Beastmaster of the Ages

Tianming sat beside Lingfeng, putting a hand on his shoulder. Lingfeng would often look in the direction of the flaming north with eyes filled with worry. "Don't worry about it too much for now. I asked around and heard that she's cultivating at the Moonfang Sea or Ninemoon Palace and has a high status among the celestial orderians. However, she basically never shows herself in public, so nobody really knows how powerful she is."

"I see.... It's fine, I was just wondering how much more powerful we'd have to be to be able to go see her and get a hold of her situation, and when we can finally take her away." Lingfeng seemed rather down.

"The situation is far from ideal right now, so we'll have to keep an eye out for chances. It'd be ideal if she can find a chance to come to us herself." As far as they were concerned, the territory of the celestial orderians was off limits for them.

"She still feels so far away."

"She is indeed. But as long as we keep up our pace, we'll meet again one day."

"That's right. You becoming a Sky Palace disciple was already a huge step." Lingfeng looked in the distance with confidence in his eyes once more. The Soulfiend came over and he jumped onto its shoulder, then the two jumped down into the abyss of the mountain. He had always liked training at dark spots.

......

The next day, Tianming went to Jiang Qingliu's residence. He asked Yu Ziqian, "Your master said he would break through in about a month, but it's been close to two. Why isn't he out yet?" We should be heading to the location of the herb."

"That's right! That old fool was just boasting after all," Yu Ziqian said.

"Didn't anyone rush him?"

"Granny Mu Hua did, every day in fact. But he just kept telling them that he needs a few more days. He's almost like a tenant who doesn't want to pay rent."

"I didn't think your master would also be talented at having thick skin. I heard the divine herb's just about to ripen. Li Haochen's army of three factions has departed and will arrive soon. I want to go check it out."

"It's only going to be endless fighting there. Why go? It's a battlefield for the peak elites. Going there might get you killed for no reason."

"That isn't necessarily the case." Since getting Yin Chen, he could easily probe the danger of a place before going there.

Right then, Granny Mu Hua came again, this time looking rather sour. She didn't even bother greeting the two of them and started banging on the door. "Jiang Qingliu, open up! Don't hide inside! I know you're in there!"

The door was suddenly pushed open. There was a disheveled man within trying to get his hair in order. "Shut up. I'm just about done."

Granny Mu Hua rolled her eyes. "You said you'd head out in a month, but it's been two! Bring the Azuresoul Tower there, quickly! The battle's about to start."

"There's still time, don't panic. I'm about to head out now." He came out, now looking like the dandy gentleman he had always been.

"Come to think of it, have you broken through?" she asked doubtfully.

"No! I'm just a little bit short. If it weren't for your constant pestering, I would've succeeded."

"You little.... What's with that nonsense?" She began to feel like he was getting more and more carefree like Yu Ziqian, completely unlike his former serious self. Yet she couldn't figure out what had gone wrong. "Enough. You better head out now."

"Fine."

"Master, are you really going to go?" Yu Ziqian said, winking. There were killers out there! He had already dragged it out for two months, so why not more? At the very least, wait until the battle for the grade-eight divine herb is over. With how chaotic the fight out there would get, it would be quite easy to assassinate him.

"Of course. I need to fulfill my duty to the Azuresoul Palace."

"Don't be an idiot!" Yu Ziqian snapped.

Tianming tugged on his arm and said, "Gan Gangan, trust your master." Had he not stopped him, Yu Ziqian would have revealed everything.

"Fine...." Yu Ziqian furrowed his brow, not able to conceal his worry in the slightest. "Master, I'll go with you."

"Why're you going there? If they can't identify you as a Sky Palace disciple in time, you'll get killed," Jiang Qingliu said.

"Then all you have to do is protect me! Maybe our status can even apply pressure on the enemies. Sky Palace disciples can't be that far off from the son of the sun emperor, right?"

"Master, let all four of us go with you," Tianming said. While Jiang Qingliu could refuse Yu Ziqian, he couldn't refuse Tianming.

"Fine, I guess having two Sky Palace disciples around can't hurt. Let's go!"

"What a mess..." Granny Mu Hua said.

"What's it got to do with you?" Yu Ziqian barked. That old woman kept hurrying Jiang Qingliu to leave every day. That was akin to wanting him to die as soon as possible. If it weren't for the fact that he had to keep what they knew under wraps, he would have cursed her right to her face. To think that she was the most respected elder of the Azuresoul Palace.

"You?!" She was quite taken aback, but could only helplessly sigh. This was a Sky Palace disciple, not just any disciple.

"Let's go," Jiang Qingliu said. Tianming, Lingfeng, and Xiaoxiao also went along.

......

Once they were gone, Granny Mu Hua breathed a long sigh. She wrote a note to be sent with a transmission stone. 'Jiang Qingliu has left for the divine herb. It's time to act now! Caution: two Sky Palace disciples are traveling with him, so don't let harm come to them.' Sending out the note would be akin to giving Jiang Qingliu the death sentence.

"Jiang Qingliu, don't blame the sect or anyone in it. You were useless while you were here, and your death will benefit us all." Her face was covered entirely in tears.

......

Fire began raining down along the way.

"Are you insane? Why did you come out? Just keep dragging things out! You'll die at this rate!" Yu Ziqian said, anxiously tugging on his master's sleeve.

"Ziqian, I can't keep hiding for the rest of my life. If I'm to have any dignity left, I'd better fight with my own two fists when the time calls for it!" Jiang Qingliu said with a calm look.

"Fight my ass! Why're you still trying to play the teacher when people are out to kill you?! Listen to me this time. Turn back immediately. Hide in the sect, or disappear somewhere else. You're an expert at stealth, right?"

Jiang Qingliu laughed, then sighed, "I've always been an obedient coward all my life and never dared to offend anyone. But now I've seen through all of that. The kind will always be taken advantage of. Since I'm going to die no matter what, I might as well do it on my own terms."

Yu Ziqian knew how bad his master had had it in his youth. Even though he'd lost half of his talent, it was still impressive that he had made it to this point. But his easygoing demeanor made it easy for others to sacrifice him for the sake of the sect.

'Dying on my own terms'. Those were the most despairing, frustrating, yet helpless words Tianming had ever heard. That was why he wouldn't stop Jiang Qingliu no matter how worried Yu Ziqian was. He thought Jiang Qingliu was right; hiding for the rest of his life wasn't a solution. There would only be a point to running away if one survived to be able to slaughter their pursuers.