Watching the Mountain

Chapter 365: Chapter 201: Invitation_2

Just as he was reeling from the shock, Qin Yufeng’s faint voice came through the Communication Jade Talisman:

”I’ve waited so long for this era of Heaven and Earth Dao Concealment. All the powerful experts have fallen into a deep slumber. At a time like this, how could I possibly become Dust-covered myself?”

Xu Ran mulled it over for a moment before speaking with some hesitation,

”Senior, aren’t you worried that you won’t be able to maintain your Realm after the Dao Concealment begins, causing your Cultivation Realm to fall?”

Hearing this, Qin Yufeng chuckled. ”Fellow Daoist Xu, you worry too much. My Realm is somewhat special. The specific reason is a personal secret of mine, so it’s not something I can disclose to you, but it’s definitely not what you’re thinking.”

Xu Ran nodded slightly. ’So that’s how it is. That makes more sense.’ If the other party had truly reached the Realm of Dao Venerable, that would be truly terrifying.

He remembered that Qin Yufeng’s secrets seemed to be related to the Evil Demon Race and Phoenix Race. He knew many undisclosed mysteries. When the Secret Realm first appeared, he had already known a great deal.

He even knew that the New Domain originated from the homeland of the Evil Demon Race and Phoenix Race, and he knew its coordinates.

Qin Yufeng didn’t explain further, and Xu Ran didn’t ask any more questions. In any case, it was enough to know that his Realm was special and that he could live until the end of the Dao Concealment without needing to become Dust-covered.

Then, Qin Yufeng said, ”The reason I’m contacting you this time, Fellow Daoist Xu, is that I wanted to have a good chat before you become Dust-covered. Otherwise, once you are, I’ll have no one to talk to for a very long time.”

Xu Ran froze upon hearing this. He suddenly remembered the potential problem of Qin Yufeng. ’Just like him, I’m not going to become Dust-covered either. If he finds out, how am I going to explain it?’

’I’ll have to think this over carefully later.’

With this in mind, Xu Ran suppressed his thoughts and said calmly,

”I’m very moved that Senior is thinking of me. However, you’ve contacted me a bit early. I was planning to wait until the final moments of the Dao Concealment to become Dust-covered. In the meantime, if Senior wants to chat, you can still reach me.”

”Oh?” Qin Yufeng sounded surprised. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly said,

”That’s right. With the Sacred Object your disciple from the Dog Race gave you, you have abundant longevity. It’s indeed not too late to try and break through to a higher Realm before becoming Dust-covered.”

Xu Ran was taken aback. He recalled that the only people who knew he had the Sun-Devouring Demon Essence Fruit were those who had accompanied him to the Demon Race. ’How does this guy, Qin Yufeng, know? Could it be that he was hiding in the shadows back then?’

Seeing Xu Ran’s silence, Qin Yufeng probably guessed his thoughts and took the initiative to explain,

”Regarding the matter of the Dog Race’s Sacred Object, it was just a guess. Although I’ve only met your disciple, Jiang Ling’Er, a few times, I feel she’s quite easy to understand. After she obtained the Sun-Devouring Demon Essence Fruit, I guessed she would definitely give it to you.”

He chuckled and continued, ”If I’m not mistaken, her attitude must have been terrible when she gave it to you, right?”

Xu Ran paused, his mind flashing back to Jiang Ling’Er’s words. ”Master, this was your goal all along, wasn’t it?” ”This is the last time I’ll call you Master.”

Thinking of this, he replied hesitantly, ”How did you know, Senior?”

Qin Yufeng’s laughter came through the Communication Jade Talisman. ”Because that’s just the kind of person your disciple is. No matter how she changes, her thoughts are just too easy to read.”

”She gives you the Sun-Devouring Demon Essence Fruit to repay you for raising her, then puts on an act as if she’s breaking ties with you, all so she can bear the wrath of the Demon Race herself...”

”Perhaps, in her heart, she sees herself as a jinx right now and thinks it’s best not to be associated with you, her master.”

Xu Ran felt a surge of emotion. ’This guy, Qin Yufeng, really understands people.’ In fact, it was true. When Jiang Ling’Er had tossed the Sun-Devouring Demon Essence Fruit to him back then, he had guessed her intentions.

That’s why he had brought her back without a moment’s hesitation.

But after they returned, she insisted on leaving, so he could only grant her wish.

Xu Ran’s mood grew melancholic. He didn’t know how that girl was doing now. She never replied to his transmissions, and there was no news at all.

As he was feeling down, Qin Yufeng’s voice came from the Communication Jade Talisman:

”Rest assured, Fellow Daoist. No one from the Demon Race will know that you have the Sun-Devouring Demon Essence Fruit. I’ve already taken care of that potential trouble for you.”

”This...” Hearing Qin Yufeng’s words, Xu Ran was surprised. He never would have thought that the other man had been doing these things for him behind the scenes.

”No need for thanks, Fellow Daoist. However, if you really do plan on becoming Dust-covered only after a thousand years, I have a proposal you might consider.”

”What proposal?” Xu Ran asked, puzzled.

Qin Yufeng chuckled. ”By the time you become Dust-covered, Fellow Daoist, everyone in the Cultivation Realm who is going to will have already done so. The whole world should be very quiet. I could come out for a walk then without worrying about being discovered and targeted.”

”Since you’ll still be around, Fellow Daoist, how about we get together for some tea and conversation? I really miss that month or so we spent shooting the breeze during the great Sect competition.”

”This...” Hearing this proposal, Xu Ran immediately hesitated.

Although Qin Yufeng always said he considered him a friend, and he seemed to act that way, Xu Ran was still worried. ’If by some chance he’s plotting something, I’ll be in danger.’

”What, could it be that you’re worried I’ll make a move against you, Fellow Daoist?”

Upon hearing this, Xu Ran admitted it quite frankly. ”Senior, you know me. I value my life.”

Qin Yufeng fell silent on the other end of the Communication Jade Talisman for a moment before sighing faintly. ”True enough. That does sound like an answer you would give, Fellow Daoist.”

He let out a long sigh and said in a somewhat wistful tone, ”In that case, take your time to consider it, Fellow Daoist. You don’t have to answer me right now.”

After that, he chatted idly with Xu Ran for a few more sentences, then seemed to lose interest and ended the transmission.

Xu Ran was indeed very hesitant about Qin Yufeng’s invitation. He didn’t really want to meet with him, but he was also worried that the man might show up at his door unannounced, which would be even more troublesome.

He gazed at the Communication Jade Talisman in his hand, lost in thought for a moment, then shook his head.

’Forget it. There’s still time. It won’t be too late to see how the situation develops and decide then.’

*

*

*

After the first batch of people became Dust-covered, more and more members of the Sect who had been allocated a Dust-Sealed Stone began to enter their stasis in the days that followed.

It was at this time that Xu Ran arrived at Qing Xuan True Monarch’s residence.

After bowing to Teacher Qing Xuan, he looked at Qing Li, who was standing beside him, with a complicated expression.

When he saw Teacher Qing Xuan, the man explained that he had been summoned this time to be told that he and his wife would be becoming Dust-covered in a few years.

However, their daughter, Qing Li, would not be joining them. They knew that Xu Ran would only become Dust-covered after a thousand years, so they wanted to ask him to look after Qing Li during that time.

Xu Ran was stunned after hearing Teacher Qing Xuan’s explanation.

He had previously considered that some people might be unwilling to become Dust-covered, but he never imagined that the first person to declare her unwillingness would be Teacher Qing Xuan’s daughter, Qing Li.

What’s more, this was under the circumstance that both her father and mother were going to become Dust-covered, yet she, their daughter, was unwilling. He truly couldn’t understand what Qing Li was thinking.

What surprised him even more was that Teacher Qing Xuan and his wife had actually agreed to this.

’Wouldn’t it be better for the family to reunite happily in the future?’

After a moment’s hesitation, he looked at Qing Li and asked, ”Can you tell me why you’re unwilling to become Dust-covered?”

Qing Li shook her head at his question and said in a calm tone, ”There’s no particular reason.”

Xu Ran was taken aback. ’If there’s no particular reason, does that mean it doesn’t matter to her whether she becomes Dust-covered or not?’

Just as he was about to speak, Teacher Qing Xuan, who was standing nearby, sighed and said, ”Forget it. She’s grown up now. Since this is what she wants to do, let her be.”

Xu Ran looked at Teacher Qing Xuan with confusion. He could feel that Teacher Qing Xuan was extremely reluctant deep down.

And yet, despite his reluctance, he still said that.