FIMA Ch127: The Convention

This day was a lovely early spring.

The sky was clear as washed, the weather was beautiful, and the river water shimmered with glints.

Not far away, the reflection of Xuanqing Mountain was gently rippling in the wind, like an ancient mysterious turtle lazily resting by the river.

A light boat floated on the river, creating tiny ripples.

At the slightly raised bow of the boat, on a dark little stove, a teapot was simmering tea.

The scene was extremely leisurely.

When Gu Siyuan saw that the tea was almost ready, he gently adjusted the charcoal fire and lifted the handle of the pot to pour a cup of tea and handed it to the person beside him: “Try it.”

“Okay.” Xie Chenyun immediately put down his fishing rod and eagerly took the cup with both hands.

This ceramic cup was a flawed item bought from a small stall, very rough to the touch, and the tea was wild tea grown on the nearby Xuanqing Mountain, roasted by villagers themselves.

However, accompanied by this solitary little boat, surrounded by river, water, and sky, there was an indescribable charm.

Gu Siyuan poured himself a cup as well.

The tea touched his lips. At first, it was a shallow bitterness, but after a few sips, there was a lively and wild fragrance, lingering like silk, with a sweet aftertaste.

Gu Siyuan couldn’t help but narrow his eyes in satisfaction.

Seeing him, who usually had a cold and stern face, showing such a relaxed look, Xie Chenyun couldn’t help but puff up his cheeks and tease, “Hmph, Your Majesty is quite carefree on the river. By now, I’m afraid hundreds or even thousands of people coveting your throne have already gathered on Xuanqing Mountain.”

Today is the beginning of winter.

It is precisely the day when the Great Convention, where the Heavenly Hall chooses its master, is held, located on the Xuanqing Mountain Island.

Xuanqing Mountain is located on the western outskirts of Jiangcheng, where the Yangtze River and Han River converge, surrounded by water on all sides, with an excellent geographical location.

Gu Siyuan had left Huangzhou halfway and came to Jiangcheng, specifically for this convention and for the legendary Imperial Seal, naturally not to be missed.

However, compared to most powerful people who rushed to occupy their seats early in the morning, he seemed excessively leisurely with his rented pleasure boat, eating and drinking slowly.

Gu Siyuan glanced at the sulking Xie Chenyun and deliberately said, “No, no, Chenyun, how would you know? The present ease and composure of mine are merely to maintain imperial dignity and to intimidate others. Just look at this moment, aren’t we in a hurry to get to Xuanqing Mountain?”

“…” Xie Chenyun.

Xie Chenyun looked at the boat, which had been parked in the middle of the river for half an hour, and the tea-making utensils and fishing tools at the bow.

In his eyes there was a fleeting sense of puzzlement, suddenly glaring, glaring angrily at Gu Siyuan.

Aren’t you treating me like a fool?

Seeing him in such an animated mood, Gu Siyuan had already laughed out loud, a genuine sense of joy rising in his chest.

For some reason…

In recent days, he seemed to have an inexplicable and profound interest in teasing Xie Chenyun.

Although Xie Chenyun was still angry, he suddenly saw Gu Siyuan laughing so happily and couldn’t help but be slightly stunned.

Gu Siyuan was always stern and severe, quiet and reserved. Normally, one could hardly see him smiling, let alone laughing so heartily. Therefore, at this moment, it was as if the ice had melted, spring had returned to the earth, and everything was flourishing.

Seeing this scene, who in the world could still be truly angry?

Of course, Xie Chenyun couldn’t either.

At this moment, Gu Siyuan picked up the teapot again and poured himself another cup of tea, and filled Xie Chenyun’s cup as well.

He looked at the person in front of him and smiled knowingly, “Calm down. Earlier, I was just teasing you. Upon careful analysis, going to Xuanqing Mountain too early would indeed be futile. The convention is scheduled to start at noon. If the Tianwai Hall doesn’t appear until the last moment, there’s no point in us rushing there to be crowded among the masses and listen to idle talk. Why not sail leisurely on the river?”

“True,” Xie Chenyun nodded, sneering coldly, “The Heavenly Hall seems quite self-important. They must want to see everyone sweating profusely, desperate and unable to obtain anything, while they gracefully and leisurely appear at the last moment, thereby emphasizing their status as the sacred place of martial arts and showcasing their superiority in choosing the master.”

Seeing a frosty chill between his brows, Gu Siyuan couldn’t help but find it somewhat adorable.

Like a protective little lion cub.

He couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch those soft cheeks and said softly, “In that case, we should pay even less attention. Moreover, the so-called Imperial Seal is just an inanimate object. If it makes you angry and anxious, it’s really not worth it.”

Xie Chenyun remained silent.

A hint of crimson rose in Xie Chenyun’s ears, his eyes lowered slightly, rare shyness creeping in.

This emperor was truly good at coaxing people.

To openly say that the Imperial Seal and his feelings were not comparable, it was really…

Gu Siyuan didn’t understand why Xie Chenyun was daydreaming again.

But he was in a good mood and gradually accepted that the person beside him had an unusual way of thinking.

He sat back at the stove, added some water to the teapot that had already been half-drunk by both of them, and slightly increased the charcoal fire.

Xie Chenyun hugged his knees, tilting his head to look at him.

He felt that this person was truly beloved by heaven and earth. Whether he was handling state affairs sternly, playing the qin under the moonlight, or tending to the charcoal fire now, he was so charming.

So when Gu Siyuan put down the tools,

he naturally felt a familiar warmth on his cheek.

Gu Siyuan hesitated whether to counterattack as he had when playing the qin last time, although he might end up being pinched a few times…

But this time, before he had a chance to think too much, that warmth cleverly touched him.

“…” Gu Siyuan.

Gu Siyuan turned to look at Xie Chenyun, who was now holding a small ceramic teacup with both hands, sipping tea intently.

The slender white fingers, set against the rough ceramic, were as cold as jade, and the cheeks were round and bulging like a little squirrel…

Gu Siyuan decided to forgive the mischief and teasing.

Lovely people always had some privileges within certain boundaries.

The river breeze brushed their faces, and holding the hot tea, everything felt exceptionally comfortable.

Xie Chenyun tasted a few sips in succession, and then thought of something, looking at the person beside him with a smile, “Once again, I have seen something new. Your Majesty’s tea is unexpectedly brewed very well.”

Gu Siyuan was slightly stunned for a moment, but quickly understood the deeper meaning of his words.

This was something they had discussed during their conversation under the moonlight a few days ago.

He didn’t take it to heart.

However, seeing Xie Chenyun, who had yet to catch any fish with his fishing rod, he stood up and sat down next to him, saying, “Today, I might as well let Chenyun experience something else.”

Xie Chenyun wasn’t wrong.

Gu Siyuan’s main purpose today was probably to enjoy the river, and secondarily to attend the Convention for Choosing the Master. There were more than just two fishing rods and hooks prepared on this small boat.

He carefully threaded the hook with bait and cast it into the water.

He then, Xie Chenyun didn’t know whether he should be happy or not.

He had just been sitting there for half an hour, not catching even a blade of water grass. Yet, as soon as Gu Siyuan took action, within the span of half a cup of tea, the fish basket was already filled with two or three lively jumping fish.

Humph, so the fish discriminate too!

He bent down, staring with wide round eyes at the few fish in the basket.

“Wow…”

But just then, Gu Siyuan pulled up another fish.

Can this be tolerated!

Xie Chenyun immediately showed a displeased expression, glaring fiercely at Gu Siyuan.

He couldn’t bear to vent his anger on the fish that were soon to be food, but directing it towards Gu Siyuan seemed perfectly reasonable.

Seeing him like this, Gu Siyuan immediately suppressed a smile and asked, “Chenyun, do you know why?”

Xie Chenyun shook his head.

He gritted his teeth slightly and, swallowing his pride, asked, “Does Your Majesty have some exclusive fishing technique?”

Gu Siyuan also shook his head gently.

Then, his expression slightly solemn, he explained mysteriously, “Actually, this is related to a legend. Have you heard of the fish leaping over the dragon gate? Fish are very ambitious creatures, always aspiring to transform into dragons. Naturally, they are quite sensitive to the aura of dragons…”

Xie Chenyun furrowed his handsome brows, feeling that the answer to come might not be what he wanted to hear.

Sure enough, the next moment, Gu Siyuan continued earnestly, “But as everyone knows, am I not the only true dragon emperor in this world? So, if the fish prefer to leap towards a bit of dragon spirit, it’s simply destiny.”

“…” Xie Chenyun.

Xie Chenyun was dumbfounded.

I suspect you’re deliberately teasing me, even showing off deliberately.

Gu Siyuan couldn’t help but burst into laughter again.

Teasing Xie Chenyun and seeing his beautiful face adorned with various vivid expressions was truly addictive.

After laughing, before Xie Chenyun could get angry again, Gu Siyuan quickly put away the fishing rod and took out a golden-inlaid jade dagger from his sleeve, preparing to clean the fish on the spot.

Naturally, he asked casually, “Chenyun, how about grilling two and making a fish soup?”

“Your Majesty can cook?”

Xie Chenyun turned his head to see his swift movements, unable to help but be curious, and immediately leaned in.

Whatever had just happened was long forgotten.

Gu Siyuan moved the teapot away from the stove and placed a small ceramic pot on it instead.

Previously, the oil was extracted from the fatty part of the fish and then used to fry the whole fish on both sides to prevent sticking. Once both sides were golden brown, water and ginger were added, along with some salt.

The fish cooks very quickly, and once the soup turned a milky white…

Gu Siyuan moved the clay pot aside and then placed two more marinated whole fish on the sword blade, holding them above the fire to slowly smoke them.

“…”

Xie Chenyun watched as the invaluable, razor-sharp sword was used this way, becoming blackened with soot.

At that moment, he understood the ancient saying about burning zithers to cook cranes.

However, he gently smiled.

Being with Gu Siyuan, even the most unsuitable activities felt immensely enjoyable.

…

In the end, the two each ate a grilled fish and drank some fish soup, adding some dry flatbread they had brought.

Xie Chenyun felt this was the most delicious and satisfying meal he had ever had.

By now, it was nearly noon, and the sun was directly overhead, shining straight onto the river.

Floating on the river in the small boat was no longer pleasant but rather torturous.

It was time to move on.

Gu Siyuan and Xie Chenyun stood at the stern, each with a pole, rhythmically propelling the boat forward and speeding up their journey while also digesting their meal.

In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, with favorable wind and current, the small boat had already approached the shore of Xuanzhu Mountain Island.

From a distance, the island was lush with trees and fragrant grasses, exceptionally beautiful and refreshing to behold.

However, upon actually landing on the island, they found that today, Xuanzhu Mountain was anything but tranquil.

At the front of the island, there was a shallow bay with numerous masts towering high. Along the shore, dozens of large and small boats were anchored, clearly belonging to various factions.

“What a bunch of traitors,” Xie Chenyun said coldly, standing on the small boat and seeing the scene.

Gu Siyuan said nothing, directly pulling Xie Chenyun’s slender waist and leaping ashore.

He tied the small boat to a large rock by the water and then looked at Xie Chenyun, intentionally feigning annoyance, “Don’t get angry. Stick with me to the peak, and when the time is right, we’ll make sure they all pay with rivers of blood and bodies piling up, with none of them escaping alive!”

Hearing this, Xie Chenyun glared at Gu Siyuan and huffed.

However, he soon broke into a smile, his anger dissipating as he was amused.

Such a smile could outshine the sun and make the mountains bow their heads in shame.

Gu Siyuan felt a stirring in his heart and held Xie Chenyun’s wrist tightly.

Xie Chenyun’s fingers moved, and they interlocked their fingers.

Then, they exchanged smiles and began walking resolutely towards the peak along the rocky path.

…

As they ascended, they frequently heard the sounds of horns blowing.

Reaching the summit, they could clearly see the various factions sitting around three ancient pavilions, their flags fluttering in the wind. Familiar faces gathered together, smiling on the surface but plotting internally.

Gu Siyuan and Xie Chenyun’s leisurely ascent naturally drew attention, especially since both were strikingly handsome.

One in black and one in green, they were like the sun and the moon, impossible to ignore.

Members of the Song Clan and the Yuhuo Sect sat together, and Song Zhengqing immediately waved them over.

Xie Chenyun, being from the Yuhuo Sect, naturally joined them, with Gu Siyuan tagging along.

They sat next to Song Zhengqing.

Three steps away, the banners indicated that the Thunderclap Hall and the Wu family of the rebel army were present.

Xie Chenyun, noticing the two figures in the center of the crowd, frowned and pulled on Gu Siyuan’s sleeve, asking in a low voice, “What’s going on? Why are they here? And with the Wu family rebels?”

The two figures were a middle-aged man and a young man.

The middle-aged man was the cultured person from the Thunderclap Hall who had recently been taken in by Gu Siyuan, named Chu Yuan; the young man was the Thunderclap Hall’s Young Master Lei Yan, who should have been imprisoned in a secluded courtyard dungeon.

Gu Siyuan’s expression didn’t change. He just squeezed Xie Chenyun’s pale fingers and said softly, “I’ll tell you later.”

By then, Chu Yuan had already turned to face them, nodding slightly to indicate everything was arranged as instructed.

Gu Siyuan said nothing, just glanced lightly at Lei Yan, who looked pale beside Chu Yuan.

Chu Yuan chuckled, nodding more firmly.

The meaning was clear.

He meant that Lei Yan was very obedient.

Seeing Gu Siyuan, Lei Yan shivered like a mouse before a cat and nervously whispered to Chu Yuan, “Mr. Chu, I’m very obedient. I’ll do whatever you say. Please help me plead with His Majesty.”

Chu Yuan looked at Lei Yan, who now behaved like a meek lamb, a far cry from his usual arrogant demeanor in Thunderclap Hall.

Yang Tai and Wu Man’er, sitting next to Chu Yuan and Lei Yan, noticed their gaze and curiously asked, “Young Master Lei, Mr. Chu, are you familiar with those two from the Yuhuo Sect?”

Lei Yan coughed lightly, trying to maintain his composure, and said nonchalantly, “Oh, those two had a conflict with me and Brother Tang a few days ago. Though we fought, we ended up becoming acquainted.”

Hearing this, Wu Man’er nodded lightly.

She did recall this incident. That day, when she and Yang Tai picked up Tang Sheng on the boat, he was being chased. Apparently, it had happened when he was with Young Master Lei.

However, it seemed nothing serious had occurred. Otherwise, with Lei Yan’s arrogant nature, he would have already confronted his enemies.

Moreover, after returning that day, Tang Sheng didn’t mention it much and wasn’t injured, suggesting it was just a playful skirmish among Jianghu people.

With that thought, she turned away.

She stretched her slender neck slightly, looking anxiously in the direction of the mountain path, wondering why Brother Tang hadn’t arrived yet.

Sitting beside her, Yang Tai discreetly glanced at Gu Siyuan.

Gu Siyuan also nodded slightly.

Their eyes met for a brief moment, so quickly that no one noticed.

Except for Xie Chenyun, who had been watching Gu Siyuan the entire time.

He puffed out his cheeks and glared at Gu Siyuan, “Hmph, you’ve been hiding a lot from me…”

Gu Siyuan pinched his cheek and said calmly, “I’ll tell you later.”

Hmph, later, always later.

Xie Chenyun huffed.

Although his face showed defiance, he had a feeling that something interesting was about to happen.

The gathering of heroes was indeed a grand event.

Next to them, Song Zhengqing was actively introducing the various factions present, their representatives, the martial arts experts they had brought, and other talented individuals, numbering nearly three thousand.

Seeing this, Xie Chenyun had no time to worry about the Thunderclap Hall and the Wu family’s rebels. Instead, he was dismayed by the chaos of the crowd.

Apart from a few clearly rebellious factions, the other representatives were still officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Yet, they dared to appear here openly—truly brazen.

Just as he was thinking this, a commotion arose on the mountain path.

Everyone turned to look and saw a young man in blue and another in gold fighting their way up from the foot of the mountain.

Though today was meant for selecting a leader, the gathering was full of martial artists who immediately took interest in the duel.

The two young men, gracefully fighting among the treetops, with their sleeves billowing and hair flying, made for a striking sight.

However, upon closer inspection, everyone was stunned.

The young man in gold was Zhao Tianzong, recently famous. He was the eldest son of the Zhao Clan, one of the four great clans, and a disciple of Zhao Yunkong, the top martial artist of Cangyun Mountain.

Since entering the martial world a year ago, he had challenged numerous experts his age without a single defeat. It was rumored that six months ago, he had already approached the threshold of grandmaster level.

Yet now, someone his age was evenly matched with him—truly astonishing.

At that moment, Wu Man’er, seated nearby, stood up excitedly and called out to the young man in blue, “Brother Tang, you’re finally here.”

The crowd was abuzz with surprise.

“From her position, she must be with the Wu family and the Thunder Hall.”

“And she called him Brother Tang. Could this young man in blue be Tang Sheng, one of the ‘Jiangdong Twin Dragons’ recently famed along the Yangtze River?”

“It is indeed Tang Sheng. I met him briefly not long ago.”

Everyone nodded and discussed further, “So it is. But I wonder who will emerge victorious between these two young heroes?”

…

Watching the fight made Xie Chenyun itch to join. He propped his chin on his hand and asked Gu Siyuan, “Who do you think is stronger?”

Gu Siyuan replied calmly, “Naturally, Zhao Tianzong.”

In the original story, Zhao Tianzong was not as strong as Tang Sheng at this time and narrowly lost to him in their duel.

Tang Sheng then leveraged his victory to gain fame and rise to prominence.

But now, due to Gu Siyuan’s intervention, the protagonist Tang Sheng had missed the opportunity to obtain the latter half of the “Xiantian Qiankun Manual” three months ago, hindering his progress.

Sure enough.

As Gu Siyuan finished speaking, Tang Sheng began to fall behind.

The two must have become enemies by coincidence, and Zhao Tianzong was relentless in his attacks. After hitting and injuring Tang Sheng several times, Zhao Tianzong aimed a punch directly at Tang Sheng’s face.

Wu Man’er’s face turned pale as she screamed, “Brother Tang!”

At that moment, a slender figure shot out like an arrow, aiming directly at Zhao Tianzong’s vital points.

If Zhao Tianzong didn’t defend in time, he could severely injure Tang Sheng but would be gravely injured himself.

Seeing the assailant’s identity and knowing her martial prowess, Zhao Tianzong grew even angrier. He had to pull back his attack to block the incoming strike.

Their palms met briefly, and both stepped back.

Once she steadied herself, Shen Luoshuang ignored everything else and rushed to check on Tang Sheng.

In such a public setting, being saved by a woman was extremely embarrassing for Tang Sheng. He avoided Shen Luoshuang’s hand and said coldly, “Why are you here?”

Shen Luoshuang, seeing his demeanor, felt both anxious and angry but couldn’t bring herself to scold him.

Tang Sheng turned to Zhao Tianzong and cupped his fist, pretending to be magnanimous, “Brother Zhao, I was lazy in my youth and lack skills. I’ve lost today, but I hope for your guidance next time.”

Zhao Tianzong, knowing he was trying to save face, just sneered and ignored him.

Shen Luoshuang’s voice echoed in the arena, “Young Master Zhao, I’ve told you many times not to pester me, especially not to hurt the person I love. How can such actions befit a hero?”

Zhao Tianzong was furious, “Shen Luoshuang, you are my fiancée. Our families have a marriage contract!”

The crowd buzzed with excitement, their discussions growing louder. A love triangle between young heroes was unfolding before their eyes…

“Zhao Tianzong, stop your nonsense. Luoshuang and Brother Tang are in love!”

Shen Luoshuang, embarrassed and angry, struck out with her palm.

Zhao Tianzong swiftly dodged.

The palm strike landed on a nearby tree, breaking it cleanly in half, showing no restraint.

Seeing this, both the Shen and Zhao factions looked extremely displeased, sending a few experts to bring their people back.

The only one left in the field was Tang Sheng, who looked around awkwardly before heading towards the Wu family’s spot.

Wu Man’er, seeing Tang Sheng’s condition, felt a bit sorry for him; however, recalling Shen Luoshuang’s earlier declaration of mutual affection, she felt annoyed.

Hesitating, she stood still, not going to meet him.

Yang Tai saw this and sneered.

When Tang Sheng approached, he suddenly stopped, his eyes wide as he looked at Lei Yan and then at Gu Siyuan and Xie Chenyun, thinking he was dreaming.

What’s going on?

Under the signal from Chu Yuan’s gaze, Lei Yan stood up proactively, “Brother Tang, are you alright?”

“I… I’m fine.”

Tang Sheng’s voice trembled slightly as he asked Lei Yan in confusion, “Lei Yan, why are you here? That day, didn’t you…”

As he spoke, he pointed at Gu Siyuan and Xie Chenyun.

Lei Yan chuckled, “Oh, Brother Tang, you ran too fast that day. Although we were defeated by Mr. Gu and Mr. Xie, we’re all friends in the martial world, right? You hit me, I hit you, we spar with each other. In the end, they let my sister and me go because of our Thunder Hall’s face.”

“Is that so…” Tang Sheng murmured, clearly not believing it.

However, he couldn’t ask further. After all, to save his own life that day, he had pushed Lei Linglong out.

Such an act was extremely dishonorable in the martial world.

So even after reuniting with Wu Man’er and Yang Tai, he hadn’t mentioned what happened or the rescue. He had hoped that the Lei siblings had died at the hands of Gu Siyuan and Xie Chenyun.

That way, what happened that day would remain secret.

Especially since the next day, people from the Tianwai Hall arrived in Jiangcheng, and he met them and Xiao Hanxin.

Then, the Shen faction arrived, and he became preoccupied with secretly meeting Shen Luoshuang, neglecting the Thunderclap Hall’s situation.

He hadn’t expected Gu Siyuan and Xie Chenyun to let Lei Yan off so easily.

And in his absence, Lei Yan had managed to connect with Wu Man’er and Yang Tai.

There must be something fishy here.

But no matter what, this matter couldn’t be blown up now.

If the events of that day were revealed, he would be the most embarrassed.

Today’s Grand Selection Meeting was crucial, as Xiao Hanxin and Tianwai Hall had decided to hand over the Imperial Jade Seal to him.

He was the main character of today’s meeting.

Thinking of this, Tang Sheng even raised his head and cupped his fist towards Gu Siyuan and Xie Chenyun, smiling slightly, “You two have really changed your ways. Thank you for not holding grudges against Ayan and Linglong.”

Gu Siyuan nodded coldly.

Xie Chenyun crossed his arms and sneered, ignoring him.

Tang Sheng sat down next to Wu Man’er.

Whispering softly, he managed to coax the originally angry Wu Man’er back to a good mood.

Xie Chenyun glanced at them casually, then tugged at Gu Siyuan’s sleeve, pouting, “You really understand people well. That Tang Sheng, with his high self-esteem and inflated ego, was yelling and fighting with us just a few days ago, ended up being chased in a pathetic state, yet today he knows something’s off and still greets us with a smile…”

Gu Siyuan squeezed his slender, cold fingers, and said calmly, “How foolish. Precisely because he has high self-esteem and an inflated ego, he behaves like this today. Chenyun, you’ve reversed the cause and effect.”

“…” Xie Chenyun.

Xie Chenyun glared at him angrily.

Was I asking for a rational analysis?

I just wanted to seize the opportunity to complain and express my dissatisfaction with you for doing so many things behind my back!

At that moment, several melodious sounds of zither and flute came from the peak.

Everyone focused their gaze, seeing four black-clad women appear like gods, descending onto the roofs of two ancient pavilions on the peak.

Two held zithers, while the other two played flutes, the music clear and melodious, ethereal and heavenly.

The crowd was stunned, feeling as if they were in a dream.

At that moment, a pure, clear female voice rang out, “It is an honor for Tianwai Hall to have everyone here today.”

The end of a pure white gauze appeared at the top of the central pavilion, and then everyone saw a petite foot touch it, followed by a slender figure in white gracefully sliding down along the gauze.