Chapter 21 Farewell

He wouldn't let him take Ji Shi back, but he himself acted quite quickly.

Chu Jianshan resigned himself to his fate and caught him. Fortunately, he wasn't completely drunk and didn't put all his weight on him, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to hold him at all.

"Cheng Yuan?" Chu Jianshan gently shook the person on top of him, and when he didn't respond, he called out again in a low voice, "A Yuan." His voice was so soft that even he himself couldn't hear it.

Helpless, Chu Jianshan could only help him back to his room, take off his shoes and socks, and cover him with a blanket. He was really worried sick about him.

Seeing that he had stopped making a fuss, Chu Jianshan thought of going to pull Ji Shi up outside, since it was so cold and he would definitely catch a cold lying on the ground.

Just as he was about to leave, he felt someone grab his hand.

"Master..." Cheng Yuan called out to him.

Chu Jianshan froze instantly, his heart skipped a beat, and when he turned around, he saw that Chu Jianshan was already awake, staring at him with bright eyes.

"What did you call me?" Chu Jianshan asked tentatively, half-squatting in front of him.

But Cheng Yuan didn't answer him, and just kept talking to himself, his eyes looking a little watery.

"You've finally started talking to me."

"What do you mean?" Chu Jianshan knew he was still drunk and had mistaken him for someone else, so he gently brushed aside the stray hairs on his forehead and asked, "Did I never pay attention to you before?"

Cheng Yuan held his hand tightly, not letting him leave, and rubbed his face against it, like an unwanted wild cat seeking comfort, and spoke with a wronged tone.

“I used to dream about my master, but he never spoke. I knew he was still angry with me.”

His voice was choked with emotion, and seven years of grievances were hidden in those words. If it weren't for him today, his master in his dreams would certainly not have listened to a word he said.

Chu Jianshan suddenly felt a lump in his throat, and his eyes welled up with tears, making it hard to see the person in front of him clearly. He spoke haltingly, "How could that be? I would never be angry with you."

His tone was so gentle that even he found it unbelievable.

Cheng Yuan, who had been holding back his tears for so long, finally couldn't hold them back any longer and let them fall down his eyelashes, landing on his wrist. The tears must have been so hot that they burned his heart.

Cheng Yuan muttered something under his breath, but Chu Jianshan didn't quite catch it. So he moved closer to him and asked, "What did A-Yuan want to say?"

The next instant, Cheng Yuan sat up straight in bed, pulled Chu Jianshan into his arms with such force that it felt like he wanted to crush him into his bones, buried his burning face in the crook of Chu Jianshan's neck, and said in a muffled voice with a hint of grievance, "But Master doesn't want me anymore."

Chu Jianshan didn't know how to explain, after all, it was indeed he who insisted on leaving back then. He was carefree, but he didn't consider Cheng Yuan's feelings at all.

Over the years, he refused to acknowledge anyone as his teacher. Chu Jianshan knew nothing about how he cultivated on his own, whether he was bullied, or whether he could take care of himself.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Cheng Yuan felt even more aggrieved. Chu Jianshan felt some dampness on his neck, hugged him tightly with heartache, and gently patted his back.

Chu Jianshan had previously thought that Cheng Yuan had grown up and was no longer dependent on others, and would be more mature and stable. But today, while drunk, he saw him lying in his arms as before, needing comfort. Perhaps, he hadn't changed at all; it was just that the person who could protect him was no longer there, so he could only endure it all by himself.

"Master, the acacia tree has withered," Cheng Yuan suddenly said.

"What?"

Our tree is gone.

The acacia tree that Cheng Yuan mentioned was actually a wild tree planted in front of the Weimian Residence. At that time, Chu Qingyuan had just picked up Cheng Yuan. He didn't cry or make a fuss; he just looked at that tree every day.

Chu Qingyuan joked with him, suggesting that they give it a name, such as Acacia Tree. To his surprise, Cheng Yuan liked it very much and took the initiative to water and fertilize it every day. It grew up with Cheng Yuan, but now, how come it has withered?

Chu Jianshan could only comfort him, saying, "If it's gone, it's gone. Your master will plant an even better one for you later."

Cheng Yuan shook his head and said defiantly, "No one else matters to me, I only want it... I only want him."

Chu Jianshan had no choice but to repeatedly assure his disciple that the acacia tree could grow back, gently coaxing him until he fell asleep.

Chu Jianshan straightened up and rubbed his aching back. It seemed he was really getting old; he couldn't keep up after just a short while. In the blink of an eye, he was already thirty-three. Time really does wait for no one.

He looked up at the moon outside the window; it had already begun to set in the west. The world was completely silent except for the flapping of wings of some unknown insect crawling onto the windowsill.

After accompanying his apprentice from Zuichunlou to Guishan Village for so long, Chu Jianshan suddenly realized that he had seen him, done what he needed to do and said what he needed to say, and it was time to leave. He had his own things to do.

He is no longer Chu Qingyuan; he is Chu Jianshan.

The next morning, Ji Shi woke up and immediately complained of a headache, not knowing whether it was from drinking or from being thrown by Cheng Yuan the night before.

"Awake?" Chu Jianshan leaned against a pillar by the corridor, looking at him with his arms crossed and a smile.

Ji Shi thought he was asking her a question, and was about to answer when she saw Cheng Yuan behind her. Ji Shi looked at them looking at each other with a puzzled expression, as if something had happened between the two of them.

Cheng Yuan nodded and asked Chu Jianshan, "Was I drunk last night?"

"What do you think?" Chu Jianshan asked with a mournful expression.

Two drunkards. After calming one down, he still had to pull the other one who was lying on the ground. Ji Shi was not as well-behaved as Cheng Yuan. He was so noisy that he didn't get much sleep all night. He almost wanted to just knock him out with a palm strike. He had to convince himself for a long time that this was his senior brother's disciple before he could hold back.

"I have to say, your drinking manners are terrible," Chu Jianshan complained. "You're not allowed to drink next time, and even if you do, you're not allowed to call me!"

Ji Shi scratched his head and said with a wry smile, "I know I have a bad temper when I'm drunk, but A Yuan has always been a good person!"

Chu Jianshan glanced at Cheng Yuan and, seeing that he remained silent, understood that he was feeling guilty. Chu Jianshan wasn't sure if he remembered his dream, but he definitely remembered what happened before he entered the room.

"Chu Jianshan, why are you packing your luggage?"

Ji Shi, with his sharp eyes, noticed a small bundle next to Chu Jianshan and asked a question.

"You're leaving?!" Before Chu Jianshan could speak, he saw Cheng Yuan rushing over with a meaningful expression on his face.

"Um."

Chu Jianshan nodded and explained, "It's been so long, it's time to leave. I have important things to do."

Cheng Yuan then asked, "What important matter?"

Chu Jianshan said, "I've already said it's an important matter. Do you think I can easily tell you?"

Ji Shi looked dejected and said wistfully, "I thought we could still walk together..."

Chu Jianshan laughed and said, "Didn't you used to dislike me? What, you're reluctant to let go now?"

“It is a bit…” Ji Shi said with his head down. He was never a pretentious person and always spoke his mind directly. But someone else was not like that.

Chu Jianshan looked at Cheng Yuan and asked with a smile, "And you, are you willing to part with me?"

As he expected, Cheng Yuan didn't answer, and Chu Jianshan didn't wait any longer. He picked up his bundle, turned around, and left, waving to the people behind him and saying, "See you again if fate allows!"

"Chu Jianshan!" Cheng Yuan suddenly called out from behind him, asking, "What if I want you to stay?"

Chu Jianshan was stunned for a moment, and this time he fell silent.

He knew it must not have been easy for Cheng Yuan to say such sentimental words. He also wanted to stay, but as Chu Qingyuan, he had already made many enemies. Now that he had lost his spiritual power, if his identity was exposed, he would probably harm them.

"Chu Jianshan, I..."

"Cheng Yuan".

Chu Jianshan suddenly interrupted him, saying, "I know you all have your own things to do after coming down the mountain, there's no need for you to do this for me..."

Chu Jianshan didn't finish speaking, but Cheng Yuan understood. He had come down the mountain to find his master, and Chu Jianshan was just an insignificant person on his journey.

After a moment of silence, Chu Jianshan looked up at the sky, sighed, and said, "I'm really leaving this time. Don't miss me!"

Then he waved his sleeves and left, never looking back.

Watching Chu Jianshan's departing figure, Cheng Yuan did not stop him anymore. He knew that he could not keep Chu Jianshan, just as he could not keep Chu Qingyuan back then. People who are meant to leave will leave sooner or later.

After Chu Jianshan left, he first went back to Furong Town. He had long since thrown away the old hen. After searching for a long time at home and exchanging it for ten coins to return to Aunt Chen, he left Furong Town with the few clothes he had left.

Walking alone is certainly easy. Without Ji Shi chattering beside him or the sharp-tongued Cheng Yuan occasionally leaving him speechless, he can walk slowly by himself and eventually finish the journey, no matter how long it is.

Suddenly, he sensed something was wrong behind him. He instinctively dodged to the side, only to see a familiar sword flash past him.

"Fang Lan Sword".

The sword went straight for his neck, but this time Chu Jianshan didn't dodge. The tip of the sword stopped an inch away from his skin.

Chu Jianshan looked up and saw that the man was dressed in white with his clothes fluttering in the wind, and there was another sword at his waist. After the man took off his mask, Chu Jianshan could see his face clearly.

"Bai Qianfan."

"Chu Qingyuan, it's been a long time."

The man smiled and sheathed his sword, preparing to exchange a few pleasantries with him, but was interrupted by Chu Jianshan.

"What Chu Qingyuan? My name is Chu Jianshan. You've mistaken me for someone else."

Bai Qianfan ignored his excuses and said directly, "Alright, stop pretending. Still being stubborn. You just called me by my name."

Chu Jianshan removed the human skin mask, revealing the face that should have belonged to Chu Qingyuan, and teased him, "You have no manners, what should you call me?"

Bai Qianfan is Xie Yin's apprentice. Although he is not much younger than Chu Jianshan and the two grew up together, according to seniority, he should call Chu Qingyuan "Junior Uncle".

Sure enough, as soon as Chu Jianshan finished speaking, Bai Qianfan's face darkened, and he resignedly called him, "Junior Uncle."

Every word was uttered with gritted teeth, but Chu Jianshan listened with great pleasure, nodding and saying, "Good boy."