Seven years passed Ryse had not left the forest again he focused on learning alchemy and had already perfected forty nine types of pills. During these years he did not give up trying to find the devil's cure it was unfortunate that he had not found it at all. Ryse was a little sad, It seems he is not allowed to change the old man's fate.
Today was The original soul Fang Jing ci's fourteenth birthday. The old man will not survive this month, He was sick the old man's old illness had relapsed and he was turning weaker visible to naked eye. Ryse did not know what else to do he could only continue to spend the remaining time with him and quietly listen to him telling stories of his childhood.
Ryse put out the fire and picked up the wooden bowl. Scooping the vegetable soup in the bowl and took it to the old man's room placing it on the side. The old man coughed as he tried to get up.
Ryse quickly walked over and helped him sit up. picking up the bowl of soup and handed it to him.
"Jing ci you have always been smart that i have seen years ago....You must already know that i won't live past this month..." The old man spoke slowly.
"Disciple knows...." Ryse lowered his eyes sadly.
"Don't be sad i am already so old....I have already lived my life...You are still young you have a long road ahead of you...Don't let sadness hold you back" He said taking a sip of the soup with a wooden spoon.
"Disciple knows.." Ryse picked up the wooden cup of water and held it in his hands for the old man.
"I have already taught all that i can....You are also a very talented a fast learner....I am happy and glad I took you as a disciple" He said.
"No....Jing ci fortunate to be taken as a disciple by master" Ryse replied softly.
The old man placed the bowl back on the table not drinking more, "There is a box buried under the first tree to the left of this bamboo house.....That box is for you...You can take it later" The old man coughed and Ryse quickly handed him the cup of water.
"I think my time is already here...Be careful my little disciple...Master is sorry to leave you alone...." The old man coughed again lying down on the bed, " When i was young....I had always dreamed of going to the lotus valley...I heard it is the most beautiful place in the world....Unfortunately i could never see it till now....I wish i could see it....I am sorry my little disciple...." The old man's breathing slowed down a little.
"....Don't worry master....Disciple will make sure master will reach there and see it" Ryse understood the meaning of the old man.
The old man smiled and took his last breath. Ryse lowered his head and blinked his hetero chrome eyes, Clenching his fists tightly. He took several deep breaths and raised his head completely calm. He stood up and bowed deeply to the still form.
"Thank you for your guidance and care all these years" Ryse straightened up and took some silver and gold to the village to prepare for the old man's funeral. According to the customs of this world he cremated the old man's body and gathered his ashes in the urn. He kept vigil for three days and three nights before he dug out the box the old man had talked about.
The box had a heavy book on alchemy and gold and silver stored in it. Ryse closed the box and held it tightly for a few minutes standing there frozen. With a deep breath he turned and packed up all his belongings along with the old man's ashes. He will bury him in the lotus valley just as he had wished.
He placed his things in the carriage and went off without looking back at the now empty bamboo house. He drove from the same road they had taken before to go to Dalan city. According to information he had received before the lotus valley is somewhere around Dalan city. He arrived at Dalan city in three days and first ordered a room for two months. Money was no problem there was a lot of it in the box the old man saved for him.
Ryse placed his things at the hotel and went out to gather accurate information about the lotus valley. He returned at night and took the ashes with him heading to the lotus valley which was north of Dalan city. It was between the four mountains and it was the most beautiful place.
Ryse left his carriage at Dalan city and went on foot it may take longer but if he does encounter bandits and the like then he will not have anything important for them to steal. He walked for five days and four nights resting and eating occasionally to finally arrive at the foot of the mountain.
Ryse looked at the forest that started just ten steps away from him and muttered to himself. "This better not be problematic i already walked for a freaking five days and four nights if i did run into a bandit-" Ryse suddenly showed a scary smile " I will skin them alive"
Ryse shook his head suddenly blinking in confusion 'What just happened?' He could not make sense of it so he sighed and tied the urn to his back with a cotton padded cloth, Stretched his arms and legs and walked in.
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Si yang had not seen Jing ci even once in these seven years he tried to find him but it was as if the person had disappeared from the face of the earth. This thought really freaked him out he went to his master for help and his master just looked at him helplessly.
"Maybe fate does not want you two to meet don't panic so much and just focus on your cultivation you will meet one day, Trust me"
Si yang still couldn't focus so he was dragged away by senior brother for closed door cultivation and was not allowed to exit until he broke through.
Si yang really wanted to see Jing ci again. He does not even know whether the other is doing good or not whether he really left that day or not.....Maybe something else had happened. Si yang knew he had become paranoid and was thinking about worse and worse things but he couldn't help it.
He could not stop his mind from imagining the worst all the time. He cultivated for seven years albeit restlessly the entire time. He had almost ran out several times.
"Finally out? have you broke through?"
Si yang heard the moment he came out of closed door cultivation.