Chapter 38: The Ling Family of Northern Jiang

Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Ling Family of the Northern Rivers
Chapter Five: The Tiger Leaps and Dragon Soars—A Contest of Roaring Blades and Spiritual Swords (XIV)

News soon arrived that Qixian Temple had come knocking at their door, only to retreat for reasons unknown. This left everyone both astonished and indignant. Baishi Song pondered for a while before saying, “This is truly odd. Let’s wait for Master to return from the Council of Elders before we look into it further. Fourth Brother, how are you faring after being poisoned?”

Qingxia forced a smile. “Eldest Brother, there’s no need to worry. I’ve already used my Buddhist energy to expel the toxins from my body. Now it’s only my Daoist energy that’s been damaged, but with some quiet recuperation, I’ll be fine.”

“Qixian Temple has gone too far, coming here to stir up trouble. If they hadn’t provoked us first, none of this would have happened. Yet they have the nerve to come and accuse us!” Ling Yun’er exclaimed, her anger barely contained.

“Little Brother, let me have a look—are you truly all right? And did you notice who helped you just now?” Ling Yun’er turned to Ye Hua.

Ye Hua blushed. “Sister, I’m fine. At the time, I just felt a surge of Buddhist energy at my brow—I didn’t notice who intervened.”

Ling Yun’er frowned. “How peculiar. I wonder which elder lent a hand?”

The group chatted for some time, and seeing Qingxia and Ye Hua gradually regain their color, most of their worries eased. As dusk drew in, Qingyu coughed lightly and said, “Eldest Brother, ah… that is… I had an agreement with Qixian Temple for tonight…”

Baishi Song chuckled. “Don’t worry, Brother. With those six disciples from Qixian Temple injured today, they surely won’t come. Let me go and check.”

They hadn’t waited long in the room before Baishi Song returned, smiling. “As expected, the disciples from Qixian Temple were too shaken to show up!” Everyone laughed at this.

With nothing urgent to do, they began exchanging stories of the day’s events. Suddenly, Qingyu exclaimed, “Oh, I nearly forgot! Eldest Brother, can you guess whom Qingxia, Ye Hua, and I ran into today?”

Baishi Song grinned. “That’s a tough one—over a hundred temples are here. How could I guess?”

Ling Yun’er giggled. “Let me try! It must be Senior Sister Bai Xuemei from Longquan Temple on East Platform, right? Our Eldest Brother has been pining for someone!”

“Ah! Senior Sister, you’re amazing!” Qingyu exclaimed in mock amazement, and laughter broke out among the group. Baishi Song flushed. “Enough teasing!”

Ye Hua asked, curious, “Eldest Brother, who have you been longing for?” Ling Yun’er laughed. “Silly, of course it’s Senior Sister Bai Xuemei!” Ye Hua, enlightened, nodded. “Oh, I see.”

Qingyu continued, “The group from Longquan Temple is resting in Qingju Courtyard upfront—they said they’d pay us a visit soon!” Baishi Song grew serious. “Very well. How many came from East Platform this time?”

Qingyu replied, “From what Sister Wang said, there are about seventeen or eighteen—twice our number.”

Baishi Song said, “Anyone qualified to join the Zen Forest Assembly won’t be weak. Who would have thought that East Platform could produce so many talents in just a few short years?”

“Eldest Brother, not necessarily so. Qixian Temple brought plenty of disciples too, but few of them are truly any good!” Qingyu quipped.

Baishi Song started, then shook his head. “True enough.” The others burst into laughter again.

As their merriment continued, a clear voice called from outside: “Xiao Yitian of Qingliang Temple has come to pay his respects to the brothers of Bishan Temple.”

“Brother Xiao is here!” Qing Shi exclaimed, hurrying out to meet him. All except Qingxia went out together.

At the gate stood Xiao Yitian, dressed in pale yellow, a long sword slung at his waist. A gentle breeze stirred his robes, lending him an ethereal air that inspired admiration. He was smiling at them as they approached.

Ye Hua, struck by Xiao Yitian’s handsome bearing, lowered his head in self-consciousness. Glancing sideways at Ling Yun’er, he saw a blush on her cheeks and a hint of bashful delight.

A pang of sadness pierced Ye Hua’s heart. Since joining Bishan Temple in the Northern Platform, he had never seen Ling Yun’er like this.

Baishi Song greeted him with a bow. “Brother Xiao, please come in.” Xiao Yitian nodded with a smile. “You’re too polite, Brother Baishi.” He followed them inside and sat down.

As they reminisced about the years since their last meeting, all were struck by how swiftly time had passed and how soon the Zen Forest Assembly would begin.

Qing Shi suddenly asked, “Brother Xiao, I heard this year’s competition will have five rounds, and that some will be exempted straight into the third round?”

Xiao Yitian smiled. “That’s correct, Brother Qing Shi. With the recent unrest in the Cold Capital, the winners of this Assembly will be sent on a trial. That’s why this year’s trials are different from before.”

Qing Shi leaned forward eagerly. “Brother Xiao, do you know how many disciples will be sent to the Cold Capital?”

Xiao Yitian shook his head. “I’m afraid I don’t know. But I do know that every sect and temple is taking this competition very seriously—even treasures that have been hidden for a hundred years are likely to appear. Just recently, I saw the senior disciple of Golden Pavilion Temple use the legendary Golden Bamboo Manual to defeat another sect’s disciple. Its power was truly extraordinary.”

He sighed as he finished, and everyone was startled. “The Golden Bamboo Manual!” “No wonder all the temples are pulling out all the stops—Master even sent us to the Maitreya Hall before we left…” Each was lost in thought.

Xiao Yitian watched their reactions without surprise, as if he had expected them, and simply smiled silently.

After a pause, Qing Shi asked, “Brother Xiao, how many from your temple have come this time?”

Xiao Yitian replied, “Though Qingliang Temple is among the oldest, we cannot compare to some of the other temples. This time, we brought forty-two disciples—a middling number among the temples.”

He then turned to Ling Yun’er and said sincerely, “Sister Ling, I hope I’ll have the chance to learn from your Primal Red Sash again! This time, I’m sure I won’t be a match for you!”

Ling Yun’er blushed. “Brother Xiao, you flatter me. Your Spotted Bamboo Sword is far more powerful than most.”

Xiao Yitian shook his head. “You’re the one being modest. As the daughter of the illustrious Ling family of the Northern Rivers, your abilities must be extraordinary.”

A fleeting look of surprise crossed Ling Yun’er’s face, quickly concealed. “How remarkable—few know of my origin, not even all my brothers here. How did Brother Xiao find out I hail from the Ling family?”