Chapter 99:
A Storm Approaches

 

AT PRESENT, the Wang clan was no longer the Wang clan from back when “the Wang-Xie’s exploits filled the Book of Jin.” As the dynasties changed, the powerful families would also rise and fall with the turning of years. Furthermore, the Kuaji Commandery’s Wang family who were currently present weren’t direct descendants of the Wang clan, but only a branch family—at most, they could claim they were related by blood. As their forefathers had entered the jianghu long ago, though, they were fully accepted as one of the noble families of the jianghu. They ran some businesses on the side and never involved themselves with the imperial court. Hence, they counted among the few powerful and influential families within the jianghu.

Though the Kuaji Commandery’s Wang clan was only a branch family, their blood relationship meant they too considered themselves an illustrious, high-ranking family. They naturally thought a small sect like Bixia Sect beneath their attention. As they were guests, if they were unwilling to follow Yi Pichen out in greeting, he couldn’t force them.

After exchanging greetings and taking their seats, Yi Pichen first thanked Shen Qiao for helping the Su family when he’d been in Chang’an. Then he said to Zhao Chiying, “When Bixia Sect’s crisis took place, this humble Daoist was too far away to help and unable to send you timely aid. Thinking about it now, I am overcome with regret. I ask Sect Leader Zhao not to blame us.”

Zhao Chiying sighed. “Abbot Yi is too courteous. Bixia Sect’s problems arose from within. We were fortunate enough to weather the crisis, but our numbers have greatly declined, and so we’ve fallen quite a distance. By contrast, I see that your honored sect is filled with talent, with elites springing forth. It truly fills one with admiration and envy!”

Yi Pichen stroked his beard. “Sect Leader Zhao need not worry so much. Looking at these two disciples of yours, if they’re willing to train diligently, they will certainly achieve great things over time.”

Even if it was an offhand comment said out of politeness, receiving praise from the master of Chunyang Monastery was enough to make both Zhou Yexue and Fan Yuanbai ecstatic.

When he saw that these pointless courtesies would continue, the Wang family’s third son gave a light cough and interrupted them. “May I ask Abbot Yi if other sects will be attending the current Sword Trial Conference?”

“There are many sects who are attending the Sword Trial Conference,” said Yi Pichen. “Is Wang-sangongzi searching for someone, or is he seeking a master to apprentice under?”

Wang-sangongzi gave a dry laugh. “The abbot really knows how to joke around! Our Wang family possesses stacks upon stacks of martial arts manuals, so many that I can’t even practice them all. How would I have the time to apprentice under a master? If other sect leaders will be attending, we wish to trouble Abbot Yi to introduce us so that we may make their acquaintance.”

Zhan Ziqian was decently well-connected, but he wasn’t an important figure in Linchuan Academy—he was only here as a messenger. Bixia Sect had suffered great losses, and Wang-sangongzi deemed them beneath himself.

As for Shen Qiao, though he’d made great martial progress, the two brothers had witnessed his duel on Banbu Peak, and the scene of him falling from the cliff was etched deep into their memories. However high their hopes for the sect leader of Xuandu Mountain had been before, those hopes had plummeted just as far down afterward. They’d long since lost their former admiration and reverence; seeing him now, they only thought of him as mediocre and had no interest in associating with him.

Therefore, the Wang brothers had already excluded everyone present from their list of potential acquaintances.

Everyone loved fame, and the people of the jianghu were no different. Many people attending the Sword Trial Conference were focused on Liuli Palace’s rankings, but that wasn’t their only motivation: they also wanted to ally with Chunyang Monastery against the Buddhist discipline and Hehuan Sect.

Though the Wang family was from the Chen Kingdom in the south, they had plenty of business dealings in the north as well, so they couldn’t ignore Hehuan Sect’s influence. As they considered themselves a great and noble clan, how could they work together with a faction like Hehuan Sect? The Wang brothers had arrived with the aim of looking into Chunyang Monastery. If many powerful sects were to cling to Chunyang Monastery this time, they must indeed be powerful and influential, and the Wang family could consider allying with them as well. Otherwise, they could simply work together with Linchuan Academy. Why seek help from distant forces instead of nearby ones?

Their disregard for the others at the scene was clear from this question. Zhao Chiying and Shen Qiao didn’t mind, but Fan Yuanbai and Zhou Yexue couldn’t suppress their expressions of anger.

Yi Pichen gave a slight smile and acted like he hadn’t understood Wang-sanlang’s insinuations. “There are guests from other sects as well, and they’re all being settled separately. Others still remain at the base of the mountain. It’s no trouble if Wang-sangongzi wishes to see them. Later, I’ll send one of my disciples to lead you there. We arranged for everyone’s lodgings to be together—we don’t discriminate based on status.”

Wang-erlang was somewhat disappointed. Yi Pichen’s words implied that those much-anticipated martial arts masters of theirs wouldn’t be coming.

Wang-sanlang, refusing to give up, continued to pursue the matter. “It’s said that great heroes from all over traveled to the Sword Trial Conference ten years ago,” he said, “and that it was a gathering of elites, with five or six of the current top ten among them. Could the Sword Trial Conference’s influence have fallen to such an extent after only nine years?”

Zhou Yexue couldn’t hide her mocking smile. Did this man really think that true martial experts were like cabbages, ready to be picked at their leisure? Being martial experts, they naturally had to put on the appropriate airs. Take the Huanyue Sect Leader, for example: hadn’t he disdained to attend such occasions and left halfway through their travels? Only someone as good-natured as Daoist Master Shen would be willing to help Bixia Sect stand out and accompany them to the conference. But who could have expected that someone would be too blind to recognize Mount Tai,5 taking the pearls before him for fish eyes! It was truly too laughable!

Wang-sanlang saw the sarcastic smile on her face and frowned. “This lady’s expression speaks of her mockery. Does she have any objections to what I said?”

“I dare not,” said Zhou Yexue indifferently. “I only thought I saw a monkey just now, one that’s lived on a mountain its entire life. It’s only ever seen the bit of sky above its own head, yet it believes that its mountain amounts to the entire world!”

Of course, Wang-sanlang picked up that she was calling him shortsighted, and he immediately sneered. “You have quite the clever tongue. I only hope that your skills are just as clever, lest you end up losing your life after offending someone with your nonsense!”

After he said this, his sleeve furled, sending his teacup flying from the table. The full cup of tea swept toward Zhou Yexue, and not a single drop of liquid within spilled.

Since Wang-sanlang dared to look down on Bixia Sect, it was obvious he was fairly capable himself. Upon seeing this move, even Yi Pichen revealed an expression of appreciation. Calling this man “fairly capable” would be selling him short—within the younger generation, one could even call his skills astounding.

Zhou Yexue was shocked. Before the teacup had even reached her, she’d already involuntarily taken a step back.

Zhao Chiying silently shook her head and was about to help, but Shen Qiao’s hand stopped her.

Although Shen Qiao’s sitting posture remained unchanged, his other hand plucked his own cup off the table. First, he drank the contents, then tossed it outward. It crashed right into Wang-sanlang’s cup that was careening over!

The two cups collided with a clatter, yet neither cracked. Due to the tremors, the tea from the first cup spilled into Shen Qiao’s, then both cups rebounded off each other and returned to the hands of their respective owners.

It all took place in the blink of an eye. Wang-sanlang’s expression remained stunned as he caught his cup, as if in disbelief over what he’d just seen.

Shen Qiao grabbed his own returning cup. After giving it a sniff, he put it down. “It seems that Abbot Yi is impartial. The tea served to Wang-sangongzi is the same as ours. Since that’s the case, why was Wang-sangongzi so enthusiastic in insisting we taste his tea?”

That move of Shen Qiao’s was far more brilliant than Wang-sanlang’s. Though it’d appeared understated and effortless, this level of execution was impossible without profound internal energy and skill. In comparison, what Wang-sanlang had done with Zhou Yexue was like brandishing one’s blade before Duke Guan6—he’d completely overestimated himself.

Having realized this, the Wang brothers no longer dared to look down on their fellow guests.

Wang-sanlang’s expression was feeble as he cupped his hands, and he said nothing. This could be considered his apology.

Always a stronger person, always a higher sky. To think that Shen Qiao, someone they already deemed unworthy of ranking within the top ten, would still be an impassable mountain to them.

Yi Pichen looked on coolly. Seeing that the Wang clan’s spirits had plummeted, he didn’t speak more on it and simply smiled. “Everyone has traveled a long distance today. I trust that you’re all exhausted. Shall this humble Daoist send for someone to take you to your rooms so you can rest?”

The Wang brothers naturally had no objections, and Zhan Ziqian nodded as well. “Then we’ll be troubling Abbot Yi.”

Once they left the hall, Li Qingyu turned to Shen Qiao and said, “I live in the small building to the east. It’s the one that has a nameplate with the character ‘Li’ on the door. If Daoist Master Shen needs anything, feel free to come find me.”

Shen Qiao thanked him, then went with Zhao Chiying, following the Chunyang Monastery disciples as they led them to their lodgings.

Zhao Chiying purposely trailed behind by several steps, letting Fan Yuanbai and the others walk in front. She then grabbed Shen Qiao and whispered into his ear, “When I look back on the situation, Abbot Yi seemed like he wished to say something, but the Wang brothers interrupted him?”

Shen Qiao nodded. “That’s indeed the case.”

After all, he’d once led a sect as well. Abbot Yi personally coming out to greet them was partially to express his sincerity, but it’d also served as a prologue of sorts—he must have had important matters he wished to discuss with them.

Zhao Chiying pondered to herself. “In your opinion, do you think he wanted to discuss forming an alliance?”

Shen Qiao didn’t answer the question but instead asked his own. “If that’s the case, how do you plan to respond?”

Zhao Chiying sighed. “Right now, Hehuan Sect and the Buddhist discipline hold immense power. In Bixia Sect’s current state, if they try to annex us like the Göktürks did last time, we can only wait to be slaughtered. Forming an alliance might solve this problem.”

“From what I see, Abbot Yi is deeply ambitious, and he handles matters with great ease and confidence. Right now, the Buddhists have Xueting to foster them, while the Confucians have Linchuan Academy. Only the Daoists are like scattered sand. It might be a good thing if he can unite the Daoist discipline.”

Zhao Chiying was silent for a moment. “At this time, Abbot Yi might find it difficult to achieve his wish. The Sword Trial Conference has always been a grand event in the jianghu, yet Linchuan Academy only sent a single disciple. The situation doesn’t look too promising.”

Then she paused before continuing. “Actually, if we’re discussing martial skills and moral character, Daoist Master Shen may not be inferior to Abbot Yi. If you’re willing to call for action, I would throw Bixia Sect’s lot in with you without a second thought.”

Shen Qiao shook his head and couldn’t help but laugh. “I don’t even have a sect beneath me right now. Even if you threw in your lot with me, I wouldn’t be able to take you in.”

He thought that Zhao Chiying was joking, yet she earnestly said, “How many people in this world can measure up to Daoist Master Shen, who traveled thousands of miles to fulfill a single promise? It’s not only my Bixia Sect who is indebted to your kindness. How many of the people who’ve interacted with you could say they’ve never received your kindness? Even Sect Leader Yan, who draws no line between good and evil, who acts according to his whims, doesn’t he show special regard to you and only you?”

Shen Qiao gave a strained smile. “This special regard…I fear that’s only because he wishes to toy with me.”

Zhao Chiying smiled slightly back at him. “I think that may not be the case.”

As they conversed, they arrived at their lodgings. Their houses happened to be adjacent to each other, which made it easy to keep in contact. The two of them each entered their own residences and washed up.

Shen Qiao had just finished washing his face when he heard a knock on his door.

He’d thought that Zhao Chiying must still have things she wanted to talk about, but when he opened the door, he saw Zhan Ziqian standing outside.

“Has Daoist Master Shen been well?” Zhan Ziqian said, cupping his hands.

Shen Qiao turned sideways so that he could enter. “Please come in, Zhan-langjun.”

“I’m ashamed to say this,” said Zhan Ziqian. “When I first saw Daoist Master Shen, I was immensely pleased. I even wanted to have a long chat with you and fathom my painting techniques. Unfortunately, my shizun has ordered me to return as quickly as possible, so I could only come to say goodbye.”

Shen Qiao was shocked. “That urgent? Isn’t the Sword Trial Conference only starting tomorrow?”

Zhan Ziqian gave a wry smile. “It’s because it starts tomorrow that I must leave today. At tomorrow’s Sword Trial Conference, I fear there will be a rain of blood—even Chunyang Monastery might not be able to save themselves, let alone any kind of alliance. An upright gentleman does not wait amid danger. I really don’t wish to see Daoist Master Shen dragged into such matters, so I was wondering if you’d be willing to go to Linchuan Academy with me. Shizun will definitely welcome you, Daoist Master Shen.”

Shen Qiao could tell how grave he was and how serious his words were, but there seemed no rhyme or reason to them. He couldn’t help but frown. “Just what is going on?”