7. Mission To Capture a Wayward Son
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Satisfied with his demonstration, Xiao Songfen turned around to find his disciple staring at him with an odd distracted expression.

Xiao Songfen approached him and waved the willow branch in his face.

“Hey. Pay attention.”

Coming back to his senses, Bai Yiyan lurched forward and grabbed his master’s hands, catching Xiao Songfen off guard.

“Shizun, that was so beautiful!” He said enthusiastically. “This disciple is so lucky to witness your great skill!”

Xiao Songfen quietly suffered under the intensity of his disciple’s adoration. His eyes felt blinded by the solar rays radiating from Bai Yiyan’s glowing aura.

(I need to get used to this...) He thought with a deadpan expression.

“You.” He lightly smacked Bai Yiyan’s head with the branch, scattering droplets of dew on his disciple’s hair. “Focus. I don’t want to repeat myself a second time.”

After a small huff, he started to elaborate on his demonstration.

"Let's start by fixing your flow. It's all over the place."

“Here,” he poked Bai Yiyan in the sternum with the branch, “is where your middle dantian1Dāntián 丹田 is loosely translated as "elixir field", "sea of qi", or simply "energy center". Dantians are the "qi focus flow centers" (Wikipedia). There are three main dantians usually discussed. Upper, middle, and lower.   is. Direct your movements with this as your axis. Or else you’ll just be wasting unnecessary energy.

The branch slid down Bai Yiyan's chest midline to his lower abdomen.

"Lower Dantian."

It then swung back up to softly strike Bai Yiyan's head again.

"Upper Dantian."

Xiao Songfen stepped back and waved the branch in precise motions, loosely outlining the general direction of qi circulation on his disciple's body.

"Keep these three balanced simultaneously in harmony. Working together, not against each other. I've said it before. Twice the result, half the effort."

He then offered the branch to Bai Yiyan.

"Understand?"

Bai Yiyan obediently accepted the willow branch from Xiao Songfen’s hands.

“Yes, Shizun.”

Xiao Songfen picked up another fallen branch, shaking off some of the dirt. They stood closely side-by-side in the courtyard. Like twin jades.

"Let's go through it together." Xiao Songfen suggested. "Begin."

Swish! Swish!

There was a rhythmic rustling of willow leaves as the two moved in unison. The sun moved quietly across the sky as master and disciple continued their lesson harmoniously.

. . .

Chen hour2辰時 chén shí is 7-9 am in the ancient Chinese time system where each day is divided up into 12 of these two-hour long periods (shichen). soon came around. Xiao Songfen was no longer demonstrating and now sat leisurely at the jade table, drinking tea and supervising.

Only crisp nature sounds and smooth foot movements of his disciple could be heard in the courtyard.

Despite a rough start, Bai Yiyan was a quick learner, diligently practicing what he had learned from Xiao Songfen over and over without any complaints. Bai Yiyan's sword silently sliced and stabbed the spring air with much-improved efficiency. His qi ebbed and flowed smoothly.

Due to the heat of physical exertion, Bai Yiyan had long shed his outer robe. The thin inner robe Xiao Songfen had lent him last night was now soaked through with sweat. It lay plastered against the skin on his back, accentuating the individual lines of his figure.

(Ah....youth.) Xiao Songfen thought enviously. (Must be nice to have so much energy.)

The memory of severe body aches and persistent headaches in his former modern life resurfaced. He did not miss that aspect of his previous life.

Xiao Songfen languidly took a sip of green tea. The tea leaves had been directly harvested from the spiritual herb fields next to his residence. They were infused with a bit of spiritual energy, stimulating his senses and leaving his body with a refreshed invigorated feeling. The current Xiao Songfen's body was powerful and full of life with a healthy and robust constitution.

He leaned against the table and rested his head in his hand.

(Ah, that's right. I am also someone who is young and brimming with energy now.)

As Xiao Songfen was about to call Bai Yiyan over to rest, a missive arrived from Central Peak. A large stately-looking scroll was dropped into his lap by the sect’s messenger qingniao3 青鸟 Qīngniǎo: translated as Blue Bird, are birds which appear in Chinese mythology, popular stories, poetry, and religion. Their color is actually somewhat ambiguous with English color vocabulary, as the word qing may and has been translated as "blue" or "green", or even "black". Qingniao are especially regarded as the messengers (from Wikipedia). The character 'qing' from qingniao is the same as the character for Qingshan Sect, hence why I made qingniao the official messenger spiritual beast of the Qingshan Sect haha.. Its bluish iridescent wings gracefully spanning out in the sky, casting a shadow on Xiao Songfen's seated figure.

With a clear auspicious cry, the qingniao flew away, leaving a few blue-green feathers behind.

Xiao Songfen unrolled the missive and immediately blanched upon reading its contents.

{Ronghua Palace Qi Pill Order}

  • 200 Nourishment Replacement Pills
  • 50 Blood Transfusion Pills
  • 50 Bone Regrowth Pills
  • 50 Spirit Purifying Pills
  • 20 Poison Detoxifying Pills
  • 20 Mind Stabilizing Pills

{Ronghua Palace requests that all pills be of mid to high-grade purity and delivered as soon as possible.}

His eyebrows knitted. The original Xiao Songfen was a specialist in qi pill refining. His memories were filled with all sorts of obscure recipes and techniques. With this expertise at his fingertips, Xiao Songfen could tell that other than the first item on the list, the rest of the order would be difficult to refine and required ingredients that were expensive and hard to procure.

Attached to the missive was a ginkgo tree leaf communication from Ning Fenghua. Unexpectedly, it was not the sect advisor’s voice that came through first, but his older brother's.

[I know it's such a large order ah…A-Huan if you don’t want to do it, Gege will refuse for y-URK!]

The loud sound of someone’s head being whacked with a wooden fan could be heard.

[A-Huan, we have something that requires your help.] Ning Fenghua explained.

[Due to the recent spike in miasma poisoning cases, Ronghua Palace has been forced to push up the date of their annual Yin Mountain purification expedition. It was hard for us to refuse as the order was placed personally by their sect master. We can have the other elders refine the nourishment replacement pills as they only need to be of mid-grade. But since you have the most talent and the highest success rate in refining high-grade qi pills, we’ll have to impose on you for the rest or we won’t be able to complete the order in time for their expedition. Rest assured that we will charge them appropriately for the rush order.]

Ronghua Palace…Yin Mountain expedition.

Hearing those names, Xiao Songfen rubbed his temples, feeling the sudden rise of impending stress. It seems that even if he did nothing, he was destined to become entangled with the original novel's plot.

Ronghua Palace was the original novel protagonist Wang Lingxiao’s sect. The sect had a very good public image, but from reading the novel, Xiao Songfen knew that behind closed doors, it was a huge mess of politics. There were a few hidden traitors in their midst, lurking in wait for a good opportunity to strike and turn the whole sect upside down. According to the original novel, the Yin Mountain expedition this year would result in the death of Wang Lingxiao’s close shijie4师姐 shījiě - senior martial sister along with several other senior Ronghua Palace disciples. Though this happened before the start of the main plot, it was a major driver in Wang Lingxiao’s personal development as a righteous cultivator. The hero's stubborn perseverance in striking down all demonic cultivators was born from this event.

Xiao Songfen idly wondered if getting involved like this would change the outcome of that expedition.

“It is no problem. I will do it." He agreed compliantly. "Do we have all the necessary ingredients?”

[The Poplar Peak Elder will have most of the materials available and prepped in our warehouse. However, we still need Dragon Pearl Powder and Snow Flower Dew. I've placed an order for them from the specialty merchant in Sanchuan. It should arrive in ten days 5Normally, we would use xún 旬 - a 10-day week used in Ancient China, but I figured just saying ten days is also fine because I am lazy..]

“Then I will go to Sanchuan to receive the shipment when it arrives."

[Shall I send a few outer circle disciples to help transport ingredients from the warehouse? Perhaps they might even be able to assist you with the refining process after. I remember one of them looking quite sturdy and suitable for the job.]

(Ah, you mean Ma Chenbo? He is busy with something else at the moment...) Xiao Songfen thought wryly.

Memories of last night's events flashed through his mind. No. It would be too bothersome to deal with any of them right now. They couldn't contribute much to the difficult refinement process of these qi pills anyway. He only needed some help with prepping the ingredients for each refinement process. For that, his own disciple would be sufficient.

“No. It is enough to have Bai Yiyan. I have other business to discuss with that elder anyway.”

[Then we'll be troubling you.]

"Also, tell my brother not to bother visiting Liushu Peak today." Xiao Songfen added. "I am fully recovered now. He does not need to visit so often. Once a week is enough."

Rustling noise could be heard over the communication as Xiao Xusong cut into the conversation.

[Ai, there's no need to be polite Didi. I am always free to accompany yo-]

[You're not. Keep signing those documents.]

The ginkgo leaf glowed and dissipated into thin air, ending the communication abruptly.

Xiao Songfen remained unfazed and poured himself one last cup of tea.

Having heard mention of his own name earlier, Bai Yiyan had stopped practicing to walk over. The youth's body was radiating with leftover heat from exercise.

“Is something wrong Shizun?”

Xiao Songfen shook his head. He rolled the missive scroll back up and quickly downed the rest of the tea in his cup before speaking.

“It is nothing, just some work I need to do. Let’s stop here for today. Go clean yourself up and meet me in the inner circle lecture hall for your evaluation. I have something to do there also.”

"Yes, Shizun." Bai Yiyan answered brightly before crossing the courtyard to pick up his discarded outer robe.

Xiao Songfen stepped on his sword, ready to fly off. He remembered something and suddenly turned around to call after Bai Yiyan's retreating figure.

"Actually, go get me my weimao first. The sun is strong today."

"Yes."

After securing his weimao, Xiao Songfen flew off quickly to find Elder Yang. He zoomed past several Qingshan members who were startled by the sudden appearance of the reclusive Willow Peak Elder in broad daylight. Their flustered greetings were lost in the wind as their figures quickly disappeared behind him.

Elder Yang of Yangshu Peak. The Poplar Peak Elder. A man who was a few centuries old, but looked not a day over forty due to his power as a nascent stage cultivator. Head of the Qingshan Sect education and overseer of the qi pill refining warehouse inventory. A sworn brother of the previous sect master and a direct descendant of the founding sect master. Known for his unique style of fighting with a guzheng6古箏 gǔzhēng - a Chinese plucked zither:  Not to be confused with a guqin as seen below: eheh.

Xiao Songfen landed softly in front of the regal double doors of the inner circle lecture hall.

A neatly dressed uncle was sitting at a wide desk, bent over a stack of papers. A regal and stately appearance. His hair was loosely tied and swept behind him. Sleeves of his robes were pushed up to reveal pale forearms. One hand held a slim brush, ruthlessly marking up student essays with red ink. The current essay he was grading looked like it had been half dowsed in crimson.

Halfway through it, the uncle sighed and stretched his arms before muttering, “Ai, this child…he was not like this before...horrible spelling…so many missing strokes.”

Xiao Songfen caught a vague glimpse of the essay. Indeed the calligraphy vaguely familiar calligraphy of this student was barely legible, even looking like it had difficulty remaining in straight columns.

Uncle7Though they are not (closely) blood-related, it is used in this case because Elder Yang is Xiao Songfen's father's sworn brother and very close to the Xiao family. Yang.” He called out while taking off his weimao.

Elder Yang looked up in astonished surprise.

“Ah? If it isn’t Little Huan8小欢 xiǎo Huān  - Little Huan, a nickname! So rare of you to be out and about. Come in, come in! What brings you here today?”

“My brother said you have ingredients for Ronghua Palace’s qi pill order.”

“Oh yes, that’s right. I received a message from Little Ning9小 宁 xiǎo Níng - Little Ning, a nickname. For some reason, Elder Yang has chosen to use Ning Fenghua's last name instead of his birth name or courtesy name. today regarding that matter. I had a core disciple pack them this morning for easier transport to Liushu Peak."

"Thank you."

“Nonsense. You and my son have been close like real blood brothers since you were born. There is no need to stand on ceremony with this uncle ah.” 

Elder Yang happily chattered as he continued to grade essays.

“By the way, you haven’t happened to see my son around have you?” He inquired as he crossed out another character in red ink.

“I haven’t.” Xiao Songfen answered politely.

“Pei! That rascal!" Elder Yang set down the brush and crossed his arms with a sharp huff. "Always out and never comes home. I only just found out this morning that he’s been staying in Sanchuan for the past month."

Like a flipped switch, Elder Yang began to rant about his wayward son.

"One month! And he has yet to show his face here even once. I am already so old with this weak body. I might as well have one foot in the grave, but that brat does not even spare his old man any attention! So heartless!”

Xiao Songfen looked at the Poplar Peak Elder, who was currently the very picture of good health and vitality. There was even an obvious swell of broad shoulder muscles outlined through his robes.

(Uncle...with your level of cultivation, you might even outlive the sun.) He thought dryly.

“This is why they say you should have daughters instead of sons. I don't even get letters from him. Ai! My departed lily flower Shanshan! Our son has grown up to be a white-eyed wolf10白眼狼 bái yǎn láng: lit. a white-eyed wolf. An ungrateful person, ingrate. Someone who bites the hand that feeds them.!” Elder Yang lamented.

A few rapping noises on the door frame alerted them of someone's arrival. Bai Yiyan walked into the lecture hall.

“Ah." Xiao Songfen gestured towards his disciple. “Uncle, this is my core disciple. His name is Bai Yiyan.”

Bai Yiyan walked to Xiao Songfen’s side and clasped his hands together in greeting.

“This disciple greets Elder Yang.” He said, bowing his head respectfully.

“Hmm, very good.” Elder Yang acknowledged, rubbing his chin. “I have heard a little about his circumstances from Little Chang11小 畅 xiǎo Chàng - Little Chang, a nickname. Elder Yang is referring to Xiao Xusong by his birth name and not his courtesy name.. You have brought him here for an evaluation I assume?”

“Yes. I know it's a sudden request. We can return on a later date if needed.”

“No, no. This is good timing! I have some time before my next lecture. Let's get it done now.” Elder Yang waved his hand eagerly and disappeared into the examination hall next door. “Come, come.”

Bai Yiyan glanced nervously at Xiao Songfen. Xiao Songfen nodded in reassurance.

“Go on. I will be waiting here.”

Bai Yiyan’s tense expression relaxed and he followed Elder Yang obediently into the examination hall. The two were only gone for a few incense sticks of time before they reemerged.

His disciple looked defeated as if he had just lost something important while the Poplar Peak Elder looked unbothered in comparison. Bai Yiyan walked over to his master, looking like an abandoned rabbit.

He tugged Xiao Songfen's sleeve with big round eyes full of sorrow.

"Shizun, no matter what the results are, don't throw me away okay?"

Confused by his disciple's words, Xiao Songfen looked at Elder Yang questioningly.

Elder Yang began to deliver the results of Bai Yiyan's evaluation.

"You have yourself a smart and well-learned disciple. For someone who’s reportedly not attended any of the outer circle lectures, he is quite proficient in the theoretical and practical concepts taught at the inner circle education level." Mild curiosity colored his tone as Elder Yang continued. "He may join special lectures with other core disciples starting next week. That being said, although he has the qualifications to be a core disciple, his cultivation is still low for his age. I recommend you focus on advancing his cultivation for now as it will be more difficult for him to keep up with the other core disciples as time passes."

Bai Yiyan became even more dejected after hearing his words.

"I am too weak to be Shizun's disciple..." His head drooped pitifully, eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Xiao Songfen, taken aback by his disciple's sudden display of distress, turned to Elder Yang with a helpless expression.

(UNCLE HELP ME.)

The Poplar Peak Elder chuckled and acquiesced.

"Don't look so troubled. It's not as serious an issue as it sounds. Your disciple is only a bit behind in developing his cultivation base. That can be quickly remedied if you provide good resources as his master properly."

He then looked pointedly at Xiao Songfen, subtly referring to the past few months of his behavior as a neglectful master. Xiao Songfen averted his gaze and coughed into a closed fist awkwardly.

“Ah, um. Yes. Of course."

He then looked over and patted Bai Yiyan's hands, currently clutching his sleeve, comfortingly.

"You heard what he said? It is not a big issue so don't worry. No one is throwing you away."

At the last few words, Bai Yiyan's expression visibly brightened and the Willow Peak Elder was once again bombarded by his disciple's sun rays of reverence.

(Eck.)

"Right." Elder Yang clapped his hands together, ready to start up a different conversation. "Now, moving on to discuss my compensation..."

“Ah?”

“This uncle is a busy man who took time out of his busy schedule to do a one-on-one individual evaluation for your disciple ah."  Elder Yang whined. "Normally, your disciple would have had to schedule a few weeks in advance. You’re not going to just run away after benefitting from this old man are you?”

Realizing that he had fallen prey to Elder Yang's wiles since the beginning of the conversation, Xiao Songfen sighed in resignation.

(I should have known the moment he showed such enthusiasm granting my last-minute request...)

"Alright. What do you want Uncle?" 

"Get my son to come home the next time you are in Sanchuan."

Xiao Songfen immediately snorted in disbelief.

"Uncle, you want me to go catch Yang Zishan for you?"

"You are close friends. Knowing him, even if he doesn't listen to his own father, he always seems to listen to you better."

Xiao Songfen's memories of Yang Zishan indicated otherwise. Though Yang Zishan did listen to the original Xiao Songfen the best, it was because Xiao Songfen usually let him do whatever he wanted anyway.

"Even I cannot convince him to do what he doesn't want to do." Xiao Songfen shook his head. "How do you suppose I go about it? Beat him unconscious and drag him back in a sack?."

"Nonsense. Any method is fine, as long as you don't run him through with a sword. That would be messy for me to fix." Elder Yang paused before adding, "Well. If you have to, do so lightly please."

Xiao Songfen and Bai Yiyan stared at him with similar expressions of reprove.

"What?" Elder Yang said defensively. "He's in the mid-core formation stage. He won't die."

"Uncle, that's child abuse."

“He's well past the age of childhood. It's not the same thing." The elder mumbled. "Also...you're going to be doing it, not me."

A sharp look from Xiao Songfen made Elder Yang clear his throat and quickly wrap up the topic.

"Ahem! Okay, okay. For just the attempt, Uncle will also provide some exclusive cultivation items for your disciple. It's a very good deal. How about it?"

Xiao Songfen crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at Elder Yang in scrutiny before letting out a helpless sigh.

(It was true that Bai Yiyan needed spiritual items to help strengthen his cultivation.)

"Ha....alright. I'll do it. But I can't promise that I will succeed."

"I could not ask for more."

[IF YOU ARE NOT READING THIS BY XIAOMANGISBUSY ON SCRIBBLEHUB OR WATTPAD, IT HAS BEEN STOLEN. PLEASE REPORT AND ONLY READ OFF SCRIBBLEHUB OR WATTPAD.]

---------------

WHITE-EYED WOLF THEATER

Elder Yang: Please convince my son to come home.

Xiao Songfen: That will be difficult as catching wild animals is outside of my expertise.

Yang Zishan: *SNEEZE* Ah, I feel like someone is talking shit about me...

---------------

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Bai Yiyan's POV is coming soon. Until then, please kindly suffer endure the next few chapters.

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SONG(s) OF THE DAY

Uncle Yang's favorite songs to play on the guzheng after the sun sets on Yangshu Peak:

Fisherman's Evening Song 渔舟唱晚 Guzheng Solo by 潘文

Love Wounds 爱殇 (东宫 插曲) Guzheng Cover by 玉面小嫣然

Aging of a Beauty 红颜旧 (琅琊榜 插曲) Guzheng Cover by 玉面小嫣然

*Disclaimer: The first one is a rearrangement of a traditional song. The last two are modern and were composed within the last decade (2018 and 2017 respectively...I think).

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