Chapter 495

With that, Jiang Chen's smile vanished instantly, replaced by grave solemnity.

Seeing this, Jiang Yan's expression tightened, his heart leaping up in trepidation.

Then, under his anxious gaze,

Jiang Chen suddenly shifted tone and said solemnly: "When the clan chief presented me this sword, he spoke some words to me."

"Now, I pass these same words to you, along with Silver Moon—may you work diligently in the days ahead and never forget your original heart!"

Jiang Yan's inner tension dissolved, and his face mirrored the same solemn expression.

He bowed and said: "Please speak."

Jiang Chen lifted his head, straightened his chest, and mimicking the clan chief's tone, spoke slowly:

"I give you this sword to help you cleave through thorns and brambles on your path of cultivation!"

"And to remind you always that your clan and the clan chief are your strongest backing, ever behind you!"

"Yan弟, if you ever face troubles beyond your control, do not bear them alone—use the Cangwu Token to notify the clan, and we will face them together!"

His words fell silent.

Jiang Yan's heart trembled instantly; moved, his eyes grew misty.

He bit his lip, holding back tears so as not to embarrass himself before Brother Chen.

Yet the surging emotions within him, like a tidal wave, shattered his inner dam within moments!

Helpless, Jiang Yan turned away, facing his back to Jiang Chen.

He clenched his sleeves tightly, tilted his head upward, striving to keep tears from falling.

Then, voice choked, he said: "Chen... Chen-ge, I understand."

"When you see the clan chief and the others, please tell them not to worry too much—I... I'm leaving now."

Watching Jiang Yan's struggle between wanting to cry and fearing to cry, Jiang Chen let out a quiet laugh.

He knew if he kept him here any longer, Jiang Yan would surely break down.

So, to respect his dignity, he naturally made no further attempt to stop him.

Jiang Chen lightly tossed the Silver Moon Sword before Jiang Yan: "Catch it."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Jiang Yan felt it instinctively and caught it effortlessly!

His five fingers had just closed around the hilt.

Jiang Chen's voice came again: "Outside the mountain is not like within—it's full of deceit and treachery; always keep your eyes open, or you'll suffer great losses. Watch your safety on the journey..."

"Since you're ready, descend the mountain. We'll wait... for you to come home."

Jiang Yan said nothing.

He feared that if he opened his mouth, he would burst into tears.

After all, he was still only a boy.

In the end, he could only softly respond: "Mm."

With that, he rose into the air without looking back, vanishing into the horizon!

His flight speed increased rapidly, and soon he was beyond the Cangwu Mountains' boundaries.

As the surroundings grew increasingly unfamiliar,

he could no longer resist turning back, gazing at the distant Cangwu Mountains, now shrinking into insignificance.

"Cangwu Mountains, wait for me to return..."

Not long ago.

On the other side.

On a cliff of Cangwu Mountain,

Gu Xingjian held his sword, sparring with Jiang Zhi in swordplay refinement!

At this moment, both had suppressed all their cultivation base, fighting solely with pure sword techniques.

Clang! Clang! Clang—

Sword lights crossed, afterimages overlapped, sparks flew!

Two immensely powerful, earth-shaking sword intentions clashed, radiating piercing, razor-sharp edges!

Suddenly, Jiang Zhi swept her sword in a sweeping arc, striking straight at Gu Xingjian!

Seeing this, Gu Xingjian instantly dodged, preparing to retreat and counter with a new assault!

But Jiang Zhi's speed far outpaced his!

She abruptly shifted her sword technique, unleashing a lightning-fast strike!

Swish—

The sword tip landed precisely on the hilt of Gu Xingjian's blade.

With a sharp upward flick, his right palm loosened, and his sword flew free, embedding itself sideways into the ground.

When he turned back, he saw a gleaming blade, cold and bright, already less than a finger's width from his forehead.