Chapter 11: Parting Ways

  Yao Guang was severely injured and fainted in battle.

  In this way, no one will suspect her of being deliberate again.

  Duanmu Rong saw that Gai Nie's injury had basically stabilized and immediately rushed to Yao Guang's side to start treating him.

  Everyone outside also knows that they can't just stand by and watch anymore. Not taking action before was understandable, but now hesitating would be equivalent to abandoning someone to death.

  Mo Family's patriarch appeared, and the originally somewhat panicked Mo Family disciples also regained their composure, calming down a lot. The several leaders of the Mo Family barely managed to perform the courtesy, while Xue Nu directly spoke out to plead with the patriarch to save Yao Guang.

  Juzi, due to Yao Guang's strength in battle, helped Weizhuang and saved the Mohist school. They had a very good impression of her. When they discovered that Yao Guang was not in a good situation, they already intended to send someone to rescue her, but Xue Nu took action first. At this moment, when asked for help, he readily agreed.

  Just as the giant was about to take his pulse, a hand suddenly stretched out from beside him and lightly blocked the giant's movement. The giant looked over in confusion, only to see the carefree old man nodding with a hint of a smile.

  "Jiuzi, Yao Guang is a disciple of our sect, so I should be the one to take care of him."

  Xiaoyaozi is a senior Taoist and the leader of the Renzong sect. He is willing to lend a hand, which would be even better.

  Duanmu Rong quietly retreated after receiving a hint from Juzi and handed Yao Guang over to Xiao Yaozi.

  All the heroes from various schools of thought who had witnessed the previous battle between the giants looked at Yao Guang with high praise, and now they were all anxiously waiting for the result of his treatment.

  Xiao Yao Zi placed one hand on the wrist of Yao Guang, and after a moment, he switched hands to examine again. After several breaths had passed, Xiao Yao Zi let out a low sigh, filled with regret.

  Yuki-onna's heart skipped a beat as she hastily asked: "Xiao Yao senior, what about Yao Guang?"

  Xiaoyaozi shook his head in distress, sighed again and said in a low voice: "The situation is not good. I don't know how she got such serious injuries before... The meridians all over her body were severely damaged, seven or eight out of ten, the vital energy was seriously injured, and she should have been resting quietly to recover... But she insisted on practicing martial arts, which made her injuries worse. External injuries are easy to cure, but internal injuries are hard to heal, what a pity for her excellent swordsmanship..."

  It's a pity

  This basically implies that Yao Guang is afraid of being difficult to recover.

  Yuki-onna let out a low cry, her face deathly pale. Gaotianli, who had never gotten along with Yaoguang, also turned iron-gray in the face.

  Receiving Yao Guang's life-saving grace, no one looked good.

  Heroes die young and beauties are short-lived; this has been a sorrow of human world since ancient times.

  People are naturally reluctant to see good things being destroyed, and the more precious they are, the more they want to cherish them from the heart.

  Many people had witnessed the breathtaking swordsmanship of Yao Guang, and the thought that such a magnificent skill would become extinct because of them filled them with remorse and regret, like a sharp knife cutting into their hearts and bones. This pain left them speechless.

  The scene fell into an oppressive silence for a moment.

  Tian Ming was oppressed by this eerie silence and muttered: "Is it... curable or incurable?"

  Shǎo Yǔ had quietly walked over and upon hearing Tiān Míng's words almost wanted to strangle him to death.

  How can you even ask such a thing!

  Jiuzi also let out a long sigh and said sincerely: "I'm afraid I have to trouble Brother Xiangyao to treat... Daochang Yaoguang is the benefactor of my Mohist family, from now on, whatever orders are given, everyone in the Mohist family will follow without exception."

  "A great master's words carry weight; I, a humble Daoist, will exert myself to put them into practice."

  Xiaoyao Zi picked up Yao Guang and asked Juzi for a quiet place to treat her.

  The Mo family suffered a great calamity, and the Giant returned. Naturally, he had to discuss important matters with several leaders. The heroes from various schools who came to assist retreated tactfully, leaving the scene to the Mo family.

  The next day, Yao Guang woke up. Xiang Yang Zi was overjoyed and took her to see the Mo Family's Patriarch, informing everyone of this good news. Unexpectedly, Yao Guang made a request that shocked everyone present.

  "Yao Guang was once saved by Xue Nu, and received the life-saving kindness of the Mo family. Now that the favor has been returned, please let Yao Guang take his leave."

  From Mozi's chief disciple to several leaders, all of the Mohist disciples were stunned.

  What does it mean when someone says they want to leave at this time?

  Everyone can see that Yao Guang's body is weak, and she wants to leave in this state. Is it because she thinks the Mo family is not worth trusting, so she wants to hurry away?

  Reflecting on the previous stone chamber's soft detention, several Mozi leaders' faces turned red, only because of Julizi's presence, a few people were not convenient to speak, and could only wait for Julizi's decision.

  Juzi naturally thought of this, and without any embellishment, he sincerely apologized for the previous actions of several leaders and earnestly asked Yao Guang to stay.

  Contrary to everyone's expectations, this time Yao Guang's answer was unusually brief and also unusually puzzling.

  "When ways are different, do not make plans together."

  What does this mean?

  Almost everyone was shocked by this sentence.

  This sentence comes from Confucianism, but it's not so profound that only a Confucian can understand it. The literal meaning is straightforward and can be understood by anyone with some education.

  It is precisely because of this superficiality that Mohist scholars cannot help but think more carefully.

  Yao Guang didn't mind risking his life to save the Mo family, but after waking up, he used this reason to bid farewell. Is this just a literal meaning or is there another implication?

  Mozi giant thought for a moment before opening his mouth and saying: "Can Master Yao Guang clearly indicate why he must leave at this time?"

  Yao Guang didn't have such worries, she had already thought it through three times and understood clearly, so she replied without hesitation: "The Mohist doctrine is different from what I'm looking for, I've long since intended to leave, only staying because of the unrepaid kindness."

  These words sound like there's no resentment or dissatisfaction, it seems that they're really just leaving because of differing ideologies, but at a time like this, and with serious injuries...

  Juzi glanced at Xianyaozi beside him, and the two exchanged a slightly puzzled look. Juzi asked, "Now that Yao Guang is seriously injured, how can he act alone?"

  Yao Guang was silent for a moment before answering in a low voice: "I can still take care of myself."

  Several Mohists quickly understood the sentence as "I am having trouble taking care of myself now, and I'm afraid I won't be able to help you in the future. If we travel together, I'm afraid I'll become a burden." The expressions on everyone's faces became more varied.

  Yao Guang had only been polite in taking his leave, and hadn't sought anyone's permission, so when he said that much, he felt it was enough. He bowed to the crowd with a slight smile, turned around swiftly and left without any hesitation. By the time others realized they should stop him, he had already walked out.

  Yao Guang walked out the door and soon met Gai Nie. She couldn't help but smile as she nodded at him, "Mr. Gai, I'm leaving."

  Gai Ne nodded and looked at Tian Ming beside him.

  Tian Ming seemed still a bit reluctant, but under Nie's gaze, he bowed his head and paid respects.

  "Thank you, Master Dao, for saving my life."

  Yao Guang smiled lightly and shook her head, "Mr. Gai doesn't need to be so polite. If you hadn't rebuilt the Wei Village first, I wouldn't have been able to win either, and at that time everyone would still be in danger... Who owed who is hard to say, let's just consider it even between us since I'm younger."

  She saw Gaius wearing a sword at his waist and wanted to say something, but she swallowed her words.

  Gai Nei keenly noticed Yao Guang's brief gaze and promptly untied the rope, handing it to Yuan Hong.

  "Yao Guang Daozhang is too modest, I'm ashamed to say. The Yunhong has been broken, if Yao Guang Daozhang doesn't mind, it can be used for self-defense."

  This time Yao Guang was shocked and looked at Gai Nie in surprise, but he could only see the same firm determination in the man's calm eyes.

  This man can't speak sweet words, but he has such a delicate and tolerant heart.

  If the sword-wielding guest knew someone was eyeing their sword, even if they had already broken it off, they would never give it away so readily. Imagine if someone asked her for the Jade Clear Sword - they would only get a drawn sword in response.

  Yao Guang suddenly smiled and took over Yuan Hong with both hands.

  "Mr. Gai, the mountain is high and the water is long, we will meet again someday."

  When interacting with people like He Gai, if you just say some superficial words to get by, it's too perfunctory. If you say too much and try to advise or warn them, it's almost an insult. People like him don't need others' sympathy, nor do they care whether others praise or despise them. They're like a mountain peak - no matter how you look at it, it remains standing there, unchanged by wind or rain. In such chaotic times, no one can guarantee their own longevity; living to a certain age depends on 30% human effort and 70% fate. When two people have different paths in life, all they can do is wish each other well.

  Gai Nie saw Yao Guang's movements and a hint of a smile floated in his eyes.

  The two of them didn't say much more, and they each went their separate ways. Tian Ming was still muttering to himself at dawn, "Why did you give Yunhong to that strange person?" Gai Nie didn't respond, and Yao Guang didn't even care.

  To her, everything within the Mo Family's sect had nothing to do with her anymore.

  Before long, the Snow Girl and Gao Jianli came to send Yao Guang out of the city. Along the way, several people were silent until they were about to arrive at the outer gate of the Jade Capital. Suddenly, Gao Jianli whispered: "Sorry."

  Yao Guang was taken aback for a moment, and it wasn't until after a while that she realized the words were directed at her. She smiled and shook her head, "No need to apologize, I've said it before, at that time I was indeed suspicious, and it's right to have doubts about me. Although my views differ from those of the Mo family... but I hope you can also maintain such carefulness and prudence, and wish you a smoother road ahead."

  The little boat reached the shore, and with a gentle touch of her toe on the bow, she seemed to float in mid-air like a white crane, and lightly stepped onto the ground. She turned around and waved goodbye to the two people on the boat once more, before walking away with light steps.

  Gao Jianli and Xue Nu gazed at that figure resembling a white cloud in the clear sky, gradually disappearing into the distance, and unexpectedly felt a tinge of melancholy.

  People meet and part ways in such an unreasonable, unpredictable manner that it can never be relived.

  Some people are like white clouds in the sky, drifting with the wind, lingering at times with a carefree air, and leaving without any attachment, yet making those left behind feel nostalgic.

  Yao Guang is that kind of person, younger than the two by comparison, but she has a quality that neither of them possesses. As they watched her leave without hesitation, they couldn't even utter words to persuade her to stay.

  Yao Guang stopped after walking half a mile, slightly turned her body, smiled lightly and said with some disdain: "Will you follow me for how much longer?"

  The mountain road was quiet, with no insect sounds, only the wind passing by, as if mocking Yao Guang's anxiety.

  Yao Guang waited patiently for a moment, still not seeing anyone, and couldn't help but let out a long sigh. With a hint of amusement, he added: "Your Excellency has been following me all the way here, abandoning your horse and everything, Yao Guang is deeply moved. I'd also like to pretend I didn't notice, unfortunately, if Your Excellency truly wants to avoid being discovered by Yao Guang next time, please remember not to bring that sword along."

  Yao Guang turned around and looked in the direction he came from, intentionally furrowing his brow and saying: "This kind of elegant and noble sword aura is hard for me to pretend I didn't notice."

  This time Yao Guang didn't have to wait for too long before someone appeared on the mountain path.

  A handsome young man in a Confucian robe bows with his hands clasped together.

  "Confucian scholar Zhang Liang has met with Daoist master Yao Guang."