Chapter 42 Without a vision of the future, one cannot speak of life…
Above Thunder Valley, where dark clouds loomed, a dragon-shaped object appeared and disappeared into the horizon.
Even if someone happens to look up and see this scene, they will only think that their eyes are playing tricks on them. After rubbing their eyes, the sky will still be gray and silent.
The clouds had subtly changed shape and moved position, but the cultivators below could not detect it with their naked eyes.
The closer Li Hongyi got to Liaowangzong, the more he wanted to escape.
When they were just one city away from their destination, Li Hongyi finally couldn't hold back any longer and activated his internal energy to prepare to flee.
But Li Qingyun had been watching him closely from the start, so how could she allow him to escape the chance to embarrass himself?
Li Hongyi had just greased his feet and lifted them up, barely a hand's width above his head, when Li Qingyun grabbed his robe. The Abandoned Heaven Sword flew before him, emitting a crisp buzzing sound.
It's as if they're saying, "If you dare to run, we'll cripple you first."
Li Hongyi: ……
That little bastard is absolutely capable of doing it.
Li Hongyi obediently walked back, but after thinking about it, he was still unconvinced. He got up and took a few more steps forward, then plopped down next to Li Qingyun.
Li Qingyun disliked being blown by the wind and didn't want to waste her spiritual energy to create a barrier, so she chose to sit on the central part of the Thunder Dragon God's body where the wind resistance was low. Chang Yubai, on the other hand, stood excitedly on the dragon's head, arms outstretched, letting the wind blow wildly. He clearly enjoyed the majestic feeling of riding the dragon.
This was a rare sight for Li Hongyi to see the two of them keep their distance; otherwise, he wouldn't have been so bold as to have the idea of sneaking away.
Since there's no way to leave, we might as well take advantage of the opportunity to strike up a conversation with Li Qingyun.
He had just sat cross-legged when Qingyun spoke first: "Don't run away. Life always has to have a few ups and downs, doesn't it?"
Li Hongyi: "..."
Li Hongyi: "You can't stop me."
"It seems you'd rather my master arrest you."
"Tsk." Li Hongyi used an interjection to subtly express his resistance.
This little devil!
Why are you so sure Master knows you can't die?
"Ah... this. Those at the Venerable Martial Realm have a premonition of the will of Heaven. I thought the White Emperor knew it because he had sensed it." Li Hongyi's voice grew lower and lower as he spoke, and he fell silent after saying the last word.
He didn't seem to finish his sentence, but Li Qingyun understood what he meant—Li Hongyi realized that Bai Huang's channels for obtaining information might not be legitimate.
"Will my rapid advancement affect you?"
"It has an impact, but ultimately it won't affect me."
"Then you'll come with me?"
"To get to know you. And to let you get to know me."
"……oh."
Time crawled by, the dragon soared through the clouds, the sultry mist clung to their clothes, and the dampness soaked into their flowing hair.
"Do you know Long Aotian?" Li Qingyun blurted out a seemingly unrelated question. Seeing Li Hongyi's puzzled look, Li Qingyun understood. "Oh, you don't know him."
Li Qingyun thought to herself, Long Aotian must have relatives, right? Although the Long Aotian her master described seemed to be even more unlucky for his family than she was, he still had blood ties in this world, right?
Over the years, Chang Yubai has practically blown the image of Long Aotian to the heavens. In any case, Li Qingyun has never seen his master truly admire anyone. The guy who has been talked about by his master for so many years must have done something extraordinary.
Only such an existence could instill fear in the master.
Did Master know about Long Aotian because he sensed it from the will of Heaven?
No, when the two first met, Chang Yubai was clearly a lazy high-level martial artist who was wasting his life playing around with his talent.
They must have seen the old Long Aotian before.
My master is over a hundred years old, so he must be very knowledgeable and experienced. That makes perfect sense.
As for Li Hongyi... since he shares the same surname, it's impossible that he has no connection with Li Tiansheng.
Li Qingyun's eyes swept over Li Hongyi's casual appearance. Unlike Chang Yubai's usual laziness, Li Hongyi's casualness had a touch of unruly debauchery. However, this person had a naturally handsome face, and although the clothes he wore were of ordinary material, they were neat and clean. It seemed that no matter how you looked at it, it was a style of the upper class. But when put together, it turned out to be a shameless scoundrel.
Li Qingyun's expression changed to one of speechlessness.
Li Hongyi: "..." Hey, don't change your expression when we make eye contact!
He saw everything completely!
“Your face…” Li Qingyun couldn’t help but scrutinize it.
He noticed that the moment he mentioned Li Hongyi's appearance, the man's body trembled, and he froze like a stone, probably not even knowing how to dodge a bolt of lightning.
Li Qingyun felt bored again, and changed the subject: "He's not as handsome as me and Master."
"How did Lian Wumiao fall for you?"
Li Hongyi breathed a sigh of relief, relieved that Li Qingyun wasn't asking any deeper questions. He was afraid that Li Qingyun was determined to get information out of him.
But when it came to her flawless appearance, Li Hongyi's resentment quickly surfaced: "I'm very handsome, okay? You two are the ones who don't know how to show off your talents at all, you're as plain as white radishes!"
"It's better than the sweet potatoes in the field."
"I told you I'm handsome!"
"So noisy."
"Hello!!!"
Chang Yubai: Wuhu —
It's been a long time since I rode a dragon, and it's still just as exhilarating as ever!
The conversation between the two afterwards was also quite amusing. Having high cultivation level is indeed beneficial, as it brings double the joy.
Every time Chang Yubai overheard the next line of their playful banter, his smile would involuntarily rise a notch.
It's amazing that Li Hongyi actually managed to build a good relationship with Li Qingyun.
He thought Xiaoyun would either not be able to resist and kill him, or she would not be able to tolerate it and would turn her back on him and kick him away. However, he did not expect that Li Qingyun would actually tacitly accept Li Hongyi's existence these days and even take the initiative to face Li Hongyi's enthusiasm.
Well, Li Hongyi doesn't seem very enthusiastic.
But Xiaoyun has never given anyone a kind look over the years.
Hopefully, Li Hongyi can handle Xiaoyun's interest, otherwise, he might get into big trouble.
Bai, contrary to expectations, did not believe that Xiaoyun was not harboring ill intentions.
As the thunderclouds receded and the drizzle dissipated, a patch of clear sky was revealed. Above the layered clouds and high mountains, a sect stood majestically and proudly.
Lei Long lunged downwards, but Chang Yubai remained standing firm, unaffected by the shift in his center of gravity.
Li Qingyun had ridden in the Thunder Dragon Flying Carriage before and knew the old dragon's wicked intentions, so he had been sitting there steadily for a long time.
Only Li Hongyi, who was riding the Thunder Dragon God for the first time, stumbled and rolled backward before managing to steady himself.
Li Hongyi: "...You did this on purpose."
Li Qingyun: "Don't blame others if you're useless yourself."
Li Hongyi: "You, hiss—"
He couldn't speak.
Because his gaze had already swept over the scene below.
The Thunder Dragon God headed straight for the sect master's main hall. Before leaving, it informed Miao Yatou of its whereabouts, and Lian Wumiao was already waiting there.
"Long time no see, Brother Chang." Lian Wumiao, dressed in dignified sect leader attire, smiled brightly, but only Chang Yubai was in her sight. She waved curiously to the people behind her, "Xiao Yun, come down quickly!"
Chang Yubai jumped down: "You still like Xiaoyun so much."
"Xiaoyun is such a good child, of course I like her!" Lian Wumiao chuckled, making no attempt to hide her satisfaction with Li Qingyun.
She used to want to have a child as obedient and strong as Li Qingyun!
Now that she herself has no chance to give birth, her feelings have deepened, and she loves Li Qingyun even more.
But Li Qingyun has yet to make a move.
Lian Wumiao: "?"
Lian Wumiao looked at Chang Yubai with a puzzled expression, only to see the once calm Bai Huang now wearing a wicked smile.
"Don't worry, I also brought you a gift."
Lian Wumiao: "???" His confusion deepened.
“Is Xiaoyun helping me get my gift? I’ll go help him…” Lian Wumiao stopped.
Li Qingyun had already revealed herself, but she was still holding someone in her hand. Like a stray cat being grabbed by the back of the neck, her face was full of resistance, but she didn't dare to move at all.
Li Qingyun hadn't smiled so openly in a long time. Before he could even jump off the Thunder Dragon's body, he handed Li Hongyi forward and said to Lian Wumiao, "A gift."
"..."
"..." Lian Wumiao's silence was deafening.
After a long while, the elegant sect leader became emotional and even had to cover the lower half of her face to maintain her composure.
"Li Lang!!!"
Li Hongyi gave a wry smile: "Haha."
Haha, now there's really no escaping it.
...
"Keep it up, my master has high hopes for you. You must be happy." Li Qingyun patted Li Hongyi's shoulder, wiping away imaginary crocodile tears, as if bidding farewell to an old friend who would never return.
"Don't make it sound like I'm going to be gone for one night and never come back!"
"Go for it! I believe in you!" Chang Yubai added fuel to the fire.
Li Hongyi's face was numb: "...It's impossible. Don't even think about it. No one can do it."
Li Qingyun: "How dare you refuse Lian Wumiao? Do you know that she is my master's friend?"
Chang Yubai nodded frantically.
Li Hongyi: "No! I've said it so many times, it's impossible! I could never have a relationship with anyone!"
Chang Yubai blinked, suddenly realizing that Li Hongyi seemed to be serious.
But he realized it too late; Li Hongyi had already dejectedly entered Lian Wumiao's bedroom, leaving only his last silhouette.
"Master?" After gloating, Li Qingyun turned to look at Chang Yubai, only to find that his master had a solemn expression, as if he was thinking about something serious.
"Master is worried about them tonight?" Li Qingyun asked in surprise. "Master really wants them to be together?"
“No.” Chang Yubai took a deep breath. “I’m thinking about what Li Hongyi said.”
Li Qingyun: ?
Chang Yubai: "You go back first, I have something to hear."
Li Qingyun: ? ? ?
Is it really that blatant to say you want to eavesdrop?
Li Qingyun said she wanted to listen too, but Chang Yubai chased her away.
Seeing Chang Yubai's solemn gaze, Li Qingyun understood that Li Hongyi might reveal something important to extricate himself. Li Hongyi knew this, Chang Yubai knew this, and Lian Wumiao could also know this, but she herself was the only one who could not know this.
Li Qingyun said no more, leaving Chang Yubai alone to listen discreetly.
...
Lian Wumiao was, after all, a reserved noble lady. Even if she was pleasantly surprised, she simply sat upright, gazing at Li Hongyi with deep affection in her eyes.
Yet, she looked on with sadness: "Li Lang, I thought you would never come again."
Li Hongyi did indeed think and act in this way; in his plan, he would never set foot in Leizhen Valley again until his death.
"You are very talented... Congratulations on becoming the sect leader."
Don't you want to know what has happened to me all these years?
"Miaomiao... I'm sorry."
Lian Wumiao waited all these years not just for an apology.
She left her seat and rushed toward Li Hongyi, trying to stop this heartless man, but Li Hongyi stepped back, avoiding any contact with her.
"I thought you were heartless, but Li Lang, if you are truly heartless, why do you show such a sorrowful look for me?"
Lian Wumiao couldn't understand what was preventing her from being with Li Hongyi.
But Li Hongyi refused to let her enter that world.
"Miaomiao, I loved you."
"...but I can't love you forever."
He put in effort and sincerity in every relationship, but he was also ruthless when he reached the end.
He knew that Lian Wumiao was not the kind of person who could be easily coaxed away. He understood everyone he had ever loved; Lian Wumiao was gentle, but also the most resilient.
She won't give up unless you give her a reason.
Lian Wumiao was also waiting for his answer. She gave Li Hongyi the opportunity to speak: "I have always wanted to marry you and have children. I used to think that I was the happiest person in the world and that I could have a wonderful life that others would envy."
"Li Lang, don't you want it?"
She saw Li Hongyi trembling.
She knew that Li Hongyi also longed for this kind of life.
But why? Why should two people with the same goal be separated by an invisible wall?
"I'm sorry." Li Hongyi apologized repeatedly, and only on the third time did he finally make up his mind and explain his thoughts, "I have to be alone."
"I...cannot marry you, I cannot marry anyone, nor can I start a family with anyone."
"Miaomiao, it's not just you, I can't give anyone a wonderful life."
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
In the end, all he could do was repeat "I'm sorry."
He couldn't tell her the harsher reality.
Lian Wumiao would never have imagined it, nor was it something she should know. Even if he fulfilled Lian Wumiao's wish and married her, Li Hongyi would eventually disappear.
He was just a man with no future.
Without a future, how can you build a life together with others?
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