Chapter 137 — The Heartbroken

The newcomer was a middle-aged man who looked at most around forty. His bright yet soft red hair was not tied up but spilled freely over his shoulders, lending him a touch of untrammeled, wandering elegance.

The crowd exchanged looks of bewilderment. When Yun Yifeng had gone into seclusion years before, they all clearly remembered him as a stooped, aged old man, his head already white. Yet this man before them was younger than Yun Yifeng had been by who knew how much, and his face was smooth and clear, without a single wrinkle to be seen.

And yet the lines of that face were unmistakably Yun Yifeng's—especially to Shangguan Lue, who had spent more time with Yun Yifeng than anyone. He recognized it at once as the face of Yun Yifeng in his youth, only even finer than he had been then. Under such a shock, not a soul among them could utter a word.

Yun Yifeng, however, acted as though nothing were amiss. He strode swaggering into the main hall, before the assembled crowd, his eyes bright and piercing. He looked them over, then suddenly smiled. His voice, far from the aged rasp of the secret chamber, was clear and pleasing. "What is it—do you no longer recognize me as your Valley Master?"

The crowd started. Li Xun was the first to recover. He prostrated himself first of all and said loudly, "Your disciple welcomes Master from seclusion, and congratulates Master on the great fulfillment of his cultivation of the true art in seclusion!"

The rest came to their senses and hastened to pay their respects. The astonishment in Shangguan Lue's eyes slowly faded, and he too bowed his head in salute.

Yun Yifeng clearly looked in fine spirits and excellent humor. He waved a hand. "Enough, enough. We have not seen one another for a long while—rise, all of you, and let us talk."

Everyone answered and rose to their feet. Yun Yifeng looked around at them with a smile, his gaze finally coming to rest on Shangguan Lue. "Junior Brother," he said with a laugh, "these years I've had you mind the valley's trifling affairs in my stead—has it been a burden?"

Shangguan Lue shook his head and smiled in return. "With you away, Senior Brother, it falls to me as your junior to see to such things. In truth, it was only that a mishap occurred at the Xuanhuo Altar some days ago, and I—"

Yun Yifeng suddenly burst out laughing, cutting him short. "What's past is past, Junior Brother—why brood over it? The days ahead are long; we shall take our time and plan carefully."

A flicker of surprise crossed Shangguan Lue's face, but he said no more, only lowering his head. "Yes."

Yun Yifeng turned his gaze to the gathered crowd, whose eyes were full of deference and astonishment. Plainly his appearance, as though he had regained his youth, had left them truly dumbfounded.

Yet he offered no explanation, only turning to Li Xun, who had long since stood waiting at his side. "Has anything happened in the valley of late?"

Li Xun stepped forward and answered respectfully, "This very morning, Daoist Daoyan, the sect master of the Canglan Sect of the Central Plains, sent a letter. He said it was a reply to the message you sent him some days ago, Master."

He spoke calmly enough, but standing to one side, Shangguan Lue's expression shifted. During Yun Yifeng's seclusion, all matters great and small in Fenxia Valley had been his to decide. Correspondence with the Canglan Sect's master was surely a matter of the utmost importance, yet he had known nothing of it. And this reply had arrived only this morning—how Li Xun had contrived to intercept it on the way and keep it from him was a mystery. Clearly his senior, Yun Yifeng, had deliberately kept him out of the affair.

Anger kindled slowly in Shangguan Lue's heart, but his face remained as before; that strange look had come and gone in an instant.

Yun Yifeng nodded, took the letter Li Xun handed him, and glanced it over. On the envelope, written in neat, upright characters, were the words: To be opened personally by Senior Brother Yun Yifeng of Fenxia Valley.

The sender's name was inscribed: With respects, Daoyan of the Canglan Sect.

It was indeed in the hand of Daoist Daoyan of the Canglan Sect. Yun Yifeng smiled faintly, tore open the seal, drew out a thin sheet, and read it through from beginning to end, the smile never leaving his face.

At last he nodded slightly, pondered a moment, then folded the letter away into his robes. Raising his voice to the assembly, he said, "That will do for today. Go back and make your preparations. Before long, I shall lead the finest disciples of Fenxia Valley into the Central Plains to pay our respects to our friends of the Canglan Sect and the Fanyin Temple, and together we shall deliberate the great affairs of the world!"

The crowd was startled. It had been long indeed since Fenxia Valley had marched into the Central Plains in force, and none had expected their valley master to issue so momentous an order the moment he emerged from seclusion. But Yun Yifeng had always commanded deep reverence, and the folk of Fenxia Valley gave it little thought. After paying their respects, they withdrew one and all to make ready, and of them all only Li Xun was bidden by Yun Yifeng to remain.

When the others had gone, only master and disciple, Yun Yifeng and Li Xun, were left in the Shanhe Hall. Alone with his master, Li Xun was less reserved than he had been before the crowd, and he asked with a smile, "Master, what manner of cultivation did you practice in seclusion, to produce such wondrous effects?"

Yun Yifeng smiled. "This is a rare art handed down from the founding patriarchs of Fenxia Valley. When your own cultivation is sufficient in days to come, do you fear I will not pass it on to you?"

Li Xun started, then saw the kindly laughter in Yun Yifeng's eyes, which seemed to carry a deeper meaning. A moment's thought, and he was overcome with joy. He hurriedly threw himself to his knees. "Thank you for your great kindness, Master! Your disciple will never fail your expectations!"

Smiling, Yun Yifeng raised him up and looked him over from head to foot. "Your bones and sinews are rare and wondrous—you are fine material for the Dao," he sighed. "Only I see that you are young and full of vigor, and your temper still somewhat restless. You must learn to govern yourself, and only then, with diligent practice, will you achieve greatness."

Li Xun nodded again and again. "Thank you for your guidance, Master. But tell me—did you keep me back for some reason?"

Yun Yifeng glanced at him. "Indeed. I want you to go first to the Central Plains."

Li Xun blinked. "The Central Plains? Where?"

Yun Yifeng said mildly, "Mount Canglan. I shall write a reply in a moment. You will set out at once and deliver this letter into the hands of Daoist Daoyan at Mount Canglan."

Li Xun nodded. "Yes."

Yun Yifeng paced back and forth a few steps, then added, "After Daoist Daoyan has read this letter, he will most likely ask you to stay a few days at Mount Canglan. Do not decline. Stay a few days at Qingyun; I will bring the others and follow shortly."

Li Xun nodded, but was somewhat puzzled. "Master, you are so eager to enter the Central Plains—is there some urgent matter?"

Yun Yifeng smiled faintly. "Is it not that very matter you have begged me about for so long?"

Li Xun's body jolted, and then an excitement he could not conceal spread over his face. At once he knelt again and cried aloud, "Thank you, Master, for granting my wish!"

Yun Yifeng shook his head and laughed. "Enough, enough. Go back and make your preparations for now; come fetch my letter in a little while, and set out straightaway."

Li Xun answered eagerly and strode out.

When the young disciple's figure had vanished, the smile on Yun Yifeng's face gradually faded. He turned toward the south, gazing far off in the direction of the Hundred Thousand Wild Mountains, and after a long while he gave a sudden cold snort.