These past few days, everyone was recovering nicely from their injuries. Two days ago, they were still relying on Chu Yang’s dried food. On the third day, Gu Du Xing had to go out and hunt down a deer. The five people hiding in the cave had a grand feast.
With Beyond the Heavens Sect’s current situation, sect master Wu Yun Liang was unconcerned.
Gu Du Xing was very surprised about this. Beyond the Heavens Sect was being turned inside out, and the sect master was still looking as secure as Mount Tai?
In regards to this, Wu Yun Liang seemed to understand and said, “Losses are expected, but I have much faith in second martial brother…”
Gu Du Xing was somewhat puzzled. It was not until Chu Yang explained that he learned that Li Jin Song was Diwu Qing Rou’s spy. He could not help but shake his head and smile.
“But would such an attack not cost many lives of Beyond the Heavens Sect’s ordinary disciples?” Gu Du Xing asked.
“This is Jiang Hu.” Wu Yun Liang sighed, “I hope that this will help the disciples remember that the sect is not their shelter. Being in the sect means being connected to it even in death. If the sect is gone, they will be nothing but wandering ghosts.”
“In suffering, we can forge backs of steel! While the price is high, we will not bear it if we don’t pay it. Then we will never be able to stand up for the rest of this life!” When he said these words, Wu Yun Liang let out a long sigh.
Gu Du Xing became thoughtful.
Wu Yun Liang’s words made Gu Du Xing think about Gu Miao Ling. Was the suffering that the two of them have to bear not a kind of tempering?
After resting for a bit, Wu Yun Liang asked Chu Yang indirectly, “Is there any lady in your heart?”
“Yes!” Chu Yang replied without any hesitations; the edge of his mouth revealed a loving smile.
Wu Yun Liang was elated. He stroked his beard and smiled with a knowing look.
In his mind, Chu Yang worked with his daughter in Iron Cloud so if there was someone in his heart, who else could it have been if not his own daughter? He did not even try to imagine that the two perhaps already had secret liaisons…
Therefore, Wu Yun Liang did not ask anymore.
Meng Chao Ran sneered. In his opinion, the person in Chu Yang’s heart was definitely not Wu Qian Qian. In this respect, Meng Chao Ran understood his disciple too well.
If it was indeed Wu Qian Qian, Chu Yang’s attitude toward Wu Yun Liang should have been much warmer than this…
In these days of recovery, Meng Chao Ran was the most content person, but Tan Tan was, of course, the happiest. This punk practically did not close his mouth. Gu Du Xing also started to feel that his words were not too bad to listen to.
Moreover, Tan Tan’s pure heart made it difficult to have bad thoughts toward him.
After another six days, they had verified that Wu Yun Liang’s health was completely restored. Chu Yang and Gu Du Xing were preparing to leave.
With his disciple’s decision, Meng Chao Ran did not question it. He simply said with concern, “Be careful!”
With tears in his eyes, Tan Tan watched as Chu Yang and Gu Du Xing left the cave and continued on their way. Chu Yang’s words rang out in his heart, “I will wait for you in Iron Cloud!”
As for Meng Chao Ran and Tan Tan’s safety, everyone had discussed and decided that the two of them should temporarily leave Purple Bamboo Garden. If Diwu Qing Rou acted this time, there was no guarantee that there would not be a second time. Things would be better in the long run if they left temporarily.
“Chu Yang has changed so much; his advancement is too great. Why are you not surprised? You did not ask him anything.” After Chu Yang and Gu Du Xing left, Wu Yun Liang asked Meng Chao Ran.
“What if I asked? What if I did not ask?” Meng Chao Ran said casually, “It is his own fortune. As long as my disciple obtained it, I will not ask how he did so.”
He smiled and turned toward Wu Yun Liang, “If anyone wants to steal from my disciple, I will fight to the death with that person.”
Wu Yun Liang snorted.
“Where are you planning to hide?” Wu Yun Liang asked.
“I want to bring Tan Tan with me to Middle Three Heavens.” Meng Chao Ran sighed. A strange expression appeared in his gaze, “If we continue to remain in Lower Three Heavens, we will be the greatest burden for Chu Yang. Plus, in Middle Three Heavens, there will be more spiritual energy for the Heavenly Chi Gathering Fish to absorb compared to Lower Three Heavens. This will be very useful for Tan Tan’s advancement.”
“You want to give it another try?” Wu Yun Liang remained quiet for a while before asking.
“No.” Meng Chao Ran shook his head looking forlorn, “If it was just me, I would go. But with Tan Tan, I cannot. When I hand Tan Tan over to Chu Yang or find his birth parents…”
Wu Yun Liang sighed and said, “With you leaving like this, I lose another diligent helper…”
“In a situation like this, my leaving… is the greatest help for you!” Meng Chao Ran grunted.
“When are you leaving?”
“Right now.”
Two brothers, four eyes, looked at each other exposing a deep closeness. After a long while, Wu Yun Liang turned away and said softly, “If you have to go, go quickly. I won’t watch you leave.”
Meng Chao Ran sighed and took a deep breath. He simply said, “Take care.”
“Take care.” Wu Yun Liang said to himself.
He stood for a long time listening to the parting footsteps growing more distant. When it was completely gone, he still did not turn around.
A long time after, he smiled and muttered, “Little martial brother, I still hope that you can fulfill your dream. You have guarded Beyond the Heavens Sect for so many years; how much you are suffering in your heart, I already know. Now that you finally make a decision for yourself and choose your own path, I hope you will travel it well…”
He smiled leisurely with a look of goodwill in his eyes, “I only hope that if there is a day in the future when you and I are still alive we can still sit down to talk and drink together. I am sure, at that time… I will be closer to death than life…”
He wanted to turn around and watch his junior martial brother leave, but he hesitated for a long time. In the end, he was able hold back and maintained an odd posture. He left this cave at the speed of flight.
Let me deal with the mess at Beyond the Heavens Sect by myself!
Wu Yun Liang thought as he glided like a bolt of lightning.
Purple bamboos in Purple Bamboo Garden still swayed as before, but the people were no longer there.
Wu Yun Liang went through the sea of purple bamboos with an indescribabe emotion in his heart.
Purple Bamboo Garden was lost. Then the nine peaks and one garden of Beyond the Heavens Sect was also at the point where it would break apart. Tomorrow, the journey to Iron Cloud would begin…
Junior martial brother, take care!
***** (Walk the Jiang Hu)
Chu Yang and Gu Du Xing walked together as they left Purple Bamboo Garden and Beyond the Heavens Sect.
At the bottom of the mountain, Chu Yang turned and looked into the distance. He looked the faint mountain top. There seemed to be a little bit of purple swaying in the horizon as if it was sadly saying goodbye.
Chu Yang remained still for a long time.
It was as if he felt that in this trip, he would be gone for a very long time and not be able to come back to this place! When I come back, will this place… still be Beyond the Heavens Sect?
“Your master is impressive.” During these past few days, Gu Du Xing’s deepest impression was Meng Chao Ran’s indifference. It was as if he looked right past this world, and nothing could touch his emotion. But at the same time, there was also a touch of stubbornness!
This was a kind of feeling that could not be put into words.
“My master will leave this place with Tan Tan…” Chu Yang said sadly, “What my master likes most is the color purple, purple bamboos. If they leave, I am afraid he would be very sad.”
“Do you know where your master would be going when he leave?” Gu Du Xing asked.
“My master’s cultivation level is not that high. He can protect himself in Lower Three Heavens. But if he goes to Middle Three Heavens, it would be very dangerous.” Chu Yang slowly sighed, “However, I have a feeling that master’s chance to break through is in Middle Three Heavens.”
“He took care of us even though, at a glance, it seems as if he did not care about anything. The two of us have always been in my master’s heart. As long as we live well in Lower Three Heavens, he would support us and take care of us.”
“But my master has discovered that his presence has an impact on the fate of Beyond the Heavens Sect and my emotions. So he decided to leave. But, in leaving, he would leave his world behind.”
Chu Yang softly sighed, “Gu Du Xing, from now on, no one will be able to see my master in Lower Three Heavens!”
“Middle Three Heavens?” Gu Du Xing asked.
“Yes.” Chu Yang said, “My master would absolutely not let Diwu Qing Rou use him against me. So once he leaves, he would go very far. And this… is also because I understand his situation. I hope, but also don’t… that he has given up.”
“Oh?” Gu Du Xing was slightly confused.
“Do you know of any great clan with the surname Ye?” Chu Yang asked in a low voice. A mysterious thought flashed in his eyes.
“Surname Ye.” Gu Du Xing thought for a bit and said, “From what I know, there is no clan in Middle Three Heavens with the surname Ye. But this could be because of my ignorance.”
“Hmm…” Chu Yang was slightly distracted.
“But, in Upper Three Heavens, there is the surname Ye.” Gu Du Xing’s gaze became contemplative.
“Upper Three Heavens?” Chu Yang suddenly turned around and looked at Gu Du Xing.
“Upper Three Heavens’ Ye clan is one of the nine great clans that dominates over Nine Heavens since ancient times!” There was a look of awe and respect in Gu Du Xing’s eyes. It was as if they were the tallest of untouchable mountains.
Chu Yang was startled. Given Gu Du Xing’s character and he showed such look, the power of Upper Three Heavens’ Ye clan was not difficult to imagine.
“Since ancient times, they have been one of the nine great clans that dominates over Nine Heavens!” Chu Yang quietly repeated it. A light flashed in his eyes.
He remember the hopelessness, pain, and helplessness in Meng Chao Ran’s eyes…
“Upper Three Heavens is it?” Chu Yang muttered, “Nine great clans of Upper Three Heavens? Haha…”
“What do you want to do?” Gu Du Xing sensed something out of the ordinary and could not help but feel anxious.
“Nothing.” Chu Yang’s figure flew up and he flew forward. His voice was heard faintly from the front, “Du Xing, do you want to be the leader of one of the nine great clans?”
“Chu Yang, this joke is not funny at all.”
“Oh…”
*****
Some distance off, Meng Chao Ran was calmly bringing Tan Tan to a sea of thunderous clouds.
“Master, where are we going?” Tan Tan turned back to look after every few steps.
“We’re going to find your biological parents.” Meng Chao Ran said casually, “It is a mysterious place.”
“When can we return?” Tan Tan’s voice was somewhat hoarse, “Chu Yang is still waiting for me to help him at Iron Cloud Citadel…”
“You can also stay at that mysterious world and wait for him to come and help you.” Meng Chao Ran said softly. He turned and looked back, “Eldest martial brother, take care. Chu Yang, you must take care of yourself.”
Then he grabbed his disciple’s hand and let out a loud shout. Two figures flew up and went into the sea of clouds…