Song of Adolescence

Chapter 194 The One-Year Promise

"Who are you showing off to? Look at you, how can you go by yourself!" Sikong Qianluo admonished.

Xiao Se struggled to Lei Wujie\'s side and put one of his hands on Lei Wujie\'s shoulder, barely supporting himself so that he didn’t fall. "Mister, can you tell me the secret of going to Penglai Island?"

Xie Xuan raised his eyebrows. "Of course. You’re right. I will tell this secret only to you. But the immortal mountain beyond the sea, Penglai Island, are nothing more than the words of Baili Dongjun. Even if there was truly such a consummate immortal, there’s no guarantee that he can heal your injuries. From here to Penglai Island, the journey will cross a thousand miles and the road is extremely dangerous. Are you sure you want to go?"

"I will go," Xiao Se answered simply.

Xie Xuan continued, "If you go back to Heavenly Revelations, forgive me for being frank, I bet that although Qi Tianchen cannot heal your latent meridians, he can still ensure your life will not be in any danger…"

"Then I will have to live my whole life like this, like a cripple?" Xiao Se interrupted Xie Xuan\'s words. "In the past, I thought that Penglai Island was merely a myth. But since Baili Dongjun has seen it with his own eyes, then, even if it’s a glimmer of hope, I must go. Nobody can stop me!"

Xie Xuan nodded. "Okay, very good. Your shifu didn’t pick the wrong disciple. It\'s just…" Xie Xuan glanced thoughtfully at everyone present.

The golden Lanyue Marquis.

The General-in-chief of the Central Army Ye Xiaoying and his daughter, Ye Ruoyi.

Sect Leader of Outerheaven, Wuxin.

Tang Lian, Lei Wujie, Sikong Qianluo.

Everyone gathered here represented different factions and powers. Who would give up this opportunity to accompany Xiao Se to Penglai Island?

"Since Chuhe has made up your mind, this time, huang-shu will accompany you," Lanyue Marquis said. "It\'s merely a little island in the sea. We’ll set off from the east, use the fastest cedar longboat, and we’ll reach Three Snake Islands in no more than half a month."

"Huang-shu," Xiao Se greeted Lanyue Marquis respectfully.

"Hm?" Lanyue Marquis was taken aback.

"General Ye," Xiao Se spoke again softly.

"What are the sixth prince’s orders?" Ye Xiaoying was also taken aback.

"Please return to Heavenly Revelations as soon as possible," Xiao Se coughed slightly before he spoke slowly.

Lanyue Marquis smiled bitterly. "Chuhe, I came on this trip because your father asked me to. If I don’t bring you home, I can’t report to him, you know."

"I understand." Xiao Se nodded. "One year later, right this moment a year from now, regardless of whether my injuries have been cured or not, as long as I’m still alive, I will wait for you in Snow Moon City. No matter who comes, I will follow you back to Heavenly Revelations."

Everyone present was shocked when they heard his words. Lanyue Marquis tapped the hilt of his sabre, and after six taps that were neither heavy nor light, he smiled slightly. "If it were anyone else, huang-shu will definitely not give in. But, you’re different. I know you very well. In that case, we will meet again in Snow Moon City in one year."

"Xiao Se will keep my promise."

"Xiao Se." Lanyue Marquis curled his mouth slightly. "It\'s a good name. Then, we shall wait another year for the day when you take back your name, Xiao Chuhe." Lanyue Marquis finished his last words, turned around and walked out the door, his golden clothes dazzling under the sun. He leaped onto the opposite roof, then turned around and looked down at Xiao Se. "On that day, I will bring a thousand of your father’s Brave Tiger Guards, fly the Golden Phoenix banner of our Xiao Clan, and call out your name from the gates of Snow Moon City. You are the sixth prince of our Xiao dynasty, Yong’an Prince of Beili, and your home is in Heavenly Revelations!"

Xiao Se looked up at Lanyue Marquis, the two men exchanged a glance, but didn’t speak anymore. Lanyue Marquis laughed, then suddenly turned his head to look at Hua Jin. "Little genius doctor, if fate allows, we’ll meet again." After that, he jumped off and gradually disappeared into the distance.

"Huh?" Hua Jin was dazed for a moment. "Was he talking to me?"

"Then we shall see if your Brave Tiger Guards are faster or my Ye Banner Battalion is faster!" Ye Xiaoying muttered in a low voice. Then, he pulled Ye Ruoyi up and said to Xiao Se, "Sixth prince, I shall see you in a year then."

"General, travel safe." Xiao Se bowed his head.

Ye Xiaoying turned around, and Ye Ruoyi was also dragged away by him. When she turned her head, she glanced at Xiao Se, but hesitated to speak, then glanced at Lei Wujie again.

"Miss Ye…" Lei Wujie reached out a hand, wanting her to stay.

"Since the Third Citymaster has been treating your illness for so long and still couldn’t figure out a solution, then let’s ask the State Preceptor to think of a solution. Ruoyi, follow me back to Heavenly Revelations," Ye Xiaoying said.

Ye Ruoyi finally turned her head back and followed Ye Xiaoying out.

"Hey, Lei Wujie, I think you have a chance." Wuxin nudged Lei Wujie with his elbow.

Lei Wujie was taken aback for a moment. "Really?"

"Really. When she left, she looked at two people. One is Xiao Se, because he’s an old acquaintance. The other is you, because you’re her new love," Wuxin said seriously.

"You’re a monk, what do you know!" Lei Wujie retorted with disdain. "By the way, where will you go now, monk?"

Wuxin smiled and said, "I\'m going back to Outerheaven. But, maybe I’ll go to the imperial capital on the way. My status is special, so if I go with you all, others will think that I have ulterior motives, even though I’m very upright and benevolent."

"Can\'t tell, really." Lei Wujie shook his head.

"No wonder you can\'t tell that Ye Ruoyi is also interested in you. All right, I should go too, but Xiao Se, we agreed that we’re going to visit the top of Mount Kunlun, see that realm of vast ocean, and look for the ends of the world." Wuxin sighed. "I definitely can\'t go for the time being, but to that realm of vast ocean, you want to go alone? Better take Lei Wujie with you."

"And me!" Sikong Qianluo said.

"Naturally, I want to go too," Tang Lian said softly.

Xiao Se shook his head. "What nonsense four guardians of Heavenly Revelations. Those are identities imposed on you by others. You don’t have to bother with me."

"What Qinglong Guardian, do you really think I’m doing this because of that?" Lei Wujie glared at him. "I just took it out because it’s imposing so that I can scare other people. I want to help you because we’re friends."

"Friends?" Xiao Se murmured.

"The kind of friends who experienced life and death together," Lei Wujie repeated.

Xie Xuan said, "Xiao Se, you can forget about insisting on this point. If you go to Penglai Island on your own, you will be snatched back to Heavenly Revelations within the first hundred miles. If you want to once again become the person you were before, just accept the help of your friends."

Xiao Se frowned slightly. "Senior, will you go too?"

"Indeed, I do want to go to the immortal mountain beyond the sea and see it for myself. That’s one of my lifelong wishes. But now I have more important things to do. Li Hanyi is suffering qi deviation and her whereabouts are unknown. Although Lei Hong has followed her, I don’t feel reassured. I need to look for them," Xie Xuan said.

"My sister is suffering qi deviation?!" Lei Wujie was shocked. "How did that happen?"

"The Daoist Sword Immortal saved Li Hanyi and died at the hands of the Hidden River and Tang Clan. Li Hanyi had yet to recover from her severe injuries and suffered this serious blow, and she went into qi deviation immediately. Then, the fight in Lei Clan Fort aggravated her injuries further. But don\'t worry, with Lei Hong and I there, we will definitely ensure your sister’s safety," Xie Xuan said. "And if it’s convenient, I will make a trip to Snow Moon City and inform Sikong Changfeng about everything that happened here."

Xiao Se nodded. "Okay, then can I trouble Mister to bring Qianluo back to Snow Moon City."

"What are you saying?" Sikong Qianluo was shocked. "Why can\'t I go to Penglai Island?"

Xie Xuan ignored her and said, "All right."

"Wait, why can\'t I go?" Sikong Qianluo asked further.

Tang Lian stopped her. "We’ll talk about this later. Xiao Se is still very weak now, and there’s no rush to make a decision."

Hua Jin, who had been silent for a while, spoke up. She looked at Xiao Se, with a slight anger in her tone, "Oh great prince Xiao, have you finished sorting out everybody?"

Xiao Se froze for a moment, then nodded slowly.

"Then go back to sleep!" Hua Jin waved her hand and sent a silver needle straight into Xiao\'s tianling acupoint. Xiao Se\'s eyes clouded over, and he immediately fell asleep. Lei Wujie hurriedly supported him as he collapsed.

Hua Jin cursed with her hands on her waist. "For someone who can die anytime, he can still talk so much!"

"Penglai Island beyond the sea, an immortal free from this world," Wuxin murmured to himself. "Help me to say a word to Xiao Se, that I’m looking forward to the day when we meet again." Wuxin jumped out of the Qilin Pavilion and leaped onto the opposite roof in one step.

"Wish we meet again!" Tang Lian and Lei Wujie said at the same time.

(End Book 2, "Wind Flower Snow Moon Arc")