Answer Him in a Way That Chu Xingchen Can Understand

The heavens are boundless, the earth’s dome has an end.

Xu Linglong stood alone on a short boat, drifting along the South Sea beyond Eastern Victory Divine Continent.

The Eighteen Immortal Sects were no easy foes; within the Five Continents and myriad realms, there was no place left for him to stay.

Thus, only a lonely boat drifted with the waves, and for a long time, only a bright moon kept it company.

“It’s getting worse and worse.”

At the edge of the horizon, a helpless sigh sounded.

Xu Linglong lowered his eyes slightly: “Satisfaction, satisfaction—what counts as satisfaction? We are unsatisfied, and they think they are unsatisfied too.”

“This great struggle is just so—we do not let them go, and they do not let us go,” the sighing voice spoke again.

As the words drifted in, a young man dressed in light red armor, with a somewhat fierce face and horns like those of an ox atop his head, stepped to Xu Linglong’s side in one stride.

Xu Linglong murmured, “Boluo, you take it so lightly. Did you learn that from those bald donkeys?”

“Naturally, I had to learn. Since they won the first time, there must be a reason for their victory—it has nothing to do with whether this world helps them or not.”

Boluo’s slightly ferocious face broke into a smile reminiscent of a Buddha.

Xu Linglong could not bear to look at this sight and only said coldly:

“Your smile makes me sick.”

“If it disgusts you, then I’ve scored one.”

“What in the world did you even learn from the Buddhist sect?”

Boluo chuckled lightly: “I learned what you all disdain to learn. So, how serious is Chu Xingchen’s injury really?”

“From Donggua, and from the others, all I see is that his injury hasn’t healed yet—he’s just putting on a brave front. But who can tell what’s true and what’s false?” Xu Linglong said helplessly. “He is Chu Xingchen after all…”

“This time, the Heavenly Dao sure knows how to choose a person,” Boluo said, gazing at the sky. “True or false, why not cast another glance at Chu Xingchen?”

“And how would you cast such a glance?” Xu Linglong turned to look at him.

Boluo’s tone remained calm:

“On the day the great array activates, we surround and eliminate Chu Xingchen, making them powerless to interfere with the array’s initiation.”

“I am willing to be the vanguard, but I have one request: if I do not retreat, you cannot retreat either. If I die, then do whatever you wish.”

Xu Linglong was silent for a moment, then said coldly, “Is it necessary to go this far? As of now, Chu Xingchen doesn’t seem to know where we plan to activate the array.”

Boluo’s tone was relaxed: “But he is Chu Xingchen. What if he does know?”

“This is the last chance, the final hour. It’s us who cannot afford to gamble, not him.”

Xu Linglong voiced a worry in his heart: “And what about Bai Xuanling? An earthly immortal in the flesh—can we truly stop her?”

Boluo replied: “I naturally have a way. I haven’t lived my fill yet; I’m not keen on suicide missions. I have some estimate of Bai Xuanling in my mind. I think I can handle her. On that day, I will face her.”

Xu Linglong found these words somewhat exasperating, but since Boluo was willing to be the vanguard against Bai Xuanling, there wasn’t much more to say. After a moment’s thought, he asked instead:

“What about the other Heavenly Demons? What do they think?”

Boluo looked toward the bright moon and replied:

“They should agree, after all, who likes pretending to be human with a face like ours?”

“So, what is your answer?”

Xu Linglong was silent for a moment, then gave a slight nod: “I’ll go.”

Boluo nodded in satisfaction: “Good, that’s settled. See you in a few days. May we both make it back this time.”

With these words, a light breeze swept by.

On the vast sea, the lonely moon, the boat—amid the boundless waves, once again only Xu Linglong remained.

He looked up again at the moon.

Humans gazed at the moon to miss their loved ones, but in his world, there was no such moon.

This moon was a constant reminder to Xu Linglong—

This place did not belong to him.

But in just a few days, it would.

He imagined that by then, this moon would surely look much more pleasing.

Chu Xingchen looked up at the bright moon as he listened to Chen Baiqing report the news about Donggua.

After hearing it, he asked:

“So, Donggua knows nothing for sure—it’s just that someone might have subconsciously conveyed this information to him. The most likely culprit is Xu Linglong, isn’t it?”

Chen Baiqing nodded lightly: “So, Master must be cautious about the great array matter. As for Donggua, eliminating him might be the more suitable course.”

“False intelligence is still intelligence,” Chu Xingchen’s gaze returned to Chen Baiqing. “Having some tidings is better than having none. Let’s keep Donggua for now.”

“Yes,” Chen Baiqing nodded gently.

“I feel busier days are coming,” Chu Xingchen shook his head helplessly, then pressed on: “How is the new policy in Southern Jambu Continent progressing?”

Chen Baiqing thought for a moment before replying:

“From Baiqing’s view, it should be able to settle down.”

“But whether this can achieve the rank of Sub-sage—I am not very optimistic about it.”

Chu Xingchen fiddled with the tea Chen Baiqing had brewed before him and answered softly:

“Do your best and leave the rest to heaven’s will.”

Chen Baiqing did not reply. She only felt that her master had put in considerable effort, pushing the Buddhist sect to set this up. With such a groundwork laid, if nothing came of it, everything would have been in vain…

Chu Xingchen saw the thoughts written on Chen Baiqing’s face but said nothing more.

As his disciple raised since childhood, he naturally could still read her thoughts.

The small courtyard grew quiet again.

Chen Baiqing occasionally refilled her master’s tea but did not take the initiative to speak.

Chu Xingchen took small sips of tea, a contemplative look on his face.

The moon shifted from being at half-slant to hanging high in the sky.

Chu Xingchen's gaze drifted lightly toward the courtyard entrance, then he immediately stood up, speaking in a slightly surprised tone:

“Why are you here? And why didn’t you let me know?”

Xie Lingyu wore a white battle skirt, her eyes carefully scanning Chu Xingchen from head to toe before she replied:

“I came to see you. Anyway, Master has been watching over your disciples in the Southern Continent for you.”

“I understand you worry about my safety, which is why you only assign me tasks without danger.”

“But sometimes, I think Baiqing is right—I have to cause you some trouble now and then.”

“Rather than worrying every day about what you’re doing, it’s better to come and see you myself.”

Xie Lingyu felt she had said quite a bit, yet hadn’t fully expressed why she had come.

Chen Baiqing had, of course, given a copy of the record stone to Xie Lingyu as well, explaining her master’s condition in a way that the mistress—as the master’s wife—could understand.

After viewing it, Xie Lingyu comprehended the situation, and Chu Xingchen’s recovery had far exceeded her expectations.

While it put her heart at ease,

she also felt that she shouldn’t just stay in TienYan Sect waiting for news as a mere Dao companion.

Instead, even if her cultivation wasn’t as great as Chu Xingchen’s, she should be a cultivator who could stand by his side and face difficulties together.

At the very least, she needed to see the situation for herself.

Chu Xingchen played dumb in response. “Huh? What are you talking about?”

Xie Lingyu stepped steadily toward Chu Xingchen, then reached out to grab his collar. Her gaze was firm as she met his eyes.

She answered in a way that Chu Xingchen would surely understand:

“Lady Lingyu is all-powerful!”