Chapter 20: The Murderous Sword, Part 9

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The outcome was well within the Sect Master’s expectations. After hearing the scene as relayed by his senior disciple, he let out a long sigh.

“Junior Brother…”

With younger disciples present, the Sect Master did not voice his concerns aloud. Yet from his expression, his senior disciple could tell that Fuheng’s sudden madness seemed almost familiar to him.

Why?

Was the Dao Venerable not always gentle and courteous before the public?

“Perhaps it would be best if I went there myself.”

After much deliberation, the Sect Master decided to intervene personally.

He and Fuheng had entered the sect at the same time. During a grand competition, both had been selected for the inner sect by the Sect Master of that era and taken as disciples. The current Sect Master later distinguished himself amid countless rivals and became the former Sect Master’s senior disciple, while Fuheng devoted himself to cultivation and advanced with astonishing speed.

When the former Sect Master stepped down, he became the new leader of Jiuchen Sect. Fuheng, meanwhile, possessed peerless cultivation and was revered throughout the Fuyuan Realm as a Dao Venerable.

It could be said that the Sect Master knew Fuheng fairly well. He understood the personality his junior brother kept hidden: unrestrained and arrogant, regarding all things as beneath notice—cold-hearted, even, and utterly selfish.

It was only that he had worn the mask of one who cared for all living beings for so long, and after taking in a disciple he cherished as dearly as a treasure, his conduct had gradually become more restrained. That did not mean Fuheng’s nature had changed.

The Sect Master had thought that this subtle, fragile yet remarkably stable balance could be maintained until Fuheng ascended.

He had been wrong.

When Fuheng and Leng Fangxi had first quarreled over their master-disciple relationship, he should already have foreseen the scene unfolding today.

With a master as obsessive as Fuheng, even the most docile disciple would one day develop a rebellious streak. The Sect Master only hoped that Fuheng and Leng Fangxi had not reached a point from which there was no return.

When the head of a sect came in person, even someone of Fuheng’s transcendent status could hardly refuse him openly. The Sect Master was received at the grand hall of the Flying Palace by a cold-faced child. There, he saw only Fuheng; the astonishingly gifted disciple was nowhere to be found.

Come to think of it, it had indeed been nearly half a year since Leng Fangxi had shown himself.

“Why has the Sect Master suddenly come to Sword Peak? Is there some important matter to discuss?” Fuheng asked blandly.

He and the Sect Master had never been close. In name they were brothers of the same sect, but in truth their relationship was even more distant than that between ordinary fellow disciples. They spoke only when matters concerning the Fuyuan Realm or Jiuchen Sect required it.

Fuheng knew why the Sect Master had come, but had no intention of revealing that he knew.

Unexpectedly, the Sect Master did not mention Leng Fangxi or the secret realm. Instead, he brought up the Gathering Above the Clouds, held not long before.

“At the time, several fellow Daoists and I were observing the fiends of the Fuyuan Realm. We discovered that they showed no sign of weakening; on the contrary, their menace was growing by the day. The attacks on Wind-Snow Pass have also become increasingly frequent. I fear that before long, those fiends will develop into a mighty calamity capable of ravaging the entire realm.”

The Fuyuan Realm sustained countless cultivators with the strength of the whole world and was the foundation upon which they pursued the Dao. Even those who ascended to the magnificent greater realms could not easily abandon it. When their mother realm was endangered, the cultivators naturally had to resolve the crisis themselves.

“The best course would of course be to suppress the calamity before it is born. Unfortunately, after all these years, we have yet to find a satisfactory method.”

The Sect Master continued, “I have come not only to discuss this with you, but also to see your disciple, Nephew Leng. He has slain demons and exorcised fiends several times, and possesses extraordinary attainments in dealing with them. As one of the foremost figures among the younger generation, his assistance may be indispensable in this campaign.”

He had thought that if he mentioned Leng Fangxi directly, Fuheng’s temperament would lead him to refuse outright. By approaching the matter more tactfully, perhaps there would still be room for negotiation.

Instead, Fuheng rejected him without hesitation.

“Fangxi is in closed-door cultivation, consolidating his foundation. He is at a critical juncture, so do not disturb him with such mundane affairs, Senior Brother. As for the extermination of the fiends, does the Wushang Sect not still have Liu Jinge? He is hailed alongside my disciple as one of the twin paragons of sword cultivation. Surely he is no less capable in this matter.”

At the mention of Liu Jinge, a trace of coldness flashed across Fuheng’s usually mild face. It lent a little of the vitality of a living man to that faintly false countenance made artificial by its ever-present smile.

It seemed there would be no persuading him after all.

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The Sect Master slowly closed his eyes, gathered his spiritual energy, and focused his mind. When he opened them again, they held a sharper, more searching light.

“Junior Brother, you owe us an explanation regarding the Azure Mountain Secret Realm.”

“An explanation?” Fuheng raised a brow. “There are thousands of secret realms in the Fuyuan Realm, and every one of them is subject to countless changes. Is it truly strange that the Azure Mountain Secret Realm ended ahead of schedule? Besides, no one was harmed. If those disciples feel they did not explore enough, I can simply compensate them. What explanation could possibly be required?”

He sounded somewhat weary as he continued lazily, “If some fool insists on pestering you, Senior Brother, send him directly to me. Golden Core cultivators…” He gave a soft laugh. “The cultivation world has always operated by the law of the strong devouring the weak. If you people had not been idle enough to promote this so-called ‘propriety,’ such useless trash would not even be qualified to question anyone.”

As he spoke, his upright posture shifted. He reclined obliquely against the spirit couch, propping up his chin with one hand. A touch of wild, sinister abandon emerged, revealing his true nature without disguise—the very same junior brother preserved in the Sect Master’s memories.

“Junior Brother, you…”

“Enough.” Fuheng pointed across the air, silencing him. His pale, thin lips curved faintly. “Sword Peak has been rather busy lately. First, my beloved disciple is in seclusion, attempting to break through to the fourth level of the Spirit Transformation Realm. And secondly… I have joyous news to share with you, Senior Brother.”

He cast a sidelong glance at the black-robed cultivator. It was as though he had finally released the resentment he had harbored in his heart for centuries. He spoke with unrestrained delight.

“Fangxi and I are preparing to become life-and-death Dao companions. We are busy making arrangements for the Union Ceremony and have no time to concern ourselves with anything else.”

The inner demon crouching to one side burst into laughter when it saw the Sect Master staring in utter astonishment.

“The Union Ceremony? You and Fangxi?” The Sect Master nearly thought he had misheard. Yet with his current cultivation, there was no possibility of auditory illusion. When he looked again, Fuheng appeared perfectly composed, though amusement gleamed in his eyes. The Sect Master was shaken to the core. “Fangxi is your disciple!”

Recalling all that had passed between Fuheng and Leng Fangxi, he realized there had indeed been signs long ago. When Leng Fangxi had left the sect in anger a century earlier, this must have been one of the reasons.

“Fuheng, you… Have you lost your mind?”

The Sect Master had experienced much of the world. In the course of his cultivation, what absurdity had he not witnessed? Long ago, he had learned to remain unshaken by anything. Even so, Fuheng’s astonishing declaration finally broke through that composure.

Fuheng merely said calmly, “Such things are common enough in the Fuyuan Realm, and many have become celebrated romances. As for Jiuchen, was it not sixty-seven years ago that Gongsun Ya of Yingge Peak and her first disciple, Peng Wanhong, eventually became Dao companions? Why are you so surprised, Senior Brother?”

Even the mild-tempered Sect Master could not help silently cursing Fuheng for his shamelessness.

How could he say such a thing without embarrassment?

The cultivation world was organized around sects and placed immense importance on the transmission between master and disciple. A relationship between master and disciple already violated human morality. Those other pairs had only revealed their feelings after reaching the Nascent Soul or Spirit Transformation realms, leaving others too intimidated to criticize them openly. Gongsun Ya and Peng Wanhong had also become Dao companions only in private; they had never publicized it, much less held a Union Ceremony.

Most importantly, those master-disciple pairs had genuinely loved one another, their hearts in perfect accord. Only then had they been able to break through the judgment of the mundane world and follow their true desires.

But what of Fuheng and Leng Fangxi?

Judging from Leng Fangxi’s defiance toward Fuheng in recent years alone, it was obvious that the disciple could hardly be willing. With Fuheng’s overwhelming cultivation, who knew what methods he might have used to force him in private?

“…That may be so. But this is no trivial matter. Have your disciple come out and tell me what he thinks.”

The Sect Master suppressed his impulse to argue. He intended to calm Fuheng first and prevent him from doing anything rash.

Fuheng smiled.

He saw straight through the Sect Master’s thoughts and found this upright senior brother of his unbearably dull. He was in no hurry, nor did he fear that Leng Fangxi might use this opportunity to escape. Just as Leng Fangxi understood him, he understood the child he had raised with his own hands.

As expected, when Leng Fangxi appeared, his face was calm and free of worry. Spiritual energy flowed abundantly and harmoniously around him. It was clear that after enduring the heavenly lightning tribulation, his cultivation had not only stabilized completely but had advanced another step.

Seeing that he was in good condition and showed no sign of despair, the Sect Master felt slightly relieved.

No matter what, Fuheng and Leng Fangxi had not yet reached the end of the road.

“Congratulations, Nephew Leng.” The Sect Master first congratulated him on successfully entering the Spirit Transformation Realm, then gently asked whether he had encountered any difficulties in his cultivation. The two ignored Fuheng as they spoke, creating an atmosphere almost like that between a benevolent teacher and a trusted friend.

Fuheng grew impatient waiting, but with Leng Fangxi present, he did not give vent to it. Only later did the Sect Master finally state the reason for his visit.

“I hear that you and your master intend to hold a Union Ceremony. Have you chosen an auspicious date?”

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Leng Fangxi replied calmly, “Everything is up to my master.”

“...I see.”

The Sect Master was taken aback. He had long anticipated that Leng Fangxi, whether willing or unwilling, would not openly reveal any opposition. He had thought, however, that some trace of reluctance might show in his words. He had not expected him to appear entirely free of resistance.

Could it be that the nephew and his junior brother truly loved one another?

Then the conflicts between master and disciple in the past… Could they have merely been matters between the two of them?

It was rare for him to face a situation like this. The Sect Master was somewhat perplexed, and Fuheng and Leng Fangxi’s frank composure only made him feel increasingly awkward.

Seeing that he had fallen silent, Fuheng looked smug.

“Since this concerns my junior brother’s private affairs, there is no need for you to meddle, is there?”

The Sect Master’s cheeks flushed crimson. After a long silence, he forced himself to say, “I have overstepped. Junior Brother, you—you and your disciple should discuss the matter carefully. I shall take my leave.”

Leng Fangxi watched him depart.

Though he yearned desperately to escape Fuheng’s restraints, he had not lost his reason. Fuheng’s cultivation was beyond measure. Even if he sought the Sect Master’s help, it would be useless—and might even provoke Fuheng into attacking the sect, implicating countless innocents.

Thus, although he understood that this might be his only chance to escape, Leng Fangxi nevertheless suppressed the turmoil in his heart and accompanied Fuheng in putting on this charade.

He could only hope that the matter would remain between the two of them.

Meanwhile, the Sect Master, having rarely lost his composure so completely, fled in disarray. Only after escaping to the front of the Chimei Immortal Palace did his reason gradually return.

His first thought was that his disciple-nephew had indeed been forced.

There was no other explanation. If Leng Fangxi had truly been sincere toward Fuheng, he would have informed the sect long ago and arranged the Union Ceremony. That disciple had always disdained secrecy and concealment, acting according to his heart. Yet when the ceremony was mentioned just now, there had been not the slightest trace of joy, nor did he seem to care about the ceremony at all. It was obvious that he was not acting out of genuine desire.

Moreover, the Sect Master had only recently heard that Leng Fangxi seemed intent on becoming Dao companions with Liu Jinge. In such a short span of time, there was no way he would suddenly become involved with Fuheng as well.

He had simply lost his reason in the shock of the moment.

Still, even if he had seen through the ruse then, he likely would not have been able to take Leng Fangxi away.

Now, even the fiendish calamity still in the making seemed insignificant. The Sect Master’s heart was filled with worry, and he privately told his senior disciple what had happened.

“Dao companions?!” His senior disciple was incredulous, and his first reaction was likewise that Fuheng had coerced him. Recalling the subtle strangeness in Leng Fangxi’s attitude whenever Fuheng, the Dao Venerable, was mentioned, the senior disciple was even more certain than the Sect Master. He asked, “How are we to handle this?”

“Are we truly going to inform the entire sect and hold the ceremony as the Dao Venerable instructed?”

Fuheng…

The senior disciple drew a deep breath and slowly exhaled. His gaze darkened.

The Sect Master pondered for a long while before finally saying, “Set this matter aside for now. Only you and I are to know of it. It must not be disclosed to anyone else.”

“This disciple obeys.”

“As for how it should be handled…” The Sect Master did not continue aloud.

His junior brother had taken the wrong path. He had to bring him back, or else a bloody storm would engulf the entire Fuyuan Realm, and no one would be able to remain uninvolved.