Bab 30: Guidance
Leaving the memorial room, huasheng in hand, Yang Qinghui hurried to her chambers. A-Tian and A-Rong asked a hundred questions about Huan Hua Palace and Jinlan City as they drew her bath. Yang Qinghui answered to the best of her ability, although she'd had other things to focus on than new fashion styles.
"What are you doing today, madam?" A-Rong asked as Yang Qinghui dried herself off from her bath. "Would you like to wear something practical, or more fashionable?"
Yang Qinghui glanced at the package on her desk – the wrapped gold-and-black-jade hairpin. What to wear, indeed?
Something dignified, probably, and formal. The last time she'd spoken with Zhu Huangu was a couple of days ago, when they were both drunk after the banquet. Yang Qinghui felt a blush spreading over her cheeks as she remembered Zhu Huangu leaning to close to whisper, "I liked your poem."
But her robes couldn't be too fancy – it would be impractical, and, unfortunately, she had other business to attend to.
"Madam?" A-Rong prompted.
Yang Qinghui peered at her closet. "That one," she decided.
Minutes later, she stepped outside, clad in an ankle-length dark-blue robe and dangling green jade earrings. An ornate silver belt was clasped around her waist, and silver vambraces around her forearms. The jade beads of Ke Peizheng's jin bu clattered as she summoned Sui Gu and stepped onto the sword.
She'd mastered staying balanced on the blade by now, and barely paid attention as she directed it upwards and in the direction of Qing Jing Peak.
Instead, her thoughts were occupied with the avalanche of revelations she'd learned from her father and sister. She was certain there were questions she'd forgotten to ask. But no matter – she'd visit again soon, she'd promised.
Most astonishing was her connection to Tianlang-Jun. She'd not thought much of him when she'd first transmigrated, only mildly worried about the threat he might pose. But now she had reason to despise him – and his son was well within her grasp.
Yang Qinghui shook her head violently. What? No. Binghe doesn't deserve to be caught up in all this.
She continued on to Qing Jing Peak, hoping Luo Binghe had discovered something about Bailu Mountain; a secret entrance, perhaps.
As she slowed Sui Gu to hover above the bamboo-covered Peak, she spotted a group of disciples between the bamboo stalks.
She drifted lower. The disciples were gathered around another of their number, kicking him and shouting insults, laughing as he fell to the ground and curled into himself.
Yang Qinghui leapt to the ground with a qi-enhanced rumble that shook the bamboo stalks.
The disciples' laughter died in their throats. They turned around, staring at Yang Qinghui in terror. Fury rising up in her chest, Yang Qinghui called up her killing intent.
The effect was immediate. Two disciples dropped to the ground, pleading for mercy. The rest sprinted away, but Yang Qinghui sent Sui Gu hurtling around to block their path and usher them back.
In moments, all six disciples – Luo Binghe with them – were kneeling in front of her.
Yang Qinghui lessened her killing intent, and crossed her arms.
"P-Peak Lord Yang – " one disciple pleaded.
"Do you know what I hate?" she interrupted coldly. "More than monsters? More than demons?"
The disciples didn't dare to shake their heads.
"Cowards," Yang Qinghui hissed. "You attacked an unarmed person – a comrade – and tried to flee instead of admitting your wrongs."
Luo Binghe stared at her, confusion mixed in with his fear.
"Forgive us," a disciple whispered.
"Why did you do it?" Yang Qinghui demanded. "One of you, answer me."
Trembling like a leaf, one disciple mumbled, "He- he was growing conceited. He needed to be humbled." He shot a glare at Luo Binghe, beside him.
Luo Binghe flinched away, and glanced fearfully at Yang Qinghui.
The other disciple's tone grew angry. "He came back from Huan Hua Palace acting like- like he was better than all of us. He needed to be reminded – "
"Forgive me, Peak Lord Yang!" Luo Binghe cried, pressing his forehead to the ground. "I didn't mean to make trouble!"
"Don't you dare speak!" the other disciple snapped. "You – "
"Hold your tongue," Yang Qinghui spat. "I've heard enough. You five – " she gestured at the offending disciples – "if you spent half as much time training as you did picking on others, maybe Qing Jing Peak would actually amount to something."
The disciples stared at her, slack-jawed.
"Binghe, you stay here. The rest of you: ten laps of the entire Peak. Now," she ordered. "I'll know if you disobey."
Hastily, the disciples scrambled to their feet and sprinted away.
Luo Binghe stayed kneeling, his shoulders shaking.
With a sigh, Yang Qinghui dismissed her killing intent. She crouched beside Luo Binghe.
"Sit up," she told him gently. "It's alright."
Fresh bruises marred his face, and his lip was bleeding. His green robes had been torn and dirtied, likely beyond repair. Shaking her head regretfully, Yang Qinghui took a bottle of healing salve from her pocket and handed it to him.
"Here, use this."
Hesitating, Luo Binghe took the salve, and stared at her with surprise and wariness. "Are… are you not angry, Peak Lord Yang?"
"Why would I be angry?"
"I…" Luo Binghe dropped his gaze. "They were right. I was bragging about going to Huan Hua Palace."
"Hm. Cultivators strive for humility, as you well know," Yang Qinghui said. "But it can be difficult. Most love to talk about their adventures. Myself included," she added with a wry smile.
She was sure Luo Binghe hadn't really been bragging. More likely, he was simply excited, and the disciples had attacked him over imagined haughtiness.
"I'm not angry with you, not at all," Yang Qinghui assured him.
"Luo Binghe affection level increased! +5 points. Current affection level: 33 points."
Sniffling, Luo Binghe carefully applied the healing salve to his face. "Thank you, Peak Lord Yang."
"Please, call me shigu." She stood, and helped Luo Binghe to his feet. "I came by to ask about what you discovered at Bailu Mountain."
"Ah, right!"
They sat on a large, flat stone nearby, and Luo Binghe told Yang Qinghui what he'd discovered, gesturing excitedly.
"I could sense something, I think. I'm not sure what, exactly, but not just plants and animals – something else. And I found this pile of stones, against the south side of the mountain. It looked a bit like something from a rockfall." Luo Binghe hesitated, and dropped his hands. "Honestly, it was probably nothing. I'm sorry, shigu. I really didn't find much of anything. Forgive me for failing you."
God, this kid has no confidence. Yang Qinghui sighed internally and cursed the original Shen Qingqiu.
"Binghe," she said, "anything you found will be useful to me, I promise. So, please, trust your instincts, and tell me. I trust you're observant enough to have found something."
"Luo Binghe affection level increased! +4 points. Current affection level: 37 points."
"Well, um…" Luo Binghe squared his shoulders. "The stones were definitely important. Whatever I could sense inside the mountain felt strongest there. There were gaps between the stones, too, enough for something small to get through. I couldn't investigate any more before Gongyi Xiao caught me, though."
"I see…" That was certainly intriguing. A potential passageway into Bailu Mountain – to Tianlang-Jun's prison. "Thank you, Binghe, you did well. That's very helpful."
"Luo Binghe affection level increased! +5 points. Current affection level: 42 points."
"I wanted to ask – how are things for you on Qing Jing Peak?"
Luo Binghe stiffened. "Wh-what do you mean?"
"I'm not blind," she said softly. "This is not the first time you've been attacked by your fellow disciples, is it?"
Luo Binghe stared at his hands. "No," he mumbled.
"Does your shizun know? Has he ever done anything to stop it?"
She already knew the answer, but needed to see how Luo Binghe would react.
"Shizun is a good teacher!" Binghe exclaimed defensively. "Everything he's done is to toughen me up, to make me a better cultivator."
Ah. Tread carefully.
"What exactly has your shizun done?" Yang Qinghui asked, still in a calm, measured tone.
"He… he hangs me by my wrists in the woodshed," Luo Binghe said, barely above a whisper. He seemed to waver as he continued: "He has Ming Fan beat me. Once, he… poured tea over my head."
Breathe. Keep it together. "What has he taught you of cultivation?"
"Well… Shizun doesn't really… " Luo Binghe hesitated. "Oh! But just before he went to Lingxi Caves, he gave me a training manual! It's really good, I'm learning quicker than ever."
Damn it, Cucumber-bro! She quickly considered how to convince him Shen Qingqiu was not the heart-of-gold tsundere he seemed to think.
"Binghe… I've known Shen Qingqiu since we were young. He's always been unkind, and cold. He uses others for his own benefit, and tosses them away when he no longer has a use for them. He also takes his anger out on others… as I believe he did to you."
Luo Binghe stared at her, his big eyes wide and vulnerable.
"I can't explain why," Yang Qinghui continued gently, making sure Luo Binghe heard and understood, "but it is not your fault. He is not a good master, and you don't have to defend him. Do you understand?"
Tears streamed down Luo Binghe's cheeks, and his shoulders began to shake. He opened his mouth, but only a choked sob came out. Yang Qinghui reached out and set her hand on Luo Binghe's back, rubbing gentle, comforting circles as the young boy wept.
"Luo Binghe affection level increased! +15 points. Current affection level: 57 points."
Eventually, Luo Binghe's sobs subsided, and he rubbed his hands over his face. "Thank you, shigu," he said thickly.
"Of course." Yang Qinghui smiled warmly. "If there is anything you need, please let me know. You have great potential," she added. "Even with so many obstacles in your way, I have no doubt you'll become a powerful cultivator."
Luo Binghe stared at her, and seemed close to tears again. "Th-thank you."
"Luo Binghe affection level increased! +5 points. Current affection level: 62 points."
They were getting close to the 100-point mark. Yang Qinghui wondered what would happen when they reached it.
Saying goodbye for now, Luo Binghe hurried off to start training, and Yang Qinghui took to the skies on Sui Gu. It was a nice day, warm sunlight bathing the bamboo stalks and a light breeze making them sway creakily in the wind. Yang Qinghui paused, tilting her face up to the sunlight, before she directed Sui Gu towards Qian Cao Peak, the gold and black jade hairpin sitting warmly against her chest.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone