Chapter 273: He Had Thought It Through

"It's bad for health to drink tea in the morning when the dew is heaviest. It's better to head inside for a rest," Wei Xinglu urged, instead of trying to say too much.

"I'm alright, really."

Yun Yang smiled and continued, "You two have been occupied the entire night too, hurry on to sleep. I've had a good slumber and drank a lot of tea; I feel so very rejuvenated. I'm doing some training and cultivation later, how can I waste such a brilliant time of the day?"

As he spoke with a smile, he stood up in a motion to walk forward.

Just as he did though, his legs quivered and he almost sat back down. It was like his legs were actually numb from sitting the entire night. In spite of this, he straightened them right away, standing in an upright position. However, his bones could not help giving out a loud crack.

Wei Xinglu said in a gentle tone, "Coming back now, we aren't going out anytime soon. Let us all rest and meet again in the afternoon, shall we?"

"Sure, of course." Yun Yang rubbed his hands together, a look of a pure, innocent, young man.

Wei Xinglu pulled Gugu along. Since Wei Xinglu had given his advice, Gugu did not say another word.

Both of them were walking forward slowly when a low sound came from the back; it was a relieved sigh.

"Gugu, have you noticed?" Wei Xinglu spoke in a soft voice.

"What?" Gugu's voice was equally soft.

"He hasn't slept for the whole night, drinking tea while waiting for us. His tea had long been tasteless and colorless. Even if you make a dozen pots of tea from the tea leaves, it would not have reached this stage... To have made a pot of tea to this degree, he has been steeping it for more than six hours..."

"That pot of water. It should be a full pot of boiling water... no one boils water with just half a pot full... more so for making tea. But only the thin layer was left covering the bottom of the pot. He didn't notice it. This pot of water must have been boiling for more than two hours. Luckily, the fire for tea isn't too strong, or else the pot would've been burned right through..."

"He's been thinking of his troubles."

Wei Xinglu's gaze was filled with wonder as he looked at Gugu and asked, "Say, why is he awake for the entire night?"

Gugu kept her head lowered without saying a word.

"It's obvious that he's waiting for us, or more precisely, for you. He was worried about your safety. I've never expected that someone as formidable as He Hanqing is would have experts even stronger than him as his company. Luckily there were the ten court kings from the Concourse of the Underworld. Otherwise, how could I've defended myself? Thinking about it now, I still feel the lingering fear!"

Wei XInglu said seriously, "How could Yun Yan not know that the commotion at He Hanqing's place tonight was so huge? I believe he must have had some knowledge about He Hanqing's ability, thus his worry and relief when he saw you coming back safely."

"When he stood up and almost fell, as well as the crack of his joints, it was obvious he'd been sitting in a trance thinking about things. Such a situation only happens when one doesn't move for a long time. Think about it yourself, he's a martial artist with excellent cultivation base; he has much better endurance than ordinary people. How long must he have sat to have such a martial artist crack his joints and bones like that?"

"Yet when you come back, he moved right away and stood up."

Wei Xinglu sighed. "What's more precious is that he was reluctant to admit it and kept saying that he woke up after a good sleep. Look at that fatigue on his face, how does that look like he's even shut his eyes?"

"Why didn't he admit it?" Gugu said in a low voice.

"Stupid girl, why would you ask so? Where has your usual wittiness gone? He's obviously afraid of burdening you with his feelings..."

Wei Xinglu heaved a long sigh. "It's so rare to see such devoted man in this world..."

Gugu lowered her head and kept mum.

Wei Xinglu uttered softly, "Gugu, I want to tell you something - very formally so!"

"What is it, eldest senior brother?" Gugu's voice was lowered to a murmur.

"If, in the future..." Wei Xinglu said softly, "If you two can't be together, then... at least don't hurt him too deeply. This is a good child, a very good one!"

Gugu resumed her silence. Surprisingly, she did not deign to reply.

...

It was afternoon when Wei Xinglu and Gugu walked out after packing their belongings. "Young Master Yun, we're bidding our farewell now. Thank you for serving us all these days. If you're free to visit the Empire of Dongxuan, you must come to the School of Spring and Autumn. We senior and junior siblings shall welcome you warmly."

Yun Yang looked calm as he smiled, saying, "Eldest senior brother, Gugu, have a smooth trip. Take care."

Gugu turned around and stood aside, not saying anything.

Wei Xinglu sighed before saying, "Young Master Yun, you must take care too. Remember, visit our school."

He had wanted to say, "Don't worry, that Sir He of yours can no longer threaten us. His best condition right now would have to be near death with severe injuries; he won't have the mood and effort to pursue us."

Wei Xinglu had sustained some injuries from the battle last night and had left the duel early. He did not manage to witness the death of He Hanqing like the Concourse of the Underworld did and had only thought that He Hanqing had been brought away by Venerable Lord Saber - severely injured but not yet dead.

However, entertaining the thought, Wei Xinglu knew that he must not say what he had wanted to.

From their current perspective, He Hanqing was the Empire of Yutang's aged minister, a three-generation sage. Yun Yang was also serving the Empire of Yutang, so the two of them were basically from the same standpoint. If he had mentioned the incident, it might disrupt the current peace they had besides dealing a huge blow to Yun Yang. After all, Wei Xinglu was much responsible for adding salt to He Hanqing's injury.

At this point in time, it was better not to provoke Yun Yang with the truth!

Wei Xinglu was certain of Yun Yang's character, a man who could forgo romance for his principle and country. It was exactly so that the incident with Soul-Sealing Spike had happened, so it was better for him not to say anything.

"Gugu, speak now if you have anything to tell Young Master Yun. We do not know when our next trip to Yutang will be!" Wei Xinglu urged with a smile while he brought his hawk aside meaningfully.

Yun Yang bestowed a warm beam on Gugu.

Gugu turned and spoke softly in cold tones, "Yun Yang, we'll meet in the future."

Yun Yang smiled and replied, "The journey spans a thousand miles now, the route in the martial arts world far and long. You must take good care of yourself. Gugu, your future must soar above the clouds of the nine heavens while I, Yun Yang, shall anticipate it with wine, waiting for the day you've become a legend who's renowned across the world. I shall raise my goblet in celebration for you then."

Gugu snorted derisively, "Who cares?"

Yun Yang chuckled and said, "Meeting within this heaven and earth is fate, so is being gathered together. Take care now as we bid farewell. Do pardon me for not sending you off."

He waved as Lao Mei came out with a parcel. Yun Yang said, smiling, "Some snacks for your journey. It is not something impressive, nor a feast for your eyes. Please accept it anyway. I've offended you a lot in the past, thankfully we have to separate now and we won't be meeting in the future. If... Lady... Gugu still minds, think of it then as a nightmare. I've been impulsive previously. I hereby apologize."

He cupped his palm over his fist, his expression nonchalant and carefree.

It was as if he was indifferent about this farewell as if he did not care in the slightest.

"Who would want your things? Since you know it's sore to the eyes, why embarrass yourself before everyone?" Somehow, Gugu was upset too, yet she had only harsh words to say. Before her voice was done echoing, she had turned to leave.

A smile hung on Yun Yang's face, morose and bitter.

A hand extended over to take the parcel. Wei Xinglu said with a chuckle, "I was still worrying about what to eat along this long journey. Brother Yun is considerate indeed, I'll accept it without much regards to courtesy now. Brother Yun, the future is unpredictable, we shall meet again for sure. If you're free then, you must come to the School of Spring and Autumn, Mountain of Polar; I await your honorable arrival."

Yun Yang took a deep breath and recovered the warm beam he had earlier; it was more forced now though like he was wearing a mask. He cupped his palm over his fist once more and said, "I will definitely visit your respectable school. Have a safe journey, both of you."

"Farewell!"

Wei Xinglu imitated Yun Yang's gesture before pulling Gugu along and hopping onto his hawk.

With a sharp cry and a strong gust of wind, the hawk rose into the sky and soared right up.

Gugu and Wei Xinglu looked down from the back of the hawk through its wings, seeing Yun Yang who seemed to have given a small chase before stopping fruitlessly. He then raised his neck to watch the sky, his gaze filled with longing.

The hawk flew higher, rendering Yun Yang into a small black dot, almost invisible. His body seemed to waver before he plopped down on the ground.

A cloud floated by coincidentally, obscuring their vision. Both parties could no longer see each other.

Wei Xinglu overlooked the scenery with his head lowered. Softly sighing, he uttered, "He's thought it through, I guess."

Gugu bit her lips and remained mute, turning to watch the other side of the sky.

After a long while, she asked softly in the high altitude, "What has he thought through?"

Wei Xinglu sighed, "Before we left, didn't he say... your future will be above the clouds of the nine heavens? He also said that it's fate to meet and that we may part this time and not meet again in the future?"

Gugu bit her lips and replied, "Aren't these the customary words of a farewell?"

Wei Xinglu chortled and said, "Customary words? It's indeed so for ordinary people but who are you? You're the School of Spring and Autumn's prized disciple, you're destined to be above the rest! He has realized this. An ordinary man of the secular world, a blessed lady loved by the gods who are high above the rest... both of you are from two different worlds. Even if you're both in the same realm, you're from two opposing nations. Whatever perspective it's from, both of you can never be together!"

"That's why he said what he did. Gugu, you might not be able to imagine how upsetting it was for him when he said that." Wei Xinglu's eyes seemed to glaze over as he stared at the empty sky. For a moment, he recalled a faraway past and felt his heart wrench abruptly.

"Upset? I saw him smiling all along, the calmness on his face looked more like he was hugely relieved, like he couldn't wait for me to leave sooner," Gugu sneered.

"You don't understand... You don't understand a man's heart, little girl. When you do, you'll..."

He wanted to say "You'll feel your heart twist in agony," but upon consideration, he said nothing.