Chapter 338: All Things Flourish, Only to Return to Their Roots

"People walking on the road must always look ahead. Though there is no lack of moving moments along the way, they are merely a streak of light left behind. Even if one thinks of them again in the future, one may not know whether the self of that time was crying while laughing, or laughing while crying."

……

Long Qi rubbed the jade flute in his hand, thinking of the words Lingxiang left behind before she departed. He truly did not know what Lingxiang meant by this, but every time he recalled it, he felt there was more to her words than met the ear.

"High mountains and long waters, we are linked no more..."

Long Qi gave a self-deprecating smile.

Yes! His acquaintance with Lingxiang was merely a chance encounter; Lingxiang taking him in was also just an act of kindness. What right did he have to demand more?

But he...

He had fallen in love with her, loved her eccentric nature, loved her heartlessness, loved everything about her.

Long Qi did not know when this affection began. Perhaps it was the first time Lingxiang dressed up in Cangzhou City, or perhaps it was her leisurely contentment on the hammock in the courtyard of Youran Abode, or perhaps it was the medicinal fragrance that rushed toward him after he collapsed from exhaustion that day...

Thinking about it carefully, ever since he met Lingxiang, her every move could sway his heart. Although he always appeared indifferent, in reality, he was terrified she would be snatched away. As long as she was there, he wished he could keep his eyes fixed solely upon her.

In Long Qi's heart, Lingxiang was like a piece of natural jade; uncarved, yet already lustrous through and through.

But...

He still had not protected her well...

Long Qi sighed and stroked the blowhole of the jade flute; it seemed the scent of Lingxiang's lips still lingered there.

A rustling sound came, and then an old man in a gray robe sat down beside Long Qi. This old man had frost-white hair and beard, long, flamboyant eyebrows, and pitch-black pupils that filled his entire eye sockets.

"Old Ancestor..."

It turned out this old man was the incarnation of Wuji—the Heavenly Dragon who had been banished to the mortal realm by the Heavenly Consort Ancestral Dragon, the ancestor of the Long Family.

Before leaving, Lingxiang had returned the four Long Family Sword Manuals to Long Qi, but two of them were already in disarray, so Long Qi decided to seek out Wuji to revise them and to cultivate alongside this Old Ancestor of his.

Wuji glanced at the emerald-green flute in Long Qi's hand and curled his lip: "Yo, kid, reminiscing over an object?"

Long Qi did not feel embarrassed; he just smiled, though it lasted only an instant before his expression dimmed again.

Seeing this, Wuji slapped the back of Long Qi's head, though the blow was incredibly gentle.

"Stinky brat, what are you overthinking again!"

Long Qi knew this was the Old Ancestor's way of showing affection. He grinned, lowered his head, and looked at the Clear Wind Jade Flute in his hand.

"Old Ancestor, she said our fate is exhausted, that we are linked no more..."

Wuji smacked his lips upon hearing this: "That doesn't sound unreasonable."

Long Qi's eyes widened, and he jumped up at once: "What is the Old Ancestor saying?"

Seeing Long Qi like this, Wuji remarked that he was far too unsteady and beckoned for Long Qi to sit down.

"Let me ask you, are you and that girl blood relatives?"

Long Qi shook his head upon hearing this, and Wuji asked again:

"Then do you consider her a friend?"

Long Qi first nodded, then hurriedly shook his head.

"Old Ancestor, you know, I consider her..."

"Exactly!" Wuji interrupted him before Long Qi could finish, raising his voice. "Since you two are neither blood relatives nor close friends, where does this talk of being 'linked' come from?"

Long Qi thought about it carefully; if one insisted on interpreting it that way, it did hold up, but...

"But she said our fate is exhausted..."

"That makes it even more correct!" Wuji laughed and stroked his long eyebrows. "On the surface, you two were ultimately master and disciple. Since you harbored desires for that girl, it was always inappropriate in the eyes of the world. Now that the girl has severed the master-disciple bond between you, doesn't that just happen to fulfill those little thoughts of yours?"

Could it be interpreted that way?

Long Qi looked at Wuji in disbelief. After spending two years together, he had sufficient reason to suspect that this Old Ancestor of his was just teasing him, but...

"Is that truly the case?"

"That goes without saying. Who is this old man? I am your Old Ancestor! Back when I was in the heavens, I even drank wine at the same table as Ziwei Dijun!"

Long Qi curled his lip, but he believed it nonetheless, even if it was just Wuji's side of the story.

"But..." Long Qi was still somewhat hesitant. "But why did Lingxiang have me take the Hanyu Pill? Did she already know what was going to happen later back then?"

Wuji smiled: "All things flourish, only to return to their roots. This girl has great wisdom!"

Long Qi did not understand and looked at Wuji in confusion. Wuji looked at him with disdain and raised a finger to flick Long Qi on the forehead.

"Silly boy, this is a blessing!"

A blessing?

He had been taken to the Demon Realm; where was the blessing in that...

Long Qi rubbed his head; he truly could not fathom the meaning behind the Old Ancestor's words.

Wuji sighed and really wanted to roll his eyes at Long Qi, but unfortunately, he had no whites to his eyes.

"For those who cultivate, reach the extreme of emptiness, guard the stillness, return to the root, and restore one's mission. To be able to engage with evil at the lowest cost, to discover the evil of evil, and to observe one's own weaknesses."

"To awaken to the Heavenly Dao and reflect inward—how is that not a blessing?" Wuji stroked his long beard with an expression of approval.

Long Qi was left feeling bewildered, but he understood one thing: Lingxiang had not abandoned him, and she had her reasons for doing what she did.

Yes, Lingxiang's actions seemed eccentric, but she was always planning for the end in the midst of the unexpected. She was just that kind of person; he hadn't just met her today, so shouldn't he trust her?

Long Qi lowered his head again and rubbed the jade flute in his hand; the flute body was smooth and moist, just like Lingxiang's smile that day.

After a long while, Long Qi gave a soft laugh, stood up abruptly, tucked the jade flute carefully into his robes, and turned to walk into the Stone Chamber.

"It's settled, it's settled!"

Wuji did not look back, just kept stroking his long beard and laughing to himself, while Long Sheng appeared quietly at this moment.

Watching Long Qi's retreating back, Long Sheng asked skeptically: "Is the Old Ancestor so certain that Young Master Long Qi has resolved his inner conflict?"

"Tsk!" Wuji looked displeased upon hearing this. "What? You brat, you don't believe your Old Ancestor?"

Long Sheng hurriedly said he dared not, but he truly did not quite believe it; after all, for the past two years, Long Qi had often sighed and would be listless from time to time.

The Long Family has only this one lone sprout left now; how could he possibly set his mind at ease?

Wuji patted Long Sheng on the shoulder: "Set your heart at ease. He is nothing but a callow youth; with his little schemes, could the Old Ancestor not handle him? Wouldn't that mean all these years were lived in vain? It is you, however..."

Long Sheng did not understand the implication; what was wrong with him?

"You are not young anymore either. Speaking of which, you are also my descendant; do not put all your focus on that boy, think more of yourself. Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes; he will grow up eventually."

Upon hearing this, Long Sheng's face turned red, and he turned away to hide it.

With the great feud of the Long Family yet to be avenged, how could he bring himself to care about his own affairs?

Fortunately, however, Long Qi had finally pulled himself together, which was a gratifying thing to see.

At this moment, Long Qi seemed as if he had taken a calming pill, and he began to practice his stance on his own.

Fuyin Zhenren could not break the Hanyu Pill, but he had said that the Hanyu Pill only stagnated the Qi channels and did not affect cultivation. If one day his cultivation base became deep enough, perhaps he would be able to break through the shackles of the Hanyu Pill.

Long Qi had discovered during these days that although he could not use his full strength in the Martial Dao, he could still perform Witchcraft.

Lingxiang often said that he only knew how to use brute force; perhaps this was something Lingxiang had done on purpose, so that he might devote himself to practicing Witchcraft.

That must be it, that must be it; since the Old Ancestor said so, it must be correct!

Thinking this, Long Qi once again held his breath and focused his mind.

Lingxiang, wait for me!

Wait for me to save you!