Ancient Secret Realm (I)
Zhongzhou Xiandu, Xianmeng.
A man in dark, elegant clothes sat behind a desk, writing something with a brush in hand. A cultivator who looked like a guard walked in from outside and clasped his fists towards the man. "Alliance leader, the Immortal Cang He wishes to see you."
The brush paused, and the man looked up in surprise: "Who? Cang He?"
"yes."
The man frowned, put down his writing brush, stood up and walked out. Standing outside the door was a young man in green, holding a jade token that symbolized his identity. It was Cang He.
Seeing Rong Si coming out, Canghe put away the jade token and said in a light tone: "Rong Si, long time no see." The last time they met was before Canghe went into seclusion, so it was indeed a long time ago.
Rong Si waved his hand, and the monks blocking his way retreated. Cang He followed him into the room. Their last meeting had been rather unpleasant, and after they sat down, there was a moment of silence. Finally, Rong Si pushed over a cup of tea, saying indifferently, "When did you come out of seclusion?"
After the death of the previous Xuanxiao Sect Leader, a position of Elder in the Immortal Alliance became vacant. As the new Xuanxiao Sect Leader, Cang He, a rare and gifted swordsman in the Four Realms, had received numerous offers from the Immortal Alliance to succeed him as Elder.
Cang He hadn't wanted to succeed the leader. He didn't want to continue serving as an elder, and he repeatedly refused. The then Immortal Alliance leader couldn't force him, so the matter fell through. Later, Rong Si emerged from the crowd of candidates and became the new leader, and he once again set his sights on Cang He.
For a hundred years, he repeatedly sought Canghe's advice, never giving up even when rejected. It wasn't until a dozen years ago, when he went to see Canghe again, that they had a quarrel and parted on bad terms. The next day, Canghe went into seclusion. This was the first time they had exchanged such intense anger since they met as teenagers.
"It's been more than a month." Cang He picked up the teacup and took a sip: "Your tea-making skills haven't deteriorated."
Rong Si snorted coldly: "I thought you were going to have nothing to do with me until you die."
Cang He shook his head: "I'm sorry, I acted on impulse back then." As soon as he finished speaking, Rong Si's expression changed.
"What's the first thing I do after I take over as leader?"
"...He came to Xuanxiao to drink with me all night." Cang He paused, "Finally, he was chased back to the Immortal Alliance by my senior brother, and was lectured by the previous leader and the elders for a whole day."
Rong Si was still skeptical. Having known Cang He for over a decade, he knew he was a reckless man who only knew how to fight. How could he possibly give in, let alone admit his mistakes?
"What's my nickname?"
Cang He sighed and put down the teacup: "Do you have to ask me to call you Rongrong as soon as we meet, so that you will believe that I haven't been possessed?"
Rongrong, no, Rongsi opened his mouth, closed it, and opened it again: "Did you hit your head while you were in seclusion?" This is so abnormal.
Cang He didn't want to say more, just shook his head: "I just know a few things."
Rong Si thought he had seen through the secrets of heaven, so he stopped talking about it and asked him, "Why did you choose to come to me today? Aren't you afraid that I will force you to become an elder again?"
"I'm here for this very purpose." Cang He straightened his expression. "I can succeed the elder and am willing to take on this responsibility. But there's only one thing you must promise me."
"What?" Rong Si was a little curious about what could make him take the initiative to work so hard.
"Hasn't there been any disturbance in the ancient secret realm recently? Among the disciples who have entered, there are also my two little disciples." Canghe stated the purpose of his trip.
Tens of thousands of years ago, the divine realm fell, and the purest spiritual energy from ancient times left in the world formed a secret realm, preserving the original appearance of the divine realm.
As soon as the secret realm appeared, it attracted monks from all walks of life to rush in. After all, there are many opportunities in this secret realm.
To avoid conflict, the Immortal Alliance sent people to guard the entrance to the secret realm. Whenever a secret realm opened, they would notify each sect and grant a certain number of places, giving disciples the opportunity to enter. The higher the secret realm, the higher the risk, so there were also requirements for the cultivation level of the disciples entering.
Xuanxiao Sect naturally also had quotas, but they were allocated to Ling Qingqiu, You Jingjia, several elders' direct disciples, and some of the stronger inner disciples.
Lin Zhuo and Xie Zhitiao were young, and while their cultivation was high, they had never entered a secret realm. Wan Wuji hesitated for a long time when allocating the quotas, but it was Cang He who made the decision, returning the quotas to the inner disciples. It wouldn't be nice to let their years of hard work go to waste.
He had his own selfish motives. If Zhao Zhao and A Tiao's realms could be raised to a higher level, Zhao Zhao would be able to survive when the events of the previous life happened again, and A Tiao would not suffer such a great loss of heart that his natal sword would not recognize him.
Rong Si hesitated for a moment, then quickly nodded in agreement.
"Come to think of it, I haven't seen those two kids in a few years." Rong Si sighed, then suddenly snorted at him, "Why did our Immortal Master remember to fulfill his duty as a master?"
Cang He didn't respond to him, but stood up and stretched his body: "Will you practice with me for a while?" After being detained by Wan Wuji for nearly a month, he really wanted to find someone to practice with and relax his muscles.
Rong Si was too lazy to pay attention to him. He glanced at him lightly and sat back at the desk to pick up the pen again.
"If you really want to pick a fight, why not go back and have a fight with your senior brother? He might get so angry that he'll use your master's sword to teach you a lesson."
“…” Cang He was silent, turned around and left.
"Hey," Rong Si called out to him as he was about to leave the palace, "I'll announce to all the sects and families that you will be the successor to the eldership. Remember to come and work tomorrow. For so many years, the position of the 13th elder has been held by those old guys."
To prevent riots within the Demon Tower, the Immortal Alliance's formation was jointly maintained by thirteen elders. During the years when Cang He refused to relent, it was the twelve elders who contributed their spare time to fill the thirteenth spiritual position.
Canghe paused, without looking back, said "I know", and walked into the sunlight.
——
Xie Zhitiao steed his sword, swiftly skimming across the land. Xuanxiao Sect had been unusually quiet recently, so he rushed into the main hall without even a moment to salute. He was filled with panic, "Master, where's Senior Sister?"
For a moment, no one answered him. The main hall was packed with people: the headmaster, several elders, their direct disciples, and even Hua Fangyi, a long-time resident of Cangling Gorge. Closest to the hall door were Ling Qingqiu and You Jingjia, looking dusty and exhausted, as if they had just returned.
"I asked where Senior Sister went!" Seeing no one answer him, Xie Zhitiao became even more panicked, and the uneasy beating in his chest became more intense. You Jingjia's eyes were red, and for the first time she didn't confront him. She whispered back, "She's sleeping in there. Ah Tiao, go in and check on her."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Zhitiao stumbled into the inner room.
Lin Zhuo fell asleep on the couch. The blood on her face and body had been cleaned, and her exposed skin was covered with small wounds. Her breathing was weak, and she was frighteningly pale. Her brow was tightly knitted in pain.
Xie Zhitiao's breathing was trembling. He walked slowly closer, wanting to hold her hand but afraid of breaking it. Tears fell drop by drop on the edge of the couch. A hand rested on his shoulder. It was Ling Qingqiu. His voice trembled for the first time: "...After you've seen her, come out and let her rest for a while."
She is too tired.
When Xie Zhitiao came out, Cang He finally broke his silence. "Zhao Zhao's golden elixir is half-broken, and now he's barely hanging on." He calmed his trembling voice, "I called you all back because of this."
"Zhao Zhao's injuries are too serious. I've seen that they are mostly caused by demonic energy and devil energy. However, the demon world and the devil world have been at odds for many years, and Zhao Zhao is not the type to make enemies. There is no reason for them to attack Zhao Zhao. I asked the Immortal Alliance, and they went to explore the Nine-story Demon Tower. There was a big demon that was possessed by the devil and escaped." Canghe's posture was no longer upright, as if he had become much more vicissitudes of life overnight.
He was still in seclusion, oblivious to the world outside. He always carried the soul lamps of his four disciples. After sensing the fluctuations of Lin Zhuo's soul lamp, he almost teleported to her side, only to find a young woman covered in blood.
Lin Zhuo hadn't cried since she turned fifteen. She didn't cry when she faced the enemy, fighting alone. She didn't cry when her golden elixir was crushed. But she shed a few tears when she saw the young man in black clothes.
Cang He would never forget that moment. Lin Zhuo looked at him with eyes that were neither happy nor sad, and said with blood on her lips: "Master, why did you come so late?"
For the first time in thousands of years, Canghe's sword-holding hand trembled.
After Cang He finished speaking, everyone in the hall had tears in their eyes. Hua Fangyi had lost her hearing, and it was Cang He's spiritual power that allowed her to hear. No one spoke. Hua Fangyi was silent for a long moment, then said, "Cang He, have you truly fulfilled your responsibilities as a master?"
She asked, but her tone was incredibly firm. "You brought Zhao Zhao back to the sect and took her in as your disciple. Why didn't you protect her?" She was already choking with sobs. "If that's the case, why didn't you let her become my disciple?" She closed her eyes, not wanting to look at him again.
Hua Fangyi resented it. When Lin Zhuo was still a baby, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he grew up in her arms. She watched this child, the one who most resembled her, grow up, gradually losing her childishness, becoming more mature and more silent. She hadn't understood why the child she had so carefully raised had gone from a flamboyant rose to a reserved orchid, but now she understood.
With such a master who doesn't care about anything, a senior brother who is not very close to her, a careless junior brother, and the senior sister who is closest to her and loves her the most is away all year round, how can Lin Zhuo not remain silent?
She hated herself for being imprisoned and unable to save her Zhao Zhao.
Cang He was speechless. He covered his face with his hands, his eyes red.
Xie Zhitiao's face was covered in tears, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. His right hand tightly grasped the clothes on his chest, and the pain was so severe that he almost suffocated.
She was the most gentle and powerful senior sister he had admired for half his life. He would rather go down the mountain with her to train, and would rather he be the one dying at this moment.
He couldn't keep his balance and held onto the table, tears streaming down his face as he gasped for breath like a stranded fish.
"Senior Sister... Senior Sister..." Everything around him receded like a tide, and darkness swept over him inch by inch. His mind was full of Lin Zhuo's pale face.
The familiar gentle spiritual power rolled over, separating the darkness inch by inch.
"A Tiao? Wake up, A Tiao. I'm here." Someone was calling him. The gentle and urgent voice made him open his eyes and meet the worried gaze of the girl beside the couch.
Since returning from Chunxi Danzong, Lin Zhuo and Xie Zhitiao would go to the back mountain to practice together every morning. Xie Zhitiao changed his previous laziness and sometimes even woke up earlier than Lin Zhuo.
This morning, Lin Zhuo waited outside his courtyard gate, but no one came out. She called out several times, but no one answered. Lin Zhuo frowned. Xie Zhitiao would never leave without telling her. She took out the jade slip, wanting to contact him, but saw that the small dots of light representing the two of them were gathered together—Xie Zhitiao's jade slip was in the courtyard.
But how could he just abandon the jade slip and run away? He called out a few more times, but still no one answered. Lin Zhuo finally gave up worrying and went into his bedroom.
After they grew up, she rarely entered his room again. Now, anxious, she entered without looking closely, only to see the curtains on the couch still hanging. Xie Zhitiao hadn't gotten up yet. But she had called out so many times, there was no reason he hadn't heard.
Lin Zhuo hesitated for a moment, then tentatively lifted the curtain. She vaguely saw that the boy's clothes were still intact, and she breathed a sigh of relief. As the curtain opened, her expression changed immediately.
The boy's forehead was covered with beads of sweat, his brows were furrowed, his eyes were closed, and there were traces of tears on his face. His originally rosy lips were now extremely pale and trembling slightly.
He was having a nightmare. Lin Zhuo reached out and shook him, but he whimpered, calling out for her. His nightmare was about her.
Lin Zhuo paused, retracted his hand for a moment, then frowned again. He couldn't sleep any longer. She gathered spiritual power on her fingertips, touched the center of his furrowed brow, and called to him softly.
The spiritual power slowly dissipated, the boy's eyelashes trembled slightly, and he finally opened his tear-red eyes.
He stared blankly at Lin Zhuo, his face etched with fear and sadness. Lin Zhuo opened her mouth, about to offer a few words of comfort, but the boy suddenly grabbed her wrist and flung her into his arms. Her heart skipped a beat, and her breath was filled with the boy's dry, warm scent, like amber, yet with a hint of sweetness.
Xie Zhitiao hugged her tightly, the sadness that almost drowned him in his dream was real. It was not until this moment when the girl leaned quietly in his arms that he had a moment to breathe.
After calming down a bit, he realized that his posture was not right and let go of her hand to stand up. However, Lin Zhuo raised her arm, wrapped it around his arm, and patted him on the head with her other hand.
She coaxed him in a low voice: "Don't be afraid, A Tiao, I'm with you."
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