Chapter 28: Listening to the Evening Tide atop Evening Tide Peak

Ji Youyun withdrew his gaze, his expression already returned to normal, and turned to the three Nascent Soul elders seated above and to Lingxuzi, saying, “Now that the candidates have been chosen, let those unrelated leave.”

Upon hearing Ji Youyun’s words, everyone immediately understood that the outcome was settled; by now, it was obvious to all that this mysterious Mr. Ji was the main authority in today’s matter.

Outside the hall, the representatives from various sects were still eagerly awaiting the result. Soon, they saw the apprentices who had entered earlier file out, heads bowed in disappointment, and the scene became somewhat chaotic. Word quickly spread: a total of six fortunate individuals had been chosen to remain inside with the Nascent Soul elders.

Hongjian was the last to exit, leaving shoulder to shoulder with Jiang Yan from the Xianyun Sect, who had received a cold reception. Jiang Yan’s failure to be chosen surprised many, but he himself seemed unconcerned.

Sun Yougong, the master of Evening Tide Peak, personally came out to invite the elders of Little Yingzhou inside, presumably to explain the matter of Gao Hongxin’s execution by Xing Wuyai.

Hongjian glanced back and saw the double doors of Huanhua Hall closing slowly behind her. Only then did she let out a sigh of relief, rising onto her toes to search the crowd for Fang Zheng, who had failed the first trial.

Jiang Yan suddenly spoke beside her, “You… It’s lucky you wagered with Brother Shi.”

Hongjian was startled by his voice so close to her ear, and turned to see Jiang Yan smiling at her. He continued, “Since he’s become Chief Dai’s disciple, the issue with the mispracticed ‘Demon Subduing Vine’ will be resolved by Chief Dai. Either way, I really must thank you.” As he spoke, his face revealed a look of liberation.

Hongjian sized him up from head to toe, suddenly realizing that this Jiang fellow was no longer as annoying as before. She nodded solemnly and replied, “You’re welcome; in fact, I should be thanking him.”

Jiang Yan twisted his mouth, resisting the urge to say anything excessive, and after a moment’s silence, said, “I’m heading back. You’re welcome to visit the Xianyun Sect someday.”

Just then, Hongjian spotted Fang Zheng and replied perfunctorily, “Alright, I’ll be sure to if I get the chance.”

Fang Zheng had spent the entire day worrying that he’d be scolded by his sister for failing the first trial. But when Hongjian emerged, she gripped his hand tightly, visibly shaken. While he quietly breathed a sigh of relief, he guessed she hadn’t been chosen either, so she must have realized that even if he’d entered the hall, it would have been in vain.

With matters settled, the sect representatives departed one after another. Within an hour or two, the area before Huanhua Hall was deserted. Of the dozen sects, only the Symbol Diagram Sect remained because Chief Dai Mingchi had to stay longer at Dan Cliff Sect, needing to instruct the elders who accompanied him. They would linger half a day more, while everyone else had already departed.

By this time, the afternoon lessons for Hongjian and the others had naturally been suspended. After parting ways with her brother, Hongjian returned alone to her lodgings. Yao Zhen was nowhere to be found and had not returned. Meanwhile, Qi Xiuning had become Dai Mingchi’s disciple and remained at Huanhua Hall; within the flower sea, only Hongjian was left in the three quiet cottages.

Hongjian meditated on her bed for a while. At her age, having never experienced anything significant, it was impossible to calm herself so quickly after such an encounter. Her mind kept drifting: one moment she recalled Ji Youyun’s terrifying methods, another she wondered if, had she not secretly learned “Ten Thousand Streams Return to the Ancestral Sect” with that mysterious figure, she might have rashly followed Ji Youyun. But then again, if she hadn’t practiced it, she wouldn’t have advanced so swiftly to the fifth stage of Qi Refining, nor would she have had the chance to meet Ji Youyun.

Lost in these random thoughts, some time passed. From the mountain path outside, footsteps approached, growing nearer. Hongjian awakened in alarm, only to hear a stranger’s voice: “Fang Hongjian, please come out, I have something to discuss with you!”

Hongjian slipped on her shoes, got out of bed, and opened the door. A man dressed in apricot-yellow robes stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back. Hearing her, he looked over and smiled, “I am Qin Baoxian, second disciple of Master Yan from Evening Tide Peak.”

Hongjian was startled. “Master Yan… Granduncle, has Uncle Qin come for me because of something?” The visitor was Yan Changqing’s disciple—the same Senior Brother Jian Hui who had overseen her first trial today. Why would he seek her out?

Hongjian examined Qin Baoxian carefully. He was plump, his round face smiling before he even spoke, radiating warmth and friendliness. For cultivators, age was hard to judge, but as Yan Changqing’s disciple he must have already established his foundation and likely wasn’t too old. He looked familiar; perhaps she had seen him in passing at the sect before.

Qin Baoxian also sized up Hongjian and said with a smile, “Today at Huanhua Hall, I saw you pass the trial from afar and remembered you. I thought to myself that this little lady would surely stand out today. Sure enough, as soon as Grandmaster returned, he spoke of you. Master sent me to bring you to see him. Let’s go.”

Qin Baoxian’s grandmaster was Sun Yougong, master of Evening Tide Peak. If Yan Changqing wanted to see her, it was probably a good thing. Hongjian felt a bit reassured; it seemed that by refusing Ji Youyun today, she had also won favor with some senior figures of her own sect.

Hongjian closed the door and followed Qin Baoxian toward Evening Tide Peak.

The sunset hung along the mountainside, bathing most of Evening Tide Peak’s cliffs in rosy light. Qin Baoxian chatted cheerfully as he walked, introducing Hongjian to the scenery and the various courtyards. Previously, Hongjian had only vaguely heard that Sun Yougong had over a dozen Golden Core disciples; now she finally gained a clear understanding.

Hearing Hongjian address him as “Uncle” at every turn, Qin Baoxian couldn’t help but say, “No need to be nervous. Master intends to take you as a disciple. If all goes well, after you meet him, we’ll be calling each other brother and sister.”

Yan Changqing accepting her as a disciple? That was a privilege usually reserved for those who had already established their foundation. In Dan Cliff Sect, none of the disciples admitted during the Qi Refining phase had ever been formally apprenticed. But then Hongjian suddenly recalled that precedent was broken this morning, when Elder Jin first took in Leng Yu from Mingchuan Sect and Xie Yaofei from Symbol Diagram Sect. If Yan Changqing accepted her now, it would be yet another major change brought about by Ji Youyun.

During the recent sect assessment, Hongjian had already met Yan Changqing, and apparently he still remembered her. After she bowed to him, Yan Changqing encouraged her kindly, instructing her to pack her things and move to Evening Tide Peak to cultivate at Snowpile Cliff. He said his three disciples included one whose foundation was complete and was in seclusion attempting to reach Golden Core, and he told the attending Qin Baoxian and Jian Hui to formally welcome her as their junior sister.

Yan Changqing had no time to instruct Qi Refining disciples, so that responsibility now fell to her two new senior brothers.

When Hongjian left Yan Changqing’s quarters, night had fully descended.

At this hour, Evening Tide Peak was most distinct from the other peaks of Dan Cliff Sect. As expected, the great tide of the Endless Sea arrived, crashing against the blue rocks below. The crest of the waves rose ten yards high, creating a thunderous roar.

Qin Baoxian and Jian Hui accompanied Hongjian to stand atop the highest point of Snowpile Cliff. Listening to the earth-shaking sound below, Hongjian felt her water spiritual root keenly sense the vapor rising wildly from beneath the cliff.