Chapter 154
The Master
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Su Chan's teary face was the first thing Li Yundong saw when he opened his eyes . Blinking a few times, he realized that he was still lying on the ground and Su Chan was sitting right next to him . His body had stopped glowing, much to his relief . He really thought he was going to die just now . Then again, the fact that he was still alive was pretty much moot, since he was about to die soon .
Hopefully not too soon .
Li Yundong forced out a smile . "Hey, princess . . . "
"Yundong . . . " Su Chan wailed loudly, then slumped forward until she was lying directly over his torso .
Li Yundong raised his hand and patted Su Chan's head . "Su Chan . . . Listen . . . "
Su Chan raised her head from his chest and sniffed a few times .
Li Yundong stroked her cheek . "You have to go now, princess . Get as far away from me as possible . . . "
He had just killed a man with a spell . He didn't want Su Chan anywhere near him when the Heavenly Thunder struck .
The thought of Su Chan dying returned a bit of strength to his weak body .
"Go!!!" Li Yundong gave Su Chan a hard shove .
"I'm not going anywhere!" Su Chan crawled back towards Li Yundong .
Li Yundong bit back a curse .
"Su Chan . . . " he said sternly . "You have to go! Now! Go! Before the Heavenly Thun—mmph!"
Su Chan's hand clamped over his mouth . "Don't say it! Please, don't say it!" Su Chan's shoulders trembled as she sobbed .
Li Yundong turned his head away and freed his mouth from her hand . Hot tears slid down his own cheeks .
"Listen to me, princess . . . Please just go, okay? There's no point in both of us dying . . . "
"No, no, no!!! I'm staying! I'm staying! I'm not going anywhere!" Su Chan yelled, then crumpled into a sobbing heap on top of him . "Yundong . . . Please don't make me leave… I can't live without you . . . I can't!!!"
Li Yundong sniffed, feeling the sting of his own tears . "Silly girl . . . You were living just fine before you met me, weren't you?" Li Yundong patted Su Chan's head . "Go, okay? Go back to your master . She . . . " He cleared his throat . "She'll keep you safe . "
Su Chan's face rubbed against the front of his shirt as she shook her head wildly . "No, no, no . . . I won't leave you . . . I won't leave . . . "
Li Yundong grunted and pushed himself into a sitting position . Then, he cupped Su Chan's face and dried her cheeks with the pad of his thumb . "You'll be fine, princess . " He smiled wanly at her . "You'll soon forget about me and find someone else to love—"
"But I don't want anyone else, dammit!" Su Chan cried out . "I want my Yundong!!"
Li Yundong choked back a sob . "I'm so glad you came into my life, Su Chan . Even though the time we spent together is short—"
"Don't!!!" Su Chan shrieked . "Don't talk like that!" Su Chan covered her ears and began shaking her head wildly . "I don't wanna hear it! I don't wanna hear it!"
More tears stung Li Yundong's eyes . He reached up and pried Su Chan's hands away from her ears . She had to hear this whether she liked it or not . This might very well be the last conversation they had with each other .
"You've brought so much joy into my life, Su Chan . I'm forever grateful to you . " He stared deeply into Su Chan's eyes . "I love you . "
Su Chan's face crumpled . "Yundong . . . " she sobbed . "Please, don't…"
"I want you to always, always remember something . " Li Yundong waited until he was sure he had Su Chan's full attention . "It doesn't matter what everyone is saying about fox spirits . None of it matters . To me, in my eyes, you are the kindest, the cutest, the prettiest, and the most adorable girl to ever live . And… over the short time I've known you, I can say with absolute certainty that you are a good person . " Li Yundong tapped Su Chan's chest . "You have a good heart, and you shouldn't let anyone tell you otherwise . "
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Su Chan kept shaking her head . "W-Why are you telling me all this?" Su Chan gripped the front of his shirt . "Why are you talking like that?! Don't talk like that! Like you're about to leave me!"
Li Yundong gave her a sad smile, then pried Su Chan's hands off his shirt . "I guess this is goodbye, Chan'er…"
They stared at each other for a moment . The look of shock in Su Chan's eyes was almost as intense as the wistful longing in his own eyes .
"I love you . . . " Li Yundong whispered, then turned around and ran towards the woods at the edge of the field .
He had barely taken a few steps before a pair of slender arms wrapped themselves around his waist, bringing him into a complete stop . He turned and saw Su Chan clinging onto his waist like he was her favorite bolster .
Li Yundong sighed and tried to unwrap her arms from around his waist, but the stubborn girl refused to let go .
"Please don't make this harder than it already is . . . " Li Yundong said . "Please let me go, Chan'er…"
Su Chan shook her head desperately and sent him a pleading look . "Just let me die with you . . . Let's die together, Yundong—"
"Don't be stupid, Chan'er!" Li Yundong pushed her away . "You have a full life ahead of you!"
"But life would be meaningless without you!!!" Su Chan yelled back .
Li Yundong groaned into his hands, and when he lowered them, he realized that his palms were wet .
"Don't say that!" he shouted . "That's nonsense! Now stay where you are! Don't follow me!"
Li Yundong turned around and marched towards the woods . A moment later, a solid weight rammed into his body from behind, sending him tumbling to the ground . A warm body crawled on top of his torso . That familiar weight felt so damned good that he almost didn't want to open his eyes . Warm liquid dripped all over his cheeks and neck . He opened his eyes and saw Su Chan's face hovering inches above his own .
"Can't you see?" Su Chan hiccupped a few times . "If you die, I'd just kill myself anyway . . . "
All of a sudden, Su Chan's face turned into a complete blur . The next thing he knew, his shoulders were shaking violently . His eyes burned with such an intensity that he thought he was going blind .
"Oh, you stubborn, stubborn girl . . . "
Warm palms ran through his hair . "Since we're both going to die anyway, why not spend our final moments together?"
Li Yundong half-groaned and rolled his head to the side .
"Please, Yundong…" Su Chan pleaded . "Please don't let me die alone…"
"I don't want you to die at all…"
"But life without you is even more painful than death…"
A sob tore out from Li Yundong's lips . "Goddammit!! This is so unfair! Why do I have to die just because I helped rid this world of an evil man!!"
Su Chan poked his cheek . "Say yes, Yundong? Please say yes? Let me stay by your side…"
Li Yundong kept sobbing .
"I- I promise I'll never steal from your plate again!" Su Chan added . "I'll… I'll even let you call me cheap monk!"
Li Yundong chuckled despite his tears . After a few moments, he sighed and opened his arms . "Come here, you little chipmunk . "
Su Chan threw her arms around his neck and cried . Li Yundong patted Su Chan's back and stared up into the night sky, breathing in Su Chan's scent . Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad if Su Chan's scent was the last thing he breathed before death claimed him?
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"Are you sure about this, Su Chan?" Li Yundong asked into Su Chan's hair after a while . "You don't have to die, you know?"
Su Chan pulled back and wiped her cheeks . "Nonsense," she said . "I told you I'd rather die than live a life without you in it . "
Li Yundong opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by another voice .
"Not to ruin your little romantic moment or anything . . . But nobody has to die . "
Li Yundong raised his head from the ground and saw Zi Yuan approaching them from the roadside . Li Yundong looked past Zi Yuan's shoulder and saw Ruan Hongling and Zhou Qin looking straight at him . Both of them had tears in their eyes .
Li Yundong snapped to attention the moment Zi Yuan got close . He frowned . "What are you talking about? You made it pretty clear just now that I'm doomed the moment I cast the spell . . . " Then, a thought hit him . Li Yundong's eyes went wide . "Wait . Why aren't I dead yet?"
Zi Yuan stopped in front of him and smirked . "Ah . Finally you're keeping up . "
Li Yundong's head was spinning . He shook his head a few times, then paused when another thought hit him . He glared daggers at Zi Yuan . "So it was all a lie to stop me from using the spell? Is that it?"
Zi Yuan gave him a withering look . "No . Everything I told you is the truth . "
Li Yundong spread out his arms . "Then why am I still alive?"
"That's easy . " Zi Yuan smiled . "Because you haven't passed the Zhuji phase yet, of course . "
Hope coursed through Li Yundong . "Wait, so if I'm alive because I haven't passed the Zhuji phase . . . " Li Yundong looked into Zi Yuan's eyes . "Then . . . "
Zi Yuan smiled . "You'll be safe from the Heavenly Thunder as long as you don't pass the Zhuji phase . "
Li Yundong looked towards Su Chan, who looked just as confused as he felt . It was obvious that Su Chan didn't know anything about this . Otherwise she wouldn't have made a fuss about wanting to die together with him .
Li Yundong looked towards Zi Yuan . "But why?"
Zi Yuan raised a brow at Su Chan . "I'm surprised your master never told you about this . "
Su Chan blushed and looked like she was about to argue, but Li Yundong grabbed her hand . "Easy, princess . Let her finish . " He gestured for Zi Yuan to continue .
"The nature of Cultivation revolves around the pursuit of immortality . And, as you know, immortality isn't part of the natural order of things . All life ends with death eventually . Where there is life, there will be death . To attain immortality is, therefore, to go against the natural order of things . "
"So?"
"So . . . " Zi Yuan stared at Li Yundong pointedly . "It is also part of the natural order for those who go against the natural order to suffer divine punishment . "
"Okay?" Li Yundong narrowed his eyes . "But what does that have to do with the Zhuji phase?"
Zi Yuan's expression suddenly turned pensive, like she was thinking hard about something .
Li Yundong flicked a quick glance at Su Chan, who, much to his surprise, was staring at Zi Yuan reverently .
After a while, Zi Yuan lips began to move . She raised her right hand and wiggled her fingers . Green tendrils emerged from her fingertips .
Li Yundong tensed up instantly . "What are you doing?" he said, moving in to shield Su Chan with his body .
Zi Yuan finished the incantation and gave him a look of amusement . "You really have to start getting used to the idea that I'm on your side . "
Su Chan patted Li Yundong's shoulder from behind . "Relax, Yundong . That's just a projection spell . It's completely harmless . "
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Li Yundong glanced at Su Chan briefly, then shot a wary look at Zi Yuan .
Zi Yuan sighed . "Look over here . " Zi Yuan flicked her fingers . The green tendrils danced and weaved in the air until they formed some kind of holographic image—two human figures standing on a flat surface .
"Okay . . . ?"
"Imagine a simple world consisting of only two mortals . The flat surface represents the earth, and . . . " Zi Yuan flicked her fingers again . A round sphere formed around the flat surface . "The sphere is the boundary of the sky, which represents the Heavens . "
Li Yundong stared at the image . "Right . So the whole point of Cultivation is to reach to the sky? To get closer to the Heavens and unite with the Tao?"
Zi Yuan nodded . "Very good . So you get the basic idea of the analogy . Now let's move on . " Zi Yuan waved her hand again . The image morphed into an enlarge view of the two human shape figures . "To be closer to the Heavens, you have to be closer to the sky . Now . What do you think these two mortals have do to get closer to the sky using just their bodies?"
"Without any tools?" Li Yundong asked .
Zi Yuan nodded . "Without any tools . "
"Umm . . . jump?" Li Yundong ventured a guess .
Zi Yuan shrugged . "But you'll fall . It won't be permanent . "
"Grow taller . . . " Su Chan answered .
Zi Yuan nodded . "That's correct . " She flicked her hand, and the two human-shaped figures began to elongate . "When you develop the three fundamental components of life (the Three Treasures), you'll get slightly closer to the Heavens . In terms of the analogy, you will grow taller . And when you do, you'll be able see the sky a bit better . " Zi Yuan paused to give Li Yundong a look . "By the way, in case you haven't figured it out already, this growing taller stage refers to the first three phases of Cultivation—the Sutai, Lianqi, and Ningshen phases . These phases develop the Essence, Qi, and Spirit separately . "
Li Yundong nodded . "Right . "
The holographic image changed back to the one with the flat surface and the sphere . "However, there is a limit to how tall you can grow . " Zi Yuan wiggled her fingers again . The two human-shaped figures on the flat surface elongated for a moment until the elongation process slowed to a stop . "More has to be done to reach greater heights . " Zi Yuan stared at Li Yundong . "This is where the Zhuji phase comes in . " Zi Yuan flicked her hand, and all of a sudden, a building appeared under each human-shaped figure . "To reach the Heavens, you need a structure—or in terms of the analogy, a building—for you to stand on . And the Zhuji phase is basically the process of establishing the foundation of that building or structure . "
Li Yundong's mind raced . "So the Heavenly Thunder can only reach those standing on top of buildings . . . "
"Indeed . And . . . " Zi Yuan waved her hand . The two buildings begun to stretch towards the sky . "As you advance through the phases of Cultivation . . . "
"You're making your building taller . . . " Li Yundong said .
Zi Yuan nodded . "By building on top of the foundational structure obtained during the Zhuji phase . "
"And the taller your building is, the more likely it is for you to be struck by lightning . . . " Su Chan added .
Zi Yuan smirked . "Correct . And as a matter of fact . . . " Zi Yuan arched a brow . "Surviving the Heavenly Thunder is what the 8th phase of Cultivation is all about . "
"The Lightning Retribution phase . . . " Su Chan whispered .
The holographic image changed again . A thin film appeared slightly below the surface of the sphere . "Like I said, Cultivation itself is against the natural order of things . So there comes a point in one's Cultivation journey where it would be impossible to move forward without experiencing divine punishment . " The two holographic buildings kept rising until they stopped just under the thin film . "There are only two possible outcomes . . . " The building on the left breached the film . Bolts of—holographic—lightning extended from the surface of the sphere and struck the top of the building . When the building remained intact after nine successive strikes, it kept extending beyond the film until its top merged with the surface of the sphere, after which it glowed brightly . "If you can survive the wrath of the Heavens, you'll achieve transcendence . On the other hand . . . " When the building on the right pushed beyond the boundary, it crumbled after one of the bolts struck its top . "Failure would lead to the total annihilation of one's soul . " The holograms vanished after a final wave of Zi Yuan's hand .
Li Yundong met Zi Yuan's gaze steadily . "This is a good analogy and all that . But how does it actually work? I mean, surely the Heavens must have some kind of way to pinpoint which Cultivator to strike?" Li Yundong raised his brows . "How, for instance, can the Heavens tell between a person who has passed the Zhuji phase and someone who hasn't?"
"The Vital Orb . . . " Su Chan answered .
"That's correct," Zi Yuan said with a nod . "The presence of the Vital Orb is what separates a person who has passed the Zhuji phase from those who haven't . Without the Vital Orb inside your body, the Heavens would never be able to pinpoint you . "
The penny dropped . "The buildings . . . " Li Yundong looked towards Zi Yuan . "In the analogy, the buildings represent Vital Orbs . . . "
"Yes . "
"Yundong . . . Let's forget about the Zhuji phase, okay?" Su Chan shook his arm . "You don't have to pass the Zhuji phase! We . . . We can go to a place where nobody can find us and . . . and live a happy life together!"
Li Yundong gave her a sad smile . "And then become virgins for the rest of our lives?" He chuckled . "Is that what you want?"
A blush bloomed on Su Chan's cheeks . "M- Meanie! H- How can you be t- thinking about . . . about that at a time like this!!"
The sound of a throat clearing interrupted their banter . Li Yundong looked away from Su Chan and found Zi Yuan staring back at him with a guarded expression . "Well . . . " Zi Yuan cleared her throat again . "If you don't pass the Zhuji phase, you'll be able to live out the rest of your lives peacefully . But . . . " Zi Yuan sighed . "It also means that your Cultivation journey ends here . . . "
"It's okay, Yundong! This is a perfect plan! You can forget about passing the Zhuji phase! We can—"
"Is that all the Zhengyi School is capable of? Coming up with silly ideas?" A new voice sounded out of nowhere .
What the hell…?
Li Yundong glanced around to locate the source of the voice . The voice had been cold, haughty, and most definitely feminine . But he didn't see any woman around, present company excepted .
An eerie silence descended upon the field . Then, Li Yundong noticed a frown marring Zi Yuan's features . She was also looking past his shoulder at something .
Li Yundong turned around and squinted through the darkness .
He realized then that Zi Yuan was staring at the woods, but nobody was there . Frowning, Li Yundong turned back around . Just as Li Yundong was about to ask Zi Yuan what she was staring at, the voice sounded again .
"Looks like the standards of the Zhengyi School hasn't risen at all even after all these years . . . What a disappointment . "
A look of recognition formed on Zi Yuan's face . "No . . . No… It can't be . . . " she whispered .
"What is it, Elder Sis—" Ruan Hongling gasped, then pointed a shaky finger at something behind Li Yundong . "T- That sword . . . "
Li Yundong turned around abruptly . Sword? What swo—
A thin strip of white light shone through the darkness of the woods . Seconds later, an object burst through the dark foliage and stabbed itself into the ground . The thin object glowed brighter and brighter until it became so dazzling that Li Yundong had to shield his eyes with his hands . Moments later, the glow waned, and Li Yundong slowly lowered his hands from his eyes .
There in front of him stood a beautiful sword about three feet long .
"Yes, Hongling . This is the same sword Master used to carve the prophecy on the Obelisk of Fengchen ten years ago . . . "
The word prophecy did ring a bell, but not Obelisk of Fengchen . Li Yundong shot Zi Yuan a questioning look . However, Zi Yuan appeared to be too engrossed with the sword's presence to notice his questioning gaze .
"B- But that's Master's sword!" Ruan Hongling tugged Zi Yuan's arms . "How come it's here? And who on earth is wielding it?"
Zi Yuan sighed and pointed at something past Li Yundong's shoulder . "Look . . . "
Li Yundong looked over his shoulder and nearly got the fright of his life . When the heck did she…?
Standing on the hilt of the sword was a beautiful woman with long, straight hair . Then, Li Yundong felt a trembling beside him . Su Chan . Li Yundong looked sideways and saw Su Chan staring at the woman with tears streaking down her cheeks .
Something tugged inside his chest .
"Hey, what's wro—"
Su Chan was up on her feet before Li Yundong could even finish his sentence .
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?!"
Su Chan ignored him and kept running towards the woman standing on the sword .
"Master!!! You're here! I can't believe you came back for Chan'er!!"