Chapter 29

So he could only keep sitting on the meditation cushion, quietly waiting for the last person to ask him a question.

Yet in the hall where Wen Xu could not see, aside from Sect Master Gu Wufang, every elder who had intended to take a disciple had already left Juyong Hall. At this very moment, there were in fact only the two of them left in the hall.

"Do you know why they would not take you as a disciple?"

Wen Xu shook his head. "This disciple does not know."

Neither arrogant nor rash, Gu Wufang truly rather liked this disciple. "Among the five great sects under heaven, only the Harmony Sect has long held first place. I imagine you know that the Hehe Sect is the foremost of the five great sects. And Jun Zhaoying, the Supreme Elder of the Hehe Sect, is the foremost person beneath the Tribulation Transcendence Realm. She is not yet even six hundred years old, yet she already stands alone in the Cultivation Realm, truly unmatched by anyone."

Wen Xu did not quite understand. Why had the sect master suddenly begun singing the praises of the neighboring sect?

"Most importantly, Jun Zhaoying, like you, possesses a Mutated Wind Spiritual Root. She acts as she pleases and has yet to take a disciple. If she learns of your existence, she will certainly make a trip to Yonglu Mountain."

Wen Xu: ...

"Is there anything you wish to say?" Gu Wufang asked kindly. He had even descended from the throne within the hall and come to stand before Wen Xu. "No matter. There are only the two of us here now, so you may speak freely."

Wen Xu could not help lifting his head in astonishment. Though he could not see the sect master's expression, it was probably—

"This disciple is merely somewhat surprised. So Yonglu Mountain is unwilling to accept me because of this?" Wen Xu's personality was such that unless driven into a corner, he would never take the initiative to attack. He preferred to lay plans before acting, preferred... taking one step back to seize the initiative.

Gu Wufang: ...This little fellow was not being honest.

"Of course not. We merely wished to give you another chance, lest you learn of this later and feel that Yonglu Mountain had delayed your cultivation."

Those words had already been exceedingly blatant. At least, if this had been the Mortal Realm, Wen Xu had passed five barriers and slain six generals to finally earn the right to study under a great scholar, only for that scholar to say after he entered, with your talent and aptitude, you could study under an even greater scholar.

What was that? It was chopping and changing, a heart unable to settle, looking at one mountain and thinking the next was higher. Even though Wen Xu had indeed once considered joining the Hehe Sect, once he had decided to take Yonglu Mountain's examination, Yonglu Mountain had become his best choice.

Even if the Supreme Elder of the Hehe Sect did sound more suited to be his master, if he changed his allegiance at this moment and joined another sect, how would he differ from a faithless man who already had a betrothal but wished to break it off and marry a princess instead?

Seeing the boy standing there dumbfounded, Gu Wufang spoke with great kindness. "You came from the Mortal Realm, so you may not understand the importance of one's lineage in the Cultivation Realm. Once you take a master, there will be absolutely no changing your tune and switching your strings. If you join Yonglu Mountain today, then should you wish to change masters in the future—"

"Sect Master, this disciple has no such intention."

Wen Xu spoke indignantly. "When this disciple was in the Mortal Realm, I too read and wrote, and understand the principle that a teacher for one day is a father for life. This disciple does not understand the purpose behind the sect master's words just now, but if Yonglu Mountain does not wish to accept this disciple today, then please speak plainly. This disciple is dull-witted and blind, and cannot understand the meaning behind your words."

Gu Wufang: ...Forget it. Whoever wanted to play the villain could play it!

"Very well. Since that is the case, this sect master will speak plainly." Gu Wufang sighed, and his tone carried an additional hint of helplessness. "Jun Zhaoying is renowned far and wide. That dog-like temper of hers—no one can do anything with it. She is young, yet of great seniority. If you take a master, she certainly will not come to snatch you away, but she will go trouble your master."

"You know how strong she is. Not many people on Yonglu Mountain can withstand her tossing them about."

A Wind Spiritual Root disciple was good, and boasting about one would bring plenty of face, but unfortunately... Jun Zhaoying was too difficult to deal with. Moreover, she had declared herself that unless it was a Wind Spiritual Root genius, she absolutely would not take a disciple. Now that one had finally appeared, even if she herself had no intention of taking him, the others in the Hehe Sect would likely come knocking to see exactly which lucky person had taken in the disciple fated for their Supreme Elder.

After hearing the unvarnished truth, Wen Xu thought: ...Your Cultivation Realm does not sound very civilized.

"Then what does the sect master mean...?"

Gu Wufang cleared his throat. "Get up first. I will take you to meet someone. If he is willing to accept you, I guarantee no one will dare come knocking."

So the sect master had laid all that groundwork just for this?

Wen Xu was puzzled. Just who was worthy of such cautious treatment from the sect master? "What if he is unwilling?"

Gu Wufang gave a soft snort, thinking, Then I'll hang myself halfway up Little Martial Granduncle's peak.

"Rest assured, Little Martial Granduncle is the kindest of people."

Wen Xu: That voice did not sound... very kind.

Wen Xu had only just entered cultivation. He could not yet use Sword Flight, nor did he have a Spirit Boat or Spirit Beast to command, so from Juyong Hall to Springless Peak, where Little Martial Granduncle resided, he rode on the sect master's flying sword.

By all accounts, this should have been his first time flying on a sword. Perhaps because of his Wind Spiritual Root, not only did he feel no fear, he even found it more reassuring than having his feet planted firmly on the ground.

The sensation of wind rushing past beneath his feet made his whole body relax.

"Sect Master, am I to climb the peak alone?" Wen Xu confirmed.

Gu Wufang thought, I would like to accompany you up there too, but when I went to ask for instructions yesterday, I was already thrown out once. Yesterday was yesterday; if Little Martial Granduncle throws me out again today in front of a new disciple, where will my dignity as sect master go!?

"Mhm. Go on."

Wen Xu fell silent for a moment, then stepped toward Springless Peak.

Springless Peak was called Springless, and it had indeed never known spring. Snow blanketed it year-round, and from the foot of the mountain onward, the temperature was abnormally cold. Wen Xu had only just arrived and had not yet learned to use spiritual power to regulate his body temperature. The moment he entered the mountain, the bone-piercing cold jolted him fully awake.

The wind here was also more bleak and biting than elsewhere.

The freezing wind swept up grains of snow, filling the sky and covering the earth until he could scarcely make out any path at all.

Fortunately, Wen Xu was a "blind man." He climbed the steps all the way upward, straying farther and farther into seclusion, yet he somehow no longer felt all that cold. When he mounted the final step, the wind... suddenly stopped.