Volume 1: The Youth Enters the World, Chapter 107: Under the Moon

A while later, the Sect Master of Qingxi Gate pondered for a moment, realizing there was nothing more worth saying. He opened his mouth and addressed them: “That’s all I need to say. You may return and rest.”

Hearing those words, the three disciples cupped their hands in farewell and withdrew from the Elder Hall. After they left, the Sect Master of Qingxi Gate rose from the small side door behind the Elder Hall and headed toward the Ancestral Hall.

He stood beneath the wooden frame holding the spirit tablets, gazing at one inscribed with Fu Cang’s name for a long time without blinking, lost in memories of the past and falling into deep thought.

On the stone paths of the sect, Fang Tian and the other two walked toward their lodgings. The surrounding disciples all cast respectful glances their way.

Xie Qing, watching this scene, smiled at Fang Tian and said, “Brother, you’re famous now. Do you have any feelings about it?”

Fang Tian replied calmly, “No particular feelings. As long as everyone can stay safe and sound, that’s enough.”

“Brother, to be honest, I never expected you to be so chivalrous. Watching you two stand alone to block the way really made my heart skip a beat. If I weren’t so weak, I’d have stayed to fight alongside you.” Xie Qing spoke with some emotion.

“It’s rare for you to have such a heart. You haven’t wasted my efforts in buying you time.” Fang Tian smiled, thinking that Xie Qing’s temperament was not bad after all, and he had not misjudged him.

“I’m not heartless. I understand that much. I treat people with affection and righteousness—that’s my principle of conduct.” Xie Qing patted his chest.

At that moment, Mu Qiaoqiao spoke up: “Little Tian, there are more than half a month until the Hundred Islands Grand Meeting. Do you think it’s possible we’ll depart in a few days?”

Fang Tian considered it and said, “It’s not impossible, but the Sect Master hasn’t given any instructions, so I’m not sure.”

Listening to their conversation, Xie Qing suddenly remembered something. He quickly said, “I know about this. Before you arrived, the Sect Master already told me the exact time. My head was full of the chat just now and I almost forgot.”

Fang Tian looked at him and asked, “What exactly is the time?”

“Four days from now. At that time, the Sect Master will personally lead us to the Hundred Islands Grand Meeting.” Xie Qing answered.

“Four days from now?” Mu Qiaoqiao said at that moment. “It looks like we can’t just leave whenever we want.”

“Yes.” Xie Qing nodded.

After learning the departure time, Fang Tian felt a pang of reluctance in his heart. It was finally time to leave this place, and he didn’t know if he would see those familiar faces again when he returned. After all, in Chiye Town, there was a woman he liked waiting for him.

Seeing the reluctance on Fang Tian’s face, Mu Qiaoqiao felt curious and couldn’t help asking, “Little Tian, why do you seem so reluctant to leave?”

“Nothing. Just thinking of old friends and feeling a bit of longing.” Fang Tian smiled.

Hearing the words “old friends,” an unusual emotion appeared in Mu Qiaoqiao’s heart. She then asked, “Is that person male or female?”

Fang Tian didn’t think much about it and said directly, “Both.”

Hearing that, Mu Qiaoqiao’s mind suddenly trembled inexplicably. Then she asked with forced composure, “A woman? Could it be someone you like?”

Fang Tian hesitated for a moment before saying it aloud: “Yes, it’s someone I like. If I didn’t have something I must do, I wouldn’t leave her.”

“Probably that woman also likes you very much.” Mu Qiaoqiao felt an indescribable feeling in her heart, and she didn’t know why she felt this way.

“Something like that.” Fang Tian smiled, as if his mind had sunk into memories.

Hearing this answer, Mu Qiaoqiao’s chest felt tight, making her feel even more uncomfortable. She didn’t understand why, after hearing all this, her heart felt this way.

“I’ll be going first.” Mu Qiaoqiao’s eyes dimmed as she spoke softly.

To avoid losing composure in front of Fang Tian, she quickly increased her pace and soon left.

Seeing Mu Qiaoqiao suddenly leave, Fang Tian was momentarily stunned. He wondered what was wrong with this girl. Why had she left so abruptly? He hadn’t said anything to make her angry. Could it be… because of what he’d said earlier?

Thinking this, Fang Tian immediately dismissed the complicated thoughts. He figured he and Mu Qiaoqiao had only just met, so it couldn’t possibly be because of that.

At this time, Xie Qing listened while dazed. After Mu Qiaoqiao left, he stretched his head and looked at Fang Tian with a meaningful gaze: “Brother, this isn’t very honest of you. You already have a girl you like. Why bother provoking Mu Shimei? Do you want to have your cake and eat it too?”

Fang Tian glared at Xie Qing unhappily and said, “What nonsense. How could I do something like that?”

“Then let me ask you: if not because of that, why does she look so unhappy?” Although Mu Qiaoqiao looked calm, Xie Qing had still noticed her mood.

“Hmm? Unhappy? I really didn’t notice that.” Fang Tian replied calmly.

“Brother, I truly suspect you’re faking ignorance. Mu Shimei risked her life to accompany you on Golden Stone Island, so she naturally has good feelings for you. I know you don’t believe I don’t know that.”

“But is this kind of thing definitely about feelings? Maybe she’s just helping out of righteousness.”

“Get out of here. If it were really about righteousness, she wouldn’t be like this.”

“Then what should I do? I can’t really have my cake and eat it too. I’m not skilled at that.”

“You’ve already admitted you have someone you like. Even if you wanted to, you’d have to see if she agrees. Maybe in a few days she’ll forget about you. It’s possible.”

“If that’s the case, then it’s not bad at all.” Fang Tian felt that saying those things wasn’t wrong. It could avoid many problems.

Xie Qing shook his head and continued, “But what if she can’t forget?”

“It’s not very likely. Qiaoqiao shouldn’t think so much.”

“Qiaoqiao, Qiaoqiao. Called so intimately. Brother, I bet you a game. I dare guarantee that Mu Shimei won’t just let it go. You’ll see.”

“You don’t know what she’s thinking.” Fang Tian was left unable to decide how to respond by Xie Qing’s words.

“Brother, if it really goes the way I think, don’t let her down after all her good intentions.” Xie Qing smiled.

“Alright, let’s stop discussing it. If the situation isn’t what you think, it’ll only cause embarrassment.” Fang Tian didn’t want to continue and spoke to Xie Qing.

Xie Qing knew that talking more would not be good, and it might be somewhat disrespectful to the girl. He nodded and fell silent.

At that moment, the two had reached their lodgings. They bid each other farewell and returned to their own rooms.

Fang Tian stood at the doorway, opened the door, and walked in. He closed it behind him and sat on the edge of the bed.

He closed his eyes and began to check his own condition. Due to absorbing the spiritual energy from Mu Qiaoqiao’s body, the spiritual power in his meridians had long been full and ready to break through, and it seemed he could enter the next realm at any time.

After thinking about it, he decided to break through directly. He gathered his mind and began to draw in spiritual energy from the outside world, constantly pouring it into the fifth meridian. Since the spiritual power in the meridian had reached a critical point, he only needed to use the external spiritual energy for the final supplementation. After about an hour, the barrier between the fifth and sixth meridians cracked open under the continuous impact of the spiritual energy. Moments later, the spiritual energy finally merged into the sixth meridian, and his cultivation level advanced to the sixth layer.

Feeling the power brought by the breakthrough, Fang Tian hadn’t expected it to be so easy. It seemed that the extreme cold object from Mu Qiaoqiao’s body was very useful to him. But he didn’t know what exactly it was. If he could find out, he could try to find a similar one to absorb in the future.

He had also asked the Heavenly Old Man, but the answer was that the Heavenly Old Man didn’t know either. It was blocked by a seal and he couldn’t see what it was.

Since he couldn’t find out, he gave up on that thought and took out the spirit array diagram to study it. Last time he had originally wanted to test the array, but instead he had been sent to exterminate pirates. With four days left, if he wanted to test it, he could try now.

After looking at it for a while, Fang Tian saw that the sky outside had darkened. He thought he might as well try it today and satisfy his urgent desire.

Having decided, he put away the diagram, got off the bed, opened the door, and walked out. At the mountain gate, he informed the guarding disciple and headed down the mountain.

Although the disciples were puzzled why he was going down the mountain so late, they didn’t dare ask much. The Sect Master had already spoken, saying that no matter what Fang Tian wanted to do, they couldn’t stop him. Since they were also disciples saved by Fang Tian, their gratitude was deep, so they would never obstruct him.

After descending the mountain, Fang Tian walked toward the previously chosen spot. It was now fully dark, and he thought it would be good to test the array without being discovered. For caution’s sake, he took roads that no one had passed. After several hours, he reached the chosen spot and began preparing to test the spirit array.

He picked up a branch from the ground and drew on it. As the patterns appeared on the ground, Fang Tian’s mind became focused. After who knew how long, the spirit array was finally completed. Just as he was about to draw power from it, he saw a graceful figure appear ahead and walking toward him.

Fang Tian stopped and walked over to her. Since this figure had appeared, he already knew who it was, but he was somewhat surprised.

“Qiaoqiao, how did you know I was here?”

“I didn’t deliberately follow you. I just wanted to ask some things to clear my mind.”

The sky hung with a round moon, and the moonlight draped a layer of silver-white light over the ground. Fang Tian and Mu Qiaoqiao stood there, quietly looking at each other.