Chapter 109: Thoughts, Oh Thoughts

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The Old Angler of Brook was startled. Someone had been concealed in the void, and he had not sensed them at all.

His thoughts immediately began racing in every direction. In the blink of an eye, he had run through countless possibilities.

Everything else could be managed. The trouble was that he himself had gathered this crowd and brought them here. If the Sect Master discovered it, given the present circumstances, he might well turn his anger upon him.

But when he looked toward the figure stepping out of the void, he breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as it was not Jin Hushang, what did it matter if the newcomer was Xing Yanzong?

Xing Yanzong had originally gone to the Deathless Gate to discuss the affairs of Eight Winds Island and the Demon Realm. When he arrived at Heavenly Wind Ridge, he found no one there. After asking around, he learned that they had all come here.

He had not expected to witness such a splendid spectacle the moment he arrived.

“Brother Bu, Fellow Immortal Que, my greetings,” Xing Yanzong said.

Bu Feng and Master Que Yun returned the courtesy.

“Ah, forgive us for making a fool of ourselves before you, little brother.”

“Eh? I saw only Brother Bu’s magnanimity and Fellow Immortal Que’s wit. When was there anything else?” Xing Yanzong smiled. “As it happens, I have not visited Sect Master Jin in quite some time. Why do you and I not go together?”

“Wonderful, wonderful.” Master Que clapped his hands, utterly unafraid of making matters worse. With a mischievous wink, he said, “This old man here was about to perform a dog’s bark and a yellow dog’s piss. You arrived at precisely the right moment. Come any later and you might have missed the fun.”

Xing Yanzong laughed heartily. “Indeed, indeed. For such a grand occasion, we must invite Sect Master Jin to attend as well. Fellow Immortal Que, you must not keep any of it to yourself.”

He then turned to the Old Angler of Brook. “Elder Brook, I’ll trouble you to deliver a message. Tell Sect Master Jin that Xing Yanzong of the Soul-Controlling Sect has come to pay a visit to an old friend. Ask him whether he will receive us.”

The Old Angler had suffered a silent loss, yet could not give vent to his anger. He could only accept with a dark expression.

“Of course. Sect Master Xing, please wait here for a moment.”

He immediately exchanged a glance with one of the disciples standing nearby. The man hurried back into the sect and explained the situation to Jin Hushang.

“Say that again.”

Jin Hushang rose abruptly, slamming his hand on the table. It was true that he did not wish to lend out the Undying Ember. But he could never humiliate Bu Feng and Master Que. For the head of a sect to be insulted was no trivial matter.

Taken to its extreme, it was tantamount to creating a blood feud.

That Old Angler of Brook spent every day stirring up trouble and making a mess of things.

The messenger did not dare repeat the words. He cautiously glossed over the details and asked, “Sect Master, how should I respond?”

“I will receive them personally. All of you, leave.”

Jin Hushang strode over the threshold. A length of withered vine sprang into being beneath his feet, bearing him lightly through the air until he reached the sect gate.

The instant he saw them, he withdrew his magical treasure and hurried forward to apologize to Bu Feng and Master Que.

“Jin has failed to govern his subordinates properly. I hope the two of you will not take offense.”

Master Que knew what Bu Feng was about to say and immediately cut in.

“No offense taken, none at all. I was even thinking of inviting a few more Fellow Immortals to make the occasion livelier. Sect Master Jin, what do you think?”

The more cheerfully and casually he spoke, the more furious Jin Hushang became inside. He turned his head and shouted, “Elder Brook, what are you waiting for? Come and apologize!”

The Old Angler glanced left and right, then put on a show of sincerity and cupped his hands.

“Head Bu, my apologies.”

As for Master Que, he ignored him completely.

Master Que clapped his hands and gave Jin Hushang a thumbs-up.

“No wonder you belong to the Medical Sect.”

Jin Hushang was so enraged that he felt as though one Buddha had ascended to heaven and a second had emerged into the world. He had long heard that the Saintly Physician of Mending the Void possessed an eccentric temperament, but today he had finally seen it for himself.

Even so, he could only smile and apologize.

“Fellow Immortal Que, you jest. Please accompany Jin to my humble residence for a brief rest, and allow me to express my remorse. Sect Master Xing, perhaps you could help me say a few words.”

Xing Yanzong had come with the intention of bringing the two sides together, so he spoke gently.

“Brother Bu, Fellow Immortal Que, would you grant me this small favor?”

Bu Feng was grateful for his intervention. Besides, the matter concerning Plain Crane was urgent beyond measure. A little humiliation was nothing by comparison.

They had intended to meet Jin Hushang again in any case. Since events had developed in this direction, it might even prove favorable. No matter what happened, this was still an opportunity.

He cupped his hands.

“Lead the way.”

Xing Yanzong secretly exhaled in relief. With a great enemy before them and troubled times approaching, they truly could not afford further internal conflict.

“Excellent. Sect Master Jin, forgive us for intruding.”

Jin Hushang returned the courtesy gratefully and led them into Honeysuckle Residence for a brief rest. When First Month saw the situation, she realized that the words she had spoken yesterday had caused a terrible disaster.

After serving the tea, she slipped out of Honeysuckle Residence with the tray in her arms and sought out the Old Angler of Brook to demand an explanation.

Inside Honeysuckle Residence, Xing Yanzong learned the full story and attempted to reconcile the two sides. He appealed to Jin Hushang with reason and righteousness.

“Sect Master Jin, old grievances should be settled, not deepened. Eight Winds Island’s evildoers have escaped, and conflicts within the Demon Realm are stirring beneath the surface. The Sea of Desire and Heaven is in desperate need of capable hands.

“If lending out the Undying Ember can restore even one warrior to the battlefield, why would we not do it? Even if there are grievances between us, we can take them to the battlefield another day and settle them properly. Is that not reasonable?”

Jin Hushang understood exactly what he meant, but he still could not agree.

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For one thing, there were the rules of the sect. For another, the Old Angler had committed such an offense under his authority, and he bore responsibility for failing to govern his subordinate properly.

If he accepted Xing Yanzong’s proposal, the Old Angler would lose all face, the disciples would lose all face, and the sect itself would be trampled into the dirt. Whether for public duty or private feeling, he could not agree.

Thus he lowered his eyes and said, “Jin’s answer remains the same. You are all honored guests of the Medical Sect. However, as for lending you the Undying Ember, I must respectfully decline.”

“Sect Master Jin—”

Before Xing Yanzong could finish, Jin Hushang once again abandoned his guests and left.

“This…” Xing Yanzong spread his hands helplessly. “Brother Bu, what do you think?”

Jin Hushang was usually agreeable in every respect, except that he protected his own people without regard for right or wrong. His thinking was terrifyingly rigid; even a stone from a latrine would be softer than he was.

“Let us go.” Bu Feng sighed. “You surely did not come here solely for this matter. We should return and discuss it there.”

Master Que followed them with a long sigh, remaining silent behind the other two.

Old friend, is there truly no other way?

He was the one you dragged from the Teng Sea. You were willing to risk your life to save him. If you still possess even the slightest spirit, could you not give me some hint?

Suddenly, a fragrant breeze swept over from nowhere.

“Did the two of you smell that?”

Bu Feng and Xing Yanzong turned back in confusion.

“Smell what?”

“Fragrance.” It was an indescribable scent, dreamlike and illusory, drifting faintly through the air, impossible to chase.

“Nothing.”

“Indeed. Perhaps Fellow Immortal Que was mistaken. If there had been a scent, how could Brother Bu and I have failed to notice it?”

“Is that so?”

Disappointment swept over Master Que in an instant. Had he truly been mistaken?

Bu Feng said, “Come. When the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally find a way across. We will think of something.”

With that, the three transformed into streaks of light and vanished into the horizon.

Meanwhile, in Frost Garden, Bai Li Wushuang had curled up on the ground and spent the entire night there. After waking, he washed his face and began pacing back and forth through the garden.

He was like a bird in a cage, bound within the prison of his own home, unable to fly free no matter how hard he tried.

Suddenly, Xue Xiao’s voice rang out.

“Leave at once.”

“What happened?”

“Young Master, we caught someone skulking around.” As she spoke, she pushed the man in her hands before Bai Li Wushuang.

“Raise your head.”

The man obeyed. His face was unfamiliar.

“This lowly one greets the Young Master.”

“Who sent you?”

“No one. I came of my own accord.”

“Oh?”

A cool, mocking smile curled at the corner of Bai Li Wushuang’s lips as he bent down.

“Why?”

Do not try feeding me that nonsense about having long been loyal but never finding anyone worthy of serving. How many such pointless complications could there really be between people?

“I would not dare deceive you, Young Master. I…I can deliver medicine to the Eldest Young Master.”

The Eldest Young Master was what a few people privately called Plain Crane. Since the position of Young Master had changed hands, it was no longer fitting to address him that way.

“You are quite clever. How long have you been in the residence, and where do you serve?”

“This lowly one has been in the residence for less than a hundred years and serves as one of its guards. I happened to learn of the Eldest Young Master’s circumstances and felt great pity for him.

“Then I saw how much the Young Master misses his elder brother, so…I wanted to deliver medicine to the Eldest Young Master and ease your worries.”

Bai Li Wushuang nodded.

“How do you intend to get it out? The entire area outside is watched by people loyal to Mother. Are you not afraid they will discover you? This is a crime punishable by having your bones crushed and your ashes scattered.”

“Young Master, rest assured. My rank is low and my voice carries no weight. In the ordinary course of things, no one pays me any attention. That is why I dared to take the risk.”

“You are loyal indeed. Wait here. I will go to the medicine room for the drug. Xue Xiao, untie him.”

Xue Xiao grew anxious.

“Young Master, there are so many people outside claiming loyalty, but how many of them are sincere? Have we not suffered enough already? I say he is certainly no good man. We should kill him.”

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“Young Master, this lowly one truly means it with all his heart. There is not the slightest deceit. If I must die, then please grant me death with your own hand. I will die willingly.”

“Stop making excuses.”

“Enough, Xue Xiao. Untie him.”

Bai Li Wushuang’s icy gaze was as sharp as a sword. In the blink of an eye, it pierced Xue Xiao straight through.

“Young Master…”

“Do you intend to disobey?”

“Xue Xiao would not dare.”

“Remember your place. There will not be a second time.”

With that, Bai Li Wushuang walked away and soon reached the medicine room.

“Miss Xue Xiao?”

“Hmph…”

With a wave of her hand, the Immortal-Binding Rope instantly returned to her waist. Wearing an angry expression, she turned and stalked away.

A short while later, Bai Li Wushuang handed the guard a bottle of superb white jade.

The guard was overjoyed and kowtowed.

“This lowly one will not disappoint you.”

“Go. Once the matter is accomplished, I will transfer you to Frost Garden. You…must not disappoint me.”

“Yes.”

The guard carefully put away the jade bottle, rose, took his leave of Bai Li Wushuang, and quietly slipped out of Frost Garden.

After the man had gone, Bai Li Wushuang glanced around. His body drifted like a willow catkin toward the main gate, but before he could take a single step outside, he was surrounded by layers of guards within and without.

They all said, “Young Master, please return.”

Bai Li Wushuang nearly laughed from anger. He sneered.

“What? I cannot even walk around my own home without your permission?”

“We would not dare.”

“If you dare not, then stop blocking my way. Otherwise, do not blame me if I lose my temper and do something you will regret.”

The guards exchanged glances. In the end, they could only lower their heads.

“The Young Master may walk freely within the residence, but please show some consideration for our difficulties and allow us to accompany you.”

“Oh? You want to move to a larger place and continue monitoring me, is that it?”

“We would not dare. We are merely carrying out orders. Young Master, please do not make things difficult for us.”

“Make things difficult? Hah, not at all. Follow me if you like, but stay at least ten feet away. Seeing you irritates me.”

The guards discussed it among themselves. However the Young Master and Madam fought, they were still mother and son. The guards were different; whichever side they offended, they would gain nothing and suffer everything.

Ten feet it would be. As long as the Young Master remained within the residence, it was still all under the Bai family name.

They answered in unison, “Agreed.”

And so Bai Li Wushuang wandered aimlessly around the residence, followed by a long string of guards.

The moment everyone’s attention wavered, he slipped into the woods. After several leaps, he shot into the famed garden.

He moved so quickly that the guards stationed there had no time to react. By the time they realized what had happened, he was already pressed beneath the eaves beside a gauze-covered window.

Through a narrow gap, he witnessed a scene that left him speechless.

Just as he had expected, everything was exactly as he had predicted.

Pressed against the window, Bai Li Wushuang felt his heart grow colder with every word he heard. If there had once remained even a trace of longing, even a shred of warmth, now not a drop of it was left.

It was gone. Everything…was gone.

“Are you certain this was given to you by Frost?” Di Shuiling opened the white jade bottle and peered inside.

Judging by its color and spiritual aura, it was indeed a fine life-saving medicine.

But knowing her son as she did, could everything truly have come so easily?

The guard replied, “Without a doubt. The Young Master also said that once the matter was accomplished, he would transfer me to Frost Garden.”

“Heh heh heh. Very good.”

Di Shuiling’s fingertip brushed over the jade bottle. She smiled lightly, her voice as soft as a passing breeze.

“Deliver this medicine as instructed. You must make absolutely certain that bastard swallows it.”

As she spoke, an identical jade bottle appeared in her palm. She destroyed the genuine one on the spot, then handed the substitute to the guard.

“Remember this.”

“This subordinate understands.”

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