874 The Academy’s Prediction I (2/2)

The Drunkard questioned, ”You won't be faster than me even if you were fully recovered, not to mention like this.”

Eldest Brother replied, ”I walk slowly, but firmly.”

After a short silence the Drunkard replied, ”Indeed, you walk more firmly than I do. I didn't expect that anyone in this world could walk more firmly than I do. Yet you are still no match for me.”

Eldest Brother said, ”I have only been practicing cultivation for a few decades. Of course, I am no match for a master like you.”

The Drunkard asked, ”Then how dare you leave Chang'an and come here to meet me?”

Eldest Brother said, ”Because the Academy is planning something and we hope that you will not interfere with it.”

The Drunkard squinted and his voice became lower and husky. His breath let off a scent that smelled like bronze and iron being rubbed together. ”Are you not afraid of being killed?”

Eldest Brother answered slowly, ”You won't kill me.”

The Drunkard's voice sounded more chilling as he asked, ”Why makes you think I won't kill you?”

Eldest Brother answered calmly, ”Because you are not sure if you can kill me.”

The Drunkard laughed at him and taunted, ”You only have a slightest chance of surviving.”

Eldest Brother smiled in response, saying, ”Even if I had less than that, you still wouldn't dare to try killing me, not to mention that I still have a slightest chance.”

The Drunkard stiffened and asked, ”Why are you so sure?”

Eldest Brother answered, ”I know nothing about fighting. But no matter whether within the Academy or throughout the world, Jun Mo, Senior Sister and Youngest Brother are the three most powerful ones in fighting. Since they all said you won't try killing me, I chose to believe their judgement that you won't kill me.”

The Drunkard questioned, ”Even if their judgment will lead to your death?”

Eldest Brother answered, ”I think they are right. So, I'm willing to try.”

The Drunkard asked, ”What did they say to make you believe so?”

Eldest Brother replied, ”They said you had lived such a long life, so long that you were already very afraid of dying.”

Upon hearing these words, the Drunkard became silent for a long while.

Then he asked again, ”Why did they send you to me instead of the Butcher?”

Eldest Brother answered, ”Senior Sister said that the Butcher walked too slowly, barely any faster than me or the chief monk. Therefore, we do not need to worry about him, at least for today.”

”What about her?” The Drunkard asked all of a sudden, ”Are you really not afraid of her?”

Eldest Brother knew who he was talking about and smiled at that, ”She has lived for a while at the back mountain of the Academy. We are not afraid of her. Instead, we are all fond of her.”

...

In the valleys between the indigo mountain range, a road had been constructed that was almost wide enough for simple carriages. But people chose to cross it by walking for the sake of convenience.

Two people had just walked out of the Verdant Canyon. The man was wearing a bamboo hat and a cloth gown and he was holding a rod. He looked like a sadhu sometimes seen in the rural areas. While the woman beside him was holding some embroidered pieces and garbed in red. She was sweet and charming as a new bride. This awkward looking pair were Jun Mo, who had shaved his head to pursue Buddhism, and Mu You, his Seventh Sister and new wife.

Jun Mo looked at the dark and rich land in front of the Verdant Canyon, recalling what had happened here half a year ago as well as his arm that was broken here. He kept silent. Mu You also did not say a thing.

They kept walking south. However, they were not like their Eldest Brother, who was able to reach the Distanceless State. It seemed likely that they wouldn't be able to arrive at the Peach Mountain in time. Where were they headed and what were they planning to do then?

Coming to Fuchun River, they climbed up to the pavilion on top of Hu Mountain. Jun Mo frowned as he looked toward the southeast. He sensed that Liu Bai's sword had left the Sword Garret for the Peach Mountain.

He kept quiet for a while, feeling the wind blow against himself.

He used to stand in front of the Verdant Canyon, full of lofty ambition. Now, Liu Bai had fully recovered and made another breakthrough to the legendary level. On the other hand, he was still recovering from his injuries, with one arm still missing. He did not know when or how he could ever reach the same level of Liu Bai. It was hard to swallow for him.

He looked toward the direction of West-Hill Divine Kingdom, as if he could see Liu Bai' sword flying to the Peach Mountain and the girl standing in front of the Divine Hall of Light in the Peach Mountain. Then he recalled the girl who was kneeling on top of a nameless mountain to the north of Chang'an years ago, trying to collect the ashes of her master into a pot. He did not know which was the real her. But he knew that she had always been strong.

”What if she steps in?” Mu You was worried about their juniors in the Peach Mountain.

Jun Mo answered, ”That is what we planned.”

Mu You was surprised and asked, ”Then what if she didn't?”

Jun Mo answered, ”With our Headmaster gone to the Heaven and the Abbey Dean crippled, Liu Bai is already the most powerful in the world even if he does not breakthrough to the Five States, not to mention that he already has. He easily outranks the Drunkard and the Butcher. Now, his sword is already there in the Peach Mountain, so there is no reason for her to not get involved. The change Yu Lian mentioned was in that sword.”

Mu You said, ”She should have expected that.”

Jun Mo said, ”Our Youngest Brother being there will probably be very annoying for her. When people are annoyed, they are not good at reasoning. When Haotian is annoyed, she wouldn't bother to think.”

...