Chapter 993: Chapter 239: The Return of an Old Friend (Extra for Alliance Hierarch 20181004211950939)
Lv Zongxiao was very adept at dealing with people.
As soon as Jiang Wang said that, Lv Zongxiao immediately stood up.
He was tall and half a head taller than Jiang Wang, and he patted Jiang Wang’s shoulder, "Let’s talk about the handover later. You go see your friend first. She’s at the Full Moon Lake. I’ve asked no one to disturb her."
"Alright, alright." Jiang Wang couldn’t stay put any longer, "Then I’ll go!"
"Go ahead." Lv Zongxiao gave an understanding smile, "I’ll show you the way."
"How could I impose?" Jiang Wang hurriedly said, "I know the way, I can go by myself."
Lv Zongxiao waved his hand, expressing profound meaning, "Not many people know about your friend coming out of the Heavenly Abode Secret Land. So, I’ll still take you there."
With that, Jiang Wang understood.
The changes in the Heavenly Abode Secret Land, whether good or bad, Lv Zongxiao didn’t want to reveal any information before the results were clear.
That was the proper thing to do.
He opened the protective array, walked into the high walls, along the lengthy cloister, towards the Full Moon Lake...
This was already his third visit, with a different mood each time.
The first time, he was fearless and without regrets in the face of the extremely dangerous Heavenly Abode Secret Land ahead, with only hatred in his heart and the obsession to become stronger, seizing any opportunity that came his way.
The second time, he visited with the sorrow of laying a friend to rest, puzzled by why the world was as it was.
Today was his third time, and he became very nervous.
"She’s been sitting by the Full Moon Lake since she came out from the Secret Land, not making any moves, nor speaking with anyone. I believe, perhaps you might be able to communicate with her."
Lv Zongxiao stopped in his tracks and said, "I’ll be right here, just call if you need anything."
"Okay." Jiang Wang didn’t stop walking, nor did he say anything else.
The story of resurrection was not shocking in the Supernatural World.
But Biqiong had exhausted all her vitality, and the powerful Medical Practitioners from East King Valley said there was nothing they could do.
The legend of the old man from Tianfu was fragmented, offering no useful clues. It was only known that he was once the foremost figure of the world in the Inner Mansion Realm, single-handedly slaying three famously known Outer Tower Cultivators all at once, thereby leaving behind an immortal legacy.
The strength of a person is highlighted by their opponents. Cultivators like Hai Zongming from the Outer Building, whom Jiang Wang could kill in droves, wouldn’t necessarily bring him fame. But if he could, with the Cultivation of the Inner Mansion Realm, simultaneously execute several Yamas from Hell Has No Gate, he would immediately be known across the land!
But that was all the clue yielded. Whether the old man from Tianfu died in battle, separated from his Divine Power Seed to wander the Star River, or even if he truly died, there was no definitive conclusion. It was tough to extract anything useful from it.
And Jiang Wang’s own experience in the Heavenly Abode Secret Land was completely blank; he couldn’t remember anything that happened inside, let alone have any thoughts about it.
However...
Biqiong was alive.
Biqiong seemed to be alive.
The innocent and carefree silly girl, who never had the heart to harm anyone, yet always ended up getting hurt. She... she seemed to have come back to life!
A joy grew uncontrollably within him.
Despite his unease, his lips couldn’t help but curve upward.
Could it be... that all those efforts weren’t in vain?
The struggles on the edge of the cliff, were they not entirely meaningless?
My friend... my friend.
Jiang Wang’s heart harbored immense joy as well as immense unease.
Was she... truly alive?
No matter how long a cloister is, it comes to an end.
The end lies at the Full Moon Lake.
A pool of clear waves reflecting the expanse of the sky.
It wasn’t night, and only a solitary cloud lingered above Full Moon Lake.
The white cloud reflected in the clear water.
Jiang Wang didn’t know why, but he looked at the sky, then the water, before he looked at the person by the water.
It was a slightly slender figure, sitting silently by the lake, draped in a somewhat oversized green robe—that was the outer garment Jiang Wang had taken off his own body when he sent her into the Heavenly Abode Secret Land.
"Bi... Biqiong?" Jiang Wang tentatively spoke out.
The shoulders of the girl by the lake trembled slightly, and then she gently turned her head around.
And so, she saw Jiang Wang.
The familiar person.
The person etched in her heart.
The person she envisioned in countless unbearable moments.
Her lips parted as if she wanted to shout out loud,
She pursed them as if she wanted to cry.
"Bi... Biqiong, is it you?" Jiang Wang asked again.
In the boy’s clear eyes shone a soft and fragile hope.
Is it you?
He longed for a definitive answer.
Biqiong accurately received this message.
"Mmh!"
She nodded vigorously.
She stood up and faced Jiang Wang, "Although this world seems so unfamiliar, you... you are very familiar..."
She swallowed all the tears she was about to cry, all the hardships she wished to tell, and with a radiant smile, she said, "So, I’ve come back!"
"That’s wonderful!" Jiang Wang exclaimed with joy, "This is really wonderful!"
He almost jumped on the spot, "This is truly too good!"
It was rare to see the always composed him lose his composure like this. It was evident how delighted he felt. He was so overjoyed that he was almost on the verge of going crazy!
Zhu Bijing took a few quick steps toward him, but then stopped.
She could see that he was happy.
This happiness born from her presence made her heart flutter and her soul feel light.
She could see that his happiness contained not a hint of falsehood.
But... it was only happiness.
The old Zhu Bijing might not have thought about these things, but now she couldn’t help but realize—he doesn’t love me. His feelings for me are just those of friendship, a friend’s fondness.
Having a friend’s fondness should be a matter of happiness, a cause for laughter, even in life after death. But in her heart, she couldn’t help herself, couldn’t shake off the bitter taste of resignation.
Do you know what I’ve given up to come back and see you?
Eventually, she stopped three steps away from Jiang Wang and said, "Daoist Jiang, thank you."
Between them, there was only a distance of three steps.
Zhu Bijing thought, if he were to open his arms, I would throw myself into them.
But Jiang Wang’s hands stayed properly by his sides, excessively so. From the beginning to the end, they didn’t show the slightest inclination to open.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Between us, there’s no need for thanks!"
Jiang Wang approached her openly and observed Zhu Bijing carefully, to confirm that she had truly come back, to confirm that she had returned in good health.
His eyes filled with laughter, he said, "Quick, tell me, how did you get out?"
Zhu Bijing gave one last look at his embrace, averted her gaze, and forced herself to say, "I don’t know... When I woke up, I was already beside the pond."
"I don’t know how to talk to people, so I just keep quiet. I thought I’d just wait for you to come. Once you got the news, you would surely come looking for me."
Why don’t you hug me? That was the question in her heart, asked only within.
"It’s alright," Jiang Wang muttered thoughtfully. "Indeed, the experiences within the Heavenly Abode Secret Land are hard to remember."
He was considering how to explain this to Lv Zongxiao, as there had been no precedent for such a situation. They couldn’t just settle Lv Zongxiao’s concerns with "I don’t remember," even though he now had the standing to do just that and no need to fear Lv Zongxiao. But that wasn’t the principle of the matter.
"What is it?" Zhu Bijing asked, biting her lip, "Is there any trouble?"
"What trouble could there be!" Jiang Wang laughed carefreely, brushing the concern aside, "Your return is the greatest news! Let’s not talk about the past. Those who bullied you have received their due punishment. What are your plans now?"
He asked her, what are your plans?
Instead of saying, come with me from now on.
He saw her as a comrade, a friend, but not a lover, not even a subordinate.
Though he gave her respect, autonomy,
The Zhu Bijing of the past was someone who rarely had her own opinion, not knowing where she should go.
Zhu Bijing’s eyes dimmed a shade, and she forced herself to ask, "Did you kill Ji Shaoqing?"
"Don’t worry, there’s no trouble. I remember your request!" Jiang Wang reassured her with a laugh, not wanting to worry her, "It was a fair duel, a fight to the death. I live, he dies, no grudges between us. It’s as simple as that. Tell me about you, do you want to stay in Qi Country?"
Zhu Bijing bit her lower lip over and over, finally responding, "I will return to the Sea Tower."
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PS:
What’s the process of revising the text like?
For example, this paragraph:
[A somewhat frail figure sat silently beside the pond, draped in a somewhat oversized blue robe – the very one Jiang Wang had taken off his own body to cover her when she was sent into the Heavenly Abode Secret Land.]
The original text I wrote read:
[A frail figure in a white ruqun skirt sat silently by the water’s edge, white garb and black hair as clean as the pool under the full moon.
Not in the ragged state she was in when sent into the Heavenly Abode Secret Land.
It was only then that Jiang Wang suddenly felt a sense of apology, reproaching himself for not having thought to cover her with a clean robe at that time.]
The read-through effect after revision wasn’t necessarily better. The original version highlighted sadness, while the later one conveyed tenderness.
Perhaps there’s no such thing as the perfect rendition in this world, my struggle might be insignificant.
But the significance of the struggle lies in that—
the text I ultimately present is the emotion I most want to share with my readers at that particular moment.
...
I walk through a vast world, hoping that you can feel me.
(Additional note: These past few days, I’ve already felt you all.)
(More: Alliance Hierarchs, please join the reader group. The first group is full, join the second group at 1159982294 Under Jixuegong. Then private message Slow Xi to read books slowly, and ask him to pull everyone into the alliance group. The alliance group now only has nine people and desperately needs company for a chat~)
