Two years had passed since Li Ya and Zhang Buku last crossed paths.
In these two years, the seas remained a tumultuous battleground. Countless cultivators and monsters ventured into the Great Rift of the Broken Sea, where the conflicts seemed endless. Some attained breakthroughs amidst the chaos, while others perished with regret.
In contrast, the Tai Xuan Sect remained tranquil, with most disciples devoting themselves to cultivation.
Life in the Medicine Valley was even more serene.
On this particular day, Gu An arrived early at Xuan Valley, waiting for someone.
Near midday, a black-clad Li Ya descended from the sky, landing beneath the pavilion. This time, he did not climb through the window but stood below, silently gazing at Gu An's window for a long time without stepping forward.
The Blood Prison Saint, lying on the ground nearby, regarded him with a peculiar look.
The Blood Prison Saint could sense Li Ya's heavy mood, his entire being appearing dispirited and lost.
"Senior Brother Li, what brings you here?"
Lu Jiujia quickly approached, his tone filled with surprise and delight.
Li Ya snapped out of his daze, looking at him with a forced smile. "I came to see your Senior Brother Gu."
"He's upstairs. Normally, he doesn't spend much time in Xuan Valley, but today he's been here all morning. I guess he was waiting for you," Lu Jiujia remarked with a sigh.
He clearly noticed Li Ya's troubled state, which prompted his words.
Li Ya nodded at him and ascended the stairs.
Upon reaching the second floor, he pushed open the door.
Gu An, seated in a chair, put down the Tai Xuan Secrets he had been reading and looked at Li Ya with a delighted expression. "Senior Brother Li, what brings you here?"
Looking at Gu An, Li Ya's eyes reddened instantly. He shut the door behind him and approached the table. Clenching his fists, his jaw tightened.
Gu An's smile faded, replaced by concern. "What happened? What's wrong?"
Li Ya avoided meeting Gu An's gaze. Zhang Buku had once said that Gu An was his only elder.
"Zhang Buku…" Li Ya began, his voice heavy.
"What about him?" Gu An sprang to his feet.
Li Ya took a deep breath and recounted Zhang Buku's fate.
After hearing the story, Gu An slumped back into his chair, his face blank with despair. His expression deepened Li Ya's guilt.
"Wait, you said he turned into a Spectral Wraith. That means he's still there, doesn't it?" A sudden thought crossed Gu An's mind, and he asked hurriedly.
Li Ya turned his head slightly, hesitating before replying. "He's still there, but once he becomes a Spectral Wraith, he's no longer the same. He'll turn into a monster that devours living souls, never finding freedom…"
"Have you seen him act like that?" Gu An retorted sharply.
Li Ya froze, staring at him in silence.
Gu An's expression grew calm. "Buku has faced hardships since childhood. Born with half-demonic blood, rejected by both sides, yet he endured it all. Why would this time be any different?"
"But…" Li Ya tried to respond.
"Senior Brother, this isn't your fault. It was his decision to venture into the Great Rift of the Broken Sea. Don't carry this burden alone. Besides, I genuinely believe he'll make it through," Gu An said with quiet conviction.
"Junior Brother Gu, I…"
"Look at you. If Buku saw you like this, he'd laugh. Aren't you two sworn brothers who've been through life and death together? Are you planning to follow him to the grave? Believe in him. He'll surely pull through. If you don't focus on your cultivation, he'll leave you in the dust. Great blessings often come after great disasters—don't underestimate him."
Gu An smiled, his expression full of hope.
Li Ya knew Gu An was trying to comfort him, but he couldn't help but think: What if Zhang Buku really could overcome this?
Gu An invited him to sit down and asked about his experiences over the past few years.
Li Ya began recounting his life since they last met, with Gu An occasionally interjecting questions. His engagement made Li Ya feel all the more ashamed.
Zhang Buku was gone, and the pain Gu An felt surely mirrored his own. After all, Gu An also bore the weight of Zhang Chunqiu's legacy.
Despite this, Gu An went out of his way to console him.
The Spectral Spirit quietly appeared on Li Ya's shoulder, its small black figure glancing at Gu An and blinking slyly. Li Ya remained unaware of this exchange.
The two brothers talked for hours.
As the sun set, Li Ya stood to leave. Looking at Gu An, he said firmly, "I came back to inform you about this. Thank you, Junior Brother Gu. I won't give up hope. I'll train harder and one day, I'll rescue Zhang Buku!"
Determination filled his voice, and his eyes burned with resolve.
Gu An encouraged him wholeheartedly.
With that, Li Ya departed. This time, he didn't leap through the window but walked down the stairs. Gu An didn't see him off.
Pausing before the Blood Prison Saint, Li Ya turned to the beast. "Bullhead, I swear I'll never let anyone I care about fall into danger again. That includes your master—I'll protect him too!"
With those words, he leapt into the air, disappearing into the horizon.
The Blood Prison Saint rolled his eyes and muttered, "Crazy human, can't even figure out who's protecting who. And why tell me? Am I your dad?"
...
About a month after Li Ya's departure, another person returned.
It was Shen Xin Zi. He made his way to the Third Medicine Valley.
Stopping at the valley entrance, he gazed at the scene inside with a hint of nostalgia. Some people were sweeping the grounds, others were watering and loosening the soil. There were even some playing chess, painting, or engaging in lighthearted chasing games.
Everything appeared so harmonious.
For reasons he couldn't explain, returning here filled Shen Xin Zi with an inexplicable sense of relief, as though a burden had been lifted. The frustration in his heart dissipated significantly.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the valley.
Not long after, he caught sight of You Yingying. She also spotted him and instinctively tried to avoid him. However, he transmitted a message to her, asking her to stop.
Approaching You Yingying, his expression was solemn.
"You… what do you want? I haven't harmed anyone!" You Yingying said nervously.
"Amitabha," Shen Xin Zi murmured, closing his eyes. "Benefactor, this poor monk is here to apologize. My previous actions were indeed rash and overly rigid. Moreover, while anyone else in the world may judge you, I have no right to do so. I apologize and assure you that I will not trouble you again."
With that, he pressed his palms together and bowed deeply.
You Yingying was stunned, utterly perplexed.
Before she could question him, Shen Xin Zi turned and walked away.
She watched his retreating figure, muttering to herself, "What has he been through these years? Why does it seem like he's taken a blow?"
She had always been afraid of Shen Xin Zi, but hearing his words just now, she felt a strange sense of pity rather than relief.
Shaking her head, she dismissed the thoughts. "In any case, it's best to stay away from that monk. Who knows when he might go crazy again?"
Shen Xin Zi moved to the chess-playing area. As usual, dozens of people were gathered there. He noticed Gu An approaching as well. When their eyes met, they nodded to each other, exchanging a brief greeting.
They both stood at the back of the crowd, watching the chess game.
Suddenly, a thought struck Shen Xin Zi, and he turned to look at Gu An. He stepped closer and asked in a low voice, "Valley Master, may I have a word with you in private?"
Gu An glanced at him and then nodded. "Let's talk in my room."
Shen Xin Zi's willingness to sacrifice himself to save Li Ya and the entire city had left a favorable impression on Gu An. Despite the monk's stubbornness, he had proven himself to be someone who would take action in a crisis, genuinely caring for the people rather than merely speaking about compassion.
As they left, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord, who was playing chess, noticed their departure. With a smirk, he turned his attention back to the board, shouting at his opponent, "What kind of terrible moves are these? Even the village kids outside Tai Xuan Sect play better! No, scratch that—even a cow could make better moves than this!"
From a distance, the Blood Prison Saint heard this and was filled with rage. Yet, he suppressed it.
After all, Gu An had once told him that the Nine-Finger Divine Lord was an immortal merely hiding his cultivation.
"Fine, keep playing your lousy chess. Just don't bother cultivating anymore. When I unleash my true power, I'll make you my mount and turn you into a toad!" The Blood Prison Saint thought to himself. The idea amused him, and he couldn't help but chuckle.
Meanwhile, Gu An led Shen Xin Zi upstairs.
Once inside, Shen Xin Zi shut the door himself.
Gu An gestured for him to sit while he prepared tea.
As Shen Xin Zi waited, he glanced around the room, noticing the many books lining the shelves. One title caught his eye: Journey to the West. Instantly, his impression of Gu An improved further.
When Gu An placed a steaming cup of tea in front of him and sat down, he smiled and asked, "What's on your mind, my friend?"
Shen Xin Zi took a deep breath and began, "Valley Master, here is the matter. This poor monk has a friend who has spent his life abhorring evil, dedicating himself to slaying demons and protecting the suffering. But he recently discovered that he himself is a reincarnation of a demon. What should he do?"
Ah, the classic "I have a friend" scenario.
Gu An pondered for a moment before replying, "Does the connection between past and present lives truly hold such weight? Is there any sin so irredeemable that even reincarnation cannot cleanse it? Why torment himself? Shouldn't he simply continue walking the path he believes in?"
"But he is, in fact, a demon…" Shen Xin Zi interjected.
"So what? Are all demons inherently evil? Are all humans inherently good? Are you thinking of distancing yourself from this friend? If so, I must say something—shame on you! Aren't monks supposed to see through worldly illusions? Why cling to such superficial distinctions?"
With that, Gu An launched into an impassioned critique of Shen Xin Zi.
The monk's willingness to teach had activated Gu An's love for lecturing.
Surprisingly, Shen Xin Zi didn't take offense. Instead, he listened intently.
From their previous conversations, Shen Xin Zi had come to admire Gu An's broad perspective on life. His insights into human nature were enlightening, and Shen Xin Zi acknowledged that Gu An's level of wisdom surpassed his own.
After all, cultivation wasn't just about increasing one's strength.
Gu An continued his spirited lecture for quite some time. By the end of it, he felt a refreshing clarity, regardless of whether Shen Xin Zi had truly absorbed his words. What mattered was that he had said his piece.
Shen Xin Zi seemed contemplative. "Is it true that laying down one's sword can lead to instant enlightenment?"
Gu An scoffed, "Of course not! That's just nonsense. Sins must be atoned for through good deeds. But as for your friend, hasn't he spent this life saving many people? Why should he bear any guilt?"
Shen Xin Zi nodded slowly, the tension in his brow finally easing.
He fell silent, lost in thought.
Gu An didn't disturb him, returning to his book.
The room was quiet for nearly half an hour before Shen Xin Zi stood up. He bowed deeply to Gu An and said, "Amitabha, thank you, Valley Master, for dispelling my doubts."
Waving his hand dismissively, Gu An replied, "No need for thanks. But if you truly want to express gratitude, find time to guide the disciples in this valley with their cultivation."
Shen Xin Zi didn't refuse. Internally, he marveled at Gu An's selflessness, always thinking of others.
He then asked, "Valley Master, I see you have many books here. Could you recommend one for me to read?"
Gu An looked around the room, thinking for a moment.
Shen Xin Zi added, "Why not lend me the one you're reading now?"
Gu An's expression changed instantly. He snapped the Tai Xuan Secrets shut and said firmly, "Not this one!"