Chapter 27 (1/2)
FRS: Chapter 26 – Unknown Love (8)
Translator: Momoe Pom
Editor: Isalee
Quality Checker: LadyBlue
First Published on Ainus.h.i.+.
Chapter 27: Unknown Love (9)
The seating arrangement for the main table at Wudang's birthday dinner this year was slightly different.
Besides Ji WuDi, Yuan AoCe was also appointed to the main table as a fill-in for DuanMu HuiChun who happened to be absent this year. Originally, Fan JiJing was among the people that were invited too, but he didn't want to be separated from Hua HuaiXiu and therefore excused himself from it. Even though Hua HuaiXiu didn't say anything after knowing about it, he was quite pleased on the inside.
At any rate, all people sitting at the main table were influential figures in the pugilistic world. If Fan JiJing wanted to expand the Jiuhua Sect, his best option was to take advantage of this opportunity and become acquainted with them. But Fan JiJing turned it down gracefully for his sake. Wouldn’t it indicate that his position in Fan JiJing's heart had already surpa.s.sed that of the Jiuhua Sect?
Another person who made the same decision as Fan JiJing was Lu QingYi.
Lu QingYi had always remained at a respectful distance away from these grand occasions in the martial arts circles, and therefore he didn't attend the birthday dinner last year. However, since he showed up this year, he was inevitably invited to the main table. Hence, Cheng ChengCheng who sat at the main table last year ended up not having a place.
But Lu QingYi declined the invitation first before the situation became awkward for Wudang. In order to keep him company, Cheng ChengCheng also turned it down gracefully.
Thus, the main table which didn't have enough seats in the beginning was now left with an empty s.p.a.ce.
XiaoFeng DaoZhang wanted to invite the leader of Yanyun Stronghold over, but LingYun DaoZhang stopped him with a wave of his hand.
”Let's keep it for now. Maybe people are still making their way.” He was the Zhangmen of the Wudang Sect in public, while in fact, he was also an Elder in the Demonic Sect. He had already received news that Mingzun Feng GuDao and Xueyi Hou were now together on their way to Wudang. With their speed, they probably would arrive either today or tomorrow.
Ji WuDi mumbled to himself, ”No one is coming here with a written declaration for a fight again this time, right?”
Xueshan Sect's Zhangmen Fang QiuShui said, ”Sect Leader Ji's luck won't be this good every time.”
Ji WuDi's mouth twitched. ”It's clearly because Wudang's fengshui was bad. Just look, I stay at the Huihuang Sect every day and yet nothing happens.”
Songshan Sect's Zhangmen Sun YuLiang had never found him to be pleasing to the eyes from the very beginning, especially after the wide spread rumors nowadays about Huihuang Sect acting in collusion with the Demonic Sect. The disdain in heart towards Ji WuDi became even greater, and he immediately followed up, ”How is it the same? Wudang was a leading sect in the pugilistic world. So of course, it tends to stir up those evil unorthodox sects to come and provoke things.”
Ji WuDi blinked. ”Then they should have come to provoke LingYun DaoZhang instead? Why did they provoke me?” He was referring to the Lanyan League.
Sun YuLiang lost his words.
In fact, no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't figure out why the Lanyan League had declared a battle with Ji WuDi at that time. Of course, it never occurred to him that the reason behind it was that Zhong Yu actually wanted to lure Ji WuDi to Mount Pini to kill him to secure his position as the leader of the Lanyan League.
After a moment of fruitless pondering, Sun YuLiang could only blame the sect leader of the Lanyan League for having a unique, awful taste.
Seeing the atmosphere become awkward, Fang QiuShui actively stood up and toasted LingYun DaoZhang with a greeting, “May DaoZhang's happiness be as immense as the East Sea, and may you live as long as the Zhongnan Mountains!”
Ji WuDi whispered to Yuan AoCe, ”Ah-Ce, he said my line.”
Yuan AoCe replied, ”It can't be helped when you prepare such a common line.”
Ji WuDi asked, ”What did Ah-Ce prepare?”
Yuan AoCe looked at him from the corner of his eyes, ”You want to take mine and use it?”
Ji WuDi smiled with no sense of guilt whatsoever.
”Be safe and happy.”
Ji WuDi blinked, ”Then?”
”That's all.”
”…” Silence after silence, Ji WuDi finally gave up holding himself and asked, ”You sure this is not a parent's expectation for their children?”
Yuan AoCe raised his eyebrows. ”Take it or forget it.”
”Ahem, ahem.” LingYun DaoZhang coughed drily . Even though it was not altogether inexcusable for Yuan AoCe to say something like this to him as the Anzun of the Demonic Sect, at the moment, he was still putting on airs as the Wudang Sect's Zhangmen. Therefore, he could only stand up to divert the topic, ”Thanks a lot to everyone with the same ideals for going through the trouble of traveling a long distance to come here. This poor daoist only has a cup of watery wine, and I'll empty it first as a show of respect.”
The whole audience stood up, and they all finished their wine with one gulp.
In the middle, a melodious xiao [1] sound suddenly appeared. A cool breeze delivered it to everyone's ears, making their hearts feel light.
LingYun DaoZhang glanced at Yuan AoCe.
Yuan AoCe slightly nodded.
Ji WuDi said, ”Ah, Feng GuDao came.” His words had obviously verified many people's conjectures as they all looked outside one after the other.
LingYun DaoZhang hurriedly got up and walked out of the hall.
Hua HuaiXiu had long been curious about this Mingzun from the rumors, especially after hearing that this person was granted the t.i.tle Mingzun by the Imperial Court, and yet he was not rejected by the people in their Cult. The truth behind this fact alone could already have people lost in reverie.
Seeing him stretch his neck in expectation, Fan JiJing simply grabbed him, and walked outside.
Hua HuaiXiu was taken aback for a moment. He strived to free himself from Fan JiJing's hand but it only became tighter.
”You…” He looked around nervously, but luckily, everyone's attention was drawn by Mingzun. No one had noticed them as they blended in with the crowd.
Outside of Wudang's main hall stood a man. His sky-colored robe was fluttering in the wind together with his black hair, making him appear particularly free and elegant.
”Mingzun.” LingYun DaoZhang cupped his hands.
Feng GuDao put down the jade xiao, and exchanged a tacit glance with him. ”Feng GuDao is here to wish DaoZhang's happiness to be as immense as the East Sea, and may you live as long as the Zhongnan Mountains.”
LingYun DaoZhang expressed his thanks repeatedly.
Ji WuDi stood next to Yuan AoCe, and whispered, ”So a used line can be used again.”
Feng GuDao followed the voice, and looked at him, then smiled as he greeted, ”Sect Leader Ji, I believe you've been well since we last met.”
Ji WuDi replied, ”If you can give Xiao-Yuyu to me, then not only will I be well, I will even have happiness as immense as the East Sea, and live as long as the Zhongnan Mountains.”
Feng GuDao raised his eyebrows. ”After thinking about it carefully, I think it's not a bad thing if Sect Leader Ji is slightly not so well.”
While the two of them were quarreling, they heard the sound of horse hoofs and wheels coming closer and closer.
LingYun DaoZheng looked at Feng GuDao in surprise, and asked, ”Perhaps, Mingzun came with friends?”
Feng GuDao smiled, but it looked like he was sighing. ”Yes.”
The carriage gradually entered everyone's sight. The person driving the carriage was actually a cute little boy. He was wearing a cold look as if nothing in the world could catch his eyes.
Ji WuDi's eyes brightened up. ”Xiao-Yuyu.”
Xue MingYu's mouth twitched. He turned a deaf ear to Ji WuDi and looked at Feng GuDao. ”Dad, all this waiting has made father anxious.”
A light breeze pa.s.sed by, and the curtains behind him swayed slightly, revealing a small gap between them. Even though it was only the tip of an iceberg, people still clearly saw the delicate hand resting on the knees, which was fine as white jade.
The majority of people in this world had the natural tendency to toss and turn restlessly when they sought something that they failed to obtain.
Seeing a hand but not the entire body ended up making them itch even more inside, wis.h.i.+ng they could lift the curtain to see his true features.
”LingYun DaoZhang.” Even though Xue LingBi didn't lift the curtain as they had wished, he still opened his mouth, ”I hope that some years later, my son would be able to come to Wudang by himself to congratulate your longevity.” He didn't think it worthwhile to pay attention to the martial artists, but LingYun was an Elder of the Demonic Sect, so he had to show some respect to him at least.
LingYun DaoZhang cupped his fist and said, ”Thank you Marquis, for your kind words.”
Xue LingBi continued, ”We need to find a place in the town to rest before dusk.” He obviously wasn't saying this to LingYun DaoZhang.
But the people at the scene all thought LingYun DaoZhang would probably take this opportunity to urge this n.o.ble from the Imperial Court to stay.
To everyone's surprise, LingYun DaoZhang only replied with a faint smile, ”If that's the case, you should start your descent soon before it gets late.”
Everyone felt it was a great pity, but since the host had already said so, they didn't have a say.
Feng GuDao then bid farewell to everyone respectively. It was indeed a tough job that he could actually call out the name of each of the hundred or more people present. When it was Hua HuaiXiu and Fan JiJing's turn, he even specially made an invitation. Fan JiJing knew the invitation was partially for the sake of their friends.h.i.+p with Ji Wudi, and partially because Feng GuDao probably also wanted to build a closer relations.h.i.+p with the Jiuhua Sect, so he agreed to it at once.
Xue LingBi became impatient waiting inside the carriage, and it made the horse restless as well.
Feng GuDao had to hurriedly take his leave and climbed into the carriage.
The curtain lifted. Everyone fell over each other with their necks outstretched. Just as expected, they saw a remarkably beautiful man sitting upright in the center.
Although it was only a glimpse of astonishment, it was enough for them to see clearly.
If Hua HuaiXiu was said to be a bright flower, then Xue LingBi was a dazzling gem. The two of them were equally capable of letting people fall in love with them at first sight and make it hard to restrain themselves.
Only after the carriage turned around and slowly treaded out of sight did everyone reluctantly withdraw their eyes.
Speaking of it, Feng GuDao's party rather overshadowed the host. Even LingYun DaoZhang went out to welcome them. All guests were discontent inside, but since the main figure today hadn't complained, it would be inappropriate for them to say anything.
Everyone went back inside and reseated themselves.