Chen Yin felt a mix of emotions.
…Had Master tricked him? Or was it the scroll’s fault?
It seed his good fortune had finally run out. Having both the scroll for comprehending the Sword Dao and the “Forgotten Everlasting Heart Sutra” for healing had been too much of an advantage.
Now, there were consequences.
“So I’ll be stuck at Supre Clarity forever?” Chen Yin asked, still clinging to a sliver of hope. “Even if I try to comprehend other Daos?”
“It’s hard to say,” Master shrugged. “But if you continue down this path, it could be dangerous.”
Chen Yin frowned deeply.
Seeing his disappointnt, Master’s voice softened.
“It’s not that bad. You’ve already comprehended one Dao. The Sword Dao alone is enough to make you invincible in this world. And you’ve already partially comprehended the Dao of Life and Death. I wasn’t entirely serious about my previous demands. You don’t have to reach the Grand Clarity Realm.”
“You’re free now,” Master patted his shoulder. “Go and enjoy yourself with your won.”
But Chen Yin just stared at her intently.
Master’s gaze lowered, her voice softening.
“…I an it.”
“You’ve done enough. You eliminated Shen Li, comprehended the Sword Dao, and defeated a pseudo-Immortal at the Supre Clarity Realm. That’s more than enough. Reaching Grand Clarity isn’t that important.”
“If that’s true,” Chen Yin said seriously, “you wouldn’t have been so insistent before. Tell , what will happen if I don’t reach Grand Clarity?”
“Nothing will happen. Just stay ho with your won, and when the Triennial Day arrives, find a safe place to sleep, then wake up and wait for your Master to return victorious.”
“…You’re going to face it alone?” Chen Yin’s frown deepened.
“Hey, don’t underestimate your Master! I’m Immortal Yu Ling! The Triennial Day is nothing to !”
…After all, she thought to herself, her eyes downcast, I’ve been through it countless tis.
But she didn’t say that out loud.
Chen Yin shook his head. “No. If you were truly confident, you wouldn’t be saying these things.”
Master puffed out her cheeks and glared at him, trying to look intimidating. But her childish appearance made her look more cute than angry.
She sighed and lowered her head. “I know you’re stubborn. I can’t change your mind. But comprehending two Daos is practically suicide. If sothing goes wrong, even I might not be able to save you.”
Chen Yin remained silent.
“…Is it impossible to participate in the Triennial Day without reaching Grand Clarity?”
“It’s the rule. You can’t even enter without reaching that realm.”
“What if I abandon one of the Daos?”
“No one has ever tried that before,” Master shook her head. “If you abandon the Sword Dao, you’ll never be able to use a sword again. If you abandon the Dao of Life and Death, your cultivation will be completely reset, and you’ll beco a mortal. Either way, it’s incredibly dangerous, and you won’t be ready for the Triennial Day.”
Chen Yin’s frown deepened.
Seeing his troubled expression, Master stood on her tiptoes and patted his head gently.
“It’s alright,” her voice was unusually soft and gentle.
“Just trust your Master this once, okay?”
“Stay ho. Spend ti with Xiang’er and Shen Shuanglian. Bring all your won to Mount Yu. Luo Luo, Qingying, Luo Qiaoqiao, Nan Xiaoxiang, even that little girl Bi Luo. Mount Yu is big enough for all of you.”
“Ah,” Master’s eyes twinkled mischievously, “an orgy with all those pretty girls, I wish I could join. So many beautiful bodies, heehee…”
“Save a few for when I get back, okay?”
Normally, Chen Yin would have teased her relentlessly.
But today, he just looked at her silently, his eyes as deep and dark as the night sky.
He didn’t like her speaking as if she was giving him her last will and testant.
“…I’ll figure sothing out.”
Chen Yin turned to leave. “I’ll find a way to reach the Grand Clarity Realm. Just give so ti.”
“Chen Yin.” Master’s voice stopped him.
He turned around and saw her calm expression.
“…Don’t do anything stupid.”
Her voice was serious.
He had never seen her like this before.
“If sothing happens to you, then there’s no point in saving anyone else.”
“That’s… my only request.” Her long eyelashes lowered slightly, her voice almost pleading.
Chen Yin was silent for a long ti, then finally left.
Master stood on the cliff, her robes billowing in the wind, watching him go, her eyes like a still, deep pool.
A butterfly fluttered past, its wings stirring a gentle breeze that ruffled her hair. Her eyes shimred, as if she had just been crying.
Inside the cave mansion…
Ye Ling’er lay on the bed, her upper body bare, silver needles protruding from her back.
The room was filled with the scent of incense as Bi Luo, her eyes focused, channeled her spiritual energy through the needles, carefully tracing the ridians on Ling’er’s back.
Nan Xiaoxiang watched intently, her eyes wide with fascination.
A diagram of Ling’er’s ridians, connecting her head to her feet, slowly appeared on her back, as if her entire internal structure had been mapped out.
“Watch closely,” Bi Luo said softly.
She summoned the Phantasmal Harmony Ganoderma from her storage pouch and carefully peeled off a leaf.
She placed the leaf on Ling’er’s back, and it instantly lted, flowing along the lines of the ridian diagram like liquid.
Nan Xiaoxiang’s eyes widened in amazent.
“Reversing the flow, using it to push the poison out of her brain…”
“I see.”
“Did you learn anything?” Bi Luo asked casually.
“Even if I did, it would be useless without spiritual energy. And the Phantasmal Harmony Ganoderma is incredibly rare.” A hint of sadness flickered in Nan Xiaoxiang’s eyes.
Bi Luo glanced at her sideways, then quickly looked away.
“Are you still blaming for crippling you and casting you out?”
Nan Xiaoxiang shook her head.
“I don’t bla you.”
“If you hadn’t done that, I would be dead.”
“I’ve never truly hated you.”
Bi Luo’s eyes lowered slightly, but her voice was still sharp. “Such sweet words.”
“Learn. dicine and Gu techniques are intertwined. Don’t underestimate the Wu Xuan Cave’s knowledge, just because you’ve studied dicine elsewhere. If you want to learn…” her voice softened slightly, “I can lend you the Wu Xuan Cave’s dical texts.”
Nan Xiaoxiang looked at her, her eyes wide.
“What?”
Bi Luo frowned. “You have to return them.”
Ye Ling’er suddenly whimpered softly.
Bi Luo, knowing they were at a critical mont, refocused her attention, carefully controlling the flow of spiritual energy.
anwhile, Ye Huang paced anxiously outside the room.
Chen Yin approached, his head lowered, a troubled expression on his face.
Ye Huang grabbed his arm. “Brother Chen, will Ling’er be alright?”
“Don’t worry,” Chen Yin reassured him. “If the Grand Witch is confident, then she must have a plan.”
Ye Huang’s anxiety eased slightly.
The door opened, and Bi Luo and Nan Xiaoxiang erged.
Ye Huang rushed over. “How is she?”
“Go see for yourself.”
Bi Luo rubbed her wrists, her face etched with exhaustion. “I’m tired. My hands are sore.”
Chen Yin looked at Nan Xiaoxiang, who gave him a reassuring nod.
A mont later, Ye Huang’s cries of joy echoed from the room. Through the crack in the door, Chen Yin saw him holding his daughter tightly, tears streaming down his face.
It was finally over.
Nan Xiaoxiang glanced at Chen Yin.
“You… seem unhappy, Young Master Chen?”
Chen Yin was silent for a mont, then shook his head. “No. Ye Huang and his daughter are finally reunited. I should be happy.”
Nan Xiaoxiang wanted to say that he didn’t look happy at all.
But she didn’t. She understood that he didn’t want to discuss it in front of others.
Ye Huang erged from the room, holding his daughter’s hand. He saw Chen Yin and the others and imdiately knelt down,
Kowtowing gratefully.
“I am eternally indebted to you. I can never repay your kindness.”
“There’s no need for repaynt.” Chen Yin thought for a mont, then asked, “What are your plans now?”
“I’ll find a secluded place and let Ling’er live a normal life.” Ye Huang looked at his daughter with a gentle smile.
“So you’re not in a hurry?”
“Then,” Chen Yin looked at him intently, “I have a favor to ask.”
Ye Huang puffed out his chest. “Anything! I’ll go through fire and water for you, Brother Chen!”
“It’s not that dramatic.”
Chen Yin said slowly, “Stay on Mount Yu for a few days.”
“For what?”
“…To help with my sword practice.”
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