The Pavilion Master’s Gambit

At the same time, Mister Xiao and her retinue had been tracking Baili Hongyi for over ten days.

After traversing the snow-swept lands of Jinzhou, they journeyed south, where the climate gradually warmed.

One evening, they settled in an unassuming small town. The night was deep, and inside, a single lamp glowed softly, casting a warm, inviting aura.

Elder Liu entered, quietly closing the door behind her. She dared not disturb the slender figure engrossed in reading and writing by the lamp.

She placed a censer burning soothing incense in a corner, preparing to withdraw silently, when a voice suddenly called out to her:

“Elder Liu, how goes it?”

Elder Liu glanced up slightly. The figure remained hunched over the desk, only a clear, somewhat delicate voice reaching her.

Composing herself, she replied, “This old one is incompetent; I have yet to find any trace of Lin Qingyi.”

“Indeed.”

The figure paused, then continued, “It seems she truly has forgotten.”

Elder Liu felt a flicker of confusion but dared not question Mister Xiao idly. She simply stood with her head bowed, awaiting Mister Xiao’s next words.

Seemingly tired from her reading and writing, she leaned back in her chair.

“Ah—” she yawned, stretching languidly, her slender shadow swaying slightly in the lamplight.

Only then did the Pavilion Master of the Zhaixing Demonic Cult display a hint of the childishness befitting her age.

After stretching, Mister Xiao leaned forward again. Her fair hand poised with the brush, she paused, then nodded thoughtfully.

“Elder Zhai’s three melodies, the first and last are secondary. The key lies in the tune, ‘Phoenix Resting on Wutong’.”

She gazed out at the night beyond the window, speaking in a low voice, “If he hadn’t completely forgotten, hearing ‘Phoenix Resting on Wutong’ played in the ‘Silent Sound’ realm, his mind couldn’t possibly remain unshaken.”

Elder Liu seemed to grasp some of it, emboldened to interject, “Mister Xiao, are you implying that those three melodies were merely a test?”

“Precisely.”

Mister Xiao nodded. “Had she been swiftly bewildered and captured without resistance, I might not have brought myself to kill her. However, we’ve pursued her for nearly a thousand miles, yet there’s still no trace of Lin Qingyi. It truly seems she has forgotten all past events completely.”

Elder Liu remained silent.

“Enough, let’s not dwell on this.”

Mister Xiao loosened her grip, and the ink-dipped brush dropped with a ‘thud’ onto the desk. She curled into a ball in her chair, hugging her knees, and asked in a flat tone, “What actions has the jianghu taken regarding my foray into the world?”

Elder Liu, prepared for this, quickly responded, “No fewer than dozens of sects, large and small, have assembled into a so-called ‘Righteous Alliance,’ preparing to march on Luoyang to attack the main Zhaixing Pavilion.”

Mister Xiao chuckled. “Was it organized by Fang Jiezi?”

Elder Liu affirmed, “Yes.”

Mister Xiao continued, “Fang Jiezi has always been timid; he wouldn’t dare make such a grand show. This time, they’ve created such a huge commotion to ascertain whether Father is truly dead.”

Elder Liu gasped, startled, and blurted, “How could such a vital secret be leaked?”

It was not long ago that the old Zhaixing Pavilion Master had suddenly passed away. Mister Xiao, though barely sixteen and well-versed in history, strategy, astronomy, and geography, was still young.

Her martial arts prowess was not yet formidable. With the old Pavilion Master’s death, other factions within the pavilion began to stir, eager to overthrow the young Pavilion Master and seize control.

Just as tensions reached a breaking point, Mister Xiao unexpectedly left a letter.

She departed to wander the jianghu with only a few trusted confidantes, abandoning the vast, chaotic mess of Zhaixing Pavilion to others.

Despite their unwavering loyalty, her bodyguards and direct subordinates couldn’t help but murmur amongst themselves that Mister Xiao was still too young and immature.

They thought she couldn’t contend with the cunning old foxes within the pavilion and had simply chosen to escape, seeking a distraction in the vast jianghu.

Naturally, they dared not voice objections to their master’s decision. Yet, the thought of the old Pavilion Master’s century-old legacy crumbling filled them with sorrow.

Mister Xiao suddenly lowered her gaze, chuckling softly. “Are you all secretly blaming me? Do you think I shouldn’t have run away, that I should rightfully sit on this Pavilion Master’s throne?”

Elder Liu replied, “Mister Xiao acts with her own intentions. How could this old one dare to speculate?”

Mister Xiao shook her head. “No, you all believe I’m an inexperienced girl, incapable of outmaneuvering those wily old foxes, don’t you?”

Her thoughts exposed, Elder Liu could only respond with silence.

Mister Xiao pressed on, “You’re usually quite brazen, always calling me ‘Zhuge Liang in skirts.’ But at this crucial moment, you still think I’m just a useless general, don’t you?”

Knowing Elder Liu wouldn’t dare answer casually, Mister Xiao didn’t wait. She continued, “Father’s Golden Threads Armor, the Yaoguang Sword, the `Huabi Record`, and a Pavilion Master token—I’ve left them all in the main chamber of Zhaixing Pavilion.”

At this, Elder Liu could no longer maintain her composure. She felt as if struck by five thunderbolts, exclaiming, “You, you…”

Mister Xiao said, “You’re always like this; most of the fighting and killing stem from being confined by prejudice. Elder Zhu fears I’ll secretly keep the `Huabi Record`, thinking it’s a crime for a young girl unskilled in martial arts to possess such a treasure. Elder Shangguan believes I’ll cling to the Pavilion Master’s position, unwilling to let go, just to savor the sense of being obeyed by all.”

Hugging her knees, she gazed quietly out the window, her hair fluttering in the cool night breeze. “And what’s the result? Outsiders are eyeing us covetously, waiting for internal strife so they can exploit our weakness.”

Elder Liu was speechless, truly like a young student quietly receiving a lesson from their teacher.

Mister Xiao said, “Though I cannot compare to the Martial Marquis, Fang Jiezi’s audacity is no less than Sima Zhongda’s. When he sees the Golden Threads Armor, the Yaoguang Sword, and the `Huabi Record`, he’ll likely think, ‘This villainous Xiao has faked her death again to trick us! She wants to lure us to Zhaixing Pavilion and then capture us all!'”

Elder Liu finally couldn’t help but speak, “But these were the three greatest assets the old Pavilion Master relied on when he roamed the jianghu, and you’ve given them all to others…”

Mister Xiao shook her head. “Objects die, people live. How can one not survive without certain possessions?”

She continued, “If I were to remain Pavilion Master, the various factions, East and West, would be embroiled in endless conflict. Now that Fang Jiezi is leading an invasion, it’s time to teach these good-for-nothings, who only know how to fight amongst themselves, to stop doing things that bring joy to enemies and pain to allies.”

Elder Liu murmured, “So that was your intention in leaving the main pavilion…”

Mister Xiao smiled. “Not entirely. If they still don’t come to their senses, there’s nothing I can do. Ultimately, the reason I can let go of everything so freely is simply because I never truly enjoyed being the Pavilion Master.”

Elder Liu nodded silently, thinking that Mister Xiao was indeed one who couldn’t be tied down.

“Moreover,”

Mister Xiao’s dimples appeared, and her eyes sparkled like stars, “Isn’t what I’m doing now far more enjoyable than any internal factional struggle?”

On this point, Elder Liu did not agree.

However, she couldn’t defy the Pavilion Master’s wishes, so she remained silent.

Mister Xiao then asked, “By the way, I hear the Sword Immortal Murong Qihuang has also descended from the mountains recently, is that true?”

Elder Liu responded, “Reporting to Mister Xiao, if the information is correct, it is so.”

Mister Xiao said, “Regardless of why she descended, a great hero like her, who takes it upon herself to eradicate evil and defend righteousness, will undoubtedly respond without hesitation upon hearing the call to ‘punish the demonic cult.'”

She picked up the rice paper she had been writing on from the desk, spreading it before Elder Liu. “The inevitable path is right here, Wangjiang Tower. Do you see it?”

Elder Liu nodded silently.

Mister Xiao retrieved the paper and placed it back on the desk. After a moment of contemplation, she said, “Both of them are at least at the Sword Immortal realm. Killing them cleanly and decisively will not be easy…”

Elder Liu spoke with a hoarse voice, “No matter what, this old one will risk her life to ensure your safety.”

“Thank you.”

Mister Xiao squinted with a smile, her fair toes tapping the ground. “Once our grand task is complete, I’ll secretly tell you a secret; you’ll definitely find it interesting.”

Elder Liu asked, “Are you hiding something else from this old one…?”

Mister Xiao rolled her eyes. “Was Elder Liu born with such immortal bones and a youthful face despite white hair? When you were a maiden, you probably harbored far more romantic thoughts than I do.”

Elder Liu was teased into a state of helplessness, only able to respond with a bitter smile.

Suddenly, a knock echoed clearly in the night: “Tap-tap.”

Mister Xiao said, “They probably have something to report. Go see.”

Elder Liu acknowledged and turned to open the door.

Indeed, it was the other two men who had been accompanying them. One of them immediately spoke upon seeing Mister Xiao, “Pavilion Master, this town seems rather peculiar. Many households have recently come down with a fever.”

Mister Xiao frowned. “Is it a plague?”

The man replied, “We had the town’s physician examine them, but they couldn’t diagnose it clearly.”

Mister Xiao’s curiosity was piqued. She jumped down from her chair and walked towards the two men, saying, “Since there’s nothing else to do, let’s go take a look.”