Having obtained the Wind-Stabilizing Pearl and the Water-Controlling Pearl, Qing and his group decided not to linger any longer and, after discussion, decided to leave today.
Before leaving, Zhuge Hongming summoned Luo Fan to invite Qinghe to the palace.
Upon arriving at Jingcaotang once again, the furnishings remained the same. Zhuge Hongming sat in a rattan chair in the courtyard, while a small red bird hopped around on the table beside him, standing out prominently in the predominantly blue and white Jingcaotang.
"sit."
Zhuge Hongming glanced at the empty seat next to him.
Qinghe sat down in response. "Sir, you already knew that Mo Zhanli had a problem, didn't you?"
Zhuge Hongming said calmly, "Those who reap what they sow cannot live."
Without further ado, Mo Zhanli's current predicament is nothing more than retribution.
"The poison that afflicted the people of the city has been completely cured. You are truly a savior."
Zhuge Hongming had heard too many flattering words, so when he heard Qinghe's, he didn't get angry. Instead, he smiled, which was quite rare for him.
He asked Qinghe, "Do you want to learn alchemy?"
Qinghe's eyes lit up: "Of course, the art of alchemy is profound and extensive, and I really want to study it carefully."
The red bird on the table had crimson feathers and was quite beautiful up close. Qinghe reached out to touch it, and the red bird did not resist, rubbing its head against the ring on her hand.
"Come with me to the Apocalypse Academy, and I will teach you alchemy."
The dean extended an olive branch, and Qinghe was flattered, but still declined, saying, "The divine pearl has appeared in the world, and the task my master gave me has not yet been completed. Between the greater good and my family, you know my choice."
Zhuge Hongming's eyes brimmed with admiration. "Qi Changfeng has truly taken on a good disciple. Very well. Since that's the case, I'll give you those books. They may be just the basics, but they're enough to teach you the basics."
Qinghe nodded: "Thank you, sir."
"And this, I'll give it to you as well."
Qinghe looked at the little red bird with a strange expression, even a hint of disdain.
As if reading her eyes, the red bird opened its beak and spewed out red flames, nearly burning Qinghe.
This time, Qinghe's eyes were filled with surprise. "It, it's a nine-headed Fiery Phoenix?"
Zhuge Hongming remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.
The current Nine-Headed Fiery Phoenix is less than a foot tall, a stark contrast to its previous imposing and powerful appearance, which is hard to believe.
But thinking about it, it makes sense. For a monster of this level, changing its appearance is a piece of cake. A dragon can even turn into a sword, so what's wrong with turning into a bird?
Qinghe: "But isn't it your mount? Why are you giving it to me?"
"It's not that I want to give it away, it's just that its heart is no longer with me." He glared at the nine-headed fire phoenix, his tone quite resentful.
Qinghe suddenly recalled the scene of the palace burning down that night, with the two phoenixes singing together. Looking at the little red head rubbing against the Great Light Mantra on her hand, she couldn't help but chuckle.
You wouldn't guess this little phoenix is such a devoted lover.
Well, I'll accept it then. Maybe it will be of great help in the future.
After chatting for a couple more minutes, Qinghe said goodbye and left.
Walking along the road out of the palace, the vast palace was very quiet, with fallen leaves covering the ground, looking desolate and dilapidated.
Mo Zhanli was rescued by the man in black and his whereabouts are unknown. The entire Tianqi Kingdom is leaderless. Fortunately, no official, high or low, has any intention of rebelling. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, they attend court every day to discuss political affairs, while sending people on horseback to Tianqi Academy to find Crown Prince Mo Shaoling and take control of the government.
Qinghe originally wanted to go see Changping, but then she thought that Changping probably didn't want to see her.
Having dismissed the thought, Qinghe didn't linger and quickly left the palace.
Back at the inn, I sensed something was amiss as soon as I stepped inside. The innkeeper had returned to normal and was standing behind the counter, looking nervously at the two people occupying the hallway.
Li Jiang and the swordsman from before stood at opposite ends, their eyes locked on each other, secretly competing with one another, neither willing to move away first.
Shen Xun Mu Dong and Mo Jun Qian sat side by side, with fruits and snacks on the table, watching the show with expectant expressions.
Qinghe walked over to Shen Xun and sat down next to him, asking in a low voice, "Why are those two starting again?"
Shen Xun faced forward, staring intently at the two people facing off, holding a half-eaten apple in his hand. He said, "They bumped into each other on the stairs again. Neither of them would give way, so they started making sarcastic remarks, and then they started cursing. And that's how it ended up like this."
The description was so vivid that Qinghe immediately imagined a grand drama unfolding before his eyes.
Before the thought had even formed, the two men suddenly drew their swords. In an instant, a flash of white light appeared, and with just one move, they were both back to their original positions.
In this situation, Qinghe couldn't help but recall the epic duel between Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue atop the Forbidden City, where the outcome was decided in a single move.
A wisp of black hair drifted down from the air; it belonged to the swordsman.
The winner and loser are self-evident.
Li Jiang said, "Your swordsmanship is good, but it's too slow."
There was no contempt in it; it was simply stating a fact.
All four of them turned to look at the swordsman.
This time, the swordsman was not angry at all. Instead, he laughed loudly and said, "Among the strong, there is only one true opponent!" He looked at Li Jiang and asked, "May I ask your esteemed name and which sect you belong to?"
Li Jiang said calmly, "Qingyun Sect, Li Jiang."
"Li Jiang... good, good, good..." She said "good" three times in a row, which showed her excitement at finding a worthy opponent.
Li Jiang's name was firmly etched in his heart. His eyes gleamed as he said to Li Jiang, "I lost to you today because my skills were inferior. A year from now, when my swordsmanship has reached a high level, I will go to the Qingyun Sect to find you, and then we will have another battle!"
Without waiting for anyone's reaction, he turned and left gracefully.
The four of them got up and came to Li Jiang's side, their eyes all looking towards the door, watching the swordsman's figure slowly disappear.
Qinghe: "Although this person is very arrogant, he is quite persistent in the way of the sword."
Li Jiang: "Moreover, his cultivation is not weak. In that sword strike just now, I only had the advantage in speed. In terms of swordsmanship, he is still superior."
Everyone understood.
After a while, Li Jiang looked at the sky and said, "It's time to go."
...
As evening fell, the ancient road bathed in the glow of the setting sun, and the Tianqi Kingdom, shrouded in the red clouds, possessed a unique charm.
Leading his horse out of the capital, Qinghe looked back at the once-prosperous capital and felt a surge of emotion.
The horse seemed impatient to get going, rubbing against the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Wait! Wait!"
Just as he was about to mount his horse, he heard an anxious shout from behind. Qinghe turned around and saw Changping.
She rode swiftly in on that fiery red steed, her red robes flowing, just as when they first met.
Changping dismounted and ran a few steps to Qinghe. His eyes were slightly red, as if he had just been crying.
She's someone who can't hide her feelings; all her emotions are written on her face. Upon seeing Qinghe, she felt both sad and heartbroken.
"Are you leaving?" The voice trembled, choked with sobs.
Qinghe nodded: "Mm."
Changping lowered her head, looking as if she was about to cry.
Qinghe didn't comfort her; people always have to part ways, and it's better to have a short pain than a long one.
After waiting for a while, Changping gradually calmed down, took out two brocade pouches from his sleeve, and stuffed them into Qinghe's hands.
Seeing her hesitate, he quickly said, "Don't refuse, this may be the only thing I can do for you."
Looking into those wet eyes, Qinghe had no choice but to accept it. "What's inside?"
Changping pointed to one of them and said, "These are pills, all of them are top-grade. You will definitely need them in the future."
"As for the other one, it contains the seeds of the rose of Sharon. Do you remember you said you would take me to see different scenery and a different sky?" She wiped her eyes and smiled bitterly, "Unfortunately, I can't go now, so let it go in my place." Let it stay with you, just like I've always been by your side.
Qinghe looked at her and said softly, "Thank you, but unfortunately I don't have anything to give you."
Changping suddenly smiled, a smile tinged with bitterness. "Who said that? The time I've spent with you friends these past few days is the best gift you've ever given me."
Silly girl.
Qing and Ning smiled at her, and the two remained silent.
The wind is picking up.
Watching the figure recede into the distance, tears welled up in Changping's eyes. He stood there blankly, his murmur fading into the wind.
Do you think we'll ever see each other again?
No one answered.
Maybe not.
But I will always remember you. No matter what happens to us, you will always be the one who spent this unforgettable time with me.
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