The Man in Black

The torrential rain had passed. The dark clouds in the sky remained murky, but they were already beginning to disperse. Xu Yao did not know what to say. He could only follow the direction of Ning Weiyu's gaze toward the eastern horizon, where faint threads of light were appearing, his own expression solemn and earnest. Ning Weiyu looked at Xu Yao and said softly, "After leaving here, we will return to our sect to report our mission. Next, we will prepare to head to Hengyun Mountain for the martial gathering. From there, the victors will be selected to undergo trials in the Cangling Demon Vein; the victors after that will explore the Godfall Forest; and those who triumph again will go to Life-Severing Cliff to bathe in the Sacred Fortune Heavenly Light... Only after countless trials and experiences will we travel to Tiandu Chang'an, the imperial capital of Great Qin, to prepare to strive for a place on the Heavenly Stele of Recorded Names..." As he spoke these words, a peculiar cadence resonated in his voice. He spoke with immense earnestness and gravity, as though deliberately planting a seed of the distant world within Xu Yao's heart once more. This time, it was even more concrete. "This journey spans distant horizons, fraught with demons and monsters, obscured by a thousand mountain barriers and ten thousand li of tangled clouds. The date of our next meeting... is hard to say." An indescribable heroic ambition shone in Ning Weiyu's eyes. Without holding it back, he threw his head back and let out a long, resounding cry. Xu Yao clearly saw a surge of air burst forth from the shout, churning the clouds and mist in the sky overhead. Resting his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist, Ning Weiyu fixed his gaze filled with yearning and aspiration on the distant horizon, declaring word by word, "This world is magnificent, Big Fatty! I hope that if you ever have the chance, you must go out and see it for yourself. "Big Fatty! I hope you... "Do not squander your youth! "Do not waste this life! "Do not fail this body of yours!" With these three sentences, Ning Weiyu employed a method of soul resonance, striking Xu Yao's mind like heavenly thunder and leaving an indelible imprint. "Yes." Xu Yao had no idea what Hengyun Mountain, the Cangling Demon Vein, the Godfall Forest, or the others were. He only felt that these names sounded grand and lofty, and merely uttering them evoked a sense of heroic passion. He was only moved by Ning Weiyu's mention of the Heavenly Stele of Recorded Names—he had heard this name once before. Even after Ning Weiyu finished speaking, that wistful, dreaming look he had turned toward the horizon continued to reverberate in Xu Yao's heart. He could not help the stirrings within his chest: Just how magnificent was that distant world... that an ethereal figure like Ning Weiyu could yearn for it so intensely? "If the Tianshu Purple Mansion needs you to take a look at anything, someone else will come to invite you. By then, my sister and I will likely already be tens of thousands of li away." Ning Weiyu looked at Xu Yao, pressed a hand against his shoulder, and said sincerely, "After I return, I will have someone deliver some things to you. I know your temperament—you dislike being indebted to others. But you saved my sister. When the time comes, if you still think well of us siblings, do not refuse. "You have only learned the first layer of the Purple Mansion Qi Circulation Art. However, before mastering the first layer, knowing the second layer would do more harm than good. In any case, it takes years of accumulated effort..." Ning Weiyu thought for a moment, then turned to his sister. "Five years from now, no matter how the world changes or how human affairs shift, remember to come take a look. When that time comes, teach Xu Yao the second layer of the Purple Mansion Qi Circulation Art! If he meets the standard by then, teach it to him directly and help him imprint the meridian pathways by transmitting your internal power. If he has not yet met the standard, stay here until he does, transmit the art, imprint the pathways, and only then depart." Ning Wuxia said earnestly, "I will remember!" Ning Weiyu smiled, nodded, and patted Xu Yao's shoulder. "We won't be returning to the compound. We'll head straight back to the Southeast Circuit and take our route from there. As for your brigade's reward, we'll turn it over there—after all, even if we handed it directly to you, it would still have to be submitted upward before being returned down... When you get back, put the brothers' minds at ease. "From here to the compound is merely half a li. "Big Fatty." Standing in the morning light, Ning Weiyu and Ning Wuxia looked at Xu Yao with smiles. "Xu Yao, take care!" "Take care, Sirs." Standing straight, Ning Weiyu let his arms hang naturally, then slowly raised them as he bowed, cupping his fists above his head in an exceptionally solemn, dignified manner—the most standard gentleman's salute. "Brother Xu Yao, until we meet again." Half a step behind her brother, Ning Wuxia stood upright, adjusted her robes, crossed her right hand over her left before her chest, dipped her chin, lowered her gaze, and curtsied gracefully: "Brother Xu Yao, until we meet again!" It was the proper etiquette of a well-bred young lady from an esteemed family. Xu Yao hastily bowed in return. His mind went somewhat blank, and he heard only his own voice saying, "...Until... until we meet again." Ning Wuxia had just turned around when she wheeled back, reached out, and shoved a small bottle into Xu Yao's hand. Squinting with a smile, she said, "These are the Profound Spirit Primordial Cultivating Pills you took earlier. While severely injured, you could take one, but under ordinary circumstances, you must not consume them. Wait until your cultivation base breaks through the Physical Cultivation Realm to reach the next tier before taking them—half a pill at a time, once a month. There are twelve inside." "Yes, thank you, Sir Ning." Unconsciously, Xu Yao tightened his grip, clutching the small jade bottle firmly. He felt a surge of turbulent emotion within his chest, a chaotic tangle of feelings rushing in all at once, but in the end he suppressed them fiercely, managing only that single expression of gratitude. Ning Wuxia smiled radiantly, clasping her hands behind her back and humming softly, "Even though you wouldn't give me any peaches, your Ah-jie isn't stingy. I'm giving you pills to eat, heheh..." Then, like lightning, the figures of the brother and sister soared into the sky, their white robes billowing. In a flash, they stood atop the treetops. Leaves rustled as raindrops showered down from the foliage. With a mischievous flick of her foot, Ning Wuxia splashed a spray of rainwater across Xu Yao's face. "Big Fatty, once I'm back, I'll send people with things for you! "Big Fatty, live well." Then, suddenly vexed, Ning Wuxia remarked with lingering regret, "Ah... I forgot! Not only did I miss out on the fruit, but I didn't get to see your double eyelids either... If I'd known we were leaving so soon, I would've beaten you up... "Big Fatty, next time make sure you let me see those double eyelids!" Her crisp voice lingered in the air. "Time to go." Ning Weiyu let out a long whistle. The two white figures shot into the sky, sweeping away without looking back. Xu Yao only saw two white flashes flicker over the distant mountain crest before vanishing completely. Xu Yao stood motionless where he was, uncertain of what he was feeling. A thousand tangled thoughts swirled through him, accompanied by a faint urge to laugh: In the end, that girl's only regret was not making me cry from a beating. There was nothing left in the distance, yet he continued to watch in silence. After a long while, Xu Yao turned around quietly and gazed out toward the distant expanse Ning Weiyu had looked at with such longing, only to see a burst of red light in the east as a crimson sun leapt above the horizon. Rosy dawn drenched thousands of mountains and rivers in brilliant, flowing colors. It cast a vibrant hue into his eyes. Xu Yao stood in silence for a long time, feeling as though the past few days had been nothing more than a dream. "I gained so much," he murmured inwardly. Yet what escaped his lips was a sigh—he did not even know why he was sighing. He merely felt a hollow emptiness in his chest, an ache that weighed heavily upon his heart. Suppressing the turmoil of emotions inside, he turned around and began walking toward the compound. This sudden ordeal was finally over. Bewildering though it had all been, Xu Yao knew one thing for certain: with the Ning siblings gone, the Mountain Guard Compound would return to its former peace. Everything would settle back into the regular routine of days gone by. There would be no more danger. He had taken only a few steps when he abruptly froze. Standing at the crossroads ahead of him, without him ever noticing when the person had arrived, was a man in black. Xu Yao had failed entirely to detect his approach. Lean of frame, with a long saber hanging at his waist and a black cloak draped over his shoulders, the man wore a tall black cap that bound his dark hair, pinned by a dazzlingly white jade hairpin. Strands of black hair hung loosely beside his cheeks. Embroidered upon both collar and cuffs were five gold threads and five gold stars, glittering brilliantly. Xu Yao stared in disbelief: So many threads! So many stars! A very high-ranking official! Though the man stood right before him, Xu Yao found he could not clearly see his face. He sensed only a pair of gleaming, cold eyes that resembled a bottomless black vortex, pulling all of his attention into them. "You are Xu Yao?" the man asked. His voice possessed a peculiar texture, each word slicing forward like a blade, carrying a sharp, incisive edge. "Yes, sir." Xu Yao did not know the man's rank, but judging by his attire, he knew the man held an exceptionally high post in the Demon Suppression Bureau—far higher than the two who had arrived during the downpour before. Hadn't those two had only one thread and one star? "Who would have thought those two youngsters from the Tianshu Purple Mansion were decent enough? Putting on no airs, they truly display the demeanor of disciples from a righteous, premier sect." The man in black spoke indifferently, adding, "Xu Yao, you did well in this affair. You did not disgrace our Demon Suppression Bureau!" With that single remark, Xu Yao realized that this official had watched tonight's events from beginning to end. His heart skipped a beat: Does that mean even if I hadn't stepped in, Ning Wuxia would have been fine? "It was merely this humble subordinate's duty," Xu Yao said, deliberating for a moment before settling on this form of address. "Humble subordinate... Heheh... Do you hold a post?" The man in black chuckled. "Claiming to be a subordinate already? You're still quite a ways off." "..." Xu Yao was left speechless. Narrowing his eyes, the man in black looked Xu Yao up and down, then said, "Come over here. Let me see your eyes."