Chapter 13

Chapter 13

"Everyone, Valley Master Zhuang is hosting a banquet at Yunhua Terrace tonight to welcome you all."

Ying Nianling nodded. "Alright, we'll be there on time."

Zhu Jinchen bowed and turned to inform the other sects.

Qi Wuyu asked, "What did Valley Master Zhuang say about the demon situation?"

Ying Nianling replied, "He's already sent people to look into it."

Qi Wuyu relaxed and stretched. "Then let them handle it."

As evening approached, Qi Wuyu and the others headed to Yunhua Terrace. The terrace was enormous, resembling a giant lotus flower, and even with everyone from all the sects gathered, it didn't feel crowded.

As soon as Qi Wuyu's group arrived, they saw Yao Shuning hanging out with the girls from Tianmen Wucheng.

Ying Nianling exchanged a few pleasantries with the Second City Lord. "City Lord Feng, long time no see. How have you been lately?"

Feng Cong clasped his fists. "Taoist Priest Ying, you've arrived." He looked at Qi Wuyu. "This gentleman looks unfamiliar."

Ying Nianling introduced him. "Oh, this is another elder from our sect, Qi Wuyu."

Qi Wuyu smiled and greeted him.

Feng Cong let out an understanding "oh." "I've heard so much about you. Seeing you today, your bearing is truly extraordinary."

Qi Wuyu looked at him with a smile, thinking this person was really good at telling bald-faced lies with his eyes wide open.

Ying Nianling made small talk for a bit longer before calling Yao Shuning back.

Yao Shuning saw them and ran over. "Elders, you're here."

She followed them to their seats. Liu Nanzhou looked up and saw the one who'd been bad-mouthing Qi Wuyu the day before sitting opposite them.

Zheng Linghao obviously saw them too, shooting Liu Nanzhou several dirty looks.

Sitting in front of Zheng Linghao was a woman. She was extremely beautiful, radiant and captivating. Her upturned eye corners, which should have been alluring, instead carried a sense of cool detachment.

She was the sect leader of Chaowutian—Si Muyun.

As soon as Si Muyun sat down, many people came to greet her. Her face was about to stiffen from smiling when she finally sent off a group and took a sip of tea.

Qi Wuyu looked at her, a smile curling his lips. He raised his water cup. "Muyun, long time no see."

Si Muyun sighed silently, took Zheng Linghao by the scruff of his neck, and walked over to Qi Wuyu.

"Taoist Priest Qi, Taoist Priest Ying."

Ying Nianling stood up. "Sect Leader Si."

Si Muyun looked at Qi Wuyu. "My wayward disciple spoke out of turn yesterday. Please don't take it to heart." She patted Zheng Linghao's back. "Apologize."

Zheng Linghao was seething but still bowed respectfully. "I'm sorry, Senior Qi. Yesterday, I spoke without thinking."

Qi Wuyu waved his hand dismissively. "It's fine." He introduced her to the disciples behind him. "This is Sect Leader Si of Chaowutian, a truly remarkable young woman."

Zhao Yi and the others stood up and bowed to her. "Greetings, Sect Leader Si."

Qi Wuyu smiled, pulled Liu Nanzhou over, placed a hand on his shoulder, and patted it, showing off to Si Muyun. "Look, my little disciple."

Si Muyun looked Liu Nanzhou up and down in disbelief. The child's appearance was quite handsome, with light-colored pupils that gave him a somewhat cold look. He and Qi Wuyu were nothing alike.

"You actually took a disciple?"

Qi Wuyu chuckled. Just as he was about to speak, a kindly middle-aged man walked up to the main seat, and the buzz of conversation died down.

"Everyone." Zhuang Yanming's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to everyone present. "Welcome to Jinquegu. Now that all sects have arrived, I, Zhuang, welcome you all. Please feel at home here. If there is any lack of hospitality, please speak up directly. Tomorrow is the six-yearly Qingmang Conference. I'll be blunt upfront: I hope everyone competes in friendship and no one is to kill anyone. If anyone maliciously harms others, you'll have me to answer to. To ensure everyone enjoys themselves, I've also added some special rewards, which will be revealed to everyone tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, people below the stage began whispering. Someone asked, "Valley Master Zhuang really knows how to keep us in suspense. What kind of prizes?"

Zhuang Yanming smiled. "You'll find out tomorrow. Today, enjoy the food and drink, rest early, and be ready for the competition tomorrow."

He raised his wine cup. "The wine before you is a fine vintage I've treasured for many years. Though the wine is good, don't overdo it and miss tomorrow's important matters. Please, enjoy."

Hearing this, Qi Wuyu took a sip. As he lifted the cup, he smelled its fragrant aroma. The clear wine went down his throat, leaving a long, lingering aftertaste.

"It truly is excellent wine."

The banquet began. Zhuang Yanming came down to mingle with the various sects. Qi Wuyu asked, "Valley Master Zhuang, can I take a jug of this wine with me when I leave?"

Zhuang Yanming laughed heartily. "I knew you'd like it. I've already set some aside for you. If it's inconvenient for you to carry, I'll have someone send it to Rifu Mountain later."

"That's great."

Liu Nanzhou watched Qi Wuyu chatting familiarly with many people, feeling a little confused.

For so many years, apart from when it was Qi Wuyu's turn to sell vegetables or complete sect assignments, he never came down the mountain. Qi Wuyu always said *he* was cooped up in the mountains, but wasn't Qi Wuyu just as cooped up?

Liu Nanzhou had naturally assumed Qi Wuyu wasn't acquainted with the various sects, since apart from gossip, he had never heard Qi Wuyu mention them.

But now it seemed he not only knew people from various sects, but was on very good terms with some.

Liu Nanzhou realized he knew nothing about Qi Wuyu's past. Perhaps... he also knew nothing about Qi Wuyu's present.

Thinking of this, Liu Nanzhou suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. He looked at the cup before him, took a sip of wine. The wine burned its way down his throat, only adding to his misery. It was as if a fire was burning in his chest, with no outlet, so it could only scorch him, making his skin crawl with frustration.

Out of the corner of his eye, Qi Wuyu saw him drinking and walked over to check on him. Liu Nanzhou's face was slightly flushed. Qi Wuyu looked at the empty cup on the table and asked, "Why are you drinking wine?"

Liu Nanzhou was clearly already a bit muddled. "Shizun?"

After saying this, he pitched forward, out cold.

Qi Wuyu helplessly caught him. "What are you drinking wine for?"

After all these years, Liu Nanzhou's alcohol tolerance still hadn't improved in the slightest.

Qi Wuyu said a word to Ying Nianling and then took Liu Nanzhou back to their courtyard.

The surrounding clamor gradually faded away. Qi Wuyu felt a sense of relief. It had been a long time since he'd been in such a setting, and it was indeed a bit tiring, though he was happy to see old acquaintances again.

He carried Liu Nanzhou on his back, walking at a steady pace. Fortunately, although Liu Nanzhou couldn't hold his liquor, he had good drinking manners, remaining quiet and not causing a fuss.

Qi Wuyu laid him on the bed, tucked him in, and quietly watched Liu Nanzhou. He looked gentler when asleep than when awake.

Liu Nanzhou had been good-looking as a child. As he grew up, Qi Wuyu often worried he might lose his looks. Fortunately, Liu Nanzhou was very determined. His features matured without losing their appeal; instead, he shed his childishness, becoming strikingly handsome, though he usually looked a bit cold.

He watched for a while before going out. He sat on the reclining chair in the courtyard, looking at the moon. Not long after, Ying Nianling returned with the others.

Qi Wuyu gave them a few words of advice and then sent them off to get some rest.

Ying Nianling sat down beside him. "What's on your mind?"

Qi Wuyu said lazily, "Just thinking about the old days."

Ying Nianling chuckled and stood up. "Well, you take your time reminiscing. I'm going back to sleep."

With that, he left Qi Wuyu alone in the courtyard.

Zhuang Yanming and Si Muyun were indeed old acquaintances of Qi Wuyu, but it had been a long time since they last met. Back then, Zhuang Yanming was already the top senior disciple of Golden Que Valley, so Qi Wuyu wasn't surprised the sect leader passed the position to him.

As for Si Muyun, she wasn't as aloof and unapproachable as she seems now. She used to be a vibrant young girl.

A hundred years ago, during the great war against the demon clan, nearly half of Chaowu Tian's disciples were lost in the battle. It was Si Muyun who gathered the survivors and led them back. Over the years, she rebuilt Chaowu Tian into what it is today. That young girl must have gone through a lot.

Qi Wuyu sighed softly and stood up. "'Year after year, autumn grass grows on the paths; day after day, the setting sun reaches the tower.'①"

He went to check if Liu Nanzhou was sleeping soundly, then returned to his own room to sleep.

Morning birdsong brought the first light of dawn. Everyone in the rooms began to wake up. After freshening up, Qi Wuyu went to see Liu Nanzhou. "How are you feeling? Any headache?"

Liu Nanzhou shook his head.

Qi Wuyu gave his head a pat. "Good. Let's go."

After they finished eating, the group headed to the training grounds.

Qi Wuyu instructed, "We're not aiming for first place. Just stay safe and don't get too fixated on winning."

Liu Nanzhou and the others nodded to show they understood.

Zhuang Yanming stood on the high platform and announced, "The Qingmang Conference officially begins. Today is the elimination round. Only those who remain will qualify for tomorrow's finals. You will compete in pairs. Once you've drawn your lots, you can wait for your match."

He clapped his hands, and a disciple behind him stepped forward holding a box. "This is the reward I mentioned."

The crowd below immediately began to buzz with excitement.

Fang Xun said, "Wow, what a beautiful gem."

Zhao Yi nodded in agreement. Chu Minghe asked, "What is it?"

Qi Wuyu replied, "It's a Fortune Spirit Amber."

Zhuang Yanming raised a hand to quiet everyone. "This is a Fortune Spirit Amber I obtained by chance. Fortune Spirit Amber is extremely rare in the world, a creation of heaven and earth, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon. It can not only boost one's cultivation but also stabilize the Spiritual Core. It can store spiritual energy just like a Spiritual Core."

Originally, Liu Nanzhou had no interest in the object, but upon hearing this, he looked up and took a second look at it.

Was this gem really that powerful? If so, couldn't it be used as a makeshift Spiritual Core for Qi Wuyu?

Liu Nanzhou stared at the gem, thinking that no matter what, he had to try for it.

"Whoever wins tomorrow takes it," Zhuang Yanming declared.

With such a reward on the line, the contestants were even more pumped up and eager.

"Only Golden Que Valley would offer such a treasure as a reward."

"What do you know? What you consider a priceless treasure, they probably have by the handful."

"Exactly. What kind of treasures does Golden Que Valley's Treasure Hall not have? A single Fortune Spirit Amber is nothing to them."

"This Fortune Spirit Amber is mine."

"Big talk. We'll see about that. It's definitely going to be mine."

As the drum sounded, the competition was about to begin.

"Remember my words: no maliciously taking lives," Zhuang Yanming said before taking his seat, waiting for the first match to start.

"First match: Sun Qi of Changling Sect versus Zhao Linze of Fengmiao Pavilion."

The gong struck. The two stepped into the center of the arena, bowed to each other, and the match began. Qi Wuyu sat on the second-floor platform, grabbed a handful of melon seeds, and watched with great interest. The sect leaders and elders of the various mystical sects gathered together, chatting animatedly.

Qi Wuyu listened nearby, occasionally chiming in with an "Mm, not bad."

Qi Wuyu looked in the direction where Liu Nanzhou was standing. Liu Nanzhou happened to look up and saw Qi Wuyu giving him a silent smile.

Liu Nanzhou tightened his grip on his sword.

Author's Note:

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I'm here! [Throws flowers] Thank you for your support~ Mwah! ^3^

① "Year after year, autumn grass grows on the paths; day after day, the setting sun reaches the tower." — from "Partridge in the Sky: Drunk, Patting Spring Robe, Cherishing Old Fragrance"

Forgot to annotate this earlier, sorry (bows).