Following the Xun Wind

Only then did Su Yao turn to Han Ziyi:

"How long have you been in Nanzhao?"

Han Ziyi stepped forward to answer:

"I came to Nanzhao when you descended the mountain, Daozi. It has been half a year now."

Su Yao nodded. That matched the time he had descended the mountain. He asked:

"Where have you and Gui Hong been staying in Nanzhao these past six months?"

Han Ziyi said:

"When we arrived in Nanzhao, the True Person drove out two Monk Maos and occupied Shika Mountain. The True Person and I have been living there since. But the True Person went out for a time and only returned half a month ago. He dismantled the formation, and today he brought me here to find you, Daozi."

"Shika?" Su Yao asked, puzzled.

Han Ziyi nodded and explained:

"The place was originally home to a witch tribe, but Buddhism seized it in recent years."

Su Yao nodded and asked uncertainly:

"I know about that. I was just wondering why you went there and even crossed the Monk Maos..."

Han Ziyi shook his head:

"I do not know."

Su Yao nodded to show he understood, then said:

"You've been with Gui Hong all this time. Thank you for your efforts."

Han Ziyi shook his head:

"Things were fine while the True Person was there. Some time ago, the True Person slew a witch barbarian, and that group of monks took advantage of his absence to attack the mountain. Fortunately, the True Person had left a great formation and had also captured a black flood dragon and penned it there. The black flood dragon resisted fiercely at first, but to avoid being captured by the monks, it fought for its life."

After listening, Su Yao asked gravely:

"Did the True Person say why he went there?"

Han Ziyi hesitated, but Su Yao kept his gaze fixed on him. Only then did he speak:

"The True Person originally intended to establish a branch residence there and wait for you to come, Daozi. But you never arrived, and he received word that you had instead established the branch residence here."

He paused:

"So the True Person returned there half a month ago, dismantled the formation, took the black flood dragon, and brought me here."

Everything suddenly became clear to Su Yao. He nodded and turned to Liu Yunhe:

"Ziyi has probably had a hard time lately. Take him to choose a cave abode where he can rest for now."

Han Ziyi thanked him, then left with Liu Yunhe.

Su Yao watched the two depart and, as he did, caught sight of Cibi Lake to the south. It was now mid-September, and the autumn air was crisp beneath a clear sky. Most of the cibi flowers in the lake had already fallen.

He watched for a while. When the two were out of sight, he turned to Li Siyi:

"How is construction of the Daoist temple and palace buildings on the front mountain and at its foot coming along?"

Li Siyi hurriedly answered:

"They sent quite a few Mystery Opening Stage cultivators over. And since Nanzhao has tall mountains and dense forests, there is no need to ship the timber in from elsewhere. So progress has been fairly good. It should be finished before the new year."

Su Yao nodded and signaled for Li Siyi to leave.

Li Siyi took a few steps forward, then turned back and asked:

"Oh, right, Daozi, what should this place be named?"

Su Yao thought for a moment, caught sight of the pear grove below the mountain from the corner of his eye, and smiled:

"Let's call it... 'Pear Garden.'"

Li Siyi nodded, then hesitantly asked:

"This mountain is called Golden Ao. Now that our branch residence has been established here, should it be renamed?"

Su Yao began pacing back and forth. Unable to think of a name, he was about to tell Li Siyi to go back first and discuss it later.

But a thought suddenly occurred to him, and he looked at Li Siyi:

"Stay a while longer."

With that, he went into the cave.

Inside, Su Yao took out the spiritual treasure, the "Spirit Omens Mystery-Inquiring Tube."

It was a treasure kept by Qixia Temple. Long ago, at the transition between the Shang and Zhou dynasties, during the Investiture of the Gods, the patriarch had obtained it by killing a disciple of Biyou.

When he had first learned divination, he had used this treasure.

He had even thought he had come to the world of the Investiture of the Gods, but after comparing it with the Jade Pure One's lineage, he discovered that, in the end, it was similar but not the same. Only a few of the various patriarchs' Daoist names matched.

This treasure was a spiritual treasure of the Heavenly Governance path. That path was the foremost school of divination; none in the world could surpass it in calculation. The tube held eight lots, corresponding to the eight directions. Above, it questioned heaven's secrets; below, it examined the lay of the land; between them, it understood human affairs.

Su Yao held the Spirit Omens Mystery-Inquiring Tube in his palm. Its body was dark blue-black, with cloud-and-thunder patterns faintly flowing across it.

He closed his eyes and concentrated, using his Divine Sense to make his inquiry. He gave it a gentle shake, then cast the lots onto the ground.

With a clatter, a lot fell to the ground. Su Yao bent down and picked it up. A single character was carved on it: "Xun."

He frowned slightly.

A single line could not make a hexagram. At least two lots had to combine before a reading could be interpreted.

So he concentrated again, shook the tube, and cast the lots.

Again, it was "Xun."

On the third cast, it was still "Xun."

All three lots were Xun. There was no hexagram text and no changing lines.

Su Yao's heart sank slightly. When Daozheng had taught him divination years ago, he had said, "When three lines bear the same image, it is a 'focused' hexagram. Heaven's will is fixed on one thing and needs no other words." Such a reading was exceedingly rare.

He gave a soft sigh and murmured:

"Xun is wind. It governs penetration, commands, and entry... That does fit the current situation in Nanzhao. Witches, Buddhists, Confucians, the imperial court, and the remnants of the various tribes are tangled together like coiled roots and twisted branches. Now that my branch residence has only just been established here, I cannot attack by force. I can only infiltrate, make plans gradually, and spread my commands."

He paused, his gaze falling on the character "Xun," and slowly continued:

"The text of the Xun hexagram says: 'Small success. It is favorable to have somewhere to go, favorable to see the great person.' Small success, not great fortune; favorable to see the great person, not favorable to establish a marquis. It seems the struggle between the great figures will last longer and be more dangerous than I expected."

Considering what Han Ziyi had said, Gui Hong had originally wanted to establish the branch residence at Shika, near Zhongdian and close to Tubo.

It was remote, but precisely because it was remote, it would have been easier to stay clear of everything. This should have been Daozheng's arrangement.

Thinking back now, Su Yao realized that things had probably changed after he went to Mount Zhongnan.

And according to the True Lord's messenger, the True Lord had intervened.

Clearly, then, the True Lord's authority was certainly greater than Daozheng's. Although the True Lord had sealed himself away on Mount Zhongnan, Daozheng was ultimately only a Heavenly Immortal among False Core cultivators, not a Golden Core True Lord who occupied a place in heaven and earth like the True Lord.

And now, with all the various houses and sects intervening here, it was no wonder the True Lord had sent word that he had given all the help he should.

Su Yao gave a self-mocking smile. A moment later, he withdrew his gaze from the reading.

By rights, when using this spiritual treasure of the Heavenly Governance path for divination, taking only one lot was far too hasty.

And when he had learned divination years ago, Daozheng had made it very clear: a hexagram had always required at least two lots to fall and combine, followed by the hexagram text, whose words explained its meaning.

But this time only one lot had appeared, which was far too unusual.

He said no more. Slipping the Spirit Omens Mystery-Inquiring Tube into his sleeve, he turned and left the cave abode.

Seeing that Li Siyi was still waiting outside, he instructed:

"The mountain's name will remain unchanged for now. It will still be called 'Golden Ao,' pending a later time. The branch residence can simply be called 'Pear Garden.' From now on, every Qixia Temple disciple who comes here to cultivate must know: 'The Xun Wind enters the forest without breaking its branches; once a command is given, its voice is not muffled.'"

Li Siyi was about to take his leave, but Su Yao called him back.

Su Yao's expression was grave as he said:

"This must not be told to a third person for now. There is no need to reveal even the name Pear Garden. As for the person overseeing construction, have him tell the craftsmen to leave the plaques and couplets everywhere blank for the time being."

Hearing this, Li Siyi's expression turned solemn. He bowed and said:

"I will remember."

Seeing this, Su Yao waved for him to leave.

Only then did Li Siyi bow and withdraw.

Su Yao was left alone, gazing silently at the sky as dusk gathered all around.