On the main peak of Lingxia Mountain there was a cave, personally named the Wuliang Grotto by Rong Chen Zi’s Master, Daoist Zixin. Rong Chen Zi also most often entered closed-door cultivation here. It was a tranquil place — inside the cave there was a stone table and a stone bed. Rong Chen Zi sat facing the wall, his expression still as water, yet inwardly his thoughts churned with unrest. This Clam was, when all was said and done, the Sea Sovereign. His decision to shelter her had been entirely well-intentioned. To his misfortune, through a moment of carelessness, he had fallen prey to southern frontier sorcery and committed this outrageous act.
He was a man of upright and principled character — from beginning to end he had not the slightest thought of shifting responsibility away from himself. But how to properly handle this matter was also a significant challenge.
The Clam, meanwhile, was anything but settled: “Closed-door cultivation! What does he mean by that, damn it all!” She was mid-tantrum when Qingxuan hastened to soothe her: “My Master has entered closed-door cultivation only because of his injuries — he needs to rest in stillness…”
The Clam’s eyes snapped up, and she immediately took offense: “So you mean I make him restless?”
Qingxuan shook his head like a spinning top: “Nothing of the sort, Your Majesty. Look at your radiant beauty — even a man of my Master’s discipline could not resist your charm. How could anyone feel anything but peace in your presence? It is simply that when one is ill, one’s energy is weakened, and my Master must also fear passing his ailments to you — that is why he has entered closed-door cultivation for a time.” Qingxuan suddenly recalled how his Master had always taught that those who had left the secular world should not speak falsehoods, and felt a wave of bitterness — Master, of all the people in the world you could have gotten yourself tangled with, why did it have to be her…
“Hmph, I say he’s trying to run!” This Clam might be a foodie, but she was not foolish. “But never mind — a Daoist can flee but a Daoist temple cannot flee with him. I refuse to believe he will stay in closed-door cultivation forever!”
After Rong Chen Zi entered closed-door cultivation, Qingxuan took over as acting head of the temple. With a clear sense of the situation, he elevated the Clam’s food, clothing, lodging, and movement to the temple’s highest priority. The cooks in the dining hall invented new varieties of sweet foods every single day. This Clam would grow drowsy after eating her fill, and so for much of the time she slept in Rong Chen Zi’s quarters and rarely came out.
As time passed, all the junior disciples found their method of managing her — this creature was obsessed with eating and adored sweets most of all. As long as she was well fed, she generally slept and caused no trouble. When anything did arise, the only approach was to flatter her — heap such lavish praise on her that she felt giddy with it, and she would not bother with anyone.
Most importantly of all: never go against her. In any matter, whatever she said — even if she declared that the sun had been invented by some ancient kingdom — one must absolutely agree, affirm it, and declare it the most magnificent and profound insight in all the cosmos from the beginning of time!
Handled thus, she could not stir up trouble.
These past few days, however, Qingxu Temple had drawn the attention of others. The commotion of the southern frontier shamanic arts a short while ago had been noticed by many sects within Daozong, and coupled with Rong Chen Zi’s continued absence from public view, rumors had begun circulating that the head of Qingxu Temple had passed away.
Such rumors naturally alarmed two people — Rong Chen Zi’s second martial brother, Zhuang Shaoqin, and his youngest martial sister, Ye Tian.
At that time Zhuang Shaoqin held the position of National Advisor and resided in the imperial palace year-round, making it difficult for him to come and go freely. Ye Tian had been practicing alchemy and cultivation methods alongside him, and now upon hearing of Rong Chen Zi’s accident, she could not remain calm. She said her farewells to Zhuang Shaoqin and hurried to Lingxia Mountain.
She had grown up at Qingxu Temple from childhood, following Daoist Zixin, and had always been close with Rong Chen Zi. It was only after Zhuang Shaoqin became National Advisor that he had taken her out to gain experience of the world. And so the junior disciples of Qingxu Temple were very familiar with this martial aunt. Before she had even ascended to Lingxia Mountain, Qingxuan and Qingsu had already come out to meet her halfway up the mountain.
When Ye Tian saw Qingxuan and Qingsu, her heart settled by more than half — neither of their faces showed any sign of grief, so Rong Chen Zi must surely be unharmed. She let out a long breath of relief, and once she had ascended Lingxia Mountain and been ushered into the temple, she asked: “Where is your Master now? Not long ago I was stargazing with your Second Martial Uncle, and we also saw malevolent energy surging to the sky from Lingxia Mountain. Could it truly be that some powerful enemy dared to come and cause trouble?”
The junior disciples served tea with great deference. Qingxuan then sat at the lower position and answered respectfully: “Martial Aunt, please set your mind at ease. Not long ago some southern frontier sorcerers came to cause trouble. Master received minor injuries and is currently in closed-door cultivation to recuperate. But from the medicines I have observed Master taking, they are all restorative in nature — the injury should be nothing serious.”
Ye Tian lifted her teacup and took a sip, giving a slight nod. She wore her long hair pinned high, with a pale blue ribbon woven through it, her sharp brows sweeping upward into her temples, her forehead broad and prominent, her gaze keen — her entire bearing carried a natural air of heroic spirit: “Since Senior Brother is in closed-door cultivation, it is not appropriate to disturb him. But with injuries on his body, I can use our shared martial art to help him recover sooner. I will rest for a day first, then go find him tomorrow. Have the disciple who delivers his meals inform him in advance, so that I do not enter unexpectedly and disturb his healing.”
Qingxuan naturally agreed, quickly ordering someone to bring her sword and travel pack to her room, and arranging hot water for her to bathe. In all the small matters of daily life, he was careful and considerate.
Ye Tian was also very fond of these two martial nephews: “In these recent days while your Master is in closed-door cultivation, allow me as your martial aunt to pass on some cultivation methods to you.” Qingxuan was naturally overjoyed — managing the temple’s affairs and overseeing the disciples was one thing, but when it came to actual training, nothing compared to the Master’s personal guidance. Now having a martial aunt to stand in was certainly something to be deeply grateful for.
Ye Tian had not returned to the temple for a long time and naturally wanted to take a walk around. Qingxuan had no choice but to accompany her. Outside the side hall where Rong Chen Zi lived, there grew a patch of four-seasons orchids — she had brought them back as a child when she traveled with Daoist Zixin, and had planted them outside Rong Chen Zi’s quarters on a happy whim.
This patch of orchids was growing magnificently — white, yellow, and reddish-purple blooms opened small and delicate. Ye Tian had a disciple named Qingyun fetch some water and personally watered them herself. After a while she suddenly tilted her head to listen: “Who is in Senior Brother’s room?”
Qingxuan heard this and instantly felt his troubles multiplying.
The Great Clam had been sleeping, and was woken by the sounds outside. She was somewhat curious — normally Qingxuan practically wished she would sleep for a full day and had never come to disturb her. She turned out of bed, opened the door, and came face to face with Ye Tian, who was watering flowers just outside.
At that moment her long hair was unbound, a dense fall of black hair hanging straight to her waist like a cloak. Her pair of moist eyes carried the haziness of someone not yet fully awake. Her lips were a vivid pink. Her tender, fair, and delicate face, refreshed from ample sleep, showed a blush like rouge. Beneath the snow-white feathered robe two exquisitely fine jade feet were visible, their five toes gleaming with a soft lustrous sheen.
Such an air of enchanting grace was enough to make even a sage’s face flush and heart quicken. But she did not even stand properly — she leaned against the wooden door, tilting her head slightly, and regarded Ye Tian with puzzled curiosity.
Ye Tian was herself always a woman of dignified and conservative manner, and had never encountered such an alluring presence. A rush of blood immediately surged straight to her head. She pointed furiously at He Bang, the question directed at Qingxuan: “Who is she, and why is she in Senior Brother’s room?”
Qingxuan felt a stomach full of bitterness: “She… she… Martial Aunt, as for her situation… please ask my Master himself tomorrow…”
The Clam was entirely oblivious. She swayed her supple waist as she walked over at an unhurried pace, the golden bells at her ankles chiming softly with each step: “Qingxuan, who is this woman Daoist?”
Qingxuan was still nervously managing the situation, but before he could speak, Ye Tian had already opened her mouth: “Blessings be upon you. I am the martial sister of Rong Chen Zi, the head of Qingxu Temple. Who are you? And why have you been sleeping in my Senior Brother’s room? In broad daylight, in full view of everyone — have you no shame?”
The Clam was displeased as well: “Whether I have shame or not is my own business. What does it have to do with you?”
Ye Tian had been cherished from childhood by Daoist Zixin, and Rong Chen Zi had always indulged her. Zhuang Shaoqin treated her like his own sister. She had sailed through life without a single obstacle — anything she needed only required Rong Chen Zi or Zhuang Shaoqin to step in, and there was nothing that would not be resolved. Wherever she went she heard only praise and admiration. She had never been contradicted so bluntly before.
And she had a deep-rooted dislike for the Clam’s air of enchanting seductiveness, so she flew into a rage at once: “What manner of demon creature is this, daring to bewitch my Senior Brother! Today I shall slay demons and rid the world of evil, doing heaven’s work!!”
Ye Tian drew her treasured sword from its scabbard. Qingxuan was nearly in tears — but how could he possibly restrain these two?
The Clam was also someone accustomed to receiving nothing but flattery. She could not swallow this affront: “How dare petty creatures of your ilk be insolent before this sovereign! Watch how I teach you a lesson!”
Both sides squared off and prepared for battle. Qingxuan’s tears began to flow — Master, you take your pleasures with a beautiful companion, but it is your disciple who suffers the consequences every single time. Is this what they call: for all labors, the disciple serves in the Master’s stead…?
Ye Tian’s Daoist arts might not be as domineering as Zhuang Shaoqin’s or as refined as Rong Chen Zi’s, but within Daozong she was still considered quite outstanding. She drew her sword and formed her seals — but on the other side Qingxuan rushed forward to block her with his own body, for he dared not forget his Master’s instruction. If the Sea Sovereign were to end up with some calamity because of Martial Aunt, the consequences would be unthinkable.
But while he blocked Ye Tian on one side, he failed to guard against the Great Clam on the other! The Great Clam was naturally mischievous, with a particular talent for exploiting openings — seeing Ye Tian blocked, she was overjoyed, and in an instant chanted her incantation and unleashed her technique.
Qingxuan had still been blocking his martial aunt, but when he turned back around he found himself blocking a block of ice — Ye Tian had been frozen solid!
Looking at Ye Tian’s eyes, which seemed about to breathe fire even through the ice, Qingxuan felt he would rather have died.