Chapter 63

Chapter 63

By the time rumors had swept through the entire Taixu Sword Sect, Rong Baichuan also arrived, seeking answers.

The protective enchantments of the cave dwelling on Broken Mountain Peak had always been open to Rong Baichuan. He strode in unimpeded, encountering no resistance whatsoever.

As he entered the inner courtyard, filled with rage and on the verge of blurting out "beast," he suddenly froze—the scene before him was entirely different from what he had imagined.

Beneath the ginkgo tree in the center of the courtyard, a figure lay reclined on a lounge chair, neatly covered with a blanket, its silhouette strikingly similar to Rong Yu. Seated in a chair nearby was another person, as still as a stone statue, seemingly fused with the surroundings, sitting quietly and motionlessly, as if lost in a vacant stare.

Rong Baichuan frowned, then looked up again and was stunned: the ginkgo tree in the center of the courtyard actually bore a few sparse leaves. Some branches were bare, while others pitifully held a few lonely leaves, looking somewhat absurd.

But Rong Baichuan was instantly taken aback. This ginkgo tree served as a key node in the abode’s protective array; its vitality was intimately linked to the array’s creator. In other words, if Rong Yu had passed away, this ginkgo tree would inevitably wither. The last time Rong Baichuan had seen it, its leaves had indeed all fallen.

Now, these sparse leaves seemed as if they had been forcibly coaxed into existence, a feat that must have required tremendous spiritual energy and mental effort to achieve.

The anger in Rong Baichuan’s heart was quelled by the sight before him. He slowly walked forward to take a closer look.

Lying on the lounge chair was the puppet he and Rong Yu had created together, tucked under a blanket as if asleep, appearing somewhat serene.

When they had first crafted this little figure, Rong Yu reached out to touch it, and it instantly grew to full size. His expression of wonder was still vivid in memory. He had smiled and said, "This will surely give that little rascal a good scare."

Rong Baichuan felt his eyes sting and quickly looked away, refusing to gaze at it any longer.

Lu Shitu had been staring fixedly at Rong Yu’s door, as immovable as an ancient mountain rock. It wasn’t until Rong Baichuan approached that he looked up, greeting slowly, "Uncle-Master."

Rong Baichuan almost gasped. He noticed that streaks of silver had begun to thread through Lu Shitu’s black hair.

After forming a Golden Core, cultivators’ appearances cease to age, frozen at that moment. Moreover, even by his actual age, Lu Shitu was merely a young man of eighteen or nineteen. What kind of grief could cause someone to look like this…

The rumors he had heard earlier instantly seemed laughable, not worth believing a single word. Rong Baichuan was speechless and, following Lu Shitu’s gesture, sat in a nearby chair.

The silence here was profound—not even a breath of wind, not even a whisper of sound, making every breath seem to echo loudly. Sitting there with Lu Shitu, Rong Baichuan felt as though time had stagnated, as if nothing else mattered, and there was no need to think about anything—just sitting in perfect stillness.

After a long silence, Rong Baichuan slowly spoke, "Back then... there was a time when you always avoided A-Yu. At the time, I thought you had become ambitious and intended to abandon A-Yu, leaving him to his fate."

Lu Shitu’s breath hitched, his eyes flickering with turmoil, jolted awake from his previous state.

Rong Baichuan sighed. "A-Yu wouldn’t let me say that. He always said you were a good child, incapable of such a thing. He never believed me. You know him—he may seem cold and harsh, as if he doesn’t care about anyone, but he’s fiercely protective of his inner circle. Once someone crosses that line, he cherishes them with all his heart. Even I know that I only halfway across that line. As for who truly belongs inside... I don’t need to say it, do I?"

Lu Shitu’s lips trembled, but no words came out.

Rong Baichuan couldn’t stand to see him this way and continued gently, "But during that time, even if he didn’t say it, I could sense what he was thinking. In his heart, he believed that as long as you were well, nothing else mattered."

Lu Shitu squeezed his eyes shut, his mouth opening silently as if to sob or scream. He covered his face with one hand in agony, but no sound emerged.

Rong Baichuan turned to face him solemnly, his expression grave. "Do you understand what I mean? Back then, he didn’t even care if you would abandon him. He just wanted you to be well. As long as you were okay, nothing else mattered. Now that he’s gone, would he want to see you like this? Only if you are well can he rest in peace."

Lu Shitu remained silent, covering his face, his body trembling faintly. He seemed to exert all his strength to suppress the pain and despair, struggling to hide everything with a calm expression before slowly lowering his hand and shaking his head.

"I can’t do it. I’ve always... been unable to," His voice was very soft.

Unable? Unable to do what... unable to be well?

Rong Baichuan was profoundly moved. He studied Lu Shitu for a long moment before finally sighing, having nothing more to say.

Suddenly, the courtyard gate burst open with a loud clatter. Someone stumbled inside in a panic, nearly collapsing in front of Lu Shitu’s chair.

Jiang Chengxue looked frail, his clothes stained with blood, his complexion pallid. Yet his eyes burned with a fierce intensity as he urgently began, "Master, he—"

He cut off abruptly upon seeing Rong Yu’s puppet, freezing in place as if stunned, his eyes reddening. In the next instant, he seemed to realize it was merely a puppet, his expression stiffening and his face growing even paler.

Lu Shitu frowned deeply, urgently demanding in a low voice, "What about Master?"

Jiang Chengxue jolted back to reality, remembering his purpose for coming, and quickly continued, "Listen to me, Master must still be alive!"

At this, not only did Lu Shitu’s expression change, but Rong Baichuan beside him also slowly straightened up.

Jiang Chengxue’s breathing remained hurried, his words rushed yet hesitant. He first reached into his robes to retrieve something. His movements were frantic as he searched, but when he withdrew his hand, he handled the object with extreme care—a pale green jade ring resting on his pale palm, which he showed to the two of them.

Both Lu Shitu and Rong Baichuan’s expressions shifted instantly.

Jiang Chengxue explained, "When the incident happened, I was at Changhen Abyss. I saw with my own eyes how Senior Wang Yi and the demonic beasts sealed there were all... killed by the rampaging spiritual energy. Later, when Master descended, I tried to save him, but... in any case, Master also vanished. However, afterward, the bodies of Senior Wang Yi and the demonic beasts were all... recovered, but Master’s was not. He must still be alive!"

Hearing that Wang Yi had indeed perished, both men looked grim. But after Jiang Chengxue’s subsequent words, their expressions softened slightly.

Lu Shitu’s gaze fixed intently on the jade ring, his eyes gradually lighting up as if grasping a sliver of hope.

Rong Baichuan, finding his account vague, frowned and asked, "Can you be certain? If it truly is as you say, where is A-Yu now?"

Jiang Chengxue nodded. "I’m 80% certain. The moment Master vanished, I faintly sensed another space, though I couldn’t enter it. I don’t know exactly where Master is, but I know of something that might be able to bring him back."

Lu Shitu immediately asked, "What?"

Jiang Chengxue replied solemnly, "Twelve Floors."

"You mean to say that Twelve Floors is truly a spatial magical instrument capable of piercing through realms? How do you know this?" Rong Baichuan asked, frowning.

Jiang Chengxue’s gaze shifted slightly as he answered, "Actually, my family... has some connection to Twelve Floors. I’ve been investigating it all these years and only recently learned these things."

"And how can you be sure that Twelve Floors can pull Rong Yu back from that space? How do you know he’s truly in another dimension? Moreover, why were you at Changhen Abyss at that time? How did you get in?"

Jiang Chengxue lowered his eyes and fell silent. After a moment, he slowly produced another jade ring from his robes and extended it toward Lu Shitu.

Lu Shitu paused briefly, then hurried to a side room to check something. Moments later, he returned, one hand resting on his sword hilt, the other taking the jade ring. Sword energy surged around him, his eyes icy. "What have you done?"

Jiang Chengxue did not raise his eyes. The excitement and urgency seemed to drain from him as he remained silent for a moment before speaking softly, "I am the one who harmed Master."

What he said next was shocking: "Actually, I was ordered to open the seal between the front and back sides of the continent. My investigations over the years led me to conclude that the jade rings you wear are all part of Twelve Floors and can be used to break the seal. So first, I approached Twelve Floors, and later, I grew close to Master. Before the incident, it was I who stole your jade ring and used it to breach the seal at Changhen Abyss, triggering the demonic beast rampage."

Lu Shitu’s eyes grew redder with each word. His sword slipped from its sheath uncontrollably, emanating a murderous aura, as if awaiting its master’s command to claim a life instantly.

Jiang Chengxue seemed completely unfazed, continuing his narrative calmly. "But it wasn’t me who caused Master’s accident. After I breached the seal, someone tampered with Changhen Abyss, disturbing the energy there. That’s what killed Wang Yi and... caused Master to vanish."

"When Master disappeared, the jade ring reacted. Later, when I couldn’t find Master’s body anywhere, I theorized... that he had entered another space."

Rong Baichuan also stepped forward slowly, subtly prepared talismans in his hand. "Who are you?"

Jiang Chengxue answered without hesitation, "I am from the back side of the continent."

In other words... he was indeed a demonic cultivator!

And not an ordinary one at that, or else he would have exuded demonic energy and couldn’t have remained by Rong Yu’s side for so many years. He was likely of the Demon Lord’s lineage to have achieved this.

Rong Baichuan and Lu Shitu moved in unison, striking simultaneously with sword light and spiritual talismans the moment he answered. Rong Baichuan coldly demanded, "Why should we believe you?"

Jiang Chengxue evaded their attacks, said with a bitter smile. "My mission is already complete. I have no reason to come back and deceive you. Now our goals align—I only wish to... save Master."

But Lu Shitu seemed to hate him intensely, his attacks ruthless, his eyes red as blood. "How could you do this to Master??"

Jiang Chengxue only dodged without fighting back, and it seemed he was already injured, his movements slower than before, inevitably getting hit several times. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, but for a long while, he offered no rebuttal, only replying softly, "...Yes. I bit the hand that fed me... I failed Master. Only you can retrieve the Twelve Floors. It doesn't matter if you kill me—you must cultivate diligently. To obtain the Twelve Floors, you need at least Tribulation Stage. By then, you will also take control of the Changhen Abyss barrier. Bring the jade ring, bring the Twelve Floors..."

Lu Shitu abruptly stopped his attack. Jiang Chengxue, unable to hold on, staggered backward, wiped the blood from his lips, and continued, "...By then, I know you can bring Master back."

Rong Baichuan raised his hand and sent out a spiritual artifact to restrain him, his expression changing repeatedly. After hesitating briefly, he finally asked first, "What do you mean by saying your mission is complete?"

Jiang Chengxue’s eyes were bleak as he deflected, "We... must hurry."

"I’m afraid if too much time passes, Master will never be able to return."

Author's Note: