Chapter 3: The Purple Mist Palace Celebrates Longevity

  "Rustle rustle rustle......"

  The door was suddenly knocked open, and Song Qingchu, who was sitting on the bed, came back to his senses. His eyes rolled around, looking towards the door. Before he could think of how to respond, the person outside the door had already spoken up: "Brother Song, are you awake? Today is Master's 100th birthday, all disciples must gather at Zi Xuan Palace, time is running out, hurry up and get out of bed!"

  What made Song Qingxiu feel strange was that this voice he had clearly never heard before, yet felt extremely familiar, and when he first heard this voice, a person's name and appearance naturally appeared in his mind. Apparently, this should be the corresponding person outside the door.

  His name was Xuguzi, and the image that appeared in his mind was a young Taoist wearing a Taoist robe, looking about 17 or 18 years old. Although he was older than Song Qingshu, who let him be Yu Sanshi's disciple, while he himself was Song Yuanqiao's son, so he could only be his own junior fellow apprentice.

  "Brother Song!" The person outside the door, seeing no response from inside, knocked on the door again and called out once more.

  "I'm awake, you go first, I'll be fine in a bit!" The constant shouting outside the door forced Song Qing to speak up and shoo them away.

  "Alright, hurry up and don't be late or Master will scold you, I'll go first!" The person outside the door said, then turned around and left.

  Listening to the footsteps fade away, Song Qing let out a sigh of relief and also planned to get up and dress.

  At this time, Song Qing completely came back to his senses and looked around. He then walked to the wardrobe on the east wall, took out a white long gown and changed into it. After that, he walked in front of the mirror and examined himself carefully. Indeed, he had a good-looking face now, although still young, but already showing some signs of maturity. His eyebrows were clear and his eyes were bright, with a hint of arrogance in his handsome appearance.

  Song Qingchu adjusted his lower garment and tied his belt, then picked up the outer cloak again and put it on. Although he couldn't say that he had no knowledge of ancient clothing at all, it was still just theoretical. Logically speaking, wearing these completely unfamiliar clothes should have taken some effort, but now he did it with a sense of familiarity, everything came naturally, without any hesitation or stumbling.

  However, when he did these things, he was a bit distracted, as if he had fallen into some kind of situation. When he came back to his senses and looked at himself in the mirror, he found that he was already dressed up, and the mirror showed a tall and handsome young Taoist priest with a few hints of an ethereal and elegant demeanor.

  Song Qing Shu tidied up the slightly disheveled strands of hair, turned around and picked up a wooden hairpin from the table, facing the mirror with one hand supporting her bun and the other holding the pin, inserting it into the center. On the edge of the table was also leaning a long sword in its scabbard, Song Qing Shu reached out to take it, and as soon as she did, she felt a sense of familiarity.

  Gently stroking the hilt of his sword, Song Qingchu brought it in front of him and looked at the two small characters carved on the wooden hilt. Those two characters were "Wudang".

  Clang

  Song Qingxue sheathed his sword and hung it at his waist, opened the door of the house, looked around for a moment, and then headed straight to the Purple Cloud Palace.

  "Brother Song"

  "Big Brother Master"

  ......

  All the way, whenever they met a Wudang disciple who knew Song Qingchu, they would stop and ask about him, and then let him go first.

  Song Qing didn't show any discomfort either, he just nodded slightly when they met, after all, that was the old Song Qing.

  In the Purple Mist Palace.

  An old man wearing a Tai Chi Ba Gua Dao robe sat high in the hall, with white hair and a youthful face, his white eyebrows hanging low. Beside him stood six middle-aged men, and one person sat in a wheelchair. There was also a young woman leading a small child standing aside. Needless to say, this was Zhang Sanfeng and the Wudang Seven Heroes, as well as Yin Susu and Zhang Wuji.

  Song Qing saw these legendary figures in front of the Zixiao Palace gate and was taken aback, momentarily unable to react.

  Song Yuanqiao looked at Song Qing standing in front of the Zixuan Palace gate, and unexpectedly didn't come up to pay respects. He was truly furious. Uncontrollably, he let out a loud shout.

  "Rebellious child! Come forward at once."

  This angry rebuke shocked Song Qing Shu out of his reverie, and he looked up at Song Yuan Qiao who was yelling at him.

  The attitude of Song Yuanqiao towards Song Qingchu in his memory was always stern, and the terms he used to address Song Qingchu were either "rebellious son" or "wicked child". Even if Song Qingchu did something good, he would never be praised, but instead would be scolded harshly.

  So in the past, Song Qingchu felt sorry for himself when he read "The Legend of the Sword and the Dragon". In his opinion, Song Yuqiao should bear a great responsibility for his later downfall. After all, 'If you don't teach your child well, it's like not having one'.

  So now Song Qing Shu also has no feelings for Song Yuan Qiao, glanced at Song Yuan Qiao, Song Qing Shu didn't even bother to acknowledge him, quickly walked to the center of Da Tang and knelt down to pay respects to Zhang San Feng.

  "Junior grandson Song Qing writes to congratulate Master Fu on his birthday, wishing him good fortune like the East Sea's endless waters and longevity like the evergreen pines of Mount Nanyue."

  Song Yuanqiao saw Song Qingchu ignoring him and couldn't help but feel a surge of anger, opening his mouth to scold.

  Zhang Sanfeng waved his hand and smiled slightly, "Alright, Qing Shu, get up quickly."

  "Thank you, Master Xie." Then he bowed to the Seven Heroes of Wudang and Yin Susu, finally standing beside Zhang Sanfeng with his hands clasped together.

  Although many people found Song Qingchu's behavior today a bit strange, they didn't think much of it and started chatting with each other while waiting for the guests to arrive.

  Soon, a Taoist boy came in and presented a name card.

  Song Yuanqiao took over. Zhang Songxi's eyes were quick, and he saw that the post read: "Hou Xuehe, the leader of the Kunlun School, led his disciples to respectfully congratulate Zhang Zhenren on his longevity, comparable to that of Mount Nanshan."

  "Surprisingly said: 'It turns out that Kunlun Sect's He Zhongmen personally came to pay his respects. But when did he arrive, we didn't even know?'"

  Mo Sheng Gu then smiled and said: "I don't know if his wife, that Supreme Master, has arrived or not?"

  "Shēng Gǔ, don't be rude." Zhang Sanfeng said with a glance at Mo Shēng Gǔ.

  "Yes." Mo Shengyu said.

  Song Yuanqiao said, "Regardless of whether his wife comes or not, as the head of a family, he personally came to congratulate Master on his birthday. We can't lose our manners, I should go and welcome him in person."

  At this time, he led several younger martial brothers and went out to meet them. Zhang Sanfeng nodded his head in satisfaction with Song Yuanqiao's handling of the situation.

  Song Qing followed beside him. Only to see Mr. Tieqin He Taichong, not too old in years, wearing a yellow shirt, with an extraordinary appearance, calm and composed, dignified and elegant, like a celestial being, the master of his generation.

  Behind him stood eight male and female disciples, He Tai rushed to Zhang Sanfeng to pay his respects. "Later generations are honored to have He Tai, congratulating Zhang Zhenren on a bright future, like the pine and crane living forever."

  Zhang Sanfeng repeatedly expressed his gratitude and bowed with his hands clasped together.

  Then everyone was again a round of elaborate courtesy and polite humility, and after a while the host and guests sat down and offered tea.

  At this moment, another young servant came in with a name card and handed it to Song Yuanqiao. It was the five old men of Kongtong who had arrived. In the martial arts world at that time, there were six major sects in Central Plains: Shaolin, Wudang, Emei, Huashan, Kunlun, and Kongtong. And these five old men of Kongtong were the leaders of the Kongtong Sect.

  After the five old men of Wudang. Then the leaders of various factions and gangs, including Shenquanmen, Haishapai, Juhubang, and Wushanpai, came to the mountain one after another to celebrate Zhang Sanfeng's birthday. Song Qing stood aside, watching coldly. These people were using the excuse of celebrating Zhang Sanfeng's birthday, but in reality they had come for news about the Tulong Knife. Now they were laughing and chatting, but soon they would probably turn against each other.

  However, Song Qing didn't go to remind anyone. Firstly, the Seven Heroes of Wudang were not fools and naturally knew that this was not ordinary. Secondly, he himself was too young, and he was afraid that when the time came, not only would it have no effect, but it would also provoke a scolding from Song Yuanqiao. Thirdly, Song Qing felt that whether he said anything or not, it was all the same, and besides, this wasn't an important matter anyway.

  Just then, Song Qing saw Zhang Songxi pull Zhang Cuishan and walk into the wing room. Suddenly, he understood that the strategist of Wudang had already figured it out and was pulling Zhang Cuishan to discuss countermeasures.

  Zhang Songxi and Zhang Cuishan had just walked out of the inner hall when they heard that the Emei disciples had arrived, all smiling towards Yin Liting. Although Yin Liting's face was bright red and her expression was flustered, she couldn't help but keep looking outside the door. Zhang Cuishan laughed and said: "Alright, stop looking, just come with me to welcome them."

  To be honest, Song Qingchu is also very interested in this Emei disciple who has fascinated both Yang Xiao, the Bright Left Envoy of Mingjiao, and Yin Liu, the Seventh Chivalrous Hero of Wudang.

  Emei's group of people was led by Jingxuan Shitai, with five fellow disciples. Song Qingshu looked around and saw that the leader was a woman in her 40s, tall and majestic, with an intimidating aura, although she was a woman, she was half a head taller than ordinary men. This must be Jingxuan Shitai. Behind her were five fellow disciples, one of whom was a thin man in his 30s, two were nuns, one of whom was around the same age as Jingxuan Shitai and should be Jingxu Shitai. The other two were girls in their 20s, one with a pursed smile, the other a beautiful girl with snow-white skin and a slender figure, lowering her head to play with her clothes. Looking at Yin Liting's shy expression, Song Qingshu was sure that she was Ji Xiaofu.

  At this time, Bei Jinyi, Ji Xiaofu's junior sister, coughed loudly. The two of them were so embarrassed that their faces turned bright red and they both turned their heads away. Bei Jinyi burst out laughing and said in a low voice, "Elder sister, I didn't think that this famous Wudang hero would be even more bashful than you." Suddenly, Ji Xiaofu's body trembled slightly, her face turned pale, and tears welled up in her eyes.

  Song Qing Shu followed the group from Emei to the hall, where she had been secretly observing Ji Xiao Fu. When she saw his expression change, she knew what was going on. Although Ji Xiao Fu looked pitiful with tears in her eyes, Song Qing Shu didn't have any sympathy for him.

  If she really liked Yin Litian, with Yin Litian's affection for him, even if he wasn't perfect, it would be unlikely that she would despise him. If he didn't like Yin Litian, he should have directly refused her. As a prominent sect of Wudang, it wouldn't have been possible for him to do something as shameless as cling to her relentlessly. However, Ji Xiaofu not only failed to speak the truth but also had an affair with Yang Xiangru, fathering a daughter and naming her Bu Huai. How he regarded Yin Litian and how he regarded Wudang was truly selfish and unscrupulous, like a man who is easily infatuated with women.

  Guests from all directions arrived in succession, and before long it was already noon. However, although the Zi Xuan Palace had made some preparations, they did not expect so many people to come today, so they could only have each of the firework makers send a large bowl of plain white rice with some green vegetables and tofu on top.

  However, the Wudang crowd were all clear-eyed and saw that these people did not come with good intentions. They didn't seem to have any apologies to make. But seeing everyone eating on one side and constantly looking out towards the hall door, it seemed as if they were waiting for someone.