Thousand Autumns

For those who had never seen Hulugu fight, hearing this didn’t amount to much, as they saw it, the Yan Wushi who could stand the ambush of five martial masters and emerge unscathed definitely had the potential and strength to challenge Hulugu.

As the sentence was said, it was like a drop of water falling into hot oil, the surroundings exploded at once, many people wore expressions of shock, pressed forward for more detail.

“When did this happen?”

“Just a couple days ago, they say when Yan Wushi’s challenge letter arrived in front of Hulugu, Hulugu was eating his meal, but he jumped up right away in fright, and almost choked to death!”

“…You say it as if you were beside him watching, who is Hulugu exactly?”

“You don’t even know who Hulugu is? Then what about Qi Fengge?”

“Bullshit, if I didn’t would I came to Xuandushan seeking a master?”

“Then how come you haven’t heard of Hulugu, twenty years ago Qi Fengge fought Tujue’s Hulugu, forced him to swear an oath to not set foot in the central plains for twenty years, a little while back on Qingchengshan at shijiandahui, Hulugu had to do very little to defeat Shen Qiao, many people have been saying that although Liuligong did not publicly announce who was ranked number one under the heavens, Hulugu deserves this position, Yan Wushi must have felt slighted so he challenged him!”

“Ay, don’t even say it, I intended to go to shijiandahui, but my mom wouldn’t let me, saying it was dangerous, this time coming to Xuandushan to seek a master, I had to bribe my dad to hold my mom back, only then could I run out…”

The seven-mouth-eight-tongue chatter became background noise, Shen Qiao’s mind stayed on that one sentence, it was not until Bian Yanmei reached out and put the cup into his hand that he realized he had not moved once from his previous position.

“Thank you.” Shen Qiao accepted the cup, inside there was bamboowater. “Before we left, did Yan-zongzhu mention this?”

After he said this, he felt this question was a little redundant, by Yan Wushi’s character, his actions always fell outside of people’s expectations, even if his parents were still alive they would have a hard time anticipating him, never mind his disciple.

Who knew that Bian Yanmei’s answer was even more unexpected: “The challenge letter is true.”

Shen Qiao, stunned: “Isn’t he still injured?”

Bian Yanmei hesitated: “On this matter I do know one or two things, shizun is not being temperamental, purposefully causing a scene, he has his reasons.”

Shen Qiao: “I’d like to hear the details.”

Bian Yanmei: “I heard that on Qingchengshan, you crossed paths with Hulugu.”

Shen Qiao nodded: “That’s right, Hulugu has emerged after twenty years of seclusion, his power is greater than before, with my wugong as is, in a fight if I wanted to draw him, it would be a difficult feat.”

He had always been honest, he believed a win was a win, a loss was a loss, he didn’t consider it hard to say on account of him losing, despite how strong the enemy was, he said it straightforwardly, no over or understatements.

Bian Yanmei: “Then as Shen-daozhang sees it, if shizun fights Hulugu, what are his chances of winning?”

Shen Qiao furrowed his brows a bit, deliberated: “If he’s uninjured, the probability is about fifty-fifty.”

This was assuming Yan Wushi was at his best, with abundant inner qi, and not even half an injury.

Bian Yanmei hearing this, his expression grew concerned, after a long while: “In Xuandushan’s matters, Tujue are definitely involved, you killed Kunye, Hulugu will not let this go, likely he’ll disregard his self-respect as a grandmaster and come here personally, but with shizun’s challenge letter, Hulugu will have to focus and leave the rest, this will alleviate some of the trouble that Shen-daozhang will face.”

Shen Qiao froze.

He had considered many possibilities, the one he thought closest to being correct was that Yan Wushi wanted to contend for the number one position under the heavens, Shen Qiao had not expected that the answer would turn out to be this one.

Bian Yanmei seeing this revealed a self-deprecating expression: “Shen-daozhang doesn’t believe it? That’s not surprising, us demonic sect people are usually self-absorbed, we stand alone, has there ever been an occasion where we’ve payed a price for someone else?”

Shen Qiao sighed quietly: “That is not what I mean, don’t misunderstand.”

But he could not say that he hadn’t considered the possibility.

Bian Yanmei: “Actually there’s more, the reason shizun spared Xueting’s life was because he intends to bring him to Tiantai Sect, to exchange for the last scroll of <Zhu Yang Ce>.”

Shen Qiao froze again.

<Zhu Yang Ce> comprised of five scrolls, only one of them was related to demonic wugong, Yan Wushi had already read that scroll, the flaw on his demonic core he had also fixed completely, the last scroll to him was not particularly helpful, practically useless, thus the reason he wanted Tiantai Sect’s <Zhu Yang Ce> was not hard to guess.

Shen Qiao was smart, he could think of the answer.

Shen Qiao: “I heard Xueting in his youth went against the mandate of Tiantai Sect, after his master’s passing, he left the sect, and built his own, why would Tiantai Sect be willing to exchange a <Zhu Yang Ce> scroll for Xueting?”

Bian Yanmei: “Tiantai Sect views Xueting as a traitor, shizun spared his life, will give him to Tiantai Sect to deal with as they please, they must accept this gesture of respect from shizun, he won’t be able to get the original scroll itself, but a copy should be no problem.”

Shen Qiao sighed: “Yan-zongzhu has put a lot of thought into this.”

To say he wasn’t moved in the slightest, that would be untrue.

Bian Yanmei understood, no matter how shocked the other was, there was no need to discuss it with him, so he didn’t pause for too long before continuing: “Shen-daozhang needn’t worry, shizun’s injuries are not severe, the fight with Hulugu is scheduled in a half-month’s time, this interval is enough for shizun to recover.”

Someone who was able to seclude for twenty years neglecting the world, they wouldn’t have overt ambitions in the secular world, Hulugu was no exception, although with his position and rank he couldn’t be completely divorced from Tujue’s ambitions, but he was a martial artist first and foremost, as he saw it, Yan Wushi’s challenge letter held more allure than Xuandushan, half a month was not short not long, since he chose to attend the fight, in the meantime he would not distract himself with Xuandushan matters.

This cause and effect, Shen Qiao only had to think on it a little to understand.

If Yan Wushi were to explain all of this to his face, he might be moved, he might politely decline, but it would not have affected him as it did now.

Even if there was no Shen Qiao, it would be difficult for Yan Wushi to avoid crossing paths with Hulugu in the future, but it could be a later thing, for him to choose to challenge him now, there was no doubt most of the rationale lay with Shen Qiao.

A previously heartless, selfish person was able to accomplish what even the most sentimental of people might not be able to, how could one not be affected?

Bian Yanmei discreetly observed Shen Qiao’s reaction, he found the other had gone silent completely, he thought, has he been struck dumb: “Shen-daozhang?”

Shen Qiao did not react effusively as he had imagined, after a period of thinking in silence, he turned very calm: “Regardless, we are already here, your shizun has moved heaven and earth to help, if I don’t resolve things here, I won’t be able to face him.”

Bian Yanmei nodded: “Later let’s ask someone about the situation on the mountain, tomorrow we’ll go up.”

Shen Qiao: “Yes.”

Their stylishness stood out, particularly Shen Qiao with a long sword on his back, wearing Daoist robes, they quickly attracted the attention of the youth close by, from the group that had just been loudly debating, one of them boldly stepped forward to strike up a conversation: “Dare I ask if this daozhang is from the Xuandu Purple Pavilion Sect?”

Shen Qiao had been intending to seek out a disciple that descended from the mountain, now seeing this group, suddenly had another idea: “No, this poor one is Shanqiaozi, this time I am going up to the mountain to visit a friend, how about you young friends?”

Hearing that he was not, the group was a little disappointed, but since he had stepped forward, he couldn’t just walk away: “We are here to seek a master, I am Duan Ying, these two are my friends Zhang Chao and Zhong Bojing.”

The three of them greeted Shen Qiao and Bian Yanmei formally, Shen Qiao nodded in acknowledgement, briefly raised his hands to return the gesture.

Duan Ying didn’t notice, the other two seeing this Daoist merely perform a perfunctory greeting, not even bothering to get up, were a bit vexed.

In reality, Shen Qiao as himself, nevermind raising his hands, even if he made no movement at all, no one would say anything.

Duan Ying asked: “Since Shanqiaozi-daozhang is visiting a friend on the mountain, you must know Xuandushan’s zhengren? We’ve long admired Xuandu Purple Pavillion, seek to enter Xuandu Sect as disciples, we heard that Xuandushan only accepts disciples twice a year at spring and fall equinox, our arrival was poorly-timed, would we be able to ask Shanqiaozi-daozhang to recommend us?”

After this question was asked, his two companions looked at Shen Qiao with high hopes in their eyes.

Shen Qiao laughed: “Actually the one I am familiar with is not the zhangjiao or elders, but the Daoist who manages the stovefire on the mountain, I cannot help you.”

Seeing their disappointed faces, he added: “But every five days, there will be Daoists who come down the mountain to buy provisions, beside this inn is a pastry shop that the Daoists like to frequent, just be mindful of this, maybe you’ll meet them very soon.”

Hearing him say this, the three of them exchanged glances: “If so, thank you daozhang for letting us know.”

Shen Qiao waved his hands: “No need, if you can enter Xuandu Sect as disciples, then this poor one will have gained three friends on Xuandushan, wouldn’t it be a honour?”

Duan Ying felt this daozhang was handsome, spoke very amicably, he had a very good impression of him, he said a bunch more words in thanks, then started chatting with him about Daoist texts, only until Zhong Bojing and the others hastened him, did he finally bid Shen Qiao farewell.

Bian Yanmei had been watching coldly this whole time, only now did he speak: “That Zhang Chao’s calibre was not bad, the other two were average.”

Shen Qiao smiled, didn’t say anything.

Of the three, he liked Duan Ying more, not because he had said the most, but because Duan Ying not knowing their identities could still treat them with courtesy, compared to the other two, he seemed more mature and kind. A person’s calibre was important, but martial virtues were even more important, if Shen Qiao were to pick, he’d rather give up the higher calibre Zhang Chao, and pick the more average Duan Ying.

That night, Shen Qiao and Bian Yanmei took their rest in the inn, coincidentally, the room of Duan Ying’s group was very close by.

The three of them listened to Shen Qiao’s advice, the next morning they waited by the pastry shop, just as expected, they didn’t wait long before two young Daoists came to the shop, one glance and you could tell they had just come down from Xuandushan.

Duan Ying and the others were overjoyed at this stroke of luck, rushed forward to introduce themselves and their intentions, begged the Daoists to take them up the mountain to seek a master.

Who knew they were rejected: “Xuandushan only accepts disciples twice a year at the spring and fall equinox, you’re not here at the right time, wait for the next occasion.”

Duan Ying pleaded: “Daozhangs, we’ve admired Xuandushan for a long time, and are willing to work hard, even if it’s just as a disciple-by-name, please help us!”

The Daoist that appeared slightly older seemed more approachable, he said to them: “Xuandushan is undergoing some changes recently, the zhengren up there are all busy, they don’t have time to accept disciples, your arrival is definitely ill-timed, why don’t you go to Qingchengshan to try your luck.”

Xuandushan and Qingchengshan were not adjacent mountains, only one step away, when Duan Ying and his group heard this, bitterwater could be wrung from their faces.

They pleaded some more, but the others didn’t budge, Duan Ying and his group could only take their leave in disappointment.

“Ay, Yunchang-shidi, why did you speak so severely, maybe when we return to make our report, shizun his respectful elderly self might be willing to accept?” The older Daoist said.

“Right now the mountain is in the midst of its troubles, shizun has already expressed his intention to not participate, why would he accept disciples at this time!”

“Then why don’t we bring them to the interim zhangjiao? They seemed quite pitiful.”

“The interim zhangjiao surely has no time either, I hear Hehuan Sect are arriving any day now, who knows if he can preserve his position then?”

“Yunchang-shidi, don’t speak so harshly…”

“What are you afraid of, no one’s listening, in my opinion, things were better with Shen-zhangjiao, everyone got along, not like now, you suspect me, I suspect you, are there no more peaceful days ahead?” The one called Yunchang-shidi curled his lip in contempt.

In the next instant, his expression became one of fear and astonishment.

“Shen…Shen-zhangjiao?” The usually smooth-talking Yunchang looked at the person in front of him, he had been shocked into a stutterer. 

The author would like to say:

I was busy today, the update was a bit late ~

This chapter reveals the reason why Lao Yan sent the challenge and why he took Xueting to Tiantai Sect ~

Lao Yan: Look, this venerable has set up a huge weiqi stage, I have not gone insane <shrugs>