Ning Menglan listened to the report from the master of Ten Thousand Swords Peak regarding Chu Qingchuan and waved his hand indifferently.
"Let him be."
The matter of withholding information could be trivial or grave, but what truly chilled his heart was Chu Qingchuan's selfishness and coldness.
Whether it was the sect that had raised him or Xu Wanci, who had once saved his life, both could be discarded or resented over the slightest grievance in his heart.
Keeping such a person in the sect would only sow unease among others.
Perhaps it was better for him to leave.
Ning Menglan and Chu Qingchuan had shared decades of master-disciple bonds, and for his disciple to turn out this way, he, as the teacher, bore some responsibility.
He would not expel Chu Qingchuan from the Taiqing Sect, but from now on, the sect would offer him no further guidance or support.
The path ahead would be his own to walk.
After Xie Tingbai's departure, Xiao Yuyan finally witnessed Xu Wanci's relentless cultivation routine.
Twelve hours a day—if not for the occasional visitors, she might have practiced day and night without rest until exhaustion forced her to stop.
Yet, everyone in the Taiqing Sect seemed accustomed to this, even sighing in relief:
"At least this time she isn't training while injured."
As if, long ago, she had once pushed herself to cultivate despite her wounds.
Watching Xu Wanci swing her sword tirelessly from sunrise, Xiao Yuyan felt a faint bitterness rise in his chest.
He finally realized:
Her past century had been harsh.
He reached out as if to touch something, but only emptiness surrounded him.
Just then, a steady knock sounded at the door.
Xiao Yuyan silently lowered his hand.
Beneath the Illusionary Beauty Tree, Xu Wanci paused at the noise, her Nine Heavens Sword shrinking into a bracelet around her right wrist.
When she saw the figure at the door, surprise flickered in her eyes before she bowed respectfully.
"Wanci greets the Buddhist Master."
Xiao Yuyan's gaze shifted from Xu Wanci to the figure at the door—a man enveloped in an aura of compassion, his eyes filled with solemn serenity.
Xiao Yuyan's expression remained indifferent, as detached as it was toward all things beyond Xu Wanci.
Yet, deep within his eyes, unnoticed even by himself, lay a trace of concern... and vigilance.
This Buddhist Master, who had sacrificed himself to save the world and bore grave injuries for it—
Perhaps he was the one who most resembled the 'him' in Xu Wanci's heart.
Even more than the present Xiao Yuyan.
Xiao Yuyan quietly observed the world—its grass and trees, its blooming and withering—yet felt no ripple of emotion.
As long as it wasn't her, even if all things perished before him, it would stir nothing in his heart.
The heavens followed their own course; he neither interfered nor sought to save.
Was he truly the same Xiao Yuyan who had once offered his life to the heavens a century ago?
And was this version of him—devoid of memories, emotions, and once indifferent to her suffering—the one she wished to see?
A dull ache pulsed in his chest, yet his eyes remained fixed on Xu Wanci, filled with a quiet sorrow.
In the mortal realm, Bai Zhou arrived at the courtyard, his presence suffused with tranquility, a faint smile on his lips.
The spiritual plants in the yard seemed to flourish under his influence, growing more vibrant.
He returned Xu Wanci's greeting, his voice carrying the soothing cadence of a gentle breeze.
"Lady Xu."
Xiao Yuyan watched as Xu Wanci's gaze softened with gratitude and familiarity toward Bai Zhou.
He turned away indifferently.
A leaf from the Illusionary Beauty Tree drifted down, landing squarely before Xu Wanci's eyes, obscuring Bai Zhou from view.
Three breaths later, the leaf reluctantly floated away, settling lightly on the back of her hand.
Today's sunlight seemed unusually harsh, blazing over every inch of the cultivation world—
Except where Xu Wanci stood.
In the courtyard, though only five steps separated Xu Wanci and Bai Zhou, their surroundings contrasted sharply.
Xu Wanci stood in the shade, dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves to wrap her in a gentle warmth. In this comforting environment, the spiritual energy in her dantian grew steadily denser.
Meanwhile, Bai Zhou stood fully exposed to the scorching sun. His plain hemp robes gleamed like silk under the intense light, and his shaved head reflected the rays so brightly it could mirror one's face.
Noticing Bai Zhou's slightly narrowed eyes, Xu Wanci quickly stepped back and gestured for him to take a seat.
Bai Zhou accepted with a nod.
Though his cultivation had waned, he remained at the Great Ascension Realm, unaffected by mere sunlight.
What truly caught his attention was the overwhelming aura of heavenly favor surrounding Xu Wanci—as if the very will of the heavens had converged upon her, bestowing boundless blessings.
In all his centuries, he had never encountered someone so profoundly favored by fate.
Suppressing his astonishment, Bai Zhou sat gracefully.
Before Xu Wanci could speak, he stated his purpose for visiting:
"This humble monk comes today to express gratitude... and to bid farewell."
As if in response to his words, the glaring sunlight dimmed, veiled by passing clouds, leaving the courtyard bathed in cool shade.
Xu Wanci poured him a cup of clear tea.
"It is I who should thank you."
"Only, I was unsure of your recovery and hesitated to disturb you."
She lifted her gaze, sliding the cup toward him.
"Has the Buddhist Master's injury improved?"
Bai Zhou accepted the tea and shook his head.
"How could I possibly deserve your thanks?"
"Even without this humble monk, Lady Xu would have returned safely—and without bearing unnecessary karma."
He paused briefly before continuing,
"Moreover, my injuries were never severe, only requiring time to heal."
"Now, with the aid of the Qi Cloud Elixir, not only have my wounds healed, but my cultivation has also returned to the late Great Ascension stage."
Setting down the cup, his voice carried a note of lighthearted reassurance:
"I expect to attempt the Heavenly Tribulation again within thirty years."
"At this pace, it may be centuries before another surpasses it."
Xu Wanci blinked in mild surprise at the faint amusement in his tone.
"I hadn't thought the Buddhist Master would care for such things."
Bai Zhou's expression remained serene and unguarded.
"Though I have walked the Buddhist path for many years, I remain but a mortal at heart."
"Such accolades may be meaningless, yet they bring a certain... satisfaction."
Xu Wanci was momentarily speechless before smiling wryly.
"You jest, Buddhist Master."
"It was you who, despite grave injury, subdued the Demon Lord when none in the cultivation world could stand against him, granting us these thirty years of peace."
"And not long ago, you emerged from seclusion while still wounded to..."
She trailed off, but the unspoken words hung clearly between them.
She was well aware of her own selfishness—everything she did was for herself, to ensure her survival, to make herself stronger.
That was why she gambled with her life time and again, why she took risks repeatedly.
For someone like Bai Zhou, who would sacrifice himself to save others, she held deep respect.
Especially when the person being saved was her.
Even if she didn’t need it, she would still remember it in her heart.
Lowering her eyes, she said softly, "You didn’t have to bear this, did you?"
Sunlight pierced through the clouds at some point, spilling once more into the small courtyard.
Bai Zhou shook his head. Turning around, he poured Xu Wanci a cup of tea:
"Cultivation is also cultivation of the heart."
"What this humble monk does may seem like saving all beings, but in truth, it’s only to seek peace of mind."
"Thirty years ago, if the cultivation world had been in turmoil, even this monk would not have escaped unscathed."
"If something had truly happened to Benefactor Xu back then, this monk would never have found peace."
"Today is no different."
He shifted slightly, evading the sunlight that seemed to follow him like a shadow. With a wave of his hand, a jade box radiating solemn Buddhist energy appeared on the dark jade table.
"This is a token of gratitude prepared by this monk for Benefactor Xu, for the sake of my own peace of mind."
Xu Wanci glanced at the short blade glowing with Buddhist light inside the box but didn’t inquire further. Without hesitation, she refused:
"If not for me, the Buddhist Master would never have been severely injured to the point of regressing in cultivation. A single Qiyun Pill is far from enough to compensate for your wounds that day."
Bai Zhou waited for her to finish with a light chuckle, then replied unhurriedly:
"This is the Demon-Slaying Blade."
"Though it’s a rare treasure, it can only be used against those of the demon realm. Its limitations are many, and sometimes it’s hard to even find someone worthy of gifting it to. So, it’s not as precious as it seems."
"If Benefactor Xu refuses, this monk may have no choice but to impose on your sect for a few more days, coming daily to chant sutras for your blessings—all to ease my conscience."
Xu Wanci’s words of refusal were stifled by what sounded like a perfectly reasonable threat.
She had received too little kindness in her life. Faced with such goodwill, she felt gratitude but didn’t know how to respond.
After a moment of silence, under Bai Zhou’s expectant gaze, she accepted the jade box:
"My thanks to the Buddhist Master for this gift."
Bai Zhou seemed to have anticipated her answer. Watching the dense, nearly tangible Heavenly Dao energy swirling around her hand as she touched the box, his eyes softened slightly:
"Benefactor Xu is blessed by the heavens. It’s unlikely you’ll encounter such peril again. The Demon-Slaying Blade is merely an added boon."
"There’s no need for Benefactor Xu to dwell on it."
"Blessed by the heavens?" Xu Wanci seemed to think of something. Lowering her lashes, she concealed all emotion in her voice, speaking flatly, "Not necessarily."
"If I truly were, it should have granted my deepest wish."
Bai Zhou’s gaze held the sorrow of one who understood the suffering of all living beings.
He knew the meaning behind her words, yet he remained powerless.
The myriad pains of the world, when placed upon any individual, could only be met with the same hollow consolation.
"Benefactor Xu, please accept my condolences."
Xu Wanci appeared long accustomed to such platitudes. Her expression remained calm, so still it revealed not a ripple of emotion.
She had grown used to this performance before others, so accustomed that instinct alone told her how to respond, how best to steer the conversation away.
But—
Perhaps it was because she had seen Immortal Venerable Qingyan’s true face in the demon realm, stripping away her former ignorance and fear of him;
Perhaps it was because she knew no one would doubt her lies now, no one would question the truth in her words;
Or perhaps it was simply that the name "Immortal Venerable Qingyan" had aided her too much, stirring an irrepressible curiosity within her.
Xu Wanci didn’t look at Bai Zhou. Instead, she raised her eyes to the pale blue sky and asked softly:
"Is he… truly so stern?"
Bai Zhou sensed the heavy yet strangely gentle Heavenly Dao energy around her and hesitated before answering:
"Less stern than distant."
"With talent and power as vast as the heavens, there is no one in this world worthy of the Immortal Venerable’s regard."
"To him, mortal beings are little more than ants beneath his feet."
"How can one call it sternness when there is no care to begin with?"
Xu Wanci recalled the aloof, formidable figure from the memory stone and forcibly suppressed the tremor in her heart.
Reason clamped down on all emotion once more. She knew she had to react appropriately, to move past this topic.
With a faint note of resignation, she murmured:
"I see."
Lowering her head, her voice carried both nostalgia and helplessness: "I thought he…"
Pressing her lips together, she spoke as if to herself:
"His smile was so beautiful. Why must he…"
Why must he never smile?
The rest of her words dissolved into silence, leaving only a lingering desolation.
High above in the heavens, the Heavenly Dao energy gathered in Xiao Yuyan’s hands dissipated into nothingness.
He had known this truth long ago, yet hearing it confirmed again and again from Xu Wanci’s lips was another matter.
The one she loved above all, the one she would sacrifice everything for—was only "him."
All others, whether Yan Shuo, Bai Zhou, or even himself, were nothing more than passing figures in her life.
A mirror formed of Heavenly Dao energy materialized before him.
Xiao Yuyan gazed silently at his reflection.
The corners of his lips lifted slowly. In his eyes, the laws of existence and the myriad things of the world flickered briefly before fading back into indifference.
Abruptly, he closed his eyes. The mirror shattered into fragments.
The shards melted into the void, stirring chaos—yet not a single one touched the delicate rain-summoning blossom woven from spiritual energy at his side.
