Chapter 93: Cultivation is Bitter, Wishing You Peace
As soon as Shuang Jiang spoke, Su Jingzhen’s heart grew heavier.
Su Jingzhen had never been to Clear Wind Mountain before, but he was well aware that there were countless ferocious demonic beasts lurking in this area.
Zhang Xiu’s cultivation at the late stage of Qi Refining was considered decent in Linjiang City.
However, if they encountered some powerful demonic beasts, it would still be insufficient.
If they were severely injured and reached this valley, even if they managed to survive, they would likely be exhausted and drained.
Su Jingzhen was afraid that if they walked a little further, they would stumble upon Zhang Xiu’s corpse.
“Master Yue, it’s just ahead!”
The Foundation Establishment cultivator who had spoken earlier bowed respectfully to Luo Yuebai.
He then led the way forward.
Although Luo Yuebai knew some information, he was not familiar with this place.As they walked about a hundred meters forward, the bloodstains on the grass and trees along the way became more frequent.
When they arrived at this location, Su Jingzhen clearly saw that many of the plants in the valley had been broken.
It seemed as though a fierce battle had taken place here.
At this time, Shuang Jiang’s eyebrows furrowed again.
Her gaze fell upon the cliffside of the valley.
The Foundation Establishment cultivator was already standing at the foot of the cliff.
There were two Qi Refining cultivators guarding the area.
“Friend Su, we’ve arrived.”
As they reached this location, Luo Yuebai’s gaze towards Su Jingzhen became increasingly strange.
He pointed to a corner of the cliffside.
Only then did they see that a rock had been carved with a sharp tool, becoming relatively flat.
On it were several lines of elegant script, some of which were stained with blood.
Su Jingzhen’s heart skipped a beat.
After all, he had known Zhang Xiu for over two years, and he naturally recognized Zhang Xiu’s handwriting.
After reading the content of the script, Su Jingzhen was stunned, frozen in place.
Shuang Jiang’s eyebrows rose, and a faint, subtle smile appeared on her lips.
On the cliffside, it was written:
“Mr. Su, if you see this, it’s as if we’ve met.”
“I don’t know if you’ll see the words I’ve left behind, or when you’ll see them. If these words are weathered away by time, it will be as if I’ve written them for the mountain ghosts.”
“Before I met you, my life’s desires were simple: to live a peaceful life, free from worries, and for my daughter to be carefree.”
“But after meeting you, my heart suddenly had many desires: to slow down time, to cherish every night, to bask in the moonlight, to have the peach blossoms in the courtyard remain unscattered, and to have you tied to my heart…”
“However, Mr. Su, words are short, but intentions are long. Now, I can only gaze longingly, but I can no longer see your drunken, green-robed figure. My longing has stopped at this mountain of ten thousand layers.”
“I know that the heavens are far away, and it’s impossible to climb. Perhaps we’ll meet again someday, but it will be difficult.”
“A thousand words, a single book is not enough. I can only say: Cultivation is bitter, I wish you peace!”
Su Jingzhen’s heart was in turmoil after reading the inscription. He was certain that this was left by Zhang Xiu.
In fact, he had known about Zhang Xiu’s feelings for him for a long time.
Their emotional connection, “Mutual Affection,” was already at a high level.
Zhang Xiu had hinted at her feelings many times, but Su Jingzhen had pretended not to notice.
On one hand, it was because his Dantian was broken, and he didn’t want to burden her.
On the other hand, Zhang Xiu had been a devoted Dao Companion for many years, letting Su Jingzhen’s heart be filled with reverence and admiration.
He had never wanted to confront this matter directly.
But he never expected that Zhang Xiu’s final message would be a heartfelt inscription like this.
Su Jingzhen didn’t know what Zhang Xiu had experienced on Clear Wind Mountain.
But he knew that when she left these words, her heart must have been filled with despair.
She was afraid to keep these words hidden in her heart, and she didn’t have the chance to tell Su Jingzhen.
When she went to Clear Wind Mountain, Su Jingzhen was still just a weak Qi Refining cultivator.
Perhaps when Zhang Xiu carved the inscription, she didn’t think Su Jingzhen would ever see it.
She carved it out simply to alleviate her regret.
Sometimes, saying something out loud can bring peace to one’s heart, regardless of whether the other person hears it or not.
“Sister-in-law, you… Ah…”
After a long silence, Su Jingzhen finally let out a sigh.
At this moment, he finally understood why Luo Yuebai’s gaze had been so strange earlier.
“It seems that this Zhang Xiu has long had deep feelings for Friend Su.”
“But it’s just that it ended up being a case of ‘falling flowers have intentions, but flowing water has no heart.’”
Luo Yuebai sighed.
His words didn’t carry any mocking tone.
No one knew what Zhang Xiu’s situation was like when she carved these words, or what emotions she was feeling.
But they could sense the reluctance and longing for Su Jingzhen in her words.
What else could this be but deep emotional roots?
Su Jingzhen didn’t choose to respond to Luo Yuebai’s words.
He looked around and said, “Fellow Daoist, is this the only clue here? Is there anything else?”
At this time, Su Jingzhen’s heart was still filled with worry.
He subconsciously opened the Emotional Connection with Zhang Xiu.
【Emotional Connection with Zhang Xiu: Mutual Affection!
Level Bonus: 4 times
Cultivation Bonus: 1 time】
The interface was still stable, without any changes.
Su Jingzhen didn’t know if this meant that Zhang Xiu was also safe and sound.
But at least it was a comfort.
When he said this, Luo Yuebai shook his head.
“We’re already close to the deepest part of Clear Wind Mountain. The demonic beasts living here have mostly reached the second level, equivalent to Foundation Establishment cultivators.”
“There are no bloodstains or signs of anyone passing through in the surrounding area.”
Luo Yuebai thought for a moment and then said, “She was able to escape to this place and spent some effort leaving these words on the cliffside.”
“It’s likely that she had some special abilities.”
“Friend Su, you might want to take a closer look at the words on the cliffside. You might be able to find something else.”
When Su Jingzhen heard this, he looked at the words on the cliffside again.
His heart skipped a beat.
He suddenly saw some key words.
“‘This journey, the heavens are far away, and cannot be climbed!’
This journey!
Where did sister-in-law Zhang Xiu go?
She knew she was leaving, and the place she left was very far away, and there was no hope of returning!
When he saw this, Su Jingzhen’s worries suddenly eased a bit.
Zhang Xiu clearly knew she was leaving and left these words behind.
Even if Zhang Xiu was helpless at the time, she still left proof that she was alive.
Alive meant there was still hope!
“Sister-in-law, I promised Yao’er that I would take you to see her.”
“I can’t go back on my promise to the child.”
Su Jingzhen muttered to himself.
At this time, he saw Shuang Jiang walking towards the cliffside with the inscription.
She seemed to have discovered something.