Watching the Mountain

After Yue Qingyu left, Ye Shu looked at Xu Ran, who was standing there silently. He stepped forward, gave a slight bow, and said,

”Uncle Xu, I’m sorry. Since the Sect Leader has spoken, I can’t lend you the sword.”

Xu Ran snapped out of his daze and looked at him in silence. After a moment, he waved his hand and said,

”We’ll let it slide this time. But Ye Shu, I want you to remember that *I* am your uncle. If I come to you to borrow the sword in the future, you must lend it to me, even if the Sect Leader objects. If I insist, you have to give it to me. Got it?”

”But...” Ye Shu immediately hesitated, wringing his hands anxiously.

”What? Do my words no longer carry any weight with you?” Xu Ran narrowed his eyes, his tone turning serious.

Ye Shu met his gaze and hesitated for a moment before speaking with utter sincerity.

”If it really comes to that, it must be a time of extreme danger. I... I don’t want to see anything happen to you, Uncle Xu.”

Xu Ran’s expression faltered. ’This kid, Ye Shu, is nothing like Ye Shan or the Little Witch, Ye Qingxue,’ he thought. ’He’s always been thoughtful and meticulous. His reactions might be a little slow, but that’s only because he takes everything so seriously.’

And it was this earnestness that made his words ring with such sincerity.

Hearing Ye Shu’s words, Xu Ran was taken aback. The scene was particularly odd: Ye Shu looked like a white-haired old man, while Xu Ran still appeared to be in his twenties. Yet it was the old man calling the young one ”Uncle.”

After a moment, Xu Ran slowly shook his head and said to Ye Shu,

”Don’t you worry. I value my life a great deal. I may not have many other talents, but I’m very confident in my ability to stay alive.”

”So, if I come to you for the sword in the future, don’t hesitate, no matter who objects.”

”But...” After a moment’s hesitation at Xu Ran’s words, Ye Shu nodded and replied with great seriousness,

”I’ll remember that.”

A smile spread across Xu Ran’s face. He was about to reach out, pat Ye Shu on the head, and praise him, ’Good kid.’

But upon seeing Ye Shu’s ancient, white-haired face, he retracted his half-raised hand, clasped it behind his back, and gave a faint nod. ”Good. Just remember it.”

Just as the uncle and nephew finished their talk and Xu Ran was about to tell Ye Shu to hide back inside his Cave Mansion, Zhang Zhentian’s figure suddenly materialized.

The moment Zhang Zhentian appeared and saw Ye Shu, he said in a frantic rush,

”Ye Shu, let me borrow your father’s sword! Quick, quick! Today, I, the Evergreen Sword Saint, will cut down a Daoist Monarch!”

Both Ye Shu and Xu Ran paled at Zhang Zhentian’s words. Ye Shu immediately looked to Xu Ran, his eyes asking for guidance.

Seeing his reaction, Zhang Zhentian said impatiently, ”I’m asking *you* for the sword. Why are you looking at my Senior Brother?”

Ye Shu raised a hand and formed a Dao Seal toward Zhang Zhentian. ”With my parents absent,” he stated methodically, ”Uncle Xu is my elder. I listen to him.”

”You—can’t you think for yourself for once?” Zhang Zhentian sputtered, completely exasperated.

The whole reason he was in such a rush was to get his hands on the sword before his Senior Brother could react. He had a feeling Xu Ran would definitely try to stop him.

And sure enough, just as Zhang Zhentian had predicted, Xu Ran collected himself and fixed him with a solemn stare before speaking slowly.

”Slay someone at Divinity Transformation? Junior Brother, since when have you become so arrogant?”

Zhang Zhentian had completely lost his usual composure. He was acting just like the bratty kid Xu Ran had first met in the Instructor Hall.

Hearing Xu Ran, Zhang Zhentian scratched his head, a little embarrassed. ”Well, Senior Brother,” he said,

”I know I can’t do it on my own, but we still have Senior Brother Ye Shan’s sword, right?”

”With my title as the Evergreen Sword Saint and the sword once wielded by Sword Dao Ye Shan, it’s not impossible to cross a major Realm and challenge a Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarch.”

Zhang Zhentian said it with a casual air, but Xu Ran could tell from his reaction just how little confidence he actually had.

’If he were truly that confident, why would he be acting like such a brat? It’s clearly because he’s not sure of himself and is afraid I’ll stop him.’

Xu Ran stared intently at Zhang Zhentian. Just as Zhang Zhentian was about to look away, unable to bear the scrutiny, Xu Ran finally spoke.

”Senior Sister Yue said she would intervene. Do you think she can repel the Wuya Daoist Monarch?”

”Well...” A hesitant look crossed Zhang Zhentian’s face. After a long pause, he said uncertainly,

”No one really knows how strong Senior Sister Yue is, but... her Cultivation is a bit lower than mine.”

”The gap between Nascent Soul and Divinity Transformation is immense.”

Xu Ran nodded slightly. He understood what Zhang Zhentian meant—he wasn’t optimistic about Senior Sister Yue’s chances, either.

He frowned, and after a moment of thought, he turned to Ye Shu. ”Ye Shu, give him the sword.”

Ye Shu nodded, and with a flip of his hand, the longsword appeared.

Zhang Zhentian’s face lit up. ”Thank you, Senior Brother!” he said hurriedly. ”Don’t worry. With this sword, I can definitely drive back the Wuya Daoist Monarch.”

But before the words were even out of his mouth, Xu Ran held up a hand.

”Not so fast,” he said. ”I’m letting you have the sword, but not so you can go fight the Wuya Daoist Monarch. You are to stay right here. Don’t go anywhere.”

”Then what am I supposed to do?” Zhang Zhentian asked, looking completely bewildered.

Xu Ran lifted his gaze toward the Wuya Daoist Monarch, who stood poised in the sky outside the main gate. After a long silence, he finally said,