Chapter 346

The small courtyard is quiet, the bright moon is frosty like autumn sorrow, reflecting the three of them, their shadows lingering long.

The Zhang family ancestral home has not been this lively for many years as it is tonight.

The three stood in the courtyard, each with different tides in their hearts and a thousand thoughts in their minds.

Zhang Tianyang was calm and composed, like the endless water of Zhuhu Lake, with flat waves for a thousand miles, difficult to fathom. This old acquaintance of the Southern Zhang, just a moment ago, had beheaded three Celestial Masters, shocking heaven and earth, with no taboos, yet in the blink of an eye, he had turned back into an old man painting by the lake, plain and ordinary, unstained by a single speck of worldly dust.

Zhang Fan's gaze shifted, his heart filled with a thousand emotions. He knew that the old man before him was one of the few close relatives he had left in this world.

After all, the people of the Southern Zhang were almost all dead.

Standing on his native soil, how many people are left?

At this moment, Lou Hechuan's emotions were the most turbulent. Looking at Zhang Tianyang before him, his thoughts seemed to return to more than forty years ago, the day he first set foot on the old land of the Southern Zhang.

"Kid, are you the new cub my second brother took in? You look loose and slack, plain and ordinary. Give me some spirit!"

That was the first time he saw Zhang Tianyang. The words of the past lingered in his ears; that day more than forty years ago seemed to be right before his eyes.

It's just that they have all grown old, black hair has turned to white, and time is hard to find again.

"Little Lou, you have grown old too," Zhang Tianyang said softly.

"Back then, when you followed my second brother, you hadn't started a family yet, and you were so green you could squeeze water out of you."

"Third Master." Lou Hechuan's voice trembled. He didn't know why, but as the light and shadow danced before his eyes, his eyes were faintly moist.

Perhaps it was for the time that had long been lost, or perhaps for the feelings hidden deep in his heart.

"I failed the Zhang family, I failed the Second Master..." Lou Hechuan muttered softly. At his age, a mist surged in his murky eyes.

Mentioning Zhang Tiansheng, his voice choked up for a moment.

That was a man who was like a father and a brother to him. But that night, blood flowed like a river, staining Zhuhu Lake. He was afraid, he was cowardly, and he failed to take that step to stand firmly by that man's side.

Zhang Guo's talent back then was "great skill appearing clumsy." If he had worked hard and obtained the opportunity, he might have been able to look toward the Celestial Master Realm in this lifetime.

For the plain and ordinary Lou Hechuan of that time, this was a very high praise. Not to mention his own surprise, even the onlookers that day couldn't help but exclaim.

But for so many years, he had only cultivated to the Zhaoshou Realm. Perhaps that choice that night became his inner demon and the greatest obstacle to his cultivation over the years.

Perhaps, if he had taken that step that night, even if he died, at least his heart would be at peace...

There would be no more demonic tribulations on the path of cultivation.

Unfortunately, a single wrong thought turned his life upside down, never to be the same again. The trajectory of fate did not follow what Zhang Tiansheng had said.

The Celestial Master Realm ultimately became a delusion.

After many years, seeing an old friend again, Lou Hechuan could ultimately not suppress the various thoughts hidden in his heart.

"Youth does not stay for the young, hatred is long, when will it end? Looking back with white hair, life is but a carefree journey."

Zhang Tianyang whispered leisurely, walked to Lou Hechuan's side, and patted his shoulder.

"Little Lou, you are truly old, to have such emotions."

"Back then, you risked your life to save Lingzong and... it can be considered repaying his kindness, there is no need to be like this."

"Third Master..."

Lou Hechuan's expression changed. He had a thousand words, but when they reached his lips, he didn't know where to start.

"Little Lou, I want to talk to my own family," Zhang Tianyang suddenly said.

Hearing this, Lou Hechuan's gaze flickered, he looked at Zhang Fan, then immediately understood, nodded, and respectfully retreated.

In the quiet courtyard, only Zhang Tianyang and Zhang Fan remained.

The old man stood with his hands behind his back, turned around, and looked at Zhang Fan.

"You are Lingzong's son!"

"Third... Third Grandfather!" Zhang Fan bowed respectfully.

"Time flies so fast, you have grown so big. My second brother's lineage has successors after all." Zhang Tianyang looked at Zhang Fan, a rare touch of softness surging in his calm eyes.

"Third Grandfather, my father..." Zhang Fan began.

Now that Zhang Lingzong was trapped in Mount Ailao, he had just witnessed Zhang Tianyang's strength. If this Third Grandfather of his were willing to take action, he might be able to turn the current predicament around.

"Everyone has their own fate."

Zhang Tianyang interrupted Zhang Fan before he could finish.

"Third Grandfather..."

"The world always sees bad as ferocious, but they don't know that under the tribulation, there is also fate, and within fate, there is also tribulation..." Zhang Tianyang said lightly.

If you ruin someone else's fate, perhaps you are saving their life; if you block their tribulation, perhaps you will harm their whole life.

The Great Dao always hides fortune and misfortune, you have me and I have you, Yin embraces Yang. The world does not know the changes of tribulation and luck, wasting a lifetime in vain.

"Cultivation is seeking opportunities within tribulations, stealing life within murderous intent..." Zhang Tianyang sighed leisurely.

Being in the red dust is the greatest tribulation, and also the greatest fate.

Heaven sends down tribulations, which is also sending down opportunities. Only after experiencing a thousand tribulations can one understand how to become an immortal.

"If one cannot cross over..."

"Then it is life and death, everything becomes empty..." Zhang Tianyang said in a heavy voice.

"Throughout history, only two or three people have been able to reach the end of this path."

"Immortals are made by mortals; I only fear that mortals' will is not firm..."

Zhang Fan muttered softly. Today, he had a new understanding of this sentence.

"If the greater the tribulation, the greater the achievement, then my Southern Zhang would have unified the world and brought all sects to heart long ago."

Just at this moment, an indifferent voice echoed in the quiet courtyard. In the corner, a figure slowly walked out and stepped into the moonlight.

"The greater the achievement, the greater the tribulation, so the Southern Zhang is gone." Zhang Tianyang didn't look back, whispering heavily.

"Given Chen Long!"

Zhang Fan's expression changed slightly. He didn't know when Given Chen Long had appeared in the courtyard.

"Father, you are alive, I am alive, so the Southern Zhang still exists," Given Chen Long said heavily.

"Nanfeng, you have grown up."

Zhang Tianyang turned around and looked at Given Chen Long. A ripple appeared in his originally calm eyes.

Once upon a time, Zhang Nanfeng was a man, but now seeing her again, she is already a beautiful woman.

The nine inner dans and the five elements wrong king are indeed beyond the common sense of the world and not in the mortal fate.

However, for Zhang Tianyang, there is no difference. For a Dao practitioner, life and death can be the same, let alone gender?

The ripple in his eyes was the rebirth after the tribulation, the long-awaited reunion of father and daughter.

"Father, I guessed you weren't dead," Given Chen Long said heavily.

"So you set up this trap to lure me out?"

Zhang Tianyang's gaze tightened and fell on Given Chen Long's chest. The wound opened by the Horn of the Rampant Dragon had long since healed as before. As for the treasure refined by the Northern Zhang, it had already fallen into her hands.

"The 【Horn of the Rampant Dragon】 researched by the Second Uncle is indeed extraordinary, but unfortunately, the 【Horn of the True Dragon】 has long been in my hands. How could I be afraid of this fake one?" Given Chen Long said lightly.

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhang Fan couldn't help but frown.

"So, you entered the trap yourself to lure the people of the Northern Zhang to bring this treasure?" Zhang Tianyang said lightly.

"They knew I was coming, so they would definitely invite the 【Horn of the Rampant Dragon】. With this thing, perhaps I can comprehend the usage of the 【Horn of the True Dragon】," Given Chen Long whispered heavily.

"And while I was at it, I killed the three Celestial Masters to lure you out."

As the voice fell, Zhang Fan couldn't help but gasp. It turned out that from the day the news of Given Chen Long's imminent appearance in Qin Gu Town was leaked, everything had been in Given Chen Long's calculations.

She used herself as bait, entered the trap, lured the three Celestial Masters, designed the Horn of the Rampant Dragon, and lured out Zhang Tianyang. It was simply killing three birds with one stone.

"You have grown up," Zhang Tianyang sighed.

"Father, come with me, let's join forces..." Given Chen Long said in a deep voice.

"You go..." Zhang Tianyang waved his hand.

"Father..."

Given Chen Long was stunned for a moment, then frowned, and couldn't help but say: "Are you blaming me for ambushing Zhang Lingzong's family back then?"

As soon as these words were spoken, a cold look surged in Zhang Fan's eyes.

Counting it up, Given Chen Long was his greatest enemy. It was this woman who caused his family to be destroyed and him to fall into ten years of great night without waking up.

"Even if it is the same clan and the same tribe, it is impossible to achieve unity of mind and heart..." Zhang Tianyang muttered softly.

The lessons of history are right before our eyes. Otherwise, how could Zhang San and Zhang Kongming have rebelled against Mount Long Hu back then and achieved the reputation of the world's number one expert?

Otherwise, how could the Long Hu Zhang family have had the struggle between North and South, fighting among themselves, with killing and warfare filling the sky?

"You have all grown up and have your own philosophies. I won't say much," Zhang Tianyang shook his head.

"Father, didn't so many people die in the Southern Zhang back then just to sit on the throne of the Wu Wei Sect Master, realize the unification of the world, and bring all sects to heart?" Given Chen Long said in a deep voice.

"Zhang Lingzong forgot his mission, so he deserved to die."

"Now, this position is very close to us..." Given Chen Long's voice became increasingly heavy.

Zhang Fan's expression darkened slightly. He felt Given Chen Long's gaze wandering over him.

"Nanfeng, with your current cultivation, your vision shouldn't be placed on a single sect or clan..." Zhang Tianyang suddenly said.

Given Chen Long stopped. Her gaze tightened, and she said coldly: "Without a sect or clan, where would the unification of the world and the bringing of all sects to heart come from? And where would the Pure Yang Limitless and the looking toward longevity come from?"

"Father, you should know that any great achiever stands out from those endless ordinary individuals."

"Without a sect or clan, what Daoist sect, what Wu Wei... would cease to exist."

Hearing this, Zhang Tianyang remained silent. After a long while, he said: "Perhaps, you are right."

"You have all grown up. You have your Dao, and Lingzong has Lingzong's path. I am old, and I can only guard this place."

Zhang Tianyang seemed out of place in this world. He was a remnant of the old era and shouldn't have lived to this day.

"Father, if you don't want to, I won't force you..."

As she spoke, Given Chen Long looked up at the small building in front of her.

"However, I want to take away the 【Coffin-Lifting Notes】 left by the Second Uncle."

"You go, that thing hasn't been here for a long time," Zhang Tianyang waved his hand and said.

"Not here? Who took it away? Zhang Lingzong?" Given Chen Long frowned.

Zhang Tianyang remained silent. Given Chen Long looked at her father and knew he wasn't lying.

"The Second Uncle should have also left behind clues to the Ninth Method," Given Chen Long's voice became heavy.

"That wasn't left for you."

As he spoke, Zhang Tianyang looked at Zhang Fan.

"Child, go in."

"Father, you killed the three Celestial Masters, is your body okay?" Given Chen Long changed the subject and said suddenly.

The Great Dao is natural, balanced, and harmonious. Killing three Celestial Masters without paying any price is almost impossible.

The implication of Given Chen Long's words was obvious.

"Do you want to try?" Zhang Tianyang said lightly.

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the quiet courtyard became tense, like a silver bottle suddenly breaking, like a fast string flying.

Zhang Fan stood where he was, feeling his breathing stop, as if an invisible force was squeezing the blood in his whole body to his heart.

"Zhang Fan..."

Just at this moment, Given Chen Long spoke. He looked at Zhang Fan, breaking the silence, and the atmosphere immediately melted like ice and snow.

"What I said to you by Zhuhu Lake is still valid. As long as you are willing, I can help you to the top..."

"The next time we meet will be the time for you to make your choice. Otherwise, I have let you go twice, and I won't let you go a third time..."

"After all, you are not my only choice."

At this point, Given Chen Long's gaze darkened, and she said coldly: "As for Ren Xiao, I can kill one, and I can kill a second."

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhang Fan's pupils contracted sharply, as if touched on his reverse scale, and his fists clenched suddenly.

"You dare!"

Every word burst out from between Zhang Fan's teeth, revealing a chilling coldness.

"Powerless threats only highlight stupidity," Given Chen Long sneered, as if she had pinched Zhang Fan's weak spot.

"Child, go in."

Just at this moment, Zhang Tianyang's soft whisper interrupted their words. He walked slowly and blocked in front of Zhang Fan and Given Chen Long.

"Third Grandfather..." Zhang Fan looked at Zhang Tianyang.

"After this parting, perhaps there won't be another day to meet..." Zhang Tianyang sighed lightly.

Hearing this, Zhang Fan's expression changed slightly, and he wanted to say something more, but Zhang Tianyang waved his hand.

"Go!"

Zhang Fan gritted his teeth, took a deep look at Given Chen Long, turned around, and walked into the quiet ancient building.

Given Chen Long watched Zhang Fan walk into the small building and looked at Zhang Tianyang again.

"Father, what else can you do staying here?" Given Chen Long asked.

"Wait."

"Wait? Wait for what?"

"Nanfeng, the path you are taking will be very difficult."

"No matter how difficult it is, I will continue to walk it," Given Chen Long said lightly.

"Foolish child, foolish child," Zhang Tianyang sighed lightly and waved his hand: "You go, we will never meet again in this life."

As soon as these words were spoken, Given Chen Long's gaze trembled. He looked at the old man before him who was on the verge of death, his hands clenched, but a flash of determination flashed in his eyes.

"Take care!"

He turned and left. With one step, he entered the long night. Immediately after, a long howl rose, echoing in the quiet night, falling on the long lake, seemingly filled with endless sorrow, but in the blink of an eye, it was like a relief.

At this moment, Given Chen Long seemed to have completely broken the shackles, with no father, no mother, no relatives, and no friends, but also no more worries or sorrows.

Zhang Tianyang looked in the direction Given Chen Long had gone, his gaze lowered.

"Sound after sound, watch after watch, the red dust outside the window, the lamp inside the window. Seeing the lights bright, but it's hard to see the red dust in fate," Zhang Tianyang muttered softly.

Every era has its own imprint, and every person has their own mission.

Some people have spent their whole lives in the red dust and still cannot see where their fate lies.

Zhang Tianyang's era is long gone. His fate is here, and his final mission is endless waiting...

"I am waiting... for the Master of the Southern Zhang!"

Zhang Tianyang whispered leisurely and looked back at the old building.

(End of chapter)