400 Parting Sadness
Time passed.
There were still two days to go to reach the location of the small Mystic Nether Sect. The sky was filled with stars and was resplendent. The bright moonlight showered down like a curtain.
Starlight and moonlight blended and flowed across the world.
Amidst this scenery, the melodious sound of a flute rang out from a magic ship.
The tune was no longer broken but had a rhythm. It also contained a killing intent that was different from the tune played by Purple Mystic Fairy.
This intent came from a fast-paced melody, like spears and horses clashing. However, very soon, the tune changed again; as though the war had ended, after looking at the bones all over the ground, the survivors looked at the sky and had many doubts about the world.
The feeling of confusion grew. It was as though the person playing the flute had fused his thoughts into the flute and it continued to echo.
However, if all of this fell into the ears of someone familiar with the flute music, they could easily sense the lack of familiarity with the flute and know that this was played by a beginner.
However, it was obvious that joy came from the heart. It wasn’t difficult to learn it. At least, this was the case for Xu Qing.
He held an emerald-green willow flute in his hand. Since he was sitting, the hem of his Daoist robe spread on the deck. His long hair fluttered in the wind and gave off a glistening brightness under the moonlight.
He put the willow flute in front of his lips and had a focused expression. Coupled with his slender hands on the willow flute, most people would praise the beautiful youth when they saw him.
The way he played seriously gave off an indescribable charm. This caused Purple Mystic Fairy, who was leaning on a chaise longue made of thousand-year-old cloud wood, to emit a strange glint in her slightly opened eyes.
This light gradually intensified and the sound of the flute became chaotic.
Xu Qing chose to close his eyes.
To him, this period of time was an indescribable tempering. He had never experienced such a thing and didn’t know how to deal with it. Hence, other than meditating and cultivating, he focused more on this new knowledge.
Xu Qing had always respected knowledge and was very eager to learn.
For example, after Old Master Seventh taught him how to play chess, Xu Qing would occasionally think of chess.
Xu Qing liked the sound of the flute taught by Purple Mystic Fairy even more. He wasn’t a person who was good with words, and the sound of the flute could better allow him to express his thoughts in the world.
However, the gaze from Purple Mystic Fairy made Xu Qing feel a little helpless.
He couldn’t understand this Mystic Nether Sect’s ancestor.
He also didn’t understand why the other party wanted to tease him.
He felt that at that level of cultivation, physical appearance was no longer important. In addition, during this period of time, he had seen the other party attack seven times.
Every time, it was just a gentle move and every time, everything would dissipate.
The enemies died without leaving a drop of blood.
Sometimes, the reason for killing was because the other party was courting death and emitted malice. However, there were also times when it was decided by Purple Mystic Fairy’s personal likes and dislikes.
For example, yesterday, a nonhuman cultivator only glanced at her in the air. In the next instant, this nonhuman expert turned into ashes and disappeared from this world.
Every time this happened, Xu Qing’s heart would ache for the souls lost. He needed 120 souls to suppress in his magic apertures, but he couldn’t easily mention this.
Xu Qing also saw some differences between Purple Mystic Fairy and the others. She often had good intentions toward those poor and troubled small countries by the river. She would often resolve some of their mortal issues.
For example, a few days ago, they passed by a small country which was troubled by a thief. This was very common and cultivators basically wouldn’t care. However, Purple Mystic Fairy sent that thief to the afterlife with a wave of her hand.
All of this filled Xu Qing with confusion.
Purple Mystic Fairy’s temperament was also unpredictable. Sometimes, she was like a young girl. Her joy was written on her face and she would get off the ship to pluck a beautiful flower on the mountain.
Sometimes, she would be filled with valiance as she drank mouthful after mouthful of wine. Her black hair fluttered in the wind and shone in the moonlight.
There were also times when she was extremely cold and would attack with the intent to exterminate.
There were also times when she revealed an intense temptation. Every frown and smile revealed an indescribable charm, giving off a feeling of flirting.
She was also gentle at times. Every time Xu Qing made a mistake while playing the flute, a gentleness that was like water would surge out of her body. She would softly explain to Xu Qing and correct him.
Innocent, cold, heroic, charming, gentle… Xu Qing had never seen so many different temperaments from a person.
Two days later, Xu Qing saw another temperament on Purple Mystic Fairy.
That was when they arrived at the Mystic Nether Sect. The entire sect welcomed them with unprecedented respect. Purple Mystic Fairy looked at these people and a hint of reminiscence appeared in her eyes.
“Are you Little Yunzi?”
The old man who had acted mysterious before trembled and spoke in a low voice.
“Reporting to Purple Mystic Fairy, I’m none other than… Little Yunzi.” The old man felt bitter inwardly. He looked at the figure that hadn’t changed at all.
Many thoughts and emotions surfaced in his mind. He still remembered that when he was still a kid, he had followed his master and seen with his own eyes how infatuated his master was… However, in the end, the flower falls into the stream for love, but the stream has no feelings for the flower1. Back then, no one managed to enter this Purple Mystic Fairy’s sight.
“Bring me to your master’s grave.” There were clearly no traces of time on Purple Mystic Fairy’s body but at this moment, compared to the old man, time seemed to have left an aura on her.
Xu Qing silently followed. Very soon, they arrived at the backyard of the Mystic Nether Sect. There was a lone grave there and in front of the grave was a willow tree. It swayed in the wind and seemed to be filled with spirit upon Purple Mystic’s arrival.
Purple Mystic Fairy took a few steps closer and looked at the grave. She then sighed softly and said to Xu Qing.
“This old friend of mine was a good person.”
Xu Qing recalled what he knew about the past and didn’t speak.
The old man at the side sighed with emotion.
Not long later, Xu Qing and Purple Mystic Fairy left.
Before she left, Purple Mystic Fairy asked the Mystic Nether Sect if they were willing to leave this place and join the Alliance. The old man from the Mystic Nether Sect was very tempted. However, in the end, he looked at the grave and still shook his head, tactfully refusing. He only requested for that undercurrent to be drawn by them forever.
Purple Mystic Fairy agreed and personally set up an array formation here. After that, she and Xu Qing left on the ship.
The way back was always faster in senses than when they came. As Xu Qing’s flute proficiency improved, they were getting closer and closer to the Eight Sects Alliance.
On this dusk, when there was still an hour’s journey before they reached the Alliance city, Purple Mystic Fairy, who was sitting on the railing and seemed to be about to fuse into the sunset, spoke softly.
“Xu Qing, play that tune. I want to hear it.”
Xu Qing sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, recalling. He then picked up the flute and placed it to his mouth. The sound of the flute slowly rang out.
It carried the meaning of the martial world and described the sorrows and joys of life. In the end, everything turned into a pot of turbid wine.
In the loneliness, the wine was drunk.
They had arrived at the Alliance.
“This song is called Parting Sadness. I created it in recent years.” Purple Mystic Fairy looked ahead. The wind blew her black hair and her clothes fluttered in the wind, as though she was about to leave with the wind.
That sense of loneliness seemed to be slowly blown out by the wind, permeating the surroundings and also manifesting in Purple Mystic Fairy’s eyes.
As her gaze turned deeper, she turned her head and looked at Xu Qing. There seemed to be a deep pool in her eyes, as though she wanted to firmly remember Xu Qing’s appearance. Finally, she smiled gently.
Xu Qing looked at Purple Mystic Fairy.
“Back then, there were many people who gave me gifts. Just the number of flutes alone crossed a hundred. I forgot who gave me this willow flute but I like this flute very much. Thank you for accompanying me all the way. Take this flute as a gift.”
Purple Mystic Fairy picked up the wine flask and took a sip. She then flicked her beautiful hair, revealing a heroic bearing, before stepping into the sky and moving further and further away.
Xu Qing looked at the flute in his hand before looking in the direction of the Mystic Nether Sect. An indescribable thought surfaced in his mind.
A long time later, he took a deep breath, cupped his fists, and bowed. He then controlled the magic ship to return to the Seven Blood Eyes.
At the same time, in the Mystic Nether Sect, the white-robed Purple Mystic Fairy was in a good mood. She sighed softly as she returned to the tall tower. She looked in the direction of the Seven Blood Eyes. After a long time, she muttered softly.
“If you were born a hundred years earlier…”
“So what?” A gentle male voice rang out from behind Purple Mystic Fairy. The blue-robed Alliance Leader walked out of the void and arrived beside Purple Mystic Fairy. He also looked at the Seven Blood Eyes.
“If he was born a hundred years earlier, Junior Sister, don’t you think he would be a skeleton by now?”
“Or perhaps, the current him can also become a skeleton.” As he spoke, the Alliance Leader of the Eight Sects Alliance looked gently at Purple Mystic Fairy.
“Do you dare?” Purple Mystic Fairy’s expression was cold.
The Alliance Leader stared at Purple Mystic Fairy. After a long time, he smiled and shook his head.
“It is my Alliance’s fortune to have such a heaven’s chosen, so how can I harm him? However, Junior Sister, although the life soul Master left for you makes me wary, your lifespan is about to end. It’s a little sad that you found the light at such a time.”
“30 years of lifespan will pass in the blink of an eye. As for him, he hasn’t reached the Spirit Repository realm and can’t repair the Dao with you. In the end, you still have to face the choice of life and death.”
“I’ll ask you again next month.” The Alliance Leader smiled and his body slowly disappeared.