The sky full of sword light had already dissipated, and the evening glow stretched across the horizon.
Within that glow, the young martial artist solemnly bowed toward the direction of the Sword Sect, then turned and left, leaving behind a lone black silhouette.
This time, coming to the Sword Sect to seek out the Sword Sect's Sect Master, if he could have broken through in one go, that would naturally have been ideal. But since he had not, so be it. At the very least, he had gained something, and Chen Chao did not feel any disappointment.
Moreover, on this trip, perhaps the greatest gain was not in his own realm, but that the Sword Sect's Sect Master seemed to have come to understand something.
Chen Chao had actually understood long ago what the Great Liang Emperor had always been pursuingâthat no matter the time, fellow Daoists were always better than allies.
Those who walk the same path would never change their beliefs, no matter the time, the reason, or the circumstances. But alliances were filled with uncertainty.
If the Sword Sect's Sect Master had now become someone who walked the same path, that was the best outcome,there was no longer anything to worry about.
At this point, Chen Chao was very clear that the reason the Sword Sect's Sect Master could change his way of thinking was definitely not because of himself, but because of his uncle.
Over those ten-odd years, the things his uncle had done, some Chen Chao had not understood before, some he only understood now, and there were certainly many more he still had yet to see.
Now the world said that it was Chen Chao who was holding up the Great Liang Dynasty, but in truth, Chen Chao knew clearly in his heart that the one holding it up had never been him, but the Great Liang Emperor,his uncle.
When he was alive, he held it up. Now that he was gone, he was still holding it up.
That invisible pillar, was him.
Thinking this through, Chen Chao smiled faintly. No wonder some people were so worthy of respect, both in the places you could see and those you could not, they had done so much.
With these thoughts in mind, Chen Chao walked on, his steps firm.
......
......
Northern Frontier.
Yu Xiyi brought his disciple Jiang Xiao'an and Yu Qingfeng south, returning to the Divine Capital.
Jiang Xiao'an looked back somewhat reluctantly at the Northern Frontier Great Wall as it gradually grew smaller, and softly asked, "Master, when will I be able to come here again?"
Yu Xiyi glanced at his youngest disciple and teased with a smile, "What, have you grown fond of this place?"
Jiang Xiao'an nodded a little shyly. "I donât know why, but it just feels very comfortable here. Itâs like everyone isnât thinking about anything else, they all share a single thought."
Yu Xiyi stroked the bit of stubble that had grown on his chin, thought for a moment, and smiled. "Actually, I feel the same. Itâs just that weâve only seen it for a short while, but theyâve maintained that mindset for over two hundred years."
The Northern Frontier Army was certainly not perfect. In earlier years, there had even been cases of corruption. But this place seemed to possess a kind of magic, once people came, they no longer wanted to leave.
"I suppose I understand now why Sword Immortal Liu, after coming from the Divine Capital to the Northern Frontier back then, never wanted to go back. What a great place this is, you can entrust your back to a complete stranger at any moment without worry."
Yu Xiyi smiled. "I almost feel like dying here myself."
Jiang Xiaoâan frowned and said unhappily, âMaster, you canât think like that. You still have to live for many, many years. You still have to teach me to become a great sword immortal.â
âMy good disciple is so clever and so talented. Even without much teaching, youâll become a great sword immortal anyway, whatâs there to worry about?â
Yu Xiyi chuckled, but seeing his discipleâs expression turn unpleasant, he quickly changed the subject and asked, âWhen you were at the Generalâs Office, you saw that female general, didnât you say a few words to her?â
Jiang Xiaoâan smiled and nodded. âOf course I did! I said quite a lot. She was really gentle. Too bad sheâs not my masterâs wife. What a waste, letting Martial Uncle Chen have her.â
As soon as she said this, Yu Qingfeng became somewhat dissatisfied. âXiaoâan, what are you saying? If my masterâs wife became your masterâs wife, then what happens to my master?â
Jiang Xiaoâan stuck out her tongue and couldnât be bothered with him. She had just said it casually, why was he getting so worked up?
Although Yu Qingfeng wasnât super fond of his masterâs wife either, she was still his masterâs wife. If anyone dared to compete with his master for her, he would have something to say about it!
He looked at Yu Xiyi and hesitantly asked, âYu... Martial Uncle Yu, you wouldnât happen to like my masterâs wife, would you?â
Yu Xiyi rolled his eyes. âYou silly boy, what nonsense are you talking about? If I had such thoughts, wouldnât your master beat me into minced meat?â
Yu Qingfeng said smugly, âGood that you know!â
But then Yu Xiyi changed his tone, smiling slyly. âBut you little brat probably didnât notice, thereâs that fellow named Gao Xuan. He definitely likes your masterâs wife. The two of them spend all their time together in the Northern Frontier. Who knows, maybe one day your masterâs wife will be tricked away by him.â
âGao Xuan?"
Yu Qingfeng frowned, trying hard to recall Gao Xuanâs appearance. Once he did, he gritted his teeth. âIf that old punk really dares to be so bold, I wonât let him off. At most ten years, Iâll be able to pin him down and beat him!â
Yu Xiyi clicked his tongue and laughed, but for once did not refute him. On one hand, Yu Qingfeng was not just boasting, although Gao Xuan was quite capable at leading troops in battle, in terms of cultivation, he was actually quite ordinary. At Yu Qingfengâs rate of progress, ten years might indeed be enough.
On the other hand, Yu Xiyi was rather pleased with Yu Qingfengâs attitude of standing up for Chen Chao. He didnât have many friends, Chen Chao was his best one. Since his good friendâs disciple cared about that friend, it was a good thing.
âBut actually, itâs impossible.â
Yu Xiyi rubbed his cheek.
Jiang Xiaoâan sensibly asked, âWhy, Master?â
Yu Xiyi looked at his disciple, reached out to rub her head, and smiled. âBecause some women are destined never to change their hearts. Once theyâve chosen someone, that person is the one.â
Xie Nandu was clearly such a woman.
Jiang Xiaoâan asked curiously, âMaster, when you were young, didnât you ever meet a woman like that?â
Yu Xiyi put on a stern face. âIs master already that old now? What do you mean âwhen I was youngâ? Say it again.â
Jiang Xiaoâan made a face. For trivial matters like this, she didnât care whether her master was angry or not, there was no real reason for him to be.
Yu Xiyi didnât pursue it further. He simply looked at Jiang Xiaoâan before him, but his thoughts had already drifted far away.
A woman like that, he seemed to have once had one too. It was just that back then, he was young, and there were many things he could never quite understand.
And so, he missed it.
Now that he understood, it was of no use anymore.
The light boat had already passed through ten thousand layers of mountains.
Yu Xiyi took a deep breath and smiled. âFrom now on, having the sword as my companion is enough!â
Jiang Xiaoâan immediately dismantled that statement without mercy. âMaster, a flying sword canât warm your bed, and it wonât give me red envelopes during the New Year either.â
Yu Xiyi said helplessly, âXiaoâan, in your eyes, is a masterâs wife only someone who gives you red envelopes during the New Year?â
Jiang Xiaoâan replied matter-of-factly, âOf course. After all, my master is stingy.â
Yu Xiyi said nothing and simply laughed it off.
But soon after, Jiang Xiaoâan said seriously, âBut I still want a masterâs wife. If you had a wife, Master, then when youâre unhappy, she could hug you and listen to you talk about whatâs troubling you.â
Yu Xiyi froze for a moment, and his gaze suddenly softened.
Yu Qingfeng, completely out of place, mocked, âXiaoâan, if your master had a wife, he probably wouldnât sleep well at night. After all, his snoring is really loud!â
As expected, Yu Qingfeng was immediately sent flying by a single sword strike from Yu Xiyi.
Knocked several dozen feet away, Yu Qingfeng scrambled back up, covered in dust, and cursed through gritted teeth, âSurname Yu, youâve got no martial virtue, huh? Come on, suppress your realm and fight me! Letâs see if I donât beat your teeth all over the ground!â
Yu Xiyi gave a half-smile. âOh really? Then come at me, Lord Yu. Since Iâm in a good mood today as your martial uncle, I can reward you with a few strikes. Donât worry, I definitely wonât beat you to death.â
Yu Qingfeng kept grumbling, but in the end, he still didnât have the courage to fight Yu Xiyi here.
In his heart, however, he had surely cursed Yu Xiyi countless times. This guy was just relying on being a great sword immortal. Otherwise, he would have long since vented this anger!
But even if youâre a great sword immortal, it doesnât matter. One day, Your Father will still beat you until your teeth scatter across the ground and have you begging for mercy!
Jiang Xiaoâan turned her head to look at her master and asked worriedly, âMaster, if you had a wife, would she really dislike you for snoring?â
The little girlâs concern came from herself. After all, her mother had once said that when she snored, it sounded as loud as thunder in summer.
Yu Xiyi looked at the girl before him, reached out to rub her head, and smiled. âSilly child, someone who truly likes you, how could they dislike you for something like that?â
Someone who truly likes you will always see the shining qualities in you that even you donât notice, and will forever be captivated by them.