Chapter 594: Parting Ways
"Immortal Master Zhou."
This was the first thing Su Hongzhen said to Zhou Jinyun, whom he had not seen in eight years.
But what greeted Su Hongzhen was not the greeting or small talk he had expected.
"You came with Li Haoran of Kongshan Sect?"
Zhou Jinyun only tilted her head slightly to look out the window, then glanced faintly in the direction below at the figure wearing a plain white daoist robe, leading two fine horses.
"Yes."
Su Hongzhen nodded and said,
"Haoran said he might have had some misunderstandings with Immortal Master Zhou before, so it would be awkward for him to meet you in person."
"Haoran?"
Zhou Jinyun withdrew her gaze from the window and fixed it on Su Hongzhen, wearing an expression that was almost a smile.
"You seem to be on very good terms with Daoxing Li."
"I traveled across the northwest region of Chenping Continent in recent years, and he has looked after me quite a bit," Su Hongzhen replied.
"But my relationship with him is not particularly close."
Zhou Jinyun said.
"Putting personal matters aside, I came here today for something far more important, Immortal Master Zhou."
Su Hongzhen said.
"Of course, naturally."
Zhou Jinyun smiled and added,
"If Champion Su didn't have something important, you wouldn't have written to me."
She emphasized the word "Champion" slightly.
"Go on then, what exactly is so important?"
Zhou Jinyun continued.
"We can't sit idly by any longer, Immortal Master Zhou."
Su Hongzhen said.
"In three years' time, one billion lives on Chenping Continent have died under the 'sacrifice.' I don't know what the current situation inside Mirage Palace is, but if this continues..."
Su Hongzhen paused for a moment before saying,
"I'm afraid Mirage Palace will have no way back."
Zhou Jinyun listened to everything Su Hongzhen said. When he finished, she stared at his face for a while longer, then shook her head.
"I don't understand."
"Understand what?"
Su Hongzhen asked quietly.
"I don't understand how everything you just said links to Mirage Palace, as if Mirage Palace were the culprit behind all this."
Zhou Jinyun said calmly.
Su Hongzhen froze, unable to believe what she had just said.
"Immortal Master Zhou..."
"What Champion Su just said sounds like an accusation against Mirage Palace, but what evidence do you have?" Zhou Jinyun continued.
"......"
Su Hongzhen was speechless.
"Back when the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry took place, Champion Su's qualification as a Dao Inquirer was granted by Mirage Palace. Our disciples also did a lot of the work during the Dao Inquiry. Now Champion Su turns it around and slanders Mirage Palace without any evidence, isn't that improper?"
This contemporary Daomen Xingzou of Mirage Palace spoke simply.
"If this continues, there will be no way forward, Immortal Master Zhou."
Su Hongzhen said.
"I remember over ten years ago, when I was still in the western region of Chenping Continent, in Dongzuo City of the Lu Kingdom, Champion Su once told me an answer," Zhou Jinyun said slowly.
"That answer was to follow one's true heart, not to sacrifice it to the greater scheme. Yet it seems Champion Su is now trapped by the greater scheme himself — could it be that you have become attached?"
"Is that your true heart, Immortal Master Zhou?" Su Hongzhen asked.
"When I spared the three million mortals in Dongzuo City back then, it was following my true heart. Later, I spared the three million in Bailing City for the same reason," Zhou Jinyun said.
At Zhou Jinyun's reply, Su Hongzhen's pupils constricted. He reflexively put his hand on the Xun-Li Sword at his waist.
"What?"
Zhou Jinyun lowered her gaze slightly, falling on Su Hongzhen's hand resting on the sword hilt, and her smile deepened in an instant.
"Champion Su, do you intend to kill me?"
The young swordsman wearing a cyan daoist robe — now far taller and more composed than the bruised youth who had been beaten up in Jiangdu Prefecture years ago, his facial features much more defined — was silent for a moment. Then he raised his hands and cupped them toward her in salute.
"Hongzhen has never killed anyone in his life. Immortal Master Zhou should know that well. If what Immortal Master Zhou is doing now truly follows your heart, then all is well...farewell, Immortal Master Zhou."
Saying this, Su Hongzhen bowed to Zhou Jinyun once more, then turned and walked out of the room.
Behind him,
Zhou Jinyun watched Su Hongzhen's back until he had gone, her smile still in place.
Then her cheek began to twitch slightly, and the corner of her mouth trembled continuously.
"Why...didn't you kill me?"
A soft, timid voice escaped from her throat.
But no one could hear it.
...
The negotiations ended in failure.
Li Haoran, waiting outside the teahouse, heard what had happened and said nothing; this outcome had long been within his expectations.
He did not blame Su Hongzhen — after all, many things are beyond the understanding of a Rogue Cultivator like Su Hongzhen.
"If there's nothing else, I'll return to the sect. Hongzhen, if you ever need my help, just let me know," Li Haoran said as he swung onto the chestnut horse. Then the Kongshan Sect Daomen Xingzou in the white daoist robe spurred his mount and rode toward the outskirts of Xiling City.
Alone, Su Hongzhen looked at the black horse beside him, thought for a moment, and then went in the opposite direction from Li Haoran.
He headed into the Xiling Mountain Range.
There was no other purpose; Su Hongzhen simply wanted to walk alone, because there were many things he could not make sense of.
Everyone said Chenping Continent was about to enter a brand-new golden age of cultivation, but where, exactly, was that golden age?
The sky grew darker.
In these eight years, Su Hongzhen had traveled from the western region of Chenping Continent to its northwest.
For cultivators with long lifespans, eight years is not long — barely a blink.
But enough to let many things happen.
There is no absolute right or wrong in this world.
Distant thunder rumbled through the overcast sky.
Right and wrong are merely the order set by the strong.
And under such order, more people can live more stable lives.
Raindrops fell toward the ground, striking the rocks of the Xiling Mountain Range and splashing among the trees.
Regardless of strength or virtue, all living beings should have their place in the world — that was Su Hongzhen's constant belief.
But he did not want to watch Immortal Master Zhou walk into an abyss.
What if all of this truly was Immortal Master Zhou following her heart...
Thunder boomed, and a blinding flash of lightning cut across the dark sky, revealing a figure sitting under a tree not far ahead of Su Hongzhen.
It was a young man wearing a plain white daoist robe.
"...Big brother?"
Su Hongzhen murmured.