The Path Toward Heaven

Everybody in the Manor of Prime Minister felt exceedingly tense, save for Zhuo Rusui.

He felt drowsy as usual.

The look on Prime Minister’s face was terrible, but no expression could be detected on Bai Qianjun’s face.

Xi Yiyun sat in silence; he still couldn’t believe that Jing Jiu would be able to persuade his Master to change his mind.

Gu Qing suddenly thought of a possibility. His face turned ashen and his right hand started trembling slightly, as he wondered if something had gone wrong in the course of the conversation between his Master and Bu Qiuxiao.

No. Bu Qiuxiao was not that kind of person, he thought.

Gu Qing wished this to be the case.

…

…

In the old plum garden.

Glancing at the tremble on Bu Qiuxiao’s right hand, Jing Jiu said, “Don’t attempt to commit suicide; do, and I’ll spread this news to the whole world.”

Bu Qiuxiao demanded while staring into Jing Jiu’s eyes, “What makes you think I won’t kill you to shut you up?”

“It’s because you are not sure whether I have told somebody else of the affair, so it’s not so safe to kill me.”

Jing Jiu added, “And in my opinion, the scholars of the One-Cottage House have studied so hard that they’ve become dogmatic in their approach; as a result, you people are incapable of doing this sort of thing.”

“You’re right,” Bu Qiuxiao agreed after a long moment of silence.

Having said this, Bu Qiuxiao took a deep breath.

The wind gathered strength by the lake as the treetops swayed violently.

The expression in Bu Qiuxiao’s eyes returned to its usual serenity as he said, “Hence, I have never considered killing the Junior Master Yan to silence him.”

“Why did he flee then?” asked Jing Jiu.

“It’s because he didn’t know my intention. He thought I might want to kill him to shut him up; on the other hand, he didn’t believe that I was that kind of person. Maybe, that was why he hadn’t told anyone that secret until near the end of his life.”

Bu Qiuxiao’s gaze passed through the forest and landed on the surface of the lake, as he continued sentimentally, “It was for that very reason that I have regarded him as one of the disciples at the One-Cottage House. His life lamp was kept in the house the entire time, but it has been replaced by a monument now.”

Because the life lamp of the Scholar Yan was kept in the One-Cottage House, Bu Qiuxiao was able to learn know immediately after he was killed by Xiwang Sun, and he went over to the spot.

“Both of you were too stubborn,” Jing Jiu commented while shaking his head.

Bu Qiuxiao said, “He simply couldn’t accept what I had done.”

“Few people can accept it, let alone the Scholar Yan, who studied too much to be flexible,” said Jing Jiu.

Bu Qiuxiao drew back his gaze and looked at Jing Jiu. “This story was not what you think it was,” he said earnestly.

Jing Jiu said, “Of course, you were young at the time and the candidate for the future house master, and she was the great grandmaster of the Water-Moon Nunnery. No matter how one looks at it…”

The expression in Bu Qiuxiao’s eyes suddenly turned cold.

Jing Jiu trailed off as he noticed the change.

Bu Qiuxiao suppressed the complicated emotion inside, demanding, “Tell me what you intend to achieve.”

Jing Jiu said, “You should agree and help facilitate the marriage between Jing Li and Qin Shi. And the One-Cottage House maintains a neutral position for the heir of the emperor.”

Bu Qiuxiao said after a pause, “In fact, I’m more interested in what you will do if I don’t agree to the request.”

As for the affair, Jing Jiu only had a guess, which was not backed up by any evidence.

Even if he had the evidence, the affair wouldn’t have a fatal consequence for someone as important as the House Master of One-Cottage.

“I can ask the Curtain Rollers to spread the news, but it would be too slow. I will go to the Water-Moon Nunnery directly.”

Jing Jiu continued, “If that person at the Water-Moon Nunnery knew it was you who did this to her sister, what do you think would happen when that person wakes up? How many people at the One-Cottage House will be able to live afterwards?”

Bu Qiuxiao remained silent for a while before saying, “She swore to sacrifice herself for the Dao, but was forced to violate the forbidden rules. Though I was willing to take the responsibility, she was not; the mishap occurred as a result. Even though I don’t think I had done anything wrong, I understand that I was responsible for what happened to her. Nevertheless, I still can’t figure out why this had happened.”

“It was maybe her choice, or she intended to step down?” Jing Jiu offered.

“It was love.”

Bu Qiuxiao went on, “I was preoccupied with studying back then, so I didn’t know the meaning of love. Since this affair, I have read many more books and understood many more things, but I still don’t understand its meaning.”

Jing Jiu recalled what Zhao Layue had said: “The horse is eating the grass on the slope; but the grass doesn’t owe the horse anything.”

Jing Jiu said, “Maybe, it’s cause and effect from a former life. She owed you too much, or you owed her too much.”

Bu Qiuxiao raised his hand to indicate that he had no interest in discussing this matter further. “How can I trust you?” he asked.

Jing Jiu replied, “When has Green Mountain no kept our promise?”

“I have seen the young disciples of Green Mountain like Guo Nanshan and Gu Han many times; I can trust them. But I can’t trust you, because you are not a regular Green Mountain disciple.”

Bu Qiuxiao continued, “And I have to make sure whether this is your own intention or Green Mountain’s.”

Jing Jiu said, “My intention is the same as Green Mountain’s. You should understand this since you are willing to meet me today.”

“I came here because I trust the stamp on the letter,” said Bu Qiuxiao.

A story could be fabricated without any evidence; and its plot and end could be altered according to audience’s reaction. However, what Jing Jiu said required evidence.

Jing Jiu took out a small greenish bamboo board, with a rooster carved on it.

This was the life board of the Dark Phoenix. Jing Jiu used it as the command board of Shenmo Peak back in the days; the reason for doing so was because he thought Shenmo Peak was ranked the last among the nine peaks of Green Mountain.

However, the Dark Phoenix was not so pleased with the reason; it was because he thought that the “smallest” could also mean the number one in a different sense.

No matter what, this small bamboo board was regarded as a sacred item on Green Mountain.

Seeing the bamboo board was tantamount to seeing the Immortal Jing Yang himself.

The reason Bu Qiuxiao came to the appointment was because he had seen this stamp on the letter.

Seeing the small greenish bamboo board, Bu Qiuxiao, like all the Cultivation practitioners in Chaotian, felt a bit sentimental.

He had finally accepted Jing Jiu’s request, but he had one demand: “Return the Pen of the Guarding City to us.”

“Liu Shisui is almost one of the disciples at your One-Cottage House,” Jing Jiu said. “There is no difference whether the Pen of the Guarding City is in his hands or returned to the One-Cottage House.”

Bu Qiuxiao couldn’t help but comment, “If the Immortal Jing Yang knew what the Green Mountain had become, what would he think of it?”

Jing Jiu said, “I believe that he would be surprised at the change, but he would feel delighted about it.”

Bu Qiuxiao said while staring at Jing Jiu’s face, “A person so handsome has just said something so shameless; these two traits are really mismatched.”

“Given his temperament, it’s quite suitable for Liu Shisui to use the Pen of the Guarding City.”

Jing Jiu returned to the former topic. “He is your student now. Why can’t you give the pen to him? He Zhan shouldn’t get all the good stuff.”

In the last several decades, He Zhan and Wang Xiaoming were the luckiest in the Cultivation circle.

But, the Water-Moon Nunnery couldn’t possibly arrange all those lucky encounters for He Zhan.

Guo Dong was inside the cocoon of the natural silk at the time.

Jing Jiu continued, “You should do your best to cure Shisui’s illness. This is also something you promised the Sect Master and the Young Zen Master.”

“Are you going to threaten me with this affair all the time?” Bu Qiuxiao exclaimed dryly.

“The name of He Zhan should be chosen by those in the nunnery. But it has a deep meaning for you.”

Jing Jiu added evenly, “The House Master is someone who wishes to be a Sage; so there is no point in being indulged in the cause-and-effect.”

What the scholars of the One-Cottage House yearned for was the orthodox Dao and the peace in the world, and they longed to be a Sage within the world.

All the roads will eventually lead to heaven. What they wanted was similar to what the Daoists wanted: ascension and becoming immortals.

Bu Qiuxiao stared into Jing Jiu’s eyes and said, “What do you really wish to tell me?”

Jing Jiu said, “You have promised me so many things today. I’ll offer you a maxim as a gift.”

“Please,” Bu Qiuxiao said.

Jing Jiu said, “The Sages are nameless.”

…

…

Xi Yiyun opened his eyes and took the paper crane flying in through the window from the outside; he unfolded it using the amulet method. Seeing the few lines on the paper, the expression on his face changed a bit. After a long moment of silence, he handed it to Prime Minister standing by his side. After having read the content in the letter, Prime Minister raised his head, the glanced at Gu Qing in a complicated manner.

Gu Qing felt relieved, stood up and cupped his hands toward Prime Minister.

Prime Minister nodded in response expressionlessly.

Gu Qing pushed open the front gate and saw Jing Shang and Jing Li, the father and son. He flashed a faint smile toward them. Though Jing Shang was at a loss, Jing Li, understanding what that smile meant, clenched his hand joyfully and waved his fist in the air twice. He looked at the sky over the Manor of Prime Minister, thinking that his young uncle was indeed awesome!

It didn’t take long before a laughter like the silvery bell rang out in the back garden of the Prime Minister’s Manor.

The servant women and girls at the Manor of Prime Minister truly felt relieved, thinking that the seventh mistress would finally get married and move out, to say nothing of those relatives who had a complicated connection with the Cloud-Dream Mountain.

Resting her arms on the windowsill, Qin Shi gazed at the sky outside the Manor of Prime Minister, full of happiness on her face, thinking that the two cups of tea she had poured for the uncle were truly worthy of her effort.

The news had spread throughout Zhaoge City quickly. The Palace of Prince Jing Xin was naturally among the first to learn the news.

Neither the Prince nor those immortal masters of the Center Sect displayed a cheerful look.

In comparison, the atmosphere was joyful in the Royal Palace. Jing Yao was happy for Jing Li, who had finally been able to marry his sweetheart; and the Royal Concubine Hu was happy for Jing Yao.

She selected many gifts for the Jing house and was to bring them over. She behaved as if her own son was going to get married.

Regardless of whether the reactions were delight or anger, the marriage between the Manor of Prime Minister and the Jing house had affected a lot of people.

However, nobody could figure out how Jing Jiu persuaded Bu Qiuxiao.

…

…

The scholars of the One-Cottage House paid too much attention to their reputation, whether it was the reputation during their lifetime or afterlife. In Jing Jiu’s eyes, this was a big predicament.

A person who longed for the Dao shouldn’t care so much about trivial matters. Since he had understood this, very few obstacles remained on his path toward heaven now; hence, he offered Bu Qiuxiao this advice: The Sages are nameless.

This maxim could be understood by the superficial meaning of the words; but a deeper meaning could also be comprehended. No matter how one understood it, this maxim should be helpful for Bu Qiuxiao.

Jing Jiu still had a good impression of Bu Qiuxiao, though Bu Qiuxiao had concealed some facts during their conversation at the old plum garden.

The father of He Zhan might not be Bu Qiuxiao.

But, that person’s reputation was probably more important than Bu Qiuxiao’s own life and reputation.

Actually, even though she was a few hundred years older than he and willing to break the forbidden rules, the affair shouldn’t be a big concern for her.

The Water-Moon Nunnery had not been the same since Lian Sanyue showed up, so there was nothing they couldn’t tolerate.

It was most likely that the father of He Zhan was concerned about his reputation; and Bu Qiuxiao was probably covering up for that person.

The former house master of One-Cottage enjoyed a good reputation, and he was very affectionate toward his wife. He had dedicated a poem “Thoughts on Crossing the River” to her, a poem that been popular with the readers for hundreds of years until now.

If it was the former house master of One-Cottage who had the love affair with the Great Grandmaster of the Water-Moon Nunnery, what happened next could be explained more acceptably.

Bu Qiuxiao left the One-Cottage House for a while in order to cover up for his Teacher.

After the death of the house master, Bu Qiuxiao took care of He Zhan for his Teacher in secret, which was also understandable.

The Scholar Yan was mistaken about all this.

And Bu Qiuxiao couldn’t defend himself.

However, this postulation had no chance of being substantiated; it was because Bu Qiuxiao would never admit it, and the parents of He Zhan had died several decades ago.

Thinking of this possibility, Jing Jiu had an even better impression of Bu Qiuxiao.

As his disciple, Gu Qing would take care of many things for his Master; he was a sort of nameless hero.

There was an immortal residence by the White-Horse Lake, famous for its restaurant. As long as enough money was paid, their hotpot could be quite lavish.

Jing Jiu walked into the private room of the restaurant and saw Gu Qing’s face in the midst of the steam, saying in satisfaction, “You have been working hard over last few years. Feel free to drink some wine tonight.”

Gu Qing felt so honored that he forgot how to respond.

Seeing Liu Shisui, Jing Jiu thought he was indeed a troublemaker. “You shouldn’t drink any wine since you have to get ready for the Cultivation tournament,” he told Liu Shisui.

Liu Shisui accepted the advice obediently.

Zhuo Rusui said with a smile, “We are all Cultivation practitioners. It doesn’t matter if we drink some wine, since we can dissolve it easily.”

Glancing at Zhuo Rusui once, Jing Jiu wondered what he was doing here now that he didn’t have a status on Shenmo Peak.