Chapter Twenty-One: What Decorum Remains

Of all those present, it was Fang Qiyang whose thoughts were most tangled. He was the one who had suggested they leave quietly during the city’s triumphant celebrations—so unusually discreet! To his father, he had explained his haste as the need to report back to the sect about their mission. In truth, he simply could not endure another moment there!

He was supposed to be the one shining in the spotlight, not Shen Qingyun. How had things turned out this way, with Shen Qingyun basking in all the glory? Bitterness gnawed at Fang Qiyang’s heart—why hadn’t he possessed the same formidable skills as Shen Qingyun? Jealousy festered within him; it should have been him, surrounded by admirers and enjoying universal adulation—not Shen Qingyun.

He stole a glance at Shen Qingyun, but the only emotion he dared show now was fear. Not resentment, not jealousy, but pure fear! He dreaded that Shen Qingyun might turn on him with the same deadly force he’d shown when facing the demons on the mountain. Such power would leave nothing of him but ashes…

Zhou Weiqing, too, was deeply uneasy. To be frank, he was wracked with regret—bitter regret! Had he known Shen Qingyun’s true abilities, he never would have treated him so lightly. Now he was left to stew in this awkward predicament…

Time slipped by as each of them remained lost in their own thoughts. Soon, the flying ark crossed into the territory of the Azure Cloud Sect.

“Is there a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect aboard?” called a stern voice from outside, breaking through their reveries. Fang Qiyang, startled, rushed out of the ark and saluted the gatekeeping disciple. “Indeed, we are Azure Cloud disciples returning from a mission. Inner sect disciple Fang Qiyang greets you, senior brother!”

The gatekeeper, clad in white Daoist robes, regarded him and nodded. “Have all members disembark. According to regulations, the borrowed ark and the recording crystal must be returned to me. After that, you may await further summons.”

As everyone exited, the gatekeeper noted the injuries on several, fresh claw marks from beasts upon their bodies. After collecting the ark and the crystal, he said to the wounded, “You will remain here; the sect will arrange for your treatment.”

Then, turning to Shen Qingyun and the rest, he said, “The rest of you, you may return for now.”

After offering their thanks, Shen Qingyun and his group passed through the mountain gate and reentered the Azure Cloud Sect. Immersed in the sect’s distinctive atmosphere, the tension that had gripped them these past days began to ebb away—the perils they’d faced already seemed like nothing but a dream from the night before.

Fang Qiyang and Zhou Weiqing, naturally unwilling to walk alongside Shen Qingyun any longer, soon parted ways upon entering the sect grounds. The others also took their leave after bidding Shen Qingyun farewell.

Soon, only Shen Qingyun, the Qiao sisters, and Wu Qing remained on the main avenue of the Azure Cloud Sect.

After a moment’s silence, Shen Qingyun spoke at last, his tone cool: “Senior Sister Wu, aren’t you going to return?”

Wu Qing trembled at his words, sensing the dismissal in his voice. She understood; none of them had thought anything of him when they set out, and even when Zhou Weiqing and Fang Qiyang targeted him, no one had spoken on his behalf.

She looked up at Shen Qingyun, meeting his distant gaze. In that instant, she seemed to make up her mind.

“Junior Brother Shen, thank you for saving me!” She blushed as she repeated the words.

“There’s no need, Senior Sister Wu. Besides, I never intended to save you,” Shen Qingyun replied coolly.

“Regardless, you did save me. That is an unchangeable fact!” Wu Qing insisted, moving a little closer to him.

Shen Qingyun leaned back slightly, keeping his distance, bewildered by her behavior. “Has Wu Qing lost her senses?”

Noticing his subtle retreat, Wu Qing’s eyes dimmed and she lowered her head. After a moment, she abruptly looked up, her gaze intense, and two streaks seemed to glisten on her cheeks.

“Junior Brother Shen, do you dislike me?” Her voice had grown soft, almost plaintive, as though she were on the verge of tears.

But the same trick would not work twice—indeed, it hadn’t worked the first time.

She edged nearer still, her shapely figure pressing towards Shen Qingyun. The Qiao sisters would hardly stand by and watch Wu Qing take such liberties with Shen Qingyun—they weren't blind.

“What do you think you’re doing!” Qiao Xinyu acted at once, seizing Wu Qing’s white dress and pulling her back.

“Can’t you see? I’m thanking Junior Brother Shen for saving me!”

“A simple thank you would suffice. Why must you cling to Brother Qingyun? Can’t you see you’re troubling him?” Qiao Xinran, though she made no move herself, made her displeasure plain.

“If I am to thank him, I must do so sincerely!”

“That won’t be necessary. You should go back,” Shen Qingyun said.

“No, Junior Brother Shen hasn’t yet felt the sincerity of my gratitude…”

Watching the three women squabble, Shen Qingyun merely shook his head and strode off toward Bamboo Peak, where he resided. As he was not an inner sect disciple, his path naturally diverged from theirs.

…

Within the ceremonial hall of the Azure Cloud Sect, two rows of meditation cushions were neatly arranged. At the far end, upon a three-tiered dais, another cushion was placed. Seated upon these were several indistinct, ethereal figures, their auras shifting and elusive.

“This time, regarding the demon-cleansing at Yueyang City, what are your thoughts, fellow elders?” Atop the dais sat a figure dressed in gray Daoist robes, hair and beard snowy white, yet eyes piercing and spirited. When he spoke, the apparitions below grew more distinct, and their collective gaze shone with reverence.

“Sect Master, the assessment of the demon’s strength in Yueyang City was gravely mistaken!” came the measured voice of Elder Bai, his spectral form seated on a cushion below. “I believe the Mission Hall must offer appropriate compensation to the disciples involved in this task.”

“Furthermore, this mission nearly cost our Azure Cloud Sect two disciples with Heavenly Spiritual Roots!” Elder Bai’s words caused the elder in charge of the Mission Hall—a portly man—to tremble nervously. “Sect Master, I admit the Mission Hall bears responsibility for this failure. But the decision to send disciples with Heavenly Spiritual Roots was approved by Elder Bai. I cannot shoulder all the blame alone!”

Elder Bai’s eyes widened as he glared at the Mission Hall elder’s ample frame. “You were the one who assessed the demon’s strength as Foundation Stage only and assured me that several Foundation Stage disciples were among those dispatched. That’s why I permitted my precious disciples to participate!”

The rotund elder, recognizing his own fault, could only stammer in reply. After all, these were two disciples with Heavenly Spiritual Roots—had they been ordinary disciples, he might have argued back. But Heavenly Spiritual Roots were not so easily dismissed!

“Enough! You are here to discuss matters, not to quarrel,” the Sect Master atop the dais said evenly. “Both of you are esteemed elders—such bickering is unbecoming.”

Elder Bai fell silent.

The portly elder did as well.

Once order was restored, the Sect Master continued, “You have all seen the contents recorded in the image crystal. Share your thoughts.”