Yunjiang Tower, a wooden structure over fifty feet tall, stood on the south bank of the Jiuyuan River.
Standing before the third-floor windows, one could look down upon the sweeping river and gaze out at the continuous mountain ranges in the distance.
Thanks to this expansive river view, Yunjiang Tower was regarded as the premier restaurant of Yunyang, despite sitting just outside the city walls.
April was the prime season for scholars and refined literati to go on spring outings and take in the waters, making it the busiest time of year for the establishment.
Today, however, was an exception. The spacious tower was dead quiet, without a single patron inside.
Many guests who had intended to dine here had been turned away by the staff.
"Honored guest, Master Zhang, Battalion Commander of the Pacification Office, is hosting a banquet today and has reserved the entire establishment. We beg your kind understanding..."
No matter their standing, the moment the guests heard the title of Battalion Commander of the Pacification Office, they did not need the waiters to say another word; they turned on their heels and left.
Such was the formidable might of the Pacification Office; provoking them meant losing a layer of skin, if not one's life.
In all of Yunyang Prefecture, there was only one Battalion Commander of the Pacification Office: the Sky Eagle, Zhang Shiheng.
Even the children of Yunyang Prefecture had heard of his illustrious name.
A few idlers stood watching from afar, thoroughly curious as to who possessed enough face to have Zhang Shiheng host a banquet on their behalf.
For loafers, nothing was less dispensable than a good spectacle.
Seeing whom Zhang Shiheng was dining with would give them boasting material for a long time to come.
From a distance, they spotted a party approaching on horseback. Even without seeing their faces clearly, the billowing, wide sleeves made it obvious they were a group of Daoists.
One sharp-eyed idler exclaimed with excitement, "Those are purple ritual robes! That must be Master Zhiyuan, Abbot of the Branch Abbey!"
"Quite a few people came from the Branch Abbey... Hey, look at that young Daoist, he's remarkably handsome..."
Though keeping their distance, the idlers gossiped and pointed among themselves.
Though the Daoists of the Branch Abbey held exalted status, they were known to be gentle and courteous toward ordinary folk, so the onlookers felt little fear.
Zhou Wuji overheard the chatter and naturally assumed the handsome Daoist they spoke of was himself.
Among a crowd of elderly Daoists, he was indeed the only one who qualified for such praise.
Zhou Wuji glanced over at the onlookers. *These fellows actually have decent eyes!*
The waiters hurried out to welcome them. Abbot Zhiyuan led the way, followed by Daoist Yiding and Daoist Yiping, while Wu'ai, Zhou Wuji, and the others trailed closely behind.
Before they even passed through the front gate, Li Fei, a Company Commander of the Pacification Office, had already stepped out to greet them.
"Master, the Battalion Commander has arrived and is awaiting you on the third floor..."
Li Fei wore a round-collared black robe embroidered with a gold-threaded flying fish motif at the chest. With a long saber slung at his waist, he stood neither obsequious nor arrogant, presenting an aura of steady competence and poise.
Zhiyuan nodded slightly and followed Li Fei up to the third floor.
Zhang Shiheng, Battalion Commander of the Pacification Office, stood waiting at the entrance to the third floor. Upon seeing Zhiyuan arrive, Zhang Shiheng smiled, stepping forward to clasp his hands in greeting.
Zhiyuan returned the courtesy with a bowed Daoist salute.
Whatever private grievances existed between the Zhang family and the Branch Abbey, both Zhang Shiheng and Zhiyuan observed propriety meticulously, remaining exceedingly courteous to each other in person.
Zhiyuan then introduced Zhishan, whose status as a patrolling inspector from the Celestial Master Mansion carried considerable weight.
Zhang Shiheng and Zhishan exchanged a few pleasantries before both parties took their seats according to host and guest.
The third floor was sufficiently spacious. Though Zhou Wuji was of the younger generation, he was still assigned a seat toward the back.
Zhou Wuji rather favored this position; sitting in the rear allowed him to observe everyone at his leisure.
This was his first time laying eyes on Zhang Shiheng, the reputed foremost expert, and he found himself thoroughly intrigued by the man.
Zhang Shiheng was of medium build, with a full brow, long eyebrows above phoenix eyes, and a long black beard beneath his chin. His features naturally exuded the commanding aura of someone long accustomed to high authority.
He wore a crimson robe bearing a flying fish insignia badge, cinched at the waist by a leather belt fastened with a gold hook and adorned with finely crafted golden plaques.
The reason Zhou Wuji paid such close attention to Zhang Shiheng's attire was that he had read many assorted books back in Feixuan Hall.
Among them was a volume titled *Collected Rites of Great Hao*, which recorded the imperial court's comprehensive regulations concerning residences, vestments, and ceremonial dress.
As a fifth-rank Battalion Commander, Zhang Shiheng's donning of a crimson flying fish robe paired with an exquisite gold-plaqued belt was an egregious breach of sumptuary laws.
Were the ritual codes strictly enforced, he would at the very least be stripped of his post.
Yet, over centuries of imperial rule, while the sumptuary laws remained on the books, they had long since become dead letters.
Even so, that a Pacification Office Battalion Commander would openly flout imperial etiquette in public only underscored the Zhang family's overbearing arrogance and his own domineering disposition.
It was precisely this forceful nature of Zhang Shiheng that had turned a banquet originally meant to be hosted by the Branch Abbey into one organized by him instead.
Zhou Wuji surmised that Zhiyuan was more than willing to let this happen; with Zhang Shiheng stepping in, Chen Dalu could hardly refuse without blatantly disrespecting the Zhang family.
Yet a dilemma remained: if Zhang Shiheng intervened to stop them when the Branch Abbey made their move, what then?
A fifth-rank martial artist would never fear Zhiyuan, and in a head-on clash, he would even hold a distinct advantage.
Even if his title as the foremost expert of Yunyang Prefecture held a bit of exaggeration, he was by no means someone to be underestimated.
Furthermore, the Pacification Office possessed the prerogative to investigate and arrest.
Matters such as demonic sect uprisings were nominally under the jurisdiction of the Celestial Master Mansion, but in practice, they often had to involve the Pacification Office.
If Zhang Shiheng refused to approve of dealing with Chen Dalu, things would become thorny indeed.
Zhou Wuji cared so deeply about this matter partly out of indignation for those who had died, but above all for his own safety.
Chen Dagou, the Azure Dragon Emissary, and the Gu master in the secret realm—whom Yizhen had confirmed to be the Black Dragon Emissary, Chen Yong.
He had slain three of the Five Dragons Gang's five dragon emissaries; Chen Dalu had to hate him to the very marrow of his bones.
The only reason he had stayed safe during this period was that he remained ensconced within the Branch Abbey.
Zhou Wuji was intensely wary of the Five Dragons Gang. Given this chance to wipe them out, he was determined to push it forward aggressively.
Yet seeing the atmosphere within Yunjiang Tower, he could not help but feel that things looked rather precarious this time...
Daoist Yiping sat right next to Zhou Wuji. Noticing his eyes darting back and forth as he stared steadily at Zhang Shiheng, Yiping gave Zhou Wuji's sleeve a gentle tug and covered his mouth to whisper, "Don't stare so intently."
Zhang Shiheng, however, had already sensed the gaze. He cast a glance at Zhou Wuji sitting in the back.
The youth was so young, so remarkably handsome, and even seated in the furthest corner, he could not conceal the effortless grace and lofty presence radiating from him.
To Zhang Shiheng's slight surprise, the young man did not flinch or shrink back under his scrutiny; instead, he casually nodded in a polite acknowledgment.
Zhang Shiheng could not help but let out a quiet chuckle. He had long heard from Zhang Yunfeng that the Branch Abbey had produced a master swordsman—a youth whose swordsmanship was superb and whose strikes were ruthless and unsparing.
Judging by this young Daoist's bearing and demeanor, he was without a doubt that brilliant swordsman, Zhou Wuji.
*A remarkable talent indeed...*
With Zhang Shiheng's keen eye and vast experience, a single glance was all he needed to confirm that Zhou Wuji was extraordinary.
He gave Zhou Wuji another deep, penetrating look.
As their eyes met, Zhou Wuji found Zhang Shiheng's gaze as piercing as a blade, seemingly seeing straight through him in an instant.
A chill ran through Zhou Wuji. He knew this was the gaze-striking technique of a fifth-rank martial powerhouse, unleashing one's martial spirit through locked eyes to exert pressure on another's mind.
Though he had forged sword intent and fist intent, he was still far outmatched compared to Zhang Shiheng.
After all, they differed by two entire martial ranks.
Yet his spiritual power was formidable. Having cultivated the Northern Dipper Celestial Pivot Scripture to the realm of perfection, he had also forged the Heart Mirror.
Suspended high within his sea of consciousness, the Heart Mirror constantly illuminated both inner and outer realms, guarding his mind and consciousness at every moment.
The martial spirit Zhang Shiheng projected through his gaze was fully reflected by the Heart Mirror.
Zhou Wuji knew Zhang Shiheng was merely probing, yet he could still directly feel the vast chasm between them.
Relying on his Heart Mirror, he could have barely held his ground, but there was no need.
Faced with a fifth-rank martial expert, Zhou Wuji chose to keep a low profile and yield.
He lowered his eyes, politely breaking gaze with Zhang Shiheng.
Zhang Shiheng maintained an impassive expression, yet he was quietly surprised that he had failed to see through the shifts in Zhou Wuji's true qi.
This young Daoist swordsman had drawn all his true qi inward, concealing it so deeply that even his piercing stare failed to provoke it into stirring.
*Interesting...*
In his mind, Zhang Shiheng raised his estimation of Zhou Wuji another notch. The Branch Abbey boasted no shortage of experts, but this Zhou Wuji was not merely peerless among the younger generation; even among those of the Yi generation, few could match him.
Still, no matter how formidable, he was only a seventh-rank Daoist, hardly someone requiring serious concern.
Both Zhiyuan and Zhishan had noticed Zhang Shiheng's probing. Zhiyuan said with a smile, "The junior lacks manners. Please pay him no mind, Superintendent."
Zhang Shiheng was the head of the Yunyang Prefecture Pacification Office, customarily addressed with the honorific title of Superintendent.
"The Branch Abbey is brimming with talent and flourishing splendidly," Zhang Shiheng replied politely with a laugh. "It is all thanks to your masterful guidance..."
As Zhiyuan, Zhishan, and Zhang Shiheng chatted and laughed, the others lacked the status to participate and could only listen from the side, not even qualified to interject.
After the three chatted for a while, a Pacification Office agent called out loudly from outside the doors: "Chen Dalu of the Five Dragons Gang has arrived!"
Zhang Shiheng told Li Fei, "Go receive him."
Before long, Li Fei escorted Chen Dalu and his entourage up to the third floor.
Chen Dalu was dark-skinned and short yet stockily built, with sparse, coarse eyebrows and tiny eyes. Though rather ugly in appearance, he exuded a fierce, brutish air.
He wore a black robe with hemp sandals on his bare feet, carrying a heavy black iron staff in his hand.
Zhang Yunfeng, dressed in a turquoise robe, accompanied him at his side, his demeanor suggesting a close familiarity with Chen Dalu.
Zhang Shiheng did not rise to greet him this time. Zhiyuan was an imperial-conferred fifth-rank Scripture Master, equal in rank to himself, which was why he had gone to the stairwell to receive him.
Chen Dalu was merely a Jianghu ruffian, nowhere near fit for polite society; Zhang Shiheng would never lower himself to welcome such a person.
Zhang Shiheng smiled and waved his hand. "Leader Chen, you've arrived late. Please, have a seat."
He pointed to a seat on his left, indicating it was reserved for Chen Dalu.
Chen Dalu held no love for Zhang Shiheng either. With that old Daoist mongrel Zhiyuan watching as Zhang Shiheng treated him so dismissively, resentment flared in his chest, and his face darkened.
Zhang Shiheng acted as though he noticed nothing. Motioning for Chen Dalu to sit, he said with a smile, "Master Zhiyuan and Leader Chen are both distinguished guests. That you could take time out of your busy schedules to attend today is my great honor."
Chen Dalu grunted sullenly, "Were it not for your invitation, Superintendent, why would I ever cross paths with this old Daoist?"
With Zhiyuan right in front of him, Chen Dalu could not bring himself to curse him outright.
Zhiyuan smiled faintly. "Leader Chen may not wish to see this old Daoist, but this old Daoist has many questions to put to you."
Chen Dalu had no idea what Zhiyuan was getting at and snorted, "You are a dignified fifth-rank master, yet your words are so cryptic and snide—utterly insufferable!"
Before Zhiyuan could answer, Chen Dalu's roving gaze locked onto Zhou Wuji.
Though he had never met Zhou Wuji, the boy was far too easy to pick out.
Chen Dalu pointed at Zhou Wuji, his face flushing with fury. "You must be Zhou Wuji!"
Zhou Wuji stood up politely and cupped his hands. "I am Zhou Wuji. May I ask what guidance Leader Chen has for me?"
Chen Dalu sneered, "I hear your swordsmanship is quite something. I happen to have a man who is also skilled with the blade, and he wishes to cross swords with you."
Before the words had even faded, Chen Hao, who had been standing behind Chen Dalu, strode forward. Leveling a five-foot-long sword at Zhou Wuji, he barked, "Come!"
Chapter 99