Li Qiye ignored the bull and took out the Sword of Repentance then handed it to Du Wenrui: âTake it back, this is still your institutionâs defining treasure.â
âYou should give it to me instead.â The greedy bullâs eyes lit up and reached for it.
âBoom!â The moment it touched the sword, it got blown away with all four hooves pointing upward.
The sword didnât accept it, perhaps it hated this creature resulting in an instant attack.
âBah! Just a broken sword, nothingâs special about you. You used to be impressive when Desolate Saint was around but heâs dead now, weâll see how long you stay cool for. Come, get out of your sheathe and Iâll teach you a good lesson by stomping you into pieces! No, Iâll refine you into molten metal too then pour the rest down the abyss so that you will never see the sun again!â The bull jumped up and angrily shouted.
âWhy bother arguing so much with a broken sword?â Li Qiye gave it the side-eye.
âRightâ¦â The bull found this logical and stood up straight to look down at the sword: âYeah, I wonât stoop down to its level, it canât get into my sight at all. Go ahead and stay at a crappy place like Repentance, no one wants you anyway.â
âClank!â The sword hummed back in an imperious manner, seemingly looking down on the bull too.
These two must have had a prior feud unknown to outsiders.
Li Qiye chuckled and told Wenrui: âLeave it to a fateful one in the future.â
â...â Wenrui hesitated for a moment: âStudent Li, since the sword has accepted you as a master, it is yours now.â
He could tell that the sword was very happy to follow Li Qiye if he were to bring it along.
âI was only testing. It is a good sword though and a gentleman doesnât take someone elseâs treasure. A gentleman Iâm not but I still wonât take your academyâs treasure.â Li Qiye smiled.
âThen Iâll have to shamelessly accept it, thank you.â Wenrui pondered for a bit before bowing and accepting the sword.
âClank!â The sword quietly hummed this time, expressing its unwillingness.
âGo now, this world will be changing soon. Academy of Light is your real home and you will meet a suitable master eventually.â Li Qiye stroked it and said.
The sword calmed down after hearing this, allowing Wenrui to put it away. He bowed towards Li Qiye once more.
This sword was the defining treasure of their academy and extremely precious. Of course, Wenrui had no problem with Li Qiye taking it away.
This didnât mean that he didnât appreciate Li Qiyeâs generosity by giving it back. This was a kindness similar to Desolate Saint leaving it there.
This sword was powerful but not to the level of absolute necessity. Li Qiye had several similar weapons, some even more powerful.
He only took it along out of sheer curiosity and boredom, not to take it away from Repentance.
âStudents, letâs thank Young Noble Li for taking care of us on this trip.â Wenrui told the students.
They bowed respectfully towards him with utmost sincerity. Li Qiye had indeed taken care of them along the way and gave them many fortunes.
âI pray for your success in the future, Student Li.â Wenrui became slightly emotional and told Li Qiye.
âYes, and Iâm sure the light will shine on Repentance one day too.â Li Qiye chuckled.
Wenrui then took the students away. They waved nonstop at him until they disappeared past the valley entrance.
âHehe, Sir, where are we going now?â The bull was ready for more fun: âShould we go on a rampage and defeat everyone?â
âNo, weâll head deeper inside for a look.â Li Qiye glanced at the far reach of Sacred Mountain.
âShit, really going to that place?â The bull was slightly afraid: âThe truth is the area past Beast Garden is not under the jurisdiction of Sacred Mountain. I believe it is a prison, a terrible place for all intruders. The praises about the light and conversion are all lies, it will put shackles on people to strengthen the dao foundation.â
âI thought you were fearless.â Li Qiye said.
âHeâ¦hehe⦠I just donât know that much about that place, you know? Itâs not that comfortable there either.â The bull had an awkward smile.
âI know youâre afraid of that tree demon.â Li Qiye casually revealed.
âNonsense!â The bull jumped up and put on a haughty posture: âHow can I be afraid of that old geezer? Hmph! I simply respect elders enough to go easy on him. In a real contestâ¦â
âYes, you will win if the contest is about boasting.â Li Qiye chuckled.
âSir, itâs really not like that. The truth is that⦠we only have a minor misunderstanding between us.â The bull said.
âMinor understanding? Iâm sure youâve done something despicable.â Li Qiye looked at the bull with contempt.
âHehe⦠itâs nothing, I only ate a few leaves of his.â The bull seemed to be bragging.
Judging by its past, it must have done more than just eating a few leaves.
âHmph! Heâs just too stingy, you know? Whatâs the point of getting angry at a neighbor over nothing?â The bullâs expression quickly shifted to one of annoyance. It must have suffered quite a bit to be looking like this.
âWhatâs in there?â Li Qiye ignored its rambling and got to the point.
âI donât know since Iâve never really cared.â The bull shrugged: âTo put it simply, I avoid having anything to do with Desolate Saint and what heâs trying to do. Hehe, I only want Sacred Mountain. But, the old demon should know. I believe that he will go all out very soon, he has been waiting for a long time now.â
âLetâs go so I can end this trip.â Li Qiye concluded.
âThen I wonât be accompanying you, Sir, I just remembered that I got other stuff to do, see ya later.â The bull ran out of the valley before finishing the sentence.
âOh right, if Desolate Saint left some crappy stuff in there, please stomp on them for me, that hypocrite definitely didnât leave anything good.â The bull blabbered on after being so far away.
Li Qiye started leaving too with the crab and the two birds sending him off. The latter didnât want him to leave since he had saved them twice.
âCanât follow me forever, weâre about to leave the ancient courtyard now, go back.â Li Qiye eventually told them.
The three bowed towards him and returned to the valley.
âCreak-â A while after he left the courtyard, it started to close. The seniors told the students to leave.
The place closed entirely and disappeared from sight after all the students have left.