Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1212: Chapter 1214: The National Master’s Last Wish_1

”What’s this?” Bai Ruozhu was startled. Had some important figure passed away?

Finally, the Funeral Bell stopped, and Jiang Yichun’s face was grave as he said, ”In Danliang Country, the Funeral Bell tolling nine times represents the Emperor, six times for a Prince or a high official...”

”It was six tolls just now.” Bai Ruozhu said anxiously, an image already forming in her mind as she began to guess the outcome.

At that moment, Jianqi hurried over and bowed to the two of them, saying, ”Master, Young Master, the Palace has sounded the Funeral Bell. The National Master has passed.”

Bai Ruozhu felt a pang in her heart. She closed her tired eyes. She had only met the National Master once and had never even spoken to him. He had suddenly said she was a ’purple Qi rising,’ the person to solve the prophecy, then he had left these ambiguous words behind.

But why did she feel so uncomfortable? Was it because the old man looked so desolate? Or was it because he had spent his life in divination, sacrificing himself for others?

She couldn’t quite pinpoint it, only that she felt uncomfortable.

”Ning Yu also helped us out before; let’s go to the Astrology Tower to have a look,” Jiang Yichun said.

Bai Ruozhu reopened her eyes, which were especially red as if they were strained, ”Okay, let’s go.”

The two of them took only Jianqi and three other guards, riding horses straight to the Astrology Tower. By the time they arrived, many people were already waiting outside the Astrology Tower. Even on the way, many civilians were heading towards the Astrology Tower—some in disbelief that the National Master had really gone, others to pay their respects.

The doors of the Astrology Tower were tightly closed. Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun did not rush forward. After a while, the door finally opened from the inside. A young boy with swollen eyes resembling walnuts, his voice choked, said, ”Before the National Master passed, he said that birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural. He wished for no one to grieve for him and to let him depart in peace.”

Having said his piece, the boy burst into a full cry, unable to control his emotions; he simply squatted down at the doorstep and wept.

The people outside began to tear up, and soon crying surrounded them. Bai Ruozhu too felt increasingly upset, her eyes inexplicably stinging. She reached up to touch them and was startled to find her fingertips wet; she was crying too.

In the midst of the sobbing, Ning Yu, clothed in hemp, walked out from the Astrology Tower. He looked around, then his gaze suddenly fell on Bai Ruozhu.

”Bai Ruozhu, come inside for a moment. My teacher has left something for you,” Ning Yu said.

All eyes turned towards Bai Ruozhu, filled with surprise and confusion. Why had the National Master left something for her before passing?

Faced with the gaze of so many, Bai Ruozhu should have been very cautious, but for some reason, she found herself walking towards him step by step.

”Lord Jiang, it’s not convenient for you to come in,” Ning Yu suddenly spoke, snapping Bai Ruozhu back to reality. She turned her head to see Ning Yu blocking Jiang Yichun from following.

She nodded at Jiang Yichun, ”It’s okay, I’ll be out shortly.”

Jiang Yichun had no choice but to halt, concern evident in his eyes.

She forced a smile to reassure him and then followed Ning Yu into the Astrology Tower.

Behind them, people began whispering among themselves. Some said Bai Ruozhu must have been an old friend of the National Master, while others speculated whether she might be the chosen successor. Others murmured rumors that Bai Ruozhu’s Medical Skills were taught by an Immortal; perhaps the National Master had become an Immortal and had some connection with Bai Ruozhu’s Immortal Teacher...

For a moment, Bai Ruozhu seemed shrouded in a mysterious aura.

Bai Ruozhu was not in the mood to pay attention to the voices behind her. She felt a complex array of emotions troubling her heart. Why was she sad, and why had the National Master left her something? Was it because she was the ”person who could untie the bell,” as the National Master had mentioned?

As she went in, she saw a coffin placed in the center of the Main Hall; inside, of course, lay the National Master. However, from where she stood, she couldn’t see inside the coffin.

”This is the letter my teacher left for you. Burn it after you read it; even I’m not allowed to know the contents,” Ning Yu’s voice was hoarse, and it was obvious he had been crying for a long time.

Bai Ruozhu took the letter and opened it. Ning Yu turned and walked away, then kneeled in front of the coffin. His action was natural, as if he had been kneeling like that before.

She turned her attention back to the letter, and the sight of it shocked her beyond belief—the National Master had actually figured out her true identity!

The National Master had written that he knew she came from another place and that he himself had once been there as well. He also mentioned they were fated to meet. Now that he was gone, his only concern was Ning Yu, whose thoughts were too simple. He hoped Bai Ruozhu would become his disciple and look after Ning Yu in the future.

Bai Ruozhu was astounded. What did he mean by ”he had also been there”? What did he mean by ”the two of them were fated to meet”?

She rushed over to the coffin, staggering due to her overwhelming emotions. Finally, when she arrived in front of the coffin, she could see the person lying inside.

”Is this the National Master?” Bai Ruozhu exclaimed.

”Yes, my teacher said that with his death, his sins would be atoned for, the backlash would disappear, and he would return to his original appearance,” Ning Yu said softly, his head bowed, failing to notice Bai Ruozhu’s distress.

Bai Ruozhu knelt down and began to sob uncontrollably. She now understood why she was sad and why she had felt such a strange sensation when she first saw the National Master. Previously disfigured by the backlash, the National Master had changed tremendously in appearance. Now that he returned to his usual look, she finally recognized him!

He was her mentor in Chinese Medicine when she studied in the United States—an ethnic Chinese professor. Although their relationship wasn’t a close friendship due to their age difference, the professor had provided her with considerable help and kindness over the years, and she even considered him like her own grandfather.

The National Master said he had also been there; undoubtedly, he was the professor!

”Master, accept your disciple’s bow!” Bai Ruozhu suddenly shouted, then ceremoniously kowtowed three times.

He had been her teacher; there was no reason she couldn’t become his disciple. He had shown her kindness in the past; what harm was there in helping to look after his disciple in his absence?

No wonder the National Master’s eyes had lit up with recognition the first time he saw her. He knew who she was instantly, but with the emperor present and the chaos, he couldn’t acknowledge her.

Regrettably, they didn’t even get to exchange more than a few words before he passed away.

Ning Yu, looking astonished, watched Bai Ruozhu for a while before asking, ”Is this the dying wish of my teacher?”

”The National Master had been kind to me in a past life. He wished for me to become his disciple and to look after you in the future,” Bai Ruozhu said evenly.

Ning Yu nodded, not harboring any doubts, ”No wonder my teacher entrusted me to take care of a ’younger sister’ before he passed. I wondered where such a sister could be from, turns out it was you.”

Upon hearing that the National Master had even instructed Ning Yu to look after her, Bai Ruozhu’s tears started to fall uncontrollably again. She didn’t know how the National Master had traveled to the modern era, whether it was someone from the modern world who had transmigrated here or someone from ancient times who had gone to the modern world and then returned. Perhaps this was a mystery that would never be solved, but she knew that the National Master truly regarded her as his disciple and kin.