There was only one thought in Gong Wei’s mind right now. So what did he turn me into?
At this time, Xu Shuangtze lightly put down his teacup and spoke, “My young disciple is ignorant, which makes me displeased. Do you have any other matters to discuss, Ying Kai? —I’m not in a good mood right now, and I don’t wish to chat. If you have any important matters, speak quickly.”
Ying Kai was not an eloquent person. The script that he memorised eight or nine times in advance was immediately held back. Amidst the tension, he did not have time to organise his words, “No…It’s nothing, just that Mu Duozhu has helped your little disciple formulate a medicine that can quickly replenish spiritual power. I want to deliver it to you myself…”
Xu Shuangtze’s sitting posture did not move an inch as he uttered, “My little disciple is too insignificant to trouble your esteemed self. I will board the golden ship personally after this matter has ended.”
His motionless stance made Ying Kai even more guilty, “That will not do, a life is at stake, or I will have Changsheng send it over to you…”
“The dignified Sword Sect Master must be busy with his official affairs. I cannot accept this favour.”
“But the physical condition of your little disciple…”
“I infuse a lot of spiritual energy every day to replenish his vitality. He has recovered speedily, and even his appetite has grown a lot.”
Xu Shuangtze turned his head and said lightly, “See?”
Ying Kai had just wanted to retort asking how it could be possible for the boy’s condition to improve quickly. His sight fell on a bowl full of boiled vegetables in plain water placed before Gong Wei. The deep bowl was so huge that it could bury half of Ying Kai’s head in it.
Gong Wei slowly raised his hand to cover his face under Ying Kai’s shocked gaze.
“My little disciple is very grateful for your concern. After completing this task and returning to the Immortal Alliance, I will send him to the Correctional Palace by himself to pay respects and to thank you.”
Xu Shuangtze’s voice changed, “Brother Ying, is there anything else?”
‘Send him to the Correctional Palace to pay respects’ this sentence rescued Ying Kai from the brink of losing his mind at once.
He moved his gaze away from the bowl of green vegetables with difficulty, and the words ‘displeased but forcing out a broad smile’ were no longer enough to describe the expression of Lord Ying. “Then…then, there are no other matters for the time being. In that case, Shuangtze, you must go and return quickly. I’ll be waiting for you at the Correctional Palace, okay?”
Xu Shuangtze replied contentedly, “Of course.”
Ying Kai’s worrisome nature dictated that he couldn’t help but nag, but he was afraid that showering too much concern would arouse Xu Shuangtze’s suspicion.
After a few rounds of struggling to get a word in before leaving and wanting but not daring to steal a second look at his little Shidi, Ying Kai eventually and sorrowfully withdrew the manifestation formation.
The light faded in the private room of the tavern. Xu Shuangtze leaned into his armchair, slowly sipping tea without talking. The expression on his face was neither pleased nor annoyed.
The more he acted like this, the more insecure Gong Wei’s heart became, and he dared not say another word. He could only press on with his pretence, straighten his neck to swallow the vegetables. But those green vegetables were what he hated the most. The more he forced it down his throat, the more tasteless it became and the harder it got to swallow.
At this moment, he suddenly pined for the thoughtful and chatty Meng Yunfei who treated him to that dish of drunken chicken. Gong Wei’s entire being was engulfed in a grievance and gloom at this.
Just as his soul was about to fly towards the Spring Banquet Terrace, he heard Xu Shuangtze put down the celadon cup again.
He said coldly, “If you don’t like it, then don’t eat it.”
Gong Wei was jolted to his senses and didn’t even have time to put down his chopsticks, “The disciple dares not! This bowl of green vegetables is a gift from Shizun. How can this disciple not…”
Before he finished his words, Xu Shuangtze flicked his sleeve, and the sound of a gust of wind rushed in. In front of Gong Wei, the bowl of vegetable soup disappeared without a trace so that even the bottom of the bowl was sparkly clean.
“Let’s go to Spring Banquet Terrace.”
Xu Shuangtze’s face seemed like it was covered in a layer of frost, and he slapped a piece of gold, the size of his thumb and bearing the emblem of the Cang Yang Sect on the table. Then, he turned around and strode out.
I’m obviously trying my best to eat those green vegetables, so why is Xu Shuangtze pissed off again?
Gong Wei felt both wronged and puzzled, but he didn’t dare to ask even if someone had loaned him more courage. He could only hurry out. Xu Shuangtze had disappeared at the end of the long street in a blink of an eye. Gong Wei lacked spiritual power and moved at a much slower pace. While chasing behind the man, Gong Wei tried to detect Lord Xu’s unique white sandalwood scent amidst the crowd. In his haste, he missed a step and almost stumbled into a pool of water under the stairs and blurted out, “Aiya!”
The “ya” hasn’t even been completely uttered yet, but time had suddenly stopped.
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Xbcu Qfl’r abfr tecu lc atf jlg jybnf atf qevvif bo rajucjca kjafg.
C ajii jcv eqgluta oluegf klat oibklcu gbyfr jcv klvf riffnfr qjrrfv atgbeut atf mgbkv, yfjglcu jc lcvloofgfca fzqgfrrlbc. Lf jqqgbjmtfv rafjvlis jcv ugjyyfv Xbcu Qfl ys atf kglra klatbea rjslcu j kbgv.
—The flow suddenly resumed in the next moment, and the loud voices, lively chatter and roaring laughter arose from all sides. Gong Wei stepped on the stairs with the help of the man’s support and stood firm.
No one noticed what happened earlier. A dog was still wagging its tail as it scampered across the street.
“Shizun…”
Xu Shuangtze’s thin lips pressed together tightly, and he said nothing. His long eyelashes, which were sharp like blades, blocked the expression in his gaze.
The inability to discern the man’s mood made Gong Wei very frightened. His wrists were tightly clenched to the point he felt some pain, but he didn’t dare to struggle. He hesitated and spoke in a low voice, “I will follow only Shizun closely this time. I will never look elsewhere again.”
It may be Gong Wei’s illusion, but Xu Shuangtze’s breathing seemed to stop right after hearing these words, and then he raised his eyes to look at him, “Really?”
Gong Wei nodded quickly, “En.”
“…”
Xu Shuangtze had a murky and deep stare as if he could peer right through into Gong Wei’s heart.
It felt like a long while, but was merely an instance in reality before Xu Shuangtze swiftly looked away and snickered.
He replied, “I don’t believe you.”
What’s there not to believe?
Gong Wei was confused, but Xu Shuangtze didn’t give him any time to reply. He just grabbed Gong Wei’s wrist again and took a small step towards the busy city—it was as if a hundred miles of land were shrunk to square inches, and within an instant, the busy streets and row upon row of houses retreated. Gong Wei’s vision was blurred, and when Xu Shuangtze’s foot landed once more, they had already arrived on a slope outside the city gate.
Shrinking Earth to an Inch!
The powerful inertia caused by the spell thrust Gong Wei forward, and in the next moment, a distinct white sandalwood scent rushed toward his face.
Xu Shuangtze seemed to have expected this stumble, and as soon as he took that step, he turned and stretched out his hand, holding Gong Wei in his embrace.
“Shizun, forgive me, I—”
Xu Shuangtze turned around and said casually, “Let’s go.”
He held onto Gong Wei’s hand and walked along the gravel road outside the city gate.
Gong Wei was oblivious and also didn’t dare to break free. The wrist that was being grasped felt stuffy and uncomfortable. He felt in a daze. The strange feeling of holding hands and walking side by side with Xu Shuangtze like this was possibly the most incredible thing in his life.
What’s even more unbelievable was that Xu Shuangtze no longer intended to use spells at all. The dignified, most formidable man in the world was strolling along the suburban road in this manner, like any other mortal. He took step after step towards the pale green mountains a hundred miles away.
Walking for a mile straight, Gong Wei finally couldn’t help but cough cowardly, “…Shizun?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Why is Shizun going on foot along this earthly road? Why not use sword flight?”
Xu Shuangtze calmly answered, “Of all the spells in the world, reversing time consumes the most spiritual energy, followed by shrinking the earth into an inch, probably because both go against nature.”
Gong Wei hurriedly replied with a respectful, “Oh”.
“After the Spring Banquet Terrace, the way forward is filled with the unknown. It is better to conserve spiritual power in case of unexpected events.”
“…” Gong Wei thought to himself. But you still haven’t explained why you aren’t using sword flight.
He couldn’t help but peek at Xu Shuangtze’s waist from the corner of his eyes. Underneath the man’s outer robe was black inner armour and a black satin girdle which was empty, without a sword.
Thinking back, it seemed that Gong Wei hadn’t seen No Way Out for some time. Did Xu Shuangtze forget to bring it along?
Gong Wei’s heart was tortured by curiosity in every possible way. He wanted to ask Shizun, why aren’t you wielding a sword? But he was afraid to remind Xu Shuangtze, causing him to summon No Way Out as soon as he raised his hand. After thinking about it all the way, he peeked from the corner of his eye again. Unexpectedly, he happened to meet Xu Shuangtze’s gaze and instantly saw his reflection in the pair of dark eyes.
Gong Wei’s heart was raised to his throat, and he immediately looked down.
“What are you looking at?” Xu Shuangtze asked slowly.
Gong Wei focused on staring at the gravel road under his feet as he humbly lowered his head, answering, “Looking…Looking at Shizun’s brilliance and wisdom, like a jade tree facing the wind. Shizun is like a celestial being descending onto the earth…”
The footsteps on Gong Wei’s side suddenly stopped.
Gong Wei immediately shut his mouth and stood still. He had a feeling that the line of sight that was staring at him for a long time moved away, and Xu Shuangtze’s low voice in the breeze brushed across his ears, seemingly in a gentle tone, “Look over there.”
Gong Wei lifted his head in bewilderment and followed Xu Shuangtze’s gaze towards the sky, only to see two small black dots passing along the skyline of the vast green land on the outskirts of the city. When he fixed his eyes on them, he realised that they were two larks chasing each other, one pursuing the other, then the other turning around and flying side by side affectionately before disappearing high in the distant sky.
“See that?”
It was just a pair of lovebirds. Gong Wei uttered with uncertainty, “…Huh?”
Xu Shuangtze exhaled almost silently, but he didn’t explain anything, only asked, “Are you tired?”
Gong Wei shook his head quickly.
Xu Shuangtze didn’t say much more as he led him to continue the way forward.
* * *
Although Gong Wei claimed that he was not tired, his pace got increasingly slower after a few miles, so Xu Shuangtze let him rest in a pavilion on the side of the road for an hour.
After walking and resting several times, Gong Wei’s feet became more and more sore, and he couldn’t help but lean on Xu Shuangtze, who had been holding onto him.
Perhaps Lord Xu finally got frustrated with dilly-dallying. He mercifully cast the Shrinking Earth to an Inch spell once more and brought the tired-looking Gong Wei to the foot of the mountain.
High above, surrounded by golden clouds and enveloped in divine light, stood a large and magnificent building on the mountain’s summit, where exotic birds hovered and chirped. This Spring Banquet Terrace was where the Music Sage and Guqin Master, Liu Xuzhi, lived all year round.
It was likely that Ying Kai had already notified Liu Xuzhi of their imminent arrival, for, at this moment, the disciples under the Music Sage had already lined up along the winding path of long stone steps from the summit to halfway up the mountain. They were there to receive their guests.
At the end of the line, a handsome, elegant and familiar figure, wearing a silver-grey robe, with hair neatly fastened with a crown and wielding a sword, was pacing back and forth on the wide stone step. He obviously had been waiting for a long time.
Gong Wei recognised this brother from a distance at once. It was Meng Yunfei, who he hadn’t seen since they parted at Linjiang City.
Xu Shuangtze stopped and mentioned coldly, “Isn’t that your friend?”
Gong Wei was not stupid at all. Although he didn’t know how Meng Yunfei had offended Lord Xu, the displeasure in Xu Shuangtze’s words could be detected even by a deaf person.
Gong Wei hastily attempted to neutralise the situation by denying, “This disciple grew up in Cang Yang Sect, and only the sect is full of my friends. I met Young Master Meng in Linjiang City and have never seen him again. Clarifying this with Shizun!”
Xu Shuangtze answered, “He is waiting for you.”
Gong Wei firmly added, “He must be waiting for Shizun!”
Xu Shuangtze looked at him non-committally and suddenly stretched out his hand to strike a spell sign.
The people’s conversations on the mountainside a hundred metres away immediately rang clearly in their ears. One disciple laughed and said, “Meng Shixiong has been waiting here for the whole morning, so why hasn’t his buddy from the Cang Yang Sect arrived yet? Why didn’t he send a transmission talisman?”
Another disciple giggled and joked, “Meng Shixiong has instructed the attendants to prepare a table full of snacks. He even had them re-prepare them thrice while waiting. A pity for that brood of chickens in the kitchen!”
“If Meng Shixiong continues to pace, the bricks on the steps will be worn off by three inches!”
Meng Yunfei finally couldn’t help himself, but he was such a gentleman, so much so that he wouldn’t even raise his voice when angered, “Don’t speak nonsense. This is being hospitable to our guests. What do you know!”
“Meng Shixiong is blushing!”
“Ha ha ha ha…”
The brood of chickens in the kitchen.
“Shizun!”
Gong Wei’s eyes went dim, and he immediately leaned forward and sighed, putting up an expression of genuine distress, “The disciple was confused and broke the rules, but I didn’t want to leave the impression to outsiders that I am gluttonous. This disciple promises not to—”
Before he could finish speaking, Xu Shuangtze suddenly stretched out his hand to hold him up brusquely.
Gong Wei could see Xu Shuangtze’s jawline tightening and becoming more defined than usual from this angle.
For reasons unknown, Gong Wei felt that this Sect Master Xu had been unhappy at each mention of the Spring Banquet Terrace throughout the journey. This kind of repulsiveness was especially apparent when the man noticed Meng Yunfei, to the extent that it could be described as ‘depressed’. But on the contrary, not only did he not explain why he was upset, but he held his head high, looking a little lonely.
He spat out three words, “Hold on tight.”
Immediately, Gong Wei’s left wrist was released, and his left hand was grabbed. Xu Shuangtze wrapped his right hand around Gong Wei’s shoulder and suddenly jumped up!
“Who is that?” “Xu, Lord Xu?!” “Lord Xu is here!”
The Music Sect disciples at the halfway point up the mountain all exclaimed and raised their heads in amazement as Xu Shuangtze flew up with Gong Wei, sleeves fluttering, travelling hundreds of feet in a heartbeat, and stepped right on the top of the mountain!
The wind howled, and the clouds dispersed. Gong Wei only had time to catch a glimpse of Meng Yunfei’s surprised expression in the middle of the journey. He was lifted through the clouds in the next moment, landing at the top of the forty-nine long sapphire steps and arriving at the Spring Banquet Terrace.
Gong Wei was caught off guard as he steadied himself and felt Xu Shuangtze’s right hand on his shoulder loosen. But next moment, the five cold fingers grabbed his left wrist, forcing him to stand alongside the man at the door to the Music Sage’s grand palace.
The ornate door of the palace was tightly shut, and through the opening slit, a vivid storytelling voice came,
“The Lotus Immortal with blushing cheeks fell in love with the Cang Yang Sect Master at first sight and pledged his love when they met the next time. However, life has its unpredictable moments and the envious days of the pair of lovebirds did not last long. They who risked the world’s objections encountered the intervention of the Sword Sect Master from the Golden Gate…”
Gong Wei’s only thought at this moment was to break free from Xu Shuangtze’s grip, turn around and jump off the Spring Banquet Terrace.
At this time, a gentle and elegant voice interrupted the storyteller, sighing and saying, “The Underworld: A Story of Undying Love has such detailed descriptions, no matter how many times one hears it, each experience is refreshing. It is no wonder why this is a popular piece among folk stories. A pity—”
The storyteller quickly asked, “Lord Liu, why is it a pity?”
The Music Sage Liu Xuzhi sighed again, harder than before,
“Today, Lord Xu is coming to Spring Banquet Terrace as a guest. Looking at the time, he should have reached the foot of the mountain. Let’s change the piece!”
Gong Wei hid his face behind his hands and was rendered speechless, only to hear that Liu Xuzhi suddenly became interested again, “By the way, what is the latest masterpiece published on the Kaiyuan Tabloid News last month?”
Storyteller responded, “Oh yes, there is a piece about the death-defying love between Young Master Si and his disciple, and the other is the sequel to Lord Ying’s Secret Affairs, which talks about Lord Ying in his youth travelling the world with Lord Xu. A secret love affair blossomed between them, and they pledged their love to each other till death…”
“Ay, I am a respected teacher myself, and I know that the stories of romance between a teacher and his disciple are all nonsense.”
Liu Xuzhi thought for a while and added, “Let’s go with Lord Ying’s Secret Affairs, which should be more credible.”
As soon as he said that, Xu Shuangtze’s face sank and, with a sudden wave of his sleeves—Boom!
Two heavy palace doors flew off their hinges with a whistling sound and violently smashed against the palace wall, creating two huge pits upon impact!
As the dust and smoke billowed forth, a figure bounced up from a reclining chair like a lightning bolt, leaping half a dozen feet high, then grabbed the stunned storyteller and rushed into the inner hall like a stray arrow. He was so fast that he didn’t even have time to put on his shoes.
Xu Shuangtze clamped Gong Wei’s hand and stepped into the messy main palace, slowly uttering, “Liu, Xu, Zhi!”
There was only one thought in Gong Wei’s mind right now. So what did he turn me into?
At this time, Xu Shuangtze lightly put down his teacup and spoke, “My young disciple is ignorant, which makes me displeased. Do you have any other matters to discuss, Ying Kai? —I’m not in a good mood right now, and I don’t wish to chat. If you have any important matters, speak quickly.”
Ying Kai was not an eloquent person. The script that he memorised eight or nine times in advance was immediately held back. Amidst the tension, he did not have time to organise his words, “No…It’s nothing, just that Mu Duozhu has helped your little disciple formulate a medicine that can quickly replenish spiritual power. I want to deliver it to you myself…”
Xu Shuangtze’s sitting posture did not move an inch as he uttered, “My little disciple is too insignificant to trouble your esteemed self. I will board the golden ship personally after this matter has ended.”
His motionless stance made Ying Kai even more guilty, “That will not do, a life is at stake, or I will have Changsheng send it over to you…”
“The dignified Sword Sect Master must be busy with his official affairs. I cannot accept this favour.”
“But the physical condition of your little disciple…”
“I infuse a lot of spiritual energy every day to replenish his vitality. He has recovered speedily, and even his appetite has grown a lot.”
Xu Shuangtze turned his head and said lightly, “See?”
Ying Kai had just wanted to retort asking how it could be possible for the boy’s condition to improve quickly. His sight fell on a bowl full of boiled vegetables in plain water placed before Gong Wei. The deep bowl was so huge that it could bury half of Ying Kai’s head in it.
Gong Wei slowly raised his hand to cover his face under Ying Kai’s shocked gaze.
“My little disciple is very grateful for your concern. After completing this task and returning to the Immortal Alliance, I will send him to the Correctional Palace by himself to pay respects and to thank you.”
Xu Shuangtze’s voice changed, “Brother Ying, is there anything else?”
‘Send him to the Correctional Palace to pay respects’ this sentence rescued Ying Kai from the brink of losing his mind at once.
He moved his gaze away from the bowl of green vegetables with difficulty, and the words ‘displeased but forcing out a broad smile’ were no longer enough to describe the expression of Lord Ying. “Then…then, there are no other matters for the time being. In that case, Shuangtze, you must go and return quickly. I’ll be waiting for you at the Correctional Palace, okay?”
Xu Shuangtze replied contentedly, “Of course.”
Ying Kai’s worrisome nature dictated that he couldn’t help but nag, but he was afraid that showering too much concern would arouse Xu Shuangtze’s suspicion.
After a few rounds of struggling to get a word in before leaving and wanting but not daring to steal a second look at his little Shidi, Ying Kai eventually and sorrowfully withdrew the manifestation formation.
The light faded in the private room of the tavern. Xu Shuangtze leaned into his armchair, slowly sipping tea without talking. The expression on his face was neither pleased nor annoyed.
The more he acted like this, the more insecure Gong Wei’s heart became, and he dared not say another word. He could only press on with his pretence, straighten his neck to swallow the vegetables. But those green vegetables were what he hated the most. The more he forced it down his throat, the more tasteless it became and the harder it got to swallow.
At this moment, he suddenly pined for the thoughtful and chatty Meng Yunfei who treated him to that dish of drunken chicken. Gong Wei’s entire being was engulfed in a grievance and gloom at this.
Just as his soul was about to fly towards the Spring Banquet Terrace, he heard Xu Shuangtze put down the celadon cup again.
He said coldly, “If you don’t like it, then don’t eat it.”
Gong Wei was jolted to his senses and didn’t even have time to put down his chopsticks, “The disciple dares not! This bowl of green vegetables is a gift from Shizun. How can this disciple not…”
Before he finished his words, Xu Shuangtze flicked his sleeve, and the sound of a gust of wind rushed in. In front of Gong Wei, the bowl of vegetable soup disappeared without a trace so that even the bottom of the bowl was sparkly clean.
“Let’s go to Spring Banquet Terrace.”
Xu Shuangtze’s face seemed like it was covered in a layer of frost, and he slapped a piece of gold, the size of his thumb and bearing the emblem of the Cang Yang Sect on the table. Then, he turned around and strode out.
I’m obviously trying my best to eat those green vegetables, so why is Xu Shuangtze pissed off again?
Gong Wei felt both wronged and puzzled, but he didn’t dare to ask even if someone had loaned him more courage. He could only hurry out. Xu Shuangtze had disappeared at the end of the long street in a blink of an eye. Gong Wei lacked spiritual power and moved at a much slower pace. While chasing behind the man, Gong Wei tried to detect Lord Xu’s unique white sandalwood scent amidst the crowd. In his haste, he missed a step and almost stumbled into a pool of water under the stairs and blurted out, “Aiya!”
The “ya” hasn’t even been completely uttered yet, but time had suddenly stopped.
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—The flow suddenly resumed in the next moment, and the loud voices, lively chatter and roaring laughter arose from all sides. Gong Wei stepped on the stairs with the help of the man’s support and stood firm.
No one noticed what happened earlier. A dog was still wagging its tail as it scampered across the street.
“Shizun…”
Xu Shuangtze’s thin lips pressed together tightly, and he said nothing. His long eyelashes, which were sharp like blades, blocked the expression in his gaze.
The inability to discern the man’s mood made Gong Wei very frightened. His wrists were tightly clenched to the point he felt some pain, but he didn’t dare to struggle. He hesitated and spoke in a low voice, “I will follow only Shizun closely this time. I will never look elsewhere again.”
It may be Gong Wei’s illusion, but Xu Shuangtze’s breathing seemed to stop right after hearing these words, and then he raised his eyes to look at him, “Really?”
Gong Wei nodded quickly, “En.”
“…”
Xu Shuangtze had a murky and deep stare as if he could peer right through into Gong Wei’s heart.
It felt like a long while, but was merely an instance in reality before Xu Shuangtze swiftly looked away and snickered.
He replied, “I don’t believe you.”
What’s there not to believe?
Gong Wei was confused, but Xu Shuangtze didn’t give him any time to reply. He just grabbed Gong Wei’s wrist again and took a small step towards the busy city—it was as if a hundred miles of land were shrunk to square inches, and within an instant, the busy streets and row upon row of houses retreated. Gong Wei’s vision was blurred, and when Xu Shuangtze’s foot landed once more, they had already arrived on a slope outside the city gate.
Shrinking Earth to an Inch!
The powerful inertia caused by the spell thrust Gong Wei forward, and in the next moment, a distinct white sandalwood scent rushed toward his face.
Xu Shuangtze seemed to have expected this stumble, and as soon as he took that step, he turned and stretched out his hand, holding Gong Wei in his embrace.
“Shizun, forgive me, I—”
Xu Shuangtze turned around and said casually, “Let’s go.”
He held onto Gong Wei’s hand and walked along the gravel road outside the city gate.
Gong Wei was oblivious and also didn’t dare to break free. The wrist that was being grasped felt stuffy and uncomfortable. He felt in a daze. The strange feeling of holding hands and walking side by side with Xu Shuangtze like this was possibly the most incredible thing in his life.
What’s even more unbelievable was that Xu Shuangtze no longer intended to use spells at all. The dignified, most formidable man in the world was strolling along the suburban road in this manner, like any other mortal. He took step after step towards the pale green mountains a hundred miles away.
Walking for a mile straight, Gong Wei finally couldn’t help but cough cowardly, “…Shizun?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Why is Shizun going on foot along this earthly road? Why not use sword flight?”
Xu Shuangtze calmly answered, “Of all the spells in the world, reversing time consumes the most spiritual energy, followed by shrinking the earth into an inch, probably because both go against nature.”
Gong Wei hurriedly replied with a respectful, “Oh”.
“After the Spring Banquet Terrace, the way forward is filled with the unknown. It is better to conserve spiritual power in case of unexpected events.”
“…” Gong Wei thought to himself. But you still haven’t explained why you aren’t using sword flight.
He couldn’t help but peek at Xu Shuangtze’s waist from the corner of his eyes. Underneath the man’s outer robe was black inner armour and a black satin girdle which was empty, without a sword.
Thinking back, it seemed that Gong Wei hadn’t seen No Way Out for some time. Did Xu Shuangtze forget to bring it along?
Gong Wei’s heart was tortured by curiosity in every possible way. He wanted to ask Shizun, why aren’t you wielding a sword? But he was afraid to remind Xu Shuangtze, causing him to summon No Way Out as soon as he raised his hand. After thinking about it all the way, he peeked from the corner of his eye again. Unexpectedly, he happened to meet Xu Shuangtze’s gaze and instantly saw his reflection in the pair of dark eyes.
Gong Wei’s heart was raised to his throat, and he immediately looked down.
“What are you looking at?” Xu Shuangtze asked slowly.
Gong Wei focused on staring at the gravel road under his feet as he humbly lowered his head, answering, “Looking…Looking at Shizun’s brilliance and wisdom, like a jade tree facing the wind. Shizun is like a celestial being descending onto the earth…”
The footsteps on Gong Wei’s side suddenly stopped.
Gong Wei immediately shut his mouth and stood still. He had a feeling that the line of sight that was staring at him for a long time moved away, and Xu Shuangtze’s low voice in the breeze brushed across his ears, seemingly in a gentle tone, “Look over there.”
Gong Wei lifted his head in bewilderment and followed Xu Shuangtze’s gaze towards the sky, only to see two small black dots passing along the skyline of the vast green land on the outskirts of the city. When he fixed his eyes on them, he realised that they were two larks chasing each other, one pursuing the other, then the other turning around and flying side by side affectionately before disappearing high in the distant sky.
“See that?”
It was just a pair of lovebirds. Gong Wei uttered with uncertainty, “…Huh?”
Xu Shuangtze exhaled almost silently, but he didn’t explain anything, only asked, “Are you tired?”
Gong Wei shook his head quickly.
Xu Shuangtze didn’t say much more as he led him to continue the way forward.
* * *
Although Gong Wei claimed that he was not tired, his pace got increasingly slower after a few miles, so Xu Shuangtze let him rest in a pavilion on the side of the road for an hour.
After walking and resting several times, Gong Wei’s feet became more and more sore, and he couldn’t help but lean on Xu Shuangtze, who had been holding onto him.
Perhaps Lord Xu finally got frustrated with dilly-dallying. He mercifully cast the Shrinking Earth to an Inch spell once more and brought the tired-looking Gong Wei to the foot of the mountain.
High above, surrounded by golden clouds and enveloped in divine light, stood a large and magnificent building on the mountain’s summit, where exotic birds hovered and chirped. This Spring Banquet Terrace was where the Music Sage and Guqin Master, Liu Xuzhi, lived all year round.
It was likely that Ying Kai had already notified Liu Xuzhi of their imminent arrival, for, at this moment, the disciples under the Music Sage had already lined up along the winding path of long stone steps from the summit to halfway up the mountain. They were there to receive their guests.
At the end of the line, a handsome, elegant and familiar figure, wearing a silver-grey robe, with hair neatly fastened with a crown and wielding a sword, was pacing back and forth on the wide stone step. He obviously had been waiting for a long time.
Gong Wei recognised this brother from a distance at once. It was Meng Yunfei, who he hadn’t seen since they parted at Linjiang City.
Xu Shuangtze stopped and mentioned coldly, “Isn’t that your friend?”
Gong Wei was not stupid at all. Although he didn’t know how Meng Yunfei had offended Lord Xu, the displeasure in Xu Shuangtze’s words could be detected even by a deaf person.
Gong Wei hastily attempted to neutralise the situation by denying, “This disciple grew up in Cang Yang Sect, and only the sect is full of my friends. I met Young Master Meng in Linjiang City and have never seen him again. Clarifying this with Shizun!”
Xu Shuangtze answered, “He is waiting for you.”
Gong Wei firmly added, “He must be waiting for Shizun!”
Xu Shuangtze looked at him non-committally and suddenly stretched out his hand to strike a spell sign.
The people’s conversations on the mountainside a hundred metres away immediately rang clearly in their ears. One disciple laughed and said, “Meng Shixiong has been waiting here for the whole morning, so why hasn’t his buddy from the Cang Yang Sect arrived yet? Why didn’t he send a transmission talisman?”
Another disciple giggled and joked, “Meng Shixiong has instructed the attendants to prepare a table full of snacks. He even had them re-prepare them thrice while waiting. A pity for that brood of chickens in the kitchen!”
“If Meng Shixiong continues to pace, the bricks on the steps will be worn off by three inches!”
Meng Yunfei finally couldn’t help himself, but he was such a gentleman, so much so that he wouldn’t even raise his voice when angered, “Don’t speak nonsense. This is being hospitable to our guests. What do you know!”
“Meng Shixiong is blushing!”
“Ha ha ha ha…”
The brood of chickens in the kitchen.
“Shizun!”
Gong Wei’s eyes went dim, and he immediately leaned forward and sighed, putting up an expression of genuine distress, “The disciple was confused and broke the rules, but I didn’t want to leave the impression to outsiders that I am gluttonous. This disciple promises not to—”
Before he could finish speaking, Xu Shuangtze suddenly stretched out his hand to hold him up brusquely.
Gong Wei could see Xu Shuangtze’s jawline tightening and becoming more defined than usual from this angle.
For reasons unknown, Gong Wei felt that this Sect Master Xu had been unhappy at each mention of the Spring Banquet Terrace throughout the journey. This kind of repulsiveness was especially apparent when the man noticed Meng Yunfei, to the extent that it could be described as ‘depressed’. But on the contrary, not only did he not explain why he was upset, but he held his head high, looking a little lonely.
He spat out three words, “Hold on tight.”
Immediately, Gong Wei’s left wrist was released, and his left hand was grabbed. Xu Shuangtze wrapped his right hand around Gong Wei’s shoulder and suddenly jumped up!
“Who is that?” “Xu, Lord Xu?!” “Lord Xu is here!”
The Music Sect disciples at the halfway point up the mountain all exclaimed and raised their heads in amazement as Xu Shuangtze flew up with Gong Wei, sleeves fluttering, travelling hundreds of feet in a heartbeat, and stepped right on the top of the mountain!
The wind howled, and the clouds dispersed. Gong Wei only had time to catch a glimpse of Meng Yunfei’s surprised expression in the middle of the journey. He was lifted through the clouds in the next moment, landing at the top of the forty-nine long sapphire steps and arriving at the Spring Banquet Terrace.
Gong Wei was caught off guard as he steadied himself and felt Xu Shuangtze’s right hand on his shoulder loosen. But next moment, the five cold fingers grabbed his left wrist, forcing him to stand alongside the man at the door to the Music Sage’s grand palace.
The ornate door of the palace was tightly shut, and through the opening slit, a vivid storytelling voice came,
“The Lotus Immortal with blushing cheeks fell in love with the Cang Yang Sect Master at first sight and pledged his love when they met the next time. However, life has its unpredictable moments and the envious days of the pair of lovebirds did not last long. They who risked the world’s objections encountered the intervention of the Sword Sect Master from the Golden Gate…”
Gong Wei’s only thought at this moment was to break free from Xu Shuangtze’s grip, turn around and jump off the Spring Banquet Terrace.
At this time, a gentle and elegant voice interrupted the storyteller, sighing and saying, “The Underworld: A Story of Undying Love has such detailed descriptions, no matter how many times one hears it, each experience is refreshing. It is no wonder why this is a popular piece among folk stories. A pity—”
The storyteller quickly asked, “Lord Liu, why is it a pity?”
The Music Sage Liu Xuzhi sighed again, harder than before,
“Today, Lord Xu is coming to Spring Banquet Terrace as a guest. Looking at the time, he should have reached the foot of the mountain. Let’s change the piece!”
Gong Wei hid his face behind his hands and was rendered speechless, only to hear that Liu Xuzhi suddenly became interested again, “By the way, what is the latest masterpiece published on the Kaiyuan Tabloid News last month?”
Storyteller responded, “Oh yes, there is a piece about the death-defying love between Young Master Si and his disciple, and the other is the sequel to Lord Ying’s Secret Affairs, which talks about Lord Ying in his youth travelling the world with Lord Xu. A secret love affair blossomed between them, and they pledged their love to each other till death…”
“Ay, I am a respected teacher myself, and I know that the stories of romance between a teacher and his disciple are all nonsense.”
Liu Xuzhi thought for a while and added, “Let’s go with Lord Ying’s Secret Affairs, which should be more credible.”
As soon as he said that, Xu Shuangtze’s face sank and, with a sudden wave of his sleeves—Boom!
Two heavy palace doors flew off their hinges with a whistling sound and violently smashed against the palace wall, creating two huge pits upon impact!
As the dust and smoke billowed forth, a figure bounced up from a reclining chair like a lightning bolt, leaping half a dozen feet high, then grabbed the stunned storyteller and rushed into the inner hall like a stray arrow. He was so fast that he didn’t even have time to put on his shoes.
Xu Shuangtze clamped Gong Wei’s hand and stepped into the messy main palace, slowly uttering, “Liu, Xu, Zhi!”
