Chapter Four: Ablaze with Lights
At the western dock of Changhe Town at the foot of Kongyun Mountain, cultivators travel because their boats can enter the barrier after obtaining permission, and the key to passing through is a token. On the day the cultivators from Juxia came to invite the cultivators of Kongyun Mountain, they gave their sect leader, Pei Xuanzhen, a dark-colored wooden token, which is now safely hanging at the front of the boat, heading towards Juxia with the sound of the water.
After a satisfying meal at the inn, Ming Jin and Mu Ning returned to Kongyun Mountain in the afternoon. They planned to meet up with the others when the moon rose above the treetops to head towards Juxia. Most cultivators with some cultivation level carried a pouch, which appeared only the size of a palm but could hold countless items; the higher the cultivation level, the more items it could hold. After returning home, Ming Jin quickly packed a few things into his pouch and hurried to the dock.
The boatman's name was Ma Ji, fifty-five years old this year. He was tall and thin, with a tanned face that made him look older than his actual age. He was originally a woodcutter from elsewhere. When he was twenty-six, he was attacked by a malevolent spirit while carrying firewood down the mountain in the summer. Fortunately, he was rescued by a passing cultivator from Kongyun Mountain, and thus he resolved to repay his benefactor, so he came to Kongyun Mountain. He was a friendly person, and most of the cultivators in the mountain knew him. However, he did not like reading and writing, so he could not learn advanced magic. He only vaguely inherited the magic of ferrying boats.
Ordinary cultivators don't always need to rely on ferries for travel. People like Mu Ning and Ming Jin use wind magic to move freely, while those skilled in water magic can walk on water. However, since they've come at the invitation of Juxia City, a more formal mode of transportation is necessary. The group of several people walked across the water to Juxia City, which, while demonstrating the extraordinary strength of the Kongyun Mountain cultivators, felt somewhat undignified.
It was already quite late when Mingjin arrived. The boat was quietly moored on the water. Ma Ji was standing on the shore talking to three people, while two other people were skipping stones on the water. The two skipping stones were dressed in the same clothes, and from a distance, it was really hard to tell who they were. One of them turned around to find some suitable stones on the ground, and then noticed Mingjin who had just arrived, so he waved to her: "Tianguang!"
Kongyun Mountain is divided into three sections: the Sect Leader's Office, the Martial Sect, and the Medicine Sect. The person speaking to Ming Jin is named Mei Chong, courtesy name Yuanyi. He is a disciple of Ji Zhen, the Sect Master of the Medicine Sect. Ming Jin was originally a disciple of Du Gewen, an elder of the Martial Sect, and is now studying under Mu Ning, the Sect Master of the Martial Sect. Although Mei Chong is not Ming Jin's fellow disciple, the rules of Menggu Academy stipulate that senior disciples supervise new disciples, and Mei Chong happened to be under Ming Jin's supervision at the time, thus their relationship was closer. Standing next to Mei Chong is Chi Hui, who entered Menggu Academy a year earlier than Mei Chong. He is naturally talented and easily makes friends. Although he was mentored by Ming Jin's senior brother, Chen Du, he is now familiar with all of Du Gewen's disciples.
“Everyone’s here, let’s get on the boat,” Ma Ji said.
"Just the three of us?" Ming Jin was slightly surprised. The banquet was arranged by the sect leader. The cultivators of the Martial Sect often had to spend long periods of time outside exorcising evil spirits, often leaving at dawn and returning under the moon, so they were not very familiar with these arrangements.
“Senior Sister Yuanxi has to guard the mountain, and Senior Brother Yuanbei was supposed to come too, but yesterday the sect leader sent him out on some business. I just asked the sect leader, and he said he hasn’t returned yet and will come back to find us after he’s done. Everyone else also has to perform their duties while the elders are away, so none of them can come. Even among the elders, only Sect Leader Pei, Elder Mu, Master, Elder Du, and Master Rong have come. But we are going to a banquet after all. Although it’s good to have a lively atmosphere, too many people going isn’t necessarily a good thing.” The group talked as they boarded the boat.
The small boat had two levels. On the first level, a chessboard was set up, where Rong Shao and Du Gewen played a game, Mu Ning observed the game, and Ji Zhen and Pei Xuanzhen sat by a wooden window, sipping tea. Ma Ji was steering the boat at the bow. The disciples were all on the upper level. Although they could hear the sound of water and see everything in motion, the boat did not travel on ordinary waterways. Instead, it navigated through numerous barriers, only occasionally venturing into actual flowing water.
Mingjin went up to the second floor and walked to the very front. Looking down, she saw an incense stick at the bow of the boat; this incense represented the total length of the journey, and when it burned out, they would reach the shore. The second floor was narrower but taller than the first, and it also had a tea table and a chessboard. Mingjin casually picked up a chess manual and started making moves on the board. Mei Chong, who was neither good at nor fond of chess, sat to the side watching, sometimes needing Mingjin to explain the meaning of her moves. Chi Hui, because she was going to participate in a martial arts competition, had been meditating quietly, hoping to increase her strength significantly in the next few days and achieve fame in one battle.
The grand banquet will last for five days, with the day after tomorrow being the first day. The banquet itself will be held on the morning of the first day. Juxia's singing and dancing have always been the best among the three families, and with such a grand occasion, it will surely be an eye-opening experience. The martial arts tournament will open on the afternoon of the first day, but the list of competitors can only be seen outside the arena. Therefore, Chi Hui is nervous and somewhat uneasy, and even when meditating, he secretly exhales heavily, indicating that his meditation is not very effective. Only Chi Hui from Kongyun Mountain is participating, and he is determined to win face for Kongyun Mountain, so he is more serious and focused than usual during this period. To comfort him, the people in the mountain chat with him about Du Gewen's past experiences, telling him not to take it too seriously, as this might just be another carefully planned drama.
“Actually, things aren’t that simple,” Ming Jin said, putting down the chess manual and chatting with Mei Chong. Chi Hui, who had finished her meditation, sat opposite Ming Jin and listened. “I heard Elder Chen Duan say that Juxia City changed the rules of the martial arts tournament, only allowing disciples who hadn’t yet completed their apprenticeships to participate. It was because some young ladies in Juxia City jokingly said they would find husbands among the top three in the tournament. The current Juxia Sect Leader’s favorite woman was among them, so the Juxia Sect Leader was determined to win a top-three finish. Who would have thought that Master would suddenly appear out of nowhere? Moreover, Master had already been married for many years at that time. If those young ladies’ jokes had come true, it would have caused quite a bit of trouble.”
“No wonder,” Chi Hui smiled, “Ju Xia underestimated the number of disciples at our Menggu Academy. There are even those who only started learning magic in their twenties or thirties.”
As the three were chatting and laughing, Ma Ji's voice suddenly came from outside, informing them that they had arrived at Juxia City. Ming Jin pushed open the window a crack and saw that the scenery outside was a water town, different from that of Kongyun Mountain. The three quickly got up and followed Rong Shao off the boat. They were greeted by several Juxia City cultivators who came to welcome them. One of them stood at the front and said with a smile, "I am Qi Ganyu, a cultivator from Juxia City. I have come here today on the orders of Elder Wanxia, the sect leader, to welcome you distinguished guests."
This person was still interacting with Pei Xuanzhen, while the others listened attentively. Since it was already sunset, the group quickly headed to their assigned lodgings. Because the sect leader had allowed the disciples to stay on the second floor and choose their own empty rooms, Mei Chong pulled Ming Jin to stay next door, intending to make it easier to go out for a stroll with Ming Jin later. However, the Juxia City cultivator who was guiding them reminded them: "There is a temporary curfew in the city before the grand banquet begins. Please go out and explore the city during the day."
The next morning, after breakfast, the third disciple went to check out the venue for the martial arts tournament. The arena had been set up, about the height of an adult, and was waiting for everyone to compete. The list of contestants was posted nearby, and two rows of people were watching. The three of them also went to observe, but none of them recognized Chi Hui's opponent in the first match.
The martial arts tournament ran from the afternoon of the first day to the afternoon of the fourth, selecting the top ten from over a hundred participants. Juxia City was a wealthy and powerful family, and the top ten received gifts of unknown origin, attracting many to the event. Chi Hui dared not relax, so she parted ways with Ming Jin and Mei Chong, intending to find a place to practice on her own, as Ming Jin's skill far surpassed hers, and Mei Chong was not adept at combat. Ming Jin lamented that it would be great if Pang Ming were here, while simultaneously wondering, "What is he hiding from others? It's been several days and he hasn't finished anything or heard anything."
Ming Jin also had her own private matters. Her father, Ming Shiyu, was a cultivator from Kongyun Mountain, while her mother, Shao Zhe, was from Juxia. At seventeen, she left Juxia to become a disciple of the renowned former Martial Sect Elder Lu Ying at Kongyun Mountain. The current Elder of Kongyun Mountain, Yan Junyou, was Lu Ying's last disciple. Shao Zhe and her brother, Shao Jie, were four years apart. Both their parents died, and the siblings relied on each other from a young age. Therefore, every year during festivals, Shao Zhe and her husband would take Ming Jin back to Juxia City. Seven years ago, when Ming Jin was fourteen, the couple were killed by evil spirits during an exorcism. Shao Jie, who lived far away in Juxia, specially traveled to Kongyun Mountain to take Ming Jin back to his home to care for her. However, Ming Jin herself was unwilling. Leaving the place where she grew up was a difficult thing, a fact Shao Jie couldn't deny. Moreover, she had decided to diligently cultivate her magic, and leaving Kongyun Mountain was not a good choice. Secondly, Lu Ying also stepped forward and said that she would move from Kongyun Mountain to Changhe Town to take care of Mingjin, ensuring that Mingjin would not suffer from lack of food and clothing or be neglected due to the passing of his parents. Only then did Shao Jie relent. However, Shao Jie was not a cultivator and could not frequently travel between the barriers, so he instructed Mingjin to come to Juxia as usual, and Mingjin agreed. This time, Mingjin had sent a letter in advance before coming to Juxia City to attend the banquet, saying that he planned to visit his uncle and aunt. However, Shao Jie had been working with his master to make weapons to support his family since he was a child, and he had taken his apprentice to work outside recently. His two cousins were also busy farming in the fields. Therefore, this time he could only see his aunt and two sisters-in-law, as well as his eldest cousin's five-year-old son Shao Mai and his second cousin's three-year-old daughter Shao Jin.
Mei Chong had never been to Juxia City before, and he found everything interesting, but exploring alone wasn't very enjoyable. So he came with Ming Jin, and they mostly just wandered around the outskirts of the village admiring the scenery. His sister-in-law was five months pregnant, and his aunt and second sister-in-law were busy with household chores. After catching up with them, Ming Jin decided to take the two children out for a stroll to save them some trouble. Just then, Mei Chong finished his walk, so Ming Jin took Shao Mai, and Mei Chong took Shao Jin for a walk through the streets of Juxia City.
Because of the grand banquet, many outside cultivators had entered the city, so the shops on the streets were even busier than during the New Year. The four of them were so captivated by the unusual clothing and attire on the streets that their eyes ached. As soon as they reached the street, the two children headed straight for their desired places. The older one wanted to eat plum blossom pastries from Master Li's shop on East Street, while the younger one wanted to eat baked flatbread. On their way, they passed the entrance to Juxia Academy, but the gate was tightly closed. However, as they detoured through the alley next to it, they heard sounds of practice inside. Although they didn't know what the people inside were doing, they could hear the sound of wind being stirred by the movements. Those who practiced diligently were always hungry. It seemed they were taking a break. Before Mingjin and his group had even reached the end of the alley, they heard overlapping cries of "I really want to eat flatbread!" coming from the courtyard. Then, they were stunned by one of the voices and fell silent.
Mei Chong joked, "Let's buy the pancakes later and then use this route."
The children couldn't often come to the street, so they ate while walking around with Mingjin and Meichong until the midday sun had set and they were tired enough to go home. Mingjin bought a basket of eggs to take home, as she didn't know her sister-in-law was pregnant when she came; it was just a small token of her affection. Being a cultivator on Kongyun Mountain meant that life and death were always at stake, but fortunately, they were better off than others. However, her aunt had watched Mingjin grow up and knew the hardships cultivators faced. Before leaving, she walked Mingjin a few steps further, telling her to "take care," "wear more clothes before it gets hot," and "eat more meals." Finally, she saw her off at the village entrance, tears welling up in her eyes.
To prevent any unforeseen complications, Pei Xuanzhen told the disciples as soon as they arrived in Juxia City that they should return to their lodgings before sunset, and that they needed to get up early for the banquet the next day. Therefore, Mingjin bid farewell to his aunt and quickly returned with Mei Chong. The next day, the three disciples, dressed in identical ceremonial robes, attended the ceremony at the Juxia City altar. Led by Sect Leader Wan Xia, the official read aloud in the main hall, and everyone paid homage to the common ancestors of the cultivators. Following this was a solemn and majestic sacrificial dance. A group of ten, dressed in traditional robes, began their dance to the resounding beat of drums. The dance was long, with three groups performing for about half an hour. Afterwards, Wan Xia personally walked to the center of the altar, signifying the end of the ceremony.
Chi Hui was physically present but mentally absent. Ming Jin, who was very interested in the dance itself, watched intently, while Mei Chong's attention was elsewhere. During the first dance, she was immediately drawn to the lead dancer, her gaze fixed on him. Unexpectedly, he left after the first dance and didn't appear in the subsequent dances. Being at the sacrificial ceremony, Mei Chong could only watch the dance end in disappointment. Soon after the ceremony, it was time for a midday banquet. Chi Hui, worried about the long meal, excused herself from Pei Xuanzhen. Ming Jin, finding the food quite delicious and plentiful, ate with relish. When she urged Mei Chong to try some of her food, she noticed a slight look of distress on his face.
"Yuanyi, what's wrong?"
"Tianguang, did you watch the dance carefully just now?" Seeing Mingjin nod, Mei Chong continued, "The lead dancer in the first dance was exceptionally handsome, so I paid more attention to him. But he never appeared again after that, which made me unhappy."
"The cultivators at the residence said that all the dancers this time are from the Juxia sect, and the three lead dancers are disciples of various elders. Didn't they also say that a banquet was held by the water this evening for the disciples from the three families who came to visit? If you really want to see him again, keep an eye out when you go. If all else fails, ask the cultivators at the residence and tell them you want to learn to dance from the lead dancers."
"Oh, right, there's a waterside gathering this afternoon." Hearing this, Mei Chong started eating more.
Mingjin couldn't move around freely, and after eating her fill, she sat for a long time until the banquet ended. After returning to her residence, she changed out of her dress, lay down on the bed, and immediately fell asleep. When she opened her eyes again, a long time had passed. Mingjin herself didn't know what time it was. After lying in bed for a while, she heard knocking and calling from outside the door, so she got up: "Tianguang, are you there?"
Mingjin recognized Mei Chong's voice and glanced out the window as he got up to open the door. The sky was already darkening, and unlike the usual brilliant sunset, varying shades of clear blue dominated the sky today. Only wispy clouds drifted in the air, among which the hazy moon could be seen.
The banners of Kongyun Mountain depict the three-legged golden crow, the sun god bird. Even at dusk, Mingjin hoped that the afterglow of the sun would surround the horizon. Perhaps it was because he was sleep-deprived and wanted to sleep a little longer, or perhaps he wanted to drink some water and open the door for Mei Chong. Many things piled up in Mingjin's mind, and a feeling of bewilderment and helplessness was like the drifting clouds in the sky, plain but impossible to dispel.
A ring of square stone platforms was built along the shore and into the water. On the platform closest to the water, a square pavilion with black tiles was built. A long table was placed in the pavilion. When Mingjin and Meichong arrived, many people were already sitting in the pavilion drinking tea and chatting.
Tall willows lined the water's edge, while the peach trees on the bank grew even more magnificent. As the two women walked against the gentle breeze, they brushed past countless petals. Upon closer inspection, they noticed one tree was particularly tall, its broad branches covering half of the pavilion's beams. The peach blossoms were in full bloom now, and as they stepped out of the pavilion with their cups, a petal drifted down onto their tea. Picking the petal out, they dropped it into the water. Looking down, they saw that the area near the platform was almost entirely covered in fallen petals, which were slowly floating away with the current.
Mei Chong walked briskly, quickly getting halfway up to Ming Jin. Ming Jin followed her, her spirits gradually returning after waking up. As she prepared to join the gathering, she noticed someone standing by the railing on the platform in the pavilion who looked particularly familiar. As she walked over with her teacup, she happened to see the person turn around, and Ming Jin realized that it was Meng Sheng.
Meng Sheng hadn't expected to meet Ming Jin again in just a few days. She rarely went out and didn't know many people at this gathering, so seeing Ming Jin, whom she'd only met once before, brought her some comfort. The two chatted briefly, and Ming Jin learned that Meng Sheng was also participating in a martial arts competition, but had finished her matches early that day before coming to the gathering. Meng Sheng's master was none other than Su Huan, the current leader of the Huicheng sect. However, Su Huan suffered from a chronic illness and was unable to travel; the person leading the Huicheng people to the banquet was Su Huan's eldest disciple, Wei Jing.
“Master has high hopes for Senior Brother, and the elders of the city also hope that he can inherit the position of sect leader and continue the foundation of the city. He is also working very hard. I am here to participate in the martial arts tournament, which is much more relaxed than Senior Brother’s. If Senior Brother has the opportunity to participate in the competition, he will definitely win first place and will not let Master down.”
Ming Jin hadn't thought much of it at first, assuming that Meng Sheng, like Chi Hui, was under pressure because she was fighting alone, so he wanted to say a few jokes to comfort her. However, seeing that she was preoccupied and unwilling to make eye contact, Ming Jin decided to abandon the topic and changed the subject, asking Hong Junyu, "My master said that Elder Hong is the former sect leader of Huicheng. If Senior Brother Wei is struggling alone, why not ask Elder Hong for guidance? A few days ago, several cultivators encountered danger while cultivating outside, and Elder Hong was able to come to their aid in time. If it's about nurturing a successor to the sect leader, I think Elder Hong wouldn't refuse."
“My master has been in seclusion for many years, and he doesn’t see outsiders. Unless he comes out of the mountain on his own initiative, even my master and his uncles can’t see him. I didn’t expect him to suddenly appear when we were in danger that day. When my master found out about it, he was worried that my master would be alarmed. Fortunately, my master didn’t ask too many questions, and I escaped a disaster.”
“Yu Cheng, there’s no need to be so nervous. Since Sect Leader Su was willing to take you as his disciple, he naturally treated you the same as your senior brother. I remember that Elder Su was elected as the sect leader by the unanimous recommendation of many elders in the city, which is no easy feat. If you talk to Sect Leader Su or ask your senior brother for help, it might help you two get along better.”
However, Meng Sheng himself was not very willing to continue the discussion. Ming Jin thought that Meng Sheng must have some unavoidable difficulties in his heart, which could not be resolved by his own words. Just then, Shen Bai also arrived, and the three of them talked about other things and passed the time.
The banquet by the water was originally intended to allow the future pillars of the sects to get to know each other amidst the beautiful sunset. As darkness fell, to prevent any potential dangers by the water at night, the Kongyun Mountain cultivator in charge rang the small bell hanging under the eaves, urging everyone to return home and that they could gather again another day. Seeing that it was getting late, Meng Sheng bid farewell to Ming Jin, saying that he still had to prepare for the upcoming competition.
After finishing her competition, Chi Hui also rushed over to join the fun. Hearing Mei Chong explain her purpose for coming, she helped her find him. The two drank several cups of tea among the similarly dressed cultivators of Juxia City, finally finding the cultivator named Duan Shuxuan. Fortunately, Mei Chong got along well with him, but unfortunately, Chi Hui and Duan Shuxuan chatted even more amiably. They talked until the gathering ended, then decided to go to a restaurant for drinks, leaving Mei Chong behind. Feeling down, Mei Chong saw colorful lanterns hanging in the streets and remembered Pei Xuanzhen saying that the curfew in the city had been lifted for the past few days, meaning they could go home later. So, he decided to take Ming Jin a little further away to enjoy the lanterns and calm his temper.
The yellow and red lights outlined the main streets of Juxia. Even at night, many food vendors still sold snacks. The two, still somewhat hungry, ate a bowl of noodle soup and bought some flatbread by the roadside. Feeling a bit tired from walking, they prepared to head back. The streets grew increasingly crowded. Mingjin and Meichong spotted several people they had met at the riverside gathering. After a brief greeting, they went their separate ways. Mingjin, wanting to avoid collisions, tried her best to dodge until someone gently bumped into her shoulder.
"Are you alright...?" Seeing that the man was unsteady on his feet and about to fall forward, Mingjin quickly supported him with one arm. Mei Chong also turned around at the same time. When the man looked up, Mingjin was shocked to see his pale face and bloodshot eyes. "Changqi, what happened to you!"
This person is Zhou Wei. He had a chance encounter with Pang Ming on the streets of the capital a few days ago, but today he came to Juxia specifically to find Ming Jin and her group. It was fortunate that he was able to find her on the street so quickly. He said, "Come with me. Someone is injured, and I can't save her right now."
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