Chapter 226: Never Again Like a Youth's Journey

Imperial Observatory.

Nangong Ye, clad in a black-and-white Daoist robe, entered the Tower of Universal Clarity. Along the way, he saw moving personnel, far fewer than usual.

The Imperial Observatory originally had thirty-six Immortal Officials, plus over seventy Astronomical Students, all from the great noble families and sects of Great Qian. With the establishment of the Temple of National Protection, personnel originally belonging to the Buddhist sect, such as Monk Jingkong, were naturally all transferred there.

Recently, Huang Menlang Xu Tong and others submitted remonstrances, inviting Wei Wu Yi to Jingcheng as well; Immortal Officials from martial arts sects, such as Huo Zhonghu, were naturally transferred to that side too.

Although the Three No Ancestors all held the post of Deputy Director at the Imperial Observatory, in reality, the former Observatory was split into three parts. Their duties were identical, engaging in wolf-like competition, while Director Wu Zheng merely played a mediating role.

As the Zhang Sect of Mount Zihui, Nangong Ye naturally felt deeply worried seeing this arrangement, after all, the Imperial Observatory did not just monitor Jingcheng, but the sects of the entire Great Qian.

In the past, Lu Wu Zhen's word carried the weight of nine tripods; if he felt Fengzhou had problems, he could directly deal with Duan Yuechou. The Fengshan Assembly, if it wanted to take root on the surface, had to say, "I can talk too, and I can love Great Qian too." But henceforth, people like Duan Yuechou would surely obey Wei Wu Yi without question and no longer give face to the Daoist sect.

Nangong Ye did not know whether the three would join hands to suppress demons and evil in the future, or fight openly and secretly until it became a tangled mess. While pondering this in silence, she arrived at the Hall of Deliberation.

Last time, when borrowing the Yin-Yang Ruler, Nangong Ye told Xie Jinhuan that a senior elder serving at the Imperial Observatory was quite familiar with Lu Wu Zhen. Naturally, she would be the one to return it upon her return, and she also mentioned the encounter at the Fire Phoenix Valley.

Lu Wu Zhen had already heard of the situation at the Fire Phoenix Valley. After taking the Yin-Yang Ruler, he shook his head and sighed:

"The Divination Sect is good at observing stars and qi, so it is not strange to predict the approximate year an opportunity will appear. As for Xu Guanfu, Yan Lang, and Jiang Qizi, their presence is indeed suspicious. Thinking the worst, someone is deliberately setting a trap."

Nangong Ye had secretly gone ahead to seek treasure, only to encounter four regional overlords in succession. She did not believe for a second that no one had tampered with things, and asked in confusion:

"Senior Brother Lu, can you guess who is setting the trap behind the scenes?"

Lu Wu Zhen had some guesses, but without evidence, it was not good to state them openly, so he merely said:

"To track your movements and still be able to drive the tiger to swallow the wolf, bringing three Super Rank experts from inside and outside the passes, it can only be some ancient, long-lived one with profound cultivation. However, this matter was handled quite secretly; those on the front stage are merely pawns, making it hard to be certain of their identity."

Nangong Ye frowned tightly, feeling that there were truly very few people in the south with such capability, but indeed, their identities were not something to be spoken of lightly.

Lu Wu Zhen chatted casually for a few moments, then asked:

"Xie Jinhuan is about to go to Northern Zhou. Will you be following, or...?"

?

Nangong Ye's heart stiffened. After a moment of slight deliberation, she said:

"I and this young man are merely acquaintances by chance, and there is a generation gap between us. As for the journey, it should be him and Linghu Qingmo together. Constantly following behind to guard the Dao is also inappropriate..."

Lu Wu Zhen had already been greatly shocked upon hearing that Li Chi was keeping a mistress, so naturally he would not think of what else the ever-ice-cold Nangong Zhang Sect might have done behind the scenes besides guarding the Dao. Seeing this, he said:

"Xie Jinhuan is too prominent, making him an easy target for others to covet. It is no harm to guard him by his side. However, a new emperor brings new ministers. With the new monarch ascending the throne, our Danding Sect cannot remain without any movement. Just now, I discussed with several Daoist friends and plan to summon the Zhang Sects of the Danding Sect from various regions to come to Jingcheng in a few days. Although it is merely a formal gesture, as the Zhang Sect of Mount Zihui with close ties to the Wang Fu, if you have time, you should still attend."

Nangong Ye understood the meaning: with the new monarch ascending the throne, the Zhang Sect, as the leader, must hold a meeting to teach the Zhang Sects of all sects loyalty to the monarch and love for the country. As the spokesperson for the Danding King's base, she would certainly have to say a few good words about the Danding King to demonstrate the Danding Sect's political stance.

"Understood. I will prepare these two days, and I will definitely attend when the time comes."

—

Coming out of the Imperial Palace, it was already afternoon.

Xie Jinhuan stood at the palace gate, scanning the towering city where he had lived for sixteen years. Since all his friends and family were not here, his heart flew with it to Northern Zhou. After standing still for a moment, he quickly arrived at the Fengyi River.

A two-story small building stood on the riverbank. The windows were open, but the dream wife who was supposed to be waiting like a stone was not there.

Xie Jinhuan leaped into the room through the window. He saw the eldest wife, dressed in a black skirt, sitting in meditation on the terrace. Her expression kept people at a thousand li distance, as if she had not noticed his arrival at all...

Xie Jinhuan felt that Seeing Bing Tuozi had not yet sorted out her thoughts. He came to the front and sat on the ground, tilting his head to observe her:

"You're back? You left without saying goodbye a few days ago. I was worried about you the whole way. I must go to Northern Zhou soon..."

Hearing Xie Jinhuan's voice, Nangong Ye recalled the social death scene of 'being caught riding the big horse, while still receiving the rain and dew and making a fool of herself.' But since matters had come to this, she could only suppress her emotions and said calmly:

"I still have some official business. You go ahead first. Once I finish, I will go directly to Yanjing to find you."

Xie Jinhuan frowned, raising his hand to embrace her shoulder:

"Still angry? Senior Sister Hua has already let you handle it yourself and even helped keep your secret..."

Nangong Ye was indeed afraid of meeting the demoness, but this time it was not an excuse. Her eyes showed a hint of helplessness:

"I am not a little girl; how could I keep making unreasonable scenes. I really have some official business and will be delayed for four or five days. You go ahead first. I will come find you once I finish. It's only a matter of a few days."

Xie Jinhuan was half-believing and half-doubting, slightly observing Seeing Bing Tuozi:

"You are always cold and icy. How do I know if you are telling the truth? You say you are not angry, you must prove it."

How can I prove it?

Nangong Ye could hardly drag Xie Jinhuan to see Lu Wu Zhen for verification. After hesitating for a moment, she showed a shallow smile:

"Will this do?"

Xie Jinhuan rarely saw Seeing Bing Tuozi smile, except when taking the Laughing-Always Powder. He thought this look was truly beautiful, and immediately shook his head:

"Your smile is too fake; one look shows you are deceiving me. For these few days, I must accompany you. Only when you are no longer angry and go with me will I depart."

Nangong Ye did not mind Xie Jinhuan waiting for her, but as they waited, she found herself in a Daoist robe with suspenders and stockings, speaking from above, while Xie Jinhuan below found it hard to believe. After slight deliberation, she could only speak calmly:

"I really am not angry. What must I do for you to believe?"

"Hmm..."

Xie Jinhuan looked up and down at Seeing Bing Tuozi's proud figure, lost in thought.

??

Nangong Ye had been caught in the act last time and had psychological shadows; she was a bit afraid to act recklessly again.

But since matters had come to this, she had promised to practice together to reach Super Rank; she could not let being caught prevent them from touching each other...

Seeing that this rascal insisted on her proving she was not angry, Nangong Ye hesitated for a moment, then turned her gaze elsewhere. She did not respond, but neither did she refuse.

Xie Jinhuan was now certain that his dream wife indeed had something on her mind. He did not stand on ceremony, raised his hand to pass under her knees, and lifted the eldest wife up:

"Then we won't see each other for seven or eight days. Adding the previous four or five days, it makes half a month. Cultivation is a hard skill of dripping water piercing stone; it cannot be wasted. So I will practice half a month's cultivation with you all at once..."

?!

Nangong Ye had not resisted at first, but upon hearing these words, she suddenly panicked.

After all, every time before when detoxifying or cultivating, they practiced to the full limit. If she practiced half a month's worth of cultivation all at once, would she still be alive afterward?

"No! I will practice with you only once. After that, you must depart quickly..."

"You're still mad, aren't you?"

"I'm not mad! Hey?"

Thump~

Xie Jinhuan tossed Seeing Bing Tuozi onto the bed; seeing her shrink back with her phoenix eyes wide, he grabbed her ankle and yanked it down, pulling her right to him:

"You already agreed—how you train isn't up to you, Miss Mu. Lie still…"

"Xie Jinhuan!"

Nan Nan Gong Ye wasn't the type to be easily manipulated; she immediately tried to rise and refuse.

But now she had no choice—she was flipped over and pinned to the pillow, writhing helplessly, pummeling him with frantic fists.

But this brat before her had skin like leather and muscle like iron—he didn't care at all; in the midst of their tussling, he taught her the Silver Dragon Eight Forms!

What was "Fierce Dragon Sweeping Tail," "Yellow Dragon Lying on the Path," "Black Dragon Ramming the Pillar…" Nan Nan Gong Ye couldn't even make it halfway before her mind went blank; she could only submit, even going through that forbidden act again—thankfully, she'd been taking Void-Fasting Pills all along…

When she finally came to, it was noon the next day; her feet were clad in red-heeled shoes, her body sprawled across the embroidered bed like a cat stretching, hair disheveled, eyes hazy…

All the fatigue Xie Jinhuan had accumulated from days of travel vanished at once—but overexerting her body wasn't without toll; lying beside her, he gazed at the dazed Seeing Bing Tuozi:

"We made a deal—if I don't see you in Yanjing in a few days, you bear the consequences."

"Huh…"

Nan Nan Gong Ye pulled back a fraction of her scattered spiritual sense, wanting to scold the brat—but her spirit was gone; she turned her cheek inward, giving Xie Jinhuan only the back of her head.

"Still ignoring me? Looks like Miss Mu hasn't been properly tended to yet…"

"Hey? I'm happy, I'm happy—I keep my word, I'll come after I'm done!"

"That's more like it…"

Nan Nan Gong Ye gritted her teeth—but could do nothing…

——

On the other side, Qingmiao Alley.

Qingmiao Alley lay near the Imperial Academy, filled with low, century-old houses that stood out in stark contrast to the magnificent buildings around them.

At noon, three figures dressed as ordinary patrons sat at the entrance of the old tavern in the alley.

The elderly Shopkeeper, past seventy, chopped cold dishes by the window, humming a tune passed down since ancient times:

"Heaven is bitter~ Earth is bitter~ Ten thousand li from south to north, yet all are heroes' graves~…

"Buddha or Dao, it's all the same~ Eighty years wandering east and west, ending as bones in the tomb~…"

Wei Wu Yi, dressed in a simple scholar's robe and carrying no weapon, sat in the main seat, lightly tapping the table as he smiled and asked:

"You've run this tavern for quite a while."

The old Shopkeeper chuckled, slightly proud:

"Almost a hundred years now. Don't let the size fool you—those who've drunk here, if you named them, would shock you.

"Back when the dynasty was founded, Master Ye taught at the Imperial Academy and often came here for a sip; and True Person Qixia loved these spicy chicken claws…

"Even the likes of the Four Void Ancestors were just green kids back then; my grandfather said Wei Wu Yi had a huge alcohol tolerance, always drank on credit and couldn't pay, so afraid my grandfather would complain, he borrowed ten taels from Monk Wuxin…"

Lu Wu Zhen, seated to the left, recalled his student days and gave a quiet smile.

Opposite him, Monk Wuxin sat quietly sipping tea, showing no reaction.

A century ago, during the Wu Sect upheaval, the previous dynasty collapsed outright; nearly all senior elders of the Gedazong Sect perished in the Dao, leaving only mediocre disciples behind to guard their sects, and all accumulated resources were exhausted in the war.

To swiftly restore order to the cultivation path, Master Ye selected a hundred promising youths from across the land, pooled resources to train them, and personally served as their teacher; Mu Yunling, Fan Li, and others were students then; the Four Void Ancestors, the four most gifted, were placed together in a courtyard in Qingmiao Alley.

Because they were young and lived side by side, the four were extremely close.

Lu Wu Zhen was the top student, always buried in books, often spouting foolish, laughable phrases like "the path to immortality, the welfare of all beings."

Monk Wuxin had no scheming mind—he handled all chores: cleaning, fetching water—alone. His only flaw was he couldn't bear it when Sikong Tianyuan tormented small animals; whenever he had time, he'd sneak them out and set them free.

Wei Wu Yi was an orphan Master Ye picked up from outside, with no sect, no family, no background; his nature was wild, his energy boundless, and every month before payday, he'd spent all his allowance and had to borrow from the three.

Once, Lu Wu Zhen dug up a work by Qingping Jushi and excited Wei Wu Yi so much he blurted:

"Father, lend me this—I'll just read it one night…"

But Lu Wu Zhen, fearing the book would be damaged by damp, refused to lend it.

Sikong Tianyuan was slick—he dressed impeccably every day and, with Wei Wu Yi, chased after girls in Jingcheng; but as soon as they heard he was a poisonous rat of the Wu Sect, they fled…

Later, after completing their training, the three returned to their respective sects; Wei Wu Yi went out into the Jianghu alone, and in thirty years, rose to the top of the martial world.

At first, the four still met occasionally, but as their positions rose and their factions clashed, their old friendship inevitably faded.

Wei Wu Yi remembered the last time he saw Lu Wu Zhen—it was twenty years ago, when he sought the position of Supervisor, but got a cold shoulder. Monk Wuxin he'd met thirty years ago, when he traveled to the northwest seeking herbs and passed through TianTai Temple.

Now, the three had returned to this old place; no matter how they appeared, all three felt deep emotion inside.

Wei Wu Yi gazed at the empty seat across from him, then said:

"Master back then put the four of us together, hoping we'd be like brothers, never letting sectarian strife harm the world. But we all disappointed our teacher's hopes. Now that we've realized our mistake, I wonder if it's still too late."

Monk Wuxin sipped tea as if it were wine:

"The past cannot be changed; the future can still be pursued. As long as one truly 'awakens,' laying down the blade is always timely."

Lu Wu Zhen stared at Sikong Tianyuan's former seat:

"Awakening is one thing—but he may no longer share our heart. You were close to him; don't speak well of him until you've confirmed his intentions."

"Sigh… You two tolerating me is already hard enough—I wouldn't say anything to spoil the mood."

Wei Wu Yi lifted his wine bowl, took a sip, glanced at his two old classmates, then suddenly said:

"I don't know if it's getting old, but this wine doesn't taste the same as before."

Lu Wu Zhen shook his head and stood:

"Enough. Jingcheng has too many matters—until they're sorted, there's no heart for drinking."

Monk Wuxin smiled slightly at this:

"Look, among everyone, he's the only one who hasn't changed—always thinking about the common folk of the world, can't sit still at all."

Wei Wu Yi remembered that Lu Wu Zhen had looked just like this back in the day, and said with a smile:

"I feel like I haven't changed either, I just never got the chance before."

The Monk Wuxin teased: "The day some immortal official happens to spot you on patrol at the pleasure quarter on Changye Street in the middle of the night, then I'll believe you haven't changed."

Wei Wu Yi laughed and scolded: "I'm at that age now, long since put away my playful ways—how could I still run off to a place like that."

Lu Wu Zhen had already walked out the door; hearing this, he turned back:

"You're the same as before—loving your wine, your beauties, loving the spotlight. I really wasn't keeping guard against you. But ever since you became the foremost figure of the jianghu, you've grown more and more 'free of selfish desire, with the world in your heart.' You and I are neither sages nor worthies—how could we be without desire? The more impossible it is to see what someone wants, the more terrifying their ambition usually is."

This remark was, plainly put, a warning to guard against Wei Wu Yi.

Wei Wu Yi fell silent for a moment, but did not get angry; he merely raised a hand and pointed:

"You fellows are silver-tongued, I can't out-talk you—how about I just listen, alright? Tonight I'll go to Purple Gold Pavilion and book a table for the Eight Immortals Feast. At home I keep hearing my grandson go on about it till it's all over the place—something about how even true immortals can't get past the Eight Immortals Formation. I really haven't seen it for myself."

Lu Wu Zhen said nothing more, turned, and left the alley.

The Monk Wuxin left along with him.

Wei Wu Yi fished out two taels of silver and set them on the table. Before getting up to leave, he glanced back at the three empty seats. After a long while, he sighed softly to himself:

"Those not of our kind must harbor different hearts… if my fellow students hadn't all treated me as one of their own, where would that second half of the saying even come from…"

……

(End of chapter)