Chapter 737 — Secrets of the Past

Recalling the past, the Woodcutter Sage was silent for a moment before he spoke, unhurried: "Back then I was steeped in reform and change, believing I could unfold a grand design and fulfill great ambitions, and I had no heart for the affections of men and women. So although there were girls who liked me, I had no leisure to speak of private feelings."

Shen Mu blinked. The Imperial Preceptor of Jingping was that sort of man as well. The reason the Imperial Preceptor had not become another woodcutter was that he had still married his present wife, and had children.

The Imperial Preceptor of old had been absolutely rational, so much so that he could even use his own injuries as bait to lure the enemy into the open.

The Imperial Preceptor of the present, by contrast, had gained a touch of human warmth.

"By then I had already noticed that the Farmer bore me a certain resentment, and I truly had no heart for personal feeling. That girl was indeed outstanding, and beautiful besides — by any measure, she was the finest of companions. But Kaihuang had entrusted me with the weighty task of reform. If I had used the power Kaihuang gave me to dally with young maidens, would I not have betrayed Kaihuang's trust?"

The Woodcutter said, unhurried: "So I told that girl, Yunxi, I am not the man to whom you should entrust your life. What Kaihuang has entrusted to me concerns matters of great consequence; there are too many things in this world waiting for me to change. So I could only fail your deep affection."

Shen Mu listened, entranced, and laughed. "Teacher, family and state can still be reconciled. Why did you have to refuse her? And by refusing her, how did you come to offend the Martial Heavenly Master?"

"Her name was Yan Yunxi. A woman — a very captivating woman."

The Woodcutter was clearly recalling that woman, so outstanding and ethereal; he stared blankly, lost in thought, wearing a rare tenderness, and said softly: "She was also very clever, very talented. That she deigned to favor me gladdened my heart greatly, but I respected her more than I adored her. She asked me again — Tiange, Zhuo Cha harbors affection for me; is he a man worthy of entrusting one's life to? Zhuo Cha is the Farmer. I smiled and told her..."

The Woodcutter's expression turned odd. "I said, Zhuo Cha's love for the martial Dao surpasses his love for you. His love for the martial Dao is true; for you it is but a passing infatuation. Zhuo Cha is not a man to entrust your life to. I spoke as a friend, analyzing Zhuo Cha's character, and my judgment was quite accurate. No doubt this remark later reached Zhuo Cha's ears, which is why he has always taken a dislike to me."

Shen Mu said, "Teacher, you really do deserve a beating... That is not what I meant!"

He clutched his head — the Woodcutter had just rapped him hard on the crown, and it stung fiercely.

The Woodcutter went on: "Afterward Yan Yunxi did not marry; she changed her name and dressed as a man. I asked her why, and she said she had seen the two most outstanding men in the world — one unmatched in wisdom, his heart set upon the world; the other invincible in valor, his Dao-heart forever firm. Having seen these two, no other man could catch her eye. So she changed her name and disguised herself as a man, declaring that until she met a man who surpassed us, she would not change back into women's clothes."

He stared blankly, then shook his head and smiled. "She never changed back. Though Zhuo Cha met her many times, and they were on excellent terms, he never once recognized her."

Shen Mu blurted out, "The Martial Heavenly Master entered the Dao through martial arts and cultivated his way to the Imperial Throne — how could he fail to recognize Yan Yunxi in men's disguise?"

The Woodcutter laughed. "Yan Yunxi's skills are exceedingly high, and she is clever and eccentric. If she does not wish him to recognize her, he will not. Besides, the Farmer has nothing but muscle between his ears — what keenness of eye could he have? Yan Yunxi even beat him many times, and still he never recognized her. Instead he was utterly docile toward her, while toward me he was all cold looks and scowls."

"Beat the Martial Heavenly Master many times?"

Shen Mu's eyes were full of bewilderment. "This Sister Yan Yunxi..."

The Woodcutter snapped, "Call her Martial Uncle! Not Sister!"

Shen Mu said awkwardly, "Teacher, you just said Uncle Yunxi changed her name. What did she change it to? There are not many who could beat the Martial Heavenly Master into utter submission. I did hear the Martial Heavenly Master mention one person who once brought him completely to heel. But that person was not called Yunxi — she was called Zixi."

The Woodcutter said nothing, and looked out the door.

Outside, the old ox hastily withdrew his ears and gurgled away at his water pipe — though the fire had long since gone out.

Dragon Qilin promptly flopped down and pretended to sleep, snoring like thunder.

The Woodcutter rose, threw on his garments, and said, "I feel my injuries are nearly healed. A gradual course of the Art of Creation will suffice; there will be no lingering harm."

Shen Mu said hastily, "Are the Heavenly Master Zixi and Uncle Yan Yunxi one and the same person?"

The Woodcutter did not answer, but walked out, saying, "This time Zhuo Cha will surely emerge from seclusion. Once he does, there will be much room to maneuver. You plan to go with Hu Bugui to see Xu Shenghua? Then Zhuo Cha may go with you, to have a look at Xu Shenghua. I have other matters; I will go on ahead."

Shen Mu followed him. "I also plan to meet up with Sister Di Yiyue, to see how she and Heavenly King Tian Shu are remaking Fengdu."

The Woodcutter shook his head. "Remaking Fengdu cannot be done in a moment. And if she wants to find Tian Shu, she most likely will not. That fellow is certainly hiding in the biggest and best wine shop in Jingping, drinking."

Shen Mu's eyes lit up, and he laughed. "Then he must be in the palace wine cellars."

"I will find a way to notify Di Yiyue, and have her seek out Tian Shu."

The Woodcutter walked out the door, glanced at the old ox still puffing frantically at his water pipe, and said blandly, "The fire is out."

The old ox hastily lit it; a thick cloud of smoke burst forth, choking the ox until smoke poured from both eyes and nose, tears streaming down his old face.

"Say what should be said, and do not say what should not."

The Woodcutter said, "Though I can do nothing to you, the second-ranked Heavenly Master can still kill you with ease."

The old ox nodded hastily, and said with a fawning smile, "Rest assured, Grand Heavenly Master. I understand."

The Woodcutter then came before the feigning-sleep Dragon Qilin and said, "Talk too much, and you will easily find yourself loaded onto a platter and served at the table."

Dragon Qilin scrambled up with a gurgle, and with a meek, obedient air said, fawning, "My mouth is the tightest! I have never once let slip the Sect Master's embarrassing affairs!"

Shen Mu hesitated, then stroked the few little hairs of his mustache. "Fat Dragon knows many of my embarrassing affairs? Hmm. This one cannot be kept... How should he be cooked to taste best?"

The Woodcutter sought out the old farmer to take his leave. The old farmer was disinclined to bother with him, squinting his eyes and dozing; the Woodcutter had no choice but to go.

The old farmer snorted, and spat a thick gob of phlegm at his receding back.

Shen Mu's expression turned odd. These two Heavenly Masters were both tens of thousands of years old, yet they still behaved like children.

Before long, Hu Bugui came out of the Dou Niu Realm with a small bundle on his back, dressed simply, looking sharp and capable.

The villagers brought the great mountain back and, by some means unknown, sealed the Dou Niu Realm. Shen Mu made a circuit of the area but found no trace of a spatial seal, and could not help clicking his tongue in wonder.