Five years after the flood receded, everything in Douzhou had returned to tranquility.
The city, ravaged by the disaster, showed no signs of the previous destruction. The broken trees had grown back. People have always been adept at mending past wounds. Douzhou was bustling and prosperous again, with no hint of the world-ending rain that once tried to overturn heaven and earth.
Everything continued in an orderly fashion.
Meng Ying had succeeded to the position of the Taiyan Sect’s leader, becoming the youngest sect leader in the Douzhou cultivation world.
She had done surprisingly well, not as the aloof and isolated goddess who only knew about cultivation but was ignorant of worldly affairs. When it came to subtle tests and maneuvers among sects, she handled them with ease. She was also thoughtful towards her disciples. Some said it was because Meng Ying had once gone down the mountain to train with her fellow disciples in her youth, gaining experience in worldly matters. Hence, new disciples of the Taiyan Sect were often arranged to go down the mountain for training to hone their skills and temper their hearts.
Mu Cengxiao and Tian Fangfang had also begun accepting disciples. Their cultivation levels were now quite prominent in Douzhou, and the number of people wanting to become their disciples. Xuan Lingzi, who was too lazy to take disciples himself, had long left the task to his two disciples. Mu Cengxiao was taciturn and particularly strict with his disciples, often using punishments, leading to whispers about him being a fearsome and harsh figure. Tian Fangfang appeared amiable and cheerful, but under his guidance, if a disciple’s cultivation did not progress, they would be fined spirit stones.
This was more terrifying than being beaten.
Men Dong had also grown up.
The once adorable child and snow had now grown taller, with red lips and white teeth, looking exceptionally refined and bright. He no longer wore two lotus-bud hair bun. Like other disciples in the sect, he tied his hair into a ponytail with a hairband. Dressed in a pink gauze robe, the young man moved gracefully like the wind, often stirring the hearts of the female disciples in the sect.
The younger generation was gradually stepping up to support the sect’s future. Like tender saplings, they would one day grow into towering trees that shield the sky.
The day after the sect’s grand meeting, Gu Baiying went down the mountain.
Now, with Douzhou peaceful throughout the year and no incidents occurring, the Taiyan Sect was thriving, and everything was flourishing. As the Seventh Martial Uncle, he usually had little to do in the sect. Meng Ying suggested he go down the mountain to see how Douzhou was recovering, and he did not decline.
Gu Baiying went to Li’er Country.
Li’er Country was hot all year round, with seasons like summer. The most expensive Xianxun Hai inn from years ago was no longer there, but the beautiful phoenix tree in the courtyard was still in bloom. Large red flowers fell on his head, painting the vast sky with a red glow.
Before the dense mangrove beach, it was still lively. It was a summer night, and countless tourists and cultivators had come to the beach to watch the tide wash over the sand at their feet.
The moonlight was pure, the sand as white as snow, and the deep blue lanterns hanging on the mangroves cast a cool glow over the long night.
He stood before the Western Sea, and for some reason, suddenly thought back to many years ago, when he first came to Li’er Country with Zanxing and the others.
At that time, it was also a clear night like this one. He had reluctantly joined them on the trip for the sake of the Qinchong seed. And because he had mentioned the Jie Xin Bell and his mother, he felt uneasy and left on the pretext of buying rock candy syrups. Yet, when he looked back, he had seen the way that woman spoke confidently.
“Have you ever seen Gu Baiying fail? Have you seen him cry? Have you seen his vulnerable side?”
“As long as someone is human, they will have moments of weakness and sadness. You haven’t seen it because your Martial Uncle has hidden that side of himself. With so many people watching him, even if he wanted to hide, there would be no place to do so. Once you all get used to it, even if he wants to show a moment of weakness in front of others, he won’t be able to.”
Time seemed to turn back, and the young man suddenly stopped, as if a secret in his heart had been exposed, leaving him momentarily lost.
In fact, from the very beginning, she had seen through him.
He was just a paper tiger putting on a brave front. Outwardly arrogant and indifferent, he was actually more regretful than anyone else. Over the years, he often woke up in the middle of the night from his dreams, always thinking of the past, always regretting. He constantly thought that if he had been more observant of Zanxing’s distress on that rainy night in Heishi City, perhaps there could have been a different outcome.
“Little Immortal?” someone called him from behind.
Gu Baiying turned around to see a vendor eagerly looking at him. Upon seeing him turn, the vendor’s expression relaxed, and he smiled, “I thought you looked familiar just now, and it turns out it’s really you!”
It was the vendor who had sold oysters that day several years ago.
The vendor recognized him and chatted familiarly, “Immortal, you’re back in Li’er Country? Did you come alone this time? I remember last time there was a whole group of you, and that fat cat. Oh, that was the first time I’d ever seen such a fat cat.” He looked at the young man in front of him and sighed, “You’ve become even more distinguished since then. You might not know, but after you left, so many young women came to ask me about you.”
Finally, he handed a cup of rock candy syrup to Gu Baiying with a smile, “I’m happy to see a familiar face today, so I’m giving you a cup. No charge! I wish you all the best in the future!”
Gu Baiying looked down at the cup of syrup in his hand. The sweet syrup was in a flower-shaped cup, gently exuding a fragrance.
He smiled and said, “Thank you.”
Gu Baiying went to the secret realm of Li’er Country.
Now, with abundant spiritual energy, the number of secret realms had increased. The one in Li’er Country was no longer as sought after as it had been years ago. Wudong Mountain was gradually returning to its former appearance, and the Lanying Lake was as jade-like as before. He even saw the Celestial Song Vine in the mountain. The vine had aged, its flowers no longer as bright as before, and its song had changed from a maiden’s melodious voice to the hoarse croak of an old woman. Such a voice naturally failed to attract any prey.
It seemed that it wouldn’t be long before the vine withered completely.
In the evening, it suddenly started raining on the mountain. He took shelter in a cave and started a fire inside.
Before Zanxing, he never used to light fires like a mortal to ward off the cold, but after Zanxing left, he seemed to have adapted to the practice of lighting fires when cold and adding more clothes when chilly. Zhao Mayi always teased him for not using the illumination talisman, but Zhao Mayi didn’t understand; the flame was warmer than the talisman.
The night rain pattered, drenching the entire forest.
The wind blew in from outside, casting the shadow on the cave wall long and distorted.
Someone had once briefly taken shelter from the rain in this cave. The clamor of women’s voices had echoed off the walls, making the lonely night feel less solitary.
“Between people, aside from meeting, there is only seperation. Often more seperation than meeting. That’s just how life goes.”
The flames crackled and popped, diligently warding off the chill of the rainy night.
Zanxing was right. But she had forgotten one thing—most people in the world don’t like separations.
On the young man’s snow-white brocade robe, the vermilion wild goose patterns seemed ready to take flight in the firelight.
The night rain fell in a mist, and the cave was silent.
He looked down at the burning fire and murmured softly to himself, “I don’t want to be separated.”