Chapter 26: The Luminous Pearl

It was widely said that among the four great sects of the present age, Bright Moon Manor held the foremost position. That was undoubtedly true. Ever since the master of the East Hua Sect, Shao Donghua, perished in the legendary battle against the Three Wolves sixteen years prior, the East Hua Sect had declined rapidly in both influence and power. Now, it could barely rival the Qilian Sect, which had always been considered the weakest of the four. In contrast, Bright Moon Manor had surged ahead in these years, its reputation growing ever more resplendent. Shen Wansan’s martial prowess was nothing short of extraordinary, and his disciples multiplied with each passing year. In fact, so many flocked to join that only one in ten applicants was even admitted after the most rigorous examinations.

Such sects never lacked for wealth. The upkeep of so many disciples was already a considerable expense, not to mention the countless businesses and farmlands owned by the sect. Even the local authorities sought to curry favor and ingratiate themselves with the Manor. So it was that Bright Moon Manor became the most splendid of all, its buildings standing in concentric layers, more than a hundred in all, each grander than the last. The architecture was lavish beyond compare; carved beams and crafted railings seemed as though dusted with gold. Not only did it outshine common dwellings, but even the mansions of officials or the halls of regional lords paled before its magnificence.

Such opulence was enough to inspire envy, but Shen Wansan seemed not to care. Indeed, to one who lived daily amid such surroundings, everything might seem merely adequate, never quite big or fine enough, let alone something to boast about. At this moment, the Fairy of Guxie followed behind the old man, deliberately keeping a respectful distance. The events earlier had instilled in her a trace of fear, and it was this very fear that subdued her once-proud spirit, leaving her humbled.

Their pace was unhurried, and thus the walk from the great hall took some time. The slanting sunlight, which had earlier brightened the path, slowly faded as dusk deepened, leaving the road shadowy and obscure. Yet as they reached their destination, Shen Wansan halted, his gaze—and hers as well—falling upon a plaque of green stone, engraved with the words “Hall of No Form.” The name itself was somewhat strange, but with so many buildings in Bright Moon Manor, it was inevitable that some names would seem odd or uninspired. Naming so many places was a challenge, so the “No Form” Hall was hardly worth questioning. Only now did Guxie notice, beneath the three large characters, a smaller line inscribed: “No Form, No Shape; All Ways as One.” Due to the dim light, the inscription was a little blurred.

As for its meaning, she could not fathom it. Most likely, it was merely an explanation for the hall’s name. But the hall’s appearance set it apart from the others: tucked away in a remote corner, built of unremarkable slate and tiles, it was the most inconspicuous spot in the entire manor. Yet it was here Shen Wansan had brought her, and when he stopped, his expression was solemn, which only deepened Guxie’s confusion. She did not hide her curiosity—after all, her fate was uncertain, so why concern herself with etiquette? “Master Shen, what place is this?”

“This is the ancestral ground of Bright Moon Manor,” he replied crisply, without a hint of hesitation. To Shen Wansan, it was not a secret worth hiding. At his words, a chill ran through Guxie. The so-called ancestral ground was just a flattering term; in truth, it was nothing but a spirit hall, a place for ancestral tablets or ashes. Anyone would feel a shiver in such a place, and the gloomy atmosphere only intensified the feeling. Guxie steadied herself, drawing on her experience with perilous situations—she would not be cowed by ghosts.

“Please, Fairy, come with me,” Shen Wansan said after a brief pause, moving forward again. The stone door was heavy—a hindrance to ordinary people, but nothing to a man like Shen Wansan. With a gentle push, he opened it, and at once a faint chill swept out, like a wisp of ghostly wind, making Guxie shiver involuntarily. She calmed her breath and looked inside. Directly across from the door was a large window, through which a faint light filtered—moonlight, perhaps, though dimmer than it should be. The breeze had entered by this window, its placement clearly intentional.

A faint, tinkling sound echoed, barely noticeable but, in the silence after their footsteps ceased, distinct and clear. Such sounds are all the more unnerving for being intermittent—if they were absent altogether, one would not notice, but their very ambiguity draws the ear. Guxie’s expression grew more grave. The entire room seemed infused with a chilly, uncanny aura, and even the sound now seemed like weeping, enough to send chills down the spine.

“Why have you brought me here?” she demanded, her voice tinged with urgency. No one would willingly linger in such a place, least of all a woman. In broad daylight, even killing seemed trivial to her, but in this oppressive gloom, she could hardly endure another moment. She forced herself to speak sternly, hoping her voice might mask her fear. Shen Wansan did not answer at once, but stepped forward a few more paces. In the darkness, it was hard to see his movements, but the sound of a box being opened was clear.

Light filled the room in an instant—not the glow of a candle, but a dazzling brilliance emanating from a pearl the size of a dove’s egg. In a flash, all was illuminated, and Guxie stared in wonder. It was indeed a luminous pearl, and only such a gem could shine so in the darkness. Pearls of this size were rare but not unheard of, and alone would not qualify as a peerless treasure. But this one was unique—not merely white, but rainbow-hued, its colors blending seamlessly like a miniature rainbow, truly a marvel the world had seldom seen.

“Fairy, this is the treasure to be presented to His Highness the Prince of Qi,” Shen Wansan said. “I had intended to deliver it in a few days, but since you are here, I must trouble you to present it to His Highness on my behalf.” Guxie, entranced by the gem, only now returned to herself. She had seen countless rare treasures at the Prince’s residence, but never anything like this. Even so, her eyes could not tear themselves from the box; she merely nodded faintly in acknowledgement.

Her reaction was somewhat improper, but perhaps that was exactly what Shen Wansan expected. He closed the box slowly, and even then a soft radiance leaked from within. Only when both the box and the outer chest were shut did darkness return, and the room was as before. The loss of light brought not fear, but a sense of disappointment at being parted from such a treasure. This feeling, however, soon faded—after all, it was never hers to keep. To become too attached would serve no good: “Master Shen, so this is the fabled luminous pearl I have heard so much about. I always wondered what kind of treasure could so captivate His Highness. Now that I have seen it, I am truly amazed. But there is one thing I do not understand: why keep such a treasure in a place like this, without a single guard? Are you not afraid of thieves?”

“When you stood outside, Fairy, did you sense that anything valuable was hidden here?” Shen Wansan replied calmly. “I deliberately set up a treasure chamber in the side room of the main hall, with layers of guards. Yet someone still managed to sneak in and steal the fake luminous pearl. Golden Leaf, that fellow is indeed skillful.” He sighed slightly at the end. Some things need no explanation, especially to those who understand. Guxie grasped his meaning at once. Sometimes, the more unremarkable the place, the safer it is. Conversely, a heavily guarded treasure room only attracts attention: “Master Shen, you are truly extraordinary. However tight the defense, there are always flaws. It is not the thief but his intentions that are to be feared. Hiding it here, where no one would think to look, is far safer. I am impressed.”

Though the Fairy of Guxie had previously referred to herself in the first person, now she called herself “junior,” showing her respect. A man of such martial skill and cunning was best not made an enemy. Shen Wansan gently lifted the chest and moved toward the door, but paused at the threshold. In a low voice, he asked, “Fairy, did you sense anything unusual upon entering?”