Chapter Forty Two

Ling Da Chuanli declined to go with Jiang Tengyi for the moment and instead opted to discuss with his master first. Since his leaving the sect would be a big matter, Da Chuanli headed for his elder brother's abode. Crossing paths with many elders or busy disciples who bowed their heads in his direction as he passed. Outside of his elder brother's courters were multiple of his rarely seen seniors who returned to protect the sect. Since two years ago, Master had called all his seniors back to the sect so now it was more lively but tense all around. Acknowledging these guarding seniors who greeted him with a light nod he entered his brother's outer room where his master was personally watching over him.

"Master." Wang Minglan who seemed to grow stronger by the day but also more weary as time went by waved his hand dismissively at him. "Speak, what did King Feng request of you?" Not surprised that his master knew Da Chuanli gave him a brief summarization of the situation making his master's face pull a frown. He oozed displeasure when he next spoke "Why should my disciple give this unknown little girl so much face? Is she royalty? Those walking on the path of cultivation should be aware of the dangers of it. I hardly considered Feng Shuchang as the coddling type." 

Da Chuanli also agreed with Wang Minglan's words "Then this disciple will decline their request." His master took a moment to answer before holding his hand out a bit warily. As he really didn't think that Feng Shuchang would make such a ridiculous request knowing that Wang Minglan would never let his disciple be the fodder of another. Perhaps there was more to this than he let on. "Let me see this letter of his." With no psychological problems with handing over the letter, Da Chuanli observed as his master's expression went from displeased to a thin line and then emotionlessness. He clicked his tongue looking over at the curious Da Chuanli with rather abrupt and heavy scrutiny. "Hmm." 

Da Chuanli in response to his sharp gaze smiled genially "Master?" Wang Minglan, without giving him the letter back folds it up carefully to burn over a candlelight fire casually. "Forget it, it's just a small request. The girl won't be a burden on you two, Feng Shuchang isn't a fool so he knows what he's doing. What's one more person?" Mildly stunned that his master would change his mind so easily Da Chuanli was now genuinely curious as to what he had missed and tried to recall what he had read. But besides requesting Da Chuanli to visit their sect and explaining the situation to him there wasn't much else of note. 

Sensing his curiosity Minglan explains dismissively "You can go see her for yourself and make your conclusion I won't stop you if you agree or disagree with the arrangement. Feng Shuchang also expressed that the ultimate decision would be up to you in this matter." "Has master heard any mention of King Feng taking in another inner disciple?" Minglan snorts at him expressing disdain "Why should I care about another sect's matters? Don't forget that until your elder brother emerges from his seclusion or something abrupt occurs we are still a neutral sect." 

Leaving it with that, Da Chuanli obediently began packing his things for the trip. The Zenith Star sect wasn't too far from them, merely two to six Li away from them on a coast. This information was privy to only his master and Da Chuanli on the mutual trust between the sect masters. Because of this, they would mostly be traveling in discretion to not give away the sect's location to outsiders. King Feng faced much opposition for revealing it but with the wings of their sect relying on the man's strength he forcefully suppressed the opposition through might. Reasoning that the Azure sect held enmity towards the Golden Cloud sect due to the death of Wang Lan Biyu and would never help the enemy. 

With the madam in agreement with his ideas, the elders were forced to swallow their grievances under their oppression. Jiang Tengyi who was in training as the next patriarch also agreed and was good friends with Ling Da Chuanli so this was an uphill battle for the rest who wanted to continue to object. Thinking of this, for a moment Da Chuanli had a bold assumption of the identity of the precious so-called junior sister of Jiang Tengyi. But from Jiang Tengyi's attitude when speaking of the young woman he perhaps didn't have any suspicions himself. After telling Jiang Tengyi he would be joining him on his departure the next morning, he discreetly informed the trusted elders before returning to his room. 

Lingering in his thoughts as he read by candlelight Da Chuanli couldn't help the restlessness calling him deep in his bones. It wasn't nerves due to his departure tomorrow, but rather a restlessness that he couldn't quite place and was somewhat familiar with already. It was the strange ripples within his spiritual sea that would occur every night when the stars shone at their brightest. Recognizing the symptoms, he stood from his seat to stroll through their empty backyard. When walking past the yard his eyes linger briefly on the abandoned inner training court. 

Moving past this space he strolled along indifferently glancing at various places of his master's inner court where he spent much of his youth. Right before the end of the hall, Da Chaunli's legs refused to keep going in a certain direction he knew by habit. "..." Reaching his hand out, Da Chuanli found it a bit colder on the other side facing his palm up in the hallow hall. Not knowing if it was real or his imagination, the wind seemed to howl stronger there. Along these winds would usually carry on the sounds of a guqin, but now, they carried nothing but the subtle echoes of a ghost. 

Within those hard golden irises of his, the odd glow came to the surface before being repressed as the young man turned on his heels without looking back. At his side, were soft pitter patters of a lingering spirit who had yet to disappear from his memories entirely.

~

"Are you ready to leave?" Da Chuanli glances over to his left where just at the crack of dawn was the approaching Jiang Tengyi with his two bodyguards appearing from the sect guest quarters. Seeing the simply dressed Da Chaunli waiting for him at the sect gates who still donned white robes of mourning Jiang Tengyi made no comment and took out their carriage. "Since we won't be making a stop unless emergencies, we should be able to reach my sect in two days. Do you mind?" Da Chuanli shook his head with a smile "No, the quicker we arrive the quicker we can prepare to set off."

When he entered the carriage Jiang Tengyi showed him the room he would be in, unlike theirs the Zenith Star sect had more colorful taste. So seeing the white blankets in his room was a bit of a surprise, he was given a brief explanation. "Master said that as you are still in mourning you would rather not have the colors of another sect in your resting area. Similarly, the room prepared for you at the sect will share the same distinction." Not expecting this level of consideration for a moment Da Chuanli sent the other a genuine smile. "I will be sure to thank your master for his understanding when we arrive." 

Much of their time as Jiang Tengyi said was spent in the shared living space playing chess and discussing various matters of other sects. Rarely would they step outside unless it was only for a moment for fresh air, and if they did they would be accompanied by a guard. Da Chuanli understood that it was the Zenith Star sect taking their next patriarch's safety sincerely so he didn't mind it. As they were doing much the same guarding his elder brother's life seriously without care for anyone else's opinions. It was only when they were getting close to the arrival of his sect, that Jiang Tengyi showed a rare trace of restlessness. Da Chuanli noticing Jiang Tengyi's peek outside the window for the tenth time since the third morning couldn't help teasing his usually calm companion. 

"You complain the most about your juniors but it looks like you're also the most excited to see them again after only a few days of separation." Jiang Tengyi cleared his throat under Da Chuanli's teasing look "It's not that, Master promised that he would present me with a sword the day I left on my journey." Da Chuanli questions a bit curiously "There's such a tradition?" The young man almost grinned which surprised Da Chuanli "When you pass the fifth trial and qualify to travel the lands for experience on your own as an inner disciple you are gifted a sword bearing your master's personally crafted tassel. It's meant to signify their acknowledgment of your growth and hard work under their tutelage." 

Seeing the young man so excited about a tassel, Da Chuanli politely smiled in return to not dampen his spirits. Just then, one of Jiang Tengyi's bodyguards steps forward to notify them of their arrival. "Young masters, we've arrived. Sect master and madam are awaiting you outside the carriage. Lady Chao Bai expressed her sincere apologies for not being able to welcome you back as she isn't feeling her best today." "Junior sister?" A bit surprised to hear this, the happiness of returning home dampened with news of the girl's sickness. "I understand, please notify junior sister she doesn't need to worry and we will go to her instead." Da Chuanli stood with Jiang Tengyi who made his way out of the carriage a tad bit quicker than usual. 

When the door opened the first thing that caught Da Chuanli's attention was the heavy warm breeze bursting into the room. He could smell the sea along with a faint cleansing aura surrounding them. It was different from their sect where the wind assaults one with its chilly and grassy scent. And next, the crashing of waves onto land with seagulls crying out from above unable to land on the paradise below them due to the barrier surrounding the sect. The large palace was quite unlike their wide homey courtyards as well, made of concrete and purple roof tiles appearing majestic and regal. A large center connected to five different hallways and courtyards. Da Chuanli had to admit it was an impressive building. 

"Since our sect prefers secrecy and isolation, there's a spell to deter outsiders surrounding the entire coast quite far out. Without proper authorization, you can't enter sect grounds." Da Chuanli looks out towards the sea acting as a charming background to the palace questioning the stability of the building as well as its durability towards storms. Seeming to read his mind Jiang Tengyi as he leads Da Chuanli toward the awaited duo standing at the gates explains simply. "Our predecessor strengthened the base turning sand into tempered glass deeply embedded into the earth to stabilize the building." Satisfied to a degree Da Chuanli greeted Feng Shuchang and Feng Mei Xing as a junior pleasing the older man whose grin widened after observing the teen who had out of sight became an admirable young man. 

"Welcome to our sect young master Ling, I take it your accommodations in the carriage pleased you?" Da Chuanli returns his smile speaking truthfully despite the man's light tone of voice. "It did, thanking King Feng for his consideration of this junior's predicaments in advance." Before Feng Shuchang could say more Feng Mei Xing lightly touched his elbow to stop him from going off-topic. Looking towards Jiang Tengyi warmly "Tengyi, why don't you help settle in our guest? Xiao Bai's treatment for the day is already finished so you two should greet her before she's too exhausted." Turning to Da Chuanli she nods gently with an equally kind look "Young master Ling, if you require anything from us do tell Tengyi and we will do our best to adjust things to best make you comfortable." The young man salutes her gaining a good impression in her eyes "Thanking madam for her kindness." 

As the two walk away, Feng Shuchang and Feng Mei Xing spend a few moments watching them leave. "...It seems, that immortal Wang's heart still aches after all this time." Feng Shuchang whose gaze also lingered on the plain white robes of the smiling Da Chuanli stares bitterly along with his sister's sentiments. Ling Da Chuanli, wearing robes of mourning and smiling as if everyone was a passerby in the world he alone had to wander aloofly. If that heartless young man is still morning, then I truly fear and pity the next people to cross his master's sword who must be hurting tenfold.