Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

A few sword boats of Green Mountain took off from the lotus pond, heading toward the south. Those Daoist halls would remain here for a prolonged time and become a legendary fairy realm for the mortals.

For some reason, Ada was in a bad mood; he left with Nan Wang.

Jing Jiu didn’t go back to Green Mountain; he stayed at the Three-Thousand Nunnery.

Soon after, Jing Yao and a few Cultivation practitioners of the imperial court came.

It shouldn’t have taken so long to come from Zhaoge City, but they had been forced by the two formidable sword lights to back up many hundred miles.

Gu Qing was not around, and so Liu Shisui took over the responsibility of boiling tea and receiving the guests.

The Little-Elegant Tea in the iron kettle gave off a faint aroma and dampened his face when the steam arose.

He was pondering over what Jian Xilai said before his departure.

He had done whatever Jing Jiu asked him to do ever since they were in the small village; he had listened to Jing Jiu no matter whether it was going to the Fruit Formation Temple to learn the scripts or going to the One-Cottage House to study.

It was because he was aware that he and his Young Master would reunite after a temporary separation as long as neither of them died.

Yet, it was rather different this time, his Young Master would never come back after his departure.

The more he thought about it, the worse his mood became. His emotion churned within him like the boiling water in the iron kettle until he was reminded by Yuan Qü to come back to his senses. He picked up the tea pot and poured a cup of tea for Jing Jiu and Jing Yao respectively.

Though Jing Yao was the emperor, he didn’t dare show any disrespect to Liu Shisui. He took the teacup with both of his hands after thanking him.

“Do I really have to go?” protested Liu Shisui. This was the first time he raised an opposing opinion; it was a rare and brave act.

Zhao Layue shot him a glance.

Jing Jiu smelled the tea in the cup under his nose while holding up the cup, saying nothing.

Zhao Layue shot him another glance.

Liu Shisui was aware that Jing Jiu would in no way yield, so he said to Jing Yao, “Please tell Gu Qing to make some arrangements for Xiao He, Your Majesty. I’ll be back in ten years.”

The similar arrangements had been done many times before; as such, he said it rather casually. But Jing Yao’s look turned unsightly.

Jing Yao’s look grew worse as it occurred to him that Xiao He was also a vixen.

It suddenly became quiet under the corridor. The silvery coal in the small stove would give off a “pah” noise after a long interval.

Everybody had noticed that something was out of place, because it was so obvious.

Jing Jiu woke up three days ago. Jing Yao and many others had hastened to come over.

But why didn’t the prudent guy whom Zhuo Rusui had mocked many times in private show up?

“Where is Gu Qing?” asked Zhuo Rusui.

After a long pause, Jing Yao said, “My Master has left…”

Before the others could ask him further, Jing Yao stood up and said to Jing Jiu, “Granduncle, I’ll come to Green Mountain to see you someday, but I have to go back to Zhaoge City to take care of state affairs.”

Having said that, he left the Three-Thousand Nunnery.

In the past, Jing Yao would stay for a while, disregarding the state affairs, no matter how important they were.

Ping Yongjia commented sentimentally, “Looks like it’s an urgent state affair.”

Many gazes were stared at him.

“What?” pressed Ping Yongjia, unaware of the situation.

“Can’t you just remain being ignored?”

Zhuo Rusui said this before he turned to Liu Shisui, “Guess whom Gu Qing left with.”

After some thought, Liu Shisui said, “She should be Zen Tao, since they are the formal Cultivation partners.”

Zhao Layue shook her head, as she thought that he failed to figure it out though he was quite intelligent and that he was played by Zhuo Rusui.

Zhuo Rusui remarked with a laugh, “You’re a fool! If it were Zen Tao, why would he leave? And why would Jing Yao have such a terrible look on his face?”

…

…

Many people had learned of the affair between Gu Qing and the Royal Dowager.

These people didn’t include the eunuchs and palace servant girls who found it out based on some clues.

In order to awaken Jing Jiu, Gu Qing had admitted the affair at the Three-Thousand Nunnery, and Zhao Layue and the others had heard his confession.

Ping Yongjia was on Green Mountain at the time. It was the first time he had heard of it; he was stunned speechless.

“Big Brother left without telling us. Preposterous!”

Yuan Qü went on while glancing at Jing Jiu who was recuperating on the bamboo chair with his eyes closed, “What about the position of the sect master?”

Zhuo Rusui didn’t say anything, smiling and feeling rather contented.

Everyone knew that Gu Qing was the next sect master of the Green Mountain Sect selected by Jing Jiu.

Now that he eloped because of the love affair, wasn’t he concerned that he would hurt Jing Jiu?

…

…

Not even a single spray could be found on the blue sea; it was so tranquil that one would feel daunted by it.

A godly boat sailed over from somewhere and cut open the surface of the ocean, leaving in its wake a trail that was as clear as the transparent crystal.

The sound of the crystal boiler was rather ear-pleasing, attracting few seagulls to the boat.

This godly boat looked unusual; it could travel at an exceedingly fast speed by itself without any sailor navigating it.

Gu Qing and the Royal Dowager Hu stood at the bow of the boat, their hair and clothes tousled by the sea wind.

The Royal Dowager Hu propped her head against his chest, asking in an uneasy tone, “Would the Immortal be upset?”

If Jing Jiu were upset, they would be caught even if they fled to the Alien Land.

“My Master…might expect us to do so.”

Thinking of the conversation he had with his Master in Zhaoge City, Gu Qing said with a faint smile, “Of course, I’d do it even if he didn’t expect me to.”

The act had nothing to do with his inadequacy of talent in Cultivation, hopelessness of ascending, and desire for personal happiness.

He had been abiding by the rules throughout his life. The only thing he did unconventional was that he listened to Liu Shisui and moved to Shenmo Peak from Liangwang Peak to become a tenant there.

It was then that Zen Tao walked out from the cabin with a plate of grapes in her hand. Looking at the blue sea under the sunlight, she asked, “How much longer will it take?”

The Royal Dowager Hu straightened her body, took the plate of grapes and began to peel off the skins of the grapes meticulously.

Gu Qing said, “I’m not sure; but my Master has a friend over there. We can go ask him.”

Listening to the ear-pleasing sound of the crystal boiler and thinking of the incident that had happened on the Penglai Island the night before, Zen Tao found it absurd and unnecessary. “Why did we have to steal this boat since we are not short of money?” demanded she.

“It’s not stealing though,” said Gu Qing.

The Royal Dowager Hu pressed drily after glancing at him from the corners of her eyes, “Did you actually borrow it?”

“It’s robbing,” said Gu Qing with a smile. “This is the tradition of our Green Mountain Sect. Even though the owner of the godly boat looked angry, he was actually quite glad; it’s because Green Mountain owes him a personal debt and will repay him in the future each time we rob a boat of his. He would be worried if we paid him money for it.”

…

…

All of them gazed at Jing Jiu because they were worried that he would feel upset at Gu Qing’s departure.

“Disciples are the karma. You’re all my karma in this life; but some of them can be traced back to my last life.”

Jing Jiu opened his eyes and said to Zhao Layue, “As I said before, I went to Zhaoge City before my ascension and saw a pregnant woman asking to eat hotpot; and I saw you in her belly.”

Then, he turned to Liu Shisui, “Later, I went to the manor cave you two visited and cultivated in private for a few years in preparation for my ascension. One time, you were so mischievous that you almost died after you climbed down to the underground river; but you were fortunate to meet me.”

Listening to all this on a tree branch, the Green Girl didn’t believe him, wondering how he could encounter two figures with natural Dao quality so easily.

“Bai Ren left behind a few fairy books for the Center Sect; I left behind you two with natural Dao quality for Green Mountain.”

Jing Jiu went on, “I found, after my ascension, that the fairy energy was plentiful in the upper world; it would be easy to make a few fairy books. It’s a pity that I didn’t have enough time to do that.”

Thinking of the two futons in the manor cave, Zhao Layue asked, “Whom did you stay with during the last few years before your ascension in that manor cave?”

Jing Jiu answered while pointing to the figure on the bridge, “I of course stayed with him since we were to ascend together.”

Zhao Layue, Liu Shisui and the others followed his finger and saw Ping Yongjia.

…

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