Ze Tian Ji

The Holy Maiden arched her brows, asking, ”What problem?”

Su Li said, ”Of course it’s the greatest problem of life. Qiushan Jun or that idiot Chen Changsheng, not even I can say who is better. Just who is she going to marry?”

A little displeased, the Holy Maiden chided, ”Just what are you blabbering about in front of a junior?”

Xu Yourong truly found it difficult to accept…this sort of scene. She sighed in her heart, and she also felt that Senior Su Li’s words were actually faintly more favorable when speaking of Chen Changsheng.

”I will not marry anyone,” she declared. ”I will go to the capital to end the engagement.”

Su Li’s brows shot up as if they were swords about to soar up into the night sky above Mount Li. But in the end, he chose to say nothing.

The Holy Maiden looked at her in pity. What Xu Yourong had encountered in the Garden of Zhou, she had spoken of to no one, including her. But a person of her caliber needed only a glance several days ago to see that her own disciples had encountered some romantic block, so she no longer discussed the engagement. Changing the subject, she said, ”When you go to the capital, represent your teacher and go to the Li Palace to pick something up.”

Xu Yourong replied, ”Yes, master, but I don’t know what the item is.”

The Holy Maiden explained, ”The Sword Pool of the Garden of Zhou has reappeared. Chen Changsheng is willing to return those swords to their old sects, and the temple sword is among them. For the moment, it is temporarily in the custody of the Li Palace.”

The temple sword was the sword meant to be carried by the Holy Maiden. Many years ago, Zhou Dufu had snatched it away from Holy Maiden Peak after which it was never found again.

Hearing this news, Xu Yourong was incredibly shocked, and then she felt that something wasn’t quite right.

Yes, something was very wrong…

Su Li suddenly asked, ”When do you plan to go to the capital?”

Xu Yourong awoke from her daze and responded, ”After the winter solstice.”

Su Li said, ”Since you’re going to the capital, help me return something to Chen Changsheng. You even know each other.”

Xu Yourong was subconsciously a little resistant to this idea. She declared, ”I don’t know him.”

”Girl, you’re as stubborn as your master.”

Su Li said, ”Tianhai and your master taught you, and Old Man Yin only has him as a junior. You two will have to fight eventually. You don’t have to meet him when ending the engagement, but is it possible to fight him without meeting?”

Xu Yourong knew that this was true. Upon returning to the capital, disregarding the events of the Ivy Festival and the Grand Examination and basing it purely on the current state of affairs in the capital, she and Chen Changsheng would inevitably have to fight.

”What thing?”

”An umbrella.”

Su Li seemingly took a yellow paper umbrella from out of nowhere and handed it to Xu Yourong.

In the past, this had been the umbrella that he treasured the most and within was the sword which he had wished to find the most. This umbrella was also a symbol of an era.

So on the snowy plains, even if he and Chen Changsheng bickered like children, he was still unwilling to give it away.

But now, he just casually threw this umbrella away.

The Holy Maiden’s expression subtly shifted and her voice seemed to be a bit shaky. ”You’ve really…agreed?”

Su Li said, ”I’m still considering it, but…if I really have the chance to go to a different world and see, it’s far better than sticking around this swamp smelling all these awful stenches.”

The Holy Maiden said no more, only quietly gazing at him with gratitude and fond remembrance.

If Xu Yourong were looking at this scene, she would definitely have felt very helpless, but she was not.

Her eyes were currently transfixed on the umbrella in her hands, that old umbrella.

Naturally, she recognized this umbrella.

She had held this umbrella.

She had lifted this umbrella.

From the plains to the Mausoleum of Zhou.

Carrying it for a thousand li, passing several times through the four seasons.

Back then, she was on his back, the umbrella in her hands.

This umbrella had served her and him as shelter against the rain and snow, to block out the wind and frost, to avoid the dust, to point the way.

Return…Chen Changsheng…Sword Pool…temple sword…him.

Her face instantly turned white as snow.

She was somewhat despondent.

She was incredibly dazed.

Just what was going on here?