CHAPTER 54: 53. CONFUCIAN SECT CULTIVATOR

Lei Jun had been pondering his own affairs when he suddenly noticed something odd about the current.

Relying on the second function of his Water-Averting Golden Pupil, he observed the outside world through the floodwaters.

He saw someone traversing the mountains and waters in the west of Qingxiao Lake.

The raging floodwaters threatened little in front of this person.

The newcomer wore Confucian clothes, outwardly looking like a scholar in his thirties or forties; his robe fluttered in the wind, his face was thin and solemn, but his eyes were sharp.

Lei Jun did not recognize this man, but he knew the young lord following behind him.

The Jingxiang Fang Clan, Fang Mingyuan.

The youth was flanked by several servants, who were guarding a disheveled middle-aged Taoist—none other than Qin Tao, who had been fleeing earlier.

"Wasn’t Luo Haoran supposed to be here?" Fang Mingyuan frowned.

The scholar directed his gaze toward the old Taoist, Lu Zhaoqing, who was sitting cross-legged and appeared surprised,

"There’s a disciple of the Celestial Master Mansion here, named Luo Haoran; do you know where he is right now?"

"Nephew Luo already left long ago; only this old Taoist stayed behind."

Lu Zhaoqing’s eyes flickered with suspicion and shock, but his expression returned to calm as he spoke slowly, "How should I address you, layman? For what reason are you seeking Nephew Luo? If it’s convenient, this old Taoist can relay your message to him later."

"The younger generation’s surname is Fang, single given name Yue, from Jingxiang."

The scholar’s expression remained peaceful, "I came today in search of Taoist Luo because he and my clansman, Mingyuan, have some grievances."

Lu Zhaoqing took a deep breath, "So it’s Mr. Fang from the Jingxiang Fang Clan. Forgive this poor Taoist’s lack of courtesy.

It’s just that, as for the incident in question, I’ve heard a bit, and Dragon Tiger Mountain already handled it."

Fang Yue said, "Sir, there’s no need for such formality; my courtesy name is Duanfeng, feel free to address me as such, Taoist.

Also, you misunderstand my intentions. As you said, the incident on Dragon Tiger Mountain has long been settled—how could I possibly bring it up again?

Today, I’ve come to thank Taoist Luo for rescuing Mingyuan on the Xinjiang River."

Hmm... Huh?

Lu Zhaoqing was caught off guard.

Even Lei Jun, watching through the Water-Averting Golden Pupil, felt shaken, almost tumbling headfirst into Hanging Sky Lake.

But no one was more surprised than Fang Mingyuan himself.

"Thirteenth Brother?!" The young lord stared at the scholar in disbelief.

The other man met his gaze calmly and replied, "A true gentleman repays kindness with kindness and wrong with justice—how could one answer good with harm?"

Fang Mingyuan’s eyes glazed over, "You..."

Under the cover of the Water-Averting Golden Pupil, Lei Jun arched an eyebrow.

*Was this a trick?*

*Or did this Fang Yue sense some danger and abruptly call things off?*

Lei Jun glanced around.

He almost believed Master Yuan Mobai had arrived without him noticing, while Fang Yue had.

These Fang Clan folks had come through the West Mountain pass; this must correspond to that moderately unlucky lot, right?

Lu Zhaoqing didn’t know about lots, but Fang Mingyuan’s reaction refreshed his vigilance,

"Young Master Fang, you are too polite. Unfortunately, Nephew Luo isn’t here at the moment. If I get a chance later, I’ll be sure to pass along your words."

While speaking, the old Taoist shifted his gaze to his subordinate, Qin Tao.

Qin Tao was badly injured and appeared to be under guard by Fang Clan servants.

No matter how you looked at it, the group’s demeanor seemed anything but friendly.

"On our way over, we happened to meet Shen Si from the Jiangzhou Lin Clan and his companions. They ambushed Master Qin here. Hmm... this Master Qin gave a detailed account of your sect’s operations at Qingxiao Lake."

Fang Yue waved, signaling his servants to hand Qin Tao over to Lu Zhaoqing, "I convinced Shen Si and his group to withdraw. As for Master Qin, it’s only right that your sect, or perhaps the Purple Cloud Sect, handle his case."

Lu Zhaoqing’s face shifted slightly.

The "Shen Si" he mentioned was certainly someone from the Jiangzhou Lin Clan.

Had the Lin Clan set up an ambush at the West Mountain pass earlier?

Qin Tao must have run right into them.

Then...

"Temple Master, disciple... I didn’t..." Qin Tao had regained his freedom, but panicked as he met Lu Zhaoqing’s gaze.

*That so-called detailed account of Lu Zhaoqing, Lei Jun, and Luo Haoran’s situation at Qingxiao Lake—plainly put, he’d become their guide...*

Qin Tao wanted to deny it, but was trying to figure out how to twist things and drag the Fang Clan down with him.

Yet, with Fang Yue’s gaze as piercing and clear as a mirror fixed on him, he found himself unable to get the words out right.

"That the Jiangzhou Lin Clan would act so brazenly truly exceeded this old Taoist’s expectations."

Lu Zhaoqing might have been old and frail, but his perception was sharp—he’d already deduced most of the truth.

He swept his robe, pulling Qin Tao aside, deftly shelving the matter for now, instead turning to thank the scholar, "Thank you for stepping in, Young Master Fang. I’m deeply grateful."

But to be on the safe side, the old Taoist still refrained from mentioning anything about Lei Jun or Luo Haoran.

"There’s no need for formality, Taoist." Fang Yue didn’t press the matter, instead lifting his head to look at the still-roiling Hanging Sky Lake. "Honored Taoists, your efforts to quell these floods and aid the suffering are a blessing for all people. Allow me to lend a hand. Mingyuan, practice in earnest and follow me."

Lu Zhaoqing’s face changed again.

But before he could stop them, Fang Yue was already leading Fang Mingyuan forward.

Fang Yue opened his mouth and recited in a drawn-out, sonorous voice,

"Clouds drift as the new rain ends, the moon shines bright over the Grand River."

Winds rose around his body.

A brisk breeze lifted upward, parting the waters of Hanging Sky Lake. Through the rippling surface, it was as if a luminous moon truly hung in the distant sky.

Beneath this moonlight, the raging flood was indeed subdued.

Lu Zhaoqing watched this scene with his heart leaping in his chest.

He already had a Thunderclap Talisman secretly pinched in his palm.

But both Lei Jun and Luo Haoran, who should have been in the water, seemed to vanish without a trace.

This struck the old Taoist as odd, but also let him relax a little.

Within Hanging Sky Lake.

Lei Jun continuously activated his life-bound Wind Riding Talismans infused with Night Wind Stone’s power.

Each of these Spirit Talismans was a premium Wind Riding Talisman he’d drawn with the Vermilion Peak Pen.

Hidden by wind slipping into the night, Lei Jun and Luo Haoran, along with the Water-Averting Golden Pupil, melted into the flood in complete silence.

There were tall mountain peaks jutting into the air and dipping into the Hanging Sky Lake; most had been shaved down by the disorderly eddies of Spiritual Energy.

At this moment, the pair took advantage of the remaining rocks to hide their forms.

Although Fang Yue’s Wenhua Qi permeated through the water, he couldn’t cover such a massive area at once.

Lei Jun even found time to observe Fang Yue in action.

*This was the first time he’d witnessed a Confucian practitioner’s abilities firsthand—and a cultivator beyond the Third Heavenly Layer, at that.*

Just like the Taoist sect had different cultivation paths, Confucians had their own branching traditions.

Fang Yue’s path appeared to be that of the Confucian Poetry and Chanting Sect.

Within the entire Confucian cultivation system, this branch was ancient but not exactly mainstream.

By the Great Tang era, it was showing signs of further growth.

In combat, the Confucian Chanting Sect mostly resembled the mage professions Lei Jun played in games back on Blue Star—especially the ones who stood still and blasted from afar.

If Body-Refining Martial Artists focused all their prowess on their own flesh, then the chanting sect’s power was concentrated in their spiritual soul and intent.

Both Confucians and the Daoist Talisman Sect modeled themselves after nature, drawing on its great power. The difference was that people like Fang Yue used poetry to trigger resonance with heaven and earth, marshaling tremendous Spiritual Energy for their own use.

Tracing things back to ancient times, the two paths even overlapped in places, only branching off into separate traditions over time.

A key sign of possessing great spiritual fortitude was incredible, keen perception.

Still, judging by Fang Yue’s ability to suppress the flood, Lei Jun felt he wasn’t merely using flood control as a pretext to hunt for anyone.

Lu Zhaoqing watched for a while and, seeing that Fang Yue was focused on flood relief rather than searching for people, finally felt at ease.

Fang Mingyuan lowered his voice, "Thirteenth Brother, were you just deceiving them, trying to find that Luo guy?"

With Hanging Sky Lake now stabilizing and no imminent danger, the scholar paused his actions.

With only the two brothers nearby, Fang Yue turned and quietly studied Fang Mingyuan.

Fang Mingyuan, "Thirteenth Brother?"

Fang Yue calmly repeated what he’d said before, "A true gentleman repays kindness with kindness and wrong with justice—how could one answer good with harm?"

Fang Mingyuan was stunned again, "Thirteenth Brother, you just now..."

Fang Yue said, "There’s no reason to lie, especially to you."

The young man was dumbfounded, remembering how, all excited earlier, he’d invited his Thirteenth Brother to help him get revenge, only for the latter to reply coolly,

"We ought to meet this Taoist Luo."

He had been worried that Yuan Mobai would be present and he’d miss his shot, but it was Thirteenth Brother who told him Yuan Mobai had a duel elsewhere and wouldn’t return to Qingxiao Mountain for a while.

Yet, somehow...

Fang Yue looked at his cousin and shook his head slightly, "Third Uncle and Third Aunt have plainly spoiled you too much—you don’t even grasp the most basic virtue that a gentleman is righteous and righteousness brings help from many sides..."

"Enough!"

At last, Fang Mingyuan couldn’t hold back, "Don’t go getting all preachy with your old-looking face like you’re some elder. You’re only two years older than me!"

Fang Yue didn’t flinch, correcting him evenly, "I’m precocious, not prematurely aged."

*As if!*

*Lei Jun, for once, agreed with Fang Mingyuan, both of them inwardly booing.*

*Thanks to earlier events with Li Ying, Lei Jun knew Fang Mingyuan was about Li Ying’s age—not even twenty yet.*

*If Fang Yue was only two years older, that put him just over twenty as well!*

*But you tell me this man with the face of a thirty—or forty—year-old is barely twenty?!*

*When he first showed up, Lei Jun thought Fang Mingyuan had brought some uncle or elder to cause trouble for Luo Haoran.*

*He was already prepared to lure the man north, to deliver a truly unlucky lot to the Fang Clan.*

*Then it turned out they were cousins.*

*Given how peers in the cultivation world could span big age ranges, he hadn’t found it too strange.*

*But now you’re telling me this "middle-aged" scholar is actually younger than me...*

*Still, with that cultivation at his age, even in a prestigious clan like Fang’s, that must be rare, right?*

*But damn, that face sure is a rush job...* Lei Jun, for once, was at a loss for words.

Fang Yue seemed unbothered, though, maintaining his composure as he watched his cousin’s shame and anger,

"Age comes in many forms, but reason knows neither before nor after; the capable take precedence..."

"Boom!!"

Right as Fang Yue was speaking, a thunderous explosion erupted unexpectedly from the north.

Everyone froze in shock.

Lei Jun looked toward the northern mountains, too.

*Was the worst lot coming true?*

*But as far as he knew, no one should have hit the trap over there... wait a second.*

*If the Jiangzhou Lin Clan had set up an ambush at the West Mountain and caught Qin Tao, then did they station anyone in the North Mountain as well?*