The Path Toward Heaven

The season in which one would still feel a bit cold when weather was getting warmer was over, and the warm spring was ushered in. It was the best time to take a nap.

During this period of time, the business for either official or private schools was much slower, and even the business of theatres was affected, and especially the government offices.

It was unclear why the usually lazy State Duke Lu became diligent all of a sudden. Though he didn’t do anything useful and mostly sat in the chair drinking his tea, it was still quite surprising to his colleagues in the imperial court and his subordinates in Taichang Temple that he hadn’t asked for any sick leave twenty or thirty days in a row.

Seeing his back walking toward the outside of the temple under the sunlight of spring, the officials and subordinates of Taichang Temple felt everything had finally returned to normal.

State Duke Lu waved his hand to gesture for those officials seeing him off to disperse. Glancing at Jing Shang standing unnoticeably outside the crowd, State Duke Lu didn’t ask him to approach and have a chat after he gave it a second thought.

He took out a crystal from a drawer and held in his hand after getting in the carriage. He intended to use the spiritual energy of the crystal to recover his mental sharpness and calm his mind. “Is it confirmed that the bowl is broken?” he asked.

The caretaker of the State Duke Manor was walking outside the carriage, so the caretaker wasn’t the person he asked the question.

State Duke Lu directed the question to a blind man sitting in the carriage.

The blind man had partially white hair, wearing plain clothing; though he was obviously old, he looked quite vigorous.

This old man was his personal guard back when State Duke Lu served in the army in the north. State Duke Lu brought him to the State Duke Manor after he was wounded. Since then, the old man had been involved in this boring but very important job.

“This subordinate heard it clearly; it was the ‘green flower bowl’ that had broken.”

It would be improper for State Duke Lu to let someone stay in that room and be ready all the time, so this blind old soldier was the best choice.

In the State Duke Manor, this old soldier’s job on the surface was taking care of the birds, so he lived very close to the inner yard, though nobody knew that his real job was to listen to the breaking bowl.

…

…

State Duke Lu came to the Jing House through the underground tunnel. He saw Gu Qing covered in dust as he raised his head up.

As a sword practitioner, Gu Qing gave others the feeling that he didn’t have time to clean himself up, so it was evident that he had come in a hurry.

Yet, State Duke Lu was not pleased, complaining, “How many days have passed already?”

It was obvious that State Duke Lu wasn’t pleased with Gu Qing’s delay.

Gu Qing was actually helpless in this matter. Unlike his two masters of the second generation, Zhao Layue and Jing Jiu, he had to apply to the Green Mountain asking for permission to leave there, and then wait for the approval.

Though the Green Mountain didn’t pay close attention to those leaving the mountain at all times, and he could leave the mountain secretly like Duan Liantian of Shangde Peak and Jian Rushan of Liangwang Peak did, yet the destination of his travel was Zhaoge City, and Jing Jiu mentioned in the letter that he might stay in the palace for a while; how could he conceal his travel from anybody on Green Mountain?

No matter how self-sufficient Shenmo Peak was, they still needed to go through the procedure; otherwise, it would be a conspicuous form of disrespect to the other peaks.

Unexpectedly, the masters of the peaks who were usually not interested in this sort of thing were quite serious about it this time. A vehement debate occurred among them regarding whether Gu Qing should be allowed to go to Zhaoge City. It wasn’t until one night that Zhao Layue came out from behind closed doors and learned of this matter. Gu Qing gained the approval the next day after Zhao Layue had asked Yuan Qü to pay a visit to Shangde Peak

For this reason, Gu Qing had been delayed a while. As he came to Zhaoge City, a few spring rainstorms had already occurred.

After explaining why he was delayed briefly, Gu Qing asked State Duke Lu about the true purpose of his travel.

Jing Jiu had mentioned it vaguely in his letter, and he had also partly guessed it, but he wasn’t so sure.

Hearing what State Duke Lu said, Gu Qing asked after a pause, “Can I enter the palace at night?”

Gu Qing could clearly sense State Duke Lu’s anxiety and eagerness.

The spring sun had already reached the horizon in the west, and the begonia tree in the courtyard was shedding flowers, resembling a myriad of fires when being illuminated by the setting sun.

State Duke Lu said after some thought, “You rest up first; no need to go there tonight.”

Gu Qing was really anxious. It was because of the debate at the Green Mountain Sect, meaning that the Green Mountain didn’t all consent to what Shenmo Peak intended to do.

If the Green Mountain Sect had chosen to stay out of the affair, how could Jing Jiu’s arrangement be carried out?

As for what Jing Jiu was doing in the Fiend Prison right now and whether he encountered any danger…State Duke Lu didn’t dare think about.

The second day after Jing Jiu entered the Fiend Prison, State Duke Lu had managed to ascertain that Jing Jiu had escaped from the cell; where was he now?

…

…

The starlight streamed in through the window.

Gu Qing sat on the ground with legs crossed, meditating with his eyes closed; but his Dao Heart could hardly calm down, because he was worried about his Master’s safety, and thought about things after entering the palace.

He stood up and walked to the table, looking at that famous game of Go. Somehow, he couldn’t understand it no matter how hard he tried; so he had no choice but to walk to the window watching the night sky.

A cat’s meow was heard coming from somewhere in the darkness of night.

The cry wasn’t ghastly or dreadful, so it wasn’t a call for a partner.

A white cat appeared on the windowsill like a ghost.

Surprised, Gu Qing bowed to him hastily, “Greetings, Master White Ghost.”

He didn’t know that Ada hadn’t gone with his Master, making him feel even more worried.

The white cat raised his head and glanced at him icily, indicating that nothing bad could happen while he was on guard.

He didn’t know that Gu Qing had no idea what Jing Jiu was to do; but Gu Qing felt uneasy because Jing Jiu had brought the white cat with him for this very trip.

Gu Qing watched the white cat leave.

Now that they had lived together on Shenmo Peak for a long time, Gu Qing wasn’t as scared of him as he had been in the beginning; but the necessary courtesy was in order nonetheless.

As Gu Qing was about to turn around after the white cat disappeared in the backyard of the Jing House, he saw his Master’s “nephew” sneak to the foot of the yard wall; he couldn’t help but feel suspicious.

That boy’s name was Jing Li.

It was possible that Jing Jiu didn’t even know his name. And yet Gu Qing knew it. It was his duty to take care of his Master’s affairs, including his Master’s relatives in the mortal world.

After some thought, he followed Jing Li.

As Gu Qing came to the backyard of the Jing House, he was stunned.

Jing Li was looking for something in the yard, calling in a low voice, “Kitty, kitty, where are you?”

A white cat ambled out slowly from the bush, showing a disgusted look.

This white cat was none other than White Ghost.

As Jing Li saw the white cat, he was so happy that he almost jumped up, saying, “I thought you had already left.”

The white cat meowed nonchalantly, indicating that he would not leave just yet.

Jing Li approached him and carefully caressed his head, saying, “Let’s play…”

Upon hearing this, the white cat’s eyes beamed, pulling out a set of bone cards from the wild bush with his right paw and pushing it toward Jing Li.

The white cat suddenly thought of something as he turned around and looked at a dark shadow in the backyard; the expression in his eyes was as sharp as a sword.

Gu Qing pulled himself together from the initial shock, and hurriedly looked away at the sky, indicating that he hadn’t seen anything; then he diminished his energy and reduced his breathing, disappearing from the spot soundlessly.

…

…

In the early morning next day, Gu Qing followed State Duke Lu entering the palace.

Jing Jiu’s intention was very clear, so they didn’t have to conceal it from anybody. And they even showed themselves intentionally before the court session began that day.

All the kings and chancellors saw State Duke Lu and Gu Qing enter the palace.

The news that the immortal master of Green Mountain entered the palace spread across Zhaoge City instantly.

The subsequent news was that the immortal master would be the teacher of the second prince.

Gu Qing’s identity and origin were soon gathered.

Some people thought the arrangement was improper, because Gu Qing was merely a disciple of the third generation on Green Mountain; it seemed that he was not so qualified to be the teacher of the prince. Some thought it was appropriate, because Gu Qing was the inherited sword of the branch of the Immortal Jing Yang. Yet, more people were concerned about what the Green Mountain Sect that had never cared about the affairs of the imperial court intended to do with this arrangement.