Young Master Bai — Chapter 45

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Chapter 45: Acquaintances Are the Quickest to Expose Old Scandals...

What the yao most lacked now was time, and the attitude of the Unknown Truth Sect was critical to the future of the Great Snow Mountain. At this moment Bai Chen had no mind for anything else — he sat by the window, reviewing the Unknown Truth Sect’s records over and over, mentally rehearsing every possible reaction Feng Shiqi might show.

It was actually his first time attending such an important meeting. Even with Li Wuming standing right in front of him, it took a while before Bai Chen responded. To keep from being unsettled by the man, he spoke in an uncharacteristically cold tone: “Negotiating with the Unknown Truth Sect concerns the future of the Great Snow Mountain. I must remain absolutely calm, and think through every detail.”

The little fox wore such a stern look that he refused to be touched. Li Wuming, however, found it amusing. He placed before his Dao companion a tea he had spent three hours preparing: “This is Cloud-tip Tea, unique to the Hidden Wisdom Sect. I added a bit of mint — just right to clear the head and refresh the spirit.”

This man never neglected himself. Back in Elderly Village he had busied himself with weeding and mending clothes, tasting the pleasures of rustic life. Now in the Hidden Wisdom Sect, he brewed tea and admired clouds, finding elegance in the mundane. Bai Chen sipped it. Indeed, it was crisp and refreshing, unlike anything else. He thought to himself that this man was remarkable — there seemed to be nothing in the world he could not do.

The tea calmed his nerves. Bai Chen had not wanted to let personal feelings be tangled up in political struggles, but there was no way to push Li Wuming aside in matters concerning the yao. After some hesitation, he cautiously said: “Give me some honesty — how far would you go for the Great Snow Mountain?”

Ordinary fox yao, once they charmed a man, would squeeze him dry of every ounce of value. But this Nine-tailed White Fox seemed afraid their bond might be eroded by such struggles. He carefully sheathed his claws and fangs, doing his utmost to appear gentle and harmless before Li Wuming.

After Bai Chen’s death, Li Wuming had cleaned out his room and discovered a box full of useless trinkets — fans, pendants, little pinwheels — all gifts Li Wuming had casually given during their travels. Yet the little fox had secretly hidden them away in a small chest, treasuring them, even stashing them under his bed. Perhaps at night he would sneak them out to play with.

Hoarding things was a fox’s instinct. In the old days, they hid away their most precious winter food. After evolving into yao, they still collected life-preserving treasures to keep at hand. For the Nine-tailed White Fox then, the memories he shared with Li Wuming were the true treasures that made him want to keep living.

Li Wuming fiddled with a pinwheel still clinging with a few fox hairs, and in that moment broke his commitment to the emotionless path. At dawn the next day, he had placed the pinwheel beneath the little fox’s paw, then walked alone into endless snowstorms. For the first time in his life, he disobeyed his master’s command — he did not bring back the Nine-tailed White Fox’s heart.

That was five hundred years ago. Li Wuming did not know why such a reckless man as himself suddenly remembered it. But seeing Bai Chen unchanged even after awakening, he smiled with relief. “Little fox, you must remember — I can risk my life for you.”

There was not a trace of falsehood in his tone. After all, he had already risked it once. The second time would only be easier.

This man always unsettled the little fox’s heart. Bai Chen’s mind had been clear, but upon hearing this he froze. At just that moment, He Yu arrived outside the room with news: “Young Master Bai, Sect Master Feng invites you.”

Bai Chen had waited until nightfall, and at last the leader of the Heaven’s Way Alliance had returned. Li Wuming, hearing this, bent to press a kiss against the little fox’s forehead, smiling lightly: “A little reassurance. Let’s go.”

The reassurance worked. Bai Chen suddenly feared nothing. Even as he entered the Unknown Truth Sect’s wing, he ignored all else around him. Not even the sight of Feng Shiqi — the man of legend who could change the world with a mere gesture — caused his heart to waver.

The Heaven’s Way Alliance had no uniform for members of the Unknown Truth Sect. Their only emblem was the plant-like rune inscribed on their brows, differing with each division. As a sect master, Feng Shiqi bore the unique mark of a crimson maple leaf — like the blood-soaked groves outside Chang’an and Lin’an, resplendent yet steeped in age-old sorrow.

Feng Shiqi’s appearance was forever that of a youth. Though acknowledged as the foremost cultivator under Heaven, he wore only a plain blue robe, a thin blanket over him as he lounged lazily on a soft couch. His hair fell loose, and he received guests while holding an old bamboo slip. He glanced at Bai Chen casually, then asked in an indifferent tone: “So, the Great Snow Mountain finally stirs after so many years of dormancy. Speak. What do you want to discuss?”

The rumors about Feng Shiqi were endless. Some said he was tyrannical, heedless of reason, striking even headmasters of the Heaven’s Way Alliance without hesitation. Others said he was cunning, with a glance able to doom an entire righteous sect. From hearsay alone, Bai Chen could not gauge his character. He was pondering how to speak when Li Wuming cut in first: “Sect Master Feng, your sworn brother’s old acquaintance has come with his Dao companion to see you, and you can’t even be bothered to offer a cup of tea?”

His tone was casual, hardly like someone addressing the leader of the righteous world. Bai Chen worried Feng Shiqi’s temper would flare, but instead, there seemed to be a connection between them. Feng Shiqi arched his brow, then said lightly, “My elder brother’s friends are naturally my friends. Attend them — bring seats, and serve tea.”

But such courtesy lasted less than a moment. As soon as the disciples brought tea, Feng Shiqi leaned on his hand, saying bluntly, “What I hate most is empty ceremony. If you’ve business, speak directly. Spare me the pleasantries — they give me a headache.”

Li Wuming was no less offhand. He pulled Bai Chen down to sit, then waved at a disciple and ordered, “Some sunflower seeds, please. Thanks.”

Important negotiations while cracking seeds — such antics had once been Feng Shiqi’s trademark. That Li Wuming had beaten him to it left him dumbfounded. With a cold snort he said, “You’re certainly not shy.”

Li Wuming only gave Bai Chen a look of calm, then smiled back at Feng Shiqi: “You were named a rascal by Deputy Headmaster Fu himself. Last year, at the Alliance meeting, you hurled a shoe at dissenters and drove them from the hall. Years earlier, you even beat my great-grandson, the emperor, until he dared not step outside. For a word like ‘courtesy’ to come from your mouth — isn’t that the real joke?”

It sounded playful, but the details were insider secrets of the Heaven’s Way Alliance. Feng Shiqi’s eyes deepened. At last he set aside the bamboo slip and looked at them seriously. “Truly a man with brothers across the world — even our internal meetings can’t be hidden from you.”

An unorthodox man was precisely the type Bai Chen was least adept at dealing with. Li Wuming would not let such a scoundrel bully his little fox, so this time he took the lead.

Seeing Feng Shiqi’s demeanor turn more serious, Li Wuming turned the discussion toward Bai Chen: “I’m resourceful enough — but what about you? Guess why my little fox asked to meet you after nightfall?”

This forced Feng Shiqi to finally regard the Nine-tailed White Fox. “What else? You must have found a mountain full of spirits and want me to hand it over.”

Feng Shiqi was famous for his lack of decorum. When the first righteous-demonic battlefield opened, he had dragged white-bearded challengers into competitions over who looked better in women’s dress. Against female cultivators, he competed in wooing them. The antics were endless, so much so that the righteous and demonic sides jointly added a rule forbidding bizarre contests. Bai Chen had been fretting over how to get this rascal to talk business, yet Li Wuming had managed it with only a few words.

The Nine-tailed White Fox sighed inwardly — when it came to shamelessness, his Dao companion was the greater master. Facing Feng Shiqi, he said firmly: “Not to take. To buy.”

Feng Shiqi, who managed the Heaven’s Way Alliance with more than roguishness, raised a brow. “Oh? With your yao cores and yao bones?”

The Unknown Truth Sect was studying ancient sea clans and had keen interest in yao. But Bai Chen would not give in so easily. He said coolly: “No — with the Divine Wordless Book you so covet.”

That offer dimmed even the reckless sect master's interest. “The imperial court is already a hollow shell. If I truly wanted it, there are plenty of ways to make that little emperor hand it over without protest.”

His casual tone carried iron confidence. Clearly, after an afternoon of pressing Bu Tiange, the Hidden Wisdom Sect was already wavering. Bai Chen turned to Li Wuming: “Do you dare tell him no?”

Li Wuming, fearless, said, “Not only dare I, I can say it while cracking seeds.”

And indeed, he popped another into his mouth. Bai Chen rolled his eyes but composed himself again, producing the imperial edict of succession they had held for some time, and passed it to Feng Shiqi. “Now we have a bargaining chip.”

Strength was the foundation of negotiation. The court’s faded armies meant nothing to Feng Shiqi. But Li Wuming, a master of warfare with unfathomable cultivation, changed everything. One glance at the edict made Feng Shiqi frown. He looked at Li Wuming, then at Bai Chen, his tone steady: “Fox spirit, indeed — you’ve made a man ready to risk all for you with little effort.”

“As long as the Unknown Truth Sect agrees, Li Wuming will represent the court in gifting the Divine Wordless Book to you.”

By an ancient Hidden Wisdom Sect decree, the Divine Wordless Book was to be entrusted to human emperors. If the court willingly transferred it, then there would be no dispute between the sects. Bai Chen knew that Feng Shiqi’s sworn brother was a former Hidden Wisdom Sect headmaster. Likely, Feng Shiqi did not want to damage that bond and had come in person to persuade Bu Tiange. Such a transfer was just what he needed. Bai Chen added, “Legitimacy is worth much in the Heaven’s Way Alliance, isn’t it?”

Righteous sects valued reputation. Coercion and theft sounded ill no matter how common from Feng Shiqi. He needn’t worsen his name. At this, his expression shifted. “And how do you plan to remove the spirits?”

“Move the mountain.”

Just two words. Feng Shiqi raised his brows. “Such extravagance?”

To relocate an entire mountain was unheard of. Yet Bai Chen spoke with confidence. “If Yonggu Mountain remains in human lands, the Alliance will not rest easy, and we can make no use of it either.”

Curious, Feng Shiqi studied him. Seeing no boast, he reasoned that as long as the yao did not remain in human territory, it would not be hard to silence other sects. He set his condition: “Since the Mountain God willingly joined your yao, I’ll not play the villain. But as you said — legitimacy is key. The Divine Wordless Book alone won’t make the Alliance elders surrender a spiritual vein. The Fox Immortal’s registry of the yao, plus three yao cores of a hundred years’ cultivation each, and one complete fox clan bone of three tails or more — deliver these to Lin’an, and Yonggu Mountain is yours.”

As Bai Chen expected, Bu Tiange had already informed Feng Shiqi of Elderly Village. The credibility of the Hidden Wisdom Sect eased his doubts. But the price was steep. Bai Chen frowned. “A complete bone?”

“Other parts don’t matter. But the tailbone must be intact.”

The tails were what distinguished the Tail Fox clan from ordinary fox yao. Bai Chen immediately knew Feng Shiqi sought their ability to resist tribulation. He met his gaze. “So the Unknown Truth Sect is very interested in the secrets of the Tail Fox clan’s tribulations.”

“Three tails is common among your yao. You leave no ghosts behind when you die. Just a skeleton — it’s not too much to ask, is it?”

Negotiations were bargaining games. Feng Shiqi would not relent. He added, “Many have urged me to attack the Great Snow Mountain and capture you for study. Were it not for my having some conscience, the yao might not even have this chance to sit here.”

The disparity in power was plain. Bai Chen knew he had to give something, yet he would not hand over a bone for nothing. Calmly, he said, “You ask too much. I require a gift in return.”

That piqued Feng Shiqi’s curiosity. Thinking of the yao’s plight, he guessed, “A non-aggression pact?”

But Bai Chen’s request was unexpected. Instead of asking the Alliance not to invade, he proposed something new: “No. The Great Snow Mountain will send yao to participate in your research. The final results must be shared with us.”

Yao had always scorned such tinkering. Few cared about the origins of the primordial beasts. This was the first time Feng Shiqi had seen a yao ask to take part. He scrutinized the Nine-tailed White Fox. “They say fox yao are cunning. Truly, you mean to steal humanity’s foundation for survival.”

“The yao know our bodies best, and can cooperate in experiments. That would aid the Unknown Truth Sect as well. If you agree, I will give as many bones as you want.”

Bloodline decline was a looming crisis for the yao. Bai Chen admitted that with their current knowledge, they could never solve it. Only the brilliance of the Unknown Truth Sect might. To cure the flaw of his race, he was ready to pay any price.

“A clever scheme — let us study the primordial beasts, and perhaps we’ll uncover a cure for your degeneration.”

Of course Feng Shiqi saw through it, but his interest was weak. He said coolly, “But of all the world, what I love most is humanity. If the yao grow strong, they will harm the people I’ve guarded for so long. Why should I give you this chance?”

A sharp question. Bai Chen had prepared for it. Calmly he replied, “This is not just for the yao. It is for humanity too.”

Feng Shiqi laughed. “Don’t tell me you mean the yao and humans will one day be reconciled. You’re not like the demonic path. The righteous and demonic may be divided in ideals, but they are kin, sharing the same root. Put aside grudges and they can coexist. But from the moment of birth, humans and yao have been hunter and prey. That is etched into our bones. It cannot be erased.”

Bai Chen replied, “I have never believed that yao and humans could reconcile. Even if a Heavenly Star fell again, until extinction itself, we would fight over the last breath of life.”

As expected, the righteous leader was no idealist. Bai Chen knew this. He avoided empty talk of peace, even joining him in admitting the cruel truth. But then he added, “Yet enemies come in many forms. Humans and yao may not be friends, but neither must we be mortal foes.”

An unusual notion. Feng Shiqi’s interest stirred. “What kind of enemy do you propose, then?”

“Worthy rivals.”

A worthy rival — not a mortal enemy. A slight different in phrasing can save oceans of blood.

Intrigued, Feng Shiqi straightened, listening intently. “Interesting. Continue.”

He was listening — that was half the battle. Bai Chen breathed a secret sigh of relief and pressed on: “Your sages once said: if a man has no long-term concerns, he will surely have near-term worries. In five thousand years of human history, your strongest powers always arose when beset by foes. When the glaciers receded, you fought primordial beasts for resources — that birthed the first Chang’an tribe who wielded blades. A thousand years ago, under pressure from the Demon Venerable and the Yao King, the Heaven’s Way Alliance was born. Only powerful enemies can unleash humanity’s true strength.”

As a fox yao, Bai Chen knew human history better than many cultivators. Feng Shiqi was surprised, though outwardly impassive. “But all this was to some day be free of enemies.”

“The Chang’an tribe defeated the primordial yao beasts, but within three generations split apart over land, warring for three hundred years before the first dynasty arose. That dynasty, and even Western Liang — the strongest — lasted only two hundred years before collapsing in a succession war. For five thousand years, your people have united and fractured, again and again. Tell me, has there been even one eternal Chang’an?”

Bai Chen’s study of human texts was thorough. He listed dynasty after dynasty, until pointing to the Heaven’s Way Alliance itself:

“The Alliance has lasted a thousand years, but its ten seats have constantly changed. The Hidden Wisdom Sect has declined. Once-great sects like the Scripture Pavilion, the Golden Core Sect, and the Great Clarity Sect — some are destroyed, some crippled. You have survived only through endless internal strife, constant elimination.”

He gazed at Feng Shiqi. “But that path is failing. Today, what power surpasses the Unknown Truth Sect? Who can check you? A peak is the beginning of decline. While you live, you can restrain your disciples. But if one day you are gone, can you be sure the Unknown Truth Sect will remain as you have made it?”

Every power eventually faltered. Once, the Hidden Wisdom Sect’s word alone protected the Great Snow Mountain. Now, the treaty was questioned again and again. Clearly, even they could not control things as before.

The righteous path had grown too vast. No one could guarantee unity among billions. Feng Shiqi knew this. His expression turned grave. “Rotten old, fresh new — the cycle of dynasties is Heaven’s Way. Even if the yao rise, how does that change it?”

That was the question Bai Chen awaited. He answered firmly:

“Because the yao are humanity’s greatest threat. The stronger we become, the more humanity must unite to maintain their place. Survival is the greatest force for progress. I believe that only a Heaven’s Way Alliance facing crisis is the strongest Heaven’s Way Alliance.”

The words had logic. Feng Shiqi, who had no interest in dealing with the yao, now reconsidered. “A sharp tongue indeed. If such creatures were wiped out, the world would be duller.”

Bai Chen’s heart leapt. “Then Sect Master Feng agrees?”

Feng Shiqi was decisive. Without consulting anyone, he said, “Send some clever little yao over. As long as they cause no trouble, I suppose the yao will learn something useful.”

With that assurance, Bai Chen could finally rest easy about the yao’s future. He knew when to stop, and promised in return: “I cannot vouch for the distant future. But so long as I live in the Great Snow Mountain — if men do not offend me, I will not offend them.”

For the sake of his people’s survival, Bai Chen had worked tirelessly since awakening, analyzing humanity’s condition day and night. At last, there was progress. Thankfully, Feng Shiqi’s concern was for humanity’s millennia to come. If he had harbored personal ambitions, today’s matter would have failed.

Bai Chen sighed with relief. But Feng Shiqi was intrigued by the fox’s cunning. Secretly, he marked the Nine-tailed White Fox as a subject for further study. Looking at the relaxed Bai Chen, then the indulgent smile of Li Wuming, he said slyly: “Back then, Brother Li bargained away the Li dynasty for a resurrection method. In later years, he scoured the land for materials. Seems his centuries of effort wasn’t wasted.”

Li Wuming always carried the seals of great figures, always meeting acquaintances wherever he went. Bai Chen had wondered why he was suddenly so sociable — only now did he realize it had all been for him. Li Wuming, who had always been aloof, owing no favors, had begged countless people for Bai Chen’s revival. Thinking this, the little fox could not help but seize his Dao companion’s hand.

Though silent, his eyes brimmed with pain and questions. Feng Shiqi laughed at the broken composure of the Nine-tailed White Fox. Li Wuming could only sigh helplessly: “So petty — you expose my secrets just for a plate of seeds.”

Feng Shiqi was a rascal that both righteous and demonic cultivators alike avoided. To see him lose out to Li Wuming, then retaliate by tearing off the man’s mask of emotionless calm — the exchange was mutual delight.

But he was a true solitary cultivator, whose Dao companion had truly died. Seeing this pair before him, clearly bound for long entanglement, he snatched back the plate of seeds, cracked them himself, and swept the couple out: “I’ve had enough of this talk. Go back and quarrel sweetly in your room. Don’t flaunt your happiness before a lonely man.”

~ Chapter End ~

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