Chapter 352: Eighteen Years Later

After finishing a pot of Mengtan Wine, Duan Fengyun did not indulge further; leaving behind a tael of silver, he quietly departed.

He feared that if he had too much contact with Ruyan, he would be unable to resist helping her, and that would lead to a major disaster.

Having no time to find a place to settle down, Duan Fengyun simply found an inn to stay in.

Lying on the bed, Duan Fengyun thought silently of Youruo and the others, murmuring to himself:

"Youruo, Wuyou, Ruoruo, wait for me.

I will certainly raise my strength to the realm where I can save you all as soon as possible."

Carrying his longing for Youruo and the others, Duan Fengyun fell silently asleep.

Early the next morning, Duan Fengyun rose and wandered constantly through Yuehe City, hoping to find a quiet residence.

After searching for half a day, he finally found a place to live that satisfied him.

It was a small courtyard with a vegetable patch inside, and it was neither too far nor too close to the market, which perfectly met Duan Fengyun's requirements.

Duan Fengyun did not intend to hire maids or servants; he was sufficient to take care of himself alone.

Just like that, Duan Fengyun began his focused cultivation.

In the blink of an eye, eighteen years passed; Duan Fengyun had been focused on his cultivation in Yuehe City for eighteen years.

During these eighteen years, everyone regarded Duan Fengyun as a reclusive eccentric.

Someone who never went out, kept to himself at home, and knew nothing of the situation outside.

Yet what they did not know was the terrifying growth of Duan Fengyun's strength over these eighteen years.

Through eighteen years of focused cultivation, Duan Fengyun had learned the entire Xuanyuan Imperial Sword Technique, and he had also learned the second level of the Sword-Drawing Heaven-Slaying Technique.

Now, Duan Fengyun no longer needed to hide; he possessed the strength to challenge Yang Su and the others.

Only before the Demon Lord did Duan Fengyun still need to conceal his strength; he did not yet have the power to challenge the Demon Lord head-on.

Duan Fengyun opened his door, looked at Yuehe City, which had turned into a ghost city, and shook his head, saying:

"Ruyan, you still fell into the demonic path for the sake of love."

The eighteen-year deadline had arrived, Yuwen Tuo, Jing Chou, and the others had grown up, the story was officially beginning, and he should also emerge from seclusion.

Duan Fengyun returned to his room, took the Xuanyuan Sword, and looked at the courtyard where he had stayed for eighteen years.

This was the first time he had stayed in one place for so long, and he was actually a bit reluctant to leave.

However, before leaving, he wanted to see Ruyan, to see this woman who had been tempted by the Demon Lord because love had turned to hate.

Duan Fengyun walked on the deserted street, surrounded by a chorus of roars.

A group of fierce ghosts circled around Duan Fengyun, but the terrifying aura emanating from him made them not dare to approach at all.

When Duan Fengyun left the house, he had summoned the Zhurong Fire Spirit; with the little fellow Zhurong Fire Spirit present, how could these fierce ghosts dare to approach Duan Fengyun?

Duan Fengyun strode quickly to the front of the Nuwa Temple; while Ruyan had turned the entire Yuehe City into a ghost city, she was also guarding the Nuwa Temple for the Demon Lord, preventing outsiders from approaching it.

Duan Fengyun stood before the Nuwa Temple and looked at the statue of Nuwa; at this moment, he felt a gust of wild wind rise—it was Ruyan who had arrived.

He smiled and said:

"Ruyan, is that you?"

At this moment, Ruyan, dressed in black and possessing peerless elegance, appeared before Duan Fengyun.

Seeing the Duan Fengyun before her, even Ruyan, who had already fallen into the demonic path, was slightly stunned.

Ruyan murmured:

"Qin Shuang, it's you!"

Duan Fengyun nodded and said:

"Indeed, it is I!

Ruyan, how did you become like this?"

Mo Ruyan sneered:

"Is it not good for me to be this way?

Am I not much more beautiful now than before? I no longer have that hateful scar."

Duan Fengyun shook his head and said:

"Ruyan, did I not tell you?

Whether a person is beautiful or not does not depend on her appearance, but on her heart.

Your appearance has become beautiful now, but your heart has become extremely ugly.

Do you think you are beautiful like this?

Ruyan!"

"Enough, Qin Shuang.

I do not want to argue with you, leave quickly.

Otherwise, do not blame me for being impolite."

Ruyan shouted angrily.

In truth, Ruyan had never held malice toward Duan Fengyun from the start; Duan Fengyun was the first person to praise her, and Ruyan was still quite grateful to him.

It was Duan Fengyun who gave her the luck to pursue happiness, and it was precisely this luck that created the her of today.

Seeing Ruyan so resolute, Duan Fengyun shook his head and said:

"Very well, Ruyan.

I hope you can remember what I just said; I am leaving, take care of yourself."

After Duan Fengyun finished speaking, he flew away on his sword, leaving Yuehe City.

Seeing Duan Fengyun depart, Mo Ruyan put away the smile on her face and continued to wander back and forth in Yuehe City with a cold and heartless expression.

The direction in which Duan Fengyun flew on his sword was precisely Fumo Mountain; according to the timing, the Heluo Stone Inscription should have been unearthed by now, and Yuwen Tuo, Taba Yu'er, and the others should also be gathering at Fumo Mountain.

He would not get involved in the matter of the Heluo Stone Inscription; in the Heluo Stone Inscription incident, Yuwen Tuo and Yang Su, master and disciple, would have their first great battle, so he had better stay away from this pair of master and disciple who were supposed to be mortal enemies.

Duan Fengyun, using Sword Flight, arrived at Fumo Mountain. It was already late, and Duan Fengyun did not want to wander around, so he came once again to the cave of the Kunlun Mirror.

Seeing the Kunlun Mirror still sitting there without the slightest movement, Duan Fengyun smiled and said:

"Kunlun Mirror, I have come again.

Your master is rushing here, and before long, you will be able to appear in the Human Realm.

I will rest here tonight; you don't have any objections, do you?"

After a bout of talking to the Kunlun Mirror, Duan Fengyun sat cross-legged and began to rest.

A calm and peaceful night passed just like that. After recharging his energy for the night, Duan Fengyun stood up, feeling his whole body filled with strength.

Duan Fengyun quietly arrived at Guigu Village. Watching a man throwing stones at the stone statue of Yuwen Tuo, with a little fatty beside him cheering him on, Duan Fengyun shook his head.

Without needing to think, he knew this man was the useless prince of the Chen Kingdom, Jing Chou.

"If not for the interference of the Demon Lord, this Jing Chou might have remained like this for his entire life."

Just then, a girl wearing foreign clothing with a playful expression came to Jing Chou's side and said:

"What else can you, a prince of the Chen Kingdom, do besides throwing stones at Yuwen Tuo?"

Jing Chou retorted:

"My business is none of your concern, you broom."

Watching this pair of bickering enemies, Duan Fengyun smiled and said:

"Taba Yu'er has arrived; it seems my little brother Yuwen Tuo should be arriving soon as well."

Duan Fengyun watched Jing Chou and Taba Yu'er in secret, and he laughed out loud when he saw Jing Chou, in order to complete the task Chen Fu had given him, end up releasing the Taotie that had been sealed for a long time.

Truly a guy who ruins more than he accomplishes.

Duan Fengyun just watched like this as Jing Chou and Taba Yu'er released the Taotie, and then the entire village fell into madness.

Finally, with the help of Taba Yu'er, Jing Chou successfully collected their tears.

And at this moment, Duan Fengyun felt an incomparably familiar aura approach; his old friend Yuwen Tuo had arrived.

After Yuwen Tuo arrived, Jing Chou then used the power of the tears to break Yuwen Tuo's Golden Armor.

After Yuwen Tuo's Golden Armor was broken and he left, he arrived at the foot of Fumo Mountain.

Having been defeated, he originally wanted to leave just like that, but he felt an aura that was familiar to him yet he could not recall, so he chose to wait at the foot of Fumo Mountain.

Seeing that Yuwen Tuo had discovered him, Duan Fengyun did not hide or skulk.

He was still very fond of Yuwen Tuo, so he decided to meet with him and see this old friend of many years.

Looking at Yuwen Tuo, who was wearing the Golden Armor and the Golden Mask, Duan Fengyun walked out and smiled:

"Young Master Yuwen, no, now I should call you General Yuwen.

General Yuwen, it has been a long time."

Yuwen Tuo stared at Duan Fengyun for a long time before finally remembering Duan Fengyun's identity.

Yuwen Tuo took off the Golden Mask and smiled at Duan Fengyun:

"Qin Shuang?

I didn't expect that after you left without saying goodbye, it would take eighteen years for us to meet again.

Qin Shuang, where have you been all these years?"

Duan Fengyun smiled:

"I didn't expect General Yuwen would actually still remember me.

It is hard to explain in a moment; please, General Yuwen, move, let us two find a place to drink and talk."

After hearing this, Yuwen Tuo said:

"Follow me!

Shhh!"

After Yuwen Tuo made a whistling sound, a giant, incomparable Qiongqi beast appeared directly in front of Yuwen Tuo.

Ten years ago, he had defeated the Qiongqi in single combat, and the Qiongqi, which had always revered the strong, naturally became Yuwen Tuo's mount.

Yuwen Tuo pointed at the Qiongqi and said:

"Please!

You shouldn't be afraid, right!"

Duan Fengyun had never ridden such a mount before; he felt no fear, only curiosity.

Yuwen Tuo grabbed Duan Fengyun's shoulder and flew directly onto the Qiongqi.

"Let's go!"

After Yuwen Tuo gave the order, the Qiongqi carried the two of them and flew up.

Seeing the direction the Qiongqi was heading, Duan Fengyun asked in confusion:

"General Yuwen, isn't this the road to Luoyang?

Do you intend to take me to turn me in for a reward?"

Yuwen Tuo smiled:

"Since when are you afraid of being caught by me to claim a reward?

Don't call me General Yuwen anymore; it sounds awkward.

You should just call me Brother Yuwen, Big Brother Qin!

I am taking you to Luoyang, to drink at my confidante's place."

Duan Fengyun did not expect that Yuwen Tuo would actually accept him as his brother, and he said with a smile on his face:

"Hahahaha!"

I never expected that one day, you would call me elder brother.

Very well, my brother Yuwen Tuo.

It's just that I don't know who your confidante is.

I truly cannot imagine that a guy like you would actually find a confidante; which family's young lady is so short-sighted as to have taken a fancy to a guy like you?"

Duan Fengyun pretended not to know anything and looked at Yuwen Tuo with a puzzled expression.

Yuwen Tuo rubbed his head awkwardly and said:

"It is Commandery Princess Ning Ke. Back then, she came to watch me practice swordplay every day, and as time passed, we both developed feelings for each other."

Duan Fengyun gave a thumbs up and said:

"As expected of Yuwen Tuo, you are truly impressive.

I never thought that you would start off by ignoring her, only to end up winning her over in the end.

You really played this game of 'playing hard to get' well."

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