Wu Chang Jie

9

Zong Zi Heng formed a core when he was 10 years old. When he went travelling at the age of 12, he subdued an evil mountain spirit that was harming people, all by himself. Since then, he became a famous young man. Virtuous and handsome, he had always been a role model among his peers.

Soon after, the quadrennial Jiaolong assembly was about to begin. It was a competition held especially for talented youths. It had been a tradition in the cultivation world for hundreds and thousands of years. Only children between the ages of 12 to 18 were allowed to participate. Anyone who left their names on the way to immortality was almost always in the limelight during their youth.

Zong Zi Heng has always been preparing for this upcoming Jiaolong assembly because Emperor Ninghua had such high hopes for him and ordered him to win first place in the Jiaolong assembly. He trained diligently every day and night. He knew that the Emperor didn't care much about him and his mother. It was only after he showed his talent that he got the Emperor's attention. Even if his mother didn't ask him to, he also did not want to disappoint the Emperor.

In fact, the path to immortality was lonely and boring. As the eldest son, Zong Zi Heng did not dare to mess around and be lazy. But what he really yearned for was neither ascension nor to be on the top of the world. He loved flowers, birds, mountains, and rivers. He loved instruments, chess, books, and paintings. He loved delicious food and wine. There were so many interesting things in this world, and he wanted to be more knowledgeable. It was probably more meaningful than pursuing cultivation and swordsmanship.

It's a pity that this was something that could not be said out loud, otherwise even his mother would reprimand him for being insensible.

That afternoon, the golden crow* started to set in the west and it wasn't that sunny anymore. Zong Zi Heng remembered that there had been a lot of snails growing in his orchid garden recently and they were gnawing on his flowers and making a mess. So, he led Zong Zi Xiao to catch the snails and to pull out some weeds.

His orchid garden was built in a secluded area in the palace. The insides were planted with more than 100 varieties of orchids and other plants that he had collected over the years. During the blooming season, all the beautiful flowers turned into a beautiful scenery in the palace. Although there were servants taking care of them daily, Zong Zi Heng loved to do it himself. This was what gave him happiness outside of cultivation.

While Zong Zi Heng was squatting down and catching snails on the ground, Zong Zi Xiao was running around barefooted in the flowering shrubs. Occasionally, Zong Zi Heng would look at Zong Zi Xiao with panic and fear in his eyes: "Xiao Jiu, be careful. Be sure not to step on my flowers."

"I won't."

"You should stop running. Come over here quickly."

Zong Zi Xiao smiled cunningly and suddenly tripped over his feet. His whole body fell forward.

"Ah---"

Zong Zi Xiao pushed himself up with one hand. His body bounced up nimbly, somersaulted once in the air, and he landed steadily outside the flower nursery and laughed heartily.

Zong Zi Heng feigned anger and said: "How dare you trick your big brother? Is your skin itchy*?"

Zong Zi Xiao spread out his small hands: "I'm helping you to catch snails. Should I throw them back?"

"Throw it into the bucket."

Zong Zi Xiao skipped over to Zong Zi Heng, and he pressed his body against Zong Zi Heng's back: "Big brother, why are you always managing these flowers?"

"Aren't flowers beautiful?"

"They are."

Zong Zi Heng handed him a shovel: "Come, let's get to work."