LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 395: Reunion
"Junior Sister, Junior Sister?"
A soft call brought her thoughts back.
Meng Fanying woke up with a start, looking at the white-clad woman in front of her and felt a sudden panic, "What's the matter?"
Seeing her like this, the white-clad woman frowned and probed, "Is there another disturbance with the sword imprint?"
"No, it's not that!"
Meng Fanying shook her head and then said, "It's just that this person's actions are so strange they make one uneasy."
"Is that so?"
The white-clad woman glanced at her and did not pursue the matter further, instead saying, "Now all the ten sacred places see this man as a trouble at heart, and our two branches of the Brahma Sect are no exception. A large number of disciples are being mobilized to ban this method everywhere, and our master has also issued a task.
In a few months, your third senior sister and I will have to leave the mountain."
"Such traveling to and fro?"
Meng Fanying hesitated for a moment before tentatively saying, "How about I ask the master if I can go with you?"
"This... could be good."
The white-clad woman responded to this without refusing her, only saying, "When the master leaves her retreat, we will go together."
"Thank you, senior sister."
"There's no need for courtesy between you and me."
The two chatted for a while until the moon rose high, and only then did the white-clad woman leave.
Meng Fanying was left alone in the courtyard, murmuring to herself, "Taoist Scriptures, Martial Arts Scripture, Taoist Scriptures, Martial Arts Scripture..."
She murmured several times, her heart pounding in a way she couldn't express.
"What are you thinking about?"
A soft voice came from the right, startling her.
"!!!!!!!"
Meng Fanying's gaze sharpened, and she looked over in alarm, only to see a person under the cold moonlight who had arrived without her knowing, smiling at her.
"You..."
Meng Fanying's heart skipped a beat and she was about to cry out, but then she regained her alertness and quickly lowered her voice while looking at the person before her, "This is Purity Temple, how dare you barge in?"
As she spoke, she moved forward and appeared even more nervous.
She knew that Xu Yang wasn't dead and that he had the skill to escape from the Mahayana underlings. It had been proved in the Void Spirit Cave Heaven against Dustless.
But the Void Spirit Cave Heaven was different from the Purity Temple; there was no basis for comparison.
The Purity Temple had an ancient lineage and profound potential, its gates representing the Mahayana path, which couldn't be compared to the mere Void Spirit Cave Heaven.
Not to mention that her master, Jian Ni, was currently in the temple. If she were to discover him and unfold the Purity Temple's Manjusri Sword Formation, wouldn't he have no chance of escape?
While Meng Fanying was tense, Xu Yang appeared completely unconcerned, lightly laughing as he said, "Why not dare?"
"You...!"
Meng Fanying found herself at a loss for words.
Xu Yang approached her, his right hand boldly reaching out to encircle her slender waist, pulling the distance between the two to an extreme closeness, "I worried you."
"You..."
This presumptuous action and close proximity caused Meng Fanying to panic, but she dared not make any rash move for fear of drawing attention. She could only place her hand on his chest and feign reprimand, "Don't be too presumptuous!"
Xu Yang simply smiled, without backing down or advancing further, merely holding her gently in his embrace.
Meng Fanying's body stiffened, her hands resisting, but they soon inexplicably softened, with even a trace of initiative as if there was another self within her impulsively wanting to throw herself into his arms, unable to muster the strength to resist.
In such a deadlock, it did not take long for her to soften, tenderly nestled in his arms without a word.
Upon seeing this, Xu Yang took a step further, deepening his hold on her, while asking, "How have you been these years?"
"..."
After a period of silence, Meng Fanying finally said, "I haven't recalled the past between you and me."
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"Is that so?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Yang simply smiled without another word.
Meng Fanying's gaze trembled as she looked up at him, "You don't mind?"
Xu Yang replied with a smile, "As long as you are fine, that's what matters. Other things will sort themselves out in time; why worry about them now?"
"..."
Those words plunged Meng Fanying into silence again, leaving her unsure of how to respond.
He did not prioritize the past romance or memories over her safety and feelings in this life. He simply inquired if she was well and did not seek her lost memories.
Did this signify denial or acceptance?
Meng Fanying did not know, so she kept silent.
Xu Yang also said nothing more, getting straight to the point, "Come back with me?"
"!!"
Upon hearing this, Meng Fanying's heart leaped, then she quickly came to her senses, repeatedly saying, 'That's impossible!'
His openness was met with rejection.
Xu Yang smiled, undeterred, "Why not?"
"..."
After a pause, Meng Fanying said, "In this life, I shall accompany the Green Lantern. How can I leave with you?"
Xu Yang lowered his gaze to meet her eyes, asking with a light laugh, "Are you sure?"
"..."
Meng Fanying fell silent again, her gaze unsteady and unable to hold his. She turned away, lowering her voice, "I bear the Manjusri Sword Imprint; my master can find me no matter where I am. You... should not confuse yourself!"
"Manjusri Sword Imprint!"
Xu Yang's eyes sharpened, his hand reaching out to touch the vermilion dot between her eyebrows, his spirit exploring within before swiftly withdrawing.
With a gentle touch and tension still in the air, Meng Fanying grabbed his wrist, "My master is currently in the temple; do not disturb her."
"Don't worry."
Xu Yang smiled reassuringly and said, "Even if it alarms her, she can't stop me."
"You...!"
Meng Fanying's words came to a halt, not knowing what to say to him. Then a flash of spirit light sparked in her mind, making her change expression, "Are you the one who scattered the Taoist Martial Two Scriptures?"
A moment of shock awakened her, and a moment of enlightenment connected all the clues together, leading to a startling realization.
Xu Yang nodded and didn't conceal it from her, "That's right!"
"Why would you do that?"
Seeing his admission, Meng Fanying grew even more anxious, her voice escalating, "Do you realize that now, the ten great sacred places in the Northern Domain regard you as a thorn in their side, thinking you have ulterior motives and are eager to get rid of you?"
"Don't worry."
Xu Yang smiled unconcernedly, "They can't do anything to me."
"You...!"
Meng Fanying, in frustration and helplessness, pressed on, "The ten great sacred places of the Northern Domain have ancient lineages and profound potentiality. Even if they can't deal with you at the moment, in the future they will find other mana points, other arrangements. If you don't stop now, there will come a day when they take advantage of you."
"The future?"
Xu Yang shook his head lightly, smiling as he spoke, "By the time the future comes, it won't be them troubling me, but me troubling them."
"You..."
"Xuan Er!"
Meng Fanying, in her urgency to speak, was silenced by Xu Yang's gentle voice. He continued earnestly, "I have a plan for this matter; you needn't worry. Continue your cultivation undisturbed, and when the time is right, I will come to take you away."
Meng Fanying looked at him, her expression extremely complex, finally asking, "Are you really that confident?"
Xu Yang responded with a smile, merely nodding.
Meng Fanying's gaze turned cold and defiant as she propped herself up from his embrace, "I am not your 'Xuan Er'."
"It's just a name, it doesn't matter."
Xu Yang wasn't bothered, gently pulling her into his arms as he calmly said, "If you dislike it, then I shall call you Fanying."
"..."
Meng Fanying fell silent, unable to find words, her initial defiance softening.
This inexplicable tenderness lingered for a moment before Xu Yang finally let go, "I must go now, but I will come to see you again after a while."
"You mustn't!"
Meng Fanying exclaimed, then lowered her voice, "I... I will leave Purity Temple soon. If you need to find me, do so outside. Do not come to Yun Luo Mountain again."
Seeing her like this, Xu Yang chuckled, nodded, and said, "Alright!"
"..."
Meng Fanying watched him, her thoughts a chaos, unable to articulate her tangled emotions, and finally managed only to say, "Be careful yourself; the ten great sacred places surely have methods and will not allow you to act so recklessly."
"I understand, take care as well."
Xu Yang nodded and then pointed a finger at her forehead, "This is a Divine Power technique that doesn't conflict with the ways of Buddhism or the power of Manjusri; practice it well. When the time comes to remove the Manjusri Sword Imprint, it will protect your Primordial Spirit."
"Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Techniques—Wandering Spirit to Control Qi?"
Meng Fanying was astonished when she felt the Dharma Decree imprint into her mind, "You actually have such Divine Power."
"Otherwise, how could I be the world's greatest thief?"
Xu Yang said with a smile, speaking firmly, "But forcibly removing the Manjusri Wisdom Sword is a last resort. In this world, the Brahma Sect is also a major teaching, and the Manjusri Wisdom Sword can verify the path to become a True Immortal. You have an inexplicable connection with it; if you can complete its cultivation, it would be best to do so."
Meng Fanying looked at him, even more puzzled, "The Manjusri Wisdom Sword requires cutting off the past, severing emotional attachments to demonstrate wisdom."
Xu Yang shook his head, smiling lightly, "Don't listen to your Master's nonsense. Cultivation is not so inconvenient. What they call cutting off emotions with the Wisdom Sword is just one method. It helps that path but is not necessary. The way of Manjusri is wisdom—to see the true self is to understand the universe, not to be heartless and turn to stone.
Otherwise, this Manjusri Extensive Dharma should be called the Heartless Bodhisattva, the Venerable who denies heaven and earth."
Meng Fanying: "..."
What is nonsense?
My master is a Mahayana Cultivator, amongst the ranks of True Immortals!
You have not even entered Mahayana; how can you be so arrogant as to disparage the cultivation philosophy of Purity Temple so lightly?
Meng Fanying found Xu Yang's words utterly ridiculous.
But what was even more ridiculous was that, as a Wisdom Sword disciple, she actually felt that he made a lot of sense!
What was happening to her!
Meng Fanying felt a bit chaotic, it took her a while to regain her composure, "Don't speak of my Master like that."
"If she misleads people, why shouldn't I say something?"
Xu Yang shook his head when he heard this, uncharacteristically standing his ground against her.
Meng Fanying didn't know how to argue back and could only turn away, indignantly saying, "You'd better leave quickly. If my Master finds out, even if you can escape, you'll be taught a lesson."
Xu Yang smiled, not pushing the issue further, "Then, I will come to see you after a while."
"Wait!"
At this, Meng Fanying hurriedly stopped him, turning back in slight panic.
Xu Yang looked at her and asked with a chuckle, "Is there something else?"
Meng Fanying hesitated for a moment before finally asking, "Your name... Qingyang?"
Xu Yang nodded, "Xu Qingyang!"
"Xu Qingyang?"
Meng Fanying muttered the name and then asked, "And I...?"
"Shi Feixuan!"
Before she could finish, Xu Yang interjected, revealing his thoughts.
"Shi Feixuan?"
Meng Fanying murmured the name, tasting it for a long time, her mind filled with myriad thoughts.
Seeing her like this, Xu Yang said nothing more, simply smiling, "Don't forget it!"
As he spoke, his figure turned into an illusion and then dispersed, leaving her alone beneath the Bodhi Tree.