Chapter 290: Interlocking Chains, Winds and Clouds Shift (Second Update)

"Hey."

Hu Yanjun suddenly laughed.

"Why are you laughing for no reason, fellow Daoist?"

Cheng Xinzhan asked curiously.

Hu Yanjun said,

"Actually, the last time I came to see the Abbot, besides asking you to forge the sword, there was another matter."

Cheng Xinzhan had guessed that day that Hu Yanjun had held back words, but pretended not to know; now that Hu Yanjun brought it up himself, he played along and asked,

"Oh? What else?"

Hu Yanjun looked slightly embarrassed,

"Ah, don't laugh at me, Abbot—it's really just petty scheming. That day, I was actually sent by someone."

He pointed to Yu Nanlin,

"Our Xuanmen sect earned merit in Xikang for exterminating demons—you must know that. After years of hunting demons, the greatest achievement was the final battle at the White Bone Chan Monastery, and both Qingcheng and Emei wanted to claim more credit from that last fight.

"The one in charge of the northern Kang region in Qingcheng Mountain is my third master-brother, who is also my disciple's great-uncle, Yu BaiLu.

"He knows your divine abilities: no one below Golden Core can stand against you, even among the middle tribulation realms you win more than you lose, and most importantly, you're close friends with Yan Renying and Zhou Qingyun of Emei.

"Over these years, you've slain countless demons, earning Emei no small amount of merit. My brother saw this and asked me to act as a mediator.

"He doesn't ask you to help Qingcheng kill demons, nor to distance yourself from Emei—only that you agree to seclude yourself for half a year in Qianli Mountain, or travel southward. In return, my brother will offer generous gifts."

"To be honest, I found these words hard to speak. You're eager to slay demons, yet I'm asking you to deliberately avoid battle—it makes no sense morally or logically. So that day, I wrestled with it for a long time and still couldn't bring myself to say it."

Cheng Xinzhan smiled and said,

"It's only human nature. Fellow Daoist, don't worry about it. But since you've now spoken openly, is it because Xuanmen no longer urgently needs to attack the White Bone Chan Monastery?"

"Yes."

Hu Yanjun nodded with a smile and added,

"Not just that—I have another request."

"Oh? What is it?"

"The Alliance has decided: since most forces are now needed to guard the south, we'll temporarily halt the competition for merit in Xikang and focus instead on uniting our strength to firmly secure Little Xikang.

"So the Alliance has ordered: for the western and northern regions of Xikang, Qingcheng and Emei will each hold one side. Yan Renying's Xichuan Sword Pavilion will remain stationary, continuing to guard the Jinsha River and monitor Xuexin Temple—White Bone Chan Monastery is no longer his concern. The Zengqu River defense line to the north will be fully taken over by Qingcheng to guard against White Bone Chan Monastery."

Cheng Xinzhan listened and immediately thought of a question,

"What about Baihe Sword Pavilion?"

Baihe Sword Pavilion sits at a strategic crossroads: to the east it joins Minshan Sword Pavilion to resist Longyou; to the west it allies with Xichuan Sword Pavilion to contain Xikang toward the Western Sea. Now if the northern front of Xikang contracts and Qingcheng takes over, Baihe Sword Pavilion, far out on the Yellow River's edge, will be left isolated.

Hu Yanjun replied,

"I think soon, Baihe will become Baima."

"Baima?"

Cheng Xinzhan was startled.

Hu Yanjun nodded,

"Emei's Seven Sword Pavilions have long-term deployments—it's both good and bad. Now that several southern pavilions are being deployed, the northern ones must withdraw.

"Though official orders haven't been issued yet, from the meeting's tone, I believe Minshan Sword Pavilion will stay put, while Baihe Sword Pavilion will be relocated from northeast Great Xikang to the southern front of Little Xikang—likely choosing one of Baima Snow Mountain, Lugu Lake, or Qionghai.

"Now that the Miao region has submitted, the Southern Sect of Demon Cult can shift more focus toward invading Dianwen, Sanxiang, and Yuyang. We can't control Sanxiang and Yuyang—that's the Eastern Dao's concern—but we must guard Dianwen.

"So we must defend not only Shunan but also Kangnan. Thus, Baihe Sword Pavilion will be moved to the southern front of Xikang, and Chishui Sword Pavilion, which had extended into Dianwen territory, will also retreat.

"Chishui Sword Pavilion lies just behind Qionghai, so I suspect it will be stationed there. Qionghai is to the east, primarily to resist Dianwen and secondarily to guard against the Miao. Baima Snow Mountain is to the west, also a critical point, primarily to resist Dianwen and secondarily to guard against Tibet—I believe Zhou Qingyun will be sent there.

"Of course, Qingcheng Mountain must also send troops to build a fortress on the southern front."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded—he understood. This was indeed a sound arrangement.

"So my request is this: after Baihe Sword Pavilion is relocated, I hope you, as you've always done for Xichuan and Baihe, will occasionally lend your gaze to Qingcheng's Zengqu River defense line. Don't worry—Qingcheng's reward will be no less than Emei's, and Qingcheng's friendship in Shu and Xikang carries weight equal to Emei's."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xinzhan nodded promptly. To understand the Xuanmen of Shu, one must not view things solely from Emei's standpoint. He immediately said,

"Fellow Daoist, you overstate it. I'm a wandering cultivator from the east, living idly in Xikang. To me, the more friends I make, the better; the more demons I slay, the better. In my eyes, there's no distinction between Qingcheng's pavilions and Emei's sword pavilions."

Hu Yanjun burst into laughter,

"Abbot, you truly are a free-spirited man!"

The sword had been obtained, the matter settled. After a little more idle chat, Hu Yanjun rose to take his leave.

Cheng Xinzhan and the others saw him off beyond the mountain.

"After returning to the mountain, I'll head to Shunan. If you ever have time, come visit Shunan—northern Kang is vast and open, southern Shu is steep and rugged, each with its own beauty."

Hu Yanjun bowed.

Cheng Xinzhan returned the bow and nodded,

"I will. May you have a safe journey. We'll meet again when fate allows."

"When fate allows."

Feng Jihu and Wu Qingbo also took their leave.

After watching Hu Yanjun and his disciple depart, Feng Jihu said to Cheng Xinzhan,

"The great tide of the world is interlocked—Green Robe Ancestor intimidates the four directions; after subduing the Miao, the situation in Xikang has shifted abruptly, winds and clouds swirling."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded,

"When the earth stirs, dragons and snakes rise. Green Robe is the first true dragon to ride the storm of slaughter—who will be the next?"

Feng Jihu said,

"You told me the Xuanmen of western Shu differ greatly from what we in the east imagine, and even the flora and fauna behave differently. You invited me here to see for myself. Now I've come, stayed in your pavilion for half a month, and have a general sense of Xikang and Xuanmen. With the world's winds shifting, I must go out and see more—I won't return to the pavilion. I'm leaving to wander."

Cheng Xinzhan had no objections, but handed Feng Jihu the Xichuan Sword Pavilion token,

"Then, Fellow Daoist, be careful. If you encounter danger, you may take refuge here."

Feng Jihu accepted the token without refusal, then rode the clouds away.

Seeing this, Wu Qingbo turned to Cheng Xinzhan,

"Abbot."

Cheng Xinzhan knew what he wanted to say, and replied,

"Go."

For Wu Qingbo, Cheng Xinzhan had nothing special to say—his realm was far higher than Cheng Xinzhan's.

So Wu Qingbo also transformed into fire and departed.

After watching both vanish from sight, Cheng Xinzhan waved his dust whisk and returned to the mountain. He knew someone would come to see him soon.

————

The next day.

"Fellow Daoist."

Zhou Qingyun arrived, her footsteps still light and brisk.

In the pavilion, Cheng Xinzhan was brewing tea,

"Sit."

The two sat facing each other.

Cheng Xinzhan pushed the tea toward her.

Zhou Qingyun glanced down—it was Mao Feng. Every time she came, he brewed Mao Feng. Though she hadn't tasted it yet, she already smelled its sweetness.

"Did you know I was coming?"

Zhou Qingyun knew that when alone, Cheng Xinzhan preferred Fujian oolong; when receiving guests, he used Yicheng's Cui Lan. Only when she came did he brew Mao Feng.

"I heard you're going south?"

Cheng Xinzhan answered without answering.

Zhou Qingyun's hand paused on the teacup, then nodded gently,

"Yes. The Alliance's order has come—I'm to go to Qionghai, on the border of Kang and Dian."

"Qionghai?"

Cheng Xinzhan was surprised.

"Yes."

Zhou Qingyun didn't understand why his tone was like that.

"Hu Yanjun came here. He said Chishui Sword Pavilion would go to Qionghai, and you'd likely be sent to Baima Snow Mountain."

Cheng Xinzhan said—he thought Hu Yanjun's assessment was more reasonable.

"No wonder you asked if I was going south—you knew Hu Yanjun had been here." Zhou Qingyun thought to herself, then nodded and explained,

"I was originally assigned to Baima Snow Mountain. The situation there is more chaotic and complex than Qionghai—it's where the three rivers converge most tightly, perpetually shrouded in mist and clouds, breeding many demons. As the senior disciple, it's naturally my duty to go."

"But after Yu Shimei heard the news, she volunteered to switch places with me."

"Oh? Why?"

Cheng Xinzhan asked.

Zhou Qingyun explained,

"It's probably because of her former sect before joining Emei. She came from Longxiang Nunnery, located in northwestern Dian, near the border with Xikang—not far from Baima Snow Mountain. She likely wants to be closer to her original sect."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded after hearing this and smiled,

"That's good. Qionghai is closer to the Miao region, but also closer to Shu—it's easier to advance or retreat, and ultimately safer."

Zhou Qingyun smiled and nodded.

"When are you leaving?"

"I leave tomorrow."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded, fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said,

"I wonder whether it's because your White River Sword Pavilion is truly too far, or because my Kanli Mountain is well-situated—it seems the distance to White River or Qionghai is about the same."

Hearing this, Zhou Qingyun smiled brightly, like a spring jasmine blooming in early spring,

"That must be due to your excellent eye, Master, for choosing such a fitting location."

"Hmm, Qionghai is also close to Wumeng Mountain—still, we must not grow careless."

Cheng Xinzhan suddenly shifted the topic back to Qionghai.

Zhou Qingyun smiled gently, thinking: Normally I'm the one to find topics to start conversation; today, for once, Master took the initiative—but after just a few words, he ran out of steam. Without changing expression, she naturally steered the subject elsewhere,

"Master, the 'On the Equality of Things' says there are human reeds, earth reeds, and heavenly reeds. I've read it through but still don't understand—could you teach me?"

At these words, Cheng Xinzhan's eyes immediately brightened, and he eagerly began,

"A 'lei' is wind: in heaven it is Gang, on earth it is Xun,..."

(End of Chapter)