Ziwei Immortal Path

Chapter 163 Seeing his building collapse
Xie Shuge smiled slightly, took out a jade slip from his storage bag, and presented it with both hands, saying:

"Thank you for your kindness, Master. Please let me go. It's not because of Miss Lian Rou. I am just an idle person. I have engraved all my life's learning into a scroll. Master, please accept it."

"That's up to you."

Qi Fuling had a cold expression on his face. He reached out to take the jade slip, turned around with his hands behind his back, and ignored him.

"Wenyu, Wenlong, do you want to go back?"

Lu Yangxian looked at the Fei brothers with a sincere gaze. The three of them had experienced life and death this time, and the gap between them was long gone. The meaning of his words was obvious. Since the three of them came to Yuchuan together, they must advance and retreat together.

Fei Wenyu and Fei Wenlong looked at each other and said in unison: "Go back."

Lu Yangxian nodded, "Okay! Let's go together!"

"Three of you, please count me in."

Fei Wenyu and the other two turned around at the same time when they heard the voice. It was Xu Boyang who was walking towards them. He had been standing silently behind the crowd before, and only now came over to meet the three of them.

Fei Wenyu naturally knew that Xu Boyang was concerned about his family, so he nodded.
"Okay, Boyang, you will return with our Nanhuai team."

"Boyang."

At this moment, Chen Baochong squeezed through the crowd, walked over, pulled Xu Boyang to a secluded place, and whispered:

"Boyang, the Ding family has become the source of trouble. Although you belong to the Yuchuan lineage, your identity is sensitive. I'm afraid you can't go to the East China Sea with the Jiang family. Why don't I talk to Master and come with us to Yanbei County? I think he won't object."

"East China Sea? Yanbei County?"

Xu Boyang suddenly heard two key pieces of information, and his heart trembled. He asked softly:

"Where is Yanbei? Why do I remember this place being in the north? That place isn't..."

Chen Baochong interrupted him and nodded:
"You don't know that there are also filthy people within Confucianism. The Yanbei County is in the hands of the Yangming branch of the three Confucian branches. The two Yangming saints have always been friends with my Taoist master, and my master also has a deep friendship with them. However, Yangming Mountain is hostile to the other two Confucian branches. Therefore, they are not enemies, but friends."

"Also, Yanbei is located in the Arctic, with white mountains and black waters, and is connected to the North Sea. It possesses the [Kanshui] element, making it a perfect place for the development of our Jiangzuo lineage. My third master, the Jiangzuo Yushi, 'Boiled Sea Golden Pill,' prepared for this and led the disciples of the Golden Pill Valley on a journey ahead of time. They should have already arrived in Yanbei by now."

"The two masters plan to find a secluded place in the North Sea, build a mountain gate, and then gradually develop."

Xu Boyang suddenly understood, nodded, and said:

"Baochong, thank you for your kindness, but I still have elderly and young children at home, so I dare not neglect them."

Chen Baochong was dismayed after hearing this:
"Your filial piety is truly heartbreaking. I was too busy caring for my family during this calamity. I'm afraid my father and two brothers have already been murdered by the demon."

Xu Boyang comforted:

"Don't worry, when I get to Fengqing, I'll find a chance to go to Wuyin Town to check. If everything is fine, I'll find a way to help your family get out."

Chen Baochong was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly. Finally, he sighed and said:

"Boyang, cultivators like me seek the path to immortality. To cultivate immortality, we must sever our mortal bonds. If we cannot sever our worldly ties, it will be difficult for us to attain the Tao in the future. You and I are now in the process of establishing our foundations, and our mortal attachments are not shallow, which is not a good thing."

Xu Boyang shook his head and said:

"The path to immortality is long. In the blink of an eye, a hundred years pass. The earthly bond will eventually pass. Protecting yourself and living in harmony with your heart is the way to immortality."

Chen Baochong sighed and nodded, then took out a storage bag from his sleeve and said:
"Boyang, this is the storage bag that my Senior Brother Pei asked me to give you. There are some things in it that I said I would give to you. I also put three Huangting talismans in it. Please be sure to accept them."

"Brother Pei? Huangting Talisman?"

Xu Boyang was slightly startled. Before he could say anything, he saw Chen Baochong handing him the storage bag and whispered:

"There are so many people here, so please put it away quickly. Boyang, we are friends for life and death, so there's no need to say more. We say goodbye today, and we don't know when we'll meet again. I hope you take care of yourself!"

After saying this, he bowed and turned away without giving Xu Boyang a chance to refuse.

Just after bidding farewell to Chen Baochong, Xu Boyang saw Qi Lianrou coming over. He was slightly moved. He put away the storage bag and bowed. But he heard her say softly:

"Xu Boyang, my ancestor sent me a message, asking if you are willing to come with us. Just learning a sword technique is not enough to survive in this chaotic world."

Xu Boyang was flattered. He heard the implication that Qi Lianrou already knew the whole story, and Qi Fuling actually wanted to accept him as a disciple. He was instantly delighted to be favored by the Taoist priest. But then he thought about the two young children waiting for him thousands of miles away in the mountains and lakes. He sighed softly and replied:
"Thank you very much, Senior. I am honored to receive your concern. However, I have elderly and young children at home, so I am unable to go anywhere. I just don't know where you are going now. I hope you can come and ask for your advice after I have settled my family."

Qi Lianrou didn't expect him to refuse. For a moment, her face lost its luster. Xie Shuge's rejection on the spot was already embarrassing enough. Now she encountered another ignorant boy. She said coldly:

"The Taoist intends to go to the far west to search for the lost opportunity of the Dao sect. That place is covered with thousands of miles of yellow sand, so it is not easy to find. Well, since you can't let go of your family, then there is no need to look for them."

After saying this, she swung her skirt and left.

Xu Boyang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and saw Pei Yansu looking at him not far away, with a helpless smile in his eyes, and he smiled back unconsciously.

Suddenly, Xu Boyang heard Su Yanlu's familiar voice:
"Boyang, we are separated by thousands of miles, and I don't know when we will meet again. When you return to 'Qinlong Mountain', you must evacuate our families to another place as soon as possible. You must not linger on Thousand Stars and Ten Thousand Islands Lake."

"The Qingshen movement will soon spread throughout the sea. There are islands belonging to the Qingshen clans on the lake. By then, the entire Zhufen Plain will be plunged into chaos. We can't stay here any longer, otherwise disaster will surely follow."

"Remember, take good care of my sister. Once you're settled, if things don't work out, you should still find a way to send her to Yanbei. If you two are in love, you must bring her to see me, and then you two can get married."

"Of course, it would be best to wait until she has established her foundation. As a gentleman, I hope you will not break your promise."

"By the way, my sister's name is Pei Zisu. She didn't mean to lie to you. Everything was arranged by me."

Xu Boyang listened quietly to Pei Yansu's story, and the doubts in his heart were finally resolved. Looking at his slightly cunning eyes, he was overwhelmed with emotions for a moment. The Pei family's suspicious nature was completely engraved in his mind.

When he recalled the bright smile of the purple-robed girl, he felt a warmth in his heart and thought:

"Yes, she is still waiting for me on the Thousand Stars and Islands Lake. Where else can I go?"

He calmed down and realized that the matter had been agreed upon. However, there were so many people around and it was inconvenient to say more. He nodded solemnly to Pei Yansu.

"Xu Boyang."

Xu Boyang suddenly turned around and saw Jiang Yujun standing behind him, followed by Jiang Shanzhou, Wen Zaixian and Xu Boqing.

Xu Boqing looked sad, still unable to recover from Zeng Shuming's death. He looked at Xu Boyang with a hint of sadness and a hint of expectation.

When Jiang Shanzhou saw Xu Boyang, his expression changed slightly and he said slowly:

"Jun Yu, if I remember correctly, this person should be a guest official of the Ding family."

Jiang Yujun said calmly:

"Yes, I know that, but I saw him save Zai Xian and Bo Qing with my own eyes. Don't worry, justice is the rule of our sect, and he is not a bad person."

Jiang Shanzhou frowned and asked, "Is your surname really Xu?" Wen Zaixian hurriedly said:
"Master, Master Xu and my wife are blood relatives. I can testify to this and guarantee it with my life."

Xu Boyang saw that Jiang Shanzhou had come with ill intentions, and he secretly thought that something was wrong. He glanced at Wen Zaixian and Xu Boqing, and said calmly:
"Yes, I am Xu Boyang, a guest official from Fengqing Town, Yuchuan."

"Shan Zhou, no need to say more."

Suddenly, Jiang Yuanli came over from the crowd, glanced at Xu Boyang, and nodded:

"Mr. Yu is right. I saw him just now. He made great efforts and killed Xu Wushou. He also rescued my family's young master, Mr. Xian. It's true that he abandoned evil and turned to good. There is no greater virtue than this!"

Xu Boyang smiled bitterly inwardly, feeling somewhat apprehensive, fearing that the matter of the [Hidden Demon Mirror] would be discovered by him, so he could only reply:

"I am a guest official of the Qingshen Taoist sect Yuchuan Fengqing Town, not a guest official of any particular family or individual."

"well said!"

Jiang Yuanli sighed softly.
"Since you are my Yuchuan disciple, are you willing to follow my family to the Endless Sea? If your surname is really Xu, there should still be blood relatives of your ancestors in that place. Returning to your family and slowly developing it, the future is promising."

Xu Boyang felt mixed emotions. He didn't expect that the three Taoist families would come to him and persuade him to follow them. He didn't know whether it was a coincidence or they had other plans.

Now that the Jiang family came to look for him, seeing the expectant look in Wen Zaixian and Xu Boqing's bright eyes, he thought that it was probably their credit. He sighed in his heart and politely declined their kindness on the grounds of the elderly in his family.

"If you still have such mortal desires, you will never reach the stage of foundation building."

After hearing this, Jiang Yuanli frowned with a look of disdain, said something, and left.

Jiang Shanzhou snorted, waved his sleeves and left, leaving behind a cold sentence:

"You are so attached to the mundane world and have no ambition, yet you still dream of becoming an immortal?"

Jiang Yujun glanced at Wen Zaixian and his wife and said calmly:
"Xu Boyang, this is not the right path. Time is running out. Think about it carefully."

After saying that, she swung her skirt and turned away.

"Please follow me, both of you."

Facing the unfriendly tone of Jiang Yuanli and Jiang Shanzhou, Xu Boyang did not show any anger. After the three of them left, Xu Boyang led Wen Zaixian and Xu Boqing to a rarely visited rocky cliff.

"Brother, you keep the magic weapon. I don't need it."

Just after he stood still, Xu Boqing took off his Taoist cape and took the initiative to return the [Dongxuan Dharma Cape].

Xu Boyang took it and sighed:
"This is a gift from a friend, otherwise it can be given to my sister."

"Brother, let's not talk about this. Now that the Dao Sect is in decline and our family is weak, it's difficult for us to survive on our own. Are you really not going to come with us?"

Xu Boqing couldn't help but ask.

Xu Boyang sighed:
"Sister, I have to go. You don't know that your uncle, uncle Ji, and your second brother Bo Zhao are waiting for me at Feng Qing's home. Qingshen has suffered such a disaster. If I don't go back, they will probably be eaten by the demons."

"Also, your brother and sister, whom you've never met, are still thousands of miles away in the Zhufen wilderness. They've just embarked on the immortal path and are still in the process of enlightenment. I need to arrange everything for them."

Xu Boqing suddenly realized and covered his mouth: "So that's how it is..."

"Don't worry, I will take care of everything. You and Master Wen are deeply in love, and I won't let you be separated. You can go with the Jiang family without worry. Once I have settled my family, I will come to the East China Sea to find you when I have free time."

After hearing these words, Wen Zaixian and his wife naturally understood Xu Boyang's good intentions. Wen Zaixian sighed softly and said with a bow:
"Brother, your words resonate deeply with me. There are still a number of members of my Wen family who are also in the Jiang family, and I cannot let them go. Brother, Bo Qing's family affairs are now the affairs of my Wen family. I leave everything to you. If you have free time in the future, please come to the East China Sea."

Xu Boyang bowed and agreed. Seeing that the two men were about to say goodbye, he said:
"Please wait a moment, both of you."

After saying that, he waved his hand and Zeng Shuming's body flew out of the [Yin Shen Buddha Shrine] and fell lightly.

As soon as Xu Boqing saw his brother's face, he closed his eyes, tears welled up in his eyes, and his little hands tightly grasped Wen Zaixian's arm.

"Sister, the deceased is gone. Don't be too sad. When you are settled, find a good place to bury him."

Xu Boyang sighed lightly, pinched his fingers together, and cast a "Fire Curse". A raging fire immediately covered Zeng Shuming's body.

When the ashes appeared, the three of them collected the ashes together and put them in a box. Xu Boqing held the urn and bid farewell to Xu Boyang with her husband.

After a while, the incense in the field burned out, and the people in Feilaiju had also been divided. The vast majority of people chose to follow the three Taoist priests to the far corners of the world and seek other places. A quick glance showed that there were only more than ten monks who insisted on returning to Nanhuai.

Sun Rushi, Sun Shangli, and Yu Qingmei were of course there, and the rest were the Fei brothers, Lu Yangxian, Zhang Guanzhi, Xu Boyang and others, and Xie Shuge was also among them. However, according to him and Sun Shangli, he was just forming a team, and after breaking the formation and leaving Yuchuan, he would leave on his own.

Xu Boyang thought it was not surprising. Now that the Taoist sect was falling apart, all Taoist practitioners in the world had become homeless dogs and had no master. If he did not follow these few remaining Taoist priests closely, the great path he wanted would probably never be realized in the future.

When everything was settled, Pei Shaoyao took out a colorful treasure ship from his sleeve and threw it into the air. It instantly grew dozens of times larger. Then he clasped his hands together and said goodbye to Qi Fuling and Jiang Taiqing:

"It's been so long since we've been here, the world is so high and the sky is so far away, take care, fellow disciples! Our Pei family will never forget what happened today!"

"Never forget!"

Jiang Taiqing and Qi Fuling both bowed in response.

After Pei Shaoyao took Chen Baochong, Pei Yansu and others away on the boat, Qi Fuling also summoned a dark cloud and left with Qi Lianrou, Wu Hanshuo and others.

It was like the guests at a banquet had left, and the number of people in Feilaiju suddenly decreased a lot.

Sun Shangli, Sun Rushi and Yu Qingmei bid farewell to Jiang Taiqing and Jiang Yuanli one by one. Jiang Taiqing sat cross-legged on the ground, closed his eyes and waved gently.

"My fellow disciples, please follow me."

Sun Rushi walked to the edge of the cliff, took out a wind boat from his storage bag, threw it into the air, and then led more than ten monks who wanted to return to Nanhuai. He took off into the air and flew straight to Nanhuai in the dark night.

During this period, Xu Boyang did not say a word from beginning to end, and followed silently. He watched with his own eyes as the Qingshen Taoist sect parted ways in the blink of an eye, and the monkeys scatter when the tree falls. He couldn't help feeling sad.

He recalled that not long ago, he and the Fei brothers, Lu Yangxian, Ding Xuelian and the other five people were strolling in Yuchuan City. The Ba Chi Street was bustling with traffic, and the Ling Huai River was filled with singing birds and dancing swallows. For a moment, it seemed like a lifetime ago, almost like a dream.

The night sky is windy and the mountains and rivers are as dark as crows. I wonder if my Fengqing Town is safe?
Suddenly, Xie Shuge was seen standing alone at the bow of the boat, holding a mottled jade flute in his hand, looking at the dim sky, sighing softly, and playing the flute with pursed lips.

The flute sounds mournful, like running water in the woods, lingering in everyone's heart.

After playing a little tune, he slowly sang a verse from Yuchuanling on the Huai River. His voice was mournful and sad, and the content was thought-provoking:

"I once saw the orioles singing in the Jade Palace of Jinling at dawn, and the flowers blooming early in the pavilions along the waters of Linghuai. Who knew that the ice would melt so easily?"

"I watched him build a red mansion, I watched him entertain guests, and I watched his mansion collapse..."

(End of this chapter)