Jiang Yun had no idea what others thought of him, nor did he care. Leaving the arena, he retrieved the Qingping Sword from the hands of the Tianjian Sect disciple who had previously troubled him. In the face of their respectful demeanor, Jiang Yun dismissed it.
After receiving the token of an outer disciple, Jiang Yun inquired about the time to join the group of inner disciples heading to the Tianjian Sect. He finalized the details and asked a few trivial questions before leaving the assessment area.
Upon returning to the Wen family, Jiang Yun informed his mother, Wen Wan, and his uncle's family about becoming an outer disciple of the Tianjian Sect. During dinner, the family expressed their happiness for Jiang Yun.
As they were to accompany the Tianjian Sect disciples to the sect's entrance the next day, Jiang Yun engaged in a long conversation with Wen Wan after dinner. They talked until the moon reached its zenith, and only then did Jiang Yun emerge from Wen Wan's room.
Wen Wan was the only concern Jiang Yun had in this world. Her ability to lead a peaceful life in the Wen family was what relieved Jiang Yun of worries.
Gazing at the quiet moon hanging in the sky, casting a silver glow all around, Jiang Yun felt something within him gently let go. The Jiuli Divine Technique activated on its own, and the moon's radiance seemed to transform into strands of spiritual energy that entered Jiang Yun's body, cooperating with the technique to refine his physique.
In this moment, there was no jubilation of imminent breakthrough as in the past. Jiang Yun's heart was calm, devoid of sorrow and joy, just a tinge of melancholy, a hint of loss. He entered a state of profound detachment.
The continuous fusion of the Jiuli Divine Technique and spiritual energy resonated within him for three weeks. The imprisoned power of the sword within his dantian also began to respond, slowly awakening. Although it was still beyond Jiang Yun's control, it had begun its movement.
After an indeterminate time, Jiang Yun heard a faint popping sound within him. The Jiuli Divine Technique broke through from the second layer of the fourth stage to the fifth stage. Everything happened naturally, and the spiritual energy that had constrained the sword's power showed a slight loosening.
The breakthrough in his realm pulled Jiang Yun out of that enigmatic state. He let out a long sigh, "Ah..."
Finally, he cast one last glance at Wen Wan's tightly closed door. Illuminated by the candlelight at the window, he could see her silhouette standing quietly by the window, seemingly silently gazing at his departing figure.
With resolute determination, Jiang Yun turned away, raised his head without a trace of nostalgia, and left silently. It wasn't until Jiang Yun's figure completely disappeared into the darkness that faint sobbing sounds emerged from Wen Wan's room.
The sobs started intermittently, as if Wen Wan was struggling to suppress them. After a while, her breathing grew rapid, transitioning into whimpering, and then evolving into subdued weeping.
In the shadows, tears of missing one's family fell, only fearing that there would be even more tears shed for a beloved child.
Jiang Yun might shed a few tears that no one would know about due to the parting from his mother, but Wen Wan, who held the sentiment of "thinking of you as a chick since childhood," silently shed a few tears in this ordinary yet tranquil night.
As the sky began to brighten the next day, Wen Wan didn't see Jiang Yun practicing his fist as usual in the courtyard. Her footsteps quickened, and her expression dimmed when she pushed open Jiang Yun's door, only to find it already empty.
Wen Wan's body swayed, and she weakly sat down on the chair in Jiang Yun's room. With trembling hands, she picked up the piece of paper left on the table. Tears flowed down uncontrollably, dropping onto the paper and smudging Jiang Yun's already dry handwriting.
"Mother, by the time you read this letter, your child is probably far away. Your child is unfilial, unable to serve you for the rest of your life. This is my sin, and I am willing to carry this guilt forward. It may be eternal and unforgettable, but I dare not forget."
"In my heart, I have a goal, uncertain if I'll achieve it in my lifetime. If that day comes and you're still alive, your child will be at your side."
Wen Wan initially just silently shed tears, but as she continued reading, her tears turned into loud sobbing. The most sorrowful thing was parting in life. Tears blurred her vision, and she wiped her eyes, continuing to read the content of the letter.
"Mother, as your child departs, I don't know if there will be a day to return home. Perhaps my future will be far from tranquility, but I hope you can lead a peaceful life. Mother, you will always be my concern, but I hope you can let go."
Jiang Yun's words were truly disrespectful to a son, but how could Wen Wan possibly let go? Her tears continued to flow, and her crying became louder and louder. It's true that a parent's heart is the most pitiable thing in the world.
"Mother, forgive your child for calling you 'mother' once again. Today's parting, your child fears being unable to face your kindness. I dare not bid farewell in person, so I leave behind this letter. I hope all the sins rest upon me, and I pray for your peace."
As the letter reached its end, Jiang Yun didn't even leave his name. Seeing this, Wen Wan's arm rested on the table, her head buried deeply in the crook of her arm. Her crying gradually turned hoarse. The hand holding the letter also fell weakly, and the paper fluttered down to the ground.
Meanwhile, just outside Wuan City, Jiang Yun turned around to glance deeply, his expression calm yet slightly eerie. His aura surged, and he seemed like a formidable sword. Li Da Dan, who had been standing beside him, broke out in a cold sweat from the scare.
Jiang Yun's aura appeared and vanished in an instant, but Li Da Dan was left with a lingering fear. This kind of aura penetrated the heart and was profoundly shocking. By the time Li Da Dan sensed it, Jiang Yun had already retracted his aura.
This change was subtle, yet Li Da Dan could still sense that Jiang Yun had a slight alteration in his usual demeanor. While Jiang Yun usually appeared calm to everyone, those with keen perception could feel his sword-like aura, especially his eyes. When they focused on someone, it was as if a sword was piercing through them, revealing the occasional brilliance of an exceptional sword.
But now, on Jiang Yun, Li Da Dan couldn't sense even a trace of that sword intent. He seemed like an ordinary person. This change actually deepened Li Da Dan's admiration. To return to one's original nature wasn't something everyone could achieve, especially considering that Jiang Yun had only reached the fifth layer of Qi-Warrior today.
At the moment when Jiang Yun's aura erupted, not only did it startle Li Da Dan by his side, but it also made Feng Lun, who was walking ahead, turn around to cast a glance at Jiang Yun. Once Jiang Yun had retracted his aura completely, Feng Lun genuinely admired Jiang Yun's potential. Even a genius like him couldn't achieve such restraint in aura at Jiang Yun's age.
Although this restrained aura might seem ineffective for cultivating strength on the surface, it actually had a noticeable impact in battles. A target constantly emitting aura versus a swordsman whose aura only burst forth when attacking—who was superior and who was inferior was evident at a glance.
Feng Lun looked at the group of new outer disciples of the Tianjian Sect, standing at the city gate and turning around to take a deep look. He granted them a bit of time to have a final glimpse. After this look, they would officially become disciples of the Tianjian Sect, and from then on, they would be more or less detached from the mundane world, like a clean break.