· ───── ·𖥸· ───── · ·
A whole month had passed after the defeat of Wen RuoHan, the disappearance of his only 'surviving' child Wen RiLuo and the Rebellions' victory.
Although each members from every sect fought bravely against the Wens, the finishing blow to Wen RuoHan goes to the illegitimate son of the infamous Jin GuangShan, Meng Yao or now that his father has finally recognised his worth and being granted into the Jin Sect, his new name was now Jin GuangYao.
Another good new is the new sworn brotherhood that risen after the defeat of the Wens.
The San Zun, the three heroes of the war. Nie MingJue, Jin GuangYao and Lan XiChen. The brotherhood that were created after the Sunshot Campaign.
Meanwhile, in the background, stories were spreading around in the non-cultivational world about the powers of the Master of demonic cultivation, Wei WuHui. Everyone knows how she used her resentful energy to command the undead to rise from the soil and attacked the Wens. They also knew how she was the one who defeated Wen RiLuo and sent the last remaining children of Wen RuoHan's into hiding.
Speaking of the latter...
---
"Huh? He send something again?" Wei WuHui exclaimed in exasperation as she stared down with gritted teeth at another bundle of expensive-looking jewellery and robes that a Jiang disicple was holding.
"Sect Leader Lan is really generous with his gifts." Jiang YanLi chuckled as she plucked the bundle from the poor Jiang Disciple's arms and admired at the gifts. "He must really hold you dear to his heart."
Wei WuHui immediately burst into many shades of red on her face as she pursed her lip at her martial sister. "Shijie~it's not funny!"
'That smiley idiot! What is he thinking of sending me bunch of these? The nerves of him...!' The maiden in dark robes sighed out loudly as she rubbed her temple, still having the bright red cheeks as she felt her heart beating rapidly. 'Would it kill him to just send me flowers or letters instead of jewellery and clothes?'
Life became sort of normal for Wei WuHui once the war was over. Her injuries inflicted by Wen RiLuo soon healed after a few weeks and she returned to Lotus Pier with her twin and martial siblings. What also happened after the war was her control over the resentful energy that are stored in her creation, the Stygian Tiger Amulet, began to wane as the tool of darkness become more and more potent.
To deter this, she first broken the amulet into halves to lessen the potent resentful energy and then she reluctantly turned to Lan WangJi to help her keep the increasing resentful energy at bay with one of his sect's calming music.
This unusual teamwork was happily recognised by Wei WuXian, who rejoined at his sister's and his comrade? Acquaintance? Friend? Small cooperation.
'You're only giddy because Lan WangJi would come to Lotus Pier more often because of that' Wei WuHui huffed at her twin's obvious lovey-dovey crush on the Second Lan Master. Her brother's likeness toward the latter was recognised by her back when they were still innocent kids studying in Cloud Recesses. The more Wei WuXian talked about his interactions with Lan WangJi, the more Wei WuHui had to suffered with her brother's oblivious crush.
"Mèimei! Shijie! There you are, I've been looking all over for you guys! Come on, dinner is ready!" And speak of the devil, Wei WuHui and Jiang YanLi turned to watched as Wei WuXian jogged over to them, waving his arm around with his usual grin on his face.
"Oh, is it already that time? Well, let's go A-Hui." Jiang YanLi giggled as she smiled toward the other maiden before heading to meet the other Wei in the middle, her eyes missing how Wei WuHui's eyes widened and her hand reaching out to steady herself on her door as her other hand covered her mouth. Nauseous suddenly overcoming her senses.
'No! I have to keep it in! I have to! I can't let Gege or anyone else find out what I did!' Wei WuHui slowly choked back whatever overcame her as she tried to not let the trembles be shown as she make her way to the Main Hall where her siblings are waiting.
'I can't let them know the steps I took to survive'
---
Few days had past and it was an eventful day as every cultivator, from a sect or rogue, big or small, come together to hunt during the Autumn season. Phoenix Mountain was chosen because it were where demons and beasts often lurked. Making it easy for all the cultivators to fight for prey within a set time limit. Phoenix Mountain are considered to be one of the three most well-known hunting grounds and has hosted many hunting competitions. Which was the reason why this is not only important to big or small sects, but to rogue and new disiciples to show off their skills and be recognised.
Phoenix Mountain was a vast square before and surrounding it are ten tall
watching towers where heads can be seen moving around on top.
Excited chatters and whispers engulfed the air but the most quiet of them all was the tallest and most exquisite tower where mostly the elderly cultivators, sect leaders and their families. In the back were rows of maids carrying canopies or large fans. In the front row, young maidens all stood with their own fans covering parts of their face as their eyes gazed reservedly at hunting ground below.
Eventually, their reservations soon came to a halt as the first group arrived on their horses.
Typically, horseriding aren't needed when in night-hunts, however horsemanship was one of the arts that sect disiciples are required to study. In events with formality such as this, horsemanship not only a symbol of respect, but riding in formations could also create a presence of grandeur quite beautiful in appearance.
The first group to start off were the Gusu Lan Sect and riding at the front in a slow pace were the Three Jades of Lan, Lan XiChen, Lan WangJi and Lan ChunTao. All sitting in an upright position, swords strapped securely at their waist and arrows on their backs. Their white robes and forehead ribbons fluttering in the gentle breeze as every eye gazed at their flawless deity-like appearances with open admiration.
Female cultivators from the watchtowers rushed to the edge as they began to threw blossoms onto the arriving Lan Sect. Tossing flowers at beautiful-looking men and women in expression of admiration was a tradition in hunting competitions.
Disiciples from the Gusu Lan Sect's grew accustomed to the tradition as their appearances are always flawless and pristine, they got used to it. This especially applied to Lan XiChen, Lan WangJi and Lan ChunTao, who experienced this when they were thirteen. The trio remained calm as the brothers nodded to the towers respectively while their sister offered a kind smile to the gushing female and male cultivators above.
However, two distinguished flowers were thrown at the brothers with purposes as the latters caught their own flower.
Lan XiChen stared down at pink magnolia flower in his hand before he looked back to where the flower came from, his honey-brown eyes gazing onto a certain white-haired maiden.
Over at the side of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect's riding formation, who were still waiting for their turn to go, and waiting at the front was Jiang Cheng, who clicked his tongue in exasperation as he glared at the pair of twins. One has his elbow resting on top of his horse's head while looking at the side like nothing happened as he chatted to two beautiful maidens. While his twin was lounging on her horse as if she was still laying in her own bed as she exhaled a puff of smoke from her pipe while staring at the sky.
"Wei Ying."
"Hm? Hanguang-Jun, did you call me? What's up?" Wei WuXian perked up when his name was said stoically.
Holding up the flower with a seemingly cold expression on his face. "Was it you?"
Immediately, Wei WuXian shook his head in denial. "No, it wasn't."
"Lying isn't good for you, Gege." Wei WuHui spoke nonchalantly as she now sat up from her horse.
One of the maidens nodded. "Yeah, don't believe him! It was him!"
"Mèimei! How could you do this your Gege?" Wei WuXian whined as he pouted toward his sisted while the two maidens giggled at his antics before going back to their sect's formation.
Jiang Cheng sighed, shaking his head as he saluted to the Lan siblings. "Zewu-Jun, Hanguang-Jun, Yutian'é, apologies, don't pay attention to him."
Lan ChunTao giggled as she covered her mouth. "There's no need for that, Sect Leader Jiang. I'm sure my brothers are thankful for Wei-Gongzi and A-Yang's kindness." She smiled toward Jiang Cheng.
Wei WuHui blinked as she watched redness appearing on her martial brother's cheeks before he cleared his throat flusteredly. 'Hmm...interesting'
"A-Yang."
"Hm?" Wei WuHui snapped out of her thoughts as she turned to the very man who called her name warmly.
Lan XiChen smiled, holding up the flower with a shy smile. "I will treasure this, thank you." And with that last parting words, he and his siblings rode off into the distance.
When the Lan Sect were out of view and listening range, Jiang Cheng turned to the twins. "Why are you throwing out flowers along with the girls? And you, stop that."
Wei WuHui raised a brow. "Stop what exactly?"
"That. With him. It's weird seeing you flirt with him." Jiang Cheng retorted, which just made Wei WuHui deadpanned at his dumb reason.
"I think he looks nice. Can't I throw a few as well?" Wei WuXian questioned.
Jiang Cheng huffed, turning his nose up in the air. "How old are you? Who do you think you are, still playing tricks like that?"
"You want one too? There's still a lot left on the ground. Should I get one for you?" Wei WuXian asked as he went to reached down.
Jiang Cheng scowled. "Get lost!"
Which sparks the twins to let out their mischievous cackles.
Up next was the Qinghe Nie Sect as Nie MingJue led his formation with a strong aura surrounding him. With him being ranked seventh on the list, Nie MingJue was an exception to the flowery tradition as with his fiery presence,it would always make it harder for anyone to approach him. This included the maidens who already felt nervous to even toss their flowers at the Sect Leader. Afraid that it would anger him.
However, even if there were not much flowers being tossed, there were loud cheerings that came from the male cultivators who admired Nie MingJue's strength. These cheers almost brought pain to the ears.
On the other hands, Nie MingJue's younger brother and his cousin, Nie HuaiSang and Nie MingJian, all bathed in the flowers of admiration as they were more dressed with care and their sabers respectively strapped on their waists. However, everyone knows that for Nie HuaiSang, his saber never got the chance to be unsheathed so afterward, he'd probably only going to stroll arohnd the Phoenix Mountain, enjoying the view while his older brother and cousin would be doing most of the hunting for their sect.
After a while, it was finally the Yunmeng Jiang Sect's turn to enter the hunting grounds as Jiang Cheng led his formation with his usual poker face while on each side of him, Wei WuXian waved excitedly at the watchtowers while Wei WuHui watched the shower of flowers falling on them.
When their formation came closer to the tallest watchtowers, the trio waved at it.
The best seats on the tower were resigned to the Lanling Jin Sect's Madam Jin and sitting right beside her was Jiang YanLi. Just before, Madam Jin had been holding her hand and chatting to her with a lovingly expression while Jiang YanLi sat there with her almost bland face, her features mild.
However, upon seeing her brothers and sister waving up at her, her face instantly brightened up as she lowered her face. After having a few words with Madam Jin timidly, she walked to the edge of the watchtower and tossed out three flowers at them.
Her siblings smiled and caught her flowers. After that, she made her way back to her seat as after Yunmeng Jiang Sect's turn, up next were the Lanling Jin Sect.
Leading the rows of white, gold-lined robed cultivators, was their Sect Leader, Jin GuangShan, who was dressed in the same armours as his cultivators.
Madam Jin patted Jiang YanLi's shoulder and held her hand as she led the young maiden to the edge where she pointed down at the Lanling Jin Sect.
Suddenly, among the horses, one prominent horse went ahead of the others and circled around the square before its reins were drawn. And sitting on top of that horse was a striking figure in his snowy white robes and his handsome features lighting up more than the red vermilion mark between his brows. Drawing his bow, he gave off even more of this handsome presence.
His eyes glancing up at the watchtowers with hidden feelings.
Snickering from his horse, Wei WuXian sent a sneer toward the figure in gold and white. "I really can't believe him. He's like a peacock."
"Watch it. A-Jie is still watching from the tower." Jiang Cheng scolded.
"Don't worry. As long as he doesn't make Shijie cry again, Gege and I don't even want to pay him any attention. Maybe you shouldn't have brought her here in the first place."
Jiang Cheng huffed. "The Lanling Jin Sect insisted on it so I didn't have the face to refuse them."
"More like Madam Jin insisted on it. After this, she'll definitely find some ways to urge Shijie and that Princess to one place." Wei WuXian scowled.
Jin ZiXuan finished riding to the target area where rows of targets are already there and ready. They are merely an obstacle before the official entry into the mountain begins as it is a requirement for every participant to hit a target from a certain distance away to be able to enter into the competition.
Without lowering his speed at all, Jin ZiXuan readied an arrow and shot, landing right on the center of the target effortlessly. Sparking cheers from all around the watching towers.
Wei WuHui sighed, unimpressed by the show put on by Jin ZiXuan as she inhaled from her smoking pipe, wishing for the competition to start already.
Unfortunately, that wish is unlikely to come true when a sneering voice broke through the cheers.
"If anyone here remains unconvinced, then feel free to try if you can shoot better than ZiXuan!"
TRANSLATION NOTE:
- 三尊 Sān Zūn: The Venerated Triad
· · ───── ·𖥸· ───── · ·
(Please correct my translation if I'm wrong and the GIFs and pictures used in this chapter does not belong to me, but their rightful owners)