Volume 1 Volume 6 Chapter 147

Volume 6 Chapter 147: Farewell

"I grew up in Jiuhua, and Jiuhua raised me. Now that Jiuhua is facing such a crisis, how can I just hide away with you, Brother? Besides, the Shura Clan could attack at any moment, and I want to do my part."

Seeing a look of sadness flash across Xu Qingfan’s face after hearing his refusal, Jin Qinghan added.

Xu Qingfan was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled sadly and said, "Yes, I don’t have your courage. At the crucial moment, I chose to run away."

Jin Qinghan frowned slightly and said, "You shouldn’t say that. You have done enough over the years. If it weren’t for you, the Righteous Alliance would not have made it this far, and we would be much weaker. Most importantly, your current state is not suitable for you to be seen."

Xu Qingfan silently nodded but did not say anything else. The atmosphere grew heavy and gloomy for a moment.

"Have you thought about it? Where will you hide? After everything is over here, I will come to find you. We’ve been together all these years, and it will feel strange not to see you anymore. Plus, in your current state, I might be able to help a bit. And about that Zhang Xusheng, you are not his match right now."

Jin Qinghan broke the silence.

Xu Qingfan shook his head and said, "I haven’t thought of a place yet. I just want to find a quiet corner where people don’t pay much attention, away from all this chaos, and live freely for a while. But once I decide on a place, I will find a way to let you know."

Jin Qinghan looked at Xu Qingfan deeply and nodded, saying, "Indeed, you should take a break for a while. Over the years, I’ve always been able to see your tiredness and stress. It’s good to let go; you’ve placed too many burdens on yourself."

The conversation continued softly and harmoniously, with no need for promises or thanks between them. A single sentence felt like a promise; expressing certain emotions would seem too formal at this moment.

After talking about various topics, Xu Qingfan glanced at the others who were chatting from a distance and said to Jin Qinghan, "Let’s go over; they have been waiting anxiously."

Jin Qinghan nodded and followed Xu Qingfan to join the others. By this time, Lv Qingshang had already learned the whole story from Bai Qingfu. When he saw Xu Qingfan approach, he smiled and nodded, even though he was not used to Xu Qingfan’s new look.

"Senior Brother Lv," Xu Qingfan nodded and said, "Senior Brother Bai has already told me about Li Yuhan’s plan. When you return, please let him know to carry out his ideas freely. Originally, I wanted to go to ‘Black Emperor Cliff’ in person to assist him, but now with Junior Brother Jin here, with his current skills, he can handle any doubts or objections, saving me the risk. Also…"

After pondering for a moment, Xu Qingfan flipped his sleeve, and in his hand appeared a blue jade plate. On it, elegant characters spelled out "Jiuhua," as if the words were alive, floating on the plate and radiating a mysterious light.

While examining the blue jade plate, a complicated look flashed in Xu Qingfan’s eyes. For a long time, he believed this plate was something he was meant to inherit, but in reality, it had only been in his possession for a month.

"The sect leader’s order!?"

Seeing the plate, the Jiuhua cultivators were all taken aback. In fact, Lv Qingshang returned to Jiuhua not only to create some favorable evidence but also to find this plate.

After a brief moment of shock, Lv Qingshang, Bai Qingfu, and Dongfang Qingling each bowed down and worshipped the jade token in Xu Qingfan’s hand. Although Zhang Ningmei did not understand the meaning of the token, she pulled Bai Yu, Tian Zhenxian, and Tian Zhenling down with her after seeing Lv Qingshang and the others. Wang Zegang, who did not belong to Jiuhua, quietly hid away, while Jin Qinghan, now a great master with a different status, simply bowed to Xu Qingfan’s token.

"Ting’er, you should kneel too."

Ting’er looked around at the many people suddenly kneeling and felt a bit lost. After hearing Xu Qingfan’s words, she also knelt down.

Taking another look at the token in his hand, Xu Qingfan did not care much about the honor of being Master of Jiuhua, but seeing something that once belonged to him be lost made him feel a little sad.

With a quiet sigh, Xu Qingfan spoke loudly to all the Jiuhua disciples around him, saying, "According to Jiuhua custom, after the death of the sect leader, the Jiuhua Deacon Elder ascends to become the next sect leader. I, Xu Qingfan, the twenty-eighth sect leader of Jiuhua, succeeded Zhang Hualing, who was harmed by the traitor Gongsun Huasa. At the moment Martial Uncle Zhang died, I took over as the twenty-eighth sect leader of Jiuhua. However, because I was also schemed against by Gongsun Huasa, I am not suited to continue as Master of Jiuhua. Thus, at this moment, with Heaven, Earth, and the ancestors of Jiuhua as witnesses, I appoint Li Yuhan, a disciple from the ‘Yu’ generation of Jiuhua, who is righteous, clever, and talented, as my successor. I, Xu Qingfan, hereby step down from the position of Master of Jiuhua and pass it on to him. Let the legacy of Jiuhua be passed down through the ages!"

"We will follow the sect leader’s order."

As Xu Qingfan finished speaking, Jin Qinghan and the others responded in unison.

"Everyone, please rise."

After completing this ceremony, Xu Qingfan spoke to the crowd.

After everyone got up, Xu Qingfan walked up to Lv Qingshang and handed him the sect leader’s order, which Lv Qingshang accepted with both hands.

"Tell Li Yuhan that once everything is finished, I can be driven out of the Jiuhua Gate walls."

Xu Qingfan’s voice was calm, but everyone could hear the sadness in it.

Hearing Xu Qingfan’s words, Lv Qingshang’s eyes flickered as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just sighed and bowed silently to Xu Qingfan.

Xu Qingfan then walked over to Jin Qinghan, took out a green slip from his sleeve, and handed it to him, saying, "This contains two secret methods passed down through generations at Jiuhua: ‘Indefinite Sutra’ and ‘Substitute for Heaven’. Junior Brother Jin, please take it to Li Yuhan and tell him that the former Sect Master fell into this situation due to a lack of skill and forced practice. He can learn ‘Indefinite Sutra’ now, but he must not practice ‘Substitute for Heaven’ until he reaches the Mahayana Stage."

"I will remember, Senior Brother."

Jin Qinghan also accepted it with both hands and bowed.

After doing all this, Xu Qingfan suddenly felt empty and incredibly sad. No matter what, Jiuhua was the place he had worked hard for over two hundred years. It had brought him much exhaustion, but it is not something that can be simply let go of.

Looking up towards the direction of the southern "Black Emperor Cliff," Xu Qingfan let out a light sigh and said, "Senior Brother Lv, Junior Brother Jin, Junior Martial Sister Dongfang, it seems that the battle near ‘Black Emperor Cliff’ is fierce right now. Li Yuhan’s plan must be about to start. You all should go, while I will take the others and hide from the world. When we meet again in the future, let it be by chance."

As Xu Qingfan’s words fell, Dongfang Qingling’s face suddenly turned pale. When she thought about how hard it would be to see Xu Qingfan again in the future, her heart felt empty. If her heart was a world, at that moment, it felt like all the mountains, rivers, and flowers had vanished, leaving only a space of emptiness and pallor.

Lv Qingshang said reluctantly, "Junior Brother Xu, are you really going to give up?"

Xu Qingfan shook his head and said, "It is not giving up, but I have to do this. By hiding away now, it is only good for me, for the Righteous Alliance, and for Jiuhua. If I go back, I don’t know how they will deal with me. What will happen to Jiuhua then? Will they protect me or not? The battle is fierce; if I suddenly appear, will the Righteous Alliance focus on dealing with me, the devil, or the Shura Clan? It will only distract them. After thinking for a long time, I have decided to disappear and hide away."

After learning about Xu Qingfan’s experience, Lv Qingshang felt it was unfair for him. He wanted to persuade him again but found Xu Qingfan’s reasons were undeniable. In the end, he let out a sigh and said no more.

Jin Qinghan looked deeply at Xu Qingfan and said, "Senior Brother Xu, we will go now. Once the place to hide is chosen, please remember to send me a message."

Parting brings sorrow; the more you care, the more it hurts. Xu Qingfan nodded, forced a smile, and gave a small nod to Jin Qinghan, Dongfang Qingling, and Jin Qinghan, saying, "The Shura Clan is incredibly strong. I will not be able to help you in the battles to come. You three must be careful."

Jin Qinghan nodded and said, "Senior Brother Xu, take care of yourself too."

Saying this, Jin Qinghan turned to Lv Qingshang and Dongfang Qingling and said, "Senior Brother Lv, Junior Martial Sister Dongfang, let’s go."

Lv Qingshang cupped his hands to those wanting to follow Xu Qingfan into hiding, then walked to Jin Qinghan’s side, ready to leave with him.

Dongfang Qingling looked at Xu Qingfan with a complicated expression, as if she had not heard Jin Qinghan’s words, standing still in place.

Everyone’s eyes naturally focused on Dongfang Qingling, but she seemed unaware, just staring blankly at Xu Qingfan.

Seeing Dongfang Qingling’s expression, Xu Qingfan felt a sense of sadness. After those days in the Southern Wasteland, the feelings between him and Dongfang Qingling seemed to have changed in subtle ways. The boundaries between them faded, and even in everyday life, Dongfang Qingling always took care of Xu Qingfan as if they were a married couple. Without realizing it, Xu Qingfan also got used to her care.

However, Xu Qingfan had never thought about these things. And for Dongfang Qingling, he did not wish for her to live in seclusion with him, as living in seclusion also meant limiting one’s freedom.

In that moment of complicated gazes, the feelings of parting suddenly deepened.

"Junior Martial Sister Dongfang?" Lv Qingshang called out.

Dongfang Qingling’s body trembled, and she blurted out, "I won’t go."