novelraw Chapter 463: They Aren’t Here To Welcome Us, Are They?
Chapter 463: They Aren’t Here To Welcome Us, Are They?
Yu Zhao lowered her head to regard the bouquet in her hands and found nothing wrong with it. She glanced back at Ancestor Sui Bian and saw a blinding pairing of blazing red and royal purple, flashy and overbearing, utterly unlike the fresh, understated bouquet she held. She quietly looked away and thought: [Forget it. As long as Ancestor is happy.]
They set out again, Ancestor Sui Bian wearing a decidedly self-satisfied smile, until they arrived outside a grand sect. Only then did he belatedly grow nervous and ask: “Yu Zhao, how is my outfit today?”
She gave him high praise and said: “Very good.”
When they first set out he had specially changed into this ensemble. Now, with face held solemn and belly drawn in, he just barely managed a sense of immortal poise.
“Really? Perhaps I should try a couple more sets and you can choose for me,” he said.
Ancestor Sui Bian was actually starting to lose his nerve.
Yu Zhao countered mildly: “Ancestor, did you not say my taste is poor? What you picked must be the best.”
“But…” he began.
Before he could dither further, a group hurried out from within the imposing mountain gate, stopping outside to peer into the distance as if waiting for someone.
Curious, Yu Zhao asked: “Ancestor, they are not here to welcome us, are they?”Ancestor Sui Bian stroked his beard, his attention diverted, and said with some uncertainty: “Surely not. I never told Qun Fang I was coming today.”
They exchanged a look, hesitating whether to reveal themselves, when two rainbow streaks suddenly shot over the horizon, trailing seven-colored tails like arcing bows.
“Greetings, Ancestor Fei Hong!” the group at the gate cried in delight, bowing with respect.
The prismatic afterimages faded to reveal two figures. One looked around forty, striking of feature and refined in bearing, with a young man following behind who resembled him by half.
Ancestor Fei Hong inclined his head and said: “This is my son, Du Wu Xiang.”
Du Wu Xiang cupped his hands and offered a proper salute.
“Nephew Wu Xiang, truly a fine figure,” someone praised.
“Ancestor Fei Hong has a worthy successor,” another added.
“Fellow Daoist Du is too kind,” came the gracious reply.
With a few courtesies exchanged, the group were about to proceed into the sect when Ancestor Fei Hong, having taken one step forward, suddenly slashed a sharp gaze toward the place where Yu Zhao and Ancestor Sui Bian were hiding and barked: “Who skulks there, hiding your head and showing your tail!”
Yu Zhao’s sight went white as a blaze of resplendent radiance stabbed at her eyes like needles.
“Hmph,” Ancestor Sui Bian snorted as his right foot stamped down.
An invisible wave boomed outward. The radiance shattered with a crash, and color returned to Yu Zhao’s view.
With their position exposed, Ancestor Sui Bian no longer intended to conceal anything. At a thought he stepped out of the void and revealed himself.
Ancestor Fei Hong froze, then the corner of his mouth lifted into a smile as he said: “So it is you.”
“I was afraid your aging eyes would fail to recognize me,” Ancestor Sui Bian replied.
“How could I forget you? I might forget anyone else, but not you, my friend,” Ancestor Fei Hong said with a smile that carried a thread of mockery.
“Father, this senior is…?” Du Wu Xiang asked.
“This is the Daoist Sui Bian I once told you about,” Ancestor Fei Hong said.
“Junior Du Wu Xiang greets Daoist Sui Bian,” Du Wu Xiang said, saluting.
Not only did Du Wu Xiang resemble Ancestor Fei Hong in looks, his manner was ten parts the same as well, cultured and elegant in every gesture.
Ancestor Sui Bian privately rejoiced that he had not come alone; otherwise he would have lost face before this old rival.
“Yu Zhao,” he called.
“Disciple is here,” she answered.
“Let me introduce you. This is Ancestor Fei Hong of the Heavenly Bow Realm,” he said.
Yu Zhao smiled slightly and said: “Greetings, Ancestor Fei Hong. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Du.”
The two smiled as their eyes met, each carrying a hint of appraisal.
Only then did the ones who had been unable to get a word in finally find their chance. One of them said: “Ancestor Fei Hong, since Senior Sui Bian is your old friend, why not come to the Lingyin Sect as our guests so we can show our hospitality.”
Ancestor Fei Hong laughed and said: “Sect Master Heng Nan is too polite. My ties with Sui Bian are not many, but with your sect’s Elder Qun Fang I am a kindred friend.”
“Ah?” the Lingyin Sect party exclaimed, and their manner became even warmer at once.
“We did not realize you were honored guests of Elder Qun Fang. Forgive us if our welcome fell short,” they said.
Since Ancestor Sui Bian had dropped by unannounced, he naturally did not mind such trifles. After a few more pleasantries, they all headed into the Lingyin Sect together.
Unaware of the backstory, the Heng Nan Sect Master sighed along the way and said: “No wonder Elder Qun Fang instructed us to come personally to the mountain gate to receive you. So there were two honored guests visiting together. It is truly the good fortune of our Lingyin Sect.”
Yu Zhao could not see through the Heng Nan Sect Master’s cultivation, but several cultivators behind him were at the Divine Transformation Stage. From that she could roughly infer that he was likely a Void Refinement cultivator. Ancestor Sui Bian and Ancestor Fei Hong, by contrast, were both Integration cultivators, so the Heng Nan Sect Master treated them with particular respect, his words laced with flattery.
Ancestor Sui Bian frowned. It was not that he disliked having his horse stroked. What irked him was hearing that Ancestor Fei Hong had been personally invited by Qun Fang. That left him very out of sorts. Had he known, he would have sent word to Qun Fang before coming. Ancestor Fei Hong kept smiling and said: “Sect Master Heng Nan is too courteous. If Qun Fang invites me, how could I not come, and to meet an old friend after so many years is a happiness as well.”
Ancestor Sui Bian curled his lip. [He has a grown son and still calls her Qun Fang to her face. Shameless. Unlike me, pure of body and heart.]
The Lingyin Sect was built upon the crowns of a cluster of mountains. Their summits had been leveled and linked by long flights of stairs. Elder Qun Fang’s residence lay on the highest peak. The rest of the Lingyin Sect halted at the foot of the last stair, and the Heng Nan Sect Master personally escorted them up.
As she climbed, Yu Zhao thought: [Within the Lingyin Sect, Elder Qun Fang likely holds a status much like the Supreme Ancestor at the Five Elements Dao Sect. I only wonder whether Elder Qun Fang will be willing to remove the Jade Ruyi’s constraint on me, and whether Ancestor’s face will be enough.]
After a while, a faint floral fragrance drifted into her nose. A suspicion rose in her heart. When she looked up and saw layer upon layer of brilliant red blossoms on the steps ahead, her guess was instantly confirmed. Ancestor Sui Bian had been right. She truly did not understand the senior’s taste. At that moment she felt Du Wu Xiang’s steps falter beside her, and Yu Zhao was satisfied. It seemed it was not only her problem.
“Supreme Elder, Heng Nan has brought two seniors to pay a visit,” the Heng Nan Sect Master announced.
“Come in,” a soft, melodious voice answered from within.
The flowerbeds above them slid aside at once, opening a path.
“Please, seniors,” the Heng Nan Sect Master said.
Ancestor Sui Bian drew a deep breath, then strode ahead of Ancestor Fei Hong, chin raised and chest out as he walked up.
“Qun Fang,” he called, the last syllables lilting.