Chapter 262: Words Still Echo, Yet Events Have Come to Pass (Bonus Chapter, Make Up for Missing 9th)

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan flew beyond White Dragon Flag Mountain, mentally picturing the face and voice of Daoist Daoist Tanbai—this was something he excelled at; of course, knowing the man's true name or using his hair, armor, or clothing to craft a talisman would make the divination even easier.

He activated his Dharma Eye and Spirit Pupil, then employed the Qi-Observation method recorded in the "Forecasting Wind Bird Divination," forming a hand seal and murmuring,

"Heavenly wind as guide, earthly qi as basis,

Reveal what I contemplate, let the divination bird take form.

Return date may be measured, traces may be shown,

West and east may be distinguished, fortune or misfortune made clear.

Heaven's mystery reveals itself—do not conceal! Do not defy!"

As the incantation ended, light flared in his pupils, and the next moment, he saw the invisible autumn wind gradually take on a pale gold hue; the great wind now became traceable in Cheng Cheng Xinzhan's eyes:

The wind's path indeed faintly took the shape of a bird!

It was unmistakably a green falcon, and at its beak lay a branch lifted by the wind; the bird's two legs were tightly pressed together, drawn backward, as if entangled by something it could not break free from, its talons pointing westward.

Then the wind shifted and the bird moved: the green falcon spun thrice left, once right, then abruptly turned east, flying straight toward Cheng Cheng Xinzhan's position, flapping its wings seven times before vanishing, all returning to normal.

The entire process lasted no longer than a blink, like an illusion.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan dismissed the spell and fell into thought, beginning to interpret the wind-formed bird, muttering to himself,

"Golden wind, green bird—three reversals, one Shun, indicating a friend trapped in warfare; yet the branch in its beak signifies vitality remains intact, and escape is assured.

"Talons pressed together mean this peril stems from being entangled by others; the direction of the talons shows the current location is west; seven wingbeats upon returning to the nest mean return in seven days."

"For now, I can discern only this much—I don't know if I've misinterpreted. I'll wait and observe. May these few return safely. I'll come back in seven days to check again."

Thinking thus, Cheng Cheng Xinzhan left the place and flew toward his own cave dwelling.

————

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye. Cheng Cheng Xinzhan feared arriving too early and missing the man, so he waited until sunset before going to Daoist Daoist Tanbai's cave.

"Is Daoist Daoist Tanbai in today?"

Daoist Daoist Tanbai's cave was not carved into a mountainside but built as a courtyard of green bamboo on a gentle slope; Cheng Cheng Xinzhan now stood outside the gate calling out.

"I'm here."

Daoist Daoist Tanbai's voice came from within, but it sounded weak.

A stone lifted from Cheng Cheng Xinzhan's heart—he was safe, and this matched the bird divination's prediction of safe return seven days prior.

"The courtyard gate isn't locked. Yunlai, come in. I'm in the study."

Hearing this, Cheng Cheng Xinzhan pushed open the gate and entered.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan often visited Daoist Daoist Tanbai's study and knew the way well.

"You're injured?"

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan noticed Daoist Daoist Tanbai's pale complexion and asked with concern.

"Minor wound, nothing serious."

Daoist Daoist Tanbai forced a faint smile.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan sat across from Daoist Daoist Tanbai. Though he understood medicine, he dared not suggest taking the pulse—after all, they weren't close enough. A master of medicine could discern the entire Qi circulation map just by placing a hand on the pulse.

"Where are you hurt? What symptoms? I know a little of herbal medicine—perhaps I can prescribe something to help you recover."

Said Cheng Cheng Xinzhan.

"Thank you for your concern, Yunlai, but no need to trouble yourself. It's truly a minor wound—I'll heal with rest and qi cultivation."

Said Daoist Daoist Tanbai.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan nodded, no longer pressing, and changed the subject,

"When did you return? I haven't seen you in ages—I came by several times but never found you. Today's the first time."

"You came at just the right time—I returned just after noon."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan nodded. The date matched. He asked further,

"Where did you go? Seeking hidden mysteries? How did you get hurt?"

Daoist Daoist Tanbai smiled bitterly and shook his head,

"I'm a scholar. If I had free time, I'd rather be compiling books with you, Yunlai—not chasing hidden mysteries. That's the sort of thing only Huching would do."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan's eyes brightened with curiosity,

"I was just about to ask—when you were gone, Daoist Mingding and Huching vanished too. In the mountains, you three were my only friends. Daoist Mingding once said he wanted to introduce me to a new acquaintance, but I declined—I was busy compiling books with you. But lately, you've all disappeared. It's as if you suddenly became busy. Are you all doing the same thing?"

Hearing this, Daoist Daoist Tanbai's face flushed with shame, and he bowed repeatedly in apology,

"Yes—we invited you to join us in the mountains, but after you arrived, we became entangled in worldly affairs and neglected you. Forgive us."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan stopped him, saying,

"How could this be called neglect? You know my nature—I enjoy drinking, reading, and having three or four close friends is enough. I have no desire to seek new acquaintances. So when you three vanished, I simply felt out of place."

"Yes, yes, I understand."

Daoist Daoist Tanbai nodded repeatedly—he was the same kind of man. And now, he truly felt ashamed: Yunlai had been their joint invitation to settle in Yanhuai Mountain, yet barely had he arrived before the three of them disappeared. It was indeed rude, utterly wrong.

"I just wonder how long you'll remain busy—is it urgent? If you've encountered enemies, say so plainly—I'm not just a book-writer, I can wield a sword too. We met too late. If there's anything I can help with, don't hesitate."

Upon hearing this, Daoist Daoist Tanbai's shame deepened,

"Yunlai, your noble heart and jade brush, sharp blade—of course you'd offer without question. But you're a free spirit, newly arrived in seclusion. We're bound by worldly affairs and grudges—it wouldn't be right to drag you into this."

Moreover, Daoist Daoist Tanbai knew: if he now accepted Yunlai's help, it would make their invitation to him seem like a calculated scheme.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan feigned displeasure,

"All three of you left the mountain at once, and you returned wounded—it's clearly no small matter. How can I, as your friend, stand idle? Besides, if you perished, wouldn't my 'Banana Leaf Collection' be delayed again? If this isn't a secret, and I can lend even a fraction of aid, tell me the truth—I'll decide whether to go or not."

Daoist Daoist Tanbai smiled bitterly, yet was moved by Cheng Cheng Xinzhan's sincerity. After a moment's thought, he explained,

"Ah, it's not a secret. The truth is this: we call ourselves recluses, but we weren't born from stones. Our spiritual power has a source.

"We're not accidental cultivators who stumbled upon immortality—we're disciples of a sect. Many years ago, due to certain upheavals, we left our sect and retreated into the mountains, never again meddling in our sect's affairs.

"But recently, our junior disciples received orders to purge demons along the Nujiang River in Kangxi. As their elders, and since we're also in Kangxi, we cannot stand idly by as our sect's juniors clash with demons, blood flowing like rivers!"

After explaining, Daoist Daoist Tanbai and the others added,

"So this is truly our failure to remain detached—we're dragged down by worldly affairs, and it has nothing to do with you, Yunlai. Don't let us trouble you. Once this demon tide passes, we'll return to the mountains and resume drinking and writing with you."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan swished his dust whisk, thinking his earlier guess was correct: these men were no true recluses—they must have come from a great sect.

And now, after hearing this, everything matched the bird divination seven days prior: "entangled by others," "location west," "trapped in warfare."

Perfectly exact!

No wonder it was a divine scripture—truly miraculous!

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan suppressed his astonishment and asked,

"Forgive my curiosity—do the juniors you mentioned include Tuyan, Daoist Zhouyue, and Zhan Tao?"

Daoist Daoist Tanbai stared at him in surprise.

Seeing Daoist Daoist Tanbai's expression, Cheng Cheng Xinzhan said,

"So I guessed right. From our first meeting, I noticed those three treated you three with great respect—they're clearly senior and junior, not merely old friends."

"Moreover, since our first meeting two months ago, I've never seen those three come to the mountains for drinks. If they were truly carefree recluses who loved wine, how could they vanish so long?"

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan smiled again,

"Besides, all three are young Golden Core cultivators—outstanding talents. True recluses are rootless drifters; how could so many Golden Core cultivators suddenly appear together?"

"If a true recluse reached Golden Core, nine out of ten would join a great sect as guest elders. One in ten, overreaching, would try to claim a mountain and found their own sect. Having lived as recluses so long, once they finally gained a voice through Core Formation, why would they remain recluses?"

Daoist Daoist Tanbai froze, then burst into laughter—so hard he coughed, and it took a long while to recover,

"Yes, cough, cough—you're absolutely right, Yunlai. But tell me—where did you learn your skills? You're also Golden Core, and so young. Why become a recluse?"

Daoist Daoist Tanbai smiled at Cheng Cheng Xinzhan.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan smiled faintly, swishing his dust whisk,

"Could I not be that one in ten?"

Daoist Daoist Tanbai laughed heartily,

"Ha! You can fool others, but not me. You say your cultivation and swordplay came from recluses—I believe it. After all, the world holds countless strange talents; some recluses even reached Ascension.

"But I've compiled books with you for two months—you quote classics effortlessly, your mind holds mountains and rivers, your spirit contains the cosmos. Such learning cannot be taught by recluses."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan, exposed, remained calm, smiling silently.

Daoist Daoist Tanbai didn't mind. Everyone had secrets; one couldn't be open with everyone. Wasn't he himself hiding things? What mattered wasn't secrecy—it was character, whether one was worth knowing.

So he said,

"But it doesn't matter. We meet here in seclusion as drinking companions and book companions—not as sect disciples."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan nodded, continuing,

"Exactly. We're drinking friends, book friends. Yet now you're abandoning me alone in the mountains to go out and slay demons—what's the meaning of that?

"Besides, the day Zhan Tao challenged me to a sword duel, I was drunk and postponed it. Now's the perfect chance to settle it."

Daoist Daoist Tanbai was astonished,

"You're coming with us to Nujiang?"

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan nodded.

Daoist Daoist Tanbai and the others stared at Cheng Cheng Xinzhan, uncertain of his true intent, and urged,

"Yunlai, that's no place for fun. Demon and orthodox clash there—even Golden Core cultivators can't guarantee survival. You have no reason to risk yourself."

Yet after hearing Daoist Daoist Tanbai's story, Cheng Cheng Xinzhan had already resolved to go.

Many reasons: he could slay demons, learn what kind of demons thrived in the mysterious snowy west, observe orthodox disciples' combat styles up close.

But undeniably, the most important reason was that he genuinely worried for this friend, drinking companion, and book partner.

Though they'd only known each other two months, Daoist Daoist Tanbai had sought out legends and geographical records without reward or hesitation, solely to complete the book. That pure heart, that debt of gratitude for the pursuit of knowledge—was enough to make him journey there.

He thought this in his heart, but said aloud,

"You've forgotten, my Book of Earth must chronicle the entire world—if I don't go west to see it, how can I finish the Little Xikang chapter, or begin the Tibet chapter? You say the demon tides there are raging; if I travel alone, it's somewhat dangerous. Traveling with you is safer."

"And one more thing—slaying demons is the duty of all righteous cultivators, regardless of sect or lone cultivator, regardless of east or west."

Daoist Daoist Jihu listened, moved, and after a long silence, nodded,

"Fine."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan smiled and said,

"That's more like it."

(End of Chapter)