Chapter Ninety-Three: A Heavenly Phenomenon Descends upon the Ten Thousand Great Mountains
Dongyang Town is a small settlement located on the edge of the Ten Thousand Mountains, situated precisely where the Xijiang River exits the mountains, facing the Xijiang Plain and backed by the vast mountain range. It serves as the boundary between Lingzhou and the Ten Thousand Mountains; to the east lies Lingzhou, and to the west, the mountains. It is said that if one follows the Xijiang River upstream, they can reach the heart of the Ten Thousand Mountains, the gathering place of the Witch Clan. However, few believe this tale, as the world whispers that no one truly knows the Witch Clan’s hiding place. Conversely, traveling downstream along the Xijiang is well known: the route passes by the Xijiang Martial Arts Hall and the Nanhai estuary of the Xijiang, arriving at Beihai City.
Beyond this, Dongyang Town is a bustling trade hub. Each year, countless people from Lingzhou pass through here, venturing into the Ten Thousand Mountains to seek rare spiritual treasures of heaven and earth. Not only ordinary folk but merchants and numerous cultivators come in search of opportunities. Thus, Dongyang Town becomes a melting pot of various people, all converging for profit, naturally giving rise to a vibrant market scene not only aboveboard but also some clandestine black markets.
It was the beginning of April. Dongyang, located at the mountain’s mouth of the Xijiang, sits at a relatively high altitude. Due to the terrain, the southern winds from the South Sea bring continuous orographic rain whenever they reach this area. Today was no exception; the spring rain had arrived.
“Pitter-patter...”
The spring rain was neither heavy nor light, but it was persistent enough to disturb.
“Clatter, clatter, clatter...”
On the rain-drenched, deserted street, a middle-aged man walked alone, holding an umbrella.
“The spring rain comes so suddenly!” The man sighed helplessly as he walked. There was always one day each year when he had to go to the mountain’s dam and release the water; otherwise, Dongyang Town would face flooding. After all, he was the dam’s caretaker, elected by all the farmers in the area.
The town’s center was situated near the dam on a rare patch of dry land, and his home was even closer. Familiar with the place, the man approached the sluice gate, opened it fully as usual, and prepared to head home with his tools.
Suddenly, under his umbrella and with head bowed, the man noticed a strange light on the dam’s embankment road. It was sunset, and visibility was still reasonable, so to save on lamp oil, he had not lit his lantern. But what was this sudden glow?
He stopped in his tracks, still not looking up, muttering, “I am a good man, I am a good man.”
Though he had never encountered the legendary water ghosts of Dongyang Town during his years managing the dam, he still harbored some belief in such things, especially in strange weather and when alone.
The glow on the ground persisted, tightening his furrowed brow.
“Damn it, let me see what the hell this is!” Suddenly, he shouted and looked up sharply toward the dam’s center.
The next moment, his oiled-paper umbrella dropped to the ground, and the man stood motionless on the embankment, letting the spring rain soak him without reaction.
After a long while, feeling parched, he tasted the rainwater trickling down his cheek and muttered in disbelief, “What... what is this?”
Before him, the Xijiang River’s surface had turned a golden yellow, as if the water was filled with sand—or rather, gold. The entire river shimmered with a golden hue. Fixing his gaze, he spotted the light’s source: down the V-shaped river valley, at its end, a golden pillar of light seemed to pierce the sky, though the hazy atmosphere blurred it somewhat.
“Clatter, clatter, clatter...”
Ignoring everything, he bent down to retrieve his drenched umbrella, then without lighting it, braving the slippery embankment as the red earth threatened to trip him, he dashed home recklessly.
By the next morning, news of a celestial phenomenon inside the Ten Thousand Mountains had spread throughout Dongyang Town.
---
Inside the Nanshan Pavilion, Qin Yi and his companions were still drinking heartily. The waiter had not deceived them—the second floor truly was a VIP lounge.
Compared to the plain first floor, the second floor was lavishly decorated. Qin Yi pulled the waiter aside, grinning slyly. “You’re unfair! Last time we drank here, you didn’t treat us to this place.”
The waiter looked a little embarrassed but quickly concocted an excuse. “Master Immortal, last time I didn’t want to trouble you all. I promise from now on, whenever you come to Nanshan Pavilion, the VIP room will be reserved for you.”
Qin Yi laughed. “Good boy, that’s the spirit. If anyone causes trouble here, and I find out, I’ll back you up. Otherwise, next time I come to Nanshan Town, no one will treat me like this.”
The waiter beamed and then turned to Zhang Chen with gratitude. “Thank you, Young Master Zhang. When we went to your family’s wine shop this morning, Boss Zhang gave us priority. Otherwise, I would have worried about getting your fine brews.”
Zhang Chen laughed heartily. “No trouble at all. I told my father, you all have priority from now on.”
The waiter’s face lit up with joy. “Thank you, Young Master Zhang!”
Nearby, Zhan Beihai leaned toward Qin Yi and asked, “What about what Wang Yuncheng said? Aren’t you curious?”
Qin Yi didn’t answer but instead asked, “Aren’t you curious? Why are you still here drinking with me then?”
Zhan Beihai, somewhat proud, said, “I’m not afraid. Once the Xijiang Martial Arts Hall knows about the news, who would dare not report to me?”
Qin Yi mirrored his expression. “Neither am I. The disciples at Taiyi Mountain will surely come find me voluntarily once they hear.”
“Senior Brother Qin Yi...”
Just then, a voice came from downstairs, likely from the first floor.
Qin Yi raised his head and smiled. “See? Speak of the devil.”
“Young Hall Master...”
Not long after, another voice echoed from below.
Zhan Beihai imitated Qin Yi, lifting his head with great gusto.
---
The two exchanged amused glances before stepping out of the VIP room onto the blackwood corridor.
But Qin Yi’s face darkened instantly. The first floor was filled with a crowd of black-clad men, armed with various weapons. Only one youth in a Taiyi Mountain disciple’s robe was being jostled amid the throng, nearly overwhelmed by the crowd.
Zhan Beihai wanted to laugh but restrained himself, instead shouting sternly, “Hey, what are you doing? Let the Taiyi Mountain disciple pass! Stop crowding, or I’ll beat you.”
The black-clad men cowered and quickly cleared a path for the disciple.
The Taiyi Mountain disciple sighed with relief, straightened his disheveled robes, and approached Qin Yi, bowing. “Senior Brother Qin Yi.”
Qin Yi took a sip of wine and asked calmly, “Who sent you?”
The youth hesitated, stammering, “It was... Senior Brother Mu.”
Qin Yi chuckled, “Mu Fengqing really thinks highly of himself.”
He continued, “Did he tell you to ask me to come to him, saying we Taiyi Mountain disciples should work together?”
The youth nodded obediently.
Qin Yi said, “Tell him, even if he personally leads everyone here now, I won’t pay him any mind.”
“Understood,” the youth replied and began to turn away.
“Wait.” Qin Yi suddenly called out.
The youth looked back, puzzled. “Senior Brother Qin Yi, is there something else?”
Qin Yi tossed the half-full jug of purple rice wine to him. “Here’s your travel money.”
The youth caught it clumsily and thanked him. “Thank you, Senior Brother Qin Yi.”
Qin Yi waved dismissively without a word.
The youth hurried off.
Zhan Beihai looked at the black-clad group. “Who wants to explain what happened?”
One man quickly stepped forward. “I know! I’ll tell you.”
“Go ahead,” Zhan Beihai said.
The man said, “To the point: last night, someone saw a golden light pillar descending from the sky near the Ten Thousand Mountains in Dongyang Town. That’s about it.”
Qin Yi’s expression tightened at the news. “What did you say? You saw what?”
The man was startled by Qin Yi’s sudden sharp tone and momentarily lost his composure.
Zhan Beihai prompted, “Say it again for him.”
The man repeated the story fully.
Qin Yi listened earnestly this time, suddenly lost in thought. He gripped the black wooden railing so tightly it bent.
“A celestial phenomenon has finally returned,” he murmured.
Zhan Beihai grinned. “Qin, what do you say? Shall we head to Dongyang Town? Maybe all the heroes will gather there. We can visit the Xijiang Martial Arts Hall while we’re at it.”
Qin Yi slowly calmed his complex feelings and smiled. “Of course. My Fourth Senior Brother died in the wilderness because of this. I have no reason not to check it out.”
Zhan Beihai laughed and looked at the crowd below. “Let’s all rest here tonight. We’ll return to the Xijiang Martial Arts Hall early tomorrow.”
“Sounds good! We’ll be back at the hall by tomorrow.”
“Haha, indeed. Nothing outside compares to our martial arts hall.”
The crowd cheered.
Only a somewhat dopey-looking youth scratched his head and muttered, “If we go back tomorrow morning, won’t we miss the Nanshan Debate? We won’t be able to bring glory to our martial arts hall.”
Zhan Beihai overheard and laughed scolded, “What nonsense! Even if we wanted to fight tomorrow, no one would dare. You’re just a fool who only knows how to brawl.”
Everyone burst into laughter.
The youth smiled sheepishly and scratched his head.
---
Qin Yi smiled. “Better to go early, not because I fear others seizing opportunities, but because I don’t know how long this phenomenon will last.”
Such things are not man-made but beyond human explanation. If anyone could explain it, it would be the all-knowing Sage Father.
The waiter cheerfully arranged rooms for everyone, even offering his own room when no others remained. How could he neglect such esteemed young immortals?
Alas, no matter the times, ordinary people have far less ease compared to blessed cultivators.
---
That night, deep in the Nanshan Pavilion, silence reigned.
Qin Yi leaned on the window sill, gazing at the waning moon.
Beside him, Jiang Yao cradled a white rabbit, smiling. “Why so distracted? Shouldn’t you have guessed this long ago?”
Qin Yi didn’t turn but smiled at the moonlight. “Many things are like that. Even if you anticipate them, when they happen, you still get excited. Like in my past life—I guessed I’d sleep with you, but now, sharing a bed so often still thrills me.”
Jiang Yao rolled her eyes. “Stop with the nonsense.”
“Hahaha...” Qin Yi laughed, unable to hide his joy.
She reminded him, “Don’t be too happy yet. Have you forgotten what your former rivals are like now?”
Qin Yi waved it off. “Whether they see me is one thing, and even if they do, they probably won’t recognize me. Even if they do, they have no proof, and the masters of Taiyi Mountain will protect me.”
Then his tone grew sharp. “Except for Wang Hong and Linglong. Their grudges need settling this time.”
He continued, “In situations where everyone fights over worldly things, enemies are everywhere. Sometimes old grudges can truly vanish.”
Jiang Yao said, “Wang Hong will probably seek trouble with you—because you’re the crown prince’s son of Dongling Kingdom, or because you’re from Taiyi Mountain. As for Linglong...” Her voice faltered. “Is causing so much trouble really wise?”
Qin Yi’s voice hardened, “Enough with the trivialities. At least we need to find out why she once poisoned you.”
Jiang Yao was about to speak again.
Qin Yi cut her off sharply, “No discussion.”
Then a mischievous smile curved his lips. “Or I’ll spank your little behind.”
Jiang Yao flushed.
Qin Yi’s smile remained.
In the moonlit room, the two seemed frozen in that moment.
---
Early the next morning, the group set off in high spirits. They chose to first ride their swords to a port closest to the Xijiang River, then travel by water. Though initially reluctant about the time water travel would take, they reasoned they wouldn’t reach Dongyang Town today anyway; reaching the Xijiang Martial Arts Hall was sufficient. This way, they could relax and enjoy the scenery along the riverbanks.
Their water route was distinctive. The port where they embarked was at the second exit of the Xijiang River from the mountains onto the South Sea Plain—a low, rolling hill region that could be called a mountain pass. Their destination, the Xijiang Martial Arts Hall, lay at the entrance where the Xijiang River flows from the plain into the hills. Along this hundred-li journey, they passed the strange and varied peak forests of the hill region.
Though the journey was long enough to annoy some, Qin Yi was happy to make it again. Despite the repetitive peaks, the varying formations continually caught his eye, truly living up to the phrase “strange and varied.”
The only annoyance was the little white rabbit, who seemed seasick and lethargic throughout, much to Jiang Yao’s pity. Being a girl, she often considered flying on her sword instead.
By sunset, they finally arrived.
Qin Yi marveled at the towering cliff that seemed to suddenly rise before them, the highest and most perilous cliff they had seen on their journey, far surpassing any prior.
On deck, Qin Yi asked, “Passing this cliff, is that where your Xijiang Martial Arts Hall is?”
Zhan Beihai nodded and pointed to the cliff’s distant exit. “Some of our people already live on the cliff above. Since the city of Xijiang lies ahead and there’s no room to expand, this spot is a good choice for cultivators.”
Qin Yi looked closely and indeed saw sparse houses clinging to the vertical cliff near the exit.