When all journey preparations were complete, when the goal in his heart was clear as a mirror, parting became the only thing that must be faced.
On this day, before dawn, when morning light had yet to tear the clouds in the east, Qingxu Temple was still shrouded in tranquil thin mist. Tang Xiaoqi changed into a clean blue scholar's Taoist robe, ordinary in style but meticulously pressed, just like when he first entered the sect. He did not disturb any ordinary disciples. The rabbit spirit on his shoulder also quieted down. He quietly left the cave dwelling he had lived in for decades.
His first stop was the secluded cultivation area behind the main peak, Sect Master Xuan Xuan Zhenren's meditation grounds.
Passing through the natural cloud and mist formation, the cold pool was the same, the pines were the same. The Sect Master was not fishing but standing with hands behind his back by the pool's edge, as if he had long anticipated his arrival. Morning wind stirred his plain Taoist robe. He had an otherworldly appearance, his aura seamlessly unified with heaven and earth.
"Disciple Tang Xiaoqi, bids farewell to Master." Xiao Qi stepped forward, lifted his robe, and respectfully performed a full salute.
Xuan Xuan Zhenren slowly turned around. His gaze fell on Xiao Qi, peaceful yet profound, carrying a barely detectable sense of gratification and relief. He did not speak many words of retention or admonition, only lightly nodding, his voice like the morning wind among these mountains, clear and distant: "The road ahead is long and full of obstacles, but walking will bring you to your destination. When the heart holds fast to its convictions, there is nothing to fear from wind and rain. Go."
Simple words yet containing the elder's endless expectations and trust. Xiao Qi understood the Master had taught all he could teach, pointed out all he could point out. The remaining road needed to be walked by himself.
"Disciple remembers Master's teachings! Will surely live up to Master's grace and the sect's nurture!" Xiao Qi bowed deeply once more, then stood, his gaze firm as he met the Sect Master's eyes for a moment, then resolutely turned and left. No excessive words. Everything was understood without speaking.
Next, he went to the side hall beside the main peak's deliberation hall. This was where Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng usually handled sect affairs. It was still early, but Mu Qingfeng was already seated behind his desk, reviewing thick scrolls. Candlelight illuminated his steady face. Though a trace of exhaustion lingered in his brow, there was more of a sense of responsibility and ease.
Hearing footsteps, Mu Qingfeng looked up. Seeing it was Xiao Qi, a warm smile appeared on his face. He set down the jade slip in his hand and stood.
"Senior Brother." Xiao Qi cupped his hands.
Mu Qingfeng walked around the desk to Xiao Qi, patting his shoulder, the force steady: "Everything ready?"
"Yes." Xiao Qi nodded.
"Good." Mu Qingfeng asked no more, only taking from his bosom a token made of neither metal nor wood, engraved with Qingxu Temple's cloud pattern, and handing it to Xiao Qi. "This is the Qingxu Token. Seeing this token is like seeing the Sect Master. With it, you can mobilize all hidden posts and resources the sect has outside. If you encounter matters you cannot resolve, you can also use this token to seek help from forces friendly to Qingxu Temple. Though your current cultivation no longer requires this, one more preparation is never a bad thing."
Xiao Qi looked at this weighty token in his hand, knowing it represented Senior Brother and the sect's unreserved trust and support. He did not refuse, solemnly storing it: "Thank you, Senior Brother."
"Family does not speak two languages." Mu Qingfeng looked at him, his gaze warm and firm: "Remember our pact. Qingxu Temple will always be your backing. In all matters, preserving yourself is paramount."
"I understand." Xiao Qi nodded heavily: "The sect... I leave to Senior Brother."
"Rest assured." Mu Qingfeng nodded, his tone unquestionable.
Bidding farewell to Senior Brother, Xiao Qi went to the Enforcement Hall.
The Enforcement Hall was located on one side of the main peak. Its architectural style was cold and stern, radiating an inviolable dignity. On the plaza before the hall, enforcement disciples were already morning training. Theirshouts voices were uniform and orderly, carrying a trace of killing intent.
Third Senior Sister Liu Yun was not in the hall but standing alone beneath a gnarled ancient pine outside, her posture straight as a pine, long sword in her arms, her clear-cold gaze looking toward the brightening sky in the distance. Morning wind stirred her hair and robes, adding a touch of solitude and quietude.
Xiao Qi walked up and softly called: "Third Senior Sister."
Liu Yun came back to her senses, turned to look at him. That clear-cold gaze flickered with a trace of subtle emotion, then slightly nodded: "Leaving?"
"Yes."
Liu Yun was silent for a moment. Suddenly, she formed a sword gesture with two fingers. A highly condensed sword intent, carrying cold killing intent, shot out instantly. Not toward Xiao Qi but into the ground before him, leaving a bottomless small hole. The hole's edge was smooth as a mirror. The residual sword intent made the surrounding air slightly distort.
"This sword intent contains my latest comprehension of the Break Evil sword heart. It can last three days." Liu Yun's voice was still cold: "If you encounter demonic cultivators or evil entities you cannot match, it may help you cut open a lifeline."
She paused, looking at Xiao Qi, her gaze sharp as a sword: "Come back alive."
No extra blessings, no sentimental farewells, only the most practical help and the most direct expectation. This was Third Senior Sister's way.
Xiao Qi felt that incomparably fierce sword intent. His heart surged with warmth. He bowed: "Thank you, Third Senior Sister! Xiao Qi will surely remember!"
Finally, he came to a strange building behind the mountain shrouded in various formation lights. This was Second Senior Brother Luo Feng's Marvelous Workshop. Explosions or multicolored strange light flashes came from it constantly day and night.
As Xiao Qi approached, the workshop door clanged open by itself. From inside came Second Senior Brother's unique, excited voice with metallic friction: "Xiao Qi! Come in quickly! Just waiting for you!"
Walking into the workshop, it was like a huge junk room, filled with various nameless materials, half-finished artifacts, talismans drawn halfway, and some bizarre puppet limbs. Second Senior Brother's puppet body was standing before a complex instrument that nearly reached the ceiling, waving his arms about.
"Come come come! One last good thing!" Second Senior Brother controlled the puppet, stuffing into Xiao Qi's hand something palm-sized, shaped like a compass but with a constantly color-shifting crystal in the center. "This is the All Things Guiding Compass I improved by combining void dragon crystals, silicon-based energy detection technology, and traditional divination! I dare not say it can predict good or bad fortune, but at least it can help you distinguish approximate directions, detect potentially dangerous energy sources and life fluctuations nearby. It is much better than that Spirit Energy Compass from before! It is just... sometimes it gets strongly interfered with and the needle might spin around randomly. Do not completely depend on it, that is all!"
Xiao Qi looked at this still somewhat unreliable compass in his hand, half-laughing half-crying, but still carefully stored it: "Thank you, Second Senior Brother."
"What are thanks for! Oh right, these too, the new Super Enhanced Sky-Blasting Pearls, more powerful! And these Itchiness Talismans, Hiccup Talismans, Nonsense-Talking Talismans... Take them all take them! The world is dangerous; sometimes these gadgets are more useful than flying swords!" Second Senior Brother pressed on him a bunch more of his proud works without asking.
Looking at Second Senior Brother, whose body was only a puppet but whose warmth and concern could still be felt, Xiao Qi's heart was full of gratitude. He knew these seemingly playful things all concentrated Second Senior Brother's heart and care for him.
"Second Senior Brother, take care." Xiao Qi said solemnly.
"Rest assured! By the time you return, Senior Brother will definitely build a flying house!" The Second Senior Brother's puppet promised, thumping his chest.
Having bid farewell to all his beloved ones, Tang Xiaoqi, with the rabbit spirit standing on his shoulder, finally looked back at Qingxu Temple slowly awakening in the morning light. Mist-wreathed peaks, familiar halls, training disciples. Everything was bathed in gentle morning light, tranquil and peaceful.
There was no grand farewell ceremony, no crowds of well-wishers. Only the Sect Master's brief yet profound expectations, Senior Brother's steady and firm support, Third Senior Sister's cold but practical gift, and Second Senior Brother's lively yet sincere crappy treasures.
But this farewell from just a few people weighed heavier on his heart and caused more reluctance than any grand ceremony. It also filled him with strength.
He took a deep breath, burying that reluctance and concern deep in his heart, transforming them into motivation to move forward.
Then, without hesitation, he turned, stepped, and his figure became a blue rainbow, flying into the boundless sea of clouds, heading rapidly toward the distant Central Plains direction.
Behind him: home and dear friends.
Ahead: the unknown and the great Dao.
Taking leave is for a better return.