Although Huan Zong spoke in a low voice, most of those present were highly cultivated and could easily hear what he said. Those with more complex thoughts couldn’t help but raise their heads to glance at Jinyue—surely no evil cultivator would be bold enough to impersonate Zhenren Zhong Xi right under Jinyue’s nose, would they?
But if this really was Zhenren Zhong Xi, why would he say such… frivolous words?
The most pitiful were still the Liuguang Sect disciples. They held supreme admiration for Uncle-Master Zhong Xi, and this rare opportunity to dine together—who would have known their uncle-master wouldn’t sit with them at all, but instead walked off following Xianzi Kong Hou.
The Yunhua Sect disciples had the most composed expressions of everyone present. Seeing Kong Hou and Huan Zong approach, they all rose to give up their seats, as if they had experienced this scenario a thousand times over and were so practiced they didn’t need to say a single word.
【Junior Sister Kong Hou has truly earned all the face this time. I see the eyeballs of those across from us at Zhaohan Sect are about to pop out】
【Everyone stay calm, don’t show surprised expressions.】
【Senior Sister, rest assured, we absolutely won’t show any timidity!】
【Although the exchange conference hasn’t started yet, I feel we’ve already stolen all the limelight…】
Gui Lin and Li Rou sat in a corner. As juniors, they didn’t know that the uncle-masters and senior-masters were secretly using telepathic communication. He watched as Zhenren Zhong Xi and Uncle-Master Kong Hou sat down like stars surrounding the moon, then looked at the curious or shocked gazes around them, and lowered his head to take a sip of tea.
The disciple ran off with another woman, yet Jinyue wasn’t angry at all—instead, he smiled brilliantly. When others saw this scene, their hearts felt even more peculiar. Could it be that Liuguang Sect planned to form a marriage alliance with Yunhua Sect? Although Yunhua Sect’s influence wasn’t as great as Liuguang Sect’s, Xianzi Kong Hou was exceptionally talented, and being together with Zhenren Zhong Xi could be considered a suitable match.
Even though everyone had countless thoughts in their hearts, in this kind of situation, it wasn’t appropriate to discuss matters of love between men and women. After the banquet began, they spoke about the matter of evil cultivators.
On the road to Liuguang Sect, several sects had been ambushed, indicating that evil cultivators were already stirring restlessly. The peace between the cultivation world and the evil cultivation world wouldn’t last much longer. Although no one in the cultivation world had ascended in nearly a thousand years and their strength was not what it once was, fortunately there were still several great powers who could provide support.
“The evil cultivation world comes with fierce momentum. I wonder if those zhenren who have long ceased to emerge into the world would be willing to come forth?” The most formidable great power in the cultivation world was that scattered immortal great power who failed tribulation and had long since disappeared without a trace. The cultivation world had many legends about him. Some said that because of his regret over his dao companion’s death, he severed his own meridians and reincarnated.
Others said he had long since perished, which was why he hadn’t appeared before people all these years.
The truth was no longer known to anyone, but in this current difficult moment, they still hoped this great power was alive and well.
The Venerable Lord of the evil cultivation world had been sleeping for many years but suddenly awakened in recent years. The cultivation world couldn’t measure just how high his cultivation level was. If both sides fought openly and fairly, they wouldn’t be this worried. What they feared was the evil cultivators’ endless dirty tricks, always using ordinary common people as their targets. No matter how many cultivators the cultivation world had, there would always be times they couldn’t watch over everyone.
“Evil cultivators have endless schemes. Before thoroughly repelling the evil cultivators, I must trouble all fellow daoists to maintain strict vigilance. We are all people of cultivation and cannot watch helplessly as ordinary common people die at the hands of evil cultivators. Though we seek longevity, we also cannot forget righteousness.” Jinyue raised his wine vessel, which contained not wine but spiritual liquid. “Everyone, please.”
“As it should be.” Everyone’s expressions were solemn, but they still raised their heads and drank down this cup of spiritual liquid.
What they drank wasn’t spiritual liquid, but rather a vow to protect ordinary common people.
Kong Hou raised her head and drank the spiritual liquid, placing the jade vessel on the table. She turned her head and her eyes met Huan Zong’s. The two smiled at each other, and the nervousness in Kong Hou’s heart vanished without a trace.
Sitting across from them, Monk Yuanchen watched the young man and woman smiling at each other, the smile on his face gentle. When he turned toward Zhenren Hong Yan, however, it carried a hint of emotion—was she going to persist like this?
Hong Yan didn’t raise her head, nor did she look at him. She expressionlessly rubbed the jade vessel, like the lofty white snow on a mountain peak, unstained by dust, cold and piercing to the bone.
On the Zhaohan Sect’s side, Lingbo looked at the ceremonial robes on Kong Hou’s body and inexplicably felt that the clothes on the other woman looked better than her own. She grabbed the junior brother sitting beside her who was eating sweets with his head lowered and used telepathic communication to ask: 【Today, am I good-looking, or is Xianzi Kong Hou good-looking?】
The junior brother hastily expressed: “Of course it’s Senior Sister.”
Lingbo snorted coldly: “I knew you men always speak with such hypocrisy and dishonesty.”
Junior brother: “…”
What exactly had he done wrong?
When the banquet ended, Jinyue rose to personally escort everyone out of the hall. Huan Zong, as Jinyue’s personal disciple, also had to accompany Jinyue. However, taking advantage of the crowd, he stuffed a money pouch into Kong Hou’s hand.
“What is this?” Kong Hou accepted the money pouch, not understanding why Huan Zong was giving this to her.
“Spirit stones.” Huan Zong extended his hand to shield Kong Hou from all sides as he escorted her out of the hall doors. “The exchange conference will officially begin in one day. Don’t be nervous—it’s just discussing the dao and competing a bit. Everyone will stop at the appropriate point.”
Kong Hou nodded. Seeing Zhenren Hong Yan of Yuexing Sect looking this way, she guessed the other woman might have business with Huan Zong, so she said: “Then I’ll go back first.” She stood on her tiptoes and whispered in Huan Zong’s ear, “When you come back, send me a message.”
“Alright.” Huan Zong reached out to touch the hair ornament by Kong Hou’s temple.
Kong Hou smiled and ran off, leaving Huan Zong behind feeling both helpless and amused.
Ling Hui and several other female cultivators from Yunhua Sect stood not far away waiting for Kong Hou. Seeing her run over, they all revealed teasing smiles: “You’ve finally returned. I thought our little junior sister was going to stay at Liuguang Sect.”
“Ahem.” Kong Hou coughed dryly and turned her head. “Don’t tease me. Let’s go, let’s go.”
“Though your mouth speaks humbly, your heart is very happy.” Ling Hui said, “Come, tell Senior Sister—what does it feel like to possess such an extraordinary man?”
“Of course it’s the feeling of having a precious treasure of my heart.” Kong Hou’s face was somewhat red. She used her spiritual sense to scan the money pouch Huan Zong gave her, and her heart grew even more puzzled. Why did Huan Zong give her several hundred spirit stones? Could these spirit stones have some special meaning?
Taking advantage of when the senior sisters weren’t paying attention, she placed the money pouch into her storage ring. Ling Hui noticed this movement: “Zhenren Zhong Xi sent some small gift, but you’re hiding it so we can’t see.”
“Not showing, not showing.” Kong Hou covered the ring on her finger, smiling as she hopped a few steps forward. “This is what my precious treasure gave me—no one is allowed to look.”
“Forgetting your senior sister when you see beauty—little junior sister needs a lesson.” Ling Hui placed one hand on her hip and wrapped the other around Kong Hou’s waist. “Little beauty, you actually dare to betray me and be with another man. I’m extremely angry, so I must punish you.”
The other senior sisters swarmed forward, pinned Kong Hou down, and began… tickling her.
Lian Qiao walked together with other senior sisters. Hearing the sound of women’s laughter from not far away, she couldn’t help but stop and look toward where the laughter came from. Several beautiful women were laughing and playing together, the smiles on their faces extremely beautiful, making Lian Qiao unable to resist looking a few more times.
“Junior Sister?” A senior sister saw Lian Qiao still standing in place and couldn’t help but say, “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing.” Lian Qiao hurried to catch up, the joy in her eyes disappearing without a trace.
The guests in the main hall had almost all dispersed. Jinyue turned to look at Hong Yan, who had not yet left: “Daoist Hong Yan?”
“Daoist Jinyue, I have a matter I must inform you of.” Hong Yan glanced at Huan Zong behind Jinyue. “Zhenren Zhong Xi’s destined great tribulation has arrived. Have you found a method to resolve it?”
The smile on Jinyue’s face gradually faded. He invited Hong Yan to sit: “What has Daoist Hong Yan divined?”
Hong Yan shook her head, her expression grave: “Nine deaths, one life.”
Jinyue turned to look at his beloved disciple. His expression was calm, as if he had no reaction at all to what Hong Yan said.
“Not only me, even the results that Senior Brother Wang Su divined are the same.” Hong Yan mentioned Wang Su, who was most skilled at divination. Yuexing Sect was different from other sects. Because the sect emphasized the yin and yang of heaven and earth, the sect had two sect masters—one male, one female. When divining certain matters involving great fortune and destiny, both male and female alliance masters must work together to listen to the voice of the heavenly dao.
Those who became sect masters must treat emotions lightly, treat joy and anger lightly. Though they could take dao companions, they couldn’t indulge in romantic love between men and women. Therefore, although Yuexing Sect didn’t prohibit matters of love between men and women, throughout the generations of male and female sect masters, not a single one had ever taken a dao companion.
“Three hundred years ago, Senior Brother and I cast divination for Zhenren Zhong Xi. He was the hope of our cultivation world. Fifty years ago, Senior Brother and I divined for him again, but the hexagram we obtained was nine deaths, one life.” In front of Huan Zong, Hong Yan didn’t conceal anything. “Zhenren Zhong Xi’s importance to our cultivation world goes without saying. I think Sect Master Jinyue should also understand this.”
Huan Zong sat cross-legged at the table’s edge and slowly poured tea for himself and the two elders. He presented the tea cup before Hong Yan: “Zhenren specifically brings up this matter today—could it be you have a method to resolve it?”
“Over ten years ago, I encountered a woman by chance in the mortal realm. I discovered her destiny configuration was extremely unique and could benefit Zhenren Zhong Xi’s destiny configuration, so I brought her back to the sect. Although she cannot help Zhenren Zhong Xi completely resolve his destiny configuration, she can help your destiny configuration improve somewhat. Now she has already learned the art of divination, so this time I specially brought her along. Whether Zhenren Zhong Xi takes her as a sword-attending maid or makes her your female attendant—it’s all for the zhenren to decide.”
“Zhenren…” Huan Zong frowned slightly. “This junior is merely one person among the countless cultivators of the cultivation world. Life and death are already determined by heaven—how could I let a woman become a tool to change my destiny configuration?”
“That is her destined fate.” Hong Yan’s tone was bland. “Just as with Zhenren Zhong Xi yourself, the fate of the cultivation world also rests on your shoulders.”
“My unworthy disciple is merely over three hundred years old. How can he bear the responsibility of the cultivation world’s future?” The expression on Jinyue’s face became somewhat cold. “Sect Master Hong Yan, you overpraise him.”
Hong Yan raised her head to look at Jinyue. She heard Jinyue’s protective intent toward Zhong Xi. Her pupils flickered slightly, then she sneered: “Being within it, who can remain untainted? Could it be you want our cultivation world to never have anyone ascend again, until everyone perishes and there are no more cultivators in the world?”
Jinyue fell silent.
“If no one can ascend anymore, that is also determined by the heavenly dao.” Huan Zong said, “Zhenren Hong Yan, please forgive this junior for being unable to agree.”
“Why?” Hong Yan didn’t understand. “That disciple of mine is not unwilling.”
“Because this junior is unwilling.” Huan Zong stood up, his expression cold. “This junior will do what this junior should do. Life and death are determined by heaven, but I cannot coldly watch an innocent woman fall into the quagmire of my destiny configuration.”
“Moreover…” His expression became gentle, “I already have someone my heart delights in—how could I keep another by my side?”
Hong Yan knew who he was talking about, her brow growing even colder: “Could it be you’re not afraid of death?”
“Before, I wasn’t afraid. Now I am.” Huan Zong placed his hands behind his back, his spine straight, proud as a pine or cypress. “But there are things one must do and things one must not do. Please, Zhenren Hong Yan, understand.”
“For your own personal feelings, you disregard the entire cultivation world. This is truly… truly…” Zhenren Hong Yan crushed the tea cup in her hand into powder. “Truly disappointing to the extreme. I never thought your Liuguang Sect would all be like this.”
“For thousands of years, Liuguang Sect has wholeheartedly protected fellow daoists throughout the world and the common people, with a clear conscience.” Jinyue knew Hong Yan bore no ill will. He shook his head and sighed: “But Daoist Hong Yan, disciples are not swords in our hands for vanquishing demons and eliminating evil. Do you understand?”
Hong Yan said nothing, the expression on her face growing even more cold and detached.
Jinyue released a long sigh: “Daoist Hong Yan, you have an obsession in your heart that has already become a heart demon. Let it go.”
—
**Author’s Note:** Jinyue: Of course the disciple is more important~
Male junior brother from Zhaohan Sect: What’s wrong with us men?