Chapter 42: Zhang Zhiwei the Big Mouth

Stepping across the towering vermilion gates adorned with the plaque bearing the inscription "The Inheritor of the Han Heavenly Master Mansion," one is immediately greeted by halls with cinnabar pillars and azure-tiled roofs.

The architecture within the Heavenly Master Mansion is laid out according to the Daoist "Bagua" or Eight Trigrams formation, with pathways paved in bluestone winding and extending through the grounds.

Ancient camphor trees shade the paths on both sides, their leaves filtering mottled shafts of sunlight from above, while the air is permeated with the serene fragrance of sandalwood and the crisp, clean scent of foliage.

Walking along the path, Zhang Huaiyi led the way ahead while conversing with Zhao Zhen with a smile.

"May I ask how old Young Master Zhao is this year?"

"Sixteen by lunar reckoning. Why do you ask?"

"Only sixteen? I never would have imagined that Young Master Zhao, despite your youth, has already traveled extensively across the Three Mountains and Five Sacred Peaks as well as various sects of the outcomer world. It is truly admirable."

"Daoist Priest Lin is too kind. Every family has its own difficult scriptures to chant; if it were not for sheer necessity, who would wish to leave their hometown and wander alone at such a tender age?"

"I heard that Young Master Zhao has been an orphan since childhood?"

"Yes, my parents died in the chaos of war when I was very small. The old man took me in and raised me."

Zhao Zhen nodded, his mind involuntarily drifting back to the face of the old man, and his mood suddenly grew deeply complicated once more.

Perhaps sensing Zhao Zhen's dejection, or perhaps similarly reminded of the parents he had caused to die through his own youthful arrogance and folly, Zhang Huaiyi remained mostly silent for the rest of the journey.

A moment later, Zhang Huaiyi came to a halt in front of Zhang Jingqing's quarters.

"Master, Young Master Zhao Zhen has come up the mountain to see Senior Brother Zhiwei."

"Ah, it's the Zhao boy. Come in."

After respectfully bowing toward the interior of the room, Zhang Huaiyi turned back once more and made a gesture inviting Zhao Zhen to enter.

"Thank you, Daoist Priest Lin, for showing the way."

"You are too courteous, Young Master Zhao."

Cupping his fists in a gesture of thanks to Zhang Huaiyi, Zhao Zhen slowly walked into the courtyard before him.

Inside the courtyard, Zhang Jingqing was seated on the steps outside the main hall. In front of him, Zhang Zhiwei was balancing a large water vat atop his head, standing on one foot in the posture of a golden rooster greeting the dawn.

At this sight, Zhao Zhen froze slightly, but Zhang Huaiyi, by contrast, seemed entirely unfazed. Ignoring Zhang Zhiwei altogether, he walked up to Zhang Jingqing, cupped his fists, and said:

"Master, I have brought the guest here. If there is nothing else, this disciple will return to sweeping the main hall."

"Go ahead, then. You've worked hard, Huaiyi."

Zhang Jingqing nodded, his gaze suddenly shifting toward Zhang Zhiwei, who was blinking frantically at Zhao Zhen.

"You brat! Today's time is not up yet, so even if the Jade Emperor himself were to descend, you will obediently finish balancing that vat for your master!"

"Yes, Master..."

Zhang Zhiwei replied with an expression that suggested life had lost all meaning. Knowing that it was impossible to count on Zhao Zhen to rescue him from his punishment, he had no choice but to obediently resume balancing the vat.

"Zhao Zhen pays his respects to the Heavenly Master."

"No need for such formal courtesies, young Zhao Zhen. I never expected that you would really run off to my Heavenly Master Mansion."

As he spoke, a flash of playful amusement crossed Zhang Jingqing's eyes.

"The Heavenly Master jests. Even if Daoist Brother Zhang had not invited this junior, the ancestral home of Daoism here on Mount Longhu, with the Heavenly Master Mansion leading the Zhengyi sect and boasting such magnificent scenery and cultural heritage, how could this junior not visit in his lifetime if given the chance?"

"Hahaha! Now I finally understand why you weren't driven out when you visited other sects previously. That mouth of yours is truly eloquent."

Zhang Jingqing laughed heartily.

"Heavenly Master, I wonder what Daoist Brother Zhang is doing..."

"Hmph! This wretched brat—I told him to keep what happened at the Lu family's birthday banquet a secret, but look at him! He's only been back for a few days, and now everyone from top to bottom in the Heavenly Master Mansion knows about it!"

"Master, I was wrong, please spare me! I swear I won't dare do it again next time..."

Faced with Zhang Zhiwei's pitiful and earnest pleas, Zhang Jingqing acted as though he heard nothing at all, simply closing his eyes to achieve peace of mind through deliberate ignorance.

Zhao Zhen smiled faintly. He could naturally tell that Zhang Jingqing wasn't truly angry, so he cupped his fists and addressed the Heavenly Master:

"Heavenly Master, at the Lu family's birthday banquet, Daoist Brother Zhang's skill astonished everyone. Even during our match, if this junior had not relied on a clever trick, I fear I would have only managed a draw with Daoist Brother Zhang.

Given such an impressive feat of arms, it is entirely natural that Daoist Brother Zhang would wish to share it with his fellow martial brothers.

Although this is my first visit to the Heavenly Master Mansion, I truly dare not disturb the Heavenly Master for too long. Therefore, I humbly request whether you might allow Daoist Brother Zhang to act as a guide and show this junior the magnificent scenery of Mount Longhu?"

Upon hearing these words, Zhang Zhiwei's eyes instantly lit up brightly, and the look he cast at Zhao Zhen's back was filled with boundless gratitude.

"This... very well. Zhang Zhiwei!"

"Here!"

"Put down the vat first and go entertain the guest."

"Understood, thank you, Master!"

Zhang Zhiwei chuckled, exerting a subtle force with his head, and the water vat—which was one meter in diameter and capable of holding enough water for a dozen people for days—was lifted up as lightly as if it were a mere feather.

As the water vat descended through the air, Zhang Zhiwei merely tapped his foot gently beneath it, and the vessel landed steadily on the flagstones without losing a single drop or suffering the slightest damage.

Seeing this, Zhao Zhen's gaze narrowed slightly.

This Zhang Zhiwei had reached a truly peerless level of mastery over his own strength and control.

"Thank you, Heavenly Master."

"Very well, the two of you go wander around yourselves for now."

Zhang Jingqing waved a hand and then turned, walking away into the interior hall.

Once Zhang Jingqing's figure completely vanished around the corner, Zhang Zhiwei let out a long breath of relief.

"I really must thank you, Brother Zhao, for helping me out of that predicament this time."

"Daoist Brother Zhang is too polite. If your honored master truly intended to punish you severely, how could mere words from me carry any weight?"

"Ah, I know my master's temper all too well. Even if it wasn't a genuine severe punishment, if Brother Zhao hadn't spoken up, chances are I'd have been left standing there balancing that vat for the entire day."

Zhang Zhiwei waved his hand and made a polite gesture inviting Zhao Zhen to proceed.

The two youths stepped out of Zhang Jingqing's courtyard, chatting amiably as they walked, their conversation flowing smoothly and pleasantly.

Along the way, Zhang Zhiwei introduced many of the scenic spots and architecture of the Heavenly Master Mansion to Zhao Zhen, and gradually, the relationship between the two grew much closer and more familiar.

"Old Zhao, what do you think? Our Heavenly Master Mansion isn't half bad, is it?"

"A land blessed by heaven and earth, home to outstanding people," Zhao Zhen praised sincerely.

"Hahaha, how is it that even though none of us ever studied properly for very few years, whenever you speak, Old Zhao, you always sound so much more scholarly and refined than the rest of us?"

"Force of habit."

Zhao Zhen smiled faintly, then turned his head casually to glance behind him without altering his stride.

"Brother Zhiwei, didn't the Heavenly Master only ask you to show me around? When did you send for an audience?"

Zhang Zhiwei was slightly startled, then rubbed the back of his head with a somewhat embarrassed expression.

"You noticed, Old Zhao..."

"With so many people, it's rather hard not to notice... Have they been following us for quite a while now?"

"Ah, those must be my martial brothers. It's my own fault for having such a big mouth—as soon as I got back up the mountain, I told them all about our bout, and then... well, you know how it is~"

With that, Zhang Zhiwei raised his eyebrows at Zhao Zhen with a grin.

"Now I finally understand why the Heavenly Master punished you..."