Chapter 487 - 21: Youth

The carriage wheels rumbled.

The roads, muddy from the recent rain, caused the carriage to lurch and sway as the wheels rose and fell.

Baiyun Temple was now visible in the distance.

Zhu Ju lifted the carriage curtain, his eyes betraying his confusion.

Buddhism was far more revered than Daoism in Taiyuan Prefecture; the area around the Prefecture City was dotted with temples large and small.

Daoist temples, on the other hand, were few and seldom visited.

Yet now, several carriages—all belonging to wealthy families—were parked at the foot of the mountain where Baiyun Temple stood.

Before they could draw any closer, a man stepped forward to greet them.

"Are you Zhu Ju, Patriarch of the Zhu Family?"

"I am." Zhu Ju dismounted from the carriage, studying the man as his confusion grew:

"And you are...?"

The man appeared to be around thirty. With his handsome features and refined air, he looked like a scholar in his flowing robes.

But as the Formless Divine Light within his Sea of Consciousness illuminated the man, Zhu Ju could see his Qi Blood surging like a great river, yet it was also exceptionally refined through Inner Refinement.

’Sixth Grade!’

An expert of this caliber was a true rarity in Taiyuan Prefecture.

Seventh Grade and Sixth Grade. Though it seemed like a difference of only one grade, the gap in strength and status was as wide as the sky and earth.

Seventh Grade is mortal; Sixth Grade, immortal.

The path of Martial Arts has nine grades, with a major threshold every three.

Though a Seventh-Grade Martial Artist is powerful, they are still bound by mortal flesh. If they fail to reach the Sixth Grade before thirty, their Qi Blood will begin to decline with age, causing their Cultivation to regress rather than advance.

Only by reaching the Sixth Grade could one lock in their Qi Blood and escape the limitations of age.

It was no surprise that most experts in Taiyuan Prefecture were around thirty years old, for this was the most critical period.

Break through, and they would become a top-tier expert.

Fail, and they would retreat from the public eye as they grew old and weak.

"I am Leng Jian, an Outer Sect Disciple of the True Martial Sect." The man smiled, gesturing ahead.

"Shuang’er is inside."

"Please!"

’True Martial Sect?’

’And he called her a fellow disciple!’

Zhu Ju’s eyes narrowed.

...

Shuang’er stood under a tree, a vision in white. Her face was alight with joy, and her beautiful eyes sparkled.

Zhu Ju stared, momentarily lost in a daze.

"Young Master." Shuang’er, still possessing that same pure innocence, grinned and said:

"I’ve become a student of Senior Wujiu from Zhenwu Temple! My master performed Washing Marrow and Sinews on me, and now my Cultivation has reached the peak of the Ninth Grade."

"Soon I’ll be able to help you, Young Master."

’The peak of the Ninth Grade?’

’As expected of one of the world’s top Sects. To raise someone with almost no Martial Arts experience to the peak of the Ninth Grade in such a short time...’

’And her foundation is incredibly solid!’

"Yes." Zhu Ju nodded. He habitually ruffled her hair, messing up the smooth, long locks as he smiled.

"Before I knew it, you’ve grown up."

He still thought of Shuang’er as a child, but seeing her again today, he realized she had blossomed.

Both her features and her figure had matured.

"Young Master Zhu."

Leng Jian spoke from the side:

"Shuang’er’s Talent is extraordinary. After our master performed the Washing Marrow and Sinews, her aptitude for Martial Arts reached a new level."

"With time, achieving the Sixth Grade won’t be difficult for her."

"Moreover..."

He paused, his face filled with envy.

"This time, our master is accepting six disciples in total, and one of them will be chosen as his Closed-door Disciple."

"If Shuang’er can attain True Inheritance, her future accomplishments will be immeasurable."

"Yes." Shuang’er nodded, her eyes shining:

"Master said he will go into seclusion in a few years for intensive cultivation to seek a breakthrough, and this is the last time he will accept disciples."

"I have to compete with the others for the True Inheritance spot."

"Compete?" Zhu Ju frowned:

"Will it be dangerous?"

"Don’t worry, Young Master Zhu." Leng Jian’s smile returned, and his tone grew warmer.

"The True Martial Sect is not one of the Evil Sect and Demon Dao. While our Disciples compete for resources, their lives are never at stake."

"This ’competition’ is kept within reasonable bounds."

"That’s good." Zhu Ju nodded and asked again:

"So..."

"You’re taking Shuang’er away."

"What?!" Shuang’er froze, obviously hearing this for the first time. She instinctively clutched Zhu Ju’s sleeve.

"I won’t go!"

"Taiyuan Prefecture is, in the end, a small place. Our master was only passing through and will naturally return to the Sect," Leng Jian said slowly.

"Shuang’er."

"A disciple of the True Martial Sect must have a worldly perspective. I’m sure Young Master Zhu wouldn’t want to hold you back."

As he spoke, he gave Zhu Ju a meaningful look.

"Even when a pair of birds must part, they will one day be reunited."

Zhu Ju sighed softly, patted the back of Shuang’er’s hand, and wiped away the tear from the corner of her eye before speaking slowly:

"Besides, we can still write to each other. It’s just a little time apart. It’s nothing."

"Where is Senior Wujiu?"

"I want to meet him."

*

*

*

「In the inner courtyard of the Daoist Temple.」

Zhou Fu was bent at the waist, waiting motionlessly for something.

As the General Manager of the Zhou Mansion, a Martial Arts expert just shy of the Sixth Grade, his status was even higher than some of the Zhou family’s own children.

This time, however, he had been waiting motionlessly for nearly the time it takes an incense stick to burn, fearing he would disturb the distinguished person inside.

"General Manager Zhou."

Daoist Jingyun emerged with a calling card in hand, his expression apologetic.

"My apologies."

"Senior Wujiu does not wish to see outsiders."

"Of course." Zhou Fu accepted the card with the utmost respect. Far from being embarrassed by the rejection, he was all smiles:

"I was the one who was being intrusive."

"One more thing," said Daoist Jingyun.

"The Senior enjoys his peace and quiet. He is only staying here for a short while, so we hope the Zhou Mansion will not spread the word."

"Yes!" Zhou Fu’s expression turned solemn:

"Please assure the Senior that aside from the few of us here now, no one will know he has come to Taiyuan Prefecture."

"Then..."

"I shall take my leave."

He said, bowing as he withdrew.

Just then, a young man brushed past him and entered the very room he had been begging to enter.

’Huh?’

’That person is...’

’Zhu Ju?’

Wujiu was a Daoist name.

Legend has it that he was found as a baby in front of a grave by a certain expert from the True Martial Sect, and when he grew up, he was given the Daoist name Wujiu.

Different from what one might imagine.

This ’old man’ of over a hundred years actually had the face of a young man, looking a year or two younger than Zhu Ju at first glance.

Only his eyes were deep and tranquil, like an abyss without a single ripple.

"An interesting young man."

As he looked at Zhu Ju, a flicker of light passed through Wujiu’s eyes:

"You think Shuang’er will come back?"

"I only hope that when she wants to come back, Senior will not stand in her way." Zhu Ju said, cupping his fists.

"Taiyuan Prefecture may be small, but it is where she grew up. Although I have no romantic feelings for her, we have always relied on each other."

"The world is full of splendor and magnificent sights, teeming with brilliant young heroes. Once she has seen all that, do you think she will still remember Taiyuan Prefecture? Remember you?" Wujiu said with a faint smile.

"The Shuang’er of today is naive and ignorant, like a blank sheet of paper, but she cannot remain so innocent forever."

"One can see the vastness of mountains and rivers, yet still treasure the sand in one’s palm." Zhu Ju looked up, meeting his gaze directly. "The bonds of youth are the purest and most precious. There have been those from Taiyuan Prefecture who went on to achieve greatness, only to return one day and still stoop to pick the fallen blossoms from their old doorstep."

Wujiu raised his eyebrows, a trace of surprise on his face, then he slowly nodded, his voice tinged with emotion as he spoke:

"Well said."

"The bonds of youth are indeed the most precious..."

He seemed to recall something, a complex look flashing in his eyes, and then he took out an object and tossed it over.

"This is a Stabilizing Essence Pill. It can help you consolidate your Essence and improve your Cultivation. I hope that when Shuang’er returns someday, the gap between you two won’t have strained your bond."