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Xue Ye shook his head. “I have no intention of hiding anything. It’s just that even I don’t know who this senior is.”
As if afraid Su Yi wouldn’t believe him, he added, “A few days ago, this senior came looking for us. He said that he too was from the Netherworld, and that he was long acquainted with our third high elder. He hoped to borrow our power to return to the Netherworld.”
“However, when I asked about his origins and identity, he was unwilling to discuss the matter. Instead, he took out a River of Forgetfulness Command Token and said the third high elder had given it to him.”
“The Ninth Libationer examined it personally, and said that it really was from the third high elder, and furthermore, that it couldn’t possibly be fake.”
“Then you believed him?” asked Su Yi.
Xue Ye shook his head. “At most, we only half believed him. But afterward, when he helped us make contact with Meng Po Palace, we confirmed that he was no ordinary person.”
Su Yi nodded. “Alright. If you’ve decided to leave seven days from now, I naturally have no objections.”
Xue Ye inwardly sighed in relief, then smiled. “Seven days from now, I’ll await your arrival in the Dark Immortal Grounds, Fellow Daoist.”
Before long, Xue Ye bade farewell and left.
The others in Azurecloud Court clustered around Su Yi.
Although they’d long since known that Su Yi would leave the Azure Continent, they hadn’t anticipated that Su Yi would set off in just seven days. They couldn’t help but feel a bit caught off guard.
“It’s just a trip to the Netherworld, that’s all. It makes little difference when I leave,” said Su Yi. He swept his gaze across the group, and when he saw the reluctance in their expressions, he couldn’t help but laugh. “Besides, it’s not like I’m not coming back.”
He then turned to Yuan Heng. “Prepare a banquet. I’d like to seize this opportunity to say a few words.”
“Got it!” Yuan Heng rushed off to carry out his orders.
Before long, there was a feast waiting for them in the courtyard.
Everyone took their seats and started drinking and conversing.
Su Yi then announced the arrangements he’d made for his departure, one by one.
In truth, these were all trivial matters. If he hadn’t cared about those in attendance, he wouldn’t have bothered saying them out loud.
However, when they heard these arrangements, the group’s spirits sank.
Su Yi took all of this in, but he didn’t comment on it.
Throughout history, the pain of separation had always been commonplace.
However, Su Yi had an ironclad will, and he wholeheartedly pursued the Dao. A separation like this meant little to him.
After all, when cultivators went into seclusion, they sometimes stayed there for hundreds, or even thousands of years.
All he was doing was taking a quick trip to the Netherworld. What was there to be upset about?
……
Time slipped by. Six days passed in a flash.
Outside Nine Tripod City, early in the morning, shortly after dawn.
“Old blind man, we’re leaving.” Su Yi waved, then stepped into the air and soared away.
Just like that, he left, without so much as a second look, the very picture of carefree confidence.
The old blind man hurried after him.
Wen Xinzhao, Cha Jin, and the others watched them gradually face over the horizon, their hearts full of melancholy.
Except for Qing Ya, who giggled, “Someone like Big Brother Su might seem heartless, but he's the freest and happiest of all.”
The group was briefly tuned, but then, they couldn’t help but laugh, and the pain of separation faded considerably.
…..
That night.
Su Yi and the old blind man arrived at the Dark Immortal Grounds, dusty and travel-worn.
This was Su Yi’s first time in the area, and only now did he discover that this hidden realm was quite distinctive. The skies were turbid, like an eternal curtain of dusk.
The experts of Meng Po Palace had occupied a valley, in which they’d built several halls.
“Fellow Daoists, please, right this way!” The withered, decrepit Ninth Libationer welcomed them personally, nothing but smiles.
He was accompanied by Cui Jingyan, a young woman as beautiful as an immortal and utterly enticing.
When she saw Su Yi, she batted her beautiful eyes and laughed. “Banished Immortal Su, whose sword shall reign supreme for thirty thousand years, has arrived~!”
Her voice was pleasant to the air, with a hint of playful mockery.
Su Yi said calmly, “What, am I not welcome?”
Cui Jinyan pressed her lips into a smile. “I wouldn’t dare not welcome you.”
Meanwhile, the Ninth Libationer had already invited Su Yi and the old blind man into a grand hall decorated with luminous pearls. There was a banquet ready and waiting for them.
When they stepped inside, they saw two men, one young, one old, sitting on one side of the table.
The old man was dressed in dark Daoist robes. He was thin, with a laid-back, leisurely manner, and he was busy pouring and drinking his own wine.
The young man was dressed in white, with sharp eyebrows and starry eyes. His lips were red, his teeth were pearly white, and he had a valiant bearing.
The elder in Daoist robes rose and said warmly, “This must be our young friend Su Yi! I’ve long since heard your illustrious name. Now that I see you in the flesh, you indeed live up to your reputation!”
His gaze was warm and amiable, and his voice was clear, sonorous, and as pleasant as a spring breeze.
The youth seated beside him hurriedly rose, then curiously evaluated Su Yi.
It was obvious that both of them had known he was coming.
The old man continued, “However, I’m afraid that my apprentice and I are mere passersby, and due to extenuating circumstances, we cannot reveal our names. We humbly request your understanding, young friend Su.”
Su Yi looked first at the old man, then at his white-robed apprentice. A nigh imperceptible hint of strange light flashed in the depths of his gaze.
Then, he nodded. “I understand.”
The old man in Daoist robes smiled but didn’t take Su Yi’s words to heart. Instead, he looked at the old blind man.
His expression was obviously far more solemn than before. He clasped his fist and nodded in greeting. “And you must be the esteemed expert of the Ghost Lantern Sarcophagus-Bearers.”
The difference between how he greeted Su Yi and how he greeted the old blind man was readily apparent, but no one found this strange.
The Ghost Lantern Sarcophagus Bearers were one of the most mysterious lineages in the entire Netherworld.
It was only logical that the old man in Daoist robes would greet him accordingly.
However, the old blind man shook his head and said, “I’m no more than a lonely ghost. I am only here because His Excellency Su graciously permitted me to accompany him. I am unworthy of such respect.”
His tone was cold, indifferent, and distant.
The old man in Daoist robes was visibly stunned. An inheritor of the Ghost Lantern Sarcophagus Bearers had called Su Yi “His Excellency!” And he spoke as if he were a junior!
This was rather interesting.
After a moment’s thought, the old man in Daoist robes said, “Please forgive my presumptuousness, but several hundred years ago, there was a rumor that Daoist Five Burials, the Master of the Blood Coffin, passed away. Might I ask if this is true?”
The old blind man’s expression shifted, and a hint of anger appeared on his face. “If you know it’s a presumptuous question, why even ask?”
Five Burials was his master, and his passing was a painful subject, the thing he least wanted to discuss.
The old man in Daoist robes was instantly apologetic. “Fellow Daoist, that was impetuous of me. Please don’t take offense.”
The Ninth Libationer hurriedly played peacemaker. “Please, everyone, take your seats.”
“Have a seat,” said Su Yi, patting the old blind man on the shoulder.
The guests promptly took their seats, one by one.
The banquet was sumptuous, and the Ninth Libationer offered frequent toasts. Before long, the atmosphere was harmonious.
Furthermore, the elder in dark Daoist robes had a rather decent attitude. He personally filled the old blind man’s cup as an apology. This made it difficult for the old blind man to pursue the matter any further.
Perhaps because he sensed that the old blind man of the Ghost Lantern Sarcophagus Bearers treated Su Yi quite differently, the old man in Daoist robes was increasingly curious about him. He even took the initiative to ask about Su Yi.
“Young friend Su, the Ninth Libationer told me that you’re headed to the Netherworld in search of various items. Why don’t you tell me about them? I might well be able to assist you,” said the old man with a smile.
Su Yi took a sip of wine, then said casually, “I appreciate your good intentions, but it’s a trivial matter. You needn’t trouble yourself.”
The old man could tell that Su Yi had no desire to discuss this any further, so he dropped it. “In that case, I wish you quick success, my young friend.”
Su Yi laughed, then said, “I wish you two a quick success too.”
The old man in dark Daoist robes was briefly stunned. Then, his brow furrowed.
He pondered for a moment, and was just about to say something when Su Yi spoke up. “Right, I don’t like the title ‘young friend.’ We’re both passersby, and we met by chance. What need is there for talk of age and seniority? It would be most appropriate to call each other “fellow Daoist.’”
The old man was flabbergasted, as was the young man beside him. He couldn’t help but take another look at Su Yi.
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The Ninth Libationer, Cui Jingyan, and Xue Ye looked at each other, their expressions similarly a bit strange. They wouldn’t have guessed Su Yi would concern himself with something like a form of address.
“You’re absolutely right, Fellow Daoist. Earlier, I was putting on the airs of an elder. Please, don’t take offense,” said the old man with a self-deprecating, bitter smile.
A moment later, he abruptly changed the subject. “But there’s something I’ve been wondering. What did you mean when you wished us a quick success earlier?”
This question was rather strange, and it left the other guests dumbstruck.
Su Yi, however, merely laughed dryly. “I said it out of politeness, that’s all. You needn’t overthink it.”
“.....”
This guy sure is direct, the white-robed young man grumbled to himself.
At the same time, he found the question rather strange. His master’s behavior was clearly out of the ordinary. Why would he ask a silly question like that?
Pleasantries, that’s all. What other meaning could it possibly have?
Besides, it’s obvious at a glance that Su Yi is the self-conceited type. He sure isn’t acting the way a young person should before an elder.
Why pay his words any heed?
The young man in white was certain that if Su Yi learned of his master’s status and cultivation base, he’d be terrified out of his wits. How could he dare be this rude then?
At the end of the day, Master is just too kind. No matter who he meets, he treats them with respect, with no thought to rank. This is why people assume he has no temper… thought the young man in white.
Before the banquet was over, master and apprentice rose, bade farewell, and left.
Early tomorrow morning, they would return to the Netherworld alongside the experts of Meng Po Palace.
“Fellow Daoist, do you know that senior’s cultivation base?” asked the Ninth Libationer. Although master and apprentice had already left, he lowered his voice and even activated the formation blanketing the room to ensure no sound escaped.
Cui Jingyan and Xue Ye looked at Su Yi too.
Su Yi said casually, “Although he hid it quite well, I can still tell. Why do you ask?”
The Ninth Libationer grimaced. “If you’ve realized it, aren’t you worried? You offended an Emperor at a banquet. Don’t you realize how dangerous that is?”