Ever since he learned that Mu Daoying was also coming along, Zhao Yange had been fidgety like ants on a hot griddle day after day.
Zhao Yange simply could not imagine what kind of torment Ning Xia, such a lofty and pure sort, had to endure by serving as a guest at the Immaculate Old Mother’s seat.
Qu Yating turned back to the temple to report, and now Jade Clarity Temple was under his lead. No matter how anxious he felt inside, he had no choice but to hold it down to steady the morale of the other fellow disciples.
On the day of assembly, the weather was clear and bright.
A majestic flying palace hovered quietly amid the sea of clouds and mist.
This flying palace measured nearly a hundred zhang in length and width, with four stories stacked high, guarded by coiling dragons and chi dragons. Under the first light of dawn, gold and jade gleamed together, treasures shining in harmony.
At that moment, three men and one woman sat squarely in the center of the main hall.
These four were none other than Elder Lai Yongle of Wandering Sword Pavilion and Song Miaoling, head of the Cloud Mountain Song Clan’s branch family.
Zhao Yange of Jade Clarity Temple, and Senior Brother Di Chong, the leading figure from Supreme Harmony Sect.
As the appointed assembly time passed halfway, Liu Qiao’e and the Joyous Union Sect people still showed no sign of arriving.
The disciples from the four sects below began to grow restless one after another.
“This Immaculate Old Mother sure has some nerve. She claims to admire the righteous path, yet makes our elders wait on her alone?”
If any group’s resentment ran the deepest among the four sects’ disciples, it was naturally those from Jade Clarity Temple who shared a deep bond with Mu Daoying.
As the Sword Pavilion Chief Seat of Jade Clarity Temple, Mu Daoying commanded deep awe within the sect, but his temperament was gentle, rewards and punishments clear-cut, and he always cared for his junior brothers and sisters like an elder brother, mother, and father.
Thus, the junior brothers and sisters held him in the highest regard. They all believed he must have his reasons in the Ling Yuan treasure theft case.
“Senior Brother.” A junior sister from Jade Clarity Temple could not help tugging at Zhao Yange’s sleeve quietly. “Will Senior Brother Mu really make it here? That Immaculate Old Mother makes all of us wait on her—what a show! I’m really worried she’s bullying Senior Brother Mu.”
This junior sister was named Zhang Suxin. Mu Daoying had looked after her for a time in her childhood, and she saw him as a brother, admiring him greatly.
Zhao Yange was the youngest and, worried about Mu Daoying, could not help frowning.
Amid the chorus of complaints, Song Miaoling remained calm and even-tempered. “The Old Mother might have run into some other matter that delayed her. Let’s wait a bit more.”
Lai Yongle had a smiling Maitreya-like face and a broad, easygoing personality. “Yes, yes, let’s wait. No use rushing now.”
And so, everyone waited until the sun hung high in the sky before Liu Qiao’e finally arrived.
By then, the disciples from the four great sects had all accumulated a bellyful of anger.
But when Liu Qiao’e entered the hall, she did not even offer an apology, merely nodding indifferently. “There were some internal affairs at the palace that needed handling. My apologies for making fellow Daoists wait so long.”
At this, everyone’s expressions turned sour.
Still, Lai Yongle stepped forward with a hearty laugh to smooth things over. “Good that you’re here, good that you’re here. It’s getting late—shall we set off now?”
This was the first joint operation for the five sects’ disciples, and no one wanted unpleasantness on the very first day, so they swallowed their ire.
From the moment Liu Qiao’e appeared, Zhao Yange’s gaze had fixed on Mu Daoying.
He trailed a few steps behind Liu Qiao’e, silent and composed.
His dark indigo Daoist robes were like the sky after rain, accentuating his fair skin all the more, with calm brows and eyes that carried a hint of gentle solitude.
Seeing him appear, the Jade Clarity Temple juniors grew excited.
“Senior Brother Mu!”
“Senior Brother!”
Mu Daoying halted his steps and turned sideways to face them.
How could he not know the deep affection from his fellow disciples? But now, as a criminal under suspicion and a slave at the Old Mother’s skirts, keeping distance was the best choice for everyone.
Thus, he merely nodded silently before hurrying after Liu Qiao’e once more.
Sorrow filled everyone’s hearts. They knew full well that times had changed and things were no longer as they were, yet years of fellowship could not be faked.
Zhao Yange let out a heavy sigh. “The days ahead are long… Sharing this flying boat, there will be chances to meet.”
“Senior Brother Zhao.” Zhang Suxin realized she had not seen Shen Chengyin since boarding and could not help asking, “You’re close with Senior Sister Shen. Is she not joining this mission?”
Zhao Yange hesitated. “She has another sect task, but since Ning Xia has been located, there’s no way she won’t come…”
Zhang Suxin was young and spoke without filter. “I thought Senior Brother Mu and Senior Sister Shen would end up together. Who knew it would turn out like this…”
Zhao Yange started in alarm and scolded, “How are you spouting nonsense too? Things between Ning Xia and A-Yin are perfectly clear. Where did you hear such rumors?”
Zhang Suxin pouted. “Better with Senior Sister Shen than with that Immaculate Old Mother!”
Shen Chengyin had often visited Jade Clarity Temple before, so the disciples all knew her and addressed her directly as “Senior Sister” rather than the more distant and polite “Fairy.”
Young and innocent, Zhang Suxin figured that with Senior Brother Mu and Senior Sister Shen both so radiant and beautiful, like porcelain dolls, they ought to make a perfect pair.
She hoped Zhao Yange and Shen Chengyin, these two senior brother and sister figures, would stand up for Mu Daoying.
Though Zhao Yange had scolded Zhang Suxin in public, back in his room, he could not help pondering Shen Chengyin’s whereabouts.
He believed she would surely rush over, though he wondered how many days the journey would take.
The flying boat traveled steadily for three days.
Though everyone harbored many dissatisfactions toward Liu Qiao’e, no one could deny their curiosity about this mysterious Immaculate Old Mother.
From the moment Liu Qiao’e boarded the flying boat, she rarely appeared in public, only occasionally inviting a few elders to her room for discussions. Otherwise, she remained as elusive as a dragon’s head unseen.
Her batch of Joyous Union Sect disciples, on the other hand, dressed in splendid finery without restraint, laughing and frolicking openly everywhere. They changed clothes daily, skipped the communal dining hall to have special meals prepared aboard, living extravagantly and wastefully. Some were even caught sneaking into and out of Liu Qiao’e’s bedroom in the dead of night—several handsome male disciples at that.
“Pah, shameless!” The Jade Clarity Temple disciples spat in private countless times.
That day, two Joyous Union Sect disciples flirted and giggled loudly nearby, disturbing a Wandering Sword Pavilion disciple who was trying to meditate. Tensions boiled over once more, erupting into a clash between the two groups’ disciples.
The other three sects’ disciples failed to intervene in time.
In the heat of the argument, one Joyous Union Sect disciple caught another off guard and shoved a Wandering Sword Pavilion disciple right off the flying boat!
Below the flying boat rolled turbulent clouds. For ordinary second realm cultivators who had yet to master light-escape flight, falling meant certain death by shattering to pieces.
“Junior Brother He!”
Zhao Yange cried out in shock and leaped after him.
Thanks to Shen Chengyin, he had always been on good terms with Wandering Sword Pavilion disciples and naturally recognized this unlucky fellow.
But just then, a gale assaulted them, dark clouds blotting out the sky, plunging heaven and earth into gloom.
Amid the roiling black clouds came several shrill screeches, followed by several massive bird-like phantoms streaking out!
These strange birds were hairless all over, with wingspans like clouds, each sporting an enormous sharp beak and covered in bulging fleshy tumors.
Their movements were lightning-fast; they clawed and pecked at sight of humans. In an instant, the flying palace’s deck square descended into chaos.
Zhao Yange found himself in dire straits.
His cultivation placed him at the top among his peers, and he had long mastered light-escape flight. He dove forward, grabbed the arm of the He-surnamed disciple, slung him onto his back, and tapped his foot lightly to steady his balance.
He meant to return to the flying palace, but when he looked up, all was pitch black around them. They had been swallowed by the dark clouds, which walled off their path like solid barriers.
Several strange birds circled nearby on fleshy wings, eyeing them predatorily.
Out of nowhere, how had these strange birds appeared?
Zhao Yange’s heart sank as he locked eyes with one of them!
The strange bird’s gaze flashed. It let out a great cry, flapped its wings, and lunged with a pair of gleaming, hook-like talons straight for his head!
Zhao Yange had no time to think and hurriedly released his flying sword! The sword clashed with the great bird in midair, tangling fiercely. But two more strange birds shot in from behind!
While keeping an eye on He Taiqing’s condition, Zhao Yange had to constantly direct his flying sword to fend off the strange birds, stretched thin on both sides. Sweat soon beaded on his forehead.
These great birds moved with extreme speed, their claws and beaks razor-sharp. Zhao Yange was no sword cultivator; he excelled in talismans and herbal arts. Assisting from the side was one thing, but facing these strange birds head-on proved difficult.
In one misstep, a great bird’s talon raked his arm, tearing out a chunk of flesh. In pain, Zhao Yange lost control of his flying sword momentarily, and the other strange birds swarmed in for the kill.
At this critical juncture, Zhao Yange faintly heard the crowd’s joyful cries piercing through the black clouds.
“Fairy Shen!”
“It’s Fairy Shen! Great!”
“Fairy Shen! Save Senior Brother Zhao quick!!”
Amid the roiling black clouds, a point of sword light flickered faintly.
One point, two points, three points—then radiance blazed as a searing sword beam tore through the thick cloud veil with one strike!
–
In a side hall of the flying palace.
Liu Qiao’e, Song Miaoling, Lai Yongle, and the other elders were gathered for a meeting, with a soundproof barrier set up outside. They had not noticed the commotion on the deck.
Mu Daoying left the side hall to fetch tea for the elders from a nearby tea room. Raising his eyes, he suddenly saw darkness at the horizon and chaos on the deck.
What had happened?
In a slight daze, he collided with a disciple who had come seeking aid.
“Daoist Mu, where are the elders?! Strange birds! So many strange birds appeared out of nowhere outside!”
Seeing the disciple’s disheveled state and panicked expression, Mu Daoying dared not dally. He quickly opened the barrier to let him in, then hurried to the deck himself.
The deck was a complete mess at that moment.
Without thinking, he instinctively released his flying sword to join the fray.
His sword qi let out a clear chime, poised to rise into the air, when suddenly over a dozen brilliant meteors streaked across the sky.
Mu Daoying looked up—
Over a dozen Wandering Sword Pavilion disciples flew in on swords, led by a fairy with cloud-like hair in misty disarray, her immortal sleeves fluttering. Her brows and eyes were serene and gentle, her beauty city-toppling, but the moment she struck, a bolt of sword light crashed down like thunder.
Shen Chengyin severed a strange bird’s wing with one sword, her sword light ripping open the clouds to rescue Zhao Yange.
Zhao Yange had not expected Shen Chengyin to really come—and so timely. He exclaimed in excitement, “A-Yin!”
Shen Chengyin was warm and unhurried. “Sorry, I’m late. What exactly is going on here?”
“How should I know where these strange birds came from? They swarmed out in the blink of an eye!” Zhao Yange grumbled.
Shen Chengyin rode her sword light, carrying him and the unconscious He Taiqing down from the clouds.
In that instant, her eyes met squarely with the gaze of a young Daoist on the deck below, who looked up in wait.
Mu Daoying paused, his gaze meeting Shen Chengyin’s across the distance of sky and clouds, unexpectedly.
Just then, Liu Qiao’e, Song Miaoling, and the others, having received word, hurried out from the hall.
What fell into Liu Qiao’e’s eyes was Mu Daoying above and Shen Chengyin below, locked in a silent gaze—a glance that spanned a thousand years.
Dark clouds still roiled on the horizon like waves, with strange birds occasionally circling and soaring amid the cloud layers.