Chapter 81: An Invitation to the Grand Gathering

In the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed.

The twentieth day of the first lunar month.

On Lotus Serenity Peak.

Gu Qingqing had just finished her monthly outer sect chores and, on her way back to Lotus Serenity Peak, happened to run into Senior Sister Liu Yuechan.

"Senior Sister Liu, what did Elder Xu ask you to do?"

"Next month is the Flower Festival on North Ya Mountain. Dragon Spring Prefecture has invited us to send disciples to attend." Liu Yuechan explained to her junior sister, "North Ya Mountain is under the jurisdiction of the Sheyang Sect, and our Dongyuan Sect has a good relationship with them."

"The Flower Festival is a grand event held every three years, and we've always been invited in the past."

"On one hand, it's to help oversee and support the festivities; on the other, it's to strengthen the bond between our sects."

As if remembering something, Liu Yuechan added, "The Yan family of Swordsmith Manor in Dragon Spring Prefecture has often lent us their aid as well."

"Perhaps the flying sword you received from the sect was crafted by the Yan family."

Gu Qingqing let out an "Oh," then corrected her, "I don't use flying sword artifacts, but maybe Senior Brother Song's flying sword came from there."

"Senior Brother Song?" Liu Yuechan was taken aback. "You mean Song Yesheng?"

"Yes."

Liu Yuechan thought for a moment, trying to recall. With the new year just past, there were simply too many assignments from the sect for her to distribute; she feared she might get confused.

"Let me see... This Junior Brother Song seems to be on the list for this support mission."

"Ah?" Gu Qingqing said enviously, "Senior Brother Song is really lucky... getting to go out and travel."

Assignments like the Flower Festival were hardly dangerous. They were said to be assisting with festivities, but what did they really know about these things? North Ya Mountain had been hosting the festival for years—what could possibly go wrong? Usually, it was all flower viewing, feasting, and merrymaking.

"For this assignment, Elder Xu decided that Senior Brother Lin Qing, who just advanced to the inner sect, will lead the group. From the outer sect, it's Song Yesheng, Li Qingfeng, and Junior Sister Yue Rong."

Liu Yuechan hesitated, "However, perhaps Elder Xu made an oversight when first making the list. Junior Sister Yue Rong has only just reached the mid-stage of Qi Refinement and hasn't even been in the sect for two years."

"Technically, that's against the rules."

"Even though the Flower Festival shouldn't pose any danger, considering the risks, I actually plan to replace her."

"Ah?" Gu Qingqing felt sorry for her friend. Such a safe and legitimate opportunity to travel—only coming once every three years!

Still, the rule was there to protect the sect's disciples. On closer thought, there was nothing to argue about.

"If nothing comes up on the fifteenth of next month, why don't you take Junior Sister Yue Rong's place and participate?"

"Me?"

Gu Qingqing certainly wanted to go. Both Senior Brother Song and Senior Brother Li were good friends. Traveling with good friends was a delightful prospect.

"But I think I'd better not, Senior Sister."

Still, she felt a bit awkward and declined the offer. It felt as if she were snatching the opportunity from her close friend.

"Since Elder Xu made the decision, he must have his reasons."

"Junior Sister Yue Rong has already reached the fourth level of Qi Refinement, and the Flower Festival is hardly dangerous."

"It would be a good chance for her to broaden her horizons."

Liu Yuechan nodded, "That's true. But in the end, it'll be up to the senior sisters to decide."

"Alright."

...

Dongyuan Sect, Peaceful Peak.

Song Yan and Li Qingfeng entered the Mission Hall together.

A few hours earlier, they'd received a message from Senior Brother Lin Qing. It said that in the middle of next month, there would be a sect assignment, apparently to the north, to Dragon Spring Prefecture.

Both had come to the Mission Hall to check out the details in advance.

"Old Song, isn't the Flower Festival a festival for ordinary folk? Even cultivators in Dragon Spring Prefecture celebrate it?"

"How would I know?"

Song Yan scanned the jade wall for information.

There were quite a few assignments requiring disciples to journey out at the same time. For instance, he had just noticed tasks to garrison Changping, or to carry out a handover at West Qi River...

He searched for quite a while before finally finding the assignment for the Flower Festival.

Just to be sure, he checked several times to confirm this was an official sect mission and not some odd private commission.

Sect support assignment.
Location: Dragon Spring Prefecture, North Ya Mountain.
Inner sect disciple: Lin Qing, eighth level of Qi Refinement...
Outer sect disciples: Song Yan, Li Qingfeng, both at the sixth level of Qi Refinement...
Yang Yuerong, fourth level of Qi Refinement.

Inside the mission's jade slip was an invitation letter from the Sheyang Sect:

"To the esteemed friends of Dongyuan Sect from North Ya Mountain:

With the Flower Festival approaching, the ancient rites will be renewed. We sincerely invite your elite disciples to assist with security and various affairs.

The mountain kitchens have freshly cellared a hundred-flower mead—after the festival, let us drink together in the shade of blossoms.

From Linghua Valley, North Ya Mountain,
Wu Duo, with respect.

Year of Yisi, First Month, Twenty-sixth Day."

North Ya Mountain...

Song Yan pondered.

The first thing that came to his mind was the couple Rong Xiaofeng and Wu Huaguo. After their joint expedition to a cultivator’s cave, the two had mentioned that the Wu clan resided on North Ya Mountain.

"What a coincidence."

Should he pay them a visit?

But then he thought, with such a grand festival attended even by the Sheyang and Dongyuan Sects—two giants of the Chu Kingdom cultivation world—the Wu clan was surely involved. Perhaps this Wu Duo from Linghua Valley was a descendant of the Wu family...

Let fate decide.

The true fame of Dragon Spring Prefecture did not lie with the so-called "Wu Immortal Clan," whose reputation was still uncertain.

Rather, it was with the renowned Swordsmith Manor, the Yan family.

As the saying goes, "Yan of the north, Qin of the south."

The Yan family of Dragon Spring Prefecture, famed for their craftsmanship, was now indisputably the foremost among the four great cultivation clans.

Their overall strength might even surpass some minor sects.

If there was free time on this trip, it would be worth visiting the Yan family.

Song Yan was particularly interested in the forging materials for the "Unmoored Boat." He happened to want to discuss them with someone knowledgeable.

After some deliberation, Li Qingfeng was the first to conclude, "Old Song, this is a plum assignment!"

"Traveling, enjoying flowers and moonlight!"

Song Yan, however, wasn't convinced.

He couldn't help it—he'd been scarred by experience.

Take the expedition to Silent Valley, for example. Senior Brother Lu Ziye kept assuring them it would be easy and safe.

What happened? They barely made it back alive.

Same with Peach Blossom Hollow—they thought it was just a simple pest removal.

What happened? They almost became food for monsters.

Sometimes he wondered if these tasks really were supposed to be easy, and it was just his ill-fated luck that turned them into perilous adventures.

"Hey, do you think everyone’s as rotten as those bastards from the Xuan Yuan Sect?"

Li Qingfeng waved the mission jade slip he’d copied. "The Sheyang Sect has elders overseeing things, and our sect has already coordinated with them."

"Nothing will go wrong."

He sidled up to Song Yan and whispered, "Little He, we’re going on a trip!"

From within his sleeve, a muffled voice answered in agreement.

"Going on a trip!"

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