A month has passed since Li Xiangyi and Di Feisheng fell into the sea and disappeared during their battle in the East China Sea, and the two have still not reappeared.
Thus, rumors spread throughout the martial arts world that both the Sword God and the Great Demon were dead.
During this period, the Golden Mandarin Duck Alliance initially searched for Di Feisheng in a grand manner, but then quickly became low-key and stopped acting arrogantly.
As for the Si Gu Sect, after losing Li Xiangyi, it disbanded on the spot after a few days of chaos, which shocked everyone in the martial arts world.
This truly confirms the criticism Li Xiangyi received for being arrogant and conceited.
"The Sigu Gate can do without anyone else, but it can't do without Li Xiangyi."
Sure enough, as soon as Li Xiangyi got into trouble, the entire Sigumen scatters. Before everyone has even left, the tea has gone cold.
It is said that Master Wule, who never cared about worldly affairs, personally went to the East Sea and Sigu Gate, and then left with a look of grief and indignation, muttering things like "unworthy, not worth it".
Immediately afterwards, Yun Biqiu, one of Li Xiangyi's former trusted subordinates, was brutally murdered and his head was cut off.
However, the guards remained inactive, no one sought revenge for him, and they quietly buried his body.
In the quiet meditation room, the incense burner, burning sandalwood, sends wisps of smoke rising.
Wu Liaohe's face showed compassion. He turned his prayer beads in one hand and struck the wooden fish with the other, chanting the Rebirth Mantra as he prayed for his young friend.
"May Buddha have mercy and bless Young Master Li so that he may be reborn in the Pure Land and have a peaceful and prosperous next life."
"Well, old monk, you actually cursed me behind my back, and I caught you red-handed."
Wu Liao turned around in shock and saw that the young man was dressed in white. He had changed his usual high ponytail hairstyle and used only a silver hairpin to half-bind his hair, with the rest of his hair hanging down naturally, which made him look more like a scholar.
The prayer beads fell to the ground, and Wu Liao said happily, "Young Master Li, you're not dead, that's wonderful."
Li Xiangyi was driven down the mountain by his master.
The boy was so traumatized that even after his injuries healed, he remained in a daze and listless.
Then Qi An threw him down the mountain.
Tell him not to stay cooped up at home, but to go out for a walk and see the people he should see.
When passing by Sigu Gate, Li Xiangyi hesitated for a moment, but decided to visit Monk Wuliao first.
“I was about to die, but the sound of your chanting and the wooden fish brought me back to life.”
Li Xiangyi gave a brief account of recent events, omitting Shan Gudao and assuming that he had truly died before the East China Sea Battle.
"Yun Biqiu actually poisoned you with Bicha poison, so you killed him...?"
"I didn't kill him, although I had that intention."
A cold glint flashed in Li Xiangyi's eyes.
Qi An and Fu Gui forgot that the one who forgave everyone, and was even willing to risk his life to save those who had harmed him, was the compassionate and detached Li Lianhua ten years later, not the Li Xiangyi of this time.
Twenty-year-old Li Xiangyi is like the blazing sun, he never forgives anyone.
But the monk Wule discovered that Li Xiangyi had changed.
The flamboyant, unrestrained, and arrogant youthful spirit he once possessed has been tempered, replaced by composure and calmness.
Previously, Li Xiangyi was like a peerless sword, its sharpness immediately apparent. But after this incident, the sword has lost its edge and is sheathed.
"Does Young Master Li still intend to return to Si Gu Men?"
"I'm not going back. I've died once, and suddenly I feel that fighting and killing are meaningless. I don't want to care about the affairs of the martial world anymore. Now I just want to be free and carefree, just like my old man said, eat well, drink well, and live well."
Wu Liao smiled and said, "Benefactor Qi is a person of great wisdom."
After a pause, the monk continued, "It's alright with others, but this Miss Qiao... she came to the temple to pray for you a few days ago, and she seemed very sad."
Li Xiangyi remained silent, and then stopped speaking.
After the two drank tea for a while, Li Xiangyi prepared to leave.
Before leaving, he glanced back at the wall and said, "With a pure and tranquil mind, lotus flowers bloom everywhere. Monk, your Zen saying is excellent."
Li Xiangyi stood in Qiao Wanmian's courtyard, staring at the still-lit room, unable to move his feet for a long time.
These days, he has been trying to stop thinking about A-Mian and that letter, but no matter what happens to them in the future, he will always come to see A-Mian.
Although only a month has passed, his state of mind has changed drastically.
If this were in the past, he would have already shamelessly tried to make Ah-Mian happy.
But when he thought back to his past actions, such as digging tunnels, giving plum blossoms as gifts, and the red silk sword dance that drew huge crowds, he only felt they were exaggerated.
How could I have been such a showy peacock, displaying its plumage and wagging its tail?
Most importantly, he knew perfectly well that when he wrote that letter, A-Mian no longer loved him, or rather, she didn't love him as much anymore.
This is the real reason why Li Xiangyi has stagnated.
With a creak, the door opened, and Qiao Wanmian walked out looking haggard.
Li Xiangyi was about to appear when he saw Xiao Zijin enter the courtyard, so he withdrew his foot.
"Ah-Man, why aren't you asleep yet, it's so late?"
“Zijin, I dreamt of Xiangyi. Xiangyi was covered in blood, and he was walking so fast. No matter how I called him, he wouldn’t turn around…”
“Ah Man, that was all a dream. Xiang Yi is already dead.”
"No, he's not dead. I don't believe he's dead. He's so powerful, he can't be dead."
A flash of jealousy crossed Xiao Zijin's eyes as she repeated, "A-Mian, he really is dead. Otherwise, with his abilities, he would have returned long ago. Besides, he was poisoned by the Jade Tea, so there was absolutely no way he could have survived."
Qiao Wanmian wept uncontrollably. Even the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world looked like a pear blossom in the rain when she cried, which made Xiao Zijin feel extremely distressed.
When Li Xiangyi died, he was initially saddened, but soon felt relieved and even a little bit fortunate.
He was deeply in love with Qiao Wanmian, but as long as Li Xiangyi was alive, he would not have even the slightest chance.
In front of that dazzlingly talented young man, he couldn't even muster the courage to compete.
Now that Li Xiangyi is dead, he finally has the opportunity to get what he wants.
He believed that, given time, Ah-Mian would completely forget that person and accept his feelings.
"Zijin, I regret it so much. I shouldn't have written that letter to him before he left. Do you think he's blaming me, which is why he's not coming back?"
"No, Ah-Mian, he won't blame you. If he were alive, given his personality, he would have returned to Si-Gu-Men long ago."
Xiao Zijin hesitated for a moment, then reached out to wipe away Qiao Wanmian's tears and took her hand in his.
“A-Mian, don’t be so hard on yourself. You did nothing wrong. You’ve always wanted to leave Si Gu Men, right? Now that Si Gu Men has disbanded, I’ll be there for you no matter what you want to do in the future.”
Qiao Wanmian didn't speak, she just cried. For some reason, she let Xiao Zijin hold her hand and didn't shake it off.
A gentle breeze swept by, and the figure of the boy in white had vanished.
"Isn't that your woman? Aren't you going to take her back?"
The sound of the flute whistling rang out, accompanied by a tone that suggested the speaker was enjoying the spectacle.
Li Xiangyi glanced at him: "I didn't expect that Alliance Leader Di had the potential to be a gossip. It's a waste of his talent to stay in the Golden Mandarin Duck Alliance."
Di Feisheng chuckled and said, "What kind of subordinates do you have? One poisoned you, and the other stole your woman. If you can't bring yourself to do it, I'll kill him for you."
Li Xiangyi shook his head: "Miss Qiao belongs only to herself."
"We'll see..."
Li Xiangyi mocked, "Speaking of subordinates, they naturally can't compare to Alliance Leader Di. The beautiful Jiao wants to marry you all the time. You might be tied up and dragged into the bridal chamber one day. Alliance Leader Di is truly blessed with good fortune in love."
Flying Flute: "..."
"I'll give it to you if you like it."
Qi An and Fu Gui, who were drinking tea and watching a play on Yunyin Mountain: "..."
Ha, the pot calling the kettle black!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com