Chapter 149 — Lethal Poison

Canglan Mountain, the Peak That Touches Heaven.

The fragrance of tea drifted in wisps from the white cups with blue lips and green lids, and from the freshly brewed liquid rose threads of white steam that spread through the room.

This was a quiet chamber in the rear hall of the Yuheng Hall, where the three most powerful and renowned masters of the orthodox path had gathered, tasting tea and conversing with composed expressions.

The Qingyun disciples who had been serving tea and water had at some point quietly withdrawn, leaving only Daoist Zhenren Daoyan, the Venerable Pucheng, and Yun Yifeng in the room.

Daoist Zhenren Daoyan was the first to speak, smiling. "This tea is a local product of the country around Canglan Mountain. It may not be a rare treasure, but it ranks among the fragrant finest. You two should drink and tell me what you think."

Yun Yifeng set down his cup and nodded. "The fragrance lingers in the throat, as though flowing from the mouth straight down into the belly. Truly fine tea."

Daoyan laughed. "If you like it, Yun-shixiong, then once this great calamity of the beast demons is broken, take a good supply back to Fenxia Valley."

Yun Yifeng nodded with a smile. "Splendid. You won't be going back on your word, Zhenren."

The two exchanged a look and smiled, but the Venerable Pucheng chanted a Buddha's name beside them. Daoyan glanced at him. "What troubles you, Dashi?"

The Venerable Pucheng sighed. "In truth, this poor monk knows that facing such a great calamity, one must keep a calm mind to respond with ease. Yet the Buddha's heart is one of compassion. Whenever I think of the common people now plunged into fire and flood, I cannot help burning with anxiety, and I lost my composure for a moment. I ask you both to forgive me."

Yun Yifeng's expression shifted slightly, and a flash of sharp light passed through Daoyan's eyes as well, but his face then grew solemn.

Looking at the Venerable Pucheng, Daoyan said slowly, "The Dashi speaks truly. Since we style ourselves the orthodox path, we must of course take the fate of all under heaven as our own burden. This poor Daoist was rude just now."

The Venerable Pucheng pressed his palms together and shook his head. "What are you saying, Zhenren? I meant no reproach toward you."

Yun Yifeng's expression had already returned to normal, and at these words he smiled. "Enough, enough. The way you two go on so formally is more than anyone can bear. Let us waste no more words and get to the whole business."

Daoyan and the Venerable Pucheng both laughed. Daoyan nodded. "Yun-shixiong is right. In truth, I asked you both here today to discuss this great calamity of the beast demons, for there seem to be strange developments."

Yun Yifeng and the Venerable Pucheng both started. Yun Yifeng said, "What developments? Speak, Zhenren."

Daoyan's face grew grave. "A few days ago I again sent capable disciples of our sect, Xiao Yichen, Lin Jinghong, and others, out to scout the beast demons. They returned just last night and reported a most unusual matter."

Seeing Daoyan's stern face and something in his manner that still seemed puzzled, the Venerable Pucheng could not restrain himself. "What has happened?"

Daoyan paused, then said, "According to Yicai's report, the countless beast demons that surged into the Central Plains from the south have been driving straight north all along, killing as they go. But in recent days, for some unknown reason, a great host of them have suddenly halted their northward march and turned toward the southwest, and the number continuing north toward us appears to be only some forty percent of the original."

Yun Yifeng pondered a moment. "The southwest? Is that not where the demon sect has always been most rampant?"

Daoyan nodded. "Indeed. At present the demon sect is split among three factions, the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, the Hades King Sect, and the Soul-Bewitching Sect, ceaselessly at strife. Though we do not know where their main halls are, the traces suggest that all three are in the southwest, so that region has always been the seat of the demon sect's power. That so many beast demons should suddenly head that way—what could be the purpose?"

The Venerable Pucheng frowned. "Could the beast demons have already clashed with the demon sect and suffered some loss, so that a great host goes to their aid?"

Daoyan's face darkened. "It is not yet clear, but if so, nothing could be better. Beast demons and the demon sect are both scourges; if they tear at each other, all under heaven may count itself fortunate."

At this Yun Yifeng suddenly shook his head. "Masters both, I think there is nothing so simple in this."

Daoyan glanced at him. "Oh? Pray instruct us, Valley Master Yun."

Yun Yifeng said, "We all know well that the demon sect has always been selfish, each for himself. That they would rise up against the beast demons for the sake of all under heaven—such a thing, I think, is impossible..."

Seeing Daoyan and the Venerable Pucheng both nod slightly in agreement, Yun Yifeng smiled and continued, "On the contrary, from what I have long known of the demon sect: seeing the beast demons so mighty now, to say nothing of opposing them, even if the beast demons should wound them by accident, I fear they would sooner swallow the insult and yield ground, leaving our orthodox path to take up hoe and mattock against these savage beasts."

Daoyan nodded. "Indeed, Valley Master Yun speaks reasonably. But the beast demons are in truth marching southwest in great force. In your esteemed view, why?"

Yun Yifeng was silent a moment, then said gravely, "From the conduct of the beast demons since they entered the Central Plains, they have had no fixed target—only killing along the way, ever northward. So this sudden great turning must have some strange cause: the beast demons originally near the southwest must have suffered some grave loss, and so that monstrous creature called the Beast Lord has moved a great host southwest. But in the southwest there has never been any power but the demon sect. Therefore I suspect that within the demon sect, something strange has happened?"

The Venerable Pucheng's white brows knitted. "Something strange? What do you mean, Valley Master?"

Yun Yifeng gave a low chuckle. "That, I cannot know."

The Venerable Pucheng could not help but smile and shook his head. "So after all this talk, Benefactor Yun, have you not said nothing at all?"

The three shared a laugh, but a moment later Daoyan said thoughtfully, "In truth, as I see it, what Yun-shixiong says may well have merit. In any case, with the beast demons now marching southwest in great numbers, the pressure before us is much eased, and at least we are given some time. The people of the world look to us with earnest hope; we too must do something for all to see."

Yun Yifeng glanced at Daoyan. "Oh? Does the Zhenren mean for us to go down the mountain and fight a good fight while the beast demons' main force is away?"

Daoyan said gravely, "Indeed. Every beast demon slain is a measure of suffering spared the world. Such a duty is ours upon the orthodox path; we cannot shirk it."

The Venerable Pucheng murmured a Buddha's name, and a flicker of mockery passed quietly through Yun Yifeng's eyes, but at once he said sternly, "The Zhenren speaks most truly. Then let all be arranged by the Zhenren; my Fenxia Valley line will gladly serve as vanguard."

Daoyan smiled. "With such spirit from Valley Master Yun, how could the beast demons fail to be defeated? Yet as for the southwest, I have pondered long and feel there is deep mystery in this. We cannot rashly thrust ourselves in, but to leave it wholly alone seems hardly fitting either."

The Venerable Pucheng nodded. "Indeed, such is my own thought. After all, this great calamity of the beast demons brings ruin upon the world. Whatever is happening in the southwest, we should at least know it clearly."