Chapter 45: Old Dream (VIII) “Because of the distance between us, I…
At this point, Xi Wenji's face lit up with a smug smile. "Although you were only one step away from ascending to the immortal realm back then, the reason you were able to ascend in one fell swoop was not only because of your own natural talent, but also because Master passed on all his cultivation to you."
His words were like a thunderclap in the clear sky.
Lian Qiang vaguely smelled a faint scent of blood. When she opened her palms, she discovered that her nails were deeply embedded in the flesh. She forced herself to stretch her fingers, but then clenched her fists uncontrollably.
She didn't know that Xi Wenji would go to such lengths for Chi Xingji, and that Chi Xingji actually agreed to this disguised act of harming his benevolent teacher.
Not to mention the fact that losing his cultivation would render him useless, Xi Wenji's temperament was different from that of ordinary people, and he must have found it difficult to tolerate the disparity between high and low. Yet, he had endured this for the sake of his beloved disciple. Shouldn't she express her long-lost gratitude to the teacher and disciple?
Thinking of this, Lian Qiang smiled self-deprecatingly. It turned out that Chi Xingji was so eager to ascend to this level. Was it because of his thirst for power, or was he really eager to get rid of her, this burden?
Lian Qiang had no way of knowing the answer, but he could vaguely guess a thing.
Xi Wenji's words undoubtedly explained the reason for his current situation. Despite Chi Xingji's fame, achieving immortality made it difficult for him to manage worldly affairs. Even if he had nurtured the first person to ascend to immortality in a century, Xi Wenji, now deprived of all his cultivation, was nothing more than a useless figure to the Wuji Sword Sect.
They are willing to support a mentor who is an immortal, but they cannot allow a person who has lost his cultivation to remain in a high position based solely on his merits.
This fact is cruel, but for them, it is beneficial enough and right enough.
"How could I be worthy of Master doing this..."
Chi Xingji murmured, but Xi Wenji grabbed his shoulders and interrupted him fiercely: "Of course we have to do this! Ascending to immortality is the long-cherished wish of countless people in the world! And you did it! What Master couldn't do, you did, and this is worth it!"
At this point, he actually looked a little crazy: "If the history books record your name after me as a teacher, that would be enough! From the day you first entered my school, I knew you could do it, you could do it!"
Xi Wenji repeatedly shook Chi Xingji. They had never imagined that Xi Wenji, who looked frail and frail, could possess such strength. Chi Xingji also let him shake him, his face heavy.
"They all say I'm crazy for sacrificing myself like this, but I don't think so. Xingji, you must understand my teacher's painstaking efforts..." By the end of his speech, Xi Wenji was both crying and laughing, tears streaming down his face. Lian Qiang didn't find it touching, but rather nauseous, wanting to vomit.
It seems that the ascetic life for so many years has somewhat eroded Xi Wenqi's will.
After Xi Wenji had lost all his strength and calmed down, Chi Xingji supported him and helped him sit down steadily. He said hesitantly, "Let me pass on some spiritual power to Master first, so that Master can feel better."
The cost of this move was just a drop in the bucket for Chi Xingji now, so Xi Wenji felt at ease and enjoyed it.
While the master and disciple were teaching each other, Lian Qiang retreated first. She didn't want to look at Xi Wenji any more, nor did she want to watch the scene of affection between a father and his child. She probably thought the same thing.
Jiang Ruzhen was still outside the door, standing there silently, as if waiting for someone, or just standing there in a daze.
"Miss Jiang." Lian Qiang called her first, pulling Jiang Ruzhen's wandering thoughts back.
Seeing her, Jiang Ruzhen was also a little surprised: "Miss Lian, why did you come out first?" "They were reminiscing about the past. As an outsider, I can't listen too much." Lian Qiang explained with a smile, smoothing the hair by her ear, "Why haven't you left yet?"
Jiang Ruzhen's gaze fell on the back of her hand, and he seemed to be hesitant to speak.
"What's wrong?" Lian Qiang noticed her gaze, calmly put down his hand, folded his hands, and hid the lotus under his left hand.
"I have a question I've been wanting to ask, but I don't know if I should ask it now."
Lian Qiang had some guesses in her mind, but she still nodded in agreement: "Just tell me."
Although her demonic energy was isolated, if someone looked closely, they might be able to tell that she was a demon cultivator. Although Chi Xingji promised to get her away safely, it was better to have less trouble than more.
But things always go against one's wishes. Jiang Ruzhen took a breath and said, "Miss Lian, forgive me for asking... You are actually a demon cultivator, right?"
Lian Qiang was caught off guard. Since Jiang Ruzhen asked her first, there must be room for maneuver.
"Miss Jiang, you can't say that." Lian Qiang pondered and said with a calm smile, turning the blame back on her. "Accusing someone else of being a demon is not what a decent person does."
"Sorry, I guess I mistakenly recognized you," Jiang Ruzhen bowed and apologized. "But I had a friend who also painted black patterns on his body. At first, he lied to me and said it was just random drawings. Later, I found out that he was actually a demon cultivator."
Seeing Lian Qiang remained silent, she quickly added, "I saw the lotus on the back of your hand and assumed it was something I hadn't thought of. I just wanted to ask you a few questions... Sorry, I was so reckless. The one on your hand is beautifully painted and really suits you."
"You said he was a friend before, but he is not a friend now?" His guess was right, and after being praised by her, Lian Qiang felt relieved and chatted with her for a while.
Jiang Ruzhen shook his head, as if sighing, "I still considered him a friend, but he didn't seem to want to be friends with me anymore. One day, his identity was exposed, and he fled without even telling me. I was indignant at the time, but now I've let it go."
Lian Qiang lowered her gaze and said, "Perhaps, he has some unavoidable difficulties."
"Maybe, but that was many years ago, and I don't think I had yet to become a disciple at that time. After so many years, it would be best if I could find him. If not, it just means we are not destined to be together." Jiang Ruzhen said in a flat tone. Suddenly, a bell on her waist rang without any wind. She quickly picked it up and fiddled with it.
Soon, Jiang Ruzhen put down the bell and gave Lian Qiang another apologetic smile: "Senior Brother is looking for me. If you don't have anything else you need help with, I'm sorry I can't stay with you for long."
"No problem, you've been a great help in leading the way." Lian Qiang expressed her understanding. The intimate way she addressed him showed her relationship with this so-called senior brother.
After hearing this, Jiang Ruzhen turned and left. Lian Qiang accidentally noticed a small white plum blossom embroidered on the back of her dress, but because she was wearing a plain dress, she had not noticed it before.
The white plum blossom swayed with her movements, appearing lifelike.
After waiting for a while, the door behind him was pushed open again. Lian Qiang didn't need to turn around, just by listening to the footsteps, she knew it was Chi Xingji coming out.
"Let me see your hands." He stood beside Lian Qiang and spoke naturally. Lian Qiang pretended not to hear him. When Chi Xingji wanted to hold her hands to check, she took a step back and raised her hands in front of him: "My hands are fine, what could be wrong with them?"
A pair of hands, smooth and white, without any wounds.
She intuitively knew that Chi Xingji would ask, so after Jiang Ruzhen left, she remembered the injury on her hand and healed it first.
Seeing this, Chi Xingji seemed to be relieved. He pursed his lips and said, "I have a lot to tell you."
"Then let's find a secluded place." Lian Qiang had already decided to confess to him, so she wouldn't refuse.
The two thought for a moment and finally returned to the original courtyard.
After the two of them sat down, Chi Xingji started the conversation first: "Master and I... learned some past events."
"Huh? Did he talk about me? What did he say about me?" Lian Qiang didn't respond and asked interestedly.
"...He said you were not a good person, but I didn't want to believe those words. So I told my master not to talk about it anymore." Chi Xingji didn't look at her, but just lowered his eyes, as if he was talking about something extremely ordinary.
Lian Qiang's fingertips, which were smoothing out the wrinkles on her skirt, trembled. She could not have imagined that such words defending her would come from the mouth of the amnesiac Chi Xingji.
If Chi Xingji had been able to defend Xi Wenji with such a firm attitude in front of her as he does now, would the outcome be different now?
"It's no wonder. He never liked me. It was like that before, and it's even more so now. I'm the same. But I'm also very curious, what did he say about me in front of you who lost your memory?" Lian Qiang said with a smile on his face.
"If it's not good, then don't listen." However, Chi Xingji was also very persistent and didn't want to repeat those words. Lian Qiang could only let him go.
There was a long silence, and then a gust of wind passed by. Lian Qiang could almost imagine the shadows of apricot blossoms swaying in the wind. As she was sighing in her heart, Chi Xingji spoke: "...He said that we were married in the past."
Lian Qiang blinked, his words drifting in the wind, making them unclear. Seeing her bewilderment, Chi Xingji patiently repeated, "He said we were married. Is that true?"
He wasn't asking if, he was just observing her attitude.
Lian Qiang stared at him for a long time, pretending to suddenly realize something as if she had just remembered, and then gave a false smile: "Ah, yes, he's right, I remember now, there was such a thing."
"Then you..." "But we broke up later." Lian Qiang looked at him intently for a moment, and finally couldn't keep up the smile anymore. "Why don't you guess why we broke up?"
"...It's because of me," Chi Xingji said these words, as if he had exerted all his strength, "Did he ascend?"
He looked at Lian Qiang and nodded heavily, and his heart sank suddenly.
"Yes, but not entirely." Lian Qiang ignored his expression and continued speaking, "In fact, what Xi Wenji said to you might be correct."
She shifted her gaze to the withered apricot blossoms in the yard: "You planted all these apricot blossoms that day. Because you know that I like apricot blossoms the most.
"We have known each other since childhood. In other people's words, we are childhood sweethearts.
"We were born in a small town. If we hadn't come to the Wuji Sword Sect, we might have lived a happy and fulfilling life, and we would have grown old as mortals."
"Then why," Chi Xingji closed his eyes reluctantly, then opened them again to force himself to face reality, "why did it become like this?"
"Because of the distance between us, I will never be able to catch up with you."
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