Poaching

Before the Enforcement Hall, Elders Luo and Weng dismissed all the disciples gathered around. Ji An glanced at Qin Xuan, flicked his sleeves, and led two disciples in pursuit of Pan Ang. Seeing that the matter was settled, Zhao Huaimin exchanged a look with Qin Xuan and returned to his small courtyard. Qin Xuan walked forward to greet Elder Luo and Elder Weng. Weng Shanfang looked at the cat and smiled. "Zihou, had you met that senior before?" Qin Xuan shook his head. "Never." Weng Shanfang asked, "Then what is the deal with this cat?" Qin Xuan pinched the scruff of the fat cat's neck. "I encountered it by chance earlier and rescued it from the clutches of a scoundrel. At the time, I had no idea it had ties to that senior." The two elders understood at once. "So that's how it is. You truly possess profound karmic fortune." Elder Luo came to his decision and made no further mention of any neglect of duty. Instead, he cautioned, "You made quite a name for yourself at the Geng residence last night, but you must remain on guard against underhanded plots. The people of the Xieling Sect haven't withdrawn yet. If those demonic deviants dare trouble you, come straight to me." "Thank you, Elder." As Qin Xuan offered his thanks, Elder Luo chuckled and patted his shoulder. Elder Weng, meanwhile, looked at the cat and spoke via voice transmission, advising Qin Xuan on how to get along with such seniors and recounting the senior's background so he would be prepared. Qin Xuan had not known these two elders well before, but after this encounter, he found their company quite agreeable. Sun Zong, the core disciple who had summoned Qin Xuan here, trailed behind the three of them. Listening from behind, he was secretly amazed. His master in particular caught his eye. Qin Xuan actually suited Elder Luo's temper remarkably well. When Qin Xuan recounted the details of slaying the Xieling Sect's core disciple and guardian elder, Old Luo cheered repeatedly, casting aside all formality to throw an arm around Qin Xuan's shoulder. Following in their wake, Sun Zong felt deeply uneasy, terrified his master might suddenly address Qin Xuan as "Brother Qin." If that happened, things would be terribly awkward for him. Qin Xuan had arrived as though stepping into mortal peril. When he left, several elders escorted him. The little old man Weng Shanfang still wished to draw closer to the fat cat and build a connection. He brought out spirit fish and spirit bait, but the creature could not even be bothered to look at him. Only when Qin Xuan gave it a pointed glance did the beast accept a piece of Wuling Bait meant for expelling turbid qi from the body. Yet after toying with it for a moment, the bait landed right in Qin Xuan's hand. "When someone offers you benefits, accept them. If you have no use for them, you can give them to me. Remember, kindness can never be fully repaid." "Meow!" As the young man and cat strolled away, their exchange drifted clearly into the ears of Elder Luo, Elder Weng, Supervisor Qian, and several disciples. The onlookers were momentarily speechless. "This boy..." Elder Weng had wanted to say the boy was not entirely upright, but he cleared his throat instead and said, "This boy is quite savvy." *** At Yuansong Temple, in the Pine Breeze Lodge. Old Daoist Wu sat across from the grey-robed elder, while a white crane stood nearby, ears pricked as it eavesdropped. "Fellow Daoist Zheng, what brings you all the way from Chongjin Pass to this remote corner?" Surrounding the Eastern Ascendant Continent were four seas—east, south, west, and north—alongside a Heaven-Reaching Great River that plunged from the Nine Heavens straight into Southern Jambudvipa. Pingyuan Commandery lay at the easternmost edge of Yunzhou Prefecture. Further east lay territories like the neighboring Chuanlai Commandery, which belonged to Qingzhou Prefecture. Chongjin Pass was situated on the eastern reaches of Qingzhou Prefecture, bordering the East Sea. The sheer distance between Chongjin Pass and this place was staggering. A mortal could spend a lifetime traveling and never hope to cross it. The grey-robed elder was named Zheng Xiuyuan. The last time Old Daoist Wu had seen him was fifty years ago, which explained his astonishment. Zheng Xiuyuan said, "It is a long story. Over at Chongjin Pass, a misunderstanding arose with the East Sea Dragon Palace regarding matters in the Eastern Extremity Great Wilderness. Madam Wei went to mediate, but by chance she uncovered an old affair. This matter touches a raw nerve among several patriarchs." Zheng Xiuyuan did not elaborate, but Old Daoist Wu understood at once. Among the thirty-six true disciples of the Great Lingbao Sect, one had once fallen into demonhood and caused a disaster, vanishing without a trace ever since. Madam Wei was a descendant of the Seven Friends of Longmen and had deep ties to the matter, so she naturally intervened. Old Daoist Wu nodded slightly. Zheng Xiuyuan continued: "Without pausing to consider, Madam Wei immediately went to Zijin Mountain to seek an audience with Lord Zibo." A sense of reverence rose in Old Daoist Wu's heart. Lord Zibo was the senior brother to the Ancestor of Guanjiang Mountain and ranked third among the Seven Friends of Longmen—an attained master of the Dao. Old Daoist Wu asked, "Did she see the patriarch?" Zheng Xiuyuan shook his head. "She could not. Not even that patriarch's direct disciples showed themselves. When we reached Guanjiang Mountain, the situation was much the same. Fellow Daoist Song Xinghe, successor to Perfected Xuannian, led me to the ancestral hall. The patriarch gave no response, and the various Perfected Ones were all in secluded cultivation. Fellow Daoist Song prayed and inquired in the ancestral hall for seven days and seven nights before finally receiving a single oral decree." "What was the decree?" Zheng Xiuyuan said, "'Wait.'" "'Wait,'" Old Daoist Wu repeated softly, recalling certain ancient records. One hundred and twenty-nine thousand six hundred years ago, during the Chaotic Antiquity, a great tribulation had struck—the one with the shortest span before Recent Antiquity. The attained masters who survived were all excessively cautious, unwilling to taint themselves with even the faintest remnant of tribulation qi. He could not help but think of the old turtle beneath Yunxiu Mountain from days earlier; it too was evading tribulation. Old Daoist Wu asked, "What can I do to help?" Zheng Xiuyuan said, "Madam Wei needs to recuperate for a time, and I am unfamiliar with these parts. I must trouble you, Fellow Daoist Wu, to help keep an eye on the movements of the Huanyin Sect and Renmao Sect. Those two demonic powers stirred up trouble near Guanjiang Mountain some days ago and may head toward Pingyuan Commandery." He added, "I also have a letter in hand that must be delivered to Guanjiang Mountain in a few days. I will have to wait there to see if any new decree is issued. Should Madam Wei have any errands or needs, we may need to trouble your people." Old Daoist Wu nodded. "It is only right. Rest assured, I will dispatch a clever disciple to attend to her and ensure Madam Wei is not disturbed." "Good." Zheng Xiuyuan stroked his beard, gazed down the mountain, and suddenly recited, "'Assisting the natural course of all things without daring to act. Lightning striking wood is like wood rotting into earth, or stone turning to dust...' He smiled faintly. "That junior in your temple truly possesses remarkable insight. "Still, from what Madam Wei said, Perfected Xuangling's heart for seeking the Dao was exceptionally ardent; back then, he constantly paid visits to that senior of the Great Lingbao Sect. In leaving those words, I suspect he meant to dare to act precisely by not daring to act." Old Daoist Wu said half-jokingly, "That disciple merely possesses a bit of petty cleverness and knows next to nothing about our ancestral patriarchs' affairs. Brother Zheng, please don't mention this to Guanjiang Mountain, lest it invite ridicule." "No matter," Zheng Xiuyuan replied. "Our Great Lingbao Sect does not fuss over such trivialities. If his reasoning holds, then even if he speaks it before Perfected Xuangling himself, and even if their views differ, Perfected Xuangling would not reproach him. "It is only that..." He paused, his tone laden with meaning. "Comprehension must be applied in the right direction. Even within the same Dao method, conflicting philosophies will ultimately find no path forward. "I recall that Patriarch Lord Zibo of Zijin Mountain once said, 'The Great Earth burdens me with form, labors me with life, eases me with old age, and rests me with death.' It resonates remarkably well with this junior's insight. And as it happens, I am well-versed in the methods of that lineage." Zheng Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow and added, "Moreover, my Chongjin Pass possesses a Dragon-Breaking Sword Art, used back then by seniors of the Ancient Immortal Prefecture when slaying the Great Dragon Ghost Tribulation. Its might is peerless." Old Daoist Wu suddenly caught his drift. He stared at Zheng Xiuyuan, knowing full well that the man was thoroughly informed about the events at the Geng residence last night. Bringing up philosophical views first and then mentioning sword arts—he was clearly eyeing Qin Xuan's talent. This was a blatant attempt to poach him! However, Chongjin Pass was also a branch of the Great Lingbao Sect, sharing the same origin and roots. If he wished to take a core disciple from Yuansong Temple as his apprentice, likely no one would object. "Fellow Daoist Zheng, you will have to consult Fellow Daoist Li Yanshen at Guanjiang Mountain. He shares a strong karmic bond with Qin Xuan, treats him like a nephew, and cares deeply about his future." "Very well." With those words, Zheng Xiuyuan transformed into a streak of light and took to the skies. The white crane stepped forward and said to Old Daoist Wu, "Old Daoist, what's wrong with Chongjin Pass? I have heard of the power of that Dragon-Breaking Sword Art as well. Even if Zihou enters Guanjiang Mountain, he would belong to Perfected Xuangling's lineage and likely wouldn't learn Perfected Xuannian's sword art heritage. "Chongjin Pass might actually be a fine choice." Old Daoist Wu replied unhurriedly, "Chongjin Pass lies on the coast of the East Sea, teeming with demon clans. Not only must one contend with the East Sea Dragon Palace, but there is also the Eastern Extremity Great Wilderness shrouded in Azure Wood Yuanci Immortal Light. It is nowhere near as tranquil and secure as Guanjiang Mountain. Still, that depends on Zihou's own inclinations." "That is true..." The white crane muttered, then thought of the peerless immortal maiden in the tomb. If Zihou could take that immortal maiden from the painting as his master, that would truly be the superior path. That maiden had certainly attained the Dao; Perfected Xuannian probably still fell a bit short. Pondering this, it prepared to take flight toward Qin Xuan. Old Daoist Wu flicked his whisk, instantly pulling the white crane back. "Do not speak of this to him for now, lest it unsettle his resolve. Fellow Daoist Zheng merely mentioned it in passing to me." "Understood, understood..."