Watching the Mountain

Chapter 16: Chapter 11: Epiphany (Part 2)

In the end, Xu Ran’s choice was just as she had predicted.

She left, reassured, after seeing Ning Caique take the Elixir. She knew her appearance would put pressure on her junior sister, so she simply stayed away.

Besides, compared to seeing Ning Caique, she had more important things to do right now.

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"A precious Fourth Grade Elixir, just to save the life of someone with less than a tenth of her Cultivation left, who has lost her future and can never repay your kindness. Don’t you think that’s a bad trade?"

After Ning Caique refined the Elixir, her injuries had mostly healed, and some color had returned to her deathly pale face. She looked at Xu Ran, her expression complex as she spoke.

Even she hadn’t expected that the person to appear and save her life would be the very one she had called shameless and lacking self-awareness, the one she had nearly driven out of the Sect.

’How unpredictable life is.’

"Now, it’s my turn to repay your kindness," Xu Ran replied calmly.

"Is that so?" Ning Caique fell silent.

After a long while, Xu Ran asked, "How are your injuries?"

"I can probably live another twenty or thirty years. In any case, I definitely can’t cultivate anymore," Ning Caique replied, feigning indifference, but she couldn’t hide the trace of sorrow in her eyes.

Seeing her like this, Xu Ran didn’t know how to comfort her. The Ning Caique of the past had been a very proud person. No matter what hardship she faced, she would never give up, even if she was beaten and bloodied. She was stubborn like that.

Xu Ran had keenly sensed this about her, both back in Xu Family Village and from the Cultivation Insights she had given him.

But now, she had lost all her former radiance, like an ordinary person who had accepted their fate.

"Can you tell me what you experienced after you parted ways with me and Senior Sister Yue?"

Just then, Ning Caique suddenly stared at him and asked with a curious expression.

"There’s nothing I can’t tell you." Xu Ran nodded slightly and proceeded to recount his experiences.

Ning Caique listened, completely engrossed. After hearing about Xu Ran’s journey, she couldn’t help but marvel. ’It really is just like Senior Sister Yue said,’ she thought. ’This man would succeed at anything, even without Cultivation.’

His story was undeniable proof.

"After Senior Sister Yue and I returned to the Sect..."

Then, she began to tell her own story. She didn’t ask if Xu Ran wanted to listen; she just recounted it calmly and naturally.

Xu Ran stayed with Ning Caique for a long time before he left. Over several days, they talked a great deal, like old friends reuniting after many years.

Compared to their unpleasant first encounter when he joined the Sect, this felt more like their true reunion after a century apart.

In the end, Ning Caique gave him some resources and Contribution Points. Her attitude was firm, and she refused to let him decline.

As they parted, she told Xu Ran she was going to the Chores Courtyard to become an ordinary Steward. She asked him not to disturb her, because she didn’t want anyone to see her grow old in mediocrity.

After returning from Ning Caique’s, Xu Ran sat on a barren patch of land beside a Spirit Field. He gazed at the towering peaks that pierced the clouds, a heavy feeling settling in his chest.

He couldn’t quite describe the feeling, but after his experience with Ning Caique, he suddenly realized that he was destined to endure many partings in this life.

A mortal’s lifespan was limited, but his own was infinite. One day, he would have to watch everyone he had a connection with leave this world, one by one.

He had always known this in theory, but he had never truly felt its weight until now.

Now, he could tangibly feel life slipping away—not his own, but someone else’s.

A powerful emotion then surged in his chest, demanding release.

After suppressing it for a long time, he finally couldn’t hold back any longer. He drew his Flying Sword and swung with all his might.

When he came to his senses, he looked ahead in shock. On the wasteland not far away, several bare patches of earth had appeared. That area had been covered in weeds, but now, it was as if some power had stripped them of their Life Force, welcoming death and turning them to dust.

’Did I do this?’ Xu Ran stared at the scene before him. As he recalled the feeling of that swing, understanding suddenly dawned on him.

This was the answer to the question he had asked Qing Xuan Master, the very Swordsmanship he had been pursuing.

The Swordsmanship that embodied the Will of Death was complete.

Xu Ran was overjoyed. This was a Swordsmanship of his own creation, his first true achievement since beginning his Cultivation. He never expected it to be born under such circumstances.

Just as he was reveling in his success, a surprised cry suddenly reached his ears. "Junior Brother Xu, you..."

Ye Shan stared blankly at Xu Ran. ’What did I just see?’ fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

As a Sword Cultivator, he naturally understood the power of that strike. Even watching from a distance, he could faintly feel the approach of death.

’Junior Brother Xu never ceases to amaze me,’ he thought.

His expression lit up with excitement as he issued an invitation to Xu Ran. "Junior Brother Xu, I’ll suppress my Cultivation. Let’s have a match!"

He tossed a Qi Replenishing Elixir to Xu Ran. He could tell that the last strike had completely drained Xu Ran’s Spiritual Power, leaving him unable to continue a fight.

"I had the same idea." Xu Ran also wanted to test the power of his Sword of Death, so he readily accepted Ye Shan’s challenge.

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After leaving Xu Ran, Ye Shan went to the foot of the mountain and stopped Yue Qingyu.

"Senior Sister Yue, you’re better suited for Enlightenment Dao Cultivation. Fighting is my specialty. Let me go this time. My hands are itching for a fight, and I can use the prodigies from the Four Major Sects as practice."

Ye Shan gripped his longsword, standing ramrod straight, his eyes filled with fighting spirit.

He was eager to see if the people from the Four Major Sects were really so formidable that they thought they could wipe out the Profound Pure Sect.

"Can you handle it alone?" Yue Qingyu stared at Ye Shan, asking softly after a moment of silence.

Hearing this, Ye Shan let out a wild laugh. "Senior Sister, you jest. I’m Ye Shan, after all."

After a moment of silence, Yue Qingyu formed a Dao Seal and said solemnly, "Then I’ll be counting on you, Junior Brother Ye."

Ye Shan nodded. He took a single step, then suddenly turned back and said to Yue Qingyu in all seriousness:

"By the way, Senior Sister Yue, that Junior Brother Xu you brought into the Sect... he’s truly incredible."

"Hm?" Yue Qingyu looked puzzled. She didn’t understand why he was suddenly bringing this up again; she remembered him saying something similar just a few days ago. freeweɓnovel.cøm

Ye Shan turned and began to walk away, his voice drifting back to her.

"Last night, I suppressed my Cultivation and exchanged a single strike with Junior Brother Xu."

"I didn’t win."

With that, his figure slowly faded from view.

Yue Qingyu stared in the direction he had vanished. A ripple spread across her eyes, which had always been as still and deep as an ancient well.