Chapter 89 – Anticipation Grows

  Mei Lian stood at the base of the stone steps leading out of the Tranquil Mountain Sect. Her blue Outer Sect Disciple robes were partially obscured by a travel robe that she had draped across her shoulders. Her long hair was neatly braided, with the flower hairpin that Jun De had given her tucked into a prominent position.

  Her expression was calm and resolved about what she was about to do, but she couldn’t help but feel a sense of unwillingness.

  Mei Lian had apprised the Elders of her impending departure from the Sect two days ago, citing a desire to visit her father in Nan Ao City over some personal matters. Everything had been handled properly, and the Sect had approved her leave.

  No one had even questioned her.

  But her real purpose lay far from just visiting family and ensuring their good health. She was leaving in search of a way to bridge the gap between herself and Jun De.

  She glanced once, longingly, toward the Nine-Treasure Pagoda that shimmered in the sunlight far in the distance at the center of the Outer Sect.

  A large crowd had already gathered around it when she had left her residence at sunrise. Some Disciples had taken to training nearby in order not to miss the coming conflict, while others simply loitered around and gossiped about the inevitable showdown between Zhao Wuxian and Jun De.

  Some enterprising Disciples had even set up betting pools, although the odds were heavily in Jun De's favour until Zhao Wuxian would erupt in anger, launching an assault against a nearby wall or building, and the odds would adjust as more and more Disciples understood that Zhao Wuxian’s muscles weren’t just for show.

  But Jun De still hadn’t emerged from the Ninefold Refinement Array. Some people thought his punishment would end early, that the Elders of the Pagoda would lose their patience with Zhao Wuxian’s actions and allow Jun De to leave to deal with him.

  But Jun De’s ‘punishment’ continued, and there was still an entire month left before it ended.

  ‘Of course, Jun De won’t try to leave early. Knowing him, he’s probably enjoying every minute inside the Array. He would refine himself down to the marrow if it meant the slightest improvement in his cultivation.’ Mei Lian thought.

  Mei Lian, just like everyone in the Sect, wrongly thought of Jun De as a cultivation fanatic just because he rarely left his home unless the Sect required him to. The concept of Jun De simply enjoying peace and solitude while drinking tea and staring at the clouds refused to enter their minds.

  Her gaze shifted to the Upper Ridge, where Jun De’s residence was located. It would be foolish to wait for him to leave. Mei Lian knew that even if he were to emerge at that very moment, she wouldn’t be strong enough to stand beside him yet.

  Lin Yue may be willing to accept that she would never be on the same level as Jun De, but Mei Lian wanted to stand beside him as an equal, not sheltered behind him in his shadow.

  That was why she needed to leave the Sect, at least temporarily. There was nothing there that could give her the kind of power she needed to overcome her lack of talent.

  Mei Lian turned away from the Tranquil Mountain Sect, and her eyes sharpened with determination. Her destination truly was Nan Ao City, but she had other stops planned along the way. There were rumours and whispers she had heard the last time she was outside the Sect that hinted at forbidden methods that could help cultivators overcome their limitations.

  The Crimson Rebirth Sutra. If what they were saying was true, it may be the only opportunity Mei Lian will ever get to stand equal with Jun De.

  Her hand brushed up against the hilt of her sword at her waist, and she took her first steps down the mountain path.

  “I don’t care what it costs.” Mei Lian murmured under her breath.

  Behind her, the Sect remained as serene and soothing as ever. The wind rustled through the leaves of the bamboo groves and trees that lined the path.

  She had only taken a few steps when, far off in the distance, she could hear the sound of Zhao Wuxian shouting.

  “Jun De, you coward!” The words echoed faintly over the mountains, but no one reacted to the noise. They had grown used to it over the past few months.

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  Mei Lian told herself that she would return when she was stronger, ready and worthy to stand next to Jun De.

  A few hours later, when the midday sun bathed the Tranquil Mountain Sect in its bright, golden light and the temperature rose to match its intensity, Lin Yue and Shen Ruolan stood together beneath the shade of a tree near the Nine-Treasure Pagoda and watched Zhao Wuxian with the rest of the crowd.

  An oddly familiar routine was playing out in front of them again. Zhao Wuxian, shirtless as usual, was flexing for a crowd of Outer Sect Disciples while shouting curses about Jun De or laughing about how much stronger he was than the ‘pathetic and weak coward.’

  “Doesn’t he ever get tired of hearing himself speak?” Lin Yue murmured, her tone resigned. She, just like nearly everyone else in the Outer Sect, was counting down the hours until Jun De emerged from the Array.

  However, unlike everyone else who wanted to see the conflict erupt between Jun De and Zhao Wuxian, Lin Yue had different reasons for looking forward to him exiting the array.

  She missed him. She enjoyed spending time with him in his courtyard, drinking tea while discussing the Sect gossip that her fellow Disciples revealed to her. Lin Yue hadn’t realized how lonely the Sect could be until Jun De left on the expedition, and Mei Lian entered secluded training.

  Thankfully, she had made a new friend, which was as surprising to her as it was to Shen Ruolan.

  “His tongue must be his strongest muscle of all.” Shen Ruolan responded with a snort. She detested the muscular idiot, especially since he seemed to make it his life goal to insult her future husband.

  “I wonder if he oils it like all the rest?” Lin Yue replied, and both women giggled at the concept.

  They watched in silence for a moment as Zhao Wuxian shouted about being the strongest cultivator in the entire Sect. Not just the Outer Sect, but the entire Tranquil Mountain Sect. Then, he dramatically paused and scowled at the Nine-Treasure Pagoda.

  He soon resumed his cursing against Jun De as the crowd roared in encouragement.

  Shen Ruolan gave Lin Yue a sideways glance. Once, not long ago, she had thought this quiet, demure girl a rival. She had wondered if she might snatch away Jun De’s heart with her softness and innocence.

  But now, that notion had long since passed.

  Shen Ruolan thought Lin Yue was too gentle, hesitant and passive to be a rival. Sure, she may have acted first and claimed to have spent the night with Jun De, but that was so out of character for her that Shen Ruolan doubted it had even happened.

  Lin Yue didn’t pose much of a threat to her, and instead, something else had taken root between them.

  Shen Ruolan had found a friend. It was something that was strange and new to her. She hadn’t really had a friend before, apart from Jun De. She enjoyed spending time with Lin Yue and genuinely laughed when the young woman discussed the Sect gossip with her.

  Lin Yue was even learning to play ‘Go,’ which Shen Ruolan appreciated despite the fact that she was terrible at the game.

  “Do you think Jun De will actually fight him?” Shen Ruolan asked softly.

  “He may, depending on his mood. He has been challenged in public, but Senior Brother Jun doesn’t care much about his reputation. For him, only the Dao matters.”

  Shen Ruolan accepted the statement with a nod of her head and a shrug of her shoulders.

  “He won’t back down.” Shen Ruolan said with confidence. Jun De had fought to protect her, and even if he didn’t actively seek out opponents, she doubted he would retreat from Zhao Wuxian’s provocations.

  “If I know him at all, when Senior Brother Jun comes out of the array, he will just want to go back to his courtyard and rest. He will probably look at that buffoon and say ‘Zhao Wuxian who?” Lin Yue said while smiling widely.

  Shen Ruolan chuckled as they watched Zhao Wuxian strike another dramatic pose. This time, two junior female disciples clung to each of his arms while he proclaimed himself to be the only peerless talent of the Outer Sect.

  Meanwhile, within the heart of the Ninefold refinement Array, the intense, crushing weight of its spiritual pressure had become nothing more than background noise to Jun De.

  He moved fluidly across the chamber, his bare feet silent against the stone floor as his lean, defined frame flowed through the sword forms. Each thrust of the Cloudvein Jade-Edge split the air with sharp precision.

  Jun De’s Qi wrapped tightly around him with perfect control that had been earned through months of refinement.

  With a flicker of light, he vanished as the Luminous Step activated, and he reappeared across the room in the blink of an eye. His movements were clean, without any wasted actions. The array had forced him to be precise, as any instability would result in pain.

  Inside his Dantian, the tiny Dawnheart Flame pulsed gently. Once just a flickering ember, it had evolved under the extreme refinement of the array, and it now blazed a bright orange tinged with purple and gold hues.

  It had settled over the past month, its joyful movements had ceased, and instead it almost seemed to be sleeping.

  Jun De exhaled slowly as Qi surged through his meridians. He had reached the peak of the 7th Level of Qi Condensation, with a foundation that was as tempered as steel.

  “I think it’s time.” Jun De whispered as he released his control of his Qi.

  The Array shifted around him, and finally, after six long months, it deactivated. The glowing runes on the floor dimmed, and the grinding hum of the spiritual formation dissipated.

  Jun De stood still for a moment in silence, feeling the absence of the crushing weight that had been pressing against him for months.

  “I’m free!” Jun De exclaimed, and a smile returned to his face for the first time since he had been forced to enter the array.

  He swept his Qi across his body, cleansing it of the sweat, impurities and grime of his training. His skin gleamed in the aftermath, and his hair hung loose around his shoulders. Jun De retrieved a fresh set of Outer Sect Disciples from his robes, a gift he had found there from Elder Mu, and donned them.

  The door of the chamber slowly opened, and Jun De breathed in the fresh air of freedom.