Chapter 69: Kneeling
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What a coincidence! Fei Denan and Guan Weiwu looked at each other, then glanced at the dejected Yue Qianchou, both feeling he was a pitiful child.
“Elder Fei, can your Wanfen Garden’s spiritual herbs still produce another batch of Foundation Building Pills?” Feng Xiangtian asked.
Guan Weiwu had asked the same question. Fei Denan shook his head and said, “There are a few herbs, but several main ingredients haven’t matured yet. They simply can’t be used for pill refining. I’m afraid we’ll have to wait another two years.”
Feng Xiangtian nodded and said, “Then there’s no other way. However, this matter is our fault for not handling it properly. You two elders also bear responsibility. We can’t let the disciples below suffer injustice. What should be compensated must be compensated. I think we should do this!”
“Yue Qianchou, do you think this arrangement will work?” Feng Xiangtian pondered and said, “When the next three-year period comes for distributing Foundation Building Pills, besides the pill you’re entitled to, we’ll make up for this time’s pill, and add one more as compensation. We’ll give you three pills at once. If you still can’t achieve foundation building, it won’t affect your chances to receive two more opportunities in the future. What do you think?”
The two elders nodded in agreement with the sect master’s words. This was a good deal – while others had three chances for foundation building, Yue Qianchou, despite being affected this time, would get five chances. Basically, his success in foundation building was guaranteed.
A total of five Foundation Building Pills? Yue Qianchou was stunned. ‘It’s good, but wasting three years is really regrettable. These old folks really have no concept of time. There’s no helping it – they’re all people who live for hundreds of years at the drop of a hat. Two or three years really don’t mean much to them. But since things have come to this, and the sect master has made compensation, refusing would be pushing my luck.’ He could only bow and say, “Thank you, Sect Master, for your kindness!”
“Good, let’s settle it this way!” After Feng Xiangtian finished speaking, he looked at the three and asked, “Is there anything else?”
With things as they were, what else could the three say? Naturally, they bowed and withdrew.
After leaving the ‘Penglai Pavilion,’ Guan Weiwu, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up and asked, “Yue Qianchou, are you willing to return to the Pill Refining Pavilion with your master?”
After what had happened, Yue Qianchou felt somewhat desolate and replied, “I’ll follow Master’s arrangements.”
Guan Weiwu was about to speak when he heard Fei Denan say, “Return what return? You and I can’t make decisions about Yue Qianchou’s matters now. Old Guan, if you want the person, go talk to Ninth Aunt yourself! Otherwise, when Ninth Aunt sees me returning alone, the ‘Demon Slaying Staff’ in her hands isn’t just for show, and you won’t escape either.”
“I…” Guan Weiwu was stunned and looked at Yue Qianchou, saying, “Then you should return to Mulberry Grass Garden first! We’ll talk about returning to the Pill Refining Pavilion later. Don’t worry, I’ve kept everything in mind.”
“Understood, Master!” Yue Qianchou nodded.
“Old Guan, enough talk. I still need to take Yue Qianchou back to report to Ninth Aunt.” After Fei Denan finished speaking, he grabbed Yue Qianchou and flew away.
In a few moments, the two returned to the outside of Mulberry Grass Garden. Fei Denan had completed his mission and dared to fly out with Yue Qianchou from inside, but he didn’t dare to presumptuously fly directly in. Doing so would be disrespectful to Ma Jiugu. The two honestly walked back.
Upon seeing the old lady, Fei Denan reported the entire course of events in detail.
After Ma Jiugu finished listening, she looked at the downcast Yue Qianchou, then at Yan Zixia who was staring at him with pity, and sighed, “Three years isn’t long for you young people. But for us old folks, it’s not short either. I don’t know how many more three-year periods this old body can live through.”
Elder Lan, who was accompanying them, laughed and said, “Ninth Aunt, you’re joking. With your profound cultivation, you’re bound to step into that divine Spirit Transformation stage sooner or later. Then living for over a thousand years won’t be a problem.”
“Bingxue is right. Your breakthrough to the Tribulation Crossing stage is just a matter of time,” Fei Denan also said with a flattering smile.
Ma Jiugu leaned on her staff and shook her head, “The Great Dao is merciless. Those who can step into the Spirit Transformation stage in the cultivation world are truly as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. I know you’re speaking kind words, but this old body has lived for over five hundred years and knows her own situation clearly. I won’t harbor such extravagant hopes, only hoping that the young generation can achieve that day.” After speaking, she looked kindly at Yan Zixia and Yue Qianchou.
From the old lady’s words, one could hear that if she couldn’t make another breakthrough in cultivation, her time was probably running short. Yue Qianchou looked up, wanting to say something comforting like ‘You’ll live a long life,’ but thinking that she had already lived through five long lifespans, those words couldn’t come out. The hall fell into brief silence.
“This is all Fei Denan’s fault. Otherwise, our Yue Qianchou might have reached the Foundation Building stage today.” Lan Bingxue complained about Fei Denan, and Yue Qianchou had become ‘our Yue Qianchou,’ clearly knowing the old lady’s intentions and considering him one of their own.
“I…” Fei Denan wanted to defend himself but looked at the old lady and became speechless.
“Alright, we can’t blame Denan entirely for this matter. Denan, you have many things to do, go back and attend to your own business!” Ma Jiugu said.
Fei Denan thought staying here would be awkward anyway. After bowing to Ma Jiugu, he patted Yue Qianchou’s shoulder to comfort him and left.
To be honest, after this incident, Yue Qianchou didn’t understand why the people in Mulberry Grass Garden valued him so much, but he felt everyone’s goodwill. Although he still had some subconscious self-protective wariness, he finally felt some human warmth from Mulberry Grass Garden.
“Yue Qianchou, you’ve been wronged. Now we can only wait for the next three-year period,” Ma Jiugu said regretfully. “It’s a pity that Mulberry Grass Garden’s spiritual herbs haven’t matured yet. Otherwise, I would personally refine a batch of Foundation Building Pills and help you break through to the Foundation Building stage in one go.”
Wronged? Not wronged. People are emotional creatures, and having the old lady say these words was enough.
But he couldn’t afford to wait! ‘There’s still Qu Ping’er at Qingguang Sect, looking through autumn waters, waiting bitterly for my arrival! Although I’ve never told anyone, that’s a man’s solemn promise to a woman, a promise to a woman who treated me sincerely, a promise I dare not betray.
This isn’t about whether I’m a cultivator or about love. As a real man, I must fulfill my promise to that woman. Even if this path has countless difficulties, I will forge ahead courageously.
I, Yue Qianchou, dare to let down heaven and earth, but I alone dare not let down those who are sincere to me, especially women who are sincere to me. Otherwise, I would spend my life feeling like thorns are in my back, unable to eat or sleep peacefully, never finding rest in this lifetime.
In my previous life, I could rise from an unknown nobody to become a renowned underworld boss precisely because I valued loyalty and kept promises. This creed has penetrated deep into my bones and soul. This is the foundation I absolutely dare not abandon, or I would lose the meaning of living. This life will be the same – this is fate! This is Yue Qianchou’s fate!
With my current cultivation, how can I fulfill my promise? A year has already passed, and now I have to wait another three years? Even if I wait one more moment, it means Qu Ping’er will wait for me one more moment, let alone another three years? My heart can’t be at peace. This heart’s suffering is unknown to others, silently enduring torment.’
Some things needed to be said! Yue Qianchou in the great hall suddenly knelt down before Ma Jiugu with a thud.
“Ah!” This caused Yan Zixia and Lan Bingxue to cry out in surprise. Ma Jiugu, leaning on her staff, paused. Her aged, drooping eyelids suddenly opened wide, and with piercing light, she solemnly asked, “Yue Qianchou, what is this for?”
