Chapter 95: Tailpiece (III)

"If you want to go to the Divine Jingcheng, I'm afraid it won't be until after September," Yue Muzhou said.

"Right, next month there is—" Seeing Pei Ye stumbled. He was a bit sensitive to words involving the future now. "There is a Jin Qiu Wu Bi in the prefecture city, I want to try fighting in it first."

But Yue Muzhou didn't feel there was anything wrong with that, and said gently: "Don't be too ambitious. You've just started practicing, it's very normal not to get a ranking."

"Hmm."

"

"Ability."

"Backing."

"...... It's not like you can just have these things whenever you want," Seeing Pei Ye said.

Yue Muzhou sighed, "After we go back in a while, you go back to our courtyard and take that small box out from under my bed."

"The one with two small pieces of jade in it?"

"Right," Yue Muzhou said, "Today I'll tell you what they are for—the one shaped like a small green bird, take it to the Divine Jingcheng's Literature Academy and pay a visit to the Academy Master; that will be your backing in the Divine Jingcheng from now on."

"What about the white one?"

"The white one..." Yue Muzhou was silent for a moment, "The white one is for saving your life. Whether you go to the Divine Jingcheng or not, it can be used. If there is a truly critical matter, you take it to see the Dao Leader of the Shenxiao Sect."

"Shenxiao... the Shenxiao of the Seven Dao Families?"

"Right, but if it's not a necessary matter, just pretend this piece of jade doesn't exist."

Seeing Pei Ye was stunned for a moment—Yan Feiqing was precisely the closed-door disciple of the Qingwei Dao Leader, and the Qingwei Sect was another one of the Seven Dao Families.

This definitely counted as a big shot, but upon second thought, it was not strange for the old man to have known such figures given his former status.

It was just that after so many years, could this friendship still remain like this jade?

Seeing Pei Ye agreed.

The two were silent for a while, and Seeing Pei Ye placed both hands on the old man's shoulders.

"If a person wants to act freely in life and seek comfort in their heart, they won't be able to accomplish great things, and it's hard to have a good ending. If you want to accomplish great things, you must be able to endure and bear burdens. Someone once said I was arrogant and self-righteous; that was indeed true to some extent," the old man said softly. "You are somewhat like me, but fortunately, you are only somewhat like me. Remember when you go to the Divine Jingcheng: when the snake is not yet a dragon, it must find a place to lodge."

"You said two days ago that there are no ravines before a fierce tiger."

"Haha." The old man chuckled, "At that time, wasn't I planning that in a month or two, you would have me over your head? Naturally, you could be a young tiger without any scruples."

"......"

"Now do you know why 'backing' is the most important?" The old man chuckled.

Seeing Pei Ye's nose felt a bit sour, and he didn't speak.

The sound of stepping on fallen leaves suddenly came from the mountain path behind them. The footsteps were not concealed, and after they heard them, they politely stopped in place.

Seeing Pei Ye turned his head, and Ming Qitian stood gracefully behind them.

"Sorry to disturb you," the woman said, "I wanted to... take a look at the senior."

"Little girl Ming, come over," Yue Muzhou said hoarsely, "You said this morning that you are going to continue to the Northwest to ask for swords?"

Ming Qitian nodded: "Hmm."

Yue Muzhou placed his hand on Seeing Pei Ye's and said: "After she said goodbye to you that day, she had already gone to the Northwest to continue her sword travels. After receiving your sword talisman, she immediately turned around and rushed back."

Seeing Pei Ye turned to look at Ming Qitian, bowed earnestly, and said in a low voice: "Thank you for saving me, Miss Ming."

Ming Qitian nodded slightly.

"Where do you plan to go?" Yue Muzhou continued to ask.

"Qingsang Valley, the Yijian Southern Sect, Tianshan."

"A good sequence. Let me recommend another place to you," Yue Muzhou said. "After coming down from the south side of Tianshan, walk for over a hundred miles and there is a small city; I forgot what it's called, but anyway, there is an ice lake to its south. There is a small sect of about a hundred people by the lake. If this sect still exists, their swords are worth a look."

Ming Qitian nodded.

The old man sighed lightly: "Your talent in the sword path is truly unparalleled. We were just talking about you—after you finish your sword travels in the Northwest? Going Northeast or heading South?"

"Heading South."

"Hmm, there are more sword sects in the South, and then heading East, and finally heading North. Is that how you complete your world-asking of swords?"

"Hmm."

"After such a circle, it will be just in time for next year's Feather Scale Trial—are you going to participate?" the old man said.

"I will participate," Ming Qitian said, "My master said to use this Feather Scale Trial to test the results of this world-asking of swords."

"Hmm, then what counts as passing?"

"First place."

"Hahahaha." Yue Muzhou closed his eyes and laughed, as if recalling some period of time, "Not bad, of course it's first place. But... you are also a bit too young."

The old man shook his head lightly: "Truly a unique figure."

Ming Qitian said: "I came to thank the senior for returning that sword to Mount Yunlang. This sword might be very important to Mount Yunlang."

Yue Muzhou laughed: "It was yours to begin with. Besides, I also asked you for a favor, didn't I."

The old man signaled to Seeing Pei Ye.

"The senior also saved my life." Ming Qitian shook her head and handed over a jade bottle, "I still have a pill that might help the senior hold on for a while longer. If the senior can survive this tribulation, would you be willing to come to Mount Yunlang to recuperate?"

"Keep it for yourself," Yue Muzhou smiled freely, "If you want to thank me, why not do this: how about you teach Little Ye for a period of time for me?"

Ming Qitian was slightly stunned and looked at the young man.

"It just so happens that you are returning from your sword travels in the Northwest, and you will pass by the vicinity when heading South. It should be after September then, and he will have finished the Jin Qiu Wu Bi. You can take him along the way South, and then just leave him in the Divine Jingcheng," Yue Muzhou said. "This child has enough talent. I originally intended to keep him by my side and teach him personally in the future, but that is no longer possible, so please substitute for me and guide him along the way."

Ming Qitian pondered: "He can go directly to Mount Yunlang."

Yue Muzhou shook his head with a smile: "He needs to go to the Divine Jingcheng."

So Ming Qitian nodded slowly: "Okay, I'm not very good at teaching people, but I will try my best."

Yue Muzhou nodded: "Then thank you very much. Let's part ways here, little girl. It was very pleasant talking about swords with you this morning. Now, I want to spend some time alone with Little Ye."

"Your insights have also benefited this junior greatly." Ming Qitian bowed and turned to go down the mountain.

Only the two of them were left on the mountain again.

"Why don't you want to live?" Seeing Pei Ye said in a low voice.

"What do you mean don't want to live," the old man chuckled in a low voice, "I just don't want to linger on in a desperate struggle."

"Haven't you lived all those years before like that?" Seeing Pei Ye's voice was muffled.

"No, that wasn't lingering, that was waiting," Yue Muzhou's voice was still hoarse, but his tone tried to be gentle, "It's not anymore. Hanging on to life, what's the point? Why bother being reluctant to let go of charcoal dregs that have already been completely burned out."

"How is there no point? We have all lived like that. Do you only recognize that cultivation base of yours? If you lose your cultivation base, you won't live?"

"No, Little Ye," Yue Muzhou raised his hand and placed it on the young man's hand, "Cultivation is not that important. Of course I want to watch you, watch you finish the Jin Qiu Wu Bi. But even after watching that, I still can't be at ease. I also want to watch you take the Divine Jingcheng Martial Exam, watch you enter the Mystic Gate and break through the Heavenly Tower, watch you get married and start a career... The affairs of the human world are as fine as hair, Little Ye. Even if I live, how much longer can I live? One year, two years? No matter when I leave, I will not be without regrets."

"Besides, I'm not seeking death, it's just that the situation has reached this point, and I can't live anymore anyway." The old man tried to lift his head to "look" at the young man, "Why must you go through all the trouble of tossing and turning? First the Immortal Platform, then Mount Yunlang. Entangling endlessly, it looks pathetic—hmm? Isn't that right, Little Ye?"

"......"

"If you really can't let go," Yue Muzhou felt the slight trembling of the hand on his shoulder and said with difficulty, "We can go back and try..."

"...... No, no need, I'll... listen to you."

"Then we won't go back," the old man said with a relaxed body, his withered, soft hand reaching toward his shoulder, "I don't really want to see the Immortal Platform either. Let's blow some evening wind."

Seeing Pei Ye held it, his hands that were on the old man's shoulders drooping down. He leaned over, his arms gently wrapping around the old man's neck, and his head hung in front of the old man's shoulder.

He sobbed, and the warm liquid wet the old man's clothes.

(End of chapter)