Chapter 90 – Do I Know You?

  The seasons had shifted since Jun De had first been forced to enter the Ninefold Refinement Array. Summer’s heat had faded into the gold of autumn that reddened and yellowed the leaves. Now, even that lingering heat had passed.

  The air had grown sharp and cold so far up the Tranquil Mountain, and bare branches clawed at the pale, cloudless sky. Frost edged the tiles of the Outer Sect rooftops, and each breath from the Disciples steamed visibly in the morning light.

  Outside the Nine-Treasure Pagoda, a larger-than-normal crowd had gathered. It had the festive energy of a party, and everyone was excited about the coming event. The anticipation had built over months, and Zhao Wuxian, the source of it all, had spent his days fanning the flames.

  At the front of the crowd stood the man himself, Zhao Wuxian, bare-chested despite the chill in the air. His thick muscles glistened with oils and rare body-enhancing elixirs that he had this Clan prepare specially for this day.

  His skin steamed faintly where the heat of his large body met the cold air, and he radiated confidence like a bonfire. He was utterly convinced that he was the strongest in the Outer Sect, and no matter what training Jun De was undergoing, his opponent would not be a match for the great Zhao Wuxian.

  He stood there like a self-proclaimed king awaiting his rival.

  Zhao Wuxian never neglected to flex dramatically every few minutes, and he made sure that all eyes remained on him. A pair of junior female Disciples giggled nearby, and it was clear they never grew tired of watching the handsome man.

  The crowd were curious about what would happen when Jun De came out of the Pagoda, while others were skeptical that Zhao Wuxian would even catch the elusive Jun De’s interest.

  But they all were waiting patiently. Even a number of Outer Sect Elders had gathered to watch, claiming that they were there to ‘maintain order’ and judge the duel fairly, but it was obvious they were spectators like all the rest.

  Lin Yue and Shen Ruolan stood near the entrance to the Nine-Treasure Pagoda, a respectful distance from the rest of the crowd.

  Shen Ruolan’s presence alone was enough to create a pocket of space around them. She stood with her arms folded, her head held high, and she had added an expensive, pink outer robe that was draped across her shoulders with the symbol of the Yunlai City Lord’s Mansion prominent on the back to protect herself from the cold.

  Her striking appearance and her fierce expression were enough to make most of the Outer Sect Disciples keep a wide berth from her. But it was her reputation, and the rumours that she was closely associated with Jun De, that kept their eyes down and their mouths shut.

  It was even whispered that she was Jun De’s betrothed, but nothing had been confirmed.

  Beside her, Lin Yue pulled her own blue robes a little tighter around herself as she glanced toward the Nine-Treasure Pagoda and sighed. Her own association with Jun De was well known, and many young men standing near her grumbled in their hearts that Jun De seemed to attract the most beautiful women in the Outer Sect to him.

  “Senior Brother Jun will be leaving the array in moments. I wish that idiot Zhao Wuxian would leave so that we can speak to Jun De when he does.” Lin Yue said, and her tone was wistful. She wanted to run up to Jun De as soon as she saw him, even if it meant everyone in the crowd would be watching her.

  Shen Ruolan didn’t answer immediately as her own thoughts were filled with images of Jun De and their pending reunion. Would he be happy to see her? She hadn’t told him that she would be joining the Tranquil Mountain Sect.

  She had a fantasy about him picking her up immediately, spinning her around in joy before kissing her on the lips in front of everyone, and her cold expression had a tinge of red as she blushed at the thought.

  “Sister Ruolan?” Lin Yue prodded, and Shen Ruolan started slightly at the interruption. Her blush deepened, and she shook her head to clear her thoughts.

  “I do not believe Jun De will back down. But, if I know him, he will take a single look at Zhao Wuxian and walk right past him. I want this to be over with as quickly as possible so that we can discuss more important things with him in private.” Shen Ruolan replied.

  “Such as how you entered the Tranquil Mountain Sect without informing him beforehand?” Lin Yue asked wryly, and her new friend scowled at her before poking her in the side with a finger.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “I was thinking of scolding him for leaving you alone all this time. What a scoundrel, to lead you on and then disappearing for over half a year.” Shen Ruolan said.

  Lin Yue was about to reply when the crowd stirred and a figure appeared at the entrance to the Nine-Treasure Pagoda.

  Jun De had emerged.

  Page Break

  Dim, flickering light spilled across the floor deep beneath the Nine-Treasure Pagoda as Jun De stepped out of the array chamber for the first time in six months. His breathing was calm, and his movements were steady.

  With his fresh Outer Sect Disciple robes that Elder Mu had left in his storage bag, his appearance had been refined along with his body inside the Array.

  Jun De paused at the foot of the stairs leading up to the main hall of the Nine-Treasure Pagoda, his eyes looking upward as the complete absence of noise caught his attention. Normally, the sound of conversations, shuffling feet and the bustling activity of the main hall could clearly be heard in the stairwell.

  ‘Is something wrong?’ Jun De wondered, and he frowned at the thought.

  Jun De ascended cautiously, while his senses remained alert for trouble. When he reached the upper landing and stepped into the main hall, he found that it was nearly empty. There were no Outer Sect Disciples moving about, shopping or exchanging items.

  Apart from a few grey-robed servant Disciples, there was only Elder Hua who seemed to be waiting for him.

  The Elder was standing at the center of the hall, her hands folded behind her back, her blue robes trimmed in white, marking her status in the Sect. Her expression was unreadable as she looked at him with a careful eye, assessing his state and judging the effects of the Array.

  Jun De moved toward her and gave her a deep, respectful bow while clasping his hands. While he hated the Array, it wasn’t Elder Hua’s fault that he had been thrown into it as punishment.

  The blame for that lay squarely with Mu Yanyu.

  “Disciple Jun De greets Elder Hua.”

  “You have done well, Jun De. The array has tempered your body and spirit. Unfortunately, further time inside would offer diminishing returns. You have taken from it all that you can.” Elder Hua declared.

  She avoided mentioning the exorbitant cost of Jun De’s training, of the thousands of Spirit Stones required to fuel the array for him. His ‘punishment’ had been truly a hefty reward in disguise.

  While he was pleased that he would never be forced into the array again, Jun De schooled his expression carefully to hide his happiness at the statement.

  “Thank you, Elder.

  Elder Hua’s spiritual sense bored into him, assessing his cultivation and lingering on the tiny Dawnheart Flame that was sleeping inside his Dantian. The Flame appeared to be adjusting to its new transformation and hadn’t yet woken up.

  “You will have time to evaluate your gains shortly, Jun De.” Elder Hua declared, and Jun De tilted his head in confusion.

  “I will?”

  Elder Hua smiled faintly at Jun De and gestured toward the entrance of the Pagoda.

  “Quite a crowd has gathered to see you. One Disciple in particular is eager to test your progress. I would ask that you restrain yourself somewhat when you face him, Jun De. While I would personally enjoy it if you take him down a peg, his Clan is very powerful.” Elder Hua explained.

  “Has something happened while I was in the array, Elder Hua? Why would a crowd gather to see me?” Jun De asked, and Elder Hua shook her head and gestured once again to the entrance.

  Still puzzled, Jun De stepped forward and pushed open the grand doors of the Pagoda. The light hit him all at once, along with the cold winter air that was refreshing after so long inside the stuffy and hot array.

  And, beyond the steps that led to the courtyard in front of the Pagoda, was a sea of Outer Sect Disciples. Thousands of people were packed into the courtyard, all staring at him in silence as he emerged onto the landing.

  All their eyes were on him, and Jun De suddenly felt uncomfortable under their scrutiny. Maintaining his calm expression, Jun De scanned the people in front of him and found two familiar faces.

  Lin Yue was standing at the forefront, her beautiful face smiling up at him. Her cheeks had a tinge of red from the cold, and her hair was tied up into two buns. He could see the hairpin he had given her tucked behind her ear.

  Oddly, Shen Ruolan was beside her, wearing the blue robes of the Outer Sect! Her hair hung down her back, shining blue-black in the winter sunlight. She had a pink robe draped over her shoulders, but Jun De doubted the Elders would object to her addition to the Sect Uniform.

  She was beautiful, but Jun De, as happy as he was to see her again, shivered slightly at the look in her eyes. That familiar expression of a hunting cat stalking its prey had returned in full force, and Jun De knew that she would soon pounce now that he was within sight.

  For Lin Yue and Shen Ruolan, the sight of Jun De was like the sun suddenly coming out from behind dark clouds. It felt as if the cold was driven away, and everything seemed brighter. His refined and elegant appearance was unlike anyone else in the Sect.

  The crowd was speechless; many had forgotten how truly otherworldly Jun De’s appearance was. And for a large number of people, they had never seen Jun De at all in the Sect. He was often training in seclusion or travelling outside with the Elders.

  They watched as his eyes scanned the crowd and landed on the two young women at the front.

  Then he smiled.

  It was just the faintest curve of his lips, but it transformed him entirely. Whatever weariness his months of secluded training had left in his face, the hard edges carved from the trial of the array, it all melted away at that moment.

  In that moment, Jun De looked like a young immortal descended from the heavens, untouchable yet radiant and kind.

  Gasps rippled through the crowd. Even those who had never seen him before now understood the rumours about Jun De. Even Zhao Wuxian’s arrogance faltered for a moment as the focus of the crowd entirely shifted away from him.

  “JUN DE! YOU FINALLY DARE TO SHOW YOUR FACE! IT IS TIME WE SETTLE THIS, ONCE AND FOR ALL!” Zhao Wuxian roared, and his voice thundered over the silent crowd, shattering whatever shock Jun De’s appearance caused.

  Jun De stared at the bare-chested young man standing in the center of the courtyard. He was gleaming with oils, and his muscles stood out prominently as he flexed them. His hangers-on gathered closely around him, providing a gap between him and the rest of the crowd.

  “Do I know you?”