Chapter 81

Having decisively made his declaration, Yan Zhengming stands up to leave. However, just as he opens the door, Li Yun calls him back.

Li Yun averts his eyes and says with some hesitation, “Oh, yeah, there is still something else…”

Following his gaze, Yan Zhengming glances at the side. “What?”

There is a voice in the air. “It’s me… I… I… Ouch!”

The sound of something heavy falling down can be heard. Yan Zhengming quietly withdraws his leg.

“Nian Dada, well, has been staying in a guest room of Fuyao Estate all this time,” Li Yun smiles ruefully. “He insists on begging Xiao Qian to take him in as a disciple, and vows to be a member of our Fuyao Sect at all costs. He said we could test him in any way we liked, he would face even Hell.”

With a smashed face, Nian Dada looks up. He wipes the blood on his nose. He grins to Cheng Qian. His voice is warbled, as if his teeth broke or he bit on his mouth when he fell. “‘aster, pwease accept ‘e.”

Li Yun says, “Xiao Qian was in seclusion in the last few days so he had no time to meet this kid. He has been loitering around here for a while.”

Cheng Qian surprisedly asks, “Why haven’t you left yet?”

Nian Dada wipes his face. With clearer words, he puffs his chest and says proudly, “I won’t give up!”

Yan Zhengming grimaces. Fuyao Sect has been on the wrong path enough times. In the previous generation, the nominal disciple became a half dead half alive infamous villain, while the actual disciple ended up a weasel. In this generation, Yan Zhengming, as the most senior disciple, knows exactly what he is like.

For two consecutive generations, the sect has not a single reliable disciple. If this generation takes in a ‘stick like glue’1 one, will there be any dignity left for the sect?

He should absolutely stop this tradition of treating the recruitment of disciples like a joke, in order to prevent damage for the future generations!

“No,” Yan Zhengming says in a voice that brokers no argument. “Pardon our lack of courtesy. We have to leave due to an emergency, so I’m afraid we can’t entertain any guest. Please feel free to leave!”

Nian Dada takes in a deep breath and says loudly, “I swear I will not shy from any menial task. I will serve you diligently. Sect Leader, please let me join Fuyao Sect!”

Too lazy to continue the argument, Yan Zhengming says, “Li Yun, send Nian Mingming a notice. No way he’ll look away when his son betrays him and joins a different sect.”

Li Yun says blandly, “Oh, you don’t know it, but the bunch in Mingming Valley are just some random cultivators. They occupy that mountain and enjoy the tributes in exchange for helping the villagers below eliminate some low-level monsters. Besides the assignments from the Lord of the Valley, the disciples can just leave and join other sects if they don’t want to waste their time there. Through that, Mingming Valley may even gain some valuable connections. It works out too well for them, so why should they mind it?”

Yan Zhengming: “...”

How can there be such a shameless and lazy sect in this world?

Yan Zhengming says, “You fall off from your sword. How can our Fuyao Sect accept you?”

The three disciple brothers and sister behind him are speechless at how their most senior brother can make such an unreasonable demand. Back then, when they joined the sect, they couldn’t even hold a sword firmly, let alone ride it.

Nian Dada says resolutely, “Sect Leader, I’m aware how limited my ability is. I will definitely cultivate as best as possible, so that the sect won’t be ashamed of me.”

“Do we even need to look at your cultivation to be ashamed?” Giving the boy a glance, Yan Zhengming intentionally picks a fight. “Go away. As long as I am the Sect Leader, our sect will not accept ugly people.”

Nian Dada: “...”

He has no reply for such an out-there argument.

Nian Dada helplessly glances at Cheng Qian, whose mind is being occupied by something else. That line from Yan Zhengming reminds Cheng Qian of various incidents in the past that he has half-forgotten. Indeed, ever since he was young, their most senior brother has never limited his vanity to his own appearance. His temperament is uniquely impossible, such that he refuses to touch food that doesn’t look good.

Cheng Qian looks at the old indigo robe that he has worn since forever. For the first time since his birth, he feels that he is dressing a bit messily.

After thrashing about a bit in his kneeling position, Nian Dada manages to come up with something. “Sect Leader, I can’t do anything about my face, but I’ll do everything to improve my aura, so that I’ll become an ethereal cultivator.”

Glancing at Cheng Qian, he hastens to add some flattery. “I’ll try to be like Master!”

Unfortunately, that’s a wrong tack to take. Yan Zhengming thinks, “Who do you think you are, daring to compare yourself to Xiao-Qian like that?”

The pressure from a sword cultivator who has reached the ‘Joining the Sheath’ level is no joke. Nian Dada feels that he would be flattened even if he had ten spines. Again and again he reminds himself that this is a test he has to pass to join the sect, so he grits his teeth and tries not to give in. However, within seconds, blood begins to splash on the floor.

Cheng Qian, who has been silent from the beginning, speaks up, “Senior Brother, please let him off. It isn’t a bad thing that he is so determined.”

For ten days, Yan Zhengming had been very anxious because he couldn’t find an opening to talk to Cheng Qian. As soon as he hears Cheng Qian’s voice, euphoria fills his heart. However, he has to reign his feelings in. Keeping a ‘Sect Leader’ face with some difficulty, he lets out one syllable, “Huh?”

Cheng Qian says, “Before I left Mingming Valley, he had waited outside all night for me. Then he finds his way to this Estate. It looks like he has some steel. Back then, Azure Dragon Island took in many rogue cultivators who couldn’t even absorb qi. His control of the sword is sloppy, but at least he can ride his sword shakily.”

In Cheng Qian’s opinion, when it comes to recruiting disciples, as long as the candidates have an honest character, there is no need to be too picky about other things. Their sect has always been ‘the Master leads the way to the gate, but cultivation depends on the self’. Whether one has great talents or not, there is always something one can do.

With just a few words from Cheng Qian, Yan Zhengming, who was determined to act tough, immediately melts. He says, “I find his potential pretty limited.”

Cheng Qian smiles, “As the saying goes, one may not care about the monk but still has to respect the Buddha. I still owe Mingming Valley a sentimental favour.”

Yan Zhengming says nothing. Puddle wants to share her opinion too, but Li Yun quickly stops her. They quietly watch their Sect Leader’s circus from the side.

As expected, despite wishing to send Nian Dada back to Mingming Valley with a kick just a few seconds ago, Yan Zhengming cheerfully makes a concession, “Fine, if you say so. We can feed one more mouth. Things are chaotic because of the war, so let’s give him a verbal acceptance first. We can hold a proper initiation ritual for him later, when we are back to Fuyao Mountain.”

Li Yun says loudly, “Sect Leader and senior brother, why are you so agreeable when it’s Xiao-Qian who makes the suggestion?”

Yan Zhengming: “...”

He aggressively glares at Li Yun, then runs off without daring to look at Cheng Qian’s expression.

Cheng Qian taps Nian Dada’s shoulders, “Follow me.”

Thus, he leads the disciple who volunteers himself out of the room.

Staring at Cheng Qian’s retreating back, Li Yun nudges Puddle with his elbow. “What is your conclusion from this incident?”

Puddles thinks for a moment, then says sincerely, “In the future, if I want something, I should go convince Third Brother first. With his approval, our most senior brother will agree, even if he doesn’t like it!”

Li Yun: “...”

Puddle asks, “Did I say something wrong?”

Li Yun pats her head, “No, kid, you’re right.”

Puddle swats his hand away and asks, “Second Brother, did you have an initiation ceremony of your own? What is the precept that you got?”

Li Yun falls silent. The trouble-making smile on his face fades away too. In its place is an air of nostalgia that Puddle has never seen before. He says in a soft voice, “Our Master said I was too smart. Being too smart would make me impatient, which could easily lead to anxiety. In the long run, it would cause me both emotional and moral injuries. Therefore, he gave me ‘Be simple’ as my precept.”

Having said that, he looks down and sighs, as if knowing himself that he has failed his Master’s teachings.

Puddle says, full of admiration, “Don’t sigh like that. I don’t even have a precept.”

When their Master passed away, she couldn’t even talk. There was no time to give her a precept. As such a step is missing all this time, it seems like she can’t become a full adult.

Puddles mutters, “Second Brother, in your opinion, what would Master give me as my precept if he were still alive?”

Li Yun says, “Usually, a precept describes how one’s flaw can be balanced out with one’s strength. In your case, it’d be…”

Puddle looks at him expectantly.

Li Yun says, “Perhaps it’d be ‘Featherless’?”

He became the first senior brother in the history of Fuyao Sect to be beaten by the youngest junior sister.

Ten days later at the Tai Yin central plain.

The shape of Tai Yin Mountain is flat. Compared to Tai Xing Mountain, where the immortals frequent, it is more down to earth.

Along about one hundred miles west of the mountain, there are many villages and watchtowers, which are connected by a great road full of traffic. The commerce is bustling, and the fertile fields, tilled by numerous oxen, stretch to the horizon.

According to legends, there is a dwelling of the immortals not far from there. That place is hidden to mortal eyes. Only the ‘fated’ people can see a faint shadow of a mountain where the divine cranes fly.

However, in the present, the region around Tai Yin Mountain has changed drastically.

Half a month ago, the number of soldiers around Tai Yin Mountain doubled. With their sharp weapons, they brought about an air of emergency.

In the following days, many immortals fly in from their swords, aloof from the mortals. From the soldiers in the fortress, rumours spread that those immortals are creating an array to fight against someone.

No one forces the civilians here to leave. However, the local officials posted many notices that recommended the people to move to another place. The notices also said that those who moved would be paid a stipend as support for when they settled down in a strange place.

Panic spreaded as soon as the notices appeared in public. As the array gradually formed around Tai Yin Mountain, the surrounding areas became increasingly abandoned. The terrified civilians queued up to receive the stipend from dawn to dusk. After just a few days, except for those who are too old and weak, most of the houses have been abandoned.

When the demonic cultivators receive the invitation for the battle in Tai Xing, they’ll inevitably cross the Tai Yin area. As Tai Yin Mountain is very close to his former sect Fuyao, Han Yuan the demonic dragon will definitely pause here. Following his orders, You Liang has been at this place a few days early to wait and ambush the demonic dragon, while a grand Demon Execution Array is constructed around Tai Yin mountain. Even if the demonic dragon can’t be completely contained, a significant part of his power must be destroyed while everyone else is focused on the gathering in Tai Xing.

You Liang stands on the high fortress and looks down at the lines of people leaving with their families, who look like ants from that distance.

In his heart, You Liang knows too well that these people will not find safety when they leave the Tai Yin Mountain area. On the contrary, they have no protection at all. If they are unlucky enough to encounter a demonic cultivator from the North, they will be like an insect in the hand of a cruel child and end up being torn to shreds.

However, You Liang also knows that these people must leave. Because the mortals need food to live with all the associated bodily functions, their spiritual energy is polluted. If so many civilians stayed, the grand Demon Execution Array will be disturbed.

He clutches his sword tightly. His senior brother once told him that the sword is named “Tan Xin”2 . When the sword was forged, the swordsmith was careless and let a bit of incense ash fall into the metal. When the sword was formed, it carried less aggression than other swords. Therefore, it’s considered a ‘Sword of Compassion’.

The young sword cultivator takes a deep breath, as he feels a chill from the handle of the ‘Sword of Compassion’ in his hand.

At that moment, a cultivator with messy hair flies in on his sword and lands in front of You Liang. He makes his salute and says, “Official You, someone powerful has trespassed in the array and disturbs the southwest front line”.

That cultivator is an outer staff of the Celestial Divination Bureau. Other people called him ‘Straw-like Zhang’. Because of his skills with arrays, he is assigned to Tai Yin Mountain and has the authority to manage the creation of the grand Demon Execution Array.

Hearing that report, You Liang puts his thoughts aside and concentrates his spiritual energy in his eyes. Activating the ‘Eagle Eye’ spell, he looks into the direction the Zhang cultivator reported. He is startled to meet the eyes of that person. The newcomers are no other than the Fuyao Sect group.

Yan Zhengming apathetically looks at him. After a second, a gust of sharp sword energy charges directly at You Liang’s face.

Terrified, You Liang dares not counter it directly. He withdraws a good distance before raising his sword. However, that seemingly killer sword energy just teases gently at the sheath of his sword, then disperses.

You Liang pants heavily. He can’t help but feel that he just luckily avoided being stabbed. That attack shakes him so badly that his palms are covered in cold sweats.

Sword cultivators have exceptional mind and spirit. They can face anything as long as they can still reach for their sword energy. However, ‘stopping at the right time’ and ‘casual but precise control of energy’ are already beyond You Liang’s capability. At that moment, he understands that the gap between him and Yan Zhengming isn’t just the ‘Divine Realm’. It’s a whole world.

“Official You!” The Zhang cultivator looks scared. He steps forward and says, “Who dares to be so insolent? Should I send a unit to follow them?”

You Liang’s face is white as a sheet. With all his might, he tries to reach for his words. “That person is a sword cultivator who has reached the Divine Realm level. Even the Four Sages have to watch their steps around him. What can you do? Go there to be sent back?”

The Zhang cultivator is stunned.

You Liang angrily yells, “Go away!”

Having yelled at that person, he himself walks off, his head hanging with unbearable shame and anger.

As soon as You Liang turns away, the respectful flattery on the face of the Zhang cultivator immediately disappears. He throws a malicious glance at You Liang’s direction. Then he looks at where the sword energy came from with a strange expression.

Some cultivators gather by that person’s side. One of them says in a low voice, “Zhang-Dage, those so-called ‘Great Sects’ Cultivators’ sneer at our array creation as some petty tricks. How insufferably arrogant they are.”

The Zhang cultivator gives a chilly smile, “He is just a junior who newly formed a primordial spirit. He dares to lecture us while his cultivation base is still shaky. What a fop. Who is the target of this Demon Execution Array that we are making? Han Yuan the Demonic Dragon! No matter if he has reached Divine or Infernal Realm of sword cultivation, all of them will die with just a simple move from us!”

A cultivator hesitantly asks, “Zhang-Dage, you mean…”

That Zhang cultivator gives the group some instructions. At a distance, Li Yun frowns at Yan Zhengming, “Sect Leader and senior brother, what are you doing?”

“Humiliate them,” Yan Zhengming casually clasps his hands behind his back. “Can’t you tell? We can’t resist the Demon Vanquishing Seal trick of the Celestial Divination Bureau, but we aren’t so helpless as to be unable to make their members eat a humble pie.”

Li Yun diligently gives his advice, “Come on, the Celestial Divination Bureau has many petty assholes. To deal with such types, we have to use their tactics. We can lie and deceive them, or ambush and kill them when they’re unprepared. Don’t provoke them. When a poisonous snake bites you out of spite, you get hurt too.”

Yan Zhengming easily forgets old transgressions. He doesn’t like fighting. Nor is he bloodthirsty. However, he has a bad habit. After living at the absolute bottom for a long time, he is stubbornly arrogant. He has always insulted people to their faces easily, but while it was unintentional in the past, as an adult he intentionally leaves no way for the other party to step back and escape humiliation.

His sword cultivation has been so advanced that he disregards even the Four Sages. Why should he care about a sword cultivator who has just formed their primordial spirit?

However, how can someone who lives amongst people not give the other side any way to retreat from the situation? Li Yun can’t help but feel anxious.

1. "Nian Dada" is homophonous with "very sticky" in Mandarin apparently.

2. Tan Xin 檀心. Roughly 'heart of sandalwood'