Xu Jin Yan chuckled softly, turned to City Lord Yi: "This child is truly lively. It is a pity he has no guard against others. If not for his elder brother by his side, how could he grow up."
Yi Ji Yu upon hearing this immediately replied, voice still gentle but firm: "Senior Xu overpraises. My younger brother is born with talent beyond others, without me, he can still live."
He paused for a moment, then raised his head, eyes frankly meeting Xu Jin Yan's obscure gaze, not avoiding in the slightest.
"Moreover… how could I possibly leave him."
The words were light, but like a silent promise buried deep in the heart, forever unchanged.
Yi Wu Shuang immediately chimed in, rubbing the sides of his nose. Chin raised high as if this was only natural:
"Elder brother, you are absolutely right. I am a genius, no one can be my opponent!"
Yi Xin Xian took a sip of tea, the corner of his mouth twitching, restraining himself from raising his hand to strike him with a palm.
"What genius? Natural disaster more like."
But the child had already run off, mouth still laughing: "Father, you want to hit me again? No chance."
Yi Ji Yu lightly bowed his head to Xu Jin Yan: "Sorry to trouble Senior Xu. My younger brother is still young and ignorant, please do not take offense."
Before Xu Jin Yan could reply, he intended to turn and leave. But the old grandmaster raised his hand, handing him a thin book: "This is a bit of what I have learned, inside are countless formations, and ways to coordinate them. If free you may read."
"This is…"
Yi Ji Yu looked at Xu Jin Yan somewhat doubtful.
"Of course only a bit. You are not my disciple, why would I hand everything to you?"
Yi Xin Xian closed his eyes sipping tea: "Since Senior Xu gives it to you then just accept."
"Many thanks Senior Xu, I will take my leave."
Saying so he left, leaving the two old men behind drinking tea and playing chess.
"I understand now… the matter of that year. You also let go one hand, otherwise how could the treasure fall into the hands of outsiders."
At this moment, Yi Xin Xian seemed to sense a familiar aura, he was slightly startled.
This feeling was only fleeting, completely not affecting the conversation of the two.
"You guessed one thing wrong."
Xu Jin Yan shook his head as if unwilling to know clearly the matter. He respected each person's choice, he himself could not stop it.
The way to make a person happy is to make them feel respected. To respect one's choice is very difficult. But once one understands the heart, this choice becomes light as a feather.
"I truly am not a wisdom path cultivator, so I do not understand your heart. But the hardship I have understood."
Xu Jin Yan continued: "Yi Wu Shuang has outstanding talent, but still cannot be called a true genius. I also understand your regret."
"Genius short lived."
On the way to the academy, Yi Wu Shuang turned left, suddenly encountering two people. One in white, one in black.
The one in black held a yellow talisman with exquisite candle flame patterns, pinched between index and middle finger. The talisman light flashed like burning fire.
Yi Wu Shuang panicked: "You… you are Luo Tian Qiu. Why are you here, I remember from Luo Clan to here at least a hundred li."
"Divine Movement Talisman. Instant Shift Talisman. You do not know?"
Tian Qiu smiled teasingly. Yi Wu Shuang shouted angrily.
"So what if you are a talisman grandmaster?"
Tian Qiu nodded, voice light like spring wind.
"That's right! If capable then you also become a talisman grandmaster."
Yi Wu Shuang was so angry he nearly coughed blood.
The talisman ignited, turning into ashes. Beneath his feet, candle wax surged up. Clinging, spreading as if sentient.
"Encounter, encounter… meeting after new year is fate."
Yi Wu Shuang's face turned purple with anger, fists swinging wildly. But candle wax had bound his ankles, making his movements stagger like a cat scratching.
"Fate my head! You mad Luo dog deliberately ambushed here!"
Tian Qiu widened eyes pretending innocence: "Oh? I ambushed you and I do not even know."
He feigned ignorance, clapped hands as if just realizing a brand new truth: "I understand! This is ambush. In the future must trouble Young Master Yi to practice with me daily."
"Release the candle wax immediately!!"
At one side, Luo Wu Chang twitched the corner of his mouth, shook his head: "Encounter truly precious."
He recalled… when the two had just finished eating, walking along the road leading to the academy.
Maple leaves drifted down, spreading into an autumn carpet beneath their feet.
The wind faint, voices of Luo Clan disciples murmuring behind the trees: "I just stepped into quasi grandmaster realm of pill dao, just a bit more surely can enter grandmaster realm of pill dao, stand equal with geniuses in Immortal City. At that time that mad Luo dog must kneel and call me elder brother."
"You think from quasi grandmaster to grandmaster easy like eating cake. The difference between the two realms is only the word quasi, but separated like heaven and earth. If not elite, very hard to comprehend, to cross this barrier."
Suddenly one person stepped in interrupting.
"What are you discussing for so tired. Playing happily not enough?"
"Speaking of playing, do you think the clan is idle making trouble? Peacefully yet planting maple trees year round, saying it is to let clan disciples easily comprehend."
"I do not know. Heard it was because late Second Elder, Luo Tian Hang watched autumn leaves daily then gained comprehension, cultivation advanced. Perhaps the clan does so wanting us to become second Luo Tian Hang."
"One year compared to average lifespan of a cultivator is a blink. This action may be memorial, or obsession with that peerless genius."
Someone sighed.
"Whatever it is, you should enjoy the final moment before this seemingly eternal scene. Old Ancestor before leaving said, from now Luo Clan will plant maple trees, set formations for it to exist year round. When I return, all matters at will."
"The day he returns is no longer far."
After that, the group turned left. Maple leaves fell behind, making a very faint rustling sound.
Meanwhile, Luo Wu Chang and Luo Tian Qiu went straight. He slightly frowned: "Brother Thu, if we turn left we reach academy. Why still detour?"
Luo Tian Qiu did not answer, only raised his sleeve.
The yellow talisman gently swayed with wind, beneath wrist revealed a white bracelet, engraved with swirling black cloud patterns.
"What do you think?" He asked, voice indifferent.
Luo Wu Chang felt guilty:
"You… you are pranking again."
The bracelet faintly lit, blue light like thin mist spreading, entering wrist, then turning into a slender thread.
That thread extended down, passed through palm then to fingers, connecting with the talisman, the talisman immediately flashed.
Cultivation is not only training, possessing extraordinary power. But also being an existence good at speaking, having brains.
The more people one contacts, the more eloquence and vision expand.
The more collisions, the more lessons, the more one knows where one truly stands, from that to strive.
Therefore, aside from certain safety measures the clan prepared, and the academy within clan territory. They completely do not forbid disciples between clans to interact.
If injured, blame oneself lacking skill, who else to blame?
At this moment, the aura around Luo Tian Qiu suddenly sank.
Wind brushed past his robe.
Green leaves flew with clouds
He smiled gently, but cold as iron:
"You are a genius, but know nothing about the hundred arts of cultivation. The kind like you, going outside sooner or later will be cleaned of spirit stones."
He patted the other's shoulder familiarly.
"I am a good person. Everything I do… is for you."
Saying so, again took out a new talisman, fingertips began pouring spiritual power.
"Luo Tian Qiu, you do not go mind your own clan academy, yet have leisure standing here teasing my younger brother?"
At this moment, a deep voice sounded. Yi Ji Yu just arrived, eyes cold as frost.
Luo Tian Qiu lightly smiled, withdrew the talisman, raised hands surrendering.
"Not playing anymore."
He brushed past Ji Yu, lightly patted the other's shoulder, corner of lips slightly curved: "Nothing."
"Your fate truly bad."
Yi Ji Yu turned head snorted coldly: "You are no different from me. Genius short lived."
Both paused for a moment.
Eyes met, silently sparking.
No one spoke, but killing intent simmered like underground current beneath feet, quietly tightening the two.
Luo Wu Chang secretly squeezed between, quickly stepping past them, smiling awkwardly:
"Brother Thu... almost late. Today teaching new lesson."
Luo Tian Qiu raised brow, half smiled:
"Young Masters remember strive to arrive early. Otherwise… will be late."
Finishing words, he swung hand grabbing Wu Chang, talisman flashed golden light.
In a blink both turned into a faint streak of light, disappeared.
Only Yi Wu Shuang remained standing in fragrant candle wax puddle, shouting like mad.
He struggled wildly, eyes bloodshot as if about to bite: "Damn your mother! If capable then stop playing dirty tricks! Come fight fair!"
"You weak thing only know hiding behind your clan Great Elder!"
"If not for that old man, Luo Tian Qiu you are nothing!"
"Bastard! If capable then come back!"
Beside, Yi Ji Yu turned to look at his younger brother, held his forehead, sighed, muttered like speaking to wind: "Why is my fate so miserable…"
On the road to the academy, tender maple leaves rolled with wind, drawing small circles around the heels of the two.
"Brother Thu, when do you think it will rain?"
Luo Tian Qiu raised head, narrowed eyes looking at blue sky, light wind blowing through messy hair.
"Rain or shine relates to yin yang meteorology. If yin qi strong enough, sky will rain."
"That is because... when someone is sad, sky sheds tears for them."
Pausing a bit, he tilted head, voice even: "Of course, rain or shine... also relates to contention of fate."
Luo Wu Chang sighed: "You start again…"
The two were chatting lively. Suddenly from behind a figure rushed forward, slung arm over Tian Qiu's shoulder naturally.
Tian Qiu had not reacted, already pulled close, he conveniently also slung arm over Wu Chang. Three stuck together like sandwich.
"Brother Thu, these days still well?"
Luo Tian Qiu slightly frowned: "Luo Yun Ge?"