Proofreader & Editor: Lotas
A month's time, neither long nor short.
In Desert North, news of demon creatures had nearly spread throughout the Nine Provinces, and everyone began to closely monitor the situation there.
Everyone was worried that these creatures would emerge from the darkness to wreak havoc upon the world.
Soon after, the Confucian School announced they would send disciples to Desert North, followed by declarations from the Heavenly Edict Temple and the Buddhist Sect, all agreeing to dispatch experts to assist the eight factions of Desert North in combating the demon creatures.
It was tacitly agreed that among the experts sent to Desert North by the three forces, there would be great cultivators of the Five Realms to lead, accompanied by the most outstanding disciples from their respective sects.
From the Confucian School, there were the esteemed Law Confucian and Bai Wangyu, from the Heavenly Edict Temple, the Grand Bishop Rong and Yan Xiaoyu, and from the Buddhist Sect, there was Law Sea. Except for San Zang, who had already gone to Desert North, most of the others were familiar faces to Li Ziye.
However, Li Ziye currently had no interest in these matters.
For the past month, he hadn't had a proper night's sleep.
In the month leading up to their departure, Slovenly Zhang had gone mad, tormenting the darling of Li's Garden day and night, determined to pass on all his life's knowledge.
His force-feeding style of teaching was cruel; due to the lack of time, Slovenly Zhang didn't care whether Li Ziye could learn it all, he crammed nearly sixty years of martial arts experience, techniques, and mental cultivation methods into his head in one go.
As a result, Li Ziye's head was almost in a fog, on the verge of exploding. Even with his exceptional memory, he couldn't handle so much information all at once.
"I can't learn anymore!"
In the inner courtyard, Li Ziye finally exploded, shouting, "Can't you teach me when you come back? There's too much to remember!"
"You have to remember, even if you can't."
Slovenly Zhang sneered, "You're complaining? Others would cry and beg to learn what I'm teaching you."
"But you can't force-feed me like this every day, I'm human, I'll die from this!" Li Ziye protested.
"Stop your nonsense. You're leaving tomorrow, and today you must finish learning everything," Slovenly Zhang said, unmoved.
"Ah!"
Li Ziye shouted, causing chaos and disorder.
Outside the room, Zhu Zhu sat on the stone steps, engrossed in watching the Sword Enthusiast teach her husband martial arts, occasionally mimicking the movements with her hands.
It had to be said that the Sword Enthusiast's experience was indeed rich, not inferior to her own master.
It wasn't until sunset, under the cold moonlight, that Slovenly Zhang reluctantly stopped, sighing as he looked at the young man who was nearly exhausted, "That's enough for now."
He had taught almost everything he could; the rest was up to the young man's fate.
He hoped his skills wouldn't end with him.
"I can't take it anymore, I'm going to die!"
Li Ziye collapsed to the ground, saying, "Old Zhang, this is like trying to help the shoots grow by pulling them up, I can't learn so much."
"Write it down, practice it slowly."
Slovenly Zhang also sat down, looking at the moon in the sky, and said softly, "Once you've mastered it all, there won't be many in the world who can defeat you."
"How many years will that take?" Li Ziye shook his dizzy head and asked.
"I, the old man, practiced for sixty years."
Slovenly Zhang smiled, "With so many people guiding you, maybe you can do it faster, perhaps thirty years."
"Thirty years?"
Li Ziye was startled and said, "But look at Old Qin, she's so young and already a Sword Immortal, right?"
"The Plum Blossom Sword Immortal?"
Slovenly Zhang looked at the young man beside him and smiled, "She is the youngest great cultivator of the Five Realms in a thousand years. Even Fu Jinglun, who stepped into the Five Realms with the help of the heavenly book, wasn't as young as your master when he reached the fifth realm. How can you compare?"
"Damn, Old Qin is that amazing?" Li Ziye was astonished.
"Otherwise, why do you think the Third Prince would travel thousands of miles to Yuzhou City to take Qin E'nuo as his master?"
Slovenly Zhang took a sip of wine and said, "Your master is a legend in the human world. In terms of martial arts talent, even Yan Xiaoyu and San Zang might be slightly inferior."
"I didn't see that coming."
Li Ziye stroked his chin and said, "I thought her title of Plum Blossom Sword Immortal was mainly because she's pretty."
"…"
Slovenly Zhang was speechless and said, "Do you think everyone in the world is as superficial as you? The title of Sword Immortal isn't something you can get easily. Qin E'nuo is an exceptional existence even among the great cultivators of the Five Realms in the world."
"Hey, that's not right."
Li Ziye suddenly realized something and said, "Old Zhang, you're praising Old Qin so much, is it because you just fought her to a draw, so you're finding ways to praise yourself?"
"Ha ha."
Slovenly Zhang laughed heartily and said, "Does this old man need to praise himself? Although I was defeated by that scholar once, the number of people who have been defeated by me is countless. I, too, am a legend in these Nine Provinces."
"Keep bragging, and the Nine Provinces too."
Li Ziye looked disdainful and said, "Anyway, I haven't been to other places, so whatever you say goes."
"You little rascal!"
Slovenly Zhang said irritably, "Aren't you going to Desert North? Ask around, who doesn't know the name of this old man."
"Desert North? You shouldn't have mentioned it; just thinking about it gives me a headache. Old Zhang, have you been there? Is it as dangerous as the rumors say?" Li Ziye earnestly sought advice.
"I've been there, but that was twenty years ago."
Thinking back, Slovenly Zhang took out a copper piece from his body and tossed it over, saying, "This thing is what I got in Desert North back then. It's useless to me now, so I'll give it to you."
"What's this?"
Li Ziye caught the copper piece and looked at it, puzzled.
"A token."
Slovenly Zhang's eyes flashed with nostalgia and said, "Back when I was traveling in Desert North, I saved a tribe's chief, and he gave me this, telling me to visit his tribe if I ever had the chance. I never thought that more than twenty years would pass, and I never went back to Desert North."
"A tribal chief?"
Li Ziye immediately treasured the copper piece and said, "Then this is a good thing. It might come in handy."
"Don't get your hopes up."
Slovenly Zhang drank his wine and said, "The man I saved was about my age and had been seriously injured. His health must not be good; he's probably dead by now."
"Can't you wish people well?"
Li Ziye said irritably, "Maybe he's still alive and well."
"You don't understand. Desert North is different from the Central Plains. It's truly a world where the strong prevail. That man was seriously injured. Even if he didn't die, it would be difficult for him to keep his tribe. Being swallowed up by others is just a matter of time."
Slovenly Zhang replied and continued to warn, "So, when you go to Desert North, be very careful. You have to guard not only against demon creatures but also against the people of the eight factions of Desert North. Those fellows are very warlike, and a disagreement could lead to trouble."
"That does sound dangerous."
Li Ziye nodded and said, "But I'm going to find the Medicine King, not to cause trouble. I just need to keep a low profile, and even if something does happen, there are those old men from the Confucian School to deal with it."
"Who from the Confucian School is going this time?" Slovenly Zhang asked casually.
"The team is led by the Law Confucian Master and three instructors from the North Academy. As for the disciples of the Confucian School, I only know Little Red Riding Hood and that Wen Xiu Confucian," Li Ziye replied.
"One of the Five Realms and three of the fourth realm, that's decent."
Slovenly Zhang nodded and said, "As long as there are no major accidents, they should be able to keep you all safe."
"Don't worry, I'm not a child anymore. If there's any danger, I'll be the fastest to run away," Li Ziye said with a smile.
"That's true."
Slovenly Zhang laughed, finished the last drop of wine from the jug, and stood up unsteadily, saying, "Alright, time to sleep. You should rest early too, you have to head north tomorrow morning."
After speaking, Slovenly Zhang turned and went back to his room.
Under the moonlight, Li Ziye looked at the moon in the sky, thought for a moment, and also got up to return to his room.
The moon is so full, yet it's the time of parting. Heaven really doesn't know how to set the mood.
***
The next day, as the sun rose.
Li Ziye and Bai Wangyu got up early, ready to set off.
In front of Li's Garden, Li Youwei looked at her departing younger brother, a fleeting tear in her eyes.
"Take care of yourself, and make sure to come back safe and sound," Li Youwei repeatedly admonished.
"Don't worry, Sister Youwei, come, let's hug."
After saying that, Li Ziye reached out and embraced his elder sister.
"Husband, I want one too."
Zhu Zhu said a bit jealously from the side.
"Forget it."
Li Ziye let go and laughed, "Men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving things."
"You're biased."
Zhu Zhu pursed her lips and said.
"Please take good care of him."
In front of the carriage, Li Youwei looked at Little Red Riding Hood next to her, still worried, and admonished again.
"Mm."
Bai Wangyu nodded slightly and said, "As long as I'm alive, I won't let anyone hurt him."
Hearing this, Li Youwei felt somewhat relieved and added, "Take care of yourself too."
"Mm."
Bai Wangyu showed a slight smile and responded.
"Kid, take this trip to Desert North as an opportunity to temper yourself. When you come back, you might really have to stand on your own."
In front of Li's Garden, Slovenly Zhang looked at the young man ahead, his expression warm, and said.
"I understand."
Li Ziye nodded and said, "Old Zhang, you too, when I come back, I want to see you return as well."
"I'll try."
Slovenly Zhang responded with a smile.
"How about this?"
Li Ziye was still a bit worried and offered a tempting condition, "As long as you come back, I'll cover all your drinks for the second half of your life."
"Ha ha, deal!" Slovenly Zhang laughed heartily.
"And one more thing!"
Li Ziye looked at the old man in front of him, his expression more serious than ever, and said, "As long as you come back, a hundred years later, I'll mourn for you as your son."
Hearing this, Slovenly Zhang was taken aback, then grinned and said, "Deal!"