Chapter 46: with translation of chapter title

One year later.

Below Zhongnan Mountain two uninvited guests arrived: a middle‑aged woman whose charm remained, her movements carrying a spirited, graceful vigor.

The other was a slender, lovely maiden, her features beautiful, her posture graceful, her whole being exuding an ancient, lively cleverness coupled with a bold, magnanimous aura.

"Lady Huang Rong of Xiangyang, accompanied by her daughter, has come specially to visit Immortal Zhuang; please announce us."

Upon hearing that the visitor was Lady Guo, who had guarded Xiangyang for decades, the Quanzhen Daoist immediately received her with great respect.

Not long after, he led them to the outside of the bamboo pavilion; upon entering the courtyard they saw a youth in green robes reclining on a novel, distinctive chair, looking utterly relaxed and content.

"Xiang'er, this is the Immortal Zhuang you often mention; now that you've seen him, why are you standing there dumbfounded?"

Seeing her daughter stare blankly at the youth in green robes, Huang Rong instinctively tugged at her sleeve.

Guo Xiang whispered, her face full of doubt:

"Mother, I feel he looks very familiar, yet I have never met him before."

"Never mind whether he looks familiar; with Immortal Zhuang present you must observe propriety," Huang Rong indicated with her eyes.

Guo Xiang immediately clasped her fists in salute:

"Guo Xiang pays respects to the Immortal."

The youth in green robes kept his eyes closed and spoke lazily:

"Lady Huang Rong, one does not visit the Three Treasures Hall without cause; you should know my disposition—I never concern myself with worldly turmoil."

"Immortal Zhuang, I implore you, for the sake of the hundreds of thousands in Xiangyang and the myriad common folk of the Central Plains, to lend your aid; given your ability, I know you have a way."

Huang Rong bowed deeply to the youth in green robes.

"Heh, truly the times have changed; that clever girl who used to bare her fangs and brandish her claws at Zhuang is gone completely."

Zhuang Buran lifted his eyelids, seeming puzzled, and said:

"The great hero serves country and people; you and Guo Jing share the same heart, so you wish to help him fulfill that slogan—what does that have to do with me?"

Huang Rong rose to her feet and spoke solemnly:

"Now the Great Song is perilous; as fellow Song people, is it not our duty to jointly resist foreign invaders?"

"Zhuang would like to ask you a question: if the great hero serves country and people, what need is there for the civil and military officials of the court?"

The youth in green robes, without waiting for Huang Rong's reply, spoke calmly:

"Heroes do not cause chaos in the wilderness; officials do not stabilize the world in court—putting priorities backwards, in the end perhaps only moving oneself."

"Could it be that the lives of millions of Song subjects are, in your eyes, so insignificant?" Huang Rong looked troubled.

Zhuang Buran spoke unhurriedly:

"Guo Jing's willingness to stake his life defending Xiangyang and the millions of Song people beyond it stems from his own sense of right and wrong."

"Your willingness to share his fate shows deep marital devotion; I, Zhuang, am merely selfish and self‑concerned, yet you ask me to sacrifice myself—this leaves me speechless."

"Aren't you the Immortal Bu Ran praised by all under heaven?" Guo Xiang interjected.

"Just because others say it, do you dare believe it?" Zhuang Buran glanced at her.

Guo Xiang's expression stalled, and she muttered involuntarily:

"Um, with martial arts transcending the mundane, an indestructible body, and the ability to regrow a severed limb—what else is this if not an immortal? All that's left is to ascend in broad daylight."

"Xiang'er, do not be rude."

"Oh." Guo Xiang pursed her lips.

"Although I know you will not agree, I still harbor some selfish hopes." Huang Rong revealed her true purpose:

"This time I have come mainly to entrust two things to you."

After she finished speaking, Guo Xiang untied the cloth bundle on her back.

"My daughter once obtained a heavy black‑iron sword in a valley outside Xiangyang; I had skilled artisans melt it and forge a pair of blade and sword, in which I hid the *Wumu Legacy*, the *Nine Yin True Classic*, and the *Eighteen Dragon‑Subduing Palms*."

"Thus we preserve the martial world's spark, awaiting future descendants to recover the rivers and mountains and revive Central Plains martial arts."

"You ask Zhuang, who once slaughtered the martial world to the point of breaking its lineage, to safeguard your so‑called martial spark?" The youth in green robes laughed incredulously.

"This blade is named Slaying Dragon, meaning that whoever obtains the military text within it will one day be able to expel the barbarians."

"The sword is named Lean on Heaven; it contains martial secrets, hoping later generations will master its skills to enact Heaven's will and rid the people of harm."

Huang Rong spoke, pausing between each word:

"The supreme martial treasure, the Slaying Dragon blade, commands all under heaven—none dare disobey; if the Lean‑on‑Heaven sword does not appear, who can contend?"

"When this saying spreads through the jianghu, I believe only you can guard this pair of blade and sword."

Zhuang Buran gave a light chuckle:

"Such slogans are nothing but blatant lures drawing jianghu folk to chase them; they resemble the Miao practice of rearing gu—those who obtain the blade and sword must be extraordinary, and upon discovering the weapons' secret they may perhaps inherit your and Guo Jing's legacy."

His tone paused slightly:

"Very well; when the day comes that you and Guo Jing lose your heads at Xiangyang, I will toss the blade and sword into the jianghu."

"On what basis do you claim my parents will surely fail to defend Xiangyang?" Guo Xiang objected.

"If your parents were confident they could guard Xiangyang, why would they make these preparations?" Zhuang Buran said evenly.

"Lady Huang Rong, do you know that from the very start I have disliked Guo Jing's sort, and to this day I still do."

"I have long seen that." Huang Rong's lips curled into a faint smile:

"Whether it's you or my father, both look down on him, yet who made me like him anyway!"

"But I must add that over these years my father's attitude toward him has greatly improved."

Zhuang Buran's expression remained unchanged:

"Guo Jing's temperament might make him a friend, but certainly not a relative; fortunately you are not a daughter I raised myself, otherwise the first time I saw him I would have killed him."

"Hahaha, then I ought to be glad—thank goodness I am not your daughter." Huang Rong, no longer the composed visitor, broke into a bright, youthful smile.

"Indeed, otherwise you would end up hating Zhuang to death." Zhuang Buran drawled slowly.

Considering you and I have some connection, finally I'll tell you this: don't regard yourself as too important; this world, no matter who leaves, remains that same world.

Huang Rong remained silent for a moment, not speaking, merely having Guo Xiang place the swords on the table beside the blue-robed youth, then she performed a solemn bow.

This parting may mean we never meet again; I wish you forever accompanied by clear breezes and bright moons, smiling at the world's bustle.

She paused, then spoke from the heart:

I only wish that my second uncle from now on encounters no misfortune, fulfills all his wishes, and that the path of immortality remains evergreen.

Having said that, she took the astonished Guo Xiang by the hand and left the courtyard without looking back.

The blue-robed youth lowered his eyes and softly said:

In his youth, with the spring wind at his back and his horse's hooves flying, he did not believe there could be separation in the world.

As one grows, it's hard to remain whole and easy to be lacking; life since ancient times has been like the bright moon.

Several years passed in the blink of an eye.

That day, news reached Mount Zhongnan: Mongol forces launched a heavy assault on Xiangyang; the city fell, Guo Jing and Huang Rong both died for their country, and their son Guo Polu also died in battle beneath the city walls.

On the same day, the summit of Mount Zhongnan burst with white light; a green silhouette stepped forth on the cloud vapor and headed north.

Not long after, the whole world shook: Immortal Bu Ran trod the clouds and descended upon the Mongol central army's great camp.

In a moment, he slew the Golden Wheel National Teacher, struck down the Mongol Three Heroes—Xiaoxiangzi, Nimoxing, and Yin Kexi—then pointed to kill the Great Khan Kublai, after which he drifted away.

A few days later, a barefoot youth in blue robes with white hair appeared at the symbolic tomb of Guo and Huang outside Xiangyang.

Worldly affairs are a great dream; life knows several autumn chills—go rest, go rest!

The blue-robed youth suddenly burst into loud laughter, white cloud vapor rising around him; before everyone's eyes, his body transformed into a rainbow light and fled.

From then on, Immortal Bu Ran shattered the void with martial prowess, attained the Dao and ascended, his name spreading throughout the world.

(End of chapter)