The Strange Old Man pondered for a long time before deciding to tell Chu Canyuan everything. After all, he had finally managed to trick such a Monstrous talent into coming here, and he couldn't let him die in vain.
"Your Father and Mother were once known as the Twin Prodigies of the Sacred Hall's inner sect. They both broke through to the Fourth Realm when they were only twenty years old."
"But during a drastic change three years later, the Master of your Father and Mother, Mei Aoxue, who was the head of the Sacred Hall's inner sect."
"Was besieged by the Blood Demon Sect, the Poison Demon Sect, and the Love Demon Sect, and perished at Ten Thousand Bone Cliff."
"Afterward, for some unknown reason, your Father and Mother defected from the Sacred Hall, taking a Saint Hall Treasure with them, and vanished from public view. For a full ten years, there was no news of them; no one could find them."
"What happened after that is..."
Chu Canyuan felt somewhat depressed listening to this. Why had his Father and Mother never mentioned this? Why did they do something so abnormal after their Master died?
"Strange Old Man... you don't know the reason behind this either?"
The Strange Old Man shook his head gently. Seeing the atmosphere turn heavy, he changed the subject.
"Stinky brat, based on seniority, you should call me Master's Master."
Chu Canyuan looked at the Strange Old Man with some curiosity.
"What? Although I only met your parents a few times, that old fellow Mei Aoxue and this Old Man are old acquaintances."
"In his lifetime, we sparred no less than a hundred times."
"Since I never took a disciple in my life, whenever he was inferior to me in a Sparring match, he would always bring up your parents, his two prized disciples, to put me in my place."
"For the sake of Mei Aoxue, the Master of your parents, it's not too much for me to count you as half a Master's Master, right?"
Seeing Chu Canyuan looking dejected, the Strange Old Man picked up a Tree Branch and whipped him again.
"Stinky brat, if you truly want to figure out the truth behind all this, then snap out of it immediately! Stop looking so listless and gloomy all day long!"
The Strange Old Man roared at the crestfallen Chu Canyuan before him, his eyes wide with anger.
"Haven't you always wanted to know why your parents made those decisions?"
"Then fine! Just sitting here daydreaming will never get you the answers."
"You have to take action, you must actively seek out the reasons!" the Strange Old Man continued to shout loudly, his hoarse voice seeming to pierce Chu Canyuan's soul.
"Also, think about who caused you to be in such a miserable state now. Are you really content to be bullied like this without fighting back?"
"If you don't want to suffer such humiliation again, then cultivate desperately for me! When you have strong enough power one day, go find that enemy and wash away your shame!"
Saying this, the Strange Old Man stomped his foot in anger, glaring at Chu Canyuan with the look of someone who wished iron could become steel.
"Hmph, I certainly don't want to see my half grand-disciple be just a braggart who is actually timid as a mouse, self-abandoning, and a good-for-nothing!"
The Strange Old Man grew angrier as he spoke, but a hint of imperceptible heartache and expectation flickered in his eyes.
Hearing these words, Chu Canyuan slowly raised his head, his gaze meeting the Strange Old Man's.
When he saw the abundant care in the other's eyes, his heart couldn't help but tremble.
Immediately after, he tightly gripped the slightly worn Wooden Sword in his hand, gritted his teeth, and said with a resolute expression, "Strange Old Man, let's start over!"
From that day on, Chu Canyuan began a grueling cultivation journey day after day.
Every morning, before dawn, he would already be up, heading to the vegetable patch to water the vegetables bucket after bucket.
When the sun was about to set, he would go alone to a nearby waterfall, find a quiet spot, sit cross-legged, close his eyes, regulate his breathing, let his mind gradually calm down, and enter a state of selflessness.
And whenever night fell, it was his most tense yet most anticipated time—because then, he would practice swordsmanship with the Strange Old Man.
The Strange Old Man would personally teach him various exquisite sword techniques, demanding he practice them repeatedly until he mastered them.
Thus, days passed one after another. This monotonous and tedious life might have been unbearable for ordinary people, but Chu Canyuan persevered through sheer tenacious willpower.
Unknowingly, three years flashed by in an instant...
Chu Canyuan's originally frail body had undergone a massive transformation after three years of tempering. He no longer looked weak and fragile, easily broken, and deserving of pity.
His youthful face had gained a degree of composure.
The only thing unchanged was his complexion, which was as delicate and alluring as a woman's. If it weren't for his Adam's apple, one would truly mistake him for a female.
Chu Canyuan was seen skillfully watering the vegetables with ease, occasionally humming a little tune.
A year ago, with the Strange Old Man's help, Chu Canyuan had already stepped into the Second Realm: Bearing Realm.
This Realm allowed for a smoother utilization of Spiritual Power, achieving the effect of controlling objects with Qi.
It wasn't until the Xu hour that Chu Canyuan and the Strange Old Man finished their sword practice and sat on the open ground beside the waterfall.
"Entering the Bearing Realm in two years, Stinky brat, your cultivation talent is much higher than your parents'."
The Strange Old Man looked at Chu Canyuan before him and spoke with satisfaction.
"My parents... Strange Old Man, have you had any news of my Mother these past few years?"
During these three years, the Strange Old Man had been searching for traces of his half grand-disciple's Mother.
The Strange Old Man shook his head and sighed. Seeing this, Chu Canyuan stopped mentioning it. He knew his parents had an inextricable connection with the Sacred Hall.
Therefore, even if it meant risking his life, he had to go to the Sacred Hall to find the truth.
"Let's go."
The Strange Old Man and Chu Canyuan returned to the Thatched hut. Chu Canyuan, exhausted from the day, lay down on the bed and soon fell asleep.
The Strange Old Man walked to the bedside, extended two fingers, and placed them on Chu Canyuan's forehead.
As the Strange Old Man circulated his Spiritual Power, a mysterious force silently entered Chu Canyuan's body.
After a while, the Strange Old Man withdrew his fingers, clearly feeling a sense of fatigue added to his body.
He walked slowly out of the Thatched hut, raised his right arm outward, and a Long Sword flew into his hand.
This sword was pale blue throughout. The hilt featured exquisite lotus patterns. The Sword Body emitted a faint Cold Light under the moonlight, and the Sword Tassel swayed in the wind.
During these three years, the Strange Old Man had been searching for Xia Liuli's whereabouts. Although he hadn't found any clues related to her, he had learned another piece of news that shocked him immensely.
It was because someone from the Sacred Hall leaked intelligence to the three Demon Cults that Mei Aoxue's location was exposed, leading to the siege by the three sects.
"I knew there had to be something fishy about what happened back then. That old fellow Mei Aoxue must have hidden something from me."
Turning to look at Chu Canyuan inside the Thatched hut, the Strange Old Man gripped the sword in his hand a little tighter.
"Stinky brat, let your half Master's Master scout the path for you first."
"Ice Lotus!"
With a command, the Long Sword hummed and flew into the air. The Strange Old Man leaped onto it and flew toward Huangzhou with extreme speed via Sword Riding.
At the Mao hour, Chu Canyuan woke up from his sleep and got up looking for the Strange Old Man.
"Strange Old Man? Strange Old Man?"
Seeing his calls yielded no response, Chu Canyuan decided to go water the vegetable patch first.
But when Chu Canyuan stepped into the vegetable patch, he was stunned by the sight before him.
Not far from the vegetable patch, a flat path leading to the outside world had appeared at some point.
As if realizing something, Chu Canyuan rushed back to the Thatched hut.
Seeing a Letter Paper placed face down on the table, Chu Canyuan snatched it up and read it aloud.
"Stinky brat, cultivating by my side for three years has yielded some results, not entirely due to your high talent, but mainly because I taught well."
"Now, I have found some clues regarding your parents' Master and need to investigate them personally."
"Although your current strength is not enough to sever karma, you still need to go out more and temper yourself."
"You will avenge your parents, and you will seek out the cause concerning your parents."
"Go now, I permit you to leave this place."
"No matter what you do, you have your half Master's Master backing you. Remember the name of your half Master's Master."
"My name is... Mu Zuo."
The Letter Paper slipped from Chu Canyuan's hand, and he immediately collapsed onto the bed.
He was alone again now. Although the Strange Old Man was usually very strict with him, he had also provided him with the warmth of a home.
"Mu Zuo..."
"Strange Old Man, I never expected that while your appearance isn't much... your name is so pleasant to hear..."
As Chu Canyuan spoke, a few tears fell.
He knew the Strange Old Man had gone to the Sacred Hall, and he knew the odds were not good for the Strange Old Man's trip.
But he had no way to help; he knew he couldn't be of any use.
"Strange Old Man, I hope you are truly as formidable as you claim."
"Eighth Realm trades injury for a kill; Heaven-Man Realm trades life for life."
"Perhaps you are even more formidable than you realize."
Without Mei, there is no snow, and the spirit is gone.
With snow but no Shi, the people become vulgar.
At dusk, the poem is finished, and the sky snows again.
Together with Mei, it makes for a perfect spring.