"What?!"
Zhou Xuan exclaimed, looking at his master in disbelief.
"She's not dead!"
Xu Tianhua remained silent for a long time before finally uttering those three words.
"No way? How could she be? Uncle Huang said Madam died in that orchestrated battle years ago. How could she still be alive? It's impossible! Is the information incorrect?"
Zhou Xuan shook his head, denying it.
Xu Tianhua sighed, offering no further explanation. "Xiao Xuan, you should go rest. Your master has this matter under control."
Xu Tianhua left. Zhou Xuan sat stunned on the chair, his mind a complete blank.
After a long while, he suddenly jolted awake and sprang up from his seat.
So, the battle led by his master, which resulted in countless casualties with only three survivors, was also related to his Madam, Li Huihui?
Was this the real reason for his master storming the highest command center?
No, he couldn't let his master do anything foolish again.
He had been framed years ago, his life marred. He shouldn't get caught in such a whirlpool again, nor should his latter half of life be unsettled.
Zhou Xuan caught up with his master and went to his room.
Xu Tianhua was very surprised. "Aren't you supposed to be with your new disciple's wife? What are you doing here with this old man?"
"Master, are you going down the mountain this time to fight that person to the death? Have you already found the real culprit who caused you and those brothers to die in a foreign land back then?"
Xu Tianhua sighed. "It's time to let go. It's also time to settle things."
Seeing his master resigned to death, Zhou Xuan finally understood Ling'er's feelings when she saw him about to duel the Qin family.
He didn't want to just watch his master commit suicide after avenging himself.
"Master!" Zhou Xuan shouted, "Let me handle this. You shouldn't get involved anymore!"
"Heh heh." Xu Tianhua chuckled, shaking his head. "Although I am old, I am not foolish."
"I know what you're thinking. You want to use this opportunity to help Master avenge his humiliation and strike at the enemy. But Xiao Xuan!"
"Now that the Qin family is destroyed, and even the Qin family patriarch is dead, the Qin family has no chance of recovering.
You should rest well. Ling'er has been with you for so long, and it's time you fulfilled your promise.
As for my revenge, I'm afraid it will have to wait a very long time."
"My return to the capital this time was to clarify things. As for the real culprit, I can only speculate; I have no concrete evidence."
"Xiao Xuan, this world is not like the cultivation world. In the cultivation world, everything is about strength. No matter how powerful a martial artist is, they can't help but make mistakes due to negligence."
"But the person who harmed me and my brothers back then might have been in a high position, an untouchable one."
Zhou Xuan grew anxious. "Master, perhaps it was one of the three survivors from back then?"
"Didn't you tell me that among the three who survived, one already..."
"But, Xiao Xuan, these are just your own speculations, they cannot become facts."
Xu Tianhua said earnestly.
"Master, you mean..."
Xu Tianhua smiled, patted his shoulder, "Your master is just reminding you that no matter what you do, you need to think thrice. Don't be too impulsive."
Zhou Xuan fell silent for a moment.
He didn't want to disappoint his master.
His master watched him grow up and had been kind to him.
He wanted to help his master solve his worries.
His own family feud had been avenged.
Except for not being able to collect the remains of the Zhou family, there was nothing else.
"You came down the mountain this time because you wanted to see an old acquaintance, right?"
"How did you know?"
Xu Tianhua looked at him in surprise.
"Uncle Huang already told me. There's someone you owe."
"Master, there are many things in this world that can be changed, but only one thing will never change."
"You're talking about my obsession, aren't you?"
Xu Tianhua sighed and said,
"After what happened back then, I decided to shut myself off."
"But I never expected to hear from her again after so many years."
"Now, her daughter has also grown into an adult. If she is still alive, perhaps she is also waiting for me?"
"I shouldn't have left without saying goodbye. But back then, Master was truly overwhelmed by guilt and hatred."
"Master, so you've truly figured things out."
Zhou Xuan smiled.
Xu Tianhua nodded.
"Yes, when Master first came up the mountain, I promised her that if there was a chance, I would definitely find her and bring her back. However, now, we are both old..."
As he spoke, Xu Tianhua's eyes welled up.
Zhou Xuan walked over and patted his shoulder, saying,
"Master, don't be sad. Isn't it better that you have us disciples accompanying you now?"
Xu Tianhua nodded.
"Yes, with you accompanying me now, I don't have to worry about being lonely and desolate anymore."
"Master, Uncle Huang has mentioned you many times. You should go see him."
"Alright."
Xu Tianhua finally showed a spark of life.
Inside the Tianji Pavilion.
Huang Youwei looked at Xu Tianhua, his eyes slightly moist at the corners.
He walked up quickly and patted Xu Tianhua's shoulder heavily.
Then, the two of them hugged each other tightly.
"Long time no see, are you well, Youwei!"
"I am well! Tianhua!"
"Hahaha."
The two sat on the sofa separately.
Huang Youwei sighed, "So many years have passed, I never expected you to still remember me. This is truly comforting."
"What are you saying? If it weren't for my only disciple and the fact that I haven't avenged my enemies, I wouldn't have come down the mountain."
"It seems you didn't come to see me, but to think of your old flame?"
Xu Tianhua said with a smile, "Stop bringing it up. It's been so long, and you're still dwelling on it."
"But speaking of which, we haven't seen each other for almost ten years. During this time, I was also so busy that I forgot to contact you."
"It's alright, I understand," Huang Youwei said with a smile.
"Besides teaching Zhou Xuan, where else could you be so busy? You just don't want to open your eyes and see the ugliness and murkiness of this world."
"Shall we chat?" Xu Tianhua asked.
"Okay."
Huang Youwei stood up and led Xu Tianhua towards the backyard.
The two sat on the swing chairs. Xu Tianhua swayed the swing, looking at Huang Youwei with a smile.
"Youwei, it's only natural for me to have sorrows. Why are you still looking so glum?"
Huang Youwei smiled upon hearing this. "I can't think of a way not to look glum."
"If my friend was burdened by the past for his entire life, how could I be happy?"
Xu Tianhua looked at his friend and sighed regretfully.
"If nothing had happened back then, they would be here swinging on a swing with me, perhaps enjoying their grandchildren and family bliss."