**In the depth of night, wind and rain battered the world. Leaves, their origins unknown, fluttered gently in the storm, carried by the gale.**
**Under the green oilcloth umbrella, her garments swayed softly, with a few strands of black hair clinging to her snow-white cheeks.**
Zhang Xiaofan stood rooted to the spot, a momentary confusion passing through his heart. In this foreign place at such a late hour, in a strange land, there was something familiar about the storm…
He slowly stepped forward, entering the tempest.
Behind him, in the deep shadows, unseen eyes watched silently.
As he drew near, the world seemed to grow quieter, as if holding its breath.
Her gaze was right ahead, gentle as the first light of dawn.
“Why haven’t you gone to sleep yet?” Zhang Xiaofan asked softly.
Bi Yao did not answer, simply looking at him with eyes like clear water, reflecting his shadow.
The rain gradually soaked through his clothes, forming tiny, glittering droplets on his hair, flowing down his raven locks, and gently dripping from his face.
“And what about you?” she retorted, “Why are you still awake?”
Zhang Xiaofan paused for a moment before replying, “Stone snores so loudly; I can’t sleep.”
Bi Yao was taken aback, then burst into a light laugh, her eyes sparkling, the faint light around her suddenly brighter, like a lily blooming in the night rain.
She smiled, reaching out to take Zhang Xiaofan’s hand, pulling him closer. The little green umbrella shifted, sheltering him from the storm.
Under the umbrella, her soft breaths were heard.
Zhang Xiaofan’s heart raced, and he looked away, but the subtle, delicate fragrance emanating from her body surrounded him.
“Tomorrow, you’re going to Flowing Wave Mountain, aren’t you?” Bi Yao said quietly.
Zhang Xiaofan felt a twinge in his heart, “Yes.” He glanced up at her, “What about you?”
Bi Yao gave a faint smile, “I’m going too.”
Zhang Xiaofan frowned, “Don’t be childish. There are many righteous people there, and my master has a terrible temper. It will be dangerous for you.”
Bi Yao remained silent, only looking at him. Zhang Xiaofan felt a vague sense of unease but could not put it into words. Thinking it was unseemly to stand in the rain with her, he said, “I should go back now.”
Without a response from Bi Yao, Zhang Xiaofan left her side and walked back.
Halfway, a voice called out from the rain behind him, “Xiaofan!”
Zhang Xiaofan froze. This was the first time Bi Yao had called him so intimately.
He turned slowly, the storm seeming to intensify between them, her face becoming blurry, but her voice was clear.
“When I was standing here alone, I thought that if we had both died in the Blood Cave, unable to escape, it wouldn’t have been so bad.”
Zhang Xiaofan trembled, then forced a laugh, “Don’t say such things.” He hurried away.
Bi Yao watched his figure, lowering her head, whispering to herself, “At least, I wouldn’t regret it.”
**Zhang Xiaofan walked back to the corridor, leaving the storm behind, feeling a sense of relief. Facing Bi Yao, the beautiful woman of the Evil Sect, always made him tense, perhaps because of the pressure of her identity.**
He sighed, but couldn’t help looking back. Seeing her still standing in the rain, he shook his head and continued to his room.
Shortly after, Bi Yao, holding the green oilcloth umbrella, also walked up to the corridor, looking in the direction he had gone, silent and thoughtful.
At that moment, a dark figure moved behind her, a woman in black, her face covered with a black veil, approached her.
Bi Yao turned, saying softly, “Aunt You.”
The black-clad woman glanced in the direction Zhang Xiaofan had gone, her voice calm and emotionless, “Let’s go, your father is waiting for you at Flowing Wave Mountain.”
Bi Yao nodded slowly.
**Early the next morning, Zhang Xiaofan, who had finally fallen asleep, was rudely awakened by Stone’s loud call, “Brother Zhang, get up!”**
Zhang Xiaofan struggled to open his eyes, seeing Stone full of energy, obviously having slept well.
He managed a bitter smile, got up, and stumbled to the basin to wash his face, while Stone sat on his bed, grinning, “Brother Zhang, I must say, as a young man and a cultivator, you should be full of energy in the morning. You look like you didn’t sleep all night!”
Zhang Xiaofan thought to himself, “Who could sleep with you around?” but only nodded bitterly.
After they finished washing, Stone pulled Zhang Xiaofan, intending to wake Bi Yao as well. Zhang Xiaofan frowned, not wanting to, but couldn’t say so. However, no one answered their knocks, and when they inquired with the innkeeper, they learned that Bi Yao had left last night, paying for their rooms as well.
Stone was bewildered, shaking his head, while Zhang Xiaofan calculated in his mind, realizing that she must have left not long after they parted.
Originally, Zhang Xiaofan had been troubled about what to do if Bi Yao insisted on accompanying him to Flowing Wave Mountain, but now, her sudden departure left him lost.
Standing beside Stone, Zhang Xiaofan saw the innkeeper looking at him, then suddenly say, “Sir, are you named Stone?”
Stone was surprised, “Yes, how did you know?”
The innkeeper, with a pleased expression, produced a letter from under the counter, “A guest left this for a young, muscular man named Stone. It must be for you, sir.”
Stone took the letter, confirmed it was addressed to him, and opened it. Zhang Xiaofan, intrigued, looked over. As Stone read, his brows furrowed, and he exclaimed, “Master!”
Zhang Xiaofan was startled, “What about your master?”
Stone shook his head, “I don’t know, but this letter is from my master, asking me to meet him at the West City Earth Temple immediately. Brother Zhang, I think we’ll have to part ways for now.”
Zhang Xiaofan nodded, “It’s fine, go ahead. I need to hurry to Flowing Wave Mountain to see my master as well.”
Stone smiled, “When I see my master, I’ll tell him, and he’ll probably come to Flowing Wave Mountain too. We’ll meet again then.”
Zhang Xiaofan, having grown close to Stone, smiled, “Alright.”
Stone nodded, turning to leave.
Zhang Xiaofan saw him off, watching the tall figure disappear into the crowd. Standing there for a moment, he turned and headed east.
As they walked far away, Zhou Yixian and his granddaughter Xiao Huan emerged from the main hall. Xiao Huan whispered, “That was close, almost ran into an enemy.” She glared at her grandfather, “It’s all your fault, Grandpa. You always run into people you’ve tricked. I’m the most wronged person in the world, it seems.”
Zhou Yixian ignored her, while the innkeeper, seeing the old sage, came to offer tea and food. Zhou Yixian and Xiao Huan sat down, chatting idly, until the innkeeper mentioned, “Old Sage, did you hear about the big commotion outside Changhe City last night?”
Zhou Yixian was surprised, “What happened?”
The innkeeper explained, “I’m not sure, but it seems that the righteous cultivators gathered here met with the Evil Sect, and there was a fierce battle. The city walls were shaking, people say.”
Zhou Yixian was amazed, “The Evil Sect and the righteous sects are fighting already?”
The innkeeper shrugged, “News came this morning, but it must be true.” Concerned, he added, “Old Sage, though the righteous sects usually don’t bother common folk, with your high cultivation, if they ask you to fight the Evil Sect, be careful!”
Xiao Huan, who was drinking tea, suddenly choked and spat it out.
Zhou Yixian glared at her, and Xiao Huan, suppressing her laughter, assured the innkeeper, “Ah, Manager Wang, I’m fine. Just… just choked on my tea.”
**Flowing Wave Mountain, seven thousand miles into the East Sea, lies at the edge of the known world, beyond which lies the boundless ocean. This remote place, originally uninhabited, suddenly saw the rise of the Evil Sect, with dozens of sects annihilated within days, causing great unrest. The righteous sects, led by Qingyun, Tianyin, and Burning Incense Valley, convened urgently. Word came that the Evil Sect would gather at the desolate Flowing Wave Mountain, and the righteous sects, indignant, dispatched their elite disciples and senior elders to confront them, joined by many others on the way, determined to rid the world of evil and protect the people.**
Zhang Xiaofan, on his journey, learned of these events, his blood boiling with determination to reach Flowing Wave Mountain.
But the road to the far east was long. The Evil Sect had chosen this place, far from the prosperous heartland, where the three major sects were deeply rooted, hoping to avoid direct confrontation. But they did not expect the righteous sects’ strong resolve to pursue them, even to the far reaches of the sea.
Eager to reach his destination, Zhang Xiaofan, except for brief rests, flew on his Firewood Stick, traveling day and night. After ten days at sea, with no islands in sight, the vast, clear blue expanse of the ocean stretched endlessly, making him feel lost. Yet, his ability to fly improved greatly, no longer as nerve-wracking as before.
Gazing at the sky and the vast blue sea, Zhang Xiaofan couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
Just then, he heard the clear cry of a seagull. Looking up, he saw a white seagull soaring above the sea. Zhang Xiaofan, realizing that seagulls only appear near land, became excited and followed the bird. The seagull led him to a small, verdant island, with crystal-clear waters and lush vegetation.
Tired from flying, Zhang Xiaofan landed on the island, resting on the beach. The fresh sea breeze, the clear waves, and the unique flora made him feel at peace. He found a spot to lie down, soon falling into a deep sleep.
**Waking up to the serene island, with only the sounds of the tide and the sea breeze, Zhang Xiaofan felt refreshed. He walked to the beach, admiring the sunset, its blood-red glow illuminating the sky and sea, the clouds and waves forming a picturesque scene.**
Breathing in the fresh air, he couldn’t help but imagine living in this paradise, spending his days with his Senior Sister Tian Ling’er. Remembering her, his heart warmed, but he also felt a pang of longing, wondering if she might be on another nearby island.
Standing for a long time, he calmed his restless thoughts, only to feel a rumble in his stomach. Zhang Xiaofan chuckled, remembering his hunger since the Blood Cave. Fortunately, he had enough dry rations, though his water was running low.
Looking around, he spotted the large, towering trees with their unusual fruits. With some effort, he cracked open a fruit, finding it filled with sweet, white juice, a rare delicacy.
Satisfied, he ate his fill, then decided to rest and continue the next day. As night fell, he found a sheltered spot, lying down to sleep.
The night grew darker, the moon rising, and the stars twinkling like mischievous children. Unable to sleep, Zhang Xiaofan thought of the words of Wan Rendao at the tea stall.
He took out his Firewood Stick, examining it under the starlight. The once-black stick now emitted a pale, greenish glow, the red, vein-like patterns pulsing with life.
Is this the essence of my blood, as Wan Rendao said?
Zhang Xiaofan shivered, recalling the scene in the valley, the Blood Pearl sucking the blood from his palm. He shook his head, trying to forget, but the familiar, cold sensation in his body, like an extension of himself, persisted.
That day, despite his grand words to Wan Rendao, he still felt uneasy. Accepting his treasure as an Evil Sect artifact was not easy for someone raised in a righteous sect.
Looking at the stick, he wondered, How many souls have been lost to this treasure? How many spirits of vengeance does it hold?
He shuddered, thinking, If Wan Rendao is telling the truth, what about the Sword of Extermination in the Moon Cavern on Qingyun Mountain?
Is the world really as simple as the teachings of his masters and brothers, with eternal good and evil?
Suddenly, a thought struck him: Who says the righteous path is always just?
Startled by his own thoughts, Zhang Xiaofan jumped up, slapped himself, and shouted, “Idiot! How dare you think such treacherous thoughts!”
**End of the translated passage.**
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