Chapter 234

A burly, tall middle-aged man with beard like halberds seemed to hear a commotion, darting out from a cave mouth.

"Turns out you're those meddlesome Shu Mountain disciples."

Having finished speaking, Luo Rulie was about to let the poison person out of the cage when the white-clad Daoist-robed youth drew his sword formula.

Instantly, sword shadows filled the sky like a silver sword net, directly slicing the middle-aged man into flying ash.

"Clang—, the sword returned to its sheath."

"Go check if any slipped through the net."

Although Chang Yin and the other Shu Mountain disciples knew their senior brother's cultivation was profound, they hadn't expected it to have reached the point where they need not lend a hand.

Unable to contain their excitement, they replied in unison:

"Yes."

Not long after, inside a main hall, they saw a red-clad woman bound in chains.

"Senior Brother, the Thunderclap Hall has cultivated two batches of poison persons: one batch with red eyes; after taking our Tang Clan's antidote, they only need to rest a while to recover, but the antidote has no effect on the other batch with green eyes."

At that moment, Tang Xuejian hurried into the main hall:

"Changqing Senior Hero, the Thunderclap Hall has cultivated two batches of poison persons: one batch with red eyes; after taking our Tang Clan's antidote, they only need to rest a while to recover, but the antidote has no effect on the other batch with green eyes."

As Shu Mountain's foremost intelligence scout, Chang Yin, always well‑versed and knowledgeable, pondered and said:

"If even the Tang Clan can't detoxify, then the world's sole detoxification method is likely only the Five Poison Beast, whose Five Poison Pearl can neutralize the utmost poison."

"But according to our sect's records, the Five Poison Beast's whereabouts have appeared only once, eight hundred years ago."

"How could the Sword Dao be such an inconvenient thing?"

Zhuang Buran drew his long sword from his back, holding it in hand:

"I once cultivated a sword that could cut their soul, seize their spirit, without harming their body; based on this principle, I could reverse the approach, cleanly slashing the demonic, monstrous, and various evil qi lodged in people's blood and marrow."

"With a sword's hum, a dazzling, gorgeous sword light burst forth; the red‑clad woman's expression instantly softened, her green pupils fading, her teeth beginning to return to normal."

"This"

Tang Xuejian's eyes widened:

"Turns out this is truly a sword‑immortal‑producing Shu Mountain disciple; no wonder they're called the savior immortal who puts people first, subdues demons and evil."

She couldn't help thinking to herself:

"Grandfather's private words were indeed correct: Changqing Senior Hero excels in virtue, wisdom, and skill; first possessing a savior's benevolent heart, then surpassing others in wisdom, instantly seeing through the ill intentions of his second uncle, his martial prowess reaching the utmost—truly accomplished in both civil and military arts, versed in etiquette, dignified and proper, a paragon of perfection."

Chang Yin's face full of admiration:

"Senior Brother, your swordsmanship is likely unrivaled in Shu Mountain; I can't imagine who else could transform a lethal sword art into a healing, detoxifying life‑saving sword technique."

"Just a few clever tricks, not worth mentioning," Zhuang Buran said lightly.

Three days later.

Outside the Tang Family Fortress, the Tang Clan members all came to see off the Shu Mountain disciples.

Only saw Tang Kun's complexion no longer pale and weak, his breath now strong and vigorous; evidently considering the Tang Clan's situation and his granddaughter's, lest his death bring unforeseen consequences, he secretly abandoned his poison arts and took up the Shu Mountain health cultivation method.

Once again, thanks to all of Shu Mountain for resolving the poison person crisis in Yuzhou City.

Tang Kun clasped his fists:

"Elder He Yang, if not for your outstanding disciple, my Tang Family Fortress would hardly escape disaster."

"Lord of the Tang Fortress, you're too kind; without the Tang Clan's assistance, the poison person crisis would not have been so easily resolved."

Just as Elder He Yang and Tang Kun were exchanging pleasantries, Tang Xuejian rushed out the door:

"Changqing Senior Hero, I know some things aren't appropriate to say now, but I must say them."

Zhuang Buran smiled faintly:

"Go ahead, it's fine."

"I I."

Seeing Tang Xuejian's hesitant look, the white‑clad Daoist‑robed youth said:

"Why not step aside to continue?"

"No need, I just want to say." Tang Xuejian gathered courage and shouted:

"Will you marry me? I feel affection can be gradually cultivated."

Immediately, the people of the Tang Sect and Shu Mountain were stunned in place.

Chang Yin stepped forward at once:

"Please choose your words carefully, Miss Tang; my eldest senior brother is a monastic Daoist, and moreover he has been appointed by the sect leader's uncle as the next-generation Shu Mountain sect leader, which absolutely forbids him from marrying."

"Being a monastic doesn't mean one cannot return to secular life." After retorting, Tang Xuejian looked at the youth in white Daoist robes:

"Changqing, what do you think?"

Zhuang Buran said somewhat helplessly:

"Miss Tang, this cannot be judged by whether it's good or not; it is a lifelong vow that cannot be taken lightly."

"Xuejian has always kept her word; naturally she can uphold a lifelong vow."

"Then Changqing has a question: I wonder what Miss Tang most hopes for in this life?"

Tang Xuejian answered without the slightest hesitation:

"I wish my grandfather a long life of a hundred years, for the Tang Family Fortress to have an eternal foundation, and for our family to live happily."

Zhuang Buran burst out laughing:

"So, your hopes do not include me."

Tang Xuejian blinked, then quickly added:

"Not now, but we can add it later, just as I said—feelings can be cultivated slowly."

"Grandfather's illness is also due to overwork; these years he has not only had to take care of me but also manage the Tang Family Fortress."

Therefore, I feel I must bear the burden of Tang Family Fortress, so that my grandfather will not have to toil any further.

Furthermore, my grandfather hopes I will find a man who is handsome and suave, of extraordinary bearing, highly skilled in martial arts, upright in character, and capable of shouldering heaven and earth.

I think Chang Qing, the Great Hero, is just such a person; if you were to manage Tang Family Fortress together with me, my grandfather should then be able to rest easy.

Zhuang Buran said:

Chang Qing still has one question: I have always heard you say it is your grandfather's wish, but I have never heard your own opinion; I do not know what you think of this marriage of yours.

As long as my grandfather can be at ease, it does not matter how Xuejian is.

Miss Tang is exceptionally filial; Chang Qing believes you deserve a better person.

"Why?" Tang Xuejian said, utterly bewildered:

Could it be that a cultivator cannot even accommodate the most ordinary worldly love between men and women?

Zhuang Buran spoke calmly:

The Great Dao is without sentiment; the Heavenly Dao has no affection. Being without sentiment does not mean lacking feeling; it means feeling at its utmost, the greatest feeling between heaven and earth. Nothing is emptiness; emptiness is truth; nothing is not nothing, but rather all-encompassing, all-accepting.

Therefore, the emotion of the Great Dao is an emotion without the slightest distinction, without a trace of selfish desire, and the purest of emotions.

The worldly love between men and women spoken of in secular life is actually the emotion of the Seven Emotions, transformed from joy, anger, worry, thought, grief, fear, and shock; it is desire at its extreme, causing worldly emotions to bring suffering wherever they seek.

Moreover, as human beings, everyone in the world will experience the tribulation of the Seven Emotions; even cultivators cannot avoid it, but cultivators seek to unite with the Dao in truth.

In this lifetime, Chang Qing wishes only to not linger, not be deluded, not cling, while his affection extends to all beings under heaven.

He spoke, pausing after each word:

In this life I have already pledged myself to the Dao; I can hardly pledge myself to you.

(End of chapter)