Chapter 80

Bai Shi stood in mid-air, supporting Su Xuan, and gazed at the location of Dongchen Village in the Chen Mountains. This parting had been a year. For Bai Shi, nothing spectacular had happened during this year, but it seemed as if he had experienced some thrilling moments amidst the tranquility. However, more than anything, as Bai Shi was about to return to Dongchen Village, he was filled with memories of the past.

These memories made him silent and complex as he sped through the air, with a hint of沧桑 (cang桑, meaning沧桑 can be translated as "weathered" or "world-weary"). This was not only due to the slight stubble on his face but also from the deep-seated, endless memories of Dongchen Village in his heart.

Even so, there were still things for which Bai Shi felt fortunate. One of them was leaving Dongchen Village with Su Xuan before and now returning to Dongchen Village with him again.

However, fate played tricks on people. In these days, Bai Shi saw a different Su Xuan in his current silence, a different Su Xuan who gave him a sense of unfamiliarity, yet also a sense of familiarity. This familiarity came from seeing his former self in Su Xuan.

Bai Shi couldn't bear to look at the wounds on Su Xuan's back, so he didn't ask about his injuries. Instead, while speeding through the air, he glanced at the tears in the corner of Su Xuan's eyes, which seemed not yet dry. From those tears, Bai Shi saw Su Xuan's nostalgia for something over these days. He clearly remembered that in Daochen Town, even when Su Xuan was bullied, he never shed a single tear. But just now, when Su Xuan saw him, he couldn't help but cry.

Bai Shi understood that feeling... It wasn't just from being wronged, but also from the realization of nostalgia.

Clearly, after this brush with life and death, Su Xuan understood something. At the very least, he was now brave enough to face life and death. Before, in the Chen Mountains, when Bai Shi fought with the strange creature, Su Xuan often hid behind.

"Life and death... can truly change a person." As he sped through the air, Bai Shi mused, and his speed suddenly increased.

At this moment, in Su Xuan's heart, he also felt a mix of emotions and a heavy weight as they were about to return to Dongchen Village. Although he didn't know how powerful Bai Shi had become, he didn't ask. Instead, in silence, he made a choice, which made him subconsciously clench his fists, with determination flashing in his eyes.

At the same time, inside Dongchen Village, several disciples were clearing the snow from the courtyard. The eaves were piled high with thick snow, as if anything could collapse them.

Dongchen raised his head and squinted, seeing several streaks of light approaching from the sky. However, his body didn't move; he continued to hold the wine jar and took a swig of the strong liquor.

If it were in the past, after drinking the strong liquor, Dongchen would have smiled contentedly. But now, after drinking the strong liquor, he wiped his mouth with his sleeve, looking quite carefree, as if he were about to head to a battlefield.

The closest streak of light to Dongchen Village was from the west. To the west of Dongchen Village was Xichen Village, and Dongchen clearly knew that this streak of light was Xichenzi.

The farthest streak of light was from the south, where Nanchen Village was located. The streak of light from the south was Nanchenzi.

In the middle was definitely Beichenzi, which Dongchen knew very well.

Soon, under the gaze of the disciples, the first to land was Xichenzi. He still wore his simple white robe, his silver hair fluttering in the cold wind, and his face still bore that kind and amiable smile, giving a sense of warmth and no distance.

Behind Xichenzi were several disciples, all wearing simple white robes. However, their expressions were filled with confusion, clearly not knowing why Xichenzi had brought them to Dongchen Village. To them, Dongchen Village had long been a shadow, and they all knew that any disciple in Dongchen Village was either expelled from other courtyards or had failed the test.

Therefore, when they saw the people clearing the snow with brooms, their eyes were filled with disdain.

Dongchen walked forward, smiled faintly, and scanned the disciples behind Xichenzi, saying, "Senior Brother, why have you brought so many disciples here... Could it be that you want to take them all into Dongchen Village?"

Xichenzi smiled and said, "Have you forgotten, Junior Brother? Every three years, I come to Dongchen Village with the strength testing sphere to test these disciples in public. If they meet the requirements, they don't have to stay in Dongchen Village, and I will take them away... This is the rule among our courtyards. So, bringing these disciples who are about to be tested here is just to save some trouble."

Dongchen put down the wine jar and smiled faintly, a hint of disdain in his smile, saying, "Rules... Senior Brother, I remember another rule in our courtyard. If these disciples want to come to Dongchen Village, they must have the skill to fly. Otherwise, they must walk here. From what I can see, apart from a few, many of these disciples haven't mastered the skill to fly..."

"Ah..." Xichenzi's expression stiffened, and he didn't know how to respond.

"Haha..." Dongchen suddenly laughed and continued, "Senior Brother, there's no need to be so serious. Junior Brother was just joking. Since the matter is urgent, there's no need to talk about rules. But..."

Dongchen's expression suddenly changed, becoming cold as he continued, "But if Senior Brother is here as an arbitrator... I'm sorry, but Senior Brother might have come in vain because Bai Shi is no longer in Dongchen Village."

"What?" As soon as Dongchen's words fell, a voice suddenly rang out from the sky, and then Nanchenzi's body landed with a thud. The moment she touched the ground, the snow on the ground was shaken off. She still held a sharp sword in her hand, and her expression was very unpleasant as she stepped forward.

"Bai Shi is not in Dongchen Village?" Nanchenzi looked at Dongchen, her tone questioning.

The incident in Dongchen Village last time had left Dongchen with a grudge against Nanchenzi. Now, with her questioning attitude, Dongchen found it even harder to accept. He turned his gaze away from Nanchenzi and said in a deep voice, "Is Senior Sister Nanchen really getting old? Even your hearing is failing? Do you need to ask again?"

Nanchenzi's face turned iron gray with anger. She moved her face slightly and said, "The people of Dongchen Village really talk like they're farting... You made a one-year agreement last year, but now you're nowhere to be found."

Although Nanchenzi was talking about Bai Shi, Dongchen could still hear the challenge in her words.

"Alright, alright... Senior Brother Dongchen, Senior Sister Nanchen, let's stop arguing," said Nanchenzi, who had just landed. This time, he came alone, without any disciples.

"I really don't know why you, Nanchenzi, speak so crudely... How do you teach your disciples?"

Dongchen turned around, his face filled with mockery.

"How I teach my disciples is none of your business, Dongchen... But you, Dongchen, facing these useless people every day, sigh..."

"As for whether they are useless... I think it's too early to say now."

Just as Dongchen and Nanchen were arguing, a voice suddenly came from behind them, causing their expressions to change as they turned to look at the source of the voice.