Song of Adolescence

Chapter 279 Farewell to the Immortal Island

Mo Yi reached out a finger and pointed between Ye Ruoyi\'s brows. "I’m also giving you a wisp of qi. This wisp of qi will protect your heart meridian. As long as you don\'t suffer serious internal injuries from now on, you’ll be no different from ordinary people. This wisp of qi is very precious. You should cherish it."

Ye Ruoyi whispered, "Why are you helping me?"

"Because of that green dress." Mo Yi laughed loudly, retracted his finger, leaped backwards, and landed inside the pavilion.

"Mister Mo Yi." Baili Dongjun bowed respectfully.

"Little Baili, I didn\'t expect we would meet again after so many years, only for me to cause you so much trouble." Mo Yi smiled and sat cross-legged in the middle of the pavilion. "I\'m really sorry."

"Thank you too, Mister Mo Yi, for saving my two little friends." Baili Dongjun bowed his head.

"No need for thanks. I should be the one to thank you for that cup of wine." Mo Yi stretched his back. "I\'m a little tired. Seriously, I haven\'t slept in decades. After the brief drunken stupor earlier, I feel much better. I want to sleep again."

"What does Mister mean?" Baili Dongjun was taken aback.

"The rumours about my immortal mountain say that thousands of Buddhas visit for pilgrimage, goddesses dance with flowers, and during the day, drums and music rumble in harmony while at night, starlight falls like rain. It sounds like a paradise. But who would know that this was such a lonely place?

"It is said that immortals can ride the wind to travel and age with the sun and the moon. But nobody realised that in the legends, to age with the sun and the moon is such a lonely existence.

"I want to have a grand dream. A grand dream of ten years, after which I will awaken. After waking up, I will return to the mortal world and live a proper lifetime one more time.

"I\'m getting sleepy." Mo Yi yawned and finally closed his eyes, as he spoke one last sentence, "While I fall into this dream, if Little Baili is willing, can you stand guard for me?"

Whether the "ten years" that Mo Yi mentioned was an exaggeration or it was going to be really ten years, Baili Dongjun didn\'t hesitate at all and he smiled. "It would be my greatest honor."

It was a pity that Mo Yi had already fallen into a deep sleep and did not hear his answer.

From the moment he entered his dream, the fog around the immortal mountain suddenly became denser, and all the birds and beasts which fled earlier returned. The little squirrels and monkeys which gathered around the pavilion before had all come back and they surrounded Mo Yi running around in a circle. Sikong Qianluo felt something brush across her face and reached out to grab it. She opened her hand to look and was surprised. "Peach blossoms?"

She turned around and realised that the peach blossoms on the immortal island had all bloomed.

"This is what the legends call an immortal in dream. It’s actually such a wonder," Baili Dongjun, moved with emotion.

Tang Lian jumped to the top of the pavilion to carry Ye Ruoyi back down. "Shifu, why did Mo Yi suddenly change his mind and help us?"

"As he said, the legendary Meng Po soup can make someone fall into a grand dream. Things you’d forgotten in the past could be remembered again, and you could once again meet the people you had lost. But, after waking up from the dream, everything will be forgotten. But, what they meant by forget actually means letting go, and not really forgetting." Baili Dongjun smiled. "So this trip should be considered a success for you all and you’ve gotten what you came here for. Rest a few days before going back."

Sikong Qianluo shook her head. "We can’t rest."

Tang Lian nodded and added, "Indeed, we can’t afford to rest. The time limit we agreed with young master Mu is almost over. We have to hurry back."

"Young master Mu?" Baili Dongjun raised his eyebrows lightly.

Tang Lian replied hurriedly, "That’s Mu Chunfeng, third son of the Qingzhou Mu family. He was going to the Three Snake Islands to catch the snakes there in order to collect medicine for his brother. We boarded his ship for this trip. He’s waiting for us now at Three Snake Islands and we agreed to meet him back there in seven days."

"Qingzhou Mu family? Interesting." Baili Dongjun nodded and patted Tang Lian\'s shoulder. "Yes, then you should set off immediately. There are some fruits on the island. Bring some so they can replenish some energy when they’re awake."

"Shifu." Tang Lian scratched his head. "Since just now, why do you sound like you’re not intending to come back with us?"

"Mister Mo said he’s going to enter a grand dream for ten years, and wanted me to stand guard for him. I’m also thinking of staying on this island for a while. There are still some things I need to think about. It’s quiet here, not as troublesome as Beili," Baili Dongjun said with a smile.

"But Mo Yi is talking about ten years!"

"Your shifu, I have years left in me yet. Ten years is nothing."

"Then, you’re not going to care about Snow Moon City anymore?"

"Qianluo’s dad is still around, right?"

"Then, you’re not going to care about this disciple either?"

"Well, I’m not your only shifu anyway."

Tang Lian said helplessly, "Shifu, you’re so heartless. However, a lot has happened in the martial world recently. I think you should know about it."

"Fine, let’s talk as we walk."

During the short time they hurried to the shore, Tang Lian quickly updated Baili Dongjun about everything that had happened in the martial world over the last few months. From when the Hidden River suddenly reappeared in the martial world, and Unrivaled City suddenly changed to a young citymaster, and the Daoist Sword Immortal left his mountain on his own to save the Second Citymaster, until Tang Clan betrayed the alliance with Snow Moon City and attacked Lei Clan Fort. At first, Baili Dongjun’s expression remained indifferent, until he heard that Zhao Yuzhen, Grandmaster Tang, and Lei Qianhu were dead, and he finally showed a bit of shock. "These are really big events. I didn\'t expect that stinky Daoist priest would really leave his mountain to save Hanyi. I also didn’t expect that Grandmaster Tang couldn’t let go of his enmity with Lei Clan Fort."

"Then, don’t you think you should return to Beili?" Tang Lian thought his master would change his mind. "As long as you return to Beili, everything will be resolved. Furthermore, you’re now a martial expert in the Spirit Wandering Profound Realm. That Solitary Sword Immortal in his Admirable Desolation City won’t be able to compete with you for number one under Heaven anymore.”

Baili Dongjun smiled and said, "Why must I go back to resolve things?"

"Back then, you were the great hero who saved Beili. With the present situation, Snow Moon City no longer has the influence it used to and we are besieged by enemies. I don’t know if Second Citymaster has returned, so if we only have Third Citymaster there, I’m afraid we can’t handle everything."

"Why? I already saved Beili once thirteen years ago. Why do I have to do it again thirteen years later?" Baili Dongjun shook his head and patted Tang Lian on the shoulder. “Snow Moon City has Sikong Changfeng. As for the rest, it’s your turn."

Tang Lian smiled bitterly. "Just us?"

"Just you. And this time, what you’re going to do is different from what I had to do in the past. You already know the identity of this Xiao-xiongdi and Tang Lianyue must have also told you about your own identity. Disputes in the imperial court are unlike those of the martial world. In the imperial court, right and wrong are not clearly distinguished and each side will prioritise their own standpoint. You’ll have to be careful in the future," Baili Dongjun said.

"But, shifu…"

"You talk too much. Didn’t you say you’re in a hurry?" Baili Dongjun picked up Tang Lian impatiently and flung him onto the boat. Then he struck with his palm and pushed the boat three zhang away. "Go. We will meet again one day. Don\'t let your master down, ah."