10 Don't Push Your Luck

"Xingbai," the Sect Master looked at his friend sitting across from him and couldn't help but smile. "Why did you go to the Grand Ceremony in person today? I assumed you went for that new disciple. His talent is indeed astonishing; even compared to you at his age, he is not far behind."

Wu Xingbai sat across from the tea table. He was a man of few words, and the Sect Master was accustomed to his friend's demeanor.

"But today, you didn't seem to want to take Xi Yao as a disciple. Why is that? Fortunately, Guanqi was sensible, or you might have missed out on a fine apprentice." The Sect Master suddenly thought of something and smiled. "It wouldn't be because of your previous vow that you're unwilling to take a fourth personal disciple, would it?"

"No." When he heard the name Ji Guanqi, Wu Xingbai’s hand, which was holding the teacup, paused for a moment. His expression turned slightly unnatural as he said, "Today, he... they seemed to keep me at a distance."

"They?" The Sect Master immediately realized who he meant. "Your personality has always been aloof, and you spend years in seclusion. It is normal for your disciples to feel a sense of awe and reverence toward you. They have always been this way; why do you question it now?"

"Always..." Usually, Xiao Tangqing and Qiao You were like that, but his senior disciple was not. Ji Guanqi would always wait outside before he emerged from seclusion and would take over all his daily affairs, never delegating the work to others.

But now, since he had left seclusion, aside from the day the boy fought with Qiao You and came to the hall, he hadn't seen him come to his residence at all.

Wu Xingbai felt a sense of bewilderment and growing vexation. He lowered his eyes to stare at his teacup and said calmly, "Perhaps he is still angry."

"Angry? Who would dare to be angry with you?" The Sect Master didn't understand, assuming Wu Xingbai was referring to Qiao You. He waved his hand dismissively and laughed, "Are you talking about when you silenced Qiao You during the event? Oh, that boy has no filter, so being silenced is for the best. He is always thick-skinned; he won't hold a grudge, and he certainly wouldn't dare to be angry with you."

Wu Xingbai was, of course, not referring to Qiao You. He was referring to the person who had asked him to take Xi Yao as his fourth personal disciple.

He thought of the way the boy had knelt before him, and his heart trembled slightly. He felt an urge to get up and find Ji Guanqi, but in the end, he remained at the tea table and asked, "What do you think of Guanqi?"

It was rare for Wu Xingbai to bring this up voluntarily. The Sect Master was stunned for a moment before saying, "Guanqi is excellent, of course. His conduct is upright and he is worthy of that 'Gentleman's Sword' he carries. The sword is as its name implies. I know you have always been conflicted about making him your head disciple, but believe me, you will not regret it."

Seeing that Wu Xingbai remained silent, the Sect Master continued, "Although his talent doesn't compare to the other two, he practices diligently every day with a resilient heart. He begins his sword practice before dawn, never slacking in the depths of winter or the heat of summer. His cultivation is now considered top-tier. Xingbai, listen to me—continue to get to know Guanqi, and you will understand his worth."

"That is not what I meant." Wu Xingbai paused for a moment before adding, "He is excellent."

Ji Guanqi was excellent, but that excellent Ji Guanqi now seemed unwilling to say much to him, or even look at him. Having traversed the world for years, Wu Xingbai felt flustered for the first time.

He could not describe how deeply unsettled he felt when he saw Ji Guanqi gathered with the others.

"Where is your Fangtian Halberd?" the Sect Master suddenly remembered to ask. "It’s rare to see you without that weapon."

The teacup in Wu Xingbai’s hand trembled slightly, and hot water splashed onto the back of his hand, leaving a red mark. He lowered his eyes and said in a level tone, "I didn't bring it."

***

A commotion erupted outside the room. The Sect Master had intended to have someone else handle it, but the person causing the noise barged in, shouting, "Father! Today, that Ji Guanqi—"

It was Qiao You, but the haughty young man lost his voice the moment he saw his master sitting there. He immediately stammered, "Master..."

"Why are you making such a ruckus? Where are your manners?" The Sect Master was annoyed by his unruly son. He waved his hand and said, "There is an order of seniority. Guanqi is your senior brother; by all rights, you should respect him. How can you address him by name so casually?"

Qiao You had come to complain, only to be berated. He felt disgruntled, but seeing his master nearby, and remembering the injury he sustained from being thrown out earlier, he immediately sobered up and dared not speak further.

"I have matters to discuss with the Immortal of Zhennan. You may withdraw." The Sect Master was quite troubled.

Qiao You looked at his father, then at his master, and quietly retreated.

"I keep telling you, this unruly child is always causing trouble." The Sect Master had no choice with Qiao You, which was why he had humbled himself to ask Wu Xingbai to take the boy in, hoping only he could keep the lad in check.

However, the Sect Master received no response. Looking up, he saw his friend staring blankly at his teacup. A moment later, Wu Xingbai rose abruptly and said, "I have matters to attend to. I shall take my leave."

With that, he walked out of the hall, leaving the Sect Master to shake his head and mutter to himself, "This is going to be a turbulent time."

***

The news that Xi Yao had become the fourth personal disciple of the Immortal of Zhennan spread throughout the Xuantian Sect and the entire cultivation world instantly. But what people discussed even more was the sight of Ji Guanqi kneeling before him.

Everyone knew that the Immortal of Zhennan had never held Ji Guanqi in high regard. That he had taken on a new disciple at the boy's request was enough to leave everyone stunned.

Regardless, Xi Yao's position as a personal disciple was set in stone, and his belongings had already been moved to the small cabins by other disciples.

"There aren't many rooms—only four in total, so we shall each take one," Qiao You said as he brought Xi Yao over. He gestured toward the largest room. "This one is mine. Next to it is Xiao Tangqing’s, and the one at the far end is Ji Guanqi’s. Don't go over there too often; Ji Guanqi has been acting strangely lately, as if he finds everyone disagreeable."

The Sect Master had just told him to show respect to Ji Guanqi, but clearly, his own father's words were soon forgotten.

When they arrived, Ji Guanqi happened to be coming out. Xi Yao immediately bowed respectfully, "Senior Brother."

It was the same as in his past life. Ji Guanqi found nothing novel about it; he nodded and asked as a matter of procedure, "Have you seen Master?"

"Master went to see the Sect Master and told me to come back tomorrow," Xi Yao replied, his voice gentle and pleasant.

Ji Guanqi didn't actually care. He only asked out of habit. After receiving the answer, he thought about how he would have to find a way to avoid meeting Wu Xingbai tomorrow. He didn't want to see that halberd, nor did he want to see Wu Xingbai.

Now that the Grand Ceremony was over, the next step was to venture down the mountain for cultivation. By his calculations, people from Luo Town would be coming to report within these two days.

"Don't worry about him, Xi Yao. Your talent is far above his. One day of your cultivation is worth a year of his bitter practice," Qiao You said, his words blunt and indifferent to how others might feel. "Why be so polite to him? If it weren't for a stroke of luck, he’d barely be fit to be an outer sect disciple."

After Ji Guanqi’s meridians were damaged, his talent had indeed declined, but not to the extent Qiao You described.

Xiao Tangqing, who was standing nearby, found it unbearable and kicked Qiao You, who finally shut his mouth.

If Qiao You and Ji Guanqi were on equal footing, he might not necessarily be able to defeat Ji Guanqi. But the world was unfair; some were born with everything, while others had to toil away just to barely enter the ranks of the elite, which was already a great stroke of fortune.

Ji Guanqi let Qiao You run his mouth. As long as the other didn't resort to violence, he wouldn't retaliate. There was no point in arguing. He whispered to himself, "Do not get angry, do not lose your temper. Leaving this place is what matters most. Do not invite further trouble."

However, not everyone could be like Ji Guanqi. He avoided the other three every day and lived in relative peace, but he couldn't stop others from causing trouble. One day, just as Ji Guanqi finished sword practice in the woods, a disciple rushed over and reported, "Senior Brother, you must go take a look! Something has happened!"

"What is it?" Ji Guanqi asked.

If someone had come all this way to find him, it was surely those three stirring up trouble again. He really didn't want to get involved.

"Junior Brother Xi Yao got into a conflict with the Enforcement Team. It started as a verbal dispute, which wouldn't have been a big deal, but Senior Brother Qiao saw it," the disciple said, panting heavily. "Senior Brother Qiao didn't say a word before he started attacking the Enforcement Team. Now, the leader of the team has surrounded them and won't let them leave. Senior Brother Qiao has already drawn his Zhuiyue Bow; it looks like a full-scale fight is about to break out."

"He even drew the Zhuiyue Bow?" Ji Guanqi stopped in his tracks. He frowned and asked, "Who is the leader of the Enforcement Team?"

"It is Senior Brother Jiang Xiangnan," the disciple replied.

Ji Guanqi’s expression changed instantly. He turned and began to fly on his sword, heading toward the scene of the incident.

Jiang Xiangnan had no real connection to Ji Guanqi—one could even say they were strangers—but he was the one who had spoken up for him with righteous indignation when Xi Yao had framed him. Yet, in the end, this man had fallen in a secret realm, leaving not even a corpse behind.