Having the Sect Leader's permission, Yu Qingyu immediately started preparing for the journey. There was no time to waste. He may still have had almost five years to complete his mission, but who knew how long the journey was going to take? He didn't even have any definite destination in mind. Besides, finding a solution for the demonic qi infection was just the beginning. Afterward, he still needed to improve Zhao Weixin's cultivation and martial arts…
He went to inform his disciples to inform them about his plans. They took it very well. In fact, they seemed happy about it, their expressions brightening as soon as they heard about his upcoming departure. Seeing them smile so much at the thought of him leaving the peak, Yu Qingyu felt a sting in his chest. Did they dislike him so much…?
Unbeknownst to him, it was the opposite. His disciples cared for their master, and were worried seeing him lock himself up in his room ever since the incident in Hushi town. Going out to the world to travel in search of a cure seemed much more like him! They assumed Yu Qingyu was finally feeling better, so naturally, they were happy about it.
Only Zhao Weixin wasn't so enthusiastic. "Shizun… Shizun is not doing it just for my sake, right?" he asked carefully as soon as Yu Qingyu relayed his plans to him. "I don't want Shizun to waste so much time on me… It's only this disciple's fault for being so weak! Shizun shouldn't have to feel responsible… I don't deserve Shizun putting so much effort into helping me."
Yu Qingyu let out a sigh, a hint of a smile appearing on his face. "Of course you deserve it," he reassured the young man, patting his head gently. "You might not be as strong as your peers, but you have plenty of other talents. In the first place, I can only leave the peak for so long because you are here. And I know you will be able to take care of it in my place. So have more confidence in yourself, understand?"
Zhao Weixin stared up at Yu Qingyu with his eyes widened. He never thought that his work would be appreciated so much… Especially at Chunren Peak, which specialized in sword arts. Especially by his shizun, whom he admired.
"Mn," he finally nodded, a bashful smile appearing on his face.
"Good," Yu Qingyu patted his disciple's head a few more times, before letting go, satisfied with the response. "I will leave it in your care, then."
He talked to all of his disciples, reminding them to continue training diligently in his absence.
To all but one.
He searched the whole peak, but Liu Wei was nowhere to be found. And no one had any idea where he might have gone.
Yu Qingyu couldn't help but feel anxious. True, he would have preferred Liu Wei gone, but for him to disappear so suddenly, it was simply too worrisome. Ever since they arrived in this world, Liu Wei has been playing his part, hanging around the other disciples and training. Yu Qingyu never had any trouble finding him.
So where was he now?
Yu Qingyu had a bad feeling about it. Perhaps he should inform Zhao Weixin, and maybe even the rest, to keep an eye on Liu Wei? Just to make sure he cannot cause any trouble while Yu Qingyu was away.
Mn, that's what he had to do.
When he spoke up about Liu Wei with the rest of his disciples, it turned out they had noticed something odd about his behavior a long time ago. Although an outsider like Yu Qingyu wasn't able to see it, the disciples, who spent every day with Xue Molin, and then with Xue Molin impersonated by Liu Wei, were able to easily pick up on the differences. In particular, on how much more withdrawn and taciturn he had become…
Having discussed it with his disciples, Yu Qingyu was finally able to relax a bit. With everyone's eyes on him, Liu Wei shouldn't be able to do all that much… But, some of Yu Qingyu's worries still remained.
Until the evening before his departure.
Yu Qingyu was going through his bags once again, double-checking whether he packed everything he needed, when someone knocked on the door. "Enter," Yu Qingyu called out, not interrupting what he was doing.
He only lifted his head as the door opened to see who it was, and his eyes immediately widened.
Liu Wei walked inside without so much as a word of greeting, closing the door shut behind himself.
"Molin." Yu Qingyu frowned. "Where have you been this past few days? No one even knew where you might have possibly gone. You shouldn't disappear on your own like that."
Liu Wei remained silent, just staring at Yu Qingyu with a dark, cold expression in his eyes.
Yu Qingyu involuntarily gulped. Facing Liu Wei always made him nervous, but even more so when he was acting like that. It was as if he'd thrown away all the pretenses and reverted to his original self…
Not that Yu Qingyu disliked the original Liu Wei. Quite the opposite, the man actually made a good impression on him when he spent time with him in his world, aside from the fact that he wanted to destroy the city. But what Yu Qingyu thought didn't matter. Because Liu Wei hated him now, and was chasing after him to get revenge…
As Liu Wei didn't seem to have any intention of answering, Yu Qingyu continued, organizing his clothes at the same time, "You might have heard about it already, but I am leaving the peak, and I don't know when I will be back. While I'm gone, all of you have to-"
"520."
Yu Qingyu froze in place, afraid to even look up. He was aware that Liu Wei had already figured out his identity, but he kept quiet for so long, so why suddenly bring it up now?
He forced a confused frown to appear on his face. "What are you-"
"Cut the crap," Liu Wei interrupted him again. "There's no need to play games anymore. I already know what you're trying to do…"