Chapter 177 - 39: This Child and I are Destined

“I finally understand why Senior Sister dislikes her.”

After Guan Shanyue left, Ling Yunpo couldn’t help but express his sentiment.

“Hm?” An Zhisu paused for a moment, then shook her head, “Right? I told you, communicating with her is like torture.”

“The Riddle Speaker is truly revolting,” Ling Yunpo sighed.

No matter how they probed, Guan Shanyue remained inscrutable, only answering, “You’ll know when the Sword Tomb opens and you see the ancestor.”

If that were the case, why inform us in advance? Is keeping people in suspense considered fun?

“Talking to her ruins a good mood,” An Zhisu said, massaging her temples, “Let’s go back.”

“Okay, Senior Sister.”

The two turned around and went back to the guest room to rest. After several days, a maid came to inform them that the Sword Tomb had officially been opened.

Ling Yunpo and An Zhisu followed the leading maid through a mountain belly tunnel and entered a valley.

They saw that the valley was flat without trees or hills, just a large number of swords scattered about, thrust haphazardly into the ground.

This place was the Sword Tomb of the Longxi Guan Family. Whenever a Sword Immortal of the Guan Family unfortunately fell, the Guan Family would seal their Flying Sword into the Sword Tomb, creating what is called a “Sword Stele,” akin to a spiritual tablet for ancestors.

Ling Yunpo and An Zhisu walked on the small path through the forest of Sword Steles, listening to the Guan family maid narrate the history of the Sword Tomb. It was said among the fallen Sword Immortals here, those who died in battle and those who perished during Transcending Heavenly Tribulation were about even in number, while those who died of old age were less than five percent.

This was probably because Sword Immortals of the Guan Family were too proud to die in their sickbeds. Once their life span was nearing the end and a breakthrough in their realm seemed impossible, they would go out to fight the Demon Cult, seeking an honorable death in battle.

An Zhisu listened with a respectful solemnity, while Ling Yunpo feigned a similar respect on the surface, but inwardly sneered to himself.

If my life was nearing its end, I definitely wouldn’t want to stay at home waiting to die either; I’d go out looking for opportunities to break through, making a last desperate struggle.

If I failed and fell, wouldn’t you be able to say whatever you pleased? Even if you claimed I died assassinating the Demon Lord for justice, how could I refute it?

Of course, everyone tries to present themselves in the best light, which is understandable. Therefore, Ling Yunpo didn’t say anything and merely looked around at the surrounding Sword Steles with great interest.

Hm?

He suddenly spotted a familiar face in the crowd in the distance.

Isn’t that Guan Zhan? How is this third junior brother here… Ah, his surname is Guan, so it’s no problem.

Ling Yunpo withdrew his gaze and continued with his Senior Sister through the dense forest of swords until they saw a thatched cottage ahead.

The maid led the two of them to the front of the cottage and pushed open the door.

Upon entering the cottage, they saw an elderly but spirited man seated on a couch, wearing grey robes, sitting cross-legged with his eyes tightly closed, and on either side, there was a gilded incense burner with blue smoke curling upwards.

“Sit,” he said blandly.

Ling Yunpo and An Zhisu sat down on meditation cushions, their expressions somewhat uneasy and solemn.

Although the elder appeared ordinary, the two, using their intuition as Sword Immortals, sensed the profound depth and towering strength behind his demeanor, indicating an extremely high rank and realm.

“How has Su Jian been recently?” the Guan Family ancestor asked with closed eyes.

“Our master is doing well,” An Zhisu replied.

“Has he come out of seclusion?”

“Not yet.”

“Since he hasn’t left seclusion, how do you know he’s still in good condition?” the Guan Family elder opened his eyes and asked with a hint of mockery.

An Zhisu frowned slightly, only to hear Ling Yunpo say beside her:

“The lineage of Qingluo Peak has not ceased, which indicates that my master is still well.”

“Ha!” The Guan Family elder immediately burst into laughter, his gaze towards Ling Yunpo changed, and he said with amusement, “What a sharp tongue you have indeed.”

Seeing that the other party did not fly into a rage, Ling Yunpo also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This elder must not bear any ill will towards Qingluo Peak; he just wanted to test the courage and spirit of me and my Senior Sister. It seems that we’ve passed his test.

After staring at them for a moment, the Guan Family elder finally spoke slowly:

“The descent of Qingluo Peak to its current state can’t be blamed on you; it’s truly Su Jian who brought it upon himself.”

“I beg to differ with the elder’s words,” An Zhisu immediately raised her eyebrows and said, with Ling Yunpo hastily grabbing her arm in alarm.

“What does it matter to me whether you agree or not?” The Guan Family elder chuckled, tauntingly said, “Even if Su Jian were standing here, he would have to admit that it’s his own fault. What qualification do you have to deny it for him?”

An Zhisu fell silent, unable to speak, while Ling Yunpo beside her sweated inwardly and said nothing.

If Su Jian were here, he would, of course, admit his responsibility. Or could he possibly shove the blame onto his disciples instead?

Senior Sister An’s words were merely a stance, yet who would have thought they would be seized upon by the Guan Family elder for criticism? Immortals can pretend to be foolish and misunderstand, can’t they? Wait… now I think I know where Guan Shanyue’s nasty character comes from.

“I told Su Jian in the past that if he doesn’t change his stubborn nature, he will ultimately ruin himself and even bring disaster upon his family,” continued the Guan Family elder with a cold laugh. “Cause and effect, the way of Heaven cycles. Can you not see that it has come to pass now?”

He looked at An Zhisu and said:

“If all you know is to emulate your master, recklessly making enemies and holding grudges, you will eventually meet the same end.”

An Zhisu kept silent, while Ling Yunpo sat beside her, deep in thought, only to hear the Guan Family elder turn his head and speak to him:

“You’re different from your master and Senior Sister, a clever and perceptive younger generation, which is quite rare.”

Ling Yunpo smiled faintly, thinking to himself that this assessment sounded a little familiar.

“It’s only because Su Jian was in seclusion and allowed your Senior Sister to take on disciples that you chanced upon becoming a disciple of Qingluo Peak.” The Guan Family elder snorted coldly, “If Su Jian had made the choice, even if your talent were great, you would definitely not have been admitted to Qingluo Peak.”

“The elder has it wrong there,” An Zhisu couldn’t help but interject once more, “Master admires disciples with extraordinary swordsmanship talent the most, and Ling Yunpo, my junior brother…”

“Even geniuses are useless,” the Guan Family elder said, unabashedly, “It’s not like there haven’t been prodigiously talented disciples seeking to become Su Jian’s disciples after he inherited Qingluo Peak. Yet has he taken a liking to any of them?”

An Zhisu was silent once again.

“Ling Yunpo.” The Guan Family elder turned his gaze, and his expression softened, “Su Jian wouldn’t have taken you in, not because of your fault, but because he is innately arrogant. No matter how outstanding the talent in swordsmanship, none could catch his eye.”

“As for your Senior Sister An, the reason she could become his disciple owes to another connection, which is best left unsaid.”

“If Su Jian never emerges from seclusion, you will be like a Loose Cultivator without a master; if Su Jian does emerge, you are unlikely to be well-treated by him.”

Hearing this, the Guan Family elder suddenly paused, then spoke earnestly:

“Su Jian once owed me a favor that has not yet been repaid. If you are willing to switch to my sect and take me as your master, I will use this favor to make a deal with him, so that even if he comes out from seclusion, he will have no objections, what do you say?”

Ling Yunpo stood stunned on the spot, only to see An Zhisu spring up from her seat, exclaiming in shock:

“How can this be!”