Liu Jinyuan sat cross-legged in perfect meditation posture. His practice of the Sacred Heart Art came naturally and effortlessly like a gentle breeze.
His deep understanding of the profound technique was truly exceptional. This resulted in achieving twice the result with only half the effort required. Internal energy flowed quietly and smoothly through his tendons and meridians. Liu Jinyuan could physically feel it growing stronger and more refined with each complete revolution.
This tangible and measurable growth filled Liu Jinyuan with tremendous motivation to continue cultivating diligently.
"Cousin Yueru I will definitely become a true martial arts master! I will completely master all the knowledge and skills that Master Alex has generously instilled in me!" Liu Jinyuan muttered to himself with fierce determination while feeling incredibly motivated.
Because of Alex's remarkable existence, Liu Jinyuan had secretly always considered him a romantic rival. Whether it was merely an illusion or actual reality, Liu Jinyuan strongly felt that his cousin treated Master Alex differently than she treated all others.
However now that Master Alex had departed for Mount Shushan, Liu Jinyuan did not know if they would ever meet again. Now he was the only remaining student left behind at Lin Family Fort.
Liu Jinyuan could also clearly sense that his uncle did not seem to have any serious objections to his eventual marriage with Cousin Yueru. This was indeed an extremely good and promising sign for him.
Bang bang bang...
Just as Liu Jinyuan was brimming with fierce motivation and mustering all his considerable energy to cultivate the Sacred Heart Technique properly, there came a sudden urgent knock on his door.
At the same time he could hear Cousin Yueru's maid's sobbing voice from outside "Master Liu are you there? Please go check on our young lady immediately."
"Huh? What is wrong with Cousin Yueru?" Hearing the panicked voice from outside, Liu Jinyuan froze momentarily. He quickly concluded his practice session while drawing all the surging internal energy safely back into his Dantian. He opened his door hurriedly and asked with obvious urgency.
"Master Liu our young lady has been sitting in her room all day long without eating or drinking anything. I am genuinely afraid she will make herself seriously ill. And she keeps crying for no apparent reason at all" Lin Yueru's maid said anxiously while looking desperately at Liu Jinyuan for help.
"Alright I will go check on her immediately. By the way does uncle know about this situation?" Upon hearing this alarming news, Liu Jinyuan's face immediately transformed with anxiety. He instantly abandoned his usual gentle and refined demeanor and ran directly toward Lin Yueru's room while asking urgently.
"Master Lin went out for some important business so I came to find you instead" Lin Yueru's maid who was following closely behind Liu Jinyuan replied breathlessly.
Very soon Liu Jinyuan arrived at Lin Yueru's private boudoir. He could see that Lin Yueru had already wiped away the tears from her cheeks. But her eyes remained visibly red and swollen, clearly from extensive crying. The food sitting on the table beside her remained completely untouched.
"Cousin what is wrong with you? Are you feeling physically unwell?" Seeing Lin Yueru's appearance which seemed even more haggard than usual, Liu Jinyuan asked softly with obvious anxiety and deep worry.
"Cousin I honestly do not know what is wrong. I just feel so terribly empty inside. It hurts so much..." Lin Yueru looked up at Liu Jinyuan with her red eyes. For some inexplicable reason tears began flowing uncontrollably down her cheeks once again.
Seeing Lin Yueru's pained expression, Liu Jinyuan felt a sharp pang of sympathetic pain pierce his own heart.
After a brief uncomfortable silence, Liu Jinyuan asked gently "Is it because of Master Alex's departure?"
"I do not know. I honestly do not know either" Lin Yueru shook her head while looking completely baffled and lost.
She herself was not entirely clear about her own confusing feelings. She felt even more bewildered and completely unprepared for these overwhelming emotions.
Seeing Lin Yueru's genuine tears and obvious sorrow, Liu Jinyuan felt another deep pang of pain in his chest.
After another long moment's painful silence, Liu Jinyuan finally added with resignation "If you wish cousin, I would be willing to accompany you to Mount Shushan."
"Really?!" Lin Yueru's previously dim eyes lit up dramatically at Liu Jinyuan's generous words. She stood up abruptly from her seat with her face suddenly awash with surprise and genuine excitement.
"As expected Cousin Yueru's heart truly belongs to Master Alex." As the old saying goes wisely, those directly involved are often confused while those observing from the sidelines can see the situation far more clearly.
Seeing Lin Yueru's immediate enthusiastic reaction, how could Liu Jinyuan possibly misunderstand the truth? A painful pang welled up deep in his heart and he sighed deeply with resignation.
Master Alex had once said that Liu Jinyuan himself was destined to be with Cousin Yueru. Alex had even described Liu Jinyuan as a perfect and nearly godlike man in terms of character.
But no matter how objectively perfect he might be, Cousin Yueru simply did not romantically like him. This left Liu Jinyuan feeling completely helpless and powerless...
Everyone possesses their own selfish desires and Liu Jinyuan certainly hoped his beloved cousin would eventually like him if such a thing were possible.
Even when Master Alex left for Mount Shushan, Liu Jinyuan had felt a small sliver of guilty joy. He had thought he might finally have the upper hand in winning her heart.
But sometimes romantic love is so utterly erratic and completely uncontrollable by logic or reason.
He painfully realized that forcing Cousin Yueru to remain with him against her heart's desire would only cause her daily suffering and unhappiness. After much difficult deliberation, Liu Jinyuan decided he should selflessly help unite her with Master Alex instead.
As long as they could be genuinely happy together, perhaps that would constitute a happy ending for everyone right?
He immediately acted upon his selfless thought. Since there was not anything particularly important requiring him to remain at home, Lin Yueru quickly shook off her previous lethargy. She simply packed a few essential belongings and left together with Liu Jinyuan. She did not even bother to inform her father about their departure.
In Lin Yueru's worried words, what if her father returned home and absolutely forbade her to leave?
...
Back in Suzhou City after Alex had left, Liu Jinyuan and Lin Yueru also departed together shortly afterward. Of course Alex and the others remained completely unaware of this development.
Riding comfortably on the Drunken Sword Immortal's magical wine gourd, they flew through the open air at an extremely fast speed. It did not take very long at all. With the impressive speed of the flying instrument, Alex and the others could already see the majestic outline of Mount Shushan appearing in the distance.
"We have arrived. You young man do not talk unnecessary nonsense once we land..." As they began descending steadily toward Mount Shushan, the Drunken Sword Immortal said seriously to Li Xiaoyao who sat beside him.
Approximately one hundred years ago the Mount Shushan sect had been at its absolute peak of power and influence. But it nearly collapsed completely due to the devastating incident involving Jiang Ming and the demon woman. Fortunately after many years of careful restoration, Mount Shushan has successfully regained much of its former vitality and strength.
Seeing that the new disciples arriving at Mount Shushan were personally brought by the respected Drunken Swordsman himself, absolutely no one came forward to question their presence or purpose.
Accompanying both Li Xiaoyao and Alex closely, the Drunken Swordsman skillfully navigated the familiar mountain paths. They quickly arrived at the Mount Shushan sect's grand main hall.
Alex remained curious about this legendary place. He carefully observed the surroundings while considering that he was visiting Mount Shushan for the very first time in his life.
Upon entering the impressive main hall, he immediately spotted a dignified white-haired elderly man standing calmly with his hands clasped behind his back. Although Alex could not clearly see the man's face from this angle, the Sword Saint seemed to blend seamlessly and naturally into the world around him as if he were part of nature itself.
"Is this truly the legendary Mount Shushan Sword Saint? Someone who has already achieved complete enlightenment and transcendence? Perhaps even the single strongest figure in the entire original storyline of this plane?"
Alex muttered quietly to himself while gazing intently at the Sword Saint's imposing back with a mixture of awe and analytical interest.
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