Watching the Mountain

Chapter 290: Chapter 177: Lucky

This student of his had led the opposition against him in the Instructor Hall on Spirit Stream Peak as a youth. In middle age, he’d taken the initiative to apologize at the Scripture Pavilion. Later, after receiving his guidance on the principle of Bright Heart Illuminating Self, he had broken through to Foundation Establishment.

He had later been fortunate enough to break through to the Purple Mansion Stage and become an instructor in the Instructor Hall, essentially inheriting his own former position.

Now, he had become an ”old farmer,” wearing a bamboo hat and grinning at him.

Upon seeing Xu Ran, Li Tianhe was clearly stunned. It was a long moment before he raised his hands, bowed slightly, and spoke in a tone tinged with emotion:

”Teacher, you’re remarkably well-informed. I only just sensed that my time was near and told a few old friends. I was still debating whether to inform you, yet here you are.”

Xu Ran was shocked to hear this. ”Your time is near?”

He recalled that Li Tianhe shouldn’t even be five hundred years old yet. The lifespan for the Purple Mansion Stage was six hundred years; he ought to have over a century of life remaining.

Seeing Xu Ran’s reaction, Li Tianhe instantly realized he had misunderstood. His teacher didn’t know about his condition.

He explained, ”Before I took over as an instructor in the Instructor Hall, I injured my Dao Foundation during an outing, which shortened my lifespan.”

He finished and looked at Xu Ran, shaking his head with a smile. ”Teacher, just think about it. With my old temperament, even after accepting my own mediocrity, how could I have possibly endured the loneliness and stayed in the Instructor Hall to teach new disciples after my cultivation broke through to the Purple Mansion Stage?”

Xu Ran watched Li Tianhe in silence. It made sense. This student of his had been proud and arrogant in his youth, considering himself extraordinary. He was later beaten down by reality, unable to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage for the longest time, and only then did he accept his own ordinariness.

But Xu Ran would never believe that he had completely resigned himself to his fate, especially not after breaking through to the Purple Mansion Stage.

Now, hearing Li Tianhe’s explanation, it all seemed much more plausible.

Li Tianhe wasn’t morose or listless just because his time was short. On the contrary, he appeared perfectly calm, having clearly come to terms with it.

In a situation like this, where one’s lifespan has been cut short by severe damage to the Dao Foundation, even life-extending Elixirs or Spiritual Objects would have little effect. Even if they could prolong his life slightly, with no path forward in cultivation, he wouldn’t live much longer anyway.

All one could do was accept it.

It was just like Xiaoque’Er’s situation back then.

After a moment of silence, Xu Ran looked at Li Tianhe and asked, ”Why did you hesitate to tell me?”

After being humbled by reality and accepting his ordinary life, Li Tianhe had started a family and had a talented child. That child was later severely wounded on the New Domain Battlefield, and it was only thanks to Xu Ran’s Life Creation Pill that his life was saved.

It was precisely because of what happened to his child that he had thoroughly accepted reality, no longer pursuing fame and fortune, wishing only to live out the rest of his life in peace.

His child, just like him, had suffered severe damage to his Dao Foundation and a shortened lifespan. He, too, did not have long to live.

Now, he had a grandson. What was even more surprising was that this grandson’s talent was even more extraordinary, far surpassing his expectations.

Not only had the boy’s cultivation reached the Foundation Establishment Stage at a young age, but he had also been fortunate enough to obtain the legacy of an Ancient Body Cultivator during his travels.

The Li Tianhe of the past, upon having such a gifted descendant, would have flaunted him everywhere, wishing the entire world knew of his talent.

But after all he had been through, he no longer had the heart for it. He only hoped his grandson could live a peaceful and safe life. The path of a chosen genius was far too perilous, not something people like them could endure.

Xu Ran glanced at him, somewhat surprised, but not because his grandson had obtained the legacy of an Ancient Body Cultivator.

Body Cultivators were not uncommon in the Cultivation Realm. The various schools and systems within the Cultivation Realm were plentiful; though their paths differed, they all led to the same end. It was nothing to be surprised about.

He was surprised by Li Tianhe’s attitude. To think he had truly changed so completely, that even with such an extraordinarily talented descendant, all he wanted was a quiet life.

Upon hearing Li Tianhe’s words, Xu Ran instantly understood the source of his hesitation.

It wasn’t about whether to tell him that his time was near. It was about his grandson.

If he told Xu Ran about his impending death, he would inevitably have to bring up his grandson.

After a moment of silence, he looked at Li Tianhe and asked, ”What is your grandson’s name?”

Li Tianhe froze for a second. After a moment’s hesitation, he replied:

”Shaobai. Li Shaobai.”

Xu Ran nodded slightly, his expression calm as he replied, ”I’ll remember it.”

He made no promises, offering only that single sentence.

Hearing this, Li Tianhe seemed to let go of a heavy burden. He let out a long sigh and then bowed solemnly to Xu Ran.

He didn’t say anything more either. He knew that his teacher’s words were enough.

After a simple dinner at Li Tianhe’s home, he offered Xu Ran a cup of tea and said with a placid smile:

”Teacher, back when you were an instructor at the Instructor Hall, I was the one who led the opposition against you. Now, as my time comes to an end, you are the one who has come to see me. Wouldn’t you say we share a rather ill-fated connection as teacher and student?”

Xu Ran mulled it over for a moment before shaking his head and saying with a smile, ”No. To be honest, I had long forgotten about you. You were the one who approached me to apologize. And since you can’t exactly turn away someone with a smile on their face, my hands were tied.”

Li Tianhe was taken aback for a second, then joined in the laughter. ”If that’s the case, then I believe approaching you in the Scripture Pavilion to admit my mistake was the best decision I ever made in my life.”

Xu Ran looked at him. ”You really think so?”

Li Tianhe nodded with absolute certainty. ”Of course. Otherwise, wouldn’t I have missed out on meeting such a kind and caring teacher?”

”Teacher, I was very lucky to have met you.”

*

*

*

Li Tianhe had been telling the truth about his time being near. He passed away a few days later. On the day of his passing, Xu Ran also met his grandson, Li Shaobai.

He was a slender youth with delicate features, someone you would have a hard time associating with a Body Cultivator.

Xu Ran didn’t speak much with Li Shaobai. Li Tianhe hadn’t been entrusting the boy to his care; he only hoped that if his grandson ever faced a calamity in the future, Xu Ran might look out for him.

Just as he had said, he had no great expectations for his grandson, Li Shaobai. He didn’t need him to shake the heavens and earth; he only wished for him to live out his life in peace.

After bidding farewell to Li Tianhe, Xu Ran also went to check on the progress of Shen Wuchen’s disciple, Lu Mingchen. Seeing that his training was proceeding in earnest and that Lu Mingchen’s cultivation was progressing smoothly, he departed.

However, Senior Sister Yue sent him a message saying that a young disciple with an extraordinary talent for being a Spirit Plant Master had recently appeared on Spirit Stream Peak.

The people on Spirit Stream Peak were currently vexed over how best to nurture this Spirit Plant Master.

Senior Sister Yue’s message was to ask if he wanted to take a look at the disciple, perhaps to take them on as his own or to help with their development.

She made no demands, saying only that it was entirely up to Xu Ran.