Reincarnation Immortal Venerable: Starting from the Ninety-Nineth Incarnation

Li Yanzhou looked at the two people in front of him, his tone gentle yet solemn: "I will be leaving Qiyun Sect early tomorrow morning. The road ahead is unknown and fraught with danger. I don't know what I will encounter, nor do I know when I will be able to return. You two are the people I am closest to in the sect. I would like to ask for your opinions."

Before he could finish speaking, Shi Dazhuang stepped forward and spoke in a deep, resonant voice, without the slightest hesitation: "I..."

"Dazhuang, just wait patiently for Shen Qinghan to take you back to the Tiandu Mansion." Li Yanzhou interrupted Dazhuang, rubbing his forehead in exasperation. After all, Shen Qinghan had already said that he would take Dazhuang back to the Tiandu Mansion.

Da Zhuang's face fell instantly, he was speechless for a moment, his eyes reddened, and he clung tightly to Li Yanzhou's arm, refusing to let go, muttering in a muffled voice, "If Da Zhuang doesn't go to the Heavenly Governor's Mansion, Da Zhuang will follow you, wherever you go, I'll go!"

He was about to say something more when he saw Su Qingyao raise her head.

The look in his eyes that used to dodge whenever he saw him was now surprisingly bright, without the slightest hesitation or retreat.

She took half a step forward, her voice not loud, but clear and firm, carrying an undeniable determination: "I'll go with you."

Li Yanzhou was taken aback: "Qingyao, this journey is not like staying in the sect. We'll be exposed to the elements and facing countless dangers. You..."

"I'm not afraid." Su Qingyao interrupted him, a faint blush rising on her cheeks, but she didn't lower her head again, still looking straight at him. "Before, I thought you were gone, that I wouldn't even have a chance to say a word to you. Now that you're alright, no matter where you go, I'll follow you. I can take care of you, heal your wounds, and refine medicine for you. If we encounter danger, I'll face it with you and I'll never hold you back."

All the feelings hidden in my heart for so many years, all the unspoken confessions, finally turned into this sentence: "I'll go with you."

Looking at the light in her eyes and at Shi Dazhuang's emphatical nod beside him, Li Yanzhou felt his heart filled with warmth.

He was silent for a moment, then finally smiled and nodded, his voice tinged with emotion: "Okay, let's go together then."

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Yuan Daosheng, along with Elder Chaohua and Elder Ruoxue, were already waiting at the back gate of Qiyun Sect.

Without disturbing the other disciples, only a few people were present. The morning mist lingered in the mountains, carrying a touch of sadness at parting.

Yuan Daosheng patted Li Yanzhou on the shoulder, and all his words were ultimately reduced to one sentence: "Be careful in everything, and remember to send messages to the sect often."

After saying that, he handed him a sect-exclusive communication jade pendant and stuffed a heavy storage bag into his hand. The bag was filled with top-grade pills, emergency talismans, and cloud-patterned copper coins and flowing silver coins. In the deepest part, there were even five Star Marrow Golds, all of which were the best resources the sect could provide, in case he suffered any grievances while wandering outside.

Li Yanzhou accepted the gifts, bowed deeply three times to Yuan Daosheng and the two elders, and said earnestly, "Sect Master, Elders, I will never forget your kindness in raising and nurturing me over the years. After this parting, I will definitely protect myself and will never do anything that would damage the reputation of Qiyun Sect."

Elder Chaohua looked at him, her eyes slightly red. The words she had kept hidden for many years welled up on her tongue again. Her lips moved, but she suppressed them in the end, and only said a gentle admonition: "Take good care of yourself when you are away. If you suffer any grievances or encounter any difficulties, you must remember to come back. The sect will always be your way back."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned to look at Su Qingyao, whose eyes were red-rimmed, and smiled as he took out a yellowed, thread-bound notebook from his sleeve and gently placed it in her hand.

The cover of the notebook bears four bold characters: "A Unique Explanation of the Dao of Alchemy." The edges are worn smooth from being touched so often, indicating that it is something that is frequently carried and consulted.

"This is Old Man Lin's life's work on alchemy. He spent his whole life guarding the alchemy room. He's clumsy with words and shy, but he already knew you were definitely going to follow Yan Zhou. He was heartbroken to see you off, but he couldn't bring himself to come to the mountain gate to see you off. He stayed up half the night last night to organize this notebook, and before dawn, he asked me to give it to you." Elder Chaohua patted Su Qingyao's hand, his eyes full of tenderness. "You have a talent for alchemy. This notebook contains his life's worth of alchemy formulas, medicine-refining insights, and tips for avoiding pitfalls. You'll find it useful when you're out in the world. Remember, protect yourself, and protect each other."

Holding the heavy notebook, Su Qingyao felt a lump in her throat, and tears instantly streamed down her face. She bowed deeply to Elder Chaohua: "Disciple thanks Elder Xie, Elder Lin! Disciple will certainly live up to the elders' expectations, study diligently, and never let Elder Lin down!"

Elder Ruoxue, who was standing to the side, smiled and nodded, then handed a small jade box to Li Yanzhou: "This contains a secret life-saving pill made by the sect. It can keep your soul and heart in times of crisis. Please keep it safe."

As she spoke, she handed Su Qingyao a brocade pouch embroidered with frost flowers. "Inside are some medicines I prepared: a cure-all pill, a miasma-clearing powder, and a calming incense. It's always good for a girl to have some protective gear when she's out and about."

In the end, the two of them still couldn't bring themselves to reveal the secret about the Heavenly Governor's Mansion from back then.

Perhaps in the future, when all the fog has cleared and all the truth has come to light, they will have the courage to tell him everything that happened back then.

Li Yanzhou carefully put away the jade box and brocade pouch, then bowed to the three of them together, leading Su Qingyao and Shi Dazhuang, before turning around and walking forward step by step into the morning mist of the mountains.

Su Qingyao followed closely beside him, while Shi Dazhuang carried the bundle and stood guard on his other side. The three young figures walked side by side and were soon enveloped by the spreading morning mist, gradually disappearing into the end of the mountain forest.

Yuan Daosheng and the two elders stood in front of the mountain gate, gazing in the direction they had gone, remaining motionless for a long time.

After a long pause, Elder Chaohua smiled and shook her head, then looked at Yuan Daosheng: "Sect Master, you knew Qingyao and Dazhuang would come along, didn't you?"

Yuan Daosheng stroked his beard, a knowing smile in his eyes, and sighed softly: "These children have grown up together since they entered the sect. Their bond is no less than that of blood siblings. We've all seen Qingyao's undisguised feelings and Dazhuang's clinginess to Yanzhou. How could we not guess what's going on? Well, young people have their own paths to walk. The three of them together can look after each other. All we can do is provide them with a safe haven if they ever run into trouble or face difficulties outside."

Elder Ruoxue raised her head in agreement, her eyes filled with a mixture of relief and concern: "I only wish them a safe journey."

A morning breeze swept through the mountain gate, stirring up a few fallen leaves covered in morning dew. The three of them remained standing in the same spot, gazing into the depths of the morning mist, their eyes filled with the concern and expectations of elders for their disciples on their long journey.