Chapter 572 - 398: A Sorrowful Conversation Between Master and Disciple (Part 2)

"What are your plans for the future? The Qingyuan Sect has had the support of the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect since its founding. The whole world knows of our relationship. Breaking away so suddenly could be bad for you."

"I’ll manage," Fang Qingyuan replied, his eyes downcast.

"That’s true. Now that you’ve hitched your wagon to the Tu Family, who in the White Mountain Territory would dare to touch you?"

Lechuan’s lips twisted into a self-deprecating smile. "I took the wrong path. A single misstep, and I lost you completely. Back then, I was still holding out hope, thinking it was just one Wilderness Bear Beast... But now..."

"For over a hundred years, I thought I understood you, but now I see I never truly did. Ah, Qingyuan, you’ll certainly go much further than I ever will. But with that temperament of yours, you’re bound to suffer for it. Still, a fine sword is sharpened through hardship. I hope I live to see the day you reach the Nascent Soul Realm."

"Thank you for your teachings, Master!"

Fang Qingyuan’s expression was stoic, but the rims of his eyes were red. ’Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together. Once a rift forms, it’s impossible to mend, even with a thousand times the effort. The chasm will only grow wider, never to be closed in this lifetime.’

Seeing Fang Qingyuan’s unwavering and respectful demeanor, Lechuan felt a surge of anger. He roared, "Don’t call yourself ’disciple’ anymore! You may have been my apprentice once, but now we’re equals. We should address each other as such."

"My aptitude isn’t the best; I have no hope of reaching the Great Dao. I’ve found an opportunity, and once Awakening Lion Valley is established, I’ll step down as Sect Leader of the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect. Sect Leaders come and go, but the sect remains. I was sent from the Southern Border to White Mountain on a whim. If I hadn’t carved out a place for myself here, another order from above would have sent me off to who knows what godforsaken corner of the world.

"I’m going to build a family dynasty here, one that will last for thousands of years. Who knows, our families may one day cross swords. When we meet again, ’Fellow Daoist’ will suffice.

"You go your way, and I’ll go mine. We’ll just stay out of each other’s business."

Lechuan had unleashed this torrent of words, appearing furious with Fang Qingyuan’s actions. ’But I know he’s just trying to provoke me,’ Fang Qingyuan thought. ’He wants me to argue with him, to shout back, so that no one can accuse me of being unfilial in the future.’

This world was, after all, under the sway of the Great Zhou Academy and its various schools of Confucian thought. Its emphasis on filial piety influenced every human cultivator.

Even though the Beast Taming Sect followed its own path, it couldn’t completely escape such influences. Lechuan’s actions would spare Fang Qingyuan a great deal of criticism down the road.

Seeing Fang Qingyuan remain stoic, Lechuan roared:

"Go! Get out of here! Those who know me say my heart is sorrowful; those who know me not ask what it is I seek."

He stepped out into the mist, his sleeves billowing. Facing the fading light of the setting sun, he flew off into the distance. As his figure vanished, a few last words drifted clearly back to Fang Qingyuan’s ears.

"Who sees me, wasting away alone in the west wind, lost in memories before the dying sun."

"I am but a melancholy guest in the world of men; once the wine is drunk, what need is there for desolate words?"

"Fang Qingyuan, just you watch! My path to the Great Dao will be a triumphant one, and I will forge an everlasting legacy!"

The echoes of his voice faded. The setting sun cast its rays upon the mist ahead, dyeing the ethereal, illusory sea of clouds a brilliant gold. Fang Qingyuan’s figure was bathed in that same cold, warmthless light.

He stood there for a long time. Just as the sun was about to dip below the mountain peaks, he slowly knelt. Facing the direction Lechuan had disappeared, he kowtowed three times, then rose and departed in silence.

***

No one was present to witness this final farewell. However, far away on the Celestial Gate Main Mountain, three spectators watched, each with their own take on the events.

Yue’e Ancestor was half-reclining on a Cloud Bed. Her Divine Sense was so powerful that events happening dozens of miles away were as clear as if they were right before her eyes. A smile played on her lips as she looked at the daydreaming Jade Rabbit before her.

"This Fang Qingyuan... he certainly has a mind of his own. You’ve met him. What do you think? Has he piqued your interest?"

The Jade Rabbit pursed her lips and said bluntly,

"Maybe if he were in the Nascent Soul Realm, but he’s only at the Fourth-Layer Golden Core. He’s far too weak. I could kill him with a single breath. Count on him? Ancestor, you have to be kidding."

The Jade Rabbit went over and shook Yue’e Ancestor’s arm, beginning to act coy. With a resigned sigh, Yue’e Ancestor gently stroked the rabbit’s forehead.

"The Celestial Tribulation is difficult to overcome. The threshold between life and death holds great terror. But I’ve lived for nearly ten thousand years; I’ve made my peace with it. You are my only lingering concern. Before my next tribulation arrives, you absolutely must find a suitable Master."

"I know, I know! But that’s still a long way off. Five hundred years is plenty of time to look. For now, I just want to spend more time with you."

Yue’e Ancestor chuckled softly. In the blink of an eye, the woman and the beast had already dismissed the scene between Fang Qingyuan and Lechuan as an insignificant drama, relegating it to some desolate corner of their minds.

As for the third spectator, Tu Dai’Er—a mortal vessel for an incarnated Divine Spirit of the Divinity Transformation realm—she too had witnessed the entire scene through the spirit residing within her.

In stark contrast to the indifference of Yue’e Ancestor and the Jade Rabbit, Tu Dai’Er was thrilled. ’Fang Qingyuan splitting with Lechuan means we can recruit Bear Wind,’ she reasoned. ’And recruiting Bear Wind means he’ll have to pledge allegiance to the Black Earth Bodhisattva. Then Bear Wind can be a robe-wearing guardian for the family, and Fang Qingyuan can be an acolyte at the Bodhisattva’s side... and they’ll both be under my command! How perfect is that?’

Tu Dai’Er ran through the logic in her head, and it all seemed to add up perfectly. The thought of having her own subordinates to order around made her giddy. So, when she rushed over to find Fang Qingyuan, she was just about to ask when he planned to pledge his allegiance when he shot her a look one might reserve for a complete moron.

"When did I ever say I was pledging allegiance to Black Wind Valley? Don’t spout nonsense, Fellow Daoist Tu."

Tu Dai’Er froze, asking in confusion,

"We just went through all that trouble to get Bear Wind out for you, and now you’re turning your back on us? Isn’t that a little... a little..."

In response to Tu Dai’Er’s accusation, Fang Qingyuan replied sternly,

"I never, not once, said I would pledge allegiance to Black Wind Valley. As for the great service you claim to have done for me... I acknowledge it. But the price for that service has already been paid. If you don’t believe me, go ask Elder Tu."

Tu Dai’Er was dumbstruck. She had no idea the debt had been settled. But when she actually communicated with Tu Wuzhao, she found that Fang Qingyuan was telling the truth.

Jinbao’s father had already paid the price for their services. As for what he paid with, or how he paid it, that was beyond what Tu Dai’Er was privy to.

"What are you spacing out for? Let’s get back to the sect. Our business here is done. Are we going to wait around to get chased out?"

Fang Qingyuan was in a foul mood, so his tone was sharp, but Tu Dai’Er was lost in a strange sense of disappointment and didn’t even notice.

Fang Qingyuan’s reminder jolted her. She realized they were no longer welcome among the members of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect. While they probably wouldn’t be physically thrown out, they wouldn’t be met with any pleasantries if they lingered.

And so, Tu Dai’Er trailed behind Fang Qingyuan like a pouting newlywed and meekly climbed into the Qingyun Gangfeng Shuttle he had brought out.

The seventy-foot-long shuttle launched itself from the Celestial Gate Mountain Pier. It carried a troubled man and a dejected woman toward the Qingyuan Sect. The sun finally set, and a vast darkness surged forth, swallowing the narrow vessel whole.