In the end, Hou Niao could not keep himself apart from it all.
Several days later, a few people whispered outside his courtyard gate, so he opened it to receive them. He simply could not be bothered to go out, not that he could not bear to face anyone.
Six or seven stood outside, each wearing a longsword. The men were like guests beneath ancient pines, the women like immortals in a painting.
The man at their head swept his broad sleeves back and bowed with dashing confidence. "From Tianfeng's Dugu Household, long settled in Outer Flowing Sand; we venture here today to ask, might you kindly give us your command?"
Hou Niao's head began to ache. Could he not just speak normally?
"Hou Niao, from Anhe. May I ask your name? My command? I have no command to give, only an invitation to come in..."
A young woman stepped out from the others and pulled the man aside with a giggle.
"Greetings, fellow Daoist. This brother of mine has read too many books, so the way he speaks is... We belong to the Dugu Household of Outer Flowing Sand on Tianfeng Plain. A sister of ours arrived today to join us in taking part in the Quanzhen Sect's grand recruitment.
"We noticed how peaceful your courtyard was, with such distinctive scenery, and hoped we might exchange lodgings with you. Please forgive us for any offense."
Now that was human speech. Hou Niao understood. A cultivation Lineage had come as a group to seek admission to the Quanzhen Sect, and another had joined them today. Who knew what was wrong with their eyes, that they had taken a fancy to his little courtyard?
In truth, the surroundings throughout this Outer Residence of the Sword Manor were much the same. This was not some place among deep mountains and great rivers, where every spot was different. They were inside Jincheng. The difference amounted to a tree or two more or fewer outside the gate. What scenery were they talking about?
As for the Dugu Household, he had never heard of them. Where Outer Flowing Sand was, he had not the foggiest idea either. He still knew too little about the Shan Kingdom, the Quanzhen Sect, Tianfeng Plain, and Jincheng. He had entered Qi Gathering less than a month ago. Where would he have found the time or inclination to concern himself with such things?
"I have no particular objection to changing lodgings, but a Quanzhen cultivator assigned me this place. I don't know whether we're allowed to exchange them at will. Perhaps you could ask them? I have no objection myself."
The woman's eyes shifted, every glance full of charm. "You should know, fellow Daoist, that these lodgings in the Outer Residence are only temporary. We'll all be leaving in a few more days. What could possibly be so important about it?
"I asked a Quanzhen senior brother here at the Outer Residence, and he said it was no trouble, provided we agreed among ourselves."
Though courteous, Hou Niao remained firm. His former profession had taught him the importance of rules. A few pleasant words would not make him casually change his mind.
"In that case, could your Household invite a senior brother from the Outer Residence to witness it? Or shall I ask about it myself later? We're guests far from home, after all. It wouldn't do to act too casually."
The man who had spoken first frowned. "Must you be so rigid and inflexible? Are you really going to make a mountain out of a molehill over such a trifling matter?"
Hou Niao smiled. "This has nothing to do with whether the matter is large or small, only with the rules. I would think we ought to obtain our host's consent before exchanging lodgings among ourselves?"
The atmosphere grew a little strained, but Hou Niao did not want to give way. In this unfamiliar place, too many dangers lurked in the shadows. All he could do, before he grew stronger, was keep to his proper place.
He wanted to join the Quanzhen Sect, not the Dugu Household.
The woman checked the man's displeasure. At her signal, a member of the Dugu Household went to fetch the senior brother who managed the Outer Residence, while the rest remained there in a standoff with Hou Niao.
The woman observed every courtesy, but her expression still betrayed her impatience. She could simply keep her emotions under control.
"I'm Dugu Lan. This is my cousin, Xiao Qiang. She's the one who wants to exchange lodgings with you. This place is closer to where we're staying, and more convenient."
Hou Niao smiled in greeting. Of the six people opposite him, these were the only two women. The Dugu Household's bloodline was quite remarkable: at least in looks, every one of them was exceptional. The men stood like jade trees in the wind, the women possessed a thousand charms and a hundred graces.
Xiao Qiang? Trouble arising within the walls?
This cousin Xiao Qiang, however, seemed deeply apologetic. The exact opposite of Dugu Lan, she was soft and delicate, like an orchid. One look at her could not help stirring the urge to protect her. But Hou Niao had protected too many people over the years, so many that he had forgotten that instinctive response. He went by evidence alone.
Xiao Qiang said hesitantly, "Cousin, I told you I didn't want to come. It's only half a month. What does it matter?"
Dugu Lan patted her hand. "Before you came, Mother instructed us to take good care of you. We can hardly leave you living alone in some out-of-the-way corner."
Turning back, she gave Hou Niao a meaningful look. "Since you know you're a guest far from home, you ought to know to treat others kindly. The Dugu Household may not amount to much, but we still carry some weight on Tianfeng Plain. One more friend means one more road open to you. And if you gained an entire Lineage...
"Without calling in the senior brother in charge, we might have formed a connection. But since we've troubled the Quanzhen Sect, this becomes strictly official business. That's the consequence of following the rules."
Hou Niao felt somewhat vexed. This was how cultivation Lineages thought. If you cooperated with them, perhaps you might gain their friendship? Yet they never considered that the other party had the right to refuse.
"I'm better off walking my own road. I don't care for an extra road. You only need one right road.
"And you seem to have forgotten that even if the senior brother in charge comes, you still can't exchange lodgings without my consent. So, if I refuse, will I earn your hatred?"
The conversation had become rather unpleasant. The root of it was that the Dugu Household considered accepting their request a reward, an opportunity to draw closer to them. Such an attitude was hardly rare. It existed among most individuals and groups who looked down on others from above.
Fortunately, the senior brother in charge arrived quickly. Hou Niao did not want further trouble, so he shouldered his bag and left. That was his nature. He would not change his original intention and deliberately make things difficult merely because he was displeased. Nor would he think that, since he had conceded anyway, he might as well take the opportunity to build a closer relationship...
People who worked with criminal law were just that dull. He saw nothing wrong with it. People like the Dugu Household were everywhere in this world. You could not change them. The only thing that could change them was for your strength to rise above theirs. Then they would become incomparably humble and respectful. As it turned out, they too understood reason, knew when to advance or retreat, and could show consideration...
Once he understood the root of it, he knew how childish the present dispute truly was.
...His new lodgings were those of the cousin, Xiao Qiang. The layout was no different at all. The only distinction was that this place stood at the edge of the entire Outer Residence, separated by a small bamboo grove, which made it seem rather secluded.
But once night fell, he learned why the woman had been unwilling to stay here. From sunset onward, the sounds of a boisterous drinking feast came from the nearest courtyard across the little bamboo grove. Some sang at the tops of their voices, others loudly joined in, and still others drunkenly cursed people's mothers.
Clearly, this was a gathering place for Rogue Cultivators accustomed to running wild. Cultivators did not get drunk easily, but when low-level cultivators drank genuine immortal wine, they could become especially drunk instead.
He shook his head. Others had the right to drink, and he had no right to stop them. Besides, being able to calm oneself and enter cultivation under any circumstances was a necessary ability for a cultivator.
Amid the clamor, he entered his own world of cultivation.
When others failed to meet his wishes, he lacked magnanimity; when he failed to meet others' wishes, he lacked virtue.
Without virtue or magnanimity, he could swagger all the better.