Chapter Eighty-Six: Rumors of the Flower Festival
As Song Yan stepped out of the tea house, he let out a soft sigh. “There’s no peace anywhere, is there…”
He took Sheng Nian’s warning to heart.
No matter what, a little caution could never hurt.
“Liang Feng…”
He weighed the name on his tongue, but as far as he knew, he had never heard it before.
Still, when spears came, he would meet them with a shield; when water came, he would answer with earth. In the worst case, he could report it to Senior Brother Lu and Senior Sister Cong Yuzhen. If the sky were to fall, there would always be tall men to hold it up.
Casting aside the stray thoughts in his mind, he rejoined the others.
Just then, Yan Xun was giving everyone a brief introduction to the grand festival.
“The Flower Festival has actually existed for a very long time. It may have first been a custom that spread down from the Central Region.”
“Legend says that this day is the birthday of the immortal in charge of flower omens in the heavens, the Flower Goddess. But since flower omens differ from place to place, the dates of each Flower Festival also vary.”
“Our side of North Yashan observes it on the fifteenth day of the second month…”
Gu Qingqing suddenly asked, “Big Brother Yan, every place has a Flower Festival, so why is it only here in North Yashan that it is celebrated so grandly?”
Indeed, this flower festival could even draw cultivators.
“Hm…”
“On one hand, of course, our North Yashan has beautiful flowers.”
Yan Xun praised his homeland first, then seemed to realize that he alone here was a native.
A little embarrassed, he added, “On the other hand, the Flower Festival Grand Assembly, held once every three years, offers many spiritual treasures as festival gifts for cultivators.”
“There are quite a few rewards that even cultivators covet.”
“And then…”
As though guessing what everyone wanted to ask, Yan Xun immediately said, “Ah! As for this year’s rewards, don’t ask me.”
“The prizes change every year.”
“You’ll know in a few days.”
Song Yan thought, no wonder.
Before coming, he had done a little homework to prevent any mishaps at this grand gathering.
The event was mainly hosted jointly by the Sunfall Sect, the Yan Clan, and Linghua Valley.
So naturally, the rewards would also be decided by all three sides together.
In any case, so long as the Sunfall Sect was involved, the prizes would certainly not be shabby.
At least, not for a minor Qi Refining cultivator like himself.
“In fact, there is another special legend concerning the Flower Festival.”
As they walked, Yan Xun said, “It is said that in ancient times, there were once two cultivator companions in North Yashan, a man and a woman…”
A poignant love story unfolded in a gentle murmur.
The two had been childhood sweethearts, inseparable from youth, and when they grew up they entered the Dao together, cultivating and slaying demons side by side, envied by all who saw them.
But good times never lasted long. One year, the two encountered a demonic cultivator.
The woman sacrificed herself to save her beloved, and perished in body and soul. Later, the man returned to his homeland and took his own life in death for love.
“Among the most important events during the festival is one called the Blooming Flowers Gathering, held at Butterfly-Chasing Spring.”
“That was said to be the place where the two first met and came to know one another, and it serves as a memorial to their love.”
“Wow…”
Gu Qingqing and Sheng Yun were both deeply captivated by the tale…
Speaking of it, Yan Xun’s expression held a trace of pride.
“Legend has it that the male cultivator was one of my Yan Clan’s ancestors.”
By the time they had wandered about long enough, it was getting late, and they should head to Linghua Valley.
Linghua Valley lay to the south of North Yashan.
Within the territory of North Yashan, the Yan Clan was a cultivation family attached to the Sunfall Sect.
Linghua Valley, by contrast, was a gathering place for rogue cultivators.
Though, the so-called rogue cultivator climate here differed somewhat from that of many places outside; in truth, it was mainly made up of various minor clans and households.
Yan Xun led the group up a broad mountain road.
The mountain slopes flowed into the valley mouth, and the setting sun in the sky blended with the scenery below into one soft wash of color.
“What a beautiful place…”
Indeed.
An endless sea of flowers, a distant lake sparkling with light, rolling green mountains stretching beyond the horizon…
And this was only a glimpse from the valley entrance.
Two women and one man, all cultivators, seemed to have been waiting here for some time.
Seeing Yan Xun lead people into the valley, they hurried forward.
“Esteemed guests, I am Wu Duo of Linghua Valley.”
Wu Duo—Song Yan remembered the name. She was the one responsible for writing the invitation letter to the Deep Abyss Sect.
“Ah-Xun, go help out in the valley.”
“Understood.”
“It’s getting late. I’ll take you to your lodgings first.”
Most of Linghua Valley’s rogue cultivators and clans were spread across the south, west, and north. The northeast side, where the valley entrance stood, had been specially built for visiting honored guests.
The members of the Deep Abyss Sect were lodged in several courtyards close together.
Wu Duo said warmly, “If you need anything, just say the word. There’s no need to be polite with me.”
The courtyard was very clean and tidy, with a bamboo grove outside, quiet and secluded.
Song Yan nodded in satisfaction.
“Oh, right.”
Wu Duo seemed to remember something and pointed to the male cultivator beside her.
“This is Liang Feng, the one in charge of this Flower Festival Grand Assembly for Linghua Valley. You may ask him about anything.”
At the sound of the name, Song Yan paused slightly and raised his eyes unobtrusively to glance at him.
This Liang Feng had ordinary features, a lean build, and a gloomy cast to his brow.
He looked as though he was in a poor mood.
Still, he was courteous to everyone. “I am Liang Feng. If there is anything you do not understand about this Flower Festival Grand Assembly, or any other matter concerning the valley, you may come ask me.”
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Wu Duo and Liang Feng left the courtyard.
Responsible for the grand festival affairs…
Watching Liang Feng’s departing back, Song Yan murmured to himself, “That Ayian never made things clear, leaving me here to guess blindly…”
It gave him the uneasy feeling of seeing danger in every rustle of grass and every tree.
...
In the dead of night.
A night patrol disciple of Linghua Valley carried a spirit-flame lantern.
After turning a bend at the edge of a mountain grove and cliff, he made a brief inspection, then departed.
“...”
The night was silent.
A moment later, a black human figure slowly emerged from the shadows and headed toward the exit of this mountain stream valley.
Whoosh...
“Before the grand assembly has even begun, why have you come again?”
Around the figure, from several clusters of flowers, a faint yellow mist drifted out.
The mist gathered and, before the figure, condensed upon a tree branch into the shape of a small yellow-robed Daoist boy.
Under the dim spiritual light, Liang Feng’s face showed some worry.
“Now that four people from the Deep Abyss Sect have arrived, how are we supposed to…”
“You don’t trust me?”
“...”
Liang Feng frowned but said nothing.
The little Daoist in yellow robes let out a sly chuckle. “I’ve already observed all four of them in secret.”
“There’s nothing to worry about.”
“This time, the most troublesome one is the Sunfall Sect’s Cong Yuzhen.”
“But that has nothing to do with you. I’ll think of a way to deal with her myself.”
Liang Feng nodded. “I know, it’s just…”
“In the daytime, I kept feeling that one of the people from the Deep Abyss Sect was rather strange, as if… he were investigating me.”
The little Daoist in yellow robes gave a scoffing laugh.
“You’re being far too suspicious.”
Then he changed tone. “Still, if you truly cannot rest easy, then at the Blooming Flowers Gathering, set some trick in place and kill him.”
“The more chaotic things become during those days, the better.”
“So long as you obtain the Moon-Monitoring Lotus Seed, your wife lying ill in bed can recover as if she had never fallen sick…”
“When the time comes, there will be no need to remain in this tiny Linghua Valley.”
“Brother Liang, wouldn’t you agree?”
The little Daoist in yellow robes coaxed him patiently.
Liang Feng looked up, unmoved. “I only want her to live again. As for everyone else, I do not wish to concern myself.”
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