Chapter 27 — Self-Esteem

"Xiaofan, didn't you say you were going to look for Little Grey and that big yellow dog? So why are you dragging me to the kitchen?" Zeng Shuyan followed behind Zhang Qingyue and into the kitchen, grumbling all the way.

Zhang Qingyue looked carefully around the kitchen and saw that it was immeasurably more spacious than the kitchen on Dazhu Peak, and far brighter too. His eyes kept scanning as he said, "I haven't seen them since early this morning, but I'd bet anything they're right here!"

Zeng: "Impossible. What do you take a Three-Eyed Spirit Monkey for? They're born spirits—compared to a human, they're more than a match, maybe better. And here you are acting like it's some kind of thief—and a greedy one at that!"

Under Zeng Shuyan's dumbfounded gaze, Zhang Qingyue lifted Little Grey out from behind a jar in the corner of the kitchen. Held up in midair, Little Grey shrieked "chee-chee" without pause, and then Big Yellow came running out from behind the jar and began barking loudly at the two of them.

Zhang Qingyue glanced at Zeng Shuyan, whose face was caught somewhere between laughter and tears.

Cradling Little Grey in his arms, Zhang Qingyue scolded Big Yellow: "Dead dog, quit barking! You want someone to come catch us?"

Big Yellow seemed to understand. It looked at Little Grey huddled in Zhang Qingyue's arms, let out a few soft "whuff-whuff" whines from its dog mouth, and fell silent. Zhang Qingyue glanced around and saw that most everything was intact and undisturbed. Evidently these two thieves hadn't managed to make off with anything yet. He counted himself very lucky and hurried toward the door with Little Grey in his arms. After two steps he realized Big Yellow hadn't followed. He turned back and saw the dog, tail tucked, run behind that jar again, root around a bit, and come trotting over with a huge meaty bone in its jaws.

Zhang Qingyue glared at Little Grey in his arms. Little Grey split its monkey mouth in a foolish grin. Zeng Shuyan watched all this from the side and shook his head mightily.

The two of them slipped furtively out of the kitchen with the monkey and the dog, terrified of being discovered—if that happened, the stain on their names could never be washed away. Only after they had run a good distance did they finally breathe easy.

Zhang Qingyue panted for a while, then said, "Oh, right—I never congratulated you. You won another match."

Zeng Shuyan, however, could not have cared less. His eyes were fixed on Little Grey in Zhang Qingyue's arms. "What's the big deal? Sooner or later I'll lose to somebody anyway. How is Little Grey so filthy? How many days has it been since you bathed him?"

Zhang Qingyue was taken aback. "I've never bathed him."

Zeng: "You—you—how could you do that to him!"

Zhang Qingyue privately thought this was ridiculous. The monkey climbed up and down all day; how could it ever be clean? But seeing that Zeng was utterly unreasonable on this point, he gave a dry laugh and changed the subject. "By the way, did you know? In tomorrow's third round, Xueqi's opponent is my senior sister Tian Lingsu."

Zeng: "Your senior sister? You mean Tian Lingsu, the one who uses the Amber Crimson Silk?"

"That's her." Zhang Qingyue reached up to stroke Little Grey, who had climbed onto his shoulder. "These past two days that Xueqi has been riding high. I'm a little worried about my senior sister."

Zeng: "Fair enough. Setting everything else aside, that 'Tianxuan' in Xueqi's hand alone is more than anyone can bear."

Zhang Qingyue looked anxious. "Shushu, do you think my senior sister might be in danger? You saw how Xueqi destroyed her opponent's immortal sword in the first match, and I hear that senior brother from the Long Peak faction was badly hurt in the second."

Zeng: "You're overthinking it. I'd say your senior sister's cultivation is far above yours—you'd do better to worry about yourself. From here on out, each opponent is tougher than the last. By your own account you haven't even reached the third level of the Yuqing stage of the Taiji Profound Clarity Way. Before long someone's going to split you in two with a single sword! Here, let me hold Little Grey."

Zhang Qingyue hesitated, then handed Little Grey over. Zeng Shuyan cradled him happily, but Little Grey was deeply displeased and shrieked "chee-chee" at the top of its lungs.

Zhang Qingyue sighed. "You're right. My senior sister is deeply cultivated, and beautiful besides. She has so—so many people who adore her. Who am I to worry about her?"

Zeng Shuyan held Little Grey tight, eyes fixed on him as though afraid that blinking once would be a loss, and said carelessly, "Good that you know it. Better think about how to stay alive tomorrow. I'm telling you now—tomorrow your opponent, my senior brother Peng Chang of the Fenghui Peak, is nothing like that Chu Yuhong you fought today. His immortal sword treasure 'Wugou' especially—it was forged from thousand-year fire copper. It's vicious."

Zhang Qingyue's face fell, his brows knit with worry. "Every one of you is loaded down with treasures. What am I supposed to do?"

Zeng Shuyan didn't even raise his eyes, still gazing at Little Grey as he strode forward. "Little Grey, come back with me. I'll get you two bunches of bananas, how about that? Er—Xiaofan, what were you saying just now?"

Zhang Qingyue walked beside him and sighed. "I really envy you, being able to command treasures. What does it feel like?"

Zeng: "It's just how it is. After you've cultivated an immortal sword long enough, naturally the treasure develops a kind of resonance with you. With that as your anchor, you drive the treasure with the power of thought and spirit—soar to the heavens, plunge into the earth, split mountains, part seas, whatever you like."

Zhang Qingyue paused beside him. "Resonance—is it a sort of cool, tingling feeling?"

Zeng Shuyan's eyes were wholly on Little Grey, and he answered absently, "Not necessarily. Depends on the material of the treasure."

Zhang Qingyue thought it over, then shook his head and gave up on his own imaginings. "Shushu, a divine thing like Tianxuan—I wonder how it was ever forged. The scene must have been magnificent."

Zeng Shuyan gave him an odd look. "How would I know? It's the first time I've ever seen this legendary divine thing too." He looked back down at Little Grey, and paying no mind to the monkey's furious expression, stroked its fur with a beaming face. "But speaking of resonance—I read in the old books once that the treasures truly attuned to a cultivator's heart and mind aren't these so-called divine wonders at all."

Zhang Qingyue was surprised. "Then what are they?"

Zeng: "They're treasures refined from the master's own essence and blood. Blood serves as the medium, and such treasures usually carry a demonic, malevolent air, yet they feel as though flesh and blood are joined with their master. Mind you, most of what gets refined that way are vicious and evil things—the orthodox path won't touch them. But those treasures can only be wielded by one whose blood runs in them. Unlike the treasures we cultivate now—let one fall into the hands of a senior of deep cultivation and it's subdued just like that—huh!"

Zeng Shuyan stopped short. He found himself standing alone, and turning back saw that Zhang Qingyue had at some point halted behind him, staring at him blankly, his expression most peculiar.

Zeng: "What is it, Xiaofan?"

Zhang Qingyue gave a start and forced a smile. "N-nothing."

Zeng Shuyan gave him another look or two, assumed he was fretting about tomorrow's match, and walked over with a smile to clap him on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I've already spoken with Senior Brother Peng. Tomorrow he won't hit you too hard, and he'll let you lose with some dignity, so you can give your master and mistress a proper accounting."

Zhang Qingyue looked distracted, but he nodded anyway. "Oh. Thank you."