On the eighth day of the eighth month, at the Pacification Office drill grounds.
Originally used by the garrison for troop drills, the grounds were vast and open, capable of accommodating well over a thousand men in formation. The earth had first been tamped firm with yellow soil, and soldiers had drilled upon it for years until the surface had long since set as hard as stone.
At the beginning of the hour of the snake, the grounds were already brimming with common folk come to watch the spectacle.
Talk of the scripture debate between Yunlong Branch Abbey and Golden Leaf Temple had been spreading for months, and everyone across Yunyang had eagerly awaited this day. Today was the official contest, and crowds of commoners hurried over to join the excitement.
The eighth month brought the fiercest sun of the year; by the hour of the snake, the heat was already fierce enough to draw grease from a person's pores. Most of the townsfolk, however, paid it no mind. Accustomed to wind and sun, they gave it little thought.
Yunyang's dignitaries and nobility, by contrast, sat beneath the southern city wall, where the high parapets cast deep shade. The more fastidious households had raised great parasols or hung folding screens and wide banners of cloth to form partitioned pavilions, keeping themselves completely separated from the others.
Those seated beneath the southern wall were either rich or of high rank.
Though the Zhang family had suffered one misfortune after another of late, they remained the preeminent clan in Yunyang City. They occupied the largest space in the center, encircled by cloth screens to wall themselves off entirely from the surrounding families.
As Zhang Shihong's legitimate daughter, Zhang Yun had a seat in a corner. Growing tired of listening to her uncles and elders discuss clan affairs, she sat for a brief while, then rose with a maidservant to seek out Jin Ying.
From the Jin family, only Jin Ying had come. She was sitting alone in boredom, so when she saw Zhang Yun approaching, she brightened and hurried forward to greet her.
The two young women had not seen each other in some time. Linking arms, they traded quiet, intimate words, their spirits lifting.
"It's a pity Yuzhen isn't here, and Mingxiu has left too, leaving only the two of us..." Zhang Yun gave a soft sigh. She had few friends to begin with; Peng Yuzhen and Pei Mingxiu were both clever, elegant in speech, and rich in insight, making them wonderful company. With two companions gone, her life had grown much quieter. Thinking of them now inevitably brought a twinge of melancholy.
Jin Ying nodded. "Indeed. When they were here, one hardly noticed, but once they're gone, the heart feels quite empty. So much time has passed, yet Mingxiu hasn't sent a single letter. I wonder how things are with her."
"I hear Yunze is fraught with danger. It truly makes one worry," Zhang Yun agreed, nodding.
"I even asked Daoist Wuji, and he said he hadn't received any letters either," Jin Ying remarked casually.
A flicker of curiosity showed in Zhang Yun's bright eyes. "You have met Daoist Zhou Wuji?"
"I have. He is indeed exceptionally handsome and refined, and his conversation is so elegant and composed—it feels like a breath of spring breeze." Jin Ying grew quite excited and pleased as she spoke; having had no one else to boast to, she could only share it with Zhang Yun.
"He is truly an exceptional figure," Zhang Yun agreed. Then her tone shifted slightly. "However, I hear that Monk Yuanyi of Golden Leaf Temple has already attained Rank Six and possesses formidable strength."
Her family strongly supported Golden Leaf Temple. After all the recent troubles that had severely damaged the Zhang family's prestige, they were even more eager for Golden Leaf Temple to step forward and suppress Yunlong Branch Abbey.
Jin Ying's expression turned anxious as well. "Indeed. Golden Leaf Temple's Vajra Incantation is inherently suited for close-quarters combat, and since magic implements are forbidden this time, it places the Lower Court at a severe disadvantage..."
Her family were prominent merchants, and their intelligence network was far sharper. She was even aware of certain matters regarding Zhang Yunfeng and Zhang Banshan, though she could hardly discuss them with Zhang Yun.
As they were speaking, the contingents from Golden Leaf Temple and Yunlong Branch Abbey both arrived.
Zhou Wuji wore a starlight-gold cloud-brocade Daoist robe. When the sunlight fell upon it, the star-gold embroidery shimmered with faint radiance, making him stand out strikingly even amidst a crowd of fellow Daoists.
The commoners grew more excited still, many pointing him out in amazement. Some praised Zhou Wuji as looking just like a celestial, an enlightened being at first glance. Others recognized him and declared that he was the one who had solved the great blood-sacrifice case and helped capture Chen Dalu; it was the Pacification Office's sheer incompetence that had allowed Chen Dalu to escape, culminating in the horrific massacre on Old Dragon Island. In the end, they said, the Pacification Office was useless, while Daoist Zhou and the Lower Court had saved Yunyang...
Chen Dalu had sacrificed nearly ten thousand people on Old Dragon Island, earning the bone-deep hatred of countless families. There were many eyewitnesses to the ordeal, so the truth could never be suppressed. After that incident, the Lower Court's reputation in Yunyang had surged, and the common folk revered them with profound devotion.
Hearing the murmurs of the crowd, Zhou Wuji maintained an impassive expression, though inward satisfaction stirred within him. What they said was not exaggerated; if anything, they failed to capture his true significance. Yet he also knew that while part of this was spontaneous word of mouth, the Lower Court had also dispatched disciples everywhere to spread the tale. Naturally, the abbey would not sing his praises alone, but rather emphasize the Lower Court's achievements. Regardless, he had made a name for himself in Yunyang. These past six months had not been wasted!
Today's debate was of great consequence; Prefect Wang Yan and Pacification Office Commandant Zhai Jun were both present.
The newly appointed prefect, Wang Yan, was tall, ruddy-cheeked, and bright-eyed. Clad in a round-collared brocade robe and a black gauze official's cap, he exuded robust vitality. Though neither he nor Zhai Jun wore formal official robes, they sat in the seats of honor, flanked by Zhihe and Xinjue in attendance.
Though it was called a scripture debate, they could hardly begin by brawling; that would be far too crude. According to the prior agreement, Golden Leaf Temple first sent a monk to the stage to expound upon the Diamond Sutra for a time.
Once the monk finished, it was Zhou Wuji's turn to take the platform and proclaim the Supreme Mysterious Efficacy Northern Dipper True Scripture. This scripture was the foundation of the Arctic Sect; the very first thing an acolyte did upon entering the gates was memorize it. Sacrifices, prayers, and all manner of rites required its chanting. Zhou Wuji had been chosen to preach the scripture precisely because of his striking appearance and peerless demeanor.
Even though the true scripture spoke of the simplest Great Dao, to ordinary commoners who barely recognized a handful of characters, it was ultimately far too profound. Thus, preaching a scripture depended primarily on poise, bearing, and personal charm.
"Once entering the Great Vehicle's way,
Countless aeons and kalpas pass.
Neither arising nor perishing,
Born anew upon the lotus flower..."
Zhou Wuji chanted the opening gatha of the scripture. His voice was clear and resonant as the chime of a jade chime-stone, pure and bright as a flowing mountain spring. Though the crowd still could not fathom the scripture's inner meaning, they felt his words were the supreme truth of the Great Dao, filling them with heartfelt reverence and an urge to bow down. In fact, many commoners dropped to their knees on the spot, murmuring prayers for the Northern Emperor's protection, longevity, and peace.
Seeing this, the monks of Golden Leaf Temple could not help but scowl, and someone even muttered a low curse: "Deluding the masses with bewitching words!"
Whatever they said with their lips, they knew in their hearts that Zhou Wuji's demeanor as he preached truly bore the grandeur described in Buddhist sutras—as if heavenly flowers were raining from the sky. Some cast glances toward Yuan'an, who had preached earlier; had Yuan'an's performance not been so lackluster, how could the contrast have been so humiliating?
Yuan'an looked thoroughly helpless, turning an imploring gaze toward his senior brother, Yuanyi.
Yuanyi stood six feet tall with long brows, tiger-like eyes, and a square, upright countenance. Clad in a brown monastic robe, he stood with a calm gaze, naturally exuding an air of steadfast poise. Sweeping his eyes over the agitated assembly, he said softly, "Junior brothers, why get so unsettled?"
With that single phrase, everyone closed their mouths, and no further complaints were voiced.
Yuanyi turned his gaze toward Zhou Wuji on the raised platform. Just as others had said, this young Daoist was handsome, refined, and transcendent, truly resembling a heavenly being. In pure bearing and grace, even Abbot Xinjue fell far short, and perhaps no one in the entirety of Yunyang Prefecture could compare. Such a man was a born preacher; no wonder the Lower Court held him in such high regard.
Yuan'an whispered into Yuanyi's ear, "This man is deceitful and ruthless. Who knows how many people he has slaughtered? Only ignorant commoners would be taken in by him. When the martial contest begins shortly, Senior Brother, you must be careful of him!"
Last time on Old Dragon Island, he had taken three palm strikes from Zhou Wuji and was nearly beaten to death on the spot. Ever since, he had harbored bitter hatred for the young Daoist.
Yuanyi nodded. "I see that his true qi is exceptionally pure. Without deliberately forcing it, his voice blankets the entire drill ground as though chanting the scripture right beside everyone's ears. To possess such skill, he must have already opened his Heavenly Gate and advanced to Rank Six. He is indeed not to be underestimated."
A realization dawned upon Yuan'an. "So that's it! No wonder I couldn't beat him!" He turned and pleaded again, "Senior Brother, you must avenge me!"
"You... your foundation is sound, yet you have allowed delusion and wrath to derail your cultivation," Yuanyi said gravely. "That is a grave taboo."
Flushed with shame at the reprimand, Yuan'an did not dare speak ill of Zhou Wuji again.
Zhou Wuji chanted the scripture without offering lengthy explanations. At the end, he raised his voice and proclaimed, "May the Northern Emperor grant his protection, blessing you with fortune, longevity, and peace!"
The masses below chanted along with him in unison. Beneath the southern wall, many dignitaries and nobles rose, cupping their hands in formal bows and murmuring under their breath, "May the Northern Emperor grant his protection, blessing you with fortune, longevity, and peace."
For a time, the entire field resonated with the chant.
Seated in the place of honor, Prefect Wang Yan smiled and said to Zhihe, "The Lower Court's Daoist arts are truly profound, enlightening all living beings. A supreme virtue indeed."
"Your Excellency overpraises us; this humble Daoist hardly deserves it," Zhihe demurred politely. He had met Wang Yan only twice and had yet to grasp the new prefect's temper. In any case, modesty was never amiss.
Monk Xinjue forced a polite smile beside them, though his stomach churned with bitterness. This new prefect was leaning so heavily toward the Lower Court, while the Zhang family's continuous misfortunes placed Golden Leaf Temple at a severe disadvantage. In today's scripture debate, their intention had been to suppress the Lower Court before the eyes of all Yunyang, thereby earning immense fame and winning the respect of the entire prefecture.
Xinjue looked toward the Lower Court's disciples. Aside from Zhou Wuji, only that young female cultivator seemed to possess a solid foundation, though he did not know whether she had attained Rank Six.
Hundred-household Officer Li Fei came forward to seek instructions. Receiving Wang Yan's assent, he ascended the platform to announce the martial sparring between Golden Leaf Temple and Yunlong Branch Abbey.
Hearing that they were finally going to fight, the crowd erupted in cheers, and the entire grounds boiled with excitement. It was now close to midday, and the sun overhead beat down so fiercely that people could scarcely keep their eyes open.
Yuan'an took the stage first, and from the Lower Court came Wu'ai.
As the Lower Court's former foremost swordsman, Wu'ai held his wooden sword with spirited vigor. Having invoked the Big Dipper Heavenly Astral Divine Incantation beforehand, he was draped in a cloak of azure-blue light, his flowing sleeves lending him an airy grace.
Gripping a wooden staff, Yuan'an empowered himself with the Vajra Incantation and the Skanda Incantation.
The two clashed on the platform, which stood ten feet high. Their cultivations were comparable; Wu'ai possessed exquisite swordsmanship, while Yuan'an held the upper hand in sheer, heavy momentum. The platform measured only a few zhang across, which worked to Wu'ai's disadvantage. After several dozen exchanges, he was ultimately swept off the platform by Yuan'an's staff.
Though Wu'ai was unhurt, he felt thoroughly humiliated and beat a rather crestfallen retreat.
Wuhe went up second. Relying on fierce momentum, he first defeated Yuan'an, then overcame Yuanzhen, only to be struck off the platform by Yuanjing.
Wu Leng was the third to take the stage. In less than ten sword strikes, she forced Yuanjing right off the platform.
Seeing Wu Leng's sharp, overwhelming sword qi, the monks of Golden Leaf Temple looked grim.
Yuanyi, however, ascended the platform with unhurried composure. He waited until Wu Leng used a Northern Culmen Heavenly Dipper Divine Talisman to restore her cloak of azure-blue light before pressing his palms together in greeting.
A woman of few words, Wu Leng merely clasped her hands before raising her sword to strike. Yuanyi raised his wooden staff to counter. His staff techniques were remarkably straightforward, consisting of nothing more than basic sweeps, cleaves, and thrusts.
Yet hundreds of golden runes glittered all over his body, and every swing of his staff stirred rumbling sounds of wind and thunder, carrying the awesome divine might of a Vajra subduing demons.
When that first strike swept out, the spectators were caught unprepared; awed and cowed by the thunder and wind whipped up by the staff, their faces turned ashen, and those of fainter heart tumbled to the ground on the spot.
Though the dignitaries possessed some knowledge of martial arts, they had rarely witnessed such unyielding, ferocious might, and many blanched.
Jin Ying's face was lined with deep worry—not for Wu Leng, but for Zhou Wuji.
The members of the Zhang family, however, beamed with delight. Golden Leaf Temple was their ally now; a strong Golden Leaf Temple compensated for the Zhang family's deficiency in martial force.
Watching from the seats of honor, Wang Yan looked solemn. That a young monk from Golden Leaf Temple could possess such ferocious might exceeded his expectations.
Even Zhai Jun's eyes held a touch more gravity. As a Rank Six practitioner, Yuanyi possessed exceptionally pure martial arts paired with profound incantations, making him an extraordinarily formidable figure among those of the sixth rank. Though the female cultivator was also Rank Six, she lagged behind him, and on such a confined platform, she would fall within a handful of moves. Even if Zhang Banshan had lived, he might not have bested Yuanyi...
Zhai Jun glanced sideways at Zhihe, feeling a flicker of curiosity: among the younger disciples of the Lower Court, could anyone truly defeat Yuanyi?
Chapter 144