NOVEL NEXT Chapter 54: Home
"These are troubling news that you bring me." Sect Master Xia said as he held his hands behind him with his brows furrowed. "A whole army of devils invaded the Huang Realm without our knowledge. Impossible."
The other immortal elders also had solemn expressions on their faces as they heard Tianyi recall his side of the events from the Immortal Court, especially when he recounted the contents of Immortal Riverrat's inheritance. Immortal Riverrat had been immortal of the current Cultivator's Alliance, and his death could be considered recent, but there had been no significant sighting of devils.
Sect Master Xia released an amiable smile towards Tianyi. "Alright, Little Xi, although you did not manage to receive anything good from the Immortal Court, you were fortunate enough to acquire the Spring Autumn Scripture, even if incomplete."
Sect Master Xia gave Tianyi a look over. "It also seems Little Xi's condition has stabilized. This is great news. I'm sure Grand Elder Xi will be happy to know once she returns."
Tianyi bowed. "Many thanks, Sect Master."
"There is no need. I had originally intended the trip to the Immortal Court to be a boon for you, but it seems that it had become a disaster for Little Xi. Don't worry. The sect will compensate you for your troubles and bringing back the Spring Autumn Scripture." Sect Master Xia said. "As for the matter with Immortal Riverrat and his last request. The sect will take over. No need for a junior to concern yourself with the business of us old fogies. It would be best not to ponder on the murals you saw. You won't reach the point of needing to know until you are at least in the Immortal Realm."
"Sect Master about Elder Meng…" Tianyi started to say but trailed off, not knowing what to say.
Sect Master Xia didn't seem to be bothered in the least concerning Elder Meng's situation. "Elder Meng is unique among us. There are many things I cannot tell you at this moment, but rest assured, Elder Meng will return soon. Aside from that matter, are there any matters you wish to ask about?"
"Am I able to impart the Spring Autumn Scripture to my older cousin?" Tianyi asked. Daoyi didn't need the Spring Autumn Scripture as she had access to equally powerful manuals being the direct disciple of his mother. Even if they were a little worse off than the Spring Autumn Scripture, they were at the very least complete.
His older cousin was different. Xi Ri had only been given a chance to enter the Buzhou Immortal Sect. Aside from that, his mother provided nothing else. How could the manuals available to the outer disciples compare to the legendary Spring Autumn Scripture?
The Sect Master thought about it for a moment before replying. "You may do so, but your contributions will be deducted."
Tianyi smiled. "I am willing to accept that."
"If that is the case, go ahead and impart the Spring Autumn Scripture to Disciple Xi Ri." Upon seeing the confused expression on Tianyi's face, Sect Master Xia chuckled. "Disciple Xi Ri has already been promoted to an inner disciple, Elder Fanli of the Assignment Hall has taken him as his disciple."
Tianyi was enlightened. The Assignment Hall could be said to be the most powerful hall as they managed the appointments of positions.
"Then please excuse this disciple," Tianyi said as he retreated out of the hall.
"Junior Brother Xi, I heard you were back. Are you okay?" Xia Yushan, who had hurried over as soon as he received word that Tianyi returned, asked. He paused as he observed Tianyi.
No longer did Tianyi's complexion carry that sickly paleness, and he seemed to have aged a year or two since the last time the two of them met. But the most striking thing was the aura around Tianyi. There was a distance that seemed to exist, like seeing the moon but never touching it.
"I almost got killed, but other than that, I am completely fine," Tianyi said with a bright and cheery smile on his face.
"That's go–" Xia Yushan said, but he stopped as he processed the words Tianyi just said. "Junior Brother, you...ah… never mind."
"I heard that you were transported to a completely different place than me? What was it like?" Tianyi asked. The sect master had immediately summoned him after he left the Soul Lamp Hall, so he hadn't had the chance to talk to other people yet.
Along the way back to Jade Peak, Xia Yushan explained the trial and hardships he and the fellow disciples endured in the trial land, the duel against Duan Muli, how Yang Linyin had defeated San Mirong, or how the third trial collapsed and no one was able to receive the Heavenly Law Lotus Seed.
"There were four of us left, and I was about to defeat Duan Muli as well." Xia Yushan sighed in regret. "I was so close. If I could have gotten the Heavenly Law Lotus Seed, I would have become an immortal without a doubt!"
Xia Yushan shook his head. "It's a pity that something caused the trial land to crumble. If I find out who caused the collapse, I will tear his flesh off, piece by piece, and feed it to him! Junior Brother Xi, that person most likely caused you to be separated from us too. Don't worry. If I find out the truth, I will definitely take revenge for you."
The said culprit released a strained laugh. "Isn't the most important thing, is that we all came back safely?"
"You're right. Perhaps it was the Immortal Court simply being too old and not being able to support itself anymore, even though there was spirit directing it. What are the chances that some person caused the collapse? I simply wanted a person to vent on, that's all."
"Senior Brother Xia, you shouldn't dwell on such matters. If an inner devil formed because of this, then it won't be a laughing matter." Tianyi 'sincerely' advised.
"You're right. Thank you," Xia Yushan said.
"We are from the same sects. This amount of care is expected." Tianyi said.
When the two of them reached Jade Peak, more specifically Jade Peak Palace, the sound of music composed from numerous instruments flowed out. Tianyi stopped. Daoyi couldn't have all of them, right?
Xia Yushan placed a hand on Tianyi's shoulder. "It must be the Eighteen Flower Fairies. For the past few months, they have been giving Junior Sister Daoyi advice on her cultivation."
At Xia Yushan's word, he felt a tiny tinge of guilt, but he quickly buried it. He would just have to treat Daoyi better in the future. Perhaps when Mengfei had left, she had asked the 18 fairies to look after Daoyi.
The air inside the Jade Peak Palace was filled with joyfulness. Four fairy maidens were paying the pipa, flute, guzheng, and drum, respectively, while three beauties were dancing on stage. The person in the middle and front of the two wore a broad-sleeved blue robe. Her hair was untied and flowed with her movements. Without a doubt, she was the main attraction of this performance.
Her movements did not comply with the orthodox dancing styles. Orthodox dancing styles were flowing like a stream of water, each movement was wide, and each step was noticeable. Those movements still existed, but there were more unique slight movements only those near her could see. Rather than calling it dancing for a large audience, it would be a performance for those nearest to her.
'That kind of dancing would be perfect for a music video.' Tianyi thought. He looked to his side to see Xia Yushan completely dazzled. 'Did he get dazzled by the Eighteen Fairy Maidens?'
Tianyi chuckled at how the usually steady and unfazed eldest senior brother became seemingly love-struck at the sight of the scene before him. The music and performance immediately stopped once the fairies realized that there was an outsider who had entered.
The fairy playing the guzheng frowned and directed her ire towards the two men who dared enter their paradise. Just as she was about to reproach them for entering without permission, she paused as she observed Tianyi. It couldn't be called entering without permission as Tianyi was a resident of the Jade Peak Palace, but the fairy maiden still couldn't help but increase the intensity of her glare.
Tianyi felt the cold gaze of the fairy maidens, but after experiencing the abyss-like feeling from Monarch Soulfish's attack, a few glares were nothing.
The Eighteen Flower Fairies had another name, the Eighteen Love Scorned Fairies.
Speaking of their story, it was both tragic and contemptuous. When each of the fairy maidens had been young, they were tender young ladies who thought the world of love and gave everything for love only to be betrayed by that very love—the experience, instead of forming an inner devil that tempered their minds and hearts. After experiencing the fallacy of love, they cultivated to the Immortal Realm. The only downside was that they came to hate all men. They even avoided coming into contact with the male members of their family.
In fact, Tianyi had heard that they used to dwell at Jade Peak but moved away after he was born. How much hate did they have to not even be able to stand living on the same mountain as a male infant?
Xia Yushan felt as if his very bones had frozen at the ice-cold gazes from the six immortal fairies. There was no fluctuation of qi, yet his heart had gone cold and his mind frozen mid-thought.
"Greetings, Seniors," In contrast, Tianyi could calmly face the hostile gazes and properly greet these immortal seniors of his.
The leading fairy revealed a begrudging acknowledgment, but she didn't continue to look at Tianyi and instead turned towards Daoyi. She revealed a smile that was even more beautiful than a blossoming flower. "Daoyi, till next time."
All traces of the fairy had disappeared, the flowing flowers, the delicacies on the table, the wooden couches, etc. The only thing that remained were the instruments that each fairy had played.
"Senior Brother," Daoyi came forward and grabbed both of Tianyi's hands, her eyes revealing the relief within. "You're back. And you seem even better than before? And you're about as tall as me now? Master will be glad when she comes back."
Tianyi held still as Daoyi fussed over him. Despite him having a greater number of mental years in addition to the physical years he spent here, he felt like a small child as Daoyi fussed over him. He looked for anything that could distract her.
"Junior Sister, congratulations on advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm." Tianyi blinked as he processed what he had just said.
Daoyi smiled. "I have to thank Senior Brother Xia for guiding me and protecting me during the tribulation."
Tianyi looked at Xia Yushan, who had his hand out and looked slightly out of place. "Many thanks for Senior Brother's aid."
Xia Yushan waved the thanks off. "It's nothing. I am simply doing my duties as the eldest senior brother."
The three of them sat at a table together and started small talk.
"I'm afraid that with my return, those Seniors won't be able to visit you anymore," Tianyi said.
Daoyi blinked before a teasing smile appeared. "Is Senior Brother disappointed that the pretty big sisters won't appear anymore? That's right, after all. Senior Brother is at that age."
Tianyi stared at his junior sister uncomprehendingly for a moment. 'How did the conversation veer into this territory?'
"No, of course not," Tianyi said. "If words of this conversation even reach them, I'm afraid my days would be quite miserable before my mother returns."
Daoyi paused for a moment. "Alright, then Senior Brother has to tell what type of girl you like. Otherwise, next time I see the big sisters, I'll definitely tell them."
Tianyi gave a helpless smile. He held his chin as he thought about it, and a flash of blond lock flashed in his mind, but he could not say those words. "Definitely long hair."
Xia Yushan. "Of course they're going to have long hair. Unless you are considering a nun, if you are, I'm afraid you are going to have tough times ahead of you."
Tianyi never felt Xia Yushan was as annoying as he was now. "What about you, Senior Brother? Surely you must have a high standard for the girl in your heart. You have so many admirers after all."
Xia Yushan paused before smiling. "The woman I seek is beautiful, of course. But more than that, she has a demure presence. Just being next to her calms my heart. Although I haven't heard her sing, I know her voice is beautiful."
Tianyi blinked. He never expected Xia Yushan to have somebody he liked. Like Daoyi, he also gained a mischievous. "So who is this lucky girl, eh Senior Brother?"
Daoyi also looked interested. Who could've attracted the attention of this kind and gentle senior brother? He fulfilled almost all the requirements for a dao companion for all the girls in the realm.
Xia Yushan was handsome, maybe not the most handsome but far above average. He had the talent and the ethics to work hard. Before even reaching fifty, he had already reached the Nascent Soul Realm. His future could be said to be limitless. He had both status and position.
"It's still too early to tell." Tianyi and Daoyi wanted to pry more, but upon seeing the iron-clad defense of Xia Yushan, they could only give up.
Afterward, Xia Yushan left. As the eldest senior brother, it was destined that he would not have too much free time with his duties.
Tianyi also excused himself, feeling rather tired. From the time Monarch Soulfish had assaulted him, he hadn't even slept a wink. All this while, Tianyi had been running on the adrenaline of reaching the Buzhou Immortal Sect.
Now that he was finally back in his room, despite the months spent away, he felt a sense of safety that could never be replicated. A sense of homesickness that he had not experienced all those months instantly assaulted him.
"I'm home."
