Chapter 146
Chapter 146: Rong Shu’s Future Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters
After spending some time on the road, Rong Shu arrived smoothly at the door of her newly purchased cave dwelling.
The dwelling was hidden amid mountain forests and had been hewn out from within the mountain itself; lush branches and leaves masked the entrance from view.
Rong Shu urged her spiritual energy into the Unity Pavilion’s “key,” which was actually a Formation Gate Token, then opened both the cave’s main door and its protective restrictions.
After that, Rong Shu took out the arrays in her Storage Pouch. She installed Formation Discs for every kind of array she had—defensive, concealment, and more—positioning them outside the cave until the entire dwelling lay beneath a comprehensive veil.
Looking at the cave before her and the arrays arranged all around, Rong Shu clenched her fist slightly: “Everything is prepared. Next comes secluded cultivation for Foundation Establishment.”
“If I fail to establish my foundation, I will not emerge.”
With that resolve in mind, she stepped into the cave dwelling in a few quick strides.
After Rong Shu entered, the cave door slowly closed.
At the same time, the arrays outside activated one after another until the entire cave vanished from sight.
…
Within Heaven’s Evolution Sect, after a brutal battle with Demonic Cultivators, the atmosphere throughout the sect had grown grim and tense.
When Lin Dao returned, he saw many places damaged by fighting, several corpses covered with white cloth, and blood spattered across the ground.
The surviving disciples were equal parts relieved and shaken; they feared and loathed the Demonic Cultivators in equal measure. Some murmured to one another: “It was terrifying. The Demonic Cultivators suddenly attacked.” Others said: “Did you hear? Shi Ji Cai and those few were spies for the Demonic Cultivators. When the Demonic Cultivators assaulted the sect, they killed quite a number of fellow disciples.” Someone sighed: “You truly never know a person’s heart. Luckily the sect was prepared this time.”
Back at his residence on the Inner Peaks, Lin Dao activated the Destiny Plate once more.
The Destiny Plate pointed west.
West of the Inner Peaks lay Jun Xiu Ran’s Limitless Peak, and Yu Ruan Ruan had already returned there.
Weighing the Destiny Plate in his hand, Lin Dao mused to himself: [I still don’t know if this thing is functioning properly.]
He could not be certain. It had been damaged earlier, and only just repaired. Lin Dao was no expert in array arts.
[Should I go back to Central State?] As the thought arose, it felt feasible.
His primary reason for coming to the Southern Wilds had been to find the person his master mentioned. Dragging Yan Cheng Qian down from his horse in Scarlet Sun City and obstructing Ancestor Wu Xie had merely been matters he happened to encounter and lightly intervened in.
Now that the person had been found, he needed to report to his master. And if Rong Shu entered their gate in the future, he had to inform his master and his senior brothers.
All at once Lin Dao’s thoughts halted: [I forgot to ask that little girl whether she’s willing to go to Central State.]
He had never found a good chance to ask Rong Shu’s opinion.
He lowered his gaze to the Destiny Plate in his hand, then tucked it away into his Storage Pouch: [Forget it, I’ll ask her next time.]
Though Rong Shu’s cultivation was shallow and she was still young, she was a very self-directed person. Forcing her to go to Central State might disrupt her training. He would wait until Rong Shu returned from her tempering and then ask for her thoughts.
Lin Dao left his residence again, took a long-duration outbound task at the Task Pavilion, and departed Heaven’s Evolution Sect.
…
Central State, Fate-Slaying Mountain.
A streak of sword light cut across the sky.
It fell at last upon the highest peak of Fate-Slaying Mountain.
As the sword light faded, Wu Hua’s figure appeared. He lifted his gaze toward the edge of the cliff not far away.
There, a white-haired elder sat alone with eyes closed, conserving his spirit.
Wu Hua stepped forward and cupped his fists in salute: “Master.”
The white-haired elder wore a clean, immaculate Daoist robe and sat upright upon a Meditation Mat. He slowly opened his eyes, glanced at Wu Hua, then turned his gaze back to the distant white mists over the far mountains: “You are back. How did it go?”
Wu Hua reported: “The Destiny Plate is repaired, and I found the person. It is only that the impression she gave me was ordinary. I truly find it hard to imagine that person is the one we seek.”
As he spoke, Wu Hua presented the Destiny Plate with both hands: “Master, is there any damage left in the Destiny Plate? Is it operating normally?”
The white-haired elder infused it with spiritual energy, examined it, then handed it back.
“There is none. The Destiny Plate has been repaired.”
He stroked his beard lightly and said, “What you transmitted earlier, this old fellow already knows.”
“As always, act according to your heart.”
“Fate is determined by heaven and hard to change, yet as cultivators we cultivate to defy heaven and change fate. Fate is important, but the key still lies within oneself.”
Wu Hua hesitated for a moment and said: “Master, this concerns senior brothers’ futures. I would like to observe for a few more days.”
The white-haired elder nodded slightly: “Very well.”
“Master, there is one more matter. I met a girl in the Southern Wilds who suits me very well. She is a diligent and hard-working child, but her current sect master does not value her and her fellow disciples and senior brothers target her.” Wu Hua paused, then began, “I wish to…”
“Hahaha.” The white-haired elder suddenly laughed, amusement in his expression he could not quite suppress: “Just like with Zi An and Gu Chen? You want this old fellow to take her as a disciple?”
Wu Hua nodded: “Yes.”
The white-haired elder agreed with a genial smile: “All right. Since she suits your eye, she must be a good little lass.”
“Thank you, Master.” Wu Hua’s brows eased, then he added: “Master, I will first go see First Senior Brother.”
“Mm. Go.”
After Wu Hua departed, the white-haired elder turned again to face the vast world before him. His right hand, resting upon his knee, made a brief calculation with his fingers.
His expression grew solemn as he breathed out a quiet sigh: “Fate is decreed by heaven.”
“Yet a sliver of life remains. There is still a chance.”
…
At a bamboo house in the forest, Wu Hua entered the courtyard and saw beneath the eaves a young man in a winter robe. The man’s features were clear and fine.
A go board was set before him, and a pot of tea steamed at his side. The vapor curled around him as if he sat within immortals’ mist, making it hard to see him clearly.
Wu Hua came before the man and saluted: “Senior brother.”
The man casually placed a black stone upon the board.
A moment ago, the black stones had been clinging on by a thread. In an instant they turned into a sharp blade that cut through the surrounding white encirclement, opening an unprecedented path to life.
Cold Bright Mirror turned his head with a gentle smile and motioned to the seat opposite: “You are back. Are you tired?”
Wu Hua sat across from Cold Bright Mirror, posture faultlessly straight, back held erect: “Not at all.”
Cold Bright Mirror poured him a cup of tea: “Drink.”
“Thank you, senior brother.”
Wu Hua took the teacup with both hands and sipped.
Then he repeated what he had just told the white-haired elder, informing Cold Bright Mirror of all the details.
Cold Bright Mirror listened and his face softened into a mild smile: “Do as you think best.”
“As for our future little junior sister, what does she cultivate? We cannot be stingy about her initiation gifts.”
Wu Hua set down his cup and answered: “Little junior sister has Wind-Fire Dual Spiritual Roots. She is primarily a blade cultivator and studies the bow as a secondary path. She has not learned archery arts yet and only knows some theory. At present she is a second-grade alchemist.”
“Blades and a bow?” Cold Bright Mirror lowered his gaze to his teacup and chuckled: “That is interesting.”
“I know what gift to prepare for our future little junior sister… cough, cough.”
He began to cough, yet although he coughed, the teacup in his hand, filled seven-tenths with tea, remained utterly steady and unruffled.
“Senior brother.” Seeing Cold Bright Mirror cough so suddenly, Wu Hua grew anxious and hurried to his side.
Cold Bright Mirror suppressed the cough and waved his hand: “I am fine. An old ailment, nothing more.”
“You have been away for a long time. Go see Jing Yue and the others.”
“Mm.”
Confirming that Cold Bright Mirror was not seriously unwell, Wu Hua nodded, rose, and took his leave.
…
After leaving the bamboo house, Wu Hua considered for a moment, then rode his sword away from the mountain.
In a basin encircled by mountains lay a lake.
At its center drifted a lone skiff.
On the skiff reclined a white-clad figure, lazily lying on her back. The large, layered sweep of her skirts spread across the little boat; seen from afar, she looked like a blossoming snow lotus.
Her jade-like hand lifted a wine gourd. She shook it, then poured out the wine.
The wine formed a slender stream, flowing into her mouth until she had drunk it all.
After several swallows, she set the gourd down, propped her head on one hand, and let her cool, beautiful phoenix eyes slide lazily toward the approaching Wu Hua.
“You are back.”
Wu Hua stopped on the water a few zhang from the skiff.
“Mm.”
He was silent a moment, then said quietly: “I want to bring a child back to the mountain and have Master accept her as a disciple.”
“She is a girl.”
The woman’s drinking paused. She sat up, tilted her head toward him, and raised a brow: “How old?”
“Thirteen. If you see her, you will like her too.”
At that, the woman reclined again on the skiff, propped her head in one hand, and a teasing glimmer touched her eyes: “Not bad.”
“At long last you have brought back a young lady.”
Wu Hua turned his gaze aside to the water’s surface and continued: “The person indicated by the Destiny Plate as the one fated by heaven is her sect senior sister, a few years older.”
The woman knit her brows slightly: “And you did not find the wrong person?”
“The Destiny Plate pointed to the same person several times, but when I look at that person… there is something odd.”
Seeing the peculiar look in his eyes, the woman examined him for a few moments, then suddenly smiled conspiratorially: “Were you taken advantage of?”
“…No.”
Wu Hua’s expression cooled; his tone turned chilly as he emphasized: “I did not even touch the hem of her robe.”
The woman tipped back another mouthful of burning liquor, then asked: “What did Master and First Senior Brother say?”
“They left it to my judgment. It is just that the matter is weighty…”
The woman cut him off with a soft smile: “I trust you.”
“Do as you think best. Do not hold back.”
They fell silent again.
“I will go see Zi An and Gu Chen,” Wu Hua said as he turned to leave.
Before she could reply, his figure became sword light and vanished at speed.
“What are you running so fast for?”
The woman rose lightly, smoothed the slight disorder of her skirts, and stepped off the skiff.
The once placid surface tossed up a succession of waves, cupping her steps as she walked outward.
…
Leaving Rongxue Lake, Wu Hua alighted upon another peak.
There were several buildings on the mountain. He had taken only a few steps and was about to enter a doorway when two figures, one in purple and one in gray, flew out.
The purple-robed figure in front arrowed straight toward Wu Hua without slowing. His aggrieved, plaintive voice arrived with him: “Third senior brother, you are finally back.”
“While you were away I had no one to talk to. First senior brother plays chess every day, second senior sister drinks every day, Little Chen hammers iron every day and is a mute who can’t squeeze out a word.”
“I am too pitiful. Wuu wuu…”
Wu Hua sidestepped the would-be bear hug and looked at him in distaste: “Enough. Stop clowning.”
“I am back only briefly and have two matters to inform you of.”
As he spoke, he looked to the other man who had come with the purple-robed one and gave him a slight nod.
The gray-robed man saluted silently.
On hearing this, the purple-robed man immediately sobered: “That so-called fated person—did you find her?”
Wu Hua nodded slightly: “Tentatively, yes. But I still need to observe and confirm.”
“Oh.” The purple-robed man pivoted, words tumbling out at high speed: “And the other matter?”
“I met a child in the Southern Wilds,” Wu Hua said. “She is very diligent and hard-working. I pointed out a few things to her. Unfortunately she is targeted in her sect, so I wish for Master to take her as a disciple.”
“Male or female?” The purple-robed man fluttered his charming peach-blossom eyes, curiosity bright. “Third senior brother, do not pick up another mute. I need someone who will talk to me.” He frowned and worried aloud: “She is not a big, burly martial maniac, is she?”
The taciturn gray-robed man gave him a silent sidelong glance.
“No riddles,” Wu Hua said. “A girl. She is quite adorable.”
At the word girl, the purple-robed man jumped and whooped, face alight with joy and relief: “Wow!”
“We are getting a little junior sister? Hahaha, at last there will be a young lady on our mountain.”
A dry cough sounded. The gray-robed man lifted a fist to his lips and coughed twice.
Realization struck the purple-robed man. His face collapsed into a bitter gourd as he pressed his palms together and pleaded to Wu Hua: “Third senior brother, my mouth is foul, I misspoke, please do not tell second senior sister.”
Wu Hua had yet to answer when he sensed something and turned his head.
At that instant a graceful woman descended from the sky: “I heard you.”
“Xiao Zi An, do you think there is no young lady on Fate-Slaying Mountain now?”
As her voice, as clear as a tinkling spring, fell, Xiao Zi An seemed to lose control and flew backward with a shriek: “Aaaah, second senior sister spare me.”
“Aaah, I… was… wrong…”
He shot skyward suddenly, then plummeted, then shot up again, tossed back and forth several times. When at last he was set down, his once meticulously styled hair and robes had been blown into a total mess. His spirit seemed drained right out of him.
The woman lifted the wine gourd at her waist, pulled the stopper, drank, and smiled at the three of them: “Since it is a little one whom Wu Hua values, she must be good.”
Xiao Zi An patted his wind-stiffened face and grinned ingratiatingly: “That she is, that she is. Third senior brother’s eye is always excellent.”
The woman slanted him a look, took another pull from the gourd, and clicked her tongue: “A cute young lady will be easy on the eyes. I am tired of looking at Zi An’s deadbeat mug.”
Wounded, Xiao Zi An clasped his chest and wailed: “With Little Chen and a little junior sister, I am no longer second senior sister’s precious darling.”
The woman chuckled: “Thanks for the invitation. You never were.”
“Second senior sister, you are heartless and cruel. Wuuuu…”
…