The Mirror Legacy -
Chapter 1544: Mushroom Forest (I)
Ch’i Lanyan idly played with a few bone pieces, tossing them lightly in his hand as he smiled. “So, Fellow Daoist Murong… what brings you here?”
Murong Yan stood in the courtyard with a dark expression. The few from the Buddhist land were surely scheming something, pushing him forward as a pawn. But the smiling Ch’i Lanyan before him was no better.
Those old bastards from the Buddhist land want to push me out, but I bear the Murong name. Even if I’m not of the imperial line, I’m still of the main lineage. At worst, they’ll use me or pull me into the Buddhist land… but this Ch’i Lanyan is genuinely hoping I die!
The Murong Family and the Pavillion Viewing faction had never been on good terms. Their conflict ran deep. Back when Great Liang collapsed and warlords rose, the Ch’i Family had fallen into Murong hands. Their ancestor Ch’i Wang had even been captured by Murong Dechang and forced into lifelong service. The Ch’i Family had always prided themselves as a noble house of Yincheng Prefecture. They had been granted titles by the Zhou, and their bloodline was exalted. How could they ever tolerate such humiliation?
Back then, the entire Ch’i Family had sworn in blood and tears to oppose the Murong barbarians as sworn enemies. As time passed, things appeared calmer on the surface. The Murong Family had grown powerful, and the Ch’i Family kept quiet, but who knew what truly lay in their hearts?
The moment Murong Yan saw him, he knew nothing good would come of it. Today only confirmed it. Though his own position was unstable, bowing to Ch’i Lanyan would only bring humiliation!
So his expression remained cold as he replied casually, “Of course, I’m here to follow the instructions of Lord Ch’i.”
Ch’i Lanyan rose with a smile, seemingly courteous. “There’s no need to speak of instructions. I merely ask that Fellow Daoist Murong station himself outside the mountain. Once there are results from the grotto heaven, you’ll be invited in… Oh, and Lord Gao as well… Will he be willing to enter? I fear his conflict with the Li Family may have chilled his heart!”
Shilou Yingge had always styled himself with the surname Shilou. Ch’i Lanyan feigned ignorance by bringing up this ‘Gao’, smiling on the surface, though the mockery was obvious.
Murong Yan replied coldly, “Fellow Daoist Shilou has always followed your arrangements. As for this Lord Gao, I’m not sure who you mean. But Tuoba…”
“Enough!”
He had only uttered the word ‘Tuoba’ when a cold, sharp voice drifted out from the hall behind Ch’i Lanyan, cutting him off cleanly. Murong Yan immediately broke out in cold sweat and hurriedly bowed to the side.
“I did not realize Lord Wei was here!”
Murong Yan didn’t need to turn around to know that Ch’i Lanyan was surely sneering behind him.
The hall doors slowly opened, and a summons followed. Murong Yan stepped forward quickly and saw a man in white standing inside. He held a small box, seemingly admiring the contents that cast a faint golden glow across his face.
Seeing him approach, Wei Xuanyin set the box aside and said with a composed expression, “You’ve worked hard, Fellow Daoist Murong.”
Murong Yan shook his head cautiously.
Wei Xuanyin glanced at him and said casually, “We had thought Yan State would handle matters on its own and did not wish to disturb the arrangements of several great figures. We didn’t expect such a misunderstanding to arise. Perhaps the information was delayed, causing you alarm, Fellow Daoist Murong.”
Hearing him speak so directly, what could Murong Yan possibly say? Complain about his own Buddhist land and expose its flaws? He could only swallow his bitterness and respond with a smile, “The Buddhist land had already given warning… It was my own haste that led me to misunderstand their intent.”
Whether he believed him or not, Wei Xuanyin merely nodded and said, “This time, both sides have suffered considerable losses. Once inside the grotto heaven, you may support one another and make up for it. In a few days, the Master of Pure Victory Dao will arrive, first stopping at Lower Luo. The necessary courtesies cannot be neglected. We are unfamiliar with such matters, so I’ll have to trouble you to receive him.”
Murong Yan responded in a low voice, his heart uneasy. “Yes…”
Though Wei Xuanyin’s words sounded pleasant, they brought him little comfort.
Though the Pavilion Viewing faction now serves as Luoxia’s hound, Ch’i Lanyan cultivates [Horn Wood] and Wei Xuanyin cultivates [Veiled Yin]. Neither path aligns with Luoxia’s orthodox lineage, nor do they possess Luoxia’s tolerance and bearing toward immortal cultivators…
He was not as guarded against Wei Xuanyin as he was toward Ch’i Lanyan, yet he felt little goodwill either. He forced a faint smile and said, “I will follow your instructions, my lord. Though I have heard that Fellow Daoists Zong Chang and Gongsun have already arrived at Great Primordial Hidden Radiance Mountain and should be here soon…”
With Wei Xuanyin present, Murong Yan’s original plan to negotiate with Ch’i Lanyan and exert pressure on Yan State faded. He could only leave empty-handed and dissatisfied. Meanwhile, Ch’i Lanyan did not even lift his eyelids.
Only after Murong Yan had withdrawn did he let his smile fade. He remarked, “Murong Yan truly hasn’t received a single piece of information. Those in the Buddhist land who follow the Compassion Dao are quite ruthless. Compassion is compassion, Murong is Murong… it makes a certain kind of sense.”
Wei Xuanyin shook his head, his expression displeased as he replied, “You acted too hastily in this matter!”
Seeing Ch’i Lanyan’s confusion, he said softly, “Do you know why Murong Yan faced this ordeal?”
“Lord Xue[1] has shown no sign of return, and the mountain offers no protection. As time drags on, doubt spreads across the north. Inevitably, thoughts of coveting Li Zhouwei begin to arise…
“The Compassion Dao is no different. With the precedent of the Undefeated King of Brightness before them, and seeing no response from the mountain, how could they not grow greedy for the White Qilin? Li Zhouwei may be difficult to convert and take under control, but if he can be slain and a great karmic bond formed, the benefits would be no less than devouring Yan State in the past.
“So crooked thoughts took root. They abandoned Murong Yan, hoping he would meet with trouble in this upheaval. It would let karmic ties deepen further, and in the end reveal whether they could draw the Compassion Dao into the fray…
“But Murong Yan is someone who seeks immortality. Otherwise, he would not have firmly chosen the [Valley Water] path. In truth, he longs for the Golden Position and feels ashamed to remain confined within the Buddhist path. Only under absolute necessity would he consider becoming a Buddhist cultivator. How could he willingly become their sacrifice? That is why communication was severed.”
Ch’i Lanyan fell silent for a moment as Wei Xuanyin continued in a low voice, “The mountain’s stance remains unclear, and the Compassion Dao is clearly hesitating as well. Murong Yan possesses extraordinary innate ability, while Li Zhouwei may turn out to be a fruitless pursuit. They hope he suffers injury and forms grudges, leaving room for future variables, so they can step in at the right moment. Yet they do not wish for his complete demise. That is why they severed communication while still guarding him in the great void, creating this contradictory situation…”
Understanding slowly dawned on Ch’i Lanyan as Wei Xuanyin said in a distant tone, “Unfortunately, someone revealed a flaw, perhaps deliberately provoking the Compassion Dao. Perhaps those golden eyes of the White Qilin were simply too sharp and sensed the many figures hidden within the great void. The two of them held back and never truly went all out. This move failed, and Murong Yan has now grown wary. He will likely not risk himself again.”
After a long silence, Ch’i Lanyan asked, “Martial uncle… what do you think?”
Wei Xuanyin lowered his gaze and said nothing. After some time, he finally lifted his brush, his eyes still resting on the table as he said calmly, “The Compassion Dao is not the first to harbor such thoughts, nor will it be the last… just wait.”
He rolled up the document on the table and tucked it into his sleeve. Then he took out the small box beside it. A soft golden glow spread in all directions. Ch’i Lanyan glanced at it and saw the side of what seemed to be a small seal, about two fingers wide, embedded in its base.
Wei Xuanyin shook his head and smiled. “I’ll make a trip to the Eastern Sea… to meet an old acquaintance.”
1. Referring to Xue Yang, the Grand Daoist Master of Mount Luoxia. ☜
"This translation was made by our team, to read more translated novels please visite www.readernovel.net"