When Yin Biyue awoke, he saw the canopy directly above his head and scented the fragrance of soothing incense drifting through the air. The sounds of light chatter and a refreshing smell cleared his head.
His mind went blank for a moment. Then he suddenly sat up and slammed his fist into the bed, unable to restrain the urge.
He remembered everything that had happened last night and thought his brain must have been full of âDrunken Immortalâ.
He had actually drank too much!
Aside from having drank so much, he even went to find Luo Mingchuan to discuss life!
Discussing life didnât yield any results! Forget about blindly trusting whatever the other person said! But he even snatched the otherâs wine to drink! And even fell asleep!
Forget falling asleep! He even grabbed his sleeve and said, âI just want to peacefully live my life.â
âLivingâ his ass!
How could this kind of cover blowing speech be said so casually!
Huh? What happened after that conversation? Why wasnât he on the roof right now?
... Chatterbox had fallen down a while ago; in the end it must have been Luo Mingchuan that dragged him back!
Did he do anything crazy while drunk?! Did he loudly pronounce the villainy manifesto?! Did he drench the other person entirely in spit?!
Way! Too! Shameful!
Yin Biyue was busy wallowing in self-disgust, and right at this moment, a familiar voice came from the courtyard, âShidi, are you up...â
Without even thinking, he shouted, âIâm not here!ââ
...
Life is a tragedy.
Yin Biyue almost raised his hand to run himself through with his sword.
He felt like he must have established an incredibly stupid impression of himself in Luo Mingchuanâs heart.
With a wooden face, he got off the bed, faced the mirror, and straightened his clothes. In his mind was an endless replay of his own voice, âIâm not here Iâm not here Iâm not here...â, and then he silently opened the door.
Luo Mingchuan stood underneath a tree. On his face was the same smiling expression as always, courteous and amiable, without even a hint of teasing.
Within Yin Biyueâs heart rose a thread of hope...
Maybe yesterday he didnât act too crazy drunk after all?
And that ostrich-headed âIâm not hereâ a moment ago was also not heard by anyone?
In that instant, Chatterbox opened his door and asked, astonished, âEh? Fourth shixiong? Werenât you not here?â
...
Heâs brought shame to his sect.
The corner of Yin Biyueâs mouth twitched.
Fortunately Luo Mingchuan let out a single cough with impeccable timing, âSince my two shidi are both awake now, let us go.â
Yin Biyue only then suddenly realized, Luo Mingchuan had a match today; he and Chatterbox had even said they would go together to watch.
A strong feeling of guilt arose in his heart; he regretted he went so far as to drag him to go drink and talk about life last night.
Third shixiong was right! Drinking really made a mess of things!
Duan Chongxuan also showed a face of shame.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Luo Mingchuan laughed, âYesterday after drinking some wine, I slept especially well at night; today I woke up with both my mind and spirit refreshed, and my entire body feels unhindered.â
Yin Biyue finally felt a bit comforted, âThatâs good then, letâs go.â
By the time he stood under the stage watching the two sides greeting each other, he felt he was even more focused than Luo Mingchuan.
During the first round, Luo Mingchuan faced Bao Pu Zongâs Wang Zhen, and using his sword as a rod, he demonstrated the Academyâs Disciplinary Whip.
In the second round, he had a bye and went into closed door cultivation at Lake Qiu to breakthrough; he didnât go watch the battle between Luo Mingchuan and Xing Shan Templeâs Pu Hong. Reportedly, the two of them discussed Buddhism, and Pu Hong thought himself inferior and surrendered.
But no matter if it was the Disciplinary Whip or the buddhist doctrines, both were other peopleâs techniques; naturally they couldnât possibly be Luo Mingchuanâs specialty.
He really wanted to see in the end how many cultivation methods Luo Mingchuan could use and what the strongest ace up his sleeve was.
Yin Biyue silently observed around the stage and discovered that in the direction of the Qing Lu Sword Sect, Song Tang, Zhong Shan, and Cheng Tianyu had all come. On Bao Pu Zongâs side, besides Zheng Wei, almost all of them had come.
It looked like the ones wanting to understand you werenât just your companions, but also your opponents, and even your enemies.
In cultivation realms alone, Luo Mingchuan was the best among this generation of Cang Ya disciples, and he was also rumored to be the person most likely to defeat Zhong Shan and seize first place.
Thus, even though this battle appeared to be an assured victory, the number of spectators was still rather numerous.
The one standing opposite Luo Mingchuan was a disciple born in the Western Continentâs frontiers. His sectâs reputation wasnât very prominent, but his own cultivation was not bad. His greeting was also very proper, âItâs an honor to meet the famed Luo Mingchuan. Today, we are on the same stage fighting. It really is good fortune.â
Duan Chongxuan said in a low tone, âThis person is a spiritual cultivator; his innate spiritual vein is very rare, and the cultivation methods he practices are also rare. Last round he even defeated a Lian Jian Zong disciple.â
Yin Biyue nodded and saw Luo Mingchuan modestly give his reply, âYou flatter me; Iâm humbled. Come.â
That person also stopped being courteous; his right hand lifted slightly and his fingers flew up and down.
Countless minute water droplets appeared in front of him, rapidly condensing into a thin water screen that was smooth as Lake Qiu and could display a personâs reflection.
Duan Chongxuan spoke, âHis hand seals are actually pretty fast.â
They were indeed very fast. In the blink of an eye, the water screen sharply expanded to three zhang, as if a lake was erected vertically on the stage.
At the same time, the air around the stage rapidly became dry.
Ten thousand water arrows condensed, breaking through the lake!
It was clearly water, but because of the swift speed and boundless core energy, it produced a high pitched sound that pierced the air.
Luo Mingchuan swept his sleeve, the wind whistled, and the arrows darting towards him stopped a meter in front of him and dropped out of the air. Water splashed near his feet, like a sudden downpour onto the ground.
But it failed to wet a single corner of his robes.
This kind of core energy barrier technique could be considered simple and crude; Yin Biyue had seen Luo Mingchuan use it before while they were in the PanLong Mountains.
Unlike the fights between cultivators that used swords and sabers, the battles between spiritual cultivators were more often than not very slow.
Even though it had already passed enough time for a cup of tea, the two opponents were still trading blows, one after another, a back and forth sort of exchange.
Just when many people thought the conclusion was foregone and that Luo Mingchuan was going to rely on the differences in core energy in a war of attrition to beat his opponent, Yin Biyue noticed that personâs forehead was gathering a lot of sweat and his expression was also anxious and impatient. He was clearly unable to endure any longer and had to use his most precious technique.
As expected, in the next moment, people began to cry out in surprise, âFog is rising!â
The fog came from all directions; yet it clearly wasnât the morning mist, and it wouldnât scatter in the wind.
On the contrary, more and more assembled, thick and dense, enveloping the entire stage.
Yin Biyue directed his core energy to wrap around his eyes, but he still couldnât see anything.
Many people were the same as him, unable to see the mysteries within the fog, only able to see a vast expanse of white.
Chatterbox, also shocked, asked, âWhat is this technique?â
Yin Biyue narrowed his eyes to look for a moment; his consciousness was very strong, so he now used his divine sense to look, âTower Lost in Fogï¼ Ferry Shrouded in the Moon.¹â
Chatterbox did not suddenly understand; instead he lowered his head and choked out, âFourth shixiong, I havenât studied that much...â
Yin Biyue explained, âIt was invented by a saint during the âAll Saints Eraâ; with an innate water type spiritual vein, but one that was out of the norm. It can turn water into fog, obscuring an opponentâs perception, the famous âTower-Shrouding Fogâ. Right now, he hasnât attained the right cultivation realm, but if his realm was just a bit higher, he could even form an illusion within the mist, and that would be âFerry Lost in the Moonâ.
Chatterbox lamented, âNot having been seen in these many years, it looks like this spiritual vein is indeed quite rare.â
Yin Biyue watched Luo Mingchuan lift his hand and make the seal for âGuiding Wind Artâ. The weeds beside the stage gently swayed, but the fog was so dense that even the wind could not blow inside. He could not help but be nervous for an instant.
The people below the stage couldnât make anything out clearly and were only able to wag their tongues and make conjectures.
In actuality, Luo Mingchuan was able to see.
Jia Lan Spiritual Pupil Arts was known as âBuddhaâs Discerning Eyeâ; once oneâs cultivation was high enough, it allowed the user to see through every barrier and obstacle.
With his current cultivation realm, even without him pushing the Pupil Arts, forget the dense fog; in his eyes, even the movement of his opponentâs hand seals slowed down to a crawl.
In addition to that, he could also see shidi below the stage, staring at his nervous expression.
Brows slightly knitted, serious and concentrating, like there was only one person in his eyes.
He didnât know why, but the movement of his hand seals also slowed down.
Within the dense fog, arrows came from all directions, without sound and without paths, as if they appeared out of thin air. This was enough to make one feel panicked and hopeless.
Luo Mingchuanâs expression did not change; he lifted his hand and swept his sleeve, blocking the arrows yet not dispersing the fog.
He finished his hand seals, and a screen of water rose in front of him, unexpectedly the exact same as the one in front of his opponent.
The same water screen and water arrows, but with greater might.
Under the cover of fog, not a single person realized it. Even that disciple on the stage was apprehensive; he didnât know why he couldnât see through his own fog. He thought Luo Mingchuan had used some kind of method to change the water arrowsâ trajectories, making them turn on each other.
âThe fog still hasnât dispersed yet. Is this technique really this powerful?â
âEven Cang Yaâs head disciple actually canât handle it?â
Yin Biyue also didnât see the water screen in front of Luo Mingchuan, only thinking it was strange.
If Luo Mingchuan was unable to see, why was he so untroubled, without a single tear in his defense? If he could see his opponent was only three feet away from him, why didnât he directly attack his opponent?
Even if the pace of this battle was slower, there must still be an ending.
The mist scattered, and the people appeared; complexion pale, that disciple stooped over and gasped for breath, yet he wasnât injured, only out of strength.
He didnât understand why though his opponent could have defeated him long ago he dragged it out until now.
After thinking it over again, Luo shixiong- being considerate of others- was probably just thinking to save him some face. He couldnât help but gratefully say, âI concede.â
Luo Mingchuan cupped his hands as a response and saw his opponent off the stage.
He had neither the joy nor pride of victory, nor did he show the exhaustion of having just fought a battle. Not a single thing was out of place from his headpiece to the edge of his robes, just like when he first stood on stage.
Cheng Tianyu wrinkled his brow and said, âUsing cultivation realm and amount of core energy to forcibly exhaust his opponent? Then if his opponentâs cultivation realm was just a bit higher, wouldnât he be out of luck?â
Song Tang shook his head, âThe methods he could use to win, as far as I know, are not less than ten... As for why he didnât use them, could it be that he wanted to stay unnoticed? Or he didnât want to reveal his final hand too quickly?â
He turned to the person beside him and said, âLuo Mingchuan has learned many strategies and methods that canât be guarded against, and his mind is steady. I believe, if you want to win first place this time, he would be the most difficult opponent to defeat.â
Zhong Shanâs expression did not change. Only the knuckles of the hand grasping his sword turned faintly white.
Unlike the other people making conjectures about this assured victory, Yin Biyue lifted his head and looked at the shining eye of the sun.
Today was the hottest day of the year.
Rotting grass would turn into fireflies, and the rainfall had yet to come.²
He remembered, Luo Mingchuan seemed to be very susceptible to heatstroke... and just now he stood for that long.
âShixiong, are you dizzy? Do you need to look for a person to help you back?â
He looked at the sea of people around the stage. No, this was too embarrassing. Shixiong would lose a lot of face.
Luo Mingchuan walked off the stage. Cang Ya disciples surged to surrounded him to congratulate him, and he nodded his head as regards to each of them one by one.
He saw the slightly blank-faced Yin Biyue and asked, âShidi, whatâs the matter?â
Yin Biyue muttered, âI just thought of a matter that needs to be addressed; is shixiong willing to go with me?â
Luo Mingchuan had not yet said anything, but He Yanyun and Ruan Xiaolianâs eyes lit up, âOf course itâs fine.â
Every disciple that had received an embroidered handkerchief now came to an unspoken agreement, again responding with a kind of hidden joy, âLuo shixiong, you should quickly go with Yin shixiong.â
At the same time they hurriedly rushed Luo Mingchuan out.
Duan Chongxuan lightly coughed and nodded at Yin Biyue.
They waited until the two of them had accompanied each other far away enough that their backs were almost out of their line of sight.
He Yanyun watched as the sleeves of the two people gently drift in the breeze, touching every now and then, and sighed with great emotion, âTruly beautiful. When will Luo shixiong and Yin shixiong get married?â
Someone answered, âItâs clearly very good, but why do I feel like... Iâve been injured?â
âDuan shixiong, how do you view this matter?â
Duan Chongxuan waved his fan, âWatching from the sidelines... Iâm used to it.â
Yin Biyue took Luo Mingchuan back first, sensing the atmosphere behind them was a bit off.
When they returned to Ye City, they changed their route to the small, remote alleyway they had gone through before.
Yin Biyue checked in all directions to make sure there werenât any other people, âShixiong, todayâs weather is intensely hot, are you... feeling any discomfort?â
Luo Mingchuan was startled, immediately recalling his excuse from that day, and for a moment he felt a bit like he didnât know whether to laugh or to cry; but he also felt very moved. Not only did shidi firmly and unwaveringly believe that, but he even remembered it up till now.
He felt guilt settle in his heart and should not deceive shidi again; he wanted to say âIâm very well, no discomfort. Last time was just a coincidence.â
But when the words got to his mouth, they became âActually, thereâs still a bit; I must inconvenience shidi again.â
Yin Biyue happily thought, of course it was; how quick-witted of me! ï½ï¼â§â½â¦ï¼/
1)é¾å¤±æ¥¼å°ï¼æ迷津渡 â Name of technique. in less concise and technique-like wording, the meaning would be: losing the tower in the fog, the moon mystifies the crossing of the ferry.
2) è è为è¤ï¼å¤§é¨å´æªè¡ â This originates from the belief that fireflies come from the rotting grass during the hottest time of year (summer). The rains herald fall, so when the rain hasnât fallen, itâs still the height of summer.