Chapter 282: Interlocking, Changing Winds and Clouds (Second update)

"Heh."

Huyan Jun suddenly laughed.

"Why is the Daoist laughing for no reason again?"

Cheng Xinzhan was curious.

Huyan Jun said:

"Actually, when I came to find the Temple Master last time, besides asking the Temple Master to refine the sword, there was another matter."

Cheng Xinzhan guessed that Huyan Jun had something left unsaid that day, but just pretended not to know. At this moment, seeing Huyan Jun bring it up himself, he cooperated and asked:

"Oh, what else?"

Huyan Jun was somewhat embarrassed:

"Sigh, I'm not afraid of the Temple Master laughing at me. In the end, it's still some petty and dog-like things. That day, I was actually entrusted by someone."

He pointed to Yu Nanlin:

"We Xuan Sect members record merit for killing demons in Little Xikang. The Temple Master must know this. And after years of exterminating demons, the greatest merit is the final Bai Gu Zen Monastery. Both our Qingcheng and Emei want to grab more merit in this final battle.

"In our Mount Qingcheng, the one responsible for the Kangbei side is my third junior brother, who is also the grand-uncle of this disciple of mine, Yu Bai Lu.

"He knows that you, Temple Master, have vast supernatural powers, and you have no match in the three tribulations of the Golden Core, and you win more than you lose in the middle three tribulations. And most importantly, you are close friends with Yan Renying and Zhou Qingyun of Emei.

"Over the past few years, Temple Master, you have killed countless demons and earned a lot of merit for the Emei Sect. My junior brother saw it in his eyes, so he entrusted me to be a lobbyist.

"He didn't want you, Temple Master, to help Qingcheng kill demons, nor did he want you to alienate Emei. As long as you, Temple Master, are willing to close-door practice in this Kanli Mountain for half a year, or go to the south to walk around, my junior brother has thick gifts to offer.

"To tell the truth, I found it hard to speak these words. You, Temple Master, have the heart to kill demons, but you are asked to deliberately avoid the battle, which doesn't make sense in terms of emotion or reason. So I struggled for a long time that day and still couldn't say it."

Cheng Xinzhan smiled upon hearing this and said:

"It's just human nature. Daoist, don't take it to heart. However, Daoist, you can speak it out calmly today, is it because the Xuan Sect doesn't have to be in a hurry to attack the Bai Gu Zen Monastery anymore?"

"Yes."

Huyan Jun also nodded with a smile and said:

"It's not just that. I have another request."

"Oh? What is it?"

"The alliance has already decided. Now that most of the manpower is to be used to guard against the south, the matter of recording merit for killing demons in Little Xikang and competing for credit will be temporarily stopped. First, work together to firmly hold the Small Little Xikang in hand, which is the urgent matter.

"So the alliance decided that for the west and north of Little Xikang, our Qingcheng and Emei will guard one side each. Yan Renying's Western Shu Sword Pavilion will not move, continue to guard the Jin Sha River, and monitor Xuanxin Temple. The Bai Gu Zen Monastery will not trouble him. The northern Zengqu River defense line will be fully taken over by our Qingcheng to guard against the Bai Gu Zen Monastery."

Cheng Xinzhan listened and immediately thought of a question:

"Then what about the Baihe Sword Pavilion?"

The Baihe Sword Pavilion is located at a critical point. To the east, it joins the Minshan Sword Pavilion to resist Longyou, and to the west, it joins the Western Shu Sword Pavilion to curb Little Xikang and the West Sea. Now if the Little Xikang northern line shrinks and is guarded by Qingcheng, the Baihe Sword Pavilion far on the Yellow River will be isolated.

Huyan Jun said upon hearing this:

"I think the Baihe will change to White Horse before long."

"White Horse?"

Cheng Xinzhan was stunned upon hearing this.

Huyan Jun nodded:

"Emei's seven major Sword Pavilions are laid out very far, which is both good and bad. Now that several Sword Pavilions in the south are in use, the ones in the north have to shrink.

"Although the specific news hasn't come down, I look at the meaning of the meeting, Minshan Sword Pavilion will not move, Baihe Sword Pavilion will be transferred from the northeast of Great Little Xikang to the southern line of Small Little Xikang, it should be choosing a place in Baima Snow Mountain, Lugu Lake, and Qionghai.

"Because now that Miaojiang has surrendered, the Southern Sect demonic sect can put more energy into invading Dianwen, Sanyuan, and Yu Yang. We can't manage Sanyuan and Yu Yang, that is the business of the East Dao, but we have to guard against Dianwen.

"So we not only have to guard Southern Shu, but also guard Southern Kang. So the Baihe Sword Pavilion will be transferred to the southern line of Little Xikang. The Beidou Chi Shui Sword Pavilion that previously stretched into the Dianwen territory will also retreat.

"Behind the Beidou Chi Shui Sword Pavilion is Qionghai. It is close, so I guess the Beidou Chi Shui Sword Pavilion will go to Qionghai. Qionghai is in the east, mainly resisting Dianwen, and side-guarding Miaojiang. Baima Snow Mountain is in the west, and it is also a critical place, mainly resisting Dianwen, and side-guarding Tibet. So I judge that Zhou Qingyun will be transferred there.

"Of course, our Mount Qingcheng also has to send people to build cities on the southern line."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded. He understood. This is indeed an appropriate arrangement.

"So, I have a request here. I hope that after the Baihe Sword Pavilion is transferred, the Temple Master can look after our Qingcheng's Zengqu River defense line from time to time, just like assisting the Western Shu and Baihe Sword Pavilions in the past. Temple Master, rest assured, the reward of our Qingcheng will definitely not be less than Emei's, and the friendship of our Qingcheng, in Shu and Little Xikang, is definitely not lighter than Emei's in terms of weight."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded readily upon hearing this. If he wants to look at the Xuan Sect of Shu, he must not look at it only from the position of the Emei line. He immediately said:

"Daoist Huyan, you are too serious. I am originally a wandering Daoist from the East, living in leisure in Little Xikang. For me, naturally, the more friends I make, the better, and the more demons I kill, the better. Here, there is no distinction between Qingcheng's Daoist temple and Emei's Sword Pavilion."

Huyan Jun laughed out loud:

"The Temple Master is indeed an unrestrained person!"

The sword was in hand, the matter was settled, and after chatting for a while, Huyan Jun stood up to take his leave.

Cheng Xinzhan and the others saw them off outside the mountain.

"After returning to the mountain this time, I will go to Southern Shu. If the Temple Master has time in the future, you can also go to Southern Shu to walk around. The north of Kang is vast, and the south of Shu is steep, each is a beautiful scenery."

Huyan Jun cupped his hands.

Cheng Xinzhan returned a salute and nodded:

"I will go. Then I wish the Daoist a smooth journey, and we will meet again if fate allows."

"Meet again if fate allows."

Feng Jihu and Wu Qingbo also said goodbye.

After watching Huyan Jun and his disciple disappear from view, Feng Jihu said to Cheng Xinzhan:

"The general trend of the world is interlocking. The Green Robe Old Ancestor suppresses all directions. After subduing Miaojiang, it brings about a sudden change in the situation in Little Xikang, with winds and clouds rising."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded:

"The earth sends out murderous intent, dragons and snakes rise to the land. The Green Robe is the first real dragon to rise with the wind in the killing robbery. I don't know who will be the next."

Feng Jihu said:

"You told me that the Western Shu Xuan Sect is very different from the Great Sect in our East Dao, and the habits of plants and trees are also very different. You invited me to come and see, now I have come, and I have stayed in your temple for half a month. I have a general idea about Little Xikang and the Xuan Sect. Now the winds and clouds are changing outside, and I have to go around and see. I won't return to the temple, I want to go out and walk."

Cheng Xinzhan naturally had nothing to say, just handed the token of the Western Shu Sword Pavilion to Feng Jihu:

"Then Daoist brother, be careful. If there is any danger, you can go here to avoid it."

Feng Jihu did not decline, took the token, and drove the clouds away.

Seeing this, Wu Qingbo also looked at Cheng Xinzhan:

"Temple Master."

Cheng Xinzhan knew what he was going to say, so he said:

"Go."

For Wu Qingbo, Cheng Xinzhan had nothing special to explain. His realm was much higher than Cheng Xinzhan's.

Thus, Wu Qingbo also turned into fire and left.

After Cheng Xinzhan watched the two disappear from his field of vision, he shook his whisk and returned to the mountain. He knew that it shouldn't be long before someone came to find him.

————

The next day.

"Daoist brother."

Zhou Qingyun came, her footsteps still so light.

In the temple, Cheng Xinzhan was making tea:

"Sit."

The two sat opposite each other.

Cheng Xinzhan pushed the tea over.

Zhou Qingyun looked down and saw it was Mao Feng. Every time she came, he made Mao Feng. Although she hadn't drunk it yet, she already smelled the sweetness in the tea.

"Does Daoist brother know I was coming?"

Zhou Qingyun knew that when Cheng Xinzhan was alone, he liked to drink Oolong from Fujian the most, and he would use Cuilan from Yicheng when entertaining guests. Only when she came would he make Mao Feng.

"I heard you are going to the south?"

Cheng Xinzhan answered the question with another.

Zhou Qingyun's hand holding the teacup paused, then nodded lightly:

"Yes, the order of the alliance has come down, to Qionghai at the border of Kang and Dian."

"Qionghai?"

Cheng Xinzhan was somewhat surprised.

"Yes."

Zhou Qingyun didn't know why Cheng Xinzhan had such a tone.

"Huyan Jun came here and said that it should be the Beidou Chi Shui Sword Pavilion going to Qionghai, and you might go to Baima Snow Mountain."

Cheng Xinzhan said. He also thought what Huyan Jun said was more reasonable.

"No wonder Daoist brother asked if I was going to the south, it turns out Huyan Jun came." Zhou Qingyun thought to herself, then nodded and explained:

"Originally, it was arranged for me to go to Baima Snow Mountain, and

"However, after Junior Sister Yu learned of this news, she took the initiative to request a transfer to White Horse Snow Mountain, wanting to swap with me."

"Oh? And why is that?"

Cheng Xinzhan asked.

Zhou Qingyun explained,

"It should be because of the sect Junior Sister Yu belonged to before entering Emei. She originated from Dragon Elephant Nunnery. Dragon Elephant Nunnery is in the northwest of Yunnan, at the border with Little Xikang, and not very far from White Horse Snow Mountain. Junior Sister likely wants to be closer to her original sect."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded after hearing this and smiled,

"That is still quite good. Although Qionghai is closer to the Miao border, it is also closer to Shu. One can advance to attack and retreat to defend; all in all, it is still safer."

Zhou Qingyun nodded with a smile.

"When are you leaving?"

"I will leave tomorrow."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded, and after a moment of silence, he suddenly said,

"I don't know if your Baihe Sword Pavilion was truly too far before, or if I found a suitable location for this Kanli Mountain, but looking at it, the distance to the Baihe or Qionghai seems about the same."

Hearing this, Zhou Qingyun also beamed, just like a winter jasmine blooming in early spring,

"That must be because you have a good eye, Daoist Brother, and found a suitable place for a dojo."

"Hmm, Qionghai; that is also very close to Mount Wumeng, so one still cannot lower one's guard."

Cheng Xinzhan's topic suddenly shifted to Qionghai again.

Zhou Qingyun smiled sweetly, thinking to herself: In the past, it was always I who sought topics to strike up a conversation, but today, it is rare for Daoist Brother to take the initiative to speak. Yet, after only two or three sentences, it is difficult to continue. Thus, she kept her expression unchanged and naturally changed the subject,

"Daoist Brother, the 'Discussion on Making All Things Equal' says that in the world there is the piping of men, the piping of earth, and the piping of heaven. Although I have read it thoroughly, I still do not understand it. I wonder if you could teach me?"

As soon as Cheng Xinzhan heard this, his eyes immediately became spirited, and he immediately said with great interest,

"The 'piping' is the wind. In heaven, it is the Heavenly Gang; on earth, it is the Xun;..."

(End of chapter)