Fan Yun still remembered that gloomy day.
From above the sky, a drizzle fell. He sat alone by the side of the road, trying to get a hexagram in a pavilion under a cattail roof.
A young man that was roughly dressed approached, putting away the tattered umbrella in his hand and sat down opposite of him.
Fan Yun was just fixating all his focus and energy onto the array before him that he had built using little wooden sticks. He hadn't paid him any attention.
After the other examined him for a while, he suddenly said, "Add a defence line to the xun position."
Fan Yun was just holding a little wooden stick in his hand, he was prepared to place it on the xun position, but once he saw the other's words coincide with his own without prior consultation, he finally raised his head to meet the other's gaze.
"You've learned the art of Qimen Dunjia?"
The young man shook his head, "I've only read the scripture, 'Secret Storehouse Of Penetrating The Six Yins' by Hua Shi Gong, but there are many things about it that I do not understand."
He has only read half a book, looking like he only vaguely understood it, yet he's achieved such a degree of skill. This was proof that people who were naturally gifted with intelligence did exist.
Fan Yun quickly grew fond of him.
However, he only shook his head to the pale and sickly look of the other, looking like he was moribund.
"Your fate will lead you to hold immense power, but you will weather through hardships big and small. You will encounter many crises and undergo many dangers and they will be especially unbeneficial to your friends and family. People who are close to you, the closer they are, the easier it will be for them to suffer."
The young man looked very peaceful, "It is as you said, but I defy fate."
Fan Yun, "Young and energetic; you think men can champion the Heavens, yet you're ignorant that the number of crises one must encounter through fate cannot be changed."
The young man said plainly, "I have never thought of changing my fate, only that I defy it. It is Heaven's business of how they wish to humour me, yet it is my business of what sort of path I wish to take. Both of these do not concern each other."
It was the first time Fan Yun met such a person.
There was a myriad of living beings; they either deeply believe the concept of encounters in fate, pursue good fortunes while averting disasters, being careful at every turn, or, they are determined not to admit to fate.
However, they have not been like this man, who was just unwilling to be compromised.
What sort of destiny would such a man come to in the end?
Fan Yun suddenly grew interested.
"What is your name? What do you do as a living?"
"Cui Buqu. I pursue my adoptive father to conduct businesses. He just passed away last month."
"Why not pursue me in learning the arts; astronomy and geography, arts of fortune-telling, I can teach you all of them."
"I never acknowledge anyone as my teacher."
"It does not matter."
...
Recalling the past, Fan Yu yielded a look of sentiment.
"Although you and I share no name of tutor and student, in reality, we are tutor and student in everything but name. You are the most gifted person I have ever met. If not for your body rendering you unable to learn martial arts, I fear you would already have put up a fight with Yuan Sansi."
Yuan Sansi who was used for comparison laughed, "As the saying goes, 'no man is complete'. My graceful nephew could succeed as the Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau at such a young age, taken as a confidant by Empress Dugu. He is already a hero among men. If even his martial arts are peerless, wouldn't that bring jealousy upon him by others?"
The gentler and peaceful his demeanour seemed, the more the warning bells rang in Cui Buqu's heart.
If Fan Yun sought out a chance to show himself and say the same surrendering words, naturally, it would also be another workable way. However, that method would make their tactic seem mundane, completely different from the way they showed up right now, digging a pit as they waited for Cui Buqu to jump down himself; first grinding his spirit down, then make use of sentiments and in the end luring him in via the promise of benefits.
However, the appearance of Fan Yun and Yuan Sansi should be just the beginning. The Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai' methods should not be limited to just this.
Something was lurking in their hearts, struggling to rise to the surface, and he was reaching out to grab it for his own.
"You people want me to surrender myself, shouldn't you also call for the three companions that followed me in?" Cui Buqu didn't divulge any expression.
Yuan Sansi's laugh spoke volumes, he spent an entire minute staring at him and only then did he say, "No hurry."
Cui Buqu could not refrain himself from raising a brow. The gesture was so faint that it vanished within a blink.
Yet from Yuan Sansi's perspective, this was a very obvious message.
The Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau who had always maintained his stance through wisdom finally had a moment of uncertainty.
The end of this situation has been determined ever since he stepped into Boling.
Yuan Sansi gave a gentle laugh.
He was very eager to see what reaction Cui Buqu will have once he saw the truth.
Fan Yun was still speaking.
"Buqu, you are born a person of leadership by nature, the rebirth of Zhang Liang. If you only command a mere Zuoyue Bureau, wouldn't it be a pity? Although Yang Jian cherished your talents, he never treated you like a subject of good name, as a pillar of the country. Otherwise, with your talents, you should have already entered the Council of Chancery. Your body rendered you an invalid, thus if no turn of events took place, with how you exhaust your efforts running errands, you would definitely end up dying early."
Cui Buqu's brows lowered and his pupils sharpened; from Fan Yun's perspective, he could only see the other's eyelashes concealing his eyes, he could not see clearly what look lurked beneath them.
Even ants would cravenly cling to life; as long as one was human, they wouldn't be willing to die, let alone someone like Cui Buqu, who held immense power in his grasp.
If one were to lose their life, then what use is there to have powers that transcend the skies?
"What is the end goal of the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai? Since you people wished to nominate someone to be the Emperor, then I should at least be allowed to see that person, so I can tell to what extent his ability reaches to." Cui Buqu said.
Fan Yun, "After you join us, naturally, you will know. Didn't you cross hands with Duan Qigu back in Qiemo city before? That person has roamed freely in the north and south for decades, he is considered a hero, but he had been only but number twelve among the thirteen pavilions."
Cui Buqu, "What about teacher? What positions are you and Yuan Sansi in?"
Fan Yun did not keep him in suspense, "Yuan Sansi is Master Four and I am Master Three. Gao Yun from the Fuyu Sect who died under the hands of the Jiejian Bureau's Second Commander Feng was Master Five."
Cui Buqu mocked, "Even with both your talents, you only ranked third and fourth. Then, if I joined the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai, I fear I would only be just there to replace Duan Qigu?"
Fan Yun smiled, "Since Yuan Sansi and I came to recruit you in person, it can be seen that the Pavilion Lord thinks highly of you. After you join us, your position would only be superior to the both of us old folks, not lesser. Members are aplenty in the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai, they are vast and far beyond your imagination. Prior to this, you must have experienced it yourself. They deployed such a huge force to remove just one Duan Qigu, yet the Sui Empire view it as a great achievement, but he was only a dispensable chess piece that belonged to the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai. "
Cui Buqu gave a forced smile, "I did not only remove Duan Qigu, but I have also removed Yu Xiu who served Prince Jin's side, Yu Xiu's double Yu Heng, and the Fuyu Sect's Leader Gao Yun. There was also the conspiracy of treason in the Qingli Garden. So many of you perished in my hands, yet you've shown no hard feelings trying to recruit me. I fear I would only be avenged on once I join you!"
Fan Yun, "You needn't worry over this. Just like I've mentioned just now, Duan Qigu was dispensable, and that Gao Yun, relying of having the Fuyu Sect at his back, he had often disobeyed orders, additionally he is a Gorguyeo, not a countryman of mine, thus his goals would have differed. Since you helped us remove them, we were able to deploy someone we trust to succeed the Fuyu Sect, so you've helped us achieve a goal instead."
Faced before his joyous expression, Cui Buqu's heart sank a little.
Fan Yun guided him patiently, "Buqu, you are very intelligent. A straightforward person does not resort to insinuations; I have spared no efforts nominating you in front of the Pavilion Lord, the Pavilion Lord also admires you. Compared to Yang Jian, that two-faced dealer, the Pavilion Lord is the Emperor I have set my eyes on. He is generous, his methods are extraordinary. Not only wouldn't he keep your prior actions to heart, but he instead admired your will to tell apart enemies and people of your own. Before this, we all served masters of our own, and you were only fulfilling your own duties, so what fault was there to find? Everything that happened before will naturally be forgiven, abolished by a single stroke."
Cui Buqu, "It seems my guess was right."
Fan Yun was stunned, "What?"
Cui Buqu, "You held a grudge for Yang Jian."
Fan Yun paused for a moment, then laughed coldly, "Yang Jian's enemies would not be restricted to just a few hundred thousand. With or without me, there would be no difference. However, you are a disciple of mine, I will not push you to your death."
Cui Buqu, "Today as I stand here, whether or not I am willing, I fear I am not the one to have a say in that."
Fan Yun, "Do you still remember the first time we met when I took a look at your fate? Although Yang Jian had the meteorology of an Emperor, he was born to a life of luxury. However, his dragon bone suggests that he would meet his death not by illness. Although the Imperial Court is flourishing now, it possesses the image of a solitary monk. Even if the Sui Empire flourished at this moment, it would fall into the same fate as Yang Jian, coming to a premature end. To end in two generations; Yang Jian is destined to be lonely and poor in old age, and his children beneath him would meet tragic ends all the same. During that year you pursued me in learning practically every form of art, only fortune-telling alone you refused to learn. However, you are usually heavily influenced by the things you see and hear, you should have heard about some rumours, and know that what I said was not a lie."
Cui Buqu, "That is to say, the new master who gained the teacher's loyalty must be someone who holds the extravagance of a dragon and bears the appearance of a phoenix, born to be an Emperor by fate?"
Fan Yun nodded, "That is right. Not only was the Pavilion Lord skilled in both academics and martial arts, in fact, his limits are the skies, his prosperity difficult to put in words."
Cui Buqu listened until he was a little tired. After he finished listening, he remained silent for a moment, finally letting out a light breath of air.
"Since things have progressed to this end, teacher can just be straightforward. If I am to join the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai, what conditions would I need to satisfy? If you want me to assassinate Yang Jian, that would not be possible."
Fan Yun has been waiting for him to ask this, so he laughed after being asked, "Naturally someone will be sent to take care of Yang Jian. There is no need for you to act on your own. Yang Jian's wife, the Empress Dugu, carries a rigid personality not inferior to that of men. Allowing her to remain would also be a threat. However, Dugu trusts you very much. You will have more opportunities to lay your scheme. So, I need you to pull strings and build bridges, assisting us through that way. After the matter is done, I will nominate you to the Pavilion Lord to be his Vice. To be below one and above ten thousand. In the future, when the new Emperor ascends, you will be just an Emperor of a different surname. Wouldn't you be more carefree compared to the present? Those members of the Cui family who had tortured you before, I fear they would only thump their chest and stomp their feet in unending regret."
Cui Buqu replied calmly, "These words that you speak are all just words of mirages, empty and meaningless. You should know that these would not suffice to move me."
Fan Yun smiled, "Then, what about a rare precious treasure that could regulate your health, the Jade of Heaven's Lake?"
Cui Buqu raised an eyebrow.
Fan Yun looked in Yuan Sansi's direction.
The latter rose to his feet and walked towards the stone wall, reaching next to the luminous pearls and searched for some time. The ground rumbled and next to Yuan Sansi's foot, a piece of land sank. He bent down to search for a while before taking out a box.
Opening the box, sitting between thick silk was something. A piercing-sharp ice crystal, its splendour churning.
"You are someone who has seen the Jade of Heaven's Lake yourself, you should know that this item is not a counterfeit. With the Jade of Heaven's Lake, although it cannot completely cure your illness, at the very least, it can prolong your life for a few more decades." Fan Yun said, "This is the most sincerity I could manage to get for you."
But the Jade of Heaven's Lake was long surrendered to the Imperial Court by Feng Xiao. How could it appear here?
If something happened on its journey of being delivered, or if it was stolen from the court afterwards, it was impossible for Cui Buqu not to know.
Yet this jade was, certainly and undeniably, the real thing.
He remembered very clearly the size, patterns, and outline of this stone. There cannot be a second one in this world that was identical to it even on the inside.
Then only one explanation was left.
Cui Buqu said softly, "Feng Xiao."
Feng Xiao was also a traitor.
Since Boling, or perhaps even earlier than that.
[1] Hexagram: the hexagrams speak about reaching pure yang by employing the firing process to burn away false yin. One the other hand, doing this requires the balance of yin (flexibility) and yand (firmness). More information here.
[2] xun: The xun position of one of the right positions in a ba gua. In the Chinese image, it's the one marked by a purple circle.
[3] Art of Qimen Dunjia: Originally devised to help form military strategy and tactics, Qimen Dunjia was in use as long ago as the period of Chinese history known as the Warring States, and is believed by Chinese scholars to have been used at the Battle of Red Cliffs in the defeat of Cao Cao's ship-borne army. More info.
[4] Dragon bone: Dragon bone is the part above the eyes where bones stick out. Fan Yun is probably reading Yang Jian's face to see his fate and recites it out loud.
[5] Extravagance of a dragon and bears the appearance of a phoenix: 龙章凤姿Describing someone who is extremely extraordinary.
[6] Limits are the skies:飞龙在天 (lit: fly in the sky like a dragon) usually meaning he's going to high places, probably referring that he'd become the Emperor in the end.