Su Baiyi remained silent for a long time before recovering from the shock. He slowly said, “Second sister-in-law said that the city lord of Jimo also encountered someone who cultivated the Immortals’ Book. The world’s best swordsman couldn’t even withstand ten moves from that person. Could the opponent you mentioned, sir, be the same person? Was this person the target of the Weilong Alliance back then?”
Dongfang Xiaoyue neither agreed nor disagreed, but said softly, “Legend has it that there were once five immortal mountains in the world, named Daiyu, Yuanjiao, Fanghu, Yingzhou, and Penglai. According to ancient books, each mountain was thirty thousand miles in circumference, with a flat top nine thousand miles wide. The mountains were seventy thousand miles apart, yet considered neighbors. The pavilions and terraces on top were made of gold and jade, and the birds and beasts were all pure white. Trees of pearls and jade grew in clusters, their flowers and fruits were delicious, and eating them granted eternal life. The inhabitants were all immortal beings, flying back and forth day and night, too numerous to count. However, the five mountains had no roots and constantly drifted with the tides. Eventually, two mountains drifted away, disappearing without a trace, leaving only Fanghu, Yingzhou, and Penglai. But these three mountains also remain elusive, with no one knowing their location…”
Su Baiyi was puzzled, “What exactly do you mean, Confucian Sage?”
“Some things are better learned gradually. Su Baiyi, your background is extraordinary, but in my eyes, all beings in the world are the same. Don’t let your master’s teachings down.” Dongfang Xiaoyue walked towards the door.
Mo Bai hurriedly called out, “Are you leaving, sir?”
“Yes. An old friend has arrived, and I must go greet them.” Dongfang Xiaoyue stepped out the door. “The minor matters at Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm can be left to you youngsters to resolve. As for the more significant matters, well, those are for us adults to handle.”
Ten miles away, by the shores of Bibo Lake, a man wearing a bamboo hat stopped in his tracks, turned slightly, and said in a low voice, “As expected of Confucian Sage. I’ve concealed my aura as much as possible, yet he still sensed me.” He didn’t attempt to flee, but calmly stood his ground. After a short while, a man walked across the lake’s surface and arrived before him.
“Bai Jile, master of the White Paradise, it’s been a long time. You haven’t aged a bit,” Dongfang Xiaoyue said with a smile.
The man took off his bamboo hat, revealing a pale and handsome face. “Confucian Sage, have you achieved rejuvenation?”
“Hahaha, if anyone else said that, it would be fine, but you, Master Bai, were there too.” Dongfang Xiaoyue slightly raised a palm, and the previously calm lake behind him suddenly started swirling. “Why do you mock me like this?”
Bai Jile said solemnly, “I thought that Confucian Sage’s return from seclusion meant you had healed the injuries inflicted by that person.”
“I may be the Confucian Sage, but my opponent was an immortal. The wounds he inflicted, I truly cannot heal. But even if I can’t heal them, I can still fight. And let me tell you something, the 17-year-old me,” Dongfang Xiaoyue spread his hands, and the swirling lake behind him suddenly froze into a vast expanse of ice, “was the strongest me.”
Bai Jile frowned slightly. “I have no desire to be your enemy, Confucian Sage.”
Dongfang Xiaoyue smiled and said, “Then, Master Bai, would you mind stopping here?”
Moran Manor.
After Dongfang Xiaoyue left, Jimo Huaxue suddenly came to the main hall. She glanced into the distance and asked, “Did the Confucian Sage say who he was going to meet?”
Su Baiyi, noticing the look in Jimo Huaxue’s eyes, had a bad feeling. “He said there were some major issues we couldn’t handle, so he went to deal with them for us.”
“Is that so?” Jimo Huaxue nodded.
“Second sister-in-law, can… can you go help the Confucian Sage?” Su Baiyi asked.
Jimo Huaxue shook her head. “No. I hate him.”
“Why?” Su Baiyi asked, puzzled.
“If he hadn’t sent that message to Yulou back then, Yulou wouldn’t have gone to Weilong Mountain. The Confucian Sage was Xi’er’s true master, and as long as he was alive, he shouldn’t have let Yulou take on that task.” Jimo Huaxue’s voice revealed a hint of anger. “Although I know he had no choice. At that time, he was recovering from his injuries and was at the most critical moment of his seclusion.”
Su Baiyi was taken aback. It turned out that Jimo Huaxue blamed the Confucian Sage for the death of his second senior brother, Nan Yulou. Did she also harbor resentment towards Nangong Xi’er, since his second senior brother died saving her? But when Jimo Huaxue met Nangong Xi’er a few days ago, her voice and attitude were so gentle. As if sensing his question, Jimo Huaxue continued, “As for Xi’er, she was just a child back then, the most innocent one. And Yulou loved her, so I will inherit his love for her. But now I must leave too. I cannot accompany you on the journey to Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm.”
The Confucian Sage just left, and now the Sword Immortal is leaving too. Su Baiyi panicked for a moment. “Second sister-in-law, where are you going?”
“I came here to meet an old friend who once helped me greatly. To repay this favor, I agreed to fight him once every three years.” Jimo Huaxue frowned slightly, looking at the courtyard wall.
“What kind of person could fight you every three years, Second Sister-in-law? Wouldn’t such a person be among the top-ranking experts on the Heavenly Martial Rankings?” Su Baiyi was even more surprised.
“He’s not on the Heavenly Martial Rankings. The list only includes righteous martial artists, but he’s a demonic cultivator,” Jimo Huaxue said faintly.
“What demonic cultivator? How dare you speak ill of me behind my back?” A booming voice echoed, making Su Baiyi and Mo Bai tremble. They walked to Jimo Huaxue’s side and looked outside. A burly figure stood on the courtyard wall, dressed in black and carrying a heavy long saber on his back, facing away from them.
“I knew you were here, so I said that on purpose,” Jimo Huaxue replied.
The burly man pointed behind him with a finger, “But I’m still facing away from you. Isn’t that speaking ill of me behind my back?”
“You’re still as annoying as ever,” Jimo Huaxue said, somewhat exasperated.
“You’re still as beautiful as ever,” the man’s voice held a hint of shamelessness.
“This is my friend’s manor. We can’t fight here, or you’ll destroy generations of his hard work.” Jimo Huaxue leaped over the wall and headed outside the manor. “Let’s find an open space.”
“A three-day and three-night battle!” The man, holding his giant saber, immediately followed her.
Watching the two leave, Su Baiyi was filled with questions. He asked his Senior Brother Mo Bai, “Senior Brother, who was that man with the giant saber?”
Mo Bai wiped the sweat from his face, but no sooner had he done so than cold sweat broke out again. He wiped his face once more and then turned to Su Baiyi with a question of his own, “Am I still alive?”
Su Baiyi found it somewhat amusing. “What’s wrong, Senior Brother?”
“I… I’m scared.” Mo Bai looked down at his trembling legs. “I envy you, blissfully unaware… You didn’t even know you almost died…”
Su Baiyi scratched his head. “Who was that guy just now? Is he really that scary?”
Mo Bai quickly raised a finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture. “Shh! Don’t let him hear you, or he might change his mind and come back. If he does, not a single soul in this manor would escape alive!”