Chapter 83 – Agreement
“Huff… huff…”
Shui Yun’er kept running.
Running helter-skelter, she staggered and fell on the ground several times.
However, she still didn’t stop, and just ran desperately.
Just now, she eavesdropped on Xue Jiujiu’s conversation with someone.
She had not intention to eavesdrop, she just happened to pass by.
However, Shui Yuner happened to hear the words “Young Ancestor” – someone called Xue Jiujiu Young Ancestor, and she didn’t deny it.
In the Merak Temple, only one person can be called “Young Ancestor” – “Natural Disaster” Xue Qilin.
Although she had her doubts about Xue Jiujiu’s identity, but the girl never imagined that the lass would turn out to be the Merak Temple’s Young Ancestor.
Who knows how many nights the girl turned and tossed in bed while thinking about Xue Qilin’s achievements.
The girl admires her and wants to see her.
However, when Shui Yuner was finally separated from Xue Qilin by only a wall, she chose to run away.
All because of a sentence – “You claim that I’m toying with Little Yun. Even if it’s true, does it concern you?”.
Lie, it turns out that everything is a lie, a farce.
So she ran, ran desperately.
“… Alas.”
Unintentionally, she came to a brook.
The limpid, mirror-like flowing water reflected a distressed face.
Messy hair, dull eyes – is this really me? Shui Yuner can’t recall how long she hasn’t seen such a disgraceful appearance of herself.
Shui Yuner sat weakly on the ground.
The sound of flowing water rings in her ears, a light breeze blowing gently disseminates the unique wood aroma of the Merak Temple.
Everything looks like it used to be.
Only the the girl is different.
Her heart aches with a dull pain. It feels like being scratched by the tip of a knife very gentle, yet unexpectedly… unexpectedly it is painful.
Shui Yuner hates being deceived. Ever since she learned that a person she was closest with betrayed her, she has been disgusted by it.
Since then, the girl is accompanied by restlessness, lacking a sense of steadiness.
She is very scared, scared that she won’t know when she’ll be deceived or betrayed again.
… In the end, she was still deceived.
Shui Yuner stared at the brook in a daze.
In a trance, she saw the smile of Xue Jiujiu – Xue Qilin – reflected in the water.
It’s a kind smile, she has always thought so.
But now she knows that it’s fake.
Yes, fake.
Fake, fake, fake, fake, fake, fake, fake, fake, fake, fake, fake…
The voice echoing in her mind drove her to a certain abyss.
For a moment, Shui Yuner had the illusion that there is a cliff is in front of her and felt like she will fall to her death so long as she takes a step forward.
Never take this step – the girl shook her head hurriedly to dispel the illusion.
In any case, the only thing she can do is seek strength.
Shui Yuner firmly told herself that this alone must not be forgotten.
No point thinking about it any longer. Anyway, she was alone to begin with.
She suppressed some kind of dark thoughts in her heart and propped up her inexplicably tired body.
At this moment…
“… Shui Yuner.”
Someone called her softly.
She heard this voice before. It’s the voice of the person who talked with Xue Qilin just now.
When she turned around, the girl saw a white-haired old man standing three steps behind her.
The slightly haggard old face gives off the feeling of a dead tree, but the eyes are full of dazzling light.
He’s probably an Elder or an Earth Realm senior – Shui Yuner guessed.
“Sir, you are…?” Shui Yuner lifted her spirits forcefully and asked respectfully.
The old man didn’t answer her question, but asked instead, going straight to the point: “Was that you who eavesdropped just now?”
How does he know? Shui Yuner asked herself. At that time, she has restrained her aura well. If she didn’t fail to restrain her emotions after learning the truth, then even the Merak Temple’s Young Ancestor may not be able to discover the fact that someone has eavesdropped on her.
“There’s no need to be so on guard. I won’t tell the Young Ancestor about this. She doesn’t know that you are the one who eavesdropped.”
What is he after? Shui Yuner’s face portrayed this question.
“I was the one who let you listen on our conversation.”
The old man made a surprising statement.
He let me listen on their conversation intentionally? In other words, he pinpointed the time when to start the conversation just now? For a while, Shui Yuner didn’t know how to react. She can’t figure out the old man’s motive.
The old man ignored Shui Yuner’s doubts and continued to say: “You must have heard the Young Ancestor’s words. I don’t know what she said to you, but in my opinion, there is no solution for congested qi passageways. This has been the case for countless years. You don’t really believe that you can become a martial practitioner, isn’t that but a joke?”
Shui Yuner is left speechless.
She is also aware that there is no solution to her problem.
Ironically, although she doesn’t easily trust others, but she still believed that absurd statement.
However, in their despair, a drowning person will grasp anything, even if it’s just a straw.
She is someone struggling in water.
The hatred born from two losses is clinging firmly to her heart.
“If you don’t try, then there’s be any hope… That’s what I think.”
“You’re wasting your effort.” The old man sighed, “How pitiful.”
Pitiful? Me? Perhaps. Shui Yuner secretly smiled wryly.
“You may be pitiful.” When he spoke till here, the old man’s tone cooled down: “But we don’t need a joke in the Merak Temple.”
For the noble Five Great Sects to make an exception and receive a disciple born with blocked qi passageways – this isn’t only a very serious lapse of judgement, but also an extremely irresponsible practice.
As everyone knows, there is no solution to congested qi passageways.
“… I know.”
Shui Yuner bit her lower lip tightly, and her eyes showed the color of despair.
Even so, the old man drove the stake further into her heart.
“No matter how much the Young Ancestor likes you, no matter the reason she let you join the temple, but in my capacity as the Law Enforcement Elder, I will never permit your existence here. I will do anything to drive you out.”
At this point, the old man’s tone suddenly softened, “If you leave on your own, I’ll write a recommendation letter for you to enter a martial academy to practice martial arts.”
Martial academies are academies set up by the authorities in every major city.
However, the thing being taught there isn’t martial arts, but some simple kung fu.
The girl didn’t respond to the old man’s proposal, and just lowered her head.
After a long silence, she looked up at the old man.
“Didn’t the Merak Temple give me a chance?”
This sentence sounds like a complaint.
“You…” The old man’s face is painted with surprise. He probably didn’t expect to be confronted with such a question.
He didn’t speak for a while, and Shui Yuner just stared at him.
Then, the old man sighed: “Fine, I will give you a chance.”
The girl is still just gazing at the other party, waiting to see what follows next.
“Tournament.” The old man uttered a word. After a short pause, he carried on: “If you get a result in the tournament that I can approve of, then I’ll turn a blind eye and let you stay in outer temple.”
“Alright.” Shui Yuner agreed without hesitation.
After Xue Qilin’s path was cut off, Merak Temple is her final hope. She won’t let it go.
“Then I’ll be waiting.” The old man shook his head gently, sighed, and left.
“Imbecile.”
*
When he walked to beyond Shui Yuner’s sight, the look of pity on Liu Chengzong’s face disappeared instantly.
Instead, ridicule took its place.
“As expected, she’s an ignorant person.” Liu Chengzong sneered. “Unfortunately, she doesn’t understand that excessive attachment will only lead to destruction, will only create countless flaws for others to take advantage off.”
Liu Chengzong is known as “Firecracker” in Merak Temple, going off with any little thing.
However, this doesn’t mean that he is stupid.
On the contrary, he is very capable and shrewd. Otherwise, how else could he hold the position of “Law Enforcement Elder”?
That is wisdom given to him by years of experience.
For him, it isn’t difficult to see through a person. In fact, by relying on scattered information, he got a clear understanding of Shui Yuner – a person obsessed with acquiring martial arts strength.
He doesn’t know the reason why she is so obsessed. However, he only needs to know the result.
At this moment, a youth suddenly greeted Liu Chengzong, and then followed behind the old man.
“Teacher, why did you made that agreement with Junior Disciple Sister Shui?” The youth asked, puzzled.
If Shui Yuner saw this youth, she would immediately recognize him as the Senior Disciple Brother from Internal Affairs Department who helped her with the registration procedure.
In addition, he has another identity, that is, a disciple of Merak Temple’s Law Enforcement Elder. He has become Liu Chengzong’s disciple a short while ago.
“Cheng’er, Shui Yuner isn’t desperate yet.” Liu Chengzong stopped walking and said a little ruefully.
“Only when it sinks into complete despair will the fish be willing to be hooked by false hope. Therefore, I have to push her to the depths of despair, and then put the thing called hope before her eyes.”
Liu Chengzong looked meaningfully at his young disciple.
“Only this way will she run recklessly towards the ruin called ‘hope’.”