Chapter 3: No Regrets
While reconciliation between the two sects was the best outcome, Lin Changsheng was afraid of hurting Chen Qingyuan’s dignity and thus had to handle the situation carefully.
“Elder Yao, since you are aware of the modest gift, then please take it back!”
After pondering for a while, Chen Qingyuan spoke calmly.
Upon hearing this, the others raised their eyebrows slightly, feeling uneasy.
Elder Yao furrowed her brows and asked, “What do you mean, Elder Chen?”
“The verbal marriage agreement from back then indeed should not be taken too seriously. However, to resolve this, let Bai Xixue come in person. I promise not to entangle her. As long as she comes, I’ll let it go.”
Chen Qingyuan stated seriously.
“Speaking face to face makes sense,”
Elder Yao agreed, thinking that Chen Qingyuan wanted to elaborate further but refrained.
“Furthermore, if Elder Yao truly wishes to celebrate my return, one middle-grade Spiritual Vein is far from sufficient.”
Chen Qingyuan’s gaze was sharp, like a knife pointing at Elder Yao.
“Back then, during our explorations, I gifted her numerous treasures, including three top-grade Spiritual Veins, not to mention the middle-grade ones.”
Hearing this, Elder Yao smiled awkwardly and hurriedly took back the middle-grade Spiritual Vein.
Lin Changsheng and the others looked at
Chen Qingyuan with complicated eyes. They knew he had given away many valuable items during his previous journeys, but they had no idea to whom.
************
“You really are a spendthrift. All those good things you got before, you actually gave away.” Elder Dang Wenjun couldn’t help but complain.
“Senior Brother Dong, material possessions are nothing to be concerned about,” Chen Qingyuan replied with a faint smile.
“You rascal!”
Everyone shook their heads helplessly.
Even though Chen Qingyuan lost his cultivation, they still treated him like family, without blaming or ignoring him.
It was precisely because of this that Chen Qingyuan considered Mystical Azure Dao Sect his home.
A few days later, Dongyi Palace sent more people.
Several elders and over ten disciples arrived, with Bai Xixue among them.
Mystical Azure Dao Sect arranged Dongyi Palace’s guests properly and allowed Bai Xixue to be alone with Chen Qingyuan.
Bai Xixue wore a pale pink floor-length gown, her long black hair tied with a jade hairpin. She looked nervous, placing her hands lightly on her abdomen as she stood inside the room.
“Why aren’t you speaking?”
Sitting on the side, Chen Qingyuan looked at Bai Xixue, who avoided eye contact with him.
“I’m sorry.”
Although Bai Xixue had many things to say to Chen Qingyuan, now it seemed unnecessary, so she could only apologize.
“Since I returned alive, do you find it difficult to face me?” Chen Qingyuan’s eyes were calm, but he found Bai Xixue to be a stranger.
“No, I’m happy that Senior Brother Chen has returned safely.” Bai Xixue pursed her lips, bowing her head.
“When the soul lamp was extinguished, and life ceased to exist, you couldn’t have waited for a dead person forever. I can understand that. Today, seeing you is only to resolve this.” Chen Qingyuan didn’t blame Bai Xixue. He could only say that it was a matter of fate.
“If you had returned earlier, perhaps the situation would have been different.” Bai Xixue said softly.
“It’s not that I came back late; it’s an issue of strength.” Chen Qingyuan shook his head lightly. “If I wasn’t a waste, who would you and Dongyi Palace choose?”
Bai Xixue’s expression changed slightly upon hearing this, but she didn’t answer.
Looking at her, it seemed that she didn’t have much affection for the Junior Sect Master of Tianyu Sect, but rather, it was more, a matter of interest.
For cultivators, a hundred years was not a long time, just a flicker. If Bai Xixue truly loved Chen Qingyuan to the core, she wouldn’t have easily changed her heart.
Moreover, Chen Qingyuan had already returned, and they could start anew if she had true feelings for him.
However, Bai Xixue’s purpose in coming here was not to talk about love but to sever their relationship.
Perhaps a hundred years ago, she did love him!
But everything had changed now.
“From now on, we’ll be strangers. This is your choice, so don’t regret it.” Chen Qingyuan said solemnly.
Inside the room, it fell silent, the atmosphere became heavy.
A Dongyi Palace elder lightly knocked on the door, indicating that they should leave.
Before leaving, Bai Xixue glanced at Chen Qingyuan, finding him devoid of his former aura, without any spiritual energy fluctuations. At some point, Bai Xixue’s expression changed from guilt to indifference, and her initial nervousness gradually dissipated.
Staring at Chen Qingyuan deeply, Bai Xixue said nothing and left.
Although Chen Qingyuan lost his cultivation, he noticed Bai Xixue’s small gesture of crushing a jade talisman in her hand, which likely signaled the accompanying elders to break the deadlock.
“Ah! The sufferings of those years have been in vain.” Chen Qingyuan thought.
Inside the forbidden zone of the Heavenly Abyss, a red-dressed lady had taken a liking to Chen Qingyuan and wanted to become his Dao companion. However, Chen Qingyuan declined the offer, citing his existing engagement without any hesitation.
As a result, he was subjected to various torments, which eventually led to the destruction of his Spiritual Roots, causing him to lose his Cultivation.
According to the red-dressed lady’s perspective, it was all for Chen Qingyuan’s good.
Despite Chen Qingyuan’s exceptional talent, he fell slightly short of reaching the highest position. If he wanted to have endless possibilities in the future, he needed to rebuild his foundation.
“This matter is now settled; it’s time to focus on my own affairs,” Chen Qingyuan reminded himself, not forgetting the promise he made in the Heavenly Abyss. He intended to depart in a few days.
In the days following Chen Qingyuan’s return from the Heavenly Abyss, news of his journey spread far and wide across the southern lands. Many influential forces sought to learn about the situation inside the Heavenly Abyss and sent their high-ranking members to the Mystical Azure Dao Sect. However, the Mystical Azure Dao Sect protected Chen Qingyuan by claiming that he was unwell and declined to receive any visitors.
Facing the threats and temptations from various powerful factions, the Mystical Azure Dao Sect consistently shielded Chen Qingyuan, sparing him from these troubling matters.
Secretly, under the arrangements of his senior brother and protector, Dong Wenjun, Chen Qingyuan quietly left the Mystical Azure Dao Sect. Although people were curious about his whereabouts, they refrained from prying too much, hoping that Chen Qingyuan would be safe and secure wherever he went.
With his cultivation already lost, temporarily leaving the Mystical Azure Dao Sect was a reasonable choice for Chen Qingyuan. He travelled to a nearby city and bought some traveling Spirit talismans that required only spiritual stones to activate, eliminating the need for him to mobilize spiritual energy.
After spending an entire month on the journey, Chen Qingyuan finally arrived at his destination: Mingyue City, located in a remote corner of the Northern Wilderness.
At the end of a street in the city, there was a humble courtyard that few people ever passed by.
“Who’s there?” an aged voice sounded from behind the tightly closed courtyard gate.
“You’ll know once you open the door,” Chen Qingyuan replied.
*Creak—*
The door swung open, emitting a harsh and creaking sound.
The old man appeared, with dark and weathered skin, leaning on a crutch and hunched in stature, frail and weak. He scrutinized Chen Qingyuan with a few glances, grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellowed teeth, and asked,
“Young man, are you in the wrong place?”
“I haven’t made a mistake; I’m looking for you,” Chen Qingyuan replied and took out a palm-sized wooden plaque.
The moment the old man saw the wooden plaque, his pupils dilated rapidly, and his expression changed dramatically, becoming extremely serious. He then said solemnly, “Please come in.”
This wooden plaque was something Chen Qingyuan brought out from the Heavenly Abyss. It was said that the owner of this plaque owed a significant debt of gratitude, and whoever possessed this token allowed the possessor to do anything, including taking their life.
“Where did you get this thing?” the old man asked with sharp eyes and a stern tone after they entered.
“From the Heavenly Abyss,” Chen Qingyuan replied straightforwardly.
Upon hearing this, the old man put away his wariness and bowed respectfully to Chen Qingyuan as a sign of respect.
Then, the old man recalled a recent event, “Could it be that you are Chen Qingyuan from the Mystical Azure Dao Sect?”
“Indeed,” Chen Qingyuan nodded, confirming his identity.
“Since you possess the wooden plaque, I must honor my promise. What is your request?” The old man prepared himself for the possibility of sacrificing his life and spoke with utmost seriousness.
“Is there any way to help me rebuild my foundation?” Chen Qingyuan explained his purpose.
“Indeed,” the old man looked at Chen Qingyuan’s physical condition and nodded.
Chen Qingyuan had expected something more complicated, but it seemed surprisingly straightforward. “Are you sure?” he questioned in disbelief.
“It’s not difficult,” the old man replied.
“May I ask for the esteemed senior’s name?” All the high-ranking members of the Mystical Azure Dao Sect combined couldn’t figure out how to help Chen Qingyuan. Yet, the old man before him seemed to find it effortless, earning Chen Qingyuan’s respect as he clasped his fists and asked respectfully.
“Just an old, worthless man,” the old man chuckled, self-deprecatingly.
