Chapter 569: Past Events of Wudang (4)

The tale unfolds with quiet precision, each moment weighted by unspoken currents. The weight of legacy rests upon shoulders unseen, yet vital. Here, the art of balance lingers, a silent pact between past and present. Some truths remain veiled, others gleam faintly, yet persist. In this space, a single act of remembrance echoes—a reminder etched in silence. The path ahead demands vigilance, yet clarity persists.

"Rest assured, Junior Brother. I harbor no ulterior motives. I simply wish to know—has the world below the mountain truly become this dangerous?"

In the Huangliang Youhai, where sunlight has not pierced the gloom since time immemorial, a single leaf of a boat drifts with the current.

Zou Sijiu propped his arms behind his head, lying flat on his back aboard the vessel, gazing skyward.

The Dream Sea Beast tethered to the stern still wore that same lifeless, ashen-gray appearance, yet Zou Sijiu could sense the Dream Samsara turning within it.

And judging by the fluctuations, Chen Qisheng had strictly heeded his warning; he should have already perfectly merged into it.

"Who awakens first from the Great Dream? I alone know my own life. It seems the Old Daoist's desperate gambit was the right move—just don't know how much longer this Grandpa Zou must rot in this godforsaken Youhai."

Zou Sijiu stared at the unchanging black clouds overhead, the picture of utter boredom.

Right now, he bore the heavy burden of maintaining the Grotto-Heaven passage, while guarding against pursuers from Longhu Mountain who might appear at any moment. Therefore, he could not leave this boat for a single step, nor could he use other Huangliang Dreams to pass the time.

He could only stay put like a good boy, waiting for the dream within the Grotto-Heaven to end.

Once a man grows idle, his thoughts run wild.

Only now did Zou Sijiu suddenly realize that ever since Shouyu had arrived, he had gone a very long time without venting his pressure.

That privately stashed collection of classic "Desire Realms" hadn't had the slightest chance for a revisit or review; he had nearly forgotten their flavor.

Zou Sijiu let out a long sigh: "Ah, everyone says a prodigal's return is worth more than gold, but when it actually comes to the exchange, this Grandpa Zou still feels it's a bad deal."

"What's a bad deal?"

The hull shifted slightly, and Shouyu's figure appeared at the stern.

White robes like snow, red hair like fire—strikingly vivid in the desolate Youhai.

Though Zou Sijiu maintained his reclining posture, his eyeballs had long since pressed against his lower lids, his gaze sneaking a peek up the woman's long legs.

Long legs? Not worth mentioning.

Clothing? A bit thick.

Bosom? Alas, the biggest flaw lies right there!

"Hmm?"

Shouyu raised an eyebrow, a chill spreading outward.

"I'm worrying about Chen Qisheng."

Zou Sijiu sprang up to sit, grinning shamelessly: "I'm afraid he's taking such a huge risk, and if he comes up empty-handed in the end, what a waste that would be."

"Since you feel that way, why didn't you stop him back then?"

"Matters between brothers—you can choose not to help, but you must never interfere. That's the tacit understanding between men. You wouldn't understand."

Zou Sijiu ran both hands through his temples, his voice hoarse and low, his gaze deep, brows slightly furrowed, a thick, potent masculine aura bursting forth.

"Actually..."

Shouyu, uncharacteristically, revealed a little woman's demeanor, lowering her head to stare at her toes, hesitating to speak.

Zou Sijiu jolted as if struck by lightning, his whole body trembling, eyes widening until they were perfectly round. He hurriedly asked: "Actually what?"

"Has anyone... ever told you you're pretentious?"

Shouyu abruptly lifted her head. Not a trace of the shyness Zou Sijiu had hoped for graced her face—only unconcealed disdain.

"These tricks of yours I played out eons ago. You actually dare show off your meager skills before an expert. Hurry up and put that act away."

Newly risen hope plummeted into the abyss; Zou Sijiu's expression instantly froze.

Zou Sijiu refused to give up: "Shouyu, you misunderstand. Being a rogue is just my disguise. The real me is just a—"

"An eagle among men, right? I know. Master Ma's famous line—I used it all the time before. Works a treat."

Shouyu lifted her skirt to reveal long trousers beneath, moving with uninhibited ease as she squatted at the stern, chin jutting toward the ashen-faced Zou Sijiu.

"Let's put it this way: are you dead set on hitting on me?"

"Don't make it sound so sleazy. What I feel for you is love at first sight." Zou Sijiu squeezed out a sheepish grin.

"Lust at first sight, you mean. I understand."

Shouyu touched her cheek, tilting her head: "But how are you so certain I'm a woman? The gender of a Minggui from the Moxu Ming isn't fixed as rigidly as a mortal's. Never considered I might have deliberately constructed this appearance to get close to other women?"

"Wouldn't be that bad, would it?"

Zou Sijiu's gaze involuntarily swept over Shouyu's chest—a calm lake without a ripple, much like his current mood, no different from being dead.

"Hurry up and tell me it's not true. Otherwise I really can't accept it."

"Then we'd best stay brothers. Otherwise I can't accept it either."

Seeing his unrequited love trending toward a stillbirth, Zou Sijiu looked utterly devastated, burying his head in silence.

"No need to worry. Be my brother, and I guarantee you'll have no shortage of women in the future."

Shouyu smiled: "Slender or plump, you take your pick. Whatever kind of Minggui you like, I can find them for you. Fair enough?"

"But I just like you."

Zou Sijiu looked at the woman with utter seriousness.

"Why don't you tell me who you like? Whatever role I need to play, I'll play it."

Eyes locked, Shouyu let out a long, faint sigh after a long while.

"Must you bang your head against a brick wall?"

Zou Sijiu grinned: "The wall isn't necessarily harder than my head. Why should I be afraid?"

A trace of tenderness flashed in Shouyu's eyes, but her slightly moving lips had no time to speak before she suddenly stood, turning her head coldly toward the northwest.

"Someone's coming!"

"Who?!"

Zou Sijiu shouted in a low voice, though a lingering fear quietly faded from his face.

Good thing he'd long since pumped Master Ma for Shouyu's details, firmly grasping the other party's true gender. Otherwise, he never would have passed this test today.

The lone sail hung high, catching a fierce wind of unknown origin, driving a small boat through the waves toward them.

"With that shabby air, doesn't look like Longhu Mountain's people."

Zou Sijiu planted a foot on the gunwale, crouching low, and shouted at the approaching vessel: "Buddy, you'd best stop right now. Otherwise, if any unnecessary misunderstandings pop up later, I'm not taking responsibility."

Wind stilled, waves calmed. The boat halted thirty zhang away.

This distance did nothing to hinder Zou Sijiu from making out the other's features.

The man looked past fifty, hair a messy mix of black and white scattered over his shoulders. Features unremarkable, save for a pair of eyes holding the weathered vicissitudes of time.

And a tranquility Zou Sijiu knew all too well, seen countless times in the Yin-Yang Sequence—a calm that regarded all things with indifference.

No need to guess; the man's identity was self-evident.

"Your Eastern Emperor Palace really haunts like a vengeful spirit. To think you'd find this Grandpa Zou's location even in the Huangliang Youhai."

Zou Sijiu crossed his arms, tone hostile: "Speak. What do you want? Here to avenge that woman Lu Chou?"

"Lu Chou merely dissipated from this world. It doesn't hinder her from starting her next life. So there's no question of revenge."

The middle‑aged man, unmoved by the hostility directed at Zou Sijiu, let a faint smile curl at the corners of his mouth.

“Yin‑Yang Sequence, the Eastern Emperor’s Palace, Zou Zi Fifty‑eight, Gongsun Yao.”

The man introduced himself with a smile, saying, “One Zero Eight, I have come today merely to discuss a few matters with you.”