Chapter 86: Flower Morning Rumors
Stepping out of the teahouse, Song Yan let out a soft sigh. “Nowhere is peaceful, it seems…”
He kept Sheng Nian’s warning in mind. Regardless, it never hurt to be a little cautious.
“Liang Feng…”
He murmured the name. So far, he had not heard it before. But come what may, he would face it head-on. If things truly went wrong, Senior Brother Lu and Senior Cong Yuzhen could handle it—the tall ones hold up the sky when it falls. Casting aside his wandering thoughts, he rejoined the group.
Yan Xun happened to be giving everyone a brief explanation about the grand gathering.
“The Flower Morning Festival has a long history. It may have originally been a custom passed down from the Central Region.”
“Legend has it that this is the birthday of the ‘Hundred Flowers Goddess,’ the deity who governs the flower calendar in the heavens. But because the floral seasons differ from place to place, the date of the Flower Morning varies as well.”
“Here at North Watch Mountain, it falls on the fifteenth of the second month…”
Gu Qingqing suddenly asked, “Brother Yan, every region has a Flower Morning Festival. But why is only the one at North Watch Mountain held so grandly?”
Indeed, this Flower Morning Gathering was so spectacular that even cultivators were drawn to it.
“Well…”
“On the one hand, our North Watch Mountain naturally has the finest flowers.”
Yan Xun boasted for a moment, then seemed to realize that he was the only local among them. A little sheepishly, he added, “On the other hand, the Flower Morning Gathering is held once every three years, and there are many spiritual treasures given as gifts to cultivators.”
“Some of the rewards are coveted even by cultivators.”
“Then…”
As if guessing what everyone wanted to ask, Yan Xun said immediately, “As for this year’s rewards, don’t ask me.”
“Each year the prizes are different.”
“We’ll know in a few days.”
Song Yan thought, no wonder. To prepare for any mishaps at the gathering, he had done some research beforehand. The gathering was jointly organized by the Sun-Shooting Sect, the Yan family, and the Spirit Flower Valley. The prizes, therefore, were also jointly decided by the three parties. As long as the Sun-Shooting Sect was involved, the prizes would surely be decent—at least for a small Qi Refining cultivator like himself.
“Actually, there is a special legend about the Flower Morning Festival.”
As they walked, Yan Xun continued, “Legend has it that in ancient times, a pair of cultivator Dao companions—a man and a woman—lived at North Watch Mountain…”
He recounted a poignant love story in measured tones. The two had been childhood sweethearts, innocent and carefree. As they grew up, they entered cultivation together, slaying demons and eliminating evil, envied by all. But their happiness did not last. One year, they encountered a demonic cultivator. The woman died, her body perished and her Dao dissipated, all to save her beloved. The man later returned to his homeland and perished as well, dying for love.
“Among the most important activities during the gathering, there is one called the ‘Blooming Flower Assembly,’ held at Butterfly-Clapping Spring.”
“That is said to be the place where the two first met and came to know each other. It is held in memory of their love.”
“Wow…”
Gu Qingqing and Sheng Yun were both deeply captivated by the legend. Speaking of this, Yan Xun’s expression held a trace of pride. “Legend says that the male cultivator was an ancestor of my Yan family.”
As they strolled, the hour grew late, and it was time to head to Spirit Flower Valley. Spirit Flower Valley lay on the southern side of North Watch Mountain. Within the territory of North Watch Mountain, the Yan family was a cultivation family that served under the Sun-Shooting Sect. Spirit Flower Valley, on the other hand, was a gathering place for rogue cultivators. However, the rogue cultivator community here was different from many other places—it was composed mostly of small families.
Yan Xun led everyone up a broad mountain path. The terrain merged into the valley entrance, and the setting sun on the horizon blended with the scenery of the valley into a single wash of color.
“What a beautiful place…”
Indeed. An endless sea of flowers, a distant lake shimmering with light, and green mountains stretching as far as the eye could see. This was only a glimpse of what could be seen from the valley entrance.
Three cultivators—two women and one man—seemed to have been waiting here for some time. Seeing Yan Xun lead the group into the valley, they hurried over.
“Fellow Daoists, I am Wu Duo of Spirit Flower Valley.”
Song Yan remembered the name Wu Duo. He was the one who had written the invitation to the Eastern Abyss Sect. “A-Xun, go help out in the valley.”
“Alright.”
“It is getting late. I will lead you all to your quarters first.”
The rogue cultivators and families of Spirit Flower Valley were mostly distributed across the south, west, and north. The northeast, where the valley entrance lay, had accommodations built specifically for visiting guests. The Eastern Abyss Sect group stayed in several courtyards close together.
Wu Duo said gently, “If there is anything you need, just let me know. There is no need to be polite with me.”
The courtyards were very clean and tidy, with a bamboo grove outside, quiet and serene. Song Yan nodded with satisfaction.
“Oh, right.”
Wu Duo seemed to remember something and pointed to the male cultivator beside her:
“This is Liang Feng, who is in charge of this year’s Flower Morning Gathering. You may ask him about any matters.”
Hearing the name, Song Yan paused imperceptibly and glanced up without a change in expression. This Liang Feng had an ordinary appearance, a slender build, and a gloomy expression in his brow. He looked rather sour. But he was polite to everyone. “I am Liang Feng. If you have any questions about the Flower Morning Gathering or other matters in the valley, you may come ask me.”
After a few pleasantries, Wu Duo and Liang Feng left the courtyard.
In charge of the gathering’s affairs…
Watching Liang Feng’s retreating figure, Song Yan muttered to himself, “That A-Nian couldn’t even explain things clearly. Now I’m left guessing in the dark…” He had the unsettling feeling that every rustle of grass might conceal an enemy.
—
Midnight.
The night patrol disciple of Spirit Flower Valley carried a spirit-fire lantern. After rounding a cliff opening in the mountain forest and conducting a brief patrol, he left.
The night was utterly silent.
A moment later, a dark figure stepped out from the shadows and headed toward the valley’s exit.
“…”
A faint breeze blew. “The gathering hasn’t started yet. Why have you come again?”
Around the figure, a faint yellow mist drifted up from several clusters of flowers. The mist condensed and took the form of a small Daoist boy in yellow robes, perched on a tree branch before the figure.
A faint spiritual light illuminated Liang Feng’s face, which was etched with worry. “Now that four people from the Eastern Abyss Sect have also arrived, what should we…”
“You don’t trust me?”
“…”
Liang Feng furrowed his brow and said nothing. The yellow-robed Daoist chuckled. “I have already observed those four in secret.”
“There is nothing to worry about.”
“This time, the most troublesome one is Cong Yuzhen of the Sun-Shooting Sect.”
“But that has nothing to do with you. I will find a way to deal with her.”
Liang Feng nodded. “I know, but…”
“During the day, I had the feeling that one of the Eastern Abyss Sect arrivals was very strange. He seemed to be… probing me.”
The yellow-robed Daoist boy sneered. “You are far too paranoid.”
Then he changed his tune. “However, if you are truly worried, you could simply set up a little scheme during the Blooming Flower Assembly and kill him.”
“The more chaotic those days are, the better.”
“As long as you obtain the Moon-Sustaining Lotus Seeds, your ailing wife will recover.”
“When that time comes, there will be no need to stay in this little Spirit Flower Valley.”
“Brother Liang, don’t you agree?”
The yellow-robed Daoist boy tempted him with honeyed words. Liang Feng raised his eyes, unmoved. “I only want her to come back to life. I do not care about the rest.”