Chen Wentian's bad mood didn't last for long. The sword festival was filled with excitement. A few rounds of laughter and spirited chatter from his disciples and he had already forgotten about Liu Qiye. One moment, he was pulled along by Song Wushuang to watch a duel on a platform. In another, his mouth was stuffed full of random bits of food from nearby street vendors.
"Here, master!" Su Xue said, holding up some roasted meat on a skewer, "This is from a sword horn bull. They said it could improve one's understanding of sword Dao by simply eating this!"
"Look, swordfish and sword-nosed dolphin! Wahh, it's almost impossible to find beasts from the ocean around the subcontinent!" Su Yue squealed.
In no time at all, the twins had filled everyone's hands with goodies they had acquired from all over. It was their singular interest after the pursuit of cultivation. There was no one in the sect more obsessed with food than them.
"How is it?"
"So good!"
"We should have something like this at the sect."
"I know!"
The disciples chattered together in a big group. The ice sisters abandoned their usual tight-knit dynamic, freely mingling with the others. Wu Qianyu, who usually preferred solitude, couldn't help but be drawn in, listening in with an idle smile. Even Bei Yingluo, the most junior, was not forgotten with Song Wushuang paying particular attention to her.
Chen Wentian laughed along with them, enjoying the moment. He was glad to see that all of them got along. He didn't know if they had already developed such a dynamic when he left them for the Martial Brilliance Continent or if it was a recent thing. Either way, it set his heart at ease.
They eventually circled to the other side of the plaza where there was a singular platform that overlooked a wide audience. Several female cultivators stood above, waving their swords around individually. They were not fighting with each other but simply displaying their skills. Whenever one person performed a particularly flashy or fancy move, the audience would clap and cheer.
Their swords flashed under the light of the lanterns. Their wide sleeves and flowing dresses fluttered in the air, following their movements. When they leaped into the air, they were like fairies descending from the sky.
Anyone could go up there yet only a few did. If one's ability was not enough, they would not receive much attention and they would feel embarrassed. Only those who held supreme confidence in themselves and their ability dared to show off.
Amidst it all, Chen Wentian noticed Bei Yingluo glance several times at the stairs that led up to the stage. She seemed to be debating something in her mind, her eyes dancing around with uncertainty.
He slipped next to her and nudged her, "Hey, what are you thinking about?"
"Oh… master. It's nothing."
"Come on, you can tell me. Do you want to try your Bei Family Spear on the stage?"
"I just thought… the Bei Family Spear was created, in part, as a dancing art. I've practiced it with the pudao recently and I just thought…" She then quickly shook her head, "Forget I said anything."
He nudged her again, "If you want to try it out, you can try it out. I don't mind."
She looked at him uncertainly but he smiled reassuringly.
"I won't get jealous of random people in the audience, I promise."
Bei Yingluo bowed, "Thank you, master. I won't let you down!"
She then rushed towards the foot of the stage before he could change his mind.
"That was a surprise." Zhou Ziyun commented.
"What?" He asked.
"I thought you would say no."
"I'm not that small-minded." He insisted.
She shrugged, not bothering to argue with him.
They all stood together and watched as Bei Yingluo walked up in front of the crowd. A wooden placard was placed on the floor in front of her, displaying her name and her sect. She gave a bow and withdrew her sword of choice, a shiny pudao with a straight, one-meter blade and a ridged handle of equal length.
Her appearance did not initially draw any attention but her usage of a spatial bag and the pudao certainly did. Both things were unique among all the performers thus far and the crowd was instantly intrigued.
Bei Yingluo held the pudao at the bottom of the handle, using her strength to hold the extra-long sword out like a broken spear. She then stepped into her clan's spear art with conviction. Her movements were quick and firm. Her limbs snapped to form with well-practiced precision and energy. She leaped across the stage, her thin, limber frame carrying her with surprising grace.
The audience cheered for her. They weren't disappointed by her flashy entrance. Her moves were born from spear arts so it was something that sword cultivators did not encounter often. It was fresh, it was exciting, and they appreciated it greatly.
"I have to commend the sect master of Ten Thousand Flower Valley. Your disciple, Bei Yingluo, is quite a talent." A male voice came from behind.
Chen Wentian turned to see an immortal with a richly adorned green outfit made of silk. The man was middle-aged with a neatly trimmed beard and bright green eyes. These details were inconsequential but what was most peculiar about this immortal was that he had a gentle lady hanging onto his arm as if she was his wife or concubine. She was quite a catch, perhaps only slightly below Song Wushuang or Xu Lanyi in terms of attractiveness.
Chen Wentian glanced between the two with growing curiosity and cupped his fists together.
"Immortal Blue Dragon Chen Wentian of Ten Thousand Flower Valley. You are?"
The man let out a belly laugh, "Immortal Green Destiny Yang Kaitian of the Mount Xiong Sect. Well met!"
"Well met." Chen Wentian replied courteously.
Yang Kaitian laughed again, "You know, I was surprised to find that we have quite similar interests."
Chen Wentian looked at him and then at the woman beside him, "Your disciple?"
"Exactly. Though, unlike Brother Chen, I wasn't audacious enough to bring more than one. Perhaps tomorrow night, I will do the same. Hahaha!"
Chen Wentian smiled wryly. He had nothing to say to that. Immortals like them were certainly not rare. Many immortals had relationships with their disciples but they didn't bother public declaring it. But since he only had female disciples, he would always seem frivolous wherever he went, especially with a crowd of them in tow.
"Perhaps Brother Yang has misunderstood something." Chen Wentian said.
"Heh, don't worry. You don't have to make excuses around me. We are men. There's nothing wrong with our interests. If others don't like it, they can mind their own business!" Yang Kaitian said and nodded towards the stage, "Your disciple is quite a sight. Good physique, elegant and charming. I'm impressed. I didn't know you were into that as well. Maybe I should send my Tongtong up there to perform a set as well."
"Master… don't…" The woman clinging to him whined in a coy voice.
"Hahaha! Tongtong is too shy, I need to teach her better." He pinched her cheek. He then thought about something and snapped his fingers, "You know what? Some members of the Eastern Sword Alliance are having a private party later tonight, immortals only. This is the address; you can stop by if you're interested. I promise it will be worth your time!"
He handed over and slip of paper.
Chen Wentian took it wordlessly.
"I promise, it will be a lot of fun." Yang Kaitain winked at him, laughed, and then strode away.
Chen Wentian stood there, slightly dumbfounded. He was expecting another confrontation with a member of the Four Greats, not a friendly chat. He didn't understand what that immortal meant by those words. He didn't know if he should accept the courtesy or ignore it.
The Four Greats of the Eastern Sword Alliance, were they enemies or harmless? What did they think of him? He already had to contend with the Tower of Swords. He didn't need more sects against him, more people plotting against him.
He thought about it as he watched Bei Yingluo finish her performance. She left the stage to the loudest applause and bounced towards him with a beaming smile.
"Master, how did I do?"
He chuckled. Why did he need to go to a party with dirty old men when he had so many beautiful disciples?
"You did great! I'll give you a special reward tonight!"
"Master, shhh! Don't say that so loudly!"
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