The Journey of Flower - Chapter 17

Tao Weng’s white beard shook, but he was was extremely red. He looked like a ripe peach with a white leaf growing out of it. Of course this peach’s skin was a little wrinkled. He looked hilarious.

Normally, Hua Qian Gu would perhaps still be in the mood to think about this. However, at this moment, Hua Qian Gu was in no mood to laugh. So many pairs of eyes were staring excitedly at her. Most of them were expectantly waiting for her to embarrass herself. She felt like she was sitting on a pincushion.

Amitabha. Please bless me o heavens. I just don’t want to get into any trouble and news of it to travel to Zun Shang’s ears. Why didn’t she bring Tang Bao today. With it in her ear, she would not be afraid of being questioned.

Tao Weng wasn’t a bad person, he was just bit snobbish and liked to take small bribes from disciples who were better to do. The news of Zun Shang personally bringing back a disciple yesterday had quickly spread throughout Chang Liu Mountain. Furthermore, he had coincidentally met Hua Qian Gu at the Court of Books (Shu Xiang Ge). Looking at how small and skinny and poor she looked, Tao Weng did not really want to entertain her. She actually dared to sleep during her first lesson. She really wasnt giving him any respect. Nonetheless, she was after all a new comer and a mortal at that, if he purposely tried to make things difficult for her, tongues might wag. He will start by asking her something simple and basic, if she cannot answer, then he will have even more reason to discipline her.

Hence, he looked up and shook his head, saying ” List down the various tokens that represent the immortal’s statuses according to their ranks.”

Hua Qian Gu and Qing Shui who was beside her heaved a sigh of relief. Wasn’t this what they had just discussed? They hit the jackpot. Ahaha. No matter what he threw at her, she would find a way to overcome it.

Hua Qian Gu quickly recited the seven different objects.

Tao Weng seeing that this did not pose a problem for her, said again: ” Looks like you know quite a lot. List down a few examples of the different ranks, sects, immortals in the immortal realm.”

On hearing this, Qing Shui wanted to secretly use her hand to trace the answers on Hua Qian Gu’s leg. However Tao Weng gave her a glare. Did she think that he was senile or blind?

Hua Qian Gu recalled what Dong Fang Yu Qing and Xuan Yuan Lang had told her and calmly recited it. The she recalled the immortals that she had seen at the Immortal’s Feast and eloquently said another long list.

She was causing a small stir in the class. Even Qing Shui’s eyes widened. A lot of the things that Hua Qian Gu said were stuff that she had never heard before. However, Hua Qian Gu said it as though she had seen it with her own eyes.
Tao Weng was losing face and he coldly snorted. ” Then let me ask you again, what are the 16 Ancient Instruments of the Gods?”

The whole class suddenly became silent. This question had never been taught before. Furthermore, because the Instrument of the Gods were sealed objects and hence taboo. Hence, very few people knew of them. Tao Weng was clearly trying to make things difficult for her.
Hua Qian Gu was relieved. Luckily for her, when she was skimming through the Book of the Six Realms a few days ago, she had specially looked up the Shuan Tian Chain and looked at the other Instruments as well. Hehe.

“They are respectively the Xuan Yuan Sword, Dong Huang Clock, Pan Gu Axe, Lian Yao Jar, Wu Tian Pagoda, Fu Xi Zither, Shen Nong Cauldron, Kong Tong Seal, Kun Lun Mirror, Gou Lan Jade, Duo Hun Xiao ( Duo Hun literally means soul stealing, Xiao is a musical instrument that looks and sounds like a flute, but it is played vertically like a recorder, Fu Chen Pearl (Fu Chen means to float and sink), Cui Lei Bell (Cui Lei means tear inducing), Xuan Tian Umbrela and Shuan Tian (Shuan means to tie a knot, Tian is sky, so it means something like capturing the sky) Chain ……”

But, what she did not know was that if she replied that she did not know, she would be giving Tao Weng a chance for a graceful exit in this situation. What petty people like Tao Weng hated the most was know it all students. All around them the students was discussing excitedly. If this went on Tao Weng was going to be utterly embarrassed.

“You only listed 15 items.”

“But the Nuwa stone has been shattered…”

She saw Tao Weng’s entire body shudder and his face change from red to white. She quickly shut her mouth.

“The Nuwa stone has been shattered” Tao Weng mumbled, his face one of disbelief.

Hua Qian Gu found this slightly strange. Tao Weng should know such things like the back of his hand. Could he not know?

“Yup. Wasn’t it shattered a long time ago? Of the 16 Instruments of the Gods, there are only 9 with the ability to seal. Hence we need to protect it well. Especially the zither……”

Tao Weng body wavered before taking two steps back. His eyes widened and he shouted in shock “How could that be…… Is-Isnt there still 10? Also, how did you know……!!”

Know what? Know that the Fu Xi Zither is the Instrument of the Gods that Chang Liu Mountain protects? Other than this instruments which are missing, the book records not very detailedly not only about the Fu Xi Zither but also where the other instruments were, when they switched hands, and who and which sect was protecting them. In addition, did Zun Shang not tell them about how she specially went to the Immortal’s Banquet to inform everybody about how the Shuan Tian Chain was snatched? Hua Qian Gu found this very strange and quietly mumbled :” Mt Mao’s Shuan Tian Chain has been snatched……”

What she did not know was that in order not to incite panic, very few people other than the leaders and elders of the various sects knew of the the news of the Demon God’s birth . Hua Qian Gu thought that what was written on the book was something very simple. What she did not know was that every word written inside was a huge secret.

Tao Weng’s mouth hung open on his pale face and he did not utter a word. Finally he shouted “You come with me!” As he said that he walked out of the door with a sweep of his sleeve.

The classroom was in chaos. Hua Qian Gu looked at Qing Shui and found it really weird. Why must she get punished for answering the question correctly! *Cries

Qing Shui quickly motioned for her to follow with her eyes. Hua Qian Gu made a small run and caught up. However she could feel a sharp knife like gaze behind her. She quickly turned around only to see Ni Man Tian’s condescending gaze.

That’s not right. She hurriedly sweeped the surroundings with her gaze. All she saw were giggling and gloating faces. She could only helpless follow Tao Weng and walk out.

However, nobody noticed the elegant and composed masked youth dressed in green who was sitting behind Ni Man Tian. Originally, his attire should be considered weird, however, nobody seemed to think so. Nobody has ever seen his face, and nobody knew what he was thinking. He had always kept to himself. Despite being in the Jia Class, nobody knew his identity or his background. They only knew that he was called Shuo Feng. His powers were already very powerful, hence nobody dared to provoke him or talk to him. Other than Ni Man Tian who was sitting in front of him, there was nobody on his right or left.

At this moment, his usually icy and indifferent pupils suddenly sharpened. There was a sliver of interest and intrigue his eyes. He lowered his head and silently said: Fu, Xi, Zither……

Hua Qian Gu followed behind Tao Weng, running all the way. She did not expect this white bearded old man to walk so so fast.

In a short while, they entered Chang Liu Hall. Hua Qian Gu heard Tao Weng asking the disciple at one side something. The disciple replied: “The three sovereigns are discussing something within the hall.”

She could not control her wildly beating heart. Did that mean she could see Zun Shang again so quickly?

However, would Tao Weng be so angry that he would draw her before Zun Shang to punish her？She was dead this time.

As in continued to follow Tao Weng in, she felt even more uneasy looking at how hurried he look. As she reached the meeting room door, she could not help but swallow her saliva as she felt her heart fluttering and hammering wildly in her chest

Finally, the high and heavy door that was adorned with fine gold and jewels of every colour was slowly pushed opened by the disciples standing on each side of the door. Hua Qian Gu looked straight at Bai Zi Hua who was sitting calmly in the big hall and wished she could fly to his side.

Bai Zi Hua was still dressed in a spotless white robe, except there was a an additional thick gold belt at his waist, making him seem even more noble and grand in his otherworldliness. His expression was slightly more cold and distant, yet commanding. He seemed to be sitting above all and looking at every creature in creation. Faced with his commanding aura, Hua Qian Gu could not help but want to kneel down in respect.

“I pay my respects to Zun Shang, Shi Zun, Ru Zun. ” Tao Weng bowed and turned back to looked at Hua Qian Gu. Only then did Hua Qian Gu react and quickly bow her head to pay her respects.

“What is it?”

Hua Qian Gu heard a commanding and low voice. She took a peek out of the corner of her eye. She saw a man dressed in black who was slightly older than Zun Shang. His pupils were so deep and incomprehensible that one could not see the bottom. His brows were knitted tighly together and there was a deep scar on his forehead. In his strictness there was a fierceness about him. His demeanour was very imposing and she could tell that his temper was not good. However he was extremely handsome too.

This should be Shi Zun, Mo Yan.

The one who is sitting on the left. No, the one lying there should be Ru Zun, Sheng Xiao Mo.

Hua Qian Gu was sweating wildly.

Unlike the other two, Sheng Xiao Mo was dressed in purple with a jade belt. He was lazy yet elegant, and half sitted on a mattress made of ice silk and jade cotton and a elegant pillow that had been specially prepared for him. He was fiddling with the long Xiao (Flute like instrument that is played vertically like a recorder), his Xiao dancing and twirling at the tips of his fair, long and elegant fingers.

Mo Yan and Bai Zi Hua must be used to him and did not find this unusual. Hence, they automatically ignored him.

Hua Qian Gu felt a bit giddy staring at that silver Xiao. She thought in heart, they are indeed the three sovereigns. Whether it is looks or demeanour or powers they are so much better than other. She raised her head to look at Bai Zi Hua again, only to see Bai Zi Hua looking at her as well. However his gaze seem to pass right through her as though there was nothing worthy of his gaze.

Tao Weng opened his mouth to speak. However Hua Qian Gu couldn’t hear what he was saying. She guessed that he must be using some secret code to report something to the three sovereigns.

*Cries. Telling tales on her is bad enough. Why must he be so secretive about it? Even if she wanted to defend herself, she did not know how to do it.

Sheng Xiao Mo seemed get gradually more and more interested and stopped playing with the Xiao in his hand. His body also straightened. He looked and Hua Qian Gu and said ” Second Shi Xiong, this is the little kid that you brought back to the mountain yesterday?”

Bai Zi Hua did not make a sound or nod. There was not a single expression on his face. It almost made Hua Qian Gu mistake him for a white jade statute that was sitting on a lotus.

Mo Yan coldly snorted” ” How did she know that the Instrument of the Gods that is being protected by Mt Chang Liu is the Fu Xi Zither. You shouldn’t pick a demon back. She is surrounded by an inauspicious aura. She is clearly a jinx!”