Chapter 104: Setting Forth
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It was already deep winter. Although no snow had fallen in Mingyi City, the cold was bitter. No one would have imagined that, on such a frigid morning, two young men would be sleeping soundly in a street corner, apparently quite content.
When Liang Yan awoke, the sun was already high in the sky. He shook his head and glanced around, only then realizing that he had spent the night asleep at a street corner.
Beside him lay a young scholar, hugging a large wine jar and snoring toward the heavens.
“This Ji Lai...” Liang Yan shook his head and gave a wry smile.
One had to admit that, although Ji Lai’s conduct was outrageously absurd, he was not truly unlikeable.
After leaving Madam Crane’s manor the previous night, Ji Lai had dragged Liang Yan to the night markets of Mingyi City for drinks, calling it a celebration of their alliance.
Liang Yan had never liked drinking. In Huaiyuan Town, Liang Xuan had kept a close eye on him; after joining the Star-Abacus Pavilion, he had devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation and scarcely touched alcohol. Yet Ji Lai possessed such a silver tongue that he managed to make drinking sound like the most important matter under heaven.
In the end, unable to disappoint him, Liang Yan had accompanied him for a couple of cups. He had simply used his spiritual power to dispel the alcohol afterward.
Later, when the tavern closed, Ji Lai dragged him elsewhere and continued drinking with him on the roof of a building at the street corner.
Other cultivators complained that their storage bags were too small, filling them with spirit stones, spirit artifacts, life-saving talismans, and the like. But Ji Lai’s storage bag contained several enormous jars of fine wine.
Liang Yan had been utterly dumbfounded. Ji Lai, however, merely grinned as though there were nothing strange about it, and the two of them continued to drink heartily on the rooftop.
The strange thing was that the wine could not be dispelled with spiritual power. Liang Yan had never held his liquor well, and by the time he realized what was happening, his face had turned crimson. Biting his tongue, he stammered, “How strange...!” before collapsing drunk.
When Liang Yan awoke again, he and Ji Lai were already sleeping in the middle of the street. He raised his head and looked at the roof of a nearby shop, thinking, “After falling from such a height, I wonder whether the fellow cracked his head.”
“Hm?”
Liang Yan unconsciously circulated the spiritual power within his body, only to discover that it was considerably more vigorous than before. He could not help wondering, “Could this scholar’s wine have been something other than ordinary liquor?”
“Ah! Brother Liang, you’re awake!”
Ji Lai opened his bleary eyes and yawned before continuing, “Last night was marvelous. Shall we continue tonight?”
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“I think we should forget it. There are only a few days left before the appointed date. We would do better to go our separate ways and avoid unnecessary trouble,” Liang Yan said after a moment’s thought.
“Since you put it that way, Brother Liang, I suppose it can’t be helped. Once we reach the Mountain Palace, we’ll act according to circumstances!” Ji Lai winked at him and spoke without the slightest concern for who might hear.
Liang Yan’s expression changed slightly. He swept his gaze over the passersby nearby, then quickly composed himself and said only, “As long as you know what you’re doing. I shall take my leave.”
With that, he turned and walked away without looking back.
.........
Over the next few days, Liang Yan remained in an inn in the city, meditating in silence and adjusting his vital essence, spirit, and energy to their peak condition.
On the morning of the seventh day, Liang Yan stepped out of the inn and followed a small road through the city into an old-fashioned courtyard.
A servant was already waiting at the gate. Upon seeing Liang Yan, he said nothing, merely turning to lead the way. Liang Yan followed him for some distance before realizing that the man was deaf and mute.
The deaf-mute servant led Liang Yan through a winding corridor. Ahead stood a small pavilion, where two figures sat around a stone table, drinking wine and discussing the Dao.
The servant stopped there, bowed respectfully to Liang Yan, and then turned and departed.
Liang Yan followed the corridor all the way to the pavilion. Both men possessed Foundation Establishment cultivation. One wore a dark gray robe and carried a horsetail whisk at his waist. It was none other than the old Daoist, Master Cloud Void.
The other wore a loose black robe that concealed his hands and feet, with only a cloud motif embroidered across the back.
Liang Yan stared at the black-robed man for a while. The design on his back seemed vaguely familiar.
“Hehe, Young Friend Liang, have you perhaps recalled some matter from the past? Or do you know this disciple of mine?” Master Cloud Void asked with a chuckle after glancing at him.
“You jest, Senior. I am a nobody. How could I possibly know your disciple?”
“A nobody?” Master Cloud Void laughed heartily. “A disciple of the Star-Abacus Pavilion calling himself a nobody? You are far too modest!”
Liang Yan narrowed his eyes and said coolly, “You investigated me?”
Master Cloud Void neither confirmed nor denied it. “I was curious to know why you were expelled from your sect. The Star-Abacus Pavilion guards that matter with such severity that not the slightest detail has leaked out.”
Liang Yan gave a self-deprecating smile and slowly replied, “Betraying my master and desecrating my ancestors.”
“Well now, young man! You’re far more ruthless than you look!” Master Cloud Void applauded in praise. “Very impressive. You’re a man of substance.”
As he spoke, he pointed at the black-robed man before him and continued, “Let me introduce you. You must have heard of my disciple. He is the president of the Hidden Cloud Society.”
“It’s him!”
Liang Yan’s heart jolted. Although he had never met the president of the Hidden Cloud Society, back in Yongle Town he had annihilated the seven cultivators sent by that organization. It seemed he had an old account to settle with them.
The black-robed man turned around and gave Liang Yan a faintly amused smile. “Young Friend Liang is possessed of both courage and wisdom. The seven capable men of my society were unable to withstand even a single exchange with you. I find that most embarrassing.”
There was not the slightest hint of resentment in his words. On the contrary, he seemed to admire Liang Yan considerably.
By now, Liang Yan’s thoughts had already raced in every direction.
Could Master Cloud Void truly be planning to overthrow the imperial house of Zhao? The Star-Abacus Pavilion forbade Foundation Establishment cultivators from interfering in worldly affairs. Had he therefore secretly instructed his disciple to establish the Hidden Cloud Society, intending to restore the former dynasty?
Seeing Liang Yan lost in thought, Master Cloud Void assumed that he was worried about the old grudge between them. He therefore said, “Young Friend Liang, you need not worry. What happened in the past is past. My disciple thinks very highly of your abilities and wishes to recruit you into the Hidden Cloud Society.”
Liang Yan shook his head. “I am now an outcast of the Star-Abacus Pavilion. What face would I have to join your society?”
“Hehe, there is something you do not know. The Hidden Cloud Society is extremely loosely governed. Under ordinary circumstances, you would not need to answer to me at all. As long as you complete the tasks we assign, you will receive the corresponding rewards. And if you find a task unsuitable, you may simply refuse it. Joining us would bring you nothing but benefits and no harm.”
The black-robed man spoke with a calm explanation.
“Thank you for your regard, President. However, I have only just been expelled from my sect, and for the time being I have no wish to join any organization.” After pondering for a moment, Liang Yan repeated his refusal.
The black-robed man looked rather disappointed and was about to say more, but Master Cloud Void cut him off with a wave of his hand.
“That is enough. Since Young Friend Liang has no interest in this matter, there is no need to force him. For now, the most important matter is our journey to Four Bright Mountain Palace.”
He turned to Liang Yan and continued, “Do you remember what I told you about breaking the restriction? The place lies within Four Bright Mountain. Although it is not far from here, it will still take half a day to carry you there by flying on a magic object. Go back and rest for a day. At dawn tomorrow, we shall set out from here.”
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