sbdcsierra Chapter 488 I can't bear to part with even one of them.
Chapter 488 I can't bear to part with even one of them.
Dao Xuanzi's cave dwelling has been recently planted with crabapple trees, which bloom perpetually due to the nourishment of spiritual energy, resembling a radiant cloud.
Xu Qizhou followed the babbling water and finally saw Dao Xuanzi lying on the table not far away.
The renowned Xuanhuang Sect Master, who was famous throughout the lower realms, did not wear a magnificent sect leader's robe. Instead, he wore a plain robe, held a brush, and had a yellow talisman in his hand.
His hair was completely white.
Xu Qizhou stood not far from Dao Xuanzi and bowed respectfully.
"Disciple has met Master."
Dao Xuanzi infused a stream of pure spiritual energy into the yellow talisman on the table, then slowly raised his head to look at Xu Qizhou:
"came back!"
The old man's voice was gentle, but it carried an obvious hint of weariness:
"Qinghe told you everything about Xue Lan?"
Xu Qizhou stood up and looked at Dao Xuanzi:
"This disciple already knows."
After a moment's thought, the young man looked at Dao Xuanzi and spoke in a hoarse voice:
"Master, is it really necessary to do this?"
Dao Xuanzi flicked his finger, and the yellow talisman on the table slowly floated to Xu Qizhou's front:
“I have finished discussing with the elders of the War Puppet Mansion. After Xue Lan severs ties with the Xuanhuang Sect, you will escort her to the War Puppet Mansion.”
"Give this talisman to Master Hengyang when the time comes."
Xu Qizhou looked at the talisman in front of him but didn't raise his hand. Instead, he spoke again:
"Master..."
Dao Xuanzi glanced at his disciple, then slowly stood up.
The old man's plain blue robe was made of very light material, making him appear light and airy.
But the words he spoke were extremely heavy:
"It has to be this way."
"Zhou'er..." the old man called Xu Qizhou's name with a smile:
Have you seen the merit-preserving stele in the Hidden Cloud Realm?
Xu Qizhou slowly closed his eyes:
"I've seen it."
How could I not have seen him? When the demons counterattacked, he guarded Duanshui Pass. After each great battle, I could see new names on it.
Whether one is a cultivator or a mortal...
The names are densely engraved on it, forming a road that seems to have no end.
Dao Xuanzi stood under the crabapple tree, looking up at a patch of red clouds above.
“There used to be a disciple named Song Jin on duty at the mountain gate in front of Xuanling Peak. In the years you were away, he has been tidying up the crabapple petals in front of my cave.”
"He sweeps away the fallen flowers as soon as they fall, keeping the bluestone slabs always clean."
“Last year he told me he wanted to go to the wilderness, so I let him go.”
"He even said he'd sweep up the fallen flowers for me when he got back..."
Dao Xuanzi chuckled softly.
"Why were the crabapple trees moved in..."
Because Song Jin's life lamp went out last month.
Dao Xuanzi knew that the young man who swept the fallen flowers for him, like those withered flowers, would never return.
"I don't want my children to wither away any more."
"I don't want Xue Lan to be targeted by the demons... The higher-ranking demons are worth it if they die; the demon god doesn't care."
“But they are children of the Yuanming Realm, children of my Xuanhuang Sect.”
Two lines of clear tears streamed down the old man's cheeks:
"I can't bear to part with even one of them!"
The meritorious individuals whose names are engraved on the monument are undoubtedly honored.
But if possible, he would prefer the top to be blank.
Let our vibrant younger generations not become just cold, lifeless names.
"Zhou'er, do you understand why we have to do this?"
Xu Qizhou's eyes were slightly moist, and the young man bowed to Dao Xuanzi again:
"Master, your disciple has been rude."
Xue Lan is now the head of the Wan Gong Fang workshop and is the hope of the Yuanming Realm.
Dao Xuanzi was also reluctant to send his child to another place.
This is the sect leader.
Xu Qizhou thought to himself.
Do things that are not understood, and play the role of an elder who is high above and cannot be disobeyed in the eyes of the disciples.
The young man raised his hand to take down the talisman floating in front of him, and then took out the Xuanhuang Sword Talisman from his sleeve and handed it to Dao Xuanzi.
"I will handle the Ascension Ceremony myself, Master. Please do not worry too much."
Dao Xuanzi took the Xuanhuang Sword Talisman and waved to Xu Qizhou:
"Go see your Grandmaster Linghuang and tell him that you can prepare for the ceremony."
"Yes!"
After bowing, Xu Qizhou withdrew. Before leaving the cave, the young man gave Dao Xuanzi a deep look.
The old man was still under the crabapple blossoms, which resembled blood.
"Shh, shh..."
Passing through the barrier at the entrance of the cave, Xu Qizhou heard the sound of someone sweeping. A blind man dressed in black was sweeping fallen flowers at the entrance of Dao Xuanzi's cave. Xu Qinghe stood to the side, somewhat at a loss.
Xu Qizhou looked at Xu Qinghe:
"Was she eavesdropping just now?"
Xu Qinghe glanced at the person sweeping the fallen flowers and shook her head slightly, then pointed to the pieces of wood mixed in with the fallen flowers.
"They came for this reason, saying they wanted to destroy the evidence."
"Destroy the evidence?" Xu Qizhou craned his neck curiously and finally recognized the true nature of the wood fragments.
It was the sign in front of Xuanling Peak that read "Xue Lan and dogs are not allowed to enter".
Xu Qizhou breathed a sigh of relief and smiled as he spoke to the blind man:
"Isn't it because you're so vengeful?"
The blind man sweeps the fallen flowers, working diligently, but the ground is covered in blemishes.
Xue Lan stopped what she was doing and snapped her fingers:
"burn!"
A crimson-blue flame erupted from the woman's fingertips in an instant, burning all the flower petals and wood chips on the ground to ashes.
The woman placed the broom aside, and it stood upright in place like a small tree.
The woman leaned against it, looking as if she had no bones:
"What did the headmaster say to you?"
Xu Qizhou felt inexplicably guilty, and the young man looked at Xue Lan and said awkwardly:
"Is this...is this something you should be asking?"
Xue Lan disagreed and said with a smile:
"Senior Brother! Senior Brother Xu! Eldest Brother..."
"Tell me what you can say!"
Xu Qizhou felt a little embarrassed by her affectionate address and couldn't help but speak up:
What's wrong with you?
Xue Lan chuckled:
"A habit of feeling restless if I don't pry into some secrets."
"How about this?" Xue Lan said, seeing Xu Qizhou's troubled expression.
"I'll ask you a question, and you can just answer it for me."
Xu Qizhou nodded:
"Go ahead and ask, but I might not answer."
"After severing ties with the sect, where does the sect leader plan to exile me?"
Xu Qizhou was stunned for a moment:
"This one……"
Xue Lan blinked her big eyes and spoke:
"Is it the War Puppet Mansion?"
Xu Qizhou: ...
Just as the young man hesitated, he suddenly heard his master's deep voice:
Tell her!
Xu Qizhou then nodded:
"Yes."
Then he saw Xue Lan's face instantly fill with smiles:
"great!"
It's like a mouse falling into a rice jar.
Xu Qizhou looked at the smug Xue Lan in front of him and couldn't help but speak:
"Have you long since decided you didn't want to stay in the Xuanhuang Sect anymore?"
Xue Lan shook her head: "No, no."
"Actually, I dream every day that the War Puppet Mansion will give me all the mines."