Chapter 122: Jianghu Reunion

The Marquis of Guangyang's personal guard army was stationed at a post station ten miles outside Linjiang City.

Meng Qingkong flew into the military camp, clutching his chest, and stumbled into a tent. Inside sat a white-haired old man with a face full of deep wrinkles. His grizzled beard and hair swayed gently in the breeze, and his entire being seemed as fragile as a flickering candle in the wind.

Few would likely recognize him as Bai Chaoxian, the Marquis of Guangyang, one of Yunzhou's Ten Grandmasters.

Bai Chaoxian was only in his fifties, yet he appeared significantly older than Meng Qingkong. His body exuded a pervasive aura of decay. He was draped in a thick velvet blanket, and a charcoal fire burned fiercely nearby.

Seeing Meng Qingkong enter the tent, Bai Chaoxian quickly rose to support him and immediately began channeling his internal energy to heal Meng Qingkong's injuries. However, Meng Qingkong stopped him, saying, "Marquis, these injuries are self-inflicted; I know their extent. They're not serious, so please don't waste your energy. You, right now..."

Bai Chaoxian gently shook his head. He still placed his palm on Meng Qingkong's back, channeling energy for healing. He slowly said, "I know my own condition. Keeping more energy within me would only prolong my life by a few days; it has no great significance."

Meng Qingkong frowned deeply and said, "Marquis, the Grand Tutor's Great Formless Tribulation Technique, though difficult to resolve, is not incurable. We could try finding Qi Miaoxuan, the Medicine Saint; he should have a solution. If not, we could seek out Wei Wuwei, the Medicine God of the Moon Worship Sect, or even Ye Nantian, the Sect Leader of the Moon Worship Sect..."

Bai Chaoxian chuckled lightly. "Brother Meng," he said, "is the Great Formless Tribulation Technique truly the most difficult thing to resolve? It's the current situation in the imperial court. His Majesty needs to hand me over to ease the conflict with the aristocratic clans. What's truly difficult to resolve is never a martial art, but the prevailing circumstances. You understand this, so why still cling to hope and console yourself?"

Meng Qingkong said in a deep voice, "I think it's very unfair."

Bai Chaoxian smiled slightly. "Reaching this point was predetermined long ago," he said. "Everything was my own choice back then; everything is fair.

"Back then, the late emperor gave me a choice: either remain a slave for generations or strive to rise to prominence in one lifetime. I chose the second option. Later, I rose step by step from a slave to a great general and grand marshal, commanding vast armies, fighting enemy nations externally, and suppressing bandits internally.

"The late emperor never broke any of his promises to me. He gave me power, military strength, wealth, and more. All I had to do was be a blade, eliminating the aristocratic clans for him. And I wasn't the only such blade.

"Everyone said the late emperor was unconventional in his appointments, disregarding background, promoting many commoners and slaves. But now, how many from that original group are still alive?"

Meng Qingkong sighed. "I feel it's unfair," he said, "because for them, one death was enough. But for you, Marquis, it's... your entire family!"

Bai Chaoxian said, "Because I was the most ruthless, and I climbed the highest. The more ruthlessly I killed the members of those aristocratic clans back then, the more ruthless the retaliation is now. It's simply the clear law of heaven, the cycle of karma. I coveted power, and though I knew the consequences, I couldn't resist its allure, becoming the most brutal executioner, killing the most people. Now, the more people seek revenge against me, isn't that only reasonable?"

"But the Emperor..." Meng Qingkong began.

"The Emperor has no personal feelings; from his position, he always considers the balance of gains and losses," Bai Chaoxian said. "Now, the situation is different. He needs to appease the aristocratic clans. Is there a more suitable way than handing me over?"

Meng Qingkong sighed and said no more.

After a long while, the healing was complete. Bai Chaoxian wiped the sweat from his brow and slumped onto the rug, stretching out his chapped, wrinkled hands to warm them by the fire. He coughed softly and said, "Brother Meng, my two grandsons, I entrust them to you. Remember, never tell them their true origins. Whether they live as ordinary people or wander the jianghu in the future, they are to have no connection whatsoever with the Marquis of Guangyang's Residence."

Meng Qingkong nodded. "Don't worry, Marquis," he said. "After today, I will retire from the jianghu and never return. I'll take those two boys to a remote mountain village to live out their days. They haven't appeared before the public since birth; no one knows they are members of the Bai family, and they don't even know themselves. There won't be any problems."

Bai Chaoxian nodded slightly. "Thank you, Brother Meng!" he said.

Meng Qingkong waved his hand and asked again, "Why did you suddenly change your mind today? Didn't you previously decide to keep the truth from Third Miss? Why are you suddenly asking me to relay the truth to her?"

Bai Chaoxian nodded. "That was indeed the original plan," he said. "However, after hearing what Yanyan said, I suddenly felt I was quite self-righteous. I always thought I was doing what was best for her, but it seems I never considered what Yanyan truly needed.

"I used to think that my actions would ensure she had a good life in the future. Only today did I realize that everything I've done has become a personal demon for her. If I don't tell her today, she might live like a lifeless block of wood, trapped by her inner demons for the rest of her life. There would be no difference between living that way and being dead."

"Will it affect your original plan?"

"No."

Meng Qingkong pondered for a moment. "Since you are so confident, there shouldn't be any problems," he said. "With this clear separation, no one in the imperial court should seek revenge on Third Miss, an illegitimate daughter. As for the jianghu, there shouldn't be much trouble either, especially since Gu Mo is protecting Third Miss."

Bai Chaoxian sighed and said in a deep voice, "If only I had found Yanyan sooner back then. If I had hidden her early, no one would have known about her, and I wouldn't have to worry about her being targeted. I could also have let her experience fatherly love, rather than letting her suffer all these years!"

Meng Qingkong said, "Third Miss now knows your good intentions; she will find solace. The wounds in her heart from all these years will slowly heal, and she will live a normal life. My only concern now is, will Third Miss act emotionally after learning of your good intentions? If so, all the preparations you made to successfully sever ties for her sake would be in vain!"

Bai Chaoxian chuckled lightly. "No," he said, "I know my daughter's character very well. She is a daughter, yet she is the most like me among all my children. She values sentiment, yet she is rational. She will only have difficulty accepting it for a short time, but she will never act emotionally. If I weren't so confident, how would I dare let her know the truth?

"She will be reborn!"

Linjiang City, the Gu family residence.

After Gu Mo returned with Gu Chuwinter and Yan Sanniang, he recounted to Yan Sanniang everything Meng Qingkong had said.

After listening,

Gu Chuwinter's face was filled with shock and astonishment.

But Yan Sanniang remained calm and expressionless. She simply reached out, took the letter from Gu Mo, and slowly opened it. Inside, there was only one sentence:

"For the rest of your life, I hope you live for yourself."

Yan Sanniang's reaction was different from what Gu Mo had anticipated.

Gu Mo had originally expected Yan Sanniang to become emotional, either overjoyed or deeply saddened, after learning the truth.

However, Yan Sanniang was expressionless and her emotions were very stable. She was only silent for a while, but not for long, before she looked up at Gu Mo and chuckled softly, "What, are you disappointed?"

Gu Mo nodded. "I thought you would be greatly overjoyed or deeply saddened," he said.

Yan Sanniang chuckled softly. "I also thought I should be greatly overjoyed or deeply saddened, but I don't know why," she said. "After learning the truth, I only feel a sense of relief. Do you understand that feeling?"

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "I think I understand why you're neither sad nor happy," he said.

"Why?"

Gu Mo said, "Perhaps, at first, you wanted to gain Bai Chaoxian's fatherly love, but later, you became despairing and lost that expectation. Instead, you wanted to prove your capabilities to Bai Chaoxian, to show him that you, his daughter, were not a disgrace.

"But the harder you tried, the more painful it became, because you could never gain Bai Chaoxian's recognition. You became trapped in an obsession and couldn't escape. You inexplicably placed a layer of shackles upon yourself. The existence of those shackles made your life exhausting; you didn't dare to stop, and you didn't even know why you were living.

"And now, that layer of shackles has disappeared. You don't need to live for anyone, nor for Bai Chaoxian's approval, nor for any particular cause. Naturally, you feel a great sense of relief."

Yan Sanniang smiled faintly and whispered, "This feeling is truly wonderful!"

"It really is good."

Gu Mo also smiled and asked, "Miss Yan, what are your plans for the future?"

"To borrow a phrase you once used to advise Yang Qingtong."

"Which phrase?"

Yan Sanniang chuckled softly. "I'm still young, the future is long, and there's so much of the world; I want to see it," she said. "Although I've traveled far and wide these past years, my heart has always felt heavy, always striving for some great achievement, never truly appreciating the scenery along the way."

"That's good," Gu Mo nodded. "Wander around and see things. When you're tired, rest. When you're rested, continue on. When you find a place you love and things you enjoy doing, then life will be full of much joy."

Yan Sanniang smiled faintly.

Gu Chuwinter, standing nearby, couldn't help but say, "Then, Sister Yan, you must remember to write to me. Hmm, for now, send the letters here. But later, after my brother's eyes are healed, I'll go back to our hometown with him, and then the letters will have to be sent to our hometown."

"Okay."

Yan Sanniang nodded, then asked, "Gu Mo, do you have alcohol at your place?"

"Of course."

"Then, let's have a drink tonight, as a farewell," she said. "I'll leave tomorrow."

"So soon?"

"Staying here will always remind me of unpleasant past events," she replied. "The sooner I leave, the sooner I can forget my troubles."

The next day, early morning.

At dawn, the morning light, like a veil, gently pierced through the night's curtain.

The houses and streets in the city were still hazy, their outlines indistinct, as if shrouded in a thin veil. Distant pavilions showed only vague silhouettes, while nearby trees and their branches were dimly outlined in the faint light.

Gu Mo and the others all woke up early and had breakfast together. However, the meal was rather silent.

Yan Sanniang and Gu Chuwinter cleared the table and washed the dishes together in the kitchen. After everything was tidied, they went out together and led their horses out of the city.

"Where are you planning to go?"

"First stop, Jiutai Mountain to see the sea of clouds."

"And then?"

"We'll see when we get there!"

Gu Chuwinter was downcast, her heart filled with reluctance at the parting. She lowered her head, her eyes slightly red.

Yan Sanniang gave Gu Chuwinter a big hug, then leaned into her ear and said, "Don't worry, little sister, I'll definitely write to you."

"Mhm, Sister Yan, you mustn't forget."

"Never."

Yan Sanniang slowly released Gu Chuwinter, walked up to Gu Mo, and smiled. "Come on," she said, "give me a hug."

"That's not appropriate, men and women should keep their distance..."

"Big man, why are you being so wishy-washy?"

Before Gu Mo could finish speaking, Yan Sanniang stepped forward and hugged him directly. She then released him and took a small step back. Swiftly mounting her horse, she turned her head and said, "Gu Mo, if you ever see me in the jianghu someday, you must recognize me at first glance!"

Gu Mo smiled faintly. "I will," he said.

"I'm off, see you again if fate wills it!"

Yan Sanniang tugged the reins; the valiant horse neighed, its four hooves kicking up clouds of dust.

At this moment, the rising sun cast its warm light like golden gauze, outlining her with a dazzling halo. The road ahead was long; she looked up, and that gaze was like the dawn breaking through the morning mist, determined to illuminate this chaotic world.

The rhythmic sound of hooves broke the silence. With the morning sun newly risen and her path boundless, her silhouette gradually merged into the brilliant morning glow.