Chapter 15#
Bidding Farewell#
More and more people surged in from all directions.
Each of them carried a sword.
Yin Biyue quietly observed the two beside him, but they seemed not to notice, still walking with steady steps. Duan Chongxuan even appeared somewhat excited.
By the time they reached about ten feet from the Execution Hall, a dense, black mass of Cangya disciples had already gathered before them.
Yin Biyue’s heart sank.
As the three of them approached, these disciples spontaneously parted to both sides, leaving a clear path for them to pass.
Every gaze fixed on them was focused and fervent, yet no one spoke. The atmosphere was so quiet that only the sound of their breathing could be heard.
Yin Biyue had already adjusted to the most optimal stance for drawing his sword, even mentally calculating and mapping out more than three routes to break through the encirclement.
But his confidence was less than fifty percent, simply because there were too many people. He couldn’t even tell if among them were hidden experts concealing their aura.
Just then, a sword was raised in the crowd, accompanied by a loud shout that rang out:
“Uncle Yin! Victory in the Flowers Contest!!—”
Yin Biyue was startled and looked toward the voice. Wasn’t this the young disciple who had escorted him that day?
…Still the one who had drawn aggro through the halo.
He had no time to dwell on it, because soon shouts erupted one after another, surging like a tidal wave!
“Uncle Luo! First place at Heavy Bright Mountain!!—”
“Senior Brother Yin, victorious in every battle!—”
“Senior Brother Luo, invincible wherever he goes!—”
“Senior Brother Yin, number one in the Way of the Sword!—”
The disciples lining both sides of the road addressed them by different titles, varying by seniority, but they all raised their swords and waved them vigorously. From afar, it looked like a flowing sea of blades.
Duan Chongxuan sighed in admiration, “This is my first time enjoying the treatment of a ‘sword-waving send-off.’”
Yin Biyue had a feeling something happened that he didn’t know about.
His instinct was right.
“Uncle Yin is a good person. If you had ever gotten to know him, you wouldn’t be misled by rumors!”
If it were only Cheng Xi saying this, it wouldn’t have stirred much trouble.
But there were four disciples who had escorted Yin Biyue that day.
In the world of rumors, three people can create a false tiger; four can make even metal melt under public opinion.
They all agreed that between Luo Mingchuan and Yin Biyue, there was something unusual—but not hostility. Instead, the one feeling guilty was Luo Mingchuan.
The Cangya Mountain disciples were first-rate in cultivation and equally first-rate in spreading gossip.
Something like “Uncle Liu’s daughter and Uncle Zhang’s son are in love and together” eventually became “Uncle Liu and Uncle Zhang are together and getting married at the end of the month, with the sect leader presiding over the ceremony.” This wasn’t even considered an exaggeration.
The other disciples who had fallen into danger in the secret realm gathered together, carefully recalling and cross-checking details, and realized that even if the formation had been triggered, they wouldn’t have been hurt, because all the attacks were focused solely on Luo Mingchuan.
Yet Luo Mingchuan chose to take the blow for Yin Biyue. That was truly strange.
Combined with Luo Mingchuan’s reaction in the Pure Harmony Hall and what Cheng Xi and the other four had witnessed, everyone speculated on at least ten different versions of “The Inevitable Whispers Between Cangya’s Top Disciple and Xihua Peak’s Genius.” However, theories about love conflicts or love turning to hate were only a minority.
Finally, He Yanyun’s appearance pushed the topic toward “What Are We Talking About When We Talk About Love?”
Many asked her what had really happened after the hall doors closed, but she refused to say.
And so, today’s scene came to be.
“Waving swords to bid farewell, to boost morale on the journey” was a Cangya tradition.
It was spontaneously organized by the disciples, escorting them from the Execution Hall all the way to the mountain gate. Many years ago, martial cultivators waved all kinds of swords, while spiritual cultivators held various magical instruments. The sight was so beautiful that it gradually evolved to only waving swords, nothing else.
Many of the disciples here had even borrowed their swords temporarily.
But that didn’t dampen their shouting passion. The waves of sound shook the entire Cangya Mountain.
As Yin Biyue and the other two walked several dozen meters, the crowd followed them, and the shouts shifted from chaotic individuality to unison. The two sides seemed to have reached a consensus: one group would shout, “Senior Brother Luo, first place at Heavy Bright Mountain!” and the other would respond, “Senior Brother Yin, victory in the Flowers Contest!”
Suddenly, a breeze blew through the forest, carrying a pleasant fragrance.
Yin Biyue looked up and saw over a dozen women in white skirts arriving gracefully. The two at the front lightly tapped their toes, one leaping to a treetop in the south, the other in the north. With a flick of their hands, they unfurled two large banners, bearing elegant running-script calligraphy: on the south side, “Pearl of Brilliance”; on the north side, “Pure Jade Without Flaw.”
Seeing this, Duan Chongxuan took out his folding fan and shook it, his smile becoming even more gallant and suave. “Ah, it seems the sisters who support me have more ingenious ideas.”
The corner of Yin Biyue’s mouth twitched.
Kid, you’re way too confident. At least the one leading them, Miss He Yanyun, is definitely here to support his Senior Brother Luo.
Duan Chongxuan sighed, “They’re praising my appearance as a pearl of brilliance and my character as pure jade without flaw!”
Yin Biyue found himself speechless.
If he could thoroughly understand the tropes of entertainment circle novels, he would quickly grasp the current situation.
One great road, divided into two sides.
On the south side was Luo Mingchuan’s fan group; on the north side, Yin Biyue’s support club. The swords they held were equivalent to light sticks and banners.
Luo Mingchuan’s fan group won in numbers.
A dense, black mass, their sword-waving rhythm extremely uniform.
Yin Biyue’s support club won in quality.
Aside from the four escorting disciples and the Enforcement Hall disciples, there were also die-hard fans of “Sword Saint” and Jun Yu. This was the first time Xihua Peak had participated in the Flowers Contest, naturally representing Sword Saint’s prestige.
Though fewer in number than the other side, their cultivation levels were not weak. They shouted from their dantian, their true essence abundant.
The momentum of both sides was evenly matched.
Unfortunately, Yin Biyue’s role in the entertainment circle novel only lasted two and a half lines, so he naturally wouldn’t understand any of this.
Otherwise, he could have raised his arm and shouted, “Friends in the back, raise your swords! Let me see your hands!!”
He Yanyun stood on the treetop holding the banner, watching as her sisters mingled on both sides, distributing handkerchiefs embroidered with “Pearl of Brilliance, Pure Jade Without Flaw.” She smiled faintly.
Ruan Xiaolian from the opposite tree raised an eyebrow at her.
—Can this work?
Top
He Yanyun nodded.
—No problem!
These embroidered handkerchiefs were hastily made overnight by He Yanyun and her sisters. They demanded exquisite materials, fine craftsmanship, and dense stitches, making them impossible to refuse when handed over. Moreover, on Cangya Mountain, owning a woman’s embroidered handkerchief was a truly enviable achievement.
The handkerchiefs were quickly distributed. He Yanyun smiled in satisfaction and cast a grateful glance at Ruan Xiaolian.
—Thank you.
Ruan Xiaolian glared at her.
—Don’t be so formal!
So He Yanyun said no more. Actually, she hadn’t “said” anything from start to finish.
They had grown up together, understanding each other with just a glance or an expression.
In He Yanyun’s words, it was a bond that could withstand life and death.
In the past, they would sneak down the mountain together to visit the market and eat roast chicken, only to be caught and punished by having their palms slapped… that kind of life-and-death bond.
The Cangya Mountain sisterhood always had He Yanyun step forward to take the blame, earning her the nickname “Scapegoat Heroine” until she turned thirteen. Later, as they grew older, they gradually shed their gluttonous and playful natures, devoted themselves diligently to cultivation, and hadn’t gathered together for a long time.
So when He Yanyun proposed the “Spouse Plan” this time, they all responded with enthusiasm, as if injected with adrenaline. It could be said that a hundred answered the call.
All of this was unknown to Yin Biyue.
Holding the handkerchief that had been shoved into his hand, he just felt… something strange had mixed in.
The crowd halted at the tall, wide mountain gate and fell silent.
The three turned back and bowed to the crowd seeing them off. Luo Mingchuan said, “Thank you for seeing us off.”
Another burst of cheers erupted from the crowd.
The youths, robes fluttering in the wind, walked southward.
Behind them were the rising sun, the towering green mountains, a sea of swords, and cheers.
Ahead lay an unknown path of thorns and mud.