Chapter 828 Everyone Wants
Nie Yunkong smiled and raised his long, dry fingers to stroke his silvery-white beard.
"I heard you. Master Song, you're protecting your junior brother. With fellow Daoists like you around, I can rest assured." His voice was deep and steady, with a slight sigh. "Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together. Although I don't think my junior brother is wrong, I haven't shielded you from the wind and rain either."
Nie Yunkong stood up. "Zhang Chengxuan, I will relay what you said to my master, and I will do my best to stop him from coming to find you."
"For you, leaving is a relief. Congratulations." He took out a box from his sleeve. "I don't have anything good to give you, but these few pills may help you recover quickly. May your future be bright and may you live a life without regrets."
Zhang Chengxuan hesitated for a moment, then said, "Thank you."
He took the box from Nie Yunkong and then took out a long box from his sleeve, saying, "Return this to him for me."
Nie Yunkong remained silent for a long time before slowly accepting the gift.
He looked down at the box and said softly, "Take good care of yourself."
After saying that, he turned and disappeared.
Young Master Zhao was slightly surprised, "Master Nie is so powerful?"
Zhang Chengxuan hummed in agreement, looking down at the wooden box. His second senior brother was the most powerful, talented, and versatile disciple under their master. He was expected to become the next sect leader, or even surpass their master.
Not long after, Young Master Zhao made an excuse to leave.
With only the three of them left, things suddenly became much easier.
Song Chunxue crossed her legs, rested her elbows on the table, and looked at Zhang Chengxuan.
“Senior brother, now that you’re estranged from your old master, does that mean you can go find my master and become his disciple?” she said with a smug smile. “Oh dear, in that case, you’ll have to call me senior brother from now on.”
She leaned back and said, "Haha, what a twist of fate! Fortune changes all the time. Strange things happen all the time. Who knows, I might be your senior in the future. It's kind of funny to think about."
"You're overthinking it. I'm not going to call you senior brother."
With no outsiders present, Zhang Chengxuan sat cross-legged on the chair, turned around, picked up the tea canister, and poured himself a cup of strong rock sugar black tea.
"I will stay on this mountain and be my founding ancestor."
Xie Zheng nodded, "That's true. From now on, Senior Brother will be the senior in this mountain... no, I mean, Uncle-Master."
"Oh right, and what about Martial Uncle? Where isn't he?" Song Chunxue asked curiously. "Doesn't he like to drink tea with us?"
“He doesn’t like to meddle in other people’s business, but he’s still an old man of the Void Sect. He won’t stay on this mountain for long. Perhaps in a few years he will achieve enlightenment and become an immortal.” Zhang Chengxuan said thoughtfully, “I will learn from my uncle and try to mind my own business. I will focus on cultivation and pursue the Dao.”
I wish he could do that.
Song Chunxue looked out the window at the sky, which seemed to have darkened again.
"Senior brother, is it going to snow again tonight?" Thinking that Xie Zheng would be leaving in a few days, she looked wistful. "Will it snow again in a few days?"
Zhang Chengxuan grabbed a handful of peanuts, peeled off the shells, and ate the peanuts inside along with the red peanut skins.
“If you’re worried, then go with Lord Xie. I don’t believe you’d be willing to be separated from him.” He sighed seriously, “There are plenty of outstanding people in the capital, and many Taoist priests too. If Lord Xie happens to meet someone more considerate, gentler, and better looking, don’t come crying to me asking me to tie your red thread.”
Lord Xie smiled but remained silent.
Song Chunxue looked at Xie Zheng, "But if I go to the capital and the Emperor forcibly sends me back, wouldn't that be a huge loss of face?"
"How much is face worth?"
"..." This is not just a matter of face; she is somewhat afraid of the capital city and always feels that once she steps in, it will be difficult to come back.
“Senior brother, I’ve thought about it. Her concerns are not unfounded. Wu Bing and Wu Shuang are the best examples. They were both arranged by people in the palace to get rid of you,” Xie Zheng said, turning his teacup. “So before I left, I taught you how to fly on a sword. Once I learn it, I can come back anytime.”
Zhang Chengxuan smiled, sipped his tea, looked up at Song Chunxue, then put down his teacup and let out a long sigh.
"Whatever you two want. The situation in the capital is indeed not good, but Junior Brother Song is no longer the same Junior Brother he used to be." He waved his hand. "Never mind, why should I worry about it?"
"Maybe my junior brother will be sad after you leave."
"..." Song Chunxue checked her fingernails, but she wouldn't do that.
...
In the blink of an eye, Lord Xie is about to set off.
Even more heartbroken than Song Chunxue was Sanwa. Before even leaving the courtyard, Sanwa raised his sleeve to wipe away his tears.
Xie Zheng chuckled and patted his head. "Why are you crying? You're still young. You can work harder and strive to become an official in the capital. Maybe then your mother will be able to come to the capital with a clear conscience."
He had already planned that if he were to return to the capital to serve again, he would certainly not be able to do it the same way he had when he was young.
Even if the dynasty is nearing its end, it's not his empire that's going to perish, so what does he have to fear?
If he survives, he will be a veteran official of the old dynasty, the kind who can get things done. He will become a senior figure in the dynasty and hold a stable official position. In the future, his favorite students will rise to prominence.
Chaotic times are terrible, but they are unavoidable.
He couldn't back down just because it was scary; he was Xie Zheng, always facing challenges head-on.
Now that we have weaknesses and delusions, we must forge ahead even more courageously.
Many people came to see her off. Song Chunxue stood in the center of the crowd, her mind blank, not knowing what to say or how she should feel at that moment.
As she watched the carriage heading towards the capital grow further and further away, her heart grew so numb that she herself was bewildered.
Until the very first night, she couldn't fall asleep for a long time in her room on the mountain.
The second night, she quietly went to the empty Xie mansion, where only two old women and servants remained to watch the courtyard. She arrived at Xie Zheng's room but still couldn't fall asleep.
On the third day, she couldn't muster any energy for anything and felt completely lost.
On the fifth day, she realized she missed Xie Zheng and deeply regretted not going to the capital with him.
On the seventh day, she found her senior brother.
"Can't sit still anymore?"
Master Zhang placed a few books on the table, sat down calmly, and said, "Writing can calm your mind. Since you've made your choice, don't change your mind, or I'll look down on you."
"I have a bad sense of direction, senior brother, why don't you take me to find him? I don't know where he's staying tonight." Song Chunxue slumped on the table in frustration. "Humans are so fragile, habits are such a terrible thing."
“Now that we’ve separated and said the harsh truths, let’s hold on a little longer and wait until he gets to the capital…” Zhang Chengxuan paused in his finger-counting and let out a slightly exaggerated “hiss.”
"What's wrong?"
“This is bad. Lord Xie will encounter danger on the road. Someone doesn’t want him to come to the capital.” He looked up at Song Chunxue. “Perhaps your Wuyou can now openly and recklessly draw blood. From now on, you don’t need to hide it. No one can take him away.”
Song Chunxue stood up. "Then hurry up, senior brother, take me to find him. You can come back after we find him."
"I'm not so sure. It's not a good day for divination, unless..."
"Unless what?" Song Chunxue rummaged through her storage ring. "Do you want a dagger or a short sword?"
Zhang Chengxuan smiled and said, "I want them all. I heard you have a box of gold bars, how about you give me a few? I want to go have some fun now."
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