Chapter 336: 342. Chapter 342 Severance

342. Chapter 342 Severance

"Lin Jushi?"

Miss Jiang, upon hearing the address of True Person Jingxu, was instantly startled.

Could it be that her feeling just now was not mistaken; the person standing under the apricot blossom tree is indeed her son?

"True Person, what do you mean?"

Miss Jiang tightly gripped her sleeves with both hands, her voice trembling, her tone full of anticipation.

"Miss Jiang, you will know shortly."

True Person Jingxu first made a soothing sound, then said nothing more.

After hearing True Person Jingxu's call, Lin Ke walked calmly into the quiet room.

In the Hall of Three Purities, his shifting appearance was intentional on his part.

Intimidated by the aura, the Guest Daoist dared not speak and went to invite True Person Jingxu to appear; this too was his doing.

After a few words with True Person Jingxu, confirming he only cultivated the mind and not the practice, Lin Ke secretly guided his thoughts.

Thus, without harming the two Daoists' bodies or minds, Lin Ke obtained a more suitable opportunity to appear.

"Thank you, True Person."

Lin Ke stood before the low platform, first thanked True Person Jingxu, then looked at his agitated single mother, forcibly restraining himself.

Without hesitation, Lin Ke shed his disguise, revealing his true appearance.

"Ke'er!"

The single mother immediately shouted emotionally, raising her hand to touch Lin Ke's face, but then forcibly stopped herself.

For these ten years, she has always known that Lin Ke was at the Eight Extremes Martial Hall in Fuli County.

Yet she was constrained by the pressure of her family and the Zhong Clan, unable to leave the prefectural capital even a single step, let alone go to Tianshui Commandery to search for her son.

But regardless of whether it was intentional, abandoning her son is a fact.

Jiang Yuer felt deep remorse.

"Mother, have you been well these years?"

Lin Ke was not that agitated, nor did he appear overly cold.

Human emotions are quite strange; sometimes they relate to memory, sometimes they do not.

At this moment, facing his birth mother in this life, Jiang Yuer, Lin Ke's emotions are even more complex and strange.

The existing but not strict womb enigma gave Lin Ke an incomplete rebirth experience.

Toward the single mother Jiang Yuer, he felt more sympathy and pity, actually lacking much of the blood‑thick‑as‑water feeling between mother and son.

After all, he possessed a certain wisdom from the moment of his birth in this life.

Before the age of seven, his wisdom had already been fully restored.

In terms of disposition, he was actually more like a mature adult than Jiang Yuer was at that time.

Merely out of sympathy, pity, and the intuition he had since birth, Lin Ke never hid the fact that he is Jiang Yuer's son in this life.

Lin Ke fully acknowledges the mother‑son relationship with Jiang Yuer, and of course does not avoid using the appropriate terms of address.

"Well, I've been doing fine. Ke'er, how about you?"

Although Jiang Yuer had learned some of Lin Ke's deeds through the Jiang Clan's channels, now seeing her grown‑up son in person, she still wanted to hear him say personally that he was doing well.

Perhaps this is what a mother is.

"The son is doing very well."

Lin Ke nodded; his answer both relieved and made Jiang Yuer feel guilty.

It could be described as a myriad of feelings, with all kinds of emotions piling up in his heart.

After a few brief exchanges, Jiang Yuer suddenly did not know what to say.

Lin Ke also said nothing more, just standing silently.

After recognizing Jiang Yuer, he could clearly sense that, in the darkness, a thread binding him had been completely severed.

Such a perception had never appeared in the previous seventeen years.

Lin Ke frowned slightly, his thoughts moved, he grasped this perception and traced it back to its source.

Soon after, Lin Ke indeed found the source, and his consciousness entered a rather special state.

His 'eyes' seemed to 'see' two different scenes.

What the 'left eye' saw was a person entwined with threads and chains; what the 'right eye' saw was a door hung with a large lock.

After clearly seeing the two scenes, Lin Ke felt a sudden enlightenment.

Severing all the threads and chains binding him would allow him to cut ties with this world and depart without regret;

Breaking the lock on the door would fully unlock the Sea of Consciousness, restoring the Wizard realm and his power.

Upon careful count, there are five threads and one chain.

The thread just severed represents precisely the mother‑son line between Lin Ke and Jiang Yuer.

So…

Ke'er, go on; being able to see you again makes me happy, but you cannot stay here long.

Jiang Yuer, stepping out of the excited emotion of seeing her son, regained her composure and immediately thought of a very serious consequence: 'If the Jiang and Zhong clans discover your whereabouts, they will likely come to besiege you. Hurry and leave!'

"Why?"

Lin Ke came to his senses and asked doubtfully.

He had been at the Eight Extremes Martial Hall for ten years, never concealing his identity.

The Jiang and Zhong clans of Tianshui Commandery, as great clans possessing high‑end immortal‑martial Dao inheritances, would certainly know Lin Ke's identity and whereabouts.

In the past ten years they took no action, but now Lin Ke openly is a peak Condensing Truth Realm martial artist, and in the provincial capital he has repeatedly shown strength at the Returning to One Realm or higher.

If the Jiang and Zhong families have always wanted to deal with Lin Ke, why pick this moment?

Something must have occurred that Lin Ke hasn't yet been informed of.

Jiang Yu'er explained, a little anxiously:

"Three days ago, rumors of the 'Dead Person Valley' suddenly spread across the martial world."

After verification in the records, it is indeed true that life-extending fruit exists in the Dead Person Valley.

The entire martial world, including the imperial court, hearing the news, have all been plotting to enter the Dead Person Valley and pluck the peaches.

The Jiang and Zhong families are no exception.

If they knew you had left your master's protection and appeared here alone, they would certainly try to seize you and then force Lin Nan Tian to enter the valley to pick the peaches!

"Lin Nan Tian?"

Upon hearing that name, Lin Ke couldn't help but let out a scornful snort full of contempt.

In this life, how could Lin Ke not investigate his origins?

His birth mother, Jiang Yu'er, at least lived with him for seven years and received her nurturing kindness.

His birth father in this life, Lin Nan Tian, he has never even met; he is a complete stranger.

Lin Ke sensed the karma lines and shackles bound to him, and they had nothing to do with Lin Nan Tian.

What this indicates goes without saying.

"If the Jiang and Zhong families really did that, they'd be utterly foolish."

With a sneer curling his lips, Lin Ke said with killing intent, 'Lin Nan Tian, in his pursuit of a martial breakthrough, has gone into qi deviation, become ruthless and emotionless—how could he possibly be coerced? Moreover, if the Jiang and Zhong families dare not confront Lin Nan Tian directly, how dare they go after the Divine Spear Li Shuwen? I don't believe it! And I'm no pushover. Not bothering with the Jiang and Zhong families' trouble is already lenient on them. If they dare come, I dare to kill and bury them!'

Jiang Yu'er heard this, her pupils constricted, she was extremely shocked. Even though she had seen much material on Lin Ke's deeds over the past ten years, and even footage of him representing the Eight Extremes Martial Hall facing challengers who came to his door.

In Jiang Yu'er's heart, her son was still that tender little boy, full of helplessness yet always unable to refuse her various unreasonable demands.

The young man before her, suddenly icy in demeanor, his killing intent stark and chilling, made Jiang Yu'er involuntarily feel she ought to reacquaint herself with her son.

"Bluster!"

Suddenly, a voice filled with intense anger transmitted into the quiet chamber.

It was Jiang De Miao, the third young master of the Jiang household, who basically never set foot in the gate of the Pure Cloud Observatory, yet for some reason appeared outside the quiet chamber's door.

Lin Ke slightly turned his body, following the sound to look over.

Though ten years had passed since they last met, Jiang De Miao's visage still bore a vicious air, his eyes having shifted toward a cruel, sinister triangular shape.

Jiang De Miao now held a sword in hand, his body brimming with killing intent: 'I'd like to see what you've learned from Li Shuwen, daring to look down on my Tian Shui Jiang clan like this.'

Having said that, he raised his right hand, sword pointing straight at Lin Ke, poised to attack at the slightest disagreement.

"Third Brother."

Jiang Yu'er hurriedly rose, placing herself between Lin Ke and Jiang De Miao, her back to Lin Ke, facing Jiang De Miao, and cried out pleadingly.

"Mother, rest assured, I am not the ruthless, heartless sort like Lin Nan Tian; I would not do something like killing my own uncle."

Without waiting for Jiang De Miao to respond to Jiang Yu'er's plea, Lin Ke spoke first to state his position.

As his words rang out, Lin Ke's figure had already vanished from the spot.

Under Jiang De Miao's suddenly startled gaze, Lin Ke curled his right hand into a sword finger and lightly tapped Jiang De Miao's throat, leaving a red dot.

"I'm staying at the Four Communications Inn; if you want to regain face, feel free to seek me out anytime."

Hearing the voice but seeing no one, Lin Ke had already drifted away and vanished.

The quiet chamber fell into silence; even a dropped pin could be heard.

True Person of Stillness and Emptiness had already closed his eyes and been chanting sutras when Lin Ke entered the quiet chamber upon invitation, paying no heed to whatever occurred inside.

Jiang Yu'er stared blankly toward the door's direction, tears falling like a broken string of pearls.

At this moment, her heart felt as if it had been tugged upward, filled with a sense of loss.

No, it's not merely a feeling of loss—she has truly lost him.

She could feel that she had forever lost her son.

The affinity between them has reached its end.

This is a very strange feeling.

But Jiang Yu'er, once a famed martial arts prodigy and human immortal of Tian Shui Commandery who became a Returning Unity realm expert before twenty and bore the epithet 'Female Sword Immortal,' knows that this sudden feeling is genuine and not illusory!

However, a clean break is also fine.

So that this complicated relationship does not affect Ke'er's future development and martial path.

Jiang De Miao likewise stood frozen in place, unable to believe the fact that he had been 'instantly killed'.

On what basis?

What exactly is it based on?

He, Jiang De Miao, a mighty Returning Unity peak martial artist who roamed Tian Shui Commandery, was actually so easily 'instantly killed'?

Or was he done in by a bastard he despised and could not stand?

Jiang De Miao suddenly felt his Dao heart shatter, his whole person losing soul and spirit.

After a moment.

Jiang Yu'er gathered her extremely complicated emotions, stopped her tears, turned toward the still-eyed-closed True Person of Stillness and Emptiness, and apologetically said, 'True Person, because of my family's affairs, I have disturbed your and the observatory's tranquility; here I offer my apologies.'

"Alas!"

True Person of Stillness and Emptiness let out a long sigh, opened his eyes, and slowly handed a bamboo slip to Jiang Yu'er, speaking solemnly: 'Everything is solely heaven's will. This slip is special; it can be either an upper lot or a lower lot. If the upper lot applies, then just as now, Jiang the layperson and Lin the layperson will recognize each other, yet ultimately part. If the lower lot applies, the two laypersons will still recognize each other, but will encounter a blood disaster. As for who will suffer this blood disaster, this humble Daoist cannot calculate precisely.'

After a pause, True Person of Stillness and Emptiness continued: 'However, according to my reckoning, it is most likely to fall upon the Jiang family, possibly also affecting the Zhong family.'

"Thank you, True Person."

Jiang Yu'er no longer had the mood to attend to all this; after observing some etiquette, she led the still dazed Jiang De Miao out of the quiet chamber.

Arriving in the courtyard, a gust of wind snapped Jiang De Miao to his senses; the veins in his right hand bulged, and the sword hilt he gripped showed slight deformation.

"Third younger brother, don't be impulsive, first return to the mansion, wait for the eldest brother to make a decision."

Thus 【121】 translation: "Third younger brother, don't be impulsive, first return to the mansion, wait for the eldest brother to make a decision."

But we need to keep the line as a single output line with 【121】 prefix.

Seeing this, Jiang Yuer did not directly advise Jiang Demiao to let go, but instead took a roundabout approach.

Thus line: "Seeing this, Jiang Yuer did not directly advise Jiang Demiao to let go, but instead took a roundabout approach."

Seeing this, she did not directly advise Jiang Demiao to let go, but instead took a roundabout approach.

We'll output that.

"Hmph!"

Jiang Demiao let out a reluctant grunt, but did not refute, nor did she go straight to the Four Pass Tavern to cause trouble for Lin Ke.

Thus line: "Jiang Demiao let out a reluctant grunt, but did not refute, nor did she go straight to the Four Pass Tavern to cause trouble for Lin Ke."

The sister and brother hastily left Qingyun Temple, returning to the Jiang family residence.

Lin Ke, lay practitioner, please have a seat.

In the quiet room, True Person Jingxu changed the teacup, poured a cup of clear tea, and invited the air where Lin Ke had been standing earlier.

True Person, you have great composure.

Lin Ke sat on the low cushion as instructed and gave praise.

Lay practitioner, you have great skill.

True Person Jingxu shook his head, indicating he dared not accept the praise, saying: 'Such means have already approached the descriptions of various mysterious arts recorded in the scriptures. Seeing it, I, your humble servant, was momentarily astonished as if seeing a heavenly being.'

It turned out Lin Ke had not actually left the quiet room, but used an illusion.

The clone created an illusion of leaving, while the true body remained hidden in place, only allowing True Person Jingxu to see clearly.

Oh?

Upon hearing the words 'mysterious arts', Lin Ke immediately became interested and made a request: 'I don't know if True Person could elaborate on these mysterious arts and how they relate to or differ from "fangshi methods", "ancient witchcraft", and "evil witchcraft"?'

Of course.

True Person Jingxu agreed to Lin Ke's request, after some thought organized his words, and began to speak slowly.

The mysterious arts of the Daoist sect originated together with ancient fangshi, both developing from worship of heaven, earth, and nature.

At that time, the Daoist sect's ideas were not yet formed, and had not even appeared; those who mastered sacrificial rites and power were called shamans.

Shamans are those who communicate between heaven and earth.

As time passed, the shamans' status and power greatly declined.

In order to return to their peak, some shamans began to reform.

One part sought longevity to establish and develop; this is the fangshi and fangshi methods.

Another part emphasized the Dao and natural law, transcending and engaging the world; this is the Daoist practitioners.

Later, the fangshi encountered disaster, and their techniques were lost; while within the Daoist practitioners, some advocated absorbing the fangshi's idea of longevity and their miraculous techniques.

After merging, it became the Daoist sect's mysterious arts, also called Dao techniques.

Later still, due to several upheavals of witchcraft, the Daoist sect, either voluntarily or involuntarily, prohibited the transmission of Dao techniques.

From then on, Dao techniques existed only as records of the mysterious in the scriptures, without practice.

After listening, Lin Ke pondered and asked: 'So, whether ancient witchcraft or evil witchcraft, they actually correspond more closely to the original witchcraft mastered by the shamans in ancient and even primordial times?'

True Person Jingxu nodded and said: 'So-called ancient witchcraft and evil witchcraft are all witchcraft. In ancient and even primordial times, humans drank blood and ate hair; there was little morality to speak of. The shamans' loss of status was largely because too much witchcraft and ritual required human sacrifice.'

Quite possible.

Lin Ke largely agreed with True Person Jingxu's view, then abruptly asked.

Is the True Person's method of interpreting lots a Daoist art?