Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Invitation

Ji Yuntian arrived at the Hall of Strings and requested the boy at the door to announce his desire to meet the Sect Master. The boy acknowledged him with a bow, pushed open one side of the door, and slipped inside, shutting it behind him. Ji Yuntian remained outside, waiting.

Within the hall, the Sect Master was engaged in a game of chess with his old friend, Daoist Fengshen. Seeing the boy enter, he asked, “Why are you here, child? Shouldn’t you be on guard outside?”

The boy bowed and replied, “Sect Master, the Heavenly Guard wishes to see you.”

The Sect Master and Fengshen exchanged a glance. The piece between his fingers was set down slowly. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Go and bring him in.”

“Yes, sir.” The boy departed and, reaching Ji Yuntian outside, announced, “The Sect Master will see you now.”

Ji Yuntian nodded in gratitude. “Thank you.” With that, he passed the boy and entered.

Fengshen, observing the furrowed brows of Ji Yuntian, guessed that something was amiss. He said to the Sect Master, “If there is business, perhaps we should leave our unfinished match for another day.”

Xing Yanzong quickly pressed his friend’s hand, replying, “No need. You are also an elder to them; such matters are not beyond you.”

He then turned to Ji Yuntian. “What has happened?”

Ji Yuntian swept aside his robe, dropped to one knee before Xing Yanzong in formal salute, and then bowed deeply to Daoist Fengshen.

“Greetings, Sect Master. Greetings, Daoist Fengshen.”

“Rise and speak,” Xing Yanzong said, his raised hand lending invisible strength to help him up.

“Yes, sir.”

“What has happened, that you are not at the Hall of Connection but have come here instead?” Xing Yanzong asked.

“It concerns Yin. Some days ago, Xue Chanzi and Cen Zhiren took disciples down the mountain on a journey. They quarreled with Hua Zhongying from the Hall of Blossoms. When they returned, they complained, and Yin overheard them. Dissatisfied, the three of them left the sect without permission in search of revenge.”

“Did they succeed?”

“No. After seeking out Hua Zhongying, they heard that Bai Li Suhe had gone to the Island of the Human Sovereign to retrieve a stone, and changed their plans. Unexpectedly, they suffered a great defeat. In my humble opinion, Yin’s soul has been severely wounded.”

At this, Xing Yanzong exchanged a look with his old friend and then turned a puzzled gaze to Ji Yuntian. “Was it the one from Suyou?”

“Yes.”

Hardly had Ji Yuntian finished speaking when Daoist Fengshen asked, “Was Huai Yin with this person?”

“How did you know, Daoist Fengshen?”

Xing Yanzong was also curious. “Indeed. How did you come by this knowledge?”

Fengshen sighed and set his black piece down. “When last I visited you, was I not troubled and preoccupied?”

“Did you meet this person then?” Xing Yanzong seemed to understand, settling back in his seat.

“You mentioned the destruction of Shuxing Tower. Was it then that you encountered them?”

“Yes. At the time, I and several immortal friends happened to be passing through the Xiao Tong region. Hearing of the incident at Shuxing Tower, we went to investigate. We encountered Elder Xiao, who had gathered others to demand justice for the tower master, so we joined the crowd. The rest you more or less know. I was troubled at the time and did not speak of it.”

Xing Yanzong cast a glance at his old friend. “So you have met him. What is your assessment?”

Fengshen took his cup, turning it in his hand. After a long pause, he sipped his tea. “Those who lie low, soar the highest.”

“It seems, old friend, you have high hopes for this young man.”

“What happened in Suyou that year is known only to those who are gone or choose silence. When faced with the attacks of Elder Xiao and the others, this youth remained calm in adversity, showing a steady temperament. Confronted with evidence against him, he did not argue blindly but maneuvered among the crowd, showing cunning as well as restraint. Such a person, if not struck down, will surely find a place in Yuhai Heaven.” With that, he drank several more sips of tea.

He smacked his lips, looked at Ji Yuntian, then turned to his old friend. “In my view, he is not a fish for a small pond. Have Ji Yuntian restrain the disciples well. The waters of Suyou are not so easily crossed.”

Xing Yanzong paused, then said to Ji Yuntian, “Did you hear all that?”

“I understand,” Ji Yuntian replied, bowing with his hands inside his sleeves.

“Then you may go.” With those words, he plucked a white piece from the jujube wood jar and urged Daoist Fengshen, “Back to our game. Don’t use defeat as an excuse to leave.”

Daoist Fengshen set down his teacup, glaring, “Who says I would leave over a loss?”

“Sect Master?”

Xing Yanzong looked up. “Is there more?”

Ji Yuntian said, “If Yin refuses advice, what should I do?”

If harm comes to him, do we intervene or not?

Xing Yanzong paused, turning a white piece between his fingers. “Pass on a message from me. These are my words.”

“What message?”

“Heaven’s gates do not always open; if they do, the noble ascend. Hell’s gates are closed; if they open, the ignoble enter. Tell him this, and he will understand.”

“Yes, I will go at once.” With that, Ji Yuntian bowed to both and departed.

As the door closed behind him, Daoist Fengshen rolled up his sleeves, placed a piece between his fingers, and set it down slowly. “You are quite at ease.”

Xing Yanzong smiled, dropping a piece himself. “With the words of a gentleman and the watchful eyes of the hidden dragon, why should I worry over a few wandering souls in my sect?”

Daoist Fengshen glanced at him, shook his head, and sighed.

Old fox…

Xing Yanzong only smiled without reply, continuing the battle over the chessboard with his friend.

After all, the time for action had not yet come.

Meanwhile, Qiu Shui Wuhen summoned Zi Wuyi and Shi Duanchang to the Hall of Virtue.

Wusheng Sect had sent an invitation, requesting the presence of their own sect master at a banquet.

Shi Duanchang and Zi Wuyi exchanged glances, then looked to Qiu Shui Wuhen. “Wusheng Sect is holding neither a wedding nor a birthday. What sort of banquet can this be?”

Qiu Shui Wuhen tossed the invitation to them. “See for yourselves.”

Shi Duanchang opened it and was immediately stunned. “The Grand Ceremony for the Young Lord’s Investiture?”

“Indeed.” Qiu Shui Wuhen nodded.

“Since when did Sect Master Bufeng have a son?” This was the true question—they had never heard a word of this before.

“It is said Bai Li Suhe and others brought him back from the Island of the Human Sovereign. He has now been acknowledged and returned to his lineage,” Qiu Shui Wuhen replied.

Hearing this, Zi Wuyi asked Shi Duanchang for the invitation, and after reading it, was equally astonished.

Qiu Shui Wuhen asked, “What do you two think? Shall we attend or not?”

Zi Wuyi returned the invitation to Shi Duanchang. “Attend, certainly. Wusheng Sect’s invitation is proper and reasonable; we have no grounds to refuse.”

“That may be, but if we go, I fear the gathering will be fraught with hidden dangers. Trouble is likely,” Shi Duanchang said, returning the invitation and stepping back beside Zi Wuyi.

Qiu Shui Wuhen sighed softly, rose from his seat, and stepped down. “Your concern is mine as well. Now that the world knows Bai Li Suhe has returned from the Island of the Human Sovereign, regardless of whether he truly obtained the Human Sovereign Stone, all will believe he did. He helped Bufeng recover his long-lost son, which is a great favor to the entire Wusheng Sect. On the day of the grand ceremony, he will surely attend. I fear those with ill intent may use the occasion to stir up trouble.”

And then, the matter of the Human Sovereign Stone—the various sects and powers, apart from a few neutral parties, are all acting openly and covertly. Once the ceremony is held, it will be a gathering of dragons and tigers. Should the Spring and Autumn Ink Sect be caught in the middle, they may find it hard to extricate themselves.

Shi Duanchang cared little for all this; after all, it was just a banquet. As the saying went: Poetry brings fragrance through the ages, and ink can break the heart. Why covet a mere stone?

Zi Wuyi was silent for a time, then said, “I do not see it so. Wusheng Sect must have deliberated long before setting this date. They are well aware of the risks. Since they know and persist, it shows that Bufeng’s intentions lie elsewhere. Given Wusheng Sect’s power and location, few can cause trouble on Tianfeng Qisou’s domain.” Not to mention, Bufeng’s cultivation was rumored to have reached unfathomable heights—some said he was not so strong, others that he was being modest and had already entered the Middle Zen Heaven, joining Suyou. But these were only rumors.

Though unconfirmed, these rumors were enough to deter the wicked.

Moreover, Lord Qi Sheng was now at Wusheng Sect. With the relationship between Yidai Mountain and Bufeng, he would not stand by in the face of danger.

Thus, minor disturbances were inevitable, but major chaos could be avoided.

Zi Wuyi’s words made Qiu Shui Wuhen reconsider. Pacing, he thought, so this is Bufeng’s intention: to use the investiture ceremony as a show of support for Bai Li Suhe. All know that since returning to Yuhai Heaven, Bai Li Suhe has only Huai Yin at his side, isolated and vulnerable. By having him attend the ceremony, Wusheng Sect declares itself his ally before the world. Anyone thinking to harm him will have to weigh Wusheng Sect’s wrath first.

But is Wusheng Sect truly repaying a debt, or do they have other motives?

“Sect Master?” Zi Wuyi prompted softly.

“Ah… continue,” Qiu Shui Wuhen said, returning to himself and signaling Zi Wuyi to go on.

“I believe we should attend,” Zi Wuyi said. “Simply prepare an appropriate gift and go. As for the true nature of things, we will see when we arrive.”

“Very well. You and Duanchang go and see to the preparations. I will write a letter to send back with the messenger, to avoid arousing Bufeng’s suspicion.”

“Yes.” Both saluted and withdrew from the Hall of Virtue.

Qiu Shui Wuhen entered a side chamber, wrote a letter, and instructed a servant to give it to the bearer of the invitation, assuring them that the Spring and Autumn Ink Sect would attend as requested.

The messenger, having been served tea and treated with courtesy, left contented with the reply and returned to his own sect.

In the Double Insect Courtyard,

The letter was presented to Bufeng, who after reading it, had it put away.

Suhe, after much deliberation, still wished to discuss his departure with Bufeng. Rising, he bowed. “Elder…”

“Say no more of leaving,” Bufeng interrupted, his gaze softening as he looked at Wulei, who sat on the threshold.

For so many years, he had believed this child was gone. Who could have imagined they would meet again? It was only a pity that Ashao would never return.

Suhe said, “It is not that I wish to defy your kindness, Elder, but trouble follows me, and trouble surrounds me. If not for your guidance and the sacrifices of Brother Huai and Miss Yi, I would not have succeeded. I do not wish to embroil Wusheng Sect in these storms.”

Bufeng’s gaze grew stern, the whites of his eyes making one’s heart quail. “Do you mean Wusheng Sect cannot protect its own benefactor?”

“Elder…” Suhe tried to protest, but Bufeng silenced him with a raised hand.

“What you think, I understand. But my actions have their reasons. Some things need not be spoken between us; you know what I mean.”

Seeing Bufeng’s determination, Suhe could only return to his seat.

Beside him, Huai Yin leaned closer and whispered, “The old man looks frightening, but his heart’s in the right place. Just do as he says, all right?”

Bufeng shot Huai Yin a glare—brat, are you calling me ugly?

Huai Yin quickly turned his face away, as if he hadn’t seen a thing.

“Hmph.” Bufeng glared at him once more, then called out, “Mingyi?”

“Disciple present.” Mingyi entered, sword in hand.

“Pass the order: the ceremony will begin in three days, right on time.”

“Yes, Elder. Also, some disciples report several wild deer have strayed into Tianfeng Qisou. Shall we remove them?”

At this, a cold gleam flashed in Bufeng’s eye. Slowly, he uttered two words:

“Remove them.”