Volume One: When Youths Meet in Their Humble Days Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Calm Before the Storm

After Wan Kui and his companions returned to the Myriad Beasts Sect, they were seething with frustration. Yet, constrained by the current edict from Tianmen Town, they could not lay a finger on Li Yu and his group. Moreover, from Li Yu’s demeanor, it was apparent that his strength was far from what he revealed.

The more Wan Yanyan dwelled on it, the angrier she became. Fuming, she turned to Wan Kui and demanded, “Senior Brother, are we truly going to let them off so easily? Not to mention how he keeps opposing us time and again, but that fish—it's a Moonlight Silverfish! Once matured, it can merge with a weapon and bestow water attributes upon it. Are we just going to give up on it?”

Seeing Wan Yanyan so incensed, Zhang Yue hastened to her side, offering a placating smile as she tried to soothe her. “Don’t be upset, Senior Sister. For now, the edict from Tianmen Town prevents us from acting against them. But that does not mean we are truly letting him go. Circumstances simply force us to bide our time.”

Wan Yanyan was always willful and domineering. Even after Zhang Yue’s attempts to appease her, she was not content to let it go. Instead, she suggested, “Senior Brother, why don’t we sneak out tonight, kill him, and take the fish? That way, no one will be the wiser.”

Wan Kui, who had been meticulously plotting how to obtain the Cloud Kun, found her suggestion distasteful—though he dared not show it openly. He replied coldly, “No. Leaving aside whether or not he has someone backing him, just based on today's events, if anything were to happen to him, all eyes would turn to us. If the elders found out, there would be hell to pay.”

His logic only made the spoiled young lady Wan Yanyan more aggrieved. Never before had she suffered such humiliation, and she retorted in exasperation, “So what are we supposed to do? Just sit and do nothing? Once word of this spreads, the Myriad Beasts Sect will be a laughingstock!”

She had a point. Earlier, at the city gates, Li Yu had already caused the City Lord to reprimand them, costing them face before the other sects. If today’s events were to get out, even though they hadn’t come into direct conflict with the people of Tianmen Town, they would lose even more standing among the other sects.

“Junior Sister Yue, do you have any suggestions?” Wan Kui turned to the silent Zhang Yue.

When Zhang Yue heard his question, she pondered briefly before replying, “If I were him, I’d seek out a powerful backer—a sect that could rival ours.”

Wan Kui didn’t quite understand her, raising an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“Senior Brother, I mean we should act first and take the moral high ground. Given yesterday’s events, we can’t move against him anymore, or it will further damage our reputation. But if we approach him with a gesture of reconciliation, no matter what happens later, public opinion will favor us.”

Wan Yanyan could not accept the idea of reconciliation, especially if they were to initiate it. She raised her voice, “Reconcile? How exactly?”

Zhang Yue remained calm as she answered, “We invite him to join our sect, of course.”

Wan Yanyan was about to object loudly when Wan Kui interjected, “Junior Sister Yue is right. If we want to do anything, our only option now is to invite him into our sect. Not only does it allow us to seize the initiative, but once he joins, the Cloud Kun will be ours for the taking, and he will be entirely at our mercy.”

Hearing Wan Kui’s reasoning, Wan Yanyan finally suppressed her anger. “Since you say so, Senior Brother, we’ll endure him a while longer.”

Zhang Yue seemed as though she wanted to say more, and Wan Kui noticed. “Is there something else on your mind, Junior Sister?”

“Senior Brother, it’s best we don’t inform Elder Lian about this.”

Wan Yanyan was puzzled. “Why not?”

“First, we’ve already had a run-in with the people from Tianmen Town today—better not let the elders hear of it and stir up trouble. Since our return from the City Lord’s mansion, the elder has been in seclusion. Second, a spiritual creature like the Silverfish, if claimed by the sect leader’s faction, would be even better. Though Elder Lian is one of us, there are always degrees of closeness. We must remember, we serve the sect leader.”

Wan Yanyan was the sect leader’s daughter, and Wan Kui was his adopted son. Hearing Zhang Yue’s words, they could hardly object. “So if we’re bringing that boy back, we really don’t need to inform Elder Lian?” Wan Yanyan asked, thinking they’d also have to bring Xu Kaijiang back to the sect.

“It’s of no consequence. We’re just bringing someone back, not truly recruiting him as an outer disciple. It’s merely a pretense. Once he's with us, making him a servant will suffice. I can make the call on this—no need to announce it. Also, make sure our people in the sect keep their mouths shut these days. No idle talk.” With Wan Kui’s decision, Zhang Yue and Wan Yanyan readily agreed.

Wan Yanyan then asked, “But Senior Brother, what if the fish ends up in that dragon youth’s hands?”

“No matter. He is a dragon himself and will hardly care for a Silverfish. If it’s in his hands, he’ll just be looking after it. As long as we control the fish seller, the dragon youth will comply. Since he’s already stood up for him once, he won’t stand by and do nothing.” Wan Kui replied with an air of composure.

Zhang Yue, hearing this, let a trace of disdain flicker in her eyes, though she hid it well. In their presence, she was still the gentle and agreeable junior sister. Only she knew that her ambitions extended far beyond a mere Silverfish.

The three discussed when and where to extend the olive branch to Xu Kaijiang, and worried that other sects might make a move on him, pinning the blame on the Myriad Beasts Sect. Thus, Wan Kui sent one of his trusted men to keep watch by Xu Kaijiang’s home, ready to act at a moment’s notice. They were determined that the Silverfish would not fall into anyone else’s hands.

With more outsiders arriving, Tianmen Town was no longer as tranquil as before. The City Lord had also increased his surveillance, and it was not long before he received a report about the day’s events.

Listening to his subordinate’s detailed account, he absentmindedly trimmed the bonsai before him with a pair of scissors. When the tale was finished, he snipped off a fresh, healthy green shoot with a final cut. “More interference from the Youyi Temple—what are they up to?” he muttered resentfully. Taking the handkerchief offered by his servant, he carefully wiped his hands and sighed, “Never mind. Keep a close watch on Li Yu of the Youyi Temple and that fish-selling boy. Don’t let the Myriad Beasts Sect lay a hand on him.”

His subordinate accepted the order and withdrew. Zhang Helun, lost in thought, gazed out the window toward the unknown distance and sighed, “In the end, we are all but pieces on the chessboard. Who among us can step beyond the game and become the one who plays it?”