After leaving the Deacon Hall, Xu Xian returned to Wen Qingxue's small courtyard.
He sat in the yard for half a day until the evening breeze blew and the river of stars appeared. Wen Qingxue, having finished her busy day, returned to the yard.
Seeing the youth sitting there in a daze, his face full of gloom, she approached and asked, "Little Grand-Uncle, what’s wrong?"
Xu Xian remained silent, staring intently at the sky.
Wen Qingxue sat down in front of him, her gaze wandering as she asked, "Little Grand-Uncle, when do you plan to move out?"
Xu Xian felt like he had been stabbed in the heart again. He looked at the icy girl before him with a look of profound sorrow.
Wen Qingxue didn't flinch. She looked him straight in the eyes and asked, "Little Grand-Uncle, is it because you have no money?"
Xu Xian clicked his tongue. "That's a redundant question. When have I ever had money?"
Wen Qingxue paused, unable to argue.
"Fair point."
The more Xu Xian thought about it, the more he couldn't wrap his head around it. He couldn't help but complain, "Little Wen, tell me, why is cultivation so difficult? Can't we just cultivate properly? What is the sect thinking? Food costs merit points, spirit stones cost merit points, even a spirit abode costs merit points. Can't things be simpler? We should just cultivate well and seek longevity together. Why must they force people like us to go out and fight and kill? Tell me, is this reasonable?"
Wen Qingxue understood his plight but didn't immediately respond.
"What's the point of it all? Sigh..." Xu Xian lamented.
Wen Qingxue thought for a moment and said softly, "Little Grand-Uncle, some things simply must be done by someone, shouldn't they?"
Xu Xian was taken aback, looking up at the girl.
Wen Qingxue continued slowly, "Years ago, when the Sword Ancestor held his sword to purge demons, someone asked him: wouldn't it be better to roam freely between heaven and earth as a carefree immortal? Why risk your life and offend those foreign races? Do you know what the Sword Ancestor said back then?"
Xu Xian shifted his weight, sitting up a bit straighter, and shook his head.
Wen Qingxue's tone grew firmer. "The Sword Ancestor said, 'Some things simply must be done. Why can't that person be me?'"
Xu Xian silently lowered his eyes, then looked back at Wen Qingxue with a smile. "Are you giving your Grand-Uncle a lecture?"
Wen Qingxue gave a light chuckle and shook her head, explaining, "No, I just want to tell you, Grand-Uncle, that while we might not understand, we should still respect it. If a rule exists, there must be a reason for its existence. Self-interest has never been a derogatory term; it is the innate nature of all living things. We cannot guarantee that everyone will be as selfless as the Sword Ancestor, daring to be the first in the world. That is why the Wendao Sword Sect exists. Over ten thousand years, it has established the current order and rules. Through rewards and punishments, it keeps the sect running while also protecting the tens of thousands of miles of these Northern Borders."
After a brief pause, Wen Qingxue advised, "Perhaps you should go out and see the world, Little Grand-Uncle. You can take on some missions—witness the mountains and rivers of the mortal realm and experience the many facets of life while earning merit points at the same time. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"
"Cultivation shouldn't just be about closed-door meditation. Doing nothing is not the way. Traveling ten thousand miles and reading ten thousand books is also a form of cultivation. Perhaps then, Little Grand-Uncle, you will understand why things are this way and why they must be this way. What do you think?"
Xu Xian nodded thoughtfully.
He didn't argue.
Because Wen Qingxue was right. Even if it sounded a bit harsh and heavy on the preaching, a typical eighteen-year-old local might not have understood the true meaning she was trying to convey.
But Xu Xian was a transmigrator. No one understood reading comprehension better than him.
He knew exactly what she meant.
Seeing that Xu Xian wasn't speaking, Wen Qingxue asked, "Does this mean you agree, Little Grand-Uncle?"
Xu Xian glanced at the girl from the corner of his eye and said lazily, "I want some quiet time."
Wen Qingxue tilted her head, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. She hesitated to speak further, not wanting to disturb Xu Xian's thoughts, and stood up to return to her room.
She had said what needed to be said; the choice ultimately belonged to Little Grand-Uncle himself.
Little Grand-Uncle was so talented; she believed he would understand.
Slowly.
Just as she once had.
Give time some time, let a flower be a flower, and a tree be a tree...
However...
Wen Qingxue murmured softly, "Who is 'Quiet'?"
The night was deep and still, the floating light dim, and the courtyard was bathed in the cold, melting moonlight. Xu Xian sat alone in the yard and suddenly laughed with a hint of self-mockery, grumbling against his better judgment:
"The 'Dao' in Wendao Sword Sect really does stand for 'reason.'"
"Oh, Wendao Sword Sect, you really are so righteous it’s wicked."
"Fine, for now, this is the only way to earn money."
He stood up and returned to his room to meditate and circulate his heart manual.
Starting a business required capital, and since he had none, he had no choice but to work for a living.
The more Xu Xian thought about it, the more he felt something was off. It felt like even in a new life, things were the same.
It was just that studying had turned into cultivation.
And turning screws had turned into beast hunting.
Indeed.
As long as one is alive, there are worries.
"Cultivation has its sorrows too; no need for the spring breeze to fret for me."
"Look! Isn't that the Little Grand-Uncle? He reached foundation establishment so fast?"
"Tsk tsk, I didn't expect even the Little Grand-Uncle would have to work a job. I feel much better now."
"Nonsense, even the Sect Master works. The motto of the Wendao Sword Sect is: everyone is a laborer; as long as it doesn't kill you, work yourself to death."
Inside the Mission Hall, Xu Xian wore a fresh set of green sword robes, spotless and neat. His eyes were bright as he squeezed through the crowd, staring at the dense rows of mission slips. He remained indifferent to the noisy chatter around him.
Over the past year, he had become the most famous person in the entire Wendao Sword Sect. It was normal to be surrounded and stared at; it would be abnormal if they didn't look.
After all, he was so handsome.
One had to share the view.
Xu Xian looked around and saw many different types of missions. Many of them opened his eyes to a new worldview.
There were missions to slay demons, purge devils, and eliminate evil...
Those were within the normal range.
What Xu Xian didn't expect were missions for disaster relief, praying for rain, and curing illnesses. That was just ridiculous.
For example, the mission Xu Xian was currently looking at stated that a place called Linjiang City, three thousand miles into the Northern Borders, was suffering from a massive flood. It required a cultivator at the great ascension stage to go and permanently reroute the river.
The reward was bountiful.
A full 100,000 merit points.
As Xu Xian was staring at it in fascination, a hand suddenly reached out from behind him and took the mission slip.
"I'll take this mission."
Xu Xian looked back and saw a cold, stern face.
"Oh... isn't this Martial Nephew Qingshan? You're here to work too?"
Li Qingshan gave him a cold glance, pointed to a corner, and said in a heavy voice, "Missions for those below nascent soul are over there. What are you doing here? Don't you know your own weight?"
With that, he turned and left without looking back.
Xu Xian was speechless. He shouted after him, "Can't I just look?!"
Clearly, he received no response.
Feeling slighted, he headed toward the corner, grumbling inwardly:
'I was wondering why they were all so insane. Turns out I was looking at the wrong section. Truly no respect for elders; how dare he talk to his Martial Uncle like that...'
'...Hmm, this mission isn't bad. The pay is a bit low, though. No.'
Rate on N.U.
