Chapter 88: Discussion of the Flame Spear

The flower garden in the Snow Bamboo Grounds gave off not only the fragrance of blossoms, but also a faint scent of fruit and fermented wine.

The master and disciples hurried about for quite some time before at last filling the stone table with food, joyfully welcoming Xueze’s return.

The disciples of Mount Heaven were all beings of uncommon grace and high attainment; they needed no three meals a day, no grains as sustenance. By careful cultivation of their breath and diligent daily practice, the dewy radiance of Mount Heaven itself would provide all that life required. Even when they descended the mountain, they need not depend on water and food as mortals did, only a little replenishment.

Thus, whenever one saw food upon Mount Heaven, it was plainly for pleasure.

Seeing the table laden with fruits and sweets, and the several faces alight with warmth, Xueze felt her heart grow tender.

“The sights of the mortal world are indeed different, and the markets certainly lively enough, but none of it can compare to the pure air of the Snow Bamboo Grounds. Today you have set out so much—how could I possibly eat it all? If there is such a next time, you need not trouble yourselves so much…”

Qian Gui smiled. “You’ve been away from the mountain these days, and everyone has been thinking of you. Now you return with honors—how could we possibly slight you, our fairy of the snow realm?”

“That’s right, Senior Sister. You are now a great official personally appointed by the Heavenly Lord. We’ll have to rely on you even more in the future!”

“You all only know how to tease me. I’ve only just come back, and you’re already in such a hurry? Let us not speak of this for now; let us settle the matter before us. These days, have you investigated the truth of the incident at the Ice Pool?”

Lianzi shook her head, her expression wounded. “Aside from Master and Senior Brother, no one believes a word I say!”

Ji Lin looked at Xueze’s sorrowful face and picked up the thread. “Junior Sister, that is also because we have no proof. Though Lianzi said she saw it clearly and was certain that the person was the White Feather Spirit Lady, and though the motive for the attack also fit… when we arrived, we found no trace of evidence left behind, and White Feather had many witnesses to her whereabouts. We were all focused on saving people and protecting them, so we haven’t even let Lianzi leave these past few days!”

Qian Gui took a sip of wine and sighed softly. “Most importantly, they have evidence on their side. There are many who can testify that White Feather was at the Western Spring Hall at the time. Now both spirit ladies hold great authority, and Jianrong has promoted White Feather as well. Seeing her competence, Nine Cyan has taken a liking to her too; she’s nearly on equal footing with Blue Water now!”

Blue Water nodded. “Recently, Jianrong has been ill, and many matters have been handled by White Feather and me together. In the course of our dealings, I found nothing improper. When a person’s countenance remains clear and untroubled for a long time, it either means a depth of mind beyond ordinary measure, or it proves she is not the true culprit.”

“So Senior Brother believes in White Feather?” Xueze asked softly, though some displeasure remained in her heart.

“That’s not quite a matter of belief. It’s just that this affair may have hidden complications.”

Qian Gui nodded and laughed. “Don’t underestimate your eldest senior brother. He is more capable than all of you. Still, Nine Cyan’s conduct puzzles me. Is he simply too naive to guard against danger, or is he deliberately raising her up, waiting for the right moment?”

Xueze withdrew her gaze and thought for a moment. “Let us set this matter aside for now. In time, it will all come to light.”

“Oh? What do you mean?” Ji Lin asked in surprise. “Have you discovered something?”

“During these days below the mountain, I found many things, and many suspicious points as well. Most of them concern the imperial house of the Northern Hua, though quite a few also involve Mount Heaven. The forbidden art used by the murderer countered Mount Heaven’s techniques, and he also had an assistant from Mount Heaven…”

“Indeed. By your account, and judging from the facts, that person ought to be just so. He emerged from resentment, colluded with mortal nobles, and found a Mount Heaven disciple as a messenger and powerful support!”

Xueze looked at Qian Gui and could not help nodding. “Yesterday, I fought him on the lake and nearly suffered injury at the hands of the two of them together. Fortunately, the emperor had taken his Blood Moon Spirit Pearl, and only by the three of us joining forces were we able to withstand their attack. In the midst of the fight, I found that the Mount Heaven disciple looked very much like Senior Sister White Feather, yet she could use certain spells White Feather does not know. It was truly strange!”

“Then was it really White Feather, the spirit lady, or not?” Ji Lin could not help but sigh.

Lianzi said at once, “Of course it was her. She is in charge of the feather doves and can send messages to the outside world. Besides, with her ability and character, it would not be strange at all for her to conceal her strength!”

Blue Water shook his head and said sternly, “It was not her. These past few days I, too, feared that White Feather might stir up trouble, so I placed a talisman on her. If she were to use magic anywhere, I would certainly know. Yesterday, Junior Sister fought so fiercely with the villain that the two of them must have left each other dead or gravely wounded. It could not have been the White Feather Spirit Lady!”

Ji Lin exclaimed, “Yes, I even saw White Feather this morning. She was perfectly well!”

Qian Gui only smiled without speaking, listening to the others. As to right and wrong, he had long since made up his mind.

“Not White Feather, yet deliberately pretending to be White Feather, repeatedly trying to put people to death, and able to use many Mount Heaven forbidden arts—who on earth is this person?” Xueze thought for a moment, then suddenly stiffened and asked in alarm, “Could it be Senior Sister Jianrong?!”

Blue Water raised a brow, gave a faint laugh, glanced at Qian Gui, and then replied with studied calm, “No. She is entirely bent on winning the Heavenly Lord’s favor and begging to climb to an even higher position. Now she is nearly at the rank of Heavenly Master—how could she throw away years of effort?”

Ji Lin also agreed. “Exactly. Besides, she seldom descends the mountain and is busy with duties every day. These days she even fell ill, and I heard she was injured by Junior Sister’s magical artifact. Her thoughts, her motive, her power—all of it differs from what you encountered, Junior Sister. If you’re going to guess it’s her, you might as well consider the other female disciples instead. Perhaps someone has hidden far more than anyone realizes!”

Lianzi looked at the two senior brothers and could not help feeling puzzled. “What you say may be reasonable, but aren’t you being far too protective of an outsider? Don’t you know what kind of person the Spirit Lady Jianrong is? I rather think that crafty, vicious, and harsh temperament fits Senior Sister’s guess very well!”

“Lianzi, do not speak so fiercely, and do not be disrespectful to your senior brothers! These past few days they have watched over you day and night. You ought to know gratitude, and moreover show respect and filial obedience at all times. Do not become haughty just because you are favored!”

“Senior Sister, I know! You, who are so doted upon, don’t act haughty, so how could I dare? It’s just that what is before us is both troubling and terribly important. If it is not handled well, it will surely endanger the whole world. That is why I became a little excited!”

Qian Gui smiled with composure and soothed them all. “There is no need for you to guess endlessly. Let your teacher sort this out for you!”

Blue Water glanced at Qian Gui, and something passed between them in silence.

Qian Gui smiled in understanding, stroked his white beard, and wore an air of ease and assurance, as though to say: Do not hurry, my disciples; your master knows what should be said and what should not.

“Ever since the murder at the prince’s residence, Blue Water and I have done everything in our power to investigate this matter, leaving no detail unchecked. What followed has made the truth clearer and clearer to us. Only last night did we reach our conclusion…”

“Last night?” Xueze stared blankly at him. “Master, you mean—”

“Yes, last night, during the very time you were fighting those two in black and white. Did you not say you struck them until they vanished without a trace? At that time, Mount Heaven had a premonition. Every stone slab remained warm to the touch, as though it were the last flicker of life before death.”

“Master means the calamity has been removed?”

“Hahaha, that should be so!” Qian Gui said with a smile. “The one who committed these crimes is no small figure. Judging from the forbidden art he cultivates and the characteristics of the techniques he used, he must be Yan Shuo!”

“Yan Shuo?”

“Yes. Yan Shuo is a sinner sealed a thousand years ago by the Sage of Unity, and before his suppression his power was no less than the Sage’s. A thousand years have passed and he has shown no sign of repentance, only an ever-growing thirst for revenge. The place of his seal is Green Mystic Valley. When we went to inspect it, all was still as it should be, so he must have long ago escaped by means of a false appearance…”

“Within a thousand years, with no mishap, why would he suddenly have broken free?”

“After you went down the mountain, it was only when Lianzi described the situation in the secret realm that I became certain he had escaped. So I went down myself and, after using some methods of investigation, discovered that he had in fact escaped decades ago. He had long been scheming, waiting only for a single opportunity. Twenty years ago, Mount Heaven faced a calamity unseen for a thousand years. Whenever Mount Heaven suffers such a disaster, it chooses a Heavenly Maiden to protect the divine realm. It must have been then that Yan Shuo slipped out of Green Mystic Valley, while Mount Heaven had no time to spare and no awareness of it…”

“Twenty years ago, that Heavenly Maiden was... Heavenly Master Qinglian? What was that calamity, to allow Yan Shuo to flee in its midst?”

“I can only say this much: the three realms were in turmoil. Though Green Mystic Valley lies in the mortal world, without a special person no one could discover Yan Shuo, much less rescue him. Yan Shuo left his body behind and escaped with only his soul. This was indeed one method, but it required a sacrifice of the blood of the true dragon emperor at the moment Mount Heaven suffered its trial. Coincidentally, at that time the ruler and consort of Northern Hua met with disaster in Green Mystic Valley and died despite all treatment…”

“This sounds like a conspiracy!”

“Yes, it was no coincidence. Still, you need not think too much about it. In any case, this matter has now been resolved.”

“How can it be called resolved? Could such a thousand-year demon so easily be defeated and killed?”

Ji Lin broke into Xueze and her master’s conversation and joined in. “Yan Shuo is so formidable, so cunning, and able even to collude with a Mount Heaven disciple and Northern Hua nobles. He must have had some great purpose in mind. How could he die so quickly? Junior Sister, did you see his corpse?”

Xueze shook her head. “The imperial people handled the matter in haste, so I did not see it. But the corpse itself would not prove much—does he not need no physical body?”

“Yes!” Qian Gui smiled. “It is still Xueze who listened most carefully. Yan Shuo only needs to preserve his soul and vital essence, then forge a new body. As for the present circumstances, though we do not yet know the full extent of what happened, they are not likely to be too terrible. Mount Heaven’s calamity should not come so quickly. There is no need for alarm. Even if Yan Shuo is not dead, someone will be able to deal with him!”

Xueze felt a pang of confusion. “But if his power is still shallow at present, would he not be easier to handle?”

“That may be so, but the forbidden art he practices is beyond Mount Heaven’s ability to fully discern. Unless he comes to Mount Heaven and we trap him, it would indeed be best to remove him. Otherwise, if he does not reveal himself of his own accord, we won’t even be able to find the man—what then can be done?”

“Then... are we just supposed to wait? If he appears again, I fear he will bring about another disaster!”

“I have spoken of this at length with Nine Cyan as well, but he is even calmer than I am. He said plainly that Yan Shuo is not capable of great deeds. He said Mount Heaven is a divine domain, and Yan Shuo would not enter lightly; so long as we manage it strictly and root out the hidden traitor, that will be enough. Though I do not entirely agree, I cannot refute him either. Mount Heaven does suffer tribulations from time to time, but the intervals are never so short. Twenty years is not enough to create a powerful enemy! Your task now is simply to cultivate diligently and keep watch for the hidden traitor. Do not concern yourselves with anything else!”

With that, Qian Gui winked at Blue Water and smiled, easing much of Blue Water’s tension.

Blue Water quietly glanced at Xueze; seeing that she did not suspect anything, he finally relaxed. “Master has said so much that they are surely unable to digest it all at once, nor will they probe its deeper meaning. Still, Yan Shuo is ultimately a disaster. May he not bring calamity to Mount Heaven! As Master said, twenty years is enough to create no enemy, but also not enough to produce a generation’s worth of a divine maiden. If Yan Shuo truly becomes Mount Heaven’s great foe, then without a Heavenly Maiden, who will deal with him?”