The Return of the Banished Immortal

The Armored Warrior was incredibly violent. With a shriek, he drew the saber at his waist and sneered, "A reason, is this reason enough?" As he spoke, the long saber in his hand slashed towards Chang'an.

Chang'an leaned his upper body back, dodging the saber. His peripheral vision caught a flash of cunning in the Armored Warrior's eyes as the saber suddenly swung towards the head of Chasing Lightning.

This sudden turn of events made Chang'an furious.

Liu Ruyan's prized horse was about to be killed by a saber strike?!

Chasing Lightning whinnied and reared up. In that instant, its front hooves suddenly kicked out. Before the Armored Warrior's saber could land, with a boom, the entire body of the warrior clad in Cloud Pattern Steel armor was sent flying, rolling over thirty feet away. This scene was truly unheard of, and Chang'an was wide-eyed.

The Armored Warrior's heavy armor protected him. Though he looked disheveled, he was unharmed. He rose from the ground, grabbed his saber, and was about to charge again, his savage nature completely unleashed.

"Stop!"

A shout rang out. The Armored Warrior froze abruptly, stopping as if he were a machine.

The speaker was the white-clothed man who had just emerged from Spring Breeze Tower, the master of these Armored Warriors.

The Armored Warrior retreated repeatedly, sheathed his saber, and silently returned to his original position, standing still.

The white-clothed man, with an imposing presence, strode towards Chang'an. As he walked, he clapped his hands and praised, "Good, good! This is truly a rare and precious horse. Is this Miss Ruyan's Chasing Lightning?!"

Chang'an dismounted and replied, "Your eyesight is excellent."

The white-clothed man frowned and questioned, "How did Miss Ruyan's steed fall into your hands?"

Chang'an said, "I borrowed it, naturally."

The white-clothed man said sternly, "Borrowed?"

Chang'an replied, "That's right."

The white-clothed man slowly said, "What is your relationship with Miss Ruyan? As far as I know, Miss Ruyan never lends her steed to others, and this Chasing Lightning doesn't obey anyone else's commands. She cherishes this horse, how could she lend it to you?"

Chang'an said, "We are good friends. As for how I came to borrow it, that's my skill, none of your business!" Chang'an already felt intense hostility and refused to back down.

The white-clothed man snorted, "A mere nobody dares to call himself friends with Miss Ruyan?! Honestly, who are you?"

Chang'an smiled, "It's not up to you to decide if I'm worthy! I have nothing to report to you."

The white-clothed man's expression turned cold, "What I say counts. You will explain yourself clearly." As soon as he finished speaking, all twenty Armored Warriors had drawn their sabers, their chilling killing intent locking onto Chang'an.

A wave of dread washed over the front of Spring Breeze Tower, the killing intent sharp and piercing.

At some unknown time, Liu Ruyan gracefully emerged and said lazily, "Young Master Tang, why stir up trouble in front of Spring Breeze Tower?!"

The white-clothed man turned his anger into a smile upon hearing her voice, laughing heartily three times, "Since Miss Ruyan says so, how could I not listen? Let's go!" An extremely luxurious carriage rolled out. The man Liu Ruyan called Young Master Tang boarded the carriage, with the twenty Armored Warriors escorting him on both sides. The procession departed with strict formation.

Chang'an looked at Liu Ruyan in front of Spring Breeze Tower and smiled, "Sister Ruyan, is this the 'home' you spoke of?!" He knew his smile must have been strained.

Liu Ruyan, her colorful robes fluttering like a butterfly, danced into Spring Breeze Tower. The stablehand led Chasing Lightning away, but Chang'an stood still, watching Liu Ruyan's retreating back.

Walking gracefully for a little over ten feet, Liu Ruyan suddenly turned her head and said, "When you're willing to call me Ruyan, I'll tell you."

Her voice was not gentle at all; she was very annoyed. She must be in a bad mood.

Chang'an said, "Liu Ruyan, who exactly is that man?"

From the moment that man appeared, he had a feeling of ill intent. When men encountered other men in the presence of women, especially stunning beauties like Liu Ruyan, they always felt a strange sense of competitiveness and selfish possessiveness, unwilling to be outdone or let go. Moreover, Chang'an and Liu Ruyan had known each other for several years, and he had long considered her a confidante.

Liu Ruyan said softly, "Why are you still standing there? Come upstairs, and I'll apply medicine for you!" She knew it was difficult to make this fool summon the courage to call her "Ruyan," and she couldn't force him.

The more she cared about someone, the less she wanted to force them, becoming gentle like a young lady from a secluded chamber. She never hesitated to show her tenderness to such people.

But in the eyes of those she didn't care about, she was always a distant, unattainable fairy, cold and unapproachable.

Chang'an no longer insisted and walked into the building. Liu Ruyan waited for him to approach, looking at him with heartache, "Do you have to fight so desperately?" This wasn't the first time she had seen Chang'an covered in blood, and each time it pained her just as much.

Chang'an grinned, "It's good I'm not dead. If someone is willing to risk their life for me, why can't I do the same!"

Liu Ruyan said unhappily, "Aren't you afraid they're deceiving you?"

Chang'an replied, "I trust my judgment. Besides, if someone deceives me, they can only do it once. If I don't die, the person who deceived me will eventually pay the price. I'll make them regret deceiving me."

Liu Ruyan sighed, "Must you solve everything with fighting? Can't you use your brain?!" She knew Chang'an couldn't tolerate injustice and was proud and competitive.

Chang'an said, "I'm not stupid!"

Liu Ruyan could only fall silent; she had to agree on this point.

Miao Suyi had already left. At this moment, besides the cooks, waiters, servants, and laborers, there was no one else in the entire Spring Breeze Tower.

Liu Ruyan's private room was elegant and fresh, exuding a spiritual aura.

The room was naturally clean and tidy, with everything arranged neatly and orderly. The six calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls were the true distinguishing features of Liu Ruyan's private room. These four paintings and two pieces of calligraphy were all from the hands of famous masters, priceless treasures in the eyes of true connoisseurs.

Luo Gaoyang's "Autumn Farewell," "Ancient Road, West Wind," and "Inviting the Moon for a Drink" were her favorites.

Liu Ruyan had a fondness for ancient paintings and calligraphy, and she herself was a master painter, possessing both talent and beauty, excelling in both literature and martial arts. She particularly adored the works of the great painter Luo Gaoyang, saying his paintings contained an immortal essence and a love as deep as the sea, always praising him highly whenever she spoke of them.

Luo Gaoyang's three original works were untouchable by anyone.

Chang'an was no stranger to this place, nor to Luo Gaoyang. Luo Gaoyang was not only a great painter but also a great chivalrous hero, whose painting and swordsmanship were both superb, reaching extraordinary heights. He was known as a peerless genius, Luo the Banished Immortal.

His paintings, even a rough, uncultured brute could see the grandeur and feel their extraordinary nature. His paintings exuded an indescribable loneliness and compassion, much like his life. Whether rendered with bold strokes or light touches, they always seemed ethereal, like traces of immortals, possessing that sense of being high above and thus cold, a feeling only a banished immortal from the mortal world could possess. That was why he was called Luo the Banished Immortal.

No one had seen his swordsmanship in nearly thirty years.

Those who had the fortune to witness it would sigh, "Masters are lonely!"

Luo Gaoyang's loneliness was beyond what ordinary people could comprehend. He had lost battles before, but those who defeated him would always say they hadn't truly won, because Luo Gaoyang's sword had pierced their souls with its desolation. Perhaps they won a move or two, but their hearts had already been utterly defeated.

Chang'an couldn't imagine what kind of person that was, what kind of sword that was, what kind of loneliness that was.

Liu Ruyan said that one could get a glimpse of it from his paintings.

Chang'an didn't understand paintings. He only felt that after looking at them for too long, his eyes would blur. The painting seemed like a dream, an incomplete dream. Perhaps the dream was originally beautiful, but the incomplete part left by Luo Gaoyang only made Chang'an feel hazy, causing his heart to sink continuously, not into the beautiful parts, but into countless regrets.

Chang'an interpreted this feeling as the "immortal aura" Liu Ruyan spoke of, but through these paintings, he couldn't discern what kind of person Luo Gaoyang was, nor could he experience that loneliness. He felt that a person couldn't have only one side, and these paintings only expressed Luo Gaoyang's solitary aspect. A single painting representing a person would only be one facet of that person. Luo Gaoyang couldn't even paint something that could represent his entire self.

Therefore, Chang'an felt that merely describing Luo Gaoyang as "lonely at the top" was incorrect.

One shouldn't insist on believing someone is a certain way just because that's the side they show the world.

Such an approach was one-sided and ridiculous.

Chang'an glanced at the calligraphy and paintings in the room a few times and sat down by the table.

Liu Ruyan had already fetched gauze, antiseptic, and wound powder.

However, Chang'an was deeply captivated by a painting on the table. It was a painting Liu Ruyan had just finished, the ink barely dry.

Liu Ruyan chuckled, "I painted it last night."

Chang'an was already engrossed.

The painting depicted a fierce tiger in a mountain ravine with a waterfall.

The fierce tiger sniffed a fragrant orchid.

A single orchid exuded its fragrance in a quiet corner beneath the waterfall.

The tiger, with its front paws forward and body lowered, stretched its head to sniff the small, pristine white orchid. The orchid was small, yet flawless and emitting a rich fragrance. The tiger was immense, the king of beasts that shook the mountains, yet Chang'an only saw the prominent "King" character on its forehead and its intensely focused, captivated eyes.

Chang'an's body began to tremble; he was immensely excited.

Liu Ruyan looked at Chang'an, her expression filled with surprise.

Suddenly, Chang'an burst into laughter and leaped to his feet, grabbing Liu Ruyan's shoulders. He exclaimed excitedly, "Ruyan, I understand! I finally understand!"

Liu Ruyan was taken aback, a blush appearing on her face. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Chang'an and asked, "Understand what?"

She hadn't expected Chang'an to suddenly call her "Ruyan" instead of "Sister." It was unexpected, and though different from all her imaginings, her heart fluttered.

Chang'an suddenly pulled Liu Ruyan into his embrace, lightly inhaling the delicate fragrance of her hair, and laughed with immense excitement, "Tiger Aspect Nine Moves! I've finally achieved enlightenment! Ruyan, I really have to thank you!"

He raised his arms in his excitement, lifting Liu Ruyan by her slender waist and spinning her around. He laughed heartily, looking at Liu Ruyan, "Ruyan, I've finally comprehended it! It's all thanks to this painting of yours, Ruyan, it's all your credit..."

Liu Ruyan's dress and hair danced around her as she looked at Chang'an's face, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

A wave of disappointment washed over her, but she gently smiled and asked, "Then how do you plan to thank me?"

Chang'an replied, "However you want." Then his face stiffened and turned pale. The sudden exertion caused his wounds to split open, and blood poured out.