Chapter 497 – Bonfire Banquet

Inside Spring Rebirth Hall, Valley Master Nie—having already made his decision—sipped his tea in a relaxed mood. From time to time, he instructed his disciples to make proper arrangements for the evening banquet.

Before long, Steward Yang returned, his face practically glowing. At a single glance, Valley Master Nie felt joy blossom in his heart—why, the word “delighted” seemed written plainly across Yang’s face.

Valley Master Nie didn’t bother with excessive courtesy. Stepping forward, he cupped his fist and said: “Brother Yang truly is a man of fortune. Whatever matter reaches your hands is solved with ease. Many thanks, brother—many thanks!”

Steward Yang chuckled. “It’s all thanks to Lady Kong taking pity on us old fellows. He knows we likely won’t have another chance to meet again, so she agreed without hesitation. If it had been that cold-faced star of doom from last time, no amount of begging would have worked.”

Valley Master Nie paused. “You mean Lord Yu, the one who came before? That’s true. This old man wished to pay him a visit, but he wouldn’t give me the time of day. He stayed only a short while, refused even to pass the night here, and left the valley under cover of darkness. Ai, I was in such a rush then—I only had you bring a few jars of Hundred-Flower Brew. Didn’t even let you drink your fill.”

“Haha!” Steward Yang was in excellent spirits. “Enough about him. Come, Brother Nie—has your feast been prepared? The brothers traveling with me have all come because they’ve heard of your fine hospitality.”

“No problem at all. Spring Rebirth Valley doesn’t have much with which to flatter the Incense Spreading Sect, but when it comes to wine, we can satisfy them completely.”

“I haven’t heard you speak so bluntly in a long time, Brother Nie. I thought being Valley Master had smoothed all your rough edges.”

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded from outside. Looking up, they saw Little Orange rushing in, flustered. When she saw Steward Yang and Valley Master Nie, she quickly bowed, clearly wanting to speak but hesitating.

Valley Master Nie frowned. “Little Orange, what is it?”

She glanced at him, then at Steward Yang, and said softly: “Valley Master… Miss returned to Peach Blossom Hermitage just now in tears. She was covered in dirt, like she had fallen. As soon as she got back to her room, she threw herself onto the bed. No matter what this servant said, she wouldn’t listen—she’s crying very hard. What should we do…?”

Hearing this, Steward Yang no longer had the slightest doubt about the relationship between Zhang Xiaohua and Nie Qianyu. Most of his suspicions about Zhang Xiaohua entering the Incense Spreading Sect vanished. Wasn’t Nie Qianyu’s reaction the classic sign of a girl unwilling to part from her lover before a long separation? Earlier at Spring Rebirth Hall, when he had asked her about it, she had already seemed hesitant. Thinking it over now—if the one in her heart wouldn’t return for many years, how could she not feel utterly heartbroken?

Steward Yang looked at Valley Master Nie and patted his shoulder. “Old brother, you’d better go comfort your precious darling. Tell my niece that her Uncle Yang promises—once her sweetheart enters the Incense Spreading Sect, I’ll do everything I can to look after him. I’ll make sure Ren Xiaoyao enters the Outer Sect as soon as possible, so he can step into the martial world sooner.”

Valley Master Nie frowned, but he had already made up his mind. He shot Little Orange a look and shook his head. “Forget it, Brother Yang. We’re both people who’ve lived long enough to know better. Matters of the young should be handled by the young. What could an old wreck like me possibly persuade her of? Better to let the girl calm down and think about Xiaoyao’s future. When Ren Xiaoyao returns to the valley tomorrow, let him be the one to talk to her.”

Hearing the exchange between Steward Yang and Valley Master Nie, Little Orange understood much more. She now knew why her young lady had been crying so bitterly, and the stone weighing on her heart finally eased. Still, she was only a maid of Spring Rebirth Valley. Though she and Nie Qianyu were as close as sisters, this was the first time she had heard that Zhang Xiaohua would be going to the Incense Spreading Sect.

Without realizing it, that figure she had long hidden deep in her heart—the sword-wielding silhouette like a heavenly being—suddenly grew incomparably vast in her mind.

Did this mean… she would never see him again?

After hearing Nie’s words, Steward Yang laughed. “Brother Nie is quite open-minded. Very true—children have their own fortunes. Interfering too much may not be a good thing.”

The remark carried a double meaning; it was exactly the sort of subtle warning Steward Yang intended for Valley Master Nie.

Valley Master Nie chuckled. “Yes, when it’s time to let go, you have to let go. This old man will have to start loosening his grip bit by bit as well. Come, Brother Yang—today we two old fellows must drink until we drop!”

“Good, good, good!” Steward Yang roared with laughter.

The two of them spoke as they walked out of Spring Rebirth Hall together.

Valley Master Nie noticed that Little Orange was still standing there, her gaze distant, and couldn’t help asking in surprise, “Little Orange, is there something else?”

She snapped out of it as if waking from a dream. “N-no, nothing, Master.”

“Oh? Good then. Go back and talk more with Little Yu. It’s only a few years, after all. Her Uncle Yang has already promised to help Brother Ren return earlier. Also, when you see Ren Xiaoyao tomorrow, tell him to come pay his respects to Uncle Yang right away.”

“Yes, Master.” Little Orange bowed and hurried off.

Steward Yang waved his hand. “When love weighs heavy, a hero’s spirit grows short. When your fine son-in-law returns, he should check on Little Yu first.”

“Haha!” Valley Master Nie laughed, tugging at Steward Yang’s sleeve as the two of them strode quickly out of Spring Rebirth Hall.

Valley Master Nie had smiled an awful lot this day.

Well, of course—anyone who, in a single day, saw both long-held wishes and dreams of many years fulfilled would be unable to stop smiling.

Especially since perhaps tomorrow, or the day after, his cultivation might increase by five years!

Night in Spring Rebirth Valley was enchanting. A crescent moon hung lightly in the sky, and a gentle breeze carried the fresh scent of grass and trees. The banquet laid out to entertain the Incense Spreading Sect was set openly on the lawn before Spring Rebirth Hall. All the tables were arranged in a great circle, and within the ring several bonfires blazed. Over the flames, cuts of roasting meat gave off a rich, mouthwatering aroma.

This unusual rustic atmosphere struck the members of the Incense Spreading Sect as delightfully novel. Before long, they were drinking freely with the valley disciples, clinking cups and throwing arms around shoulders.

At the two tables of honor sat Valley Master Nie and Steward Yang. Both were already pleasantly tipsy. Steward Yang raised his wine cup and said, “Brother Nie… I never expected that every time I come, you have some… new and interesting thing here. I admire you and… envy you. If I could live as carefree as you, I’d rather—”

Valley Master Nie immediately raised his own cup and clinked it against Yang’s. “Brother Yang, wine you may… drink more of, but words you mustn’t… speak carelessly. This setup is just… a custom of the northern nomads—nothing special. Compared to your sect’s immortal-like life, ours falls… far short. Come, bottoms up.”

Steward Yang waved it off. “The life of immortals… that belongs to the inner sect disciples. As for us…”

Seeing this, Valley Master Nie picked up the wine jug again with a smile. “Brother Yang, come, let me refill your cup. Isn’t there an old saying? Life is like a walled city—those outside want desperately to get in, while those inside rack their brains trying to get out. Look at my fine son-in-law and my daughter’s nephew—they’re doing everything they can just to enter your Incense Spreading Sect as mere medicine boys. Yet here you are, envying the freedom of Spring Rebirth Valley. So tell me—who’s right and who’s wrong?”

“Hahaha!” Steward Yang could no longer hold it in and burst into laughter. “Brother Nie, that analogy is far too vivid! Who can be blamed? Human desire is endless. Once we have what’s before us, we start longing for what comes after. We’re forever chasing something—that’s all it is!”

“Exactly. If there’s wine today, get drunk today—who cares how many sorrows tomorrow brings? Come, come, Brother Yang—drink, drink!”

Not far from their table, Nie Qianyu sat alone, with Little Orange attending her side. Hearing her father’s words, she gazed at the laughing crowd in the distance, at the fiercely burning bonfires, and couldn’t help falling into a daze.

Yes… if you envy life inside the city, then you must do everything you can to run toward it. If you can’t enter, you’ll never know the bustle within. Perhaps…

Little Orange had no idea what her young lady was thinking and watched her with deep concern. Meanwhile, the divine sense coiling around Nie Qianyu also could not discern her thoughts. It simply lingered there, observing… until the night grew late and deep, and only then did that divine sense finally withdraw.

Zhang Xiaohua withdrew his divine sense from the pill room, frowning slightly as he fell into thought.

That afternoon, when Nie Qianyu had come to deliver the news, she had only briefly mentioned that he would be allowed to go to the Incense Spreading Sect, without giving any further details. Zhang Xiaohua had assumed Valley Master Nie would come by to check on the progress of the Scarlet Flame Pill and, while he was at it, explain whether they would be setting out tomorrow or the day after. Yet even after night had fallen and blazing bonfires had been lit throughout the outer valley, not a single person had come.

In the end, Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t hold back. Whether it was to gather information about the Incense Spreading Sect’s movements or because he was worried about Nie Qianyu, even he couldn’t say. He had already extended his divine sense, quietly observing everything in the valley.

He couldn’t hear the conversation between Valley Master Nie and Steward Yang, but seeing how elated Nie looked, Zhang Xiaohua guessed the issue of the Scarlet Flame Pill being completed a day later than the Incense Spreading Sect’s original departure had already been settled. Most likely, the sect would not be leaving at dawn tomorrow after all.

Still, when he saw how absent-minded Nie Qianyu appeared, Zhang Xiaohua felt a faint ache in his heart. He thought of how she used to flutter around him like a cheerful lark, and how wonderful that feeling had been.

Could it be… that this little girl had already left a place in his heart?

Zhang Xiaohua didn’t quite understand.

Just then, he suddenly heard footsteps again. He frowned. What was going on tonight? Before, the moment anyone approached, he would have sensed it. But now the person had clearly reached the doorway before he heard anything?

There was no time to conceal the medicinal liquid inside the pill furnace. Zhang Xiaohua quickly stood and went forward to meet the visitor.

The one who hurried into the pill room was none other than Elder Zhang—another person extremely concerned about the refining of the Scarlet Flame Pill.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua come out to greet him, Elder Zhang looked a little embarrassed. “Young Hero Ren, this old man has been tied up with many matters and hasn’t had the time to come check. I wonder how the refining of the Scarlet Flame Pill is going?”

Zhang Xiaohua secretly laughed to himself. If you had come earlier, that would’ve been troublesome. I’ve been hoping you’d stay busy with other things.

Zhang Xiaohua smiled. “Everything is proceeding perfectly, Elder Zhang. No need to worry. By noon tomorrow—if nothing unexpected happens—you’ll be able to see the finished Scarlet Flame Pills. Hehe… Elder Zhang, don’t forget to set aside three pills for me.”

Elder Zhang waved his hand. “Do I look like a stingy man? Since I’ve agreed to it, how could I go back on my word? Besides, the pills are still in your hands, aren’t they? Oh, right—let me take a look at how the refining is going. I haven’t checked in the past few days and don’t know what changes there have been.”

With that, he walked toward the pill furnace.