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墨書 Inktalez
The wind reached Qiu Min, stirring a sense of restlessness within. No longer did it kiss the hem of the red flower's skirt; instead, it began to tear at the elegant garments of the Azure Tree. Whether it was one night or the moon hung high in the sky, leaves fell like snow.
A single leaf fluttered down from the branch, resembling a wounded Butterfly, stumbling as it fell to the ground. In its panic and ignorance, it left the embrace of the Azure Tree, frightened and aimless, drifting in search of another place to rest.
It landed in a field, wandering along the ridges, but all that met its eyes were the withered crops. Why were they not the once proud Sorghum? Once upon a time, it had greeted them from its perch on the branch, but now, had they also lost their home?
With no success in its search, it continued on its journey. The fallen leaf flew across the wilderness, swept over mountains, rode on swift horses, and floated down rivers. Yet the once bright scene of basking in sunlight and blooming flowers was no longer there. Had it been lost? And if so, where? Was there still a chance to find it again?
Despite its exhaustion, the fallen leaf did not give up. It drifted down to a Courtyard where an Azure Rock Post stood cold and stark. A child with golden hair and a youthful face stood in the yard. The child picked up the fallen leaf and said to the elder, "Master, the year is almost over. Look, all the leaves have fallen."
The elder took the leaf in his bony hand and gently stroked the child's head, murmuring softly, "Yes, another year has passed; Master is getting old."
The child, bright-eyed and clear-minded, heard the elder's calm and untroubled tone and chuckled lightly.
"It’s alright; Disciple has grown up now. Disciple will carry you."
The elder smiled without speaking, wrapping his arm around the child's waist as the youth raised his hand and sent the leaves fluttering into the air.
Gradually, autumn winds rose again, carrying a sense of melancholy.
...
Jufeng wandered away from his mountain dwelling under the glow of night lights and headed toward the back mountain. A few mischievous children hastily finished their dinner and hid behind a wooden post used for training, peering curiously into Master’s room. They saw Jufeng in a daze and were momentarily puzzled about what was happening inside.
Yan Huang remained unchanged; many furnishings were just as they had been years ago. Thus, Jufeng was naturally familiar with this path. To his fellow disciples, this back mountain shrine was like a forbidden place; yet for him and the elder, it was often where they observed falling leaves together.
As he walked along, Jufeng's mind was filled with memories of old times. Those events were like aged wine; the more he savored them, the richer their flavor became. Before he knew it, tears began to flow down his cheeks.
This aged wine did not intoxicate him but warmed his heart instead.
Uncertain of when it happened, he found himself at the shrine as the moonlight spilled over its entrance. Jufeng paused before the newly replaced door of the shrine.
Parental love is both tender and resilient, yet Jufeng has never truly experienced it deeply. He is not a sentimental person, and although he harbors some resentment towards his father's overshadowing presence in his life, he can understand the emotions that the late man struggled to express. Thus, he feels no hatred and does not linger too long in nostalgia; he is simply filled with sadness.
Father Ju was not always by his side, but the old master was a constant figure in Romain's childhood memories. The saying "familiarity breeds affection" applies not only to couples but also to Romain and the old man. Therefore, when Romain first heard that the elder was nearing the end of his life, the sense of tearing within him intensified.
His feelings for Father Ju are rooted in blood, while his emotions for the elder are etched deep within his heart. If one were to truly weigh them, which would be heavier?
The old man's time was running short. Logically, Romain should not linger here, but if he did not gather his emotions, would he really be able to open the door without bursting into tears?
Romain suppressed his sorrow and hesitated, but it was the elder in the shrine who spoke first.
"After so many years apart, are you still afraid of your master?"
The voice was calm and steady, neither warm nor harsh, like a gentle spring breeze melting the light winter snowflakes.
It melted away instantly.
...
Romain entered the room, where the light was bright. The second floor housed the sect's ancestors, while the first floor featured an incense altar adorned with a calligraphy piece bearing the words "Yan Huang."
Beneath the altar sat a frail old man, cross-legged on a meditation cushion. Romain approached slowly and knelt down before him.
"Master, I’m sorry for being late."
Despite spending considerable time outside gathering himself, he found that sorrow surged like a flood; it was better to let it flow than to block it. At this moment, even though he was an extraordinary talent from Yanhuang City, he still struggled to contain his emotions.
The old man managed to open his somewhat cloudy eyes as if recognizing his visitor. His eyes squinted into slits, crinkling into a face full of wrinkles as a rich smile spread across his features.
"Where have you been late? I’m still here, aren’t I? I used to comfort myself by thinking that life is perfect only with its regrets; now I feel that only perfection leaves no regrets. Ha ha."
The old man chuckled at his own words. Hearing this made Romain's sorrow deepen further, yet he could not allow himself to indulge in such feelings. He fought against the rising tide within him and built a sturdy dam against it.
Tears gradually ceased, and the old man's eyes opened and closed repeatedly as he murmured,
"Is Feng Cheng alright?"
Jufeng nodded, recalling Uncle Zheng's words left to him after his father's death, and thinking of the Nameless Monument, along with the dagger that was killed by the Azure Wind Antelope. He confirmed, "He passed away not long ago; the only regret is that he didn't see me start a family."
The old man paused for a moment before chuckling, "Well, well, I was right before; life is perfect when there are regrets."
"How about Falcon Child?"
"That beast is doing quite well; he's grown even fatter and stronger now. His claws are sharper than ever. At this rate, taking on lions, tigers, or giant pythons in the forest is no problem."
Jufeng mounted the Azure Wind Antelope, finally showing a hint of joy on his face.
The old man smiled and said, "That's good, that's good..."
Years ago, when Ju Feng City was young and traveled far and wide, he first met Mother Ju and then reached the stars. The master was delighted upon seeing the Azure Wind Antelope and formed a good bond with Ju Feng City, allowing the children of Ju Feng City to become direct disciples under the master. This led to their later circumstances.
The master's name was Master Xuan, the current head of the Yanhuang Sect, now an elderly man sitting on a Meditation Cushion.
Xuan Zhi was profound; it was the gateway to all wonders...
Jufeng ascended the mountain while Politeness, Flower Snow Moon, and Chuyang remained below. After exchanging pleasantries with the senior brother, they were assigned rooms to stay in. The Long Night stretched on, and both knew that unless they sent off the master, Jufeng would never come out. However, it was already late tonight, making it inconvenient to return and inform others.
The childlike Chuyang had grown weary from such a long journey and had fallen asleep. Flower Snow Moon and Politeness stood in the courtyard, chatting casually under the hazy moonlight.
"The people of Yanhuang City are simple-hearted; I thought martial artists like you would be more eloquent and noisy."
Politeness awkwardly replied, "I’m considered an oddity in Yanhuang City. Martial artists value temperament above all; if one's temperament is poor, there can be no significant progress in martial arts."
Having resolved Situ Yu's troubles, Flower Snow Moon's mood gradually improved. Her demeanor became even more graceful as she spoke, with the moonlit night exuding endless charm.
"Thinking that I shouldn't remain silent, I decided to casually bring up a topic.
'Don't underestimate those seniors of Jufeng; they are all top-notch experts. I can't last even two minutes against them.'
'Oh?' Flower Snow Moon turned her head, casting a playful glance at Politeness. Politeness felt a chill run down his spine but refused to look away.
'What do you mean? Do I seem weak to you? They're just older, that's all. Besides, martial arts emphasize experience. What experience do I have? You know how rich Shen Lu's experience is; he was the Warlord who came here on a warship to attack the mountain. He's lived a full life; what can I compare with them?'
Seeing that Politeness's words were becoming less convincing, Flower Snow Moon couldn't help but tease, 'I don't have much going on either, so why are you getting so worked up?' She laughed lightly.
Realizing he had fallen into her trap, Politeness felt increasingly embarrassed and could only respond awkwardly, 'Hehe, just chatting casually, hehe, haha...'
(To be continued)
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