Volume 5 - Chapter 9 (1/2)

Ji Yichuan looked at his son . After hesitating, he said, “All I can tell you is that he is a disciple of Snowdragon Mountain, and that his grandfather is a Summit Master of one of their mountain summits, an individual on the Primal Daoist level . ”

Ning’s face changed .

Primal Daoist?

“He himself is just a Zifu Disciple and not worthy of being afraid of . ” Yichuan shook his head . “But behind him stands a Primal Daoist…we truly cannot irriate him! If we struggle against him, the only result will be the extermination of the entire Ji clan . This is why your mother and I have never mentioned this, nor said a single word regarding this in front of you . Ever since that, after your mother and I stealthily returned to the Ji clan, we have always remained very low-key . However, most likely that person didn’t hold your mother and I in any regard at all .

Yichuan looked at his son . “You are now an adult, and you are very talented . According to what that Adept Mu said, it is possible that you might one day join the Raindragon Guards . This is why I have told you these things . Otherwise…I had planned to never tell you . ”

“What is he called?” Ning pursued this line of questioning .

“Once you become a Wanxiang Adept, I will tell you . ” Yichuan said . “If I were to die, your Uncle White will tell you . That year, your Uncle White risked his life to carry your mother and flee . He saved your life, and he knew exactly what happened that year . ”

Ning said frantically, “You can’t tell me now?”

“What good would it be if I did tell you?” Yichuan barked . “Will you go seek revenge? That’s just looking for death! First be patient and endure . After enduring for a few years, you’ll have calmed down as well . ”

“Remember”!

Yichuan stared at Ning . “Don’t let hatred cloud your eyes . In this vast, endless world, slaughter and hatred is omnipresent . It is guaranteed that you will one day leave Swallow Mountain . In the vast world outside, those major schools, clans, and powerful sects are all hard to deal with . Snowdragon Mountain is nothing more than a millstone for you to sharpen your blade on, during your path to becoming an Immortal!”

Ning nodded slightly .

“On your hopes rest the future of both the Ji clan and the Yuchi clan, understood?” Yichuan said . “To become famous throughout this boundless world, and to make Snowdragon Mountain as well as the various other powers all lower their heads and submit to you; this is what your mother and I hope to see the most!”

“Yes . ” Ning nodded solemnly .

“Make your mother and me proud of you!” Yichuan stared at his son . “My son!”

…………

The autumn wind blew . Dry leaves fell .

Yuchi Snow was seated on a long bench in front of her room . The beast fur pelt laid on the bench was warm and soft . There was a layer of beast fur on Snow’s body as well . Her face was even more ashen now . She held her son’s hand, then turned to say towards Yichuan, who was standing next to her, “Yichuan, bring those beast furs over . ”

“Alright . ” Yichuan immediately entered the room, quickly returning while carrying a pile of beast fur clothes .

“This is…?” Ning looked at the beast fur clothes .

Yichuan said, “Your mother hasn’t had anything to do in recent days, and so she’s been sewing these beast fur clothes . Every single thread and stitch is the labor of your mother’s hands . ” Seated there, Snow said softly, “There’s quite a few by now . I only made twelve sets of clothes in the past three months . They are all suitable for your current size and stature . In the future, Mother won’t be able to be by your side, but these clothes will accompany you . ”

Ning’s eyes stung, and he couldn’t refrain from tearing up .

“Don’t cry . ” Snow gently stroked her son’s face . “I know that soon now, I won’t be able to last any longer . ”

“Mother!” Ning’s voice was trembling .

“Mother has experienced many things in this life . ” Snow said slowly . “When I was an infant, I lived in a large clan with unlimited, glorious prospects . When I was young, I fled alongside my Father, eventually meeting your father and adventuring alongside him, braving danger . Afterwards, I lived ten peaceful years at the Ji clan…in my life, I’ve had a father who loved me, older brothers and sisters who loved me, a man who loved me, and you…my most beloved son . I truly feel content . ”

Ning’s tears were coming down nonstop . He couldn’t control them, no matter what he tried . The only thing he could do was continuously hold his mother’s hand . His mother’s hand was no longer smooth; it had become rough and leathery, like a dry leaf without any vitality .

Snow said slowly, “In your body is the bloodline of the Ji clan, as well as the bloodline of my Yuchi clan . For your mother to have had you…is your mother’s greatest pride in life . ”

“Mother…” Ning stared at his mother .

“Ning, son…in the future, will you stay for a long time at Serpentwing Lake?” Snow looked at her son .

Ning nodded .

As an Immortal practitioner, one had to have a base, after all . West Prefecture City was too crowded and had too many people . Serpentwing Lake was much calmer . In addition, Serpentwing Lake had the Aquatic Manor…in the future, he would indeed often stay at Serpentwing Lake .

“After I die . ” Snow looked at Yichuan, by her side . “After I am cremated, spread my ashes over Serpentwing Lake . Yichuan, you won’t be jealous, will you?”

Yichuan’s eyes were moist . He forced out a laugh . “Slightly jealous, actually . However, after I die, my ashes will also be spread over Serpentwing Lake . By then, we’ll be together again, right?”

Snow laughed .

Yichuan gently embraced his wife .

“Ning, son . ” Snow’s voice was growing weaker . She smiled . “I want to look at our Yuchi clan’s Windwing Evasion . Demonstrate it for me . ”

“Yes, Mother . ” Ning rose to his feet .

Behind him, out of nowhere, a pair of wings appeared . And then, forcibly resisting the pain in his heart, Ning began to execute the Windwing Evasion . Ning moved about like a giant Roc, gliding through the air, landing atop of a distant roof, and then with another flash, gliding to another place . His two wings trembled, and his movements were like that of an illusion .

Ning, in this moment, was whole-heartedly focusing on displaying the Windwing Evasion, because this was the last request of his mother .

“Wind!”

“Wind!”

As Ning displayed it, the wind blew against him, like his mother’s hand gently stroking his face . The touch of the wind was a caress of someone who didn’t want to let go .

Slowly…

Ning’s movements became all the more marvelous, and he seemed to have truly become a giant Roc, moving all the more faster and all the more freely, incomparably agile .

He was a giant Roc, a giant Roc who flew in the skies beyond the Nine Heavens . Ning, unconsciously, was unconsciously incorporating that insights he had gained that night into the True Meaning of the Wind, and merging it with the Windwing Evasion . He even incorporated some deep emotions into them, like a bird who was longing for the wind .

“The great Roc . ” Snow’s eyes lit up as she watched, and she murmured softly, “The great Roc…”

She seemed to have seen her older brother .

That tall, stalwart man who had protected and cherished her since she was young . Her brother’s usage of the Windwing Evasion was so similar to the way in which Ning’s Windwing Evasion looked…

“Big Brother…” Snow seemed to have returned to the past .

A large courtyard . Her older brother was there, training in the Windwing Evasion, while her, as a toddler, was running around calling out, “Big Brother, Big Brother . ”

“Little Sis . ” That man, as tall and mighty as a mountain, turned to look at her .

“Big Sis, Father . ” She saw two more figures, one an elegant middle-aged man with a long beard, while the other was a seemingly cold and arrogant young woman . This was her father and her older sister .

“Big Brother . Big Sis . Father…I’m coming . ”

The child-Snow ran forward, ran to the side of her older brother, her older sister, and her father . Together again . They were finally together again…

………

Lying in Yichuan’s arms, Snow closed her eyes .

A peaceful smile was on her face .

“Ahh…ahhhh… . aaaaaaaaaaaaah!” Yichuan opened his mouth, making some noise, but wasn’t able to speak . He tightly clutched his wife, raising his head high, but the tears still came spilling out .

The distant Ning came to a halt . His entire body trembling, he took one step forward after another, walking towards his mother’s side, then kneeling down .

“Mother!” Ning began to sob, a rumbling, heart-broken sound .

……… . .

The sound spread outside of the courtyard . The servants outside, hearing the sobs of their young master Ji Ning, filled with such agony, misery, and sadness, immediately understood that their mistress had already died . All of them couldn’t help but to lower their heads, their tears spilling out . They would never forget this benevolent mistress of theirs .

……… . .

Ning left West Prefecture City, going to live on the island in Serpentwing Lake .

According to the dying wishes of his mother, he personally scattered her ashes within the waters of Serpentwing Lake . From that day onwards, Ning gained a new hobby . He liked to lie down atop a small boat, allowing the boat to drift freely in the waters of Serpentwing Lake .

It was like…

Lying in the embrace of his mother . So very warm .

Book 5, Zifu Disciple, Chapter 9 – Warmth .