The Mirror Legacy

Zong Chang's words echoed through the night. Wei Xuanyin's white robes fluttered as he glanced at her and said softly, "Since you have brought up Martial Nephew Ch'i... There is no need to test me.

"Ch'i Lanyan may be my martial nephew and a cultivator of the Pavilion of Profound Order, but he is also the head of the Ch'i Family. What he does and what he believes he must do are his own affairs. You know that Li Zhouwei occupies the position of Bright Yang and cannot act entirely of his own accord, but how many people on either bank of the river are truly masters of their own fate? Everyone seeks to fulfill their own Dao path. How could any of them enjoy such freedom?

"I learned of his arrangements along the riverbank only shortly before you did."

The National Preceptor of Great Zhao stepped forward, his expression finally becoming somewhat complicated as he said pointedly, "He obtained an opportunity of his own and wished to change something. Perhaps he was also trying to help me, yet from the perspective of people such as us... what we seek is far too precious. Either we succeed, or we perish. Amid the myriad causes and conditions, one’s foundation lies within oneself alone. It cannot be altered by external things."

"As for Li Zhouwei..." His expression turned solemn as he continued calmly, "He will eventually reach the same point I have, and perhaps seek gold even before I do. Of course I know that he is doomed to die, but the value of heaven's workings lies in that single thread of uncertainty. If there is even the slightest possibility... and he truly succeeds before the eyes of all, bringing light to the entire realm, then that is his ability and his Dao. I will congratulate him upon achieving true fruition, accept the outcome of the wager, and harbor not the slightest resentment."

Zong Chang stared at him coldly. Her lips moved, but she said nothing. Wei Xuanyin shook his head and smiled. "You are cultivating [Veiled Yin], while I am pursuing the Dao. That is the difference between us. I seek a Dao in which yin and yang complement one another, where peace reigns throughout the realm. If Li Zhouwei attains the Dao, so much the better. Even if Li Qianyuan himself returned to life, I would still pursue it all the same."

The mountains fell silent as Wei Xuanyin stepped forward and looked at Zong Chang. "Fellow Daoist Zong, the Dao of Veiled Yin is maternal and should not bring suffering upon living beings. I understand that you wish to turn to the Buddhist cultivators, but theirs is a path of utter indulgence. They appear to relinquish sinful desires, yet in truth they only clutch the greatest sinful desire within their hearts. If you join them, you will become nothing more than a weapon in another's hands...

"You would be better off cultivating the Orthodox Dao of immortal arts. There may still be a chance to turn back."

Zong Chang stared blankly at him for a moment before laughing with faint contempt. "Wei Xuanyin, do you not hold your own heart of immortal pursuit in far too high a regard? Do you imagine everyone was like you, born into a major sect, cultivating within the Pavilion of Profound Order, reading the great scriptures of the Dao, and enjoying boundless immortal resources?

“Your every word and deed today may be unfettered, but beneath your feet lie the flesh and bones of the clans, commoners, rogue cultivators, and minor sects whom the Pavilion Viewing faction oppressed in Jizhong for a thousand years. You and I both hail from Chen State. Who do you think is fooled by the foul nature of your Pavilion Viewing faction?

"When I cultivated in Longdi, I was merely an insignificant cultivator who wanted nothing more than peace for my family. Yet you used your power to bully us and bought every river mulberry flower we grew for a pittance. I was forced to leave my homeland, and when I had nowhere left to turn, I killed others and took their blood to save my own life.

“That was how I climbed step by step to my present position. Had my master not offered me guidance, I would still be a devil cultivator in Longdi, barely clinging to life. When the cultivators of your Pavilion Viewing faction spoke grandly of pursuing immortality, I, Zong Chang, remained silent. Do you think that was because I had no desire to pursue it?

"Now you have the gall to condemn me, saying that I bring suffering upon living beings... Has it never occurred to you that you all have occupied the seat of the Orthodox Dao for a thousand years, holding it so firmly that no one else could possibly gain entry? The people of this world turn to Buddhism and the Devil Dao precisely because of the incompetence of your so-called Orthodox Dao and so-called Immortal Dao!"

Her expression turned icy. She tossed aside the wine jug, all traces of her casual manner vanishing as she silently rose and cursed, "Wei Xuanyin! If you fail to attain the Dao, how will you ever dare show your face before the world again?! All that will remain are the useless wastrels of the Pavilion Viewing faction... The likes of Ch'i Lanyan and Yin Baiyue will have done nothing but flaunt their power and enjoy their privilege for five hundred years! What good will any of that do for this world?"

The woman swept her sleeves and departed, leaving faint devil winds lingering in the air. Wei Xuanyin stood forlornly among the mountains, watching the moonlight spill across his sleeve.

He gathered every trace of radiance into his sleeve. After an unknown length of time, he also vanished.

————

Great Primordial Hidden Radiance Mountain.

Temples rose in clusters amid multicolored light that hung like mist. The lowest flight of steps lay silent and deserted, bathed in a glaze-like radiance, but for two monks, one tall and one short, who were walking along the stairs.

Maha Minghui wore a peculiar expression. With both hands tucked into his sleeves, he smacked his lips, finding his mouth filled with bitterness.

What a terrible ordeal...

Mingxiang stood a head taller beside him, a faint crimson light flickering across his jade-like face. He rubbed his cheek as though it still hurt, then looked at his distracted junior brother and shook his head with a smile.

"Minghui... Just look at your senior brother. I took a halberd strike from Li Zhouwei, and Bright Yang is still burning in my cheek. You had it easy! Safe and sound from beginning to end."

Minghui turned to look at him, inwardly exasperated by his disappointing performance, Why couldn't he have skewered you to death...

Despite this thought, Minghui merely shook his head and asked, "What of the White Qilin? His injuries looked severe to me."

Mingxiang rubbed his chin and replied, "Not nearly severe enough..."

A trace of astonishment entered his eyes as he continued, "My three Dao-protecting treasures were refined in an incense burner for more than three hundred years. Master even once said that they were no longer ordinary Buddhist artifacts. Combined with my cultivation and arts, even an ordinary mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivator would be no match for me... Yet he resisted them with ease. Even though they were suppressed by that Radiant Fire spirit treasure, it was still enough to demonstrate the strength of his dharma body."

Mingxiang appeared somewhat regretful. "Somehow, he managed to learn a dharma body of the Tuoba Family. It looked familiar... The Tuoba Family possesses three of the Twelve Demon-Contemplating Dharma Bodies, so his should be an evolution of one of them...

"This dharma body can suppress Radiant Essence. Otherwise, how could such a renowned treasure as the [Radiant Light Separate Rite Treasure Platform][1], upon which even Li Shu perished, have done nothing more than fill his body with Radiant Essence?"

As Mingxiang lamented at length, Minghui listened with such anguish that it felt as though he had lost both parents. Mingxiang, however, smiled and transmitted, "Didn't I handle everything nicely? I even avenged you against Daisi... He is having a miserable time now! It is just a pity that I failed to seize one or two spirit artifacts...

"This is the best possible outcome. Although the White Qilin was cornered and forced to endure our blades, he was not driven to risk his life. Daisi bore all the consequences, while we came away quite comfortably."

Minghui pressed his palms together and repeatedly begged forgiveness in his heart. After they had taken another few steps, they saw Monk Yanbai descending the mountain.

He nodded to them and said quietly, "You two have worked hard!"

Feeling somewhat guilty, Minghui silently nodded. In truth, the Star of Cultivation and Martiality had shone brightly, while the troops assaulting the riverbank belonged to the Great Desire Dao. He had not contributed much to the casualties on either side. Yet he was thick-skinned enough to think nothing of it and returned the greeting with a smile.

Yanbai then remarked casually, "The lord in the hall summoned me earlier, and questioned me about the battle along the lakeshore. It is your turn now, fellow Daoist. Please."

The moment Minghui heard this, his eyes flew wide open as realization struck him, A lord? Someone has arrived? And now they want to question me?

He shuddered in alarm and forced a smile. "Thank you for informing me, Great Master..."

Yanbai remained expressionless. "Everyone is waiting for you. You may enter."

1. Previously known as Dawnlight Separate Rite Treasure Platform. ☜

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