The moonlight tonight was beautiful, as the bright moon emerged between the clouds, casting its light upon the earth. The entire Infatuation Daoist Temple shimmered as if adorned with a light veil.
Those young disciples below the cliff heard Ye Zhihua's earlier words. After they fell into a brief silence, someone opened their mouth and said, "I think I heard Senior Sister Ye speaking. She didn't turn him down?"
"Nor did she agree, did she?" A female disciple was somewhat disgruntled, gazing at the cliffside and thinking that someone as fine as Senior Brother Yun was indeed someone beyond her reach.
"Junior Sister's words sound a bit sour. Any discerning person can tell that Senior Sister Ye didn't reject, isn't that as good as acceptance?"
A male disciple lamented, "Turns out that Senior Sister Ye didn't have the thought of rejecting Senior Brother Yun all along. Then, they have really wasted a good number of years after so long."
The female disciple who had been retorted snorted coldly and walked away, with no intention of debating at all.
The young disciple who had just spoken was taken aback when he saw this scene, he did not know why that junior sister would become angry. But soon, a disciple beside him nudged his shoulder and whispered, "Senior Brother, go and pacify her quickly. How dare you bully Junior Sister? Be careful that Master might make you go down the mountain and set off on a journey tomorrow."
That disciple was puzzled, "But I didn't say anything?"
Hearing this, many laughing voices suddenly sounded out around him. The atmosphere was very joyous.
In reality, the Infatuation Daoist Temple had always been a very strange place. It was far from as solemn as others imagined, but rather casual. It was not at all like what one would expect from the daoist leader of the Dao society.
The Temple Master stood at a distance and saw Yun Jianyue turn and leave, presumably to change his clothes. Only then, did he turn his head with lingering fear to the few old daoists present and asked in a soft voice, "Martial Uncles, has the matter been resolved to your satisfaction?"
Several old daoists snorted coldly, relatively satisfied with this conclusion. At least Yun Jianyue's Dao heart did not shatter. But soon, another old daoist spoke up, "If these two become Dao companions in the future, it's best if it doesn't affect their cultivation. Otherwise, we'll still be finding trouble with you."
The Temple Master furrowed his brow, somewhat puzzled. "What does it have to do with me what happens afterward?"
"Aren't you the Temple Master? Shouldn't you be responsible for the temple's matters?"
Several old daoists all chimed in agreement and did not say much more. After saying these words, they left on their own.
Only the white-browed old daoist remained, looking toward the cliff with many nostalgic emotions in his turbid eyes. Once upon a time, he was also young and full of vigor. At that time, he had a woman he liked too, and there were women who liked him as well.
However, after so many years, those women who were once associated with him had long turned to dust. Even many other relatives and friends had passed away many years ago.
On the journey of the Great Dao, many people chose not to seek Dao companions and disconnect from the secular world early because they were worried about this. The longer they lived, the lonelier it became.
The Temple Master looked at this senior in the temple and said softly, "Please accept my condolences, Martial Uncle."
He naturally understood this feeling. In the journey of the Great Dao, in the end, everyone would part ways. Since this was the case, it might be better not to start at all.
Without a beginning, there would be no end.
Not planting the seed meant not having to see the day the flower withered.
The white-browed old daoist smiled and said, "The Great Peace Dao always used this to comment on us. They believe that the experience is essential, and as for the result, it's not important. Regardless of whether the result is good or bad, you have to at least start first. Just like that boy, he held it in for so many years and only just now figured it out. It's a bit like those daoists from the Great Peace Dao."
Seemingly aware of what the Temple Master was thinking, the old daoist spoke with a hint of meaning.
The Temple Master smiled and said, "In fact, the two lineages differ not only in their cultivation principles, or else they would have merged long ago."
The Dao society was still the most powerful cultivation faction in the world, but the Great Peace Dao and the Longevity Dao had always been in a divided state. If the two lineages were to merge someday, that would truly be the most formidable Dao society.
The white-browed old daoist retracted his gaze away, then turned and slowly walked toward the foot of the mountain.
The Temple Master stood on the spot, watching without saying anything.
Previously, the old daoist had mentioned that he would definitely travel the world during his final days, but the Temple Master had also realized that this time, coming out of seclusion, this Martial Uncle probably did not have much lifespan left. He probably would not live for much longer. Descending the mountain at this moment only confirmed his thoughts.
However, he still felt somewhat melancholic.
He still remembered that when he first ascended the mountain, it was this Martial Uncle who waited for him at the mountain pass gates and brought him up the mountain.
Daoist cultivators, especially those in the Longevity Dao lineage, were probably familiar with the verse left by the previous generation's great sage, "The immortal strokes my head, and I knot my hair to achieve eternal life."
But where exactly was this eternal life?
……
……
Yun Jianyue changed into a moon-white daoist robe and cleaned the glass bottle before returning to the cliff.
Ye Zhihua was sitting on a large rock, swinging her long legs back and forth at the edge of the cliff, resembling a swaying swing.
Summoning his courage, Yun Jianyue approached and sat down beside Ye Zhihua, then handed over the glass bottle. Ye Zhihua took out a clean white handkerchief and received the bottle before opening it and taking out the white flower.
Moonlight spilled onto the white flower, looking rather uniquely beautiful.
"If you have something to say, you can say it."
Ye Zhihua looked at the white flower as she said casually.
Yun Jianyue was about to speak, but upon hearing this, he became a little nervous again, his palms sweating.
Ye Zhihua handed over a white handkerchief with some disdain, saying, "Wipe your hands."
After taking it, Yun Jianyue carefully wiped his hands thoroughly before belatedly commenting, "Turns out that Senior Sister is a bit of a germophobe."
Ye Zhihua nodded and said, "A little, but it's still alright"
Yun Jianyue did not speak.
Ye Zhihua furrowed her brows and said, "Speak."
For a moment, Yun Jianyue did not know what to say, feeling somewhat lost.
"After saying so much on the mountain path earlier, now you don't want to say a word in front of me anymore?"
Ye Zhihua glanced at the bright moon in the sky.
Yun Jianyue asked, "Do you also want to hear those stories?"
Ye Zhihua said calmly, "Since I ascended the mountain, I've never gone down. There are so many things in the world that I naturally want to know about."
Yun Jianyue nodded and quickly smiled, gently opening up about his experiences over the years.
Roaming the world was something very few cultivators did, as they considered cultivation to be a beautiful pursuit. Why would there be a need to waste time wandering the world?
Yun Jianyue said, "I have been to the South Sea. After going out to sea, I saw the fishermen from the Great Liang Dynasty dredging up the things we use for cultivation from the deep sea. People would die every day, but new people go out to sea every day. Senior Sister, do you think we are at fault for such things?"
Ye Zhihua furrowed her brows slightly. She had considered many things that Yun Jianyue might say, but she did not expect him to talk about this in the end.
"Not everyone in the world can do things according to their own wishes. It's very normal."
Ye Zhihua shook her head, shifting her gaze away from the white flower and looking at Yun Jianyue as she said calmly. "What you want to do may not necessarily succeed; that's the way it is."
......
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