Jinyue turned back to look and saw Kong Hou standing together with his disciple. Before he could say anything, Wang Su first canceled this plan: “Forget it.” The demonic cultivation world was making frequent small moves, so he needed to be extra cautious.

Guessing that Wang Su probably didn’t intend to reveal the opportunities surrounding Kong Hou, Jinyue breathed a sigh of relief—too much fame would not be a good thing for that young lady.

The fall of Hongyan Zhenren was an immense loss to the entire cultivation world. Female cultivators who usually dressed themselves up in elaborate finery all removed their colorful flowing immortal robes and changed into plain-colored dresses, putting away their pearl and jade ornaments as well.

Wang Su looked at these cultivators standing quietly outside the hall with sorrowful expressions, his own expression showing slight emotion.

Hongyan’s remains were placed in Liuguang Sect’s Hall of Heroic Spirits. This was the memorial hall where generations of Liuguang Sect’s ancestors rested after their fall. For Hongyan to sleep here showed the full extent of Liuguang Sect’s respect and sincerity.

The disciples of Yuexing Sect knelt outside the memorial hall dressed in plain clothes. There were no sounds of weeping, only wordless loneliness.

Wang Su’s arrival did not greatly change their emotions. They changed the direction they were kneeling to face and silently bowed to Wang Su.

“I have come… to bring Sect Master Hongyan home.” Wang Su stepped forward into the spirit platform and looked at Hongyan lying in the jade coffin, placing his hand on the coffin lid.

Kong Hou saw that Wang Su’s hand was trembling slightly, even though his expression showed no change and even his tone remained indifferent and emotionless. For some reason, wordless sadness welled up in her heart. She didn’t know if she felt sad for the fate of Yuexing Sect or for the life of Hongyan Zhenren.

She turned her head to look at the monks from Qingjing Temple standing not far away. These monks held their palms together in prayer, silently chanting rebirth sutras, their faces full of devotion and compassion.

Monk Yuanchen also wasn’t wearing his kasaya today. He stood at the very front of all the monks, fingering his prayer beads, his eyes like the vast ocean—seemingly calm, yet seemingly concealing infinite emotions.

Kong Hou thought that perhaps Monk Yuanchen’s heart was filled with sorrow.

The coffin lid gradually closed, and Hongyan Zhenren finally obtained her peace. Wang Su lit a stick of incense and bowed three times to the jade coffin: “Eight immortals, raise the coffin.”

Four men and four women, all outstanding disciples of Yuexing Sect, bent down to lift the jade coffin and shouted in unison: “We request the Sect Master’s return to the sect.”

“We request the Sect Master’s return to the sect!”

The green smoke from the incense circled above the great hall, winding around the jade coffin before finally dissipating in the air, as if Hongyan’s spirit had heard their call and come to their side.

“First step treads upon heaven and earth.”

The eight disciples lifted their feet and took the first step.

“Second step treads upon yin and yang.”

The second step.

“Third step gives birth to all things.”

…

After ten steps, the jade coffin was carried out of the hall. Wang Su summoned a jade boat adorned with pure white flowers, but each flower was lifelike. At a glance, this didn’t look like a spirit-receiving jade boat but more like a flower boat.

The jade coffin slowly floated onto the jade boat. Wang Su turned back to look at everyone: “Many thanks to all fellow Daoists for seeing us off. Farewell.”

“Respectfully sending Hongyan Zhenren back to her sect.” Kong Hou bowed deeply, and Huan Zong, standing shoulder to shoulder with her, similarly bent in salute.

Wang Su turned to look at her. His eyes shifted with various emotions, but in the end he only silently returned the bow before jumping onto the flying boat and standing beside the jade coffin.

“Kong Hou Xianzi.” A young female cultivator walked up to Kong Hou and curtsied to her. “Please take good care of yourself, Xianzi.”

Kong Hou recognized this young lady—she had seen her before. That day when she was strolling through Pei City with Huan Zong, she had seen this young lady sitting by the window on the second floor watching her. The other woman had willow-leaf eyebrows and starry eyes and was very beautiful, so seeing her again, Kong Hou recognized her at once: “You too, please take good care of yourself, Xianzi.”

Seeing that she still remembered her, Lianqiao’s face broke into a smile: “My name is Lianqiao, a disciple of Yuexing Sect. After today’s parting, I don’t know when I’ll have the chance to meet you again, Xianzi. Please take good care of yourself.”

Since coming to Liuguang Sect, she had always secretly observed this Kong Hou Xianzi. Every time she saw her laugh happily, she too seemed to be in a good mood. Taking the initiative to speak with Kong Hou in front of so many cultivators before departing was the most unconventional thing she had done in her life—perhaps the only unconventional thing.

“Though mountains are high and roads are far, please also take good care of yourself, Lianqiao Xianzi. The cultivation path is long—we will surely meet again.” Kong Hou saw this Yuexing Sect disciple’s cheeks turn slightly red with a flustered appearance. Though she didn’t know why the other woman had taken the initiative to speak with her, she still smiled as she watched her board the flying boat.

“Farewell.” Lianqiao bowed to Kong Hou. As the flying boat ascended into the clouds, she looked down at the layers of white clouds, the smile fading from her face.

They would never meet again. Her fate was special—traveling alone outside was equivalent to being excellent material for demonic cultivators to refine artifacts. Her master had fallen and passed away, and she was unwilling to become Zhongxi Zhenren’s sword attendant. Her only choice was to remain in the sect and become a tomb keeper.

Gently stroking the jade coffin, Lianqiao stared blankly into space.

“Do you regret it?” Wang Su looked at the young disciple his junior martial sister had specifically brought back from the mortal realm.

Lianqiao slowly shook her head: “This is already my best choice.”

Wang Su said nothing more. He clasped his hands behind his back, looking at the sun behind the cloud layer, and after a long while finally spoke: “After returning to the sect, Yuexing Sect will close its doors for one hundred years. Within these hundred years, we will no longer receive any outside guests.”

Yuexing Sect had already done what it should do. The rest was beyond their capability.

After seeing off Hongyan Zhenren, Liuguang Sect suddenly became quiet. The various sects departed one after another until only Yunhua Sect, still temporarily residing at Mingjian Peak, remained. In outsiders’ eyes, this was because Yunhua Sect and Liuguang Sect had a good relationship, so Liuguang Sect wanted to keep them a while longer. In reality, it was because Kong Hou had advanced in cultivation beyond her level, and Elder Qiushuang worried her mental state might be unstable, so she had her rest and recuperate for a period before setting out to return to Yunhua Sect.

Huan Zong used the reason that he could dual cultivate with Kong Hou through the harmony of heaven and earth to accompany Kong Hou in seclusion.

As an elder who didn’t like meddling in others’ affairs, Qiushuang turned a blind eye to the younger generation’s emotional matters. However, she clearly underestimated Jinyue’s enthusiasm. Within two days, Jinyue had invited her over under the pretext of tasting tea and discussing the Dao.

After meeting Qiushuang Zhenren, Jinyue was extremely courteous, talking about heaven and earth for ages without getting to the main point. Qiushuang couldn’t bear it any longer and said directly: “Since when did you sword cultivators pick up the habit of being wishy-washy? If you have something to say, just say it directly. I can handle it.”

Seeing Qiushuang’s attitude, Jinyue gave a helpless smile: “I’ve made a fool of myself before Qiushuang Zhenren.”

Qiushuang raised her chin, indicating he should continue.

“The Evil Sovereign’s body was injured, so he temporarily doesn’t dare come to the cultivation world to cause us trouble. Kong Hou Xianzi’s fate is extraordinary. Though it can be concealed for a time, it cannot be concealed forever. Zhenren should make plans early. If the cultivation world truly loses the opportunity for ascension, our entire cultivation world will…” He smiled bitterly, “Does Zhenren have any good solutions?”

“Sect Master Jin, you can’t possibly be unaware that our Yunhua Sect believes everything should follow its natural course.” Qiushuang was silent for a moment before shaking her head. “Years ago, Yuexing Sect divined that the opportunity had always been with Zhongxi. Why did the true child of destiny turn out to be my grand-disciple in the end?”

“The Heavenly Dao is inconstant and changes in an instant.” The bitter expression on Jinyue’s face deepened. “All of us drift along with the currents of the Heavenly Dao. How many can truly control their own fate?” When Zhongxi was young, his cultivation progressed so rapidly that it alarmed Jinyue. He had taken him to visit the two sect masters of Yuexing Sect, and the two sect masters divined for him, determining that he was related to the Heavenly Dao’s opportunity and was the hope of the entire cultivation world.

Thinking about it now, perhaps Yuexing Sect’s divination wasn’t wrong. Zhongxi’s fate was indeed related to the opportunity for ascension, but the true opportunity wasn’t on him. It was because he could dual cultivate with the child of the Heavenly Dao, could meet her, and could find several precious medicinal ingredients with her help.

Now that the truth was out, he both worried it would affect Zhongxi’s mindset and worried that Kong Hou, still so young, would feel pressure from this destiny and develop inner demons.

“No matter how talented Kong Hou is in cultivation, she’s only at the Nascent Soul Stage.” Qiushuang set down her teacup, her tone calm. “Tell me honestly, what exactly is wrong with Zhongxi’s body?”

Though others couldn’t tell, she had long since noticed that when Zhongxi fought the Evil Sovereign, his spiritual energy circulation was somewhat obstructed—he was just forcing himself to hold on with sheer willpower.

“Zhongxi, he…” If it were someone else sitting in front of him, Jinyue might not dare to reveal the full truth. But sitting before him was Qiushuang, the cultivation world’s premier artifact refining master and one of Yunhua Sect’s elders.

“Zhongxi developed inner demons and his spirit platform became unstable, causing him to lose quite a bit of cultivation.” Jinyue covered his eyes with his hand. “It’s my fault as his master.”

“The master leads you through the door, but cultivation depends on the individual. Sect Master Jin, you’ve lived for a thousand years—can’t you see through this yet?” Qiushuang lowered her eyelids, her tone as casual as if discussing eating or dressing. “I can see that the problems with Zhongxi’s body aren’t serious. You don’t need to worry too much.”

“If it weren’t for Kong Hou Xianzi, Zhongxi wouldn’t have recovered this quickly.” Jinyue didn’t feel embarrassed and honestly admitted, “Before he went out to gain experience, he was not only silent and withdrawn, but because his inner demons were severe, he couldn’t easily draw his sword. Every time he drew his sword, his heart meridians would flow in reverse and spiritual energy would run wild throughout his body.”

Qiushuang gradually discerned Jinyue’s intention. This wasn’t about discussing the child of destiny at all—he clearly wanted to talk about the two juniors’ affairs. She raised her eyebrows and looked at Jinyue with a half-smile. The proper and upright young sword cultivator from years ago had now learned to speak in roundabout ways. Time truly was a merciless blade.

Pretending he hadn’t understood the meaning in Qiushuang Zhenren’s eyes, for the sake of his disciple, Jinyue gritted his teeth and brazenly said: “I wonder what Zhenren thinks about having the two juniors become dao companions?”

“Dao companions?” Qiushuang said, “Does Sect Master Jin know that within three generations, no disciples of our Yunhua Sect have taken dao companions? The last martial ancestor to take a dao companion was over a thousand years ago, and in the end the two had endless conflicts over different tastes, fought once, and separated.”

Jinyue: “…”

On the matter of food, Yunhua Sect’s principles truly wouldn’t budge an inch, yet they were ridiculously easygoing about everything else. What kind of problem was this?

“There’s no problem with tastes—our Zhongxi is very easy to feed and eats everything.”

“Kong Hou is young. If she becomes dao companions with Zhongxi…”

“It doesn’t matter. We can wait until she’s older before holding the dao companion ceremony. We just need to make things official.”

“Even so, we watched her grow up and can’t bear to have her live away from us…”

“That’s also no problem. The two juniors can live wherever they want. With their high cultivation levels, traveling between the two sects won’t take more than a few days.”

Qiushuang knew that Jinyue’s attitude was very firm, his mindset very urgent, and his sincerity very sufficient, but she still had to remind him: “Even if the two juniors have no objections to this matter, it’s not something I can decide. Sect Master Jin, you also know that Kong Hou is Wang Tong’s last disciple.”

She feared that Liuguang Sect would be torn apart by Wang Tong.

**Author’s Note:** Jinyue, whose heart is broken with worry: Zhongxi-brand disciple on clearance sale! Other sects need not inquire—only selling to Yunhua Sect! I’m willing to throw in cash!