The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun.

Upon hearing Ning Zhongze's words, Yue Buqun finally responded.

"Don't worry, junior sister, I'm fine."

Yue Buqun turned to Ning Zhongze and forced a smile.

"I won't be discouraged by this."

Although she knew Yue Buqun was saying this to comfort her, she still breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Senior brother, I know Ning'er means a lot to you, and he means a lot to me too. We watched Ning'er grow up since he was a child, and it pains me to see him like this. If I have the chance to avenge Ning'er, I will never let those who killed Ning'er go. Whatever you do after that, I will definitely support you."

Ning Zhongze felt that Yue Buqun might launch a war against the Demonic Sect soon. She didn't know if Feng Buping and Cheng Buyou would support him, but she would definitely support Yue Buqun's decision.

At worst, we can have a grand battle with the evil cult. Even if we die, we'll have the face to face our ancestors.

Hearing Ning Zhongze's words, Yue Buqun finally showed a genuine smile.

His partner's comfort and support made him feel a little better.

But just as Ning Zhongze guessed, Yue Buqun planned to start a war with the Demonic Sect after the Emei Sect's leadership inauguration ceremony.

"Okay, let's go back..."

Clearing his mind, Yue Buqun was about to say he would go back, but he froze the next second.

"Senior brother, what's wrong?"

Ning Zhongze saw Yue Buqun standing there motionless, staring straight behind her, and asked in confusion.

Yue Buqun did not reply to her, but continued to stare straight behind her as if he had witnessed something unbelievable.

Ning Zhong was puzzled, but when he turned around and saw it, he was also stunned.

A young man stood not far away watching them.

"Master and Mistress, your disciple is late and has caused you worry."

Hearing the young man's apologetic voice, Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze were stunned.

Ning Zhongze opened her eyes wide and looked at the figure not far away, her lips trembling slightly.

“Ning…’er…”

As Ning Zhongze spoke, a gust of wind blew behind her, and the next second Yue Buqun stood in front of the young man, looking on incredulously.

"Ning'er, you...you're still alive?"

Hearing Yue Buqun's slightly trembling voice and seeing his full head of white hair, Jiang Ning felt very sad.

"Master, your disciple is safe and sound. I'm sorry to have worried you."

Yue Buqun's expression was very complicated at this moment, with both lingering sadness and joy at seeing Jiangning again.

As he spoke, Yue Buqun reached out and touched Jiang Ning's shoulder. Only when he felt the touch on his fingertips did he finally believe that he was not hallucinating.

Hearing Jiang Ning's words, Yue Buqun could not contain his emotions and repeatedly said, "It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright."

At this moment, Ning Zhongze also realized what had happened and hurriedly ran over, overjoyed, saying, "Ning'er, it's so good that you're still alive. Your master has become much more haggard since he learned about your accident."

Actually, even without Ning Zhongze mentioning it, Jiang Ning could see it.

Yue Buqun's full head of white hair is proof of this.

Jiang Ning felt even more distressed at this moment.

"Your disciple is unfilial and has caused Master worry."

If he had known, he should have set off and returned once his injuries had healed a bit, and Yue Buqun wouldn't have done it this way.

"This matter is over."

Yue Buqun was very happy at this moment. "As long as Ning'er is alright, that's all that matters."

After the initial joy, Yue Buqun finally calmed down and said, "Ning'er, how have you been these past few days? I heard that Ren Woxing sent a large number of experts to hunt you down."

Ning Zhongze also said, "Ning'er, why haven't we heard from you at all during this time? Your master and I both thought you were really dead."

Jiang Ning then recounted what had happened.

"After I left the bamboo forest, no one chased after me. I came to the vicinity of a village. At that time, I was seriously injured and on the verge of death. I was unable to get up until a village woman met me. It just so happened that the woman was someone I had saved from the mountain stronghold. Thanks to the woman's efforts to save me, I survived. I recuperated in that village for several months until October when I set off from Shandong to Mount Emei."

Yue Buqun was filled with lingering fear upon hearing this, and only breathed a sigh of relief at the very end.

Upon hearing that it was the woman Jiang Ning had once saved who had rescued him, Yue Buqun repeatedly expressed his gratitude to her.

"Every drink and every bite is ordained by Heaven."

Yue Buqun said, "It is precisely because you saved that woman that she happened to pass by you and saved you when you were about to die. This is the will of Heaven, and it is also because your life was not meant to end."

Jiang Ning also felt that the world was full of wonders.

"By the way, Master."

Jiang Ning then said, "That woman saved me, and I have no way to repay her. Seeing that her son is congenitally weak, I plan to take him as my disciple to practice the internal strength of the Huashan Sect and improve his health. Therefore, I would like to ask for your permission..."

Upon hearing this, Yue Buqun waved his hand before Jiang Ning could finish speaking.

"receive!"

Taking on a disciple is nothing; just because that woman saved Jiang Ning's life, he wished he could worship her.

(How come there are still readers who think this book has a female lead? *facepalm*)

Chapter 448: What will you give in exchange?

Let alone taking on a disciple, even if that woman wanted his life, Yue Buqun would give it to her.

"Did you bring that woman's son? I want to see how he is doing."

Yue Buqun asked.

Jiang Ning said, "This disciple has already taken Liu Lie and his mother back to Huaming Village at the foot of Mount Hua and settled them in."

Yue Buqun nodded upon hearing this. "Very well, after things are settled here, we will set off back to Mount Hua. I must thank that woman properly."

After hearing about Jiang Ning's story, Yue Buqun looked at Jiang Ning with a look of deep emotion in his eyes.

"Fortunately, fortunately, you were in grave danger this time, but you still returned safely."

Only those who have truly lost something can understand the feeling of regaining it.

Jiang Ning also laughed and said, "The key to this was that I took the Zhenwu Sword from Xiang Wentian. That sword was the key to my escape from the encirclement. Otherwise, I wouldn't have survived."

At this point, Yue Buqun's expression changed, and he said to Jiang Ning, "Ning'er, let your master take a look at that Zhenwu Sword."

Jiang Ning unwrapped the Zhenwu Sword, which was wrapped in cloth, and handed it over.

Yue Buqun took the Zhenwu Sword and examined it from head to toe.

At this moment, the Zhenwu Sword still looked the same as before, without any luster, but it looked very sharp.

At this moment, Yue Buqun poured his internal energy into it, but the Zhenwu Sword did not react, as if it were an ordinary weapon.

However, Yue Buqun didn't care whether the sword was a divine weapon or not; instead, he seemed lost in thought.

At this moment, Ning Zhongze also frowned and said, "I heard that Zhang Sanfeng, the founder of Wudang School, also had one a hundred years ago. It later became the treasure of Wudang School. How come the Demonic Sect also has a Zhenwu Sword? Could it be a forgery by the Demonic Sect?"

At this moment, Yue Buqun was still examining the Zhenwu Sword. After hearing Ning Zhongze's words, he replied, "It shouldn't be fake. Although this sword is sharp, you can still see signs of use. If I'm not mistaken, this Zhenwu Sword should be the Wudang Sect's most prized possession."

Ning Zhongze was even more puzzled: "Could it be that the Demonic Sect stole it from Wudang Mountain? But we didn't hear the Wudang Sect say that their Zhenwu Sword was missing."

At this moment, Ning Zhongze's doubts were also Yue Buqun's questions, but he didn't say much. Instead, he looked at Jiang Ning and asked, "Where is the scabbard of this sword?"

Jiang Ning shook his head and said, "The situation was critical at the time. I only managed to take the Zhenwu Sword from Xiang Wentian. I didn't have the chance to take the scabbard as well."

The situation was too dangerous at the time. Jiang Ning only had time to seize the Zhenwu Sword and retrieve the broken Gentleman's Sword. After leaving the bamboo forest, Jiang Ning ran all the way to the village where the woman lived to recuperate. He never returned to the bamboo forest, probably because it had already been cleaned up by the Demonic Sect.

Yue Buqun felt a little regretful.

If we could also retrieve the scabbard, we could better determine whether the sword truly belongs to Wudang.

However, Yue Buqun didn't ask for too much, after all, it was already a blessing that Jiang Ning was able to return alive.

Yue Buqun returned the Zhenwu Sword to Jiang Ning and said, "Try injecting your internal energy into it."

Jiang Ning nodded, then poured in his inner strength, and the originally ordinary Zhenwu Sword began to emit a chilling aura.

Yue Buqun's eyes held a deep meaning as he witnessed this scene.

Ning Zhongze was also quite surprised.

"Ning'er, keep this Zhenwu Sword safe. Wudang hasn't sent anyone yet. Once they do, I'll find an opportunity to ask Master Chongxu if their Zhenwu Sword, their sect's treasure, is still on Wudang Mountain. But until then, it's not appropriate to take this sword out."

Yue Buqun gave Jiang Ning some instructions.

Jiang Ning nodded: "Yes, Master."

After saying this, Jiang Ning took the Gentleman's Sword from his waist.

"Master, I am unharmed in this battle, but the Gentleman's Sword..."

Yue Buqun waved his hand, signaling Jiang Ning not to continue.

Jiang Ning had already told him about the broken Gentleman's Sword when he recounted what had happened beforehand.

"It's just a sword. It's nothing compared to you. As long as you return safely, even if ten or a hundred swords are broken, it's not worth mentioning."

Yue Buqun took the Gentleman's Sword and drew it. He saw that the Gentleman's Sword was only half left, and even the broken half was full of dense nicks and pits.

Yue Buqun felt a pang in his heart.

It seems that the great battle Jiang Ning encountered was more dangerous than he had imagined.

Did you see your senior brothers, junior brothers, or other senior uncles and aunts when you went up Mount Emei?

Yue Buqun asked.

Jiang Ning shook his head.

"No."

Jiang Ning was heading straight to the Golden Summit Temple on his way to Mount Emei, but he happened to see Yue Buqun on the cliff, so he came over first.

Yue Buqun nodded and said, "In that case, you should come up with me and see your fellow disciples, especially Chong'er, who was very depressed after learning of your death."

Jiang Ning smiled and said, "Yes, Master."