Stepping outside I looked back at the doors that were closed before I descended the stairs where I happened to find Hàorán.
"What happened inside?" He asked.
"Po Xinēn regained his consciousness." I replied.
"And?" Hàorán asked.
"He's a victim as well, at least he was possesed for the past twenty five years." I replied.
"He's much older than the both of us." Hàorán said.
"It turns out like that." I replied as I sighed with disappointment.
"Why are you sad if he is safe?" Hàorán Asked as he walked away.
"I wanted to know why he did that to me?" I replied, "but given that he forfeited the Līngyuè Transaction and he doesn't seem to recall many of the things that he did during this time there is not much that he can tell us because like myself he doesn't remember." I added.
"What about Liú Shuài?" Hàorán suddenly asked and I halted in my footsteps as I seemed to recall that he too was present.
"I forgot." I replied.
"Let me come with you." Hàorán said.
"No." I stopped him.
"Why?" Hàorán asked.
"I don't want to burden you." I replied.
"Don't worry, you aren't a burden." Hàorán said.
"I just don't want him to feel so awkward around me." I said.
"Then at least allow me to stay outside." Hàorán insisted.
"Alright." I gave in as we walked into the Direction of the Eastern Pavilion.
I arrived at the door and finding it closed I halted when I heard the sound of the Guqin coming from inside.
Hàorán remained standing there while I pushed the doors open and walked inside as my eyes wandered while I eventually caught sight of Liú Shuài who was seated next to a lamp of burning incense.
He seemed to have noticed my presence that slowly and slowly, he calmed down the intensity at which he played and winding up the song he waved his hand and his white Guqin disappeared.
"Are there no Guqins in here.
"Which am I used to?" Liú Shuài asked, "This one was the one I played with someone special." He added.
"I see." I muttered as I turned around and inspected the place while I walked towards the nearby shelf.
Not looking down, I didn't seem to realise the water that had spilled on the floor and sliding on it I was nearly about to let out a scream when I fell into the arms of Liú Shuài abd pulling him by his neck to support myself before landing I brought his face close to mine and our lips crashing into one another we had orchestrated a kiss.
I felt intense and excited and much faster than ever my heart was beating I could barely believe what I had done.
I stared into his beautiful dark eyes as he scared into mine and yet as I was panic stricken he appeared to be most calm about it.
I pushed him away and I was about to land when he held me with the other hand again and this time around our faces were only centimetres apart.
"Are you willing to break your back or more willing for me to keep holding you?" Liú Shuài asked.
"I am so sorry." I said as he helped me back onto my feet.
"Thank you." I said as I wiped my clothes automatically even without having fallen a part of me feeling so shy the other asking myself how it had come to be for me to kiss him or him to kiss me.
Liú Shuài having maintained his composure he walked up to where he was seated.
"You were that far, how did you reach me in time?" I asked.
"I saw you were about to step into the water." Liú Shuài replied.
"Why didn't you tell me anything?" I asked.
"Even if I told you it would be too late and approximately three times as fast you would have hurried and fallen much faster." Liú Shuài replied.
"You don't look like someone who speaks so much?" I said my
"Men are of very few words." Liú Shuài replied.
"Are you saying that I am not a man?" I asked jokingly.
"You aren't like any other man that I have ever met." Liú Shuài replied.
I was a little bit startled that I kept quiet while he on the other hand still maintaining that serious expression on his face he sat down where he had been.
"What brought you here?" Liú Shuài asked.
I slowly walked up closely to him and there sitting down in front of him I started to treat myself as dignified as he was.
"I have questions." I replied.
"What about?" Liú Shuài asked.
"My past." I replied.
"Hmm." Liú Shuài muttered.
"I was wondering what kind of person I was in the past and considering the fact that you have saved me three consecutive times and you possesed my sword, others might claim that you stole it but I want to believe that we were close in the past five years." I replied.
"Hmm." Liú Shuài muttered.
"What was your relationship with me?" I asked.
Liú Shuài looked down.
"Would you believe a word that I am going to say to you?" Liú Shuài asked.
"It depends." I replied, "you are the only one that I can rely on." I added.
"Why?" Liú Shuài asked.
"You must have noticed that it isn't because I am angry or I left on purpose but it's just that all that time I can't remember the type of person I was and it's already been five years." I said in a lonely manner.
"Me and you." Liú Shuài said but he halted as he seemed very hesitant to say what he wanted me to hear.
"What happened between us?" I asked.
"We were close, much closer than any best friends and much closer than any brothers, and just as my world was boring at times I was thankful that you were the person that showed me what it means to live." Liú Shuài replied.
"Wow." I said.
"There were times that I just looked at you and to me there was nothing more wonderful and yet at this moment I an...." He said and he halted while I looked at him.
"What?" I asked.
"Forget it." Liú Shuài said.
"Come on." I said as I looked into his eyes and I saw what loked like tears forming up.
"I'm sorry." Liú Shuài said.
"What have you done?" I asked.
"Perhaps we should have never met." Liú Shuài replied and I was a little bit puzzled.
"Now's not the time to be remorseful." I remarked.
"My heart mourns and there are wounds that within it that can never be healed." Liú Shuài replied as he stood up and he faced the window that was on my left.
"At times I knew that you were still out there and I felt it but for more seeing you is enough because when you are carefree you don't have to think about the awful things that happened to you in your past." Liú Shuài added.
Hearing his words I could tell that he actually cared so much about me that I stood up.
"What about the Calamity of this Silver mirror that I heard you talking about?" I asked.
"Exactly five years ago there was a war between the Féng Clan and the other Six primary clans of the Cultivation world and in an attempt to destroy the fragments of the Silver Mirror that had scattered there were some loopholes that we'd all ignored yet you yourself knew something about the Silver Mirror that every one didn't." Liú Shuài replied.
"What?" I asked.
He reached out his hand into his sleeve and from there he pulled out a scroll which he handed over to me.
I took it into my possession and at that moment opening it my eyes scrolled through it's content as I noticed how flawless that calligraphy was I was certain it was in deed written by me.
"Why do you have this?" I Asked.
"You left it behind." Liú Shuài replied, "you seemed to have not been sure whether you would ever meet me again but you hoped that at least I would know." He added.
"There were seven pieces of the silver Mirror and not six?" I said.
"And you knew where the seventh one was." Liú Shuài replied.
"Why the silver mirror?" I asked.
"It's a long story." Liú Shuài replied.
"If you wanted me to help you I told you that there is not much that I can remember and on top of that there's not much that you can do to get me to remember as I have tried everything that I possibly could but I have failed." I said.
"For once I want to be selfish, you are living a good life I didn't mean to trouble or bother you." Liú Shuài replied.
"Po Xinēn was hunting me for some reason and I in deed know that me and him are more than well acquainted and he must have had his own reasons as well to do it.
I don't feel safe every moment because my spiritual channels are widening and that means that I can very soon absorb every amount of energy that I can find whether yīn or yáng until I can not hold it any longer and it destroys me or on the other hand should the dark matter and energy overwhelm that which is good deep down inside I might be lost to the dark side forever." I said.
Liú Shuài turned around and looked at me.
"Telling you what I know shall do you know good, I'll be narrating a story for you that you might not remember." Liú Shuài said.
"It doesn't matter." I said, "perhaps if I could know what lay in my past I have a higher chance of learning to control these emotions of mine and I could perhaps evolve this energy and save the cultivation world." I added.
"Alright." Liú Shuài replied.
"So will you tell me?" I asked.
"Have you heard of the pool of memory?" Liú Shuài asked me.
"No." I replied.
"There's not much that you know here in the Red Lotus but I am at Least sure that the elders must have an idea about it." Liú Shuài said.
"What is the pool of memory?" I asked.
"Long ago when the Mortal realm had only been born there was a celestial river that flowed throughout all three realms and with it were the waters that bestowed healing and they fluorished the worlds entirely.
In Heaven the waters sustained the Immortals, here they granted healing, in the Earth realm where the demons and the spirits of the dead were it granted reincarnation but along the pathways where it's greatest power was it became a link to all three realms with which people throughtout them could travel." Liú Shuài replied.
However, one time the waters became too much and they caused a flood and when the flood came too much life was given that eventually from the plants themselves growing faster and fluorishing, in a while they withered and the land became barren, in heaven the Immortals maintaining it's good use were faced with invasion from the earth realm and the demonic clans that too wanted to transcend into immortality so using the river they moved upwards to the Mortal realm and their next target being the heavens they prepared to launch an attack.
At last the celestial Emperor conjuring the Lín elixir he poured it into the eternal stream and he severed the pathways eventually the waters themselves poisoned were deprived of the life giving aspect and the ghosts without it could no longer survive in the mortal realm without hosts.
Eventually, there the mortal exorcists exorcised them and they were sent back to the netherworld whereas here on Earth what remained of the river was the eternal pool of memory which though losing most of it's healing functions it's water remained the cure of a disturbed mind." Liú Shuài added.
"How old is this myth?" I asked.
"Hundreds of thousands of years old." Liú Shuài replied.
"Where does the Pool of Memory exist presently?" I asked.
"I don't know." Liú Shuài replied, "That knowledge of it has slowly died out so there is not much that I can do and neither am I sure that it exists as well.
The only people that at least tend to have a clue of such places in the Cultivation world are the Saints." Liú Shuài replied.
"Where can we find the saints?" I asked.
"The Saints are rare but if there is one place that I am certain of that could have a Saint then it is Yīnuo valley which is far to the South from here, there in the mountains resides an old friend of mine who doesn't like to socialise with very many people and because saints are hunted for their knowledge of the Natural world, I am sure he is very much acquainted with caution he prefers to stay alone." Liú Shuài replied.
"If he hates visitors then how do you know him?" I asked.
"I saved his life once and he promised that he'd help me." Liú Shuài replied.
"Then I am willing to take the risk." I said.
"You can't be serious." Liú Shuài replied.
"If I must then I am willing to do it as long as I can remember." I said.
"Are you out of your mind?" Liú Shuài asked, "the red lotus could never allow you to leave because they are protecting you." Liú Shuài said.
"You saw for yourself what happened today and as it had never been for anyone to breach the Barrier ever since the Red Lotus was established today if finally happened so if I don't make the cultivation world a safe place then I too won't be safe behind this barrier and so will all the other people." I said.
"Whether you leave with me or not it's not entirely up to me to decide and you should plead your case because I can not guarantee that I shall Protect you and neither can I guarantee that the world outside this barrier is any better." Liú Shuài said.
"Then if the Elders acquisce you are going to take me to Yīnuo valley?" I asked.
Liú Shuài kept quiet.
"You are a man of your word." I said.
"Alright." Liú Shuài replied.
"I suppose that settles it." I said as I strode out of the room and sliding the door open I found Hàorán with his ear on the door.
"What are you doing?" I asked him.
Nothing." Hàorán replied. "It took you so long." he added.
"Sorry." I said.
"Did you do anything in there?" Hàorán asked and at that moment it triggered some memories that I had had inside I touched my lips and smiled as I recalled the words that Liú Shuài had said to me back then when he saved me from the fall.
"Are you willing to break your back or more willing for me to keep holding you?" He'd spoken so gently and before I had realised it I was blushing.
"What has that witch done to you?" Hàorán asked.
"Nothing." I replied instantly.
"You even panicked in your reply so something must have surely happened." Hàorán said.
"There's finally a way that I can regain my memory but I need to confirm with the elders." I replied.
"It's quite late I don't think that they'll be willing to see you." Hàorán said.
"They certainly won't." I replied, "but there's tomorrow morning." I said.
"Yes." Hàorán replied.
I raised up my hands and I yawned trying to divert his attention.
"I'm hungry." I said.
"Let's go eat." Hàorán said.
"Lead the way." I muttered as he put his left hand around my neck and dragged me down.
"Can I ever let you go hungry?" He asked with a chuckle as he dragged me along the both of us laughing with my body submitting to him but my mind still focused on my saviour that was all alone in the Eastern pavilion as his words lingered through my ears.
"For once I want to be selfish, you are living a good life I didn't mean to trouble or bother you." He'd expressed his concern which made me feel so moved by him.
"What did he mean by that?" I constantly asked myself but there wasn't any logical explanation that could come into my mind.
We had gathered in my room and there the table was filled with so many dishes and Wú Ruì and the others walked in with liquor while I looked at Hàorán who was laying a few more dishes on the table.
Wú Hào, Wú Ruì and Déng Mō sat down right in front of me and looking around there was sushi, pork cutlet bowl, dumplings, noodles and some boiled rice.
"Wow." Wú Ruì said as she turned and looked at Hàorán who was seated right next to me.
"Thank you." Hàorán said.
"Your cooking skills are very impressive, you should marry me." Wú Ruì said.
"If there is a type of people that I wish to marry then it is exactly Láo Yuè's." Hàorán replied as he put his arm around my neck again.
"You tease." I said as I picked him on his left upper arm.
"You look like an old married couple." Wú Hào said.
"No offense I don't think that I am that manageable." I said.
"It doesn't matter whether you're manageable or not but ever since you turned up in Hàorán's life, he acts like a tamed human being." Wú Ruì said.
"Look at you, you should be ashamed that a man cools better than you." Déng Mō teased.
"Why?" Wú Ruì asked, "if your cooking skills are any better than his you should speak up." She added.
"I am a man." Déng Mō said.
"Hàorán is also a man." Wú Ruì said.
"That's enough, we came here to eat, save the quarrels for tomorrow." Wú Hào said and looking at all of them I couldn't help it but smile myself.
"What's the matter with you, you seem more quiet that usual?" Hàorán said.
"I don't know, I should just feel happy because this is the most wonderful time we have had ever since we last visited Yuánpīng city." I replied.
"Alright, let's eat." Wú Hào said as he raised his hand and with his chopsticks he was about to pick up a piece of pork.
"Wait." Hàorán said as he struck his hands with his own chopsticks.
"Why, I am so hungry?" Wú Hào asked.
"Can you have some manners?" Hàorán asked, "Láo Yuè should have the first piece after all he just survived death narrowly it is something that we should be thankful for." He added as he picked up the piece of meat and then he brought it closer to my mouth.
"Thank you, I can eat it by myself." I said.
"Allow me to feed you." Hàorán said.
I turned around and I looked at the others who modded at me.
I eventually agreed and I are.
"Alright, let's eat." I said and we all started eating the food and in a short while everyone there was drunk especially Hàorán.
Everyone walked out of the room and I was left alone with Hàorán who was already half asleep at the moment.
"See you tomorrow." I said as I waved the others goodbye and then at that moment turning to Hàorán I looked at him while snored with his legs spread wide.
I could tell from his position that was was uncomfortable and at that very moment I reacted by moving closer to where he was and then with my strength I held him by his right hand and forced him to stand up while he leaned on me with his entire body weight.
It was at that moment that I realised how heavy he really was.
"You giant." I said, "why drink this much as of it's the end of the world?" I wondered as I nodded my head and I dragged him across the dining room.
"Let's go." He said as he pointed up like a young kid he was already stubborn and kind of cute.
There was always that soft and tender part of him that I really enjoyed and given the fact that at times I felt very comfortable having him around there was a great deal of peace in my heart that I couldn't relinquish.
Reaching the bed I turned around as I tried so hard to support him but there we fell down at the same time, myself on top of him that at that moment he opened his eyes mildly and there with both his hands he touched my cheeks and he squeezed them.
"Láo Yuè." He said, "Do you know that you are the cutest person that I have ever seen in my entire life." he added.
I smiled at him and then when it became more difficult for me to hold in I chuckled lightly.
"There is no one that I have ever cooked for in my life even my mother but I cooked for you, there is no one that I have ever fought for as hard as I have fought for you, there is no one that I love to be around every second of every minute of every hour like you but please tell me in your heart can it not be me?" He suddenly asked and I was a little bit surprised.
"Hàorán, what are you saying?" I asked him.
"Láo Yuè?" He replied, "You are the only person that I want to see every day that I wake up, the one person that I want to tell my inner most thoughts and speak the depth of my heart and the truth, the one I never wish to lie to and the one that I always want to enjoy saving the cultivation world with." he said.
"Stop this madness Láo Yuè, you are drunk." I said to him but he didn't seem to understand me as he weakly opened his eyes and then closed them that instant.
"I love you." Hàorán said to me and the sound of those words alone moved me that I tried to stand up from where I was but Hàorán tightly holding my clothes he pulled me to himself and then I landed a kiss on his lips that left me so stimulated and shocked my eyes widened as I gathered all the strength that I could find and I broke away from him.
"No." I said, "you can't." I added as I looked at Hàorán.
"Wú Ruì." He said and at that moment my nerves a little bit relaxed I sighed as I turned around and I walked out of the room while I flew up onto the roof and there lying down I looked at the round moon that was shining in the sky above me along with the beautiful stars.
I could hear the beautiful sound of the Guqin in the air and there I lost myself in thoughts as I recalled the kiss that Liú Shuài has given me and at that moment I touched my lips.
Even if I hadn't really expected it but in my heart there was a warm feeling which I had really loved.
There I took a deep breath and the I closed my eyes and right at that moment there were a couple of memories that occurred to me I eventually seemed to make out a picture that was familiar and Liú Shuài was looking at me.
"Láo Yuè." He called and immediately my mind seemed to wander away to that memory.
"Liú Shuài?" I called him.
"Tomorrow you won't see me but when you stare at the stars and the moon shining in the sky above even when the earth forces us apart never can I not think of this time that we have had.
The rain, the snow, the fire, the wind, all fall down but none can give the life that your smile gives and none can emit the warmth that's within your fragile heart, I want to forever remember this as the last memory knowing that even if all is forgotten there is still something that I can hold onto in this cold lonely night.
If for you I could bring all worlds to their feet along with the sun, moon and the stars, embrace without fear and stand even when everything else is falling around me to have you my dear, remember this face of mine that you might no longer see when before you all the darkness is most complete, and then when you open your eyes and chose of all people and wonders to stare at me there I shall be closing mine." he said and at that moment I awakened as I sat up ok the roof where I was.
Looking around the sound of the Guqin had ceased and I was all alone under the starry sky.
"Liú Shuài." I said as I held up the small necklace that I wore under my clothes and reading my name on it. "What happened between me and you?" I asked myself as I raised my head and there I looked at the moon.
It was very early in the morning and I stood in between the thrones of the elders and there right behind me was Liú Shuài and Hàorán.
"Greetings." I said as I kowtowed to them.
"Rise." Grandmaster Liāo said.
"Is there anything that you wish to talk to the both of us about?" Grandmaster Sú asked.
I turned around and I first looked at Liú Shuài before I turned to the elders once again..
"Yes." I said.
"What is it?" Grandmaster Liāo asked.
"Liú Shuài knows a way that I can remain my memory." I replied.
"Really?" Grandmaster Liāo asked.
"Yes." I replied.
"Let him tell us." Grandmaster Liāo said and slowly I stepped back while he moved a little bit forward and faced them all.
"There is a pool of memory that can restore his conscience and his past." Liú Shuài said.
"The pool of memory?" Grandmaster Liāo said a little bit surprised.
"At least you must have heard of it." Liú Shuài said.
"It has been a very long while." Grandmaster Sú said. "Close to millennia have passed and not a single person or clan knows the whereabouts of the Pool of Memory so how could you possibly find it in this large country of ours even if you were to be a wanderer?" Grandmaster Sú asked.
"The saints in the Cultivation world are not that many that know it's whereabouts and being well versed with the natural world than we are it is much easier for them to tell the location of such mystic places." Liú Shuài replied.
"There isn't a great deal of stability in the Cultivation world and very many of the Saints face persecution because of their vast intelligence, how could you possibly find the Saints if they are unwilling?" Grandmaster Sú asked.
"I believe him." I suddenly spoke up.
"Láo Yuè, this isn't the time for you to speak up." Grandmaster Liāo said.
"Please listen to him because I am very much willing to at least give it a try rather than give up this idea." I said.
"You are our responsibility Láo Yuè and it is up to us to keep you safe from the forces of the Cultivation world that are dark." Grandmaster Sú said.
"But keeping me here isn't really going to protect me." I said.
"Why?" Grandmaster Sú asked.
"Yesterday someone breached the barrier above our heads and I live in constant fear thinking about the same thing happening tomorrow.
When the Red Lotus restored the life that I had once lost you told me yourself that I was someone that is very special and very powerful and Everytime that I have closed my eyes I remember that vow that I made to myself.
The purpose of the Red Lotus is to restore balance to the Cultivation world which can not exist if we merely sit here and we do nothing." I said.
"Please." Hàorán said as he pleaded with the elders as well.
"Liú Shuài has already proven that he can be trusted and I believe that you can have your own doubts but if I am a target and I am inside the barrier then protecting me here could put the existence of this red Lotus at stake." I said.
"Láo Yuè, your existence is what primarily matters to the Red Lotus, even if it becomes extinct at one point but the cultivation world can survive then we shall have played our part." Grandmaster Sú said.
"No." I said, "what's the importance of myself being powerful when I can not protect the people that I love, when I can not fight alongside the people that raised me and when I can't stand by those that have stood by me?" I added.
The Elders kept quiet.
"Perhaps this is my destiny and this is the purpose for which I was revived and given life by the Red Lotus again when I was dead.
Regardless of the outcome I am willing to at least make and effort because to me if I can at least have then thousand or even seven cultivators, I shall have at least done what I am meant to do." I said.
"Do as you wish." Grandmaster Sú, "we only wanted to protect you." He added.
"But that's not your duty it's mine." I replied, "I am the one that was destined to protect you and because I fear that once I could even lose each and everyone of you, I must do whatever I can to save you all whether you are against it or not." I added.
"Go." Grandmaster Sú said.
"I'm sorry." I said.
"Leave." Grandmaster Sú shouted
"Yes." I replied as I slowly withdrew from the Great Hall and Liú Shuài and Hàorán followed me out as well.
My mind though being uneasy my heart was sure as I took every step away until the doors were shut behind my back.
"You don't really have to do this Láo Yuè?" Hàorán said to me as I started packing up my things.
"I have already decided Hàorán, I am not going back on my word." I replied.
"Then at least let me come with you." Hàorán said.
"What about the Scarlets?" I asked.
"They can survive." Hàorán replied.
"You are the strongest of them and theu are your big responsibility, you can not forsake them because of me." I said.
"I...?" Hàorán was saying.
"You love Wú Ruì and you even said her name yesterday when you were drunk, you kissed me thinking that she the one and if you leave and go with me do you think that she'll ever forgive you?" I asked.
Hàorán kept quiet.
"I'm worried." Hàorán said.
"You don't have to." I said.
"Ever since you were saved by me you have never been outside the barrier without me." Hàorán said.
"Don't worry, I'll come back safely and I am superior in my skills compared to other ordinary cultivators." I said.
"But really, I can't bear being a long way away from you." Hàorán said.
"You are brave and you are strong, about one of the best that I know and after what happened yesterday I can't risk taking you outside the Barrier you must at least save it, defend it and stay alive so that at least you can welcome me back." I said.
"It's no use quarreling with you." Hàorán said.
"You know it isn't." I said.
"At least please take this with you." Hàorán said as he handed over to me a small petal.
"What's this?" I asked as I took the crimson petal into my hands.
"It's the body of the red lotus." Hàorán replied.
"The one which can store energy?" I asked.
"In this case if anything happens to the red Lotus then this petal in your hand shall blossom to continue the Red Lotus' life." Hàorán replied.
"Why are you giving this to me?" I asked.
"Because you are our hope." Hàorán replied.
"Ten thousand lives of reincarnation?" I said.
"Grandmaster Sú asked me to entrust it to you." Hàorán replied.
"Alright." I replied as I folded the glass like petal into my hands and there it glowed while it turned to dust and it entered into my left side of the chest.
"What's happening?" I asked.
"This is how you can best protect it without losing it." Hàorán replied.
"Alright." I replied.
"You can go." Hàorán said as he held me on the shoulder while I smiled at him before I walked out of the room.
There along with Hàorán I found the other Scarlets waiting for me outside and along with them Elder Lóu had finally appeared outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
I descended the stairs as I slowly started hugging everyone one by one.
When I halted right in front of Wú Hào hugging him I positioned my lips right next to his right ear.
"Please look after Hàorán for me and make sure that no matter what happens he is never alone." I whispered.
"Yes." Wú Hào replied as he nodded his head out of affirmation while I walked past them to Elder Lóu.
"Láo Yuè." He said to me.
"Yes?" I replied.
"Come with me." Elder Lóu said as he led the way while I walked by his side.
"Remember what I told you." Elder Lóu Said.
"Yes." I replied.
"What was it?" He asked.
"Open my eyes to the spiritual realms, silence my ears to the noise and the chaos in this world that we call our own and find my internal peace .
Tap into my golden core, regardless of the force that resides inside and distribute it throughout my body regulating it to show my sense of Command and lead while it's the one that's there in the follow." I recited.
"The path that is ahead of you is most ordurous but you must remember that if your will is so strong then so is the mind." Elder Lóu said.
At that moment, waving his hand the scarlet Guqin appeared in front of us and there I confirmed with my own eyes when I read the name that had been inscribed on it.
"Góng Jīan." I read.
"I promised you yesterday that I would tell you who Góng Jīan was." Elder Lóu said.
"Who was he?" I asked.
"Góng Jīan loved and because he loved he fought, we'd sworn to be wanderers in this life of ours but Sadly, unlike me he went on into the next before and I was all alone without a soulmate once again." Elder Lóu said.
"But why is it that you have never mourned or burned incense to him?" I asked.
"Because to me he never died and he still lives in this memory of mine and one day he made me promise and that I shall never forget as he said these words to me.
'Look here my dear if at one time I deserted this world and shuffled off my mortal coil, I wish to remain alive because in that death of mine I became Immortal the very day that I was protecting you.'" Elder Lóu replied.
"I see." I said.
"He took the fall for me when the times were chaotic back then and just as the force that created and forged this world of ours brought destruction upon it in the very end we didn't surrender and he stood in between that force of yīn and guarded this body of mine against the demonic cultivator." Elder Lóu said.
"I'll bear what you have told me in mind." I said and waving my hand the Scarlet Guqin vanished.
"I hope you do." Elder Lóu said as he halted in his footsteps and with his right hand he signalled for me to look ahead and there I Happened to see Liú Shuài standing and looking at me.
"Go." Elder Lóu said.
"Yes." I replied and kowtowing to him one final time, I walked away and joined Liú Shuài who faced the barrier with me.
I looked back at all the others and the rest of the Red Lotus where I had spent the last five years and painfully taking a step forward, we penetrated the barrier and we landed outside not looking back while the path ahead of us looked more uncertain than ever but I knew that the Liú Shuài there with me at that very moment I would trust.