Chapter 217: Azure Creek Grotto-Heaven
The mortal realm had its Flower Festival, and the cultivation world had the Yan clan of Northern Chu. The fame of North Watch Mountain City in Dragon Spring Prefecture needed no introduction. South of North Watch Mountain stood Shaoliang City, a place few in the outer prefectures had likely heard of.
Shaoliang Mountain City was built against the hills, modest in scale, with a population of only a few hundred thousand—roughly half that of North Watch Mountain City.
In truth, many ancient legends of Dragon Spring Prefecture recorded that, in ages long past, Shaoliang had been the capital of an Immortal Dynasty.
And North Watch Mountain had merely been the “Flower Estate” of that ancient capital, dedicated to cultivating spirit flowers and spirit plants for the imperial household.
After the Immortal Dynasty fell, many spirit plant masters and gardeners from the capital had carried precious spirit seeds southward, settling and flourishing in North Watch Mountain City.
Thus North Watch Mountain gradually prospered and grew.
Shaoliang City, however, had dwindled into decline, falling silent, its political standing in the Chu court now rather low.
Near Shaoliang City lay a stretch of continuous deep mountains. The tallest among them was called Shouyang Mountain, rising five or six hundred zhang high, wreathed in clouds and mist throughout the year.
Over the years, many strange and mysterious tales had emanated from this place. Thus, within the martial world of Chu, many young heroes traveled thousands of miles to seek traces of immortals here.
At this very moment, at the foot of Shouyang Mountain.
In a grove of trees, an elderly mortal woodcutter sat resting on a green stone beneath a tree, a smoking pipe in his hand.
The old woodcutter had reached an age where his children had all grown. By all rights, he should have been resting at home in his twilight years.
But he simply could not stay idle, always thinking that while he could still manage some work, he ought to make a few more trips up the mountain.
The weather was still somewhat cold, and his hand holding the pipe trembled slightly.
This mugwort grass simply would not light no matter what he tried.
The old man cupped the kindling in his palms to shield it from the wind, only to see the mugwort grass suddenly ignite on its own.
“Hm? Strange.”
He was still puzzling over this when a young man and woman appeared on the mountain path.
The young man looked to be eighteen or nineteen, clad in black robes of plain cloth, a bamboo hat upon his head, his steps steady and measured.
The girl appeared to be fourteen or fifteen, following a step behind the young man, cradling a long, elegant cloth bundle in her arms.
The old man gripped the wood-chopping knife beside him with a measure of wariness.
In these deep mountains and ancient forests, he had witnessed too many wicked deeds.
The young man’s attire marked him unmistakably as a martial artist of the jianghan.
Though the old man had nothing worth robbing, it was still best to be cautious around strangers.
“Pardon me, old sir. Could you tell me the way to Azure Creek Cave?”
“What?”
The old man put on a rather distressed expression.
Whether his aged ears had failed to catch the words, or he simply could not understand what this outsider was saying, it was hard to tell.
Dragon Spring Prefecture was indeed a place where every village had its own dialect.
The youth repeated the three words: “Azure Creek Cave.”
“Oh.” The old man’s face cleared in sudden understanding. Learning the young man’s purpose, he even relaxed his grip on the wood-chopping knife.
Another jianghan adventurer come to seek immortal fortune.
“Well now, the way up the mountain is this way. Take the right path there.”
The old man took two puffs of his pipe and pointed the direction.
He had seen plenty of people like this.
Nearly all the strange and wondrous tales spread about Shouyang Mountain originated from somewhere near Azure Creek Cave.
A long river flowed through the mountains, called Azure Creek. Azure Creek flowed through a natural stone cavern.
No one knew where the cavern led, but the area near its mouth was shrouded in clouds and mist all year round.
Ordinarily, for a tall mountain like Shouyang, the occasional thick fog would be perfectly normal.
But for it to be like this nearly all year round was somewhat peculiar.
Some bold mountain folk had ventured inside before. Strangely, no matter how they wandered within, they always ended up back at the entrance of the cavern’s dark river.
Until one day, a mountain child playing on the mountain accidentally wandered inside and was never seen again.
Some said an immortal dwelled within Azure Creek Cave, and the child had been taken to an immortal mountain for cultivation.
Others said the mountain folk’s intrusions had angered an immortal in seclusion, and this was punishment.
No one knew the truth.
But the mountain folk no longer dared venture near Azure Creek Cave. Instead, it was the jianghan martial artists who heard the rumors who flocked here.
In such an obscure, overlooked little city, Shouyang Mountain’s Azure Creek Cave could just about merit the words “endless stream of visitors.”
The youth nodded and cupped his hands in thanks. “Much obliged, old sir.”
He led the girl and headed up the mountain.
The old man lowered his head, took a puff of his pipe, and muttered, “A shabby little place like this—where would immortals come from…”
When he looked up again, the two had vanished without a trace.
“Hm?” He looked all around, unable to believe his eyes.
His lips moved, but no words came out.
He hurriedly shouldered the bundles of firewood he had set beside the green stone and chased a few steps up the path toward Azure Creek Cave, but still saw no sign of them.
Muttering to himself, he descended the mountain.
“Could it be that old man really did encounter an immortal?”
…
The young man and girl walked along a small clearing by the stream in front of Azure Creek Cave.
The sky was overcast with rain yet to fall, a thin mist hanging over the mountains.
The two stopped before the natural stone cavern. The young man watched the Azure Creek flow into the cave, then raised his head to glance at the sky, revealing a handsome face. It was Song Yan, who had come from Yi River.
At first glance, Foundation Establishment still seemed a long way off. But to be prepared for everything before the day arrived when fortune would strike his heart and he could charge toward Foundation Establishment, there was still much he needed to do.
He had originally intended to search for Liang Feng near North Watch Mountain, but midway through his journey, the moment he entered Dragon Spring Prefecture, he had received a voice transmission from Liang Feng informing him of his current whereabouts.
“This Azure Creek Cave—its fellows’ methods are rather… crude, aren’t they?”
Song Yan’s expression was somewhat odd. “Such an illusion formation—would it not lure mortals here to investigate?”
Xiao Ju chuckled softly and said gently, “On the way here, I heard that within Azure Creek Cave’s territory, there are also small Taoist temples and family clans.”
“They likely harbored the intention of recruiting disciples from among the mortals from the very beginning.”
“Perhaps so.”
Song Yan nodded and stepped inside.
He circulated the spiritual energy throughout his body, shielding himself from the surrounding mist.
After walking for a short while, they arrived inside the cavern, which was pitch dark.
Xiao Ju thoughtfully condensed a ball of spiritual light and held it at the front to illuminate their path.
They walked along the edge of the underground river within the stone cavern. Faint sounds of water dripping could be heard at their ears, though they were largely drowned out by the rushing of the dark stream.
After roughly a quarter of an hour, the space before them suddenly brightened.
In the eyes of mortals, Azure Creek Cave was merely a mysterious and peculiar underground river cavern.
But the Azure Creek Cave spoken of by cultivators was something else entirely.
It was not a cave at all, but rather represented a gathering place for rogue cultivators.
Within lay continuous mountain ranges and vast lakes. The rogue cultivators rooted here, finding joy amid hardship, gave it a name—
“Azure Creek Cave Grotto-Heaven.”
Azure Creek Cave did not appear to be a place lacking in people.
Song Yan felt some surprise. This differed somewhat from what a certain someone had described—a secluded place, rarely visited by outsiders.
He stepped out of the cavern’s mouth, and a cool mountain breeze struck his face.
Not far from the dark river’s exit stood two ancient stone statues. One was a Taoist carrying a long sword on his back; the other was a female cultivator cradling a lotus. Though their features were blurred, they exuded an air of solemnity.
Not far away, two figures approached, walking directly toward Song Yan.
One of them cupped his hands in greeting, his tone exceedingly polite. “This fellow Daoist looks unfamiliar. Is this your first time at Azure Creek Cave?”
Song Yan nodded.
The man asked, “The two of us are stewards of Azure Creek Cave. Might I ask whether you have come to browse the Azure Creek Market, or…”
A rogue cultivator gathering such as this could be regarded as a whole, a minor sect.
Azure Creek Cave was no exception. Not far from the dark river lay the market entrance.
The rogue cultivators and small clans rooted here all built their influence and expanded their numbers around a certain “Mountain Master” who had established the Azure Creek Cave Grotto-Heaven.
Outsider cultivators mostly came to the market, or to visit the cultivators residing here, or else they were rogue cultivators seeking to join.
“Oh, I have come here to find an old friend.”
That cultivator understood at once. He did not ask Song Yan who he sought, but instead explained in detail the rules for entering Azure Creek Cave to both Song Yan and Xiao Ju.
Then he gave each of them a jade token, which they had to refine on the spot.
“The two of you must leave identity tokens. This is the rule—please do not take offense.”
This was a fairly common verification method, simplified considerably compared to what sects employed.
The two complied with local custom, refined the tokens, and handed them to the stewards.
“Please go ahead.”
Song Yan did not mention where his old friend was, and the two stewards did not press further. Perhaps the fellow knew the way himself.
After confirming everything was in order, they were permitted to pass.
Through an archway, a broad valley embraced by mountains spread before them.
Mist swirled within the valley, and a winding staircase of green stone meandered gently downward.
The buildings and layout bore a fair resemblance to the Cold Mountain Market in Changping.
The two walked through the market at an unhurried pace.
“Senior Song, is your friend a spirit plant cultivator?” Xiao Ju asked.
After spending so many days together, she seemed considerably more outgoing than before.
“Mm…” Song Yan pondered for a moment, then nodded. “Yes. And among Qi Refining cultivators, a rather accomplished one at that.”
Truth be told, he had seen a fair amount of the world by now.
Among Qi Refining cultivators, the only one he knew who was confident enough to cultivate a mature lotus pod from a single seed of the Moon-Sustaining Ancient Lotus was Liang Feng.
After all, though the Moon-Sustaining Ancient Lotus was precious, its use was rather narrow.
Those who needed it treasured it beyond price, while those who did not might never have even heard of it.
If it were merely for earning spirit stones, no one would devote their efforts to studying it.
But for the sake of saving his wife, Liang Feng had spent the better part of his life on it.
“Oh, Xiao Ju, do you remember me telling you about my encounter with a man named Liang Feng at North Watch Mountain?”
Neither of them had achieved Foundation Establishment. Though Song Yan had always wanted to purchase a flying artifact before reaching Foundation Establishment, flying artifacts were extremely expensive, and he had yet to find a suitable one. Thus, traveling was done entirely on foot.
To while away the tedium of the journey, the two would chat about past events.
Song Yan had told Xiao Ju about the Flower Festival at North Watch Mountain.
Xiao Ju recalled for a moment, then nodded gently. “I remember.”
Song Yan said slowly, “Xiao Ju, what sort of person do you think he is?”
Hearing such a question, the girl suddenly tensed up.
In her eyes, it resembled an examination.
If she answered poorly, it might diminish Senior Song’s impression of her.
This sudden wave of nervousness left Xiao Ju’s mind spinning, her cheeks flushing red, the freckles on her face standing out far more than usual.
Song Yan seemed to notice the change in her demeanor. Though somewhat puzzled, he still offered an explanation. “I was merely asking out of idle curiosity.”
His clarification eased Xiao Ju somewhat, though she did not entirely emerge from her state of vigilance.
She thought for a while, but after a long silence, gave an answer that surprised Song Yan.
“…He is an ordinary person.”
Song Yan offered no judgment, simply asking, “Why do you say so?”
Xiao Ju pressed her lips together. “If it were me…”
She paused, her voice dropping so low it was almost inaudible. “When Mother was at her gravest illness, I truly wished someone would appear and tell me she could be saved. Even if it meant stealing or robbing, I might have…”
Xiao Ju suddenly choked on her words, lifting her head in a fluster to glance at Song Yan before quickly lowering it again. “I… I am not saying what he did was right…”
Song Yan laughed despite himself.
Even in imagining herself committing wrongdoing, the worst she could conceive was petty theft.
Song Yan shook his head. “If it truly came to that, you would not do so.”
For Xiao Ju was far too kindhearted.
She raised her head, looking at Song Yan with some confusion. “Senior Song, why did you bring this up? Could it be that the person you are meeting today…”
Song Yan nodded. “That is correct. The person I am coming to see today is him.”
He had once asked himself the same question, but arrived at no conclusion.
No matter. He was no social theorist.
He had given the Moon-Sustaining lotus seed, directly granting hope of life to Liang Feng’s wife. And Liang Feng would use his spirit plant cultivation abilities to nurture the Moon-Sustaining Ancient Lotus and create value for Song Yan.
A simple and pure transaction.
The two stopped before a shop of spirit flowers and spirit herbs. A glance upward revealed the signboard beside it.
Qiduo Flower House.
Spirit flowers and spirit herbs held special uses for spirit beasts and spirit pets, and could also be used to distill various aromatic essences.
Among the arts of cultivating the heart, there was one called perfume blending.
A perfume blender could craft various fragrant waters and balms, many of which possessed the effect of calming the mind and focusing the spirit.
Legend spoke of a perfume blender who could create a special fragrant water that could even induce a cultivator into a state of sudden enlightenment.
However, Chu State was remote, and cultivation resources were scarce. The art of perfume blending did not flourish here.
Perfume blenders of some renown in Chu State were essentially all concentrated near North Watch Mountain.
Spirit flowers and spirit herbs, after all, could not be used to refine medicinal pills. Thus, for cultivators, they held no essential value.
Therefore, few cultivators visited this place. Most of the clientele were female cultivators.
Song Yan and Xiao Ju stepped inside. The shop was empty, and the flower stands held beautifully blooming flowers in full splendor.
It was clear the proprietress tended to them with great care.
Soon, from the back of the flower house came the sound of soft footsteps.
A bamboo curtain was gently lifted, and a woman in plain robes emerged.
She appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six. Her dark hair was loosely gathered into a casual cloud knot, her cheeks pale, carrying the look of someone recently recovered from a serious illness.
Seeing Song Yan and Xiao Ju, the woman in plain robes offered a gentle smile and bowed in greeting.
She asked softly, “Have the two fellow Daoists come to select spirit flowers?”
But Song Yan shook his head and cupped his hands. “Forgive the intrusion. We have not come to purchase flowers.”
“Might I ask—is Fellow Daoist Liang Feng here?”