Chapter 187: The Past of the Plum Blossoms

Mei Qing followed Wu Bing silently along the long corridor, a tinge of nervousness and excitement stirring within him.

He had a feeling that whatever Lord Six had summoned him for today must be something he had long anticipated—perhaps the truth would finally come to light.

“Sit,” Lord Six said as usual, idly toying with his paperweight, his expression as calm and indifferent as ever.

To everyone’s surprise, Mei Qing didn’t bother with any pleasantries and sat down directly on a chair to the side without hesitation.

Lord Six raised his eyes, scrutinizing Mei Qing carefully. Mei Qing, however, seemed completely unfazed, sitting calmly with a distant gaze fixed ahead.

Suddenly, a hidden door behind them opened, and a figure quietly stepped out.

“What? You’re not even surprised? Did you already know this old man would come?” Lord Six couldn’t help but ask when he noticed Mei Qing’s indifferent reaction to the newcomer.

Mei Qing followed Wu Bing silently along the long corridor, a mix of nervousness and excitement bubbling within him.

He could sense that today’s summons by Sixth Master must be related to something he had long anticipated. It seemed the moment of truth was finally at hand.

“Sit,” Sixth Master said, as usual, toying with a paperweight in his hand, his expression as calm as ever.

Mei Qing, without any formalities, promptly took a seat on a chair to the side.

Sixth Master looked up and scrutinized Mei Qing carefully. Mei Qing, however, seemed oblivious, sitting there with a distant gaze fixed ahead.

Suddenly, a hidden door at the back opened, and a figure emerged quietly.

“What? You’re not surprised at all? Did you already know this old man would come?” Sixth Master asked, noticing Mei Qing’s lack of reaction.

The newcomer, Zhong Shu, the steward of Mei Qing’s household, looked even more astonished.

“It seems the young master has long suspected that I have some secrets,” Zhong Shu said with a bitter smile. “So, the discussions you had with A’Bi about eloping, and the way you always cut me off, were all premeditated, weren’t they?”

Mei Qing stood up and respectfully addressed Zhong Shu, “Uncle Zhong, I did know about your nightly visits to the garrison. These past few days, I’ve been trying to provoke you, that’s true. But A’Bi and I did discuss leaving for a while. Since you overheard us, consider it as a message we left for you.”

“Hmph, old man, now you see? I told you your movements were likely exposed, but you wouldn’t believe me. What do you have to say now?” Sixth Master interjected.

“Enough, Sixth Master, spare me the gloating,” Zhong Shu retorted. “Don’t tell me you haven’t planted your own people in the Mei household. If I didn’t notice, surely your capable subordinates didn’t either?”

Sixth Master snorted but didn’t respond. Zhong Shu had a point. Mei Qing had been following him, and as a martial artist, he hadn’t noticed. Sixth Master’s subordinates, skilled in the ways of cultivation, were equally oblivious. It was an embarrassing oversight for both.

“Let’s not dwell on that,” Sixth Master waved his hand. “Mei Qing, I called you here today because there are some things I need to ask you.”

Mei Qing responded with an “Oh,” then slowly sat back down, saying calmly, “Please go ahead, Sixth Master.”

Sixth Master frowned, glancing at Mei Qing and then at Zhong Shu before asking in a serious tone, “Mei Qing, during your trip to Yongping, who were the monk and the Taoist you encountered?”

Mei Qing thought for a moment and replied, “I only met them by chance and didn’t interact deeply with them. I truly don’t know their backgrounds. Since you’ve already investigated, perhaps you can enlighten me.”

Sixth Master shook his head, “Mei Qing, don’t feel resentful. Today’s meeting isn’t an interrogation. In fact, since you see Zhong Shu here, you should understand that I mean you no harm.”

Mei Qing suddenly looked up, “I know you mean me no harm, Sixth Master. In fact, you’ve always taken care of me, and I’m grateful for that. But in this world, there’s no love or hate without a reason. I know you and Uncle Zhong have been keeping things from me. If I’m not mistaken, it must be about my origins, right?”

Sixth Master and Zhong Shu exchanged a wry smile, both thinking, “This kid is too sharp; there’s no fooling him.”

Mei Qing continued, “The discussions I had with Zhen’er about leaving were indeed meant to provoke Uncle Zhong into revealing the truth. But I didn’t expect it would lead to you personally seeking me out, Sixth Master. Why such a serious approach? Have you already reported this matter to the Commander?”

Sixth Master replied, “I came directly to you to prevent you from acting rashly. As for the details, as long as you tell us what you know, we’ll certainly share what needs to be shared. Now, can you tell us who that monk and Taoist really are?”

“Why must you know their identities? Is there something specific?” Mei Qing countered. “Besides, with the extensive reach of the Imperial Guards, why must you rely on me for information about them?”

Sixth Master snorted, “Mei Qing, what stage of cultivation have you reached now?”

Mei Qing answered directly, “I’ve formed my Nascent Soul, so I guess I’m at the stage of refining Qi into Spirit.”

Sixth Master nodded, then looked at Mei Qing thoughtfully before saying, “Your speed of cultivation, while not necessarily unprecedented, is certainly extraordinary. Before your trip to Yongping, you hadn’t even reached the stage of solidifying your Golden Core, still in the nurturing phase. How did you manage to form your Nascent Soul and refine Qi into Spirit in just a few days? I’m not a fool; it must have something to do with that monk and Taoist, right?”

Mei Qing remained expressionless, “So what if it is, and so what if it isn’t?”

Sixth Master pondered for a moment before saying, “Mei Qing, we’ve decided it’s time to tell you about your origins. The various restrictions and protections we’ve placed on you were not without reason. Your background is somewhat special, and if it were to be revealed, it could cause complications.”

Hearing this, Mei Qing was somewhat surprised. He had been told by Zhang Liusun that he was a vessel crafted by Zhang, a clone of sorts. Could there be more to his story than that?

Zhang Liusun had taught him some techniques to control the vessel within him, which had initially worked. But since his escape from Jieshi, those techniques seemed to have lost their effect.

Now, thinking back, it was clear that Zhang Liusun had held something back. The true nature of his so-called clone must be more complicated than he had been led to believe.

“Twenty years, it’s been over twenty years now,” Sixth Master sighed. “I never thought the day would come when we’d have to reveal this. Your mother had instructed us never to allow you to enter the path of cultivation. She said your constitution was special, and once you started cultivating, it would inevitably lead to disaster, likely resulting in your soul scattering. Now, it seems there was another reason she didn’t want you to follow this path.”

At this point, Sixth Master looked at Mei Qing and said, “You must have realized by now that you’re not truly a descendant of the Mei family. Indeed, the real Mei couple died in a bandit raid. It was at that time that your mother brought you to us, and we arranged for you to take on the Mei identity, hoping you could live a peaceful, carefree life. But as they say, man proposes, God disposes, heh…”

Zhong Shu also sighed deeply, clearly moved by the recollection.

“So, who is my mother?” Mei Qing pressed.

“Your mother was also a cultivator, but even we don’t know her real name. However, we suspect—” Sixth Master glanced at Zhong Shu, “that she might have been from the Plum Blossom Sect, possibly even one of the legendary Six Blossoms.”

“The Six Blossoms?” Mei Qing asked, surprised, as he had never heard of this name.

“Not many know about them now. The Plum Blossom Sect was an extremely mysterious sect. When it first appeared, it almost shamed all the Taoist sects, leaving them unable to hold their heads high. But strangely, apart from the sect leader, Plum Blossom Master Fan Wentai, no one knew the names of any of its members. The Six Blossoms referred to the six disciples of the sect. Whenever they engaged in contests with other sects, they would refer to themselves as Plum Blossom First or Plum Blossom Third, as if they were mere code names. Thus, the world came to call them the Six Blossoms.”

“Fan Wentai’s origins were even more mysterious. No one knew where he came from, who his master was, or where his sect was based. Even the name ‘Plum Blossom Sect’ might not be accurate. It was only because he called himself the Plum Blossom Taoist that people referred to his sect as the Plum Blossom Sect.”

“It’s said that when Fan Wentai first emerged, his cultivation level wasn’t particularly impressive, but his progress was astonishingly fast. It’s said he went from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core in just ten years, and from Golden Core to Nascent Soul in another twenty. Such speed, without the support of a sect or powerful backers, is hard to imagine for ordinary people.”

At this point, Sixth Master gave Mei Qing a meaningful look.

Mei Qing was speechless. He knew his own cultivation speed was somewhat extraordinary. If Fan Wentai’s speed was already considered shocking, what did that make him? Even Bi Zhen’s cultivation had progressed rapidly.

Thinking this, Mei Qing suddenly felt a chill. The Sixth Master before him seemed to be at least at the Nascent Soul stage. If, as he said, he was an old friend of his parents, then he couldn’t be more than fifty years old. His cultivation speed must also be extraordinary.

“But the Plum Blossom Sect isn’t well-known. Despite their impressive cultivation, they didn’t flaunt their abilities. From the beginning, Fan Wentai’s actions involved challenging various cultivation sects. Initially, it was smaller sects like Five Phoenixes, Pure Brightness, and Linji. Gradually, he moved on to larger sects like Great Dao and Lou Dao. It’s said even Maoshan and Gezao weren’t spared,” Sixth Master mused.

“What about the Celestial Master Sect?” Mei Qing asked, surprised. “Could Dragon and Tiger Mountain have been an exception?”

Sixth Master shook his head, “Actually, the Taoist sects of the world had already been unified under Dragon and Tiger Mountain by the Celestial Master Zhang Liusun during the previous dynasty. It’s just that people still refer to them by their old names. The actions of the Plum Blossom Sect were never publicized, and their battles with various sects were never lost. Each sect, wanting to protect its own reputation, kept quiet about their defeats. Thus, these events remained largely unknown to the world, something I only pieced together later. As for whether Fan Wentai ever challenged the Celestial Master Sect, there are conflicting accounts. Some say he did, but the details remain unknown.”

“It seems my young master already suspected old me of harboring some secrets,” Zhong Shu said with a bitter smile. “So, the other day when you and Abi plotted to elope and kept cutting me off mid-sentence, that was all premeditated, wasn’t it?”

Mei Qing stood up respectfully and replied, “Zhong Shu, I did know that you had been sneaking out at night to come here. I indeed made efforts to pressure you these past few days. As for Abi and me wanting to leave for a while, that was genuine. Since you overheard us, consider it as if we had left you a letter.”

“Hmph, old man, now you know, right? I told you your movements might have been exposed, but you refused to believe me. What do you have to say now?”

“Forget it, Liu Zi, just let it go,” Zhong Shu retorted stubbornly. “Don’t tell me you haven’t placed anyone in the Mei household. If I didn’t notice, do you really think your highly capable men would have either?”

Lord Six snorted but didn’t answer. Zhong Shu was right. Mei Qing had followed him, and though he himself was a martial artist who had failed to notice, it was understandable. Yet even Lord Six’s men, many of whom were cultivators, had sensed nothing either. Embarrassment, it seemed, spared no one.

“Enough of that,” Lord Six waved his hand. “Mei Qing, I called you here today because there are some things I need to ask you.”

Mei Qing murmured, “Oh,” and slowly sat back down, saying indifferently, “Please, Lord Six, ask away.”

Lord Six looked at Mei Qing, then at Zhong Shu, before solemnly asking, “Mei Qing, who exactly were that monk and Taoist you met in Yongping?”

Mei Qing thought for a moment before replying, “I merely met them by chance, and we weren’t particularly close. I truly don’t know who they are. If your people have already investigated, I suppose you could enlighten me.”

“Don’t be resentful, Mei Qing,” Lord Six said. “I didn’t call you here to interrogate you. Since you’ve seen Zhong Shu here, you should understand that I bear you no ill will.”

Mei Qing suddenly looked up. “I know Lord Six bears me no ill will. In truth, you’ve always looked after me, and I’ve always been grateful. However, nothing in this world happens without reason. I’ve long suspected that you and Zhong Shu have been hiding things from me—perhaps concerning my own origins?”

Lord Six and Zhong Shu exchanged bitter smiles, both thinking, “This kid is just too clever; there’s no fooling him at all.”

Mei Qing continued, “When I discussed leaving with Zhen’er, I intentionally let Zhong Shu overhear, partly to pressure him into revealing the truth. I didn’t expect, however, that Lord Six himself would take such a serious interest in me. Could it be that you’ve already reported this to the Commander?”

Lord Six replied, “I came to you directly because I won’t allow you to act recklessly. As for the details, once you’ve told us what needs to be told, you’ll naturally learn what you should know. Now, tell us—just who were that monk and Taoist?”

“You insist on knowing their identities. Could there be something urgent?” Mei Qing countered. “Besides, with the all-seeing eyes of the Jinyiwei, why must you rely on me for information?”

Lord Six snorted. “Mei Qing, how far along are you in your cultivation now?”

Mei Qing answered frankly, “I’ve formed my Nascent Soul and have reached the stage of refining Qi into spirit.”

“Hmm,” Lord Six murmured, studying Mei Qing again before continuing, “Your progress in cultivation, while not necessarily unparalleled in the future, is certainly unprecedented in the past. Before you went to Yongping, you hadn’t even fully stabilized your Golden Core, still in the early stages of nurturing it. How is it that in just a few days, you’ve already formed a Nascent Soul? I’m not stupid—this must have something to do with that monk and Taoist, right?”

Mei Qing remained expressionless. “Even if it is so, what of it? And if not, what of it?”

Lord Six paused for a moment before slowly saying, “Mei Qing, the reason I called you here today is because we’ve discussed it, and we’ve decided it’s time to tell you the truth about your origins. Our various restrictions and protections over you were not without cause. Your background is somewhat unusual, and if it were to leak out, it could cause complications.”

Mei Qing felt a flicker of surprise. He had heard from Zhang Liusun that he was a doppelgänger created by Zhang, a vessel cultivated for his master’s use. Could there be more secrets beyond that?

Zhang had taught him the techniques for controlling the vessel within his body, which had initially worked. But since his escape from Jieshi, those techniques had seemed to lose their effect.

Now that he thought about it, Zhang must have withheld something. Perhaps the true origin of this so-called doppelgänger was even more mysterious than he had realized.

“Twenty years—already more than twenty years,” Lord Six sighed. “I used to think I would never have to tell you the truth. Back then, your mother specifically instructed that you must never pursue cultivation. At first, she said it was because your constitution was unique, and that attempting to build a foundation would lead to disaster. But now, I suspect there was another reason—perhaps she simply didn’t want you to walk this path.”

He looked at Mei Qing and continued, “I’m sure you’ve already realized that you are not the real heir of the Mei family. Indeed, the true Mei couple perished together in a bandit attack. At that time, your mother brought you here, and I arranged for you to take their son’s place, hoping you would live a peaceful, worry-free life. But fate had other plans…”

Zhong Shu also sighed deeply at this.

“Then… who exactly was my mother?” Mei Qing pressed.

“Your mother was also a cultivator, though even we don’t know her real name. However, we suspect—” Lord Six glanced at Zhong Shu, “—that she might have been one of the Six Plums of the Plum Blossom Sect, one of the legendary figures.”

“The Six Plums?” Mei Qing asked in surprise, clearly unfamiliar with the name.

“Not many know about them now. The Plum Blossom Sect itself was an extremely mysterious sect. When it first appeared, it nearly humiliated the entire Daoist community. Yet strangely, no one outside the sect knew the names of its members, except for the sect leader, Master Fan Wentai. The term ‘Six Plums’ refers to the six disciples under Master Fan. Whenever they engaged in duels with other sects, they would refer to themselves as Plum One or Plum Three, as if those were mere titles. Thus, the world came to call them the Six Plums.”

“Master Fan Wentai himself was even more mysterious. No one knew where he came from, who his master was, or where his sect’s headquarters lay. Even the name ‘Plum Blossom Sect’ is uncertain—some say he simply called himself the Plum Blossom Taoist, and thus the sect became known by that name.”

“It is said that when Fan first emerged, his cultivation wasn’t particularly impressive. But his progress was astonishing. It’s rumored that he reached Golden Core Formation in just ten years, and Nascent Soul Formation in twenty more. Such speed, without the backing of a powerful sect or mentor, is almost unimaginable for ordinary cultivators.”

At this, Lord Six gave Mei Qing a meaningful look.

Mei Qing was stunned. He knew his own cultivation speed was unusually fast. If Fan Wentai’s progress had already been shocking, then what did that make him? Even Bi Zhen’s cultivation had risen rapidly alongside his.

Suddenly, a thought struck him. Lord Six himself, sitting before him, was clearly at the Nascent Soul stage or higher. If, as he claimed, he was an old friend of his parents, then he couldn’t be more than fifty. His cultivation speed must also have been extraordinary.

“But few people actually know about the Plum Blossom Sect,” Lord Six continued thoughtfully. “Although their cultivation was formidable, they kept a low profile. From the beginning, Master Fan Wentai’s actions involved challenging various cultivation sects one by one. At first, he targeted smaller sects like the Five Phoenix Sect, Jingming Sect, and Linji Sect. Later, he moved on to larger ones like the Great Dao Sect and the Tower Dao Sect. It’s even said that sects like Maoshan and Geyao were not spared.”

“Then what about the Celestial Sect?” Mei Qing asked in surprise. “Was Longhu Mountain an exception?”

Lord Six shook his head. “Actually, during the previous dynasty, the Celestial Sect, under the leadership of Zhang Liusun, had already unified the southern sects under Longhu Mountain. People just continued to use the old names out of habit. The Plum Blossom Sect never publicized their actions, and they never lost a single match against any sect. Each sect wanted to preserve its own reputation, and since the Plum Blossom Sect didn’t boast, how could they admit defeat? That’s why most people remain unaware of these events, and I only gradually uncovered them over time. As for whether Master Fan ever challenged the Celestial Sect, there are conflicting accounts. Some say he did fight the Celestial Master, but no one knows the details.”