Seven Friends of Longmen

"Brother Crane!" He called out urgently, but He Wushuang acted as if he had heard nothing, standing utterly motionless. Recalling what was written in the letter, Qin Xuan grew frantic. Geng Zhi truly could not be relied upon—putting the most lethal danger at the very end of his note when Brother Crane was already on the verge of dying! Still, Geng Zhi could hardly have predicted that an immortal crane would accompany Qin Xuan into the tomb. In his desperation, Qin Xuan had no choice but to lash out with a kick, sending the white crane flying into the palace wall. Who would have guessed that the moment the kick landed, Qin Xuan felt a sudden tightness all over his body, rendering him completely unable to move. He watched helplessly as the hanging scroll in the central hall unfurled without any wind. An invisible, intangible force swept across like a tidal wave, seizing his entire body so thoroughly that he could not lift so much as a finger. "Zihou!" The white crane came to its senses. Knowing it had been saved, it rushed toward Qin Xuan in a panic while staring at the painting in terror. Halting several paces back, it executed a distant strike of an immortal crane spreading its wings, whipping up demonic qi to blast Qin Xuan straight into the hall's wall. Yet the scroll twisted, instantly dragging the white crane from afar right back to the center of the hall. He Wushuang tried to cry out in alarm, but could not produce even the faintest sound. Rubbing his head as he scrambled to his feet, Qin Xuan saw the white crane frozen in the posture of spreading its wings, staring in horror at the painting. The image on the scroll was blurred and indistinct. Without a moment to lose, Qin Xuan channeled the Taiyin Soul Transformation Art and released the fiend from his Taiyin aperture. The fiend understood his intention immediately and rammed headfirst into the white crane with tremendous force, embedding He Wushuang deep into the wall. The scroll underwent another bizarre change. An invisible force seized the fiend and hurled it back into Qin Xuan's Taiyin aperture, then dragged the distant Qin Xuan right back into the center of the grand hall. This all occurred in the blink of an eye. Tumbling from the wall, He Wushuang saw Qin Xuan trapped once again to save him. Rage flared in the crane's heart, and it prepared to stake its life against the painting. Golden blood qi steamed across its body, and a terrifying demonic power erupted, threatening to blow the entire tomb apart. Right at that moment... It suddenly noticed that Qin Xuan had moved. Emerald sword light swirled around him. In that instant, for reasons unknown, the invisible force from the painting abruptly receded. Qin Xuan staggered, on the verge of collapsing backward. The white crane turned into a streak of golden light, catching him on its back before darting away into the distance. "Zihou, how did you break free?" The white crane's heart was still pounding. "I was pinned by that painting to the point where I couldn't even ignite my innate demonic bloodline! That makes no sense—an innate demonic bloodline secret art is an instinct for Shan Hai immortal beasts. I've never heard of such a thing!" "I don't know either." Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Qin Xuan was still shaken. "I only circulated my sword art, and that force suddenly drew back." He omitted one detail: he had first activated the ancient mirror, which was what had granted him the chance to display his sword art. The white crane did not press further, instead sending a low voice transmission: "Look quickly, the painting is changing!" Qin Xuan glanced back from the corner of his eye. The scene within the painting was gradually coming into focus. A woman stood atop an isolated peak, dressed in robes whiter than snow, a jade sash cinched around her waist. Her left hand held a thin sword pointed downward, while her right hand pinched a sword incantation gesture. Her brows were like distant mountains tinted with dark indigo, her gaze cast slightly down, neither sorrowful nor joyful, appearing as though she were gazing into an abyss of ten thousand fathoms, yet also as though looking at nothing at all. Qin Xuan felt an inkling of familiarity, but it faded quickly, and he dismissed it as an illusion. Yet what made both man and crane hold their breath was that the woman in the painting seemed to turn her gaze slightly, looking right toward them. In that split second, both of them choked on their breath. The sensation was even more terrifying than being paralyzed by the painting's power earlier. Fortunately, her gaze shifted away once more. Immediately afterward, the figure within the painting vanished, as if she had never existed. Qin Xuan collected all the usable spirit herbs and nearly a hundred spirit stones from the decoy tomb, and together with He Wushuang, he returned to the surface. Man and crane felt both the joy of surviving a catastrophe and a lingering sense of loss. "Zihou, that's a treasure—a monumental treasure! It weighs heavier than an immortal mountain!" He Wushuang clicked its tongue in admiration. "That Geng Zhi truly is honest to a fault. In the future, you must introduce me so I can make friends with him too. To think he was willing to give you such a priceless treasure without taking it for himself!" "Heh..." Qin Xuan retorted exasperatedly, "Could he have taken it with him even if he wanted to? Why don't you try taking it and show me?" He Wushuang glanced toward the decoy tomb of the Pingyuan King and sighed deeply. "My heart suddenly feels so empty." Qin Xuan looked in the same direction. "Mine too." He Wushuang added, "She might have been a female sword immortal of indescribable elegance, perhaps someone of the same stature as the founder of Guanjiang Mountain. If you were to take her as your master, your seniority would soar through the roof. In the future, even when meeting Perfected Xuangling, the patriarch of our Yuansong Temple lineage, you could converse with him as an equal." "I'd like that too," Qin Xuan said. "Why don't you teach me how to apprentice myself to her?" He Wushuang looked him up and down. "You might actually have a chance. When you demonstrated your sword art just now, the immortal lady released you, which shows there is some karmic affinity between you. "It's just that your current sword art is far too shoddy; the immortal lady wouldn't look twice at it. In particular, you have a metal spirit root, yet you wield a sword talisman made of Clear Water essence, giving off an unorthodox, mismatched impression. You'll need to put in far more hard work." Qin Xuan was rendered speechless. "Am I really that bad?" The white crane patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, Zihou. Even if you were worse, this crane would still consider you a dear friend and never look down on you." Qin Xuan kicked it away. The white crane arched its neck and squawked with laughter, feeling a little less empty inside. "Let's go. It's time to leave this heartbreaking place." Qin Xuan cast one last glance back at the tomb, filled with longing. The image of the female sword immortal flashed through his mind, and he nurtured a faint hope that the painting might fly out on its own, though he knew that was merely wishful thinking. With a sorrowful, clear cry, man and crane soared into the sky. By the time they returned to Yuansong Temple, it was already between the hours of the Ox and the Tiger. Qin Xuan did not return to his small courtyard, nor did the white crane go to Pine Breeze Lodge. By tacit agreement, they crossed the hall courtyards and arrived before a two-story bamboo building. Under the bright moonlight, Qin Xuan stepped forward and knocked on the door. "Huaimin, oh Huaimin!" The white crane also shouted, "Zhao Huaimin! You aren't asleep yet, are you? Hurry and open up!" During the battle in the city tonight, they had sensed a familiar presence secretly lending assistance. One of those people had been this good friend. From inside the bamboo building came the faint sound of someone tossing and turning in bed. To the knocking of the man and the crane, the person inside seemed entirely deaf. However, that did no good. Footsteps had already moved from outside into the courtyard. Left with no alternative, the person inside opened the door. He wore black robes and appeared around the same age as Qin Xuan, though taller in stature, with a broad forehead, a round face, and sturdy cheeks. He looked thoroughly honest and simple, devoid of any aggression—though anyone familiar with him knew that was purely an illusion. Zhao Huaimin looked at the smiling man and crane walking toward him. Shaking off some of the drowsiness from his eyes, he pointed toward the sky with a helpless smile. "Zihou, Brother Crane, do you know what hour it is?" Qin Xuan smiled. "I had not slept, Brother Crane had not slept, so I figured Huaimin would not be asleep either." Zhao Huaimin laughed in exasperation, punched him playfully in the chest, and invited them inside. The white crane asked, "Where did you go after stepping in tonight?" "A demon wanted to make a move on Zihou, so I chased after him and killed him near the inner canal," Zhao Huaimin said. "Before he died, I tricked his background out of him. He claimed to be a demon from Poison Scorpion Valley in the Wild Mountains of Chuanlai Commandery. When did you offend them, Zihou?" Qin Xuan shook his head. "Aside from killing a few subordinates of the Lan River's black catfish monster, I've had almost no contact with any demon factions." "That is strange then," Zhao Huaimin remarked. "The Lan River demons belong under the Clear Water Flood Dragon King of Guangling Water Palace and have nothing to do with Poison Scorpion Valley. That Clear Water Flood Dragon King is considered a distant relative of the North Sea Dragon Palace and generally maintains peace with his neighbors." At this point, fearing Qin Xuan might worry, he added: "During my recent trip home to my clan, I specifically inquired about Guangling Water Palace. Zihou, if you wish to seek vengeance against the black catfish monster, I can convince two clan elders on good terms with me to negotiate with the Clear Water Flood Dragon King, ensuring he won't intervene. I can personally guarantee that this can be done." Qin Xuan knew he was telling the truth. Having spent considerable time together, he was well aware of his friend's background. Zhao Huaimin's family resided in Bihai Immortal City, located in the far north of the Eastern Ascendant Continent, near the North Sea. Bihai Immortal City, Illusory Wave Pool, and the Nangong Clan were the three major powers beneath Mount Bailu. Mount Bailu's Daoist legacy was ancient, and all three powers held sway with the North Sea. If clan elders from the Zhao family intervened, the Clear Water Flood Dragon King would have to show them some courtesy. Zhao Huaimin had accompanied his cousin-uncle to cultivate at Yuansong Temple for two reasons: first, the Zhao family needed members to enter an orthodox lineage like the Dao Sect, as many prominent clans did; second, staying far from the family allowed him to steer clear of the so-called struggle for family heir. Qin Xuan patted his arm. "What conditions did your clan elders set?" Hearing this, Zhao Huaimin rubbed his nose. After a moment of hesitation, he confessed, "The elders told me to stop avoiding that girl from the Nangong Clan and try spending time with her." The white crane remarked, "Wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone? A double blessing!" Qin Xuan rolled his eyes at it. "There's no need to force yourself. This matter doesn't need to be settled immediately. Once my cultivation is sufficient, I will find my own way to slay that black catfish monster." Zhao Huaimin suddenly realized that Qin Xuan spoke without the slightest hesitation or strain; his words carried a newfound confidence he had never possessed before. "By the way, Zihou, how did you manage to master a sword art in such a short time?!" Qin Xuan tapped his own forehead. "I had an epiphany. And a benefactor gifted me a Clear Water sword talisman." He then recounted recent events in Pingyuan Commandery City in detail. With one operating in the light and the other in the dark, they exchanged information and realized that the recent happenings in the commandery city were indeed fraught with intrigue. "When I traveled south from Bihai Immortal City, I passed by Guanjiang Mountain and contacted my cousin-uncle, learning two crucial pieces of news." "Which two?" Zhao Huaimin said, "First, the missing Dao Seed from Guanjiang Mountain's previous generation has been found." "Oh?!" The white crane beside them instantly perked up. "Where is he?" Zhao Huaimin replied, "Word has it that he went fishing." The white crane was stunned, and Qin Xuan froze as well. "Huaimin, are you serious?" "Entirely. However, the matter involves many taboos, so those in the know dare not speak openly. Still, it is at least confirmed that the former Dao Seed remains in the mortal realm." He paused, then continued, "The second piece of news: my cousin-uncle said that an eminent figure has arrived in Pingyuan Commandery. He warned us to be careful and make sure not to offend her." "Who is it?" "Madam Wei." Qin Xuan had never heard of this name. Zhao Huaimin quickly explained: "The founder of Guanjiang Mountain was one of the thirty-six true disciples of the Great Lingbao Sect. Back then, he attained the Dao at Longmen and achieved an immortal dao fruit. Before him, six of his senior martial brothers had attained the Dao as well, which is why they were known as the Seven Friends of Longmen. "All seven patriarchs ranked among the top ten of the thirty-six true disciples. "My cousin-uncle said that this Madam Wei is a descendant of one of the Seven Friends of Longmen." Qin Xuan and the white crane were both shocked, asking in unison, "Why would someone of that caliber come to Pingyuan Commandery?" Zhao Huaimin shook his head. "I don't know, and you must not speak of this to outsiders." Qin Xuan suddenly remembered something. He reached into his robes and pulled out an iron token, upon which the character 'Wei' was prominently inscribed. Memories of past events at Lianyun Manor surfaced in his mind. He could not help but ask Zhao Huaimin, "Huaimin... does that Madam Wei... happen to keep a cat...?"