Watching the Mountain

Chapter 32: Chapter 27: Attachment

Chen Chang’an took a few steps, then waved his hand, sending a small Bamboo Blade flying accurately into Xu Ran’s hand.

With his back to Xu Ran, he said, ”For the past ten years in seclusion, I’ve been constantly thinking about that sword strike Ye Shan never used.”

”I’ve tried to imagine that strike based on my own ideas. I’ve only just barely reached the threshold of a genius, a far cry from a peerless talent like Ye Shan, so naturally, it’s not nearly as stunning as his would be.

But regardless, it’s the fruit of my ten years of hard work. I originally wanted to show it to him, but seeing him in his current state... it’s better not to.”

”I heard your conversation just now. After I achieve Golden Core, I will be going to the Evil Demon Battlefield. That talented junior brother you mentioned—I’ll protect him.”

”You can keep this Bamboo Blade for now. If, one day in the future, you feel it’s right to give it to him, please pass it on for me. Let him see how far my blade strike is from his sword strike.”

”If... that day never comes, then just forget it. You can do what you will with it.”

Xu Ran picked up the Bamboo Blade and examined it closely. It looked extremely ordinary; it felt like anyone could have carved a better one. On it, the single word ”Blade” was carved neatly.

The carving wasn’t very good, looking as if it had been done by someone who had just learned to write. Aside from being neat, it had no other commendable features.

However, from the traces left on it, he could tell that the person who whittled this Bamboo Blade and carved the word had been extremely dedicated and exceptionally serious.

Beyond that, he couldn’t see anything special. It was just a very ordinary Bamboo Blade.

Xu Ran carefully put the Bamboo Blade away, then frowned as he recalled Ye Shan’s earlier words in his mind.

Chen Chang’an had said that Ye Shan didn’t do things without reason. His deliberate visit to him must have had a deeper meaning.

Xu Ran thought it over and over, and could only come to one conclusion: someone was trying to harm him. That must have been the message Ye Shan wanted to convey.

Because when he carefully thought back, Ye Shan had only shown a different kind of emotion when his status as a Spirit Plant Master was mentioned.

’But if that’s true, why didn’t he just tell me directly?’

’It’s not like anyone in the Sect is watching him, right? Could there be some other reason?’

Xu Ran pondered for a long time but couldn’t make any headway, so he decided to put it aside for now.

Regardless of whether his guess was correct, since the possibility existed, he couldn’t just ignore it.

So, he took out his Communication Jade Talisman and sent a message to both Yue Qingyu and the Spirit Stream Peak Master: ”I feel like someone is trying to harm me.”

It was just that one simple line, nothing more.

A moment later, Yue Qingyu replied. Her message was also simple and direct, ”I will investigate.”

Next, the Spirit Stream Peak Master also replied, his message full of concern, asking what had happened, where he was, what kind of trouble he’d encountered, and so on. His words were filled with genuine care.

However, after Xu Ran replied that nothing had happened and it was just a feeling, the Peak Master took a while to respond. He said that a Cultivator’s intuition is usually very accurate and that Xu Ran must be careful. He told him to find him anytime he ran into trouble and added that he would order his subordinates to increase their vigilance during this period and report any situations immediately.

Seeing the Peak Master’s reply, Xu Ran felt a warmth in his heart. The man truly was a very responsible Peak Master.

After handling the matter, Xu Ran didn’t linger any longer.

When he returned to his Cave Mansion, however, he saw a sturdy-looking boy standing anxiously and dejectedly at his entrance.

Upon seeing him return, the boy ducked his head, his voice trembling slightly as he asked, ”Excuse me, are you Senior Brother Xu Ran?”

’He’s looking for me?’

Xu Ran nodded in confusion. ”I am. And you are, Junior Brother? Is there something you need?”

The boy shook his head. ”Senior Brother, my name is Wang Xiaohu. I’m looking for Elder Qing Xuan, but I heard he isn’t at the Instructor Hall recently. I couldn’t find him, and when I asked some other senior brothers, they recommended I come find you. Senior Brother, can you take me to see Elder Qing Xuan?”

Looking at Wang Xiaohu, with his head ducked and his nervous expression, Xu Ran instantly guessed why he was looking for Qing Xuan Master.

”Were you bullied?”

Wang Xiaohu nodded vigorously at his words.

”Can you tell me about it? If it’s not something too serious, perhaps I can help you as well.”

Xu Ran wasn’t the type to go looking for trouble to right wrongs, but he figured that with Qing Xuan Master’s child about to be born, it wasn’t a good time to disturb him, which was why he offered to help.

Hearing his words, Wang Xiaohu’s face first lit up with joy, but then he shook his head forcefully. ”If it’s possible, I’d still like to trouble Senior Brother to take me to Elder Qing Xuan.”

Xu Ran nodded slightly at his response, not at all angry. He could roughly understand Wang Xiaohu’s thinking. To put it bluntly, the boy didn’t trust him. After all, he didn’t have the same reputation and prestige as Qing Xuan Master, whom anyone suffering an injustice could seek out.

So, he nodded at Wang Xiaohu and said, ”In that case, I’ll take you to him.”

Hearing this, Wang Xiaohu was moved to tears and gave him a deep, formal bow.

Xu Ran didn’t stop him. ’If I don’t let him do this, he’ll surely feel even more anxious and uneasy.’

Only after they met with Qing Xuan Master did Wang Xiaohu finally tell his story.

It turned out his father had been gravely injured and needed treatment. He had spent several days and gone through immense hardship to finally dig up a Thousand-year-old Blood Spirit Ginseng.

But as luck would have it, he was spotted by one of the Sect’s rich brats—the grandson of a Golden Core Elder. The other party used his status to forcibly buy the Thousand-year-old Blood Spirit Ginseng at an extremely low price.

He went to the Law Enforcement Hall, but the people there said that since he had accepted the other party’s Spirit Stones, it was considered a normal transaction, not robbery. They couldn’t help him get the Spirit Ginseng back. Only later did he find out that the Golden Core Elder in question served in the Law Enforcement Hall.

Later, Wang Xiaohu heard about Qing Xuan Master’s deeds from a senior brother, which is what gave him the idea to seek him out.

After listening to Wang Xiaohu’s story, Qing Xuan Master’s face darkened, his brows filled with fury. From the look of him, it seemed he was about to explode at any moment.

But just then, he turned his head and glanced at the room behind him. His expression immediately softened, and his gaze became incredibly gentle.

He then beckoned to Wang Xiaohu and said, ”I understand the situation. Please wait outside for a moment.”

At these words, Wang Xiaohu’s face turned pale, his eyes filling with despair and unease.

’That makes sense. No matter how good Qing Xuan Master’s reputation is, he probably isn’t willing to offend a Golden Core Elder from the Law Enforcement Hall for my sake.’

Qing Xuan Master saw Wang Xiaohu’s reaction and said, ”Don’t be in a hurry to leave. I will see that justice is done for you.”

Wang Xiaohu snapped his head up, the despair in his eyes vanishing as he stared at Qing Xuan Master in disbelief.

Qing Xuan Master nodded at him. ”Rest assured.”

Seeing this, Wang Xiaohu gave him a respectful bow before finally backing out of the room.

After Wang Xiaohu had left, Qing Xuan Master suddenly let out a long sigh, a complex expression on his face.

Seeing this, Xu Ran asked with concern, ”Elder, what’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

Hearing his question, Qing Xuan Master raised his head slightly, sighed softly, and spoke slowly, ”Xu Ran, how far do you think the justice in my heart can go?”

Xu Ran was taken aback. He couldn’t understand why he would suddenly ask such a question. Since he had joined the Sect, Qing Xuan Master was the first person to treat him as an equal. The man had always acted according to his own convictions, never showing any bias.

In his eyes, Qing Xuan Master was someone who truly adhered to his own path and would never change.

”A very long way, of course.”

Hearing Xu Ran’s answer, Qing Xuan Master shook his head, his tone complex as he said:

”Before, I was all alone in this world. But it’s different now. Now, I have someone to care for.”

As he spoke, he once again turned to look at the room behind him, his eyes exceptionally gentle. Inside was the person he now cared for.

”In the future, when I encounter injustice, I might still be able to stand up and defend the justice in my heart. But I understand very well that ever since I’ve had this attachment, I can no longer go all-out like I used to.”

”If it comes to certain moments, perhaps... I too will choose to compromise.”

”Tell me, in a situation like this, can my justice truly endure?”

Qing Xuan Master’s eyelids drooped, his gaze filled with confusion.

Seeing his expression, Xu Ran felt a little dazed. He had always thought that among all the people he had met, Qing Xuan Master was the one who knew most clearly what he wanted. The man had always acted according to his own heart.

But seeing him now, Xu Ran suddenly realized that even someone like Qing Xuan Master could feel lost.

Just as he had said, he was no longer alone; his heart was now tied to another.

And so, faced with this question, Xu Ran had no answer.