Chapter 8

Do you still remember this place

Upon hearing this, his expression showed no change. Suddenly recalling that Xiao'er had just left, he wondered whether that charming man was lurking nearby. As this thought crossed his mind, his complexion finally shifted slightly, and he turned to pursue her.

On that day, my foster father accepted me as his daughter, renaming me Shuiyue, the Moon in the Water, a moon that can never be retrieved from the water. That day, he took me back to the village and mentioned along the way that my fate was the same as that of his disciple, but he was very curious about who would ultimately be the one to outsmart the other.

It turns out that Xiao'er came to meet her in secret... Even if one were to save a stranger, one would still inform him, wouldn't one

The pain in her chest was unbearable, yet no one was left to brew medicine for her. Would Master forgive her if she died like this? She glanced sideways at the grave, wanting to drag her sword to destroy it, but found that her legs were too weak to rise.

I still remember, back then you were just a toddler learning to walk, and I was only twelve or thirteen years old, living in seclusion here with your master. Your father... was not exactly a good person. He said rather implicitly: "He has done many things that are intolerable in this world. When he attempted to plot against my sister, he was thwarted and imprisoned in the dungeon of Wenren Manor. Later, when he escaped, he rescued you. He probably heard from somewhere that your master and I were living in seclusion on Mount Baiyun, so he brought you up the mountain. ... He was not exactly a good person." He said rather implicitly: "He has done many things that are intolerable in this world. When he attempted to plot against my sister, he was thwarted and imprisoned in the dungeon of Wenren Manor. Later, when he escaped, he rescued you. ... On that day, he took me hostage and forced your master to commit suicide, completely unaware that at such a young age, I already possessed skills, and it was I, along with your master, who accidentally killed him. Laughing child, speaking of it, I am considered your father's enemy."

He was greatly shocked upon hearing this and scolded:

Her name is Li Juxiao, my goodness, is this name given by you? It is truly amusing. You are her enemy, and you have given her such a name; it seems you are indeed seeking revenge so that she may have joyful days to enjoy!

"Nonsense! Master will live for a hundred years, and you haven't even surpassed half of Master’s lifespan yet!" She trembled so much that she couldn't even speak clearly, her face was very cold, and Master’s hand was even colder. What on earth is happening today? Is she dreaming? If this is a dream, please wake up! Wake up!

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "She is not my disciple."

Even if he can hold his own against his foster father now, what about the future? He will only surpass him, never fall behind.

He came to a stop

You have been by my side for so long, do you think I am that kind of person

Do you know me

He turned around immediately. "What did you say?"

"No... If I do this, Master will surely think I am difficult to teach, that the blood of that person flows in my veins..." Although she is not mischievous, sometimes Master scolds her for being unable to discern right from wrong, for acting according to her preferences. She always believed her temperament was like Master's, but it turns out... it turns out that even if she does not want to, she has unknowingly followed that person's path? "Master... you teach and nurture me... not because you like my laughter, but because you fear I will disrupt the world, right?" It turns out that even if she does not want to, she has unknowingly followed that person's path? "Master... you teach and nurture me... not because you like my laughter, but because you fear I will disrupt the world, right?"

It is so hot... The slowly closing eyes reflect the vast blue sky, and then I think: I wonder when Master will find her this time... It is really so hot...

He pulled her hand down, stood up to face her, and smiled slightly

He gazed at her and said softly

Upon hearing this, she was astonished, and then suddenly realized. No wonder he suddenly spoke to her about these matters; had she known this earlier, she would not have acted out of kindness to provide meals for that injured girl. Had she known this earlier, she would have driven that person away, even if it meant binding them and throwing them down the mountain.

She immediately lifted her pale little face, stepped forward excitedly, and said

In the blink of an eye, the situation has been determined

"In any case, we all must die. Haven't I taught you this? Life and death are determined by fate. If one day I were to die, you need not be sad; just turn around and continue living your life."

Ah?

"Master, shall we descend the mountain?" The temperature transmitted from his palm was somewhat cold, perhaps due to his sleepless night. However, it did not matter; she was warm enough to share with him. A smile blossomed at her lips, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

Is that so? Wenren Jianming chuckled lightly: "So, I have been forced into a dilemma by my own bad temper, haven't I?"

"My stepfather wants to know, and I must do it for him," she chuckled. "I told her long ago, I told her that she has a father and a mother, but just like me, her parents taught her to kill those closest to her. What? Didn't she ask you? Then, you have succeeded just like my stepfather. Even knowing he is an enemy, one cannot bring oneself to act. It turns out that both she and I are pitiful people, manipulated throughout our lives, ha!" The more she spoke, the more ferocious she became, the more she laughed, the crazier she seemed. By the end, she was both laughing and crying, unsure whether her pain stemmed from being unable to avenge her stepfather or from being unable to avenge her parents. Even knowing he is an enemy, one cannot bring oneself to act. It turns out that both she and I are pitiful people, manipulated throughout our lives, ha!" The more she spoke, the more ferocious she became, the more she laughed, the crazier she seemed. By the end, she was both laughing and crying, unsure whether her pain stemmed from being unable to avenge her stepfather or from being unable to avenge her parents.

Do not ! ''

The master never takes the initiative to hold her hand or touch her, nor does he like anyone to get too close—of course, she is an exception. On several occasions, she has seen the master conversing with the woodcutter down the mountain, and even with children surrounding them, he maintains his distance.

If I have time, I will come to offer incense. Hmm... After all, we are not very familiar with each other. If we talk about the frequency of offering incense, the master who passed away two years ago is still favored by her. Whenever she has the time, she goes to talk to the master, and there have been a few occasions when she even fell asleep in front of the master's grave.

Today, there are no clouds... where have they gone?

You... it turns out to be you!

In an instant, a sweetness surged in her throat, and a wave of warmth rushed to her heart, causing her to feel dizzy and disoriented. She strained to open her eyes wide, hoping to see her master's face clearly, but all she could perceive were the phantoms of the past.

Upon seeing this, Wenren Jianming was greatly taken aback and was just about to step forward to assist her when he suddenly noticed a shadow darting out from the forest

"Yes, is there a secret to listen to?" She rolled her eyes and smiled, "That must be related to the master. Master, you live under my watch every day, there really isn't any secret to speak of."

Master, you need not be in a dilemma. I have no desire to listen; I do not care who my parents are. All I know is that throughout my life, it has been you and the Grand Master by my side. Who my parents are is of no concern to me

I knew you thought my partner was her. " Shuiyue said with a smile, "Therefore, you are full of flaws.

Before she could react, she suddenly saw him retreat violently. As she held the hilt of the sword, the blade was instantly pulled out from his body. She was filled with terror as she saw blood gushing from his chest, and she stumbled forward trying to catch him, but he retreated even faster

I don't want it! I don't want it!

He lit the candle, and the cave instantly became bright

He thought she intended to harm Xiao'er, and hurriedly ran to Xiao'er's side

In an instant, a murderous intent arose in his eyes. Taking advantage of the moment when Shuiyue was still gripping the hilt of her sword and had not yet drawn it, he stepped forward, driving the long sword deeper into her chest. He then exerted all his strength to strike her heart, shattering it completely, leaving her no time to utter even a final word

Her perception seems to have encountered issues, and she wishes to seek help from her master, yet fears hearing even more terrifying truths. She harbors no grand ambitions, neither desiring to be the phoenix among men nor to bring calamity to the world; she simply wishes to spend her life alongside her master. Is it wrong for her to desire this?

"I may not necessarily lose to him." Upon uttering these words, even he was taken aback. By nature indifferent, he unexpectedly harbored a murderous intent

She truly has the heart to follow him

Wait! He grabbed her and gritted his teeth, saying: "It is useless to find a doctor... Did I not tell you before that life and death are determined by fate?"

He looked at the little girl beside him, whom he had known since childhood. She wore a face of fear, clearly at a loss. If he were to fall, it was likely that Shuiyue would not spare her; otherwise, when she regained her senses, given her temperament, it was also uncertain that she would not end up with blood on her hands

So, do you want to take revenge for your father by tormenting me before I die

"So what exactly do you want?" he rasped

I do not know what you are saying. Young lady, I am afraid you will have to descend the mountain on your own. Starting tomorrow, no one will bring you meals.

"I don't want... I don't want revenge..." Tears streamed down her cheeks, as if they could not be stopped. She cried out: "I don't want anyone... I only want my master. Can I give you half of my life? Please don't die, stay here with me, I beg you, master, I beg you, please..."

"No!" She exclaimed, covering her ears and glaring at that annoying back. After a moment of quiet breathing, she smiled again: "Master, the wind is quite strong today, shall we go home? I'm so hungry!"

"Alright." Not having to attend the morning class is certainly good, but she dared not say this, lest the master regret it... She was slightly taken aback, realizing that he was holding her hand.

Wenren Jianming slowly turned around, facing the disheveled yet triumphant young woman. Her expression bore a striking resemblance to that of the man in black from years ago. It turned out that his suspicions were not unfounded; she had ultimately succumbed to corruption.

Wow... even the stones have to go against me, knowing that I cannot see clearly, how infuriating

Master? With her blurred vision, she could half-blindly see her Master beside her... She called out: "Master!"

The other party's foundation is evidently not as profound as his. The moment he saw her, he knew that one of her arms was incapacitated, she had internal injuries, and there were vegetarian dishes left on the ground from the evening.

"That is the moon!" she insisted, "One half for each of us, just like Master said!"

Outside the wooden house, a familiar figure sat on a bench. Dressed in a blue robe, the morning breeze stirred her black hair, causing her heart to skip a beat as she recalled the year she was fifteen, when she accidentally caught a glimpse of her master's beautiful back.

He is dead! Dead!

How strange, do you not care about your own life?

In the blink of an eye, Li Juxiao did not even have time to see the other person's appearance, and hurriedly steadied his body, calling out in utter panic:

Several years ago, we had a brief encounter. You may have forgotten me, but I have not forgotten you. My adoptive father has always been thinking about you and is very eager to know what ultimately became of you

I have been pondering with your master about where your temperament truly originates. Both your master and I are indifferent to worldly matters, yet you can swing from joy to sorrow over trivial matters. Do you know why the Wen family is willing to take in children? It is because they ultimately escape the madness of the previous generation. Every time I see you, I am reminded of how much you resemble your father, in temperament and sometimes even in the thoughts you express.

Master, since I can no longer remember, then let it be forgotten, shall we

I don't remember," she murmured

"Foster father, is your skill superior, or does he surpass you?" Regardless, her foster father has died, while he will continue to cultivate his skills

Throughout his life, the emotions of Wenren Jianming can be said to have never experienced intense fluctuations. Even on the brink of life and death several years ago, he remained unfazed. Only this time—

How outrageous! In a fit of anger, he coughed up blood, splattering it all over her face. She seemed completely oblivious, merely gazing at him with a tear-streaked face full of longing

As I was about to leave, a sharp laughter echoed behind me

After traversing a narrow path almost covered by wild grass for about half an hour, she was slightly surprised, recalling that this road led to the cliff

With a loud crash, the woman named Shuiyue raised her head, bewildered to notice that he had already vanished. On the cave wall, there was a handprint, at least two fingers deep, and the surrounding gravel rolled lightly, yet it did not affect the collapse of the entire cave. She stared blankly for a long time before slowly lowering her eyes and murmuring

Her gaze fell upon the small grave by the cliff. The tombstone read "Grave of Someone," but the master’s calligraphy was so ornate that few in the world could understand it, so she could only imagine the "Someone" as "Master".

The longsword pierced his chest, as she attempted to pull it out, he whispered sharply:

Or, do you want me to pull it out myself

I have seen that girl

In the pitch-black night, with a resounding "thud," it lay steadily on the ground.

No! Master, behind is—' witnessing him step into thin air, her figure was extremely swift, wanting to jump off the cliff with him

"My stepfather has passed away, and there will be no one in this world who can surpass him." She laughed heartily

Did you forget about him as well? On that day, he asked me to kill your disciple, and I had not anticipated that she was disguised as a man

Master, you only want to drive me away... you want me to hate you... that is why you say such things; you are afraid that I will be caught in the middle and find it difficult...

"If you dare to take your own life, I will not allow it!" He gritted his teeth, holding back his last breath, staring at her intently, and said word by word: "If you dare, I will die with my eyes wide open! If you dare, I will haunt you as a ghost and not show myself to you!" After a pause, his voice softened: "Take care of yourself, as I will no longer be able to watch over you at all times in the future."

She turned her face away, not wanting to look at his annoying visage. How detestable! Today, I find my master the most detestable!

His pair of phoenix eyes gazed intently at her, even as he was falling, he did not avert his gaze. That look clearly conveyed that he would fulfill every word he had spoken— even if her corpse turned to mud alongside his, he would never see her again

The master said it was the moon ... ... '' A flash of his earlier words crossed my mind, my blood surged, and I exclaimed: `` No! It is not the moon! '' Grasping the blood-stained sword, I repeatedly drew it across my palm. `` It is not the moon! It is all you! It is all you! It is not the moon ... ... '' The lines of blood mixed with my own blood.

The young and disheveled girl chuckled lightly

Xiao Er ... ... '' he whispered hoarsely: `` Do you ... ... want to know my secret? ''

You used another method to change her thoughts, alter her fate, and even ensure that she would remain loyal to you without ever knowing the enemy who killed her parents. Her adoptive father was truly curious, wondering if one day she were to find out, would you still be considered successful? She softly expressed, "You have done well in corroding her will, influencing her thoughts, and changing her entire life."

Master

Wow, Master, have you not slept all night? This is quite rare. She walked behind him and playfully covered his eyes with her hands

The gaze of pain was hazy and drifting, when suddenly I caught sight of her right hand. She slowly spread her right hand open, revealing a mark in the shape of a moon on her palm. She smiled, showing her teeth

No. The cold voice dissipated.

Master, is the Grand Master waiting for you in the underworld? If I were to go as well, could you refrain from becoming an immortal? Stay in the underworld to accompany me and the Grand Master

When Wenren Jianming closed his eyes and opened them again, there was a sense of tranquility. He spoke softly:

Your adoptive father

I told her

I will take you to a place

Isn't it? She is calling you Master. Young Master Wenren, you must be afraid now, afraid that my adoptive father is going to come after you? Several years ago, you couldn't defeat him, and now, you still cannot defeat him.

The palm of your right hand bears the mark of the Wenren family.

Or do you wish to take revenge for your father

"Why ... ... " Her knees buckled, and she weakly knelt on the ground, murmuring: "Why is this happening ... ... not even giving me a chance ... ... " She suddenly coughed violently, her throat dry, and a stream of blood continuously gushed from her mouth

Father's hatred? Where does this father's hatred come from? I have no father! I don't even have a mother! Who are my parents? I don't want to know!" She shouted sharply, her throat burning, her whole body tense as if ready to jump up at any moment. Her master is a stubborn, hard-headed person; what use is it to have read so many works of Confucius and Mencius? What is the point of memorizing the Three Cardinal Guides and the Five Constant Virtues so well? She has no impression of her parents at all! In her heart, there is only her master. Even if she has a connection to that person she calls father, it is merely a shell that was given to her, nothing more! Her master is a stubborn, hard-headed person; what use is it to have read so many works of Confucius and Mencius? What is the point of memorizing the Three Cardinal Guides and the Five Constant Virtues so well? She has no impression of her parents at all! In her heart, there is only her master. Even if she has a connection to that person she calls father, it is merely a shell that was given to her, nothing more! Nothing more!

That is your father's grave

I don't want it! Her hands were tightly grasped by him, pinned against the sword on the rack. She shook her head vigorously, struggling to break free, but her master's strength was surprisingly great

She did not ask for an answer; she was unclear. She only remembered, and would forever remember, a single affirmative response that snapped her taut string and pierced her cold heart

It is the girl named Shuiyue

She let out a light laugh, gazing at him without even blinking, and said

She kept shaking her head, her vision gradually becoming hot and blurry, only able to vaguely see him standing by the grave. If it were not for the corpse in this grave, the master would not have said such words; if possible, she wished to destroy this grave. She slowly cradled her head in her hands and murmured

The man at the entrance clenched his fists at his side. Almost, just a little more, and over twenty years of dedicated cultivation would have been unable to restrain himself.

The pale and weak complexion appeared somewhat unnatural, and she shook her head very slowly, speaking in a soft voice

Rising from bed with sleepy eyes, I wash my face haphazardly, tie up my hair, and rush outside

He squinted slightly, gazing at the disheveled Shuiyue, gritting his teeth

When your father passed away, your master said that one day you would need to know your origins. Later, before your master passed away, he told me to let it be, as long as you were happy, there was no need to make you aware of everything. Originally, I thought the same way. I named you Ju Xiao, not just because your name means laughter, but because if you smile, it must be a moment when you encounter happiness

The pale face forced a smile and said ingratiatingly

I do not know what you are talking about

Who

This tomb is unrelated to the Wen family

A pair of phoenix-like eyes watched her indifferently as she groped her way out of the cave, before slowly walking into the pitch-black cavern.

What can she do? ... What is she capable of ... ... With tearful eyes, swollen and red from crying, she slowly met his calm gaze and softly said:

You come out

My father-in-law has passed away

The candlewick exhaled blue smoke, swirling and dispersing within the cave, forming an eerie magical mist

Oh..." She lowered her head to look at her right hand, then raised her eyes and smiled, saying: "Master, may I recite 'The Song of Everlasting Regret' for you?" Although she had not memorized it completely over the years, even a blind cat can occasionally stumble upon a dead mouse. As long as she could get through it, she would be able to rid herself of this long and tedious Tang poem in the future

Do not! Blood flowed profusely from her hands, continuously and seemingly without end. If the sword were to be drawn, would it not drain all the blood from the master's body?

What exactly do you want to do

Since you are a child of man, you must do what you are supposed to do. If you know nothing, then even if I bear a sense of guilt, I will conceal it from you for a lifetime. However, once you know, you cannot bear the sin of unfiliality and coexist in the same room with your father's murderer. " With that, he grasped her hand, intending to draw out the sword.

"Master cares for me, I know that," she said softly. "You care for me too, Master, but your temper is both foul and stubborn, lacking flexibility, even more rigid than Master himself."

Apart from the pain in her chest, she felt nothing else... or perhaps, she had died as well? Her body lay limp on the ground, weakly gazing at the cloudless blue sky, murmuring to herself:

Wenren Jianming turned to face her. His expression was consistently calm, and a hint of determination could be faintly seen in his phoenix-like eyes

"No! Master, no!" she gasped. That sword felt as if it were striking her own chest, so painful, yet she was powerless. She felt such hatred, not knowing in that moment whether the one she hated was him or herself.

He continued to walk towards the cave entrance without looking back

Master! I... what should I do?" Her hands trembled near his chest, unable to pull away. Blood gushed out, and she shook all over, murmuring: "Yes, I will find a doctor! Master, I... I will go find a doctor!"

Do you want me to suffer to death

No. He is a person who only speaks the truth. Otherwise, he could easily keep this secret, and he could claim that she was born from a stone, and she would believe it.

You naturally do not remember. How old were you at that time? It was only when I was building a grave for your father that I discovered he had hidden you away, and at that time you were already on the verge of death

Who is there, after all

You may descend the mountain

He suddenly released his grip, walked to the grave, and turned his back to her

Xiao'er, you have never asked where your parents are, or who your father is

Hmm. Master, you mentioned that this is the ancestral grave of the Grand Master... Well, even he has forgotten whether it is the grave of the Master or the great-great-grandmaster, and every year I am required to come here to pay my respects. I wonder if it is due to the clear skies, as usually the cliffs are shrouded in mist and dew, but today there is only a faint wisp of smoke, drifting away.

Tears flowed uncontrollably, yet her bright red lips broke into a chuckle. It reminded her that whenever the weather turned hot, there would always be someone to find her, allowing her to hold an umbrella and escape the scorching sun

The metallic sweetness in her throat caused her to involuntarily spit out a mouthful of blood

Do not move

Her face turned pale, and she exclaimed: "Master! I don't want to! I will go with you! Unless you descend the mountain, Xiao'er will not go!"

The adoptive father changed my thoughts, altered my character, and even I, who was determined to avenge my parents, could not withstand his control, willingly selling my life for him. He succeeded. He was killed, and I schemed tirelessly to avenge him; even if I were to fail and die, I would have no regrets. And you, too, have succeeded

Even if there were great waves of turmoil within, he never revealed it on his face. He repeated in a low voice:

She nodded, momentarily unaware of the true thoughts hidden beneath his calm demeanor, and smiled