Zhou Fei stood in a daze upon hearing those words.
Was that really how it was?
His brother always understood him best.
Even better than he understood himself.
“People are not arrays; who can function perfectly without ever making a mistake? My brother can understand everything you have done in the past.”
“However, you must remember that no matter the time or place, a person must have a bottom line. Integrity in small things builds trust in great things.”
For the past decade or so, the two of them had been exhausted by the overt and covert attacks from the second branch. It had been a long time since they had sat down for such a heart-to-heart talk.
Now, hearing his brother’s earnest words and remembering the help those five young friends had given him in Border City, a sudden sense of guilt rose in Zhou Fei’s heart.
At the mass grave and under Zhou Yu’s darts, they had saved his life twice.
Thinking of this, he felt even more uneasy.
Zhou Mao did not speak, simply staying by his side to give him time to think.
After a moment of reflection, Zhou Fei said, “I will remember what you’ve said, Brother.”
“In the future, I can manage my actions. But for now, I’ve already plotted against those five young friends. It was only because they happened to want to act alone that they weren't caught in my trap.”
“Though they are young and dress simply, they act with calm and order. They seem very intelligent. Because of the Enforcement Hall’s pursuit order, the matters regarding the second branch have already spread throughout Conghe City. If they hear of it, they will certainly realize what my previous calculations were.”
Zhou Mao asked, “Then what do you intend to do?”
“I don't know,” Zhou Fei replied, feeling a rare sense of loss.
“Then let me tell you about something else.”
Zhou Mao handed him a cup of tea, poured another for himself, and took a sip.
“Based on your description, those five children are undoubtedly disciples of a small sect. To have such impressive cultivation and strength at such a young age, and to remain composed in the face of trouble... even if they come from a small sect, they must be highly valued and meticulously raised by their elders.”
“Or perhaps...”
As if suddenly thinking of something, his expression shifted slightly. “You said before that their sect is named ‘Night-Unlocked-Gate’?”
Zhou Fei nodded. “Yes, Brother. Is there something wrong with that name?”
“Aside from the Nine Sects and Eight Schools, there are countless middle and small sects in this world. It’s normal for there to be ones we haven't heard of; I wouldn't say there’s anything wrong with it.”
“Our Ten Directions Sect even has a subsidiary sect called ‘No Door to Earth,’ taking its meaning from the saying ‘no road to heaven, no door to earth.’ It means that if anyone provokes their disciples, they should be prepared to be beaten until they have nowhere to run.”
“Then why did you specifically ask about it, Brother?”
Zhou Mao stroked his chin where a beard did not yet exist. “At first, ‘Night-Unlocked-Gate’ sounds simple—more like a name a mischievous child would make up on a whim. But if you think deeply, you can sense a profound meaning behind it.”
Zhou Fei was taken down. He suddenly thought of when he first met the five outside Border City. Because the name sounded so ridiculous, he had specifically come up with a reason to convince himself to accept it—the Peach Blossom Spring.
But wasn't the Peach Blossom Spring something fabricated by a great mortal scholar?
Thinking this, he asked the question aloud.
Zhou Mao said, “To escape our second uncle’s assassination attempts, you and I once stayed in the mortal realm for a time.”
“When I first heard of the Peach Blossom Spring, I was deeply moved. A place where lost items are not taken from the road and doors are not locked at night—such an ideal realm. In today’s cultivation world, I fear only Xiaoyao has the possibility of achieving that.”
In the cultivation world, there were mortals who lived near the cities of the cultivation world, protected by immortal sects while providing a steady stream of fresh blood for them.
However, the vastness of the cultivation world exceeded the reach of cultivators. In places where the immortal sects did not cover—spiritually thin lands far from the demon and demon realms—mortals lived as well.
To survive and develop better, these mortals established kingdoms. There were also human emperors recognized by the Heavenly Dao, possessing dragon qi and acting as proxies for heaven in the mortal realm.
Zhou Fei’s grandmother had been the second daughter of a First Chancellor from a mortal kingdom.
Because of this grandmother, the Zhou family’s recent generations had gained a bit more understanding of mortals.
Mortals were weak; they could not fight against fate like cultivators, who relied on their cultivation and strength to walk the world. But it was precisely this weakness that allowed them to develop in other areas.
Among mortals, there were also sages, great scholars, and those with great devotion to their country. Though their bodies were as fragile as spirit flowers or grass, they had qualities worthy of respect.
By the time Zhou Fei and Zhou Mao were born, that grandmother with four spirit roots had long since passed away. However, the influence she left on the clan and the brothers' own experiences in the mortal realm meant they did not look down on mortals like other cultivators did.
On the contrary, they actually quite agreed with certain mortal philosophies.
Take Zhou Fei, for example; some of his schemes over the years were actually learned from a certain mortal prince.
Of course, cultivators were not permitted to interfere in mortal affairs. While hiding from his second uncle’s pursuit, he had stayed in the prince’s manor, watching the strategists and the prince meet every day to discuss how to seize the throne, quietly picking up a few tricks.
He had also heard a bit about the legend of the Peach Blossom Spring. But what did his brother mean by this? Surely he wasn't just trying to praise Xiaoyao?
Xiaoyao was indeed the number one sect in the cultivation world, but they were already disciples of the Ten Directions Sect; they must never commit the act of betraying their sect!
Zhou Mao did not know his younger brother was mentally complaining about him. His thoughts were immersed in the Peach Blossom Spring, his gaze distant.
“Could the founder of ‘Night-Unlocked-Gate’ have also been moved by the Peach Blossom Spring when naming the sect, using its meaning as a reference?”
“Or perhaps...”
He paused, his voice sounding as if it had traveled across the long river of time.
“Who says that the articles circulating in the mortal realm must have been written by mortals? Throughout history, there have been powerful cultivators who, in order to cultivate their mental state, sealed their cultivation and lived in the mortal realm under aliases. Perhaps the founder of this sect is that very great scholar who lived in seclusion?”
Hearing this, Zhou Fei had a moment of realization. It was as if he understood something, yet a layer of mist still obscured his vision.
“In any case, to be able to choose such a name and raise such extraordinary disciples, that sect must be anything but simple.”
Zhou Mao hit the nail on the head. “Fei’er, I’m telling you this because I want you to understand that the cultivation world is full of talent.”
“Even a rogue cultivator or a disciple from a small sect has their merits. More friends mean more paths; do not go around offending every single person.”
The person involved is confused, while the bystander sees clearly.
Whether mortal or cultivator, those walking the world will always have moments when they fall into a delusion. At such times, having a trustworthy bystander to offer a bit of guidance—even the simplest of truths—can make the clouds part and the mist clear.
Zhou Fei straightened his posture and said solemnly, “Thank you for your guidance, Brother. I know what to do regarding those five young friends.”
Zhou Mao smiled slightly. “Now that the family crisis is resolved, the two of us can cultivate normally. There is no need to be as tense as we were in the past.”
“Cultivators stand between heaven and earth; the path of the Dao is so very long. If one can have friends to walk with for a part of the journey, how joyful that would be.”
“Fei’er, I wish for you to have righteousness in your heart and a sword in your hand as you walk the world, wandering freely between heaven and earth.”
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