First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 2251 – Never Tiring of Each Other’s Company

Su Yi already understood some of Lin Jinghong’s origins. He wasn’t at all surprised that she could safely visit the Central Divine Continent.

“What are you in such a rush for? What if you leave and my enemies return to catch me off guard?” Su Yi laughed and called her back. “As you can see, I’m still just a pitifully weak little Lesser God. Any old Master God could destroy me.”

Lin Jinghong rolled her eyes. “‘Pitifully weak?’ Hah! Who’d believe that?”

Still, Lin Jinghong agreed to remain behind. She’d set off once Su Yi had resolved the situation with the Ancient Xi Family.

It was then that Xi Jingshan flew over from Skybright Mountain, leading the other Xi Family experts. They approached to express their gratitude. Some of them even burst into tears.

If Su Yi hadn’t stepped forth to turn the tides, the Xi Family would have met with disaster! Of course they were grateful. How could they not be?

Su Yi didn’t say anything. It was only when he saw Xi Ning standing amidst the crowd that he smiled.

He still remembered what Xi Ning had said before the battle began, her eyes red with tears and her tone staunch.

“Whether we live or die, we’ll do it together.”

Xi Ning stood there, her eyes sparkling. A hint of a smile tugged at her lips.

The young man standing in the distance had robes stained red with blood, and his long hair was disheveled, but he was just as she remembered him: proud, transcendent, and detached!

There were too many people here for them to have a private conversation, but each knew what the other was thinking.

In that moment, silence spoke louder than words.

Xi Jingshan soon invited Su Yi and Lin Jinghong back to their estate as guests.

“Miss Qi Wei, you come too,” said Su Yi with a wave.

“Alright.” Qi Wei smiled and nodded.

The curtains had fallen on this grand battle. The ending had filled her heart with excitement, joy, and delight. She wanted to chat with Su Yi, but when there were so many old monsters clustered around him, it was hard to find an opportunity.

Now, Su Yi had invited her over of his own accord. How could she possibly refuse?

……

Eighty thousand miles of wilderness had been laid to ruin. Everything was now devoid of life. Everywhere you looked, the ground was marred with the scars of battle.

Only Skybright Mountain had survived the battle fully intact.

Far, far away, a scholarly, Confucian-looking man stood in silence.

He wore wide-sleeved robes and a broad belt, and he gripped a yellowed bamboo tube. His snow-white hair hung loose, and his presence was as mellow as a spring breeze.

“This Fellow Daoist Su… sure is extraordinary,” the Confucian-looking man said with emotion.

But then, he laughed at himself. “I just didn’t anticipate that he didn’t have any intention of asking me for help.”

The gray-robed man beside him said in a low voice, “Don’t say that, Master. He doesn’t understand your character. It’s only natural that he wouldn’t recklessly request your aid.”

Had Su Yi been here, he’d have recognized the gray-robed man at a glance. This was Bei Yuan!

After the curtains fell on the battle in the Immortal Realm’s Epoch Battlefield, Su Yi sent a portion of his will to the Human Realm to bring Qing Wan and his other old friends to cultivate in the Immortal Realm.

It was then that he first met Bei Yuan.

He was a god, but he’d come here on his master, Divine Severing’s order. He’d spent years there protecting Qing Wan and the others in secret.

His goal was to establish a positive karmic tie with Su Yi!

Bei Yuan said that when Su Yi went to the God Domain, his master, Divine Severing, hoped to work with him to kill their common enemies.

Su Yi still had the Carefree Medallion Bei Yuan had given him on his master’s behalf. At the time, Bei Yuan told Su Yi that if he ran into trouble in the God Domain, all he had to do was activate the medallion, and they’d come to his aid.

Even in the face of the grand battle of Skybright Mountain, Su Yi didn’t activate the medallion, but… Bei Yuan and his master came anyway.

The scholarly man was none other than Divine Severing, the owner of the Carefree Medallion!

Master and servant had been here this entire time, ready to act at a moment’s notice.

But the results were outside their expectations. They watched the whole battle, beginning to end, but they found no opportunity to intervene!

Bei Yuan could tell that his master was a bit dejected about it.

He added, “Besides, Master, you sent this servant to the Human Realm to protect Su Yi’s old friends. I stood guard there for years. In light of that benevolence, I’m sure we can approach and cooperate with Su Yi at any time.”

The Confucian man sighed. “You’re wrong. That paltry positive karma means nothing. If I really wanted to work with Su Yi, I should have staunchly taken a stand as soon as the battle began, just like that stubborn geezer and his disciple. I shouldn’t have lain in wait, biding my time for an opportunity.”

Bei Yuan fell silent.

“Forget it. If we missed our chance, we missed it. So long as Su Yi holds onto the Carefree Medallion, we’ll have opportunities to work together later. Let’s go,” said the Confucian man. He’d already turned to leave.

Bei Yuan hurried after him.

……

Late at night, between a dim moon and sparse stars. All was tranquil.

A sumptuous feast was underway in a grand hall in the Xi Family’s estate on Skybright Mountain.

Su Yi, Lin Jinghong, Qi Wei, their companions, and the prominent members of the Xi Family were all in attendance. Everyone laughed, chatted, and clinked glasses. The atmosphere was joyful and harmonious.

Su Yi enjoyed a rare moment of leisure, chatting with those around him between sips of wine.

“Fellow Daoist Su, many thanks for coming to our aid. You saved the Xi Family from catastrophe!” Elder Xi Qingsong suddenly sighed. “But I’m afraid that after this battle, we can no longer remain in the Spirit Firmament Divine Continent. I trust that someone of your character won’t simply leave us to die, right?”

The atmosphere was instantly stifled.

“What do you mean by that?” said Qi Wei, her gaze a bit cold.

“I don’t mean anything,” said Xi Qingsong, shaking his head. “I just think that we were completely innocent in all this, and this disaster befell us out of nowhere. We’ve resolved the crisis at hand, but our situation hasn’t really changed.”

As his voice boomed throughout the hall, the atmosphere grew stifled. The crowd exchanged glances.

Xi Qingsong’s words were grating to the ears, but there was no denying it; he’d given voice to exactly what the Xi Family higher-ups were worried about.

After all, the Spirit Firmament Divine Continent was the Three Purities Daoist Court’s territory!

“Qingsong, you’ve had too much to drink!” Xi Jingshan rose and shot him a dignified glare. “Step back!”

“I haven’t had too much to drink!” Xi Qingsong frowned. “Honest counsel stings the ears, and good advice is bitter. How could I have said something so unpleasant if not out of consideration for the whole clan’s wellbeing?”

Su Yi had been watching calmly from the sidelines this entire time, sipping from his cup of wine. Now, he finally broke his silence. “Rest assured. I’ve already made arrangements.”

He glanced at Qi Wei, who promptly took over. “If you’re willing, I can get the Xi Family settled in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent. The Qilin Race will arrange a safe place for you, and we guarantee it won’t be at all inferior to Skybright Mountain!”

The crowd was moved. Many of the old-timers’ eyes lit up.

It would be just perfect if they could move their clan out of the Spirit Firmament Divine Continent and into the Eastern Victory Divine Continent!

That aside, they’d receive the Qilin Divine Race’s support. They naturally wouldn’t need to worry about other factions targeting them!

Xi Qingsong was overcome with delight. He said with gratitude, “So, you made arrangements already, Your Excellency. I jumped to conclusions. Please, don’t take offense.”

“Are you satisfied now?” asked Su YI.

“I’m satisfied!” Xi Qingsong hurriedly shook his head. “I’m absolutely satisfied!”

“In that case, I’d like to take this opportunity to say a few words too.” Su Yi set down his cup, swept his gaze across the crowd, then looked at Xi Qingsong once more. “If I remember correctly, you knelt and begged our enemies for forgiveness before the battle began, right?”

Xi Qingsong felt as if he’d been struck by lightning. His face paled, and his entire body broke out in cold sweats.

Some of the Xi Family higher-ups’ hearts clenched, and their expressions shifted.

Su Yi had stepped forth on their behalf today, yet Xi Qingsong had thrown himself to the ground and kowtowed in front of a crowd, begging their enemies for mercy and trying to draw a clear line between Su Yi and the Xi Family.

In doing so, he’d violated a taboo!

“At the time, I…” Xi Qingsong stammered and was just about to explain when Su Yi waved for silence.

“Let me ask you one more question. Whose decision was it to offer Xi Ning to the Three Purities Daoist Court?” asked Su Yi.

The gathered higher-ups’ expressions shifted. All of them were uncomfortable.

Xi Jingshan sighed, then said staunchly, “Fellow Daoist, the Xi Family will naturally make this right!”

Su Yi nodded and said no more. Out of consideration for Xi Ning, he naturally wouldn’t take this to extremes. Were he anywhere else, he’d have killed someone like Xi Qingsong on the spot.

After the banquet ended, Su Yi finally found a chance for a private chat with Su Yi.

All was quiet and still save for the night breeze as the two of them strolled through a sea of clouds.

Years had passed since they’d last met, yet it was as if no time had passed at all. They were in complete harmony, and there were no words they couldn’t share with each other.

They were more than just kindred spirits. This went beyond that.

They weren’t like Dao Partners, but their hearts were even more connected than those of Dao Partners.

It was a wondrous feeling.

“I’ve already awakened a portion of the power within my vital source energies,” XI Ning said suddenly. “I still don’t know exactly who I am, but I can say with confidence that when I retrieve my full memories, I’ll understand just what kind of relationship exists between us.”

The sea of clouds churned, and her clothing swayed around her. The gentle glow of starlight lent her beautiful face an ethereal, transcendent quality.

Hers was a beauty that needed no flourishes or adornments. Even without them, she was dazzling, unique, and unparalleled!

“Over the past few years, I’ve guessed some of it,” said Su Yi, rubbing his nose. He chuckled. “Still, I must say that even though we might have crossed paths purely due to our special connection, I’m not at all upset or averse to that. On the contrary, it’s a thoroughly pleasant feeling.

“Even though I can’t quite explain it in words, it sometimes feels like part of me has always been waiting for you to appear.”

“I feel the same way,” said Xi Ning, blinking her bright, beautiful eyes. She couldn’t help but smile.

She was so radiant that the stars dimmed by comparison.

Su Yi and Xi Ning chatted long into the night.

They never tired of each other’s company. It was as if no one else existed in this world.

When day broke and Su Yi and Xi Ning returned to the Xi Family estate, they were greeted by the sight of a severed head still dripping with blood.