"What makes you think that your plan can be put to effect in the next round?" Han Xuhan said while picking his nose nonchalantly.
Fang Xie let out a gloomy smile. "You'll see when it's time for you to see. Now, why don't you quit soiling my vision with your presence?"
The man gestured in a way one might shoo off mosquitos. Han Xuhan wasn't intent on sticking around and chatting any longer. He walked up the stairs on the mountain, heading straight for Xuan Zi's house.
The sect master's residence hadn't undergone any change, its size as vast as it had been back in its original territory. Han Xuhan had to wonder why a palace so large was constructed for one man to live in. Granted, there were servants to cook and clean for the sect master. But such a lavish display didn't quite fit with what he had come to expect in traditional sects.
Now, not even the servants were here to maintain the mansion. They had been given a paid leave for as long as the sect would stay in the archipelago. Who would cook and clean for Xuan Zi now? Or was the man powerful enough to survive a few weeks without food?
With those bizarre questions circling inside his heart, Han Xuhan knocked on the ten feet tall, six feet wide door.
"Greetings, Master Zi."
The door opened a moment later, and his nose was suddenly assaulted by a heavenly aroma.
No, it was not some jade beauty's perfume. It was the smell of fish being roasted, spices flying in the air, a delicious meal approaching the culinary peak!
Already hungry, Han Xuhan's stomach rumbled as he walked in. He had no idea who had opened the door because Xuan Zi was busy fiddling with bottles of spice and maintaining the fire.
"Welcome back, disciple. How did the trip go?" the sect master opened the road to discussion with the same words as Fang Xie, albeit a degree more politely.
"As well as you could hope for, sect master," Han Xuhan responded in the only way he thought was fitting.
"Oh! That's interesting to hear!" Xuan Zi raised a brow at him, seeming pleasantly surprised.
"It might take a while to give you the full story," Han Xuhan pointedly made a statement. Getting the implicit signal, Xuan Zi's mouth twitched uncontrollably for a second before he agreed.
"Sure, why don't you tell me all about it over lunch?"
"Ahahaha, I'll have to thank you for the meal then, sect master." Han Xuhan had the audacity to look surprised, making Xuan Zi roll his eyes and sigh in vexation.
Lunch tasted as magnificent as it smelled. Han Xuhan made a mental note to come visit his old sect master more often to show his filial piety, especially around the time of meals.
He didn't leave out any of the details, not even the crystal which Shangguang Ce had handed him secretly. Xuan Zi's eyes were sparkling by the time he finished.
"Two sects, then...not bad, not bad. I haven't heard of this Sunrider Sect before. Maybe I should pay them a visit in the future. As for that communication crystal, use it to befriend the other party. It might pay off."
Han Xuhan nodded in acknowledgment. He himself was very, very, very interested in the Sunrider sect. For the first time in the world of cultivation, he had found himself facing cutting-edge technologies comparable to modern Earth. Not investigating the history behind this sect would be a terrible mistake.
"What about the other sect, though? They were a pretty unique bunch of people." Han Xuhan did not forget the warm treatment he had received from the Wangs and Lings. Those were a group he could genuinely befriend without any benefits involved.
Unexpectedly, Xuan Zi barked out a short laugh.
"Oh, they're unique all right. I know the master of this sect. Very friendly guy, you'll love to meet him."
Looking at Xuan Zi's warm smile, Han Xuhan felt a chill in his heart.
Whoever that sect's master was...he did not want to meet him.
* * * *
"Something on your mind, disciple?" Xuan Zi asked right before he was about to take his leave. Han Xuhan, who had been attempting for a while to make that exact fact obvious, nodded hesitantly.
"Well, come back to say it when you feel like you can, since it doesn’t seem like you can say it right now..."
Noticing the impatience in his tone, Han Xuhan quickly began to speak.
"Do you remember a fellow disciple of mine named Yuen Zhou?"
That's right. He was going to tackle this matter openly, honestly. After all, his relationship with Yuen Zhou was not worth angering Xuan Zi. Whether the weight allotment map was accessible or not; whether he could steal it or not; whether it contained a huge secret or not....none of these were important in the bigger picture.
The actual matter of importance was his approach towards this task. If he got caught trying to steal it, or trick Xuan Zi into handing it away somehow...it would create a huge chasm in his relationship with the sect master. Between Yuen Zhou and Xuan Zi, the latter was a better backer, the bigger golden thigh.
This was an excellent opportunity to kill many birds with one stone.
To his inquiry, Xuan Zi's answer was an expected one.
"Yes, the only female disciple under Kong Ye's tutelage, how could I not remember?" Said the sect. master, a shadow of a smile lighting his face.
Han Xuhan felt that something was off in the way Xuan Zi had worded it. But if he tried to dig around that detail, he would lose the reigns of this exchange. He firmly made a mental note to himself and proceeded with his preplanned script.
"...I assume that you are aware that this martial sister of mine is an...exceptional cultivator."
Xuan Zi's faint smile widened for a second.
"Of course, of course. A mere mortal who grew fast enough to catch up with some of the most advanced disciples. Several elders have praised her natural affinity with our way of life in front of me. Quite an exceptional lass."
This time, Han Xuhan began smiling, copying the sect master.
"Not surprising! Well, but I do bear some news about her that might surprise you, master."
"Oh! Do tell!" Xuan Zi leaned in, arching a brow.
"Martial sister Zhou has been searching for a certain object that belongs to you, quite desperately."
Xuan Zi's smile froze.
"And what might this object be, disciple?"
"A map, in her words, a map containing the weight allotment scheme of the Celestial Gateway Spell. She wants the full map, containing the exact weight distribution of every disciple."
For the first time, Han Xuhan noticed a look of sheer confusion and bewilderment pass through Xuan Zi's face.
"That?! What use is that to her?"
Han Xuhan felt his heart sink. Did that mean the map didn't really contain anything particularly important or secretive? Had he made a clown out of himself?
"Wait a second...which part of the island did the last invasion from our competitors take place in?" Xuan Zi suddenly asked.
Han Xuhan's eyes widened. Xuan Zi noticed and smiled gloomily.
"Can't you think of one very obvious reason why our competitors might want this map?"
Countless cogs and wheels inside Han Xuhan's brain started turning.
"Well, the map contains the weight allotment...oh, OHHHH!"
Realization dawned on him fast.
How had he overlooked a motive so prominent?
The weight allotment scheme could give an outsider all the information about the average cultivation level of the disciples and elders, the exact number of powerful cultivators, and even the exact cultivation level of any specific disciple!
This map was potentially the most accurate and important collection of information on their sect!
And the attack by foreign cultivators on Yuen Zhou had taken place just before she had demanded the map!
All the details lined up, connecting the dots one after one...all from that one question Xuan Zi had posed.
"What makes you think that your plan can be put to effect in the next round?" Han Xuhan said while picking his nose nonchalantly.
Fang Xie let out a gloomy smile. "You'll see when it's time for you to see. Now, why don't you quit soiling my vision with your presence?"
The man gestured in a way one might shoo off mosquitos. Han Xuhan wasn't intent on sticking around and chatting any longer. He walked up the stairs on the mountain, heading straight for Xuan Zi's house.
The sect master's residence hadn't undergone any change, its size as vast as it had been back in its original territory. Han Xuhan had to wonder why a palace so large was constructed for one man to live in. Granted, there were servants to cook and clean for the sect master. But such a lavish display didn't quite fit with what he had come to expect in traditional sects.
Now, not even the servants were here to maintain the mansion. They had been given a paid leave for as long as the sect would stay in the archipelago. Who would cook and clean for Xuan Zi now? Or was the man powerful enough to survive a few weeks without food?
With those bizarre questions circling inside his heart, Han Xuhan knocked on the ten feet tall, six feet wide door.
"Greetings, Master Zi."
The door opened a moment later, and his nose was suddenly assaulted by a heavenly aroma.
No, it was not some jade beauty's perfume. It was the smell of fish being roasted, spices flying in the air, a delicious meal approaching the culinary peak!
Already hungry, Han Xuhan's stomach rumbled as he walked in. He had no idea who had opened the door because Xuan Zi was busy fiddling with bottles of spice and maintaining the fire.
"Welcome back, disciple. How did the trip go?" the sect master opened the road to discussion with the same words as Fang Xie, albeit a degree more politely.
"As well as you could hope for, sect master," Han Xuhan responded in the only way he thought was fitting.
"Oh! That's interesting to hear!" Xuan Zi raised a brow at him, seeming pleasantly surprised.
"It might take a while to give you the full story," Han Xuhan pointedly made a statement. Getting the implicit signal, Xuan Zi's mouth twitched uncontrollably for a second before he agreed.
"Sure, why don't you tell me all about it over lunch?"
"Ahahaha, I'll have to thank you for the meal then, sect master." Han Xuhan had the audacity to look surprised, making Xuan Zi roll his eyes and sigh in vexation.
Lunch tasted as magnificent as it smelled. Han Xuhan made a mental note to come visit his old sect master more often to show his filial piety, especially around the time of meals.
He didn't leave out any of the details, not even the crystal which Shangguang Ce had handed him secretly. Xuan Zi's eyes were sparkling by the time he finished.
"Two sects, then...not bad, not bad. I haven't heard of this Sunrider Sect before. Maybe I should pay them a visit in the future. As for that communication crystal, use it to befriend the other party. It might pay off."
Han Xuhan nodded in acknowledgment. He himself was very, very, very interested in the Sunrider sect. For the first time in the world of cultivation, he had found himself facing cutting-edge technologies comparable to modern Earth. Not investigating the history behind this sect would be a terrible mistake.
"What about the other sect, though? They were a pretty unique bunch of people." Han Xuhan did not forget the warm treatment he had received from the Wangs and Lings. Those were a group he could genuinely befriend without any benefits involved.
Unexpectedly, Xuan Zi barked out a short laugh.
"Oh, they're unique all right. I know the master of this sect. Very friendly guy, you'll love to meet him."
Looking at Xuan Zi's warm smile, Han Xuhan felt a chill in his heart.
Whoever that sect's master was...he did not want to meet him.
* * * *
"Something on your mind, disciple?" Xuan Zi asked right before he was about to take his leave. Han Xuhan, who had been attempting for a while to make that exact fact obvious, nodded hesitantly.
"Well, come back to say it when you feel like you can, since it doesn’t seem like you can say it right now..."
Noticing the impatience in his tone, Han Xuhan quickly began to speak.
"Do you remember a fellow disciple of mine named Yuen Zhou?"
That's right. He was going to tackle this matter openly, honestly. After all, his relationship with Yuen Zhou was not worth angering Xuan Zi. Whether the weight allotment map was accessible or not; whether he could steal it or not; whether it contained a huge secret or not....none of these were important in the bigger picture.
The actual matter of importance was his approach towards this task. If he got caught trying to steal it, or trick Xuan Zi into handing it away somehow...it would create a huge chasm in his relationship with the sect master. Between Yuen Zhou and Xuan Zi, the latter was a better backer, the bigger golden thigh.
This was an excellent opportunity to kill many birds with one stone.
To his inquiry, Xuan Zi's answer was an expected one.
"Yes, the only female disciple under Kong Ye's tutelage, how could I not remember?" Said the sect. master, a shadow of a smile lighting his face.
Han Xuhan felt that something was off in the way Xuan Zi had worded it. But if he tried to dig around that detail, he would lose the reigns of this exchange. He firmly made a mental note to himself and proceeded with his preplanned script.
"...I assume that you are aware that this martial sister of mine is an...exceptional cultivator."
Xuan Zi's faint smile widened for a second.
"Of course, of course. A mere mortal who grew fast enough to catch up with some of the most advanced disciples. Several elders have praised her natural affinity with our way of life in front of me. Quite an exceptional lass."
This time, Han Xuhan began smiling, copying the sect master.
"Not surprising! Well, but I do bear some news about her that might surprise you, master."
"Oh! Do tell!" Xuan Zi leaned in, arching a brow.
"Martial sister Zhou has been searching for a certain object that belongs to you, quite desperately."
Xuan Zi's smile froze.
"And what might this object be, disciple?"
"A map, in her words, a map containing the weight allotment scheme of the Celestial Gateway Spell. She wants the full map, containing the exact weight distribution of every disciple."
For the first time, Han Xuhan noticed a look of sheer confusion and bewilderment pass through Xuan Zi's face.
"That?! What use is that to her?"
Han Xuhan felt his heart sink. Did that mean the map didn't really contain anything particularly important or secretive? Had he made a clown out of himself?
"Wait a second...which part of the island did the last invasion from our competitors take place in?" Xuan Zi suddenly asked.
Han Xuhan's eyes widened. Xuan Zi noticed and smiled gloomily.
"Can't you think of one very obvious reason why our competitors might want this map?"
Countless cogs and wheels inside Han Xuhan's brain started turning.
"Well, the map contains the weight allotment...oh, OHHHH!"
Realization dawned on him fast.
How had he overlooked a motive so prominent?
The weight allotment scheme could give an outsider all the information about the average cultivation level of the disciples and elders, the exact number of powerful cultivators, and even the exact cultivation level of any specific disciple!
This map was potentially the most accurate and important collection of information on their sect!
And the attack by foreign cultivators on Yuen Zhou had taken place just before she had demanded the map!
All the details lined up, connecting the dots one after one...all from that one question Xuan Zi had posed.
