Chapter 26 (1/2)
FRS: Chapter 26 – Unknown Love (8)
Translator: Momoe Pom
Editor: Me3, Isalee
First Published on Ainus.h.i.+.
Extra 1: Celebration of Longevity on Wudang
It had been three months since Hua HuaiXiu followed Fan JiJing back to the Jiuhua Sect.
These three months were long enough to let everyone in the Jiuhua Sect realize Hua HuaiXiu's status in the sect.
Because Fan JiJing did two things.
First, he put Hua HuaiXiu's luggage in his own room.
Second, he put him in charge of the sect's money.
As for the first point, everyone just kept one eye closed and let him have his way. After all, life went on regardless of the person you lived with. Since there were quite a few cases like this already in the pugilistic world, everyone simply accepted it after the initial astonishment. But the second point involved their own interests. Song BoLin and the others protested several times both in public and in private. At first, Fan JiJing only took out his sword, let it get some suns.h.i.+ne, and made a few moves. Later, as more people showed up, he simply performed a set of sword arts and covered the ground with the twigs he chopped. Since then, the entire Jiuhua Sect had finally come to an agreement with their zhangmen.
Hua HuaiXiu settled down like this, and the Jiuhua Sect's wallet bulged day after day just like he had promised earlier. Of course, that was another reason why the Jiuhua Sect tacitly agreed to it.
To humans, it was s.e.xual desire that would come up once they were fed and warm, but for sects, it was aggression.
Ever since Lanyan League and Xuetu Hall were wiped out one after the other, and the Demonic Sect and the Huihuang Sect joined hands, the pugilistic world had stayed undisturbed for too long, so long that it was time for the WuDang's zhangmen LingYun DaoZhang's birthday party again.
Hua HuaiXiu's first reaction after receiving the invitation was, ”Let Guan Xing and s.h.i.+ JiZhong go together.”
Guan Xing glanced at him indifferently. According to how well he knew him, the reason that Hua HuaiXiu sent them together probably had nothing to do with helping him to fulfill his wish. Moreover, besides the actual party that was involved, everyone else had more or less sensed something regarding his relations.h.i.+p with s.h.i.+ JiZhong.
Song BoLin argued, “I’ve heard that both Mingzun and Anzun of the Demonic Sect will show up at the birthday party this time. If we only send Guan Xing and s.h.i.+ JiZhong, I'm afraid it won't seem like we're serious enough.” There was some satire towards Guan Xing implied in his words. Even though the person who was currently in charge of the Jiuhua Sect was Fan JiJing, his grudge with Guan Xing did not disappear because of it.
”What Song s.h.i.+shu said is very true. Therefore, could zhangmen please attend it personally in order to show our seriousness?” Guan Xing indifferently glanced at Song BoLin. His eyes seemed to say that they were simply two birds of a feather, why was there the need for a pot to call the kettle black?
Song BoLin's beard shook, but he endured it silently and did not vent out his anger.
Fan JiJing looked at Hua HuaiXiu.
Hua HuaiXiu curled his lips, saying, ”The Hua Family will send someone too.” After all, having him stay in the Jiuhua Sect was already not legitimate enough. He was fine with it, but because of the Hua Family's tradition of keeping a good image in public, they would definitely think of it as a shame. Besides, he was also extremely unwilling to separate with Fan JiJing to let him go by himself.
Fan JiJing said, ”When Master was still alive, he had taken you as his last disciple. Therefore it's fine if you attend the event together with me as my s.h.i.+di.”
Song BoLin and the rest all stared at him with wide eyes, watching him lie through his teeth.
Hua HuaiXiu as well.
Fan JiJing continued, ”It's just that he had taken you as a disciple quite hastily, and there was not enough time to notify all other sects. If you are willing, we could make up a ceremony for you.”
Hua HuaiXiu categorically refused, ”I don't want to be his disciple.”
His words were extremely impolite, because everyone present was either Bu LouLian's s.h.i.+di or his disciple. However, none of them showed even the tiniest unhappiness, they rather appeared as if the words had struck a responsive chord in their hearts.
Fan JiJing thought for a moment, then suggested, ”What about Song s.h.i.+shu?”
Song BoLin, whose name was mentioned, had a rather mixed feeling.
Deep in his heart, he was unwilling to take Hua HuaiXiu as his disciple, but thinking about it the other way around, he was even more unwilling to hear Hua HuaiXiu's declination. He stared at Hua HuaiXiu with wide eyes while in his mind, thoughts were wavering and surging in an unprecedented manner.
Hua HuaiXiu pondered for a long time, then slowly said, ”I’d rather take Bu LouLian.” At least he was dead, so Hua HuaiXiu wouldn't be bothered since he was not going to see him.
Song BoLin hammered the table and left.
The annual celebration of longevity for Wudang's LingYun Daozhang had already become a great event that everyone in the martial arts world would partic.i.p.ate in.
Even Ji WuDi, who often got sick around this season had personally attended it two years in a row, it was enough to show the appeal and influence of this grand meeting.
When Hua HuaiXiu and Fan JiJing arrived at Wudang, it was already dark, but everywhere on Mount Wudang was brightly lit.
The little priest who ushered them in was introducing the scenery on Mount Wudang as he led the way. Since the people attending the event were not the same each year, they had to repeat these words each time.
Hua HuaiXiu and Fan JiJing had both heard it before, but they still seemed to find it very interesting.
They arrived at the guest rooms. As expected, the two people shared one room.
The little daoist priest felt rather sorry as he apologized, ”There aren't many houses on Mount Wudang. Sorry for putting two distinguished guests to great inconveniences.”
How was it inconvenient?
Fan JiJing basically longed for it. He laughed and repeated that it was nothing as he saw the little priest who was still feeling guilty out the door.
After he had left, Hua HuaiXiu worriedly said, ”I wonder who the Hua Family sent here.”
Seeing how he was concerned, Fan JiJing suggested, ”Why don't we just shut the door and stay inside for these several days except for the birthday dinner? This way we won't encounter other people.” Anyway, there were lots of things two people could do even if they stayed in.
He just had a taste of the pleasure of lovemaking [1]. Now was the time when he simply couldn't get enough of it.
Hua HuaiXiu didn't pay attention to these thoughts of his. He was still unable to come out from the dead end in his own mind. ”Even if we don't go out, people will still come to our door.” With the gradual emergence of power and position of the Jiuhua Sect, naturally there would be observant people who would come to fawn on them.
Not long after his voice faded, FanJiJing heard footsteps outside. He couldn't help but smile bitterly, ”Cousin truly is a prophet.”
They opened the door. It was Cheng ChengCheng and Lu QingYi.
Despite the fact that he was stunned on the inside, Fan JiJing concealed it well. ”So it's Brother Cheng and Lu Zhangmen.”
Cheng ChengCheng greeted them at once.
The only reason Fan JiJing befriended him back then was because of his outstanding talent in martial arts. Fan JiJing believed he would certainly become a very capable person in the future. However, no one had expected that within a short year, he would have become the zhangmen of the Jiuhua Sect himself. Worldly affairs sure were unpredictable.
Lu QingYi was tired of standing outside, so he invited himself into the room and took a seat.
Cheng ChengCheng was already used to it so he was not surprised at all. He casually said, ”Excuse us, we have been rude,” with courtesy and then walked in together.
Fan JiJing muttered to himself, 'It was the zhangmen of Taishan Sect who was being impolite, why did he apologize for the intrusion?'
Teacups, teapot, and hot water — everything needed for tea was available in the room. Hua HuaiXiu took out tea leaves from his cloth bundle and poured four cups of tea.
Cheng ChengCheng and Fan JiJing were old friends. Meeting again after a long period of separation, they naturally had endless things to talk about.