[END] Will Eternal

Chapter 877: Things Change, People Stay the Same

The entire sect is busy. The air buzzed with conversation as the Patriarch Spirit Stream and the other powerful experts made use of the mountain launcher's magical technique, drying the sea to repair the damage done to the four mountain ranges that formed the headquarters.

The Pill Division used all of their strength to save Dire Skybanyan, and also had all of the disciples work around the clock to concoct medicinal pills.

The Profound Stream Division worked hard on refining the spell formation that protected the sect, as well as the countless magical items that the sect disciples had tampered with during the battle.

The Spirit Division and the Blood Stream had taken the lead in the actual battle, and because of that, many of them went into secluded meditation to recover. Those who were able to assist in the repair work to the sect themselves.

When Bai Xiaochun found Song Junwan, he was busy taking care of Middle Peak's affairs. Although he was eager to spend some time alone with her, and talk about various matters of the heart, his current task was more important.

Due to Bai Xiaochun's current status in the sect, once he appeared, the disciples looked at him with vigor and adoration. In fact, the way they clasped hands in official remarks caused the repair work to slow down.

Bai Xiaochun enjoyed the beautiful sensation, and prepared to leave when he realized that he really should give some words of comfort. However, before he could even open his mouth, Song Junwan glared at him and chased him away.

He rubbed his nose awkwardly as he walked away. Although she was inclined towards Song Junwan, just staring at him caused her to think back guiltily over what had happened in the Wildlands with the Red-Dust Mistress. The prospect of what could happen if Song Junwan and Hou Xiaomei found out caused her heart to tremble in fear.

As far as Hou Xiaomei went, Bai Xiaochun had learned from Li Qinghou that he and Ghostfang had been taken away by the Celestials half a year ago, to serve as special guards on Heavenspan Island.

Apparently, Heavenspan Island occasionally recruited special guards to serve on the island.

To the sects in the Heavenspan River region, any cultivator chosen for such a position was bestowed with good luck. Moreover, not everyone who was originally recruited would end up serving on the island. Many of them will be sent back after a while. Even those people would experience a significant increase in the cultivation base. As for those who remained in service, they ended up gaining an extremely high status, and would be treated with great respect even by the river source sect.

Bai Xiaochun felt uneasy about all this, even though he did not know exactly why. For one thing, based on his calculations, he was pretty sure that Hou Xiaomei had been taken at almost the same time when the dramatic battle had been fought back in the Wildlands.

"Or am I just thinking too much about it?" After some thought, he decided that the best thing was to use this as an excuse to go see Hou Xiaomei.

Even when he was pondering these things, he happened to see Shangguan Tianyou.

He stood on the edge of the cliff, his face coming into contact with sadness and memories, his eyes somewhat blank as he looked into the distance. For some reason, he looked older and more mature.

Bai Xiaochun was somewhat surprised to see this kind of expression on Shangguan Tianyou's face. After thinking for a moment, he walked over, and then followed Shangguan Tianyou's line of sight until he realized what looked like a wooden hut in the forest below the cliff.

Next to the wooden hut.

Shangguan Tianyou held a piece of blue cloth tightly in his hand. His hands clenched tightly together so it seemed like he would never take off the cloth, even if he were to die. And there he stood, muttering to himself as he looked at the distant grave.

Bai Xiaochun looked at the grave seriously, and suddenly realized that there was one old friend he did not see after returning to the sect. She's shivering.

"That's Xinqi's grave," Shangguan Tianyou said softly, his voice hoarse and bitter in tone. There was no trace of his previous jealousy and hatred towards Bai Xiaochun. Such things had been erased with the passage of time, along with the heat.

"Elder Sister Zhou …." Bai Xiaochun breathed. He recalled back to what he remembered about Zhou Xinqi, who had once been a disciple of Li Qinghou, the famous Elder Zhou of Fragrant Cloud Peak…. He thought about how he jumped at the opportunity to help him hunt down the demon chicken thief many years ago .. and how he mocked her by calling her ‘Secte nephew Xinqi’.

It was a memory that Bai Xiaochun would never be able to erase. His breathing suddenly turned tattered, and he began to tremble. Nothing would cause his heart to be burdened more than a friend of his age to die.

He would become an eternal part of his memory, however, everything he had ever said and done was now gone forever ….

When Shangguan Tianyou saw how Bai Xiaochun reacted, the sadness in his eyes grew stronger. Shangguan Tianyou wasn't sure when that happened, but he had fallen in love with Zhou Xinqi, and he was with her. However, even after he died, he never spoke his feelings out loud.

Ten years ago, Zhou Xinqi had come out on a mission for the sect when she met some cultivators from the Polarity River Court. A fight ensued, and he was killed. Although Shangguan Tianyou had avenged his death, he had never been the same after that.

However, Zhou Xinqi's face was always in his heart. The blue piece of cloth he was holding in his hand right now was a gift from him, and was something he would keep with him forever.

Bai Xiaochun stood there quietly, looking at Zhou Xinqi's tomb. After a while had passed, he clasped his hands and bowed deeply at the waist….

Shangguan Tianyou closed his eyes. After some time had passed, he opened it again, and looked at Bai Xiaochun.

"Thank you, Bai Xiaochun …." With that, he turned around and walked away, looking very gloomy ….

Bai Xiaochun watched him leave, then stood there for a long time looking at Zhou Xinqi's grave, his heart heavy. He really couldn't stop thinking about how he looked all those years ago.

He suddenly realized where the white hair on Li Qinghou's head came from; the death of one of his favorite disciples.

"Why…? Why should cultivation be about fighting and killing …? ” That was the same question he had asked himself ever since he entered the world of cultivation.

After everything he's seen and experienced, you'd think he's found an answer. But ... he hasn't.

Finally, he left, thinking about how many things he did not understand. Although the sect had won a great victory, it came with many tears. As he walked, he sent out his divine sense to examine the house he had long left behind.

One of the first people he noticed was Beihan Lie ….

In a remote location in the sect was a huge graveyard, where buried countless heroic souls who had fallen in battle …. That was where Beihan Lie stood, in front of the tombstone he had personally carved.

No name on the headstone. There's only carving…. From a big black dog.

Beihan Lie held an alcohol jar in his hand. The passing of the years was clearly visible on his face. The hair on his temples was white, and he looked much older. The smell of alcohol surrounded him when he saw the grave, mixed emotions playing on his face.

The big black dog had died to save his life.

Bai Xiaochun's heart was once again filled with complex emotions. He suddenly realized that many things had happened that he was unaware of. Despite the fact that the black dog died filling his heart with grief, he decided not to disturb Beihan Lie. Instead, he sent his divine sense sweeping through countless other graves in the area.

Some names were already known, others were not, but they all made him tremble.

Around this time Gongsun Wan’er's brother, Gongsun Yun, happened to find Bai Xiaochun. Gongsun Yun looked older than before. He had reached the Core Formation, but it was only the initial stage. At this moment, he was no longer a famous person who had returned during the chosen battle between the northern and southern edges of the Spirit Stream Sect.

Both Beihan Lie and Ghostfang had long since abandoned him. However, she never lost her dignity, nor her pride because of her younger sister.

Even though his sister had become extremely cold and distant after returning from the Fallen Sword Abyss, and looked completely different, the fact that she had finally been brought to the Starry Sky Dao Polarity Sect proved how incredible she was. Unfortunately, he ended up being transferred to the Wildlands, to an unknown part. It was a heavy blow to Gongsun Yun, and a constant source of anxiety.

Gongsun Yun trembled in nervousness, yet she braced herself, clasped her hands, and said, "P-Patriark Bai. Song Que and Master God-Diviner as well. Um ... do you have any news about my sister? "

Bai Xiaochun stood there quietly, complex emotions flashing in his eyes as he looked at Gongsun Yun. After hesitating for a moment, he decided not to tell the truth.

"Waner died in battle at the Great Wall .. He gave his life to save a friend …."

Gongsun Yun stood stiffly there for a long time, tears streaming down his eyes before they poured down his cheeks. Although he had long suspected that this was what happened, he still held out hope. But not anymore. Clasping her hands, she walked away, tears streaming down her face.