Like the blood-stained setting sun without the Western Mountain, the lingering twilight lasts but a moment.
Weary from toil, carrying the hoe on his shoulder, Chu Weiyang walks towards the depths of the forest, accompanied by the chirping of birds returning home.
As dusk approaches, mist rises from the sea of trees, gradually obscuring the distinction between north and south, plunging the surroundings into a deepening darkness, as if the encroaching gloom seeks to engulf the heavens and earth.
Clad in a slightly disheveled attire, Chu Weiyang carries a basket on his back, heading towards the south, occasionally pausing to press a blood-red jade slip against his forehead, seemingly scrutinizing or confirming something.
After a moment, he discerns the direction and continues on his way.
The encounter with Yan Jianming from earlier in the day is now a distant memory, as Chu Weiyang maintains a silent demeanor, lost in contemplation, his gaze vacant.
After a while, as the last rays of the setting sun vanish into the mist, shrouding the world in darkness, the voice of the stable master behind Chu Weiyang suddenly breaks the silence.
"Are you really determined not to go to Dao City? Will you simply follow Tingchang Mountain's arrangement and head south? It's truly a path of seeking death!"
Upon hearing this, Chu Weiyang remains silent, instinctively glancing around as if expecting someone to emerge from the shadows, smiling at him.
Yet, Yan Jianming's figure is nowhere to be seen.
The stable master's voice echoes once more.
"He thinks he holds the pinnacle of Foundation Building cultivation, disregarding us completely!"
"But he is unaware of the profound and mysterious nature of the Sword Sect's secret techniques!"
"With mastery over sword intent, the exploration and perception are far superior to ordinary spiritual senses!"
At this moment, as the stable master notices Chu Weiyang's inquisitive gaze, he chuckles.
"Don't even think about learning such sword intent techniques. Without the 'Five Organs Nourishing Qi Scripture,' you should know that you lack talent in the way of the sword. You dare to gamble on this, yet you still believe you can master sword intent techniques? Having our sect's sword intent in your hands, being able to take lives, is already commendable!"
"The simplest method is to operate sword intent, envelop it with divine consciousness, then use sword intent as divine consciousness, projecting it outward to sweep all directions. While this method lacks the sophistication of secret techniques and carries the risk of revealing your abilities prematurely, in terms of exploration and perception, it is sufficient."
Listening to the stable master's words, Chu Weiyang acts on his thoughts, standing amidst the layers of mist, wielding the Rainwater Sword Intent to sweep through the area.
Indeed, within the vast sea of trees, only Chu Weiyang stands in that spot.
The tension in his body eases.
The stable master's voice continues.
"What are you thinking?"
Chu Weiyang shakes his head.
"If we linger in the southern wilderness for too long, it may indeed become a dead end."
Upon hearing this, the stable master nods.
Chu Weiyang continues.
"However, when I encountered Tingchang Mountain's disciple Yan Jianming today, if I had not agreed at that moment, it might have been a dead end then and there."
The stable master nods again.
The young man goes on to say.
"Choosing the lesser of two evils, during the day, I had to go along with Yan Jianming's wishes to avoid a swift death."
"In truth, even if we had made a bet, Yan Jianming may not trust me. The Elder Danxia behind him might even consider those words a joke."
"But in reality, what Yan Jianming wants is merely a certain attitude from me. Perhaps more than I do, they hope for my survival."
"So, moving forward, I must first stabilize them, endure in the wilderness for a while."
"When they relax, when they get accustomed, it will be time to find a way to escape and head towards Dao City in the east!"
"You mentioned the Seventy-Two Dao Cities, where even the Sword Sect's people cannot intervene, let alone Tingchang Mountain."
"At that time... it will be like a fish leaping in the boundless sea, and birds soaring in the vast sky!"
Upon hearing this, the stable master nods.
"But what if they never relax?"
Chu Weiyang smiles.
"I am a patient person. In order to wait for a chance at survival, I endured year after year in the Demon-Sealing Cave. Today, my situation may not be worse than before. Besides, I am no longer the sickly ghost I once was. If need be... I will share life and death with Yan Jianming!"
Chu Weiyang's calm voice makes it sound as simple as eating and sleeping.
Upon hearing this, the stable master nods calmly as well.
"It's good that you've thought it through. If I were to die on this journey, could you take my remains to Dao City in the East? I am a noble of the Xuan Sect and should not be buried in the wilderness. As a traitor of the Sword Sect, I do not wish to leave my body to be humiliated by them."
Chu Weiyang hefts the basket.
"I can carry you for a stretch, enough to see you through this journey."
As they walk and talk, just as Chu Weiyang stops once again, preparing to examine the jade slip in his hand, suddenly, the jade slip in his hand emits a brilliant light.
In the next moment, the jade slip leaves Chu Weiyang's hand, hovering in front of him.
Anticipating something, Chu Weiyang joins his sword fingers, channeling a strand of elemental energy into the blood-red light.
In an instant, the crimson light pierces through the dark mist.
Within the forest ahead, prohibition lights suddenly illuminate from all directions.
These are cloud-seal characters, some of which Chu Weiyang can decipher, while most remain cryptic to him.
Yet, these cloud-seal characters, now connected end to end, form a chain of seal patterns, seemingly concealing a spacious area within the forest.
As the blood-red light merges into it,
In a flash, Chu Weiyang senses his own breath merging with it, establishing a familiar connection with these unfamiliar seal patterns.
In the next moment, Chu Weiyang raises his hand slightly.
The prohibition lights quietly dissipate, and in their place, an invisible and intangible portal opens up.
As Chu Weiyang takes another step forward, the lush forest and mist disappear from the spot.
In the serene forest, a wooden tower stands quietly.
In front of the door, ancient seal characters read—Picking Wind Tower.
This is the secluded place arranged by Yan Jianming for Chu Weiyang in the wilderness.
While it may be considered secretive, according to the instructions, it is still relatively close to the Jade Marrow River, a location that the Sword Sect's people could easily investigate.
In that fleeting moment, despite any shortcomings of Picking Wind Tower, for Chu Weiyang, everything else fades away.
A certain sentiment originating from a past life traverses time and space, pounding fiercely on Chu Weiyang's heart.
This is his home, his first true home, a place for rest and shelter from the storm.
At that moment, Chu Weiyang suddenly feels that the life in the Demon-Sealing Cave can truly be considered a thing of the past.
In a trance, as if perceiving reality without illusion, within the depths of his consciousness, sword qi seems to surge and leap, swiftly advancing and then abruptly retreating.
All phenomena move with a single thought.
Within the five viscera and six bowels, the heart fire swirls, the stove steams, and the alchemical cauldron glows red!
Forged in fire and heat is the emotion that spans past and present, Chu Weiyang's unwavering determination, the backbone of the Spring Six Swords—
Spring Equinox! Spring Equinox!