Ping Yong-Ka didn't stay in Scenery Garden for too long.
He came out of Aoyama in the name of participating in the Plum Meeting, so he had to participate in the Plum Meeting anyway. Besides, his Master's home was in Zhaoge City. Thinking of all this, he left the patch of thick fog and returned to Cloudy Town. Under the shocked and envious gazes of those Cultivation practitioners, he found an inconspicuous business.
Gu Qing had told Yuan Qu and Ping Yong-Ka many things back at Shenmo Peak, such as the situation in the Cultivation circle, the enemies and friends of Shenmo Peak, and some important information that he should remember, such as this business belonged to the Gu Clan, and he could ask them to do something for him.
"I'm Ping Yong-Ka," he said to the owner of the business, "Have you heard of me?"
Yuan Qu and Jing Jiu might not remember the things Gu Qing told them, but everyone in the Gu Clan would know the names, appearances, and habits of all the people on Shenmo Peak by heart. The owner of the business bowed respectfully, saying, "Immortal Master, please tell me what to do."
Yuan Qu asked, "Do you know where my Big Brother has gone?"
What had happened at the Sword Trial of Aoyama hadn't been spread out in the Cultivation circle, but it couldn't be concealed from the members of the Gu Clan. The owner of the business knew that this immortal master had stayed behind closed doors in Aoyama for many years, so he didn't know what had happened afterward. "We haven't received any news about him either," he said. "But Scenery Garden hasn't ordered hotpot since about twenty days ago."
Yuan Qu thought he had only left for about twenty days. After some thought, he said, "I want to go to Zhaoge City."
The owner of the business was taken aback, thinking that he could fly then … Suddenly, he thought of Jing Jiu, and realized that this pair of master and disciple had the same quirk.
He led Yuan Qü to the courtyard behind the trading company, pointed at the carriage that had not been used for many years but was still brand new, and said respectfully, "This was Sect Master's favorite carriage in the past."
…
…
Ping Yong-ka leaned on the couch and looked at the scenery through the skylight. He ate the freshest fruits of the season and felt that his master really knew how to enjoy life.
The clouds in the skylight suddenly darkened.
He narrowed his eyes and found that it was the shadow of a huge object. He asked, "Is there something ahead?"
The coachman replied respectfully, "Zhaoge City is up ahead."
Recently, the security in Chaoge City was very tight. The flying carriages had not landed in the sky, and all the carriages entering and exiting the city gate had to undergo a rigorous search.
The horse-drawn carriage of the Gu Clan wasn't inspected at all. It passed through the long queue and entered Zhaoge City easily. It didn't mean that the Gu Clan was so powerful; it was because the Gu Clan had made arrangements in advance and informed the relevant authorities in Zhaoge City of who was sitting in the carriage.
Of course, an ordinary third-generation disciple of Aoyama would not have that much respect. However, if that person was Perfected Jingyang's closed-door disciple, then it would be a different story.
The horse-drawn carriage didn't stop after entering Zhaoge City. It continued traveling westward until it arrived in front of a cluster of mountains.
This cluster of mountains extended endlessly, but it was still within the boundaries of Zhaoge City. It was evident how large Zhaoge City was.
Ping Yong-ka got off the carriage and nodded to the coachman, heading toward the inside of the mountains along the green stone-paved mountain path.
Like Aoyama and Cloud-Dream Mountain, these mountains were enshrouded by the fog all year long, so mortals couldn't even see their faces.
Ping Yong-ka was stopped by an official of the Pure Heaven Bureau before he walked far, and then brought to a house behind the mountain.
The leader of the Aoyama Sect to participate in the Plum Meeting this year was the peak master of Yunxing, Fu Wang. He was surprised to see Ping Yong-ka, asking, "What are you doing here?"
"To participate in the Plum Meeting of course," said Ping Yong-ka, feeling baffled.
Fu Wang asked with raised eyebrows, "What qualification do you have to participate in the Plum Meeting?"
"It's because I won against Big Brother Jian Ruyun," said Ping Yong-ka. "I won, I won."
The last two "you won" were not the echoes of the mountains, but Jing Jiu himself.
The expression on Fu Wang's face grew unsightly. Thinking of the decision he made before he left Aoyama, he suppressed his anger and waved his hand to signal for Jing Jiu to take a rest.
…
…
This year's Plum Meeting was no different from the previous years, consisting of zither, chess, calligraphy, painting and Cultivation.
The performance of the Aoyama Sect was similar to that of the previous years. They didn't register for the first four competitions, and were merely spectators.
The Cultivation practitioners of various sects stood on the stone platforms reaching into the clouds, and the blooming plum blossoms decorated the scenery like the stars in the sky.
The zither music was very melodious, and the calligraphy and painting seemed to be beautiful, but they couldn't attract Ping Yong-ka's attention. It wasn't until more than ten days later, when the Cultivation practitioners of various sects gathered on the Chess Board Mountain to prepare for the chess tournament, that he finally found the person he was looking for.
Que Niang of the Mirror Sect hadn't participated in the chess tournament of the Plum Meeting for a long time, and it was no exception this year. But she was invited by the Imperial Court as a referee to participate in the tournament.
Early in the morning, she strolled casually on the mountain, observing the arrangements of the Go boards in the pavilions in the rain and by the streams, in order to ensure the fairness of the games.
Looking at the familiar sceneries, she recalled the first time she participated in the Plum Meeting and the shocking fight between her Teacher and the Young Master Tong Yan; she couldn't help but let out a faint smile.
It was then that she suddenly heard a voice coming from the forest in front of her, "Over here! Over here! "
She turned around and saw a strange young man standing behind a big tree; she couldn't help but be taken aback.
The young man jumped out from behind the tree, and said while waving his hand, "Big Sister, I'm Ping Yong-ka."
Que Niang didn't remember until she heard this name and the way he addressed her as Big Sister. "Are you Ping Ping? Why are you here? "
Ping Yong-Ka said, "My Master and the others are missing. I came to Zhaoge City to look for them."
Que Niang was somewhat startled, asking, "Aren't Teacher and the others in Scenery Garden outside Cloudy Town?"
Ping Yong-ka said, "There is no one in Scenery Garden now."
Upon hearing this, Que Niang couldn't help but feel nervous. She led Ping Yong-Ka down the Chess Board Mountain, leaving the chess tournament behind.
In Zhaoge City, they went to the Jing House and the Zhao Garden, but they didn't find anything, nor did they find any clues.
Que Niang grew more nervous, but she didn't dare to tell the masters of her sect about it. After all, Jing Jiu's identity was too special. If this matter was spread out, no one could tell what kind of disturbance it would cause.
"The Law Tournament is about to begin. Go to White Town first. Take care of yourself and come back safely."
She patted Ping Yong-ka's head and said, "Now it's just the two of us. Leave the things here to me. Don't worry too much."
Ping Yong-Ka was touched and said, "Senior Sister, I won't embarrass you."
…
…
The young Cultivation practitioners participating in the Cultivation tournament of the Plum Meeting went to White Town. They would repeat what their predecessors had done in that land of ice and snow. They might encounter dangers, and they might encounter new opportunities, and they might learn about the ugliness and kindness of human nature. But they had to learn about life and death first.
Under the roofed corridor of the West Mountain Immortal House, dozens of paintings were displayed again. The bare plum branches in the paintings were waiting to be dyed red with bloody plum blossoms.
Nobody expected that the Cultivation tournament of the Plum Meeting would end so soon, even faster than the one held by Jing Jiu.
Three days after the Cultivation tournament began, the plum branches in one of the paintings were full of blossoms.
The thickly dotted red plum blossoms almost occupied the whole painting. Though the number of red plum blossoms was less than that of Jing Jiu, it was the second highest in the history of the Plum Meeting, meaning that he would win first place in the Cultivation tournament.
This painting of bloody plum blossoms belonged to Ping Yong-Ka.
A few days later, Ping Yong-Ka returned to the West Mountain Immortal House in Zhaoge City under the astonished gazes of many people.
It wasn't until now that his true identity was known by the crowd.
Thinking that he was the personal disciple of Jing Jiu, the astonishment became understandable.
On the same night, Ping Yong-Ka and Que Niang met on the Chess Board Mountain.
Hearing the footsteps behind her, Que Niang pulled back her gaze from Zhaoge City and turned to Jing Jiu, shaking her head apologetically.
Ping Yong-Ka asked confusedly, "Why did they leave Scenery Garden? Was it because they were threatened? But where is the safest place in this world than Aoyama? "
Que Niang comforted him, "Maybe we are overthinking it. My Teacher is a casual immortal, so he might take us out for a stroll."
Ping Yong-Ka shook his head and said, "My Master is not casual; he's lazy. He wouldn't want to go out for no reason."
Que Niang said, "If something happened, how could we find my Teacher? You'd better go back to Aoyama and wait. My Teacher might come back tomorrow. "
Ping Yong-Ka nodded as he thought it was the only way.
Que Niang asked, "Your plum flower painting has been taken to the royal palace by the Emperor. Are you going to the royal palace to meet the Emperor tomorrow?"
Ping Yong-Ka had heard from his Big Brother Gu Qing that his Master's plum flower painting was still kept in the royal palace. He would be happy to have his plum flower painting collected by the Emperor. "I'll thank the Emperor sincerely," he said.
He had heard from his Big Brother Gu Qing that the Emperor and his Master had a good relationship, so much so that they could trust each other completely. They regarded each other as one of their own, just like Zen Master.
Seeing his excited expression, Que Niang reminded him, "You'd better be careful when you enter the royal palace. Zhaoge City is not peaceful these days."
The word "peaceful" was a taboo for all the disciples of Aoyama.
Especially now that Ping Yong-Ka knew that his Master was the Immortal Jingyang, he was even more sensitive. "Don't worry, Big Sister," he said.
After the two of them parted ways, Que Niang didn't go back to the immortal residence of the Mirror Sect. Instead, she went down the mountain and went to Zhaoge City. She asked Ping Yong-Ka to go back to Aoyama after the Plum Meeting because she was worried about his safety. But she had to keep on investigating. If she couldn't find out what had happened to her Teacher, how could she feel at ease?
She was about to go to the Jing House again. When she was not far from Taichang Temple, she saw a short and fat figure disappearing into a patch of golden light.
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