When Winds and Clouds Converge

Flames shot into the sky, instantly swallowing the entire dark underground space.

Crackle—

The raging fire burned fiercely, reducing the corpses to ashes. The Blood Pool was thoroughly steamed and boiled dry, and the accumulated sinister, baleful aura of countless years melted away and vanished amid the blazing flames.

Billowing black smoke gushed out through the passage, carrying a pungent stench of charred flesh. This Blood Slaughter Sect stronghold, which had squatted here for years and committed every conceivable evil, became a fiery purgatory in an instant and was utterly destroyed.

The evening breeze swept across the mountaintop. Xie Jinghan stood on the ground, expression indifferent as he silently watched the underground flames rage and spread. Only after no trace of blood aura, vicious aura, or Killing Intent spilled from the passage did he finally set his mind at ease.

The matter here was settled. There had been danger, but no real harm.

Xie Jinghan carried the heavily injured and unconscious Xie Jinlin on his back while supporting the other two, whose breaths were weak and whose injuries were severe, one on either side. He slowly left the deep forest by the original route, preparing to meet up with the Wang and Xie clans waiting outside.

The bright moon hung high in the sky, its clear radiance spilling over the barren mountains.

Beneath the ruined gate of Black Tiger Stronghold, all the Wang and Xie clan members who had gone out to investigate had returned. Everyone gathered where they had been, their hearts heavy as they waited long and anxiously for Xie Jinghan to return from deep within the forest.

As the night deepened and the forest grew ever more secluded, Xie Yue became increasingly uneasy. Turning to Wang Zhongze, he spoke with some urgency in his voice. "Clan Head Wang, our Second Young Master has ventured deep into the forest alone and has not returned for a long while. The dangers in these mountains are impossible to predict. Why do we not enter the mountains and provide support?"

"Brother Yue, do not be anxious."

Wang Zhongze gazed into the pitch-black depths of the forest, his tone grave. "The mountain forest is shrouded in heavy fog tonight, and the paths are perilous. Dangers lurk on every side. Entering rashly could easily lead us into danger ourselves. Besides, with Nephew Jinghan's strength, nothing will happen to him. He has most likely discovered something. Let us wait patiently and investigate at dawn."

Left with no choice, Xie Yue could only suppress his worries and wait quietly with the Xie Household members in the heavy night.

Not long afterward, Xie Jinghan slowly emerged from the mountains.

Seeing this, the people guarding the mountain gate immediately hurried over. When they saw the three heavily injured people on his back and at his sides, they all cried out in alarm.

"Second Young Master!"

"It's the Eldest Young Master!"

"Young Master Tianfeng!"

"Tianfeng!"

Cries of shock rose one after another. When the people of the two clans crowded forward and saw the three covered in grievous wounds, barely clinging to life, their faces changed drastically and their hearts clenched.

No one dared waste even a moment. Xie Yue and Wang Zhongze hurried forward at once, each taking out treasured healing pills to treat the injured.

Wang Zhongze swiftly took out a bottle of pills. He first fed one to Wang Tianfeng, then handed the bottle to Xie Yue and said slowly, "This is a secret pill of our Wang Household—the Foundation-Stabilizing Pill. Its medicinal nature is rich and gentle, specially treating damaged meridians and severe bodily injuries. Its effects far surpass those of ordinary pills."

Once the pill entered their stomachs, its rich and gentle medicinal power slowly spread, circulating through their meridians and silently repairing their bodies and meridians.

A short while later, the three gradually woke from their unconsciousness. They then closed their eyes and focused their minds, silently regulating their breathing and healing with the aid of the pill's medicinal power.

Seeing Wang Tianfeng meditating to regulate his breath, Wang Zhongze finally felt the boulder in his heart fall away. He turned to Xie Jinghan and deeply cupped his hands, his voice full of gratitude. "Nephew Jinghan, I shall never forget this life-saving grace. Tianfeng's survival and return are all thanks to you. Our Wang Household will surely repay you generously!"

Xie Jinghan raised a hand in return, answering calmly, "It was nothing more than a small effort. Clan Head Wang need not take it to heart."

After a brief discussion, the group immediately settled their plans: they would rest overnight outside Black Tiger Stronghold, then set out at dawn to return to Wusheng Pass before racing all the way back to Heaven-Bearing Prefecture.

The next morning, dawn broke, and the thin mountain mist dispersed.

The group carefully tended to the three severely injured men, finished preparing, and set out for Wusheng Pass.

Wusheng Pass remained as bustling as ever, filled with wandering heroes and martial artists.

After entering the city, the group once again stayed at the Clear Breeze Inn, resting briefly and recuperating.

Considering that the three were seriously injured and could not endure rough travel, Wang Zhongze immediately spent a great sum to purchase a luxurious carriage of superb make. It was furnished with soft cushions, moved smoothly, and had a spacious interior, making it suitable for long-distance travel.

The group carefully settled the three injured men inside the carriage, then lowered the curtains to shield them from outside disturbances. Once everything had been arranged, Xie Yue stepped to the front of the carriage, personally took up the whip, and drove them home.

"Hyah~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"

The wheels rolled onward, crushing over the bluestone road as they headed toward Heaven-Bearing Prefecture.

Unlike their hurried journey here, sleeping in the open and racing day and night, there was no need to rush on the way back. The group slowed their pace and traveled leisurely, in excellent spirits as they talked and laughed while admiring the scenery along the way.

This mission had been completed perfectly!

Nourished by Xie Jinghan's pure, enduring true qi and bolstered by the Foundation-Stabilizing Pill's medicinal power, the injuries of the three wounded men gradually stabilized. One after another, they finished regulating their breaths and weakly opened their eyes.

The three leaned against the carriage walls and looked at one another. Their eyes held the dazed relief and lingering terror of survivors who had escaped calamity. Recalling every torment they had suffered in the underground prison, their hearts still trembled with fear even though they had escaped danger.

Ling Yun drew a weak breath. His voice was hoarse and dry as he quietly broke the silence.

"I am Ling Yun, a disciple of the Mystic Azure Sword Sect. May I ask the names of you two brothers?"

"I am Wang Tianfeng of the Wang Household of Heaven-Bearing Prefecture!"

"I am Xie Jinlin of the Xie Household of Heaven-Bearing Prefecture!"

Having endured the same suffering and escaped death together, the three exchanged glances, each feeling favor and recognition toward the others.

In that instant, an intense sense of mutual appreciation arose among them.

Ling Yun had an open and forthright nature. Moved by the moment, he softly proposed, "The three of us have experienced a deathly ordeal together, faced life and death together, and survived by fortune. Our fates are deeply intertwined. Why do we not swear brotherhood here and become brothers of different surnames?"

Wang Tianfeng and Xie Jinlin were also moved by his words. Without the slightest hesitation, they accepted this bond forged through life and death in their hearts.

"Good!"

"Good!"

The two nodded heavily.

Xie Jinghan and Wang Zhongze rode on either side of the carriage. With their sharp hearing, every word from within the carriage reached their ears.

Hearing this, Wang Zhongze could not help clapping his hands and laughing. His voice was approving. "Excellent! Excellent! You three are close in age, and you encountered desperate straits together. You relied on each other through hardship and escaped death through sheer tenacity. You have long since become each other's support. Becoming brothers of different surnames could not be more fitting!"

Xie Yue immediately reined the carriage to a halt.

The setting sun was like blood, staining the endless mountain passes red.

Atop an unnamed barren mountain, heaven and earth stretched wide, while the evening wind howled mournfully.

A flat bluestone slab was set upright on the spot to serve as an altar table. Wine and pastries were laid upon it.

Three sticks of incense rose in curling smoke. The three men knelt on one knee together, facing the vast rivers and mountains and the boundless sky, their expressions utterly sincere.

Wang Tianfeng's gaze was firm and clear as he loudly swore:

"Let the yellow heavens and thick earth bear witness; let the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers stand as proof!"

"I, Wang Tianfeng, together with Ling Yun and Xie Jinlin, fell into a deathly calamity and survived by fortune. We came to know one another through hardship, our loyalty answering one another's. Here, before heaven and earth, we swear to become brothers of different surnames."

"From this day forth, we shall share fortune and misfortune, stand by each other through hardship, be of one heart in life and death, and share honor and disgrace! For this life, we shall bare our hearts and show our courage, never betraying the bond between brothers. Should we violate this oath, let heaven and earth punish us together!"

The other two swore in unison, every word ringing like iron and echoing across the wilderness.

The three took turns lifting the wine jars and pouring the strong liquor into bowls. They raised their bowls high above their heads, offering them to heaven and earth. Then they poured half a bowl onto the ground in tribute to the mountains and rivers before throwing back their heads and draining the wine in one gulp.

Once the ceremony was complete, the three stood and looked at one another before cupping their hands in a bow.

By age, Wang Tianfeng was the eldest at twenty-three, followed by twenty-year-old Ling Yun. Eighteen-year-old Xie Jinlin was the youngest.

Wang Tianfeng looked at Ling Yun and Xie Jinlin. "Worthy brothers! From this day onward, you and I are siblings through life and death, sharing fortune and misfortune!"

Ling Yun and Xie Jinlin returned the bow solemnly and answered in unison, "Eldest Brother!"

From that moment onward, the world had three more brothers of different surnames who would share life and death.

Xie Jinghan and Wang Zhongze stood off to one side atop the mountain, silently watching the three solemnly swear brotherhood. Looking at Wang Tianfeng, Ling Yun, and Xie Jinlin standing shoulder to shoulder in heartfelt oath, Xie Jinghan's eyes stirred slightly. He murmured softly, "Wind, cloud, golden qilin..."

"Could a golden qilin be a thing of the pond? Once it encounters wind and cloud, it becomes a dragon. A dragon's cry in the nine heavens shocks heaven and earth into change; when winds and clouds converge, even the shallow waters will stir."

Standing beside him, Wang Zhongze saw him muttering silently, his expression thoughtful, and could not help growing curious. "Nephew Jinghan, you are pondering so deeply. Is there something amiss?"

A faint light flashed in Xie Jinghan's eyes. He shook his head with a slight smile. "Nothing. I merely felt a sudden sentiment and recalled a prophecy I heard many years ago. It seems rather fitting now."

"Oh? Let us hear it."

Wang Zhongze's face showed surprise and curiosity.

The accompanying members of the Xie Household and Wang Clan also turned their eyes toward him, curiosity rising in their hearts as they quietly waited for Xie Jinghan to speak.

Xie Jinghan raised his eyes toward the distant mountains beneath the evening twilight. His gaze was clear and shallow as he softly recited the two prophetic verses:

"The first is: A dragon's cry in the nine heavens shocks heaven and earth into change; when winds and clouds converge, even the shallow waters will stir."

"The second is: Could a golden qilin be a thing of the pond? Once it encounters wind and cloud, it becomes a dragon."

Hearing this, everyone's hearts shook violently. Wang Zhongze, in particular, narrowed his eyes in deep thought, turning the two prophetic verses over and over in his mind as he carefully savored the mysteries within.