“The Immortal Lord is right, this punishment is indeed too light.”
Amidst the flurry of snow and wind, another figure emerged. The newcomer was clad in a black cloak, and their tone carried a hint of disapproval towards Bu Ting. “The Immortal Lord is too kind-hearted. He only sentenced him to seven days of sweeping duty on Fuguang Mountain. I fear that he will harbor resentment and end up harming others.”
“Elder Hei.” Elder Bai seemed to not have expected Elder Hei to follow him here.
“Bu Ting is skilled in swordsmanship. Even if his spiritual power is sealed, he is still an excellent swordsman to ordinary people.” Elder Hei spread out his palm, and a bracelet lay in the palm of his hand: “I refined this item myself. The wearer of this must not have evil thoughts or harm ordinary people. Once he has an idea, he will suffer the pain of ten thousand arrows piercing his heart.”
Five hundred years ago, the Jiutian Sect put restrictive bracelet beads on Immortal Lord Fuguang, and now the Zhenxing Tower Elder wanted to put a restrictive bracelet on Bu Ting. It was as if fate had become a boomerang, ultimately stabbing the people of the Jiutian Sect.
“Now that the heavenly tribulation has not yet passed, Bu Ting’s cultivation is profound. If he could contribute a portion of his strength…”
Before Elder Bai could finish speaking, Elder Hei had already put the bracelet on Bu Ting’s hand.
“Oh, what you said may make sense, but I don’t agree.” Elder Hei sneered. “A life for a life, a debt for a debt. It’s the law of heaven!”
After saying that, he turned around and transformed into a beam of light, flying away without saying another word.
“Why would an Elder from Zhenxing Tower come here?” Yuan Wo asked in a low voice.
“Could it be… because of a grudge?” Jin Qingqiu whispered back, “Didn’t Immortal Venerable Bu suspect Zhenxing Tower’s divination abilities?”
“What a pair of fools.” Pingling Yao scoffed. “Five hundred years ago, Zhenxing Tower and Bu Ting were very close. Now that things have gotten out of hand, they’ll definitely have to make a statement to prove that they had nothing to do with what Bu Ting did.”
Any creature with sentience would have selfish desires. Even Zhenxing Tower, which was not bound by the sect, had its own selfish desires.
“So that’s how it is.” Yuan Wo suddenly had a moment of clarity, and suddenly felt that the Zhenxing Tower was not as mysterious and unpredictable as he had imagined.
“I’m afraid it’s not that simple.” Jin Qingqiu raised an eyebrow. “I see that the two Elders’ opinions are not the same.”
Elder Bai and Elder Hei naturally had different ideas, but Elder Hei had already spoken first in front of everyone. Even if he had the intention to intercede for Bu Ting, he could no longer speak at this moment.
“Although the young City Lord of Manxiang City wasn’t killed by Immortal Venerable Bu, she died because of him.” The Sect Master of the Wanhuo Sect spoke, “I believe we should give the people of Manxiang City an explanation.”
Although they had a personal relationship with Bu Ting, they were not blind to right and wrong.
“The Immortal Lord has already punished him by sending him to serve labor in Manxiang City, which can be considered as repaying half of his debt. For the remaining half, let’s cut off two of his fingers.” The Sect Master of Wanhuo Sect avoided the gazes of the Jiutian Sect members. “To uphold justice in the world.”
“Does the Jiutian Sect have any objections?” Fuguang looked at Nan Feng and the Elders of the Jiutian Sect.
“Junior is willing to take the punishment in place of Master.”
“Impossible.” The Second Elder spoke up to stop him. “Nan Feng, you are not only Bu Ting’s disciple now, but also the Sect Master of the Jiutian Sect. As a sword cultivator, how can you be without fingers? You must prioritize the bigger picture.”
“The grace of master’s teachings and upbringing…”
“If you manage the Jiutian Sect well, it will be a way to repay Immortal Venerable Bu’s kindness in raising you.” The Fourth Elder suddenly spoke up. “If even you can’t protect it, what will become of our Jiutian Sect?”
“This matter was done by me, Bu-mou, and has nothing to do with anyone else.” Bu Ting reached out, pulled out the Fourth Elder’s sword that had already lost its spiritual light, and slashed it towards his own finger.
“Are you all satisfied now?” Bu Ting returned the sword to the Fourth Elder without even looking at the severed finger on the ground.
“Master!” Nan Feng rushed forward to stop Bu Ting’s bleeding. Bu Ting’s face showed no sign of pain. “From now on, without Bu-mou’s planning, I hope you all can help the world overcome the great calamity of fate.”
Everyone felt very uncomfortable looking at the severed finger stained with blood on the ground.
No one was truly happy to see that Bu Ting, the once brilliant and dazzling Immortal Venerable, becoming a paranoid person. Even Pingling Yao, who had always detested the Jiutian Sect, couldn’t help but sigh.
After stopping the bleeding for Bu Ting, Nan Feng’s hands trembled as he placed his master’s severed finger into the jade box.
“We have disturbed the Immortal Lord for too long. We dare not disturb the Immortal Lord’s cultivation any longer. We will take our leave.” The Palace Master of Changshou Palace spoke on behalf of everyone as they bid farewell to Fuguang.
“Go.” Fuguang acted as if he didn’t see what Nan Feng was doing. He paused and then spoke again. “Rest assured, everyone. As long as the Immortal Cauldrons remain, I will guard them.”
Upon hearing the Immortal Lord’s words, everyone’s hearts trembled. They were filled with guilt and did not dare to look directly at the Immortal Lord out of cowardice.
Perhaps when they took back the puppets, they had a shameful thought like this.
Jiu Hui paused in her steps. She turned her head to look at Fuguang, her eyes flickering with light. Her lips moved, but she didn’t say anything.
“Let’s go.” Yu Jing took her hand. “We should head back.“carpreads.pages.dev
“Yes, Master.” Jiu Hui lowered her head and followed her master into the snowstorm.
Fuguang watched Jiu Hui’s departing figure until the footprints on the open ground were completely covered by ice and snow, then he slowly retracted his gaze.
“Which junior is the Immortal Lord looking at?” Bu Ting looked at Fuguang, trying to see through the mask.
Fuguang ignored him and turned back to Fuguang Palace.
As darkness fell, Bu Ting walked to the edge of the cliff. The wind and snow that he had once ignored now tore at his clothes.
The cold seeped into his flesh, invading his bones and blood. He stretched out his stiff hand, trying to open his storage ring, but without spiritual power, he couldn’t even open the ring.
That night, he stayed in the back hall’s side room. The biting cold wind seemed to pierce through the walls and penetrate his limbs and bones.
He couldn’t fall asleep because he was freezing. The expensive but thin silk quilt couldn’t keep out the cold of Fuguang Mountain.
Staring at the window that had not lit up for a long time, it turned out that the night was so long.
“It’s finally dawn.”
The sect masters packed their belongings with their disciples and boarded the flying boat in a hurry, eager to leave the Jiutian Sect.
After the incident with Immortal Venerable Bu, everyone felt embarrassed to stay at Jiutian Sect any longer, lest the Jiutian Sect think they were there to watch the show.
Nan Feng stood on the sword peak of the Jiutian Sect, watching the flying magic weapons scatter and leave, his eyes weary.
Perhaps after the excitement, there would be endless desolation. Of all the people who came and went, only one would remain in the end, and that was oneself.
“Nan Feng.” In the sea of clouds, Jiu Hui and Zhi You brought Jin Qingqiu and other young disciples to arrive on their swords.
Nan Feng was startled when he saw them appear.
“So this is where the scenery is the best. No wonder you wanted to stand here.” Jiu Hui hopped off her flying sword and walked over to Nan Feng. She found a clean rock to sit on. “The clouds are rolling, and the birds and flowers are fragrant. This really is a nice place.”
“Even if you, Fellow Daoist Nan Feng, are the youngest sect master among us, you shouldn’t be the only one enjoying this beautiful view.” Jin Qingqiu lifted the corner of his robe, intending to sit on the rock next to Jiu Hui. However, as soon as he took a step forward, the rock was taken by Zhi You.
He stopped walking, and Yuan Wo beckoned to him from the other side. “Young Master Jin, come sit here. This rock is big.”
Pingling Yao occupied the largest stone by herself, and Yuan Wo and Jin Qingqiu didn’t dare to go over and fight for it.
“You guys… haven’t left yet?” Nan Feng gradually regained his senses.
“We brought you a gift, and you think you can get rid of us with two meals?” Jiu Hui pointed at the stone beside her. “Don’t just stand there. My neck is getting sore from looking up at you.”
Nan Feng sat down as he was told. He looked at Jiu Hui and the other four for a while before saying, “I’m fine. You don’t have to stay here with me.”
“Don’t flatter yourself.” Pingling Yao picked up a stone and tossed it in her hand. “I was dragged here by those four.”
Jin Qingqiu clicked his tongue. “If some people really don’t want to come, we won’t be able to drag them here even if we want to.”
Pingling Yao kept a straight face and said nothing.
Yuan Wo quickly spoke up to smooth things over, “Just kidding, just kidding. Why don’t we continue enjoying the scenery?”
The six of them stared at the sea of clouds for a moment until Jiu Hui took out two boxes of steaming buns from her storage ring.
“Where did it come from?” Jin Qingqiu asked curiously.
“I got them from the east kitchen of the Jiutian Sect.” Jiu Hui asked them, “Do you want some?”
“Since you’re here, you might as well eat something.” Jin Qingqiu extended his hand.
“The steamed buns from the Jiutian Sect aren’t very good.” Pingling Yao tasted one and reached for a second. “The skin isn’t fluffy enough.”
“A bit too much oil,” Jin Qingqiu nodded.
“The filling isn’t fresh enough. It would be better if they added some scallion water.” Yuan Wo also said, “The Jiutian Sect really isn’t particular about food.”
“Most of the sect disciples don’t eat meals.” After listening to them nitpick the buns while they ate, Nan Feng endured it for a long time before finally speaking up. “Even these meals were specially prepared to entertain guests.”
“Are all you sword cultivators so capable of enduring hardship?” Jiu Hui snatched the last two buns and gave one to Zhi You.
“The way those Jiutian Sect sword cultivators conduct themselves has nothing to do with our Qinglan School.” Pingling Yao took out a handkerchief and elegantly wiped the corner of her mouth. “Our Qinglan School is doing just fine.”
“Ahem.” Yuan Wo gave a dry cough. The way she said it made it sound like the Jiutian Sect was abnormal.
“If you enjoy fine cuisine, you’re welcome to visit our Yuzhen Sect.” Jin Qingqiu waved his jade fan, dispersing the scent of buns from his body. “My sect’s east kitchen employs over a hundred chefs, and they can cook all kinds of delicacies from around the world.”
“The yaos and the demons also have delicacies?” Yuan Wo was a little curious.
“Demons?” Jin Qingqiu sounded as if he had heard a joke. “Could that ghost of a place, the Demon Realm, possibly have any delicacies?”
Jiu Hui nodded in agreement. The darkest thing about the Demon Clan was the cooking skills of the Demon Clan’s chefs.
“What about the yaos?”
“The yaos haven’t appeared in many years. Even if the four Elders of the Zhenxing Tower joined forces, they wouldn’t be able to find the entrance to the yao’s territory, so where would we go to learn about their cuisine?” Jin Qingqiu shook his head. “Our Yuzhen Sect doesn’t have that kind of ability.”
“Compared to the demons, the yaos are truly too mysterious.” Ping Lingyao took over the conversation. “Nan Feng, your Jiutian Sect has been searching for the land of the yaos. Have you found it?”
Nan Feng shook his head.
“Are you guys going to keep looking?” Jiu Hui’s face also revealed a curious expression.
“The yaos have been avoiding the world and not coming out. The ones causing trouble outside are just some nameless little yaos. I don’t want to disturb their peaceful seclusion,” Nan Feng said. “I’ve already given the order to stop searching for the yaos, even if Master…”
Nan Feng’s expression dimmed when he mentioned Bu Ting.
The wind and snow on Fuguang Mountain were so fierce. How would his master, whose spiritual platform had been sealed, survive those seven days?
Having a spiritual platform meant that even if one starved or froze, their life wouldn’t be in danger. However, they could still feel heat, cold, hunger, and pain like ordinary people.
“Even the newborn Immortal Lord Fuguang was able to grow up safely on Fuguang Mountain, so Immortal Venerable Bu should be fine too.” Jiu Hui patted Nan Feng’s arm. “What’s more, with Immortal Lord Fuguang around, he definitely won’t let the Immortal Venerable be in mortal danger. At most, he’ll just have a hard time.”
The others stole glances at Jiu Hui, you really know how to comfort people.
Nan Feng smiled wryly. “I know.”
If the Immortal Lord wanted to take Master’s life, why would he need to go through all this trouble?
He had always thought that the turning point that the Sect Master of Wenxing School had mentioned was his master’s recovery from his injuries, but he never expected that the turning point would be his master’s spiritual platform being sealed. Although he would no longer suffer from the pain of vomiting blood, he would also be unable to use his spiritual power.
Fate, a turning point…
No wonder the Sect Master of Wenxing School said that knowing in advance did not mean being lucky. If he had known the current outcome, he would rather not know this so-called turning point.
So what about the so-called world-ending catastrophe?
Was it because the world knew in advance, and their various actions brought about a great calamity, or was it that no matter how the people of the world struggled, they could not escape their predetermined fate?
If it was the former, then what about the plots and sacrifices of the Ten Great Sects, Mu Qi’s death, and Immortal Lord Fuguang’s years of seclusion?
“What are you thinking about?” Jiu Hui asked.
“I was thinking about fate.” Nan Feng asked Jiu Hui in a daze, “What exactly is right and what is wrong?”
“Fate is not something you think about, it’s something you create with every step you take.” Jiu Hui stood up and patted the dust off her skirt. “But there is one thing I’m sure of.”
“What’s the matter?” they asked in unison.
“I don’t want to eat at the Jiutian Sect at noon today. I want to go to the city,” Jiu Hui said with a smile. “See, us thinking the cooking in the Jiutian Sect’s east kitchen is average is the cause, the decision to go to a restaurant in the city to eat is the process, and what we can eat after entering the city is the result.”
“What we eat for lunch isn’t decided by the east kitchen of the Jiutian Sect, but by which city we choose and which restaurant we choose.” Jiu Hui put her hands on her hips. “I’m really a talented person to be able to say something so reasonable.”
Yuan Wo: “…”
“Mm.” Zhi You nodded. “Little Senior Sister’s words make a lot of sense.”
Yuan Wo turned his head to look at Zhi You, telling him not to exaggerate everything, but Jin Qingqiu and Pingling Yao revealed thoughtful expressions.
In the distance, the Second Elder looked at the young people accompanying Nan Feng. His face, full of melancholy, finally showed a hint of joy.
With these children around, Nan Feng will eventually find a way out of this predicament.
After forcing Nan Feng to go into the city to eat a meal, everyone walked out of the city and stopped in their tracks with great tacit understanding.
“I should return to my sect now.” Pingling Yao spoke first. “Although I don’t like your master very much, you’re quite likable. If you have any problems you can’t solve in the future, you can come to the Qinglan School and find me.”
“I must go now. My master will scold me if I return late. I was able to stay alone this time because I used Jiu Hui as an excuse.” Yuan Wo bid farewell to everyone with a smile.
“Let’s meet again next time.” Jin Qingqiu summoned a gorgeous flying sword. “Next time, I’ll invite you all to the east kitchen of Yuzhen Sect to enjoy some delicacies.”
Everyone else had left, leaving only Jiu Hui and Zhi You in front of Nan Feng.
“In front of all the sect masters, I embarrassed quite a few of you from the Jiutian Sect.” Jiu Hui lowered her eyelids. “But I…”
“I know, it’s not your fault.” Nan Feng was silent for a moment. “You and Zhi You are my friends, and you always will be.”
Jiu Hui chuckled softly, and even Zhi You’s lips curled up into a slight smile.
“Don’t make our friendly conversation sound like the vows of a Daoist couple.” Jiu Hui walked with Nan Feng for a while. “Zhi You and I should head back now.”
“Take care of yourselves.” Nan Feng looked at the two of them. “Will Wangshu Pavilion still come to collect the subsidy this year during the New Year?”
“It should be possible.” Jiu Hui thought about it seriously. “I’ll try my best to get Senior Zhang He to join our Wangshu Pavilion. When that happens, I’ll bring him along. Will you give us more spirit stones then?”
“Yes.” Nan Feng finally smiled. “If the Grand Elder comes, he can definitely take more.”
“As expected of a good friend, you’re a real one.” Jiu Hui jumped onto the flying sword. “Take care.”
“Take care.” Nan Feng watched the two leave, then turned and set off on his return journey.
Seven days later, the truth about the death of the young City Lord of Manxiang City had spread throughout the cultivation world, and of course, it had also reached Manxiang City.
When Bu Ting was escorted to Manxiang City, he was met with the hatred of countless citizens. Some even threw mud and dry grass at him.
Dark clouds pressed down on the entire city, and a heavy rain was about to fall.
-—–
As soon as Zhi You returned to Wangshu Pavilion, Yan Bo pulled him into his courtyard.
“Little Junior Brother,” Yan Bo asked in a low voice, “Have you become little Junior Sister’s zhuixu?”
His eyes sparkled with a dazzling light of curiosity.
Author’s Note
Yan Bo: How can a writer’s curiosity be called curiosity? It’s called gathering material, it’s called caring for Junior Brothers, it’s called lending a helping hand!