Besides, the path of cultivation was long. Having an understanding Dao companion to offer mutual support along the way as they pursued immortality together was something worth looking forward to, wasn’t it?
The women therefore pursued him even more ardently. But the more attentive and affectionate they became, the more Tang Yubai acted as though his love for Gu Miao’er knew no bounds.
Over the past few decades, his reputation as a devoted lover had spread throughout the cultivation world. Who could mention Tang Yubai now without calling him a man of deep and sincere feeling?
The many women who could not win his heart were filled with envy and jealousy toward Gu Miao’er. What blessings must she have accumulated in her previous life to make a man so utterly devoted that he kept himself chaste for her and refused all other women?
While the entire cultivation world was deceived by Tang Yubai, perhaps only Feng Qiwu knew his true colors. But she already had a history of conflict with him and Gu Miao’er, and she was reserved by nature. Why should she expose him to everyone?
Besides, Jiang Chan had taken the sound-recording stone. Without evidence, wouldn’t Feng Qiwu only put herself at a disadvantage by making accusations she could not prove?
Before returning to the forest of magical beasts, Jiang Chan had also told her that she had further plans for Tang Yubai. Feng Qiwu naturally would not undermine her at a time like this.
Now that Jiang Chan was back, Feng Qiwu knew Tang Yubai’s days were numbered.
That day, after giving her usual lesson on alchemy, Jiang Chan leaned back to inscribe a jade slip with some of her insights and experiences in pill refining. Once finished, it would be stored in the Sword Sect’s Hall of Teachings for future disciples to study.
Several of her female disciples, who had always been sheltered by the Sword Sect, had naturally heard many stories about Tang Yubai.
A round-faced disciple rested her cheeks in her hands. “Ah, Gu Miao’er was so fortunate, having someone like Tang Yubai love her so deeply. If someone treated me like that, I’d die happy right now.”
Jiang Chan’s hand paused over the jade slip. Who would have thought she had such a hopeless romantic among her disciples?
Qingqing frowned. “Tang Yubai has a history of conflict with our sect. Don’t bring him up again, Junior Sister. His character is questionable. Who knows whether his feelings for Gu Miao’er are sincere or just an act?”
The round-faced disciple pouted. “Surely it can’t all be an act. He’s spent all these years diligently cultivating and hasn’t taken a Dao companion. He can’t be deceiving the whole world, can he? Besides, what would he gain from it?”
Qingqing glanced at her. “How would I know? I simply don’t have a good feeling about him. Besides, what’s so wonderful about having a Dao companion? Is alchemy not profound enough, or are the magical arts not difficult enough?”
Qingqing carried considerable authority. While Jiang Chan was away, she had shouldered Alchemy Peak’s responsibilities alone, so her junior brothers and sisters both respected and feared her.
The round-faced disciple lowered her head in acknowledgment, though her awkward expression made it clear that she was not entirely convinced.
“I was only making a passing remark. Why are you so angry, Senior Sister?”
Jiang Chan put down the jade slip. “Qingqing is right. Tang Yubai is nothing but a fraud chasing a good reputation. This show of undying devotion is precisely how he conceals the terrible things he’s done!”
“What terrible things?”
“It’s all an act?”
The other disciples looked up at this. Even the male disciples stared at Jiang Chan with eager eyes. Thanks to Mo Yu’s influence, almost all her disciples loved gossip.
With a thought, Jiang Chan produced a sound-recording stone. “The answer is in here. You’ll understand once you’ve seen it.”
Qingqing took the stone from Jiang Chan and sent a stream of pure true essence into it. The scene no one knew about slowly unfolded before them.
The pill-refining room fell silent. After a long while, the round-faced disciple finally spoke. “You really can’t believe everything you hear. Who would have thought Tang Yubai could be so vicious?”
“Exactly. He broke off his engagement to Senior Sister Feng for Gu Miao’er back then. How many years has it been? And now he’s done something so cruel to her. Poor Gu Miao’er didn’t even know who killed her.”
“You really can’t judge a person by appearances. We’ve been fooled by that hypocrite Tang Yubai all these years.”
“It’s not so bad for us. Tang Yubai has nothing to do with us anymore. But if the Yunshui Sect’s elders find out what he did, do you think he’ll still be able to keep his position as their sect master’s disciple?”
“Harming a fellow disciple means having your cultivation crippled and being expelled from the sect. Let’s see how he comes back from that!”
Listening to their murmured discussion, Jiang Chan put away the sound-recording stone. “I showed you this so you would understand that you mustn’t believe every rumor you hear. When something happens, think for yourselves and use your own judgment. Don’t simply repeat what everyone else says.”
The disciples lowered their heads. Jiang Chan gave the round-faced disciple a meaningful look. “I’m not an inflexible person. If any of you finds a Dao companion you like, all I ask is that they have good character. Character is the foundation of a person’s conduct. Without it, no one can go far on the long road of cultivation.”
“After all these years cultivating, I have a few insights to share with you. Only by becoming a better version of yourself will you meet better people. If you haven’t found a suitable Dao companion yet, work on yourself. Once you’re strong, what sort of companion couldn’t you find?”
“In this world, love comes and goes, and it all comes down to fate. Sometimes that bond is too shallow to last until the end. But romantic love isn’t the only kind of love. The bonds between fellow disciples are worth cherishing, too.”
“Pinning your hopes on someone else is foolish in itself. You must first love yourself before others will love you. We cultivators seek to follow Heaven’s way and attain immortality. Romance is part of our lives, but it isn’t everything. If it comes, don’t reject it. If it doesn’t, don’t force it.”
As Jiang Chan shared what she had learned across these worlds, she was also tempering her own Dao heart. Listening to her, the disciples all fell into thought.
The round-faced disciple bit her lip. “Master, I know I was wrong.”
Jiang Chan looked up. “What did you do wrong? A young woman longing for love naturally hopes for a devoted partner. That’s only human. Just don’t lose sight of what matters. Work out what you truly want. As your horizons broaden and your cultivation grows, you’ll gradually mature.”
Discover more from Lilly Translations
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.