The Mountains and Seas Have Their Time to Return, the Wind and Rain Their Time to Meet Again (Fifth Update)

The next day, Xiang Yuan changed into a fresh set of clothes and headed to White Cloud Manor on East Street.

Fearing something might go wrong, Xiao He stubbornly insisted on tagging along. Xiang Yuan still had Yue Huanjiang without him, but without Xiang Yuan, he truly had nothing.

Xiang Yuan thought he was embarrassing and refused to go with him. Putting on airs and giving him the cold shoulder, he finally managed to get away.

In the manor's back courtyard, Xiang Yuan saw Yue Huanjiang again. A refined young gentleman, pure as jade—his fresh, invigorating presence lifted Xiang Yuan's spirits.

Xiang Yuan couldn't look at him for long. Every time he did, he regretted bringing an umbrella that night—and even his master seemed less appealing by comparison.

"Brother, I've come to visit today for two reasons. First, I wanted to thank you. The gift was so generous that I feel unworthy of accepting it."

"What are brothers for, if not to say such things? Your advice on doing business has benefited me greatly. Clearly, I'm the one who's gained an enormous advantage."

Yue Huanjiang took Xiang Yuan by the wrist and led him into the study and tea room. "Come, come. This is a new tea that just arrived. I wouldn't keep it all to myself, so I invited you to share in its wonderful flavor."

"I wouldn't dream of refusing."

The two sat down to enjoy their tea. Yue Huanjiang smiled and asked, "What's the second reason for your visit?"

"I saw that the five cultivation methods you gave me all have extraordinary abilities, but they differ greatly from what I understand about Acupoint Opening cultivation. I know you wouldn't harm me, so there must be a deeper meaning. I came to ask for an explanation." Xiang Yuan sought clarification.

Yue Huanjiang smiled and nodded. "You know me well, brother. I value you too much to ever harm you."

He first offered Xiang Yuan a cup of tea, then said, "Do you know that we humans in ancient times were born with innate bodies, and that only the demon race's jealousy brought about the trials of the acquired body?"

At this, he looked rather displeased.

Xiang Yuan nodded and said he had heard something about it.

"Now that you've opened your acupoints and seen the Five Elements within, you should be strengthening your foundation and refining the Five Elements for your own use in advance. This is a secret passed down only within White Cloud Manor. Keep it to yourself and don't tell anyone." Yue Huanjiang spoke to him through voice transmission.

Hearing the voice by his ear, Xiang Yuan marveled at how Yue Huanjiang's methods were just as impressive as Xiao He's. He wondered which of them would come out on top in a fight.

He was curious.

"Brother, isn't it too soon to cultivate all Five Elements as soon as I've opened my acupoints?" Xiang Yuan said with a bitter smile. He wanted to, but he just couldn't manage it. The Five Elements were too difficult a problem; he couldn't solve it at the Acupoint Opening stage.

"You have to do it, even if you can't..."

Yue Huanjiang's expression turned solemn. After hesitating for a moment, he took a small wooden box from his robes and set it on the table, pushing it toward Xiang Yuan. "This Five Elements Pearl belongs to the inner disciples of White Cloud Manor. Hold it in your mouth when you meditate and cultivate. It'll protect you as you circulate the Five Elements, so you won't become trapped in any one of them and delay your Foundation Establishment."

So there was more to it after all.

Xiang Yuan opened the wooden box and saw a pearl with a clear, brilliant shell and a chaotic interior, where faint streams of five-colored energy drifted. He knew it was extraordinary—a rare opportunity.

"Don't ask too much, brother. There are things I can't tell you. Keep it safe and cultivate the five methods every day in the order of the Five Elements' cycle of generation. With the pearl's help, these methods won't become your core cultivation methods, nor will they conflict with one another. By the time you reach Foundation Establishment, the Five Elements within you will have begun to take shape. Then, the world will be yours to explore, and you'll be able to cultivate any method you like. Choose whatever path you want, change it if you wish, or turn back if you must. With the Five Elements to aid you, you won't be bound by the rules." Yue Huanjiang spoke through voice transmission.

Xiang Yuan was stunned. He had never heard anything like this.

His senior uncle had told him that once a martial artist's core cultivation method was set, all subsequent progress had to build on it. Only a mighty expert could reverse that course, and only a mighty expert could cultivate all Five Elements at once.

So how could a single Five Elements Pearl, in Yue Huanjiang's hands, overturn the common knowledge of the cultivation world?

Was White Cloud Manor really that powerful?

Yue Huanjiang gave a slight shake of his head, signaling Xiang Yuan not to ask any more. He had already violated the Sect Gate's orders by telling him this much. If he said more, he might reveal some hidden secret.

"Brother, if you trust me, just focus on cultivating."

"I understand."

Xiang Yuan nodded firmly. Perhaps it was Yue Huanjiang's charisma, or perhaps it was fate, but Xiang Yuan liked him very much and was willing to trust him. With Xiao He, whenever he went on and on, Xiang Yuan always had to wonder whether he was plotting something.

Of course, Xiang Yuan was also willing to take the risk because his core cultivation method was the Formless Seal Method. His body had no form and his energy no aspect, so he wasn't worried about taking an unconventional path.

They chatted happily. Xiang Yuan had Doubi recite a couple of lines of poetry, and Yue Huanjiang was so enchanted that he was practically beside himself. If Yue Huanjiang had had a sister, they might have gotten engaged that very day.

This flirting—no, this conversation—lasted all day.

When Yue Huanjiang saw that it was getting late, a trace of melancholy passed through his eyes. "Brother, I set out tomorrow. After we part today, who knows when we'll meet again?"

"You're leaving?" Xiang Yuan asked, reluctant to see him go.

"Yes. I came to Dezhou only to make an inspection. I can't stay long..."

Yue Huanjiang murmured, "Inspired by you, White Cloud Manor is about to enter into a major business deal with the Xiao Clan. I have to return and report to my elders. After that, I'll have little time to roam the martial world."

"The mountains and seas have their time to return, and the wind and rain their time to meet again. Let things take their course and face them calmly. There's no need to force anything or cling to it," Xiang Yuan advised.

"You still know just what to say, brother."

Yue Huanjiang smiled and put away his melancholy. "If you ever roam the martial world, go to White Cloud Manor in Tongjing Prefecture, Kylin Roaming Circuit, and say, 'I'll pour a cup to the river moon.' Then I'll come find you."

"Roam the martial world..."

Xiang Yuan felt a little longing. If fate hadn't already led him onto this path, he would have wanted nothing more than to travel the world as a scholar-swordsman, free to settle scores as he pleased.

Yue Huanjiang misunderstood Xiang Yuan's thoughts and smiled. "I can tell you're no ordinary man, brother. Little Fengxian County can't hold you. One day, you'll return to the mountains and roam wherever you please."

"I'll take that as a blessing, brother. Let's encourage each other."

"Good. I'll wait for you in Tongjing Prefecture."

Xiang Yuan didn't return that night. At dawn, he saw Yue Huanjiang off, then returned to Xiao Residence.

Before he even reached the gate, he spotted Xiao He sitting on the threshold by the road, hands tucked into his sleeves, his figure haggard and his expression forlorn. Anyone who didn't know better might have thought his sweetheart had run off with some young master.

Xiang Yuan looked at him speechlessly. Knowing he was putting on an act, he ignored him and walked around.

Xiao He followed with a wounded look. "Brother Xiaoyuan, how come you didn't come back all night? Did that demon man use some demonic spell on you?"

"Brother Yue was returning to the Sect Gate today, so I saw him off."

"He left?!"

Xiao He was overjoyed, a great weight lifting from his heart. He didn't even ask whether the demon man had gotten his way with Xiang Yuan the night before. Grinning, he grabbed Xiang Yuan and tried to drag him to the academy to tease Wang Wenxu for fun.

A little demon man was just a passing stranger, nothing worth mentioning!

Hearing him say that, Xiang Yuan was speechless again. What did he mean by teasing Wang Wenxu for fun? So Xiao He and Xu Jixian had deliberately written those two poems as complete gibberish that day?

No, that wasn't it. They had to keep up the useless-person act.

Being a teacher was hard!

In the carriage, Xiang Yuan asked, "How are things coming along with the appointment as village constable in Song Family Village?"

"The document's right here. I took care of it yesterday. When I step in, how could anything fail to get done? I hadn't even opened my mouth before that Qin fellow caved."

Xiao He didn't spell it out, but Xiang Yuan had already guessed. Just as with Sima Qingyan, County Lieutenant Qin had something on Xiao He. It was probably some corrupt and illegal dealings—enough to get his whole family executed.

Otherwise, what respectable county lieutenant kept a concubine in a manor of her own? He must have been making quite a bit of "progress."

Xiang Yuan took the document. It was in black and white, with an official seal, and he could take up the post at any time.

"How are things over there? You could ask your worthy master, brother Xiaoyuan. If he isn't confident, I can have Brother Xu disguise himself and go help you," Xiao He said. The disciples of the Yellow Springs Dao who were qualified to travel the world had all reached the Acupoint Opening stage. They outnumbered Xiang Yuan, and he wouldn't be safe alone.

"How strong is Brother Xu?"

"Foundation Establishment at the peak. Gang Qi protects him, hidden arrows can't hurt him, and he's immune to water and fire."

"..."

Was he really that amazing, even after wetting his pants?

No, if he was that amazing, why had he wet his pants?

Xiang Yuan shook his head repeatedly. Even if he were in Xu Jixian's shoes, he'd never have wet his pants while acting—not even if he had no martial strength at all.

Xu Jixian was willing to take on dirty, exhausting work without complaint. He was someone who could achieve great things.

Xiang Yuan wanted to know how capable Xiao He really was. Seeing his proud expression, he knew Xiao He was waiting for him to ask, so he said nothing and acted completely uninterested.

If Xiao He wanted to show off in front of him, he'd get nowhere. Even if he found a door, Xiang Yuan would tear it off its hinges!

A short while later, the carriage arrived at the academy. Xiang Yuan followed Xiao He as they slipped out through the back gate. Turning around, he immediately spotted Xu Jixian nearby, waggling his eyebrows at him.

"I heard Brother Xiaoyuan didn't come home all night. Did he meet some pretty widow on the road?"

Xiang Yuan ignored him, then suddenly sensed a murderous glare. He followed it and saw Sima Qingyan's cold eyes.

Where's my sword?!