Chapter 189

Chapter 189: The Theological Seminary!

Back in his room, Ye Tianming followed Liu Sha’s example and began to reflect quietly facing the wall.

The events of today held profound significance for him, especially the ancestor’s final words. In that moment, the path ahead for Ye Tianming began to grow clear.

Of course, he also kept reminding himself inwardly that every step going forward had to be taken with caution — he couldn’t get carried away.

He knew that someday he would inevitably make mistakes and suffer for them, because no one is perfect forever, but he still hoped that day would come as late as possible.

Ye Tianming slowly closed his eyes and murmured, “The great path begins from the smallest of things……when the mind arises, the nature is extinguished; when the mind is extinguished, the nature is revealed. The mind is fundamentally the path, and the path is fundamentally the mind. The mind has no path outside itself, and the path has no mind outside itself…….”

Outside.

The woman had not left. She sat on the stone steps of the monastery, her left hand resting on the hilt of her blade. After a long, long silence, she finally made her decision.

The next day.

As soon as dawn broke, Ye Tianming got up.

Liu Sha had already prepared the meal. After eating, the two of them left the monastery and headed toward the next village.

Just as the day before, when Liu Sha brought Ye Tianming into the village, they were welcomed warmly by the villagers. Having learned his lesson yesterday, Ye Tianming was now careful with his words, following Liu Sha’s example and listening quietly.

The two didn’t leave the village until nightfall, and along the way they chatted happily.

Just then, a woman suddenly stepped out to block their path — it was the same sword-bearing woman from the day before.

The woman gave both of them a cultivator’s bow, then looked at Ye Tianming. “Sir, might we have a word?”

Ye Tianming nodded. “Of course.”

Liu Sha waved his hand. “Little nephew, remember to come back early for dinner.”

With that, he disappeared into the distance with his bamboo basket on his back.

After Liu Sha left, the two walked toward a bamboo grove nearby.

The woman said, “My name is Chu Zhaoxue. How shall I address you, sir?”

Ye Tianming said, “Ye Tianming.”

The woman said, “I won’t hide it from you — I’d like to ask you for a favor. As long as you’re willing, you may name any condition.”

Ye Tianming asked, “Forgive my boldness, but are you a cultivator of the Circle-Drawing realm?”

Chu Zhaoxue looked at him. “A little below Circle-Drawing.”

Ye Tianming thought for a moment, then said, “I’d guess you want my ancestor to help you, but he refused, so you’re hoping I’ll go and persuade him. Am I right?”

Chu Zhaoxue smiled. “You are truly brilliant beyond compare, sir. Zhaoxue is impressed.”

That smile of hers was breathtakingly beautiful.

Yet Ye Tianming’s heart remained unmoved. “Miss Zhaoxue, this is not a favor I can do for you. I cannot represent my ancestor in any matter — first, because I have no standing to do so, and second, even if I did, I still wouldn’t, because it would be wrong.”

Chu Zhaoxue suddenly stopped walking. She turned to look at Ye Tianming. “All I need is one word from the elder. Just one word.”

Ye Tianming shook his head.

Chu Zhaoxue added, “Then one word from you would do as well.”

Ye Tianming’s brow furrowed.

Chu Zhaoxue looked at him. “Just one word from you, sir. Name any condition you like — the Chu Zhao Divine Kingdom will refuse nothing.”

Ye Tianming still shook his head. He was about to speak when Chu Zhaoxue suddenly said, “Supreme ancestral artifacts, true star core crystals……however many you want, we’ll give you that many. Even supreme divine dao artifacts — we can get them for you. Name your price, anything you want.”

Ye Tianming fell silent.

He hadn’t even heard of any of these things!

Ye Tianming sighed softly. “Miss Zhaoxue, if you’re asking me to say a word, aren’t you still trading on my ancestor’s name? I truly cannot do this. It really isn’t a matter of how much or how little — I can’t do something so without principle.”

Chu Zhaoxue let out a quiet sigh, her expression falling. That forlorn, delicate look of hers was enough to move any man’s heart.

But Ye Tianming remained unmoved. Not because he was indifferent to beauty, but because he understood clearly that the reason she was being so approachable with him had nothing to do with him as a person — it was entirely because of his ancestor. If not for that connection, the face this woman showed him would surely be a very different one.

Chu Zhaoxue sighed again. “Is heaven truly set on destroying my Chu Zhao Divine Kingdom?”

Ye Tianming did not respond. Things beyond his ability were things he would never involve himself in.

Seeing that Ye Tianming remained unmoved, Chu Zhaoxue smiled bitterly. “Sir Ye, for people like us, life and death often hang on a single thought from those like you. Just one word from your ancestor or from you could save the hundreds of millions of lives in my Chu Zhao Divine Kingdom……”

Ye Tianming said quietly, “Miss Zhaoxue, moral coercion is not a good approach.”

Chu Zhaoxue quickly said, “I have absolutely no such intention.”

Ye Tianming said, “Miss Zhaoxue, right and wrong in this world are rarely clear-cut. Never mind that I don’t have the ability right now — even if I did, I would not lightly help you, because I know nothing at all about your situation. Do you understand what I mean?”

Chu Zhaoxue sighed softly. “I naturally understand what you mean, Sir Ye. If I weren’t completely out of options, I would never have come to this……”

As she spoke, she gave Ye Tianming a cultivator’s bow. “Sir Ye, I’m truly sorry for the intrusion.”

With that, she turned and walked away.

Ye Tianming looked up at the sky above and said quietly, “The universe really is vast.”

With that, he shook his head with a smile and walked back toward the monastery.

By the time he returned to the monastery, night had fallen. Liu Sha had already prepared the meal on his own.

Inside the room, Ye Tianming, the elderly cultivator, and Liu Sha sat gathered around the table. This time, Chu Zhaoxue was not among them.

The elderly cultivator suddenly said, “We’ll need to leave early.”

Ye Tianming set down his chopsticks and looked at the elder. “Wasn’t it supposed to be three days?”

The elderly cultivator smiled. “A few things have come up, so we need to leave sooner.”

Ye Tianming thought for a moment, then said, “Alright.”

After the meal, the elderly cultivator looked at Ye Tianming. “Let’s go for a walk.”

Ye Tianming quickly rose and went to the elder’s side to support him. The elderly cultivator glanced at Liu Sha, who grinned. “I’ll wash the dishes.”

The elderly cultivator nodded, then followed Ye Tianming outside. The moment they stepped out, they saw the woman again — she still hadn’t left.

When the woman saw the elderly cultivator and Ye Tianming, she quickly bowed.

The elderly cultivator said nothing, only nodded, then walked off to one side with Ye Tianming.

The woman hesitated, then followed as well, though she didn’t come too close, keeping a distance behind them.

The monastery was very quiet. Apart from the few of them, there was no one else around.

There was no moon or stars, and a cold wind blew all around.

The elderly cultivator said softly, “Tell me about your teacher…….”

Ye Tianming glanced at the elder, then began to speak. He started talking about the time he and Mu Guanchen had spent together at Guanxuan Academy, and as he spoke, his eyes gradually grew red.

His teacher was the first person in this world who had ever truly been good to him.

After a long while, the elderly cultivator patted Ye Tianming on the shoulder. “Don’t grieve. For him, being able to do something for all living beings in the end made it worthwhile. And besides, to have met you in the final moments of his life — he must have been happy. If he could see how outstanding you’ve become, he would be even more at peace.”

Ye Tianming lowered his head. “I’m far inferior to my teacher.”

The elderly cultivator smiled. “He once said the same thing to me.”

Ye Tianming smiled. “I’d love to cultivate alongside my ancestor, but there are still many things I haven’t finished……”

The elderly cultivator smiled gently. “There will be opportunities in the future.”

The two of them chatted like that, talking through the entire night. Only Chu Zhaoxue knew what they spoke of, for their conversation made no effort to exclude her.

As Chu Zhaoxue listened to their conversation, her expression grew heavier and heavier.

Ye Tianming, on the other hand, grew more and more animated as he spoke, pouring out every thought he had. The elderly cultivator listened quietly the whole time, occasionally interrupting to add a word or two.

The next day.

At the first light of dawn, by the roadside, Ye Tianming walked with the elderly cultivator and Liu Sha to the edge of the village, where a horse-drawn carriage was already waiting.

The driver was a large man dressed in plain clothes and wearing a bamboo hat. When he saw the elderly cultivator, he immediately stepped down from the carriage and bowed.

Chu Zhaoxue was still there as well. When she saw the large man, a look of wariness instantly appeared in her eyes.

The elderly cultivator looked at Ye Tianming and smiled. “This is far enough.”

With that, he took out a letter and handed it to Ye Tianming. “Once you’ve finished your affairs, you may go to the ‘Theological Academy.’ This is a letter of recommendation I’ve written. Inside is also a stick of incense — light it, and someone will come to receive you.”

Ye Tianming took the letter. “Understood.”

The elderly cultivator gently patted Ye Tianming on the shoulder. “Remember — live well.”

With that, he turned and walked toward the carriage.

The large man immediately lay flat on the ground, willingly serving as a step for him.

The elderly cultivator helped him up with a gentle smile. “There’s no need for that.”

With that, supported by the large man, he boarded the carriage.

Liu Sha suddenly produced two ancient books and handed them to Ye Tianming. “Little nephew, these two were given to me by Second Senior Sister and First Senior Brother respectively. I never much cared for them — keep them. They’ll surely be of use to you.”

Ye Tianming gave a cultivator’s bow. “Thank you, Junior Uncle.”

With that, he took the books.

Liu Sha waved his hand. “Little nephew, no matter how hard the road ahead may be, remember — be a good person. Until we meet again……”

With that, he turned and boarded the carriage.

The driver glanced at Chu Zhaoxue with a cold, indifferent look. She immediately shuddered and instinctively stepped back a few paces.

Then he looked at Ye Tianming, and the moment his gaze landed on him, it softened. He gave Ye Tianming a bow.

Ye Tianming returned the bow.

The large man drove the carriage off into the distance, and before long, it disappeared from sight.

After watching them go, Ye Tianming lowered his head slightly. “Alone again.”

Xiao Hun suddenly said, “Little master, little master, you still have me, you still have me!”

Ye Tianming said softly, “That’s true……but you’re all I have left.”