Until We Meet Again

As he pondered, Su Qingyang rubbed the handwritten notes in his hand. A thought struck him, and he suddenly asked:

"Miss Liu, as one of the Secret Bureau's elites, have you ever heard the name Lin Muqian, or of a sect called the Hundred Rivers Sect?"

Liu Qingni was slightly taken aback and immediately asked, "The Lin Muqian you mentioned—is he the dried corpse in the stone chamber?"

"Yes." Su Qingyang nodded, then added, "He was a Martial Dao Grandmaster in life."

Liu Qingni frowned and pondered carefully for a long while before slowly shaking her head. "I have never heard of this man. Let alone Lin Muqian, this is also the first time I've heard the name Hundred Rivers Sect."

At this point, her expression turned serious, and she continued earnestly, "But if he was a Grandmaster, he could not possibly have remained unknown in Great Jin."

"The Secret Bureau holds countless martial records. There should be records related to him among them."

"It is simply that secret files concerning figures at the Grandmaster level are kept at an extremely high clearance level. With my current position, I have no authority to access those records."

Liu Qingni let out a soft sigh.

Su Qingyang stroked his chin, deep in thought. "Then it seems I have no choice but to make a trip to the Imperial Capital."

Liu Qingni's eyes lit up at once, unable to conceal her delight. "Do you truly mean that, Young Master?"

Su Qingyang smiled faintly. "I had actually been planning to wander the world anyway. It makes no difference where I go."

"So going with you to the Imperial Capital is not out of the question. It will be a fine chance to witness the bearing of the martial Grandmasters in the capital and broaden my horizons."

Liu Qingni froze for a moment, then her eyes curved into crescents as she beamed with happiness.

"Then when shall we depart?"

"Today." Su Qingyang slowly rose to his feet and gazed down at Spirit Peak County below the mountain.

Liu Qingni was startled. "Will you not bid farewell to those you know in the city?"

Su Qingyang gently shook his head. "I do not like farewells. Besides, this is only a temporary departure, not as though I will never return. There will come a day when I return."

The sky was just beginning to brighten, and the morning mist lay thin and light.

Lin You'er rose exceptionally early.

The girl lightly kicked a loose stone before her all the way into Su Qingyang's small courtyard. Then she raised her delicate, spirited little face and stretched lazily.

A trace of puzzlement arose in her heart.

At this hour in the past, Brother Qingyang would already be sitting in the courtyard, reading as he waited for her.

Why was the courtyard so quiet today, without a soul in sight?

As Lin You'er wondered, she suddenly thought that perhaps she had risen too early today, and Brother Qingyang had not yet gotten out of bed.

The girl suddenly waved her dainty fist, then charged headlong into the side room where Su Qingyang slept.

"Brother Qingyang, get up already! The sun is about to shine on your butt!"

Lin You'er called out with smiling eyes, giggling as her lively eyes turned toward the bed. Yet she suddenly froze.

The bed was utterly empty, without a person in sight.

Only a sealed letter lay in the center of the writing desk.

A bad premonition suddenly arose in Lin You'er's heart. She frantically ran through every room, searching them all, but found nothing in the end.

Everything was so familiar, as though the old friend were still here.

Lin You'er's eyes had already begun to redden. At last, her gaze fell upon the envelope on the desk.

You'er:

I am heading north today, traveling to the Imperial Capital. It will take some time.

There is no need to search everywhere for me, nor need you worry.

You were born with a pure heart and clear spiritual bones, making you best suited to cultivate the righteous path.

You must diligently cultivate the Azure-Heaven Wood Transformation Art that I taught you.

This art is gentle and nourishing, strengthens the foundation and replenishes vitality, and is most suited to your innate gifts. Practice it diligently every day, advance steadily and surely, and never be greedy for speed or rashly press ahead.

In the years to come, practice martial arts well and live well. You and I will surely meet again one day.

Though the mountains are high and the roads far, there will eventually be a day of return.

Also, tell Uncle Lin on my behalf that the plague in the city and the root cause of the bandit trouble in the mountains have both been eradicated. There is no need to live in fear any longer. He may live his days in peace.

--Su Qingyang

Lin You'er clutched the letter. Her nose stung, and at last she could no longer hold back her tears.

Far down the mountain road.

Su Qingyang suddenly reined in his horse and stopped, gazing from afar in the direction of Spirit Peak County.

Liu Qingni glanced at him from the side. Tactfully, she kept silent and did not disturb the thoughts in his heart.

A clear mountain breeze slowly drifted over from behind them.

Another farewell.

But fortunately, it was only a farewell, not a final parting.

In a long life, such things could not be avoided.

"Until we meet again." Su Qingyang murmured softly, his voice drifting lightly away on the wind.

The two rode onward, traveling for several days in a row.

At first, Su Qingyang was in no hurry. He rode leisurely, taking in the mountains and rivers along the way.

It was quite carefree and pleasant.

Liu Qingni did not urge him either. She sat steadily upon horseback as though on level ground, cultivating her breathing while maintaining the same pace as Su Qingyang.

After several such days, Su Qingyang had grown tired of the sights along the road.

Most of the journey passed through ordinary wilderness, with no famous mountains, great rivers, ancient ruins, or scenic wonders to admire. Aside from grass, trees, and forests, all he saw was dust kicked up by passing carts and horses—monotonous and dull.

Su Qingyang turned to the woman beside him and asked:

"Miss Liu, at this pace, how long will it take us to reach the Imperial Capital?"

Su Qingyang did not know the roads. Throughout this journey, every route existed only in Liu Qingni's mind.

Liu Qingni's expression remained calm. "If we ride day and night without stopping, we can reach Central Province in one month, then enter the Imperial Capital after another five days. If we travel normally, the entire journey will take around two months."

At the end, the corners of her lips rose slightly as she added blandly:

"Actually, Young Master need not be in such a hurry. After all, the true prince is always the last to appear."

Su Qingyang awkwardly rubbed his nose.

Those words had originally been an excuse he casually made a few days ago to delay their journey and wander at leisure. Now they had been returned to him intact.

Liu Qingni shot him a quick glance, then immediately looked straight ahead, finding it somewhat amusing.

After spending these past few days together, she had discovered that Su Qingyang was somewhat strange, yet actually very easy to get along with.

Seeing him like this, Liu Qingni softened her tone somewhat. "Once we reach the prefectural city ahead, we will find two thousand-mile steeds. Our pace will be much faster then."

"Actually, if we do not ride horses, we should be able to travel faster on foot with our own speed."

Su Qingyang spoke thoughtfully. As a Blood Refining Grandmaster, one step of his could span a world apart, and traveling at full speed for one day would allow him to cross an entire province.

Yet Liu Qingni ignored him and simply urged her horse onward.