440 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

Chapter 440: An Encounter with an Old Acquaintance “Wine, wine…" Chu Wen was thoroughly drunk, still clamoring for more wine. Chu Wuying, not inclined to indulge him, dragged him out of the gathering. There were three members from the Chu family of Qiyun participating in the trials. The other two, more reserved in nature, stood aside pretending not to know him. Only when he got drunk did they come over to take care of him. Even with a golden core body, drinking copious amounts of fine wine can be counteracted with some sobering medication to regain sobriety. “It’s no use, his personality is too peculiar. He always talks about ‘enlightening the path in drunken dreams’. If we sober him up, he’ll definitely be angry afterward,” remarked a member of the Qiyun Chu family with a helpless expression. Qi Xiu heard this and could only offer a resigned smile. Such a peculiar person... No wonder he’d never heard of this man in the Chu family before, and even the formidable Chu Shentong had never mentioned him. Thus, they found a corner and propped him against the wall, leaving him to sleep it off. In the meantime, many in the center of the gathering looked like Chu Wen, drunk and moved aside by friends to be cared for, yet others swiftly filled their vacant spots, keeping the atmosphere lively and exuberant. “Ji Xia certainly lives up to its reputation for spirited scholars…” Seeing these cultivators drinking and composing poetry, singing and laughing freely, Qi Xiu stood aside, envious of their carefree and joyous lives, yet unable to join them, restricted to merely observing from afar. “Huh?” While watching, he suddenly recognized an old acquaintance, a person who filled him with both annoyance and amusement. A handsome, androgynous man with a carefree smile, the so-called 'Fourth Generation Master of Chu Qin', was seen retrieving exquisite wine vessels from his storage pouch and eagerly squeezing into a newly vacated spot in the circle. “Wandering and carefree…” Halfway through his verse and sip of wine, Qi Xiu rushed over, grabbing him by the back of the collar and yanking him out. “You showed up too… what's the matter?” His good mood interrupted, An Siyen turned around in irritation, only to meet the angry glare of Qi Xiu. Though bemused, he looked a little sheepish. They hadn't seen each other in years; he too had formed a golden core by now, with cultivation level roughly similar to Qi Xiu’s. “You’ve got some nerve asking that?” Qi Xiu stared at him with a relentless cold smile. “You… why are you smiling?” An Siyen was only a little over ten years younger than Qi Xiu, but his appearance hadn’t changed much from the youth who had irresponsibly left Chu Qin Mountain years ago. “Why am I smiling!?” Holding back the anger within, Qi Xiu continued, “Let me ask you, since you supposedly went roaming to Lianshui City after leaving your little hammer with my family, have you returned to the An family in Huanghai? Have you kept any contact with them?” “Uh… no…” An Siyen, understanding the reason behind Qi Xiu’s anger, sheepishly lowered his head. Not wanting to embarrass him in front of everyone, Qi Xiu shifted to a private voice transmission, “You shirked your responsibilities with the Chu Qin sect, but I'll let that slide as your youthful folly. Abandoning the An family in Huanghai, neither alive nor dead for years. When An Hong’er passed, your sons searched for you everywhere to no avail. Xiao Chui…” Mentioning Qin Xiao Chui caused Qi Xiu’s voice to choke up, “Xiao Chui perished, I tried calling you back to bid farewell, searched everywhere, yet you remained hidden and unyielding!” Upon hearing the news of his wife and son's deaths, An Siyen seemed indifferent, arguing, “I roam the world to sever worldly ties. They grow old every day, beyond my power to halt. If it’s an inevitable fate, it’s better not to meet, for the good of both..." “Ha.” Qi Xiu scoffed, “Stop pretending, you’re heartless. What severing of ties! Back then I gave you the lease for the Black River store, and from what I hear, you collect the rent like clockwork each year. How’s that not worldly attachment?” Growing increasingly upset, Qi Xiu went as far as reaching for An Siyen’s storage pouch to retrieve the lease, “I’ll help you sever it cleanly now,” he declared. “Wait, wait…” An Siyen panicked, “Old Qi, Master Qi, Brother Qi! Don’t do this…” he blurted out various pleas, clutching the storage pouch tightly, “I rely on that store for tea, wine, golden core cultivation, and even for future aspirations of forming a nascent soul! You can't take it away!” “Who do you think you’re fooling? Even if Black River does bustling business, the lease wouldn’t earn more than a thousand third-grade spirit stones annually! Relying solely on that for so much!?” Qi Xiu didn’t buy it for a second, knowing that golden core formation and crafting a life-bound magical treasure generally cost between thirty to fifty thousand third-grade spirit stones for a Chu Qin cultivator. Qin Changfeng was even preparing seventy thousand this time. Did An Siyen really manage with just a tiny store’s lease? “Indeed, why would I deceive you on this?” An Siyen replied honestly. In this regard, he had no reason to lie, which made Qi Xiu reconsider slightly. “Then tell me, where did you form your core? What were the costs?” “Alas, Brother Qi, you’re… so materialistic… Years without seeing each other, and you talk about spirit stones first thing!” Somehow, a folding fan appeared in An Siyen’s hand, which he used to tap against his palm, pretending to recall, “I formed my core during my travels, borrowing a friend’s cave. Mid-grade third stage, took half a month, with some pills for clarity and energy, total under two thousand third-grade spirit stones. Nothing out of reach.” Listening to this account, Qi Xiu nearly keeled over. The sourness of envy welled up within him—comparing people can truly be infuriating! Why is it that some people seem to have such straightforward paths, blessed and carefree, with no worries needed! “Really?” “Why would I lie to you on that?” Qi Xiu had no response, and silence fell between them once more. “Is my family doing well?” After a long pause, An Siyen asked with a faint sorrowful pain etched on his face; his eyes suddenly turned profound and deep. “Sigh!” With this man, what else could Qi Xiu do but sigh? He proceeded to recount his family’s situation, “The An family in Huanghai is now in your grandson’s generation, with mid-stage Qi refining cultivation. Certainly not as well off as when you were around. You’re now a core cultivator, so you could return and secure a better territory for your family.” “No…” An Siyen waved a hand, smiling bitterly, “I didn’t take up being the master back then to avoid these petty squabbles and interest struggles. If I help my family get a territory, then someone else misses out on a foothold. Being chased by Liuhua Sect like stray dogs in the past was unpleasant enough. As they say, do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.” These words left Qi Xiu reflective as well, “If only everyone thought like you, perhaps our Chu Qin sect would still be on the old Chu Qin Mountain…” He wanted to say enjoying freedom on Chu Qin Mountain, but quickly caught himself before being led astray by this man’s philosophy. If the Chu Qin Sect remained unchanged, he might have already exhausted his lifespan, buried in some unremarkable corner—how could that be freedom! “Did Xiao Chui have any offspring?” An Siyen asked again. Qin Xiao Chui did leave behind offspring, but they were mere mortals without cultivation aptitude. Qi Xiu shared the details of his son’s death and the family circumstances thoroughly. Despite the detachment, it was clear he still had feelings for his youngest son. As Qi Xiu recounted how Xiao Chui died in the chaos of war, An Siyen’s eyes finally reddened with tears, bringing them both back to silence once more. Just then, Gui Qingkong finally made his appearance. He had been present all along, watching the merry chaos with amusement. Noticing the time was running short, he emerged to restore order. Once the drinkers and singers dispersed, he declared, “Let us proceed to the trial grounds! The rules shall be explained to you shortly.” Without wasting words, Gui Qingkong led the way, with everyone following behind him, flying toward the central lake of Jixia City. (To be continued)