect them from humidity and pests, the sorrowful mark of time can still be seen on the pages.

Cheng Qian longingly runs his fingers across the spines of the books. He has never missed Fuyao Mountain as much as that moment. Besides the ‘human’ lock, they are separated from home by the unknown dangers and the unaccountable conspiracies around the Demon Vanquishing Seal.

The chronicle of Azure Dragon Island has a distinctive mark, so Cheng Qian finds it quickly from the chaotic pile of books. Fuyao Sect hasn’t accepted any new disciple. With the current tiny group, all scriptures and records are tossed haphazardly here, which no one will touch if there is nothing they need to look up. As Cheng Qian pulls out the chronicle, several other books fall down in a cloud of dust.

Clicking his tongue, Cheng Qian bends down to pick up the books. He discovers that there are two copies of the Scripture of Serenity.

Who made the extra copy?

Cheng Qian picks up the books and dusts them off. The handwriting in one copy is delicate and graceful, which is likely Li Yun’s work. The writing on the copy of the other one is careless, like that of a child’s, with stick-like strokes. That’s definitely his most senior brother’s handwriting during the teenage years.

In his childhood, Cheng Qian took over the copying punishment for Yan Zhengming so many times that he could imitate his handwriting flawlessly. That’s why he can recognise whose work the book is with just a glance.

As he is feeling a bit upset, Cheng Qian opens the Scripture of Serenity copy in the bottom. He is startled to discover that there is another cover below the ‘scripture’ cover. On that cover, there is a picture of a person surrounded by fabulous flowers, who is flirtatiously holding a jade flute in hand and smiling at the reader. Next to the figure is a small line: “A Life of Elegant Pleasure”

Cheng Qian: “...”

What… What is this?!

After a moment of confusion, he opens the book as if possessed. The content of the fake Scripture of Serenity is full of variety, with both prose and verse along side illustrations. It tells a love story that happens in a brothel of the mortal world. A handsome scholar and a courtesan were intoxicated with love and made their vow, but ended up separating. It’s interspersed with songs, both delicate and crude. The storytelling is quite skillful and emotional. Some parts are even inspired.

The thing is, the illustrations are unimaginable. There is no restraint to them at all. They do not only show everything of the main characters without hiding anything, but only depict all kinds of intimate acts. It can be said that they are an excellent guide for the realm of “pursuing pleasures”.

One cannot look directly at those.

Cheng Qian flips through some pages. He can see that no illustration is repeated. Additionally, there are countless fantastical techniques of unknown origin. Compared to what is shown in these pictures, the demonic cultivators in Zhaoyang City were just some barbaric provincials!

Cheng Qian dares not look too closely. As he is about to close the book, he is reminded that his most senior brother disguised the outer cover as the Scripture of Serenity. A strange expression falls on his face.

Before he finishes processing how weirded out he feels, there is the sound of quick footsteps. Yan Zhengming quickly climbs up the stairs of the Library Tower as he asks, “Found anything yet?”

In his spot, Cheng Qian is so startled that his hands tremble. The fake Scripture of Serenity slips from his hands and falls on the ground, revealing a scene of some pleasurable undertaking.

Yan Zhengming: “…”

As the saying goes, this is like lightning striking from a clear sky. In this moment, Cheng Qian feels that heavenly tribulations can’t compare to this.

After a second of being at a loss, he seizes his chance. Pretending that nothing is wrong, he assumes a calm expression and moves to pick up the questionable book. However, it is snatched out of his hand.

Sect Leader Yan has been occupied with many serious businesses, so he has forgotten all of his adolescent bad habits. As soon as he sees the book, he can’t help his temper. His anger erupts, as he feels like someone defiled a pristine ground he had been protecting with all his might.

He swats away Cheng Qian’s hand and says angrily, “Where does this filth come from? Didn’t you say you want to find the chronicle of Azure Dragon Island? Why is this with you?”

Having no other choice, Cheng Qian weakly explains, “It fell down from the shelf.”

Yan Zhengming picks up the book. The pictures inside are an assault to his eyes. With an aggressive air, he asks, “Did you open it?”

Cheng Qian: “...”

Yan Zhengming’s breath shortens as his anger heats up even more. He scolds, “I thought you’d be less trouble than the other two. Now look at you! Why are you even reading this? Don’t you know that you still have some internal injury? Why don’t you concentrate and keep a calm mind for your healing instead of reading this kind of nonsense?”

The more he talks, the angrier he is. He taps Cheng Qian’s chest with the book with so much force that it is nearly torn. “Shameless!”

Cheng Qian doesn’t argue back. He doesn’t know what he should say either.

Yan Zhengming heatedly says, “If I knew which villain put this thing in our library tower, I will…”

Cheng Qian speaks up in a small voice, “Senior Brother, it was probably you…”

Yan Zhengming says, “…What?”

Cheng Qian delicately uses his fingers to turn the book that was nearly crushed by Yan Zhengming and points at the fake ‘Scripture of Serenity’ title.

Completely at a loss, Yan Zhengming stares fixedly at the three familiar characters.

Cheng Qian hastens to ‘show his understanding’. He says, “Senior Brother, it’s not a big deal. Back then you were still young and didn’t understand everything yet, I know.”

Before he finishes, he himself feels that it isn’t quite right. If Yan Zhengming already mixed this kind of stuff among the sect’s teachings when he was ‘still young’ and brought it out of Fuyao Mountain in secret with him on a long journey, then isn’t Cheng Qian implying him to be a rotten playboy from birth?

As expected, Yan Zhengming’s ears redden as his face goes through several shades. He snatches the fabulous picture book and turns away without a word.

Something moves in Cheng Qian’s heart. He leans on the railings. In the faint light of the protective spells against molds and pests, his usually apathetic face looks much softer.

“Most senior brother,” Cheng Qian calls out to Yan Zhengming and boldly asks, “Zhuang Nanxi told me that he liked a rogue cultivator, to the point that his feelings wouldn’t have changed even if she had been a mortal. When you were young, you once read these, uhm, old stories. Have there been such people who would ‘like that person despite a mortal’s short life’?”

The library tower is a bit dark. Half of Yan Zhengming’s face is hidden in the shadow of a shelf, so it’s hard to see his expression. He doesn’t make a sound. He doesn’t even seem to be breathing, as if he turned into a statue.

After a long while, Yan Zhengming asks an irrelevant question, “Who is Zhuang Nanxi?”

Cheng Qian says, “A talkative disciple of White Tiger Estate.”

Yan Zhengming’s voice suddenly becomes frosty. “From now on, you should stop hanging out with such indecent people. You have already given up the pleasures of the senses to overcome Heavenly Tribulations, so shouldn’t you know what ‘maintain a pure mind to pursue the Way’ is? If you continue to think about nonsense, then take your ass back to Qingan Abode and do it there!”

Melancholy falls on Cheng Qian’s eyes.

The footsteps become fainter and fainter. The door of the Library Tower makes a clicking sound, as it automatically closes after being opened thanks to the spell cast on it. A chilly breeze blows by.

Cheng Qian quietly picks up the books he carelessly let fall down and puts them back on the shelf. Finally, he grabs the chronicle of Azure Dragon Island. Sitting down at the bench by the window, he opens it.

Thanks to a clever design, the lamp on the wall lights up. Cheng Qian flips through some pages, and suddenly feels that everything is so pointless.

All these years, whether against the Heavens, the other cultivators, or death, he has never taken a step backwards. Even now, he doesn’t believe that there is anything in this world that he can’t do.

It isn’t until that moment that he understands how things don’t always go according to his wish.

Maybe it’s because his injured primordial spirit hasn’t been properly healed, that Cheng Qian feels overwhelmed by fatigue. Looking at the boring writing in the chronicle, he suddenly thinks, “What’s the point of becoming a powerful, renowned cultivator? Wouldn’t one end up being envied and a target for conspiracies? What’s the point of trying to reach ascension and become immortal, when one has to put away all human feelings in order to walk on the Great Way that no one can see? Wouldn’t one end up having to watch the world fade away?”

Their lives aren’t even worth as much as the mortals, short as theirs are.

Cheng Qian’s heartbeats slow down as he becomes himself again. He feels that his heart is tied up in a complicated knot.

Perhaps he really needs to go into seclusion and refine himself, since he keeps coming back to that topic...

As Cheng Qian thinks that ascension is meaningless, he skims through the chronicle of Azure Dragon Island without looking specifically for what is relevant to Fuyao Sect. Suddenly, he pauses, as realisation dawns on him.

Although Azure Dragon Island is in the middle of the sea, its chronicle covers many other territories. Besides the events on the island, the chroniclers took a page from the mortals’ history records and noted down major events of cultivators everywhere.

Cheng Qian detects a pattern in the chronicle. The people who took three hundred years to form their primordial spirits basically stopped at that level. Nothing extraordinary happened to them. They lived out their lifespans to about a thousand years old then died.

The other type, whether thanks to a firm heart or natural talent, formed their primordial spirits very early. Some of their stories are recorded in the chronicle. They must have been important people of their times. However, they all went into a hermit life and disappeared, or became mad from qi deviation, or met an untimely end due to disasters.

In the entire chronicle of Azure Dragon Island, nothing is said about ascension.

Rubbing his forehead, Cheng Qian tries to gather his scattered mind, as doubt rises in his heart. Is it the case that people who ascended were too humble? Or can it be… since the chronicle of Azure Dragon Island was started until the Island fell, no one ever successfully ascended?

Cheng Qian puts away the chronicle of Azure Dragon Island, then walks quickly downstairs. Carefully directing his spiritual energy, he makes a sign to the spell-carved bookshelf, and says in a low voice, “I want to read records on ‘Ascension’.”

The wooden bookshelf, which is covered with a frost-like layer of spiritual energy, shakes a little, then some old records give off a faint light. Cheng Qian takes them out one by one and brings them back to Qingan Abode.

That day, Yan Zhengming lost his temper at Cheng Qian. He immediately regretted it as soon as he left, but he had no other way. Heavens witness, when Cheng Qian leaned against the railing and asked him that question, he felt as if his chest and everything inside had been crushed by a huge boulder, which both shook and hurt him. Using anger as the cover, he ran away. In the days after, he tries to avoid Cheng Qian.

However, he quickly discovers that it is redundant, because Cheng Qian hasn’t left the second Qingan Abode since then. They live next door, but don’t see each other at all in ten days.

In the middle of that situation, Zhe Shi sends a letter.

Their courier is still Puddle, who can turn into a bird at will. To hide her increasingly conspicuous bird form, Li Yun uses his talent to turn her into a sparrow.

Filled with murderous resentment against her Second Brother, Puddle the sparrow flies off. However, she quickly discovers that this form is very useful. A small bird can get in almost anywhere without being detected. Only flies can be sneakier than that.

Thanks to that, she finally meets Zhe Shi.

“Zhe Shi-ge said, Celestial Divination Bureau has many levels. The initiates have to work as spies for at least ten years and up to a hundred years outside. Then they have to go through an extremely stringent round of inspection to ensure that their history is completely clean before they can officially become a member. However, something happened recently, such that the internal disciples fell out in a deadly conflict. After just a night, half of the familiar faces disappeared. Then came the rebellion of Fourth… ah, the demonic dragon. The Celestial Divination Bureau needed more hands, so they were recruiting. The cultivation of Zhe Shi-ge and some spies like him was decent, and they hadn’t made any mistake, so they were allowed in. They were sent to ambush someone near Tai Yin Mountain. The order wasn’t specific, but Zhe Shi-ge said the target was Fourth Brother.”

Tai Yin Mountain is not far away from their home Fuyao Mountain.

Yan Zhengming makes his decision without hesitation. “The estate is to be sealed off tomorrow. We’ll depart for Tai Yin Mountain right away.”

Li Yun hastily runs after him and asks, “We go to Tai Yin Mountain and then what? What are we going to do? Are you planning to help the Celestial Divination Bureau capture Han Yuan? Or are we breaking the oath and opposing the Demon Vanquishing Seal to help Han Yuan get his vengeance?”

“We must comply with the oath of the Demon Vanquishing Seal,” Yan Zhengming says in a voice that brokers no argument.

Hearing that, everyone’s heart is heavy.

After a beat, Yan Zhengming continues, “However, we must not let Han Yuan be captured by the Celestial Divination Bureau. We must stop him before the Tai Xing Grand Congress begins and take him here. He is one of us Fuyao Sect. Even if he destroyed a corner of the sky and had to be cut into pieces, that decision is not for outsiders to make.”