We Will Meet Again

At night, Xie Yuan lay awake on the floor bedding in the outer room, unable to fall asleep for a long while.

Thinking of the hidden stories he had heard during the day, he felt something indescribable in his chest and could only sigh softly.

"Beauty is doomed to a thin fate... That sounds a little inauspicious. It's just that these two girls—one had a nobler family background than the other, and one had a more tragic past than the other..."

Xie Yuan shook his head, a trace of pity rising in his heart.

Situ Qin's background was so profound and her identity so complex that there was likely no second person like her in the entire Great Li Dynasty. The pressure she bore was immense. Her father had died unjustly, her mother had gone mad, and although she still had her imperial uncle, the Emperor, as family and a powerful pillar to lean on, that was also the man who had personally issued the decree to kill her father...

Beyond that, the Eight Great Families eyed Prince of Western Peace's bloodline like tigers watching their prey. Anyone else would likely have crumbled beneath such pressure long ago—either becoming twisted in temperament or simply giving up on themselves.

Yet whenever Xie Yuan was with Situ Qin, she seemed sunny and charming, forthright and loyal, even a little playful. Nothing about her suggested such a miserable past, except for the occasional hatred and disdain she revealed toward people from the great families.

She was truly strong... Xie Yuan felt moved, letting out a long breath.

As for the other one, before disaster struck, Mu Chaoyun had likely known only peace and happiness, never worry.

As a cultivation prodigy from a great clan, she spent each day tending flowers and plants, reading and practicing martial arts, living a tranquil, carefree life deep within secluded North Capital Mountain, surrounded by reunited family.

Then, for no apparent reason, heaven and earth changed overnight. Her family all died, and she alone escaped alive. She did not even know how it had all happened, and could only flee in panic.

"After shaking off her enemies, she risked returning to her clan to gather her family's bodies, only to run into the merchant caravan that had always transported supplies for them making a fortune off the dead... If it were me, I'd have flown into a blood rage on the spot."

Xie Yuan shook his head, recalling Mu Chaoyun's account of how she had once again been hunted by a Grandmaster.

Seeing that her enemies had made no moves for a long time, she guessed they were no longer behind her. Unable to bear the thought of her family lying exposed in the wilderness after their home had been destroyed and their people slaughtered, she had risked everything to return and collect their bodies—even if it was not rational, it was understandable.

In the end, she did not encounter that overwhelmingly powerful enemy. Instead, she saw the merchant caravan that had always delivered supplies into the mountains taking advantage of the great formation's destruction to enter the Mu Family Ancestral Land and plunder it wantonly, not even sparing the belongings on the dead.

Mu Chaoyun saw many of her clansmen stripped naked, denied even a shred of dignity in death, and she struck out in fury.

However, the caravan belonged to the Golden Dragon Merchant Company, a major firm on the border of Wild Goose Province. Its martial strength was formidable, and it had even brought a Grandmaster to oversee the operation this time. From the traces left behind in the ancestral land, they had also discovered the secret of the Black Heaven Book.

Though Mu Chaoyun had struck in rage and barely managed to severely injure the merchant company's Grandmaster, she had only made her breakthrough in the face of catastrophe. Her injuries worsened afterward, leaving her no choice but to flee.

The Golden Dragon Merchant Company traveled between the Central Plains, the borderlands, and the Western Regions. It might have had ties with Lu Lao San. Mu Chaoyun guessed that the Grandmaster had contacted that skilled tracker, the great bandit, who pursued her relentlessly through countless detours until today.

Though the two men wanted to keep the Black Heaven Book for themselves and had not spread the news for now, word of the Mu Family's destruction would eventually get out. When that happened, more than just those two would likely be chasing her. And that powerful enemy who had appeared from nowhere and vanished just as suddenly was an even darker shadow hanging over her head.

Mu Chaoyun did not know who the enemy was. Although they had arrived shortly before and after the merchant caravan, her instincts told her they were not from the merchant company. If the Golden Dragon Merchant Company possessed such strength, it would have long since become one of the foremost merchant firms in the Great Li Dynasty.

Still, this was a lead. Mu Chaoyun had said that after leaving, she would go to Wild Goose Province and begin investigating with the Golden Dragon Merchant Company.

Xie Yuan sighed inwardly again. At last, he fully understood why Mu Chaoyun sometimes spoke and acted with a cold, extreme edge.

Judging by her manner, she should originally have had a tranquil disposition. After suffering such a tremendous upheaval, the fact that she had not become a completely different person already showed the toughness of her will. He had never endured another's suffering, yet he had tried to persuade her how to act, and they had even fallen out over it... Sigh, that really had not been right.

He quietly glanced toward the screen. Through it, he vaguely saw a graceful silhouette sitting cross-legged in the inner room, and his heart softened.

Tomorrow, he would find her something delicious to eat again.

Over the next few days, Mu Chaoyun urged Xie Yuan to train, but she put even more care into it than before.

Perhaps because they had spoken of their respective family circumstances—after hearing Mu Chaoyun's story, whether out of courtesy or something else, Xie Yuan also told her everything during their idle moments: how he and his elder brother had depended on each other, as well as his grievances with the Zhang Family Brothers and Yu Chunsheng.

Mu Chaoyun listened quietly. She showed no impatience toward these village grudges, which seemed trivial and insignificant compared to the calamity of a Grandmaster from a great clan like her. Instead, she listened with particular attentiveness.

Neither of them had ever spoken so specifically of these matters to anyone else before. Xie Yuan had told Situ Qin much, but he had only glossed over many deep hatreds and blood feuds. He had not wanted to spoil the mood amid the exquisite waterside pavilions and music of the Situ Residence.

Knowing each other's roots a little better, the two of them temporarily shared the room like true family.

And as Mu Chaoyun instructed Xie Yuan in his training, she did more than supervise him from morning to night. She often corrected him with her own hands, sometimes adjusting him and sometimes making sure he remembered the lesson the hard way. Xie Yuan grimaced in pain, realizing just how high a Grandmaster's standards and expectations truly were.

But with a female teacher and male disciple so often in close physical contact, Xie Yuan frequently felt something strange in his heart. Still, seeing Mu Chaoyun's serious expression and calm demeanor, he did not dare profane that peace too much. With great difficulty, he restrained his restless heart and focused properly on training.

Chopping Wood: (8848/10000)

Golden Bell Cover · Third Layer: (756/2000)

Nourishing Body Skill · Fourth Layer: (1096/4000)

Eight Trigrams Mountain Shaking Fist · Mastery: (119/2000)

Moon Slaying Axe · Mastery: (1/2000)

Heaven Concealing Art · Beginner: (301/1000)

Black Heaven Book: (87/100)

Galloping Wolf Saber Art · Perfected

"Hah!"

Xie Yuan brought his axe down like he was splitting a mountain. The razor-sharp force shot through the air from afar and slammed into the courtyard wall, leaving a deep mark.

He raised the axe upright, drove it heavily into the ground, and let out a long breath, looking around with satisfaction.

The Moon-Chopping Axe Technique had broken through to a new realm as well!

Though the power of this axe force was not especially great, it could now count as a preliminary long-range attack. This was simply unprecedented!

"Your posture was precise, and your force was perfectly applied. To strike with such power in one swing, it seems this Axe Technique has reached its next stage. Your cultivation over these past few days has produced some gains."

Mu Chaoyun stood quietly beside him and offered her calm assessment.

"That's all thanks to Teacher's excellent guidance!"

Xie Yuan chuckled.

Over these past days, Xie Yuan had often jokingly called Mu Chaoyun Teacher. Yet each time, Mu Chaoyun would earnestly correct him.

"I am not your teacher."

She shook her head, then looked again at the axe mark on the wall. A strange glint passed through her eyes.

"When blade force leaves the body, and later develops into Saber Light and Sword Qi, that is a trait of the Qi and Blood Transformation Realm. For you to grasp it preliminarily already, your talent... is indeed passable."

Mu Chaoyun had been especially strict lately. Hearing her praise, Xie Yuan felt delighted and laughed.

"It's still all thanks to 'Teacher'!"

Mu Chaoyun's brows drew together slightly. Somewhat displeased and somewhat embarrassed, she said, "Don't call me Teacher!"

Still, she did not deny it. She merely watched Xie Yuan consolidate the Axe Technique he had just broken through in for a while longer before suddenly speaking.

"I should leave tomorrow."

Xie Yuan's axe abruptly stopped, frozen in midair.

"I see."

Xie Yuan sighed, put away his axe, and said with a smile, "No feast under heaven lasts forever..."

"We will meet again."

Mu Chaoyun cut him off directly.

"Huh?"

Xie Yuan froze for a moment.

Mu Chaoyun said evenly, "You ate the Azure Fruit I grew. This matter is not over... We will meet again."

Xie Yuan silently nodded, then asked tentatively, "How about staying another two days?"

Mu Chaoyun paused, frowning.

"There is no meaning in staying two more days. I will have to leave in the end. A man should stand tall—why act like a sentimental child?"

Hearing this beauty of a teacher speak as though instructing and reprimanding him, Xie Yuan felt a little awkward.

"I feel like I'm about to gain some insight from the Black Heaven Book..."

At his words, Mu Chaoyun fell silent and said coldly, "If this had been before, I would absolutely think you had ulterior motives.

"The Black Heaven Book is profoundly mysterious. No one has ever dared claim they would certainly comprehend it. Even if inspiration is about to strike and you think you will gain something in the next instant, you may very well feel the same way for your entire life. Countless people in my clan's history have already proven this."

Seeing the regret on Xie Yuan's face, her eyes shifted slightly as she said blandly, "What a waste of time... I will stay one more day at most."

Xie Yuan had thought there was no hope. The moment he heard that she had agreed after all, he was immediately invigorated and reached out to ask for the Eight Trigrams Lotus.

Mu Chaoyun casually tossed the Eight Trigrams Lotus to him. Watching him run straight into the room to contemplate it, ignoring her completely, she was momentarily stunned.

Until evening, Xie Yuan did not move at all.

Hungry, Mu Chaoyun looked at the figure inside the room, her eyes dark and distant.

He... really only wanted to comprehend the Black Heaven Book?

Mu Chaoyun pressed her lips tightly together, her face stiffening.

Early the next morning.

Mu Chaoyun put on her black hooded robe for the first time in a while, but packed the dresses Xie Yuan had bought for her into her luggage and took back the Black Heaven Book.

"Until we meet again."

Mu Chaoyun awkwardly forced out those four words, then left the small courtyard without looking back. Ignored by everyone at the escort agency, she walked farther and farther away.

With dark circles beneath his eyes, Xie Yuan only belatedly realized, "Why did she seem unhappy? She didn't even give me a chance to ask her to stay."

Black Heaven Book: (96/100)

He looked at the progress before him and sighed. In the end, he had still fallen just short.

This pace over a full day and night had already been unprecedentedly fast. His brain felt as though it were twitching, but unfortunately Mu Chaoyun was determined to leave—more determined than yesterday—and he had no way to explain himself.

Just as he was preparing to rest properly and recover the mental energy he had expended comprehending the Black Heaven Book, his gaze happened to fall on the flowerbed outside the window, and he paused.

This little garden was far more beautiful than before she had come. Previously, he had not cared about such things and had merely let the servants handle it however they pleased. He had not examined it closely these past few days, either.

Only after Mu Chaoyun left did he notice that the flower branches were neatly arranged, the blossoms bright and beautiful, competing to shine with splendor. It was pleasing to the eye, no longer a useless decoration.

Xie Yuan smiled. Turning around, he finally lay back down on his own bed after a long time, as though a lingering warmth and faint fragrance remained upon it.

Even if the Black Heaven Book had not broken through, having her stay one more day had still been good.