Where the Gentleman Goes

The next morning, after waking up gently, Li Qingjun threw herself back into the follow-up work of pacifying the Western Wasteland.

Destroying a country is not just about conquering the capital; there are many other things to do, and she cannot remain immersed in Land of tenderness.

Qin Yi sat to one side, watching Li Qingjun in full military uniform, holding a gun and sword, standing in the council hall issuing orders, and the generals obeying the orders and leaving. Qin Yi's mind was somewhat dazed.

I used to be naive and dreamy, carefree.

Today, the vicissitudes of our nation and country are all laid bare before our eyes.

Who can still wear that innocent smile, just like before?

She is no longer the naive Princess who dreams of seeking immortality; she is the Nanli Regent, wielding immense power in the Southern Border, conquering cities and destroying kingdoms, and with a single command, heads rain down.

She has grown up.

Actually, Li Qingjun had something left unsaid last night. Everyone here is smart, so there's no need to say it outright; it's enough to understand. Saying it outright would only make things awkward.

Her hidden message was a test to see if Qin Yi was willing to stay.

Qin Yi found the world quite ironic.

If it were my former self, even if I didn't want to stay, it wouldn't have been a big deal for a homebody like me. With a woman I loved by my side, what's wrong with spending my whole life here? Or if I really wanted to go out and see the world, I could just wait until the Little King came of age and then leave without any worries.

But given that he had just recently resolved to become stronger, this incident was utterly baffling, as if fate was playing a cruel joke on him.

A large part of his desire to become stronger stemmed from his desire to protect Qing Jun. While the Mount Mang Venerable theoretically wouldn't interfere in Southern Li's affairs, relying on others for everything was the most unreliable thing. What if he suddenly went mad? What use would it be to be completely defenseless, indulging in this Land of tenderness?

At least you need to go out and learn something useful before you can be considered able to protect people when you return.

He had promised Liusu that he would help it restore its body, and even the most heartless person wouldn't tell Liusu to wait until the Little King grew up. If he did say that, Liusu wouldn't even need to get angry; he himself would feel inhuman.

From any perspective, he had to leave; there was no point in hesitating.

So he didn't say it explicitly, but Li Qingjun probably understood his meaning without saying a word. The two then entwined themselves passionately before falling into a deep sleep.

Qin Yi quietly left the council hall and went to the backyard, where he saw Minghe standing there.

"I have completed my training and am about to return to my sect for seclusion. I have come to bid you farewell, fellow Daoist," Minghe said, bowing respectfully.

Qin Yi returned the greeting with a Daoist bow. "Then I wish you, fellow Daoist, continued progress in your cultivation, and that this trip will not have been in vain."

Minghe stared at him for a while, then suddenly said, "Fellow Daoist, you also intend to Cloud Wandering, don't you?"

"Yes." Qin Yi did not shy away from the question, "Does my friend have any recommendations for places where I can learn more about cultivation in this world?"

"It would be better to go and find a master, but you already have a master, so it's inconvenient..." Minghe pondered for a moment and replied, "Actually, your level is already different from that of ordinary people. It is extremely difficult for ordinary people to seek immortality, but as long as you step into the human world, you will naturally find that there are immortals everywhere."

"Fellow Daoist, that's a bit of a perfunctory statement..." Qin Yi said, "If I want to be more specific, such as learning about soul-related knowledge, or comparing the differences between modern cultivation and that of the ancients, where should I go?"

"Things related to the soul and body are all secrets kept by each sect. As for the differences in cultivation between ancient and modern times, fellow Daoist, you might as well visit the Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Palace."

"The Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Palace?"

"Well, the so-called myriad paths are all strange and unusual cultivation concepts that have only appeared in recent times, and they are very different from those of ancient times. This palace is tens of thousands of miles away from here, so of course it won't be difficult for you, fellow Daoist."

"..."

Minghe took out a jade slip, closed his eyes and infused it with his Law Power: "I will mark the general location, and you can find it yourself."

"Thank you." Qin Yi accepted the jade slip and bowed. "May our friendship remain unchanged until the future."

Minghe nodded slightly and drifted away.

"Are you... really leaving?"

Qin Yi turned his head, Li Qingjun stood quietly behind him, looking at him calmly.

"Actually..." Qin Yi paused, "This is similar to ordinary people going abroad to study. I'll come back to be with you after I've completed my studies."

Theoretically, they are about the same; it's not like they're gone forever.

But this is separation.

Unlike the journey to the Rift Valley, which had a set timeframe of no more than six months, this journey is across thousands of miles, and the future is uncertain. Who knows if we will ever meet again after this parting?

Moreover, the path to immortality is long and arduous, and Li Qingjun is merely a mortal. Perhaps when he looks back over a hundred years, he will still be a young man, while she will have grown old.

Li Qingjun smiled and said nothing, but stepped forward to straighten his collar and sighed softly, "To be honest, I put Southern Li above you, and you still want to protect me. I've thought about it for a long time... Maybe it's my problem, I don't love you as much as I think I do."

Qin Yi looked at her calmly; the essence of the matter was indeed like that.

But how to put it... he wasn't displeased, nor was he disappointed; on the contrary, he was extremely calm.

It seems that subconsciously, this day was foreseen a very, very long time ago.

A question Liusu once asked flashed through my mind, "I don't seem to have that feeling of wanting to be with Qing Jun all the time. Shouldn't lovers always be thinking about each other?"

At the time, I didn't understand, and neither could Liusu.

Looking back now, it turns out it was that simple—he didn't love her as much as he thought.

Young men and women are attracted to each other by their strengths and come together by fortuitous opportunity, without anything particularly unforgettable. So when the dream ends, it's just like that—peaceful.

"Go, there's no need to worry," Li Qingjun whispered. "Perhaps one day I too will embark on the path of immortality, and then I'll come to find you. If you find other kindred spirits on your journey..."

She paused, then smiled brightly, "Open your heart, perhaps someone is more suitable for you than me."

Qin Yi didn't answer such a question, but said in a low voice, "I know you also want to travel the world, uphold justice, and slay demons. Since you can't leave, I'll do it for you."

Li Qingjun smiled, "How fortunate I am to have such a kindred spirit as you."

The snow in Southern Border, light as flying catkins, falls in layers, obscuring the view of those departing. A young girl leans against the door, gazing into the distance. Amidst the swirling snow, a young man in a blue robe, carrying nothing but a staff, strides away.

The girl looked for a long, long time, then suddenly turned and went inside, calmly commanding, "Pass on my order: the position of Imperial Preceptor of Southern Li now vacant, and no one can fill it. Dao and Witchcraft Arts can be practiced as unorthodox arts, on par with martial arts. Anyone who speaks recklessly about immortality will be punished for spreading heretical rumors and misleading the public."

Amidst the wind and snow, Liusu was saying to Qin Yi, "You have experienced the mortal world; now you can leave."

"Is this what it means to be free from the world?"

"Yes. It's not that you're heartless, but rather that your feelings deepen and then become shallow. Only when you see through it can you truly enter the mountains and find the path of the immortals. What you were like before was just called a lazy bum and a shut-in."

"But I haven't forgotten Qing Jun. We haven't even broken up. I still hope to come back someday."

"That doesn't matter. Are you really the same person you were when you were head over heels in love?"

"I always feel like, according to this logic, does that mean the day you lose everything, you become an immortal...?"

"The sky is high and the sea is vast, boundless and limitless. The sun and moon are before you, and all things are beneath your feet. How can you say you have nothing?"

"Yeah, at least I still have a spiked Wolf Tooth Club that's great at making sarcastic remarks."

"... If you knew how much I've been hiding from you, you might not have said that."

"Let's just keep it a secret. Why be so calculating about everything? It must be so exhausting."

"Oh..."

The boy laughed heartily, quickened his pace, and vanished instantly into the snowy horizon.

When a wise person travels, he may first lose his way, but later he will find the right path. He may gain friends in the southwest and then follow his kind; he may lose friends in the northeast, but in the end, he will be blessed.

Anzhen's auspiciousness will be boundless.

End of Volume One