Misty Rain of the Old Times

Some people lead mediocre lives, some indulge in extravagance and debauchery, some are righteous and chivalrous, some live a life of splendor and glory, and some experience more suffering than joy... It is these diverse people who come together to form this wonderful and moving human world.

As for Chen Xuan personally, he couldn't be as selfless as Ling Yun, and it was precisely because he couldn't be that he admired such a person so much.

If I can't change his mind, and he neither supports nor opposes me, then I won't try to persuade him.

After a moment's hesitation, Chen Xuan rummaged in his sleeve and tossed two pills to Ling Yun, saying, "Since you insist on upholding justice, senior, I may not be able to be as noble as you, but I'll lend you a hand. Please keep these two pills safe. The white one is called the Qi-Returning Pill, which restores innate true qi. The yellow one is the Yuan-Nourishing Pill, used for survival and healing. I gave you one just now, and you felt the effect yourself. I hope it will be helpful in your upcoming actions."

The Qi-restoring pill can restore innate true qi. It is an advanced version of the Qi-restoring pill that Chen Xuan used to exchange for ice silkworm silk that day. It is equally precious. After all, in a life-or-death situation, having such a pill to restore true qi is likely equivalent to having a second life.

Ling Yun instinctively caught the pills, knowing their value, and politely refused, saying, "Young Master Chen, please take them back. You saved my life and I haven't even repaid you yet; how can I accept something so precious from you?"

He handed it back without hesitation.

Knowing this would happen, that's why he threw it away. Chen Xuan didn't catch it, but stood up and said, "Senior, please keep it. My young master is the top scholar, and His Majesty has bestowed many fine things upon him. It's nothing to me. I'm just an ordinary person, timid, cowardly, and afraid of death. I can't shed my blood for justice, so consider this a sense of participation."

With that, Chen Xuan's figure drifted away, his voice carrying a distant laugh: "As for Bai Yunmu, you don't need to worry about it, senior. I know what I'm doing. I'm very afraid of death and won't risk my life..."

Ling Yun stood up, intending to insist on returning the pills. Seeing Chen Xuan leave, he wanted to chase after him, but as soon as he finished speaking, Chen Xuan was nowhere to be seen. He could only watch helplessly as he disappeared from sight.

Even if he were completely healed from his serious injuries, how could he possibly catch up?

'Such lightness skill is simply unbelievable. I've only seen it on a very few individuals. Even compared to Guo Jinglong back then, it's no less impressive. No wonder he dared to come to this perilous Misty Swamp. Chen Xuan? When did Jing Kingdom produce such a young talent? Qingluan actually knows such a person. Judging from his tone, he often uses the term "young master." Could he be a protégé of some aristocratic family in Jing Kingdom?'

Looking in the direction Chen Xuan left, Ling Yun's emotions surged, and he suddenly felt a sense of melancholy, wondering if he was getting old.

During their brief time together, Chen Xuan gave him a strange feeling. Despite being a young man, he seemed indifferent to everything, as if he took everything lightly. Yet, he also possessed the persistence and eccentricity of youth. He wanted the white cloud wood and was willing to try it even knowing the dangers. It was a contradiction.

'He went to find the White Cloud Wood. Although he didn't know its exact location, his deceased friend had said that there were beasts there with strength comparable to a Grandmaster. His friend hadn't specified, only instructing him that if he were fortunate enough to reach the Grandmaster level one day, he might be able to go and find some benefits; otherwise, he would surely die. No, it's too dangerous. He saved my life; I have to go after him. If he encounters danger, I'll risk everything to buy him some time. But where can I find the core of such a vast Misty Swamp? Never mind, the outcome of the Evil Blade matter is still unknown; I must go and see for myself.'

Thinking of this, he could no longer sit still. Feeling that his injuries had miraculously recovered by 80%, he put away the two pills and, while circulating his internal energy to heal his wounds, used his lightness skill to chase after them...

After they separated, Chen Xuan didn't know where to find Baiyunmu. His main goal was still Baiyunmu. Fortunately, the core area was only so big, and he was sure he would find it after going around it. Compared to the Misty Swamp, which covered more than two million square kilometers, the area was more than a hundred times smaller.

As for the battles in the martial world involving Xie Dao, that's secondary. If he happens to encounter them, he wouldn't mind just watching from the sidelines. He's not a member of the martial world, so he won't get involved unless necessary. Just like back in the desert, he'll only be a spectator unless someone actively drags him into it.

The martial arts world has been peaceful for many years now. This incident involving the Evil Blade is even bigger than the martial arts competition between Guo Jinglong and Liu Zhenwei back then, only it happened in Yuhua Kingdom.

Last time, Chen Xuan went to join in the fun on his own initiative; this time, it was just a coincidence. He was there both times.

Before meeting Ling Yun, he had planned to go and see the battles in the martial world. But now, the main purpose of this trip was more important, so he didn't pay special attention to the traces of the battle. Instead, he used his lightness skill to quickly search for Baiyunmu's whereabouts.

He first traveled in a straight line through the core area until he reached the other side, hundreds of miles away, where he saw the mist again. He did not see any trace of the White Cloud Tree, nor did he encounter the powerful beast that Ling Yun had mentioned, which even grandmasters had to avoid.

Standing atop a large tree, with endless thick fog behind him, Chen Xuan faced the core area and looked around. Now that he was certain that the White Cloud Tree existed in the core area, he would search in circles from the outside towards the center. He refused to believe he couldn't find it.

Once they made up their minds, they began to take action, their search route resembling a mosquito coil as they surveyed the area from high above, covering a range of dozens of miles to the left and right.

As he completed his third lap, his heart tightened, and he stopped atop a small island about a hundred meters high. There, he sensed an aura of the same level, ethereal and agile, not fierce or domineering, yet it made him feel a sense of danger.

Since he stepped into the Grandmaster realm, he had never felt such a sense of crisis. Neither Elder Rong nor Wei Wuyai could make him feel alarmed, but now he did.

Looking in the direction of that aura, more than twenty miles away, the first thing that caught his eye was a small island, no more than a hundred feet in diameter, which was inconspicuous among the many islands in the lake.

The small island was almost entirely covered by bamboo forests, and to Chen Xuan's surprise, there were traces of people living on it! In the bamboo forest on the island, a bamboo house could be vaguely seen, but it had been neglected for many years and was now dilapidated and abandoned. On the edge of the island, there was a broken-down dock, and a small boat that had sunk into the water had half of its hull protruding above the surface.

Furthermore, the most striking thing on that island was a tree, about ten feet tall, its entire body as white as jade, with clusters of needle-like leaves gathered on its branches swaying in the wind, like ethereal white clouds.

White cloudwood!
Chen Xuan immediately recognized it. After searching for so long, he had finally found it. It was too special. Moreover, Lao Liu had left him with detailed information, with pictures and text, so there couldn't be any mistake.

Chen Xuan was certainly happy to finally see the White Cloud Wood, or more accurately, the White Cloud Tree, but he didn't get carried away. In fact, he even frowned slightly.

Because that aura of the same level that he felt was slightly dangerous emanated from that tree, not from the White Cloud Tree itself, but from the creature dwelling on it.

Its entire body was pure white, almost blending into the white cloud tree. Due to the distance, Chen Xuan took a moment to discern it before he could see that it was a white crane.

It wasn't an exaggeratedly huge creature; it was estimated to be only about ten feet tall when standing, and its wingspan was no more than two or three feet. Yet, even a white crane like this made Chen Xuan, who had the cultivation of a Grandmaster, feel a sense of crisis!

'Its graceful form gave me a sense of ethereal purity, truly deserving the name "crane." Strangely, though it was merely a crane, it resembled a peerless sword sheathed, ready to unleash a terrifyingly sharp edge the moment it was drawn!'

The thought flashed through Chen Xuan's mind, and he was extremely surprised. Could that crane, which he felt was dangerous, possibly also know martial arts and swordsmanship?
Looking again at the dilapidated bamboo houses on the island, Chen Xuan seemed to have no choice but to accept this fact.

That crane probably really knows martial arts and swordsmanship!

It was probably raised by someone, or at least it used to be. Given the intelligence of a beast of this level, it's not unacceptable that it could learn human martial arts and swordsmanship.

'The strange beast has its own unique advantages and has also learned human martial arts. No wonder I feel dangerous,' Chen Xuan suddenly realized.

If someone can raise a beast of this caliber, what level of cultivation did its former owner possess? At least a Grandmaster, or even a Tribulation Transcending cultivator. It's not surprising that Chen Xuan was in this secluded place, as it's as if someone was undergoing a tribulation in seclusion, far from human habitation and free from karma. After all, Old Liu had died in a muddle under the tribulation of human existence.

Although the possibility is slim, it cannot be ruled out.

It's also possible that he has reached a certain level of mastery and is here in seclusion to break through.

While Chen Xuan was silently observing the area, the crane perched on the white cloud tree showed no unusual behavior and seemed not to have noticed him. However, as a living being, even the Crimson Flame Tiger instinctively sensed something was wrong under Chen Xuan's covert observation. How could its senses be any less keen than the Crimson Flame Tiger's?
Was it because it didn't notice my arrival, or because it didn't care? Or perhaps it was once domesticated and is therefore intelligent and perceptive, which is why it wasn't so aggressive when I didn't provoke it?

As Chen Xuan pondered, he was somewhat conflicted. The crane had clearly made the white cloud tree its nest, lazily resting on it. If he wanted to take the white cloud wood, how could it remain indifferent?
Chen Xuan would try to avoid conflict with it unless absolutely necessary, but having finally found the White Cloud Tree, how could he possibly give up halfway?

'Perhaps I'm overthinking things. Since it's most likely kept in captivity, it must be intelligent enough to understand human nature. Is it possible for me to try communicating and negotiating with it?'

Thinking about this, Chen Xuan felt he could give it a try. It would be best if no conflict could be avoided. Although the other party made him feel a little dangerous, it was only a little. He was still confident in his ability to protect himself.

At the same time, Chen Xuan became curious about the people who used to live here.

Could it be that Lingyun's old friend went to Misty Marsh to commit suicide because of this place? Then he was driven away by a crane's shout from afar, but the gap was too great and he couldn't withstand it, so he died as soon as he returned.

That's quite possible. After all, the crane didn't chase after the other party, otherwise, how could it have left the Misty Swamp alive? The fact that it understands human nature makes sense.

Just as Chen Xuan was about to approach and try to negotiate, he suddenly sensed the sound of fighting coming from afar, and it was heading in his direction.

Looking in that direction, his lips twitched. It wasn't because of the fight itself, but because he saw a familiar island on the lake a hundred or two hundred meters away. Wasn't that the place where he had parted ways with Ling Yun before?
At such a distance, he naturally couldn't see the details on the island clearly, but he could still distinguish that the island was so large.

In other words, if he had come in this direction before, he wouldn't have needed to go in circles.

Chen Xuan could notice the commotion in that direction, and the crane on the island naturally noticed it as well. It merely turned its head slightly to glance in the direction of the fight, without moving an inch, just like a 'free-spirited crane'. If it wasn't disturbed, it wouldn't bother with anything, just as it remained indifferent to Chen Xuan's arrival... (End of Chapter)