Translator: Ninetales Editor: Fish_Creek
âI chopped it off back then from the heavens so of course heâs still alive.â
Butcher and Blind walked in a line and gradually went further away. Even though their footsteps were slow, their speed was very fast. Butcherâs voice came from the distance, âThis was the hand I exchanged my lower body for. However, the divine flesh on it seems to have been stripped off and turned into spirit pills for consumption, thus only the bones are left.â
âMuâer, remember to come back to the village to celebrate the new year!â Blindâs voice also came from afar.
Qin Mu saw them off and gave a smile. He waved towards the shadow of their backs, âI will definitely be back for new year!â
Blind seemed to see him waving and raised his arms to wave back without even turning back his head.
âGrandpa Blind sure is powerful.â
Qin Mu exclaimed, âTo be able to see so clearly despite being so far.â
Not long later, a massive voice came from far away and echoed through the skies of the prairie, âJunior Brother Qin, Brother Qin, Qin.â
Qin Mu heard that it was Chancellor Ba Shanâs voice and immediately shouted, âIâm over here!â
That voice still continued to shout, âImperial Academician Qin, Academician Qin, Qin.â
Qin Mu replied again, yet Chancellor Ba Shanâs voice was still calling out from afar and he came to a realization, âChancellor Ba Shan is probably still a few hundred miles away from here. His voice is able to reach here but my voice canât reach him.â
Ling Yuxiu woke up and immediately said, âCowherd, let me do it!â When she finished saying, she waved her hand and released a flame divine art, shooting a fireball into the sky which exploded with surging heat waves.
Qin Mu praised that she was clever in his heart and smiled, âItâs useless, he is still a few hundred miles away from here so he canât see it.â
Hu Lingâer and the green bull also woke up. The green bull looked around and couldnât find Butcher and Blind. He asked, âWhereâs old old master?â
âTheyâve left.â
Qin Mu still heard Chancellor Ba Shan shouting to him in all kinds of manner and sighed. Chancellor Ba Shanâs vocals sure are huge and he really could talk. It was very hard to imagine how such a rough man could be able to be so talkative. Qin Mu said, âLet us go to the direction of the borders. If Chancellor Ba Shan canât find us, he will definitely head there.â
The green bull showed his true form and Qin Mu brought Hu Lingâer up the bullâs back. Ling Yuxiu also jumped up. The green bull took a step and sprinted towards the borders. Qin Mu looked at the girl beside him and asked, âHave your injuries healed?â
Ling Yuxiu nodded her head, âEven the scar is gone. Look, I had a cut on my waist originally and itâs now completely healed.â
She pulled up her clothes and revealed her waist while turning to the side, âRight here.â
Her skin was very exquisite and her waist was also very white. She probably hadnât tanned by the sun before. Qin Muâs skin was originally darker as he frequently swam naked in Surging River during summer, exposing himself to the hot sun. Sometimes he even got pursued relentlessly by the huge fish monsters that were on his tail.
Now that he had come to Imperial College, Qin Mu had no more chances to run around naked so his skin had gradually lightened up. However, when compared to Ling Yuxiu, Qin Mu was still slightly darker.
Qin Mu stretched out a finger and touched the location of her wound. He could still feel a bump on the wound.
Ling Yuxiu felt ticklish and giggled.
Qin Mu said, âDonât move. Iâll help you dissolve the clotted blood, otherwise, there will always be a bump here.â
Ling Yuxiu immediately stopped moving and held her shirt up. Qin Mu transformed his vital qi into Green Dragon Vital Qi and threads of vital qi came out from the tip of his finger, carefully piercing into her skin to dissolve the clotted blood.
Ling Yuxiu only felt numb and ticklish which made her giggle again, âYou are making me ticklish. Thereâs a ticklish spot there.â
Qin Mu didnât raise his head and said, âBear with it. It wonât be ticklish in a moment and it would feel slightly painful.â
After a moment, Ling Yuxiu felt a needle piercing pain and immediately looked down. She only saw Qin Mu using his Nature Fragrance Silkâs handkerchief to wipe away the clotted blood that was flowing out. When the clotted blood had flowed out, there was no trace left on the skin.
Ling Yuxiu pulled down her shirt and blinked her eyes innocently, âDivine physician, there are still some wounds on my back, I donât know if they will leave scarsâ¦â
Hu Lingâer replied loud and clearly, âI smeared the wounds on your back and before I applied the medicine, I had already squeezed out the clotted blood for you. They wonât leave any scars.â
Ling Yuxiu looked at her and the little fox was smiling very sweetly⦠and very fake.
âHmph, vixen!â Both of them thought at the same time.
Hu Lingâer blinked her eyes, âSister Yuxiu, how old are you this year?â
Ling Yuxiuâs gaze flickered and asked, âHow old are you?â
âIâm twelve.â
âIâm sixteen.â
âYouâre one year older than young master!â
â¦
Ling Yuxiu had a feeling that a little fox had pounced on her and gave her two stabs in her aching heart. This fox may be a little thing but her moves were ruthless and unexpected, making her unable to defend herself.
She had long noticed that this little fox harbored evil designs. Making her way onto Qin Muâs bed every night and acting as if she didnât know anything, she hadnât a reserved manner and acted shamelessly cute.
And now, this little hussy had already started to go on the offense.
Ling Yuxiu may be unconstrained and looked like a big-hearted girl that was outspoken and straightforward unlike other girls, but she also had her own meticulous side. She smiled sweetly, âSister Ling, the furs on your paws are really soft. Why didnât you try to turn them into human hands?â
Hu Lingâer yawned and squinted her eyes, âYoung master likes it this way.â
âSister Ling, why havenât you shapeshifted?â
âYoung master likes it this way.â
âLook at your eyes which are different from ours.â
âYoung master likes it this way.â
â¦
Ling Yuxiu had lost the battle. This little fox had an impenetrable defense which struck back after blocking. It was like Great Thunderclap Monasteryâs divine art, Flowers In The Mirror which could reflect other peopleâs attacks back at them.
âWhom did this vixen learn from?â Ling Yuxiu wasnât her opponent and was slightly angry.
Hu Lingâer was proud of herself. In Rain Listening Pavilion, she had consulted the maidens of Rain Listening Pavilion regarding the techniques of this field.
Ling Yuxiu suddenly didnât know whether to laugh or cry. She was actually being jealous of a little fox, she had truly lost the awe of the imperial family. She had the figure and even though Qin Mu was slightly blind to say that she was slightly chubby, her appearance wasnât bad. No matter how incisive the little foxâs moves were, she had not shapeshifted.
Victory was already firmly grasped in her hands and there was completely no need to be jealous of that vixen.
Before they had yet to reach the borders, Chancellor Ba Shan had finally caught up with them. When he saw Butcher had already left, this strong man couldnât help falling into a daze, crying loudly and cursing Heaven Knife at the same time.
Qin Mu consoled him for a moment and said, âItâs not that he doesnât miss you, he just dislikes your nagging, therefore, he went first. Actually, Grandpa Butcher cares about you very much. When he heard you were in danger, he was the first one to rush over. Stop crying, stop crying, weâre reaching the border station. How can Martial Khan be seen sobbing like a little girl?â
Chancellor Ba Shan wiped his tears and poured out his woes to him. He started telling Qin Mu about everything and anything: ever since he was a child, he had to stand still as punishment for wetting his bed; every single detail of his cultivation; helping Heaven Knife wash his undergarments; how Heaven Knife had brought him to steal duck soup from the neighboring village.
Qin Mu looked at Ling Yuxiu pleadingly and she shrugged her shoulders helplessly.
Imperial College.
The young patriarch packed his stuff silently into a small bundle and threw his ribbon attached to the official seal on the floor. Hanging up his official seal on the door of the Hall of Supreme Learning, he took a last glance at Imperial College and gave a smile.
Elder of Discipline walked over in quick steps and carried a bamboo basket that was not very big. In the bamboo basket were an umbrella and items like scrolls and books.
âLetâs go, thereâs no need to alarm the others,â the young patriarch smiled.
The two of them walked down the mountain without alarming anyone and when they reached the bottom of the mountain, that dragon qilin immediately stood up and wagged his tail.
âMy life is coming to an end and I canât bring you along anymore.â
The youth caressed the head of this dragon qilin and shook his head, âIf you follow me, youâll just be waiting for me to die of old age. Little friend, youâre free.â
Kacha.
The chain on the dragonâs qilinâs neck opened up and this dragon qilin looked at him blankly. He shook his head and asked, âOld master, if I canât follow you, where can I go?â
âYou were originally living freely so where can you not go?â
The young patriarch waved his hand and looked at the Imperial College which he had built up personally, having a hint of reluctance in his eyes. He suddenly turned around and left, âSpending my last years here yet Iâm leaving here today. I do not wish to die of old age in Imperial College.â
The old and the young headed out of the capital city and once they were out of the city, the young patriarch asked Elder of Discipline to stay back as he walked towards that person by himself.
âDao friend.â
Imperial Preceptor greeted, âAre you going to leave just like this? Are you not going to ask for your dismissal from the emperor?â
The young patriarch smiled, âWhen I assumed the position effortlessly, I had not come for the emperor so why do I have to leave for the emperor? Iâm very happy that you had invited me here and have come to send me off now.â
Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor sighed ruefully, âDao friend can already face death in the eyes. I wonder how many years do I have to cultivate to be able to reach the height of your frame of mind. Let me send you off.â
Both of them walked forward side by side while Elder of Discipline followed not far behind. Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor said, âWhen I knew you were leaving, I felt a big piece missing from my heart. No one knows me better than you in this world. Without you, I have one less person I can talk to.â
The young patriarch said, âYou have great ambitions and your future is paved with difficulties. The path you are taking is filled with bumps and thereâs nothing I can teach you. Youâll have to rely on yourself.â
Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor stopped, âBack then I wanted to acknowledge you as my teacher, why didnât you accept me?â
The young patriarch said calmly, âI knew you would be better than me and have higher attainments than me in the future so I donât deserve to be your teacher, therefore, I canât take you in as my disciple. The things you have thought of were things I had never thought before. They are things I would never have accomplished in my entire lifetime. I have also learned many things from you, therefore, I canât be your teacher.â
Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor took a stride forward and followed him, âIâm still slightly perplexed and exhausted lately. Say, is the path we are taking an orthodox one?â
âIn the eyes of the so-called orthodox path, the road we are going down on isnât the orthodox path.â
The young patriarch stopped and looked at him in the eyes, âWe established primary schools, colleges, and Imperial College to reform the sects and gathered the teachings of numerous sects to teach scholars, to treat commoners and disciples of sects as equals. In their eyes, we are straying from the orthodox path and are committing an unforgivable sin. However, in our eyes, this is the orthodox path! Donât care what the others say, whatâs right is right! Donât let the furious barkings of others turn it wrong.â