BW Extra 20

Finale

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Ning Buwei opened his eyes and stared blankly at the bed curtains.

“What’s wrong?” Chu Jun reached out to pull him into his embrace and touched his face.

“I dreamed about what happened before at Wanxuan Academy.” Ning Buwei touched his own collarbone, where the small red mole had long since disappeared. He bit down on Chu Jun’s finger and ground his teeth hard. “It was one thing for you to help me transfer away my inner demon, but you actually sealed my memories too. What on earth were you thinking?”

Chu Jun smiled. “You still haven’t calmed down after all these years?”

“I get angry whenever I think about it.” Ning Buwei spat out his hand and sat up.

Kiss marks covered his lean back, causing Chu Jun’s eyes to deepen slightly.

Ning Buwei skillfully covered his eyes. “No, don’t even think about it.”

Chu Jun held his waist and refused to let go.

“Ning Xiu and the others are leaving today, stop fooling around.” Ning Buwei said righteously.

Chu Jun reluctantly released his hand with some regret.

Ning Buwei poked hard at his beautiful collarbone, where the teeth marks he had bitten last night still remained, and said teasingly, “You must have cultivated a fake Path of Tranquility.”

Chu Jun cleared his throat lightly and said seriously, “I’m just immersed in cultivation.”

“Pretending.” Ning Buwei got up to dress. “I must have been blind back then to think you were cold, abstinent, and untouched by love.”

Chu Jun tied his waist belt for him and said in a light tone, “That was indeed the case before I met you.”

Ning Buwei reached out to cover his mouth and took a deep breath. “Spare me, Head Teacher Chu. I’m old and can’t bear to hear such sappy words.”

Chu Jun blinked innocently, and Ning Buwei’s breath caught.

He suddenly felt that Chu Jun had been right all those years ago to refuse to remove his mask. If he had seen Chu Jun’s face back then, he would have fallen for him immediately without a second thought.

Who could refuse when the person they liked was devastatingly beautiful?

No one.

Ning Buwei cupped his face and kissed him fiercely.

Chu Jun pulled him by the waist to sit on his lap. Pale fingers slipped inside the front of his robe, their intertwined sleeves swaying gently, low panting sounds hidden between the bed curtains.

…………

Ning Buwei pressed his forehead against his shoulder in frustration.

“Mm?” Chu Jun turned his head to kiss his ear.

“Next time you use a honey trap on me, I’ll sew the mask onto your face.” Ning Buwei pinched his face viciously.

A trace of amusement seeped into Chu Jun’s eyes. “Alright.”

“You only agree with your mouth.” Ning Buwei squinted as he kneaded his face, bit his nose, “Lecher.”

Chu Jun held him and buried his face in his outer robe, his shoulders shaking slightly.

Ning Buwei didn’t quite understand what was funny and poked his neck. “What’s so funny?”

Chu Jun lifted his head, his eyes slightly red from laughing, and said matter-of-factly, “I’m not laughing.”

“You are!” After Ning Buwei said this, he couldn’t help but start laughing too.

The two of them grinned foolishly at each other for a while. In the end, neither knew what they were laughing about, but when two people were being inexplicable together, it somehow didn’t seem so inexplicable anymore.

“What’s wrong with us.” Ning Buwei restrained his laughter and punched his shoulder. “Go, go, go, hurry up and get up.”

Chu Jun pulled him up from the bed. The two of them put on their robes and instantly became dignified and solemn again.

“No more laughing.” Chu Jun said expressionlessly.

“I wasn’t thinking about laughing until you mentioned it.” Ning Buwei had just stepped out the door when he leaned on his shoulder and started laughing again, laughing so hard his stomach hurt.

The laughter that Chu Jun had finally managed to suppress poured out from his brows and eyes.

The two of them sat on the steps for quite a while before they finally caught their breath.

Ning Xiu lay on top of the wall and asked in a low voice, “What are they laughing about?”

“I don’t know.” Little Black shook his head blankly.

“But——” Cui Yuanbai stroked his chin.

“But what?” Big Yellow asked.

“But watching them makes me want to laugh too.” Yang Lingzhu said with a serious face.

“But there’s clearly nothing funny.” Jiang Yizheng was utterly perplexed.

“You people who don’t have dao companions wouldn’t understand.” Feng Zizhang said mysteriously.

The others: “…………”

So what if you have a dao companion.

Chu Jun stood up from the steps and extended a hand to Ning Buwei. “Let’s go, they must be getting anxious waiting.”

Ning Buwei grasped his hand and used the leverage to stand up. “Let’s go, let’s go, if it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have wasted so much time.”

Chu Jun helped him straighten his hair ribbon and smiled. “Right, it’s all my fault.”

“No more laughing!” Ning Buwei warned him.

“I’m not laughing.”

“I can see it.”

“Oh.”

“Quick, quick, quick, they’re coming out, let’s go!” Big Yellow said in a low voice.

The group scrambled and tumbled down from the wall, running toward the front hall.

“Letting those little brats see us make fools of ourselves.” Ning Buwei transmitted his voice.

“Well, they can’t understand anyway.” Chu Jun said.

“So what were you actually laughing about?” Ning Buwei wondered.

“……You don’t know what you were laughing about either?” Chu Jun asked.

“I felt like it, is that any of your business?” Ning Buwei said righteously.

The two of them had serious expressions on their faces, but were actually quietly saying meaningless nonsense to each other within their sound transmission barrier. The group of children had already run ahead to the front hall and sat up straight, waiting for them, their faces clearly showing the three words “I’m very good.”

Obviously not very convincing.

Breakfast was eaten with much chattering.

“Father, I want that bean bun!” Long Jin shouted to Ning Buwei.

Ning Buwei passed him the bean bun at hand.

“This pear soup is supposed to beautify the skin, I wonder if it’s true.” Jiang Yizheng took a sip and said to Yang Lingzhu.

“Second Sister, the effect is very small.” Yang Lingzhu gave her a packet of pills. “Not as good as my pills.”

“Did Yao Yao go back?” Big Yellow asked Feng Zizhang.

“She went back. A message came this morning saying her master and martial uncle were very satisfied.” Feng Zizhang couldn’t help but smile.

“Good lad.” Big Yellow patted his head.

“Dad, can I take that knife from the storage room?” Cui Yuanbai snatched a bean bun from Little Black’s hand and stuffed it in his mouth.

“Take it, and pick out some other handy items while you’re at it. Training outside is different from being at home.” Chu Jun peeled a fruit for Ning Buwei.

“You and Little Black should still use transformation techniques to hide your identities.” Ning Buwei took a bite, found it too sweet, and stuffed it into Chu Jun’s mouth. “And Little Black, don’t transform at the drop of a hat, or people might catch you and contract you.”

Little Black’s cheeks were bulging from eating and he had no time to speak, only nodding repeatedly.

“If you eat more, you’ll get even fatter.” Ning Xiu was quick to snatch one away.

Little Black glared at him with a whimper.

“Ning Xiu, when you get to Wanxuan Academy, give this letter to Dean Hao.” Chu Jun handed him an envelope. “Take a detour on the way, don’t go through the wasteland swamp.”

“Go through Kan Prefecture, there happens to be a new teleportation array there.” Feng Zizhang said.

“Alright.” Ning Xiu nodded.

“Don’t worry, Dad, I’m going back with Xioa Shan, I’ll watch over him.” Jiang Yizheng said.

“Lingzhu is going to Xinzhou?” Ning Buwei asked.

“Yes, many of the buildings in Medical Immortal Valley are still intact, they can be used with simple repairs.” Yang Lingzhu handed Chu Jun a packet of pills. “Dad, these are for Father to take every day. He can stop after about three months. If anything comes up, just call me over.”

“Don’t worry.” Ning Buwei waved his hand.

Seeing Jiang Yizheng about to continue nagging, Feng Zizhang stuffed a piece of steamed cake in her mouth. “Eat quickly, if you don’t eat it will get cold.”

Jiang Yizheng’s attention was indeed drawn to the steamed cake.

“Father, how long will you be in seclusion this time?” Ning Xiu asked.

“Ten years.” Ning Buwei casually wiped the crumbs from the corner of his mouth. “Eat slowly.”

“Can I come visit you?” Ning Xiu had never been separated from them for such a long time.

The others also looked at Ning Buwei and Chu Jun together.

“Seclusion is seclusion. What’s the difference between randomly visiting and staying at home?” Ning Buwei said with a laugh. “You’ve all grown up now, you’re not little children who can’t leave people anymore.”

“Ten years will pass quickly.” Chu Jun smiled. “You should also go out and make your own way in the world.”

Although that’s what they said, their family had lived together for so many years. Ning Buwei and Chu Jun were the pillars. To suddenly separate, they still felt reluctant.

They had originally been scattered across the seventeen states, brought home by Ning Buwei and Chu Jun. Although the siblings had no blood relations, they had long regarded each other as family. Under the protection of Ning Buwei and Chu Jun, they fought and made noise and caused chaos as they grew up together, spending a carefree time.

They had quarreled, fought, and sulked, but would still unite against outsiders. They used their wits against their two fathers, rebelling and not listening, but when they were wronged or hurt, their first reaction was still to go home to find their fathers……

Father and Dad were powerful and reliable, the strongest backing and foundation for them to roam freely in the world.

At the main gate of the Ning residence in Chen City.

A group of kids looked longingly at Ning Buwei and Chu Jun, dawdling and not wanting to leave.

“Look at all of you, still acting like you’re four or five years old.” Ning Buwei crossed his arms helplessly. “Hurry up and go where you need to go, you’ve been making so much noise these past two days my head hurts.”

“Little brats.” Big Yellow patted each of their heads, picked up Little Mushroom and placed him on his shoulder, and gave a perfunctory cupped-fist salute to Ning Buwei and Chu Jun. “Chengfeng, Venerable, I’m going, take care.”

After saying this, he transformed into a streak of light and flew toward the horizon.

“Father, Dad, I’m leaving too.” Feng Zizhang smiled. “When you come out of seclusion, I’ll bring younger brothers and sisters to pick you up.”

Ning Buwei nodded and waved his hand.

Feng Zizhang jumped onto his flying sword and disappeared from their view.

“Father, Dad, Little Black and I are leaving too!” Cui Yuanbai dragged over Little Black, who was still eating.

“Father, Dad, don’t worry, Fourth Brother and I will definitely make a name for ourselves! When you come out of seclusion, you’ll hear of our fame!” Long Jin swallowed the bun in his mouth and disappeared from the spot together with Cui Yuanbai.

“Father, take your pills on time and take good care of your health.” Yang Lingzhu smiled. “Dad, you must watch over Father, don’t let him casually use evil qi again.”

Chu Jun nodded slightly.

Yang Lingzhu threw out her flying boat and rose with the wind.

“Father, Dad……” Jiang Yizheng held back several times but still couldn’t help the tears that fell. “Wuwuwu, I’m not going to Wanxuan Academy, I want to go to Yijian Peak with you.”

Ning Buwei said helplessly, “Dean Shang has been urging you for so long and you’ve been staying at home refusing to go, stop making a fuss.”

Chu Jun patted her head. “Be good, if you miss us just send a message.”

Jiang Yizheng nodded with red eyes.

Ning Xiu was stronger than his Second Sister. He smiled and said, “Father, rest assured in your seclusion, I’ll watch over my older brothers and sisters.”

Ning Buwei pinched his face. “Alright, go with your Second Sister.”

Ning Xiu and Jiang Yizheng also jumped onto their flying swords and soon transformed into two streaks of light that disappeared from sight.

Ning Buwei and Chu Jun stood at the entrance of the Ning residence. The originally lively and bustling residence suddenly became quiet.

“They’ve all grown up.” Ning Buwei said with emotion.

“Mm.” Chu Jun held his hand and said, “When children grow up, they naturally leave home. They will have their own encounters.”

Ning Buwei turned his head and smiled. “You’re reluctant to let them go too?”

Chu Jun was noncommittal. “After all, we raised them for so many years.”

“That’s true. From now on, it depends on their individual opportunities and fortunes.” Ning Buwei let out a long breath. “We should go too.”

“Alright.”

“Should we repair the bamboo building at Yijian Peak? Last time we went, it was leaking.”

“Last time Zizhang and Yuanbai repaired it, Little Black and Ning Xiu made trouble, so it wasn’t completed.”

“Forget it, let’s just repair it ourselves.”

“Did Lingzhu forget to bring her medicine cauldron?”

“She brought it, I stuffed it in her storage ring. Xiao Jiang made two lists yesterday of things to bring. I checked them and she missed more than ten items. She’s so grown up and still unreliable.”

“Did she and Ning Xiu just head in the direction of Kan Prefecture? Why do I think they’re going toward the wasteland swamp?”

“Those two unlucky kids, we shouldn’t have let them go together…… let them be.”

The two of them walked side by side through the streets of Chen City while talking, disappearing into the bustling crowds.

The spring breeze swept across the lively and prosperous Chen City, swept across the vibrant Xun Prefecture, swept across the endless river rolling from east to west, swept across this vast mortal world of the eight prefectures and seventeen states. The invisible and imperceptible Eight Trigrams Great Formation operated ceaselessly, supporting this land of living beings.

Deep within the formation, the peacefully sleeping long sword trembled slightly. Magnificent spiritual power exploded from the depths of the earth’s core, then was suddenly absorbed by the Eight Trigrams Great Formation, dissipating into nothingness.

The young cultivator flying on his sword through the sky seemed to sense something and turned his head to look back.

But he only saw the endless long river and the vast mountain ranges.