Chapter 915: Just Say I'm Not Here

After hearing him out, Kunlin Shu understood. The thing his master had been worried about had probably arrived; otherwise, the Sect Leader would not have called him over alone to discuss it. He asked, "Does the sect intend to send this disciple to Sacred Realm for tempering?"

His blunt question made Yuwen Yan's gaze tighten slightly as he studied him.

A man's position determined the things he had to consider. Yuwen Yan was, after all, Sect Leader of Tianhuo Sect.

Generations from now, descendants would speak of some past Sect Leader by name and what he had done for Tianhuo Sect. How many would remember which Elders had been serving at the time?

So the Sect Leader's thinking inevitably differed somewhat from that of the Elders below him. All of them hoped Tianhuo Sect would prosper, but a Sect Leader and an Elder bore different responsibilities. One only needed to manage his own affairs; the other had to oversee the whole.

Tianhuo Sect had finally produced a disciple who succeeded in cultivating the Heavenly Fire Limitless Art. From Yuwen Yan's position, carrying responsibility for the sect's place in history, he did not want Kunlin Shu sent to Sacred Realm. He wanted to make him a focus of the sect's cultivation and support.

But this time, no one stood on his side. Every Elder invoked sect rules against him.

The crucial problem was that among the sect's entire senior leadership, not one person spoke on Kunlin Shu's behalf. That left Yuwen Yan no room to balance the two sides. Nor could he simply defy the sect rules by force. What would it look like if the Sect Leader alone stepped forward to twist the rules?

Yuwen Yan sighed. "Kunlin Shu, you know the rules. Disciples who emerge from seclusion in the forbidden grounds must shoulder corresponding responsibilities. You spent ten years in seclusion. During those ten years, you did nothing for the sect, while the sect supported you with all its strength. Under sect rules, if a major duty arises, you must step forward and bear it."

Kunlin Shu said, "This disciple understands and is willing to obey the sect's decree."

Yuwen Yan said, "If you do not want to go, I can still give you an opportunity. Use what time remains to prepare and work out your arguments. I will organize a debate within the sect. So long as what you say is reasonable, I will speak on your side. You need only hold to one point: shouldering responsibility for the sect does not necessarily mean going to Sacred Realm... Do you understand?"

He wanted Kunlin Shu to understand that it was not that he refused to help, but that he needed some grounds on which to do so.

Kunlin Shu was silent for a moment. "There is no need for a debate. Whatever responsibility this disciple ought to shoulder, I am willing to shoulder it. I will not avoid it. This disciple is willing to go to Sacred Realm."

Yuwen Yan frowned. "It seems I should not have come to you. I should have spoken with your master first."

"Before going to Sacred Realm, this disciple has one request."

Why was this fellow so stubborn? Yuwen Yan's brows knitted tightly. "What request?"

Kunlin Shu said, "Years ago, this disciple was defeated by Niu Youdao and brought shame upon the sect. I cultivated bitterly for ten years precisely so I could wipe away that humiliation for Tianhuo Sect!"

Yuwen Yan's voice sank. "You want to fight Niu Youdao again?"

"Yes!"

"Do you know what Niu Youdao's current identity and standing are?"

"This disciple knows."

"Then since you know, you should understand that you are not qualified to fight him. How could a dignified Elder of Zijin Cave stake his life against you?"

"This disciple does not want a fight to the death. I only want to challenge him one more time!"

"Challenge him?" Yuwen Yan's face hardened. "Ridiculous! On what grounds do you, a Tianhuo Sect disciple, go challenge an Elder of Zijin Cave? Turn it around and think about it. If a disciple from Zijin Cave came to challenge an Elder of Tianhuo Sect, would we agree? He would not even get to see that Elder's face!"

Kunlin Shu said, "Precisely because this disciple knows I cannot accomplish it alone, I implore the sect to help me. If the sect steps forward, the matter should be much simpler."

"Absurd! Enough. The sect will never help you do something like this. Do not bring it up again. Prepare for the debate instead. I will discuss the specifics with your master." With that, Yuwen Yan flung out his sleeve and flashed away, refusing to say anything more.

Kunlin Shu gazed out over the green mountains and sea of clouds, pain on his face. He knew the Sect Leader was right. If he simply went knocking at the door himself, forget issuing a challenge; he probably would not even see Niu Youdao's face.

Yuwen Yan truly did as he had said. After consulting with Pang Zhuo, he immediately stirred up a dispute over whether Kunlin Shu should be sent to Sacred Realm for tempering, then followed the momentum and prepared to hold an open debate within the sect.

Tianhuo Sect's Elders were no fools. All of them could see that the Sect Leader meant to favor Kunlin Shu. Yet Yuwen Yan's handling was watertight. On the surface, he was being perfectly even-handed and fair by letting everyone debate the matter. There was nothing wrong with that, and no one had grounds to object.

What none of the Elders expected was that Kunlin Shu then went to see them one by one on his own initiative.

His meaning was roughly this: so long as they helped arrange one match between him and Niu Youdao, whether there was a debate or not did not matter. He would publicly volunteer to go to Sacred Realm.

Getting an Elder of Zijin Cave to accept a challenge from an ordinary Tianhuo Sect disciple would not be easy.

And making this kind of exchange felt absurd in itself.

But Kunlin Shu said that all he asked was for the Elders to do their best to help. Whether it ultimately succeeded did not matter; he only wanted the sect to make the effort.

That gave them something else to work with. The Elders followed the current and began praising Kunlin Shu's attitude of getting back up where he had fallen.

Whatever they said, however, Yuwen Yan refused to let the sect formally involve itself in such a thing. His answer remained the same two words: absurd!

In the end, the Elders selected one person. Elder Qian Fucheng would accompany Kunlin Shu to Zijin Cave in his personal capacity, with a guarantee that they would not go there to provoke trouble.

Kunlin Shu's own attitude was the key. If he himself refused to cooperate, what was the point of holding a debate?

Ten oxen could not have dragged him back. Pang Zhuo nearly begged until he spat blood and also cursed Kunlin Shu until there was scarcely a patch of him left untouched.

"Rotten wood cannot be carved. Enough, enough!" Even Yuwen Yan could only shake his head. He finally understood that Kunlin Shu was mud that would not stick to a wall. He had no sense of the larger picture. No wonder he had suffered humiliation at Niu Youdao's hands back then. He was far too wrapped up in himself.

How could a man like this ever become a future Sect Leader of Tianhuo Sect? Even the highest cultivation would be useless. At most, he could become an Elder who kept quietly to the side, or serve as an enforcer who risked his life for Tianhuo Sect.

If he could not be raised up, Yuwen Yan could only give up on him.

Originally, Yuwen Yan had intended to preside personally over Kunlin Shu and Fire Phoenix's marriage. After this incident, he lost interest and left Pang Zhuo with only one remark: if his good intentions ended with Fire Phoenix becoming a widow, would that not turn a good deed into a bad one?

The implication was obvious. If Kunlin Shu insisted on going to Sacred Realm to court death, Yuwen Yan saw no reason to personally preside over the wedding.

But Fire Phoenix was equally unwavering. Whether Kunlin Shu went to Sacred Realm or not, she still wished to marry him.

The wedding itself was lively enough. It was a happy occasion within the sect, and the Sect Leader did make an appearance to offer his congratulations.

On their wedding night, with the bridal chamber lit by flower candles and the hour auspicious, the newlyweds were naturally tender and affectionate.

Yet only a few days later, before the festive mood had even faded, Kunlin Shu left Tianhuo Sect. Before going to Sacred Realm, he meant to fulfill the wish he had carried for ten years.

Fire Phoenix made such a desperate scene about going with him that if he refused to take her, she would not let him leave at all. Kunlin Shu had no choice but to bring her.

Elder Qian Fucheng secured a large flying mount and personally took the married couple to Zijin Cave in the State of Yan.

...

Guests had crossed thousands of mountains and rivers to come, and the visitor was an Elder of Tianhuo Sect, an institution on equal footing with Zijin Cave. The two sides were well matched in status, so Zijin Cave naturally opened its gates in welcome.

Even Gong Lince, Sect Leader of Zijin Cave, made time to appear and meet them in person.

During the formal introductions, Kunlin Shu, who had come along with Qian Fucheng, also gave his name.

"Kunlin Shu..." Gong Lince, smiling as he received the guests, paused. The name sounded somewhat familiar. After exchanging looks with the Elders beside him, he asked tentatively, "You're that Kunlin Shu?"

Kunlin Shu answered respectfully, "Yes. This junior was once defeated by Elder Niu Youdao of your esteemed sect."

He did not conceal it in the least.

"Oh... oh..." Gong Lince smiled and nodded. For a moment, he did not quite know how to respond. Praising the man seemed wrong, but so did declining to praise him.

He had even wanted to ask Qian Fucheng whether Kunlin Shu was his favored disciple, but when the words reached his lips, he decided against it. If Qian Fucheng confirmed it, would that not amount to Gong Lince saying, One of our Elders beat your disciple?

He simply let the matter pass. Though the corner of his eye continued to assess Kunlin Shu from time to time, he had already turned to Qian Fucheng. "May I ask what brings Elder Qian here?"

Several Elders of Zijin Cave were also curiously studying Kunlin Shu. Back when Niu Youdao had beaten this Tianhuo Sect disciple, the commotion had been considerable.

Naturally, they had reviewed the history of what this particular Elder of their sect had done in earlier years.

Qian Fucheng did not say that he had come to see Niu Youdao. "I just received word that Luo Zhao, formerly Grand Commander-in-Chief of Song, has actually taken office in Qin. Xiaoyue Pavilion appears to have ambitions far beyond the ordinary. Your esteemed sect has cooperated with Xiaoyue Pavilion before, so I came to ask what you make of the matter..."

...

"One of Qin's three Grand Generals... Luo Zhao actually went to Qin..."

Deep within the inner residence of the Maolu Annex, Niu Youdao held an intelligence report and murmured to himself, somewhat surprised.

Guan Fangyi stood nearby. "Xiaoyue Pavilion probably arranged it. Luo Zhao could not possibly have slipped free of Song's custody by himself, much less traveled all the way to Qin. And the moment he arrived, Qin granted him a high noble title, even if he has not yet been given command of troops."

Niu Youdao nodded and paced. That much was certain. When Luo Zhao disappeared earlier, he had already guessed that someone had helped coordinate his escape. He had simply never expected it to be Xiaoyue Pavilion.

After thinking for a while, Niu Youdao stopped and looked back. "Keep an eye on Monkey's side."

Guan Fangyi curled her lip. She was quite displeased with Yuan Gang's whole mess, but said nothing more. She was not exactly free of responsibility for what had happened between Yuan Gang and Feng Guan'er either.

Just then, Wen Mo'er arrived and reported, "Master Dao, Elder Yan asked this disciple to come ahead with a message. He said Elder Qian of Tianhuo Sect has arrived and wants to see you, so you should prepare."

"Tianhuo Sect only has one Elder surnamed Qian, Qian Fucheng. If he's here, he's here. I have no real friendship with him. I've seen him a few times, but I can't even remember whether we've spoken. Why come see me?" Niu Youdao asked, puzzled.

Wen Mo'er said, "Do you remember Kunlin Shu?"

Guan Fangyi's eyes flickered. She was certain Niu Youdao should remember. Back when he had gone to the Qi capital and lured her away, he had clashed with Kunlin Shu.

"Kunlin Shu?" Niu Youdao nodded. "I know him. Proud, self-important, and with water for brains. What about him? Don't tell me he's here too."

Wen Mo'er nodded repeatedly. "Yes, he's here too, together with Elder Qian. Elder Qian suddenly brought Kunlin Shu here and said he wants to see you. Elder Yan thought something about it felt off, but he couldn't neglect the guests, so he's deliberately taking his time escorting them through the mountains. He secretly had this disciple come ahead to warn you so you could prepare."

Niu Youdao raised a brow. "Elder Qian this, Disciple Kun that. They want to see me, so I have to see them? Has Yan Li been eating pig heads? Someone lets out a fart and he follows the smell straight here? Is he an Elder of Tianhuo Sect or an Elder of Zijin Cave?"

A bead of nervous sweat nearly appeared on Wen Mo'er's forehead. He had truly cursed Elder Yan as though he were worthless. The Sect Leader himself probably would not speak that way. Only this man would. Inside the sect, he seemed to have a bit of a willful streak.

Wen Mo'er said, "I don't really know what's going on either. The person who came ahead didn't explain it clearly. He only said something about you being familiar with Xiaoyue Pavilion and them wanting to discuss Xiaoyue Pavilion with you."

"When they get here, just say I'm not here!" Niu Youdao threw the instruction to Guan Fangyi, then turned and walked away with his sword serving as a staff.

[End of Chapter 915]