Buddhist like robes, well built, a crafty smile, and a goblet hanging at his waist.
"You must be Mu Qingxuan eh? The one who beat some sense into that Jiangbo brat. Whew! You've earned a spot in my heart my brother.. I love you for life.." The bald monk spoke with a large smile and a loud voice, causing everyone within the pavilion to turn to them.
Qingxuan froze again, and erupted in a fierce cough. Who was this bald idiot and what the hell was he doing??
"Who are you?" Qingxuan restricted the urge to lash out in embarrassment. He calmed himself down and looked into scroll, not bothering to spare him a glance.
"Ha! I go by many names, but in this clan, I go by the name of Drifting Goblet, Zhou Yuan. I'm adopted.." He pointed to the goblet at his waist and laughed, while he introduced himself with an air of theatrics.
Qingxuan rubbed his forehead and then asked. "What do you want from me?" His voice was calm.
"Nothing. On the contrary, I just came to congratulate you for beating that piece of shit Mu Jiangbo. You're definitely worthy of being my little brother.."
Drifting Goblet laughed with a proud expression. Meanwhile, Qingxuan scoffed. "I'm not your brother." It was the only thing he felt important to correct. As for the praise, he didn't need it. Mu Jiangbo was an ass and he deserved whatever he got.
"Isn't that Senior Brother Drifting Goblet? What is he doing here sitting with that Qinxuan?" Someone within the crowd whispered to his friend.
"Don't you know? The talented senior brothers are sisters are beginning to come out of their cultivation. The warrior's selection choice is only a month from now.."
The friend responded.
"I heard Mu Jiang Rong has already exited his cultivation. This year's warrior's selection will be a sight to behold.."
Another person hopped in.
"But why is he sitting so close to that Qingxuan and even calling him his brother? Are they that close?"
Speculations went on as whispers, but Qingxuan ignored them all.
Drifting Goblet smiled. "It seems I'm more famous than I think.." He patted his bottom and stood up.
"Anyway, before I go, just a little heads up. That Mu Jiangbo you whipped in the arena, his brother is even more of an ass compared to him. And knowing him, he most definitely will come after you.. " He sent a small smile towards Qingxuan.
"I'll be fine. Thank you though.." He finally lifted his head to him. Drifting Goblet smiled and took off.
Qingxuan let out a sigh. That really was exhausting. He put away the cultivation scroll and picked up another scroll to read. A scroll that studied constellations and the Heavenly Bodies, their rotations and its implications. It was quite interesting and was a rather fun break for him.
That was until..
"Oi, brat. Come with me.." The old man at the reception walked out of his seat, with a long yawn, placed his hands at his back and walked out of the pavilion.
First, Qingxuan raised his brows, wondering what the unpredictable old man was up to, but exhaled, closed the scroll and followed.
The two walked side by side, as if they were taking a light, casual stroll through the clan.
"Where are we going?" Qingxuan asked. He didn't expect to get a response anyway and sighed.
The old man closed his eyes, humming gently with a mile on his face, hands at his back, while enjoying the fresh breeze.
"Aren't you concerned some of them might take out martial techniques illegally?" After about 5 minutes of silent walking, Qingxuan asked again. This time his voice was low and he kept his gaze in another direction.
The old man snickered. "One more word out of you, and you'll be the one cleaning the Martial Pavilion for a week.." Qingxuan shut his mouth instantly and simply followed along.
The old man took a detour, and headed to a stone hut in the distance near a lake. Presumably where he lived. They made a pit stop in the hut where the old man took stalks of incense, a small scroll, glass cups and a hidden jug stuffed with herbs.
Then they walked through the back door of the hut into a beautiful large garden right behind the lake.
There was already a rocking chair under a tree, so the old man sat down and crossed his legs.
"Boil those herbs for tea.." He commanded casually and then closed his eyes, enjoying the shade from the sun, the breeze from the lake and the melodious chirping from the birds.
Qingxuan was dumbfounded. He stared at the old man speechlessly. Did this old bones just bring him just boil tea for him? That was a new level of pettiness. He wished he could roll his eyes at him.
But he still obeyed, set fire underneath the jug and sat behind the fire. After about 5 minutes, he poured the tea into a cup and served it to the old man.
"What's with that face? Do you know the number of geniuses within worlds who'd wish to be in the same position you're in?" The old man sneered and took a sip of the tea, before smacking his lips and letting out a satisfied smile.
"Go on. Pour yourself a cup.." He gestured to him. Meanwhile, Qingxuan let out a sigh picked up another glass cup and poured himself a cup of tea before he sat in the grass beside the old man and took a sip.
The moment he took a sip, he felt a cool wave of calm and peacefulness wash over him instantly, causing him to relax and even drop his guard for the first time..
The old man looked at his relaxed state and laughed, before asking. "Tell me boy. What is Yuan power?"
Qingxuan felt his Right eye of Heavenly Essence pulse and then he spoke. Not loud, but in a voice the old man could hear as from the depths of his consciousness.
"To most cultivators, Yuan Power is just strength. Something you inhale, refine, and spit back out as fists, blades, or techniques. They treat it like water poured into a jar, more is better, purer is stronger. That's all."
He paused then, the effects of the tea making him feel as if he was laying on clouds. His right eye pulse gently again, as the Heaven laid its secret bare before him.
"But when I look at the world, the illusion shatters…
Yuan Power isn't formless. It isn't vague. It is structure.
I see countless golden threads, finer than hair, woven through Heaven and Earth. Some flow like rivers, some coil like dragons, some vibrate like strings under tension. Every mountain, every breath, every living being is stitched together by these threads. Cultivators don't create Yuan Power, we merely borrow the portions willing to resonate with us."
He finished his statement with a short exhale.
"Hahaha! Brilliant. You're just as insightful as your Father.." The old man laughed, with words that drew him out of his stupor.
"My Father? You knew him?" Qingxuan asked. The old man looked into the distance.
"Have you ever heard of the parable that a common man is never guilty until he carries with him jade treasure?"
Qingxuan shook his head. He could infer what the old man was going to say.
"Your father, he was a great warrior, but he came to possess a world reforming treasure and had to be taken down by enemies from another world.."
The old man's voice turned stern towards the end of his explanation.
Qingxuan nodded. He didn't know him, hence it was unreal to feel any form of sorrow for someone he didn't know..
"But who would've thought eh? From the lineage of the one who once bore the weapon of Great Masters of old would come forth a child, an observer of the Heavenly Dao.."
Qingxuan's body immediately tensed and his body shook for a moment. How was it possible that this unassuming and crafty old man had discovered the existence of his divine eyes.
"Heh. Calm yourself boy. Becoming Heaven's Observer, is a great calling, but not everyone is interested in that, especially with what such a responsibility entails. You should prepare yourself mentally. You're going to face challenges and troubles, this world has yet to see…"
The old man laughed in his face. Qingxuan sat quietly and calmed down. At least the old man only found him interesting and wasn't really interested in the Divine Eyes.
Qingxuan looked at the old man for a long time and the asked one of the million questions on his mind.
"My eyes. What exactly are they?" He looked curious for an answer. The old man sneered. "Of that even I am clueless. It's only the responsibility and implication of carrying such a burden, that I know of. " The old man shrugged lightly.
Qingxuan sighed and lowered his head for a moment. Another dead end.
"Heh, don't be too curious, brat. It's better you have no knowledge of certain secrets, at least for now.
There's a reason why old fogies like me don't dare pry too deep into Heaven's secrets. Maybe as its observer certain things might be revealed to you in due time, but at this stage, it's absolutely crucial, that you keep your eyes hidden.
Its implications for the world and to you, will be too great to handle. And the sworn enemies of natural order and Heaven itself will descend on you in no time…"
The old man's words were a bit cryptic, but Qingxuan understood more than he knew.
"Was he talking about the Yimo? Could this old man know about the Yimo?" He shook. If this old man knew, then he was a terrifying ancient old sac of bones. And why would the Yimo come after him?
He cleared his throat and asked. "Who are the enemies of natural order?" Qingxuan asked. The old man raised a brow. "You really are on curious brat aren't you?"