Volume 1 Chapter 21: Encounter with Worry-Free on the Return Journey

  When Xuan Yinxian, Zhang Aoxue, Li Hongfei and Lin Yunfeng arrived at the ground, Xiao Tian had already successfully flown up. They didn't see anything. The four of them looked up into the air, guessing in their hearts what the outcome was like.

  After a long time, Xuan Yin Zhenren let out a light sigh and said: "Forget it, everyone doesn't need to look anymore, nothing can be seen. Let's call Lü Yun over and head back together, so as not to waste any more time." After finishing speaking, he turned around and left. Lin Yun Feng, however, sensitively felt that the evil aura in the night sky had already vanished without a trace.

  As they turned back, the three of them slowly left. Lin Yunfeng shouted and chased after them, preparing to find Lu Yun and return. At the entrance of the Absolute Yin Valley, the four of them coincidentally met Lu Yun who was coming out. Lin Yunfeng ran to his side and asked in a low voice: "Hey, did you see what happened later? Did that Heavenly Wolf successfully fly up? And those two strange creatures that suddenly appeared, where did they go?"

  Lu Yun looked at the others, seeing that everyone was staring at him. Lu Yun spoke in a low voice: "Just after you left, something strange happened in the sky. Suddenly, countless thunderbolts appeared, and their shocking momentum was terrifying. Those two monsters were about to capture Xi Yue Tian Lang, but they were suddenly struck by the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder and let out two eerie screams before instantly fleeing. Xi Yue Tian Lang also took advantage of the opportunity to escape and successfully flew up in the last moment. That moment was very strange, with a giant wolf shadow tens of meters tall appearing in mid-air, slowly overlapping with the human figure, and after a flash of auspicious light, it disappeared without a trace."

  Lin Yunfeng's face fell as he said, "What a pity! I didn't get to see such a crucial scene. It's really heartbreaking. Those two monsters are so annoying! Next time I meet them, I'll take care of them and see if they still dare to ruin my fun! Hmph."

  Xuanyin Zhenren coldly snorted and said, "You'd better not talk big here, let's go, we're heading back." Lin Yunfeng chuckled and said, "Master, don't be in a hurry. If we head back now, aren't we two days ahead of schedule? I think we should take advantage of these two days to rest properly, and then head back later, it won't be late, right? Master, if you have something to attend to, please go ahead and leave first, we're not in a rush, we'll take our time walking back." After finishing speaking, he looked at the other three people.

  Xuan Yin Zhenren's eyes were slightly cold, and he stared at him for a moment before saying: "You like to leave, huh? Then take your time coming back. Whoever has nothing better to do can follow me." After finishing speaking, he glanced at the three of them, and his body suddenly rose into the air on the wind, a cyan light shooting straight up into the sky. Li Hongfei looked at Zhang Aoxue for a moment, and the Lianyun Sword's light flashed once before taking Li Hongfei with him to instantly disappear into the horizon. In the night sky, two cyan shadows added a beautiful landscape to the already lovely moonlight.

  Zhang Aoxue glanced at Lu Yun and said softly, "I'll leave first, you guys should head back early too." After finishing speaking, she turned around, about to leave. Lin Yunfeng saw the situation and hurriedly smiled, saying: "Shifu, Lu Yun and I have something to ask you, why don't you accompany us on our way back? We can also learn more from you, okay?" After finishing speaking, he patted Lu Yun and signaled with his eyes for him to speak up and persuade Zhang Aoxue to stay.

  Lu Yun's expression was calm, and he smiled slightly: "If the master has time, it would be great if she could return with us. We indeed have some matters we'd like to ask for her guidance on." He looked at her lightly, and a hint of expectation flickered in Lu Yun's eyes.

  Zhang Aoxue's gaze swept over Lu Yun, and she slightly raised her head to look at the moon in the sky, nodding lightly without a word. Under the moonlight, that slender and moving figure was as cold and clear as the moon, filled with vague beauty.

  After leaving the Valley of Absolute Yin, the three found a place to avoid the wind and lit a fire. They sat together by the bonfire and chatted. During this time, Lin Yunfeng deliberately avoided the two of them, going around to find food, specifically giving Lu Yun a good opportunity, and from time to time secretly giving Lu Yun a glance, hinting at him to be braver.

  Looking at the night sky, Lu Yun asked: "Do you often look at the night sky like this? Besides cultivation, after so many years, do you have any other memories?"

  Zhang Aoxue gazed quietly at the sky, and under the fiery light, her beautiful jade face radiated a hint of serenity. Her slightly cold voice echoed in the night wind: "A cultivator values clarity of mind and simplicity of desires. For many years, aside from cultivation, I have had no other thoughts."

  Lu Yun smiled calmly and said: "From childhood to adulthood, it has always been like this. Have you ever felt tired in your heart? Will you have a psychology of giving up? Have you thought carefully about what your ultimate goal is? Is it to cultivate immortality and be with the heavens and earth, or to be a female knight who slays demons and evil spirits? Or will you spend this life alone, or like ordinary people, find someone you like and get married?"

  Zhang Aoxue looked at Lu Yun, and after a long time, he shifted his gaze and said: "Only when the heart is free from thoughts can one cultivate! You ask too many questions. I've never considered those things before. I just want to achieve success in cultivation as soon as possible." In his low voice, it seemed like there was something hidden that he didn't want others to know.

  Lu Yun heard this and smiled calmly, suddenly saying: "Why do all things in the world have form? Why do all living beings have hearts? Why does the path of cultivation have tribulations, and why is there no guarantee for the road to immortality? Why is eternal life preserved? Why do heaven and earth share the same lifespan, yet reincarnation exists?"

  Zhang Aoxue heard this and gradually fell into deep thought. Before long, Lin Yunfeng returned with three wild rabbits, which they roasted and ate together. In the depths of night, under the cold moonlight, the three sat in meditation to rest. When dawn broke, Lu Yun was the first to wake up. He rose into the air, standing still in mid-air, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

  On the road, the three of them unfolded their lightness skills to save time, shuttling through the mountains and ridges like ordinary martial artists. From the Valley of Absolute Yin to Yi Garden, if they walked on foot, it would take three days, but with sword flight, it only took a short while. Between these two places, they had to pass through three great mountains, one of which was called Red Leaf Ridge, said to be very beautiful in autumn when the whole mountain was covered with red leaves, hence its name.

  When Lu Yun and the other two crossed the Red Leaf Ridge, Lu Yun's mental wave suddenly rotated automatically, which caught Lu Yun's attention. Lu Yun showed no expression on his face, but secretly used his mental wave to carefully explore the surroundings. Soon, a clear pattern appeared in Lu Yun's mind. It was in a dense forest, where there was a deep well, and from time to time, a faint human shadow would appear in the well, floating at the mouth of the well, emitting a low cry. The well was very deep, and at the bottom of the well, there was a stone tablet, which seemed to hide something inside, but this point was somewhat unclear in Lu Yun's mind.

  Lu Yun suddenly stopped and said to his two companions, "You guys carefully check, won't you feel that there's something strange existing here? I always feel like there's some kind of sound rising." Lin Yunfeng heard this and said, "No way, I'm the most sensitive to ghosts and monsters, how come I don't have any feeling at all? Lu Yun, are you mistaken or intentionally saying this?"

  Zhang Aoxue didn't say a word, but just looked around, and the Purple Shadow Sword suddenly let out a soft whistle, floating above Zhang Aoxue's head, constantly spinning. In the dark forest, the strong purple light flickered incessantly. After rotating for several circles, the Purple Shadow Sword suddenly pointed south and stopped moving. Zhang Aoxue said in a cold voice: "There is indeed something strange hidden here, just in the south, let's go take a look, if it's a demon, we'll eliminate it." After finishing speaking, the sword automatically flew out, taking the three of them straight to the south.

  They soon arrived at a dense thicket, where an abandoned and desolate well appeared before them. Lin Yunfeng looked at the well with a slightly changed expression: "There seems to be some evil aura in this well, but after careful examination, nothing is found. How can this be? Since Shenjian Ziyin has come here, he won't leave without a reason, which means that there must be secrets hidden in this well. But why can't I sense anything?"

  Lu Yun glanced at Zhang Aoxue and said calmly, "I only faintly heard some weak sounds, like a woman crying, but it's gone now. Did you sense anything, Aoxue Shijie?" Lu Yun's expression was calm as she looked at Aoxue, but a strange glint flashed in the depths of her eyes.

  Zhang Aoxue sheathed the Purple Shadow Divine Sword and looked at the well, saying in a low voice, "There's something strange about the aura, but it flashed by too quickly and is hard to investigate. It would be better for us to go down and take a look, that way we'll know what it is."

  Lu Yun gazed at the well opening and said softly, "This place isn't big, if we both go down together it might not work. I think I'll go down first to take a look. Lin Yunfeng and Shifu will temporarily stay here, pay attention to any movements around you, if anything happens just use a whistle to inform me and I'll come up immediately."

  Lin Yunfeng chuckled and said, "Lu Yun, how can you let him go? I'm the most experienced in ghostly affairs. I'll go instead. You stay here and chat with Shifu's sister." After finishing speaking, he chuckled again and turned to leave.

  Lu Yun grabbed him and smiled: "Every time it's you who takes the lead, how can this be? This time let me go, and I can feel that there is a crying sound, you all can't feel anything for the time being, just stay here, so as not to waste everyone's time." After finishing speaking, without waiting for Yun Feng to speak, Lu Yun's body floated down into the well.

  Lin Yunfeng said with a huff: "Seriously, you're stealing my thunder. If you guys learn everything, how can I survive? Next time, I'll just do it and talk later, hehe." Zhang Aoxue's expression was calm, quietly looking at Jingkou, not saying anything.

  Lu Yun fell into the well, slowly descending downwards. His eyes carefully scanned his surroundings. The well was very deep, and Lu Yun felt that he had already descended over fifty zhang, yet he still hadn't seen any water. The light around him was very dim, almost to the point where he couldn't see his own fingers when he stretched out his hand. Lu Yun couldn't help but summon the Like-Intent Heart-Soul Sword. Instantly, a red glow dazzled his eyes, and the scenery around him suddenly became clear before Lu Yun's eyes.

  The dark, damp moss was covered with numerous unknown small insects and poisonous substances that shone black under the red light. These tiny things seemed to be afraid of the light and dodged in all directions. As Lü Yun descended, the temperature around him dropped rapidly, and the cold air grew thick. Finally, after a short distance, Lü Yun gently landed on the water's surface.

  With the red light, Lu Yun looked around and found that the well water was very clear, but it was extremely cold. Ordinary people couldn't stay here for long. At this time, a faint cry echoed from the bottom of the well, but unfortunately, it was unclear. Lu Yun activated his protective true energy, and the surrounding well water dodged to both sides. He slowly sank down. After sinking about 20 zhang, with the red light from the Xiyi Sword on his head, Lu Yun found himself at the bottom of the well. The place wasn't small, it was several zhang in size. In the center, there was a stone monument about one zhang high, emitting a faint halo. On the left side of the monument, not far away, there was a stone coffin, quietly lying there. A faint cry was coming from it.

  Lü Yun floated on the water, looking at the stone coffin and said softly: "Come out, I can hear your crying voice. You should be a woman, why don't you go to reincarnation, want to stay here?"

  A faint figure slowly emerged beside the stone coffin. Upon closer inspection, it was indeed a young woman. Her long hair covered half of her face, and she looked quite good in the dim light. Two dark eyes gazed at Lu Yun, then at the Ruyi Heart Soul Sword on his head, revealing a hint of shock in their depths.

  The woman said in a low voice: "You can hear my crying, isn't this deceiving me? So many years have passed, I've been crying here all along, unfortunately no one has ever heard me. I didn't expect that today I would finally meet someone who could hear my voice! Hundreds of years, what a long and tedious time!"

  Lu Yun looked at her, his mind probing carefully into everything about her. In the end, Lu Yun's conclusion was that this woman was very unusual, her soul lingering without dispersing, with a hint of spiritual light hidden within. From the aura emanating from her body, it could be analyzed that she wasn't an evil spirit, but possibly a lonely and wronged soul. Lu Yun asked: "How did you end up here? You said you've been here for hundreds of years, why didn't you leave to reincarnate, instead staying here to cry?"

  The woman sighed softly and said, "I also want to leave this place, but unfortunately I don't have the ability. Every time I try to fly out of the well, there is always a strange barrier that blocks me back, no matter how hard I try, I just can't get out. Countless failures have made me understand one thing: I am unable to leave. That's why I end up crying alone here. For hundreds of years, I've been trying to figure this out, the only possibility is that there's something hidden inside this stone monument, unfortunately my abilities are too weak and I couldn't find anything. Today, being able to meet you is also a kind of fate, I have one thing I'd like to ask for your help with, do you mind?"

  Lu Yun looked at the stone monument and said softly, "There are indeed some strange things hidden inside this monument. I came down here because of it. As for what you need my help with, you can tell me and I'll listen. If possible, I'll assist you."

  The woman looked at Lu Yun, a hint of curiosity in her eyes, and asked softly: "It's said that after people die, they become ghosts. In the world, ghosts are not liked by people and are often called evil demons by those who have achieved true cultivation, to be eliminated on sight. Why did you, upon first seeing me, and clearly knowing my identity, not take action against me? Your sword is very overbearing, with something inside that I fear, which can resolve me with just a light touch."

  Lu Yun looked at her and sighed, "Heaven creates all things, including ghosts. It's just that people generally don't understand, once they're attacked by those fierce ghosts, they'll say that all ghostly things are bad. But that's not the case. Even among humans, there are countless evil people, aren't there? Right and wrong, good and evil, it's up to each person to judge for themselves, you can't just listen to what others say. As far as I'm concerned, as long as I can see something, it exists, it's just a different form. Why don't you tell me if there's anything you need my help with?"

  A glimmer of gratitude appeared in the woman's eyes, and she whispered: "In the future, if you ever meet a man named Liu Xing outside, tell him something. Tell him that the mountain oath and sea vow from back then have already passed. The woman named Ye Yu has already left him, and he should forget everything about it. If he asks further, don't mention me at all, just tell him that his soul is broken, the melody is empty, the person is far away, with tears in his eyes, and his beauty has fallen! If you're willing to help me with this, I'll be eternally grateful." A faint mist seemed to be hiding the deep emotions in her hazy eyes.

  Lu Yun looked at her and sighed softly, "Don't worry, I'll help you find out about that person later. But it's been hundreds of years already, is he still in the mortal world? Or has he already passed away?"

  The girl shook her head slightly, gazing into the distance: "No, he won't die, he must still be alive in this world. I remember when I first met him, he was a young Taoist priest, that scene is forever etched in my memory, unfortunately, I didn't know to cherish it at the time. Remembering that month, looking back is unbearable!"

  Lu Yun heard this, and a hint of subtle sadness appeared in his eyes. He lightly sighed: "In one's life, there are many things that need to be kept in mind, slowly savored. The taste is not just sweetness, but also bitterness inside. What's past should not be regretted, everything looks forward. Now let me see what's inside this stone tablet, why it has been keeping you trapped here."

  He gently landed in front of the stone monument, and Lu Yun's body was filled with a strong blue light. His eyes shot out beams of divine light as his mind probed the secrets of the monument at incredible speed. Lu Yun's body trembled slightly, and a hint of shock appeared in his eyes, his expression extremely strange. After glancing at the woman, Lu Yun said softly, "The aura around you contains the spiritual energy within this monument, so your soul can gather but not disperse. However, this monument also has a binding power that can restrain all souls and the intangible bodies of the primordial spirits. And you fall within its range, which is why you've been unable to leave. The true energy waves I used to probe it have also been trapped inside; truly a strange occurrence."

  The woman let out a soft sigh and said, "For so many years, loneliness has been my constant companion, I've grown accustomed to it. If not for the emotional burden, perhaps I would be content with this life. Today, being able to meet you is also a hope for me, and my heart is satisfied. As long as you can leave, even if I stay here forever, it doesn't matter."

  Lu Yun looked at her, slowly savoring her words. Turning back, Lu Yun slowly approached the stone tablet. Just as he was about to reach it, the stone tablet suddenly emitted a radiant light, blocking Lu Yun three feet away. The light was extremely powerful, and its strong aura forced the woman to retreat far away, not daring to approach.

  In an instant, a dazzling light burst forth from Lu Yun's eyes, and the cyan glow around him surged violently as he fiercely countered that ray of light. For a moment, the emerald water at the bottom of the well flickered with different lights, extremely beautiful. At the same time, two powerful magical forces clashed, forming an overwhelmingly strong aura, accompanied by colorful lights, which instantly shot up to the sky. This caused Zhang Aosnow and Lin Yunfeng on the ground to be shocked, and that pillar of light shooting into the sky could be clearly seen even from a hundred miles away.

  Lu Yun only felt an incredibly powerful force, which made it impossible for him to move forward. The rainbow light was actually a protective seal, or a powerful barrier, with the effect of blocking all external invasions. Lu Yun had originally wanted to use his mental waves to explore the secrets of the stone tablet, but unexpectedly, the stone tablet was extremely mysterious and could even absorb his mental waves. It frantically devoured the mental waves, making Lu Yun dare not to display his mental waves, and could only try to break through with his true yuan, unfortunately, he didn't expect this barrier to be so powerful.

  Lu Yun's body glowed with a blue light that transformed into a golden aura in an instant, and he took a sudden step forward. Lu Yun's body shook violently as two powerful forces clashed within him. The golden light around Lu Yun suddenly exploded, unleashing a destructive force that shattered the seal. The water at the bottom of the well churned violently, and a massive waterspout burst forth, shooting over thirty feet into the air. The sheer power and intensity were awe-inspiring. Lin Yunfeng and Zhang Aoxue, who were falling from above, were blown away by the shockwave.

  The powerful explosion not only blew the water at the bottom of the well out of the ground, but also shattered the stone monument that was several feet tall. The broken stones were washed away with the well water, and a three-foot-tall jade monument appeared where the stone monument had been. The jade monument was engraved with countless strange flower patterns, along with three ancient seals - the Soul-Calming Monument! The entire jade monument emitted a radiant glow, with a halo circulating around it, giving off an aura of mystery.

  Lu Yun looked at the jade stele and said softly, "Town Soul Stele, what does this mean? Why have I never heard of it before. Have you?" The last sentence was obviously directed at the woman.

  The woman looked at the jade stele, her shadow hiding far away, and said in a trembling tone: "I don't know what this is either. After I died, I've been here all along, and I don't understand anything. You're asking me for nothing. All I can feel is that there's an extremely powerful force on this soul-suppressing stele, which seems to be pulling me in. I'm very scared and dare not get close."

  Lu Yun furrowed his brow slightly, looked up at the top of his head, and said in a low voice: "Come to my back, remember not to leave me later, otherwise there might be danger." The woman was puzzled, but floated behind him, vigilantly looking at his back.