Chapter 4: Those Former Servants

"Missing?" Ji Ning's heart tightened. He immediately asked anxiously, "When did he get a Dao companion? Who was she? And he went missing over twenty years ago—couldn't you find any trace? Did you ask the Treasure Pavilion for help?"

Immortal Diancai could see Ji Ning's tension over the matter and said, "After you won first place in the Immortal Destiny Competition, some people from the Black-White College returned. Mu Zishuo also came back to Anchan City. He usually immersed himself in the art of puppetry, occasionally gathering with young talents like Beishan Baiwei. During one gathering, he met a female disciple of the Thousand Rivers Sect, 'True Person Yu Xia.' They got along well and soon became Dao companions."

"This pair of Dao companions shared a deep bond, envied by many young people in Anchan City—a tale of romance."

"But one day, Mu Zishuo and his Dao companion suddenly vanished. Usually, disciples of the Black-White College would inform the college or leave a message before venturing out. Yet neither Mu Zishuo nor True Person Yu Xia left any word—they simply disappeared."

"Our Black-White College investigated, asked the Anchan Northmont clan for help, and even sought the Treasure Pavilion's assistance, but we found no trace at all."

"It was as if they had vanished from this world!"

Hearing his master's words, Ji Ning grew even more anxious. "Over twenty years, and not a single clue?"

"None," Immortal Diancai shook his head.

Ji Ning's heart raced.

Something was wrong.

Too wrong. Junior apprentice-brother Mu Zishuo was not so unreliable. Leaving aside his relations with others, he and Ji Ning were true brothers in life and death. If Mu Zishuo had something important requiring a long absence, he would have left a message for Ji Ning.

"Over twenty years, and even the Treasure Pavilion, the premier intelligence organization, found no trace of them," Immortal Diancai said. "Mu Zishuo's parents died early, leaving him with no ties. But True Person Yu Xia had a clan, elders, and a living father. Yet there was no news from them either."

"But don't panic," Immortal Diancai added.

"What about the life tablets?" Ji Ning pressed.

Missing for so long, they might have died.

"Mu Zishuo's life tablet hasn't shattered, but his Dao companion's has," Immortal Diancai said. "They left no message before disappearing, so they must have encountered some special situation. Yet after over twenty years, Mu Zishuo hasn't died. I doubt he'll die easily."

Ji Ning grew worried.

Shuo's Dao companion had died! That meant they had faced terrible danger when they vanished!

"He's still alive. I suspect he's trapped in some special place and can't get out for now," Immortal Diancai said.

"Mm," Ji Ning nodded.

Regardless, he had to find a way to investigate.

"Go back and rest. I need to go into seclusion," Immortal Diancai said. "The three sword techniques you gave me have stirred me deeply. Don't disturb me unless necessary. This seclusion may take some time. When it ends, I'll likely begin my tribulation."

"So soon?" Ji Ning hadn't expected his master to be in such a hurry even after receiving the three sword manuals.

"These three manuals should allow me to elevate my swordsmanship in a short time. But that's only because of my years of accumulated insight. To improve further would take centuries or more. I have a feeling I can't wait that long," Immortal Diancai said softly. "The vague pressure of doom has forced me not to delay."

Ji Ning nodded solemnly.

...

After parting from his master, Ji Ning returned to his personal peak in the Black-White College, Northmyth Peak.

In a hall, a lavish feast had been prepared.

Earlier, while Ji Ning chatted with Immortal Diancai, he had sent Whitewater Hound and Little Qing back to Northmyth Peak.

"Senior apprentice-brother." Three figures in the hall bowed respectfully, and a small figure knelt: "Greetings, Master."

Ji Ning swept his gaze over them.

The three included the still honest but more robust youth Meng Yan; beside him, the tall, thin youth Yun Zhou, whose eyes were deeper and far more steady than before; and a woman in black gauze with watery, endlessly alluring eyes, holding a child—the once vibrant Yun Lu.

"Hm?" Ji Ning's gaze fell on the child.

"Senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning, this is my child, Yun Yi," Yun Lu said nervously.

"Decades apart, and you have a child now." Ji Ning smiled and nodded. "Meng Yan, you seem talented in divine body cultivation, having reached the Wanxiang stage. Yun Zhou, not bad either."

With that, Ji Ning took his seat.

"Everyone, sit," Ji Ning said with a smile.

They all sat down separately.

"Back then, when we heard you won first place in the Immortal Destiny Competition and your second avatar killed a loose immortal, we were thrilled and awed. Today, we finally see you again, Senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning," Yun Zhou said with a laugh.

Ji Ning nodded calmly. "By the way, how have you all been these years? And what about Wei Fang, Wang Wei, and Ming Yang?"

He had once taken six servants.

They were Meng Yan, Yun Lu, Yun Zhou, Wei Fang, Wang Wei, and Ming Yang.

"I... still..." Yun Zhou looked at Meng Yan and Yun Lu.

"Brother, you speak," Yun Lu said.

Meng Yan also nodded.

Yun Zhou then looked at Ji Ning and said, "Senior apprentice-brother Ji Ning, it's been over forty years since you left Northmyth Peak. After you left, we six worked diligently. Meng Yan, talented in divine body cultivation, focused on it and rarely went out. Ming Yang, Wang Wei, Wei Fang, and I often ventured out."

"Wang Wei was originally strong, but his potential was limited and his progress slow. About ten years ago, while out adventuring, he was killed by another Zifu Disciple at the圆满 stage," Yun Zhou said.

Ji Ning sighed.

Wang Wei...

He had been Beishan Baiwei's loyal guard, seemingly simple. Ji Ning had once had hopes for him. But later, after entering the Black-White College, Wang Wei began to change, and Ji Ning grew disappointed. Now he was dead.

"Wei Fang had exceptional talent, higher than ours," Yun Zhou said. "But he became Dao companions with a female cultivator from the Hundred Flowers Immortal Realm. Later, disputes arose between them, and he was killed by her senior apprentice-brother."

"What?" Ji Ning was startled.

He had heard of Dao companions turning to enmity, betrayal, even killing each other.

But he never expected it among his six servants!

"What about Ming Yang?" Ji Ning asked. "Did he die too?"

"Ming Yang returned to his hometown long ago. From what he said when he left, he probably won't come back. He might settle there peacefully," Yun Zhou said.

Ji Ning nodded slightly.

"Yun Lu became Dao companions with a young master of the Donghe clan, 'Donghe Qingyun,'" Yun Zhou said, gritting his teeth. "This Donghe Qingyun was a rare talent and even entered our Black-White College. Because he loved using swords, he was praised as 'the second Senior apprentice-brother Northmyth.' But compared to you, he's far inferior."

Ji Ning drank wine, listening.

"My sister and I misjudged him. He came from a large clan and was still young. After entering the Black-White College, he started mingling with noble youths in Anchan City. He bought many maidservants and even beat and scolded my sister. In anger, she left him and brought Xiao Yi back to Northmyth Peak. Donghe Qingyun wanted to cause trouble, but out of fear of you, he didn't dare," Yun Zhou said.

Yun Lu, sitting below, had reddened eyes. She whispered, "I've embarrassed you, Senior apprentice-brother."

Ji Ning sighed.

Yun Lu was indeed a stunning beauty. When she first entered the Black-White College, Wei Fang, Ming Yang, Wang Wei—all had pursued her. Many ordinary disciples also sought her. But she had high standards and looked down on them all.

In the end, she chose Donghe Qingyun, a talented young master of the Donghe clan and a formal disciple of the Black-White College.

Alas...

This was the outcome.

"Brother Meng Yan is the strongest among us," Yun Zhou said. "He has great talent in divine body cultivation. Immortal Wufeng took him as a disciple, making him a formal disciple of our college. He was assigned a peak, but he chose to stay here and never moved."

"Oh?" Ji Ning looked at Meng Yan in surprise and smiled. "A formal disciple? Old Brother Wufeng has sharp eyes. If he favors you, you have a bright future."

"Without you letting me into the Black-White College back then, I don't know what I'd be now," Meng Yan said honestly.

Ji Ning nodded.

No arrogance—it seemed that among his six servants, only Meng Yan would shine in the future.

"That leaves me," Yun Zhou said with a grin. "After years of cultivation, I found my true passion is puppetry."

Ji Ning sighed.

Six servants.

Two dead, one returned home, Yun Zhou kept a low profile, the stunning Yun Lu lived alone with her child, and only the once-weakest Meng Yan soared to become a formal disciple of the Black-White College.

...

Ji Ning had returned to the Black-White College. Many disciples saw him walking side by side with Immortal Diancai.

News spread, and the Treasure Pavilion soon learned of it.

"Ji Ning, first place in the Immortal Destiny Competition, has returned to the Black-White College after disappearing for over thirty years."

"Quick."

"Send the message out."

Over a thousand cultivators each went to transmit the intelligence.

Throughout the Grand Xia world, too many were watching Ji Ning. Not to mention those with ties to him, like Jiu Lian, Xiyue Commandery Princess, and the Shaoyin clan. Many potential forces had long been eyeing this mysterious first-place winner of the Immortal Destiny Competition. Everyone knew how extraordinary that competition had been.

Two of its participants had been chosen as personal disciples by Daofathers! And Ji Ning, the first-place winner, had not joined any immortal or demon under the Crimsonbright Daofather's lineage but had vanished without a trace.

...