A Date with Destiny

"Brother Xuanbao, are you all right?" As the ship started flying, Li Fan hurried down to the quiet room below deck and looked in on Yuan Xuanbao through the doorway.

The eight disciples had been locked up separately, with yellow talismans pasted over their doors and red cords stretched across them. It looked like they'd be in for a beating when they got back to Bamboo Mountain. And with the Inner Sect about to investigate Luo Sect spies, they were bound to suffer...

"...Qingyue, sorry you had to see that." Yuan Xuanbao had washed his face and changed clothes. He looked all right, but his spirits seemed low.

"...Want to talk about it?" Li Fan scratched his head, unsure what to say.

"What, would you really befriend a despicable man like me, who killed his fellow disciples just to survive?" Yuan Xuanbao looked at Li Fan.

Li Fan shook his head. "People have those they're close to and those they're not. Being fellow disciples or fellow Daoists doesn't mean we won't turn on each other someday. I don't know what exactly happened in that formation, but I saw you risk your life for Chen Daotong before. That told me you weren't a bad person. Besides... sigh, in this damned world, you could die at any moment. Who can afford to be picky about who they befriend?

"Here, take this."

Yuan Xuanbao froze, then caught the object Li Fan tossed him. When he saw what it was, his eyes widened. "A Mysterious Purple Gold Pill! Where did you get this? I'm not even injured. I can't accept such a valuable gift!"

"Oh, just take it. Keep it to save your life later. At this rate, you'll need it sooner or later."

"...Thank you." Yuan Xuanbao gritted his teeth, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to toss the life-saving Golden Core back. Getting his hands on such a pill made the trip worthwhile after all.

Li Fan waved it off, unconcerned. He was about to leave, but hesitated and turned back to make sure. "Brother Xuanbao, there's something I'd like to ask. Which Daoist told you all to come to Tiantai Mountain for the sword duel? Was it Lu Xing?"

Yuan Xuanbao didn't hide anything. "No. Master Zhang told us."

What?

Li Fan froze. "What did you say? Zhang Jiugao, Master Zhang? When did this happen? What did he tell you?"

Yuan Xuanbao looked puzzled. "Lu Qi heard that his family's caravan had been attacked. Lu Xing and the others had already left, and he wanted to hurry over and help, so he went to ask Master Zhang for advice. Master Zhang saw that he was determined to go and told him Tiantai Mountain was dangerous, so he should gather more fellow Daoists to be safe..."

Something was wrong!

"Which room is Lu Qi in?"

"Below deck, I think. What's going on?"

Li Fan's expression turned grave. Without explaining anything to Yuan Xuanbao, he immediately hurried into the inner cabin and rushed downstairs, coming to a stop at the lower deck.

He saw only Master Yao and Lu Xing standing outside Lu Qi's room.

Lu Qi looked bewildered. Lu Xing seemed lost in thought, while Master Yao turned to look at Li Fan, his expression as grave as Li Fan's.

Li Fan's heart sank. They had already confronted each other.

Master Yao strode past him and headed upstairs. Li Fan quickly followed. "Was Master Zhang really lying?"

Master Yao remained silent. Li Fan continued, "If he knew all along that there'd be a sword duel at Tiantai Mountain, then the Lu Family members were deliberately lured there.

"Someone had planned ahead to provoke a duel between Ink Bamboo Mountain and the Immortal Palace.

"But no matter who he was working for, if he knew this was a setup, why did he walk right into it?

"If he just wanted to take advantage of the duel to vie for fortune and survive his tribulation, there were plenty of Golden Core pills to keep him alive. Why go out of his way to bring Zhang He along, risking exposure for secretly cultivating demonic arts?

"And from the way he fought Nangong Wuchen, he clearly hadn't expected Nangong Wuchen to show up at Tiantai Mountain, had he?

"So if Zhang He was meant to die in his place, and it wasn't for Nangong Wuchen's sake, then what was he prepared to die for...?"

"What else?" Master Yao pushed open the door and stepped out onto the deck. His face grave, he looked west. "The sword duel."

In the distance to the west, a jeweled tree gleamed beneath a canopy of seven-colored clouds. Fragrant carriages and magnificent steeds filled the sky, stretching from horizon to horizon. Three dazzling streaks of light blocked the route back to Ink Bamboo Mountain.

Ink Bamboo Mountain's disciples gathered on deck to look.

The three streaks of light raced closer and landed in front of the ship in the blink of an eye.

In the middle stood an old monk in a dark green robe and a cotton kasaya. On his left was a nun wearing a crown, a white snake coiled around her arm. On his right stood a Confucian scholar with a precious scepter in hand and a mustache. Even from afar, the three radiated astonishing auras: golden lotuses blossomed around one, three flowers hovered above another's head, and righteous energy soared around the third. All three were Nascent Soul cultivators who could ride the clouds, cross the heavens, and traverse the earth.

Each was accompanied by an attendant: a novice monk, a strongman, and a young page. All three disciples were at Foundation Establishment.

"I am Faji of Tiantai Mountain. I've come to honor the challenge of a sword duel," the old monk said, palms together.

"I am Cijing of Tiantai Mountain. I've come to honor the challenge of a sword duel," the nun said with a smile, stroking the snake.

The Confucian scholar cupped his hands. "Brother Yao, it's been a long time. Still alive, I see."

Yao Xuanzhou ignored the other two and stared at the scholar. "Zhou Sheng, I knew you were scheming behind the scenes."

The scholar laughed and wagged a finger. "You didn't know. If you had, would I have left you anything to trace back to me?"

That did sound about right...

Yao Xuanzhou shot him a look and waved his hand. "I won't trade insults with you. Is Liqiu Palace getting involved in the business between Bamboo Mountain and the Immortal Palace today? Fine! Come on! I'll take your head, then deal with the Five Vermin hiding in the Censorate!"

Zhou Sheng laughed again. "You're mistaken. Though I once served as the Eastern River Inspector, I recently took leave after a death in the family and left my post. I'm just a commoner now, drinking tea and listening to music. I was bored, so I came to join the fun after being invited.

"If you fellow Daoists will do me the honor, I'll lend my humble reputation to bear witness. Brother Yao, don't go around shouting and making baseless accusations. Don't wrong an innocent man!"

Yao Xuanzhou frowned. "Taking leave for a death in the family? You've been cultivating for five hundred years. Who died? Your mother?"

Zhou Sheng didn't even get angry. He laughed again. "Indeed. Is it not allowed for me to make a Dao Companion my foster mother as well? She recently passed away, and I was so overcome with grief that I chose to mourn her.

"In any case, this has nothing to do with Li Country, and even less to do with the Censorate. Brother Yao, don't go around biting everyone and slandering the court. Your death wouldn't matter, but we can't have you stirring up trouble in the Imperial City and beyond!"

Yao Xuanzhou's brows twitched as he took the jab. "You shameless cur! Fine! If this has nothing to do with you, then I'll kill this pair of demons and put an end to the Devil Seeds masquerading as Buddhists on Tiantai Mountain!"

Zhou Sheng shook his head with a smile. "You're wrong again, Brother Yao. Today's whole affair is about the sword duel between Tiantai Mountain and Bamboo Mountain. It has nothing to do with the Immortal Palace."

"Nothing to do with the Immortal Palace!" Yao Xuanzhou laughed in fury and pointed north. "Then what are they doing here? Watching the show?"

Li Fan followed his pointing finger and looked north. Thunder boomed, dark clouds rolled, and three hundred Golden Core heavenly soldiers came surging toward them. Three Nascent Soul generals led the vanguard, each commanding one of the three divisions. Every soldier wore scale armor and a metal helmet, with cloud-patterned boots. Clubs, spears, halberds, axes, and swords—every kind of weapon—were arrayed before them. Their killing intent soared to the heavens, like a river churning beneath an advancing sea, like dark clouds crushing a city. The murderous aura of these mere three hundred men could shake heaven and earth. They were nothing like the massive song-and-dance party from last night.

Zhou Sheng chuckled again. "Oh, they're here to find someone. Sixteen hundred people went missing yesterday. They're probably hiding aboard your ship. We'll search and leave right away, without delaying you."

Yao Xuanzhou actually chuckled along. "What, you want your evil corpses back?

"Fine! They're right here with me. Come and get them! You pathetic fools! Let's see who dies first!"

And someone really did come. A piercing cry rang out from the south, like metal snapping against a taut string. Then flames streaked across the sky, spreading into a band of golden clouds that set the overcast sky ablaze. In an instant, a gigantic bird appeared, its wings spanning three zhang. It was scarlet all over, with purple claws and a golden beak. Three golden markings of the sun, moon, and stars adorned its wings and crown, and Samadhi True Fire blazed around it, its divine radiance dazzling the eye.

Could that... could that be...

'The Vermilion Bird, divine spirit of the southern sky, the Fire Official's abode and the Red Emperor's palace; the Fire Virtue of Mars, presiding over the Well, Ghost, Willow, Star, Zhang, Wing, and Chariot constellations.'

'Li Fan's mood decreased by 1 point.'

The Vermilion Bird covered a thousand li in an instant and soared toward them. From afar, Li Fan could see several cultivators standing atop its scarlet back. At their head was a female general in golden armor and a red crown. Her face bore a striking resemblance to the head Master Yao had taken earlier, sharing six or seven features, though hers was still attached to her neck. Her hair was bound beneath a purple-gold crown, with a pair of red pheasant feathers hanging at either side. She wore a bright red cloak and carried a flame-tipped spear. Dashing and noble, she was unmistakably another member of the Nangong Family.

Several male and female cultivators seemed to stand beside her, dressed in feathered robes and rainbow silks, in Purple Sash Immortal Clothes, and in the garb of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. The golden flames and scarlet feathers obscured them at a distance, making their forms hard to see. But each had five-colored radiance streaming above their heads. Judging by the dazzling display, they were all at the Nascent Soul Realm.

'The Profound Heaven Sword Intent says, "Oh, damn. We're screwed."'

Zhou Sheng suddenly burst out laughing, his voice thundering. "Brother Yao, your sect has been far too tyrannical! Over a mere misunderstanding, you razed Tiantai Mountain's temple and slaughtered countless people! You even stole the generations-old Buddhist treasures of Luo Temple!

"Though I, Zhou Hao, am just a commoner, I can't stand by and watch you defy the law, killing and looting with impunity!"

The monk raised his voice. "Faji knows he's no match for Lou Guan's demonic arts, but he must avenge his disciples who died unjustly! Master Yao, please grant me a match!"

The nun Cijing also cried out, her voice choked with grief. "The heretics of Lou Guan are bullying us with their power and have harmed my Dao Companion! I beg the Immortal Palace to uphold justice!"

Then, led by the Nangong Family's female general, four shining figures flew from the Vermilion Bird's back. They joined the three Nascent Soul cultivators in the west and advanced toward Ink Bamboo Mountain's treasure ship. The northern army remained motionless, its banners fluttering as black winds howled. It seemed they had set up some kind of formation.

Yao Xuanzhou watched them act, his eyes fixed on the people atop the Vermilion Bird to the south. He didn't say a word.

Li Fan looked south at the Vermilion Bird, north at the army, and west at the monk, nun, and scholar. Then he looked back east. Clear skies stretched as far as the eye could see, the blue washed clean...

Ten against one, and they still had to pull all these dirty tricks? Surround us from three sides and leave the east open, huh? Maybe there's a formation and an ambush waiting that way too. Have they no shame at all...

'The Profound Heaven Sword Intent says, "Host, that shameless Confucian scholar has reversed the circumstances that would have triggered this calamity. In a moment, Xiao Yao will probably abandon you all and flee alone. Watch for a chance to defect to the Immortal Palace if you have to. Remember, your face is attached to your head, so staying alive comes first. Don't let your temper get the better of you..."'

"The others won't be too hard to deal with, but that bastard Zhou Hao has seen how I use my sword. He'll be difficult. If I can't kill them all in three moves, I'll still end up dead..." Yao Xuanzhou looked grave. He turned and glanced at the disciples, whose faces had gone pale, then sighed. "Once the fighting starts, I won't be able to protect you. There's only one way...

"Come! Draw lots! Sword duel!"

'The Profound Heaven Sword Intent says, "It's over. Xiao Yao's already lost his head..."'