The misty rain of Jiangnan, the vast desert and Gobi, and the endless blue deep sea. With her cultivation at hand, plus her little disciple being capable. In short, the master and disciple pair traveled this journey, stopping and going, constantly encountering all sorts of novel delicacies. Their days could be described as carefree and unrestrained.

Because they were not particularly ostentatious, and they mostly went to remote, quiet places in mountains and forests.

The result was that, until that person in the capital was so anxious his hair turned white, he still hadn’t managed to find even the tiniest bit of news about the True Person.

However, what was even more terrifying was:

In the first year after An Ning began her travels, the Western Hills, which were originally overflowing with spiritual energy, quickly became ordinary. The plants and trees also no longer flourished as before.

In the second year, the fruits in the mountain, and even the spirit tea An Ning had planted earlier, gradually lost that spiritual energy and special efficacy. Apart from the taste, it was no different from ordinary tea.

Looking at the spirit tea in his hand that was almost gone, at this moment, Emperor Xuanwu felt nothing but endless regret in his heart.

In the seventh year, after several consecutive days of heavy rain, the riverbanks in Jiangnan nearly burst. It was said a True Person in blue robes, with a wave of their hand, caused several massive trees, each dozens of feet wide, to solidly block the raging river rushing forward.

Thus, countless people in Jiangnan were spared from disaster.

Unfortunately, by the time the news arrived, before Emperor Xuanwu could urgently send people to pursue, amidst the kneeling worship of the common people, the True Person and their disciple quickly vanished without a trace.

In the tenth year, news of a rampant epidemic spread widely in the north. Yet, as Emperor Xuanwu hoped day and night, what he finally waited for was just a huge prescription that suddenly appeared on the city wall.

The True Person themselves, however, never appeared from start to finish.

At this moment, within the Imperial Capital, including Emperor Xuanwu, everyone understood more clearly than ever before:

It was true that True Person Qinghui possessed some kindness, but all of this was built on the premise of not affecting herself.

In fact, morality, righteousness, even the lives of thousands of common people, she might care about them somewhat, but none could become a constraint on her, let alone be used to coerce her.

Compassion and coldly standing by were not actually in conflict.

Even familial affection…

Feeling the strength that was no longer what it once was, after a long silence from Emperor Xuanwu, within the vast palace, there was only an even deeper, soundless stillness.

He knew, apart from hope, at this very moment, he had already lost any means…

And at this time, An Ning and her disciple were riding the turbulent, majestic river currents, beautifully enjoying the coolness of the sea breeze.

Wandering around, under the day-and-night anticipation of certain people, by the time the master and disciple pair returned to the capital, over thirty years had passed.

Almost the instant they stepped into the capital, within the Imperial City, Emperor Xuanwu, who was now over sixty but still firmly held power over all matters of the court and the country, received the news at the first moment.

It was an exceptionally bright and sunny morning.

At the morning court assembly, it was still the same endless, worn-out arguments, or rather, the endlessly tiresome dispute over “establishing the crown prince.”

Upon the dragon throne, the current emperor coldly watched the princes still hopping about below. His originally not-so-gentle pupils grew even colder and sharper at this moment.

Clearly, after many years, the already aged emperor’s temper, even his harshness, had grown increasingly intense.

Just as the person above was about to erupt in anger.

However, the next moment, from behind the great hall, a eunuch hurriedly rushed in.

The moment he saw the person clearly, disregarding the still noisy and quarreling ministers, the current emperor could no longer care about anything else. He didn’t even utter a word of dismissal for the court session, and without even removing his court crown, he hastily left the great hall.

Leaving behind a crowd of princes and ministers exchanging glances.

Those with sharp eyes could even catch the fleeting, bright yellow afterimage left by his sprinting figure.

“Ah, this… what is His Majesty…”

In the crowd, some ministers were bewildered, but more were as excited as Emperor Xuanwu himself.

An elderly minister, over fifty, whose legs were already a bit unsteady, was even trembling with excitement:

“It’s the True Person, it must be True Person Qinghui! I ask you, in this world, who else could make the current emperor this excited?”

Those who had reached this point today, how many of them were fools?

Sure enough, as the words fell, the originally gradually quieting great hall suddenly became utterly silent.

True Person Qinghui. Recalling the name of this accomplished exalted personage who had disappeared for thirty years, yet at this moment, in the court, there was no one who did not remember her title.

No other reason. Not to mention that unforgettable public display of divinity thirty years ago.

Or the occasional tales circulating among the people over these decades.

Just the paintings that still exist in Cunzhen Temple to this day, how many, including His Majesty, rely on them as their lifeline.

No wonder! As the words fell, many people in the court also became excited.

However, at this moment, when it came to being overjoyed, no one could compare to the current emperor who had rushed over in haste. Especially when he looked at the master and disciple pair before him, who seemed to have undergone almost no change at all…

***

Supported by guards as he stood in the mountains, the emperor, now over sixty, could hardly bear to blink his eyes.

Under a grove of peach trees, the person before him, dressed in a blue Daoist robe, sat on the ground. Snowy skin, bright eyes, every gesture carried an indescribable, extraordinary aura. Most importantly, though thirty years had passed in the blink of an eye, this person’s face showed not the slightest change.

Still looking just over twenty years old, as ethereal and peerless as ever. Including Sima Rui beside her, now also in his twenties, handsome and free-spirited…

Sima Yu couldn’t help but tremble slightly in his pupils.

However, at this moment, apart from feelings towards his own son, towards the True Person before him, the emperor before him no longer dared harbor the slightest jealousy or resentment. There was only sincere supplication, and…

“Sima Yu pays his respects to the True Person!”

“Previously, this lowly one was excessively foolish and presumptuous, and has committed many offenses. I hope the True Person will be magnanimous and forgive me!”

It was hard to imagine these were words an emperor who had held power for over forty years could utter, the posture he could adopt. Yet, at this moment, including Sima Rui beside him, An Ning was not surprised.

Especially when she looked at the legs under the other’s dragon robes, which were trembling slightly from the hurried journey. And the face already covered with wrinkles.

“Your Majesty is too courteous!”

With an almost imperceptible nod, since she had already allowed him to enter, An Ning didn’t intend to make things difficult. As she rose and raised her hand, a temple maid soon presented clear tea.

This meant she would not pursue the matter further.

Emperor Xuanwu imperceptibly sighed in relief.

Even though An Ning and her disciple had been gone for decades, the Xuanzhen Temple before them still retained its original appearance. It could be said that apart from the sudden loss of its vast vitality, every plant and tree here was almost exactly the same as before.

Even An Ning’s former room was cleaned daily by attendants.

It must be said, having shed the arrogance of an emperor, this person was indeed… quite tactful…

An Ning lowered her head and took a light sip of the clear tea.

Thirty years had passed. It was visibly apparent that the other’s endurance had reached a critical point. Don’t be fooled by this emperor’s extremely humble attitude now, but An Ning had no doubt at this moment that if she had appeared any later…

“Ah, Master, you have truly been troubled. Indeed, as soon as we return, there are many troubles!”

Skillfully stepping forward to massage his master’s shoulders, Sima Rui behind her couldn’t help but murmur softly.

Of course, these words were just spoken casually. Apart from that dwindling bit of father-son affection, whatever his master could see, someone as shrewd as Sima Rui naturally could see it too.

Indeed, a person who could see their lifespan nearing its end, on the verge of death, and who still wielded great power as an emperor, what rationality would they still possess?

Ah, he himself might not care about any so-called external family, but although his master’s expression was cold, her heart was actually quite soft. She definitely wouldn’t want too many innocent people to be implicated.

However… occasionally taking out spirit tea casually was one thing, but if his Imperial Father truly dared to press his luck… The young man in dark clothes, his gaze slightly darkening, couldn’t help but flash a hint of sharpness in his eyes.

Although they had been traveling alone all these years, playing around everywhere, the news they could receive was not little. His dozen or so younger brothers, over the years, although some had been confined by their father, some deposed, those that remained, the ambitious ones were not few…

He imagined they would be quite happy to have support from him, their elder brother.

Various thoughts flashed through his mind. In the room, the man who was actually in his forties but looked only twenty in appearance did not slacken in his actions in the slightest. He meticulously peeled the oranges he had just picked earlier. His expression gentle as he looked at the blue-robed woman leisurely reclining on the couch not far away, her demeanor lazy.

If possible, he would be willing to travel the world north and south with his master like this for a lifetime.

But, this was fine too, Sima Rui thought to himself. As long as his master was still here, no matter where, it was good…

Unbeknownst to him, in the evening, watching the retreating figure of her disciple, An Ning was slightly stunned for a moment.

Why did it feel like her little disciple had gotten just a tiny bit… crooked!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep