Qin Tiexin After asking those words, the hall was quiet for a moment.
Luo Ling didn't answer immediately. She turned her head and glanced at Wu Zhen.
The look in his eyes was very complicated - there was concern, there was reluctance, there was determination, there were also some emotions that Qin Tiexin couldn't understand.
Wu Zhen was silent. He stood by the window, still holding the metal blank in his hand, and unconsciously rubbing his fingers on the surface of the blank. After a while, he slowly spoke, and his voice was deeper than usual:
"There is no need to hide Tiexin."
He raised his head and looked at Qin Tiexin, with a faint wry smile on his face, "It's my business."
Luo Ling then turned back and looked at Qin Tiexin again. Her tone was very calm, so calm that it made people uncomfortable:
"Brother Zhen has never fully recovered from the serious injuries he suffered when Spirit Creek Sect wiped out his family. For the past two hundred years, he has been hiding in Tibet, with repeated injuries, and his foundation was seriously damaged. Coupled with the consumption of his life span..."
She paused, and there was no emotion in her voice, but Qin Tiexin could see the flash of pain in her eyes. "The loss of life force is getting more and more serious."
Qin Tiexin looked at Wu Zhen.
If you look carefully, you can really see the difference. Although Martial Uncle Wu looked older three months ago, his eyes were still clear. Now, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes are deeper, and his face is an unhealthy gray. When he stands there, his back is slightly hunched, as if there is an invisible weight on his body.
"In recent times, I have tried various methods available in the sect." Luo Ling continued, "Elixirs, medicated baths, spiritual materials Nourishment... But this is the passage of vitality, not an ordinary injury. The spiritual elixirs in the sect are no longer very effective."
She walked to the stone table and lightly traced her fingers on the table. "I have checked the classics and found that there may be spiritual objects that can repair the foundation and extend life span. Azure Xuan Region's largest exchange center - Divine Sword Sect's market - is home to more than half of the entire Azure Xuan Region's high-level monks, and any weird things may appear in the trading market."
Wu Zhen opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
Luo Ling didn't let him say it.
She turned around and looked at Wu Zhen, her eyes as sharp as knives. "Brother Zhen."
Two words, bitten hard.
"I have been looking for you for so many years and finally got you back," she said one word after another. "I didn't do it by watching you die in front of me."
Wu Zhen's lips moved, and complex emotions surged in his eyes - some were moved, some were guilty, some were struggling, and there were some things that Qin Tiexin could not fully understand at this age.
"You have to live well." Luo Ling's voice became softer, but still firm, "Live to see the day when we find Spirit Creek Sect's enemy and avenge Spirit Creek Sect."
She took a deep breath and regained her composure. "I, Golden Core Late Stage, there is no danger in taking a trip to the Divine Sword Sect. It may take as short as a few months, or as long as a year, and I will definitely come back."
Qin Tiexin After listening, he was silent for a moment and then asked, "Master, what can this disciple do?"
Luo Ling waved his hand. "Just take care of your own cultivation."
She walked back to Qin Tiexin and began to explain, "During this period, if you have any questions about weapon refining, please ask Martial Uncle Wu. For other daily matters, please contact Yao'er. She will handle it."
After a pause, she added, "Also, inner disciple's monthly small tasks cannot be interrupted. You can take on some weapon forging tasks, which can not only accumulate Merit Points, but also sharpen your skills. Remember, weapon refining cannot be done behind closed doors. You have to be exposed to different needs and different materials."
Qin Tiexin solemnly clasped his fists. "Disciple has written it down."
"Okay." Luo Ling patted him on the shoulder, "That's it for today. You go back and continue practicing. I'm leaving in three days. You don't need to see me off then - it's not like I won't come back."
She said it easily, but Qin Tiexin could feel that the hand that patted his shoulder was a little harder than usual.
Three days later, early in the morning.
Qin Tiexin went to Shanmen anyway.
When he arrived, Nangong Yao had already arrived. She was wearing a simple and elegant blue dress today, her hair was simply pulled up, and she was not wearing any jewelry. She was standing on the bluestone square in front of the mountain gate, looking into the distance.
Seeing Qin Tiexin coming over, she nodded. "You're here too."
"Hmm."
The two stood side by side and waited for a while.
The morning fog gradually dispersed, and a red shadow appeared at the end of the mountain road.
Luo Ling is here.
Today, she did not wear her usual outfit that was easy to move around in. Instead, she changed into a dark red robe, with a black belt around her waist, and her hair was fixed with a wooden hairpin, which made her look neat and tidy.
When she reached the mountain gate, she stopped and looked at Qin Tiexin and Nangong Yao.
"Didn't you say you don't need to send it?" Her tone was casual, but there was a smile in her eyes.
"Disciple wants to come." Qin Tiexin said.
Nangong Yao also laughed, "Master is traveling far away, how can I not send him as a gift?"
Luo Ling shook her head and said nothing more. She looked at Wu Zhen who was standing a little further away - Wu Zhen had also come today, standing in the shadow inside the mountain gate, his figure a little blurry.
The two looked at each other.
There were no words, but Qin Tiexin could feel that there were too many things contained in those short few breaths of looking at each other.
Finally, Luo Ling nodded slightly.
Wu Zhen also nodded.
Then Luo Ling turned around and faced outside the mountain. She took a deep breath, stepped down a little, and her body turned into a stream of red light, flying towards the sky. It was very fast, and in the blink of an eye, it became a small dot and disappeared deep into the clouds.
It was quiet in front of the mountain gate.
Qin Tiexin and Nangong Yao stood there, looking at the direction where Luo Ling disappeared, and did not move for a long time.
Wu Zhen walked out of the shadows. He walked to the mountain gate, held his hands on the doorpost, and looked at the sky with cloudy eyes for a long time. Finally, he sighed longly, said nothing, turned around and walked in the direction of Luo Ling Peak.
His back is a bit stooped and his steps are very slow.
Nangong Yao spoke softly, the voice was very soft, like talking to himself:
"Master has been secretly searching for a way to extend life during this period. She searched through the sect's classics library, asked people to inquire about the information, and even went to Azure Xuan Region Northern Frontier's 'Withering and Flourishing Valley'... It is said that there is a 'Life-Giving Grass' that can extend life span, but she went there for half a month and came back empty-handed."
She paused and her voice was even lower. "I hope I can find Divine Sword Sect this time."
Qin Tiexin said nothing.
He looked at Wu Zhen's retreating back, and then thought of Luo Ling's determined look just now, as if something was blocking him somewhere in his heart.
Returning to Luo Ling Peak, Qin Tiexin did not return his cave abode, but went to the Heart-Forging Hall first.
The hall was empty.
The ground fire has been extinguished, leaving only cold ashes in the furnace. The forging tools are hung neatly on the wall, the surface of the anvil is clean, and a few unused pieces of practice metal are scattered on the stone table.
Normally at this time, Luo Ling would be squatting in front of the furnace forging a certain blank, or sitting at the stone table studying the Spirit Rune diagram. Wu Zhen might be looking at the ore by the window, or giving Qin Tiexin instructions on the details of a certain weapon.
Now, there is no one.
Qin Tiexin stood in the hall and was silent for a long time.
He could hear his own breathing, which was particularly clear in the empty hall. He could also hear the sound of the wind blowing through the bamboo forest outside the window, making it rustle, as if someone was whispering.
Luo Ling is not here.
Martial Uncle Wu's health is deteriorating and his life expectancy is running out.
Senior Brother Chen Xi Core Formation has not returned, and his life and death are unknown.
Although Senior Sister Nangong is close to her, she also has her own practice and cannot always be by her side.
Master's words before leaving, "Just take care of your own cultivation," are echoing in my ears at this moment.
Qin Tiexin Clenched his fists.
The knuckles were slightly white from exertion.
He recalled what his grandfather Qin Feng said before he died, "Tiexin, don't lose your craftsmanship."
I remember what General Li Zhenwei said to himself at the border, "Boy, live your life like a human being."
I remember the look in the Flowing Cloud Sect, Wu Zhen's eyes when he entrusted the inheritance of the Spirit Creek Sect to him.
I remember what Luo Ling said when he accepted him as his disciple, "Unity of Person and Artifact, the Tao is in it."
These people, these things, these promises.
He has to hold on.
To hold on to these, we do not rely on the protection of others, nor on the luck of fortuitous opportunity, but on real strength.
Must become stronger faster.
Qin Tiexin unclenched his fist, took a deep breath, turned around and walked out Heart-Forging Hall.
The sunshine outside the hall was just right, shining brightly on the bluestone-paved square.
He took steps towards his cave abode.