Cultivating In Secret Beside A Demoness

Chapter 2015: Chapter 156 Did we meet for the first time because of you?_2

Jiang Hao nodded.

The man smiled and said, “Everything in this world has its use.”

Jiang Hao frowned, not understanding the meaning behind the other's words.

But seeing the way the man acted, he didn't seem inclined to explain further.

After hesitating, he asked again, “Will we have the chance to meet again?”

The man shook his head and replied, “There probably won't be any chance for that.”

“Honghong, how many children do you want to have in the future?” Suddenly, the woman asked Heavenly Note Sect.

The latter was taken aback, somewhat perplexed; the topic had changed too quickly.

She hadn't thought about how to answer either.

“I, I haven't given it much thought,” Heavenly Note Sect shook her head and said.

“Don't have any; it's less worrisome that way,” the woman spoke up.

Heavenly Note Sect was completely stunned.

She had seen countless people always rushing things; this was the first time she'd encountered such words.

The woman sighed and said, “Having children doesn't guarantee they will be filial; being filial doesn't ensure they will be well-behaved, and being well-behaved doesn't guarantee they won't cause worry.”

Heavenly Note Sect truly didn't know how to continue the conversation.

She felt that the other was very familiar.

And also, like someone who had been through it all.

Not even the State Preceptor was as exaggerated as her.

At this moment, the man had finished his meal and set down his bowl and chopsticks: “Time is running short for you two.”

He looked at Jiang Hao and Heavenly Note Sect and asked, “Is there anything else you want to ask?”

For a moment, Jiang Hao didn't know what to say.

He felt like he had countless questions, but at this point, he didn't know which to ask.

Eventually, he shook his head and asked no further.

Heavenly Note Sect was even less able to inquire anything.

“The gate is over there. When you want to leave, you can open it and exit, but what lies outside the door is completely different from what's inside,” the man said with a smile: “Someone is waiting for you outside.”

“We've intruded upon your time,” Jiang Hao spoke.

“You should actually thank him,” the man said with a laugh.

“Exactly, otherwise I wouldn't have had the chance to see it,” she said, turning to look at Heavenly Note Sect: “I thought fate was not on my side, turns out someone spoke without thinking.”

At this moment, Jiang Hao sensed the vibrations from the Ancient Yin-Yang Millstone.

He was about to leave.

Or more accurately, to go out and meet Dao Yi.

He was uncertain what would happen then.

Jiang Hao looked at the two sitting by the table and finally said, “I need to leave now.”

“You don't want to say anything more?” the woman suddenly asked.

Jiang Hao shook his head slightly.

“Do you want me to drive away the people outside for you? They are just refugees,” the woman offered again.

Jiang Hao shook his head slightly: “I'm not a child anymore.”

And so, Jiang Hao turned to look at Heavenly Note Sect.

The latter did not speak, but stood up alongside Jiang Hao.

They respectfully bowed to the two people and prepared to leave.

The woman stood up to see off the two guests.

The man inside, however, did not move, just sat there watching them.

Creak!

The door was opened once again.

Jiang Hao and Heavenly Note Sect walked out.

Jiang Hao wanted to look back and say farewell.

But as soon as he turned around, the door was closed.

Jiang Hao: “….”

It seemed he had never really said goodbye to them seriously.

Never said goodbye?

The door had been closed before, and when he went to open it again, it became someone else's home.

Who would have thought that upon reopening it today, it would still be his home.

But after today, this door would cease to exist.

Perhaps he should have spoken up inside, hoping they would do something.

Then maybe he would have an easier time when meeting Dao Yi.

But…..

It's meaningless.

This path is ultimately his own.

He must see every step of his journey clearly, the more arduous the path, the more pronounced the footprints he leaves.

The less he can let others take his place.

“The door sure closed quickly,” Heavenly Note Sect said.

She also wanted to say goodbye, but before she knew it, the door was shut; looking at some traces, it seemed as though it had never been opened at all.

“So, you are here.” A sudden voice came.

Jiang Hao turned his head to look.

At the end of the narrow alley stood a middle-aged man wearing a Daoist Robe.

In his hand, he held a treasure compass, stepping toward Jiang Hao.

“Dao Yi?” Jiang Hao inquired.

“Dao Yi?” The middle-aged man smiled and said: “It is I, perhaps, but I have long ceased to be myself.

However, encountering you here is unexpected; I thought I should meet a younger you.

Have you hidden him away?”

“More or less.” Jiang Hao replied.

“It doesn't really matter, your appearance or absence changes little.” Dao Yi spoke with downcast eyes: “Although he is in slumber, I come from the Human Emperor's era.

I have been following the traces of time in search of you, leaving too many marks in this world.

Only now have I found you.

If you hadn't come, your younger self could not have escaped; since you're here, you cannot escape either.”

“Do you think you can kill me, senior?” Jiang Hao asked.

“If it were just me, of course not, but I am no longer myself.” As he spoke, the treasure compass in Dao Yi's hand suddenly shattered.

It transformed into starlight, confining the surrounding space.

In but an instant, this place became isolated.

Detach from time, cut off from causality, as if a realm that doesn't exist.

Without the passage of time, without the manifestation of the Tao.

Dao Yi looked at the person before him, his eyes calm: “This is what I have condensed during my search for you, specifically to sever your path.

To keep you here completely, whether it's your past or present self, it is sufficient as long as one remains here.

To trap you perpetually in the days of the past.

You will have no future.

No matter how fast you are, no matter how profound your Dao techniques are, you shall remain forever in this city, unable to escape.”

The moment he was sealed here, Jiang Hao felt as though everything had been cut off.

However, he didn't fall into disarray, but instead looked to Dao Yi and said: “Senior, if you die, will this thing disappear?”

“It will.” Dao Yi nodded.

Then, a blade of light swept across.

The First Form of the Moon-Slaying saber technique, slashes.

Bang!

Dao Yi's head was severed from his body.

Immediately after, the body merged into the space.

“Useless.” Next, another figure stepped out.

It was the Dao Yi that had just died: “If I die, the Restriction on you disappears; if the Restriction doesn't disappear, then I would not be.

You can try to break this space.

This is the power specifically designed to fight you; you cannot break it.”

Jiang Hao's brows furrowed slightly, and he then swung his sword.

Moonlight appeared.

Even if it slashed through nothingness, it could not touch anything.

“Useless, both the Tao and the Dharma are unable to break this place, nor can they kill me.” Dao Yi looked at Jiang Hao and said: “Stay here, stay here forever; from now on, there will be no more you.

Until you turn into nothingness.

Your past is merely a fleeting cloud; your years are but like a dream and shadow.

There is no need for attachment, nor does it have any meaning.”

Jiang Hao looked at the person before him, sheathed the Moon-Slaying saber, and said calmly: “My past is just a fleeting cloud? Like a dream and shadow?”

“Everyone cares about the present.” Dao Yi looked at Jiang Hao and said:

“What does your past matter?”

Jiang Hao took a step forward, leaving his footprint on the ground.

With every step he took, Jiang Hao softly asked: “Do you know why I am worth your pursuit?”

“Because you are too strong, worth my effort.” Dao Yi stood still and replied.

“Then do you know why I reached my current realms?”

“Fortuitous chances against heaven's will, talent that spans across the heavens.”

Jiang Hao slowly took steps, approaching Dao Yi, and said: “Since my birth, over four hundred years have passed–not too long, nor unending. In these years, I left my footprints, my image, whether the Tao or the Dharma, all were condensed bit by bit by me.

The past four hundred years shaped the me of today.

It was not a fleeting cloud, nor a dream and shadow; it was…

The path of my arrival.”

The moment his words fell, Jiang Hao raised his hand, pointing his fingers toward Dao Yi's forehead, his calm voice resounding once more: “The past created the me of today; if you sever my past, then the me of today can reflect the past path.”

As the words dropped, Jiang Hao's fingers touched Dao Yi's forehead.

In an instant, a path appeared, extending out, vanishing into nothingness.

Then, with a “bang,” the space shattered, time turned backwards, causality reversed.

Jiang Hao stood atop the causality and time, looking at the person before him calmly and said: “Senior Dao Yi, it seems the thing you brought has broken.”

As Jiang Hao retracted his hand, Dao Yi's body began to gradually dissipate.