Parting

In the little house, the young man and young woman sat at the dining table.

The young man kept his head lowered, constantly shoveling food into his mouth, while the young woman watched him with a faint smile in her eyes.

"Yunsheng, Come Home with Me." Zhao Li, who had been eating with his head down, suddenly said softly, yet in the quiet little house, his words sounded especially clear.

Saying those words seemed to have used up all his courage. He did not dare look up at the girl opposite him. Only his flushed cheeks revealed the unrest in his heart.

The glow cast down by the red clouds on the horizon shone on the girl's cheeks, making the blush on Ye Yunsheng's face seem even brighter, and it quickly spread toward her neck...

For a moment, even the air seemed to fall silent. One had lived two lives and had thirty years behind him, yet his first had ended just as youth was withering, only for him to begin again; the other was exquisitely perceptive and intelligent, having seen through many things early on...

After a long while, the young man still heard no sound. In the end, he could not hold back and quietly raised his head. Looking at the girl's flushed, delicate face across from him, Zhao Li felt as if his heartbeat had skipped a beat.

As if sensing Zhao Li's gaze, Ye Yunsheng came back to herself and quickly hid her shyness. She shook her head, her red lips parting slightly. "Zhao Li, there are some things I need to do."

When Zhao Li heard Ye Yunsheng's answer, though he had long since prepared himself for it, he had still asked with hope in his heart.

Zhao Li knew what she meant. He said to Ye Yunsheng, "I'll do those things."

"Let's each use our own way. I only hope we can bring even the slightest change to this world." Someone like Ye Yunsheng naturally would not give up her own ideas so easily.

Zhao Li fell silent. Ye Yunsheng's light, ethereal voice sounded again. "Zhao Li, teach me how to cultivate."

Ye Yunsheng was not bashful. She openly and gracefully voiced her thought.

Zhao Li froze when he heard this, not expecting Ye Yunsheng to say such a thing.

Then he remembered that Ye Yunsheng could already control the vast energy in her body to a basic degree. Once she cultivated, she was certain to achieve twice the result with half the effort and advance by leaps and bounds.

"All right," Zhao Li agreed.

For the next few days, Zhao Li spent all his time guiding Ye Yunsheng.

Zhao Li poured out all his cultivation insights, the Cultivation Methods he had learned, and some of his unique concepts and ideas to Ye Yunsheng in one go. Fortunately, Ye Yunsheng had some foundation; her brother had put no small amount of effort into helping her.

On this day, it had already been more than a month since Zhao Li descended the mountain.

"It's about time I went back." Zhao Li watched as Ye Yunsheng quickly got on the right track, her strength changing with each passing day. From Condensing Qi Cyclone until now, it had only been a full month at most, yet Ye Yunsheng had already reached the threshold of a Dou Master.

After a long while, Ye Yunsheng finished cultivating. Although she had not managed to break through to Dou Master in one go, she had still made great progress.

"A Special Constitution really is blessed by heaven when it comes to cultivation. It makes people envious," Zhao Li said with envy.

"Stop joking around. If it weren't for you, I would still..." Ye Yunsheng rolled her eyes at Zhao Li.

Seeing this, Zhao Li hurriedly cut her off, not wanting to continue this topic. He did not want Ye Yunsheng to keep remembering this matter and remember only gratitude from then on.

"Let's not talk about that. Yunsheng, you're about to break through to Dou Master too. In Qingzhou City, you can be considered a minor expert, but the Dou Qi Continent is vast. Even Dou Emperors and Dou Zongs are nothing remarkable on the continent. I know what you want to do, but all those things require strength. This is a Cultivation Method I created myself. Take it. No matter what happens, I hope you put your own safety first."

Zhao Li also gave his own Cultivation Method to Ye Yunsheng, still repeating words he had already said many times.

The rules formed over tens of thousands of years on the Dou Qi Continent were not something that could be changed casually. It might even mean making enemies of the entire world. Petty squabbles might not matter to anyone, but if one touched the interests of those Ancient Clans and powerful figures, conflict would naturally be unavoidable. Without enough strength, one was nothing.

As if sensing his intention to leave, Ye Yunsheng only listened quietly.

Only after Zhao Li finished rambling did Ye Yunsheng nod gently, say she understood, and then leave to cook.

Zhao Li looked at that graceful figure, his thoughts still complicated. He was unwilling to let her face everything alone, yet he also could not persuade her to change her mind.

Zhao Li was not afraid of being proud. With his talent, as well as his exploration of the path of cultivation, as long as he accumulated enough, he could absolutely "Prove the Dao with Strength," directly reach Peak Dou Sheng, and become one of the few with the greatest say. Although change from the top down would always bring many problems and would not be so thorough, it was ultimately better than change from the bottom up, completely smashing everything apart and starting over.

"After I go back this time and study with Teacher for a while, it'll just about be time for me to go out and travel too," Zhao Li calculated, murmuring inwardly.

On a summer night, the sky was studded with glittering stars. The Milky Way, like fine quicksand, lay slantwise across the blue heavens, while the moon proudly scattered its dim moonlight over the mountains, draping the Mountain Forest in a layer of silver gauze.

Zhao Li looked at the tranquil night before him, and a melancholy feeling welled up in his heart. It was as if his spirit and flesh had merged, making him a true youth once more.

"Since ancient times, sentiment has made parting painful. The ancients truly didn't deceive me. It's just that I can't be as open-minded as they were." Zhao Li murmured to the night sky, then returned to the Cave Dwelling and began cultivating.

On the other side, Ye Yunsheng set down her brush and looked for a long time in the direction where Zhao Li was.

Ye Yunsheng withdrew her gaze, her eyes filled with determination and hope. She murmured softly, "I will." Only, it was unclear whom she was answering...

Early the next morning, the sky had just begun to brighten. The black night was about to withdraw, and a red sun slowly rose, the dawn light gradually awakening the sleeping creatures.

Zhao Li got up and walked out of the Cave Dwelling. Facing the rosy glow dyed by the morning clouds in the east, a morning breeze blew past, as if carrying away the sorrow of parting as well, and his whole mood improved.

"Yunsheng, I'm leaving," Zhao Li called loudly when he arrived beside the little house.

There was no response.

Zhao Li went inside and immediately saw the letter left on the tabletop. It had been moistened by the dampness in the valley, and the ink had not yet dried.

An ominous feeling rose in Zhao Li's heart. He snatched it up and read.

"Zhao Li, I'm leaving.

I know you will also go and do what I am doing. It is just that, in the end, I am unwilling to only watch your back from behind.

These thoughts of mine may be somewhat childish, but that is truly how I feel.

I also understand how difficult those things will be. But in the end, only if someone does them can there be a better possibility.

I will not let you bear all of this alone.

On the Dou Qi Continent, the strong are supreme. Fairness and justice require strength to measure them. Even if the Path Ahead is covered in thorns, but

someone must face the difficulties head-on and never retreat, in order to bring hope to those countless people who were once like me.

Do not worry about me, Ye Yunsheng."

A long while later, Zhao Li put down the letter. Sure enough, Ye Yunsheng had already left.

"Yunsheng, you didn't even leave me a chance to say goodbye." Zhao Li laughed at himself.

"You too—grown man that you are, still dithering and hesitating. With how sharp she is, she must have noticed you meant to leave." Zhao Li sighed inwardly and sent her his blessing.

"Fear not that the road ahead has no kindred spirit; under heaven, who does not know you?"