Life as a Rogue Cultivator - Chapter 139: Negotiations

On Moon Mountain, Guan Xingzhou, head of the Plum-Breaking Sect, was sitting in meditation beneath a plum tree. Suddenly he opened his eyes, and with a twist of his fingers the yellowing plums snapped cleanly from the branches. With a sweep of his wide sleeve, he gathered them into the bamboo basket at his side. In the blink of an eye, the basket was already half full.

Sorting through the plums, he saw that about seventy percent were cleanly separated, but the rest were still clumped together, several fruits joined by the same twig. That left him unsatisfied. Compared to last year, his progress had not been great.

It was to be expected. The Foundation Establishment stage had three levels: early, middle, and late. Each one could trap a cultivator for life. But he had already reached the late stage, and he was still young, not yet sixty. How could he not aim for the Golden Core?

His thoughts drifted to Liu Xiaolou, the son-in-law who had left just two days earlier. He wondered if Liu Xiaolou could really persuade the Su family to take that crucial step and agree to rename Meiling. Shaking his head in secret, he thought it was probably wishful thinking to expect a mere son-in-law to move such a matter. Still, his wife had said it was worth a try. If they did nothing, when would their daughter’s marriage ever be settled?

Looking at the basket brimming with plums, he sighed again. Their own mountain was covered with plum trees. That should be the place called Meiling (Plum Ridge). Over at the real Meiling, not a single plum tree grew. How could the name make sense?

If one day Meiling really did change its name, he would rename Moon Mountain as Plum Mountain. Then the Tiger Mountain Moon-Plucking Sect would no longer be at odds with them, and both sides could live in peace. After decades of fighting back and forth, he had truly had enough.

While he was lost in thought, a disciple came to report that Liu Xiaolou, the Su family’s son-in-law, had come to pay his respects. Guan Xingzhou rose and went to the guest hall to receive him.

After they exchanged greetings, he asked the purpose of the visit. Liu Xiaolou said, “These past two days I spoke with my uncle about the matter. Just as Sect Master Guan said, the Su family finds it difficult. My words carry little weight, and I could not persuade them.”

Guan Xingzhou let out a silent sigh but forced a smile. “You’ve done your part, son-in-law. My whole sect is grateful for the effort. As for that Brother Tan, you needn’t worry. We will treat him well. After three to five months, once the Second Master no longer concerns himself with the matter, we’ll let him go down the mountain.”

Three months had now become three to five?

Liu Xiaolou said, “I had planned to try again once my father-in-law returned, but I feared the delay. So I went to Danxia Mountain in person to speak with Elder Cai…”

Guan Xingzhou’s spirit lifted. “And what did Elder Cai say?”

“He didn’t give a clear answer. He only said he would think it over carefully before making a decision.”

Guan Xingzhou pressed, “He can’t go on thinking forever. If there’s any way our sect can be of help, just say the word.”

Liu Xiaolou said, “In my view, it all comes down to some proper arrangements. If we pool some spirit stones together, we may be able to push this matter forward.”

Elder Cai had long resided in Danxia Cave-Heaven. He had no use for spirit stones in his own cultivation, but rewarding disciples with them was an ordinary practice.

Liu Xiaolou had already thought it through. The amount could not be too large; it had to be just right. Otherwise Guan Xingzhou would feel uneasy, and trouble could come of it later. The best sum would be one that Liu Xiaolou himself could part with without pain, and one Elder Cai would quietly accept without making it public. The number was hard to judge, so he would have to test it in the moment.

“I was thinking the total should come to around fifty…”

Seeing Guan Xingzhou’s face change slightly, he immediately lowered the figure. “Of course, your sect could not be expected to cover the whole amount. I will contribute twenty myself…”

Watching closely, he saw Guan Xingzhou still hesitate, so he went on, “As for the remaining thirty, I was planning for three sects to share the burden, ten stones each. What do you think?”

Only then did Guan Xingzhou’s smile return. “It troubles me to let you spend so much, son-in-law. My heart is uneasy.”

Liu Xiaolou said, “You flatter me, Sect Master Guan. I’m only doing it to save a friend. But I should make one thing clear first. The stones are only a way to open the door. Whether the matter truly succeeds does not depend on them. Elder Cai would hardly care about such a small offering.”

“Of course,” Guan Xingzhou immediately said.

Liu Xiaolou went on, “But all I can do is try my best to persuade Elder Cai to step forward. Whether it succeeds or not will still depend on my father-in-law and my uncle. That means you, Sect Master Guan, along with Sect Master Liang of Meiling and Sect Master Jin of Tiger Mountain, will all need to put in effort.”

Guan Xingzhou looked troubled. “By rights, this is a matter for all three sects. But the truth is, our sects have never gotten along. And this time the plan is to force Meiling to change its name first. Senior Sister Jin of Tiger Mountain is easier to deal with, but Sect Master Liang of Meiling … I fear…”

Liu Xiaolou sighed. “It’s only a name, yet it’s caused no end of strife…”

Guan Xingzhou spoke up at once. “I can’t speak for the others, but if Meiling changes its name, Moon Mountain will change its name as well.”

Liu Xiaolou praised him. “Sect Master Guan, your sense of greater duty is truly admirable.”

After leaving the mountain, with the ten spirit stones Guan Xingzhou had given him tucked in his robe, Liu Xiaolou suddenly felt lighter in spirit. Halfway down the road, a thought struck him. After a long moment of reflection, he changed direction and headed straight for Tiger Mountain.

At the wedding ceremony earlier that year, and again at the Danxia Sect’s millennium celebration last month, Liu Xiaolou had seen Sect Master Jin of the Tiger Mountain Moon-Plucking Sect. Though she was already past seventy, she looked no more than forty.

For cultivators, once they reached the Foundation Establishment stage, the signs of aging slowed dramatically, most noticeably among women. Many female cultivators, though well into middle age, still looked youthful. If they had reach Foundation Establishment at an early age, the effect was even more striking. Follow current novᴇls on N()velFire.net

Take Fifth Lady and Ninth Lady, for example. Both reached Foundation Establishment around the age of twenty. With such astonishing talent, they enjoyed one great benefit: even in their forties or fifties they still looked about twenty. By the time they reached their seventies or eighties, they appeared no older than thirty. Even past a hundred, they would never look older than forty.

Sect Master Jin had advanced rapidly in her youth, reaching Foundation Establishment before the age of forty, and so her appearance remained well preserved. To this day, she looked like a woman in her early forties.

But to Liu Xiaolou, she felt like a naked blade drawn from its sheath. No matter how he stood near her, he could not feel at ease.

Sect Master Jin made no attempt to hide her disdain for him. The two times they had met before, Liu Xiaolou had read her feelings plainly and so dared not provoke her. But today was different. He had come prepared to face her scorn.

“Son-in-law, why aren’t you up on Shenwu Mountain attending to Fifth Lady? What brings you here to Tiger Mountain?” Sect Master Jin didn’t even allow him inside, but blocked him at the mountain gate.

If she wouldn’t let him in, so be it. It was only a matter of a few words anyway. Liu Xiaolou had no interest in picking apart her barbs. Having married into the Su family, he was well aware that contempt came with the role, and he had long since accepted it. So he went straight to the point.

“Sect Master Guan of the Plum-Breaking Sect discussed something with me. He hopes the three sects can set aside old grudges and let the past rest. We plan to begin with the mountain names. I will persuade Elder Cai to take the lead in renaming Plum Ridge. Sect Master Guan will give up the name of Mount Yue. I came today to ask whether your sect would be willing to change the name of Tiger Mountain as well. That way, none of us will be held back by the weight of old names.”

Sect Master Jin blinked in surprise. “So Guan Xingzhou is ready to yield?”

Liu Xiaolou sighed. “Sect Master Jin, please take a broader view. Each of us giving a little ground is not weakness. It’s so we can go further together. How is that about yielding?”

Sect Master Jin let out a cold laugh. After a moment’s thought, she asked, “And Elder Cai is willing to take the lead in this?”

Liu Xiaolou said, “I’ve already spoken with him once. There’s a strong chance. Of course, it will require some spirit stones. I’ll put in twenty myself, and each of your three sects can contribute ten. Whether it succeeds in the end, I cannot promise. But I will do everything I can to make it happen. What I ask is simply this, are you willing?”

“And what makes you think you can persuade Elder Cai?”

“I’m sorry, Sect Master Jin. Some things I can’t explain. But within five days Elder Cai will give his answer. If not, I’ll return every stone exactly as it was.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by AiKurou