Chapter 374: Luo Gong Departs

Lin Jue pinched the page, and something strange arose.

At this moment, merely speaking the arcane secrets of the spell, as if someone sat across from him, would cause the ancient book to record every word he uttered. Years later, when the next holder activated this page, pinched the page, they would sit opposite him and hear him recount the origins, evolution, and essential mysteries of the Soul-Annihilating Art.

But Lin Jue did not do so for now.

Because at present, his mastery of this spell was still low; the spell had just taken shape and was not yet complete—he should spend more time contemplating and refining it.

Lin Jue set the book down and leaned back casually.

In the dead of winter, the floor was icy cold, snow drifted outside, yet a fire stove glowed warmly inside, quiet and comfortable.

The fox lying beside him lifted its head, tilted it in thought, then abandoned the warmed patch of floor it had been lying on, rose, and walked over, mimicking Lin Jue by lying down beside him, motionless and still.

Reflecting on his journey to the northwest, his gains were truly considerable.

Besides the North Leopard Spring already there, he had obtained a remnant soul of a Dragon Elder and many warrior spirits from the Leopard King, and the imperial grant of a thousand taels of gold had already arrived.

After eliminating the Leopard King, Lin Jue did not overlook the rare treasures and scriptures found in the secret cave the fox had discovered.

Especially those two scriptures—

One recorded the Leopard King's "Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell"; the demon and the Leopard King had used this art twice to escape from him, and even the second time, a divine general had been watching—proof enough of its power.

The other was one that mended what was broken.

As the name suggests, it could restore severed limbs.

Also a fine spell.

The North Leopard Spring already held more than two dou of gold—over a thousand taels, more than enough—and his merit steadily grew; the materials required for the "Four Directions, Five Elements Golden Core" were now gathered seven or eight out of ten.

He still needed southern mountain stone and eastern sea morning mist, but the southern mountain was not far, the eastern sea stood still—both had stood there for countless ten thousands of years, merely waiting for him to visit.

Only the thousand-year snow lotus and earth-spirit pill remained.

He already knew where both were.

He had once considered going northeast first to secure the earth-spirit pill; logically, returning from the northwest, he should hasten to the northeast to obtain it quickly, but after spending several months as a guest of the Leopard King, and with the New Year approaching, Lin Jue wished to rest.

As he thought this, he gradually fell asleep.

When he awoke, the sky was dim, the fire in the stove long extinguished.

Beside him, something furry and soft—he reached out, thinking someone had brought him a bear-skin blanket, but turned his head and saw it was the five-tailed white fox, now enlarged.

It had become his source of warmth.

In truth, Lin Jue had envisioned this scene before—

At first, he thought: if he traveled the wilderness with no shelter, freezing cold, unable to sleep soundly, he would ask the fox to enlarge itself; since it had thick fur and feared no cold, he merely needed a bear-skin blanket and could sleep warm pressed against its fur.

Later, after learning to shrink, he no longer limited himself to the fox enlarging—he could shrink himself too, just as well.

Either way, it was his warm stove.

He never once told the fox this idea; exhausted and in a tranquil state, he had accidentally overslept, yet the fox, thoughtful, had thought of it herself.

"Thank you."

"Thank me?"

The fox lifted its head, puzzled, staring at him.

"Nothing."

Lin Jue shook his head: "Is it night?"

Only after asking did he realize something was wrong.

Faint shouts and hawking sounds seemed to drift from beyond the courtyard wall.

"Fool!"

A colorful leopard cat poked its head out from between the fox's long fur and said to him: "It's morning!"

"So that's why…"

No wonder he slept so long.

Lin Jue felt his head swollen, yet upon rising, he felt refreshingly clear-headed, his essence and spirit fully replenished.

Snow was falling outside.

His junior sister danced with her sword in the snow, like a fairy.

But Luo Gong had already packed his bags.

Normally, winter snow was no time for parting, but Luo Gong's resolve was firm; he had delayed his departure again and again, and now refused to wait until spring when the snow melted.

Luo Gong rode alone, a single sword, a single pack, and walked to the courtyard gate.

Yet outside the gate, many martial artists waited with horses; some even brought carts, clearly intending to follow Luo Gong.

The carts were gifts from the palace.

Lin Jue had given Luo Gong all the imperial pearls, jade, fabrics, and carriages, loading them onto the palace-provided vehicles, for he knew the journey ahead followed trade routes on wide roads, and Luo Gong had followers—no issue with transport.

These pearls, jade, and fabrics were mostly tribute goods; Luo Gong's family was a northwest military clan, so they were not short of such things, yet they were not easily obtained in such quality.

After all, the emperor had special privileges.

He also packed some spirit pills for Luo Gong.

Once home, the fine horses could be gifted to younger family members, the fabrics to female relatives, the pearls and jade to others or made into ornaments, and the spirit pills offered to elders—after years drifting in the capital, bringing back some gifts was a proper farewell.

As for the palace's promised beauties and servants, Lin Jue had not seen them; likely, Luo Gong, knowing Lin Jue was a cultivator with a free spirit, had declined on his behalf.

Lin Jue and his junior sister both saw him off.

"Luo Gong…"

Lin Jue looked at him, his heart stirred, unsure what to say. Previously, Luo Gong had guarded his Dao; Lin Jue had helped him enter the Dao. Their interactions had always been pleasant; beyond cooperation, each had gained something from the other.

Unconsciously, his own cultivation, skills, reputation, and status had gradually risen; his fox's abilities, intellect, and experience had also grown, fewer dangers came seeking him, he could now handle sudden ambushes, and unless in deep meditation, he no longer needed constant protection.

And Luo Gong, too, had entered the Dao through martial means, transcending the mundane.

"No need to say more."

Luo Gong nodded to him, still bearded, no longer the vigorous man he was at their first meeting, his expression steady and weathered:

"When we met halfway through Huizhou, we never imagined we'd come to this—like a dream of nearly ten years of snow and wind. Now, Luo's dream of the capital has ended; it's time to dream of something else."

"May your original heart remain unchanged, may your righteous spirit endure!"

"May the Daoist truly attain the Dao and protect all living beings!"

"Please drink this cup full."

"No farewell words—there will surely be a day we meet again."

"I think so too."

No error in any word, no omission in any content!

Both drank their cups dry, bowed to each other, laughed heartily, and Luo Gong mounted his horse.

Behind him, the martial artists all mounted their horses.

Lin Jue watched them depart.

If he truly attained the Dao, where in this vast world could he not go? If Luo Gong met no misfortune, such a hero, where would he not shine like the moon?

Thus Lin Jue knew they would meet again.

But when? What year, what month, what hour? And what roles would they then be?

…

A man rode a tall steed, spear slung, sword at his side, leading the way.

Behind him, hooves thundered—martial artists all, men and women alike, even the women broad-shouldered and burly, fierce as demons, each carrying wrapped weapons, carts following, passing through the bustling streets at midday, a mighty procession.

Surrounding civilians all stepped aside, whispering among themselves.

They heard this was Lin Zhen's guardian, who had returned from the northwest three months ago after exterminating demons; many spontaneously raised their hands in salute.

But it was not only these.

More martial heroes, hearing the news, rushed from surrounding alleys to pay respects to Luo Gong and join him.

When they first left the courtyard, only about twenty riders followed—close companions who had long accompanied him in slaying demons and dividing gold—but halfway, those twenty had swelled to fifty or sixty, with even more sword-carrying footmen, totaling seventy or eighty.

"Ha…"

In times of peace, who does not dream of heroism?

Mastering arts of letters and arms, selling them to the imperial house.

Who has not dreamed of becoming a general or minister?

Especially in youth, when vigor burns bright.

How many young men have not dreamed of chivalry?

This dream—you must live it to understand.

Thinking of his own years—years of struggle, years of drifting, years hiding to slay demons—Luo Gong could not help laughing aloud.

With a flick of his left hand, his wide-brimmed hat flew off the horse, spinning away into some vegetable stall.

Only then did common folk recognize him in astonishment—

This man is Luo Gong!

Former County Commandant of Zhangning County, later a great hero of the martial world, a wanted man of the court!

By the city gate, over a hundred riders followed him.

The gate guards were bewildered, about to question them, when a martial artist shouted, "Luo Gong departs—clear the way!" They snapped to attention and parted.

They did not know which Luo Gong this was, yet such a grand retinue; they recognized the tall steed, the massive silver spear, and the cold-moon treasure blade—familiar from frequent appearances with Lin Zhen—but when they looked up, the unobscured face was unmistakably familiar.

In a blink, hooves thundered, and all streamed out of the city.

Luo Gong glanced back at his many followers—

This ten-year capital dream was not merely a dream after all.

From now on, the world is vast, and you may ride freely wherever you wish.

……

Lin Jue returned to the courtyard and suddenly felt it had grown much emptier.

Luo Luo Gongceng had tidied his room thoroughly; he himself owned little, took little with him, and left nothing behind—as if he had never been here.

With this guardian gone, no one would now handle the petty matters of martial world customs, capital manners, or court politics; no one would expose the hidden intrigues; no one would carry out investigations for him.

Fortunately, now that his cultivation was high and his reputation great, most such matters would naturally avoid him.

A guardian is more than just a protector of safety.

"Ah…"

Lin Jue sighed and turned to his junior sister.

Fortunately, his junior sister was still here.

She paced slowly in the courtyard, her face expressionless—neither moved by Luo Luo Gongceng's departure nor changed from her usual state, merely swinging the fly whisk in her hand aimlessly, striking at falling snowflakes.

Lin Jue thought for a moment and said:

"Junior sister, in a few days, let's return to Yishan and spend the New Year with our senior brothers."

"Swish!"

The junior sister instantly turned her head toward him.

Clearly, in her heart, nothing mattered more than the old events of Yishan—and certainly nothing surpassed the three words "return to Yishan."

(End of Chapter)