Chapter 56
After waiting for a whole day, Heng Yu only received a message talisman.
Crushing it with her spiritual energy, she heard her master’s familiar, cheerful voice: “Disciple, Master met an old friend at the main hall and won’t be able to see you for the next two days. We’ll meet on the day of the Dharma Assembly.”
If she wasn’t mistaken, she could faintly hear a woman’s laughter in the background.
Heng Yu: “…”
So, her master was enjoying himself and had forgotten about her, his disciple.
Stroking the storage ring he had given her, Heng Yu calmed down.
It was fine. He was just a “cheap master” in her mind anyway. They were even.
Besides, it wasn’t just her master who could enjoy himself. She could too!
Heng Yu organized the formation books on her desk, tied up her hair with the wooden hairpin, and left her room with her sword.
Many Qi Refining disciples were playing in the iris field.
Hehuan Sect disciples were known for their romantic nature and artistic talents. Some were playing music, some were dancing, and some were flirting. Even at the Sword Sect, they didn’t hold back.
Heng Yu slowed down, appreciating the scene.
Several disciples noticed her and quickly composed themselves, bowing respectfully.
Heng Yu waved her hand, not wanting to disturb them, quickened her pace, and left the iris field. After a while, she reached the bamboo houses where the Undying Sect disciples were staying.
She found a shady spot outside the bamboo grove, sat down cross-legged, and plucked some grass, quickly weaving it into a lifelike dragonfly. Closing her eyes, she focused her divine sense and controlled the dragonfly, sending it towards Liaowu’s window.
Then, she made the dragonfly bump against the window.
The noise wasn’t soft. Liaowu opened the window, looked at the dragonfly, then at the bamboo grove. He could faintly see a figure in a red dress.
He extended his index finger.
This dragonfly, controlled by Heng Yu’s divine sense, was much more agile than the paper cat yesterday.
It landed on his finger.
Liaowu lifted his hand and looked at the dragonfly. “Why are you here?”
The dragonfly didn’t move.
“Are you bored?” he guessed.
He tilted his head slightly. “This poor monk is almost finished with my work. Shall we explore the Sword Sect together?”
He gently picked up the dragonfly by a wing and placed it on his shoulder.
Then he tidied up his books, put on his prayer beads, and left the house, heading towards the bamboo grove.
As he approached Heng Yu, she withdrew her divine sense from the dragonfly and opened her eyes.
The Sword Sect also used cranes for transportation.
Heng Yu and Liaowu each rode a crane towards the Sword Testing Grounds.
Heng Yu looked down from the crane, seeing a small part of the Sword Sect.
She had inquired about the Sword Sect beforehand — it had eighteen main peaks and seventy-two secondary peaks, each main peak overseen by a late Nascent Soul cultivator.
This alone showed the sect’s profound strength.
“What are you thinking about?” Liaowu suddenly asked.
His voice was slightly distorted by the wind.
Heng Yu turned to look at him.
He wore a green robe today, looking like any other Buddhist cultivator, but his ethereal aura set him apart.
Like a solitary moon in the sky.
Heng Yu narrowed her eyes slightly. “Admiring the scenery. But honestly, I prefer the Undying Sect’s scenery.”
She had spent over a month in the Hehuan Sect after arriving in this world, but she had mostly stayed in her courtyard, healing. And during that time, she hadn’t felt any connection to this world and hadn’t paid much attention to the scenery.
So, her impression of the Hehuan Sect mainly came from the original body’s memories.
Compared to the Hehuan Sect or the Sword Sect, she found the Undying Sect, untouched by mortal dust, more comfortable.
“After the Dharma Assembly, Lord Luo can cultivate in seclusion at the Undying Sect to break through to Nascent Soul,” Liaowu invited.
He clearly knew her plans.
Heng Yu smiled and asked, “I’m the Hehuan Sect’s Young Master. Wouldn’t it be strange if I went to the Undying Sect instead of my own sect to break through? What would people think? And what excuse would you use to bring me back to the Undying Sect?”
She looked at him, their eyes meeting.
The Undying Sect was a sacred ground of Buddhism and didn’t casually allow outsiders to enter. She had been able to enter before because she wanted to travel with them to the Sword Sect for the Dharma Assembly. The reason was valid, and she had Liaowu’s guarantee.
Liaowu opened his mouth to speak.
But Heng Yu shook her head first. “I’ll only visit the Undying Sect once in this lifetime. You can accompany me back to Hua City for my seclusion.”
Liaowu’s hand trembled slightly. He looked at her seriously, his gaze insistent. “Why only once? Won’t you visit me for tea and chess when you’re traveling in the future?”
Heng Yu hadn’t expected him to press the matter.
She quickly changed her answer. “Alright, I’m willing.”
He stared at her intently.
Heng Yu smiled casually. “I said I’m willing. Why are you still looking at me like that?”
“After you complete your mission and return to the Hehuan Sect, if you encounter any trouble, will you send me a message?” Liaowu asked.
“Of course. Didn’t you agree to be my attachment? Who else would I turn to if not you? I can’t rely on my unreliable master,” Heng Yu couldn’t help but complain about You Yun, trying to lighten the mood.
“…”
Liaowu’s expression and voice remained calm.
No, that wasn’t the right word.
It was restraint —
“…At that time, Lord Luo won’t be anywhere near the Undying Sect and definitely won’t send me a message, right?”
Heng Yu: “…”
She didn’t answer.
She wanted to say that after she completed her mission and he overcame his tribulation, they should part ways and never meet again. By then, she would have adapted to the Canglan Continent and could truly pursue her path of freedom and detachment, while he would have achieved enlightenment and shouldered the responsibilities of innate Buddha bones.
Wouldn’t that be perfect?
But seeing the stubbornness in his eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
She scratched her head, feeling slightly frustrated. “Can we drop this topic? It’s too early to talk about this. My mission has a time limit of ten years.”
“…Alright.” Seeing her rare frustration, he didn’t press the matter further.
The atmosphere between them became slightly awkward.
But soon, the two cranes, crying out loudly, descended through the clouds, nearing their destination.
As the crane landed, Heng Yu jumped off, her sword in hand, the bells on her bracelet jingling.
The Sword Testing Grounds were vast, large enough to accommodate over a hundred thousand people.
Heng Yu looked around, seeing cultivators in various sect uniforms.
“Quite lively,” she commented.
Liaowu’s expression was calm. “Let’s go get our soul plates.”
Hearing his words, Heng Yu relaxed, knowing the awkwardness had passed for now.
“What are those?” she asked.
“Soul plates record our scores. Each victory in a competition earns points based on the difficulty.” Liaowu pointed to three towering pillars in the center of the grounds. “These pillars display the rankings for Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Nascent Soul.”
He walked forward as he explained.
Heng Yu followed.
The soul plate distribution point was at the front of the grounds, and there was a long queue.
Heng Yu saw a familiar face in the line — Mu Huan.
Mu Huan stood in the middle of the line, looking bored.
Suddenly, she noticed Heng Yu and Liaowu, and a seductive smile appeared on her face.
She waved at Liaowu. “Senior Brother Liaowu, what are you doing here?”
Hearing her excited voice, Heng Yu and Liaowu finally noticed her.
Heng Yu raised an eyebrow and said to Liaowu, “Senior Brother Liaowu, your admirer has appeared.”
Liaowu looked at Mu Huan and bowed with his hands joined together. “So Lord Mu is here as well.”
His tone was polite but distant, neither rude nor familiar.
He turned to Heng Yu. “Lord Luo, please wait here.” In contrast, his attitude towards her was much warmer.
Liaowu went to join the queue, not wanting Heng Yu to be jostled by the crowd.
Heng Yu stood there, watching him.
He stood out in the noisy crowd, like a clear breeze and bright moon.
Seemingly sensing her gaze, he looked up and smiled at her gently, as if asking what she was looking at.
What was she looking at?
This Sword Testing Grounds could hold a hundred thousand people. Countless people passed by her.
But her gaze was fixed only on him.
In ancient legends, sirens lured sailors with their enchanting songs, causing ships to crash.
This Buddha-son, unknowingly, wove a net with his smile, his words, and his endless gentleness.
But he wasn’t a siren, he was a Buddha-son, and she wasn’t a sailor, destined not to be lured to her doom, despite knowing the danger.
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