Chapter 285: Just Like Classmates in Youth (Two in One)

At this moment, with Hu Haihan's help, the old woman's body gradually began to revive.

"You're awake?" the cute girl asked, her eyes sparkling.

Liu Wenjian slowly got up, her ancient eyes looking at the group.

This person's spirit was broken!

The cute girl looked at her, her heart sinking immediately.

Her eyes were clouded, as if obscured by the dust of time. A sense of tragic decline, like a fading hero, filled her with despair.

Liu Wenjian's life had been full of turmoil and suffering, devoid of any sweetness.

She pursued relentlessly, yet fell repeatedly.

From childhood, she painstakingly studied blacksmithing. Just as she achieved success, her family was wiped out. In her madness, she lost an arm. After enduring hellish torment, she finally avenged her family, but by then she was already an old mortal, having enjoyed none of life's pleasures. She sought to open the Immortal Gate, only to fail again, losing her 'Bing Yi Sword' completely and becoming a one-armed old woman, wandering the streets aimlessly for thirty years.

She could fail once or twice, constantly picking herself up from hardships and pressing forward, but she had failed too many times; she could no longer get back on her feet.

The bitterest things in the world are a maiden's gray hair and a hero's downfall.

"Do you want to reforge your arm and regain your youth?" The cute girl's heart sank, but then she suddenly manifested immense power. A terrifying, heavy pressure emanated from her as she couldn't help but offer encouragement. "I am the Azure Vine Earth Mother, the oldest existence in this world."

Liu Wenjian froze, trembling. She had naturally heard legends of the Azure Vine Earth Mother.

According to ancient myths, the Earth Mother existed before the Heavenly Dao, and the Heavenly Dao was her disciple. No one could help but be moved by the appearance of such a magnificent and ancient being.

Liu Wenjian's voice was hoarse. "Can I regain my youth and heal my severed arm?"

"No, I cannot," the cute girl replied.

The cute girl smiled. "The Heavenly Emperors are mostly muscle-bound brutes. They can regenerate their own limbs easily, but it's difficult for them to do it for others. Our Dao methods also can't achieve this for you. Your body is too frail; as an old woman, your meridians and flesh are as fragile as wet paper, shattering at a touch. You cannot withstand powerful Dao methods. In simple terms, you are too weak to be healed."

Liu Wenjian's eyes dimmed. Even the Heavenly Emperors of the ancient Western Epoch could not restore a mortal.

"But someone can do it!" the cute girl smiled. "A civilization from another era, one that specializes in detailed human research, could likely help you regrow an arm, and restoring your youth would be normal for them."

"What civilization?" Liu Wenjian asked.

"I don't know what that civilization is called," the cute girl smiled, looking into the distance. "Perhaps, in our eyes, that world of magic potions could be called the Demon Realm. Every powerful being there inherits a part of chaos, tyranny, and an unnamable, evil, dark aura.

The one we seek is their supreme Demon God, Medusa!

She is called the Origin Demon God in that extraordinary world. All powerful beings are separated from her and return to her magnificent body, vast as the world, after death. She is the mother of all things and the destination of all things.

She is unnamable, not to be looked upon, and her voice not to be heard. Even attempting to comprehend her true form will lead to madness."

Liu Wenjian shuddered. This was an ancient existence beyond her current comprehension.

The cute girl smiled at her, pointing to the scholar reading nearby. "You're here, so you must know about our business! We're choosing a Dao partner for Bai Xiaosheng, to study with him every night and gain opportunities. What those beautiful saints couldn't do, you have done. So, do you know what you need to do next?"

Liu Wenjian, who had been calm until now, instantly lost her voice. "I've been a woman with a man's heart since childhood, never considering marriage. And I'm an old, disabled woman now; even old men wouldn't be interested in me. He's still a young man..."

"It's fine," the cute girl said. "He's a straight-laced man; he doesn't refuse anyone, regardless of gender."

The cute girl whispered close to Liu Wenjian's ear, teasing her, "You're only in your seventies! Even for my disciples, that's still just a young girl or boy. You've worked hard your whole life and never had time for romance. I, the Earth Mother, believe the Heavenly Dao has been unjust to you, so I've personally arranged this marriage. Bai Xiaosheng doesn't dislike you, so why not try to accept it? Tonight, go to his room and begin your studies..."

Liu Wenjian immediately shook her head.

Xu Zhi: ???

Are you out of your mind?!

He instantly wanted to kick the scoundrel away.

He rarely came in, so this was a sort of relaxing break from his studies. He was also interested in Liu Wenjian's situation, as she represented a new system that could be nurtured and might bloom wonderfully.

Who knew the cute girl would spout such crude nonsense all day?

"Hahaha," the cute girl burst into laughter. "Just kidding! I thought your spirit was completely broken, but it seems I can still stir some emotions. And besides, how could true love bloom between two men? My intention was just for you to study every night. You do need to go to his room tonight, to ask the Demon God if she can save you."

As night fell.

Xu Zhi and the old woman sat awkwardly in the same room.

It wasn't primarily Xu Zhi who was embarrassed, as he was hidden in the mirror, with his mirrored self reading. He was just casually curious and there for the spectacle. The awkward one was the old woman, Liu Wenjian.

At this moment, she was restless.

Yet, Xu Zhi observed her bewildered and dazed expression, finding it deeply poignant.

He sighed inwardly. In her youth, Liu Wenjian had faced difficulties head-on, struggling through countless setbacks. But after failing to open the Immortal Gate, she had been a muddled old woman for over thirty years.

Her body was completely aged, but had her spirit aged as well?

Given Medusa's cold and severe nature, she might not help Liu Wenjian. In fact, if she saw Liu Wenjian in her room, she would likely kill her instantly. So, how could this be avoided?

How could he make her help Liu Wenjian?

Xu Zhi became distressed. As the Creator, he governed and created this world, but he couldn't interfere too much.

This was a talent he couldn't abandon. Currently, only Medusa's wizardry, which involved death and rebirth and specialized in human experimentation, could help her.

Perhaps Ermin could also help, as she controlled the domain of life ripples, but she was too far away.

"Medusa despises those whose spirits are broken. Seeing her, she might kill her instantly." Xu Zhi suddenly picked up paper and brush, and as if routinely, began contemplating something, writing a passage on a page:

"Alone in the cold autumn, the Xiang River flows north, at the head of Orange Island.

I see thousands of mountains cloaked in red, forests dyed deep; the river's waters crystal clear."

"Bai Xiaosheng, what are you writing?"

In the mortal world of the inn, the lamps flickered in the night, dimming and brightening. Amidst her unease, the old woman, Liu Wenjian, suddenly focused her attention, her turbid, ash-colored eyes gleaming, as she concentrated on the scholar's brushwork.

It seemed to be poetry from a great Confucian scholar.

She had encountered many such writings during her travels in the Jianghu.

The writing was astonishingly brilliant, seemingly describing scenery. She had never seen such short, exquisite, and divinely inspired verses. This was a literary talent unmatched even by contemporary great Confucian scholars. As she read further, her expression gradually changed. The style shifted, revealing a spirit and breadth of vision filled with youthful vigor.

A hundred boats contend, eagles soar high, fish glide in shallow waters, all beings vie for freedom under the frosty sky?

"What magnificent lines!" She continued reading, her thoughts settling. It was as if something long dormant within her had been stirred, and she fell into a dazed state. "Gazing at the vast expanse, I ask the boundless land, who masters its destiny?"

This single line contained a terrifying conviction!

Her mind suddenly reeled, as if a scene flashed before her eyes: herself, wandering the Jianghu, losing an arm, yet as a mortal, reaching such heights and even daring to attempt opening the Immortal Gate.

She trembled all over, her aged body unable to stand steady. Her breathing became rapid, like a drunken old woman, her face flushed. Something seemed to be awakening within her.

She continued reading as the scholar's brush wrote the final line:

"Do you remember, striking the water in midstream, the waves stopping the flying boat?"

She felt as if struck by lightning.

Suddenly, something deep within her fully awakened.

At this very moment, Medusa slowly opened her eyes. She saw an old woman studying alongside Bai Xiaosheng. A flash of ferocity crossed her eyes; Bai Xiaosheng was her personal possession.

She then, with an unprecedentedly gentle and affectionate tone, asked, "Who are you?"

Liu Wenjian put down the poem and quickly answered truthfully.

Medusa watched her in silence.

The Azure Vine Earth Mother was indeed a clever ancient being, knowing Medusa's character would inevitably take an interest in this old woman.

However, she didn't realize that Medusa was interested in current powerhouses, not former ones.

"Lord Demon God, if I cannot restore my body, then I..." Liu Wenjian hesitated. She was a genius of the entire Jianghu, a mere mortal who had achieved unimaginable feats, yet she remained full of reverence before the world's most powerful being.

Medusa continued to watch her in silence.

At this moment, this one-armed, faltering old woman exuded a sense of aged decline. Her eyes were filled with despairing ashes. She held hope, but despair was more dominant, as if the passion of her youth had been entirely consumed.

For someone like this, restoring her cultivation wouldn't be difficult, but breaking into the Sixth Sky Hole Realm, the Void Emperor Realm...

Medusa shook her head.

For two millennia, Medusa had never been the most talented, but she had been the most diligent, enduring far greater hardships than others. She had also failed, just like Liu Wenjian, and had been suppressed for centuries, experiencing profound depression.

Such a person was already wasted. Their respectful tone showed their rough edges had been smoothed down.

Perhaps, it would be better to kill her?

She grinned, knowing she was never a good person.

She suddenly lowered her head, looking at the poem, and trembled. "Remember those glorious years, when we were young classmates, vibrant and blooming, with scholarly ardor, commanding great power!"

A vast aura filled the air from it.

It was written by the scholar.

But the scholar never wrote such things on his own, unless it was an exchange. Was this old woman asking him about regaining confidence? And he exchanged this poem with her?

Was she pretending?

When she clearly possessed such ambition?

Was she feigning respect, feigning timidity and fear of her?

"Show me your true self and speak with me," Medusa said coldly as she stood up, calmly looking at her. "If it were you in your youth, you who even dared to open the heavens, why would you fear me so?"

Liu Wenjian was startled. As Medusa looked at the poem, Liu Wenjian instantly understood something: the other party had misunderstood.

That's right.

Was that timid, fearful, hesitant person truly myself?

She recalled the recent conversation and couldn't believe those were her own words. Having been in decline for over thirty years, perhaps she had indeed become nothing more than a one-armed old woman wandering and begging in the mortal world.

Her eyes gradually sharpened. She bowed slightly to Medusa and declared with conviction, "Lord Demon God, I wish to regain my youth, if you can help me!"

"Good!"

Medusa smiled, looking at the sharp-eyed, one-armed old woman. "I promise you. I will restore your youth. I control the domain of death, and I can regenerate your severed arm."

She motioned for Liu Wenjian to sit down, a flash of admiration in her eyes. "Your ambition remains unchanged, which I find excellent. I've always believed that even ordinary and foolish people like us can surpass geniuses. Wisdom can be learned and grows with age, but courage diminishes with time. Let me ask you one more thing: Is your original intention still there?"

Liu Wenjian's clouded eyes flickered with surprise.

Medusa asked, "If your original intention is no longer there, can you use your pain, your will, your flesh, and your bones to shatter it and reforge it?"

Liu Wenjian's gaze gradually became fervent.

"I understand."

Medusa slowly began to smile. She gripped Liu Wenjian's shoulder, and Liu Wenjian instantly fell unconscious.

When Liu Wenjian awoke again, she found herself lying on an alchemy table, surrounded by bottles and jars. Beside her was a round wooden basin from the inn, now filled with bloody water, and various blood-stained metal tools.

"It is done," Medusa said.

She stood up in a daze and looked at herself in the mirror. Her white hair had turned black, and she had become an attractive young woman, dressed in a faded old shirt, exuding an ethereal elegance and a heroic, valiant aura.

"I'm going to find a Sword Forging Villa. Wait here; I'll have your sword re-forged. I'm very interested in your sword," Medusa said, abruptly vanishing.

Liu Wenjian stood rooted to the spot, dazed.

"I'm back?" She looked at her youthful, vibrant body in the mirror, trembling all over, her expression changing as she laughed maniacally. "I'm finally back..."

Her eyes gradually sharpened, as if revitalized. Tears streamed down her face as she remembered. "I was a coward. I've risen again. I have..."

A keen glint flashed in her eyes, like a sharp sword.

No mortal had ever possessed such an aura.

She charged forward with absolute conviction, incomparably dominant. This was the true 'Liu the Butcher,' who had killed countless people, a madman who, with a mortal body, had daringly sought to ascend to heaven and open the Immortal Gate.

"Were you helping me just now?" She looked at the scholar, who was still reading, then picked up the paper, carefully putting it away as if it were a treasure. She asked coldly, "Was it because of that poem that this Demon God spared me and chose to help me!?"

The scholar appeared unconscious, still sitting at his desk, reading.

"Was he unintentional or deliberate? Isn't he unconscious?" Liu Wenjian paused, then without a word, suddenly knelt and kowtowed several times, hitting her forehead until it bled. "Regardless! This great favor of rebirth, I can never repay! You are my master for life, Liu's master!"

Thud, thud, thud!

She continued to kowtow, prostrating herself before the reading scholar.

In this moment, she had never imagined she could return to her youth.

"Do you remember, striking the water in midstream, the waves stopping the flying boat?" she suddenly murmured, smiling, deeply moved.

"Young one, I've found a Sword Forging Villa. I'll take you to reforge your sword now."

Medusa grabbed her, flashed, and the two vanished from the spot.

The scholar continued to flip through his books, as wooden as ever.

Xu Zhi continued to flip through books, the gentle rustle of pages filling the air. He calmly remarked, "The wisdom sub-brain is quite formidable. The knowledge points are dense and intricate. After two days of mirror learning, it suddenly feels terrifying."