Chen Wentian and Jasmine eventually entered the borders of Red Bamboo Province from the east. After suffering the monster invasion a year prior, the region was largely deserted except for border towns that catered to adventurers and cultivators brave enough to try their luck in the wilderness.
Amidst the vast forests and rivers was a brand-new fortress situated atop a bluff that overlooked the surrounding land. It was made from the highest quality crystal bamboo and glead under the sunlight. This was a new project of the Zhou Clan, a ho away from ho for future expansion.
“Ah, so this is East Fire Castle. The na is mighty.” Jasmine comnted as they flew around the structure, “Red crystal bamboo, like flas, reflecting the light of the rising sun. Very good!”
“Do you like it?” Chen Wentian asked.
Jasmine snorted, “What if I like it? Can I have it?”
“Haha, you can talk to Zhou Ziyun if you really want one. Speaking of which, they are waiting for us. Let’s go down.”
The pair flew down and landed in the central plaza. The surrounding guards and workers all stopped what they were doing and bowed.
“Sect Master Chen! Elder Jasmine! Welco to East Fire Castle!”
“Mmm,” Chen Wentian nodded to the people around him and approached the group of won standing in front of the largest building made of white crystal bamboo.
“Master! Master!” Lin Qingcheng waved her hand, hopping up and down excitedly.
Zhou Ziyun had a wide smile while Wu Qianyu’s expression was one of great relief.
“Master, congratulations.” Li Yuechan said with a bow.
“Sister Jasmine, you did it!” Song Wushuang said happily.
Xu Lanyi joined her in praising Jasmine for her hard work while Su Xue and Su Yue copied Lin Qingcheng and turned into excited songbirds.
Chen Wentian waded through the throng of beauties, a silly smile on his face. There was no better greeting in the world than this. The last two were Bei Yingluo and Peng Lingxi. The only one missing was Long Yifei. If she was here too, then it would have been perfect.
“Master, congratulations.” Bei Yingluo said.
Peng Lingxi peered at him with a curious expression before finally saying, “Master, are you alright, you look a little tired.
Chen Wentian coughed. Jasmine chortled behind him. He shot her a disapproving look which only made her laugh harder. The flight here had been very long. And she had taken advantage of that fact to wring him dry.
Seeing this, Zhou Ziyun nudged Lin Qingcheng and whispered in her ear. However, she wasn’t very discreet and the twins also heard her.
“Eyo?”
“No way?”
“Master, how could you bully Sister Jasmine so much?” Lin Qingcheng bravely asked.
“What?” Chen Wentian felt as if he had been struck by heavenly lightning.
But before he could retort, all of his disciples burst into giggles and laughter. He could only roll his eyes, knowing that nothing he could say could turn the situation around. He huffed and marched into the building. His disciples followed, still gossiping rrily at his expense.
They held an informal banquet at the castle. As each disciple offered him wine in turn, he described the battle in detail. He started with the Liu Wu Festival Auction and how Zhou Ziyun and Li Yuechan contributed to the plan of making the lion faction and the eagle faction fight each other. With Jasmine’s help, they narrated the following battles blow by blow.
The disciples were great audiences, interjecting the story with their amazed reactions and endless praises. Lin Qingcheng was impressed by her master’s strength and ability to fight multiple opponents at the sa ti. He was her guiding light, her hero. Zhou Ziyun was satisfied that he was able to adjust the plan according to King Wu’s unexpected actions. She had worked so hard on the plan, she would have been disappointed if it didn’t work out. Wu Qianyu was simply happy that Chen Wentian ca out of the ordeal unscathed. She didn’t care about the Beast God Sanctum or the beast kings, only that he was okay.
The five ice sisters had varying reactions along these lines. Li Yuechan was worried but also impressed. Her emotions toward him were not as deep as Wu Qianyu and her view of him was similar to Lin Qingcheng's in many regards. Song Wushuang and Xu Lanyi were excited for the future while the twins were simply happy beyond asure.
“Master,” Bei Yingluo spoke up as he was about finished with the retelling, “Does this an that the monkey mountain is now in our control?”
“Yes, Kong will free the remaining human slaves and punish the monkeys that deserve to be punished.”
“That’s good… that’s good.” She let out a shuddering sigh and smiled grimly.
Song Wushuang and Xu Lanyi both quickly moved to comfort her. They all knew Bei Yingluo’s background and knew that this was a big deal for her.
“Don’t worry, Yingluo. If you want, we can visit the place and help you bring closure to that incident.”
“I would like that. Thank you, master.”
Although, she knew that the mission’s primary focus was Jasmine, Bei Yingluo was filled with gratitude nonetheless. With this, her family could finally wash away the horrors of the past and start anew.
“Master,” Peng Lingxi said after a while, “That sword art you used to subdue the lion lord, was it that sword art?”
That sword art she was referring to was the one she witnessed within Dugu’s Cavern all those years ago. She had never forgotten it and it was one of the reasons she fell for him.
“It was.” Chen Wentian said.
“What is it called?”
“This…” He paused.
The Descent of Ascalon was closely tied to his biggest secrets, his blue dragon soul and his Anatta Soul Nirvana Art. He had revealed so of his secrets to his disciples already but Peng Lingxi was still a new recruit.
Peng Lingxi smiled, “It’s alright. I am sure I will have an opportunity to see it in the future.”
Chen Wentian nodded to her in appreciation, “Alright, as for the next steps, starting tomorrow, I’ll bring you all for a tour of the eastern wilderness to visit all the places that are now our territories. The Great Smoky Mountains, the Glittering Forest, and the spiritual crystal mountain, they are all ours from now on.”
“Hooray!” Lin Qingcheng cheered.
“Master, I want the spiritual crystal mountain!” Zhou Ziyun chid in.
“Hey!” He retorted as everyone laughed heartily, “Don’t be greedy!”
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