Zhang He had never set foot in Wangshu Pavilion, but every year, the disciples of Wangshu Pavilion would go to the ten major sects to complain about their hardships.
In his imagination, Wangshu Pavilion should have been dilapidated, poor, and desolate, but he did not expect it to be so picturesque.
The mountains and rivers were beautiful, and the fallen flowers covered the ground, making it a veritable paradise on earth.
Next to the sect’s signboard was a vacant patch of grass. Several young people were setting up an iron frame, and the air was filled with a faint aroma of food.
Zhang He stared intently, somewhat doubting his own eyes. These disciples were actually sunbathing and grilling meat at the entrance?
“Someone’s coming?” Jiu Hui was brushing oil on the skewers when she noticed a strange aura approaching. She turned her head to look at the small boat floating on the lake.
“Greetings, immortals,” the snapping turtle yao bowed to Jiu Hui and the others.
“Little Jia, are you here to see Prime Minister Wu?” Jiu Hui handed the meat skewers in her hand to Zhi You and waved at the turtle yao. “Come, have some.”
“Thank you, Immortal Jiu Hui, but this little one is here today to deliver a guest to your esteemed sect, so I will not disturb your elegant gathering.” The turtle yao moved to the side, revealing a guest wearing a bamboo hat behind him.
Zhang He took off his bamboo hat, revealing his weather-beaten face.
“Senior Zhang.” Jiu Hui’s eyes lit up, and she cupped her hands in greeting. “Junior has met Senior Zhang.”
The others recognized Zhang He, wiped their mouths, and bowed to him in unison.
“Young friends, no need to be so polite.” Looking at these carefree and casual disciples of Wangshu Pavilion, Zhang He’s expression was a little gloomy. Such relaxation and indulgence were things that the disciples of Jiutian Sect could never have.
He gave the turtle yao the boat fare, flew to Jiu Hui, and said, “I happened to pass by this place and remembered what you said before. I came here to bother you. Please forgive me.”
“Senior, your presence at our humble sect is an honor.” Jiu Hui gestured for him to enter. “My master is currently within the sect. I will lead the way for you.”
The other Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters saw this and moved the barbecue and grill away, giving Jiu Hui and Zhi You a look.
[Let’s go to a secluded place to grill it. Remember to come over later.]
Zhang He noticed their eye contact, but he pretended not to know and looked up to admire the new signboard of Wangshu Pavilion.
On the boat, the signboard only seemed to be gleaming with golden light, but upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the signboard was also a powerful protective formation refined with gemstones.
The financial resources of the Wangshu Pavilion… were they really so unfathomable?
“This signboard was just replaced a few days ago.” Jiu Hui didn’t want to affect Wangshu Pavilion’s future plans to mooch off others. “Zhi You paid for it himself. It has nothing to do with the sect.”
Zhang He was stunned. Other sects gave their disciples spirit stones and elixirs, but Wangshu Pavilion made their disciples pay money to subsidize the sect?
“Mm.” Zhi You, who was usually taciturn, was unusually talkative at this moment. “To celebrate my union with Jiu Hui, this junior has changed the sect’s signboard.”
Zhang He looked at Zhi You, then at Jiu Hui who was smiling sweetly. After a long silence, he said, “Congratulations.”
“Many thanks, Senior.” Zhi You’s face broke into a smile.
Zhang He’s mood became even more complicated. It turned out that Little Friend Zhi You was also a person who loved to laugh.
As they walked through the main gate of Wangshu Pavilion, they entered an open-air grand hall paved with blue stones. On both sides of the grand hall, colorful flowers and trees bloomed in profusion. Standing amidst them, one could not help but relax.
“Meow, meow, meow.” A chubby orange cat ran to Jiu Hui, its front right paw pointing forward, its voice full of anger.
“Did you get into another fight with the cat outside the island again?” Jiu Hui bent down and stroked his chubby back twice. “I’ll have Bai Qi get revenge for you later.”
“Meow~” The orange cat seemed to want Jiu Hui to help him get revenge.
“Today, the sect has a distinguished guest, and both Zhi You and I are tied up.” Jiu Hui rubbed its cat’s head. “Bai Qi is also very good at fighting.”
The orange tabby rubbed against Jiu Hui’s shoe, clasped its front paws together, and bowed twice to Zhang He before turning and running away. Because it had eaten too much, its entire body shook as it ran.
“These little yaos have only recently developed their spiritual intelligence, and their mentalities are like those of four- or five-year-old children. By raising them in the sect and teaching them to read and write, they will be able to distinguish right from wrong and good from evil in the future.” Jiu Hui explained to Zhang He, “The little fat cat that ran away just now couldn’t even beat a cat raised by a villager outside the island.”
Zhang He pondered for a moment and said, “That’s great.“carpreads.pages.dev
However, the Jiutian Sect’s mount yao beast was absolutely not allowed to run around the sect at will, let alone get into a fight with another cat and lose, and then have the sect disciples help it get revenge.
Just as he was thinking, a fat bird that looked like an old tree stump flew over Zhang He’s head. It flew so fast, but it didn’t forget to greet Jiu Hui and Zhi You.
Although Wangshu Pavilion had few disciples, the sect was quite lively.
“Senior Zhang!” Yu Jing walked out of the main hall of Wangshu Pavilion, followed by Elder Mo, who had a smile on his face.
“Senior Zhang, your esteemed presence graces our humble sect. Please, take a seat in the inner hall,” Yu Jing invited Zhang He into the inner hall with a beaming smile.
When Zhang He sat down, Yu Jing personally poured him tea, and Elder Mo personally peeled fruit for him. Their warm hospitality made Zhang He blush.
In recent days, Zhang He had passed through many places and had been received by some sects, but none had been as straightforward as Wangshu Pavilion.
“We’ve been looking forward to your arrival day and night for so long, and finally, you’re here.” As if pouring tea with her own hands wasn’t enough, Yu Jing also brought snacks to Zhang He. “Please rest assured, Senior. Now that you’re here at Wangshu Pavilion, you’re one of our own. If you have any requests, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’ve prepared the keys to all the storehouses.”
She took out a jangling bunch of keys from her storage ring and handed them to Zhang He. “There are many residences on the island. Feel free to choose. We have plenty of courtyards here.”
Zhang He originally wanted to say that he was just passing by to take a look and had no intention of becoming an Elder of Wangshu Pavilion. However, when he saw the joyful and expectant gazes of the four people from Wangshu Pavilion, and the heavy string of keys in his hand, he even felt that if he said no, it would be a sin.
“I have heard that if one wants to become a member of the Wangshu Pavilion, one must pass the inspection of the sect’s jade token.” Zhang He took the opportunity to put the key back on the table.
“Elder, you must have a connection with our humble sect. Otherwise, why would my two useless disciples invite you to join our sect instead of someone else?”
Zhang He: “…”
Wasn’t it because he was the only one who left the Jiutian Sect?
“If you’re worried about us making things difficult for you, Senior, I’m willing to use our sect’s jade token to give it a try.” Yu Jing said, her eyes red with tears. “As you know, Senior, our Wangshu Pavilion has always been short on people. My fellow disciples and I have no elders above us, and we only have ten disciples under us. If you were to become our Grand Elder, our entire sect would have a backbone.”
“Yes, yes, yes, we all know that Senior is thinking of us.” Elder Mo offered the sect’s jade token and placed it in front of Zhang He. “Senior, please. As long as the jade token lights up, you and we will be family.”
Zhang He felt that something was amiss, but facing four pairs of bright eyes, he could only reach out his hand to the Wangshu Pavilion sect’s jade token.
He hoped that the jade token would not light up, so that he would not have to be embarrassed, and the people of Wangshu Pavilion would not have to be embarrassed either…
“Wow!” Jiu Hui exclaimed softly, “What a beautiful blue. Senior Zhang is truly fated with us.”
“No, I…” Zhang He looked at the blue light on the jade token and subconsciously wanted to say no.
“Junior Jiu Hui, greetings to the Grand Elder.” Jiu Hui knelt down with a thud and kowtowed to Zhang He, performing the grand greeting of a junior.
“Junior Zhi You…”
Zhang He supported Zhi You, who wanted to follow and kneel, with his left hand, and lifted Jiu Hui from the ground with his right hand, explaining, “I don’t know much about your sect’s affairs, so I can’t bear…”
“It doesn’t matter, our sect has very few matters.” Jiu Hui seized the opportunity to grab Zhang He’s sleeve. “Grand Elder, your swordsmanship is outstanding. I think it’s best for you to live in Jinyu Tower. There’s a sword testing stone there, and the scenery is beautiful. It’s the most suitable place for a sword cultivator to live.”
“I…”
“Then I’ll go tidy up the room now. Senior Sister and the two Junior Nephews can keep the Grand Elder company.” Elder Mo’s slightly plump body was surprisingly agile as he dashed out of the main hall’s door in a flash.
Zhang He stared blankly at the gate for a long time before sighing and laughing, “Then I’ll have to trouble you all.”
Before he came, he had never thought about staying at Wangshu Pavilion, but for some unknown reason, he easily accepted Wangshu Pavilion’s invitation.
He reached out and touched the sect’s jade token, and saw the jade token emit a blue light once more. His face, which had been filled with worry for a long time, relaxed a little.
Perhaps it was true that he was fated to have a connection with Wangshu Pavilion.
“I have come here today, old as I am, to tell you something else.”
“Grand Elder, you should have said you wanted to discuss it with us.” Jiu Hui gently tugged on Zhang He’s sleeve. “We’re family, there’s no need to stand on ceremony.”
Zhang He laughed dumbly. “Miss Jiu Hui… Jiu Hui is right. I’m the one who can’t let go.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it after staying in Wangshu Pavilion for a while.” Yu Jing pulled Zhi You and Jiu Hui to sit down together. “When Zhi You first joined the sect, he was still a serious person, but now he’s already playing and laughing with his senior brothers and sisters.”
Zhang He recalled those disciples who were grilling meat by the main entrance and thought to himself that if Yin Ji had grown up in such an environment, perhaps he would not have taken such a wrong path.
He glanced at Jiu Hui, who was playing with the peach blossom jade pendant hanging from Yu Jing’s waist. Such a close, mother-daughter-like relationship was impossible for any master and disciple in the Jiutian Sect.
“A few days ago, I passed by several remote small cities and inadvertently got a piece of news.” Zhang He’s expression was solemn. “The great yaos of the yao clan have appeared in the human world.”
“Did they harm any civilians?”
Zhang He looked puzzled. “They haven’t harmed any civilians, but instead appeared in the deep mountains and old forests, and even saved civilians in distress. It’s said that they are…”
He felt that this news was too absurd, and he was a little embarrassed to say it.
“What are you doing?” Yu Jing asked again.
“Digging up graves.”
“What?!” Yu Jing thought she had misheard. She turned her head and glanced at Jiu Hui. “Whose graves are being dug?”
“It’s unclear, but according to the locals, no one would bury their ancestors in a remote, deep mountain forest.” Zhang He pondered, “Perhaps they were looking for some secret realms?”
“Maybe…” Jiu Hui said weakly, “Maybe they’re looking for their own yaos’ graveyard?”
Yu Jing recalled the fox yao that Jiu Hui had mentioned who had come back from the dead, and she suddenly understood: “So that’s what happened.”
If the tens of thousands of evil yaos that had died but now could come back to life to wreak havoc on the world, then wouldn’t scattering their ashes before they could come back to life solve the problem at its root?
She never would have thought that the yaos would be so dedicated to maintaining peace in the world.
-—–
In a certain deep mountain, Grandpa Long stomped his foot, turning the bones of an evil dragon that had died ten thousand years ago into flying ash. He took out a tattered manual from his pocket and muttered to himself, “I should have dealt with all the evil dragon burial mounds of the dragon clan by now.”
“How come there’s still a wicked dragon’s spine bone made into a demon weapon here?” Grandpa Long calculated for a while, “It was destroyed by Little Garlic Chive last year?”
That’s great, great. I don’t have to go to the land of the demons.
-—–
On this side, Zhang He was even more puzzled: “Why would the yao clan spread the ashes of dead evil yaos?”
Yu Jing’s gaze drifted over Jiu Hui. “Could it be… that the yaos also despise evil and want to grind the evil yaos into dust?”
Zhang He: “…”
Perhaps the disciples of Wangshu Pavilion were so lazy because their sect master was unreliable.
Author Note:
Notice from the yao clan’s area: The yao clan has launched an event to challenge the evil yao’s graves. All players, please come and participate~