Chapter 33 Just Friends 33
Although there was some hesitation about how to address each other that day, Zhao Zhixin still told Yan Er about his encounter with Yan Shuoyun and Xiao Hanzhou at the foot of the mountain, which led to a touching scene of the siblings' long-awaited reunion.
Because the Sword Master was still in seclusion, no one dared to settle anyone on Han Cang Peak without his permission. However, one of them was the older brother of a little girl the Sword Master was taking special care of, and the other, Lin Yi, was suspected to be a disciple the Sword Master had taken in from outside. The Tai Chu Sect dared not neglect them. In the end, Yan Xiao and his companion were settled on the peak closest to Han Cang Peak, and their treatment was basically the same as that of guests from other sects visiting Tai Chu. And so, the two settled down in Tai Chu.
To be honest, neither Yan Shuoyun nor Xiao Hanzhou expected that "entering the Taichu Sect" would be so easy.
After all, the trial started with a Nascent Soul stage demon beast. Normally, the following trials would only be more difficult. However, the two of them skipped the next steps and went directly to the Tai Chu Sect.
When Yan Shuoyun saw that his sister was alright and learned that Ren Yi was currently in seclusion with the Sword Master to treat his injuries, he relaxed completely and casually remarked, "It's all thanks to Xiao Yi. If he hadn't been chosen by the Sword Master to be his disciple, I don't know how much more effort I would have had to put in to get into the sect."
After Yan Shuoyun finished speaking, he noticed that the girl next to him looked strange, and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
As he asked the question, he couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with what he had just said.
Yan'er remained silent for a while before stammering, "I think... Senior Sword Master probably doesn't intend to take my elder brother as his disciple."
Yan Shuoyun was slightly taken aback, never having considered this possibility.
After all, not only did the Sword Master arrange for the person to be stationed on Cold Cang Peak, but he also went into seclusion to personally heal the person's injuries. Even among the disciples, only the most highly regarded personal disciples would receive such treatment. Yet now Yan Er says that "the Sword Master has no intention of taking on any disciples."
Yan Shuoyun certainly didn't doubt his younger sister's words, but the current situation was indeed a bit strange.
He hesitated for a moment, guessing, "Perhaps the Sword Master has some other considerations?"
After a brief pause, he affirmed, "With Xiao Yi's talent in swordsmanship and the stability of his Dao heart, he was probably rare even ten thousand years ago. The Sword Master may have left some kind of test that is difficult to pass for a while, but with Xiao Yi's abilities, he will surely find a way to impress the Sword Master."
The way he said it made it seem like he believed Ren Yi even more than Ren Yi himself.
In fact, even disregarding the relationship between the two, Yan Shuoyun truly felt this way.
Leaving aside the dazzling sword strike on the flying boat, just looking at Ren Yi's past experiences, after losing all his spiritual roots and Dao bones and destroying all his meridians, he was still able to embark on the path of cultivation again, which is already rare in the world.
It's important to understand that while the Spirit-Sculpting Pill is difficult to refine, it's not exactly a rare treasure. However, the opportunity to cultivate through it is extremely rare, requiring immense perseverance from everyone involved, especially since Ren Yi was a crippled cultivator starting over. Yan Shuoyun wondered if, if he were to experience Ren Yi's own hardships, his Dao heart might be tainted, preventing him from making further progress.
Yan Er "..."
She felt that she and her brother were very likely not talking about the same thing.
Yan'er wanted to speak, but remembering the rules she had been punished to copy not long ago, she silently shut her mouth. After a long while, she finally managed to say with difficulty, "You'll know when you see it."
Sword Master does indeed "like" Brother Ren, but the aspects of her "like" are probably not quite the same as what her brother thinks.
Yan'er sighed inwardly.
When she previously suspected there was something between Brother Ren and the Xiao family head, she could urge her brother to act quickly. But the Sword Master… that’s the Sword Master!!
Even with the utmost trust in her own brother, Yan'er wouldn't dare compare him to the Sword Master.
Yan Shuoyun was inexplicably stared at by a girl with a "you're so useless" look on her face.
He couldn't figure it out no matter how hard he tried, and in the end he could only sigh that his younger sister had indeed grown up and was now hard to understand.
Although Yan Shuoyun and Xiao Hanzhou did not have the same honor as Yan Er, who was "directly sent to Fuling Peak to cultivate with the disciples of Taichu Sect", the outer layer of the Taichu Sect's Sutra Repository did not prohibit disciples of the outer sect from entering and leaving, and they could also attend Taichu Sect's lectures every few days.
While marveling at the grandeur of the top sects from ten thousand years ago, Yan and Xiao did indeed get busy.
Even if they gain nothing else from this secret realm, these alone will be enough to benefit them greatly.
Of the two, Xiao Hanzhou was busier, as Yan Shuoyun had heard that he seemed to have been harassed by someone.
The word "troublemaker" might not be the most accurate description, but a rumor had circulated within the Tai Chu Sect that Xiao Hanzhou had received swordsmanship instruction from the Sword Venerable. Given the Sword Venerable's status within the Tai Chu Sect, many who heard this news wanted to investigate. A few of the more impatient ones immediately challenged him to a duel, wanting to see what this person was capable of that the Sword Venerable could personally instruct him.
Yan Shuoyun seemed thoughtful after hearing these rumors.
He recalled Xiao Hanzhou's confident statement in the teahouse that day, "The Sword Master is not skilled in illusion arrays," and suddenly understood.
The news that the Xiao family was wiped out because of a sword technique is still shocking, whether it was more than ten years ago or more now. After the East and West continents made contact, information from all sides was no longer as isolated as before, and Yan Shuoyun had also heard about this.
If this "sword technique" is indeed the one he's thinking of, then it's no wonder—it truly possesses enough power to drive people mad.
Yan Shuoyun clicked his tongue. It wasn't that he was envious of Xiao Hanzhou's inheritance, but rather that if the sword technique was really as he guessed, then Xiao Hanzhou and A Yi would have another title: "fellow disciples".
If possible, Yan Shuoyun really didn't want A-Yi and Xiao Hanzhou to have anything to do with each other.
Although A-Yi had become much more clear-headed about Xiao Hanzhou, Yan Shuoyun could still sense his special attitude towards the latter. Whether it was lingering feelings or just a matter of habit, Yan Shuoyun felt that it would be better for the two of them to stay away from each other.
His thoughts were interrupted by a gruff male voice, "Hey kid, you've made up your mind? Want to go take a look?"
Yan Shuoyun looked in the direction of the voice and saw a middle-aged man with a rugged face and a full beard who looked somewhat disheveled. He was lying back against a tree trunk, looking down lazily. A gray-blue hem of his clothes hung down from the treetop. Although there were no stains on the clothes, they looked very slovenly, whether because of the color or because of the wrinkles.
Yan Shuoyun had already met the other party once before, so he dared not look down on him because of his disheveled appearance.
If he wasn't mistaken, the other party was a monster-level existence even in the Taichu Sect back then—this person actually managed to maintain his consciousness in the illusion with just a wisp of divine sense, which shows the strength of his divine sense, at least far exceeding that of the person who set up the illusion array back then.
Even so, Yan Shuoyun still stiffly rejected the other party's suggestion.
"The Sword Master is currently in seclusion, so it's probably best not to disturb him at this time."
If possible, Yan Shuoyun would like to build a good relationship with this senior. If he could get a word or two of guidance from him, he would benefit greatly from his future cultivation.
However, the other party's request was so outrageous that Yan Shuoyun felt that if he agreed, there would probably be no "future".
—This senior told him to go and find out about the rumored Sword Master's partner, and preferably "invite" her out so he could see her.
Yan Shuoyun “…”
Yan Shuoyun didn't know what his expression was when he heard the other party make this request last time, but it certainly wasn't good.
Even now, though he was somewhat prepared, he still couldn't help but freeze upon hearing the other person's words.
Just from the fact that the other party could calmly make such a request, Yan Shuoyun felt that this was definitely not a simple person.
It should be noted that Yan Shuoyun had indeed heard rumors about the "Sword Master wanting to find a Daoist partner" back in Liuke Town, but after joining the Taichu Sect, he hadn't heard anyone mention it again. Yan Shuoyun had initially thought the rumors were false, but now it seemed that the rumor might actually have some basis, but the disciples of the Taichu Sect dared not mention it casually within the sect.
Clearly, this senior figure in front of me is far beyond the scope of "not daring" in terms of both strength and seniority.
Not only did he dare to speak out, he also wanted to use this opportunity to cause trouble.
Yan Shuoyun felt that the trouble he was in was much more difficult to deal with than Xiao Hanzhou's trouble.
Seeing Yan Shuoyun's desperate attempt to avoid the situation, Hong Xuzi spat out the blade of grass he was holding in his mouth, clicked his tongue in boredom, and sighed, "Nothing has changed here in tens of thousands of years. I finally woke up to something new... sigh~"
That sigh was so poignant, it made everyone who heard it feel sorry for him.
To be honest, Yan Shuoyun could understand the other person's mentality. Being trapped in this illusion yet remaining conscious, watching the "people" around him repeat similar activity patterns day after day, was enough to drive anyone insane. This senior was only "a little bored," which already showed his extraordinary mental fortitude.
But understanding is one thing, being involved in it is another.
Seeing the other person's appearance, Yan Shuoyun strongly suspected that the other person might run to Hancang Peak on their own after he refused.
Hong Xuzi seemed to have seen through Yan Shuoyun's thoughts. He scoffed and didn't hesitate to expose his own shortcomings, "If I could go, what would I need you for?!"
Yan Shuoyun couldn't help but show a slightly surprised expression. After all, judging from the old senior's "daring to challenge" attitude, he really didn't expect that there were places in this illusion that the other party couldn't go.
Hong Xuzi huffed, "That old fogey was afraid I would corrupt his precious disciple, so he set up a restriction on Han Cang Peak. Everyone else can come and go as they please, but I can't... When Su Jing set up the illusion, he copied that thing too."
Yan Shuoyun “…”
He once again experienced the seniority of the person before him. As everyone knows, Han Cang Peak is where the Sword Master resides, and the "old fogey" that this person casually mentioned is probably the Sword Master's master. Judging from the other party's casual attitude in addressing him, they are probably of the same generation.
The meaning behind Hong Xuzi's words made Yan Shuoyun ponder deeply: how much hatred must someone have to incite to do something like this?
Hong Xuzi, oblivious to the situation, continued, "However, this is, after all, an illusion. If I insist on going, there are ways, but if the rules of the illusion are broken, it will probably have to be restarted...baba (some thoughts on the principles of illusion arrays)...It's rare to find something so interesting...baba (some personal thoughts on stirring up trouble)..."
Perhaps because he hadn't spoken to anyone in a long time, Hong Xuzi couldn't stop talking once he started, and Yan Shuoyun was forced to remain politely smiling and stand still to receive the incessant chatter.
It wasn't that Yan Shuoyun didn't want to leave, but rather that this senior, though seemingly casual, had actually locked down all his movements, making it impossible for him to leave!
Yan Shuoyun “…”
He suddenly realized that the other party had been blocking him here today with no intention of negotiating at all; they were planning to force him to buy and sell!
Having figured this out, Yan Shuoyun smiled bitterly to himself.
Although he had no other choice, Yan Shuoyun still insisted on his original statement, "The Sword Master is still in seclusion, and it is not appropriate for a junior to come and disturb him at this time."
He had heard from Yan'er that the Sword Master was in seclusion this time to heal A-Yi's injuries.
Even for this reason, Yan Shuoyun could not go to Hancang Peak at this time to disturb the healing process, in case it was interrupted and might even worsen his injuries.
Seeing how stubborn this kid was, Hong Xuzi's tone gradually became irritated, "Seclusion my ass! Seclusion?! So much time has passed, you could bring a dead person back to life!! You're clearly hiding and don't want anyone to see you!"
Yan Shuoyun felt that something was off about what was being said. Some things he had previously overlooked started to connect in his mind, and Yan Shuoyun vaguely felt that he understood something. Before he could clearly realize what it was, Hong Xuzi continued speaking.
He seemed very dissatisfied, "It's one thing if others don't want to see me, but that old fogey passed away early, and there's no one else in this sect right now. I'm Qingran's legitimate elder, so shouldn't he have seen me before bringing people back? What does it mean to just drag them into seclusion like this?!"
Yan Shuoyun? ??? !!!
What do you mean by "pulling someone into seclusion"? With whom are you going into seclusion?
...Wasn't Sword Master...healing A-Yi?!
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