Chapter 178 My Heart Is Filled with Turbulence: She Had Been Here

In the suburban cemetery, Lin Feiran quietly looked at the sword spirit senior in front of her, a ripple of emotion flashing in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.

Having spent so much time with this senior, she could always sense a sense of closeness from the sword spirit in his words and actions.

She hadn't thought much of it before, just taking it as a sign of her senior's concern, but seeing it today, she felt something was off.

...To this day, she still does not know who the Golden Wave Sword Master is.

Lin Feiran lowered his eyes and bowed in return, saying only, "Thank you for your understanding, senior. If my father knew that you were willing to offer incense because of me, he would be very proud."

The spirit of the Golden Wave Sword nodded, then its form dispersed, transforming into a ray of spiritual light that merged into the Golden Wave Sword.

Ru Xian observed from the side, and said meaningfully, "She cares about you a lot. Sword spirits usually don't offer incense to mortals, even if they are relatives of the sword master."

Lin Feiran glanced at him, but didn't say anything, only shook his head. Ru Xian didn't mention it again, and the two turned and walked towards Luoyang City. He changed the subject and said, "You didn't want to tell me your reason for going to the palace before, and you don't want to tell me now either?"

Lin Feiran remained silent for a moment.

She had no intention of telling Ru Xian about the Emperor's possession of her body, nor did she want to involve him. But then she thought, wasn't her idea just arrogant?

Ru Xian was already involved in this situation, so how could he be considered involved when he had such abilities?

"Alright, the journey back is not short, so I will tell you the whole story."

...

On this day.

Snowflakes drifted down over Daohe Palace, covering most of the stone path under the eaves with white. Sunlight shone through, creating a dazzling, ethereal scene reminiscent of a celestial mountain.

Many disciples hurried past, carrying wooden boxes, looking weary. One of them, seemingly unsettled, stumbled, causing the wooden box to sway and a series of clinking sounds from medicine bottles.

"Be careful."

One person raised their hand to steady the wooden box, allowing the slipping disciple to regain his balance and avoid crashing into the corridor pillar.

The disciples stopped and turned to look, their eyes instantly filled with joy, and their weariness vanished.

"Junior Brother!"

Wei Changzai stood under the corridor with his sword on his back. His hair was as black as ebony and his eyes were as black as lacquer. He was like clear ice and snow after a storm. He was a bit cold, but in the eyes of the disciples, he was an admired figure who was rarely seen on ordinary days.

The disciple immediately cupped his hands in thanks, then couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed: "Thank you for your help, Junior Brother! If I hadn't been so busy with other matters lately, I wouldn't have slipped and fallen!"

Wei Changzai had only nodded in return and was about to leave when he heard this, but he paused and turned around to look at him: "It's winter, and most of the demon beasts are hibernating. It should be a time for quiet cultivation. What are you busy with lately?"

The group was not surprised. A direct disciple like Wei Changzai, whose cultivation was not low, would naturally not get involved in such trivial matters.

"Junior brother, you may not know this, but recently many people have migrated from the north. In addition to pouring into Luoyang, many others have settled in nearby villages and towns."

At the foot of Sanqing Mountain, many people live in makeshift shelters.

These people came from afar, and many of them were injured. The chief monk then instructed us to go down the mountain to treat them.

We've been so busy with this lately that we're often distracted.

In the end, he didn't forget to offer a few words of defense for himself.

Wei Changzai lowered his gaze for a moment, somewhat surprised: "You mean, Master ordered you to go down the mountain to treat him?"

The disciple nodded: "It is indeed the chief, but it's not just us. Most of the cultivators in the Star Domain are also sent out to nearby villages and towns for medical consultations."

Wei Changzai raised his eyes and said, "I see. Then I won't delay any longer. Please."

He stepped aside to make way for them, and only after they had hurriedly left did he slowly turn around and walk forward.

Master's kindness is sometimes present and sometimes absent.

He didn't quite understand him either; sometimes he seemed very pure, but other times he seemed like a quagmire.

But who says these two things can't coexist?

People are always complex, and he realized this from Lin Feiran, but he just couldn't accept the complexity of anyone other than her.

Since most of his disciples were sent down the mountain, he did not encounter anyone along the way.

Upon arriving at Zhang Chunhe's palace, he used the power of the token he had previously obtained to easily cross the barrier and enter the alchemy room.

There was only a small child, barely reaching his waist, watching the fire in the room. He looked very tired and kept nodding his head.

Hearing footsteps, the boy rubbed his eyes and looked up, then said in a clear voice, "Junior Brother, are you here to find medicine?"

Zhang Chunhe had previously given Wei Changzai a hint about his search for pills to help him reach the Foundation Establishment stage.

"It's right there. The chief said that if you want any other pills, feel free to take them."

"Thank you for your trouble." Wei Changzai nodded slightly, stepped forward to take out the pills, and then fiddled with them in front of the pill box.

A moment later, he looked back and saw that the young medicine boy had completely collapsed on the prayer mat. He silently stepped forward, lightly touched him with his fingertips, and after the boy had fallen into a deep sleep, he quietly climbed onto the roof.

The reason why Guanlan Terrace can investigate everything about him is because it contains three drops of his heart's blood and a wisp of his soul, so finding it is not actually that difficult.

After using his spiritual sense to scan the area, he immediately located the position and leaped away.

The Guanlan Terrace is not a wide viewing platform, but an ancient cauldron only as wide as an arm. Embedded in the cauldron are fragments of the Heart-Questioning Mirror, containing the living water of clouds and thunder. When his heart's blood and soul are dripped into it, it is reflected on all sides, enough for him to "see everything clearly".

He had read those banned books before.

Anger stirs up turbulent waters; joy creates ripples; shame brings still waters; grief leaves water murky and hopeless; and jealousy only stirs up tiny eddies.

Over the years, this flowing water has only rippled and flowed gently, without any other movement.

When the master first saw the swirling current, he summoned him for questioning. At that time, he only said he didn't know. The master had no choice but to let him go back.

But he knew perfectly well why the vortex had formed.

Wei Changzai gathered his thoughts and stood beside the Guanlan Terrace, looking into it. The bright Inquiry Mirror reflected his face, so serene.

As if sensing his arrival, the Cloud Thunder Water rippled instantly, and white mist rose from it, swirling around.

He had prepared in advance, and took out a cinnabar porcelain bottle from his mustard seed bag. Just as he was about to pour out the liquid inside, he paused.

This viewing platform was not just for constantly observing him; its more important function was to reflect the person in his heart.

In an instant, the light mist dissipated, and the still water flowed deep.

In the radiant mirror of his heart, a face he knew all too well slowly appeared.

That's Lin Feiran.

Wei Changzai looked up and suddenly chuckled softly for a long time.

It was originally her, it has always been her.

His trip to the demon realm taught him a valuable lesson.

What about fellow Daoists? What about Daoist partners? As long as I can stay by her side, even if it's just a sword or a wisp of wind, it's better than what I have now.

The Yunting Water in front of them churned and surged again. The once clear water was now mixed with tiny ice crystals, which floated in clusters, so sharp and impossible to ignore.

What this meant, the book didn't say, but he knew very well.

This is endless regret.

The most incurable thing in people's hearts is regret, the thought of "what ifs".

They are like these clusters of ice crystals; whenever I think back on them, I can taste that delicate and lingering pain, and I can't help but think, "If only I had..."

If only he could have broken through his barriers sooner, if only he could have realized his own heart sooner, if only he could have stood by Lin Feiran's side when she descended the mountain, if only he could have followed her without hesitation...

But there are no "what ifs" in this world.

Wei Changzai slowly closed his eyes, tilting the porcelain bottle in his hand, and drops of vermilion-like liquid fell into it.

From then on, what appeared in the Guanlan Terrace was no longer his thoughts. Even if his master brought him here, the person appearing in the mirror would no longer be the one in his heart.

...

As Wei Changzai emerged from the secret room and passed Zhang Chunhe's desk, just as he was about to leave, the open books on the desk caught his eye.

At the top of the page, the three characters "Lin Feiran" were written.

He stopped beside him, flipped to the cover and saw only the four characters "Chronological Notes" written on it. He quickly flipped through a few pages and it seemed to record Zhang Chunhe's experiences since entering the Daoist temple.

He wasn't interested at first, but then he saw Lin Feiran's name.

Since he had no time to spare, he took out a recording stone, and after reflecting the images page by page, the scene returned to normal. He then leaped away.

Wei Changzai did not return to his room, but instead headed down the mountain to do what he really needed to do that day. On the way, he suddenly sensed a strange fluctuation of spiritual energy, so he turned around to look.

Most of the disciples have now been sent down the mountain, and Daohe Palace is somewhat like a monastery. After thinking for a moment, he went to investigate the source of the disturbance.

He followed the trail to a side hall, approached quietly, and looked inside, his expression slightly taken aback.

He did not see any strangers; the people in the hall were Zhang Chunhe and Ji Changying.

One person was burning incense, while another stood silently not far away.

Judging by the time, Ji Changying should be returning from the demon realm by now.

Wei Changzai had no interest in eavesdropping, nor was he particularly curious. He had more important things to do, so after seeing the two, he stopped investigating the source of the disturbance, turned around, and headed down the mountain.

...

After the people outside had left, Zhang Chunhe calmly poured the long smoke into the purple furnace and dusted off the soot on his sleeves.

“Changzai is gone.” Zhang Chunhe turned around and looked back. “He must have sensed the unusual spiritual energy on his way to get the medicine, which is why he tracked him down here.”

Before him, Ji Changying still maintained that smiling demeanor, but her face was pale, and her expression showed little joy, only a coldness like frost.

"I will be more careful next time."

Zhang Chunhe simply looked at him and said, "Lately, I've been focusing all my attention on Changzai, and I've neglected you. Changying, you've always been meticulous in your work and rarely make a mistake."

This time, I sent you back to the demon realm as Qingzhu to assist the members of the Secret Sect in their endeavors, but why did everything fail to materialize? How will my contributions to the Secret Sect be calculated in light of this?"

Ji Changying lowered her eyes, looking at the embroidered pattern on the carpet on the ground, the curve of her lips unchanged: "Everything has its successes and failures. Since things have come to this, Changying will not make excuses. How to punish is entirely up to Master."

Zhang Chunhe raised his eyes, his expression calm.

“You became my disciple when you were eleven or twelve years old, and called me Master. Many years have passed since then.”

Unfortunately, you are a demon.

From childhood to adulthood, I've never made a mistake in asking you to do something, so I'm very curious about the reason. If you tell me, this matter can be put aside for now.

"I can also take the blame for the achievements of Tantric Buddhism."

Ji Changying raised her face, a slight smile playing on her lips: "A defeat is a defeat, and I won't make excuses for myself."

Zhang Chunhe nodded and didn't press further: "When you grow up, you'll have your own ideas."

You are extremely intelligent and highly regarded by the Holy Maiden, so they did not blame you. However, as my disciple, I need to teach you a thing or two.

Being with Tantric Buddhism is like asking a tiger for its skin. Even that old fellow Ding Yi couldn't help but become addicted to it. You must be extremely cautious.

They might not blame you the first time, but they might not be willing to let it go the second time. You must remember this lesson.

He raised his hand, and a wisp of spiritual energy flowed from his fingertips, disappearing into Ji Changying's brow.

"The snow cliffs cannot confine you, and a few days of facing the wall are not much of a punishment for you. If you want to remember this vividly, this is the only way."

After all, what other way could a master punish a demon they've contracted with?

"Master, of course."

In an instant, Ji Changying swayed slightly, feeling all her spiritual energy being drawn out, and a persistent pain spread throughout her body without end.

But his expression only changed slightly, and then, as if he had already gotten used to it, he calmly looked at the ground and did nothing more.

On the velvet carpet on the ground, an embroidered gyrfalcon with outstretched wings is depicted patrolling among the reefs, its eyes clear, as it rides the wind away.

He gazed silently, his fingertips twitching slightly as he pondered other matters.

...

Today is the anniversary of Lin Feiran's father's death. In previous years, Wei Changzai would accompany Lin Feiran down the mountain to sweep the tomb at this time.

But she is now in the demon realm and probably cannot return, so she has no choice but to let him be.

He bought the offerings as usual and went to the cemetery on the outskirts of the city, only to find that the surroundings had been cleaned and there were eight more incense sticks in the incense burner.

She came by.

He came with others.

Author's Note: A short chapter, more tomorrow!