Chapter 46#

Taishang Wangqing (Supreme Emotionlessness)#

Xiao Man followed Shen Juan to Tingyun Peak.

The Dao hall was not empty as it used to be. A person sat behind a low table. He had white hair, white clothes, and his eyebrows were also frosted. With his eyes lowered, he was expertly brewing tea. He lifted the lid of the teapot and poured in a spoonful of fresh tea. Light smoke curled up, and the hall was filled with the fragrance of tea.

Sensing their arrival, he looked up, glanced at Xiao Man, then fixed his gaze on Shen Juan, calling out softly: “A’Juan.”

“Your Senior Uncle,” Shen Juan introduced, pressing Xiao Man down to sit before the table while he himself went around to sit opposite Shen Jiankong at the same table.

Xiao Man hurriedly said: “Senior Uncle.”

This must be the other grandmaster on Tingyun Peak. This person was stern and expressionless, and the aura he exuded was far different from Shen Juan’s. It reminded one of the ice and snow in the coldest regions, chilling to the bone.

His realm was also profound. Sitting opposite such a person, Xiao Man inevitably felt a bit nervous.

Shen Juan didn’t like his tea too strong, and right now it was just right. Shen Jiankong turned over three upturned tea bowls and filled them half full. The first bowl of tea was for Shen Juan, the second was placed in front of himself, and the third was handed to Xiao Man, as a response to Xiao Man’s greeting.

Xiao Man’s nervousness turned into anxiety. Logically, on the first day of apprenticeship, he should be the one serving tea to his master. Why was it the other way around on Tingyun Peak?

“We don’t have that many rules here. Don’t be constrained,” Shen Juan leaned slightly forward, resting his hand on the table and propping up his chin, speaking with a smile. “How have you been during your time on Tingyun Peak? Are you used to it?”

This was a very relaxed sitting posture, which silently dissolved the pressure brought by Shen Jiankong, making Xiao Man’s heart ease: “I like Tingyun Peak very much.”

“It’s good that you like it,” Shen Juan nodded. “There aren’t many rules on Tingyun Peak; just follow your heart. As for us, we don’t care if you leave early and return late, or even if you don’t return. But there is one thing—”

At the end of his sentence, he deliberately drawled, paused, and showed twelve-fold solemnity. Xiao Man quickly looked up and said: “Please tell me, Master.”

“Cultivation must not be neglected,” Shen Juan stared into Xiao Man’s eyes.

Xiao Man replied seriously: “Naturally, it will not be neglected.”

Shen Juan showed a satisfied expression: “Alright, next question. Disciple, you are already in the Upper Shouyi Realm, and it won’t be long before you break through to the Guiyuan Realm. You must have some realization about cultivation.”

“Of course, I won’t ask you what realizations you have; if I did, we wouldn’t be able to finish talking for ten days and nights. My question is, what path do you want to take in the future?”

What path to take? This was the first time Xiao Man had encountered such a question.

In his previous life, he hadn’t thought about it because he felt that practicing Buddhism was very good, keeping his ears quiet and his heart free of distracting thoughts.

In this life, however, he didn’t have time to think. As soon as he was reborn, he went to Baihua Peak. In the morning, he had to learn the Dao of talismans, alchemy, arrays, and so on; in the afternoon, it was sword practice; and in the evening, it was time to consolidate his mental techniques. Later, when he went down the mountain for training, there were many worries, leaving no time for distraction. And later, when he returned to Gushan, he stayed on Tingyun Peak for several months, and every day his thoughts were filled with the sword.

The answer Shen Juan wanted was definitely not a path named after an offensive technique like the Sword Path, the Blade Path, or the Talisman Path, but a more far-reaching path about where one’s life is headed.

Xiao Man fell into deep thought. What he wanted in this life was nothing more than self-strengthening, self-protection, and self-reliance, to sever that one line of fate between him and Yan Wushu.

That wisp of premonition tied to both their hearts was extremely annoying. They say only two people whose hearts are connected can develop it, but what was between him and Yan Wushu?

The heaven-decreed fate was more like a wicked fate. Since they hadn’t shared any joy, why was there a union of marriage?

And to sever fate is to defy heaven.

Xiao Man looked up, fixed his eyes on Shen Juan, and asked: “Master, is there any path of defying heaven in this world?”

“Speaking of cultivation, it is inherently an act of defying heaven. But since you’ve asked this, I also want to ask, why do you want to defy heaven?” Shen Juan said with a light laugh.

Xiao Man was silent for a moment and replied: “The Heavenly Dao is unfair, so naturally it should be defied.”

“As expected of the disciple I chose,” Shen Juan narrowed his eyes, then broke into a smile, looking at Xiao Man with even more satisfaction in his heart.

He flicked his sleeves and stood up, walking leisurely across the hall, looked at Xiao Man, and continued: “There are thousands of kinds of paths, all leading to the same goal, all for the sake of reaching the heavens. However, this word ‘cultivate’ (xiu), besides the meaning of practicing (xunlian), can also be understood as ‘repairing’ (xiuli). Our Gushan has always understood it as the latter. Cultivating the Dao is repairing the Dao, repairing the Heavenly Dao. So being in Gushan, most would choose to act against heaven.”

Xiao Man had never heard of such a saying and was both surprised and intrigued.

Shen Juan smiled: “Just like Yan Wushu, he’s also a stubborn person who has defied heaven eight hundred times. If one day he chooses to undergo his tribulation and ascend within the sect, the heavenly thunder that strikes down would probably blast the entire Gushan flat.”

“How could that be?” Xiao Man was shocked.

“The Heavenly Dao doesn’t want him to live, yet doesn’t let him die, so he has to defy heaven and carve out a path for himself,” Shen Juan said. “This is just one of them.”

Xiao Man whispered: “I never knew.”

Shen Juan rubbed Xiao Man’s head: “With his personality, how could he be willing to speak of those miserable pasts?”

At these words, Xiao Man suddenly realized that he didn’t actually understand Yan Wushu. He knew most of his habits, but he didn’t know how they were formed. He knew he was a swordsman famous throughout the pugilistic world, but he didn’t know how he actually became famous.

Perhaps they met too late; he had his hardships, and he had never walked with him, but—

But none of that matters anymore. For the current Xiao Man, what matters is—

“Master, how can one defy heaven?” Xiao Man looked up at Shen Juan from below.

Shen Juan thought for a moment and said: “That depends on what aspect you mean. Do you want to directly split the Heavenly Dao open and pin it to the ground to beat it, or something else?”

This made Xiao Man smile, but the smile was fleeting, and his voice gradually lowered: “I don’t know if Master knows about the history between me and Yan Wushu.”

“Three years ago, Fog Island sent word to Dazhao Temple, a decree descended from heaven, ordering you two to bind your souls,” Shen Juan said.

Most of the upper levels of Gushan knew about this. Yan Wushu was one of the twelve peak masters and the most promising person among the younger generation. Whom he bound his soul with and settled a marriage with was no small matter.

Xiao Man curled his lips and gave a short laugh: “I want to sever the fate between me and him.”

“Why?” It was Shen Juan’s turn to be surprised.

“A heaven-sent fate was not something the two of us actively formed. Naturally, I feel unwilling,” Xiao Man said.

Shen Juan rubbed his chin: “Indeed, that dog of a thing, the Heavenly Dao, really shouldn’t arrange marriages for others.” Then he changed the subject: “But it has already personally issued the decree, so the fate between you and him cannot be broken.”

“On the Sansheng Stone, before the Reincarnation Mirror, you two have already become one, with your fates intertwined and born together.”

“Then I’ll sever it with a single sword strike,” Xiao Man said resolutely.

Shen Juan shook his head: “A sword cannot sever it. No matter how powerful you are, even in the Taixuan Realm or Taiqing Realm, it cannot be severed. That thing is ethereal and elusive; your sword cannot land on it.”

Xiao Man pursed his lips, his expression becoming complex and strange: “Must I be tied to him until the day one of us dies?”

He was unwilling to personally kill Yan Wushu.

Firstly, Yan Wushu’s means were too powerful; how terrifying it was that he could kill someone in the Taiqing Saint Realm while being in the Upper Taixuan Realm himself. To cultivate to a realm where he could kill him would take an extremely long time, and the possibility was vague. Secondly, if Yan Wushu died, it would likely bring trouble to the entire sect.

But that was unwillingness, not lack of courage. If that were truly the only path to take…

Shen Juan didn’t answer this. Xiao Man didn’t know what to say, and the Dao hall became silent. The wind on the peak of Tingyun Peak whistled through, cooling the fresh tea on the table.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Jiankong, who was sitting behind the table, spoke: “There is one method that can solve it.”

Xiao Man lifted his eyelids, and a bright light flashed in his eyes: “May I ask Senior Uncle, what is that method?”

Shen Jiankong looked at Xiao Man: “The Heartless Dao.”

The Sword Testing Assembly concluded, and each peak returned with their new members. Yan Wushu brought Qu Hanxing to the Dao hall on the mountainside. Rong Yuan was sweeping the snow in front of the hall, and seeing him, he hurriedly bowed.

Qu Hanxing wasn’t sure who this child was, so he returned a bow and followed Yan Wushu into the hall.

After walking for a while, Qu Hanxing couldn’t help but ask: “Master, actually there’s something I can’t figure out. Everyone was unwilling to take me in, so why were you?”

Yan Wushu went to that rocking chair under the corridor, flicked his hem, sat in it, looked at Qu Hanxing, and said with a smile: “Because the way you repelled that beast was very interesting, never seen before.”

“…” Qu Hanxing rubbed his nose. “I’ll take it as… you praising me then.”

“I’m not picking up trash that others don’t want, nor is it pity. Your understanding of the move ‘Spring Wind Brushing the Railing’ is very deep, and you have unique insights into the Sword Path. It can be said you have a great ability to innovate.” As Yan Wushu spoke, he raised his hand, and several sword manuals were suspended in the air, facing Qu Hanxing directly.

“You don’t need to care how other peaks see you; just focus on yourself. You’ve practiced Gushan’s six basic moves for three years. Here are some advanced sword techniques. Take a look and see if there’s anything you like.”

Qu Hanxing immediately took down a sword manual and opened it. After finishing it, he took down the second one. After looking through them all, his face showed conflict and hesitation. “Master, this disciple cannot choose.”

“Why not take them all?” Yan Wushu asked him.

“No, no, no. One is enough for me to practice for many years. If I take them all, I’ll be confused.” Qu Hanxing shook his head vigorously like a rattle.

Yan Wushu snorted: “Count you clever. Shall your teacher pick one for you?”

“Thank you, Master.” Qu Hanxing hurriedly bowed.

Yan Wushu picked one for him, then beckoned Rong Yuan over and said: “This is the disciple I took in today, surnamed Qu. In terms of address, call him Senior Brother. Take him to the place where he’ll stay.”

“Yes, Peak Master,” Rong Yuan said with a bow.

Qu Hanxing didn’t follow Rong Yuan immediately. He called out to his master and said: “I heard Brother Man talk about the rules on Xueyi Peak. As long as there’s nothing daily, it’s fine as long as I don’t come to the Dao hall to disturb you?”

“Pretty much,” Yan Wushu said.

At the mention of Xiao Man, both of them had their own thoughts. Qu Hanxing couldn’t help but sigh: “Master, to tell you the truth, I originally thought I could become Xiao Man’s fellow disciple.”

Yan Wushu raised an eyebrow and smiled again: “But now it’s different; even I have to call him Senior Uncle.”

“What?” Qu Hanxing’s face paled in shock. On second thought, when that Daoist in black came, Yan Wushu called him Grandmaster, so it really was the case.

Qu Hanxing counted on his fingers, a bit panicky: “I am your disciple, and he is your senior uncle, so I… wouldn’t I become Brother Man’s grand-disciple’s generation?”

“That good friend of yours, Xiao Mo, counting by seniority, should be my junior brother now. So when you see him in the future, you’ll probably have to call him Senior Uncle too,” Yan Wushu said while looking at him.

This was no less than a stab to Qu Hanxing, causing him to jump up in shock: “This… no way! I’ve become the one with the lowest seniority?”

Yan Wushu gave a faint smile: “Not necessarily. That one surnamed Wei, who apprenticed to Tan Wenzhou, is in the same generation as you by calculation, so you can still call each other senior and junior brothers.”

“That’s great then.” Qu Hanxing patted his chest and breathed a sigh of relief.

Yan Wushu turned to Rong Yuan: “Also, for the next few days, you take him to get familiar with Xueyi Peak.”

Rong Yuan said “Yes.” Yan Wushu stood up from the rocking chair, flicked his sleeves, and walked out, suddenly disappearing into the distance.

“Peak Master, where are you going again?”

Rong Yuan shouted at his back, but received no answer.

Rong Yuan stood there for a few breaths, sighed softly, put down the broom in his hand, and murmured: “Why didn’t His Highness come back with the Peak Master again? Did the Peak Master fail to snatch him away from others?”

“Who is His Highness?” Qu Hanxing asked in confusion.

“His Highness is His Highness,” Rong Yuan looked at him with wide eyes.

The two walked out of the Dao hall. Qu Hanxing’s eyes darted around, thinking of a possibility: “Is it Xiao Man?”

“You know His Highness?” Rong Yuan was quite surprised. On second thought, it was natural that he knew Xiao Man. “Oh, you know him. You’re both from Baihua Peak. That day I went to find His Highness, he was with you.”

“More than just knowing him, he’s become my grandfather now.” Qu Hanxing clapped his hands, feeling very pained. “By the way, why do you call him ‘His Highness’?”

Rong Yuan: “Because His Highness is His Highness.”

Another answer like that. Qu Hanxing was speechless. After some thought, he felt he had discovered something and sighed: “Brother Man’s identity is truly extraordinary…”

Rong Yuan gave an “Ah.” “The Peak Master should have gone to find His Highness. I haven’t seen His Highness for several months.”

The direction Yan Wushu went was indeed Tingyun Peak.

In the Dao hall on the summit of Tingyun Peak, Shen Juan sat back beside Shen Jiankong, took over his words, and said softly to Xiao Man:

“That’s right. Only the Heartless Dao can do what you want.”

“Mortal ties are already hard to sever, and your relationship with Little Yan is even more complex. Unlike others, it can’t be cleared by a single act of kindness or a single repayment. The Heartless Dao is a path where everything and every emotion enters the eye, yet it’s all but an empty void. The heart is as quiet as a mirror, without ripples or waves, without love or hate, without sorrow or joy. It severs your ties with this world from the source, naturally including marriage.”

Gradually, Shen Juan’s tone lowered, becoming quite serious: “But this path is not easy to walk. The road is too long and rugged, and few people can persist.”

“I am willing to walk it,” Xiao Man said resolutely.

After a pause, he added: “Cultivation is inherently difficult; why fear these hardships and dangers.”

“After stepping onto it, you are in this world, seeing the desolation and the prosperity, yet without any emotion. In fact, it is a very uncomfortable thing,” Shen Juan said.

Xiao Man: “I’m not afraid.”

“Do you really want to take this path?” Shen Juan asked.

“I really want to take it.” Xiao Man’s gaze was firm. He took half a step back and bowed deeply. “Please instruct me, Master.”

“Disciple, you’re really making it hard for me. I haven’t practiced the Heartless Dao; how can I teach you?” Shen Juan looked troubled.

Xiao Man’s expression changed slightly. Just then, Shen Juan laughed, patted Shen Jiankong’s shoulder, and said: “But disciple, your luck is very good. Sitting here is someone who has practiced the Heartless Dao. You can ask him for instruction.”

He hurried to look at Shen Jiankong: “Please instruct me, Senior Uncle.”

Shen Jiankong stood up: “Follow me.”

The two walked deep into the Dao hall.

In a moment, Shen Juan gave an “Eh”: “Little Yan is here, at the foot of the mountain. Is he dissatisfied that I snatched someone from Xueyi Peak?”

Then he waved his hand to Xiao Man and Shen Jiankong, stood up slowly, straightened his sleeves, and walked toward the outside of the Dao hall: “You go on; I’ll play with him for a while.”

Yan Wushu was beside the boundary stone at the foot of Tingyun Peak. The surroundings were covered in pure white snow. His black clothes were blown by the wind, fluttering in the flying snow, becoming the only color besides white in this place.

He didn’t directly cross the restriction as he did last time. His grandmaster was on the peak; such a transgression would really not be a wise move.

He sent a query to the mountain’s array.

Before long, Shen Juan came on the wind, landed beside him, and stood with him looking at Tingyun Peak behind the restriction. Both were in black, but the color on Shen Juan was more eye-catching and flamboyant, his waistband looking like a streak of flowing gold.

Yan Wushu bowed to him: “Grandmaster.”

“Good grand-disciple.” Shen Juan patted his head.

This address was no different from reminding Yan Wushu of the current seniority difference between him and Xiao Man. Complex emotions arose in his heart, and he spoke circuitously: “Grandmaster has been traveling for many years; you must have gained many insights.”

Shen Juan said lightly: “No particular insights. I and my junior brother have traveled across the Xuantian Continent; there’s no place left to visit, it’s truly tedious.”

“So you returned to Gushan and plan to stay for long?” Yan Wushu asked.

Shen Juan raised an eyebrow: “Is this the tone you use to speak to your grandmaster?”

“This junior is at fault.” Yan Wushu took half a step back and bowed again.

“Are you dissatisfied that I brought Xiao Man back to Tingyun Peak?” Shen Juan snorted lightly and asked while flicking his sleeves.

“Having the instruction of you and Senior Uncle Shen is a blessing for him,” Yan Wushu replied.

He was telling the truth. On the surface, the current number one in the world was the Sword Saint of the South Sea, but in fact, the realms of Shen Juan and Shen Jiankong were higher than the Taiqing Saint Realm by an unknown amount. It was only because they had already exceeded the five realms of the mortal world and could resist the Heavenly Dao together that the rules of this world didn’t allow them to interfere in mortal affairs.

For Xiao Man to be able to take Shen Juan as his teacher was such a great opportunity; how could Yan Wushu be dissatisfied? He just felt a bit empty in his heart.

“Then why did you come to Tingyun Peak so aggressively? Those who didn’t know would think you were coming up to snatch someone,” Shen Juan looked at Yan Wushu and spoke faintly.

Yan Wushu: “…”

Where was he aggressive?

Shen Juan saw that he had teased this junior to the point of almost rolling his eyes, gave a laugh, and asked again: “What did you come to my place for?”

Yan Wushu said: “Just to take a look.”

He didn’t know why he came either.

Perhaps it was Xiao Man’s answer of “no other choice” on the Sword Testing Platform that made him feel very uncomfortable; or perhaps it was Xiao Man’s occasional exchanges of glances with that one surnamed Wei that made him a bit flustered.

He just wanted to take a look at Xiao Man. Doing whatever he wanted was his consistent style. As soon as the thought arose, he came.

But he saw Shen Juan wave his sleeves and say: “Go back.”

“I haven’t seen the person yet.” Yan Wushu stood still without moving.

“My disciple doesn’t want to see you,” Shen Juan said crossly, then couldn’t help but ask, “I say, did you do something to make him unhappy?”

Yan Wushu was stunned. “Why is Xiao Man unhappy?”

“In any case, it wasn’t me who caused it.” Shen Juan glared at him.

Could he still be brooding over what happened several months ago? Yan Wushu frowned.

He admitted that he hadn’t handled the Lin Wu situation well, but he had already explained to Xiao Man. How could he still be angry now?

Could it be because he hadn’t promised him that he wouldn’t let such a thing happen again? Yes, the little phoenix had always been stubborn, and it was extremely difficult to change what he had decided. It was his own carelessness that he hadn’t let the little phoenix know his decision. No wonder the little phoenix was unwilling to stay on Xueyi Peak during that time.

With this thought, Yan Wushu said: “I’ll find a way to coax him.”

“Go back, go back. If you don’t leave, I’ll send you myself.” Shen Juan waved his sleeves again, his tone revealing some impatience.

“Did he say it himself, that he doesn’t want to see me?” Yan Wushu ignored Shen Juan’s change in attitude and asked.

Shen Juan glanced at Tingyun Peak and said to Yan Wushu: “He’s going to start seclusion. He has no time to see you.”