MOF Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Startling Sight of Azure Robes on White Bone Mountain In the Mist, faintly appearing…

Xie Yiling glanced at Nangong Ci, trying awkwardly to stop the topic: “Shifu, don’t overthink it. Whether you’re alive or whatever, once a teacher, always a…”

As soon as he said this, the inappropriate thought of Si Wumian joking that he and Nangong Ci were “once a teacher, always a husband” popped into his head.

So, he suddenly stopped, his cheeks flushed, and he turned his back to Nangong Ci, continuing, “Anyway, I’m not leaving, Shifu. Don’t think about getting rid of me.”

Nangong Ci didn’t mind Xie Yiling’s “disrespectful” tone, staring blankly at his back. It was slender but not overly thin, the familiar outline overlapping with the boy from ten years ago. Back then, Xie Ci was aggressive towards outsiders, but he never lost his temper with him. If he made him angry, he would turn around and face away from him without saying a word, just like now.

But, after a person loses their memory, can their words and actions really be exactly the same as before?

Nangong Ci didn’t think so. He frowned slightly, feeling like something was about to come to the surface.

The unconscious familiarity between Xie Ci and A Si; his blurted “Gu Third Young Master” when Gu Huanzhi was poisoned; and… claiming to be an ordinary person, yet knowing the secret arts of the Immortal Clan and the weaknesses of Yin Corpses, skillfully performing Southern Return Immortal techniques on the Rain Flower Platform…

All the details seemed to convince Nangong Ci of his idea.

Perhaps Xie Ci himself hadn’t realized that his unfinished words had been completely betrayed by these details.

But why didn’t he confess? Was there some misunderstanding?

Thinking back to the night of their reunion, the two had awkwardly and strangely exchanged names.

Nangong Ci’s body trembled faintly. He clenched his palms, saying as he used to, “Alright, I misspoke. Don’t be angry.”

Almost as soon as he spoke, Xie Yiling couldn’t wait to turn around, burying himself in his arms like a hedgehog.

Forget about the rules of master and disciple, this person should be held like this.

Nangong Ci remained as still as a mountain, as if in meditation. Xie Yiling listened to the frantic heartbeat under his ear, slowly understanding.

After resting, the group headed towards White Bone Mountain without stopping.

White Bone Mountain was named White Bone because, in addition to the purple micro grass that could revive flesh and bones, the shape of the mountain was also extremely similar to a white bone.

The mountainside was wide, and at the top of the mountain was a giant rock, which looked like a head from a distance. Beside it was a towering green pine tree, its branches and leaves luxuriant, shaped like a fan.

The three of them flew to the mountainside on their swords, but could go no further, so they had to get off their swords and walk.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, Nangong Ci suddenly swayed, spitting out a mouthful of bright red blood, coughing violently and uncontrollably.

Xie Yiling was quick to steady him, and when he came back to his senses, his back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.

“Fufeng Daoren!” Gu Huanzhi was also shocked, seeing beads of sweat falling from Nangong Ci’s forehead, he couldn’t help saying, “Why don’t I carry you?”

A Si said, “I’ll carry him!”

Nangong Ci lowered his head at an angle that prevented the blood from staining his body. He shook his head, wanting to refuse, but heard Xie Yiling say, “I’ll do it, Gu Shidi. Please lead the way.”

Having said that, he walked to Nangong Ci, bending over and squatting down in front of Nangong Ci, “Shifu, get on.”

As soon as the words fell, a weight settled on his back, and a very faint, cool fragrance traveled from his neck to his nose.

The mountain path was not easy to walk, especially the one Xie Yiling and the others were on, which could hardly be considered a path.

The soil underfoot was soft and wet, so sticky that Xie Yiling could hardly lift his feet. Every step was particularly difficult.

He vaguely felt that something was wrong, looked around, and asked, “Why does it feel so humid here?”

After he said this, Gu Huanzhi noticed that his sleeves were already wet. “Maybe it’s because there’s always mist in the deep forest. Although White Bone Mountain has many spiritual mushrooms and fairy herbs, there are also poisonous grasses and fierce trees, so it’s best to be careful.”

Xie Yiling said, “Gu Shidi seems very familiar with this place?”

Gu Huanzhi used Frost Guest as a walking stick, saying as he walked, “I’ve only heard about it. Legend has it that the Qingyi Sanren, is named Liu Weiyuan.”

“Liu Weiyuan?” Xie Yiling frowned, feeling that the name seemed familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere.

“Cough cough! His sister is the first wife of Mo Zhinian, Senior Mo.” Nangong Ci’s voice was low and hoarse, and as he spoke, a warm breath gently brushed against Xie Yiling’s ear.

“Right!” Gu Huanzhi remembered, “Senior Mo’s wife was named Liu Weilan. It’s said that her younger brother was more than ten years younger than her. The Liu family had a son late in life, and they valued him especially. But this Young Master Liu spent his life traveling and studying medicine. He didn’t want to go home for many years. It wasn’t until the two old people passed away that he went home to visit once.”

“Although he is the uncle of the Mo family’s three young masters, he doesn’t seem to have shown his face at all when the Mo family was in trouble.”

Xie Yiling couldn’t help but worry when he heard this. It sounded like this person had a cold personality, and he didn’t know if he would be willing to help.

“Are you tired?” Just as he was thinking, Nangong Ci on his back suddenly asked.

Xie Yiling shook his head, not noticing that Nangong Ci’s voice sounded somewhat ethereal, and just continued to walk forward.

The deeper they went into the forest, the heavier the humidity became. Before long, a mountain fog rose.

The mountain fog gradually thickened, and Xie Yiling followed Gu Huanzhi closely, not daring to fall behind a single step. Frost Guest emitted a blue light all over his body. He stared at the blue light, walking up step by step.

The mountain fog grew thicker and thicker, and Xie Yiling could hardly see the shadow of Frost Guest. He could only walk forward by feeling. As the fog entered his body, his chest became heavy.

Xie Yiling gasped for breath, and his back felt like a huge rock was pressing down on him. He trembled his legs wanting to take a step, but his feet seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, and he couldn’t move even a millimeter.

His lips were dry, and the moisture in his throat began to evaporate little by little.

“Shi… Shifu,” his cheeks flushed because of what he was about to say, “Why don’t you… you come down first, and we… we’ll rest for a while.”

Nangong Ci ignored him, lying motionless on his back.

Xie Yiling panicked and raised his voice, “Shifu! What’s wrong, Shifu!”

He was worried that something had happened to Nangong Ci, wanting to let go and put the person down, but who knew that as soon as his hand loosened, the arms around his neck immediately tightened.

Xie Yiling’s breathing suddenly became difficult, his face flushed red. He wanted to shout but couldn’t, only feeling a suffocating sensation.

A feeling of dizziness traveled from his eyes to his heart, and his legs gradually knelt down against his will.

For a moment, it seemed like many things were flying in front of his eyes, sometimes big and sometimes small, sometimes far and sometimes near. He shook his head, wanting to see clearly what they were.

Suddenly, the sound of wind passing through the dense forest rang in his ears, the rustling of leaves fluttering like a flock of butterflies flapping their wings.

Xie Yiling looked up and saw the mountain fog fading away, scattering like smoke.

In this fog, a green shadow faintly appeared. Like floating duckweed returning from swimming, the man held a paper umbrella printed with azure bamboo branches, coming slowly.

Bright eyes, thin lips, his whole body dyed with immortal aura, dark hair and rosy cheeks, completely without worldly air.

He seemed to hear Nangong Ci calling him, and also heard Gu Huanzhi and A Si calling “Xie Shixiong” and “Xie Ci Gege” one after another. They seemed to be right beside him, and also seemed to be very far away.

Xie Yiling fainted in their calls. He had a dream, dreaming of things from more than ten years ago that had been forgotten.

Many years ago, White Bone Mountain already had such heavy mountain fog.

The young Xie Yiling used his sword to push aside the layers of wild plants, some half a person tall, while asking the person behind him, “Sixth brother, do you think the Qingyi Sanren is really as powerful as the rumors say?”

Nangong Ci behind him walked steadily, his features handsome and gentle, but his eyes were covered with white silk. Xie Yiling held his hand tightly, pulling him forward step by step.

The strength in Nangong Ci’s hand was neither light nor heavy. “The headmaster said that the Qingyi Sanren once cured his stubborn illness, so it shouldn’t be a false reputation.”

Xie Yiling snorted lightly, half believing and half doubting. “If he can cure your eyes, then I’ll admit his ability!”

Nangong Ci smiled, gently rubbing Xie Yiling’s hand with his thumb. “Don’t be rude later.”

Xie Yiling grabbed Nangong Ci’s hand, already used to his discipline, saying directly, “I know, I know!”

There was a slope ahead. Xie Yiling carefully led Nangong Ci, looking back from time to time. Passing through layers of strangely shaped trees, they finally saw a stone house.

“Sixth brother, we’re here!”

Xie Yiling’s eyes flashed with joy. He let go of Nangong Ci’s hand, walked to the stone house, and knocked on the door, “Qingyi Sanren, we are disciples of the Southern Return, here to ask for your help!”

He called several times in a row, but no one answered the door.

He frowned and said, “Could he have gone out? I heard that these Sanren love to travel and don’t return home for three to five years.”

Nangong Ci was silent for a moment, “It doesn’t matter, we were just trying our luck.”

Xie Yiling disagreed, taking a few steps down the stone steps in front of the door. “But he clearly said in the letter that you had to come in person. Isn’t this obviously teasing us?”

Nangong Ci approached him, sensing Xie Yiling’s aura, and held his hand, comforting softly, “Don’t be angry. If we don’t meet him this time, there’s always next time. Why don’t we find a place to sit down and see if the Sanren can come back today.”

“Who is trespassing on Qingyi Sanren’s residence?”

A sharp voice rang out. Xie Yiling turned around and saw a young man standing with an umbrella in his hand, a pair of slender phoenix eyes glaring at the two of them.

Xie Yiling asked back, “Who are you? We’re here to find the Qingyi Sanren!”

The man seemed to have expected this, saying impolitely, “Shifu has gone out recently and won’t be back for a few days. You won’t be able to wait today, so leave quickly.”

Xie Yiling’s eyes immediately turned cold when he heard this. “What great prestige. Calling people around, do you think the people of Southern Return are easy to bully?”

When the young man heard that they were from Southern Return, he sized him up, asking, “Are you a disciple of Southern Return?”

Seeing the change in his attitude, Xie Yiling raised an eyebrow smugly. “I am Xie Yiling, a disciple of the Jin City Southern Return Heavenly Pavilion. What is your name?”

The young man was not to be outdone. “I don’t change my name, or change my surname. I am Liu Weiyuan, the closed disciple of the Qingyi Sanren.”

Xie Yiling was slightly stunned. “Liu Weiyuan? Are you the Mo Gongzi’s uncle?”

Liu Weiyuan raised an eyebrow slightly, “Do you know me?”

Xie Yiling didn’t try to build a relationship with him, nor was he used to his contemptuous attitude, saying bluntly, “Your Shifu broke his word first, and you were rude to the Fufeng Daoren of Southern Return later. No wonder you’re master and disciple. Like master, like disciple.”

“You!” Liu Weiyuan immediately became angry. “How dare you insult my Shifu!”

“Xie Yiling.” Seeing that the two were about to start arguing, Nangong Ci quickly tugged at his sleeve, signaling him to stop.

Xie Yiling looked at Liu Weiyuan with anger, saying, “Sixth brother, don’t stop me. Did I say anything wrong? Wasn’t he rude first?”

“Was I rude first?” Liu Weiyuan’s sword-like eyebrows stood on end with anger. “You trespassed on my Shifu’s residence. I’ve already told you that my Shifu won’t be back today, but you refuse to leave. Who is being rude?”

Xie Yiling retorted, “In terms of status, even if you don’t respect me, don’t you even know the basic etiquette when you see the Fufeng Daoren?”

Liu Weiyuan sneered, looking at Nangong Ci a few more times, saying, “Who knows that the Fufeng Daoren you Southern Return people praise to the heavens is just a blind man who looks like he just reached adulthood?”