Fortune 008: Lord Feng

The so-called act of slaying one’s master was as simple as giving it a try—only to perish for it.

Nan Shi glared resentfully at Chi You, his mind filled with thoughts of defecting from his sect and seeking admission elsewhere: Who’s the best at drawing talismans and catching ghosts? Beyond S City, seek Qingyun Temple! This ancient temple has stood for a thousand years on the outskirts of S City, offering four major disciplines—talismans, ghost-hunting, summoning deities, and formation arts—taught by a venerable centenarian master. No entrance exam, full board provided free…

All the above was but imagination.

It was true that the Qingyun Temple outside S City was indeed a thousand-year-old Taoist temple. Yet, not long ago, they had even posted some “Professional Taoist Recruitment Notice.” While it wasn’t as absurd as the neighboring Liuyun Temple—whose monks shaved their heads for work, maintained vegetarian diets during shifts, and then drank, ate meat, and courted women off the clock—it was still evident that this temple was a very profit-driven operation.

This violated the very principle of “true skill in a temple”!

Should not a temple of true artistry live in seclusion deep in the mountains, untouched by worldly affairs, its source of incense money unknown, yet somehow managing to survive? Should not its Taoists proclaim, “Believe if you want, if not, get lost. Do not disturb my ascension”?

Enough! Where there’s renown, there must be substance! He would go to Qingyun Temple and seek a master tomorrow! He would look for that type of elderly Daoist—white-bearded, childlike in visage—and if they refused him, he would simply clutch their leg and refuse to let go! He would not bear the name Nan unless he learned enough ghost-controlling arts to make Chi You question his very existence! He’d gladly take the name Chi instead!

Chi You looked up and drained the wine in his cup, catching Nan Shi’s burning stare, and could not help but smile: “What are you looking at?”

“I’m…” Nan Shi’s words caught at the tip of his tongue, and he hastily corrected himself, not voicing his true thoughts, and said with a stifled tone, “…I’m admiring how good-looking Senior Brother is.”

Chi You froze for a moment, then tapped his knuckles on the small table in the carriage: “You… attend me. Someone fetch help.”

Nan Shi was startled. No way—was Chi You going to have someone throw him out for simply complimenting his looks?

It couldn’t be, could it?!

“Senior Brother, what I meant is that you possess an elegant bearing— aloof, dignified, pure as a god—” Nan Shi quickly tried to explain, but before he could finish, Chi You gave a soft snort and glanced at him.

Nan Shi instantly fell silent.

“What does the Mountain Master command?” Qing He’s soft, ethereal voice floated in from outside.

“See to the young master’s wardrobe,” Chi You ordered, then sharply rebuked, “Are you all dead? Must I give the word for the young master to sit here like this?”

“Forgive me, Mountain Master, I know my error.” As the voice drifted in, the bamboo curtain outside the carriage was lifted, and Qing He entered, holding a change of clothing. The carriage was spacious enough for three without crowding; Qing He knelt slightly and said, “Please, young master, change your garments.”

Nan Shi: “…Huh? For what?”

Chi You shot him a glare, replying irritably, “Be careful not to catch a cold.”

“…Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother,” Nan Shi muttered, glancing down at his damp clothes. Truth be told, the down jacket he wore was waterproof, and though a bit rain-spattered, it had nearly dried out by now—at worst, still a little damp. He truly saw no real risk of catching a cold.

The outfit Qing He brought was a full set. Nan Shi had no choice, so he obediently lifted his arms and feet to change. Only afterward did he notice it was a long-sleeved, wide robe, a little large for him, the hem grazing the floor.

Qing He adjusted the attire for him. Without thread or needle, she neatly tucked the lining of two inner layers. The outer robe she left as it was, even attaching a series of jingling ornaments to his belt before declaring it complete.

Qing He arranged the corners of his robe, bowed, and took her leave.

Nan Shi looked down at his own attire, a little bewildered. “Aren’t we just going home?”

So, his senior brother wasn’t here to pick him up just because it rained?!

“No.” Chi You arched a brow. “What gave you that idea?”

Nan Shi replied, “Isn’t it obvious…”

If they were simply going home, he could have just taken off his jacket, no? He wore a sweater beneath, and it wasn’t particularly cold—so why dress in full regalia?

“I’m taking you to meet a guest,” Chi You said.

“….” Nan Shi rubbed his nose, his expression a tad odd.

Chi You noticed his demeanor and raised a hand: “Say what’s on your mind. Who is this act for?”

“Then I’ll speak, but you can’t scold me… and, uh, you can’t hit me either.”

“Speak.”

“Then I’ll say it.” Nan Shi murmured, “Every time you say you’re taking me to see a guest, I feel like I’m a courtesan in a brothel, being led out to receive clients by the madam…”

His voice dwindled to near nothing by the time he muttered “madam.”

Chi You was so vexed he laughed outright. Nan Shi really dared to say anything.

If he had not cultivated patience all these years, this impudent brat would have lost his life on the spot.

“So that’s how Mr. Nan thinks of the matter. Anything else? Best say it now.”

Nan Shi thought it over. Since he was already in for a penny, no harm going all in: “Just now, when you called Qing He dead… isn’t she already deceased?”

“And… usually when I go out, I drive. It’s fast and steady. Senior Brother, don’t you think this carriage is slow? Well, perhaps you’re used to it and not inclined to change, but is it truly impossible to have heating in here? In the middle of winter, we’ve only bamboo curtains—are we so poor our household can’t even afford a padded curtain? It’s really cold in here.” Nan Shi couldn’t help rubbing his arms.

Despite their elegance, these bamboo curtains did nothing to block the howling cold wind. His senior brother might not care—God knows how many years he’d been dead—but as for Nan Shi, a living man, he certainly cared!

When he hadn’t changed clothes earlier, it was bearable; after changing, now he was freezing!

If not for fear of wrinkling the robes, he would have dragged over his down jacket to use as a blanket!

Chi You: “…”

In truth, after that “madam leads courtesan to the client” allegation, Nan Shi’s complaints about carriage heating struck Chi You as comparatively reasonable—at least those were practical concerns.

With a wave of his sleeve, Chi You conjured a tight border of panels around the carriage, entirely sealing off the outside world; the cold wind found no way in. He glanced askance at Nan Shi. “Anything else?”

Chi You’s tone was mild, but Nan Shi felt certain his expression read, “One more word and you won’t live to regret it,” so he dared not utter another syllable. He sidled closer to Chi You in ingratiation: “Thank you, Senior Brother! You’re still the kindest to me.”

Chi You snorted coldly, ignoring him, wary that he might lose his composure and send the boy to his next life.

Now that the carriage was sealed, the warmth improved greatly. Though still not as toasty as central heating, the absence of cold wind was a blessing enough. After a while, Nan Shi found himself idly scrolling his phone—the carriage, miraculously, traveled smoothly, with no noticeable jolts. Heaven knows what trickery it employed.

He played for some time, yet the carriage did not slow.

Growing a bit stifled, Nan Shi opened the window and asked, “Senior Brother, where exactly are we going? How much longer?”

Chi You made no reply, but from outside, Qing He answered, “Young master, in about half a cup of tea, we’ll arrive.”

Nan Shi made a sound of acknowledgement and gazed out the window in puzzlement—the outside world was most peculiar. No, it was wholly bizarre.

It was a void—no moon, no stars, no visible landscape. Only a single straight road, narrow enough for just their carriage, bounded every dozen meters by a white lantern, with no other ornamentation.

All light came from these lanterns.

Only then did Nan Shi realize how swiftly the carriage was moving. The lanterns flashed by so quickly they blurred.

Qing He still walked serenely at one side of the carriage, her pace neither fast nor slow—she was certainly not running. “Young master, this is the Ghost Path.”

Nan Shi stiffened instantly. Before he could duck back inside, he saw another carriage rapidly approaching from the opposite direction, hurtling towards them on a collision course. He cried, “There’s a carriage ahead!”

Qing He started to reply, but from within, Chi You’s calm voice issued: “Stop.”

“Yes.”

Their carriage slowed to a halt, as did the other. Their windows faced each other directly; before Nan Shi could react, a hand seized his collar from behind, pulling him down.

At that moment, the bamboo curtain of the opposite carriage lifted, revealing its occupant.

It was a young man, dressed in singular fashion, looking about twenty, clad in ancient blue-grey robes—layered and stately, with great authority in his bearing.

Chi You lifted their own curtain, one hand still holding Nan Shi pressed down on the seat, keeping him from rising. With a faint nod, he greeted, “Lord Feng.”

The young man returned a nod, a greeting of sorts. His features were cold, nearly devoid of expression. “Master Chi, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

Chi You smiled lightly: “May I trouble Lord Feng for a tail feather?”

The young man hesitated barely a beat, then inclined his head. An object flew through the air, landing in Chi You’s palm. “You may repay me at a later date.”

“As you wish.”

With that brief exchange, both put down their curtains; the two carriages passed each other and vanished from sight almost instantaneously.

Only then did Nan Shi dare sit. His hand flew to his neck—internally grumbling at how icy his senior brother’s hands were.

“Why did you push me down like that, Senior Brother?”

Chi You casually tossed the object into Nan Shi’s lap. “Catch… With skills as meager as yours, you dare look directly at Lord Feng’s carriage? If you don’t want your eyes, you could just ask—Senior Brother can help with that.”

“What Lord Feng—” Nan Shi muttered, peering down at his hands.

He found there a feather—gray at a glance, though on closer look it was actually woven from five colors: red, blue, yellow, white, and purple. The hues were so muted the feather seemed gray, yet it shimmered subtly with some indefinable light. Strangely, the moment he gripped it, he no longer felt cold.

Though it wasn’t so much that the feather radiated warmth—it simply banished any feeling of cold.

Chi You’s eyes darted to Nan Shi’s hair, barely reaching his ears, and commented, “Your hair grows far too slowly. Once it’s long enough for a hairpin, you may use this feather. Until then, keep it close.”

Nan Shi nodded. “What is this thing?”

“Didn’t you hear clearly enough just now?” Chi You’s gaze fell on his wine cup; Nan Shi, ever an attentive disciple, promptly refilled it before Chi You continued, “A tail feather from the Phoenix—impervious to heat and cold.”

“Oh, impervious to heat and cold… Wait, Phoenix? You mean that just now was a Phoenix?!”

“Yes.” Chi You tipped back his cup. “Any problem?”

“…No.” Nan Shi swallowed hard, glancing down at his chest—he’d tucked it away just like that!

A Phoenix feather! From a real Phoenix! That kind that flies!

Shouldn’t he be enshrining this?

He felt his ancestors’ tombs were probably wreathed in auspicious vapors by now—he’d made it, truly made it, using a Phoenix feather!

Chi You watched Nan Shi flustered and fumbling, gave a soft snort, but let him be.

Before Nan Shi could decide if he ought to burn three or five sticks of incense a day, the carriage rolled to a halt. Qing He reported, “Mountain Master, young master, we have arrived.”

A hand reached in: “Young master, please disembark.”

Nan Shi alighted first, adopting the demeanor of a dutiful disciple, and reached to assist Chi You down—no choice, ceremony must be observed.

Chi You’s cool hand rested lightly on his arm as he descended gracefully from the carriage.

“Let’s go.”

Nan Shi lowered his head in assent, following Chi You for a few steps before sneaking a glance upward.

—What the hell! Qingyun Temple!

Did his senior brother know his intentions?! Since when did he develop mind-reading powers?

Wait—Senior Brother, don’t go in! He really didn’t wish to defect from the sect after all!

Better to follow Senior Brother—there’d be more prospects this way!!!

Phoenix feathers at hand!