The Journey of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 402 - 238: Reunion
The farmer girl had been standing in her house, looking this way, and upon seeing his tender smile, she suddenly became infatuated.
Quan Shifang did not return to the room he had rented, but instead, casually walked to the bamboo forest and sat down on a big stone.
The cool breeze of the summer night passed through the bamboo forest, stirring up a rustling sound, like the sound of rain, or the roar of waves, reminding him of his first encounter with Ning Xiaoxian, also in such a peaceful forest.
The girl who cooked sweet potato soup, for some reason, kept coming back to his mind.
In Siping County, he had decided to wield his sword and cut off the ties of affection. Since childhood, he understood the heavy responsibilities on his shoulders, and he knew that a future with a mortal was impossible. Back at Chaoyun Sect, he continued his usual practice, conduct, and dealings; he listened to his master’s teaching when it was time and entered seclusion when needed, trying to keep everything as normal as possible. He tried hard to suppress that touch of emotion in the depths of his heart, and it seemed to be effective.
The number of times he thought of Ning Xiaoxian dwindled, to the point that it made him become silent and reticent.
Everyone within the sect noticed that Quan Shifang had changed. Although still courteous to others, he grew increasingly distant and colder. The modest gentleman, although still upright and polite, often had a hollow look in his eyes, and was more blunt in rejecting the affections of the women who admired him.
He originally thought that this worldly connection would be buried deep in his heart from then on, until the chance meeting yesterday.
He never knew that the person on the back of the White Bird was her. He commanded the Purple Lightning Sword to strike her down from its back, and it was only under the noon sun that her face was illuminated. In that instant, he heard Junior Brother Yu Yao’s exclamation and felt his own heart suddenly joyfully skip several beats, then returned to deathly stillness...
Their reunion turned out to begin with him hurting her. He watched helplessly as she coughed blood twice, then quietly closed her eyes, as if there was nothing left in this world worth clinging to.
In that moment, Quan Shifang suddenly understood that he had never really forgotten her. Every smile of hers, every time she called him "Senior Brother Quan," he treasured every detail. There was someone who, for no apparent reason, caught his eye and entered his heart. Their encounter was merely a brief intersection of paths, yet their longing for each other had silently etched into his bones. No matter how he tried to erase it, it was in vain; no matter how he suppressed it, there would eventually be a day of eruption.
He had nearly exhausted all his spiritual power to chase after the White Bird. Heaven had mercy, finally allowing him to catch up. To seek lodging in this small village, the White Bird could no longer maintain its demon form and had to hand Ning Xiaoxian over to his arms while turning into a bird small enough to fit in the palm of his hand, perching on his shoulder to watch over him.
The girl in his arms curled into a tiny bundle, looking so well-behaved, so soft, so helpless; it was enough to shatter his heart. For a moment, he forgot about cultivation, about sects, about responsibilities; he simply wished that this journey would continue forever without end, allowing him to preserve the warmth and tenderness in his hands.
Of course, this was nothing more than a vain hope. She was too severely injured, coughing up blood several times while unconscious, flowing along the graceful curve of her jaw, exuding a startling beauty that filled him with immense guilt.
Why on earth did he cast that sword strike?
With Quan Shifang’s appearance, it was very easy to borrow lodging at the farmhouse. When he checked Ning Xiaoxian’s injuries, he was first stunned by the severity, and then he received a tremendous surprise: she had a power within her, capable of using Divine Skills. She had become a cultivator too.
Heaven finally favored him.
The pain and confusion that had been repressed for the past half year seemed to vanish in the blink of an eye.
He never knew how wonderful it felt to have one’s wishes fulfilled!
This one evening, he sat in the bamboo forest until dawn, yet he did not feel bored.
When Ning Xiaoxian woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. Qi Zai by her side, affectionately nuzzled her face upon seeing her wake. The aroma of cooking rice wafted through the bamboo curtains, along with the ethereal and melodious sound of a flute. The melody of the flute was originally soulful and exquisite, played by an expert, yet he stubbornly played the tune "Laughing in the Face of the World," determined to bring out a bold spirit amidst the sobbing.
Without a doubt, that awkward guy was Quan Shifang.
A grown man playing the flute? She let out a stifled laugh, and then silently reprimanded herself for her wicked thoughts surfacing again.
