Nightfall

The winter was cold and windy .

As the tension was released, the refugees were relocated . People living in the Southern City were working hard to rebuild their homeland .

Hundreds of Tang soldiers were pa.s.sing by along the road . Judging from their armor and weapons, they were likely to be from the garrison troops . Seeing them, people would put down their tools and encourage them . Some of them would shout, "Come on, Chang"an is close . "

The soldiers would nod and move on . The applause would stop soon after . Since the imperial court was unable to increase the relief efforts, they had to help themselves out to pull through the winter . At least, they had to mend the houses .

Behind the Tang Army"s procession there were several carriages . People a.s.sumed they were southern officials and paid no attention to them . They would never believe that these people in the carriages had, in a sense, saved the country .

The suns.h.i.+ne shone through the gaps and fell on Jun Mo"s face—his pale face looked like white snow under the suns.h.i.+ne . He looked at the scorched village and kept silent . n.o.body knew what he was thinking .

Mu You looked at his face and could not help becoming worried .

All of the Academy disciples had been injured in the Verdant Canyon . She was less injured but she had spent too much Psyche Power in maintaining the tactical array . She felt better after these days .

The rest of them were all in worse shapes and still could not get up after treatment . They all rested in the trailing horse carriages, hoping to recover .

Jun Mo was the one she worried the most since his injuries were the most severe . He had woken up after they left the Verdant Canyon . He seemed fine, but everyone was worried .

It was because he barely talked during the trip—he just sat by the window, watching the wilderness covered with snow or the burned villages .

Looking at his face and hair scattering on his back, Mu You rested her eyes on his empty sleeve and sighed silently in her heart .

The carriages did not enter Chang"an . They headed directly to the Academy .

The Tang Army who escorted them had left before they reached the meadow . The meadow was covered with snow and peach flowers, which hadn"t yet blossomed . The Academy was quiet and lonely .

There was no royalty, ministers and citizens welcoming them and they heard no gong sounds . Only a few people were waiting for them .

However, they didn"t care . They did not inform the people in Chang"an . Returning to the Academy was coming home .

There were only two people waiting for them on the meadow—the cute little servant, Xu Jialun and Ning Que, who was leaning on a crutch and covered in bandages .

The little servant cried out before he could say something .

He had been scared since Jun Mo left . He was so excited when he saw his young master come back safely until he found his empty sleeve .

He cried out loudly .

Jun Mo frowned and said, "Stop . "

Upon hearing this, the little servant tried to stop, but his tears were too much to be wiped off . Then he saw Jun Mo"s hair which made him break down once again .

"Young master, what happened to your hair?"

Staring at his empty sleeve and gray hair, Ning Que was speechless .

Jun Mo said with a straight face, "It is too dusty after the long trip . "

It sounded clumsy and adorable, but no one laughed .

The carriage was quiet .

"Why is the Academy so quiet?" Second Brother asked .

Ning Que answered, "Third Sister dismissed the instructors and students in advance, so some of them left . Most of them are working for the imperial court in Chang"an or joined the army . "

Jun Mo asked, "How are Elder Brother and Yu Lian?"

"They are disabled for now, but they look fine," Ning Que answered .

The carriage drove through the ruined stone gate of the Academy and went deep inside .

The buildings and the Front Hall of the second floor had been destroyed . Even the paths to the old library and the back of the mountain were devastated . They could not find anyone to rebuild them for now .

Jun Mo grew silent as he was taking in the scene .

It was still as warm as spring in the back of the mountain .

The little servant and Tang Xiaotang carried the disciples into the hut and laid them on beds for their recovery . Some of them had woken up, but the rest were still unconscious .

There would be no vertical bamboo flute sounds, music, booming sounds, or brawls between Song Qian and the Eighth Brother temporarily . Probably they would never see their Master again .

The Eldest Brother and Yu Lian were both sitting in wheelchairs .

Jun Mo released Mu You"s hand and walked to the Eldest Brother, saluting . Then he turned to Yu Lian and said, "Xiong Chumo deserves to die . Why didn"t you kill him?"

Yu Lian answered, "He is more useful living than dead . "

Second Brother thought for a while and let it go .

Looking at his empty sleeve and gray hair, Eldest Brother comforted him and said, "Teacher told us, if something was unchangeable, we have to adapt . "

"I don"t care, but I feel sorry . "

He turned to the gloomy sky and said, "I have always admired my Youngest Uncle, who could fight against Heaven with his sword . After Teacher left in the Sishui River, I was expecting to follow him in the future . Now I may have no chance . "

Not everyone was able to understand him .

The Eldest Brother sighed . Then he said, "Pipi has left . "

In the back of the mountain, Jun Mo and Chen Pipi were the closest . When he heard this, he asked after a little silence, "Can the Abbey Dean recover?"

It was the most important issue for the Academy .

Jun Mo was asking Ning Que .

Everyone in the hut were looking at Ning Que .

On the Vermilion Bird Avenue that day, Ning Que had answered this question . Yet, he still thought for a long time before he answered, "No, he can"t . "

Hearing this answer, Second Brother finally relaxed . Even the wind had become warmer .

The powerful Abbey Dean had always been the rainy cloud over their hearts . Even though he failed, he was not beaten by Ning Que . He was beaten by the G.o.d-stunning Array .

In other words, he was defeated by the Master .

If they fought in some other place rather than Chang"an, neither the Eldest Brother nor Jun Mo, plus Yu Lian, would be unable to beat him .

As for Ning Que, he had no chance at all .

The waterfall sounded deafening, echoing throughout the hut .

Ning Que had always wondered how his Second Brother could sleep in this environment and how could they hear each other when they were talking in the yard .

He once asked his Second Brother about this and his answer was: if you could get used to it, you would hear nothing when your heart was at peace .

Dozens of days had pa.s.sed, and after two wonderful and breathtaking battles, Jun Mo returned to his own small courtyard .

For the first time, he realized that it was noisy .

He knew it was because his heart was not calm enough .

He stood in front of the window, looking at the night sky and fell silent for a long time . Then he watched his empty sleeve and frowned .

He lost his right arm when he fought against Liu Bai .

His arm was not the problem . He could use his left hand and he was still invincible—the problem was his heart, which was another pair of shoes .

He clearly knew that he might never be able to reach the pinnacle of cultivation .

The Great Way existed, at the beginning of the main road .

The other side of the river brings us to the other end .

It was a fairer place above the Five States, where only the Headmaster and the Youngest Uncle could reach .

It was above the sky .

He was only a little inferior to Liu Bai in Sword Taoism, but he was younger and he had more potential . He should have been able to reach there .

However, now all hopes had been cut off .

This was the heaviest blow, even worse than death for a cultivator, which could drive people crazy . Even for a tough man like Jun Mo, his hair grayed .

Yet if someone asked him if this was worth it, he still refused to answer .

He never regretted .

How was it not worth it to have a fight with Liu Bai?

He just felt sorry for himself .

"If you can"t fight with Heaven, you can fight with people . It would also be interesting . "

Ning Que entered the yard and said, "The Abbey Dean has been ruined, but Eldest Brother and Third Sister are badly injured . They will be unable to recover in a short time . Both the country and the Academy need you . "

Jun Mo didn"t turn around . He said, "Don"t worry about me . "

"I have to," said Ning Que .

Jun Mo turned around and said with a smile, "I will drop it . "

Ning Que suddenly felt that he wasn"t able to recognize the man standing in front of him after he turned around . There was something happening to him, something subtle .

Even he had taken his high hat off and he was smiling; he was the same proudest man in the world . He just looked less unamiable .

Ning Que was unfamiliar with this, so he didn"t know what to say .

Jun Mo continued, "I just haven"t adapted to it since I can"t hold my right hand with my left hand when I stand . It would look ugly when I make a salute . ". . . . The winter was cold and windy . As the tension was released, the refugees were relocated . People living in the Southern City were working hard to rebuild their homeland . Hundreds of Tang soldiers were pa.s.sing by along the road . Judging from their armor and weapons, they were likely to be from the garrison troops . Seeing them, people would put down their tools and encourage them . Some of them would shout, Come on, Changan is close . The soldiers would nod and move on . The applause would stop soon after . Since the imperial court was unable to increase the relief efforts, they had to help themselves out to pull through the winter . At least, they had to mend the houses . Behind the Tang Armys procession there were several carriages . People a.s.sumed they were southern officials and paid no attention to them . They would never believe that these people in the carriages had, in a sense, saved the country . The suns.h.i.+ne shone through the gaps and fell on Jun Mos face—his pale face looked like white snow under the suns.h.i.+ne . He looked at the scorched village and kept silent . n.o.body knew what he was thinking . Mu You looked at his face and could not help becoming worried . All of the Academy disciples had been injured in the Verdant Canyon . She was less injured but she had spent too much Psyche Power in maintaining the tactical array . She felt better after these days . The rest of them were all in worse shapes and still could not get up after treatment . They all rested in the trailing horse carriages, hoping to recover . Jun Mo was the one she worried the most since his injuries were the most severe . He had woken up after they left the Verdant Canyon . He seemed fine, but everyone was worried . It was because he barely talked during the trip—he just sat by the window, watching the wilderness covered with snow or the burned villages . Looking at his face and hair scattering on his back, Mu You rested her eyes on his empty sleeve and sighed silently in her heart . The carriages did not enter Changan . They headed directly to the Academy . The Tang Army who escorted them had left before they reached the meadow . The meadow was covered with snow and peach flowers, which hadnt yet blossomed . The Academy was quiet and lonely . There was no royalty, ministers and citizens welcoming them and they heard no gong sounds . Only a few people were waiting for them . However, they didnt care . They did not inform the people in Changan . Returning to the Academy was coming home . There were only two people waiting for them on the meadow—the cute little servant, Xu Jialun and Ning Que, who was leaning on a crutch and covered in bandages . . . The little servant cried out before he could say something . He had been scared since Jun Mo left . He was so excited when he saw his young master come back safely until he found his empty sleeve . He cried out loudly . Jun Mo frowned and said, Stop . Upon hearing this, the little servant tried to stop, but his tears were too much to be wiped off . Then he saw Jun Mos hair which made him break down once again . Young master, what happened to your hair? Staring at his empty sleeve and gray hair, Ning Que was speechless . Jun Mo said with a straight face, It is too dusty after the long trip . It sounded clumsy and adorable, but no one laughed . The carriage was quiet . Why is the Academy so quiet? Second Brother asked . Ning Que answered, Third Sister dismissed the instructors and students in advance, so some of them left . Most of them are working for the imperial court in Changan or joined the army . Jun Mo asked, How are Elder Brother and Yu Lian? They are disabled for now, but they look fine, Ning Que answered . The carriage drove through the ruined stone gate of the Academy and went deep inside . The buildings and the Front Hall of the second floor had been destroyed . Even the paths to the old library and the back of the mountain were devastated . They could not find anyone to rebuild them for now . Jun Mo grew silent as he was taking in the scene . . . It was still as warm as spring in the back of the mountain . The little servant and Tang Xiaotang carried the disciples into the hut and laid them on beds for their recovery . Some of them had woken up, but the rest were still unconscious . There would be no vertical bamboo flute sounds, music, booming sounds, or brawls between Song Qian and the Eighth Brother temporarily . Probably they would never see their Master again . The Eldest Brother and Yu Lian were both sitting in wheelchairs . Jun Mo released Mu Yous hand and walked to the Eldest Brother, saluting . Then he turned to Yu Lian and said, Xiong Chumo deserves to die . Why didnt you kill him? Yu Lian answered, He is more useful living than dead . Second Brother thought for a while and let it go . Looking at his empty sleeve and gray hair, Eldest Brother comforted him and said, Teacher told us, if something was unchangeable, we have to adapt . I dont care, but I feel sorry . He turned to the gloomy sky and said, I have always admired my Youngest Uncle, who could fight against Heaven with his sword . After Teacher left in the Sishui River, I was expecting to follow him in the future . Now I may have no chance . Not everyone was able to understand him . The Eldest Brother sighed . Then he said, Pipi has left . In the back of the mountain, Jun Mo and Chen Pipi were the closest . When he heard this, he asked after a little silence, Can the Abbey Dean recover? It was the most important issue for the Academy . Jun Mo was asking Ning Que . Everyone in the hut were looking at Ning Que . On the Vermilion Bird Avenue that day, Ning Que had answered this question . Yet, he still thought for a long time before he answered, No, he cant . Hearing this answer, Second Brother finally relaxed . Even the wind had become warmer . The powerful Abbey Dean had always been the rainy cloud over their hearts . Even though he failed, he was not beaten by Ning Que . He was beaten by the G.o.d-stunning Array . In other words, he was defeated by the Master . If they fought in some other place rather than Changan, neither the Eldest Brother nor Jun Mo, plus Yu Lian, would be unable to beat him . As for Ning Que, he had no chance at all . The waterfall sounded deafening, echoing throughout the hut . Ning Que had always wondered how his Second Brother could sleep in this environment and how could they hear each other when they were talking in the yard . He once asked his Second Brother about this and his answer was: if you could get used to it, you would hear nothing when your heart was at peace . Dozens of days had pa.s.sed, and after two wonderful and breathtaking battles, Jun Mo returned to his own small courtyard . For the first time, he realized that it was noisy . He knew it was because his heart was not calm enough . He stood in front of the window, looking at the night sky and fell silent for a long time . Then he watched his empty sleeve and frowned . He lost his right arm when he fought against Liu Bai . His arm was not the problem . He could use his left hand and he was still invincible—the problem was his heart, which was another pair of shoes . He clearly knew that he might never be able to reach the pinnacle of cultivation . The Great Way existed, at the beginning of the main road . The other side of the river brings us to the other end . It was a fairer place above the Five States, where only the Headmaster and the Youngest Uncle could reach . It was above the sky . He was only a little inferior to Liu Bai in Sword Taoism, but he was younger and he had more potential . He should have been able to reach there . However, now all hopes had been cut off . This was the heaviest blow, even worse than death for a cultivator, which could drive people crazy . Even for a tough man like Jun Mo, his hair grayed . Yet if someone asked him if this was worth it, he still refused to answer . He never regretted . How was it not worth it to have a fight with Liu Bai? He just felt sorry for himself . If you cant fight with Heaven, you can fight with people . It would also be interesting . Ning Que entered the yard and said, The Abbey Dean has been ruined, but Eldest Brother and Third Sister are badly injured . They will be unable to recover in a short time . Both the country and the Academy need you . Jun Mo didnt turn around . He said, Dont worry about me . I have to, said Ning Que . Jun Mo turned around and said with a smile, I will drop it . Ning Que suddenly felt that he wasnt able to recognize the man standing in front of him after he turned around . There was something happening to him, something subtle . Even he had taken his high hat off and he was smiling; he was the same proudest man in the world . He just looked less unamiable . Ning Que was unfamiliar with this, so he didnt know what to say . Jun Mo continued, I just havent adapted to it since I cant hold my right hand with my left hand when I stand . It would look ugly when I make a salute .