Chapter Sixty-Five: Returning to Longwu (Part One)

Gu Yiling's eyes flickered with a hint of astonishment. The formidable expert by Jian Yichen's side made Gu Yiling somewhat wary and hesitant to deal a ruthless blow to Jian Yichen. He stood there, lost in thought for a moment.

After a short while...

Gu Yiling returned to North Pavilion Peak.

"Senior Brother Gu, how is Jian Yichen? Is he alright? Is he injured?" Gu Raolin watched Gu Yiling walk straight toward her, asking with a trace of eagerness. Her gaze deepened, her pupils sank slightly, and she tightly grasped Gu Yiling's right arm.

Taken by surprise, Gu Yiling shuddered. He turned slightly to look at his junior sister, whose face was as smooth as jade and whose expression was filled with anxious questioning, and said with a touch of bitterness, "Junior Sister, after the way he has let you down, how can you still dwell on him? What kind of charm does he possess that haunts your soul and dreams?"

Gu Raolin slowly released Gu Yiling's right arm. The corners of her lips curved into a slight smile, her eyes brimming with affection as she said, "Him? He has no special charm at all. It's just that I cannot control myself or my actions; I simply want to be with him every day, wandering the ends of the earth together in peace and tranquility, year after year. Whenever he stands before me, my heart beats entirely beyond my control."

Gu Yiling's gaze followed Gu Raolin's figure as she slowly turned away.

"Very well! I won't give him any more trouble from now on, alright?" Gu Yiling turned his gaze away and departed from the place.

Gu Raolin cast a sidelong glance with her starry eyes, gazing at his retreating back. In her heart, she felt a mixture of happiness and disbelief. After pondering quietly for a moment, she too slowly walked away.

"Yufan, slow down a bit! I can't keep up! Am I going to fall off?" Jian Yichen's face was distorted by the rushing wind as he muttered to himself, "Help! Help! Brother Yufan, stop! I'm going to suffocate!"

Yufan moderated his speed until he finally came to a halt. Taken unawares, Jian Yichen could not check his momentum; his boots scraped against the ground, sending up sparks until the soles were worn through, carrying him flying for several miles at high speed. *Bang!* All four limbs slammed flat against a tree. "Big Brother," he gasped, "can't you slow down a little?"

Gazing into the distance, Yufan said, "My apologies. I was only focused on fleeing and didn't pay attention. Please understand, Brother Jian."

Jian Yichen swiftly adjusted his posture, pulled out a mirror he hadn't seen in days along with a comb, and quickly straightened his disheveled hair. Just as quickly, he stowed the mirror and comb away—the entire process taking mere seconds. He spun around, scowling fiercely, and pointed a finger at Yufan, berating him: "What is wrong with you, Yufan? Weren't we going to avenge the burning of our straw hut? Are we just going to let it go? If we don't, they'll think we're easy targets."

Jian Yichen walked and tilted his head toward the heavens, glancing sideways at Yufan, chattering away continuously like a monk reciting scriptures.

"Those four possess cultivation levels superior to mine. How do you expect me to fight them? Do you want us both to end up dead? What would we do then? You should be thankful we managed to escape," Yufan replied evenly, standing right in front of Jian Yichen.

"I didn't dare fight them head-on. My Foundation Establishment is still unstable, you know. Senior Brother Jian should think more of your junior brother," Yufan said slowly, their eyes meeting.

"Fine, fine! I won't press you then." Jian Yichen waved a hand, eyeing Yufan sideways to see if he was angry, and coaxed, "Don't be mad, alright? I've just been shooting my mouth off without thinking since I was a child."

"How could I possibly be angry? Along this journey, I have endured utmost humiliation, witnessed the passing of Elder Jian, and the destruction of our sect. To me, outside slander and insults no longer matter at all," Yufan replied as he walked. Passing by Jian Yichen's side, he raised his right hand slightly to pat Jian Yichen's shoulder, cast a sidelong glance, and slowly walked away.

A leaf fluttered and drifted, a gentle breeze stirring a few withered leaves that floated past Jian Yichen's eyes. In an instant, they vanished without leaving a single trace.

Immersed in the memory of Yufan's hardships, Jian Yichen found it hard to let go. When he snapped out of his reverie and realized Yufan had left his field of vision, he quickly turned around and called out, "Yufan, wait for me! Don't run off!"

"Hurry up and catch up, Jian Yichen!" Yufan called back, waving a hand behind him.