Watching the Mountain

Chapter 43: Chapter 37: Fulfilling the Promise

Ever since Xu Ran gave his demonstration at the Instructor Hall, he had gained a measure of prestige there. No disciples dared to look down on him anymore, and his subsequent lectures went smoothly.

However, something happened today that left him deeply conflicted.

Xiyue had suddenly come to find him, telling him she had accepted a two-year mission to guard a mine and had come to say her farewells.

Xu Ran was shocked to hear about the mission. Without a second thought, he said:

”A young girl like you who’s only been cultivating for a short time, going off to guard some mine? Aren’t you just asking for trouble? It’s too dangerous. Absolutely not. I won’t allow it.”

Xiyue stared at him, utterly speechless. With a helpless tone, she said:

”What do you mean, ’young girl’? I’m already eighteen. Besides, it’s just a very small mine, and it’s still well within the Sect’s territory. The Cultivation requirement for the mission is only the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer or higher.

”A Cultivator like me at the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer is more than qualified. What danger could there possibly be?”

Xu Ran’s expression froze. He looked at Xiyue in a daze, and it suddenly dawned on him: the little girl with her hair in buns was now a young woman.

She no longer wore her hair in buns; instead, her dark locks draped over her shoulders. She wore an elegant, light-blue dress that complemented her graceful, tall figure.

She was already nearly as tall as he was.

Because she had always been by his side, Xu Ran had never noticed. Or perhaps he had, but he’d subconsciously ignored it, always thinking of her as that same little girl.

It wasn’t until she brought up leaving the Sect to undertake a mission on her own that he was struck by the realization that she was all grown up.

Hearing Xiyue’s words, Xu Ran looked conflicted. After a moment of silence, he spoke again:

”That’s still not acceptable. Haven’t you ever heard the saying? The safest places are often the most dangerous. The Cultivation Realm is turbulent these days. That mine you mentioned sounds completely unremarkable. The very fact that they assign Qi Refining Stage Cultivators to guard it means there’s never been any trouble, so the Sect doesn’t take its security seriously. It’s bound to be full of oversights.”

”In the current climate, a situation like that is exactly the kind of target that people with ulterior motives look for.”

The more he spoke, the more convinced he became of his own reasoning. A worried and vaguely uneasy expression appeared on his face as he continued:

”Taking this mission now is like jumping into a pit of fire, isn’t it? No, absolutely not. I can’t agree. If you’re that set on doing a mission, there are plenty here on Spirit Stream Peak. You could look after a Spirit Field or be an assistant in an Alchemy Room. If that’s not good enough, you could even take on some odd jobs on the other main peaks.”

Xiyue stared at him in silence for a long while, a helpless look on her delicate face. She opened her mouth, originally wanting to say, ’You’re my master, not my father.’

’All these years, you’ve taught me almost nothing about cultivation, but you’ve taken such meticulous care of me in every other aspect of my life. You’ve got our roles completely backward.’

But the words died on her lips. She still remembered what he had told her on the journey here, after leaving her mother: ”A master for a day is a father for life. A master is like a second father. You can lean on me and cry.”

So, strictly speaking, there wasn’t much of a difference. For all these years, he had indeed cared for her like a father.

After a moment of silence, she said slowly, ”I’m grown up now. I can take care of myself.”

”I’m not saying you can’t take care of yourself. I’m just saying that particular mission is too dangerous and you should pick a different one.”

”What danger can there be at a mine that’s inside the Sect’s territory?”

”I just told you! The safest places are often the most dangerous. It’s full of security risks.”

”This disciple’s mind is made up. I hope Master will grant my request.”

Xiyue cupped her fist and bowed to Xu Ran, then looked up at him with a resolute gaze.

Xu Ran’s expression faltered as he looked at Xiyue’s determined stance. After a long silence, he waved his hand dismissively and let out a long sigh. ”Fine. Go if you must.”

Hearing this, Xiyue gave him a slight bow before turning to leave.

Xu Ran watched her retreating figure, his fists clenched as he stood there in a daze. ’Of course I know I’ve confused the roles of master and father.’

’But in my heart, I never truly saw myself as her master. My role, as I saw it, was to fulfill Xiaoque’Er’s dying wish: to ensure she grew up healthy and safe.’

’I believe that’s what Xiaoque’Er wanted, too, when she entrusted Xiyue to me.’

’After all, Xiaoque’Er knew my capabilities. If she had truly wanted me to teach Xiyue powerful skills, she never would have left her in my care.’

’That’s why I never directly taught her any skills—I was afraid that if I did a poor job, I would fail to live up to the trust Xiaoque’Er placed in me.’

’Now, in the blink of an eye, she’s an adult. I suppose I’ve finally fulfilled my promise to Xiaoque’Er.’

At this thought, Xu Ran let out a soft breath. He then called out to Xiyue, who hadn’t gotten far, ”Wait.”

Xiyue turned back, a puzzled look on her face.

With a flick of his wrist, Xu Ran sent a Jade Scroll flying accurately into her hand. ”These are the Divine Techniques your mother left for you. You’re grown up now, so it’s time you had them. I hope you will study them diligently and not disappoint her final wish.”

Xiyue stared blankly at the Jade Scroll in her hand. After a long moment, she snapped back to her senses. With tears welling in her eyes, she gave him a deep bow. Without a word, she turned and hurried away.

*

*

*

After Xiyue left the Sect, Xu Ran found it difficult to adjust. Consequently, he rarely stayed in his Cave Mansion, instead spending his time wandering around Spirit Stream Peak.

One day, while strolling through the back hills of Spirit Stream Peak, he happened upon a handsome young man with sharp brows and bright eyes. The youth was sitting dazedly on a large, round boulder, a look of dejection on his face.

Xu Ran recognized him. It was none other than Shen Wuchen, the disciple with A+ Root Bone and D- Comprehension.

Seeing the crestfallen Shen Wuchen brought to mind the discussion Xu Ran had once had with one of the Elders.

Back then, they had been intensely curious about what would become of someone with A+ Root Bone but D- Comprehension. Would he turn out to be a genius, or a dud?

Now, it seemed they had their answer.

Five years had passed, and Shen Wuchen’s Cultivation was still stuck at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer. He simply could not break through the threshold to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer.

When he first began, he had been the fastest among his batch of disciples. In less than three months, his Cultivation had reached the Qi Cultivation Third Layer, and his peers hailed him as a prodigy.

Back then, he had been full of vigor and pride. He had subtly looked down on his peers, believing it was only a matter of time before he became a True Disciple and left them all in the dust. They were not people of the same world.

But after that, who would have thought that his Cultivation would stall completely, leaving him stuck at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer.

He had run into the same problem Xu Ran once had. The Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, also known as the Dao Hearing Realm, required a Cultivator to comprehend the Dao Rhyme between heaven and earth.

With his D- Comprehension, he was completely unable to grasp even a single trace of Dao Rhyme.

Now, five years later, many of those who had started at the same time had long since surpassed him. Their Cultivation had reached the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, or even the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer.

And he was still at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer.

The spark of his cultivation career had been extinguished before it ever had a chance to become a brilliant flame. He found this difficult to accept; it was a complete departure from the future he had once imagined for himself.

Xu Ran watched the dejected Shen Wuchen. After a moment of contemplation, he quietly approached and said slowly, ”Perhaps I can help you break through.”

At the sound of the voice, Shen Wuchen whipped his head around. He stared intently at Xu Ran for a moment before asking hesitantly, ”Ma-Master Xu, are you serious?”

Xu Ran gave a slight nod, but then his tone shifted. ”However,” he continued.

”However, you must think this through very carefully. Once you use my method, you will never again be able to fight against other Cultivators of the same Realm.”

”Because you will be the absolute weakest among them.”