Chapter 54: A Long Journey

Many years later, when I think back on those years, I can say that it was an adventure, but it was also a flight.

I don’t know how to define when it started, when it changed from a personal escape to a collective escape. I just remember that in the bustling, densely packed crowd, we were wearing cloaks and were led into a secret tunnel by Bai Laoren. Then inexplicably, we began to run with Bai Laoren. At that time, the narrow tunnel and the sound of the wind blowing into our ears should have been the beginning, right?

Or, it was the sound of the horn!

Everything was so hurried that we didn’t even have time to take it in, but we got our luggage in a small room at the end of the tunnel. We were a little surprised that it could be so well-organized, but White Old Man stuffed a satellite phone into my hand.

“This phone will be used by Ge Quan to contact you alone, and you can also contact him. After all, contacting too many people is easy to expose, so just send a representative. This is the collective opinion of your elders in the Li family.” Bai Laoren didn’t wait for us to ask questions, and he explained to us.

I held the satellite phone in my hand and knew that if I didn’t ask some questions now, I might never get the chance to ask them again. So I couldn’t help but ask, “Why did the Snow Mountain clan help me? Why were they so well prepared? How did Ge Quan and the others appear? And how did Jenny appear?”

In the face of my questions, Bai Laoren smiled and did not answer, but took us up the stairs and completely walked out of the tunnel.

Outside the tunnel was the foot of a snow-capped mountain. The snow covered the jagged black rocks, making it even colder. I was wearing only a shirt and a cloak, and I couldn’t help but shiver. I looked up at the sky and the earth. It was quiet, except for us, and there was no one else around. It was exceptionally cold.

The cold wind blew and blew up the white robe of the old man. He looked at me and said, “Don’t you understand yet?”

“What do I need to understand?” Although I had some answers, I still felt that everything was like a mystery. At this time, Yue turned out a cold-weather jacket for me, which I quickly put on.

The sound of hooves in the distance came, accompanied by the voice of the old man, “Jennifer is the elder of our Snow Mountain clan. To be precise, she is the most powerful person in the entire Snow Mountain clan, except for the two masters. Of course, if Elder Lu is willing, she can also get a higher status. Why do you think we are helping you?”

“This… does Sister Jennifer know that I’m not dead? Has she been in the Snow Mountain sect all along?” I couldn’t help but stare with my eyes wide open, and in the distance, four carriages appeared at the corner of the Snow Mountain, rushing towards us.

“In fact, Elder Lu’s whereabouts are unpredictable. She returned to the Snow Mountain Sect two days before you! Of course she knows you’re not dead. Jiangyi reported his risky actions to Elder Lu as soon as possible, and Jiangyi dared not hide anything. As long as you know you’re alive, it’s not difficult to use some power to deduce some things about you. Your tribulations and turning points will happen in my Snow Mountain Sect, and Elder Lu will naturally come to protect you.” Bai Laoren explained to me with a smile.

The carriage was getting closer and closer, and the sound of the horse’s hooves was getting louder and louder. After hearing some of the explanations from the old man Bai, my heart was warmed and I was grateful for some of the affection from Jenny. In fact, she should be considered our grandma, right? I don’t know, I just feel that her protection is so strong and powerful.

“In addition, contacting your master’s friends to protect you together was also an idea that Elder Lu gave to Ge Quan. In this circle, no one is truly free. Even the top people have mutual constraints. Elder Lu is also constrained and should not intervene too much. So we have to think of other ways to protect you. That’s why Ge Quan and the others will be here.” Bai Laoren’s words were interrupted by the wind, but they fell into my ears without missing a word. This undoubtedly deepened our feelings.

“Don’t underestimate your master’s friends and your elders. Some of them are backed by major sects, and some of them are not as prominent, but their strength is not necessarily weak. Although they are not strong enough to compete with the four major forces, it is not easy for the four major forces to kill you easily.” Bai Laoren continued to explain, and at this time, four carriages had stopped at the foot of the snow-capped mountains, waiting for us quietly.

After saying this, Bai Laoren led us towards the carriage and said to us, “In the circle of cultivators, only two of the ten major forces fully support the ancient way of cultivation. The so-called ancient way of cultivation is the right way that your sect and others insist on, the great way! As for the other forces, the four major forces you saw, the way they chose is to pursue their goals by any means necessary. They think that is also a kind of firm heart, so it doesn’t matter whether it is good or evil. As for the remaining four forces, they are basically undecided and neutral. Whoever has more persuasive power and can make them move, they will be biased towards them.

I listened quietly to the old man Bai’s story, and I clearly had a first idea in my mind about the division of power in the circle of cultivators.

We had already reached the carriage, and the old man stopped and smiled at us, saying, “In addition to the four major forces, there are also some forces that are very deterrent. They are like the yamen that is closely connected to the secular state, um, the department. Although they do not interfere with the state, in fact, they can still get some support from the state through long-term cooperation. This kind of force is both independent of the circle of cultivators and connected to the circle of cultivators. It is a special existence. In addition, there are some famous sects that also have influence in the secular world. I don’t need to explain this. At least no one in the circle of cultivators dares to destroy their tradition and heritage. But in terms of strength, they are still not comparable to the ten major forces.

While talking, the old Bai opened the carriage door and let us get in. He said to us, “Nowadays, the power of the ancient righteous way is declining, and the reasons for this are also varied. However, due to the mutual restraint of the upper echelons, at least the righteous way will not be extinguished. You young people are full of hope. From today’s Fish-Leaping Dragon Gate Conference, it can be seen that most people in the circle of cultivators still have a sense of justice. In the long river of history, there have also been days when the flame was weak, but in the end, evil cannot overcome good, and everything will return to the right path. Whether it is cultivators or humans, what they pursue is always the good and the kind.

I looked at the old man Bai, and he looked at me and smiled, saying, “Don’t be disappointed, live on with strength! To live is to hope.”

He was about to close the carriage door, but I grabbed it and said, “Old Bai, you know that the soul of Kunlun has been extinguished, and my master’s soul has also disappeared. Why are they still so determined to kill me?”

This is something I don’t understand, and I’m always very persistent in trying to understand it.

“Can’t you figure it out yourself? There are so many consequences of the Kunlun disaster. What do you think?” Bai Laoren looked at me and smiled, then closed the door without allowing me to ask any more questions.

My expression was frozen in shock, but my mind was blank. I didn’t understand why I was shocked, but my expression naturally reacted.

The people in the carriage with me were Ru Yue and Cheng Xin. They looked at me blankly, and the carriage had already gone far away in the blink of an eye. The snow-capped mountains and grasslands outside the window, the blue sky, all passed by in a flash, but I still hadn’t come back to my senses.

There was food and some barley wine in leather bags in the carriage. Seeing me like this, Brother Chengxin sighed and took a leather bag of barley wine from the carriage wall, removed the cork, took a big drink, and said to me, “Chengyi, don’t you still understand? Or don’t you want to understand?”

I turned my head numbly, but Chengxin brother put the wine bag into my hand and said, “Maybe there is still the soul of Kunlun, and there are more than one remnant soul hidden by our master. Isn’t that what you mean? You are like a time bomb that can be detonated at any time. It’s better to get rid of it first.”

After saying this, Cheng Xin Ge comfortably leaned his long legs on the table in the carriage, let out a long sigh, and I grabbed the wine bag and took a big sip. My heart finally calmed down a little.

Cheng Xin Ge was right. In fact, I understood the moment Bai Lao Er told me, but I didn’t want to understand. I always felt that my shoulders were so thin, and I somehow took on such a heavy responsibility.

Ruyue rested her chin in her hand and looked out the window. I don’t know if she meant it or not, but she said softly, “No matter what kind of situation you’re in, I’ll always be there for you.”

I smiled and said, “Then Qin Huai will have to fight to the death with me?”

“He is your brother. If he were to abandon you, why would I marry him? He won’t. He’ll be with me.” Ru Yue looked at me and smiled.

I thought of Qin Huai’s emaciated, unshaven face not long ago, and suddenly smiled, nodding heavily and saying, “Well, he won’t. He’s the one who will be with you until the end.”

Looking at my smile, Yue also smiled. The sea and sky outside the car window were vast, and the snow-capped mountains were constantly getting smaller. Yue stretched and said, “I don’t know what to do next. Where should we go?”

Chengxin said, “We have a boat ready, right? Let’s get on the boat first. I’ll be a boatman in the future.”

At this time, the satellite phone I had been holding in my hand suddenly rang. I was a little uncomfortable and picked up the phone hesitantly. Just as I said hello, Ge Quan’s energetic voice rang in my ear.

“Chengyi, did you get out safely? Just now, Jenny led us to deal with the damn four forces! I think they have already taken action, but you should be safe for now.”

“Yes, it’s safe now.” As I spoke, I subconsciously glanced out the window. The sky was high and the ground was far away. Apart from us, where else was there any human presence?

“As long as you’re safe, Jenny wants me to tell you that the carriage will take you to a place where you can get your car. After you get the car, don’t stay in China.”

I was taken aback. We were going to sail on the river in Huaxia to look for clues. How could…

I asked, “Where are we going?”

“First, India!” Ge Quan’s voice came into my ears.

India?