Chapter 91

Wu Li had practiced for many years and had a wide circle of friends. As the 15th of August approached, guests from all over began to arrive. Among them were Elder Cao Kuzhu from the Withered Bamboo Temple in Qingjiangpu, Jiangsu; Lu Dahu and his fellow disciple Di Yiner, the Fire Virtue Star Lord and the Bareheaded Lion from Bitter Bamboo Gorge in Yunnan; Daoist Huang Zhong from the Golden Light Cave in Dama Mountain in Miaojiang; Zen Master Xiaoyue from the Purple Gold Waterfall in Huangshan; the Golden Needle Holy Mother from the Yellow Lion Cave in Gupoling, Mangcang Mountain; Tiger Head Zen Master from the Longfeng Cave on the Wicked Dragon Island in the East Sea; Wu Jing, a disciple of Elder Yang A from Snowy Wave Mountain in the South Sea; the wandering immortal Whale Rider; and Shang Jianchu and Lingying Butiantong, the beloved son and the most outstanding disciple of the Two Elders from Tumu Island in the North Sea.

The Wudang Sect was still represented by the four of them, including Zhuge Ying. The Kunlun Sect, because Wu Li had invited their ex-disciple Yin Sutang from Wushan Yuban Gorge and Chichengzi, did not send any of the Four Friends of Kunlun, but only sent their junior disciple Cheng Di with his disciples. The Maoshan Sect was represented by Liu Buxu, who had received Yue Qing's flying sword message in advance and specially borrowed the True Spirit Position Map from his brother.

In addition, because Yu Fangheng and the others were neighbors, Sitai Xu sent them invitations. Not only did Master Baiyun personally attend, but even Lady Miao Yi Xun Lanyin came with a generous gift to congratulate them, and Sitai Xu personally welcomed them at the mountain gate.

Situ Ping, Shi Sheng, and Zhuang Yi had become friends with Butiantong from Tumu Island over the past few days. The four of them happened to be crossing the mountain path when they encountered a group from the Emei Sect climbing the mountain. Lady Miao Yi saw Shi Sheng and looked surprised, asking Sitai Xu, "I see those children have excellent roots and bones. I wonder which sect's disciples they are?"

Sitai Xu respectfully replied, "The two in yellow robes are disciples of the Wutai Sect, the one in blue is a disciple of the Chunyang Sect, and the tall, thin youth at the end is the beloved disciple of Shang Wu from Tumu Island in the North Sea."

Xun Lanyin frowned slightly but then relaxed, saying nothing more and following Sitai Xu to the right hall.

Situ Ping and the others also saw them. Butiantong said, "Those people just now, aren't they from your archenemies, the Emei Sect?"

Shi Sheng had only heard about the Emei Sect but had never seen their disciples before, so he curiously turned to look. Situ Ping pulled him, saying, "Don't look! What's there to see? Let's go explore the dragon's nest I just found."

Shi Sheng glanced over and happened to meet Xun Lanyin's gaze. She smiled faintly and nodded slightly at him. Shi Sheng broke free from Situ Ping, saying, "That Daoist nun is looking at us with ill intentions! Since they are our old enemies, they must be plotting something. Let's follow them and listen to what they say."

Zhuang Yi quickly said, "No! My master said that the Three Immortals and Two Elders of the Emei Sect are the top true immortals in the world. Although Lady Miao Yi is slightly inferior to her husband, she still has boundless magical power. My master said that if he ever faced them, he would not be a match. If we go over there and get caught, and are taken to our masters, it would tarnish our sect's reputation and make us a laughingstock!"

Shi Sheng gave him a disdainful look, saying, "I know we are no match for that Daoist nun, but this is Laoshan, not Emei. As guests of the Laoshan Sect, why can't we wander around? Are the places they are in off-limits to us? If they bully us, it will be their fault, and if anyone laughs, it will be at them. What are you afraid of?"

Situ Ping thought Shi Sheng's argument was very reasonable, saying, "Shi Sheng is right. Let's go over there. With our masters and Master Wu around, what can they do to us?"

The four of them decided that their invisibility spell would not fool Lady Miao Yi, so they boldly walked towards the right hall.

"There's a peony garden over there with peonies taller than the roof!" Shi Sheng said. "Let's go there later. My mother told me stories about the peonies in Laoshan becoming spirits. We can argue about which peony has become a spirit and use the Mystic Light Spell under the leaves."

Butiantong said, "Since the two sects are old enemies, they will definitely pay attention if we go to the peony garden. I think it's best to have two of us create a distraction to draw their attention."

Shi Sheng said, "I see they have a child with them, about my age. Let me challenge him to a sword duel!"

After discussing, the four of them decided on a plan. Shi Sheng and Zhuang Yi went directly to the right hall of Taiqing Palace, preparing a note that read, "Wutai Sect's Shi Sheng and Chunyang Sect's Zhuang Yi pay respects to Lady Miao Yi." They were about to enter the hall when they saw Gan Shen Zhu, Sitai Xu's disciple, coming out. Gan Shen Zhu was in his thirties, short and fat, with a very strange appearance. He had golden eyes that bulged, a flat face, and wore a black Daoist robe. His lower body was clad in a yellow hemp short skirt, and he was barefoot with straw sandals. There was a faint spider shadow on his chest, about the size of a fist, with sharp teeth and claws, as if it were alive.

Gan Shen Zhu had practiced with Sitai Xu for many years and knew the enmity between the Wutai and Emei Sects. Seeing Shi Sheng come, he thought it was not a good sign and quickly asked, "The two elders from the Emei Sect are inside. Are you here to pay respects?"

Shi Sheng nodded, "Yes, this is our note." He handed the note to Gan Shen Zhu, "I have long heard of Lady Miao Yi's great name and have come to pay respects."

Gan Shen Zhu sensed their ill intentions and tried to dissuade them, "Lady Miao Yi has traveled a thousand miles from Jiuhua Mountain and is resting. Disturbing her now might make people say that the Laoshan Sect does not know how to treat guests. Please consider my request and wait until tomorrow to pay your respects."

Zhuang Yi, hearing this, quietly tugged at Shi Sheng's sleeve, trying to pull him away. Shi Sheng, whose intention was to draw Lady Miao Yi's attention, did not really care if he saw her, saying, "If that's the case, please deliver the note for me, Uncle."

He handed the note to Gan Shen Zhu, and Shi Sheng and Zhuang Yi turned and left, walking along the shaded path to the side garden of the hall. They heard Situ Ping arguing with someone from a distance, "What are you Emei Sect people? This is Laoshan, not Emei! I can play wherever I want, and you can't stop me!"

Butiantong also chimed in, "I often hear in the North Sea that the Emei Sect is tyrannical and lawless, often bullying solitary cultivators without backing, killing them without mercy! Today, I see it's true."

Shi Sheng and Zhuang Yi quickly went over and saw Situ Ping arguing with a boy younger than him. The boy was wearing a cross-collar jacket, with two buns on his head and a golden necklace around his neck. He was the one who had come up the mountain with Lady Miao Yi. He stood on a rock, chin up, saying, "You bunch of evil outsiders are up to no good, sneaking around here. Don't think I don't know what you're up to! If you know what's good for you, get lost. If you keep making noise, you'll end up missing an arm or a leg, and it won't look good for the hosts."

Shi Sheng stepped forward, standing below the rock, and said, "Who are you? Let's exchange names before we argue."

The boy glanced at him, saying proudly, "Listen up, you bunch of little demons. I am the son of the Emei Sect's patriarch, Miao Yi Zhenren. My name is Jin Chan."

Shi Sheng laughed, "So you're the little brat born to Qi Shuming and Xun Lanyin. I'm Shi Sheng, and this is my uncle, Situ Ping. We are from the Wutai Sect..."

"Spit! Wutai Sect's demons!" Jin Chan, hearing Shi Sheng call his parents by their names, stood up from the rock in anger.

Shi Sheng was not upset, "You call us demons of the Wutai Sect, and I call you evil of the Emei Sect!"

"Nonsense! The Wutai Sect is the real evil. We, the Emei Sect, are righteous and respected by all sects. We slay demons and evil, especially those from the Wutai Sect!"

Situ Ping sneered, "Exactly. The Emei Sect is the most shameless, bullying the weak with numbers. When we agreed to a one-on-one duel, the Three Immortals and Two Elders ganged up to kill my grandmaster, and your shameless father was among them!"

Jin Chan's face turned red with anger, "The Wutai Sect is wicked and ruthless, killing indiscriminately, practicing the Ten Demon Techniques. Aren't you evil?"

Situ Ping retorted, "Using magic to kill is killing. Your Emei Sect uses the Purple and Green Swords to kill, and it's not killing? You say we kill indiscriminately, but I say you kill innocents!" Situ Ping had grown up with Yue Qing, who treated him like a son. Whether within the Wutai Sect or among the Maoshan and Chunyang Sects, everyone indulged and pampered him. Though not overly spoiled, he had developed some of the characteristics of a young master. Now, facing Jin Chan, he was not the least bit intimidated.