Chapter 285: The Gate Swarms with Visitors, One After Another (Requesting Moon Tickets)

Some friends from the West Sichuan Sword Pavilion and Baihe Sword Pavilion often visit, so the mountain-protection great array does not bar them—among them is Zhou Qingyun.

Zhou Qingyun stepped lightly, smiling broadly as she entered, only to find two others besides Cheng Xinzhan inside.

She immediately suppressed her smile and became the famed, northern-terrifying Master of the Green Sought Sword in an instant.

"I didn't know you were receiving guests; I've intruded. I'll come again another day."

Zhou Qingyun said, turning to leave.

"Qingyun, wait—no trouble at all. These are new friends; let me introduce you."

Cheng Xinzhan gestured. It wasn't a matter of urgent business—just casual chat. How could one let a guest in only to send them away? That would be terribly rude.

Zhou Qingyun didn't truly wish to leave. The sword pavilion kept growing, more people kept arriving, and affairs kept piling up. Now that she'd finally carved out time, she naturally wanted to linger at Guanxuan Pavilion.

"Then I'll trouble you."

She complied readily, stepped inside, and sat down at a distance neither close nor far from Cheng Xinzhan.

"Qingyun, come—I'd like to introduce you. This is a Daoist I recently met, called..."

"Master, no need for your introduction—I already know Master Zhou."

Hu Yanjun said with a smile.

Zhou Qingyun nodded.

"Master Hu, greetings."

Cheng Xinzhan wasn't surprised. Both were peers of the two great Daoist sects, both disciples of their respective sect masters; it was no surprise they knew each other.

"Greetings, Senior Master Zhou!"

At that moment, Yu Nanlin suddenly straightened his back, bowing deeply to Zhou Qingyun, his face flushed with excitement.

Hu Yanjun saw his disciple react to Zhou Qingyun with threefold more excitement than he had shown toward Hu Yanjun himself—or even her own paternal grandfather—and a trace of helplessness surfaced on his face.

But there was nothing to be done: among Emei's younger generation, leadership was dominated by women. Of the Three Heroes and Two Clouds alone, four were women, and Ziying and Qingsuo were the most renowned, already becoming icons for young female cultivators in Shu.

Zhou Qingyun smiled and nodded at Yu Nanlin, then noticed her red robes and vermilion-marked brows, and said,

"Your attire makes me think I've met Li Yingqiong in her youth."

Yu Nanlin's heart swelled with delight at those words.

Hearing this, Hu Yanjun chuckled bitterly,

"Master Zhou, you may not know—I have a third disciple, Yang Taizhen, who took a female disciple named Lü Linggu. She dresses exactly like you, and she and my disciple are as close as sisters, constantly recounting your and Li Daoist's deeds. Now in the mountains, she's earned the nickname 'Little Li-Zhou.'"

Zhou Qingyun laughed in disbelief, then said,

"Then I must meet her someday."

Yu Nanlin, emboldened, ventured,

"May I humbly beg Senior Master for an inscription with your signature? When I return, I'll deliver it to Linggu—she'll be overjoyed."

Zhou Qingyun, never one for airs, immediately agreed, took paper and brush from a stone cave, thought for a moment, and wrote on a blank talisman paper:

"The spirit platform shines bright, reflecting the moon; the wise sword, edgeless, still cuts demons. —Zhou Qingyun"

She then handed the slip to Yu Nanlin.

Yu Nanlin carefully took it, read the characters silently, her eyes gleaming with joy—happy for her sister, yet regretting she hadn't obtained Ziying Sword's signature.

"When I meet Yingqiong, I'll ask her to write one for you too."

Zhou Qingyun smiled.

Yu Nanlin was overjoyed, bowing repeatedly in thanks.

After Emei and Qingcheng had exchanged pleasantries, Cheng Xinzhan proceeded to introduce:

"This is an old friend of mine, a wandering cultivator I invited here—known as Huai Pu the Wanderer."

"Huai Pu, this is Zhou Qingyun, the Green Sought Sword of Emei, senior sister among the Three Heroes and Two Clouds."

They exchanged formal greetings.

When the attendant brought fresh tea, Cheng Xinzhan turned to Hu Yanjun,

"Daoist, what were you about to say earlier?"

Hu Yanjun could no longer say what he'd intended—but he was quick-witted, his expression unchanged, he said:

"Ah, I was wondering—I heard you're skilled in balancing Kan and Li, crafting elixirs and selling magic treasures, so I thought I'd ask."

Cheng Xinzhan understood at once: this Qingcheng Daoist was making an excuse. Elixirs and treasures might be scarce for wandering cultivators, but Qingcheng Mountain certainly wasn't.

Not only did he catch on—Zhou Qingyun's lips curved in a smile. Clearly, what Hu Yanjun came to discuss with Cheng Xinzhan was something he didn't want Emei to know.

But since they'd guessed, they had to pretend ignorance. Cheng Xinzhan said,

"Then what kind of elixir or treasure do you require?"

Hu Yanjun had been about to fabricate something to brush it off—but suddenly remembered his sword had been tainted during a recent battle with demons. Despite repeated refining, the stain remained, troubling him greatly. Why not use this chance to let this man examine it? If he couldn't remove it, no harm done; if he could, it would be a pleasant surprise.

He opened his palm, a flash of light appeared, and a short, handleless blade, barely a foot long, appeared—its crimson base etched with silver lightning patterns, glowing with fiery radiance.

"Master, please observe—this is the 'Golden Fire Divine Thunder Blade,' forged from subterranean rare iron spewed from a volcano, mixed with Thunder Marsh divine sand. It's my personal flying sword. But recently, during a battle with the Poisoned Bone Venerable of the White Bone Zen Monastery, his phosphorescent fire tainted it. I don't know what he mixed into that fire, but once it clung to the blade, it clung like maggots to bone—I can't remove it. Do you have a method?"

Hu Yanjun turned the blade over. Everyone saw a greenish spot, the size of a fingernail, on the blade's edge.

Zhou Qingyun said,

"No wonder—I heard the Poisoned Bone Venerable returned badly wounded, even his family banner snapped in two. So it was your doing, Master Hu."

Cheng Xinzhan had also heard of the Poisoned Bone Venerable—a disciple of the White Bone Bodhisattva, with Fifth Purification cultivation. He hadn't expected Hu Yanjun could drive him into such a retreat.

As for the phosphorescent fire, it looked vaguely familiar. He said to Hu Yanjun,

"Daoist, may I examine it closely?"

Hu Yanjun nodded and handed over the blade.

Cheng Xinzhan did not touch the blade with his bare hand—he held it aloft with spiritual power, bringing it close for inspection.

He immediately saw the truth: what looked like a green stain was in fact a pool of green flame, tightly clinging to the blade, still slowly burning—its flame so low it resembled a smear of green lacquer.

"Master Hu, this isn't ordinary phosphorescent fire. In my view, it's a demonic flame."

Cheng Xinzhan said.

"Demonic flame?"

Hu Yanjun's gaze sharpened. He said,

"I know the White Bone Zen Monastery obtained the 'Bone-Melting Blood-Congealing Demon Flame' from the Blood God Sect—but I've never heard of such a green phosphorescent demonic flame."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded, explaining,

"Yes—I only recently encountered this green phosphorescent demonic flame in combat with White Bone Zen monks. It's extraordinary: cold, not hot; clings like maggots to bone; doesn't extinguish in water or wind. Unless the object it clings to is fully consumed, it's nearly impossible to remove."

"Exactly! Exactly!"

Hu Yanjun nodded vigorously. He'd tried every method these past days, yet none worked. If it continued, he feared damage to the blade's origin. He'd planned to disturb his elders in a few days if he still couldn't purify it.

But now it seemed this Guanxuan Pavilion Master understood the flame's origins.

"Master, do you know the origin of this flame? If you have a way to remove it, I'll reward you handsomely!"

Cheng Xinzhan stared at the green spot on the blade and said,

"The very uniqueness of this flame matches a demonic flame I once read about in an ancient text."

"What demonic flame?"

"The 'Yin Xu Ghost Lamp Demon Flame' of Beimang Mountain."

Hu Yanjun's expression changed.

"Beimang Mountain lies far beyond the He Luo region. The Xu Ghost Kingdom and the White Bone Zen Monastery have nothing to do with each other. How could their demon flame appear here?"

Cheng Xinzhan's expression turned grave. He nodded.

"Indeed. But haven't you noticed? It's not just Beimang's 'Yin Xu Ghost Lamp Demon Flame.' Look—the Blood God Sect's 'Bone-Melting Blood-Congealing Demon Flame' has become common among White Bone Zen demons. And the Purple Fire Rotten Peach Demon Flame of the Crimson Robe Patriarch? Blood God Sect disciples use it frequently too!"

"Look—these demons from the south, east, north—these distant, unrelated flames—we're now seeing them all here in Xikang. What does that indicate?"

At this, not only Cheng Xinzhan, but the other three's faces grew solemn.

"The demonic sects are growing increasingly connected."

Zhou Qingyun said.

Cheng Xinzhan nodded, adding,

"This is no good sign."

A silence fell.

Then Cheng Xinzhan spoke again to Hu Yanjun:

"Master Hu, though this demonic flame is hard to remove, I have confidence I can attempt it. But it may take time. If you trust me, leave the blade here. Return in ten days to retrieve it."

"Of course, as a disciple of a great sect, you could ask a senior to forcibly purify it with spiritual power—it might even be faster."

Hu Yanjun's eyes gleamed. He'd just wanted to test this man's skill—and now the man was testing his composure. But Hu Yanjun had no shortage of composure. He replied with ease:

"As junior disciples, we must bear our masters' labors. We shouldn't trouble them for every small matter. If the Pavilion Master has confidence, I entrust it to you. I'll return in ten days."

Cheng Xinzhan smiled and nodded, gesturing—the blade floated to a lacquered rack beside the incense altar. Here, blades awaiting smelting weren't few, nor were those already purified and waiting for their masters.

Hu Yanjun, upon entering the pavilion, had focused entirely on the people—he hadn't even noticed the rack against the wall. Now he saw it, and realized: this Pavilion Master was already renowned far and wide. His offer to keep the blade wasn't a test of Hu Yanjun's composure—he treated everyone the same!

Hu Yanjun now had even greater confidence in Cheng Xinzhan. He bowed.

"Thank you, Pavilion Master."

The others chatted a few more moments, mostly about how the White Bone Zen Monastery was being pressured harder, its top experts deployed, and which notorious demons' powers and treasures required caution.

Cheng Xinzhan's broad, heaven-and-earth-spanning perspective left a deep impression on Hu Yanjun. He even wondered if he should travel more himself—he came from a famed sect, yet had only wandered near Bashu, his horizons narrower than a wandering cultivator's.

After the tea had been refilled three times, Hu Yanjun felt his purpose achieved: he'd preliminarily met this famed Pavilion Master, and his reputation was indeed deserved.

Moreover, this visit brought unexpected gains—he'd resolved his sword's long-standing problem, learned of his disciple's hidden danger, and set a date to meet again. Truly, not a wasted journey.

He rose to take his leave.

Cheng Xinzhan rose to see them off.

When they stepped outside the observatory gate, Hu Yanjun said,

"Your observatory still has guests; no need for the abbot to see us off. Please have one of your immortal attendants guide my disciples and me out."

Cheng Xinzhan was not one for rigid formalities; he nodded and said,

"Boy, show our guests out."

Two attendants responded and stepped forward to lead them, when suddenly the colorful clouds above parted to form a passage, and a figure landed before the observatory.

Hu Yanjun recognized the newcomer—another familiar face, and a well-known one—and without waiting for Cheng Xinzhan to introduce him, he bowed in greeting.

"Yan Renying, what a coincidence."

Yan Renying, visibly surprised to see Hu Yanjun, returned the bow.

"Brother Hu, what a coincidence—are you just arriving, or leaving?"

Hu Yanjun replied,

"I've overstayed my welcome with Daochang of the Obscure View long enough; I'm just leaving now."

Yan Renying smiled.

"Then may your journey be smooth. Someday I'll visit Mount Qingcheng to pay my respects to True Person Hanxu."

Hu Yanjun nodded with a smile.

The two attendants led the way, guiding Hu Yanjun and his disciples away.

Cheng Xinzhan and Yan Renying watched until the figure vanished; then Yan Renying smiled and asked Cheng Xinzhan,

"Why the sudden visit from Mount Qingcheng—and especially from True Person Hanxu's disciple?"

Cheng Xinzhan shook his head.

"I don't know. He just showed up out of nowhere, saying he wanted me to forge a sword—but I suspect he came because he saw Zhou Qingyun arrive, and there's more he hasn't said."

"Zhou Qingyun came too?"

Cheng Xinzhan nodded and invited Yan Renying inside, walking as he spoke:

"Yes, come in and sit. I also have another friend to introduce you to."

Yan Renying followed Cheng Xinzhan into the observatory, smiling.

"How convenient—but I fear we keep coming one after another, disturbing Yunlai's peace."

"You're a busy man; I've been hoping you'd come."

Cheng Xinzhan smiled.

When the two entered, the two inside were surprised to see Cheng Xinzhan see off one guest and welcome another.

"Brother has come too."

Zhou Qingyun greeted him.

Yan Renying sat down.

"I just returned from Chengdu and happened to pass by, so I thought I'd come talk with Yunlai. How did you get the time to come too?"

Zhou Qingyun replied,

"I came specifically to seek guidance. I've been stuck on some subtleties of the Taiyi Splitting Sword, and Elder Ye is in seclusion, so I came to ask Yunlai for help."

Yan Renying nodded, then turned to Feng Jihu.

"This friend is unfamiliar to me, yet his spiritual radiance is deeply concealed, veiled in mist and cloud, with the scent of medicine thick in the air—he must be a high cultivator. May I ask which immortal mountain you cultivate on?"

————

Meanwhile, Hu Yanjun and his disciples had just left the mountain, bid farewell to the two attendants, and were about to set off back to Mount Qingcheng, when a streak of fire shot rapidly from the southeast, growing larger as it neared—as if its target were Kanli Mountain.

Hu Yanjun was curious: Is Kanli Mountain really this crowded every day?

He'd already met a master of healing arts and the senior disciples of Emei; now he wanted to see who this new arrival might be, so he deliberately paused to wait.

The fire streak arrived in an instant and landed before Kanli Mountain.

As the fire faded, Hu Yanjun raised an eyebrow—Hah! What a towering, imposing giant!

(End of Chapter)