Promise

The twin peaks of Heaven Origin Mountain, one mother and one child, are majestic and verdant.

From the distant peak, one can vaguely see figures riding swords and descending from the sky.

The peaks are all occupied by towering buildings standing side by side, with countless flying beasts rising and falling among them.

The Bamboo Abyss Pavilion, where the sect leader's family resided, was a rare quiet place within the Sword Sect's mountain gate.

Birds chirp and cicadas sing, lush bamboo groves stand tall and green, and streams murmur softly; the desolation of late autumn brings with them falling leaves.

Lotus Boots crunched on fallen leaves, and two figures, accompanied by the gentle voice of a young woman, followed the winding stone path through the forest, heading deeper into the mountains.

"Actually, your master had his reasons for not taking you to the Imperial Capital. Don't be so angry with him."

Ran Qingmo lowered his head, holding his sword, staring at the patterns on the stone bricks without replying.

Luo Wei looked at the silent girl beside her, her eyes crinkling slightly. She raised her hand and gently patted the girl's head, her eyes filled with affection.

"Young men are easily swayed by love, and young women are filled with longing for romance. Our Qingmo is already at that age. Xu Changtian is handsome and a womanizer, so it's not surprising that you admire him, Master's wife."

Ran Qingmo raised her eyes:

"Master's wife, have you seen him before?"

"Never seen it before."

Luo Wei smiled and shook her head, looking at the doubt in her disciple's eyes, a hint of reminiscence in her gaze. "Although I've never met him, I have met his father and mother, so their offspring can't be ugly."

Ran Qingmo's eyes flickered twice.

"Curious?"

"Mm," Ran Qingmo nodded.

Luo Wei leaned closer to Ran Qingmo's indifferent, untainted expression and said with a smile:

"It's been so long since Master's wife has seen Qingmo smile."

Ran Qingmo remained silent for a moment, expressionless, before a forced, ugly smile appeared on his lips.

"Puff"

Luo Wei seemed amused by this expression and reached out to pinch her soft cheek.

Ran Qingmo blinked in dissatisfaction, turned his face away, and shook off his master's wife's hand.

Luo Wei looked at him with doting eyes and said in a low voice, "Alright, I'll tell you. When Chancellor Xu first entered the capital, his reputation was much greater than Xu Changge's now. He was as handsome as an immortal and achieved the highest honors in all three levels of the imperial examinations. If it weren't for his amazing cultivation, he probably would have been kidnapped by those Aristocratic Clan and wealthy merchants and forced into marriage."

She paused for a moment, then replied somewhat speechlessly:

"Although the final result is the same."

"Is she Xu Yuan's mother?" Ran Qingmo asked in a low voice.

"If it's not that kid's mother, then who else could it be?"

Luo Wei smiled, seeing the curious look in her eyes, and immediately said with a smile, "Your master doesn't know about their family affairs. Back then, your master and I didn't have much contact with their circle. When we learned about their engagement..."

"Master's wife, did we kill his mother?"

Luo Wei's eyes narrowed.

Ran Qingmo's dark eyes, as black as a landscape painting, stared intently at his master's wife, somewhat nervous.

"Well, let's see how you interpret it Qingmo."

Luo Wei did not shy away from the topic. She casually caught a bamboo leaf that had fallen with the autumn wind and gently stroked it. "Just like this falling bamboo, if we fail to prevent it from falling, we are accomplices, and we are the ones who killed it. If we are not, then we are not."

Ran Qingmo blinked twice, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Luo Wei casually tossed the bamboo leaves aside, saying with a hint of regret:

"Qingmo, your master's wife and your master were not directly involved, but they were certainly aware of it. Feng Qinshu's death was inevitable. She was very powerful, but it was precisely because of this that her actions were able to offend the entire world."

Sunlight pierced through the bamboo forest, casting dappled patterns of light upon her. A fleeting, almost imperceptible sadness crossed Ran Qingmo's beautiful eyes.

"Is it a martial arts school?"

"That's a major reason," Luo Wei nodded.

Ran Qingmo's eyes flickered, and based on what she had seen and heard during her travels, she asked in a low voice, "Master's wife, with a martial arts school, there will be more cultivators, wouldn't the scourge of Demon Beast be solved?"

This world is not just about bustling metropolises; there are also mountain villages where people struggle to make ends meet.

Luo Wei's footsteps rustled on the fallen leaves:

"Did Xu Changtian tell you this?"

Ran Qingmo remained silent, gripping the Ink Sword in his hand tightly.

Luo Wei smiled gently, her gaze, as soft as an autumn breeze, sweeping across the bamboo forest:

"These martial arts schools of today are actually undermining the foundations of powerful Aristocratic Clan, sects, and even dynasties."

"..." Ran Qingmo's eyes were filled with confusion.

As the two continued their journey, the bamboo path suddenly opened up, revealing a clear stream that merged with a massive waterfall into a secluded pool, where a bamboo house came into view.

The master and disciple did not immediately return to the attic.

Luo Wei led Ran Qingmo to the lakeside and sat down. Turning her head, her eyes were filled with a smile:

"Take off your boots; the water in this Sky Clear Pool is soothing for your skin."

"."

Upon hearing this, Ran Qingmo obediently removed her Lotus Boots, folded her black silk stockings and placed them aside, then immersed her pair of snow-white and crystal-clear jade feet in the water.

The cool, icy touch made her eyes flicker, but she quickly asked softly:

"Master's wife, why did you say that just now?"

Luo Wei knelt on the lawn by the lake, watching the ripples created by the waterfall rushing into the lake:

"Don't be nervous. Master's wife didn't deny what Xu Changtian said. The more cultivators there are, the more likely it is to solve the current Demon Beast scourge, but we should also know that heroes can use their martial arts to break the rules."

"..." Ran Qingmo seemed to have thought of something.

Luo Wei raised her eyes, looking at the azure sky, and said leisurely:

"It is said among mortals that those who cultivate are more ferocious than tigers."

"Most people in this world, once they possess power, will not risk drawing their swords against the strong, much less risk hunting Demon Beast, because these are all deadly."

"Oppressing the poor is much easier than taking on bounties to hunt Demon Beast. Little by little, these uncontrolled low-level cultivators will become a greater calamity than Demon Beast."

As he spoke,

Luo Wei turned her gaze to the girl in black robes, her eyes lowered, swaying her bare feet in the clear pool:

"Qingmo, you must have seen these things during your travels, right?"

"Master's wife, Xu Yuan told me about this," Ran Qingmo replied softly.

"Hmm?" Luo Wei's eyes flickered. "What did he say?"

Ran Qingmo thought for a moment, then mimicked his tone from back then:

"Newly emerging things are always chaotic, but the government's decrees and strict laws have helped to quell the unrest over time, which is a pity."

Ran Qingmo stopped there and didn't continue.

"Is it just a pity that the sect is interfering?" Luo Wei interjected.

". Um."

"This kid really knows how to talk."

Luo Wei narrowed her eyes and said with a smile, "Everything has two sides. From his perspective, what he said is not wrong, but Qingmo, have you thought about it? These kinds of decrees from the imperial court require the cooperation of our sects. There are many sects in the world. How do we define the boundaries between sects? How do we divide the power and responsibilities between the court and the sects? Who will provide the money? Who will provide the labor? With all the interests at stake, how can things be so easy in this world?"

Speaking of this,

Luo Wei rubbed her temples, her tone becoming serious:

"No matter how lofty their intentions, these so-called martial arts schools are ultimately just tools used by Li Yaoxuan and Xu Yinhe to disrupt the current world order."

Ran Qingmo looked at his master's wife, his clear eyes flashing with many emotions, but ultimately turning into confusion.

Seeing this, Luo Wei sighed helplessly and briefly explained:

"The imperial court wants to break the thousand-year agreement and destroy our sect, but its original strength is insufficient, so it is using martial arts schools to disrupt the world's order."

"Oh"

A flash of understanding crossed Ran Qingmo's eyes, but then he was puzzled again. "Then, Master's wife, why did I..."

"You mean Xu Yinhe wants to attack my Sword Sect?" Luo Wei asked with a smile.

Ran Qingmo nodded, placing her hands on her snow-white knees, which gleamed alluringly in the sunlight.

A smile flickered across Luo Wei's still-charming eyes:

"Because Li Yaoxuan is going to die, and once he dies, the conflict between the royal family and the Prime Minister's Mansion's residence will no longer be concealed."

"."

Ran Qingmo bit her lip, her eyes showing a hint of something she wanted to say but she didn't.

The Prime Minister's Prime Minister's Mansion does have plans against the Sword Sect; Xu Yuan and his father have discussed this matter.

Moreover, there is also the Tianyan.

Looking into her disciple's eyes, Luo Wei said gently:

"If you have anything to say, you can speak directly to your master's wife."

Ran Qingmo silently shook his head and whispered:

"So, Master's recent trip to the capital is because of this matter?"

Luo Wei smiled gently:

"Do you still want to go to the capital with your master?"

"Hmm?" Ran Qingmo hesitated, then nodded.

Luo Wei sighed helplessly and gently pulled the girl beside her into her arms, just like when they were children:

"Qingmo, your master's journey to the capital is very dangerous, which is why he doesn't want to take you with him."

"Danger?" Ran Qingmo's eyes widened slightly, and he asked after a moment of hesitation, "Is it because the Emperor is about to die?"

Luo Wei glanced in the direction they came from and said softly:

"Qingmo, you are naturally aloof, but you should know some things. Every year, the sects in the Northern Border use the excuse of resisting the Barbarian Tribe and the imperial court to ask the Sect Alliance for a large sum of money. Now they have been abandoned, and their destruction is estimated to be just a matter of one or two months. In addition, with the emergence of the Heavenly Oversight Pavilion and the approaching end of Li Yaoxuan's life, bloodshed is inevitable in Di'an City. It is too dangerous for you to go with your old master."

Ran Qingmo lowered her head:

"But I still want to go."

"Go see Xu Changtian?" Luo Wei smiled.

Ran Qingmo rested his head on his teacher's wife's ample bosom, clutching the rolled-up hem of his skirt, and said softly:

"I also want to stay with my master. It's so dangerous, what about him?"

Luo Wei chuckled softly, her eyes filled with affection, and couldn't resist pinching her cheek hard, causing it to swell and turn red.

"You little rascal."

Hahahaha!

A burst of hearty laughter suddenly came from the path through the bamboo forest.

Ran Jianli strode out carrying a giant sword on his back. His white hair and robes fluttered in the wind as he walked. If it weren't for the giant sword on his back that ruined his overall aura, he would have been a sword immortal descended to earth.

Luo Wei turned around and rolled her eyes.

Ran Jianli to the side of the mother and daughter and planted the giant sword on his back diagonally into the soil.

"I heard this as soon as I arrived."

As he spoke, he sat down beside the mother and daughter, saying, "Hmm, it seems that in Qingmo's heart, this old man is still more important."

"That's enough."

Luo Wei glanced at the smug expression on her husband's face:

"If you dare to eavesdrop on my conversation with Qingmo again, you're not allowed in the room for a month."

"."

After a moment of silence, Ran Jianli selectively skipped the topic and placed his rough hands on Ran Qingmo's head, rubbing them gently.

"Qingmo, if you really want to go to Di'an City with your master, it's not impossible."

Ran Qingmo raised her eyes and blinked.

Ran Jianli withdrew his hand and stroked his long white beard. "As long as you break through to the Origin Beginning before I leave, I will take you with me, how about it?"

Ran Qingmo lowered her head silently again, looking pitiful and not saying a word.

Breaking through the Origin Beginning is very difficult.

A hint of heartache flashed in Ran Jianli eyes, and he hesitated before saying:

"Then how about merging with the Dao? Tsk, if that doesn't work, Qingmo, you can use the Ice Spirit Sword Intent."

"Sword Departure!"

Luo Wei frowned and glared at her husband. "If something really happens and you and Qingmo get into trouble in Di'an City, do you want me to spend the rest of my life alone in the Bamboo Abyss Pavilion?"

Upon hearing this, Ran Qingmo's breathing quickened slightly. He raised his eyes to look at his master's wife and master, a hint of panic flashing across his clear, dark eyes.

She understood what her teacher's wife meant.

master

He went to Beijing with a death wish.

Luo Wei and Ran Jianli a glance and whispered angrily:

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Ran Jianli's deep-set eyes held an innocent look:

"No, wasn't that you speaking?"

Luo Wei's expression remained unchanged, but her voice transmission carried a hint of anger:

"We agreed not to tell Qingmo about this. If you don't bring it up, why would I?"

Ran Jianli's expression remained unchanged as he privately transmitted his thoughts:

"I'm just making a promise, old man. Anyway, Qingmo can't fulfill it anytime soon."

Splash--

The sound of bare feet emerging from the water echoed softly amidst the splashing of the waterfall, and the girl sitting between the two silently stood up.

Luo Wei glanced at him sideways.

Ran Jianli an awkward smile.

In the silence of the three,

Ran Qingmo bent down, picked up the silk stockings and Lotus Boots, held them to her chest, and, carrying her Ink Sword, whispered:

"Master, Mistress, I'm going to cultivate now. I will definitely merge with the Dao."

Having said that,

Under the watchful eyes of the couple, the girl walked into the bamboo house she didn't want to go into without looking back, and then slammed the door shut.

After a long silence,

Ran Jianli suddenly clenched his fist.

Without a sound, the huge, dark pool in front of them was suddenly split in two by an invisible Sword Qi, revealing the dark and deep bottom of the lake.

Ran Jianli's eyes were filled with heartache, and he gritted his teeth:

"Xiao Wei, when I get to the Imperial Capital, I'll give that little bastard a good beating. Xu Yinhe dares to stop me, I'll beat him up too."

Luo Wei gave her husband a reproachful look:

"What does this have to do with that brat surnamed Xu?"

Ran Jianli and pointed north:

"If Qingmo hadn't wanted to go to the Imperial Capital to see that boy, would she have known about this?"

"." Luo Wei.

"."

"."

Achoo!

Without any warning, Xu Yuan sneezed, instinctively pulling his coat tighter around himself, and looked at the snow falling from the sky.

Climbing high offers a panoramic view, but it's also cold. However, as a Soul Condensation expert, I shouldn't catch a cold, right?

Hmm. Someone must be missing him.

With these random thoughts swirling in his mind, Xu Yuan returned to the entrance of the captain's tent, feeling slightly nervous.

He was a little worried that if he went in, he would see Tianyan being bullied by Li Qingyan and having tears in his eyes again.

As Xu Yuan pondered, he prepared to lift the tent flap, but before his hand could touch it, the flap was pulled open from the inside.

Three beautiful figures emerged from inside one after another.

Li Qingyan wore Veil Hat, Tianyan was expressionless, and Little White followed behind with his head down.

Upon seeing this group, Xu Yuan opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Li Qingyan spoke first, his voice cold and clear:

"Shut up, get ready to leave."

"Ah?"

Xu Yuan blinked, looked at Li Qingyan, then at the expressionless Tianyan, and licked his lips. "Not... going together?"