Chapter 99: Sold

Great Cauldron and Great Shield remained locked in a deadlock, and the Supreme Elder could scarcely hold on. The ground beneath him began to crack, and Sect Master Duan Tianxin charged straight at the fray.

The black-robed disciples who had come only to watch sprang up at once, charging in directly. Duan Tianxin had not even moved to strike yet; he flew like a kite whose string had snapped, crashing down with a thunderous thud, tossing up so much dust that a deep pit opened in the ground.

All the disciples on hand panicked and bolted in all directions. Yet the ring of black-robed men had been ready from the start; aside from those who had already been flung away, every one of the others was stopped.

Not bad at all—the old man could hold out pretty well. I had underestimated Duantian Valley’s methods.

Zi Chenyu rose and walked over, food in his hand, eyes fixed on the distant Supreme Elder of Duantian Valley, his hands still carrying the trace of applause.

The white-bearded elder, hearing the younger man, found himself utterly embarrassed. At best he could only endure for half a stick of incense. If this boy had come to slaughter the valley, he would have acted already. Now, with so many black-robed experts around—each of them at the Golden Core stage—the old man had to think a moment before speaking.

“Zi Prince, I know you have come a long way, crossing many miles to Duantian Valley, and I suppose you must have business to conclude. You certainly did not come to take the life of this old fool. If you have something to say, speak it plainly. If I can do it, I will do it with all my strength. What do you think, Zi Prince?”

When the elder drew upon the qi that reinforced the body of the cauldron, the three black robes beside him felt a wave of pressure, and sweat broke across their faces.

“You no longer call me a yellow-mouthed whelp, but old ginger is still pungent. Zi Chenyu is not here in Duantian Valley without reason. Give me one or two maidens and hand over that Dao Sansheng, and after I finish the task given to me by the Honored Envoy, I will leave of my own accord. If you refuse, then let us see how strong your black robes truly are.”

Zi Chenyu clapped once, smiled at the corner of his mouth, and set forth his terms, his hands on his back, eyes fixed intently on the elder as he waited for his answer.

The old man rolled his eyes and weighed it in silence. No core disciple of Duantian Valley had spoken Dao Sansheng’s name, yet he turned toward Duan Tianxin without words.

“Report to the senior elder,” he said. “An outer-disciple was just promoted into the inner hall, and he was called Dao Sansheng. But half a year ago he went to Autumn-Pool City to help the sect with business, and he has not returned.”

Duan Tianxin conveyed the same, bowing as he spoke. Dust covered him, and he had taken a small injury, but it did not touch him.

“Zi Prince, you have heard. Dao Sansheng is not in Duantian Valley; he is in Autumn-Pool City. If you are intent on capturing him, Duantian Valley will give full cooperation. How about that? Let us compromise a little, and leave us this bit of seed.”

The elder scanned the disciples of Duantian Valley, then looked at Zi Chenyu again.

“Very well. I will stay in Duantian Valley. Whenever you take him, hand him over. And I have an old friend who should come out, I quite want to see him. After all, in Zi Xian City he still wanted to laugh at me and make sport of me.”

Zi Chenyu looked up and laughed aloud, not regarding anyone present. The black robed men at his side remained unmoved, still fixed on the valley disciples, doing their duty.

“Zi Prince, you have arrived and I did not welcome you. That is my fault. If you are willing, I can even be your gatekeeper dog. If you do not believe me, hear it yourself.”

“Woof, woof, woof.”

Tu Tianxiong stepped from the crowd, dropped to the ground, and crawled forward like a dog, barking in mimicry, smiling all the while.

“That is all right, but I cannot trust you. You betrayed me once. I still remember everything about the auction-house matter as clearly as if it happened just yesterday. You are smart enough to know what to do; you should not need my instruction.”

Zi Chenyu casually tossed the half-eaten morsel at Tu Tianxiong’s head.
Tu Tianxiong sprang up, swallowed it in one bite, then crawled over to polish Zi Chenyu’s boots, his face showing complete satisfaction.

“Thank you, Prince, for giving Tianxiong food. I know how to force Dao Sansheng out. His two friends, Chao Xiong and Li Zihong, are both in Duantian Valley. I think they surely know where he is. Master, just wait. I will bring Dao Sansheng to your gate.”

Tu Tianxiong pointed at a man and a woman standing in the crowd. Zi Chenyu looked too—the same two he had met back in Autumn-Pool City while searching for Dao Sansheng; even then they seemed more than casually connected.

“Fine. First I will count this as one merit: I think, old man, that Tu Tianxiong should, for now, replace the position of Sect Master and Valley Chief. What say you?”

For Tu Tianxiong it was a joy that seemed to fall from heaven. He had been a young head for long and did not know if he would ever inherit; now his wish had nearly come true.

Zi Chenyu motioned for the three black-clad men to hold. As their qi shields dispersed, the Supreme Elder retracted the Refining-Heaven Cauldron. In the moment that the elder had only just caught his breath, Zi Chenyu had already posed the next issue, his eyes threateningly clear.

The old man still hesitated. Duan Tianxin grew restless and bowed before Zi Chenyu.

“Zi Prince,” he said, “Dao Sansheng’s master is right there: Guo Tianmeng. He is even an elder of our valley. Dao Sansheng had never met entry requirements, and Guo Tianmeng brought him up the mountain. By that deed alone, the debt is deep. By Dao Sansheng’s nature he will never forget it. If we seize Guo Tianmeng and send word, I believe Dao Sansheng will come to us.”

Zi Chenyu’s eyes brightened. He looked at the ragged, filthy old man in the crowd, who truly was Dao Sansheng’s master. From what Zi had learned, Dao Sansheng was a man of fierce loyalty.

Zi Chenyu struck his palms together.

“You need not be replaced. I think if we seize Dao Sansheng’s two friends and his master together, and then send word, it will only be a matter of time before we catch him.”

The exhilaration that had just lit up Tu Tianxiong’s face vanished at once; the dream of becoming Sect Master was gone.

Duan Tianxin, by contrast, could not stop laughing.

“Duan Tianxin, do not rejoice too soon. Catch those three and ask them about Dao Sansheng’s whereabouts. If they know where he is, then make every effort to seize him.”

Chao Xiong bolted straight away, one hand dragging Li Zihong with him. Both of them vanished toward the inner grounds. No one had expected that they would run inside the sect.

They cannot escape that way. Duantian Valley has, through its natural array, only one exit. If they do not run outward, entering the sect will profit them nothing. “Zi Prince, do not worry. Disciples of Duantian Valley, all of you listen: split into squads and go after those two who just fled.”

Duan Tianxin gave orders at once, sending the valley disciples to chase. He then stepped beside Zi Chenyu, as if already awaiting credit.

The disciples looked at one another and then took off after them. Hundreds of figures disappeared over the square. The black robes remained motionless, except for their team leader, who kept his eyes on Zi Chenyu.

“You may all rest now. Let them go and catch them. Later, let Valley Master Duan arrange a few female disciples; after that, we all...” Zi Chenyu had not finished.

The team leader in black robes interrupted him.

“We came on orders to do our duty. If Zi Prince intends to spend this trip in wine and revelry, we can only return and truthfully report to the Master President. I hope the Prince understands the purpose of this summons.”

Zi Chenyu’s face changed. He strode to the team leader and pointed at him.

“The Honored Envoy has told you to follow my command. Everyone traveling this way did so with effort. I meant to let everyone enjoy themselves a little, yet you still raise your snout at me. Tell me, whose word prevails—yours, or mine?”