Chapter 662 - Reunion (III) (Patreon)

I told him... mostly everything, in the end. From how we left the sect, stumbled into that whole Sage mess as well as the Eternal Spiritwood Grove fiasco, and then the climb up the Eternal Range, the ruckus of Silvercrest City... while I did mention every place we went to (for the most part), about halfway through the story, I realized just how many details I was leaving out.

Part of it was that they kinda related to the system, and part of it was that I avoided telling him about the more... unsavory parts of the journey. By the end, the tale had went on for just over four hours, which was... kind of short, if I think about it. The length of my suffering in this world can be summed up in just four hours.

Why does it feel, then, like it's been four hundred years instead?

"That's... quite a journey," he said, taking a deep breath.

"I'll say." I said, chuckling. "Sometimes I wonder if we were never attacked, just how peaceful my life would have been. Living on that mountain, singing songs every day."

"Ah, I doubt it. Some people are destined for great things, little Qi," he said. "And I've no doubt that, even if we were never attacked, you would have left to conquer the world."

"No, no, no." I said, walking over to the edge of the cliff as the winds whipped up. "My kids are destined for great things. I am merely the gentle breeze that gives them the first push."

"Really?" he joined me on the edge. It was a good question, 'really?'. I wondered, more than once, just how deep my role ran in this world. Twice I've met folk who seemed otherworldly, and once even an Empress who implied I'd be the herald of sorts.

... but they're all wrong, I know that much.

Without the kids, I am literally nothing. System or no system, without them by my side, I'd just be a footnote in the history of time, if that. And yet, whenever anyone looks at us, they think I'm some kind of a herald.

Haah.

"Really," I said. "You overestimate me, Elder Qin. Then again, it's not just you. The world seems to think I have magic in my fingers that can change the fabric of reality on a whim but, really, there's no such thing. I'm weak. Look at our stories. While I ran around the world like a headless chicken, trying to find a way to give the kids a better life, you avenged us, one by one. In that time, I barely managed to catch up to the realm you were at when we met. Without my kids, I am just... wind. A silent little thing that would have left no mark upon this world."

"Hm. The more things change the more they stay the same," he said. "Where are you off to now?"

"The Nirvana Island. You?"

"... there's still a few more ghouls to kill," he said.

"Wow, that's quite a subtle rejection," I glanced at him. "You must have rejected many-a-maiden in your heyday to be so good at it."

"In my... heyday?" his eyebrows twitched. "Your mouth still spews the most damnable things."

"Haah, I don't get it. Why are even cultivators so quick to anger when you mention their age?" I said. "You'd think after living for a few centuries, there'd be no attachments to some random number."

"Just wait, little Qi," he said. "It will hit you from the shadows, just like the rest of us."

"So, why don't you want to tag along?" I asked.

"Because we both have our paths to complete," he said. "Though, I am beyond happy that Hua led me here. Even if I was content simply knowing you were alive and thriving, seeing you all like this... haah, it is like someone infused me with an array of strength."

"... thank you."

"Hm? For what?"

"For saving my life--our lives--that day," I said. "I thought I'd never get the chance to properly say it."

"Ho ho, I merely did what any Elder would have done."

"Doubtful," I scoffed. "I've seen enough of this world to learn there aren't that many people willing to sacrifice their life for another's. That day, you could have easily fled by yourself. But you didn't. I can't tell you how many times I saw your face and the tunnel closing to hide it for what I believed was forever. So, before you go, allow me to repay you, at least a bit."

"Repay me? Ah, you insult me, little one," he said. "What I did--eh, what is this?" I tossed him Protean Song as well as a few arts.

"I'd sooner kill myself than try to make you my disciple, but if you want to learn those things, you must at least become an honorary Elder of my sect."

"You have a sect?"

"I'll have it, one day," I said. "So, accept the position as well as the gifts."

"Ah, little Qi, I appreciate it, but I already have a method and arts--"

"--ah, you'll suffer unbound regret if you finish that sentence, Elder Qin. At least read through them once, no."

"Just how wonderous--hmm? Hmmmm? This... does, does this s-say, q-q-quasi-Divine cultivation method?" his voice muted to a whisper towards the end.

"Seeing as how you don't need it, you must have a fully-fledged Divine method--"

"--aah, I, I misspoke! Honorary Elder? Of course, I'll become an honorary Elder!" I looked over at the man strangely as the imagine I had of him in my head kind of... collapsed, if a bit. I suppose even the highest mountains crumble a bit under the system's creations. "How... how much respect in me have you lost?"

"Oh, you're aware?"

"Ah, don't joke, little Qi. Where did you get these? Don't--don't tell me you stole them?!"

"I'm kind of flattered you think I have the skills to steal a quasi-Divine method. You must think far, far, far more highly of me than I previously thought."

"Oh."

"Forget those, for now. Before you go," I said. "We need to have a proper celebration. Our little Tao'er has become quite a chef, you know?"

"He has?"

"Yes, I know. If you look at me, you'd think that cooking is quite literally the last thing on his mind," I said. "But he's quite passionate about it. This one time, he was trying to prepare a beef roast, and though he didn't want us to see it, I caught him cooking up nearly thirty different meals until he found the right distribution of ingredients. Ah, you should have seen how serious he got--"

"--Master." oh, you little bastard. You finally couldn't stand it any longer? "Some things are best left as secrets, isn't that right?"

"Hah, how can I keep it a secret? Why can't I brag about my Disciple becoming so good at cooking? I'll brag to the heavens, so don't try to stop me. Rather, we should start the roaring fire. Today, we'll feast like we haven't in a long time. Let this be the meal we'll all remember until the day we die, eh?"