Chapter 80: Parting Ways

That old man, He Anjian, was always like that—talking about leaving as soon as he decided, saying he must go today. He Wanting tried to persuade him to stay a few more days, but it was useless. The old man’s temperament was unchanged: when he said he would go, he went, without a hint of sentimentality.

He Wanting couldn’t do much about it, so she didn’t try to stop him further. After all, father and daughter had reunited after so many years; in the future, she could visit him in the South Sea more often, and perhaps also see her elder brother, to whom she felt she owed a debt.

To be honest, when the He family’s party left, everyone felt a bit reluctant to see them go. Of course, it wasn’t the old man they would miss; it was that Old Jiang and the old coachman, Old Ma, who had found a rare camaraderie. They teased that together, Qin Yi and Zhang Chen’s drinking capacity couldn’t match Old Ma’s. With Old Ma leaving, Old Jiang claimed he would lose his drinking companion, which made Zhang Chen’s father blush and nearly challenge the straw-cloaked old man to a drinking contest.

From this, it seemed Old Jiang really was determined to follow Jiang Yao.

Reunions are always brief. Qin Yi and his companions decided they would return to Mount Taiyi the next day. Now, Qin Yi was curious: would Old Jiang go with them to Mount Taiyi?

“Mother, you don’t need to see us off any further. I’ll come back often from now on.” Outside the west gate of the Yu Long Fortress, four people on three horses were preparing to depart. He Wanting, ever the loving mother, had accompanied them all the way to the gate, showing no sign of turning back. Qin Yi had to remind her.

He Wanting, hearing this, stopped moving forward but did not immediately return, clearly wishing to watch them for a while longer.

Qin Yi understood. He rode away, and though he was not He Wanting’s own son, it was the first time he truly felt the warmth of a mother’s love—this too felt like home.

“Old Jiang, do you think the dead can ever come back to life?” As the four of them rode through the forests of the Taiyi Mountains, Qin Yi couldn’t help but ask. Though Old Jiang often boasted aimlessly, he was undeniably powerful and seemed to have roamed the world for many years. Surely he knew more than they did about these strange happenings.

Old Jiang took a sip of his liquor, then closed his eyes and swayed as he replied, “I’ve never believed it, but there were two old fellows who claimed it was possible. I just didn’t want to admit they might know more, so I always said I didn’t believe it.”

Qin Yi said helplessly, “So is it possible or not?”

At last, Old Jiang grew serious. “You won’t be able to ask those two old fellows now, but I’ve heard that the sour scholar who opened the Palace of the Dao had powers to pierce heaven and earth—maybe he had a way. But as I recall, that sour scholar is already dead!”

Qin Yi gave him a thumbs-up, full of admiration. Never mind whether Old Jiang could outdo the Saintly Master; just the fact that he dared speak of him so casually made him the most formidable of all.

Old Jiang was pleased by the gesture and, seemingly unaware of the sarcasm in Qin Yi’s eyes, continued, “However, among the Wu tribe, who dwell deep in the Hundred-Thousand Mountains, it’s said that using witchcraft, one can summon back a person’s three souls and seven spirits, and thus bring them back to life.”

Qin Yi quickly asked, “Old Jiang, is that reliable?”

Old Jiang shook his head. “I don’t know. But if it were something I needed, I’d go to the Hundred-Thousand Mountains myself and make those people work for me.”

Qin Yi gave him another thumbs-up, his meaning clear: you’re incredible.

Old Jiang finally burst out laughing. “You still don’t believe me. If you don’t, one day you can come to Cloud Sway City. I’m the most famous person there—no one in all of Cloud Sway City hasn’t heard of me.”

Jiang Yao looked at him and said, “You’re leaving.”

Old Jiang nodded. “Yes! I’m going back to Cloud Sway City. In the future, if you want to find me, come to Cloud Sway City, and I’ll show you what it means to be truly renowned.”

Qin Yi pursed his lips, “It’s not as if we haven’t been there before. How come we never heard of such a figure as you in the so-called greatest city under heaven? And you call yourself renowned.”

Old Jiang chuckled, “Just wait till you come. You’ll see for yourself.”

Qin Yi grinned teasingly, “Old Jiang, aren’t you a sword master? Not going with Jiang Yao any longer—are you afraid of the teachers at Mount Taiyi?”

He knew it couldn’t be true, but he couldn’t resist teasing him.

“Nonsense!” Old Jiang barked, instantly riled as expected. Then, with an air of self-importance, he said, “I’m not boasting, but even if everyone at Mount Taiyi came at me, none could match me.”

Jiang Yao spoke lazily, “With such pride and ambition, perhaps when you teach me swordsmanship in the future, it’ll just be all talk and no substance. Maybe I should instead seek out the nine elders of Qishan as my teachers.”

Old Jiang’s face darkened at once, while Qin Yi tried hard not to laugh.

Old Jiang scolded with a smile, “A married daughter is like water thrown out—you really are set on this boy, aren’t you?”

Zhang Chen asked earnestly, “Does that mean you won’t teach us swordsmanship after all?”

Old Jiang looked at Jiang Yao with deep meaning. “Young man, don’t reach too far. This girl is still suffering from a deadly poison. Even if I did teach you, it would only be some trivial things.”

He turned to Qin Yi. “You’ve learned too much already. I can guarantee that the next time you see me, you’ll still be as much a muddle as you are now.”

Qin Yi did not deny it, but he wouldn’t deny what he truly thought, either.

Old Jiang seemed to know Qin Yi’s stubborn nature, then looked at Zhang Chen, “That boy’s comprehension is poor to begin with, and yours is even worse. By the time you understand what I’ve said, I’ll probably be buried in the ground.”

Zhang Chen’s face fell—was the Purple Gold Lotus lying to him?

Qin Yi just smiled, clearly used to this kind of talk.

“Why not wait until we reach the gates of Mount Taiyi to part ways? It’s on your way, and we can talk more about oddities and adventures along the journey,” Qin Yi suggested.

Old Jiang nodded. “At my age, true friends are few and far between. If not for this girl, you’d never have had the chance to learn my swordsmanship.”

Qin Yi nodded deeply, his tone earnest, “We really can’t learn your shamelessness—it’s just too unrivaled.”

Old Jiang was about to laugh, but upon listening closely, sensed something off and asked curiously, “Why aren’t you afraid of me at all? Are you like this with all other powerful figures, not afraid of being struck down in an instant?”

Qin Yi scoffed, “Haha! Because I have Jiang Yao. I know you wouldn’t dare touch me.”

Old Jiang gritted his teeth, “You’re a real piece of work.”

The four traveled together in harmony. Though Qin Yi needed to prove himself, he would not spend his life in that state; such a life would be too dull. In this life, he would certainly clear his own name, but he also didn’t want to let down those who cared for him.

Though they traveled by horseback, their pace was brisk. By dusk on the third day, the four of them reached the gates of Mount Taiyi.

“Farewell.” Old Jiang no longer rode forward, nor did he waste words. He turned his horse around and took the northern road outside the gates of Mount Taiyi. The three simply watched him leave.

As Qin Yi watched the old man’s figure riding north into the sunset, he couldn’t help but feel that, even for a master like Old Jiang, solitude must be his truest companion.