Watching the Mountain

The two arrived at a quiet bamboo forest, where Chen Chang’an said, "I met with Senior Brother Ye Shan the day before he unleashed that final sword strike."

Xu Ran’s face lit up at his words, and he quickly asked, "So, did you show him that Sword Technique?"

Chen Chang’an shook his head. "I didn’t."

Xu Ran’s expression stiffened. He looked at Chen Chang’an, standing desolate in the autumn wind, his heart filled with sorrow. After a long silence, he found himself at a loss for words.

The man he had regarded as his lifelong rival, the one he had always sought to surpass, had ultimately not even glanced at the Sword Technique into which he had poured his very soul, created just for him.

After a long silence, Chen Chang’an suddenly spoke. "Senior Brother Ye Shan said that Sword Technique... is for you to see."

Xu Ran was shocked, staring at Chen Chang’an in disbelief. "What?"

’I’m honestly floored by what Ye Shan did. Was that guy jealous of my leisurely life? Did he want to leave me with some huge problem before he departed?’

’Leaving a Sword Technique that Chen Chang’an created just for him to someone like me who can’t even handle a sword properly... What was he thinking?’

But Chen Chang’an nodded with certainty. "That’s what he said. He said he once sealed his Cultivation to duel you at the same Realm but failed to defeat you. Therefore, showing you is the same as showing him."

Xu Ran froze for a moment at those words. He recalled the month Ye Shan had spent accompanying him in his training. His expression grew distant for a moment, then he explained:

"Senior Brother, you may not be aware, but when he said he didn’t defeat me, he was referring to the fact that I managed to move slightly and swing my sword to defend myself while under his Sword Intent."

"But I didn’t block it! I was taken out by his sword in a single instant. He, however, considered that a failure on his part and insisted that he hadn’t truly defeated me."

He had thought this explanation would get Chen Chang’an to back off. To his surprise, however, Chen Chang’an showed no contempt. Instead, he frowned, studying Xu Ran with a grave expression for a long moment before speaking slowly.

"When I faced him, I couldn’t even move a muscle under his Sword Intent."

Hearing this, a sense of dread washed over Xu Ran.

Sure enough, in the next moment, Chen Chang’an tilted his head back slightly, his expression tinged with sorrow. "I see now. Senior Brother Ye Shan was right not to look at my Sword Technique."

"If I can’t even compare to you, how could I possibly be qualified to have him witness my Sword Technique?"

Xu Ran felt utterly exasperated. ’Can’t this Deceitful Blade be a little more confident? You’re the Deceitful Blade, renowned throughout the Cultivation Realm! You’re the pride of the entire Sect! How can you have zero self-confidence?’

He thought for a moment before explaining, "Senior Brother, you have to understand the circumstances. By then, Senior Brother Ye Shan had already been training with me for a month. I’d grown somewhat accustomed to facing his Sword Intent every day, which is the only reason I could even swing my sword in response."

But as soon as the words left his mouth, Chen Chang’an stared at him with a grave expression. After a long silence, he spoke in a low, heavy voice.

"To endure Senior Brother Ye Shan’s Sword Intent for a whole month without breaking down... You, Junior Brother... are truly extraordinary."

After saying this, he nodded and cupped his hands in a salute. "I understand now, Junior Brother. Rest assured, I may not be worthy of your attention right now. I will hold on to that Sword Technique for now, but I will show it to you in the future."

Xu Ran’s expression froze as he stared blankly at Chen Chang’an. He felt like they weren’t on the same wavelength at all.

’What is happening? Did I not explain myself clearly enough?’

Being targeted for no reason by a world-renowned prodigy weighed heavily on him.

He was about to try explaining again, but Chen Chang’an gave him no opportunity, changing the subject entirely.

"You still haven’t answered my earlier question, Junior Brother. How does the Evergreen Sword Saint compare to Senior Brother Ye Shan?"

Xu Ran fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "That’s hard to say. However, before the Evergreen Sword Saint went into seclusion, I did ask Senior Brother Ye Shan that very question."

"Oh? And what did he say?" Chen Chang’an asked, looking at him with great interest.

"Senior Brother Ye Shan said the Evergreen Sword Saint had about ten percent of his prowess."

Chen Chang’an was stunned. "Did Senior Brother Ye Shan really say that?" he asked, his expression one of astonishment.

Xu Ran nodded.

Chen Chang’an was silent for a moment before shaking his head with a long sigh. "He once told me that I had fifty percent of his prowess."

Xu Ran was startled. ’To receive such a high evaluation from Senior Brother Ye Shan... it’s easy to imagine just how exceptional Chen Chang’an is.’

’And now this incredibly talented person has suddenly decided to make me his goal. What kind of mess have I gotten myself into?’

He sighed internally, silently cursed Ye Shan, and was about to try and explain things to Chen Chang’an again.

But the man opposite him cracked a self-deprecating smile. "I’m at fifty percent, while the brilliant Evergreen Sword Saint is only at ten."

"Senior Brother Ye Shan... he wasn’t being honest, was he."

With that, he sighed, turned, and walked away, his figure looking lonely and desolate.

*

*

*

"You’re being dishonest!" Master Xuan Zhen glared at Xu Ran, furious.

Xu Ran looked at the angry Master Xuan Zhen, his expression awkward. He genuinely didn’t know how to explain the situation to him.

Previously, after asking Teacher Qing Xuan to assign the area around his Cave Mansion to him, he had gone to Inference Dao Peak to request an Array Master to set up an Array for him.

He had plenty of Contribution Points, after all. While he couldn’t afford a Nascent Soul Stage Array Master, he could certainly hire one at the Core Formation Stage.

The one who accepted the task was none other than Master Xuan Zhen—the very same man he’d met once before, who had stubbornly insisted on addressing Little Xiyue as "Fellow Daoist Ning."

Xu Ran deeply admired the character of this dedicated Array Master, so he felt reassured having him set up the Array.

He then explained the plan for the Chain Array to Master Xuan Zhen, following the instructions from the Sparrow Transformation Array Map.

When he had finished his explanation, Master Xuan Zhen gave him a strange look and asked, "Elder Xu, I recall you saying that you don’t understand Arrays, correct?"

Xu Ran nodded and answered honestly, "More or less. My current skill with Arrays is only around the level of a Tier One Array Master."

At that, Master Xuan Zhen flew into a rage, pointing a finger at him and shouting, "Alright, then! Would Elder Xu please explain to me how a Tier One Array Master is instructing me on how to set up these Tier Seven to Eight High Tier Arrays?"

Xu Ran’s expression froze. ’How am I supposed to answer that? I can’t just say my precious disciple left a treasure for me, can I?’

After a moment of silence, he could only brace himself and reply, "Master Xuan Zhen, please calm down. My situation is a bit special. While I don’t understand Arrays... well, how should I put this... there are certain Arrays that I can just use directly."

He only offered this much of an explanation because he trusted Master Xuan Zhen’s character. Had it been anyone else, he would have simply remained silent.

Master Xuan Zhen responded with a look that clearly said, ’Do I look like a fool to you?’

After a moment’s silence, he shot Xu Ran a glare and said, "Don’t call me ’Master.’ I am not worthy of the title."

"You may have your skills, Elder Xu, but I despise deceit above all else. Find someone else to build this Array."

With that, he flicked his sleeves and stormed away.

Xu Ran was helpless. ’These dedicated researchers always have such difficult personalities, getting hung up on the tiniest details. This is just impossible to explain.’

He thought that was the end of it, but to his surprise, Master Xuan Zhen appeared before him again early the next morning.

This time, Master Xuan Zhen had huge, dark circles under his eyes. His expression was listless, and he looked utterly exhausted.

Xu Ran couldn’t fathom what a Core Formation Stage Cultivator could have possibly gone through to get such heavy, dark circles under his eyes.

Upon seeing Xu Ran, Master Xuan Zhen stared at him with a solemn expression. "Elder Xu, I have just one question for you. I ask that you answer me truthfully."

"The Vermilion Bird Array... do you know how to set it up?"

Xu Ran hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. "I can. But I don’t understand how."

Master Xuan Zhen looked at him, took a deep breath, then bowed deeply with a grave expression. "Please, Master, teach me."