The Birds Keep Ringing Chapter 1
byFlowing Cloud Sect was supposedly a grand founding sect, and its name sounded quite immortal and Daoist, but in reality, it was so impoverished that only the name remained. Its main assets included: a mountain peak that was nearly bald, and a few thatched huts that shed debris with every gust of wind.
Of course, ever since Yun Zhen, the sole heir of the Yun Family in Jiangnan, entered the sect with his father’s silver notes, the mountain gained a few blue-tiled houses that looked capable of withstanding wind and rain, adding to the sect’s dwindling assets. Speaking of which, Yun Zhen always suspected that Master took him in not primarily for his Aptitude, but for his father’s money.
The sect was sparsely populated. Counting him, there were only four people who could breathe.
The Senior Disciple Brother, Xiao Fengzhi, had a pair of foxy eyes that looked deeply affectionate even when gazing at a wooden post. In martial arts, he adhered to the principle of “stopping at the point,” meaning as long as he hit the mark, he considered the practice done. His life’s effort was poured into the more complex and talent-demanding study of “romance.”
Therefore, every now and then, various martial arts prodigies or scholars would seek him out on the mountain, either to denounce him for “abandoning them after seduction” or to beg him to “change his mind.”
Whenever this happened, Senior Disciple Brother would dart into the kitchen with lightning speed and instruct his junior disciples: “Just say I’ve achieved Enlightenment and am in Closed-door Cultivation, and cannot emerge for forty-nine days.”
In any case, his Enlightenment was always about “the battlefield of love, where the best strategy is to run.”
Senior Disciple Sister Wen Wan, true to her name, looked like she had stepped out of a painting, and her voice was gentler than spring rain. If one hadn’t seen her single-handedly lift two buckets of mountain spring water and move with the speed of flight, anyone would think she was a frail woman who could be blown over by the wind.
According to Yun Zhen’s long-term observation, she had no interest in burly men, but was particularly fond of the soft waists of young ladies.
Her daily pastime was going down the mountain to “dispense justice.” After rescuing a girl who was being harassed by a bully, the girl would often cry profusely, about to utter the polite phrase “This humble girl has no way to repay you,” when Senior Disciple Sister would preempt her, walk over, embrace her, and smile softly: “Don’t be afraid, young lady. All women under heaven are one family; mutual assistance is only right.”
As for the Second Disciple Brother, Jiang Zhi, he was Yun Zhen’s unilaterally designated enemy.
This person’s facial nerves might have been underdeveloped congenitally and lacked exercise postnatally, as his face was perpetually covered in a layer of millennia-old frost. Standing there, the temperature within a ten-step radius would plummet.
Yun Zhen seriously suspected that half the reason the mountain was sparsely vegetated was due to natural disaster, and the other half was because of Jiang Zhi.
The most infuriating thing was that he didn’t even acknowledge Yun Zhen’s existence.
Just like now, Yun Zhen watched him walk past without even sparing a glance, as if Yun Zhen were just a moss-covered rock by the roadside.
About two hours ago, a group of people aggressively charged toward the sect gate, making a huge scene.
Yun Zhen and Wen Wan exchanged glances. Senior Disciple Brother had already fled, and Master was nowhere to be seen. They soon found out that Senior Disciple Brother had caused trouble again, provoking the only son of the Xie Family, a prominent martial arts clan. Even worse, this Young Master Xie had a fiery temper, exceptional martial arts skills, and was accompanied by a group of experts, all aggressively blocking the sect entrance.
In the end, it was Jiang Zhi who went to “handle” it. The so-called handling meant beating up everyone who came to cause trouble.
Yun Zhen thought this was wrong; fighting and killing were too violent. In his opinion, it would be better to properly clean and dress Senior Disciple Brother and send him directly to the Xie Family. Since Senior Disciple Brother had good Lightness Skill, he could still run away if things went south.
Besides, that Young Master Xie had handsome features and a dignified appearance, so Senior Disciple Brother wouldn’t be at a disadvantage going there. According to the storybooks, this was called “climbing a high branch.” Afterward, when talking to others about his Senior Disciple Brother marrying into the famous Xie Family, wouldn’t he gain immense prestige?
Yun Zhen spat out the foxtail grass he was chewing and nudged Wen Wan with his elbow: “Senior Disciple Sister, tell me, am I unsightly?”
Wen Wan turned Yun Zhen around and examined him carefully. He was bright and vibrant, like the spring light in March, and his eyes were particularly striking, the pupils clear like mountain stream water, the outer corners naturally upturned, giving him a three-part charm even when not smiling.
Wen Wan said: “Our Zhen Zhen is as beautiful as the first peach blossom of spring. Who said you were ugly? Senior Disciple Sister will beat them up for you.”
Yun Zhen: “Then why didn’t Jiang Zhi look at me just now? Is he sick?”
“Let’s skip that one,” Wen Wan looked up at the sky. “Zhen Zhen, you really can’t beat that one.”
Wen Wan suddenly lowered her voice mysteriously: “Second Disciple Brother isn’t sick; he is naturally your nemesis.”
Yun Zhen’s ears immediately perked up: “My nemesis? How so?”
“Think about it,” Senior Disciple Sister began her serious argument. “Your name is Yun Zhen (Cloud Truth), and his name is Jiang Zhi (River Stop). As the saying goes, the river stops the water, and the clouds dissipate the rain. His name is naturally meant to stop your cloud, making it unable to move. What else could that be but a nemesis? Clouds meet the river and stagnate; wind meets the mountain and stops. This is Destiny; you can’t escape it.”
Just then, the romantic Senior Disciple Brother, Xiao Fengzhi, strolled over from who knows where, fanning himself. Hearing this, he smiled profoundly: “Junior Disciple Sister is absolutely right! The Daoist Principle of Nature dictates that one thing conquers another. Little Disciple Brother, your cloud is destined to be completely controlled by Second Disciple Brother.”
Yun Zhen suddenly saw the light! So that was the root of the problem! He thought, no wonder he always felt uncomfortable whenever he saw Jiang Zhi. It wasn’t psychological; it was the Heavenly Dao! It was fate!
But… who said he was controlled?
Thinking this, Yun Zhen felt a surge of anger and immediately turned his fire on Senior Disciple Brother: “You talk as if you know so much! When the Xie Family army came knocking just now, why didn’t I see you come out to demonstrate the Daoist Principle of Nature? You hid faster than anyone. Now you’re fanning yourself and making sarcastic remarks. Why don’t I go invite Young Master Xie back right now and tell him you’ve changed your mind and are willing to Dual Cultivate with him?”
“Well…” Senior Disciple Brother’s eyes darted away, and he suddenly pointed into the distance. “Master seems to be calling me…” He then took off running.
To be honest, when Yun Zhen first joined the sect, he did harbor a certain admiration for Jiang Zhi that he couldn’t share with outsiders. After all, he was skilled in martial arts, handsome, and spoke little, perfectly fitting the image of the “Cold-Faced Hero” Yun Zhen read about in storybooks.
He even tried to imitate Jiang Zhi by wearing all black, only to be scolded by Master, who said he looked like he was attending a funeral at such a young age, which was unlucky.
Yun Zhen protested: “Why don’t you scold Second Disciple Brother!”
Master’s beard was practically twisted with anger: “Your Second Disciple Brother is in mourning!”
Yun Zhen: “…” No one told him!
Later, Yun Zhen tried everything to attract his Second Disciple Brother’s attention, but alas, the flower was willing, but the flowing water was frozen. Jiang Zhi simply wouldn’t engage with him.
Wen Wan was curious: “Zhen Zhen, is there any meaning behind your name? Did your parents hope you would see the light after the clouds parted and return to simplicity?”
Yun Zhen looked bewildered: “No. My father said that on the day I was born, he opened the window, saw the clouds in the sky, and casually remarked, ‘This cloud is truly white (Yun Zhen bai).’ As soon as he said ‘Yun Zhen,’ I started wailing. The steward next to him was recording the name, heard it, and thought, ‘Oh, Yun Zhen, good!’ and wrote it down. As for what happened to that cloud afterward, no one cared. Alas, this is probably my Destiny, without beginning or end. Who truly cares about me?”
Names determine Destiny, but sometimes, they just show how casual parents can be.
Wen Wan: “…”
Forget it, Yun Zhen thought. He couldn’t communicate with these humorless fellow disciples.
He had figured it out: there wasn’t a single normal person in the sect, from top to bottom. Master specialized in swindling, Senior Disciple Brother constantly courted romantic trouble, Senior Disciple Sister enjoyed corrupting innocent girls, and Second Disciple Brother was a monster specifically meant to counter him.
This place was truly not suitable for long stays.
That old miser, Master, had given him an urgent mission today: go down the mountain to the largest Yipin Studio in the city and buy their most expensive pine soot ink.
Master’s exact words were: “Zhen’er, I have recently observed the celestial phenomena and calculated with my fingers that the fortune of our sect is related to literary ink. The ink from Yipin Studio contains vast righteous energy. Buy it back and place it in our main hall to ensure the sect’s prosperity and flourishing incense for the next hundred years!”
Yun Zhen looked at him, wanting to ask: Our dilapidated place doesn’t even have a door panel for the main hall; what are we going to use to suppress evil? And flourishing incense is wishful thinking. Leaving aside everything else, do any of your disciples look like they would attract incense?
But he didn’t ask. He knew the old man was just short on money again.
However, this suited him perfectly. This was an opportunity—a chance to leave.
Yun Zhen returned to his small courtyard, the most lavish in the entire sect, and began stuffing things into his travel bag: a few changes of clothes, a few storybooks, and all the pocket money his father had given him.
The martial world! Here he came!
Yun Zhen tied what he thought was a very dashing knot on his bag, slung it stylishly over his shoulder, and was about to head out when he saw Jiang Zhi leaning against the doorway, holding a sword. He didn’t know how long Jiang Zhi had been standing there.
This person was like something that grew out of the ground, silent and still, looking at him and the overly conspicuous bag on his shoulder with flat, emotionless eyes.
Jiang Zhi coming to find him was as rare as the sun rising in the west, a sow climbing a tree, or Senior Disciple Brother suddenly becoming interested in women!
Yun Zhen’s heart sank. He subconsciously wanted to hide the bag behind him but felt that would be too cowardly. He stiffened his neck, maintained his posture, and spoke first, trying to gain the upper hand: “Second Disciple Brother, what is your business?”
Jiang Zhi’s gaze slowly slid from his face to the bag on his shoulder, then slowly slid back to his face. Yun Zhen felt goosebumps rise.
“Time to practice,” Jiang Zhi uttered three concise words.
“Not today,” Yun Zhen immediately refused, using Master as a shield. “Master has entrusted me with an urgent matter, ten thousand times urgent, concerning the rise and fall of our sect!”
Jiang Zhi took a step back.
Yun Zhen’s heart leaped with joy, thinking he was going to move aside.
Unexpectedly, he said: “I’ll go with you.”
Yun Zhen: “???”
He was shocked: “What are you going to do?!”
“Supervise,” Jiang Zhi said expressionlessly.
Yun Zhen: “…”
Jiang Zhi walked out two steps, then turned back. He didn’t speak, just looked at Yun Zhen. The sunlight shone on his expressionless face. Although it was a handsome face paired with good weather, it somehow gave Yun Zhen the oppressive feeling of “the coming storm.”
The hairs on the back of Yun Zhen’s neck stood up. The prophecy of his Senior Disciple Sister—”he is your nemesis”—flashed through his mind.
Damn it! Heavenly Dao is unfair! What is a nemesis? This is a nemesis! Even his plan to venture into the martial world could be ruined by a single sentence from Jiang Zhi!
Yun Zhen cursed inwardly, but ultimately resigned himself to following behind Jiang Zhi. All the way down the mountain, he pondered a serious question: What were the chances of successfully defecting from the sect?
The answer was slim to none. Because he would probably be caught by Jiang Zhi before he even ran down the mountain.
Once they reached the foot of the mountain, Jiang Zhi was true to his word, supervising Yun Zhen throughout the purchase of the ink. Yun Zhen had planned to sneak into the nearby tavern to listen to the storyteller recount heroic deeds like “The Great Hero who Conquered Eighteen Forts in One Night,” but as soon as he lifted his foot, he felt a chilling gaze on his back.
He had to give up, disappointed.
On the way back up the mountain, Yun Zhen grew angrier the more he thought about it, and couldn’t help but say: “Jiang Zhi! You did that on purpose! You just can’t stand to see me happy!”
Jiang Zhi didn’t stop walking, nor did he turn his head: “Happy where?”
Yun Zhen was so choked up he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
Hypocrite! Sanctimonious! Cold-faced and cold-hearted!
After returning, he tossed the ink into Master’s arms and stomped back to his room in a huff, throwing his bag onto the bed. He decided he would leave tomorrow! No! Tonight! No one would stop him!
Yun Zhen lay in bed, tossing and turning, increasingly convinced that Jiang Zhi was the number one stumbling block on his path to the martial world.
No, he definitely couldn’t leave under Jiang Zhi’s nose.
He had to find a way.
The next morning, Yun Zhen, sporting two dark circles under his eyes, found Jiang Zhi.
He took a deep breath and adopted a humble, seeking-guidance demeanor: “Second Disciple Brother, after much reflection yesterday, I realized you are right. I am a disgrace to the sect. I beg Second Disciple Brother to instruct me without reservation!”
Jiang Zhi paused while wiping his sword and looked up at him.
But Yun Zhen ignored the pause and continued his act: “A true man should establish himself through martial arts! I want to become stronger! Please, Second Disciple Brother, help me!”
Jiang Zhi looked at him for a long time, then actually nodded and uttered one word: “Fine.”
For the next month, Yun Zhen lived a life harder than any ascetic monk in a storybook.
Jiang Zhi’s teaching method was extremely simple and brutal. After demonstrating a move, he would have Yun Zhen imitate it. If he made a mistake, Jiang Zhi would point it out with a tree branch. Yun Zhen was drenched in sweat, feeling like he wasn’t practicing martial arts but turning a millstone.
That elusive tree branch always landed precisely on the spot where his force was wrong or his posture was incorrect. It didn’t hurt, but it was extremely humiliating.
“Jiang Zhi! You’re doing this on purpose!” Yun Zhen jumped up after his wrist was tapped again. “The move White Rainbow Piercing the Sun is not supposed to be like that! The heroes in the storybooks turn, rotate their wrist, and stab out elegantly! Flowing like water! You just do one quick stab! It’s ugly!”
Jiang Zhi finished his move and looked at him, finally saying a few more words than usual: “When killing someone, what good is looking pretty?”
Yun Zhen choked, arguing fiercely: “Mar-tial World Style! Don’t you understand!”
Jiang Zhi ignored him, raised the branch, and tapped his wrist: “Again.”
Yun Zhen: “…” He really wanted to snatch that wooden stick and throw it in Jiang Zhi’s face!
Yun Zhen was exhausted every day, but the results were noticeable. He felt that the sword in his hand was no longer a mere fire poker, but a… more resilient fire poker.
One day, Yun Zhen collapsed on the ground, unable to move a single finger.
Jiang Zhi stood before him, looking down, and suddenly asked: “Why?”
Yun Zhen gasped for breath: “Why what?”
“Practicing so diligently.”
Yun Zhen’s eyes darted around, and a plan came to mind. He struggled to sit up, his face full of indignation: “Because of you! Because you are my nemesis! I refuse to accept it! Why should a cloud be constrained by a river? I want to defy Destiny and change my fate! I want the cloud to fly higher! You won’t stop me!”
Jiang Zhi: “…”
A faint crack seemed to appear on that perpetually unchanging face. He looked at Yun Zhen as if seeing him for the first time.
After a long moment, he turned and walked away.
Yun Zhen watched his retreating figure, smiling triumphantly in his heart.
Heh heh, Jiang Zhi, just you wait. Once this young master goes out and becomes a famous hero, the first thing I’ll do is stir up your river until it’s completely chaotic! Making your name, Jiang Zhi, fade into obscurity!
Yun Zhen struggled to his feet, limped back to his room, and felt that his martial arts had reached the pinnacle—the level where he could graduate.
As for going down the mountain…
He thought about it.
Forget it, he’d leave tomorrow. He was exhausted today and needed rest.
Let the martial world wait. It had waited eighteen years for him; one more day wouldn’t hurt. Right now, he just wanted to complain to the Duke of Zhou (God of Dreams) about how inhumane and wicked Jiang Zhi was.
As for whether he would actually leave tomorrow…
Sigh, he’d worry about that later. After all, Master himself had said: Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, how many tomorrows are there?