When he first met Xu Xing, he said that he had some minor influence in Jianghu. This wasn’t an exaggeration; he truly only had some minor influence. Ordinary members of the Younger Generation in Jianghu, upon hearing his moniker, Desert North Bear, would show him some respect. But at the Demon Slaying Conference, those with seats in Purple Sea Pavilion were all people from Large Sects, and he was not prominent enough to be counted among them.
The chance to even get standing room in Purple Sea Pavilion...
This was largely thanks to Xu Xing, who had recently made a bit of a name for himself in Jianghu. Many Jianghu people in the Capital knew that a generous Young Master from an Aristocratic Family lived in Yunlai Inn, and his Cultivation was not low.
"Big Brother Luo, I think I’ll stay out of this," Xu Xing declined.
Although he was confident he could deceive the Old Monk, he didn’t want to actually put himself at risk. Confidence was one thing; recklessly risking his life was another.
"Could it be... Young Brother, you have a seat in Purple Sea Pavilion?"
A hint of envy flashed in Desert North Bear Luo Tai’s eyes, and he sounded a little sour. The reputation he had built over many years was not as impressive as what Xu Xing had achieved in just Half a month.
"If my elders were present in Purple Sea Pavilion..." Xu Xing continued, "I might have no choice but to return home. I certainly wouldn’t have the chance to roam around freely anymore."
Xu Xing casually made up an excuse.
It was a very reasonable excuse. Since everyone who knew him believed he was an Aristocratic Young Master, it would be perfectly normal for his elders to be in Purple Sea Pavilion. As for which specific elder, numerous prominent figures of Jianghu had been invited to Purple Sea Pavilion; these lower-ranking Jianghu people wouldn’t be able to guess.
Desert North Bear Luo Tai took him at his word, nodded, and went to the Demon Slaying Conference by himself.
Luo Tai returned and told Xu Xing about the interesting events at the Demon Slaying Conference. "There’s an internal struggle for the position of Sect Master within the Xiaosha Sect. To force out their own House Elder, Ning Sword God, they tricked him into going to Yingzhou in the south for a marriage. It turned out that when Ning Sword God arrived in Yingzhou, he discovered the person he was supposed to marry had been dead for twenty years..."
"The two factions of the Xiaoshan Sect almost came to blows."
"If it weren’t for Ning Sword God’s good restraint... Well, both sides were his own people, after all. Ning Sword God was in a dilemma; he couldn’t really draw his Sword and kill them..." he gloated.
After speaking about Ning Sword God, he added, "I don’t think this National Teacher is a good person either. He appears benevolent and kind, but I always feel there’s something strange about him..."
Xu Xing casually chimed in, Occasionally discussing with Luo Tai which female warriors from which Sects were beautiful.
「The second day passed...」
「And then the third day...」
The Demon Slaying Conference finally ended on the seventh day.
During this period, Desert North Bear Luo Tai would recount every detail of the events at the Demon Slaying Conference to Xu Xing.
"The National Teacher made arrangements," Luo Tai revealed on the last day. "He wants all of us Jianghu people to spread out and search for the demon Zhi Xing. Meanwhile, the Innate Martial Artists from the various Sects will be stationed in different regions. If Zhi Xing’s whereabouts are discovered, they are to notify the local authorities, send an urgent dispatch—an eight-hundred-li express—to the Capital, and then everyone will join forces to hunt down the demon Zhi Xing."
After explaining, he started packing his belongings.
"Big Brother Luo, what are you doing?" Xu Xing was slightly surprised.
Having spent the better part of a month with Luo Tai, Xu Xing understood his plans. Luo Tai had been struggling in the Jianghu for a long time. As he grew older, he found it difficult to make a name for himself. Therefore, he was pinning his hopes on Xu Xing’s identity as a Young Master from an Aristocratic Family. He hoped that Xu Xing, as his ’brother,’ would secure a retirement position for him in the future, perhaps as a household guard or some other sinecure.
"The National Teacher made a promise this time," Luo Tai said. "If we can find Zhi Xing’s whereabouts, he will teach us the ultimate techniques of the Heavenly Dragon Temple."
"To be honest, Brother Chang," Luo Tai said openly, revealing his inner calculations, "the reason Big Brother (I) always catered to you was because..."
He then sighed. "I’ve achieved nothing in my life. Ultimately, it’s because I lack profound Cultivation Methods. This is my chance. I want to try, to leave something for my descendants to aspire to."
Following Xu Xing might guarantee a comfortable old age, but obtaining profound martial arts was practically impossible. Aristocratic Families and Jianghu Sects alike guarded their secret techniques with utmost vigilance. Without great merit, they would never bestow their True lineage upon an outsider.
Instead of hoping to earn merit with the Chang Family, it was better to take this one gamble: search for the demon Zhi Xing. Maybe he’d get lucky and actually find his whereabouts.
Seeing this, Xu Xing didn’t try to persuade him further and let Luo Tai leave. For nearly one month, Xu Xing had taken good care of Luo Tai, covering all expenses whenever they frequented high-end establishments. Although a bond had formed between them, it wasn’t strong enough for Xu Xing to risk exposing himself for Luo Tai.
Flowers bloomed and withered; another half a year of Spring and Autumn passed.
After the Demon Slaying Conference concluded, the various Jianghu Sects, in coordination with agents of the Imperial Court, began to search far and wide for the demon Zhi Xing. However, to their disappointment, after the bloodbath at Heavenly Dragon Temple, Zhi Xing vanished without a trace.
Thus, the grand Demon Slaying Conference, with its great fanfare, gradually drew to a close.
「Then, on a night in mid-November.」
A heavy snow fell across the Capital region. By Dawn, the entire Capital was draped in silver.
Xu Xing walked out of Yunlai Inn.
He went to Guanyin Temple.
Although Guanyin Temple was not a state temple, it was a royal temple. Its overall architecture was no different from the Imperial Palace. The snow-covered temple grounds featured red walls and snow-laden tiles. Along both sides of the pathways, Ginkgo Trees were planted. Golden leaves from the Ginkgo Trees Occasionally drifted down, landing on the snowy ground...