Chapter 12#
Picking Flowers#
Although Yin Biyue had not rested all night, he was in surprisingly good spirits when he went to the meeting the next day.
His posture was straight, his eyes clear and bright.
Seeing this, Liu Qishuang felt greatly relieved. “It seems your health has improved a lot, Junior Brother.”
Yin Biyue nodded. “Thank you for your care, Senior Sister.” He then turned to Jun Yu and Duan Chongxuan. “And thank you, Senior Brother and Fifth Junior Brother.”
He was thanking them for visiting him in the prison and for defending him in the hall.
Although Liu Qishuang and Duan Chongxuan’s assistance had gone somewhat off course… the outcome had been successful nonetheless.
Liu Qishuang looked at the young man’s sincere eyes and felt a twinge of guilt.
She felt that she had not fulfilled her duty as senior sister in the past, and this time she had not done much either. Yet after enduring so many hardships and injuries, the young man still sincerely expressed his gratitude to them. His character was truly excellent.
The meeting place was, of course, Jun Yu’s “First Courtyard.” The tables and chairs were still provided by Duan Chongxuan.
After giving his thanks, Yin Biyue looked at Jun Yu. He knew that since they were gathering, their senior brother must have something to say.
The young man in black robes sat upright, straight and tall like a sword ready to be drawn, exuding a chilling coldness.
He looked at his two junior brothers and spoke, “Three months from now, there is the Chongming Mountain Flower Picking Assembly. You two should go.”
It seemed that because he was not used to speaking often, his voice carried a cold, halting quality, and his tone was stiff.
Liu Qishuang added, “The Thousand-Petal Lotus of Ming Lake has the effect of ‘dispelling melancholy and relieving heart stagnation.’ Besides, it’s time for you both to go out on a journey.”
Yin Biyue suddenly remembered that the academy director had said it would be best for him to head south.
And Chongming Mountain was in the southern continent.
It had come quickly.
The Flower Picking Assembly was for picking the Thousand-Petal Lotus in the mountain’s Ming Lake.
The entire Ming Lake was covered by lotus leaves, shading the sky and blocking out the sun, spanning a full hundred hectares. Yet there was only one lotus flower, blooming once every ten years.
Ten years was not a long time in a cultivator’s long life, but no one was willing to wait.
Because the Thousand-Petal Lotus absorbed the concentrated spiritual energy of Chongming Mountain, it not only had the effect of “removing distracting thoughts and enlightening the heart’s stagnation,” but also could purify one’s constitution, improve cultivation aptitude, and lay a solid foundation for the path of cultivation ahead.
For cultivators below the “Little Vehicle” stage, there was no better celestial treasure than it.
Strength determined the victor, and the winner climbed the mountain to pick the flower. Hence the name “Flower Picking Assembly” at the foot of Chongming Mountain.
Eventually, through negotiations among the various sects, it was decided that to encourage the younger generation to cultivate, cultivators below “Little Vehicle” and above “Marrow Cleansing” could participate. Those who had passed the “Little Vehicle” stage would find the flower useless, while those below “Marrow Cleansing” could not fully absorb the spiritual energy of the flower.
The event was hosted in rotation by the “One Mountain, Three Sects, Two Buddhist Monasteries.” As time went on, it became a grand gathering for the younger generation to compete.
Countless extraordinary talents traveled thousands of miles to attend, not only for the Thousand-Petal Lotus but also to make a name for themselves.
It was also an opportunity for the major sects to enhance their prestige, establish their standing, and probe each other.
Cangya Mountain sent disciples every time, but Xihua Peak had never participated.
The main reason Jun Yu made this decision now was Yin Biyue’s “white hair condition.”
Liu Qishuang also believed that whether for treating the illness or gaining experience, the Chongming Mountain Flower Picking Assembly was an excellent choice.
It seemed incredible that the three disciples of the Sword Saint—Jun Yu, Liu Qishuang, and Yan Xing—had never attended a grand assembly specially held for young geniuses.
Jun Yu was the Sword Saint’s senior disciple; he had already made his name before the “Flower Picking Assembly” even began. By the time he left the peak to travel, he had already reached the “Little Vehicle” stage. He also chose to go to dangerous and desolate places like the Hundred Thousand Mountains, the Desolate Swamps, and the Northwest Snowfields. Truly few had ever seen him.
Liu Qishuang had originally intended to go to Chongming Mountain, not for the flower, but to find opponents of equal strength to sharpen herself. However, the year she left the mountain happened to coincide with the revival of the “Qiong Palace” among the twelve demonic sects. She followed the sect leader and the elders on a campaign all the way to Xiling Mountain to eliminate the demons.
Many at the “Little Vehicle” stage died in that battle, but Liu Qishuang, who was then at the “Condensed Spirit” stage, survived. She missed the Flower Picking Assembly, but fortunately she had found her opponents in that battle, so she had no regrets.
By the time Yan Xing left the mountain, he visited the Flower Picking Assembly once. After surveying the entire competition, he felt that no one there could defeat him, found it uninteresting, and so, shouldering his blade, he strode away, his whereabouts becoming difficult to trace.
But in truth, whether it was Jun Yu’s “Cross-Border Kill,” Liu Qishuang’s “Battle of Xiling Mountain,” or Yan Xing’s “Night of Breaking Barriers,” many had heard of these feats, but few had witnessed them personally.
If Yin Biyue and Duan Chongxuan went this time, they would represent not only Cangya but also Xihua Peak and the Sword Saint’s disciples.
This would be the first time in a hundred years that the Sword Saint’s disciples formally appeared before the world.
Not in the rigid records of archives, not in the exaggerated stories of storytellers, nor in the speculations of countless cultivators.
This was a frontal confrontation, a battle where they would meet head-on with other young, exceptionally talented youths, crossing paths and competing with each other.
When Yin Biyue thought of all this, he felt a heavy heart.
Because he understood that this was no longer just about his own victory or defeat; it also carried the prestige of his cheap master.
Liu Qishuang, however, had more considerations. She believed that for her junior brother to travel and spar with others would broaden his horizons and allow him to see the vastness of the world.
No longer confined to a single corner, this might alleviate the impact of the Luo Mingchuan incident on him.
Her junior brother’s current somewhat naive disposition might be largely due to his overly simple upbringing. He had either studied behind closed doors at the academy or secluded himself on the mountain for arduous training.
Though the outside world would bring storms and expose him to the treachery of people’s hearts, it would also foster growth. Her junior brother needed to grow.
She looked at Yin Biyue and smiled faintly. “A young man should have some edge to him.”
Yin Biyue barely suppressed the twitch at the corner of his mouth.
If he added up the total age from his countless past lives… this sentence should become: “An old monster should have some edge to him.”
Jun Yu seemed to guess his worries. “Among this year’s participants, there is one who has trained the ‘Wind and Rain Sword’ to a certain level of skill. The rest are not worth worrying about. Just go all out and fight; no one can defeat you.”
Big senior brother! Where did you get such confidence in me?!
I am not you!! I am only at the late stage of Condensed Spirit!!
Yin Biyue was very depressed, because that “Wind and Rain Sword” practitioner was named Zhong Shan, renowned in the southern continent. He broke through barriers at twenty, hailed as the number one person below the “Little Vehicle” stage. He was the genius that the Qinglu Sword Sect was proud of, the one with the most potential to enter the “Sage Realm” in the next three hundred years.
Yet in the mouth of his senior brother, he only received the phrase “a certain level of skill.” If the Qinglu Sword Sect found out, they might collectively fall on their swords.
Still, he was very grateful, because to encourage him, his senior brother had actually spoken a long sentence!
He glanced sideways and sure enough, Duan Chongxuan’s eyes lit up, looking excitedly like “Senior brother, say a few more sentences!”
Yin Biyue sighed inwardly but still said solemnly, “Senior Brother, Second Senior Sister, rest assured. I will do my utmost on this journey, not bring shame to Xihua’s reputation, and I will also look after Fifth Junior Brother!”
But as soon as he said this, Liu Qishuang’s expression showed surprise, and even Jun Yu was momentarily stunned.
Yin Biyue felt strange. There was nothing wrong with that! The first half must be absolutely correct!
The second half… he was Duan Chongxuan’s senior brother, and his cultivation was also higher, so of course he should look after him!
Duan the chatterbox smiled and made a bow. “Then I’ll trouble you to look after me, Senior Brother.”
Yin Biyue was confused.
Duan Chongxuan wanted to tease him a bit more, but then he heard Jun Yu say in a deep voice, “Luo Mingchuan is here.”
The barrier of Xihua Peak was in Jun Yu’s control. Since he said someone was coming, Luo Mingchuan must have been blocked outside the barrier at the foot of the peak.
The atmosphere fell silent.
Liu Qishuang frowned. “What is he here for?”
Duan Chongxuan glanced at Yin Biyue’s expression. “Probably… wants to see Fourth Senior Brother.”
Jun Yu was already prepared to send out a sword aura if the person outside the barrier dared to take another step.
What they did not expect was that Yin Biyue nodded, as if taking it for granted, and said, “Then I’ll go see him… Senior Brother, Senior Sister, is there anything else?”
Yin Biyue didn’t understand why everyone’s expressions changed all of a sudden.
How could the villain not meet the protagonist? Of course he had to know his enemy and know himself, so he could accurately challenge the protagonist’s bottom line and thus achieve the goal of repeatedly provoking and repeatedly dying.
Liu Qishuang’s expression was grave, while Duan Chongxuan seemed to want to speak but stopped.
Finally, Jun Yu said, “Let’s all go together.”
So the disciples of Xihua Peak marched down the mountain in full force.
…Though there were only four of them.
But Luo Mingchuan was alone.
They outnumbered him.
Jun Yu was at half-step Great Vehicle; Liu Qishuang was at Little Vehicle stage.
Luo Mingchuan was at Barrier Breaking stage.
Their realms overwhelmed him.
Yin Biyue finally understood: they had come to show support for him!
But based on the principle more truthful than Newton’s three laws—that “those who back the villain never end well”—he still wanted to advise his fellow disciples.
However, when he saw Luo Mingchuan, he couldn’t say a word.
The young man before him still had a gentle temperament and handsome features.
But it was late spring, and as he stood in the spring breeze, there was an autumnal desolation about him, as if he were wasting away.
His eye sockets were dark and slightly sunken, his white Daoist robe flapping loosely in the wind.
After only a month apart, the person before him seemed much haggard. The difference from his spirited demeanor at their first meeting was like heaven and earth.
His gaze was heavy as he looked over, his voice a little hoarse. “Junior Brother Yin.”
Luo Mingchuan thought he had figured things out clearly, but when he saw the young man before him, the words wouldn’t come out.
Now he was handling the various affairs of Cangya in place of his master. The jade slips sent to Qinghe Hall from the various peaks were naturally reviewed by him on behalf of the master, and major matters were reported to the master.
That morning, he had seen the jade slip from Jun Yu stating that “two people from Xihua Peak would go to the Flower Picking Assembly.”
There were only two people below Little Vehicle stage on Xihua Peak.
Junior Brother Yin.
Just thinking about the young man’s appearance in the prison made it hard for him to breathe.
“Master, your disciple wants to go to the Chongming Mountain Flower Picking Assembly.”
“You were supposed to go anyway. Why are you kneeling?!”
“I want to travel with Junior Brother Yin.”
Zheng Yangzi fell silent. Only the sound of the water clock echoed in the empty hall.
Finally, he waved his hand. “Go ahead.”
Luo Mingchuan kowtowed respectfully.
Jun Yu and Liu Qishuang seemed to have no intention of speaking.
So Duan Chongxuan stepped forward and spoke first. “What business does Senior Brother Luo have?”
His manners were impeccable, and his face carried a smile, leaving no room for fault.
Yin Biyue thought that the important post of Xihua Peak’s foreign representative was truly too suitable for Duan Chongxuan.
Luo Mingchuan looked at the young man before him. “I came to ask if I could go to the Flower Picking Assembly together with Junior Brother Yin.”
He was not a man of few words. He had once spoken eloquently at the Four Directions Discussion, earning admiration, and had used words to unite people in the tight spot of a secret realm.
But now, even saying one sentence took all his effort.
Liu Qishuang said coldly, “Impossible.”
Luo Mingchuan’s face instantly turned pale.
But he could no longer offer any explanation.
So he used spiritual power to cut his finger. Beads of crimson blood seeped into the ground, drop by drop. He spoke each word deliberately: “I, Luo Mingchuan, here swear to find the Thousand-Petal Lotus of Ming Lake for my junior brother. If I fail, may my cultivation never advance again!”
A heart-blood oath.
Such vows were rarely taken, because forcing out heart’s blood was itself a great loss to a cultivator, not to mention the consequences of breaking the oath.
This was a vow with enormous cost and a promise that must be fulfilled.
Liu Qishuang was greatly alarmed.
Duan Chongxuan closed his folding fan and narrowed his eyes. “Senior Brother Luo, you shouldn’t speak carelessly.”
Even the expressionless Jun Yu showed a hint of loosening.
The young man’s thin lips were completely bloodless.
But he stared straight at the person before him, a glimmer of hope piercing through the intense despair and pain in his eyes, and whispered, “Junior Brother, do you trust me?”
Everyone looked at Yin Biyue.
And then, they saw Yin Biyue give a slight nod.