What should be asked, what should be known.
What shouldn't be asked, what shouldn't be known—all were now known.
Afterwards, Gu Qingfeng bid farewell to Bai Chou, and the two of them departed together.
The Great Dao Necropolis was deathly still, with only that mysterious Elder still holding a broom, sweeping a certain grave.
This grave was like many others here, resembling a mountain range, upon which stood a peak.
The difference was, while the peak tombstones on other graves had inscriptions and names, this tombstone was completely blank, devoid of anything.
Suddenly!
This strange grave began to shake violently.
The mysterious Elder remained unmoved, continuing to sweep the fallen leaves on the grave-mountain.
The grave shook intensely, growing more and more violent. Finally, the mysterious Elder stopped sweeping, raised his head, glanced at the peak tombstone, and shook his head as if sighing over something.
"You... have sensed it too?"
The Elder's voice, like his turbid yet tranquil eyes, carried a weathered, vicissitudinous tone.
"A pity... truly a great pity. Pity that he is not the first, nor will he be the last, nor is he the only one."
The Elder seemed to be speaking to the grave, yet more like he was talking to himself.
As he muttered to himself, he began sweeping the fallen leaves on the grave again. Then, as if remembering something, he looked toward the spot where Gu Qingfeng had previously stood and said, "However...
This old one sensed a familiar feeling from him. It seems my junior brother should be with him. Only, I don't know if this is karma, or fate, or perhaps..." He shook his head and sighed again. "Junior brother, why must you torment yourself so?
You could not stop the past, you cannot stop the future—how then could you possibly stop the present?"
"This person is inherently aloof and unrestrained, following his heart's desires without restraint, his temperament ever-changing—changing into both god and sage, demon and Buddha."
The Elder's words were filled with many sighs, much regret, and endless helplessness. He continued, "Buddha-heart and demon-form born together, benevolent spirit and wicked soul follow in death, wicked nature and divine enlightenment connect heaven and earth, Original Sin sage-awareness and chaotic body, myriad tribulations entangle a lifetime, beginning with the original heart and ending with the self, karma and fate an unknown mystery..."
"A variable is truly a variable...
Such a variable is truly the greatest since antiquity, one cannot help but sigh in admiration."
At that moment.
The grave beneath the Elder's feet, massive as a mountain range, shook violently once more.
"This old one knows you also wish to end all this."
"A pity... truly a pity."
The Elder shook his head regretfully again. "Pity that karma has no end, only cycles, endless cycles..."
...
Fengyue Small World.
Golden Jade Island, within a manor.
Qiānniǎo and Ma Wangye were chatting and laughing playfully, while Qiānlíng sat alone in a pavilion, lost in thought.
Nearly half a month had passed since the Tower of Stolen Gold incident. Gu Qingfeng had slept for over twenty days straight and still hadn't woken up.
During this time, she hadn't gone anywhere, staying here the whole while, her mind constantly pondering one question.
Just who was Gu Qingfeng?
Alas.
No matter how much she thought, racking her brains, she couldn't find an answer to this question.
Originally, she had worried whether the powerful Bai Clan, the Golden Crow Li and Liu Clans, and the Lotus Secret Realm would come seeking trouble afterwards.
However, it turned out her worries were unnecessary.
The powerful Bai Clan and the two Golden Crow immortal clans—whether family elders, ancestors, or descendants—were all injured, maimed, or crippled, suffering heavy losses. Their clans were now shells of their former selves.
As for the Lotus Secret Realm, although the cultivation of twenty to thirty Five-Luminances Unity Great Nature Golden Immortals had been crippled, the Lotus Secret Realm was, after all, an ancient heritage with experts as numerous as clouds. While this loss was severe, it was only severe—far from reducing them to mere shells like the two Golden Crow immortal clans.
Even so, since the Tower of Stolen Gold incident, the Lotus Secret Realm had made no move.
Rumors outside said that when the experts of the Lotus Secret Realm learned of this matter, they were especially furious. However, they were also particularly wary of Gu Qingfeng's mysterious and bizarre nature, and thus dared not act rashly. Moreover, the fact that even the Supreme Enforcer Bai Susu treated Gu Qingfeng with utmost respect made people even more apprehensive.
Now, the only thing worrying Qiānlíng was Qiānniǎo.
Because she clearly remembered Gu Qingfeng telling her he intended to leave, possibly not even planning to return to the Xiaoluo Secret Realm this time.
Gu Qingfeng had lived in the Xiaoluo Secret Realm for decades, almost growing up alongside Qiānniǎo, and Qiānniǎo regarded him as a close friend, even family.
Qiānlíng didn't know, couldn't imagine, how heartbroken Qiānniǎo would be if Gu Qingfeng left.
"Sister Ling, I'm so bored! How about we go out for a stroll?"
Perhaps tired from fooling around with Ma Wangye, Qiānniǎo walked over, wanting to go out with Qiānlíng.
"You two go. I want to be alone for a while."
"Us? You mean me and this guy Ma Wangye going shopping together? No way! This guy is silly and boring. If I go shopping with him, I'll die of boredom."
"In that case, cultivate then."
"Heavens! I don't want to cultivate!"
Qiānlíng shook her head and said no more.
"Hey, Sister Ling, you've been looking down this whole time. Do you have something on your mind?"
Qiānniǎo sat down, asking with concern.
"I have nothing on my mind."
"Don't lie to me. I've been watching you for days. You definitely have something on your mind. Sister Ling, just tell me."
"Qiānniǎo."
Qiānlíng looked at Qiānniǎo, opening her mouth as if to speak but hesitating. After a moment, she finally decided to ask first. "I have a question for you."
"What question?"
Qiānniǎo blinked her big eyes expectantly.
"If... I mean if, if he doesn't live in our Xiaoluo Secret Realm anymore in the future."
"Him? You mean the Great Old Master? If the Great Old Master doesn't live in our Xiaoluo Secret Realm, where would he live?"
"I don't know. What I mean is, if one day he leaves... what would you... do?"
"If one day the Great Old Master leaves... what would I do?"
Qiānniǎo tilted her little head, thinking carefully. "I think I'd definitely be reluctant to see him go. And I'd miss the Great Old Master very, very much."
Qiānniǎo's answer surprised Qiānlíng greatly. Based on her understanding of Qiānniǎo, she had thought that if the Great Old Master left, Qiānniǎo would be unable to accept it and might do something foolish.
"Sister Ling, I know what you're worried about. But I'm not a little kid anymore. I won't throw childish tantrums, and I won't do anything stupid. Besides, I know the Great Old Master isn't from our Xiaoluo Secret Realm. He can't live with us in the Xiaoluo Secret Realm forever. Sooner or later, he'll leave."