Chapter 228: Go With The Flow

Chapter 228: Go With The Flow

Hui sighed one last time, then drew his sword. If Im going to fight, Id better learn how to fly on a sword. He looked at his sword and frowned. Is it really as simple as Bai Xue says? Is that even possible?

Well, its worth a try.

He put his sword on the ground and stood on top of it. Closing his eyes, he let his qi flow without thinking about it or trying too hard to fly. The sword under his feet vibrated, letting out a quiet buzz. After a second, the vibration went silent.

Hui opened his eyes and sighed. I guess thats that. It didnt work eitherhuh?

He hovered a few centimeters above the ground. He looked around, then down at his feet. His sword supported him, glinting darkly in the sunlight. Hui leaned, willing himself forward. The sword shot forward, hurtling toward a tree. He leaned back, startled, and willed it to a halt. The sword stopped dead, nearly fast enough to throw him off.

It really is very intuitive, Hui thought, looking around. He turned his head upward and soared into the sky. His Masters peak diminished below him, falling away with the rest of Starbound Sect. Hui slowed himself to a halt and hovered there, looking down on the sect.

This high, he no longer had to worry about crashing into trees. He darted around, flying freely in the sky, slowly adjusting to the feeling of flying on a sword. Its like a bicycle. Once you figure it out, its always there. Ready to pop out of the back of your mind when you need it.

He stretched and soared along at an even pace, enjoying the breeze. Abruptly, he felt a chill. Hui instinctively flinched away, then glanced back. Huh? Wonder what that was about.

A second later, his eyes turned outward. He floated idly through the sky, tucking his hands behind him like an unfathomable expert. This All-Heavens Sect why attack now?

When it comes to Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect, obviously they attacked during the Southern Sect Conference in hopes of infecting the most disciples from the most other sects with their insidious plants. But All-Heavens Sect they could overpower us at any moment until now. So why now?

Opportunity obviously it isnt that. They forced an opportunity into existence. I suppose its true that they could have simply decided to attack for selfish reasons, or that it had to happen some time, and now was that time But that doesnt feel right.

Hmm back in my world why would countries suddenly attack? If it comes to starting war, and theres no external reason obviously, its because of internal strife! If the internal numbers are bad, start a war, and the numbers get better! Internal strife ah, and when one thinks of novels set in this ancient time period, if were talking internal strife, obviously, it has to be the death of the Emperor and the ascension to the Dragon Throne! Infighting among princes, the battles between the concubine mothers, what else could it be?

Jianghu that is, the cultivator world, doesnt exactly have an emperor the way the mortal world does. The Heavenly Emperor doesnt count. Hes so far removed from the average cultivator that he might as well be a God not merely a martial deity, but a being worthy of worship and devotion, rather than someone we could approach or usurp.

However, when we look at the Southern Sect Conference, and the way it bows to All-Heavens Sect, is it wrong to say that the All-Heavens Sect rules the lesser sects? And when we consider the All-Heavens Sect, who else would stand in for the Emperor but the All-Heavens Sects Sect Master?

If thats the case, everything falls into place. From that angle, Gui Delun is either a pawn or a Prince, and I dont know which, but whichever he is, hes gathering meritorious service so the Emperorahem, Sect Masterwill look more positively upon his faction. Lets assume that Gui Deluns faction is in charge of the Southern Sect Conference. Then, in the first place, he didnt want to admit that there was strife within his sectorhim refusing to acknowledge the Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sects wrongdoings. Once he was forced to admit that things had gone wrong, he moved quickly and summarily wrapped it up, sealing Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect inside their sect so they couldnt cause any more harm, or worse, spread rumors. Then, rather than actually fix the problem with Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect, he decided to target Starbound Sect, because were more obviously in the wrong, and easier to fix!

Hui slammed his fist into his palm, nodding, then froze. Eh, wait. But how are we in the wrong?

Subconsciously, he turned toward the center of the sky over the sect, the place hed felt cold, an empty space where nothing sat.

Hui.

He turned. His Master stood behind him, hovering on his sword.

Master, I

Understood! Hui said, saluting with cupped fists. Master, this small disciple is a coward. In what world would I charge knowingly into extreme danger?

Ah, I leave the peaks to you, as well. Ive rewritten the barrier formations. Even the Sect Master cant step on Unrivaled Under Heaven Peak without your explicit invitation.

Master you arent ascending now, by any chance? Hui asked, suddenly suspicious.

His Master said nothing, but overhead, thick black clouds suddenly began to accumulate.

Hui backed away quickly. Master!

He paused, then, looking at Weiheng Wu. Fear welled up in his chest, fear and an old, old emotion, one he hadnt felt in a long time, one he barely knew how to put words to. IIve learned nothing, Master. You cant go yet.

Incorrect, Weiheng Hui. Youve learned the most important lesson of all: how to find your own comprehension.

You cant leave. Im still too weak.

Not at all. You are the only reason others perceive you as weak.

All-Heavens Sect without you here, Master, theyll

Even if I stayed, I would ascend eventually. I could only delay the attack. There is no such thing as a second Weiheng Wu. Even yourself, Hui I thought I might have found someone with equivalent comprehension on that day I picked you up, but even then you were lacking.

Eh Huh? Its not just because of my good looks?

Xiao Hui, you are already a man of two worlds. When you become a man of three, and step into heaven yourself, seek me out. Together, we will right the heavens and rid them of disorder. Weiheng Wu rose into the sky, hair flying around him, robes billowing.

Hui nodded, then blinked. He looked up, meeting his Masters eyes. Wait, Master, you knew

That must remain your closest secret, if you wish to survive.

Thunder cracked. Lighting blasted down from above. Weiheng Wu crossed his arms and harrumphed, rushing up to meet it. All over Starbound Sect, other cultivators stared and shouted. Some others flew up to watch from a safe distance, eyes sparkling. The Sect Master appeared, Lan Taijian and the other Peak Lords arrayed beside him, and crossed his arms, a slight frown on his face.

Left behind, Hui watched Weiheng Wu ascend. Lightning crashed all around his Master, but none of it seemed to reach him. That strange emotion tugged at his heart again, aching painfully in his chest. Not fear. Master wont lose to a mere tribulation. Not anger, or jealousy. If I could feel true anger or jealousy toward Master, I wouldve rebelled long ago! He rubbed his chest, as if that would make it go away.

The lightning grew stronger. It became a beam of light that swallowed up Weiheng Wu. No longer could anyone see Huis master. The beam burned bright, brighter than the sun, so brilliant the world washed out. Then it passed, and the world darkened in the lack of its presence.

Hui blinked. His hand pressed against his heart, and he took a slow breath.

Ah. Ive been abandoned again.