Ask the Sea

The two people shuffled their steps.

Zhen Hu entered the room, glanced at the row of cultivators at the door again, with his brows deeply furrowed, always feeling that Chen Xia was walking at the forefront of fashion.

He steadied his posture and said to Chen Xia in his mind: “The Great Sects Conference has been brought forward by ten years, starting after that.”

Chen Xia lifted his toes lightly, kicked up the overturned stool, and sat down on it, asking, “Why has it suddenly been brought forward?”

“It was Triumphant Mountain’s and some major sects’ idea.” Zhen Hu replied, glancing at Chen Xia again, and continuing, “You have to be careful now, I feel they may be targeting you.”

“I can see that.” Chen Xia nodded, propping up his head with one hand, and changed the topic, “Have you prepared the medicinal ingredients for refining the Cycle of Reincarnation Dan?”

“They should be just about ready, later on...” Zhen Hu replied.

“No ‘should bes’.” Chen Xia directly interrupted, “This is the only thing, I need a definite answer, and don't give me any mistakes.”

Zhen Hu was stunned for a moment, never having heard Chen Xia speak in such a serious tone before, and nodded, “Alright, I will handle it properly.”

Chen Xia nodded at this, and then asked, “We’ll gather at Starry Sky Pill Sect in ten years, right?”

“No need, I’ll have Bai Jie come to pick you up when the time comes.” Zhen Hu replied, and also said in his mind, “You have to be careful at that time, if Triumphant Mountain joins forces with other sects to make things difficult for you, there may be some trouble.”

“Mm.” Chen Xia nodded, with some subtle impatience in his eyes, not because of Zhen Hu, but because of the trouble Zhen Hu mentioned.

There was nothing more to say after that, and Zhen Hu got up to bid farewell.

“Awoo!”

A sudden, unexpected howl.

Zhen Hu turned to look, only to see a large yellow dog convulsing incessantly.

“It’s nothing, it’s just doing exercises, feeling excited.” Chen Xia explained.

Zhen Hu pursed his lips, feeling that this kind of art was still a bit beyond his comprehension, and pulled the corners of his mouth into a smile, “I’ll take my leave now.”

Chen Xia lightly nodded, not saying any words to keep him there, just a simple, “Goodbye.”

When Zhen Hu stepped out of the room, the row of cultivators at the door saw him off again.

“Farewell, Zhen Master, come again when you’re free.”

“Goodbye, Zhen Master, I won’t see you much further, wish you blessings as vast as the sea, and longevity greater than the mountains, may you live forever.”

“...”

Zhen Hu really couldn’t hold it in anymore, didn’t dare to look back, and quickly left.

Chen Xia tilted his head, took out a pill scripture, and started carefully reading through it again.

Zhang DaoMing walked out from the room, hands clasped behind him, wrinkled face frowning as he asked, “That was Zhen Hu, right?”

“Mm.” Chen Xia nodded, “Do you know him?”

“I recognize him, but he doesn't recognize me. When I was a child, Zhen Hu was already the successor of Starry Sky Pill Sect. At that time, he had the cultivation realm of Inverse Sea, and made a name for himself with his unparalleled mastery of lightning spells. His talent could also be ranked in the top twenty of the realms.”

“Although not quite top-tier, he was still a formidable figure. Even in Blue Sky Sword Sea, he should be able to hold an Elder position. Though of course, he still wouldn't compare to those at the Heaven Mending Realm.”

Zhang DaoMing recounted, a smile hanging from the corners of his mouth, and continued.

“It's quite funny when you think about it. When I was young, I already viewed people like Zhen Hu as my rivals, always thinking about how I would cross hands with them when I grew up in the future.”

“After growing up, I realized I was a fucking nobody, no one would even look at me properly.”

“Well, at least you fantasized about it back then.” Chen Xia consoled.

“That’s true.” Zhang DaoMing ha-ha laughed at that one line of comfort.

He turned to look at the row of cultivators on the wall again, “When are you planning to let them go?”

“In a few more years, they’ll leave with me then.” Chen Xia said.

“Noisy day in and day out.” Zhang DaoMing shook his head. “Everyday it’s just idle chatter, the color of the Fairy Li’s panties, which senior sister of Menshan Sect has the perkiest figure...”

Chen Xia shot him a glance, “You sure know how to grasp the key points.”

Zhang DaoMing shook his head, “Mainly because they go on about it so often.”

“Brother Zhang, how about a drink!”

“Brother Zhang, the herbs in your yard are wilting, want me to go fertilize them for you?”

The row of cultivators on the wall started calling out again.

They were quite cheerful, also partly because of Chen Xia.

Chen Xia really had just strung them up there, without beating or scolding them, just like he said, letting them watch their fill, and occasionally chatting with them.

But they were still very afraid of Chen Xia.

Because in Chen Xia’s gaze at them, there would occasionally be some indifference, and sometimes even inexplicable hostility.

At these times, the row of cultivators hung up would be frightened, always feeling as if they were being stared at by a vicious demon.

But oddly, Chen Xia wasn’t that kind of person!

They really couldn’t figure it out, and didn’t dare think too much about it, because remembering would bring fear.

Fortunately, every time hostility appeared, Chen Xia would give his head a knock, calling it physical therapy.

Seemed quite effective upon observation.

Zhang DaoMing went to water his medicinal fields, and as he turned, suddenly paused, gently saying in an aged voice.

“You’ve been tired recently, rest more, this isn’t like you.”

Chen Xia’s body quivered slightly, putting down the pill scripture in his hands, lightly nodding.

“Mm.”

Something wasn’t quite right with him.

Little Cinnabar Hall in the past.

The woman in white faced the vast ocean, expression unmoving, lifting her steps and walking straight towards the sea.

Four hundred years had passed.

She had moved mountains, but wanted to cross the sea.

Her footsteps held no hesitation at all, her skirt entering the water as she walked into the sea.

In the distance, waves rushed forth, seeming to want to swallow up her tiny figure.

Even further away, a figure suddenly shouted over.

The aged Little Cinnabar Hall Master anxiously yelled, “My lady, do you truly want to abandon Little Cinnabar Hall?!”

The white-clothed figure was half submerged in the sea, slowly turning back, her misty green eyes reflecting the sunset, carrying blurred rays of light. She did not speak, her voice coming out of nowhere.

“Four hundred years ago, he told me to ask the sea. Today, I’ve finally decided, I will get a one, two, three answer out of it.”

“But...but Little Cinnabar Hall cannot be without you!” The Little Cinnabar Hall Master lamented.

“No one is irreplaceable.” Qiu Yi replied plainly.

The sea had already submerged over half her body.

“Will you come back? Little Cinnabar Hall will always wait for you!” The Little Cinnabar Hall Master knelt on the ground, crying out.

Qiu Yi shook her head, expression tranquil.

“No need to wait for me, I’m going to ask the sea.”

After she finished her last words, she sank into the waters.

Twilight shone on the sea's surface.

Nothing whatsoever.

No one had ever been there, and no one knew who would walk far away.