Chapter 34 Amidst the commotion, the person before me is the one I love…
Every night, there are always people whose hearts are filled with unease.
Thoughts tend to boil over at night, churning in the mind and causing unease.
But if I really wanted to confide in someone, many words would get stuck in my throat, and my tongue would feel like it was being pricked by needles.
Li Qingyun couldn't fall asleep again.
[It seems that Master has countless important images in his mind.]
He thought to himself.
Is it because my heart is wavering?
[No, it doesn't seem so.]
He knew that although the scenes were different each time, upon closer inspection, they were all telling the same story.
Chang Yubai and Li Qingyun are living happily together.
That's me.
[...]
That's not who I am now.
...
Li Qingyun is becoming increasingly reliant on the Jingyuan Stone.
Although his master Chang Yubai always cast puzzled glances at him, not understanding why he valued a magic weapon that could only be used to see into people's minds so much, Chang Yubai would suddenly realize something and nod to himself, thus convincing himself once again.
My master has a very good memory, yet also a very bad one.
At least when it comes to things he hasn't learned from, Chang Yubai can't immediately recall doing something like this.
The master remembered that there was a dragon guarding the secret treasure under the Tianqiao Cave, but when paying, he forgot that he had already given his money bag to his disciple for safekeeping because he had exceeded the spending limit.
Master remembered that the Wind and Cloud Platform in Thunder Valley could provide treasures specifically for Wood Spirit Essence, but he forgot that he had already eaten the candied hawthorns from Aunt Wang's house, and the next place he should eat was the salted tofu pudding from next door.
Master remembered that the spiritual candy from Jade Goose City was one in a million, and he was willing to travel thousands of miles to buy it, but he forgot that the candy from Jade Goose City was so expensive that it was completely beyond his wallet's capacity.
The master was always fixated on unusual things, but never looked back.
Without turning back, without looking at his disciple, it was as if... the master seemed certain that his disciple would never leave him in this lifetime.
“Master…” His murmur quietly escaped from between his lips.
Daylight broke.
Another sleepless night.
The wishing stone, shimmering with a faint emerald light, lay quietly on my collarbone as always.
He gazed at the curtains that were not yet drawn, as if he could see into his master's heart.
That heart was the same; it was veiled, unable to let in the outside light or let out the inside light.
The wishing stone is so useful, so incredibly useful.
Who can resist the power to control someone's mind?
But he encountered Chang Yubai.
Chang Yubai alone thwarted his desire to pry into the hearts of more people.
Li Qingyun had been studying her master's inner thoughts for fourteen years.
Fourteen years, 365 days a year, each day different.
It's as if he's not looking at Chang Yubai's inner world, but at a completely new Chang Yubai, a life performance that never stops.
Sitting opposite my master is myself. Every day, all that happens is a trivial, everyday farce, sometimes mischievous, sometimes heartwarming, but most of the time, it's nothing special.
But Jingyuan Stone saw these scenes, which means that these were all things that were deeply engraved in Chang Yubai's heart like brand marks.
Those mundane, everyday events are the most cherished moments in Chang Yubai's life.
That square little courtyard, the elegant and steady Li Qingyun, and the mischievous Chang Yubai—that was what Master longed for most.
“But you didn’t realize these things, Master.”
Li Qingyun did not open the curtain. He got up, letting the light that could not penetrate struggle outside, and letting the room be shrouded in darkness.
Then, the door creaked shut, leaving only silence.
His master, Chang Yubai, was unaware that he himself cherished those sparse, trivial, and ordinary things.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Master," Li Qingyun replied calmly.
Chang Yubai: "Perhaps you could try to match my style?"
“I will try, Master.”
Chang Yubai: "If you don't believe me, you've never actually tried it."
Li Qingyun didn't speak, but just stared straight at Chang Yubai.
This is something he learned from the scene. He knows that Chang Yubai likes it and will definitely react in the same way as in the scene.
"Okay." Chang Yu rolled his eyes.
Master really likes to see him like this.
As Chang Yubai turned to go downstairs, Li Qingyun subtly curled the corners of her lips.
How could he not like seeing Chang Yubai like this?
The young and naive Li Qingyun would think that the daily squabbles were nothing more than a lack of ambition.
He could roam the wilderness, living without a fixed abode. After several brushes with death and finding his way back to the solid mountains, Li Qingyun finally understood how precious the warmth of everyday life was.
Without Chang Yubai, he too would have suffered as much as those disheveled and battered cultivators.
In fact, Li Qingyun was not without injuries. Many times he had to face wild beasts and traps alone and endure a lot of torment.
But he was different from those cultivators whose lives were uncertain. When he tried his best but still failed, Chang Yubai would appear in front of him.
He will not die.
Master will always protect him.
That's a sense of security that no one can replace.
That was a peace that was priceless on the entire martial arts continent.
Li Qingyun went down from the guest room on the third floor to the private room on the second floor, sat in the reserved spot for two people, and enjoyed her meal.
Quiet and serene, as if nothing outside the private room could disturb the two of them.
Just like that piece of my heart.
The images Jingyuan Stone showed him every day had the same theme, but when those aspects returned to reality, they were still no different.
He yearned for the life Chang Yubai envisioned, and he turned his master's obsession into reality.
However, the master only enjoyed it and did not think of giving him a response.
Chang Yubai was unaware that these daily routines could not be achieved by just one person's efforts.
[Master, I'm a little jealous of your tranquility.]
[You've only found satisfaction in everyday interactions; you think you've achieved your dream life, but you don't understand...]
[Master, you don't understand. We're not living a life of steady progress; we can actually... take it a step further.]
They were master and disciple, and Li Qingyun was well aware of how crucial this symbolic identity was to Chang Yubai.
This master and disciple were not the closest of friends.
Li Qingyun spent fourteen years seeing through a person's inner pursuits, and now he understands his own heart.
There is no one more worthy of attention than Chang Yubai.
This person has no great ambitions and is completely contrary to his original ideals, but he is a harbor, an anchor to which he can return no matter where he gets lost in the world.
He can keep running with passion, but what will happen in the end? After he breaks through the Great Dao, how will he face loneliness?
He cannot live without Chang Yubai.
In the early stages, she couldn't do without Chang Yubai's care; in the future, she couldn't do without Chang Yubai's attention.
Li Qingyun put a piece of green vegetable in his mouth, his eyes softening with tenderness. However, his head was lowered, and his master, who was eating opposite him, did not notice the change in him.
Master, I will never leave you.
Master, you can only belong to me.
...
Chang Yubai: "Xiaoyun, how does it taste?"
"good."
"No other comments?"
"very nice."
Chang Yubai: "What's the difference, Xiaoyun..."
But Li Qingyun only cares about eating and doesn't care about saying anything.
If the Venerable Qingyun from his previous life were here, he would probably add the phrase "one should not speak while eating or sleeping" to make it more appropriate.
But if it's too much to your liking, it won't work.
A sense of crisis welled up in Chang Yubai's heart.
Over the years, he had taken Li Qingyun on a journey across the country, deliberately suppressing the speed of his cultivation advancement, all to test one thing.
—This world is gradually becoming cannon fodder.
It seems that in order to welcome Li Tiansheng's arrival, the Guanwu Continent will need a century-long transformation of its character design.
This is especially evident in people that Chang Yubai is not familiar with.
Perhaps the pedestrians who were happily passing by him just a few days ago have become arrogant villains the next time they meet.
His cultivation level improved significantly, but he lost a large part of his brain.
In his previous life, he had lived in seclusion with Venerable Qingyun for nearly a hundred years. He didn't know what the attitudes of ordinary cultivators outside were, but he always heard about Li Tiansheng's professional and arrogant deeds. He figured that all the cannon fodder who provoked Li Tiansheng were the same.
This is bad.
Given such absurd developments, should Xiaoyun still follow the old path she remembers?
Will we see another hundred years later, and will we see another battle between Venerable Qingyun and Li Tiansheng, with Venerable Qingyun being bombarded to death without a burial place?
"Master, what are you thinking about?"
"Thinking of cannon fodder."
"...?" Li Qingyun was stunned for a moment, something she hadn't done in a long time.
Cannon fodder, a word that frequently appeared in his childhood.
In contrast, there is another character named Long Aotian.
"Is Master cannon fodder?"
"Perhaps."
"And what about me?"
"The most pitiful cannon fodder, the most invincible." Chang Yubai said decisively.
Li Qingyun nodded and continued eating.
The days when Xiao Yun would be speechless and choked on her feet are gone. Now, Li Qingyun can remain as steady as Mount Tai, listening to his outdated nonsense without batting an eye.
After swallowing the last bite, Li Qingyun put down her bowl and chopsticks.
"Master."
Chang Yubai: "Hmm?"
"The Dragon Pride, aside from cannon fodder..."
"Catch him! Don't let him get away—" The noise outside the window interrupted Li Qingyun's doubts.
His question was interrupted, and his dissatisfaction began to rise, especially since Chang Yubai's gaze had shifted from him to the windowsill, and he even leaned over to take a closer look outside.
I hate the feeling of being looked down upon by my master.
Who exactly is causing trouble?
Li Qingyun was already considering whether to slice up and package the instigator.
"Xiaoyun, come and see." Chang Yubai waved to him from behind.
Li Qingyun quickly suppressed her malice and obediently walked over.
A commotion erupted outside the window as groups of cultivators flew by, a truly spectacular sight.
The figure in the distance, almost turning into a black dot, was the target that the group of cultivators were chasing.
The unfortunate fellow continued to mutter and loudly retort, "Why are you arresting me! I am a law-abiding citizen of Yuyan City, and I never commit crimes! Brothers and sisters, don't be fooled by these thugs, they're kidnapping me!"
Although this person's rebuttal was eloquent and persuasive, his ability to slip away was first-rate; his voice was still echoing in the air when his figure had already vanished.
Li Qingyun: "...Master."
"No," Chang Yubai shook his head. "Don't interfere."
"Yes." Li Qingyun gave up the idea of chasing after them.
This guy is lucky; he escaped with his life.
If he ruins the atmosphere again and steals his master's attention, he will kill him without hesitation.
After speaking, Chang Yubai pondered his words for a moment and gradually fell into a daze.
"Don't interfere without permission?" That sentence sounds familiar, but how did I come up with it myself?
Is this the inevitable path a master must take when facing his disciple?
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