Xiao Man wept, "I have harmed you."
"Silly child, it has nothing to do with you." Blood gushed from Wuyou's mouth. He had held on until now, only to see her one last time. "The road ahead is arduous and fraught with danger... you... must be careful."
"Old monk, stop quickly!" Xiao Man desperately tried to unblock her pressure points. Wuyou was gravely injured, and if his cultivation was gone, he would surely die!
A benevolent smile graced Wuyou's face. As all his cultivation was transferred to Xiao Man, Wuyou's hand slid from Xiao Man's back. Xiao Man's gaze fell upon Nangong Yu, who quickly stepped forward and released her pressure points.
Xiao Man turned back, grasping Wuyou's limp hand. Wuyou managed a radiant smile towards Xiao Man with all his might: "You must... live well."
"Foster father!"
Hearing Xiao Man's cry, Wuyou's body trembled slightly. He tried with all his might to raise his hand to wipe the tears from her face. However, Wuyou, severely wounded and having lost all his cultivation, should have long since passed. Instead, before Xiao Man, he turned into dust and vanished.
"Foster father!"
Xiao Man reached out, grasping wildly, but ultimately caught nothing.
Wuyou had entered Nirvana, leaving behind nothing but his kasaya.
"The abbot has passed away."
The bell of Gan'ye Temple rang, one after another, its sound carrying far. In the silent midnight, it was exceptionally clear.
Daoist Master Tian Yi looked up at the night sky, his eyes reddening. "You old bald donkey, you still left this old Daoist behind."
"Master, it's late, won't you rest?" The young Daoist rubbed his sleepy eyes and walked to Daoist Master Tian Yi's side. Seeing his master staring at the night sky, he couldn't help but look up. He saw a star quickly streak across the sky and disappear.
"Master, has someone grown old?" The young Daoist asked, tilting his head. His master had said that when a star fell, it meant someone had grown old.
"Yes, someone has grown old." Daoist Master Tian Yi withdrew his gaze and turned to walk inside.
The young Daoist followed behind. "Was it someone Master knew?"
"Yes, it was someone Master knew."
"Do I know them?" The young Daoist asked curiously, tilting his head.
"You don't know them." Daoist Master Tian Yi reached out and patted the young Daoist's head.
At that moment, a gust of wind blew in, rustling Daoist Master Tian Yi's robes, as if he were about to ascend. The young Daoist quickly grabbed the corner of his master's robe.
Daoist Master Tian Yi held the young Daoist's hand. "It's windy, let's go back inside."
"Yes, Master." Su Dan Novel Network
The bell of Gan'ye Temple reached the imperial city. The old emperor was reviewing memorials. Upon hearing the bell, he immediately summoned someone to inquire, "Where is the bell sound coming from?"
"Your Majesty, the bell sound should be coming from Gan'ye Temple. This servant heard it struck three times, nine times consecutively. It should signify the passing of the abbot of Gan'ye Temple."
"Reverend Wuyou has passed away?" the Emperor asked in surprise.
"Your Majesty, it should be." The Emperor frowned slightly. "If my memory serves me correctly, Yongning is recuperating at Gan'ye Temple, is she not?"
"Princess Yongning is indeed recuperating at Gan'ye Temple."
"Wuyou has passed, she should return to the imperial city."
Hu Wan's expression shifted slightly. He immediately understood. Originally, Xiao Man was recuperating at Gan'ye Temple because of Reverend Wuyou. Now that Reverend Wuyou had passed, Xiao Man could no longer remain at Gan'ye Temple.
"I presume the Great General has also received the news."
At the General's Mansion, Xiao Zhen leaped from his bed, startling He Qingyi. "General, what is it?"
"The death knell has sounded."
"Has something happened in the palace?"
"No, it doesn't sound like it's from the palace. It sounds like the death knell from Gan'ye Temple. I'm worried, I must go to Gan'ye Temple to see."
"I will accompany the General."
"You stay at the mansion and have someone clean Man'er's courtyard." Xiao Zhen instructed as he dressed. "If something has indeed happened at Gan'ye Temple, Man'er will have to return to the General's Mansion."
He Qingyi then understood the gravity of the situation. Originally, Xiao Man could have used her severe injuries as an excuse to escape the capital. However, if something happened at Gan'ye Temple, Xiao Man could no longer use that excuse to stay there.
"I will have someone attend to it immediately."
Xiao Zhen led his men out of the mansion and encountered Wen Mohan at the city gates. "General."
"At this late hour, why are you not sleeping and running outside?" Xiao Zhen ordered the gate opened to leave the city, and Wen Mohan immediately followed.
"Why the General is going out is why I am going out." Wen Mohan rode his horse, catching up to Xiao Zhen. "Man'er will be fine."
Xiao Zhen glanced at Wen Mohan, unsure whether to voice his suspicions. "Young man Wen, you are sincere in your feelings for Man'er, but I fear she already has someone in her heart."
Wen Mohan's expression remained unchanged. Even knowing that Xiao Man had someone in her heart, he could not give up. "This junior knows."
"Knowing that, you still..."
"This junior knows Man'er has someone in her heart, but that is not a reason for this junior to give up." Wen Mohan's voice was exceptionally gentle in the night wind. "This junior simply wishes to love someone in my own way."
Xiao Zhen raised an eyebrow. If he were to choose, frankly, he would choose Wen Mohan. In his opinion, Wen Mohan was more suitable for his daughter than Nangong Yu. It was just that he was unaware that within his daughter's body resided another soul.
By the time the two arrived at Gan'ye Temple, they saw Nangong Yu was also there. Wen Mohan's gaze dimmed.
"Your Highness Prince Qin."
"The General is here. She is inside."
The two immediately strode forward, only to find the room door tightly shut. Yin Zhu and Ying Xue were cautiously guarding the entrance. "General, Master Wen."
"Where is Miss?"
"Inside the room." Yin Zhu frowned. "Reverend Wuyou has passed away, and Miss is very sad."
Wen Mohan's expression remained unchanged. He had investigated information related to Dugu Man and knew that Reverend Wuyou and Dugu Man were once close friends. It was normal for her to be sad when Reverend Wuyou passed away.
Xiao Zhen stepped forward to knock, but Wen Mohan stopped him. "General, let her have some quiet time alone."
"What exactly happened?" Xiao Zhen looked at Nangong Yu, who was still wearing his attire from the palace banquet, indicating he had come here immediately after leaving the palace.
"Someone attacked Reverend Wuyou, and he succumbed to his injuries." Nangong Yu briefly explained the situation to the two. At this moment, Xiao Man was filled with self-reproach, believing she had caused Wuyou's death.
"Have the culprits been identified?"
Nangong Yu shook his head. "They were all assassins, not a single one survived, nor was there anything to prove their identities. However, with Reverend Wuyou's death, she must return to the imperial city. General, you should make preparations."
Xiao Zhen gritted his teeth. He certainly knew this. "Did the attackers assault Reverend Wuyou to force Man'er back to the imperial city?"
"It is not impossible."
Wen Mohan lowered his gaze in thought. "To force Man'er back to the imperial city, does that imply this person knows Man'er's injuries have healed?"
Xiao Zhen's body trembled. That was right. If Xiao Man were still unconscious, killing Wuyou would be useless. The mastermind must have known that Xiao Man's injuries had healed before killing Wuyou to force Xiao Man back to the capital.