After chatting for a while longer, Yuan Heng decided to take the two little ones and bid them farewell.
She drained the tea in her cup and stood up, looking at Jieyin and Zhunti.
“Senior Brothers, I have troubled you for a long time this visit, so I should take my leave now.”
Yuan Heng had done such a great favor for the West, yet he and his junior brother had not hosted her well at all. Feeling a bit guilty upon reflection, Jieyin tried to persuade her to stay. “Junior Sister, won't you stay a little longer?”
“No, Senior Brother.”
Yuan Heng glanced at the two little ones beside her and smiled. “Thank you for your hospitality, Senior Brothers. I am taking them on a journey this time, so we cannot stay in just one place.”
“We shall take our leave now.”
Duobao and Huanglong cupped their hands. “Thank you, both Martial Uncles, for hosting us.”
What polite little ones~
Seeing this, Jieyin no longer pressed her to stay. Zhunti quickly stood up and extended another invitation. “If Junior Sister is free in the future, you must come to Mount Xumi again. My senior brother and I will definitely host you properly next time.”
Cough, cough... Mainly, their junior sister was just too nice. Even with his thick skin, he couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed.
Sometime in the future, once they had built up their domain a bit more, they would host their junior sister properly.
Yuan Heng nodded with a beaming smile. “Then I thank you both for the invitation, Senior Brothers.”
She cupped her hands and rode a cloud away with the two little ones. Jieyin and Zhunti watched their departing figures, unable to pull their gazes away for a long time.
After a moment, Zhunti asked, “Senior Brother, do you think we should also take on a young disciple?”
“Junior Sister seems to have a real soft spot for little ones...”
Look at how much she doted on those juniors; anyone who didn't know better would think they were her own disciples.
Jieyin: “...”
...
Yuan Heng led Duobao and Huanglong out of the borders of Mount Xumi. Once they reached the outside world, they began to travel eastward on foot.
This vast wasteland actually possessed a sense of desolate vastness. An occasional touch of green dotted the landscape here and there, which made Yuan Heng quite happy to see.
Perhaps because it was too barren, they walked for a long time without seeing a single living soul.
Could they have all gone to the East?
Yuan Heng shook her head, tossing those random thoughts out of her mind.
She raised her hand and, using her own Dao charm as a catalyst, conjured many spiritual butterflies. They scattered in all directions across the Western land. Satisfied, she nodded and continued walking with the two little ones.
Walking by her side, Duobao felt some doubts arising in his mind from their trip to Mount Xumi. After thinking it over, he plucked up the courage to speak. “Little Junior Aunt, Duobao has a question...”
Yuan Heng turned her head to look at him, and even the Little Yellow Dragon turned his attention over.
“Go ahead and ask. Anything your little junior aunt knows, she will surely tell you.”
Duobao rubbed his fingers, his eyes filled with curiosity. “Those two martial uncles took form in the West and received its protection, so they find it hard to leave their homeland... But Little Junior Aunt was born with a treasure island of your own. Why do you still spend your energy nurturing the Western land like this?”
What did the state of the West have to do with Little Junior Aunt?
Before being taken in as a disciple by his master in his early years, he had believed in the survival of the fittest. He would mind his own business, fearing that meddling in karma recklessly would bring mortal danger.
After being taken into the sect and gaining protection, he only wanted to tend to his own neck of the woods and avoid causing trouble for his master and martial uncles.
He had never seen a being as generous as his little junior aunt.
He remembered that when they first met, his little junior aunt had also been extremely magnanimous.
Yuan Heng held his hand as they walked forward, her brow filled with gentleness and love for all living things.
She said softly, “Because this is my Dao.”
As Yuan Heng spoke, she casually gathered some spiritual energy for a delicate young sprout. “I am the first trace of vitality between heaven and earth. Perhaps... even the very first life in the Primordial World.”
“Born with the favor of all spirits, close to the plants, and respected by the beasts... I naturally love all living beings as well.”
“Yes... my Dao does not lie in taking, but in helping others fulfill themselves.”
“Withered life and barren rivers and mountains are flaws in this world to begin with... Having received the protection and love of the Primordial World, I naturally must repay it in kind.”
Duobao blinked, his face full of contemplation. After a moment, Yuan Heng seemed to see a few wisps of white smoke rising from his head.
It was like his CPU had burned out.
Seeing this, Yuan Heng couldn't help but burst into laughter with a pfft. She reached out to rub Duobao's head, then glanced at the Little Yellow Dragon, who was looking equally thoughtful.
“That is my Dao... There are three thousand Great Daos, and each has its own path. You are still young, so there is no need to try and understand it too deeply yet.”
“In poverty, preserve your own integrity; in prosperity, aid the whole world... Once you truly understand what Grand Dao you seek, you will surely understand my words today.”
The children were still small, after all, and had not yet decided which path they wanted to walk in the future.
Duobao nodded, keeping Yuan Heng's words firmly in his heart. He bowed politely. “Thank you, Little Junior Aunt. Duobao has learned much today.”
The Little Yellow Dragon blinked his clear, large eyes and also cupped his paws. It was never wrong to follow his senior brother's lead.
“Let's go... I'll take you to explore other places.”
Yuan Heng continued walking with the two little ones. As she walked, she reviewed her journey. This trip had actually brought her Dao Heart a bit closer to great perfection. Perhaps she would soon find an opportunity to break through to Quasi-Saint.
Oh my, she really was too outstanding as an immortal~
Just as Yuan Heng was rejoicing in her heart, someone quite unexpected appeared not far ahead.
Eh?
This person... looked so familiar.
Seeing her from afar, the newcomer walked over to meet her.
As he drew closer, Yuan Heng finally recognized his true face.
A wild, arrogant handsome face, and flowing, fiery golden robes...
“So it is Fellow Daoist Taiyi.”
“Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng, we haven't met in a long time. I hope you have been well?”
Hearing this, Yuan Heng raised an eyebrow inwardly, not expecting this person to be so polite.
She nodded. “I am naturally well. What about you, Fellow Daoist?”
“I heard that the Demon Court established by you and Fellow Daoist Dijun is thriving like the midday sun... Why are you here?”
Could he have come here to ambush Hongyun?
That would be just terrible.
Hearing this, the Eastern Emperor raised his brow with a half-smile. He didn't even bother to put on an act.
“Naturally, it is for the Grand Purple Qi~”
Yuan Heng: “...”
Did he really have to share such confidential information with her?
Duobao and Huanglong: “...”
Is it too late for them to cover their ears now?
Taiyi stretched lazily, a hint of teasing between his brows. “Of course, if it had been you, Fellow Daoist, who obtained the purple qi that day, we naturally wouldn't have been in a position to covet it.”
But who told it to fall into the hands of Hongyun, an immortal who has no official status with the Dao Ancestor?
In that case, they couldn't be blamed.
Yuan Heng: “...”
So it's "not proper" and not "dare not," you, you, you...
A dry laugh escaped Yuan Heng's lips. “Fellow Daoist Taiyi must be joking...”
Eastern Emperor Taiyi glanced at the two little ones beside Yuan Heng, his tone carrying a trace of amusement. “Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng... out here playing with children?”
Well... that wasn't wrong either.
Rate on N.U.
