Chapter Sixty: Calamity of Love

Chapter Sixty: The Trial of Love

Chapter Nine: Sword Aura Pierces the Sky, Teng Caiyan; Heroes Sharpen Their Resolve Across the Nine Provinces (VI)

When Elder Ruku finished speaking, all present fell silent. Everyone knew that while the so-called Sacred Emperor of Hualuo nominally held the seat of supreme power, he was but a child and lacked any true authority. The real power was in the hands of Prince Yuan, who commanded the formidable Northern Xi Six Divisions—each renowned for their unrivaled might and arrogance.

Even so, there remained loyalists to the Sacred Emperor, as well as patriots of Shenzhou who formed their own societies to oppose him. Though the elders understood Elder Ruku's concerns—fearing Prince Yuan would use this as an opportunity to eliminate dissent and ruthlessly suppress the path of cultivation—they were powerless to intervene.

Rujing spoke up, “With the prestige of Lord Ziyuan, perhaps unity can be achieved. In the past, before attaining the Dao, Lord Ziyuan traveled far and wide across the northern and southern demon provinces, braving countless perils for the sake of Shenzhou’s people. Now he has established the Sun and Moon Divine Alliance, becoming a pillar of the realm. Brother, you need not worry so much!”

Elder Ruku nodded. “You are absolutely right, junior brother.”

Meanwhile, Ling Yun’er was in the secluded Orchid Zen Courtyard, full of delight. The Zen Forest Tournament had reached its final two rounds. Since her initial exhausting draw against Li Ningyue from Longquan Monastery, Ling Yun’er had won three consecutive matches. She had just defeated Lu Shuwen, the second disciple of Shouning Monastery, advancing to the next rounds and earning the opportunity to train in Cold City.

Now, only about two hundred disciples remained. At Bishan Monastery, aside from senior brother Bai Shisong, both Qingxia and Qingyu had also narrowly qualified.

Seated together in the hall, Ling Yun’er’s cheeks flushed with excitement as she said, “Master said our young junior has finally awoken, though he remains in the Hall of Immeasurability under the care of Grandmaster Ruci. That rascal really turned disaster into fortune!”

Qingxia sighed, “When our little junior returns, I must see for myself what color his courage is!”

Qingyu giggled, “Indeed! I bet it’s all manner of colors!”

Qingxia added with a long sigh, “And it must be enormous!”

Qingyu agreed, “Truly enormous! Enormous!”

Li Yulin asked in puzzlement, “Does courage have color? How can it be all manner of colors? And how do you know it’s enormous?”

Ling Yun’er blushed and chided, “Sixth senior brother, pay them no heed! Little junior is nothing if not proper!”

Qingxia and Qingyu sighed dramatically, “You couldn’t be more mistaken! If he lacked such audacious courage, how could he have risked his life to save two senior sisters as beautiful as fairies?” After a mischievous laugh, Qingxia continued, “Little sister, if the Asura Pearl were hurled at you, do you think little junior would risk his life to shield you?”

Ling Yun’er laughed, exasperated, “Enough, I’ll not listen to your nonsense any longer!”

Qingxia shook her head, “I doubt little junior would be willing to save you. First, you’re not as beautiful as the others. Second—well, his affections have long since turned elsewhere!”

Ling Yun’er retorted, “Senior brother! Little junior is, at heart, a true hero. If he heard you say that, he’d likely never let you near him again!”

As they spoke, a graceful figure entered from outside. Her radiant beauty seemed to brighten the entire room. Everyone quickly stood and greeted her with respect, “Senior Sister Li!”

Qingxia and Qingyu exchanged anxious glances: Let’s hope she didn’t overhear our conversation just now! How perfectly timed her arrival—ever since little junior was injured, she has been frequenting this place.

The newcomer was Li Ruolan. She smiled at everyone and said, “My junior brothers and sisters, what has you all in such high spirits today? Is there good news?”

Ling Yun’er replied cheerfully, “Master just told us that little junior has woken up! In a few days, we’ll be able to see him again!”

Li Ruolan let out a quiet sigh of relief, saying, “I’m so glad to hear he is awake. I’ve been so worried these past few days.” Realizing she had spoken too freely, a blush colored her cheeks, and she turned away to look outside.

The others offered words of comfort, “Our little junior is blessed; Senior Sister Li, you needn’t worry!”

Seeing that no one read too deeply into her words, Li Ruolan smiled, “Indeed. I heard that Grandmaster Rujing of the Damo Hall personally used the power of the Bronze Hall to cleanse his meridians and restore his body, and even gave him a Tianyuan Divine Pill. Opportunities like these are reserved for the most favored disciples of the Great Fuyan Lingjiu Monastery!”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Qingxia asked, “Senior Sister Li, is it true we’ll be heading to Cold City in a few days?”

Li Ruolan replied, “Yes, that’s what Master said. But remember, this is no pleasure outing. Cold City is fraught with danger, beset by the fierce forces of Yingmo. Recall the battle decades ago against the Great Liao—our Wutai lineage suffered heavy losses. We must be cautious.”

The group nodded, excitement mingling with anxiety, their hearts a tangle of complex emotions.

Several days later, the Zen Forest Tournament concluded. At North Terrace, aside from Bai Shisong, Qingxia, Qingyu, and Ling Yun’er, the others were eliminated. Naturally, Ye Hua, still recovering from his injuries, did not compete in the later rounds and so was not eligible for the coming trials.

Within the Hall of Immeasurability, Ye Hua was meditating, his left forefinger pointed to the sky, his right to the earth. With a low exhalation, two thin streams of white breath emerged from his nostrils, twining around his head, swirling denser and denser, until they formed a thick mist that shrouded his face. His joints creaked and popped like beans in a pan, the sounds echoing with unknown consequence.

After a long while, the popping sounds faded. The mist gradually thinned as Ye Hua inhaled it through his nose until none remained. Opening his eyes, he stood up slowly, feeling that not only had his injured meridians been fully restored, but his internal power surged even stronger than before.

Ye Hua was overjoyed. He thought to himself, “I wonder what Master and Senior Sister will think when they learn my injuries are completely healed, and that my cultivation has advanced so much? Will they realize I’ve reached the peak of the Fifth Level of the Seven Treasures? Though I’m still far behind Senior Brother Xiao and the others!”

Lost in thought, he heard footsteps outside. Turning, he saw the door open and an elderly monk enter.

Ye Hua quickly bowed, “Grandmaster!”

It was Elder Ruci. Seeing Ye Hua rise, his spirit and gaze as sharp as twin beams of light, Ruci was inwardly surprised. Only yesterday, this disciple’s meridians had not fully mended and he’d still looked wan; now, his vigor was utterly restored.

Ruci regarded him for a moment before nodding with a smile. “Excellent, excellent. I did not expect you to recover so quickly in just one day. You have exceeded my expectations.”

Ye Hua bowed deeply. “My deepest thanks for the Tianyuan Divine Pill, Grandmaster. If not for such medicine, I could not have recovered so swiftly!”

Ruci’s eyes glinted. “The Tianyuan Divine Pill is indeed wondrous, but it is your own extraordinary constitution that made this possible—not merely the power of medicine.”

Ye Hua was puzzled. “But I’ve never noticed anything unusual about myself.”

Ruci shook his head with a smile. “In time, you will discover what sets you apart.” With that, a flash of white light appeared in his hand—a jade tablet. “This is the ‘Great Brightness Sutra.’ Grandmaster Ruku instructed me to reward you for your valor and assistance in this crisis. Its techniques are most suited to you.”

Ye Hua accepted it with a bow. “Thank you, Grandmaster!”

Ruci said, “You will leave the temple today. The Bishan Monastery disciples have already returned to Ye Dou Peak. If you delay any longer, they will have left for Cold City and you will miss your chance.”

Ye Hua was overjoyed. “Thank you, Grandmaster Ruci!” Ruci waved him off, “Go now.” Ye Hua bowed again, and when he looked up, the elder had vanished.

Ye Hua thought with gratitude, “Grandmaster Ruci’s personal care these past days is a kindness I can never repay. Who knows when I will see him again?” With a long breath, he left the hall.

Outside, the sun shone warmly. After so many days without sunlight, Ye Hua felt invigorated. Watching young disciples come and go, a sense of kinship welled up in him.

He left the Hall of Immeasurability, passed the Great Buddha Hall, and reached the Nameless Stele. Compared to previous days, the place was much quieter. Without lingering, he made his way to the Orchid Zen Courtyard, only to find it empty. The few flowers in the garden still bloomed alone in their splendor.

Ye Hua stood in a daze, then slowly took a brocade box from his robe. Opening it, he revealed several orchids—five-petaled, deep red with translucent hues and pale markings: unmistakably the rare Manzi Suolan.

He stared at the flowers, recalling how he had ventured into Jade Elephant Gorge to search for them, a secret known to no one. Afterwards, injured and unconscious, he awoke to find the brocade box on his person. It must have been placed by either Senior Sister Li Ruolan of Southern Zen Monastery or Li Ningyue of Longquan Monastery—but for what purpose, he could not guess.

As he pondered, a Buddhist invocation sounded behind him. “Amitabha. Might you be Brother Ye?”

Turning, Ye Hua saw a guest monk standing behind him. He quickly stowed the box and returned the greeting, “I am.”

The guest monk nodded with a smile. “Very good. I was sent by Elder Zhiku to deliver a message: if I saw Brother Ye, I was to tell you to return to Bishan Monastery at once.”

Ye Hua thanked him with a bow. The guest monk departed, and Ye Hua lingered in the empty courtyard for a long time before finally crossing the stone bridge and following the creek path away.

After he had gone, a white-robed young woman emerged quietly from the bamboo grove, her beauty ethereal as a goddess. She gazed in silence at Ye Hua’s departing figure, saying nothing…