The Mirror Legacy

Chapter 1518: A Kindness To Repay (I)

Li Ximing weighed the [Wondrous Wisdom Tendril] in his hand. Daoist Master Luo laughed dryly and replied, “At the moment… I don’t really have any Bright Yang spirit items…”

It was hard for this devil cultivator to put on any airs. He was an unquestioned overlord in the Shamanic Kingdom, but outside, he was either facing figures like Li Ximing and Master Dingyang, who were renowned for alchemy and artifact forging, or immortal cultivators of the Supreme Yang Dao lineage with multiple treasures in hand. What could he possibly offer that others would value?

He could only laugh and say, “I traded with Fellow Daoist Ning Wan for a cultivation method, so I don’t have much left worth showing… though… I do have a few Bright Yang arts…”

Li Ximing was not interested. Bright Yang arts were exactly the sort of things he lacked least, and besides, the other party was a devil cultivator from the southern border. What kind of refined Bright Yang Dao lineage could he possibly produce? When he asked casually, they were indeed nothing special, at best on the level of [Bright Light Heavenly Surge].

He declined with a smile. Daoist Master Luo did not dare bring out any of his Devil Dao cultivation methods, so after a long moment of hesitation, he gritted his teeth and produced a white pearl glowing with [Converging Water] light. It was also a Purple Mansion Realm provision, which he offered in exchange.

Li Ximing was not someone who accepted every kind of spirit material, so he shook his head and replied, “This won’t do, Fellow Daoist. Fortunately, I don’t have much use for it right now, so there’s no urgency. My family is preparing to forge a suit of armor, so I’ll leave this item in the care of Master Dingyang. When you have need of it someday, or if you come across suitable spirit materials, you can come find him. If nothing else, you can also look for me by the lake!”

He turned to Master Dingyang, who calmly replied, “That works… The times are unstable now… Travel is inconvenient, so I will keep it for you.”

Li Ximing took his words about instability to refer to the conflict between north and south. He responded politely, made his arrangements in silence, and exchanged a few parting words with Master Dingyang. Liu Changdie was likely still in Poluoduo, so he rose on the wind and headed north.

As soon as Li Ximing left, Master Dingyang’s cold expression softened somewhat, and he treated Daoist Master Luo with a bit more courtesy as he frowned and said, “I’ve told you several times… That item was entrusted by Southern Shun Raksha. It belongs to Dilutian Sanglin! Among the southern shamanic spell arts, he is likely the foremost. Yet you insisted on asking anyway.”

Daoist Master Luo let out a chuckle and replied, “Dilutian Sanglin… His reputation is great, but isn’t he also someone who sold out his friends for gain? I was just asking for the sake of it. If he weren’t thinking of switching over to the Buddhist lands, why would he go through all this trouble…”

Master Dingyang frowned, “What are you saying?”

Daoist Master Luo quickly said, “If this is false, you can take my head!”

Such crude words made Master Dingyang frown. He replied, “This matter has nothing to do with you or me. That friend of yours at sea, that treasure elephant, didn’t obtain a piece of Golden Stone? You might as well ask him, so this thing doesn’t sit idle in my hands.”

Daoist Master Luo chuckled twice and shook his head, “You’re the one in a hurry. One more piece of scaled armor won’t change much. At most, it eases a bit of pressure for the Supreme Yang Dao lineage your master is so concerned about…

“Have you thought about it? Wei Xuanyin is already a Grand Daoist Master of [Veiled Yin]. The Zhao Imperial Palace also has Zong Chang of [Veiled Yin] and General Gongsun Bei of [Radiant Essence]. Do you really expect the Li Family to help share the burden of the Supreme Yang Dao lineage? Murong Yan alone is already enough to give them a headache.”

Master Dingyang remained calm and did not deny it. He said softly, “It is enough to make White Qilin stand out more and draw attention. The situation is chaotic. The Supreme Yang Dao lineage truly needs to stay out of it and bide its time…”

————

White Sea Stream.

The territory of Xuanmiao Temple was now dim and lifeless. The hearts of the people had scattered the moment the ancestor Sumian left with the carefully nurtured Qi Qiuxin. The laughter and ease of the past were nowhere to be seen.

Two streaks of light arrived one after the other, revealing a man in black cloud-patterned robes and a woman in Xiang attire[1].

Ch’i Lanyan wore a faint smile. “This is Xuanmiao Temple… cross the river and you’ll reach Shanji Prefecture!”

Kong Tingyun’s gaze swept across Jiangnan under the night sky. In just a few days, she had come to understand much of what had happened during her long seclusion. Looking westward, she could not restrain her emotions as she thought, Daoist Master Zhaojing, Li Ximing… he truly succeeded!

If one looked at it closely, Kong Tingyun was the only person who had personally gone to warn Li Qinghong never to let Li Ximing use the [Radiant Sky Stone][2]. Though she believed her intentions were good, seeing this outcome left her unable to avoid a sense of gloom.

It seems Li Ximing ultimately used the [Radiant Sky Stone]. Otherwise, how could he progress so quickly? My well-meaning warning has instead become an obstacle to his path. How can this be explained? Li Ximing must now hold a grudge against me!

Her heart was filled with mixed emotions, along with unease at the thought of seeing her family again. Beside her, Ch’i Lanyan had cultivated a Fate Divine Ability and was extremely perceptive.

As he looked over, Kong Tingyun quickly said, her tone carrying a faint sigh, “Senior Xiao Chuting has already left Jiangnan…”

“Xiao Chuting…” Ch’i Lanyan folded his arms and showed a trace of a smile at the name as he replied, “He rose by plotting against Duanmu Kui and gained quite a bit of favor from it. Now that he’s moved to the Northern Sea, it’s only natural. Why would he keep stirring things up in Jiangnan?”

Kong Tingyun fell silent. The two continued southward and soon arrived before Shanji Prefecture. The entire region looked gloomy and in disarray, no longer resembling its former self. The formation at the mountain gate shone with clarity, but within, parts of the mountains were missing. Decorations of green and red hung everywhere, bearing the marks of other families.

Kong Tingyun lowered her gaze. Ch’i Lanyan stepped forward before the formation, and sure enough, a woman in purple robes rode the wind toward them. She stopped nearby, wearing a polite smile, and said, “Greetings, Fellow Daoists… Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Kong!”

Kong Tingyun did not quite recognize her, but she recognized the attire of the Purple Smoke Gate and responded politely. Ch’i Lanyan, however, appeared warm and said, “Tingyun is a disciple of Tongxuan and attained her Dao in Jiangbei. We are here to bring back her family.”

Hearing him repeatedly refer to her as a Tongxuan disciple made Tinglan feel deeply uncomfortable, though she maintained a smile as she said, “Zhugong is currently in seclusion, but arrangements were made in advance.”

Her heart churned with unease as she gestured for others to come forward. Several guest cultivators rode the wind over, four in total. At the front was an old man with deeply sunken eyes. His clothes were new and splendid, and his hands were clasped tightly before him in nervousness.

He seemed to have taken some fine spirit herbs, as his skin appeared flushed and healthy. Yet his eyes were still wide and sunken deep in their sockets, revealing an unmistakable panic. His body was hunched and small, his neck craned forward as he glanced upward in fear. His hands trembled constantly.

Kong Tingyun stared at him in a daze. “Guxi?”

The old man seemed as if he were dreaming. His lips were pale, and he could not speak. When Kong Tingyun had left the sect, Kong Guxi had been a young man, and a well-known wastrel within the sect. Even now, he should not have been considered old, yet the crushing pressure of these years had completely broken him, leaving him weak and worn beyond recognition.

Behind Kong Guxi stood two middle-aged figures. The woman held the hand of a half-grown boy. Her complexion was sallow, and her expression blank. She was Kong Qiuyan, once youthful, graceful, and radiant.

The man was gaunt to the bone, his eyes filled with tears. This was Kong Xiaxiang, once known for his bold and decisive nature. In his hands, he held a neatly folded suit of golden armor, with a fierce-looking mask resting atop it, the eye holes dark and hollow.

The marks left by time were far inferior to the scars of body and mind. In just over a decade, all three had changed beyond recognition. They huddled together as if for warmth, staring at her through the clouds with fear and disbelief.

Kong Tingyun’s expression slowly changed. Her gentle eyes quickly filled with tears, and her voice turned hoarse, “Only the three of you are left.”

She looked at Kong Qiuyan, who now looked like a middle-aged woman, and asked quietly, “What is the child’s surname?”

Compared to the other two, Kong Qiuyan showed little despair, only deep exhaustion and confusion. “Daoist Master, the child’s surname is Dai.”

Ch’i Lanyan stood silently at the side, his gaze calmly fixed on the downcast Tinglan. His eyes were like cold iron, carrying a silent yet cutting mockery. Look at what you’ve done!

It’s your Supreme Yang Dao lineage; your sins, Tinglan! You resent our Pavilion Viewing faction for acting under orders and stirring the world’s situation. Do you now understand why? Look at what your Supreme Yang Dao lineage has done, bringing devil cultivators into Jiangnan. Do you really think that is any better?!

Tinglan’s face remained expressionless, but her thoughts were in turmoil. She did not know how to respond. Should she say that the Profound Peak Gate under Changxi had never been righteous? Or that Zhugong had already shown mercy? Or that without inviting Zhugong into Jiangnan, the region would have fallen to the Capital Immortal Dao, whose methods would have been even harsher? But all of that was only speculation. No matter what, she could not bring herself to speak it aloud.

She could only say, “The Capital Immortal Dao pressed too aggressively and Zhugong hastily took in the remnants of your sect. She is from the Eastern Sea, and her actions are rough by nature. It was inevitable that things would be handled somewhat crudely.”

Kong Tingyun and her kin looked at each other in silence, choked with emotion. After a long while, she finally asked, “How many disciples of the Profound Peak Gate remain?”

Kong Xiaxiang was about to speak, but Kong Guxi said first, his voice hoarse, “When the sect collapsed, we were fortunate to receive protection from Daoist Master Zhaojing. I dismissed the disciples myself, and we now survive under the Grace Covenant Gate. The Profound Peak Gate no longer exists.”

The chill in Kong Tingyun’s eyes did not fade, yet she still bowed politely to Tinglan and said, “Senior Zhugong’s years of protection will not be forgotten. Once I have learned the full situation of the disciples, I will personally visit when senior emerges from seclusion.”

Tinglan felt bitterness fill her mouth and let out a sigh. Ch’i Lanyan gave her little chance to respond. He turned with Kong Tingyun, and the two rode the wind away, leaving Tinglan standing alone in the moonlight.

The affairs of the world are unpredictable!

Once they left Shanji Prefecture, the polite smile on Kong Tingyun’s face finally disappeared. She glanced at Kong Guxi, who stood as if trapped in a dream, afraid to move lest he wake from it, and said with a slight choke in her voice, “After the ancestor fell, who truly protected you?”

Kong Guxi did not dare plant his feet firmly. Two murky tears rolled down from the corners of his eyes. At last, a trace of grief surfaced on his aged face, as if he could finally breathe.

Amid the sobs behind him, he clenched his teeth and said through tears, “After the Daoist Master fell, wolves and jackals from all directions wished to tear us apart that very day. The Jingyi lineage could not even be seen. Our fellow Daoists of Xuanmiao Temple celebrated in the mountains. All those the Profound Peak Gate once befriended looked on with cold eyes.

“Among all of them, the only one who showed compassion, who truly cared and was willing to offer shelter, was Daoist Master Zhaojing alone!

“This debt of gratitude… our Kong Family could not repay it even in nine generations!”

1. Xiang attire (湘衣) refers to clothing in the Xiang style, often associated with the Jiangnan/Hunan region. ☜

2. Refer back to Chapter 947 for the conversation between Kong Tingyun and Li Qinghong. ☜