Chapter 10, the separation of Yin and Yang

Jinxiu was momentarily stunned, remaining still

Hong gazed into those eyes: "You have known all along."

Wenxin pondered: "In that case, I shall..." and suddenly stopped.

Default of Splendor

Confirming that she has left, Wenxin then looked at Bai Ling and said: "Last night, the deity appeared in my dream, and I fear it is time for me to leave as well"

Finally, he spoke up and reprimanded: "You are too audacious"

A person in a brocade robe with an embroidered belt, their gaze warm and serene

After a long time, Wenxin sighed: "Are you doing all this because you are not at ease with her? I see that although she is young, she is quite determined. It is natural to feel sad for a while, but in the future, even if you and I are no longer around, there is no need to worry too much. Once I leave, you should quickly return to Kunlun Mountain." At this point, his tone became slightly serious: "There is plenty of time ahead, but we must not delay at present. Since you have this master-disciple relationship, you should listen to me this time."

Hong Ning raised her eyes to look at him, puzzled: "Why do you always advise me to cultivate immortality? What benefits does it bring you if I do?"

Hong Ning stood up and complained, "You returned just at the right time."

There is no eternal affection in the world

Hong Ning sighed: "Being with the master is good, but cultivating immortality means poor food, poor drink, and no fun. What if I die in this life without achieving immortality? Will I remember to cultivate in the next life? Moreover, I have worked hard for several hundred years; if I cannot become an immortal in the end, wouldn't that be quite a loss?"

Jinxiu paused for a moment, letting out a soft sigh: "First, cultivate your immortality, perhaps in the future..." Perhaps you will change your mind

Since that day, Hong Ning has become much calmer. To prevent any further accidents, the three of them set up formations within a radius of several dozen zhang. Bai Ling remained as beautiful and indifferent as ever, showing little change from her usual self. However, the frequency of her outings to search for spiritual herbs gradually increased, often returning with a full load of rare treasures. Hong Ning had no idea where she obtained them, but at the moment, she was not in the mood to investigate, focusing solely on taking care of Wen Xin.

Bai Lingdao: "Master, there is no need to leave in haste; please take a look at this first"

Seeing her like this, Jin Xiu couldn't help but laugh and gently patted her shoulder: "Your master has something to attend to, hurry back."

Wen Xin stopped him: "There is no need; that child places too much importance on human emotions. To spare her from a moment of sorrow, I will not be able to focus on my cultivation in the future."

Hong Ning raised her face and said: "I am but a mortal, so no matter when the people around me leave, I will always be this way, unless I depart before them." She felt a bit melancholic and added: "In the next life, I will still forget them. You are right, there is no eternal affection in this world."

The realm of immortals is where eternal love exists

Jinxiu nodded: "Naturally"

Wenxin shook his head, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Being too emotionally involved can hinder one's practice. She understands the implications of this, which is why she tries her best to cooperate, hoping to allow him to leave in peace. Unfortunately, she is ultimately just an ordinary mortal, unable to comprehend or penetrate the profound truths. All she knows is that a loved one, who has accompanied and nurtured her for many years, is about to leave, and it is too difficult to watch him depart without being moved.

Wen Xin looked at her, just about to say something, when suddenly the door was pushed open. Bai Ling hurriedly walked in from outside. After a few days of absence, her beautiful face showed a hint of fatigue, yet her white attire remained clean and tidy, without a trace of dirt.

At the moment when Wenxin picked her up from the roadside, that serene smile, along with the life they had shared for over a decade, had unconsciously made her dependent on him. Even though she knew he was a practitioner who would not cling too much to worldly emotions, she had always believed that she would be the first to leave. There was still plenty of time, and everything would unfold as she had imagined.

In the sweltering heat of summer, the evening breeze blows cold, and at times, unknown petals drift down with the mountain stream.

The familiar voice, soft yet capable of conveying a hint of concern and apology, caused Hong Ning to quickly turn her face and look at him in a daze

Hong Ning fell silent for a moment and said: "Once Master becomes a ghost immortal, will he truly have no further ties with the mortal realm?"

I see! The speculation has been confirmed, and deep down, a sense of disappointment arises. Hong Ning turned her face away and stepped out of his embrace,淡淡道: "I no longer remember the matters of our past lives, nor do I have any interest in them. I only care about this life. In this life, you owe me nothing, and you need not act this way in the future."

With a sense of helplessness, Wen Xin pulled her up and said: "I originally intended to guide you in cultivating immortality, but you..."

Wen Xin reached out and pulled her closer: "Have you been feeling sad these days?"

What does hesitation represent? Hong Ning felt a heaviness in her heart, as melancholy and loss surged within her. She hurriedly turned to look at the moon above the treetops and smiled lightly, trying to keep her tone casual and natural: "Forget it, you can go. After all, I don't remember my past life. You have saved me twice, and even if I owe you a great debt of gratitude, it has already been repaid. Mortals are easily swayed by emotions, but I cannot blame myself. You need not come again in the future, lest I harbor any delusions."

Jinxiu did not respond

Wen Xin chuckled: "Enough, thinking about these things before we even begin, you might as well give up on it early."

The door closed, and the room returned to silence

Hong Ning did not respond

The two looked at each other in silence

Bai Ling glanced at her

Splendid Path: "If one does not walk today, one will walk in the future."

Hong Ning slowly lowered her head, burying her face in his embrace

In the blink of an eye, the nine-leaf Ganoderma lucidum had withered, transforming into a clump of dry grass

The person before me no longer wears red, and her appearance has changed, yet she can cleverly overlap with the shadow of the person in my memory. At the Flower Festival, that little girl boldly declared her desire to become a goddess, both shy and resolute. However, fifteen hundred years later, at the moment of her successful tribulation, she turned away and gave up, forever falling into the cycle of reincarnation. Even now, after ten lifetimes in the mortal realm, her nature remains unchanged, truly a reflection of youthful recklessness. At the Flower Festival, that little girl boldly declared her desire to become a goddess, both shy and resolute. However, fifteen hundred years later, at the moment of her successful tribulation, she turned away and gave up, forever falling into the cycle of reincarnation. Even now, after ten lifetimes in the mortal realm, her nature remains unchanged, truly a reflection of youthful recklessness.

After a long time, Hong Ning finally raised her face to look at him and softly asked, "Master, when do you plan to leave?"

Hong Ning softly said: "It is you"

Having spoken, he raised his right hand and gave it a slight shake, revealing a small plant of bluish-purple color in the palm of his hand. The tiny, round leaves emitted a soft and gentle golden light from their tips

Two months have passed in a hurry, and after taking many elixirs, Wenxin's spirit has indeed improved significantly. In recent days, he has unprecedentedly stopped his meditation and practice, only spending time conversing with his two disciples, and the three of them have been quite harmonious.

Bai Ling immediately turned around: "I will go call her"

She has always been personally taking care of Wenxin, and although she may not be fully aware of the extent of his physical improvement, she is certainly not completely oblivious. Recently, he has inexplicably ceased his practice, and today he even bathed and changed clothes early. Furthermore, his deliberate display of familial joy has left her feeling fearful and uneasy

Just now, he relied on his courage to hold on, and did not feel embarrassed. Now that he has not refused, Hong Ning instead feels uneasy, her face flushed, wanting to laugh but unable to do so. This is simply teasing a respectable man.

Bai Lingdao: "Since I am able to obtain it, it is evident that the master is indeed a fated person, so why should I decline?"

The fated calamity cannot be altered at will, as doing so will only invite unwarranted disaster. You wish to save him, but have you asked if he is willing?" Jin Xiu raised her hand and patted her back, "Still not understanding? Not everyone can ascend to immortality. It is rare for him to have such an opportunity; if he were to miss the chance to ascend because of this, would he be satisfied?

Default of Splendor

Silence

Wen Xin adjusted his clothing, walked over slowly, sat cross-legged on the couch, and said: "I am leaving, and the subsequent matters will be handled according to my previous instructions"

The master and apprentice chatted and joked like this, reminiscing about the past, bringing up one memory after another. The atmosphere was unprecedentedly relaxed, as if the gloom that had shrouded their hearts for the past year had completely dissipated

Jinxiu looked at her, hesitating to respond.

Hong Ning stared directly into his eyes: "Do you want me to cultivate immortality simply because you owe me from a past life?"

Hong Ning tested: "You owe me from your past life, so you want to help me cultivate immortality to repay the debt?"

Jinxiu did not refuse and gently embraced her

Wen Xin sighed, saying: "I originally thought that after overcoming this tribulation, I would ascend a hundred years later. Although it is said that the situation has changed unexpectedly, being able to shed this mortal body and attain immortality can be considered the fulfillment of my lifelong aspiration"

Splendid Path: "It can be considered."

Splendid Path: "I owe you."

Hong Ning said: "Senior brother is always cautious in his actions, so it will not be a problem." Yet, her eyes involuntarily glanced at the door

Bai Ling was also taken aback: "This..."

Seeing his concern, Hong Ning instead smiled: "Master, do not worry, I am not alone; I still have my senior brother with me."

In the room, Hong Ning carefully held up the medicinal soup and said, "Master"

"But I have a mortal heart by nature, which is truly unsuitable for cultivation," Hong Ning said as she leaned on his knee. "Perhaps in the next life, my master can enlighten me once more."

Wen Xin did not respond: "Let us wait for Bai Ling to return before discussing it further"

Hong Ning did not pay attention, lowered her eyelids, and smiled, saying: "Master has raised me for so long, yet I have not shown even a bit of filial piety. In the next life, I will surely forget you all, which is rather heartless. As long as Master is not angry, should I first bow three times to apologize?" After saying this, she indeed knelt down in front of Wen Xin and respectfully bowed three times.

Hong Ning said: "Do you really want me to cultivate immortality?"

After finishing this statement, my palms were already damp with sweat

Splendid Path: "The Dao of Immortality is eternal; as long as you are willing to cultivate it, there will come a day when you will see him again"

The answer is clearly presented before us, yet we are unwilling to believe it

With her hands slightly clenched in her sleeves, Hong Ning finally mustered the courage to look at him steadily: "Are we not of the same kind? If I become an immortal, can I then be with you? Will you still protect me like you do now?"

Wen Xin smiled and said, "I have just that intention."

The warmth emanating from the embrace makes one nostalgic, and after a long silence, Hong Ning softly asked, "Can you really not save him?"

The hand was beautiful, with a warm and smooth complexion, clean and flawless, the fingers long and exuding a reassuring strength. Hong Ning looked at it hesitantly, delaying any action, yet it took the initiative to support her arm, pulling her up from the stone.

Upon mentioning Bai Ling, Hong Ning could not help but feel curious: "It seems that Senior Brother used to live in Kunlun Mountain? Could it be that he was subdued by Master, which is why he followed in his cultivation?"

Hong Ning couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, half-jokingly saying, "Isn't your kindness towards me not just because of this?"

Hong Ning glanced at the two, said nothing, and went out

Death is not unfamiliar; everyone will experience it. Strangely, although everyone knows this simple truth, when a loved one departs, they cannot help but feel sorrow and sadness. She is a person who has lived two lives and should be more open-minded than others, yet in the end, she still finds it hard to escape this fate

Hong Ning was taken aback: "Is it because you have always been following and protecting me?"

Hong Ning deliberately glared back

There is a distinction between the celestial and the mortal; being overly attached to the earthly realm will only lead to calamities. Wenxin did not respond, gently patting her head: "The reason I took you as my disciple was because of our fateful connection. In the future, I will have my own path to follow, and you need not worry about me any further. Just continue to live as you usually do."

Jinxiu indicated for her to speak

Splendid Path: "As you said, the cycle of life and death is no different from immortality. Your master will eventually attain the status of a ghost immortal and will no longer enter the cycle of reincarnation. Why worry about it?"

Jinxiu frowned: "Not entering the cycle of reincarnation, without life and death, separation and reunion, is that not good?"

Hong Ning felt a stir in her heart: "Am I good or not? Is it very important to you?"

Bai Lingdao: "If the master consumes it, he will be able to preserve his physical body. After a hundred years of cultivation, he will surely achieve perfection and ascend to become a celestial being, which is far better than being a ghostly immortal, isn't it?"

Wen Xin held her for a long time before finally letting go, instructing: "You go out for a walk first, I have a few words to say to Bai Ling."

Hong Ning hurriedly said: "He has gone to gather herbs, and this time he may have gone a bit farther. He should be back soon"

Wen Xin Leng: "This... this is..."

The path of splendor: "Celestial opportunities are rare, and countless mortals yearn for them in their dreams; to give them up would be a pity"

Wen Xin nodded: "There are already quite a few medicines. Given the hot weather today, his magical powers might be somewhat affected, so it is better for him to go out less.

Wen Xin shook his head: "How can you be so foolish! It is not that I am unwilling to stay, but enjoying this item requires immense fortune and celestial affinity, which I fear I do not possess. One should not force matters; my lifespan is nearing its end, and it is meant to be this way. You have taken the divine treasure of the celestial beings and altered the fate, which will surely bring disaster in the future, and it will be of no benefit to me."

Hong Ning averted her gaze and did not respond

Hong Ning said without a second thought, "Then transform into a camellia for me to see once more, and you will no longer owe me anything in the future"

Hong Ning knelt down, supporting herself on his knee, and smiled, "How could it be? Zhong Xian said that Master will eventually be recorded in the immortal register; I just feel a bit reluctant."

Bai Ling remained silent for half a day, then nodded

Jinxiu Huanxiao: "What do you plan to do?"

The Nine-leaf Ganoderma, who among practitioners is not aware of it? It is said to possess the same life-restoring effects as the Nine-turn Elixir, capable of forcibly retrieving a soul from the hands of the King of Hell even after it has left the body. Unfortunately, it grows in the divine realm of Kunlun and is not a mundane object, making it extremely rare in the world. Only those with fate can obtain it, which is why it mostly appears in legends, and few can recognize it. Now that Bai Ling has managed to acquire such a treasure, how could Wen Xin not be astonished? He immediately scolded, "What are you stealing this for? Quickly put it back! If the gods find out, there will surely be punishment!"

Bai Lingdao: "This is the divine object of our clan, the Nine-Leaf Spirit Mushroom"

Hong Ning said: "I am just afraid that I am an ordinary person, lacking such celestial affinity."

Hong Ning suddenly felt irritable: "I do not like cultivating immortality"

A sigh came from behind

Hong Ning said: "Cultivating immortality is merely a transition from one world to another. They attain immortality, while we have reincarnation. Birth, aging, illness, and death, as well as the coming together and parting of people, are the natural laws of the human world. When those around me leave, I do feel sadness, but I will continue to live well. My master chose to cultivate immortality, but I have my own life. Why should I spend so much effort doing something I do not like?"

Hong Ning was not dull; she detected the faint hint of amusement in his words, which immediately put her at ease. Growing bolder, she turned to face him again and asked, "This is how reckless I am; will you wait for me?"

Hong Ning sat with her knees hugged to her chest, staring blankly at the stream.

Before nightfall, the moon had already risen on the horizon. After waiting for so long without the expected news, Hong Ning felt a slight sense of relief. Only then did she move her body, preparing to get up and return to take care of Wen Xin and administer her medicine

With a smile in her phoenix-like eyes, she looked her up and down

Wen Xin sat at the table, having changed into a new outfit. Upon hearing the words, he took the medicine but did not drink it immediately, instead placing it on the table: "How many days has Bai Ling been out?"

With a radiant smile, she extended her hand and said, "It is I."

Hong Ning said: "He is my master, he is my family in this world, I do not want him to leave so soon"

Wenxin shook his head and closed his eyes

Wen Xindao: "If one is determined to cultivate oneself, it is not impossible to succeed. In my early years, I wrote a volume of books, and the methods of cultivation are all contained therein. If you are sincere, you may go and take a look; perhaps there will be a day of reunion in the future"

It is beneficial for you

But she really wants to give it to her master