Section Two: Establishing Oneself

As expected, the lady was delighted and exclaimed, “Trust you, old man, to come up with such an idea! This truly is a perfect match—these sisters’ backgrounds would never bring shame to the City Governor’s household. Even in their current misfortune, they are of distinguished birth! With their beauty, once the Governor’s two sons see them, won’t they be instantly bewitched, losing their wits and forgetting even food and drink?”

“In the future, when the fallen golden pheasants become phoenixes perched high, how could they not be grateful to me? After all, the way you treated our guests tonight, aren’t you sabotaging my grand plan?”

His wife nodded repeatedly, agreeing, and with a fawning smile, apologized profusely.

“Tomorrow morning, I’ll go at once to apologize, claiming I was unwell today…”

After many days of hardship, the Evening Glow Sect finally settled in the new city. Bai Mei treated Bai Yue with great courtesy, and Bai Yue, knowing she was under another’s roof, naturally did not bring up old grievances. Once the estate was set in order, they began to consider officially establishing their sect in the city. Bai Mei was wholeheartedly supportive, even promising to introduce two influential patrons who could assist Bai Yue and her sister.

She brought forth the two sons of the new City Governor. Both were striking in appearance, and upon meeting Bai Yue and Bai Xing, were exceedingly warm and enthusiastic, pledging their full support to the Evening Glow Sect. Thereafter, they visited frequently over the following days.

One evening, Bu Jingxian was in the study with the Bai sisters, discussing the modifications to the Evening Glow Sect’s two internal energy techniques. In the midst of their conversation, the City Governor’s sons suddenly arrived. Seeing the three together, they flew into a rage, shoving Bu Jingxian aside and shouting, “How dare such a lowly wretch sit at the same table as these celestial beauties!”

Bu Jingxian had long since noticed the Governor’s sons’ hostility toward him and had tried to avoid them so as not to jeopardize the Evening Glow Sect’s efforts. He had not expected they would still come after him, evidently having bribed someone within the sect to obtain information and come prepared. Cold and reserved by nature, Bu Jingxian was unfazed by such humiliating treatment and immediately apologized respectfully before withdrawing from the study.

He suspected this was Bai Mei’s doing; both he and Bai Yue had long guessed her intentions. Yet, for the sake of the sect’s future, Bai Yue had no choice but to play along.

Bu Jingxian had plans of his own and never intended to remain long in Chu. Though Bai Yue had once confessed her feelings, the hardships since had left little room for such thoughts. Now that the Evening Glow Sect finally had support and stability, if they could truly take root in the city, he would never allow his presence—based on Bai Yue’s past affection—to become a burden to the entire sect.

Thus, in recent days, he devoted his nights to helping with the internal energy revisions, hoping to finish quickly so he could leave. The longer he stayed, the greater the risk of bringing harm to the Evening Glow Sect. What concerned him even more was Chu Gaoge’s treasured sword, which all within the sect had seen, and word of it had already spread within the city.

If such news reached the wrong ears, it would surely bring trouble. Unable to voice these worries, he resolved to disappear without farewell once the internal arts were revised.

The next day, Bai Yue, worried he had been hurt by the insult, sought him out, but he urged her to continue recording the changes to the sect’s internal techniques. The two worked through the morning and finally completed the revisions.

“With these improvements, you needn’t start your cultivation anew. Of course, from the ninth layer onward, it will take effort to eliminate flaws caused by previous training. But once you pass the ninth and achieve the tenth layer, you’ll realize the immense power of the revised technique. Before that, your internal strength will increase by about thirty percent.”

“Thirty percent? Such immediate effect?” Bai Yue found it hard to believe; to her, a thirty percent increase in strength seemed miraculous. Bu Jingxian, however, thought it too little.

“Thirty percent isn’t much. By the time you reach the tenth layer, you may think your power has only increased by a fraction in normal times, but in the heat of battle, you’ll see the true rise is severalfold.” Bu Jingxian was not boasting about internal arts. On Mount Bei Ling, he had no special moves, only deep insight into internal techniques. Ling Luo had confided in him, and everything the elders of Bei Ling taught—secrets of the finest internal arts—Bu Jingxian had learned.

Though he could not practice other heart methods due to the Soul Technique, he had devoted much effort to studying internal cultivation. He knew the meridian routes of many advanced techniques and thus could identify the weaknesses in the Evening Glow Sect’s methods. The current improvements cleverly incorporated the meridian practices of both Shadow and Divine Techniques. While the result might not surpass the Divine Technique, especially in combat application, this was inevitable; the sect’s methods, no matter how modified, could not outshine the Divine Technique. Yet, in terms of boosting practitioners’ power, they would be its equal.

Of course, combat is not determined by strength alone—moves dictate attack and defense, and greatly affect agility and practical application. In that regard, he had no authority to judge, nor could he tell if the sect’s martial moves were truly superior, let alone help improve them. All he could do was ensure they would not be outmatched in terms of raw strength.

Seeing Bu Jingxian rise and stretch, Bai Yue asked softly if he had been too weary these past days.

“I am a bit tired. Tonight, I’ll rest early. At midnight, the moon will be full. The Evening Glow Sect’s inner arts focus on soft, yin energy; tonight is the perfect time for you and Bai Xing to begin cultivating in your room. In two hours, you’ll have a first taste of the revised technique’s power.”

“Very well, I’ll do as you say.” These days, Bai Yue sensed that the Governor’s sons had affected Bu Jingxian’s mood, and so she showed him particular tenderness in private, hoping to soothe his wounded dignity.

That night, Bu Jingxian packed his heavy sword in a cloth bundle, took only a change of clothes and a hundred taels of silver, and went to bid Ghost of Sorrow farewell. The latter, having guessed his plan, had tried to dissuade him several times, to no avail. He even considered leaving with him, but Bu Jingxian persuaded him to stay, saying the Evening Glow Sect would surely flourish in the new city, and he and Bilian could remain without worry.

Bilian had tried to urge Ghost of Sorrow to inform the Bai sisters, but he dared not, fearing Bu Jingxian would cut ties with him.

That night, they prepared food and wine for his send-off. After half a jin of white wine, Ghost of Sorrow made one last attempt to persuade him.

“Brother, let me tell you—how rare are beauties like the sect leader and her sister? And to think they care for you so deeply, willing to give themselves to you both! As a man, to be so loved—what more could one wish for in life…” For this final plea, Ghost of Sorrow had rehearsed with Bilian, who had taught him these elegant phrases; Bu Jingxian immediately recognized her influence.

“You told Sister-in-law Bilian about this? Never mind, I won’t blame you. But I’ve said before—if Bai Yue and Bai Xing find out, don’t blame me for severing our friendship.”

“How would I dare! Bilian kept urging me to tell the sect leader, but I refused no matter what—she nearly had to threaten me with a knife to give up. Still don’t trust me?”

“Enough, no more words.” Bu Jingxian drained his cup. “Friends ought to help each other move forward. I owe a debt to the Evening Glow Sect, so I stayed until I saw them safe and secure before leaving. Bai Yue is the sect leader; she must put the sect first. Bai Xing is deeply attached to her; if she left now, Bai Yue would be alone and helpless. With so many members, how could they survive in the new city without the sisters? Personal feelings are insignificant before the greater good. Bai Yue and Bai Xing are not ordinary women—they bear great responsibilities. Not just you, but even the sect’s disciples sense their feelings for me. How could the Governor’s sons not be jealous? If I stay, I’ll become a stain on the sisters’ future. If I leave early, the City Governor’s sons may instead blame themselves for their suspicions and treat the sisters better in the future. True, Bai Yue and Bai Xing may be unable to let go, may be torn by this decision, but leaving it to them is only to salt the wound. Better that I make the choice tonight.”