Watching the Mountain

Zhao Wuyang looked at Xu Ran, who was lying in bed, and asked with concern.

Behind him stood Liu Yunge and Chen Chang’an.

Xu Ran smiled and replied, "My injuries have healed. I’m just a little weak right now, but it’s nothing serious. Are you all heading back?"

Previously, while in the territory of the Demon Race, Zhao Wuyang and Liu Yunge had sustained some injuries. After returning, they had stayed at the Profound Pure Sect to recuperate.

Zhao Wuyang nodded. "We are now at war with the Demon Race. Our injuries have healed, so of course we must go to the battlefield."

Xu Ran fell silent at his words.

Seeing his reaction, Zhao Wuyang smiled faintly. "Fellow Daoist Xu, there’s no need to worry. With our strength, we’ll have no problems on the battlefield."

As he spoke, he suddenly gave Xu Ran a conspiratorial look and lowered his voice, a secretive expression on his face.

"This war with the Demon Race might have come suddenly, but Yun Ge and I have discussed it, and we think this might be an opportunity for us."

"An opportunity?" Xu Ran looked at him, confused.

Zhao Wuyang chuckled mischievously. "Fellow Daoist, think about it. Now that we’ve broken with the Demon Race, we’ve lost our only allies. If the Cultivation Realm wants to survive the current and future turmoil, we must all be of one mind, right?"

"But some of the rifts in the Cultivation Realm have been built up over countless years. It’s not a simple matter for everyone to let down their guard and unite in sincerity."

"If, at a time like this, my Netherworld Sect, representing the Demon Sects, and Yun Ge’s Creation Sect, representing the Immortal Sects, could put aside our hatred and unite, it would be hugely significant for the cooperation of the entire Cultivation Realm."

After a moment of thought, Xu Ran understood their plan. He looked at Zhao Wuyang and Liu Yunge in surprise and said:

"You’re planning to go back and persuade your respective sects to set aside their hatred and cooperate? And the bridge for this cooperation... would be the two of you, the foremost disciples of your generation, becoming Dao Companions?"

Zhao Wuyang gave him an appreciative look and said with a chuckle:

"Exactly. That’s our plan. Our two sects have a long-standing feud. It will be very difficult to get them to let down their guard and unite just like that. There has to be something to support this cooperation."

"If we, the two foremost disciples, become Dao Companions, it would tie our two sects together."

"Normally, something like this would never work. But at a time like this, I’m sure both our sects are desperate to cooperate but just can’t find a suitable way to do it."

"When the time comes, we’ll propose it ourselves. We’ll say that for the greater good, we are willing to ’sacrifice’ my and Yun Ge’s happiness to facilitate the sects’ cooperation and unite the Cultivation Realm. It should be a feasible plan."

Xu Ran’s eyes widened at their words, and he stared straight at the two of them.

’My goodness, these two are really something else. Using the pretense of the greater good to pursue their romance... they must be the only ones who’d think of that, right?’

’And it’s actually very likely to succeed. Just as Zhao Wuyang said, in the current situation, the Cultivation Realm desperately needs to set aside its differences and work together.’

’Whether they actually become Dao Companions isn’t what’s important. What’s important is that if they do, it gives their two sects a reason to join hands and cooperate.’

At this thought, Xu Ran couldn’t help but smile. "In that case, you two have finally found your happy ending after all your troubles. Allow me to offer my congratulations in advance. May you be together forever and always be happy."

Zhao Wuyang and Liu Yunge glanced at each other and nodded slightly, expressions of anticipation appearing on their faces.

Then, Zhao Wuyang turned to Xu Ran with a smile. "I heard from Fellow Daoist Chen that the sword strike you used in the Demon Race’s territory had something to do with Fellow Daoist Qingxue?"

Xu Ran was slightly taken aback. "It did. Is there a problem?"

Zhao Wuyang’s eyes narrowed into a grin as he grabbed Xu Ran’s arm. "Hehehe, Fellow Daoist Xu, how can you even ask that? We were all good friends with Fellow Daoist Qingxue, but you were the only one who saw her final smile. You don’t think that’s a problem?"

Liu Yunge, at his side, chimed in, "Exactly! Judging from the Swordsmanship you used, Fellow Daoist Xu, we know Fellow Daoist Qingxue’s final smile must have been beautiful. It’s too unfair that only you got to see it. You have to accept a punishment."

Even Chen Chang’an, who was standing to the side, was staring at him intently.

Xu Ran was stunned by their words. This young couple, Zhao Wuyang and Liu Yunge, had a way of making you feel a sense of easy friendship, just like at this very moment.

"Elder Qingxue spent her whole life living for Ye Shan. Only that final smile belonged to her and her alone. It was truly beautiful, which is why it gave me the inspiration to comprehend the ’Melting Snow’ Swordsmanship style."

Liu Yunge cried out in an exaggerated fashion, "Whoa, now you’re just showing off! You’re the worst..."

"Right, right! Fellow Daoist Xu, you must accept your punishment."

The atmosphere lightened amidst their laughter and banter. After much of the day had passed, the two finally said their goodbyes, a bit reluctantly.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, you rest up and heal well. We’re heading back now. We’ll come see you again after the war is over."

He added with a small smile, "By the next time we visit, Yun Ge and I might be official Dao Companions."

Propping himself up, Xu Ran waved to them. "I’ll be looking forward to it."