Watching the Mountain

Chapter 394: Chapter 211: The Promise

Listening to the couple, Xu Ran and Chen Chang’an finally understood the reason for their argument.

Liu Yunge felt they should enter the Dust-covered state with their fellow Sect members—either at Zhao Wuyang’s Netherworld Sect or her own Creation Sect. She was fine with either option.

But Zhao Wuyang immediately refused. ”The Netherworld Sect is a Demon Sect. I wouldn’t even trust being Dust-covered with my own sect members.”

”Then come to our Creation Sect.”

”Me, a member of a Demon Sect, entering the Dust-covered state with you people from the Righteous Dao? How is that any different from suicide?”

”The whole world knows about our relationship! Our Sects have approved it, and they’re even cooperating right now.”

”That’s now. Who knows what the future holds? What if, during the Dao Concealment, the new leadership of your Sect decides we’re a disgrace and wants to eliminate us to avoid staining the Sect’s reputation?”

”That’s impossible! My Sect would never do something like that.”

”I’m sorry. I trust you, but I can’t trust your Sect.”

”But it’s even more dangerous to find our own place to enter the Dust-covered state! During the Dao Concealment, only the backing of a Sect can ensure no one breaks our seal. If we’re out on our own, there are no guarantees.”

Neither could persuade the other, so their original plan to enter the Dust-covered state had fallen apart. Since they couldn’t very well discuss the reason for their argument with their own elders, they had come to their friends, Xu Ran and Chen Chang’an, for an impartial opinion.

Xu Ran and Chen Chang’an looked at the bickering couple and then at each other, seeing the same helpless look in one another’s eyes.

”You didn’t discuss this before deciding to enter the Dust-covered state?” Chen Chang’an asked, a bewildered look on his face.

”Well...” The couple froze. Liu Yunge was the first to explain. ”I just assumed we’d do it with one of our Sects, so I never asked. The only question I thought we had was whose Sect to choose. I didn’t care if it was my Creation Sect or his Netherworld Sect, as long as I could be with Wuyang.”

As soon as she finished, Zhao Wuyang added his own explanation. ”And I thought, knowing me as she does, that she would understand I’d never want to enter the Dust-covered state with a group of people. I’ve already picked a location and have most of the defenses and contingencies in place.”

The moment he finished, Liu Yunge jumped in. ”If the Dao Concealment were short, I’d support your plan completely. But it will last for at least ten thousand years, maybe as long as thirty thousand! Over such a vast expanse of time, the risk of something going wrong is too great. There’s no guarantee the defenses and contingencies you’ve prepared can even last that long.”

”The only safe way is with the backing of a Sect. I thought you understood that, Wuyang.”

Zhao Wuyang opened his mouth to speak. ”I do understand the principle, but... I’m sorry. When it comes down to it, I’d rather trust myself than anyone else.”

”Can you believe him?” Liu Yunge pointed at Zhao Wuyang, looking at Xu Ran and Chen Chang’an with an exasperated expression.

Xu Ran and Chen Chang’an exchanged another glance. Both of them had valid points. The Dao Concealment would last for an incredibly long time; neither choice could guarantee absolute safety.

For that very reason, they couldn’t offer any advice.

”Alright, this is our problem. Let’s go back and discuss it ourselves. We shouldn’t put our friends in a difficult position.”

After a moment of silence, Zhao Wuyang saw the predicament he’d put Xu Ran and Chen Chang’an in. He softened his tone and turned to Liu Yunge.

”Well...” Liu Yunge glanced at Xu Ran and Chen Chang’an for a moment before taking a deep breath. ”Fine. We can continue this argument when we get back.”

Then, a smile spread across her face. ”But since we’re already here, let’s catch up with our friends before we head back.”

Hearing this, Zhao Wuyang smiled and nodded. ”Alright. Whatever you say.”

In just a few sentences, they were back to their usual affectionate selves.

This let Xu Ran and Chen Chang’an breathe a sigh of relief. They exchanged a smile.

The four of them then sat and chatted in Xu Ran’s courtyard. It had been a long time since they’d all gotten together, and they had much to talk about.

Mostly, Zhao Wuyang and Liu Yunge told the story of how they had gotten together by deceiving their own Sects, pretending to sacrifice their own happiness to create an opportunity for unity and cooperation between the Righteous and Demon Dao.

They also recounted their subsequent experiences, where they were ordered to tour the various Sects across the land and publicly display their affection.

The couple told their story with great enthusiasm, as if it was something they had been eager to share with their friends for a long time.

It made sense, though. After all the trouble they had gone through to finally be together openly, of course they would want to share their joy with their closest friends.

”When the Dao Concealment ends, a true golden age of the Great Dao will dawn upon the world. Then, we’ll be able to cultivate to Realms that are completely unattainable in the current era.”

A dreamy smile graced Liu Yunge’s face. ”Wuyang and I thought we might only ever reach the Divinity Transformation Stage in this lifetime, that our love would have to end after just ten thousand years. But once the future golden age of the Great Dao arrives, we’ll have the chance to reach the Daoist Venerable Realm, or perhaps even higher.”

Her eyes shone with blissful longing. ”That way, we can love each other for much, much longer.”

Beside her, Zhao Wuyang’s face held a similar look of longing.

Seeing this, Xu Ran and Chen Chang’an also smiled sincerely. They too hoped their friends’ happiness would last for a very long time.

The four of them chatted for the better part of the day before finally parting ways with promises to meet again in the future.

Just before they left, Liu Yunge pulled Xu Ran aside and placed a Jade Command Token in his hand.

”My master asked me to give this to you. He said that a single Infinite Creation Pill could never compare to the solution you provided for the world’s affliction, especially since we used your method to engineer the coming golden age of the Great Dao.”