Volume One: The Turmoil of Yan and Yun Chapter Forty-Two: Southward (Part Four)
What is the guiding principle of the Snowcloud Sect?
Ever since the Sword Saint observed the snow and entered the Way of the Sword, founding the Snowcloud Sect, there has only been one guiding principle: If the heavens block your path, you may cut through them.
Because of this doctrine, the disciples of the Snowcloud Sect have always been quick to draw their swords at the slightest disagreement; the blood spilled beneath their blades could dye the entire Weishui River red.
The strength of Snowcloud lies in its fearlessness. Of course, this is merely their own belief. In truth, the cultivation world generally regards Snowcloud Sect’s actions as exceedingly domineering, and the major sects often voice their criticisms—though, deterred by Snowcloud’s formidable power, with two practitioners at the Dao Integration stage, none dare speak too freely.
Even the great Taixuan Mountain, so long as the Snowcloud Sect does not touch its bottom line, prefers not to become entangled with them.
Feng Qi accepted the spirit of Snowcloud, and naturally followed its path.
Guanshi Qizheng furrowed his brow. “You were born into a royal family, and studied the Daoist scriptures. I had thought that even if you did not walk the path of kingship, you would follow the way of benevolence. Yet you have chosen the way of dominance.”
Feng Qi disagreed, shaking his head. “Standing upright, sitting straight, with a clear conscience toward myself and others—I have always walked the path of righteousness.”
Guanshi Qizheng replied, “But the Snowcloud Sect walks the way of dominance.”
Feng Qi objected even more earnestly. “If Snowcloud truly followed the way of dominance, the Weishui River would not be stained with so much blood.”
He spoke of the time when the disciples of Snowcloud’s Wind and Thunder Peak entered the world to hunt the beasts that plagued the people. In those days, the Weishui monster calamity spread across five surrounding counties. The disciples of Wind and Thunder Peak, upon hearing of it, acted swiftly, dyeing the riverbank red for three hundred miles, exterminating every beast that emerged from the waters. The disaster was quelled before it could truly begin.
Guanshi Qizheng said, “Great evil has its own laws for dealing with it. If Snowcloud Sect had not interfered, perhaps the Divine Dynasty would have resolved the monster calamity in its own way.”
He referred to the former plan of the Prince of Guangnan, who sought to use the Weishui incident to cleanse Youzhou. In truth, had Wind and Thunder Peak’s swords not been so swift, the Prince of Guangnan might well have quelled the monster threat across seventeen counties. The army was already assembled, awaiting word of casualties to march along the Weishui, and in so doing, pacify the bandits of Youzhou—a long-term strategy in the eyes of the Divine Dynasty.
At that time, the scale of the Free Pavilion was not what it is now, and military communications relied on the army’s red hawks. The Prince of Guangnan waited three days in Nanling, only to receive news that Snowcloud had already resolved the calamity.
It was said that he smashed three sets of campaign tables and chairs in fury, cursing for days on end.
Feng Qi suddenly felt the urge to laugh.
Not long ago, he and Feng Yang had debated much the same topic at a well-known soup house; at that time, he sat in the very position Guanshi Qizheng now occupied.
“The bigger picture... Sir, have you ever considered: If you had no strength to defend yourself, and lived in one of the five counties beside the Weishui, would you wish for chaos to bring the army, benefiting future generations... or would you hope for someone to draw their sword and bring peace, saving the people from fire and flood?”
Guanshi Qizheng replied, “To cure a chronic illness, one must endure pain; how else can it be done?”
Feng Qi found this statement hollow and simply smiled, saying nothing.
Guanshi Qizheng, unwilling to concede, pressed on. “Do you not agree?”
Feng Qi answered, “Then what right do we have to decide who must endure the pain?”
No one has the right to arbitrarily decide another’s suffering, whether blessed with divine power or wielding immense authority.
Guanshi Qizheng fell silent, as the wind drifted softly through the scene.
Feng Qi felt something was amiss, for the look in Guanshi Qizheng’s eyes was not one of conviction, nor even contemplation. His gaze was playful, tinged with a hint of melancholy.
Feng Qi said, “It seems you’re quite satisfied with my answer.”
Guanshi Qizheng smiled. “The land of Yanbei is too important for humanity. With so many uncertainties, I always come in person to observe each new Prince of Yanbei.”
Feng Qi noted that he said “humanity” and not “Divine Dynasty,” and thought to himself that the rumors of the Palace of Ji’s dissatisfaction with the imperial family were not unfounded.
Yet this seemed illogical. Upon reflection, the only source of discord between the Palace of Ji and the imperial family was the latter’s forceful removal of the surviving scholars from Wanghaiguan.
But ultimately, this was done with the future of the nation in mind; surely the Palace of Ji could understand, even if they harbored some resentment.
Feng Qi smiled and shook his head. “Do you have any other questions, sir? If not, I’ll take my leave.”
With that, he moved to mount his horse.
Guanshi Qizheng stretched out a finger.
Feng Qi’s hand rested on the saddle, yet he found he could not muster the strength.
Unable to leverage himself, he could not mount his horse.
He raised an eyebrow. “Do you have more to ask, sir?”
Guanshi Qizheng said, “I always ask three questions when heading north. Only the first has been asked; how can you leave now?”
Feng Qi smiled and discreetly withdrew his hand. “What is your second question, sir?”
Guanshi Qizheng replied, “The first was about the Dao. For the second, I wish to ask your opinion of fate.”
Feng Qi found the question intriguing. “Fate?”
Guanshi Qizheng said, “Everyone has their own fate. Like you, born as the Prince of Yanbei, destined perhaps to rule Yanbei. Yet you follow the Dao, seemingly uninterested in the throne. Possessing, experiencing, and then relinquishing—is that not the nature of fate?”
Feng Qi said, “Oh? Do you truly believe in fate, sir?”
Guanshi Qizheng answered, “When I was young, I did not. But after so many years, seeing and experiencing so much, I find myself increasingly wary of those two words.”
Feng Qi replied, “Do I count as young, sir?”
Guanshi Qizheng paused.
Feng Qi continued, “You did not believe when you were young; I am in the prime of youth, so I do not believe either... Since I do not believe in fate, how can I have an opinion about it?”
Guanshi Qizheng considered and said, “That is reasonable. Then I shall ask again once you’ve seen more of the world.”
Feng Qi said, “Please ask your third question, sir.”
Guanshi Qizheng chuckled softly. “The third is intimately connected to the second. Since you could not answer the second, you cannot answer the third.”
Feng Qi thought to himself, conversing with these elder scholars is truly tiresome. “May I take my leave then?”
Guanshi Qizheng smiled. “Please, go ahead.”
Feng Qi asked, “Won’t you return to Wuyang with me, sir?”
Guanshi Qizheng said, “The time is not yet right.”
Feng Qi paused, then mounted his horse, saluted Guanshi Qizheng, and rode off, carrying with him a gentle breeze.
Guanshi Qizheng watched Feng Qi’s departing figure in silence.
Someone emerged from the roadside thicket and asked, “Sir, you rarely leave seclusion. Why did you leave the Cloud Tomb today because of this young man?”
Guanshi Qizheng glanced at him. “The celestial signs have changed since the brothers of the Feng family appeared. My heart has been restless these years; I must see for myself.”
The man asked, “Did you discern anything, sir?”
Guanshi Qizheng shook his head. “I can only be certain that he is not truly of the Feng family.”
The Prince of the Feng family, yet not of the Feng family.
Anyone would find this absurd. If Yun Wanyan were to learn of it, who knows what might happen.
A child born after ten months—how could he not be of the Feng family?
The man was equally puzzled. “Do you mean... the Prince of the Feng family was swapped?”
Guanshi Qizheng smiled and shook his head. “The truth will reveal itself. If he meets Dou Xiaotong in Wuyang, perhaps Dou Xiaotong will tell him personally.”
He seemed to recall something amusing and let out a muted laugh.
The man saw the smile on his face and thought, it seems the sir is in good spirits today.
A breeze passed by.
The man’s clothes fluttered.
A sleeve drifted with the wind.
“Sir, where shall we go now? Back to the Cloud Tomb?”
“Having been away from the world so long, the Cloud Tomb will be fine for a while. Let’s pay a visit to Taixuan Mountain.”
“...”
“Is something the matter?”
“Though the master of Taixuan Mountain supports our ideals, he does not like you. If we’re discovered…”
“Don’t worry, we won’t be found. We’re not entering the Five Abysses of Taixuan.”
“But...”
“No buts, rest assured.”
...
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