Chapter 1511 - 815: Little Glutton (Double Chapter)

Inside the teahouse, in stark contrast to Lu Ying, who had forgotten the world and oneself, Yin Tingxue, possessing the Heavenly Ear Technique, was a bit restless.

She did not intentionally eavesdrop, but the two with extraordinary cultivation, though speaking quietly, had their words clearly and uncontrollably reaching her ears, making it impossible for her not to listen. Each word that fell into her ears caused her heart to skip a beat.

Zhou Yitang's voice was calm, "The person known as the Broken Swordman is half a friend of mine. Having not seen him for many years, I thought I might be able to meet him on this western journey. Now, however, he is nowhere to be found. You've been lingering in this area between the two countries for a long time; do you know his whereabouts?"

The schoolmaster was silent for a moment, seemingly choosing his words carefully, then slowly said, "Daoist Tongxuan, to be honest, I... do not know. To be precise, since a certain day months ago, the person known as the Broken Swordman was taken from the River of Time... plucked out."

"Plucked out?" Zhou Yitang's tone slightly tightened.

"Yes." The schoolmaster affirmed, "It was not concealment, not an escape. It was like the Buddha's Nirvana, existing beyond the Five Elements, beyond cause and effect. Now trying to track him is like peering into a constantly shifting cloud of mist, one moment seemingly here, the next vanished beyond trace, impossible to follow. He no longer knows days and nights, cannot discern time, and perhaps... may have even gradually lost himself in it."

Yin Tingxue's heart jolted. To pluck someone out of the River of Time? That sounded more terrifying than murder.

Zhou Yitang remained silent for even longer. To let oneself transcend the River of Time, unbound by it, is already a holy act. In the Buddhist Sect, it is called Arhat, in the Taoist Sect, a Golden Immortal. But to forcefully take someone's life from the River of Time... this is not something ordinary divine skills can achieve. In today's era, those who can accomplish this are few indeed.

Before long, Yin Tingxue heard Zhou Yitang speak again, steering the topic toward the Emperor Jianji of the Western Jin.

Zhou Yitang asked, "What is that Emperor of the Western Jin now after? Is it to strive for governance and rebuild the territory, or... is it still that greed for the Heavenly Merit?"

The schoolmaster chuckled bitterly, lowering his voice, "Since you know of the greed for the Heavenly Merit, you should understand it is not mere talk. What's more... many silently wager on him today. Not to mention the Buddhist Sect of Western Jin, which regards him as a protector of the Buddha Country and venerates him as the National Religion. Even in the Taoist Sect, those who adhere to the belief of 'Three Teachings Converging'—viewing Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism as one and ultimately returning to the Divine Dao or Heaven's Will—many Immortals are drawn to him."

"Ha," Zhou Yitang suddenly sneered, imitating Chen Yi's tone, "Isn't it disgraceful?"

The schoolmaster was momentarily choked by this blunt remark, then responded with a trace of helplessness, "Daoist Tongxuan, why get upset? Haven't you heard of the saying 'Dragon meets Horse'? In their eyes, the Emperor Jianji of the Western Jin is just another Tie Muzhen... Ha, perhaps some even wish to be the minister following the dragon, setting an immutable doctrine for the new dynasty."

Yin Tingxue was already feeling cold sweat in her palms, not daring to listen any longer.

Afterward, the two of them conversed softly about even more secretive ancient tales, involving names long buried in historical dust, peculiar movements of Earth Veins, and enigmatic astrological changes. Most of these terms and events were unfamiliar to Yin Tingxue, cloaked in clouds and fog, yet the heaviness and foreboding they exuded chilled her spine.

The more she listened, the worse it seemed. It was unbearable for one person alone.

Finally, the conversation seemed to draw to a close. Zhou Yitang stood up to leave, "Thank you for resolving my doubts, sir. It's late, I will take my leave."

The schoolmaster also stood up to see him off.

Just as Zhou Yitang was about to step out of the humble teahouse, the schoolmaster behind him suddenly spoke up:

"Daoist Tongxuan, please wait. I... have one more question, if I may be so bold."

Zhou Yitang paused slightly, without turning back, "Please, ask."

The schoolmaster carefully thought over his words, slowly saying, "Even I... alongside Yu... have little confidence in telling him the truth. A casual move here and there, better than nothing, might even be abandoned in an instant. Why do you seem so... certain?"

Inside and outside the teahouse, it seemed to quiet for a moment. The distant sound of gongs and drums from the small town, the faint explosions of fireworks from the Divine Capital, seemed far away.

Zhou Yitang stood still for a moment.

"Because I've long been heartbroken over him."

Zhou Yitang left the teahouse, the sky had grown darker, yet the fireworks over the distant Divine Capital became more frequent, dyeing half the sky in flowing hues of light. The clamor of the small town made the corner beside the teahouse especially quiet.

Her gaze shifted slightly, noticing under a nearby colonnade, Yin Tingxue, trying to emulate her senior sister's state of forgetting the world and oneself.

The Little Fox stood upright.

Zhou Yitang walked over with light steps.

Yin Tingxue seemed to sense something, speaking in a small, slightly aggrieved voice before Zhou Yitang could, "Zhou, Zhou True Man... I, I didn't mean to listen! They just... slipped into my ears on their own..."

Zhou Yitang stopped before her, nodding slightly, speaking gently, "I know."

Yin Tingxue blinked, seemingly not expecting such a response.

Zhou Yitang continued, "You are naturally endowed with the Heavenly Ear Technique, naturally linked slightly to the Heavenly Dao, able to hear what ordinary people cannot. This connection can be regarded both as a form of favor and as a saying that 'those dear to each other do not consider each other's faults.'"

Yin Tingxue listened and gained some understanding, nodding.

Zhou Yitang rarely added further explanation, "Heaven and Earth are indifferent, viewing all things as straw dogs, inherently without bias. But since you have some affinity with the Heavenly Dao, hearing things you shouldn't have, as long as you don't act rashly or speak recklessly, sometimes the Heavenly Dao will turn a blind eye, not counting it as a great fault. That is the meaning of no blame.