WJ Chapter 4

Shiwei (4)

At the peak of Mount Shenlie, ten thousand years of snow lay thick.

Everyone knew that the highest point of Mount Shenlie was not the mountain peak itself, but the Wolong Platform of the Zhuyin Sect Leader.

The Wolong Platform was about five zhang wide—truly not very large. Eight stone pillars stood around its perimeter, subtly corresponding to the imagery of yin-yang and the eight trigrams. Between the pillars hung layers upon layers of white curtains, blocking out the howling wind and snow from outside, as well as concealing the figures within.

This small elevated platform had now become the most heavily guarded forbidden ground in the sect. For no other reason than this was where the Sect Leader was in seclusion, and not the slightest carelessness could be tolerated. Twelve “Yin Ghosts” stood guard below the platform—all the strongest death warriors from the Ghost Gate. Wen Feng, the Sect Leader’s personal attendant, dressed in white robes, stood with lowered head beneath the Wolong Platform, not daring to relax for even a moment.

A black-robed young guard came running from the distant pine path and was brought before Wen Feng by one of the Yin Ghosts.

The youth whispered a few words in Wen Feng’s ear, and the latter’s expression immediately changed.

Protector Guan… had actually returned to the sect without permission?

And had come directly to the Wolong Platform, where he had now been kneeling outside for most of the day?

Attendant Wen immediately began to worry.

When the Sect Leader was in seclusion, he absolutely could not be disturbed unless there was an urgent matter. Logically speaking, it was merely one more person kneeling outside—just let him kneel there. After all, it wouldn’t affect the Sect Leader in the slightest…

—As if that were true.

If it were truly some unimportant outsider, or merely an ordinary subordinate, even if they knelt to death outside, Wen Feng wouldn’t spare them half a thought.

But Protector Guan was different. When it came to this particular person, the rules and proprieties of the Zhuyin Sect often could not be handled “logically speaking.”

As a personal attendant, Wen Feng absolutely dared not wildly speculate about the Sect Leader’s thoughts, but this didn’t prevent him from observing the extraordinary feelings between these two people.

After all, given how the Sect Leader had once spoiled that person to an almost boundless degree, anyone with eyes could sense something. It was no exaggeration to say that the true relationship between the Zhuyin Sect Leader and his Protector had long become one of the topics of conversation in the jianghu over tea and meals, and had become a story frequently mentioned by storytellers. It was said that at that time, the Left and Right Envoys had even begun planning to prepare wedding wine and red silk for the Sect Leader and Protector, if not for that incident a year ago…

Thinking of a year ago, Wen Feng only felt his head beginning to ache again.

He thought silently that being the Sect Leader’s personal attendant really wasn’t work for humans.

Thus, the “inhuman” Attendant Wen rubbed his temples and deliberately put on a surprised voice, asking the young guard in return:

“What? Protector Guan is outside right now?”

“Yes.” The youth nodded uncomprehendingly, thinking to himself, could it be that I didn’t speak clearly just now?

Then he thought: That’s not right, isn’t loud speech forbidden in front of the Wolong Platform?

“Good, I understand,” Wen Feng nodded with apparent nonchalance, smiling as he pointed outside. Every gesture carried the elegant composure befitting the Sect Leader’s personal attendant. “You may go. When the Sect Leader emerges from seclusion, he will naturally handle it properly.”

The confused youth obediently withdrew in bewilderment, his figure soon disappearing from sight.

Wen Feng raised his head and glanced at the nine layers of white curtains that still moved quietly with the wind, seemingly never to change.

He lowered his head and began expressionlessly counting in his heart.

This time… how long would the Sect Leader be able to endure?

For a moment, it seemed even the sound of falling snow could be heard.

Finally, when Wen Feng had counted to two hundred ninety-seven, from far away, an extremely cold and indifferent voice—clear and transparent like jade stones striking together—drifted ethereally through the layered, interwoven white curtains.

“Wen Feng.”

Perfect. The summoned white-robed attendant had been waiting for exactly this moment.

He immediately bowed low, kowtowed, and facing the high platform beyond the white curtains, responded: “Yes, Sect Leader.”

That voice came again, still extremely cold and clear, brooking no argument as it uttered two words: “Come forward.”

“Yes.”

Wen Feng carefully rose, bowing his head and bending at the waist as he climbed the high platform step by step, using both hands to lift aside the concealing white curtains one by one.

The Wolong Platform had nine layers of white curtains in total. Wen Feng entered to the sixth layer before lowering his head to kneel, not daring to move further.

This young Zhuyin Sect Leader had a lofty and cold temperament, disliking others to come close, especially during seclusion. Those final three layers of curtains on the Wolong Platform had so far only ever been lifted by Protector Guan Wujue, and no one else.

However, from here, he could already vaguely make out through the silk curtains a tall and graceful figure sitting cross-legged, posture upright and straight like a white lotus emerging from water. The facial features couldn’t be seen from behind, only that jet-black long hair was loosely bound at the back, flowing down like liquid ink over snow-white magnificent robes, covering the golden candle-dragon patterns swimming on the white silk base, the hair ends casually trailing on the jade surface of the Wolong Platform.

This was none other than the current Zhuyin Sect Leader—Yun Changliu.

Yun Changliu asked indifferently, “What matter is outside?”

Wen Feng breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, knowing he had bet correctly.

However, the next moment, while admiring his own cleverness, he couldn’t help but grumble internally: Sect Leader, you’re not calling me in because you heard about that “matter,” are you? Still pretending…

Of course, these devious thoughts he dared not show on his face in the slightest. Attendant Wen immediately adopted a completely serious, business-like attitude, respectfully replying, “Reporting to the Sect Leader, Guan Wujue has returned to the sect, seemingly with important matters, and is currently waiting beneath the Wolong Platform for the Sect Leader to emerge from seclusion.”

The immortal-like snow-white figure gave a cold snort. Though his voice remained steady, a slight displeasure could be heard. “Returning to the sect without permission—how bold indeed.”

Wen Feng lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Yun Changliu also said nothing, as if he had merely made an offhand comment and had no intention of handling this matter.

Yun Changliu and Wen Feng remained thus—one sitting inside, one kneeling outside—silence pervading the air.

—This was the Zhuyin Sect Leader. Lofty, cold in temperament, and sparing with words. He disliked conversing with others, absolutely refusing to speak when he could remain silent, and would never give orders when he could communicate through glances and gestures. On the rare occasions when he did deign to speak, he would often fall silent halfway through his words.

What was most torturous was that when the Sect Leader sat in expressionless silence for long periods, those below had no idea what he was actually thinking…

Fortunately, though Sect Leader Yun’s temperament was eccentric, he wasn’t particularly harsh in governing his subordinates. Generally speaking, when the Sect Leader was unwilling to speak voluntarily, his subordinates would tentatively probe… and most of the time, they could figure things out.

For instance, at this moment, Attendant Wen still had to speak up, “In that case, should this subordinate advise Protector Guan to return?”

Yun Changliu shook his head indifferently. “With your abilities, you couldn’t persuade him to leave.”

Wen Feng was momentarily speechless, then steeling himself, continued probing, “Then… should I command the Yin Ghosts to drive him out?”

“The Yin Ghosts are all death warriors who fight with their lives—how are they mere hunting dogs?” Yun Changliu gave a cold laugh, raising his hand to gesture around him. “Moreover, if it really came to blows, even if half the Yin Ghosts here attacked together, they would be no match for Guan Wujue. It would only bring shame.”

“Wen Feng spoke inappropriately.”

…So after a year had passed, the Sect Leader’s habit of praising the Protector at every opportunity still hadn’t changed.

Thus thought Wen Feng, who was verbally apologizing.

“…Never mind.”

Within the white curtains, Yun Changliu flicked his sleeve and slowly closed his eyes. His emotions unreadable, he murmured in a low voice. “Let him be, let him be…”

“Wen Feng obeys.” Wen Feng paused, his respectful voice becoming slightly hesitant. “It’s just that the wind and snow are harsh and cold right now… Protector Guan’s condition doesn’t look very good. If we allow him to kneel until he collapses from exhaustion, should we have him carried away, or…”

Some unknown phrase touched a heartstring. The Zhuyin Sect Leader Yun Changliu, who had been sitting serenely like an ancient, quiet bell, had his fingers twitch almost imperceptibly.

He turned his head to the side, revealing half a profile with sparse yet profound features. His snow-like cool gaze swept over as he spoke with a stern tone. “He’s been kneeling this entire time?”

“Yes.”

Wen Feng’s voice remained gentle and humble, only on his deeply lowered face, a smile had quietly appeared at the corners of his lips.

The mighty Zhuyin Sect Leader! He had been pretending to be heartless and indifferent for an entire year, but now that Protector Guan had come and knelt down, he could no longer maintain the pretense!

“How long has it been?”

The consistently bland voice finally showed fluctuation, its urgency almost impossible to conceal. The usually calm Sect Leader suddenly stood and turned toward Wen Feng, the emotion between his brows an extremely rare display of anxious anger.

“Why didn’t you report this earlier!”