[I returned from a business trip yesterday, but having been away for several days, I was too tired when I got ho, so I didn’t update until today.]
[I will update diligently from now on.]
Chapter Five Hundred and Eighteen [Three Years]
The hotel in this small town naturally couldn’t compare to those in the big cities, and the rooms were quite simple. A standard room had two small beds. The television in the room was one of those old-fashioned tube TVs—by this era, many of the upscale hotels in the big cities had already switched to new liquid crystal displays.
In Chen Nuo’s view, this hotel was roughly equivalent to the standard of the old state-run guesthouses, but in this era, it was quite a decent place in this small town.
As the sun set, Chen Nuo was sitting on a chair in front of the window when he suddenly heard so movent behind him. He turned around and saw that the girl on the bed had awakened.
Yun Yin sat up from the bed, glanced at Chen Nuo, and then adjusted her hair.
"I thought you’d take the opportunity to make a move on ."
Hearing such sarcasm, Chen Nuo knew that Yun Yin was back to her usual self. He shook his head, "You don’t understand my relationship with Sun Keke."
"What’s there to misunderstand?" Yun Yin said coldly. "A girl hopelessly in love, and a man who betrays her."
Chen Nuo was at a loss for words, choosing to remain silent instead.
Yun Yin nodded and said, "I didn’t expect you to pass up such a good opportunity and not touch her."
Chen Nuo shook his head, too lazy to respond to such comnts.
If he had wanted to make a move on Sun Keke, there had been too many opportunities, and she certainly wouldn’t have refused him—but how could Chen Nuo do such a thing?
Yun Yin sighed, her expression returning to one of indifference, and said lightly, "Alright, you can go out now."
"Hm?"
"I want to take a bath."
"Sun Keke already had hers," Chen Nuo said with a wry smile. "As soon as we ca in, she rushed into the bathroom to shower, and then she lay down on the bed to sleep. Co to think of it, she’s had a rough few days."
"I want to wash again, do you have a problem with that?" Yun Yin rolled her eyes and then said in a low voice, "You don’t understand. For a girl, taking a bath is also a psychological need—she had her bath, and she felt better, but I haven’t had that relief. These past days, you say she suffered, does that an I’m used to living in ruins and sleeping in the open?"
Chen Nuo was taken aback.
Yun Yin already waved him off, "Hurry up and go."
Chen Nuo frowned. "Why must I leave if you’re going to take a shower in the bathroom? Does my sitting here bother you that much?"
Yun Yin scoffed, "Sun Keke loves you in her heart, so she doesn’t mind you being in the room while she showers. But for a girl, if there’s a strange man in the room, who would want to go into the bathroom to bathe? Wouldn’t that be uncomfortable?"
Chen Nuo smiled, understanding. He quickly stood up and headed towards the door.
After exiting the room, Chen Nuo went downstairs, left the hotel, and looked around the street before walking about a hundred ters into a roadside clothing store.
The shops in the town didn’t have much in the way of good clothes, so Chen Nuo casually bought a T-shirt and jeans, then had the female store owner help pick out a set of sports underwear. He had it wrapped up and left. Returning to the hotel lobby, he called a waiter and handed over the package of clothes and a twenty-yuan bill.
"Take this to room 207, and deliver the clothes inside."
After leaving the hotel again, Chen Nuo stood beside a roadside trash can and lit a cigarette. He’d only taken a couple of drags when he suddenly spotted Seed across the street at the entrance of a bookstore, seated on a small stool, holding an ice cream and smiling at him before waving an arm.
Behind Seed was a puzzled-looking Brother Lei.
Chen Nuo was startled, about to go over, but then Seed shook his head at him, stood up, and walked away with Brother Lei.
Chen Nuo had a sudden insight, his face coloring with embarrassnt. He stood there, wrestling with himself for a mont, and ultimately decided not to go over and speak.
Seed and Brother Lei had taken dozens of steps and turned a corner before Brother Lei let out a sigh, "Little ancestor, you dragged to sit outside their bookstore for an entire afternoon, waiting for Master Nuo to co out. Why didn’t you go over and say hello?"
Seed chuckled, "Why should I go over to talk? I just wanted to see the amusing expression on his face after we bumped into him. Wasn’t his expression just now spectacular?"
Brother Lei rolled his eyes and muttered, "Spectacular indeed, but I’m afraid he might kill to silence ..."
Chen Nuo stood on the roadside for a full hour before Yun Yin finally ca out of the hotel.
At this mont, Yun Yin hadn’t changed into the new clothes Chen Nuo had bought for her. As she walked up to Chen Nuo, she shook her head, "Chen Nuo, don’t you know that new clothes must be washed before wearing?"
Saying so, holding the package of clothes, she added, "Let’s go back first."
Chen Nuo followed behind, thinking to himself: If it were School belle Sun, she would just be thankful. This shrew, no wonder she lived for hundreds of years and yet remains unwanted.
After returning to the back mountain, everything went back to how it had been the previous days.
Several more days passed, and Chen Nuo counted them; only the last five of the "twenty days" promised by Yun Yin remained.
One morning, Yun Yin was standing in the ruins of the old mansion on the back mountain when she saw Wu Daodao, who had already finished his morning exercises. She beckoned him over with a flick of her finger.
These days, Wu Daodao had been trained to be obedient and docile, so he quickly ran over with a smile on his face, "Elder Ancestor, what are your orders?"
Yun Yin looked up at the sky and said coldly, "Today, you will leave this place and return to the sect. Your training ends here."
Wu Daodao was overjoyed upon hearing this, but he dared not show it on his face, instead deliberately squeezing out a hint of reluctance, "Elder Ancestor! In these past days, I have been blessed with your favor and careful cultivation. It truly pains to have to leave like this..."
Only then did Yun Yin look down at Wu Daodao with a cold smile, "You must have cursed hundreds, if not thousands of tis in your heart."
"I wouldn’t dare! With my diocre talent, receiving such great care and guidance from the Elder Ancestor is my fortune! I only regret not being able to serve you longer."
Yun Yin let out a hearty laugh, but her eyes were incredulous. "If you don’t leave now, I might change my mind."
Wu Daodao shivered and quickly lowered his head, "Then... I shall heed the Elder Ancestor’s decree!"
"Wait a mont!" Yun Yin was about to let Wu Daodao slip away when she suddenly called him back.
Afterward, this old eccentric of the Qingyun Sect stared up and down at Wu Daodao for a while, and her gaze actually softened considerably.
Even her tone beca sowhat kinder.
"You are the current Sect Leader of the Qingyun Sect. Although your talent is lacking and you’re sowhat lazy, it’s doubtful you’ll achieve much in this lifeti.
"Nevertheless, you are the Sect Leader. I have been earnestly teaching you these days, hoping to give you a bit more ability so that if sothing happens soday, you won’t let down the dignity of the Qingyun Sect."
With that, Yun Yin actually sighed, "Your wife is very strong, and your disciple has high talent. But as a Sect Leader, if you face danger, you can’t always rely on others in the sect to stand up for you.
"I don’t expect you to resolve difficult situations or remove dangers, but when things co up, just don’t disgrace the Sect Leader’s status."
Wu Daodao, gazing at Yun Yin’s softened look, felt a stir in his heart. This ti he sincerely bowed to Yun Yin, "Disciple thanks the Elder Ancestor for the cultivation."
"You go... leave Erya behind on the back mountain to keep company for a few more days." Yun Yin pondered for a mont and slowly said, "Regarding your current disciples in the sect, I’ve been secretly observing them myself these days.
"Your eldest disciple, Nangong, entered the Dao through martial arts. His talent isn’t bad, and he will achieve more than you in his lifeti. However, he’s not as good as your wife. His peak cultivation will only be of the second tier. In today’s world, he would generally be able to reach the Destroyer realm.
"The third and fourth have similar levels of talent.
"But Erya alone has the highest talent. If she applies herself, she can beco a Controller.
"Wu Daodao, when you step down as Sect Leader, pass on the Qingyun Sect’s leadership of the next generation to Erya."
Wu Daodao imdiately nodded, "Elder Ancestor’s will, I shall most certainly carry out! Hereafter, Erya shall be the next generation Sect Leader of the Qingyun Sect!"
Having said that, Wu Daodao said goodbye and left.
Chen Nuo glanced at Erya standing by his side. Seeing the shock and embarrassnt on her face, he chuckled and patted the girl’s head, "Situ Beixuan, it’s settled then. You’re to beco the next Sect Leader of the Qingyun Sect. Aren’t you happy?"
Erya rolled her eyes, "What’s so great about being Sect Leader? Even if I beco the Sect Leader, I still have to take the college entrance exam, don’t I?"
That... Seems to be a fair point!
Chen Nuo rolled his eyes.
Yun Yin, however, was already looking at Chen Nuo. "You should leave first."
"Huh?"
"In the next few days, I’ll reside here with Erya. I don’t want anyone to disturb us, and tell Wu Daodao’s wife to stop delivering als as well. I have intentions to cultivate this child. In the coming days, I’ll impart so of our sect’s secret techniques to her, which no one else should know."
Erya’s face fell instantly.
Asking for a five-day leave?! How much howork and lessons will I have to catch up on when I get back? And the key point is... It’s not like I’m staying for fun!
"Alright! I’ll go to school today and ask for a five-day leave for Erya." Chen Nuo nodded in agreent and then whispered, "Then..."
Yun Yin gave Chen Nuo a look. "Co back on the last day in the morning."
Chen Nuo’s smile faded as he looked seriously at Yun Yin. Yun Yin had an expressionless face and t Chen Nuo’s gaze.
Suddenly, in a low voice, Chen Nuo asked, "Is there... anything else you wish for to do for you during these days?"
Yun Yin shook her head and said coldly, "The ti to entrust my final affairs hasn’t co yet; just get out of here quickly."
"Got it."
Having taken Wu Daodao down the back mountain, Chen Nuo left a pale-faced Erya behind.
Chen Nuo first took Wu Daodao back to the Qingyun Sect’s mansion and then hurried down the mountain to the village school to ask for a five-day leave for Erya.
Walking beside the school building, Chen Nuo took a glance at third grade, Class One, where a music class was happening.
He saw the chubby Seed, wearing a red neckerchief and lined up with a group of elentary school students, singing in unison:
"We are the successors of Communism~"
Chen Nuo’s face twitched, and he turned around to leave.
After finishing these errands, Chen Nuo returned to the village and bought a bunch of snacks and drinks from the convenience store before heading back to the back mountain.
Following Yun Yin’s instructions, Chen Nuo did not step foot into the abandoned house but instead sat at the edge of the forest on the back mountain, at a spot where he could see the silhouette of the old mansion ruins, finding a big tree to sit under.
Chen Nuo planned to wait here for the next few days.
He had to see Yun Yin off on her final journey.
"Do you understand my reason for asking you to stay?"
Inside the ruins, Yun Yin sat on a stone stool and looked at Erya in front of her.
"Because I’m talented? Elder Ancestor, you want to inherit the legacy of the sect?" Erya thought for a mont. "Could it be, Elder Ancestor, that you want to transfer all your lifeti cultivation to ?"
BANG!
Yun Yin slapped Erya on the forehead. "Stop daydreaming. Those powers have to be cultivated on your own. Any talk of transferring powers is just made-up nonsense."
Continuing, Yun Yin sighed softly, "There are so things you don’t know, but I do—and that’s why I worry. Our Qingyun Sect is already deeply involved in this matter. From my father’s ti to my own, we have all been entangled with a group of monsters.
"After I’m gone... I don’t know what the situation will turn into.
"Chen Nuo is soone you can rely on, but he also has a pile of his own big troubles.
"Those monsters are all very powerful. When they fight, they will bring big trouble, and our small Qingyun Sect, with just a few of you, could accidentally get crushed into dust."
Erya’s heart skipped a beat. "Elder Ancestor, what you’re saying..."
"After I leave, let the Qingyun Sect shut its doors for three years... In three years, this great turmoil should have settled down.
"As a child, you don’t have to worry about these things. During these next few days, I’ll teach you so secret techniques that only the Sect Leader is qualified to cultivate. You won’t learn them in just a few days; you just need to morize them thoroughly.
"Then, in a few days, when you leave, continue living as you normally would, go to school, grow up... When you’re older, you’ll naturally master these techniques.
"Besides that, don’t bother with anything else from the outside world.
"Rember my words!"
"What is it?"
"In the future, don’t seek out." Yun Yin’s expression was very serious.
"Seek you out?"
"." Yun Yin pointed to her nose. "What I an is, from now on, you must not go looking for Sun Keke, don’t go to Jinling, and it’s best if you no longer associate with Chen Nuo and his people. It would be best if our Qingyun Sect has no further contact with these people."
With that, Yun Yin sighed, "If you steer clear of this karma, you may be able to avoid this disaster."
"Is that... to never have anything to do with Chen Nuo and the others?"
"Three years, at least three years." Yun Yin sighed. "This whirlpool has reached the point where a victory or defeat must be decided. I believe this matter will see an outco within three years, and it gets more dangerous towards the end.
"My father was so powerful back in the day, but because he got involved in this matter, he ended up seriously wounded and dead, and the sect’s legacy plumted.
"Those monsters have a deep relationship with Chen Nuo, and our Qingyun Sect currently has few mbers. Getting involved with such people, it’s uncertain whether it’s a blessing or a curse.
"Rember my words, three years! For the next three years, the sect should close its doors, lead the life of an ordinary person, and have no dealings with Chen Nuo and his people."
Erya, with a solemn expression, bowed deeply. "I rember!"
Yun Yin sighed and looked at Erya intently, speaking slowly, "I actually like you quite a bit—your temperant, sowhat similar to mine when I was young. But you’re luckier than I was; you have teachers who love you, fellow sect mbers who care for you.
"Now, co here, I’ll teach you a chant of secret techniques..."
Hundreds of ters away, in the forest, Chen Nuo sighed and withdrew his Spiritual Force Tentacles.
Yun Yin... knowing full well I was outside, deliberately didn’t set up a barrier. She must have wanted to hear all this as well. So be it, once this matter is over, I’ll never trouble anyone from the Qingyun Sect again.
With that thought, he opened a can of cola, took a large sip, and pondered.
What does Yun Yin an by three years? Why is she so certain about three years? What does she know?
Reviews
All reviews (0)