Watching the Mountain

Chapter 305: Chapter 182: Parting Ways

After Chu Lingxiao went with Li Daoyi to apologize to the slandered disciple from the Profound Pure Sect, Xu Ran returned to his own Cave Mansion.

He wasn’t interested in watching Chu Lingxiao apologize, though he was quite curious how that ice-cold face of his would manage it.

But after some thought, he decided to let Chu Lingxiao save some face. ’After all, he’s a chosen genius, and he isn’t even from the Profound Pure Sect. Sometimes, knowing too much isn’t a good thing.’

To his surprise, however, Chu Lingxiao sought him out half a day after he returned to his Cave Mansion. And this time, he came alone.

Xu Ran couldn’t help the flicker of surprise in his eyes when he saw Chu Lingxiao standing ramrod straight before his Cave Mansion, like a bar of iron frozen solid.

”For you to come find me alone... I must admit, I’m a little surprised.”

Chu Lingxiao always had an ice-cold demeanor, but as a Chief Disciple from a Major Sect, his etiquette was impeccable.

He raised his hands, formed a Dao Seal toward Xu Ran, and bowed. ”I have some questions and was hoping Senior could provide some clarity. Would that be possible?”

Xu Ran gave a slight nod and gestured for him to enter the Cave Mansion. Only after they were seated across from each other and had taken a sip of Spirit Tea did he address the matter at hand, speaking slowly.

”What questions do you have? Let’s hear them.”

Chu Lingxiao cupped his fists at him and said, ”Senior, back when you were teaching us swordsmanship, I was thinking about the *Melting Snow* swordsmanship. Beyond the beauty of its Warm Spring Realm, which can sweep away all the gloom from one’s heart and surround a person in warmth, I faintly sensed some other emotions.”

”Oh?” Xu Ran let out a soft sound of surprise and couldn’t help but give Chu Lingxiao another look, then asked:

”What kind of emotions?”

Chu Lingxiao lowered his head slightly, and after a moment of contemplation, he slowly replied, ”It was like a sigh of regret, but also a reluctance to part, and a certain sense of release... I can’t describe it precisely. It was a very complex mix of emotions.”

After he finished, he fell silent for a moment before raising his head slightly to look at Xu Ran. He then asked:

”Senior, when you comprehended this Mental Realm... was it because someone important to you had passed away?”

After a moment of silence, Xu Ran nodded lightly and replied with a single word, ”Yes.”

Chu Lingxiao then asked, ”That person... it wasn’t a relative of yours, Senior, but a close friend?”

Xu Ran once again replied succinctly, ”Correct.”

Chu Lingxiao was silent for a good while before asking again, ”Senior, before your friend passed away, what did you do?”

He then added, ”For example, did you try everything you could to prevent his death, or anything like that?”

This time, it was Xu Ran who fell silent. A long while passed before he tilted his head back slightly, let out a soft sigh, and said:

”I did nothing. Or rather, there was nothing I could do.”

Chu Lingxiao was slightly taken aback. He stared at Xu Ran for a moment, then stood up, gave a slight bow, and said:

”Thank you for your guidance, Senior.”

With that, he gave a nod to Xu Ran and turned to leave.

Xu Ran watched his departing figure and sighed inwardly.

’So it’s true, then? The colder a person appears on the outside, the more sensitive and passionate they are on the inside?’

Images of Xiaoque’Er, Ye Shan, Ye Qingxue, and many other figures who had already passed on surfaced in his mind, and he shook his head.

’When they left, I truly did nothing. There was nothing I could do...’

It was precisely because the people around him left, one after another, that his resolve was strengthened.

’Live on, cultivate with all my might, until I reach the very end of the Dao...’

Although the matter of the Illusion Spirit Sect disciple slandering a Profound Pure Sect disciple had somewhat affected the cooperation between the two sects, it did not affect the relationship between Li Daoyi and Chu Lingxiao.

Thanks to their deliberate efforts, the relationship between the two sects was soon restored, as if the previous incident had never happened.

For the disciples of the Profound Pure Sect, their Chief Disciple’s stance on the matter was a source of great reassurance.

The Chief Disciple had said he would lead the Sect to glory, and this commitment had not been shaken by his personal feelings or private friendships.

He always remained firm in his goal, putting the Sect’s interests first at all times. This allowed everyone in the Sect, from top to bottom, to cooperate with the Illusion Spirit Sect without any reservations.

Perhaps because Luo Qianxue’s Jade Radiance Immortal Sect was set to relocate in several decades, the three of them had been gathering together frequently during this time.

It wasn’t just at the Profound Pure Sect, either. Li Daoyi would also visit the Illusion Spirit Sect or the Jade Radiance Immortal Sect, or they would go exploring Secret Realms, ancient ruins, and Cave Mansions.

As for Lu Mingchen, he would only get together with them when Chu Lingxiao and Luo Qianxue came to the Profound Pure Sect; he would absolutely never take a single step outside the Sect.

Luo Qianxue used to try and coax Lu Mingchen out, but now, seeing how hard he cultivated every day, she had given up.

The three of them could all sense Lu Mingchen’s diligence, as well as his anticipation for the expedition to the lands of the Demon Race thirty years from now. Seeing how desperately he trained, they too were inspired, and they began to cultivate with even greater effort than before.

This also caused their strength and Cultivation to improve rapidly.

Xu Ran, on the other hand, had paid much less attention to Li Daoyi and the other two in recent years. In addition to his own practice, he also had to study Teacher Qing Xuan’s Cultivation Technique. Each time he entered the sickened state, he would carefully experience and comprehend the feelings within, attempting to gain some new insight.

Unfortunately, nearly ten years had passed since Senior Sister Yue last attended the Eastern Domain conference. In just a few more months, she would have to attend again, yet he had still gained nothing.