And so, before Yuan Heng's utterly disbelieving eyes, Tongtian dragged her off to find his two older brothers.
“Hey, wait, Tongtian—”
Within a single breath, the two of them vanished right in front of Duobao, leaving him standing there all alone.
Before long, a biting cold wind blew through Duobao's fine hair, and the solitary rat let out a heart-wrenching wail. “Waaah! Master, Senior! Take me with you!”
“Nooo—”
Snowflakes drifted, and the north wind blew...
At this moment, amidst the steep, towering mountains, he was but a single rat shivering in the freezing wind, resigning himself to his fate as he slowly made his way down the mountain alone.
Meanwhile, Tongtian, who had completely abandoned him, suddenly felt a tickle in his nose. He rubbed it absentmindedly and quickly brought Yuan Heng back to the Three Friends Courtyard.
By the time they arrived, Taiqing and Yuanshi were already waiting at the courtyard gate.
Tongtian ran over excitedly with Yuan Heng, his eyes gleaming. “Eldest Brother, Second Brother, why don't we set off for Purple Heaven Palace together with Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng?
“This way, we can keep each other company along the journey. What do you think?”
Yuan Heng stepped out from behind Tongtian. She gave a sheepish smile and blinked, remaining silent.
Oh dear, Tongtian's behavior was simply too unfriendly for an introvert.
Why couldn't he have asked them privately? Asking them right in front of her face—how embarrassing would it be if they rejected the idea?
And even if they didn't reject it, what if Fellow Daoists Taiqing and Yuanshi felt uncomfortable about it deep down?
Taiqing looked at his youngest brother, whose eyes were filled with anticipation, and then at Yuan Heng, who was blinking innocently. The corners of his lips curved up slightly. “Very well.”
Yuanshi smoothed out the hem of his robes, which had been ruffled by Tongtian's sudden arrival, and said in a flat tone, “As long as Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng is willing, there is naturally no objection.”
Tongtian was delighted, a hint of joy flashing across his face. He looked at Yuan Heng as if to say: See, I told you they would definitely agree!
Yuan Heng looked at them and nodded slightly. “Then I shall trouble you all.”
Ah, Fellow Daoist Tongtian is simply too enthusiastic.
Taiqing waved his precious fan and spoke in a gentle tone, “Let us depart now.”
Tongtian was curious. “Eh? Eldest Brother, why are we leaving so early?”
Taiqing explained his reasoning unhurriedly. “The time is ripe. It is better to be early than late.”
Yuanshi nodded slightly. “Since Eldest Brother has spoken, we shall simply follow.”
“Oh.”
Tongtian nodded. Naturally, Yuan Heng had no objections either, and so they set off.
Yuan Heng hitched a ride on the cloud of the Three Pure Ones and summoned Lotus, letting it float above everyone's heads alongside the Exquisite Pagoda of Heaven and Earth's Mystical Yellow.
The two magical treasures instantly grew competitive, their bodies bursting with blinding golden lights of merit that nearly blinded everyone.
Whoa—
Did even magical treasures have to show off and compete like this?
Lotus's voice chattered excitedly in Yuan Heng's mind through their mental connection.
“Master, this pagoda is a total brute! It told me to acknowledge it as my big boss, saying it would look out for me!”
“It even said that my merit isn't as thick as its own, and it laughed at me! Waaah...”
Yuan Heng: “...”
Yes, she had heard.
Ah, but that was an Acquired Supreme Treasure of Merit, the number one defensive treasure in the Primordial World.
Lotus, you are a top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. Your functions are completely different. How about we save up some more merit later?
Yuan Heng replied to the White Lotus of World Cleansing in her mind, Lotus, tell it this: 'Do not look down on a young spirit for being poor.' Sooner or later, you will have a super thick layer of merit too.
“Did you hear that, pagoda? My master said, 'Do not look down on a young treasure for being poor'...”
Meanwhile, the Three Pure Ones, who had overheard the bickering of the two treasures clear as day: “...”
They really had not expected that the White Lotus of World Cleansing would be like this.
It seemed Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng spent a lot of time coaxing it.
Tongtian cleared his throat slightly. “Yuan Heng, is this how you usually interact with your magical treasures?”
Yuan Heng nodded vigorously, speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Yes, of course.”
Oh my...
Looking at Lotus, who was still bickering with the pagoda, Yuan Heng offered an apologetic smile. “I am so sorry, my three fellow Daoists. Aside from me, Lotus usually has no other living beings to talk to...
“So, it might be a bit of a chatterbox.”
Taiqing nodded to show his understanding. However, once his own treasures started talking, there would be no end to it.
He was not one for much conversation himself, so he usually kept them locked away inside a treasure chest and ignored them.
Tongtian stared curiously at the two little treasures in the sky, which were flashing white and golden lights in turn. “Strange. Why is my Qingping Sword so quiet and doesn't like to talk?”
Taiqing and Yuanshi: “...”
Could it be because you talk too much normally, and it just wants some peace and quiet?
As the two treasures chatted, they actually began to develop a mutual respect for each other. Together, they started their pleasant shift, and things suddenly became much quieter.
Tongtian turned his gaze back to Yuan Heng, suddenly recalling a question he had set aside for a long time. “Yuan Heng, regarding the question you asked me before, I still haven't been able to come up with an answer.”
He cast a slightly resentful glance at Taiqing and Yuanshi. “I asked my two older brothers, but they refused to tell me, insisting that I figure it out on my own.
“Could you tell me the answer to that question?”
As Tongtian finished speaking, Taiqing and Yuanshi also turned their gazes toward her. It seemed they were also quite curious about what kind of answer Yuan Heng would give Tongtian.
Yuan Heng: “...”
Could she say that she didn't know either?
But the original intention behind her asking Tongtian this question was to make him focus on teaching his disciples moral character after he became a Sage in the future, so as not to bring unnecessary sin and negative karma upon Section Cult and himself.
She had even wondered if she should warn Tongtian to be more cautious when accepting disciples.
But...
Yuan Heng stole a glance at Tongtian, whose eyes were filled with hope. Well... he didn't look like someone who could easily be dissuaded.
“So, you still haven't figured it out, Fellow Daoist?”
Yuan Heng rubbed her chin as she thought about how she should phrase her words.
“Well... previously, you replied to me that hunting is the tiger's nature and cannot be defied.
“You said that encountering the prey represents its destiny, and saving it protects its life. How could one interfere with its path?
“But in truth, that was not what I meant. Heaven's law is clear: a tiger filling its stomach to survive is also a part of the Heavenly Dao's operation. I actually wanted to use the fierce tiger as a metaphor...
“To ask you about some other matters. As for what exactly I wanted to ask...
“You still have to think about it yourself. After all, when it comes to your path, it is not my place to say too much.”
Argh! What on earth was she saying?!
She couldn't exactly tell Tongtian: In the future, you will establish a sect and recruit many 'tiger-like' disciples who are born with fierce, killing karma.
And because your guidance will fail to keep pace with your disciples' growing cultivation, these beasts will continue to 'hunt' countless lives, laying the roots of ruin for Section Cult, right?
Tongtian: “...”
“Listening to you is like listening to a whole lot of nothing.”
Tongtian looked at her with a thoroughly resentful gaze. “It must have been hard on you, Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng, to speak so many words to say so little.”
Yuan Heng forced a smile, utterly helpless. She decided to simply throw caution to the wind. “Aiya, the time has not yet come. I truly cannot give you the answer, Fellow Daoist.
“Just use that clever brain of yours and think about it a little more on your own.”
Worst-case scenario, once he actually established his sect, it still wouldn't be too late to warn him.
Taiqing looked at the two of them, a fleeting smile crossing his eyes. Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng truly had a touch of amusement about her.
Yet, she did seem to know something...
Yuanshi reached out and patted Tongtian's shoulder. “Third Brother, do not make things difficult for Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng. This concerns the Great Dao, so you should naturally ponder over it deeply.
“Once you figure it out for yourself, your understanding will be much clearer.”
Tongtian: “...”
He felt anything but clear right now!
It was like learning sword techniques without knowing the next page of the manual, or studying arrays with the latter half of the diagram missing... His heart was practically itching with curiosity!
“Hehe.”
Yuan Heng gave the three Daoists an innocent smile. “See? I told you so, Fellow Daoist Tongtian. You must have faith in yourself.”
...
Tongtian went to sit by the edge of the cloud to ponder on his own. Seeing this, Yuan Heng finally let out a sigh of relief.
Whew—I finally managed to bluff my way through.
Taiqing took a step forward, approaching her. His voice was cool and tranquil. “What you spoke of just now points directly toward the future.
“Could it be that you know something, Fellow Daoist?”
Yuan Heng: !!!
Alright, Taiqing, you smart-aleck. Stop speaking right this instant.
“The secrets of Heaven must not be revealed.”
Yuan Heng gave him a mysterious smile. “For certain things, it is best to see through them without spelling them out, Fellow Daoist.”
Yuanshi looked at his eldest brother, who was smiling silently, and then at Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng, who wore a sly grin. He fell into deep thought.
So you two are acting all mysterious again?
Nothing in this world is difficult, as long as one is willing to give up.
Tongtian pondered for a long time, and when he still couldn't figure it out, he simply stopped trying.
He looked toward Taiqing and Yuanshi, then shot Yuan Heng a look that said you understand me, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “Eldest Brother, Second Brother, shall we play cards?”
Let's see if I, Tongtian, can finally shatter my two older brothers' lofty and aloof handsome faces today!
Hehehe...
...
Rate on N.U.
