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"Very well, let's go," Shen Jinglan said briefly.
He had always been very confident in Spirit Sword Destiny's handling of matters.
A large, soft Ruiyun condensed beneath them, and Shen Jinglan sat down directly. Spirit Sword Destiny and Shaoyuan also sat down beside him.
This Ruiyun was the vehicle summoned by Shen Jinglan. Ever since he fell ill, he preferred to sit whenever possible and would never stand for even a moment longer than necessary. Moreover, when he sat down, he did not like others standing in front of him like wooden stakes.
"Master, what did those four seniors say when you sent them away?" Spirit Sword Destiny asked.
"Well, they all swore an oath to no longer interfere in the affairs between my sect and the Upright Path from now on."
Spirit Sword Destiny replied, "It seems they have truly taken your 'reasoning' to heart."
Thanks to the Master being present, if it were just him and Shaoyuan, they definitely would not have been able to handle those four Righteous Path bigwigs.
"Those old foxes were indeed much more honest when swearing oaths in front of me. Using force always makes it easier for people to listen."
Shen Jinglan smiled lightly and glanced at him, suddenly saying, "I feel that sometimes you don't really listen to me, do you? You seem to take my words to heart on the surface, but behind my back, you do something entirely different."
"How could I?" Spirit Sword Destiny lowered his gaze. "Every word and sentence from the Master is firmly etched in my heart; I have never forgotten."
If anyone else heard the Master say such words, their expression would surely change dramatically. For a subordinate, this evaluation was already a rather stern reproach.
However, their bond was different.
Shen Jinglan was both his mentor and his elder brother, having raised him single-handedly. His entire cultivation was also taught by Shen Jinglan. The bond between them was something no one could understand, and no one could compare to.
Shen Jinglan's words sounded more like a gentle yet helpless reprimand from an elder brother to a disobedient junior.
Spirit Sword Destiny vehemently denied it, yet inwardly acknowledged that the leader indeed had a point. He had often avoided the leader, who was in seclusion, to act on his own in order to investigate the whereabouts of the Elixir that could cure the leader's ailment.
It wasn't that he didn't want to obey.
The leader had already seen through the fact that his time was limited, but Spirit Sword Destiny could not grasp it at all.
"Is that so?" Shen Jinglan smiled and shook his head. "I see you still running around after returning with me this time."
"Are you going to break my legs?" Spirit Sword Destiny laughed as well.
"I watched you grow up. You've already matured enough to stand on your own. You have your own ideas. Even if I can restrict you with words now, what will happen in the future when I can no longer speak or move? Your feet are your own; the path you choose is up to you," Shen Jinglan said. "If I ever truly have the thought of breaking your legs, I would first break my own hands."
His hand, revealed from the flowing sleeves of his robe, had long fingers that appeared even longer due to their slenderness, presenting a sickly pallor.
Spirit Sword Destiny looked at his hand.
Just by appearances, no one would believe that such a hand held the power of destruction.
Spirit Sword Destiny did not respond further to Shen Jinglan, as he had nothing more to say.
"Leader, have you taken the Azure Essence Pill?" he asked again.
"Um."
"Let me see." Spirit Sword Destiny also reached out and grabbed his wrist, feeling his pulse.
The slow and faint heartbeat echoed from his fingers, sinking deep into his heart.
It was as if a hammer gently tapped against his heart.
Spirit Sword Destiny truly wished that this hammering ghost would never slack off or stop.
"The Azure Essence Pill hasn't improved your body; it merely prolongs your life..." Spirit Sword Destiny said softly, "At this rate, it can last for another five years."
"Five years is not short," Shen Jinglan replied. "Autumn Moon and Spring Breeze, Winter Snow and Summer Lotus, I can still see them five more times. In this lifetime, I've gained more than others and seen more scenery."
Shaoyuan: "..."
The two of them were talking together, and soon they would forget about him. He had clearly transformed into a human form, yet it felt as if he had become a wisp of air.
He idly fumbled at his waist and suddenly exclaimed, "Oh!"
"What is it?" Spirit Sword Destiny asked. Both of them turned to look at him.
"My folding fan is missing," Shaoyuan recalled for a moment. "I probably left it in the Banquet Hall."
A folding fan?
Spirit Sword Destiny remembers that Shaoyuan has long carried a folding fan made of Xuan Turtle Shell for the ribs and Silk for the surface. It is not particularly valuable, but it does have some benefits for the operation of spiritual power. He carries this fan because the first person he devoured also wore one at his waist.
More than sixty years ago, that young master raised in a prestigious family faced a great change and was forced to flee to Youzhou. He did not have the luck or strength of Shen Jinglan and Spirit Sword Destiny, and soon he was devoured by the Shenmo in the waters. This Shenmo inherited his appearance, name, and habits, continuing to this day—this is now Shaoyuan.
Of course, Shaoyuan carrying a folding fan does not convey the charm of his original self; it is entirely a superficial elegance.
"That's not a good thing either; let Qiongqi help you buy another one," said Shen Jinglan. Qiongqi is responsible for procurement in the Evil Sect.
Spirit Sword Destiny thought that this folding fan had already fallen into the hands of Xu Xiaofei.
As a bss, aside from experience points, equipment and spiritual materials should also drop frequently, right?
In future battles with the protagonist, he would need to pay attention to what he had on him.
This Ruiyun flew extremely swiftly; while Shaoyuan was distracted, they had already flown back to the nearest secret Branch of the Evil Sect.
Back on their own territory, Spirit Sword Destiny and Shaoyuan released the traitors they had captured.
Upon seeing Shen Jinglan, Wu Shuang, although still able to suppress his trembling legs, turned pale as if made of clay.
Mu Ruo Song, however, remained somewhat calmer than him.
As soon as he escaped from Spirit Sword Destiny's spatial artifact, he approached Shen Jinglan: "It has been a long time since the leader has seen me, hasn't it? I also haven't seen the leader's face for quite some time; I didn't expect it would be under such circumstances. Unfortunately, even if I wanted to compliment you on your unchanged grace, I can't bring myself to say it. Your complexion is certainly not as good as before..."
He sighed deeply: "Do you still remember the events from forty years ago? Back then, you were so spirited, and I was young and impetuous. The territory of the Evil Sect was all conquered by us at that time. Time has changed! You are now gravely ill and no longer involved in sect affairs, while I have become a useless person living off scraps. The reason I defected is because I couldn't accept it! How much have I done for This Sect, and what was my fate afterward? The leader must not have taken notice of it! I was captured after defecting; I have nothing to say about that. But if I hadn't defected, there would soon be no place for me in the sect!"
He didn't mention the name Spirit Sword Destiny even once; his words were alluding to him indirectly.
"Forty years ago..." Shen Jinglan sighed, "That was indeed a long time ago. I have not forgotten the bond we shared on the battlefield."
His gaze momentarily lost focus, as if he was reminiscing about that time.
Back then, his illness was not as severe as it is now, and he wasn't confined to his residence year-round, leading his followers in campaigns, spilling blood on the battlefield. Those were truly exhilarating days!
Unlike now, when he is tormented by various ailments every moment. His heart is still young, but his body has already aged...
"But," Shen Jinglan changed the subject, "since you have defected, what is there left to argue? Have you never considered that stripping you of your power was my intention? I have long seen that you are not a person who can remain content, and you have proven that my judgment was correct."
He looked deeply at Mu Ruo Song: "You are an Elder of the sect; you know what fate awaits those who betray the teachings. Even if you are dissatisfied, you may rebel against me, but you cannot betray the sect... This Sect's Branch in Water City was destroyed in a surprise attack by the Righteous Path due to your leak. Thirty-one members of the sect from that branch did not survive. How will you repay those thirty-one lives?"
You may rebel against me, but you cannot betray the teachings...
Because rebelling against me is merely like an ant shaking a tree; it doesn't even require me to glance at it.
Is this what the Sect Leader means?
Spirit Sword Destiny stood beside him, silently contemplating this statement.
Even though the Sect Leader is gravely ill, no one within the sect can shake his position.
I cannot either...
Spirit Sword Destiny This phrase emerged in his mind. His eyes dimmed slightly.
Indeed, I cannot either.
"I understand," Mu Ruo Song sighed, "I do not seek a way to live, but I ask the Master to grant me a swift end for the sake of our past friendship."
"Good, I will not say more," Shen Jinglan said, "I will have them capture you and bring you back instead of dealing with you on the spot. You want to know what I am going to ask. What information have you leaked? When you escaped from Youzhou, who was it that assisted you? There must be an insider among your This Sect Branch. If everyone comes out, I will make your deaths quick and painless."
Mu Ruo Song exchanged a glance with Wu Shuang, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Alright."
"Most of the information we know has not been leaked yet; we only..."
A burst of greenish smoke suddenly emanated from him.
The smoke seemed to carry a deadly poison.
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