Chapter 133: Leaving the Island to Gain Experience

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Ye Sansi bowed respectfully and said, “Master, I understand your intentions clearly. When shall we depart the island for our training journey?”

“After lunch at noon today, you may set off. Yuan’er will see you off,” his master replied.

“How many of us will be traveling together? Surely not with dozens of disciples?”

“Of course not. The others will wait a while longer. Today, only you, Taiyi, and Lingshuang will go together. Xiong Gang and Jin Sun cannot leave the island at the moment. You must be cautious on this training journey. Should you encounter insurmountable obstacles, think carefully and act within your limits. That is all I have to say for now. Let me explain the ‘Spirit-Restraining Sword’ technique to you before the noon feast. After the meal, Yuan’er will escort the three of you off the island. Beyond that, I cannot assist you.”

As noon approached, Fang Yuan came to call them, saying the banquet was ready and all disciples were dining. Lingshuang and the others waited for Sansi to join them.

Fang Jian nodded slightly and cautioned, “Remember to be extremely careful on this journey. Do not show off. You must return safely. I have yet to teach you all my skills—don’t let anything happen to you.”

Ye Sansi smiled and said, “Master, please don’t worry. This journey into the unknown, where life and death are commonplace, is nothing new to me. I have always returned unharmed.”

Sansi bowed in response and followed Fang Jian to the Qiankun Practice Ground to begin training in the Spirit-Restraining Sword technique. It was evident Fang Jian was anxious, worried about Sansi’s safety after leaving the island.

Reflecting on the month since Sansi’s initiation, the time together was brief. Fang Jian felt guilty for not having taught Sansi the technique thoroughly, believing he had failed as a master.

Ye Sansi harbored his own concerns. From his master’s words, he knew the soldiers who had taken Nian’er were formidable. After leaving the island, he planned to have Lingshuang and Taiyi stay at the Liu Family Fort for a few days, while he seized the opportunity to slip away in search of his uncle’s aid.

Sansi met up with Lingshuang and the others. They ate simply but without drinking, as the journey ahead was perilous and not to be taken lightly.

Fang Yuan saw them pause and stood up, saying, “Junior Brother Ye, Junior Sister Liu, Taiyi, I will escort the three of you off the island.”

Xiong Gang quickly stood and asked, “Master, what about me and Xiao Sun?”

Fang Yuan replied, “Junior Brother Ye is quick-witted and capable. There is nothing he cannot manage. Master of the island, please rest assured. The training will last only a month. You will return soon.”

Fang Jian nodded and waved his hand. Ye Sansi and Fang Yuan bowed and took their leave.

The day was lively, with banquets set in all four dining halls, filled with fine wine and delicacies. All the disciples on the island were aware that something joyful had happened in the Qiancun sect and were very happy.

“I know, I know…” Lingshuang interjected, “Big guy, don’t worry. With my current skills, I will definitely keep them safe. No need to fret.”

Lingshuang’s words dispelled the bittersweet atmosphere of parting, and everyone laughed. Fang Yuan saw the time was late and thought they needed to find lodging before nightfall, so there was no time to waste.

The three followed Fang Yuan out of the dining hall and soared into the sky on their swords. Over the past month, Li Taiyi and Liu Lingshuang had become quite proficient in sword flight, able to fly steadily in the air.

“The island master personally instructed that the two of you remain behind. As for the reason, I do not know,” Fang Yuan said.

Ye Sansi agreed, “Xiong Gang, since it is the master’s order, there must be a reason. Stay behind and train well with Xiao Sun. When we return, I want to see your progress.”

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Xiong Gang naturally heeded Sansi’s words and had no choice but to stay, smiling, “Big brother, don’t worry. I will train hard and not slack off. You all be careful outside—there are many demons and villains.”

“All right.” Saying this, Ye Sansi turned his sword and vanished in an instant.

Fang Yuan smiled and said, “Junior Brother Ye has only been initiated for a month, yet his mastery of sword flight is exceptional, traveling several times faster than me. The future rise of Qiancun Immortal Island depends on Junior Brother Ye.”

Liu Lingshuang spoke slowly, “Senior brother, Sansi’s ambitions lie elsewhere. He does not want to shoulder the great responsibility of Qiancun Immortal Island. He is playful and loves freedom. If confined to the island, he will be unwilling.”

Following Fang Yuan for ten miles, Ye Sansi suddenly remembered: Oh no, a month ago, he had placed his father’s memorial tablet in his room but forgot to bring it this morning. Leaving it in the dark for another month would be unfilial. He must return to get it.

Sansi called out, and the group gradually stopped. He smiled and said, “We left in such a hurry this morning, I forgot to bring my father’s memorial tablet. I want to go back and get it. You all can continue ahead—I’ll catch up.”

Fang Yuan nodded, “Junior Brother Ye, we will slow our pace and wait for you ahead.”

Suddenly, Sansi spoke to himself, “Right, I can seek out my uncle. Qingyang Temple is serene and peaceful—father would have liked it there. The incense left burns only three sticks a year, which feels insufficient. Once placed in the temple, incense will be burned regularly. Haha, this way, father will surely find a good place in his next life.”

Without realizing it, Ye Sansi quickly caught up with the others. Fang Yuan laughed, “Junior Brother Ye, Junior Sister Liu, Taiyi, I will escort you this far. The rest of the journey you must take yourselves. Don’t forget, the training lasts one month—don’t miss the time to return to the island.”

“Master, rest assured. We will return safely.”

Fang Yuan waved his hand and smiled, “I’m just saying casually. Junior Sister Liu, whatever Junior Brother Ye wants to do in the future, let him be. This is the island master’s special permission. I also know that with his abilities, he is not limited to Qiancun Island. I believe he has great potential to ascend the path of immortality.”

In Fang Yuan’s heart, Ye Sansi was more than a mere junior brother. He regarded him as the rightful heir, the future island master, the hope of Qiancun surpassing Tianluo and Shenjian.

Less than the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, Ye Sansi returned to his room, found the memorial tablet, and prepared to leave. But after taking flight on his sword, he thought: If I carry this package with me, it will hinder my movement, and if the memorial tablet or incense burner is damaged, that would be terrible. But if I store it inside the jade bracelet with my other belongings, it would be disrespectful. I need to find a proper place to set it.

Ye Sansi shook his head slightly and smiled, “The disappearance of Nian’er should be kept secret, especially from Uncle Lin… Still, I want to visit Qingyang.”

“Sansi, what do you mean? You say Uncle Lin must not know, yet you want to go to Qingyang. I don’t understand,” Lingshuang asked.

“I have important business there concerning Nian’er’s safety. You all return to Lingzhou first. I will join you in a day or so. But the matter of Nian’er must be kept completely confidential…”

After a few words, Fang Yuan departed. Liu Lingshuang asked, “Sansi, Taiyi, where shall we go now?”

Taiyi smiled, “I have nowhere to go anyway and don’t know where that old man is wandering now. Lingshuang, is there anywhere you want to go?”

“If you ask me, it’s the Liu Family Fort. Father and several uncles haven’t seen me for a month and must be worried. I can ask them if they know anything about the golden armored soldiers. Even if they can’t help directly, asking won’t hurt. Sansi, what do you think?”

After saying this, Ye Sansi signaled and quickened his pace, heading straight for Qingyang, while Li Taiyi and Liu Lingshuang made for Lingzhou.

Originally, when Ye Sansi returned to the island, he had planned to take advantage of the journey to propose to the elders of Liu Family Fort. But with Nian’er’s incident, he had no heart for that now—his only thought was to save Nian’er safely.

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Within an hour, Ye Sansi arrived at Qingyang and entered the temple, seeking a high monk but was stopped by a young monk.

“Okay, okay… so nagging,” Liu Lingshuang said impatiently.

Ye Sansi scratched his head and smiled foolishly. Lingshuang pouted and said, “I give you three days. If I wait for you at Liu Family Fort more than three days, I won’t bother with you anymore!”

Seeing Lingshuang’s adorable expression, Ye Sansi looked at her with affection and laughed, “All right, all right. Three days is enough. No matter how great the matter, I will come to Liu Family Fort first.”

“Your uncle is so powerful, does he dare defy Heaven?” the young monk asked with a smile.

The young monk recited, “The high monk said: ‘Heaven is but an ant, easily crushed in an instant. Yet even so, the Heavenly Dao cannot be reversed. To go against it is worse than death.’ Do you understand, benefactor?”

“I don’t understand. But if Uncle does not want to help, I won’t force it. After all, this is my personal matter. I must not put him at risk. Yet there is one thing I need your help with, little monk.”

The young monk said, “Benefactor Ye, we meet again. Master instructed that if you come, you must be stopped…”

“Why? Would my uncle refuse to see me?”

“The high monk does not refuse to see you, benefactor, but does not want to reveal heavenly secrets. Your matter concerns the Heavenly Dao…”

Ye Sansi removed the package and entrusted it to the young monk’s arms. In an instant, the chamber door opened and closed rapidly. Sansi wondered if he had imagined it. Looking down at his wrist, the jade bracelet emitted a faint glow that disappeared after a moment.

Without further words, Ye Sansi clasped his hands in respect and took flight on his sword, smiling to himself: I knew Uncle would not be so heartless. He must find a way to help me. That faint glow must be something Uncle placed inside the jade bracelet. Once I’m farther away, I’ll take a look.

After traveling a hundred miles, he reached a barren mountain and descended slowly. Twisting his wrist, he searched for the item—and indeed, it was there!

The young monk nodded and said slowly, “The high monk instructed me to keep your father’s memorial tablet. It will be placed respectfully with incense burning day and night until you come to retrieve it.”

Ye Sansi was astonished, “Uncle is truly formidable, foreseeing everything. I entrust him with my late father’s tablet and incense burner. Please take good care. I will return within a month at most.”

“Very well.”

Several red lights gathered into a shape—a sheepskin scroll. Ye Sansi quickly unfurled it and laughed heartily, “So that’s how it is! This will make things much easier. Although Uncle cannot appear directly to help, finding this person will make saving Nian’er much simpler.”

The scroll depicted a map of familiar regions—Qingyang, Jianzhou, Lingzhou, and a neighboring area called Xizhou. On the map, a moving point radiated a reddish-black aura. Ye Sansi immediately knew whom it referenced.

He soared into the sky, following the map’s directions to find that point…