Even though Lian Chaoxi practiced the cold-hearted and emotionless path of the sword, his main direction was still the Path of Affection. So, he wasn’t completely frozen by that icy sword, and he generously gave Lou Shuangzui the time he needed to arrange things.
—This could also be considered a strategy. After all, only when everything is arranged can one have fewer attachments to the mortal world, rather than cutting everything off in one go. Otherwise, a little temptation might leave lingering attachments, which would lead to endless troubles.
“But you see… for those who cultivate immortality, their hearts are only filled with the Dao. Most immortals, even when looking for a Dao companion, seek someone with compatible attributes for dual cultivation to achieve twice the result with half the effort. So, when the mortal world is noisy, one should cut ties decisively.” He advised Lou Shuangzui, gently brushing the boy’s hair with his calloused hand.
Lou Shuangzui’s hair was beautiful, as black as if soaked in ink, cascading over his shoulders and back. The wavy curls added a touch of unruliness to his demeanor.
The young man was somewhat distracted, catching a whiff of the fragrance from Lian Chaoxi’s sleeve. It was cold, yet not like frost or snow, more like well water—cool and refreshing, yet gentle and comforting.
“Of course, I’m not that kind of person. Once I’ve decided on a path, I won’t look back.”
Those golden eyes were truly beautiful, like flowing gold and stories, with desires blooming into flowers, dazzling and mesmerizing. He glanced at Lian Chaoxi, making even someone who had witnessed millennia of changes and countless landscapes like Lian Chaoxi couldn’t help but praise.
“A treasured sword and the bright moon shine together.”
“Are you complimenting my eyes?” Lou Shuangzui paused, taking a roll of silk from the shelf, cutting a piece to bind a letter. There wasn’t time to do more, and doing so would be endless. Since Lian Chaoxi gave him time to settle affairs, he wouldn’t push things to that point.
Because whether before or after crossing over, Lou Shuangzui was a smart person who knew how to adapt to circumstances.
He casually pondered Lian Chaoxi’s comment, unable to resist a slightly mocking smile. “Then, Master, you might have judged wrong. My eyes can’t compare to the Morning Star.”
The Morning Star stands five feet high in the sky, a treasured sword and the bright moon shine together.
Unfortunately, he was never the moon in the sky or the frost on the ground, but the jade tree in the light, his eyes inheriting the enchantment of a demoness, like flowers with dew, a ghost in the mist, unlike Lian Chaoxi, clear as a pool of water, a round moon.
It seems this disciple’s personality is a bit prickly…
Lian Chaoxi blinked, hesitantly looking at Lou Shuangzui.
Is it because of his personality, or is he deliberately testing my limits?
He thought for a while, then felt it didn’t matter. After all, Lou Shuangzui was his destined fate and opportunity, someone the Fourth Elder, skilled in divination, had forcibly called him out of cultivation to accept.
A slightly troublesome personality is nothing; as a master, a little tolerance is fine.
The white-haired celestial patted Lou Shuangzui’s shoulder, his voice gentle, like coaxing a child. “What’s the difference? They’re all equally beautiful, the moon in the water, the flowers on the ground, all are beautiful scenery.”
“Speaking of which, little Shuangzui should be the most special. Most immortals have a face like a clear sky or cold and indifferent. Your style is rare and special.”
Lian Chaoxi pinched the child’s face again, those beautiful eyes truly captivating. “When you grow a bit more, the sect’s beauty rankings might just need updating.”
“Really?” Lou Shuangzui glanced at him, finally showing a hint of a smile. This smile, flowing with golden brilliance, made him even more lively and charming.
He unceremoniously took the poetry book from the table and stuffed it into Lian Chaoxi’s arms. “This is the latest poetry collection from the capital before the chaos. You can use it to pass the time. I’ll be quick, won’t keep you waiting long.”
Lian Chaoxi hesitantly picked up the poetry book, blinking.
Was it an illusion? Did he just get brushed off by his disciple?
Lou Shuangzui didn’t need much time because he knew what to do next. He had already planned it out, but since he couldn’t be involved anymore, he had to change some parts.
Midway through writing, the palace maid who had delivered the letter earlier came in, bringing a stack of exquisite pastries, flower-shaped and finely crafted. Though not as good as those made by the palace chefs, they were a rare treat during their escape.
With ink still wet on the paper, Lou Shuangzui casually glanced at the soft couch by the window. Lian Chaoxi was sitting there, flipping through the poetry collection, looking bored, while the maid didn’t notice anything unusual, her eyes not reflecting the immortal’s shadow.
While waiting for the ink to dry, Lou Shuangzui set the pen aside and looked at the girl with her head bowed. “I remember you’re… Miss Zhuxi. Where did you get this?”
Zhuxi stood quietly by the table, not raising her head, her attitude extremely respectful. “The county magistrate here hasn’t had a chance to escape yet. He got some vague news from somewhere and sent it over. Aunt Yanchun asked me to bring it to you to see what you think.”
Aunt Yanchun was a trusted nanny sent by the Murong family after they made contact with them.
As for the county magistrate of Jiangnan Dongyue County…
Lou Shuangzui did have an impression. Although he was always vigilant, with countless pieces of information in his mind, as a prince in the capital, for a small county magistrate in Jiangnan to leave an impression, he must have done something significant.
“Dongyue… the one who joined the Qingliu faction early on and was then demoted out of the capital by the Left Prime Minister.”
After a brief thought, he remembered who the magistrate was. He was an honest person; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so oblivious to the situation, boldly entering the capital, only to be suppressed and disappear without a trace.
The fact that he hadn’t fled yet and sent things over after getting the news was quite obvious.
But unfortunately, Lou Shuangzui had decided to follow Lian Chaoxi to the Chen Yue Sect. However, before leaving, he could still introduce this honest person to a good place.
Those golden eyes blinked, and the young prince folded the dried letter, took out a new sheet, and wrote “To Third Brother” on it.
Seeing Lou Shuangzui had made up his mind, Zhuxi bowed and quietly left.
After the maid’s footsteps completely disappeared, Lian Chaoxi raised his head thoughtfully. He glanced at Lou Shuangzui, but seeing no wavering expression on the young man’s face, he withdrew his gaze.
An hour later, Lou Shuangzui finished writing all the letters. He sorted them out, stretched lazily, and turned to Lian Chaoxi.
“Let’s go, Master.”
“Not saying goodbye to them?” Lian Chaoxi pulled out a delicate folding fan from somewhere. The fan’s ribs were made of iron, and the fan surface was a patchwork of unknown feathers and animal skins, more like a weapon than a mere accessory.
But it didn’t suit Lian Chaoxi, so the Sword Master just shook it twice, played with it for a moment, and noticing Lou Shuangzui’s gaze, he smiled and handed it over. “What? Do you like it? If you do, take it.”
“No need…” Lou Shuangzui shook his head, not sure if he was referring to the farewell or the fan. He took the fan but didn’t keep it. Instead, he pulled out a beautiful embroidered fan pouch from somewhere, placed the fan inside, and handed it back to Lian Chaoxi.
“Saying goodbye makes you think of the next meeting. It’s better not to say it, just pretend everything is as it was.”
Lian Chaoxi chuckled, feeling relieved. To be honest, his personality wasn’t very forceful. If Lou Shuangzui really didn’t want to leave the mortal world, he probably wouldn’t have insisted. It would just be a pity for such a pleasing disciple.
The white-haired celestial gently rubbed the soft fabric of the pouch with his fingers, unconsciously curling his lips. “I’m already your master, accepting a gift is no big deal. Really don’t want it?”
“It suits Master better, not as a weapon, but as an ornament.” Lou Shuangzui’s golden eyes fell on the snow-white feathers of the fan surface, then noticed Lian Chaoxi’s almost plain white attire. “When not in battle, hanging it at your waist or using it to fan yourself should complement your clothes well.”
Lian Chaoxi followed his gaze down to his own clothes, and in a moment of enlightenment, understood what his disciple was thinking. He couldn’t help but defend himself.
“Sword cultivators don’t need to care too much about their appearance. Besides, these clothes are woven from clouds and mist, worth more than real gold and silver, not that plain…”
Then he was left speechless by Lou Shuangzui’s clear “Yes, yes, you’re the master, you’re always right” look, swallowing back the words he wanted to say. The Sword Master was silent for a while, finally unable to resist a soft hum.
“Little rascal.”
The golden-eyed young disciple smiled at him.
Immortal arts are ever-changing, a single thought can span thousands of miles.
Lian Chaoxi took Lou Shuangzui’s hand, forming a seal with his fingers, and in an instant, the scenery changed dramatically.
First, they arrived at a White Jade Platform, the entrance between the Immortal Realm and the mortal world. In fact, there were multiple entrances. If one couldn’t get in line, drawing a formation to descend was also possible, but using this teleportation was more cost-effective and energy-saving, and this entrance was closer to the Chen Yue Sect than others.
Perhaps due to the time, the usually busy White Jade Platform was empty, so Lian Chaoxi quickly formed a second seal. Clouds descended from the sky, their bodies became light, and in the blink of an eye, they arrived at a second location.
It was a mountain gate, the sect’s entrance and plaque carved from beautifully patterned stone, inscribed with the three large characters “Chen Yue Sect.” Guarding the gate was a fox as white as snow, with nine tails swaying gently with its breathing.
“This is your senior brother… your Grandmaster, also the spiritual beast of the Chen Yue Sect. He used to be from the Beast Taming Peak.”
Lian Chaoxi reached out to stroke the white fox’s head. The gatekeeping fox had narrow black eyes, lightly glancing at Lian Chaoxi before its gaze fell on Lou Shuangzui. Surprisingly, it approached, circling the young man, rubbing its soft fur against Lou Shuangzui’s hand.
“They say this fox resembles your senior brother. Since it likes you so much, your senior brother probably will too. Come on, I’ll take you to meet him.”
White hair fell across the Sword Master’s cheek as he turned his head, his eyes narrowing playfully. “They should give you lots of gifts. You’re my first disciple, little Shuangzui.”
Author’s Note: