Soul of the Revered Banner
Chapter 58: Reflection

Wen Yue still lay on a bed, just in a different location.

He had been moved from the small house in the back courtyard to his former residence.

The maids and servants remained the same.

His leg injury had been inflicted by a ghostly entity, mundane medicine could only help with time and patience.

Though he had asked the cultivators at the Offering Pavilion, they weren’t skilled in healing arts, so that was the end of it.

As the door was pushed open, Chu Jiu softly called out, “Young Master.”

Wen Yue looked up and saw Chu Jiu, and at the same time noticed Shizhu.

Shizhu truly lived up to his name, tall and solid like a pillar.

As an Embroidered Guard, trained in external martial arts focusing on muscles, bones, and skin, even though he had been seriously injured by a palm strike from Zhou Liang, he was able to move freely again after resting for just half a day.

This should have been his second time meeting Wen Yue. To encounter such a figure of status, even if filled with rage, nervousness was hard to avoid.

It was the tension and fear caused by suddenly crossing class boundaries.

Wen Yue asked, “You're the one who was at Baihu Commander Xiang’s side, what troubles you?”

“Didn't expect the Young Master to still remember a nobody like me.”

Shizhu suddenly understood why Xiang Hu harbored no resentment toward Wen Yue. Instead, he left behind a secret letter and the treasure.

Even after just one meeting, such a noble remembered him, not only did he not get angry at Shizhu's intrusion, but even asked about his difficulties.

Such a person was worthy of loyalty, someone one would be willing to die for.

“This is a secret letter and… item that Baihu Commander Xiang asked me to deliver to you.” Shizhu gritted his teeth, tore open the lining of his coat, and took out the hidden letter, along with a foot-long object wrapped in an unfamiliar piece of banner cloth, drawn from the silver pouch.

Wen Yue was momentarily stunned. His expression suddenly fell, and his voice rose slightly: “Baihu Commander Xiang?”

He struggled to get up from the bed but fell to the ground with a thud, then scrambled to his feet in a fluster.

Chu Jiu panicked and cried out, rushing to help him.

Shizhu was moved as well, stepping forward to hand over the letter and the item.

Wen Yue hurried to open the letter.

“To the Young Master,

If you're reading this letter, I have likely already passed away.

This item is extraordinary. It is called the ‘Ghost-Faced Divine Banner.’

By feeding it internal energy, one can acquire a ‘Black Pearl.’

It was through this pearl that I entered the Organ Refining realm, and later reached the Innate Stage.

From Acquired to Innate, opening the body’s meridians, converting all internal energy into spiritual power, and becoming an immortal master.

Swallowing the Black Pearl requires...

The Ghost-Faced Divine Banner hosts a ghost god. When internal energy is sufficient, it will come in a dream at night to teach immortal cultivation methods.

With this treasure, the Young Master can become an immortal master and heal your crippled leg.

All past kindness is hereby repaid in full.

- Xiang Hu’s final words.”

Wen Yue stared blankly at the letter. Only when teardrops fell onto the page did he snap out of it.

“That minor kindness… why repay it with your life?!”

His hand trembled as he held the letter.

Wen Yue hadn’t expected that what Old Xiang had entrusted to Shizhu was such an extraordinary treasure.

As for why he hadn’t delivered it personally,

How could Xiang Hu not know this was an immortal master’s treasure? If he had brought it that day, the immortal masters of the Offering Pavilion would never have let it slide.

He must’ve had no choice but to use this plan.

Seeing the Young Master weeping sincerely and not feigning it, the anger in Shizhu’s heart eased considerably. He spoke up: “Young Master, I came to retrieve Baihu Commander Xiang’s body.”

“No. I want to give him a proper burial.”

Shizhu’s expression was resolute: “Young Master, I must take Boss Xiang’s body away today.”

“No room for discussion?”

Shizhu shook his head and said nothing.

“Glory and wealth, I can give you all of it. You really must leave?” Wen Yue gazed at him, his voice gentle.

With Xiang Hu’s favor, Shizhu could have flourished under Wen Yue. Even doing nothing, he could’ve held a high post, becoming the kind of man he had once admired.

Wen Yue was sincere, not faking it.

“You resent me?” he asked after a long silence.

“I wouldn't dare. I came to Liang City just to gnaw on worldly prosperity. But I’m afraid the Boss wouldn’t be used to that golden nanmu¹ coffin. He might come to blame me.”

Wen Yue opened his mouth, then slowly closed his eyes and sighed deeply, “Forget it, forget it.”

He unfastened the jade pendant from his waist and handed it over: “If you’re ever in trouble, you may return to Liang City to find me. If you hate me, pawn this jade for travel money.”

“Thank you, Young Master, for your grace and honor.” Shizhu accepted the jade and turned to leave.

Chu Jiu led Shizhu to the mourning hall, where Old Xiang’s body lay in the coffin.

Xiang Hu looked peaceful, his complexion ruddy, he didn’t look dead at all, but merely asleep.

After a final look, the coffin was closed.

Chu Jiu ordered a cow cart prepared.

Shizhu drove the cart carrying the coffin straight toward Liang City’s gates.

That evening, the sunset burned red across the sky.

Only when the cart had completely vanished from sight did Chu Jiu return to the Marquis’ estate.

Wen Yue asked dejectedly, “He’s gone?”

“Yes, Young Master. He’s gone, he never looked back.”

It was just as well, for even he himself wanted to leave.

Power killed without a blade. A single misstep and the nobles waiting in ambush would pounce. Even one’s own clan could not be trusted. The inner factions fought in the dark, killing without spilling blood.

It all began with his crippled leg.

Those who followed him suffered because of it.

Ultimately, it came down to lack of strength.

Wen Yue held the soul banner in his hand, staring at it solemnly.

“…Can it really heal me?”

Wen Yue’s strength wasn’t poor. Thanks to a well-fed upbringing and intensive training from skilled masters, he had become a second-rate martial artist in the jianghu before reaching thirty.

Within the Bone Tempering realm, he was considered elite.

It was only because of his confidence in his strength that he dared confront that ghostly entity that day.

In terms of foundation and blood energy, Wen Yue far surpassed the former Old Xiang. And now, in the prime of his life, his energy was full with no signs of decay.

Whether or not it could cure his leg, he would find out by trying.

Nervous, Wen Yue poured his internal energy into the soul banner.

The soul banner showed no reaction.

Wen Yue continued pouring more internal energy.

A full quarter-hour passed, and Wen Yue who was already pale was now completely bloodless.

His lips turned purplish.

Sweat poured down his forehead like rain.

“Not enough internal energy?”

“Or… is it fake?” Wen Yue was starting to panic.

If there were no reaction after a short while, he could still wait but a whole quarter-hour and the treasure remained inert? That would make anyone doubt its authenticity.

Wen Yue suddenly felt hopeless and lost.

Of course. Even immortal masters couldn’t cure his leg, how could an unknown item suddenly make him better?

Perhaps using the item depended on the person.

And maybe… he just wasn’t the fated one.

Wen Yue gave a bitter smile. He said nothing, didn’t scream, just accepted it, as if it was meant to be.

However,

Just as he sank into despair,

The Soul Banner suddenly unfurled.

A black pearl, about the size of a chicken egg, rolled out from the surface of the banner.

Tu Shanjun, within, knew nothing of Wen Yue’s emotional turmoil.

He was merely pondering whether he had been too lax with his banner masters, letting them develop freely.

As a result, none of them had truly stepped onto the path of cultivation, all burdened by worldly ties.

Even after becoming Qi Refining cultivators, their hearts remained mundane. They didn’t pursue the path of immortality with the same zeal as Tu Shanjun himself.

Looking back, among all the banner masters he had chosen, Zhao Shixian was the most earnest in seeking the Dao.

But Zhao Shixian was a demonic cultivator, he had to die. Tu Shanjun would never let him live.

So while waiting, he absorbed more of the spiritual power traces from the internal energy, trying to hasten his dream-entry.

As for why he hadn’t passed the banner to another Qi Refining cultivator, that was a decision Tu Shanjun had made long ago.

Someone like Hou Boxu was certainly worthy of admiration but if he’d encountered a cultivator like that, would he still have any chance of rising?

Tu Shanjun respected and admired such people but now, he feared encountering one.

If he did, they might just destroy the Soul Banner.

That possibility was unacceptable.

Thus, Tu Shanjun would rather struggle in the mortal realm for a longer time than fall into another cultivator’s hands.

The Offering Pavilion’s loose cultivators were all slippery old foxes, Tu Shanjun had no interest in fighting mental duels with his own banner masters during cultivation.

Just like Zhou Liang, if Zhou Liang had been stronger, they truly would’ve fought a hard battle.

So in the end, it was safer to cultivate a banner master from scratch.

Better to build than to be betrayed.

(Chapter End)

¹ Golden nanmu is a precious wood often used in luxury coffins and furniture, indicating wealth and status.