Chapter 514: Xiao Qiwu

After Lv Yinlin left, Zhu He turned around with a worried look, only to suddenly discover a graceful figure standing not far away, watching him.

The dim twilight could not conceal Lv Qingzhu's cold and ethereal temperament.

Zhu He managed to squeeze out a faint smile and said, "It's Qingzhu! I haven't seen you for a few years, but you have grown even more radiant."

Lv Qingzhu asked with a cold expression, "Elder Zhu just said that your disciple is to receive three strikes of the God-Striking Whip and be locked inside the Wanxiang Cave?"

Zhu He nodded with a heavy expression. There was nothing much to hide regarding Duan Rong's matter; the written decree from the Ruling Sect Justice Division had already been issued, and it should have spread throughout the entire Sect.

Lv Qingzhu asked, "What did he do to deserve such punishment?"

The conversation between Zhu He and Lv Yinlin just now had not been very clear. Lv Qingzhu was very curious about what rebellious act Duan Rong had committed to warrant such a heavy penalty.

Zhu He said, "He snatched a person out from the Tower Forest of Iron Enclosure Mountain."

"Snatched a person?" Lv Qingzhu knitted her brows, her eyes filled with astonishment as she asked, "Who did he snatch?"

Zhu He said, "He snatched Xiao Yu, his wife."

Lv Qingzhu fell silent. She did not know that Duan Rong was already married.

"He deserves it! Three whips are too few!" After a while, Lv Qingzhu suddenly cursed and turned to walk toward her own Cave Abode. "It would be better if he were beaten until his soul scattered!"

Zhu He was left completely bewildered by Lv Qingzhu's inexplicable reaction at the end, but he had no heart to dwell on it now; he just walked toward the outside of the valley, full of worries.

According to the Ancestor, although Duan Rong's entry into the Wanxiang Cave this time was a deliberate arrangement, it still held dangers.

Walking to the mouth of the valley, Zhu He paused his steps. He turned his head to look at the top of the pitch-black cliff; what Lv Yinlin had described—the mother eagle throwing her chicks off the cliff—seemed to be playing out before his very eyes.

Whether this chick, Duan Rong, would fall to his death or not, who could predict?

Duan Rong lay on a pile of straw in the Dungeon, his hands behind his head, muttering something to himself. Suddenly, he pursed his lips and spat out something dark.

That thing traced an arc and, with a crisp 'pop', landed in a plate not far away.

It was actually a fruit pit that had been sucked clean. The original fruits in the plate had already been eaten, and only a dozen or so bare pits lay in that plate.

Just then, the cell door suddenly opened, and under the dim lamplight, a figure walked in.

Thinking it was Yang Sixuan who had entered, Duan Rong continued to lie there, crossing his legs and swinging them incessantly...

At this moment, he heard a deep, familiar voice ring out.

"Duan Rong!"

Upon hearing that voice, Duan Rong's eyes flickered. He turned his head to look and saw the dim light outside the cell shining on half of an aged profile—who else could it be but Zhu He?

He scrambled up in one motion, then knelt down and said, "Master, this disciple is unfilial! I have caused you to worry!"

At a glance, Duan Rong saw Zhu He's face, full of gloom, and the heavy fatigue between his brows.

Zhu He sighed and said, "Enough! I have come to see you because I have something to tell you."

As he spoke, Zhu He actually sat down on the pile of straw beside Duan Rong. He glanced at the plate of fruit pits by Duan Rong's feet and muttered, "You ate all these fruits by yourself?"

Zhu He had been busy with Duan Rong's affairs; only after sitting down did he suddenly realize that he had been so busy for so long that he hadn't even managed to drink a drop of water. His throat felt dry, and there was even a dull pain when he spoke.

Not only had he not drunk water, but he had been talking for these past few hours, and on top of being anxious and agitated, he had shouted a few times; now that he sat down, he suddenly felt his throat aching faintly.

Hearing this, Duan Rong smiled slightly, and with a flip of his right hand, a large, red, plump fruit appeared in his palm.

"There is still one left!"

He handed the fruit to Zhu He and said, "I originally saved it to eat when I was thirsty. Since Master has come, I will use this to treat you."

Zhu He smiled slightly, took the red, plump fruit, and took a bite. The juice moistened his throat, and he laughed, "Mm, this fruit is sweet."

While eating the fruit, Zhu He looked at Duan Rong and asked, "Kid, when did you comprehend over a hundred types of Artistic Conception?"

Duan Rong's eyes went blank, and he said, "This disciple does not know. It was only last time in the deep valley that the Ancestor said so; this disciple was also astonished! I have always only used one type of Artistic Conception, the Blade Radiance, but the Ancestor said that beneath my Blade Radiance, over a hundred types of Artistic Conception were flickering!?"

Zhu He pondered for a moment and said, "The Ancestor would not be mistaken!"

Zhu He felt it was normal that Duan Rong himself did not know about this. How could a normal person comprehend over a hundred types of Artistic Conception? Duan Rong comprehending so many was likely related to his unique Kongming Realm.

It was just that this Kongming Realm was quite mysterious; sages of the past had investigated it, but in the end, it was difficult to fathom its principles.

Furthermore, what Duan Rong possessed was a special Kongming Realm, which differed from the ordinary Kongming Realm, so if one wanted to get to the bottom of it, it would likely be even harder.

Zhu He then thought of Duan Rong's reaction when looking at the calligraphy by Gu Daoling; that unique feeling of his was likely also related to his comprehension of those hundred-odd miscellaneous Artistic Conceptions. It was just that he lacked the Ancestor's insight and had not discovered Duan Rong's uniqueness in time.

Zhu He then told Duan Rong about the punishment he was to receive and the deep meaning behind the Ancestor's arrangement. As for the Ancestor's words about the mother eagle throwing her chicks off the cliff, Zhu He did not relay them to Duan Rong.

Duan Rong looked stunned. "Wuliang Cliff? Wanxiang Cave? God-Striking Whip!?"

Zhu He said, "The Ancestor said that the hundred-odd miscellaneous Artistic Conceptions in your body can only be integrated and unified within the Wanxiang Cave."

Duan Rong's face twitched, and he thought to himself: Could it be that devouring too many Artistic Conceptions is actually harmful?

After a moment of thought, Duan Rong asked this question to Zhu He. "Master, will having over a hundred miscellaneous Artistic Conceptions be an obstacle to my cultivation?"

Zhu He said, "At the Qi Cyclone Realm, the obstacles are not yet obvious. But with such miscellaneous Artistic Conceptions, when condensing the Cave Abode, the different Artistic Conceptions will pull and interfere with each other, making it extremely difficult to form the Cave Abode."

Duan Rong gasped.

He had originally just been devouring them for fun; he didn't use any of those swords, spears, or whips at all. If he had known it would come to this, he simply wouldn't have devoured those messy things.

In fact, he had already felt a faint sense of unease in his heart. With his contemplation of Artistic Conception, especially under the stimulation of Gu Daoling's calligraphy, his understanding of martial arts had become very different.

Martial arts were originally meant to be practiced until they were pure to have a chance to enter a profound realm; for him to be so miscellaneous and devour them recklessly was indeed a bad move!

Zhu He explained the whole matter to Duan Rong, then spat out the fruit pit he had been holding in his mouth and threw it into the plate. He stood up, looked at Duan Rong, and said, "The execution is in three days! The three strikes of the God-Striking Whip will shatter your Divine Soul; be mentally prepared."

"Shatter my Divine Soul?" A chill ran through Duan Rong's heart.

Zhu He said, "This is the Ancestor's arrangement; it cannot be changed."

After saying this, Zhu He walked out of the cell.

Duan Rong sat there, dazed. He really couldn't quite understand; even if entering the Wanxiang Cave could allow his miscellaneous Artistic Conceptions to be integrated and unified...

... then why must he receive three strikes of the God-Striking Whip, enough to shatter his Divine Soul?!

Is this really teaching me? Or is it killing me?

Could it be because he snatched someone from the Tower Forest and violated the Sect Iron Law, so they are whipping him three times to silence the public? The more Duan Rong thought about it, the more he felt this was very likely.

As Zhu He walked out of the Ruling Sect Justice Division's Dungeon, Yang Yi stepped forward and cupped his fists to see him off personally. Zhu He flicked his sleeves, not even looking at Yang Yi, and transformed into a black ray of light, shooting toward the horizon.

The Enforcement Elder of Wuliang Cliff and Wanxiang Cave is Xiao Qiwu.

This man is also over two hundred years old, and within the Elder Council of the Taiyi Sect, he is considered one with quite senior qualifications.

Zhu He and this man have a good relationship; in the years that Zhu He has been in charge of the Inner History Department, whenever Xiao Qiwu had any matter, as long as he spoke a word, Zhu He would handle it for him.

Over these years, this Xiao Qiwu has essentially been owing Zhu He favors.

This day, Xiao Qiwu was sitting alone in a pavilion atop Wuliang Cliff, brewing tea and tasting it; he watched the clouds rolling and unrolling in the sky and the mist churning within the valley, his expression tranquil.

He has also been trapped in the early stage of the Dongming Realm for fifty or sixty years, and there is no hope for a breakthrough. For the past ten years or so, he has been in a state of semi-seclusion.

At this moment, a young boy with his hair tied in ox-horn braids suddenly walked over slowly, cupped his hands, and said in a somewhat childish voice: "Sir, someone has come to visit!"

Xiao Qiwu's eyes narrowed, and he said coldly: "Who?"

The boy said: "The Department Head of the Inner History Department, Zhu He!"

Xiao Qiwu smiled slightly; he had already received the document from the Ruling Sect Justice Division. Zhu He coming to visit at this time must be for this matter.

"One doesn't visit the Three Treasures Hall without a reason!" Xiao Qiwu took a sip of clear tea and said: "Invite him over."

"Yes!" The boy cupped his hands and left.

The boy led Zhu He, bypassed a withered pine tree, and saw from afar the pavilion standing at the edge of the cliff, with the mist and clouds as a backdrop; Xiao Qiwu sat inside alone, possessing quite a bit of an otherworldly air.

The boy cupped his hands and said: "Department Head Zhu, my Master Xiao is right there, please go ahead yourself."

After the boy finished speaking, he turned and descended the cliff top.

Zhu He's expression remained unmoved as he walked slowly toward the pavilion.

When he was about a zhang away from the pavilion, Xiao Qiwu suddenly turned his head, his eyes lighting up as if he had just seen Zhu He, and he stood up with a smile to welcome him; as he walked out of the pavilion, he laughed: "What kind of wind has blown across Wuliang Cliff to bring a great Bodhisattva like you here?"

Zhu He glanced at the tea-brewing utensils in the pavilion behind Xiao Qiwu and smiled slightly: "Brother Xiao, you are truly living the life of an immortal! Had I known the scenery of Wuliang Cliff was so beautiful, I should have come over to sit more often to wash away all this worldly dust from my body!"

"Brother Zhu, do not joke. I am now nothing more than a half-crippled man, guarding this Wuliang Cliff; what difference is there between me and those old immortals who hide from the world?"

Zhu He knew that Xiao Qiwu was referring to those elders of the Sect who do not concern themselves with worldly affairs.

"Brother Zhu, freshly brewed tea. Come and have a taste!"

As Xiao Qiwu spoke, he had already ushered Zhu He inside.

Zhu He sat down, and Xiao Qiwu personally lifted the pot to pour a cup of tea for Zhu He.

Zhu He picked it up gently; the tea soup was slightly hot, and he took a small sip. The clear fragrance passed over his teeth and refreshed his heart and spirit. He set down the teacup and couldn't help but praise: "Good tea! Good water! Good timing!"

Xiao Qiwu laughed and said: "To tell you the truth, Brother Zhu, Xiao's time over these years has all been spent in these cups of tea."

Zhu He looked at the mist outside the cliff wall and sighed: "A pot of tea, sitting and watching the clouds rise. Brother Xiao is truly a figure like an immortal!"

Xiao Qiwu smiled slightly: "Good poem!"

He knew that Zhu He was deliberately flattering him, but he sat in solitude year-round, and having an old friend visit suddenly and say so many complimentary things to him, he still found it quite gratifying.

Xiao Qiwu looked at Zhu He, who was casting his gaze toward the mist outside the cliff, and said: "Brother Zhu, you have come this time for the sake of Duan Rong, haven't you?"

Zhu He turned his head and smiled faintly. Xiao Qiwu breaking the silence before he could speak was already a way of repaying his favor.

Zhu He said: "Brother Xiao must have seen the document from the Ruling Sect Justice Division, right?"

"Xiao has seen it."

Zhu He said: "Zhu is untalented and has no gift for cultivation, which is why I have crawled through the worldly pursuit of fame and profit. But for many years, I have wanted to find a good disciple. It is also to make up for the regrets of my life. Duan Rong is a good sprout. Regarding those three strikes of the God-Striking Whip, I ask Brother Xiao to show mercy and not strike too hard!"

Xiao Qiwu smiled: "Since that boy is Brother Zhu's disciple, it can be considered his good fortune. Brother Zhu, rest assured, Xiao knows how to measure his strength!"

Zhu He laughed: "With Brother Xiao's words, I feel as if I have taken a reassurance pill. Also! After that boy enters Wanxiang Cave, I must trouble Brother Xiao to pay more attention to his situation; if there is anything unusual, I hope Brother Xiao can inform me in time."

Xiao Qiwu's expression shifted. He had not expected that Zhu He would care so much about this disciple.

Xiao Qiwu said: "Since Brother Zhu has spoken, Xiao will certainly do as requested. Only..."

Xiao Qiwu pondered for a moment before saying: "First receiving three strikes of the God-Striking Whip, then entering Wanxiang Cave. Forgive my bluntness, but I fear your disciple would lose his life in there even if he had nine lives. Why must Brother Zhu care so much?"

Zhu He said: "For anyone else, that would naturally be the case. But if this boy goes in, there might be something extraordinary."

"Oh?" Xiao Qiwu stared at Zhu He; he knew that Zhu He was not a person to think randomly without basis. Since he said so, there must be a reason. "Alright then, since that is the case. For the sake of Brother Zhu, I will look after this boy within the permitted scope."

"I trouble you, Brother Xiao!"

Xiao Qiwu smiled: "Come, let us have another cup. The taste of this pot is different again..."

After Zhu He left, Xiao Qiwu sat alone in the pavilion until sunset.

The tea soup had gone cold, and the residual clouds were turning red.

After waiting a while longer, until the last trace of the residual clouds faded away, Xiao Qiwu would stand up.

At this moment, the boy with the ox-horn braids appeared on the cliff top again; he walked to the outside of the pavilion and cupped his hands: "There is an old man outside who wishes to see you, Sir."

Xiao Qiwu frowned; he had always liked quiet, and after seeing Zhu He today, he felt even less inclined to see anyone else. It was as if the little bit of patience he had left for dealing with people had been exhausted by Zhu He.

He sighed: "What is going on today? Why has the usually cold and isolated Wuliang Cliff become so lively?"

"An old man!? What kind of old man?" Xiao Qiwu turned his head to look at the boy and asked.

The boy said: "He says his name is Jing Chou, and he was the personal attendant of the late Elder Ge Rusong."

"Ge Rusong?" A flash of disgust crossed Xiao Qiwu's face. When Ge Rusong was alive, he disliked that man's cold, arrogant, and overbearing style the most.

"Drive him away!" Xiao Qiwu said coldly.

The boy just stood there, motionless.

Xiao Qiwu was slightly angry and said: "Did you not understand what I said?"

The boy held up an envelope and said: "He said that once you see this object, you will certainly see him."

(End of this chapter)