Volume One: The Dragon Rises from the Wilds Chapter 27: Until We Meet Again

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Thanks to: Hubei Thunder Brother 1, Han the Thoughtful, jiasujueqi, Ye Qiulan, and Gusu Shi for their support with monthly recommendation tickets!

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In the darkness,

Two voices emerged—

“Gu Yu, are you all right?”

“I swallowed a few mouthfuls of water and lost my breath for a moment, but I’m fine now.”

“Does anyone else know about this hiding place of ours?”

“This spot is three or five miles from Xuanhuang Mountain, a place I use to rest overnight when I descend the mountain. Very few people know of it, so you can rest easy.”

“Why do you keep sundries here?”

“When I go down the mountain to buy supplies, if the load is too heavy, I leave some here—mostly oil, salt, and rice. But wait, it’s pitch dark here; how can you see… Have you awakened your spiritual sense?”

“I’ve brought trouble upon you.”

“Sigh, I don’t know what grudge you have with Xuanhuang Mountain, but I was only following orders. Senior Chenqi, he…”

In the darkness, an oil lamp was lit.

The light revealed a cramped cave, cluttered with firewood, rice, oil, and other sundries. Two youths sat huddled on the ground, soaked and bearing the look of those who had just survived an ordeal.

Not long after leaving the lakeshore, Gu Yu had come to his senses, promptly led the way, and brought Yu Ye here to hide.

Cramped as it was, the cave provided sufficient shelter.

“Senior Chenqi violated the sect’s rules; Master will not forgive him lightly.”

Gu Yu, still troubled, said to Yu Ye, “Stay here for a few days. I’ll return to the mountain to report…”

He had barely moved to stand when he was stopped—

“I’m afraid you won’t make it back.”

“Why?”

Gu Yu looked at Yu Ye.

Despite the unexpected events, Xuanhuang Mountain remained a Daoist stronghold with strict rules. If he returned and reported the truth, the reckless senior would surely be punished.

Yu Ye shook his head, speaking with a composure beyond his years. “It would be one thing for Chenqi to try to kill me, but he even attacked you. Clearly, he disregards brotherhood and has no respect for Xuanhuang Mountain. Considering what he said about a Foundation Establishment master, I fear the mountain is in danger.”

“A Foundation Establishment master?”

“Qi Refining cultivators, those who reach the ninth layer and perfect their realm, live no more than a hundred and twenty years. But Foundation Establishment cultivators, who unify essence, energy, and spirit, first grasp the mysteries of yin and yang, commune with the heavens and earth, and can ride their swords through the sky for thousands of miles, living up to two hundred and fifty years. With such cultivation, one could dominate the marshlands unchallenged.”

“I remember you knew nothing of these things…”

“If you return now, the consequences are unpredictable. Best to wait a couple of days for the commotion to die down, and then go back.”

“All right, I’ll do as you say.”

Gu Yu studied Yu Ye, filled with a surge of emotion.

A hunter who once knew nothing suddenly wielding cultivation, releasing legendary sword energy, injuring a powerful senior brother, and dashing through the forests with uncanny speed—it all seemed unbelievable in retrospect.

Yu Ye said no more, closing his eyes in exhaustion.

After all, today’s cascade of events had been beyond his own imagination.

From Chenqi’s words, it wasn’t hard to guess that all Bai Zhi had told him before was a lie. Bai Zhi had deceived both Yu Ye and Chenqi. And Chenqi had lied to Bai Zhi and to his own master, Granny Hong.

Master and disciples, senior and junior, should have been as close as family, and yet here they were, deceiving and betraying one another—for what?

And what of the Foundation Establishment master from Qichuan—what was their purpose in the marshlands?

Was it for the flood dragon’s core?

Alas, once illiterate and ignorant, now able to read, versed in the classics and Daoist arts—yet still unable to see through the human heart.

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Since he could not see through it nor comprehend it, he might as well let it be.

Just as the scriptures say: “Hold fast to your heart, see your true self, walk the righteous path, and fear not the future.”

Yu Ye exhaled and felt his mind settle. When he attempted to cultivate, he suddenly felt weary in spirit, his limbs weak, and even his inner energy was nearly depleted.

What was happening?

Yu Ye pondered for a moment and suddenly understood.

No wonder, after injuring Chenqi, he could no longer summon sword energy—he had exhausted all his inner energy the first time he used it.

Ultimately, his cultivation was too shallow!

And the only way to recover was through breathing exercises, drawing in spiritual energy.

Gu Yu, seeing Yu Ye enter meditation, knew better than to disturb him. He stripped off his damp Daoist robe and hung it to dry, intending to meditate himself, but after the ordeal and exhaustion, he soon dozed off against the cave wall…

Three days later,

Yu Ye exhaled a turbid breath and slowly opened his eyes.

Whether due to the sparse spiritual energy here or the lack of medicinal aid, even after days and nights of continuous breathing exercises, he had recovered only forty or fifty percent of his energy. Such slow progress made advancing his cultivation impossible. Without cultivation, he couldn’t unleash sword energy or kill Chenqi. Still, his spiritual sense and physical strength had fully returned.

Just then, someone called, “Yu Ye—”

Gu Yu, having been holed up for three days, had grown restless and slipped out. Who knows what he’d found, but now he was calling loudly from outside the cave.

Yu Ye stood up.

The cave entrance wasn’t far, blocked by a bundle of brush.

He snuffed the oil lamp, moved the brush aside, and ducked out. Instantly, a cool breeze caressed his face, the world dappled with shifting light.

Outside was a quiet forest.

A wisp of blue smoke curled skyward, carrying with it the scent of roasting meat.

Gu Yu had built a small fire in a clearing in the woods.

Yu Ye paused, then looked into the distance.

Gu Yu called, “Hey, I searched the woods for two hours and didn’t see a soul, so I caught a wild rabbit for a little feast.”

The vast forest was silent, nothing amiss.

Yu Ye relaxed, straightening his clothes. His robe was dry, but his hair was a mess. He tied it up, then joined Gu Yu.

Cultivators were not supposed to eat cooked food. Even outer disciples subsisted on plain water and rice, life austere. A bit of rabbit meat was a rare treat.

Between two stones, a fire crackled, roasting rabbit strung on a branch until golden and crisp.

Gu Yu broke the branch, tearing the meat in half. He handed one portion to Yu Ye and eagerly bit into his own, blowing on it to cool it, yet still swallowing in big gulps, muttering, “Mmm, delicious—”

Yu Ye took a bite and nodded in approval.

For three months, he’d eaten nothing but dried fruit, herbs, and pills—not even a piece of bread. Now, at the prospect of real food, he was no less ravenous.

A single rabbit wasn’t enough for two, and in no time, both were licking their lips, still unsatisfied.

“Hey, next time we’ll catch a few more rabbits, a pheasant or a mountain rat—really have a feast.”

After his declaration, Gu Yu glanced at the sky, picked up his sword, and signaled, “Time to return to the mountain—”

Yu Ye didn’t move.

Gu Yu was surprised. “You’re not coming back with me?”

Yu Ye shook his head.

Gu Yu hesitated. “If Senior Sister asks, what should I tell her?”

“Just tell her the truth.”

“I’ll report to Senior Sister and ask her to see justice done for you.”

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“That won’t be necessary.”

Gu Yu wanted to persuade him further, but Yu Ye’s mind was made up. He could only sigh, “If it were me, I wouldn’t want to go back and be bullied either…”

Though he said this, his face betrayed his reluctance.

Since joining Xuanhuang Mountain, it was rare for him to spend three months in such close company, especially with someone of similar age and temperament. The sudden parting left him a bit forlorn.

Yu Ye, however, took it in stride. Having experienced true separation by death, this kind of farewell seemed fortunate by comparison. Adopting an adult’s manner, he cupped his fists and said, “May we meet again, though the world is wide.”

“Yes, until we meet again.”

In the forest clearing, the two youths bid each other farewell.

Suddenly, Gu Yu tossed his sword over with a shout, “Your sword energy is powerful, but not very reliable. Take this sword for self-defense—return it to me someday!”

Yu Ye caught the sword and protested, “I can’t accept this—”

Gu Yu just smiled and ran off.

Looking at the sword in his hand, Yu Ye thought of the hunting knife Er Gou had given him.

This Daoist-forged sword was three and a half feet long, with an eight-inch handle, sheathed in fish skin and tied with a leather cord—finely crafted and of great value, said to be worth a hundred hunting knives.

Yet whatever the weapon, friendship was priceless.

Now that Gu Yu had returned to the mountain, it was time for Yu Ye to leave.

He would distance himself from Xuanhuang Mountain, from Bai Zhi, from Chenqi, and from the Foundation Establishment master. Though he was now a cultivator, his adversaries had grown stronger.

After lingering a moment, Yu Ye quietly slipped into the depths of the forest.

Neither he nor Gu Yu knew of the upheavals at Xuanhuang Mountain; their parting was hasty—may fate bring them together again…

…

Midnight.

The moon hung bright in the sky.

A faint figure flashed through the mountain forest, striding two or three zhang at a time, swift as a specter. In a few bounds, he cleared the woods and leapt atop a hill.

It was a young man, dressed as a Daoist, sword in hand, pausing to catch his breath as he looked back.

After parting with Gu Yu, Yu Ye, to be cautious, avoided the main road and traveled through ancient woods. When night fell, he ran at full speed, finally putting his lightness technique to use.

This art, a Daoist skill, allowed even ordinary people, with enough practice, to leap streams and cross mountains. For a cultivator, it meant flying like a swallow.

By running half the night, he’d covered a hundred or two hundred miles, but he was spent and needed rest.

The hilltop was flat.

Yu Ye sat down, sword across his knees. Instead of cultivating, he pulled a piece of animal hide from his chest.

Old Feng had left him several things before his death: a map of Luming Mountain, a small sword, and a few bits of gold and silver. The sword and money were gone, but the map remained, having been kept close.

The animal skin was the map of Luming Mountain.

On his deathbed, Old Feng had entrusted Yu Ye to go to Luming Mountain, retrieve his hidden belongings, and then visit his family in Beimang Village.

At the time, Yu Ye was illiterate and couldn’t read the map. Then he’d been captured and taken to Xuanhuang Mountain, so the matter was postponed. But a promise made should be a promise kept. Now that he’d escaped, he should fulfill Old Feng’s dying wish.

Yu Ye unrolled the map and examined it.

His newly awakened spiritual sense reached more than ten zhang. In the darkness, he could see as clearly as in daylight. The rivers and mountains, the mark of Ping Shui Town—all were clear on the hide. But the specific location of Luming Mountain was not indicated, nor was Beimang Village.

Just where were Luming Mountain and Beimang Village…