42 Minor Loss
Liang Yifei felt no surprise at seeing him since they had agreed to meet in this cave before his journey to the Purple Heaven House. As he approached the cave entrance, Yang Wu opened his eyes and met Liang Yifei's gaze, who was already standing next to him.
Yang Wu rose to his feet, stretching his arms, and inquired, "When I arrived here, I noticed the severity of your injuries, so I chose not to disturb you. How have your injuries healed?"
Liang Yifei nodded in response. "Yes, I'm almost fully healed now. Speaking of which, how much time has passed since the day I left?" he asked, curious about how much time he had spent recovering and cultivating.
Yang Wu unhurriedly replied "It's been almost sixty years"
Liang Yiefi nodded"I see. That wasn't far off from what I expected. I assume a lot has happened in those years?"
Yang Wu nodded with a solemn expression on his face. "Indeed something big has happened"
Liang Yifei frowned slightly. "what's it ?"
Yang Wu paused briefly before responding, "All the branches of the Free Heart Pavilion have been obliterated, and tragically, the four esteemed elders have also lost their lives."
Liang Yiefi's furrowed brow relaxed as he let out a sigh. "While the loss of the four old men and the branches is indeed a devastating blow, it pales in comparison to our ultimate goal; it's just a minor loss. We will take revenge for them when the opportunity presents itself."
Yang Wu nodded in agreement and inquired. "Then when should we go to the devil's realm?"
Liang Yiefi's expression turned serious. "It's not as simple as flicking a switch. The lower dimension is divided into two regions- Yin and Yang. The devil realm is in the Yin region while we reside in the Yang region. Moreover, even if we do manage to arrive there, locating the specific world we seek will take considerable time as there are several hundred worlds within the devil realm."
Yang Wu's expression turned grave as he asked, "Then what is the fastest way for us to get there?"
Liang Yiefi explained, "There is only one method for us, which is to wait for the precise moment. You see, the world we currently inhabit appears to be stationary; however, it's constantly in motion, just like every other world. Everything is perpetually moving. And every 300 years, the Devil Realm aligns parallel to our world, and during this phenomenon, we only need a signal to locate the exact world we want to teleport to, and the rest will be easy."
Yang Wu nodded in understanding, before asking, "I see. How do we obtain this signal?"
Liang Yiefi smiled, "That part is simple. I already have an ally within the Devil Realm who will help us."
Yang Wu couldn't hide his admiration, "You've thought this through! So when is the opportune time for us to make our move?"
Liang Yiefi replied, "We still have 40 years to prepare until the next alignment occurs."
He returned inside the cave and Yang Wu followed suit, the latter took out a table and some chairs for them to sit, and after that he took out a special tea set from his space ring.
The teapot, hand-carved from a rare and beautiful wood, was meticulously detailed with patterns of vines, leaves, and flowers that swirled together to create a stunning effect. The spout of the pot was curved like the neck of a swan, and it poured with a gracefulness that seemed almost otherworldly. The lid of the teapot was finely crafted with a raised knob that gleamed like a precious gem in the light. The wooden handle was designed for both comfort and beauty, fitting perfectly in Yang Wu's hand.
The cups were no less magnificent. Each one was formed from the finest porcelain, the exterior painted with a charming green and blue design that brought the beauty of nature into their midst. The rims were smooth and unmarred, and the handles were formed with an artistic flourish, the gentle curves fitting comfortably in one's hand. It was difficult to imagine that something so delicate could hold the weight of the tea inside it, but each cup felt substantial and sturdy.
As Yang Wu poured the hot water into the pot and placed the tea leaves inside, they sizzled and popped within the vessel, giving off a fragrant steam that spoke of the highest quality tea. The aroma filled the small cave, and the comfort of the beautiful tea set was palpable.
As they waited for the tea to brew, Liang Yiefi couldn't help but praise, "Your skills have improved significantly since the last time we had tea together."
Yang Wu chuckled and replied, "I have been idle recently, focusing on nothing but cultivation and making tea. But I doubt I will ever find such peaceful days again." He shook his head, lost in thought for a moment.
Liang Yiefi nodded in understanding. "Peaceful days are precious indeed," he said. "But even amidst the chaos, we can find moments of calm and stillness, like in the ritual of making and savoring tea."
Yang Wu smiled, glad that his master understood his sentiments. "The joy tea brings me is no less than the satisfaction I experience when killing an unarmed target. Both actions, while seemingly plain and straightforward, possess their own unique beauty."
Liang Yiefi was taken aback by Yang Wu's words. "I thought you were comprehending the Dao of Assassination, not the Dao of Cowardice."
Yang Wu's mouth twitched. "The Assassination Dao, too, has various facets. It's not merely about taking lives and finishing missions. There of course has to be some joy to it, Naturally, an easier task is always preferable."
The two of them fell into a comfortable silence, enjoying the aroma of the tea as it continued to brew. After a few moments, Yang Wu poured the tea into the cups, and they both took a sip.
The taste was beyond compare, smooth and subtle yet bursting with flavor. They both closed their eyes, savoring the moment as the exquisite tea warmed their bodies and souls.
After some time, Liang Yiefi opened his eyes and looked at Yang Wu. "Your understanding of the Dao of Assassination may seem unorthodox, but I admit there is wisdom to your approach"
Yang Wu smiled, his eyes still closed as he continued to enjoy the tea. "The true essence of the Assassination Dao is like the tea we are drinking. It takes patience, subtlety, and the perfect balance of power and restraint. Pursuing such a path has led me to seek moments of peace like this, where I can appreciate not just the art of assassination, but also the beauty of life."
Liang Yiefi nodded thoughtfully, the words resonating deeply within him. "The duality of your path impresses me. Life and death intertwined in a delicate dance, yet you still find time to appreciate the simpler things, like a good cup of tea."
"The best kind of tea is like the most successful assassination," Yang Wu said, opening his eyes and meeting Liang Yiefi's gaze. "It takes time and cares to prepare, and the result should be smooth, elegant and leave no trace."
Liang Yifei couldn't help but laugh at the analogy. "Well, since you say that, I have a mission for you."
Yang Wu's heart skipped a beat upon hearing that, and he was about to retract his statement when Liang Yifei continued, "I need you to keep an eye on someone."
Feeling slightly relieved, Yang Wu asked, "Who might that be?"
"Nothing you don't know; it's Mi Ling," Liang Yifei answered calmly.
Yang Wu's face darkened at the mention of her name. "How is that different from killing me?"
Liang Yifei chuckled, "You don't need to worry. I don't want you to tail her closely; just a general idea would be enough."
Letting out a sigh of relief, Yang Wu inquired, "And how am I supposed to find her? As you know, we don't have any sources of information right now."
Liang Yifei replied, "I have already taken care of that. While I was returning the peacock to her, I placed a special void mark on it. When the peacock enters her space ring, the mark will transfer from the peacock to be integrated within the space inside it, Thus, as long as she has the space ring on her, tracking her becomes a seamless task."
He then retrieved a jade pendant from his spatial ring and handed it to Yang Wu. "This pendant will guide you to her whereabouts and enable you to monitor her every move. I won't remind you to be cautious, and contact me immediately if anything significant occurs."
Yang Wu grasped the pendant and nodded, then vanished seamlessly into the shadows.
