In that run-down daoist temple, the handsome temple master looked at the evening glow and said calmly, "That junior brother of mine, he's too proud. He's thought of himself as the most amazing person in the world since he was young. He didn't think there was anyone in the world who could be his friend. This perception has made him go all these years without friends."
The daoist behind the Temple Master listened to these words and asked with some puzzlement, "But shouldn't Daoist Master Chief Enforcer's friends include you, Temple Master?"
The Temple Master shook his head and replied calmly, "I'm just his senior brother. Master is just his master, and you all are just his juniors."
This statement was intriguing yet not profound, and the daoist could naturally understand it.
"Then the Chief Enforcer has had a hard time surviving these years."
The daoist felt some vicissitudes of emotion. He added softly, "No one can speak their heart to the Chief Enforcer, so he must be feeling quite stifled."
The Temple Master said, "He probably doesn't mind. He is wholeheartedly focused on the Great Dao, aspiring to reach an unprecedented realm one day. That's why he has been diligently cultivating all these years, advancing to the Nepenthe Realm and then entering the Great Liberation Realm. But then, he stopped."
The daoist was somewhat hesitant, wanting to ask why. But for some reason, he did not speak up.
The Temple Master continued, "Has anyone reached the realm beyond Great Liberation in the past thousand years?"
"Whether that realm even exists is uncertain. He had no choice but to stop. But how could he accept that? Someone like him never wants to lose in his lifetime, so naturally, he wants to go further. Over these years, he has been traveling the world while borrowing the excuse of closed-seclusion. Of course, I know about it; I just can't be bothered to care about him."
The Temple Master said softly, "He just regards me as a senior brother, so how can I not regard him as a junior brother?"
The daoist chuckled and said, "Temple Master, you're really a good person."
The Temple Master smiled and changed the subject, asking, "Yun Jianyue that kid has broken through this time, he's already a powerhouse at the Great Beyond Realm. Zhihua hasn't broken through yet, right?"
The daoist nodded and whispered, "Yes, Ye Zhihua has been gazing at the cliff's scenery for many days, and it seems she hasn't taken that step yet."
Temple Master said, "When these two meet again, it will be quite interesting."
The daoist furrowed his brows and said, "It has been so many years, would things change because Yun Jianyue broke through?"
Temple Master grew a bit impatient and casually slapped the daoist's head before saying, "Yun Jianyue that kid broke through because he figured some things out. Why do you think he broke through to the next realm?"
The daoist felt somewhat aggrieved and replied, "Just because he understood some things, he could cross the Bitter Sea?"
Temple Master sighed, saying, "This is a genius. What do you think a genius is? But I've seen even more brilliant geniuses."
The daoist listened silently.
"Back then, that junior brother of mine could never figure out why our master passed the position of Temple Master to me. So, he had always been tormented by it and spent some time struggling in the Bitter Sea. But later, he quickly crossed the Bitter Sea and arrived at the Great Beyond. Do you think he just understood everything? He understood nothing at all! He forced his way through. Even now, he can't understand why I'm the Temple Master and not him."
Temple Master clicked his tongue and continued, "But I also can't understand."
Hearing this, the corners of the daoist's mouth twitched. To him, these words sounded very illogical. How could someone like Temple Master not know why he became the Temple Master?
He was being shameless!
Temple Master was aware of what this guy was thinking but did not care. He just looked into the distance.
A light voice suddenly sounded in the mountains.
It was the vague melody of Great Dao.
Someone's voice sounded on the mountain, "Senior Brother Yun has returned to the mountain!"
As this voice reverberated, the entire mountain suddenly filled with joy. Countless voices of praise and cheers erupted.
The daoist listened to the voices and said emotionally, "Yun Jianyue that fellow is still very popular."
Temple Master smiled and said, "Whether or not he's liked by others, I think he definitely doesn't care. What he cares about should be whether or not Zhihua that girl likes him."
The daoist grinned and said, "So, according to Temple Master, is something good going to happen today?"
Temple Master did not answer that question and disappeared with a flash.
……
……
Yun Jianyue appeared at the foot of the mountain with a pale complexion. There were already many daoists waiting on the mountain path.
These were his junior brothers and sisters from the Infatuation Daoist Temple, all here to welcome him.
"Congratulations to Senior Brother Yun for going one step further, stepping into the Great Beyond Realm!"
The Infatuation Daoist Temple daoists on the mountain path said with loud laughs, their voices very cheerful, conveying joy.
Yun Jianyue walked towards the mountain path, nodded with a smile, and said softly, "Cultivate well, my fellow junior brothers and sisters. Someday, you will reach this point as well."
A disciple close to him asked, "Senior Brother Yun, during this trip, did you have any experiences you'd like to share with us?"
Yun Jianyue had been traveling the world for quite some time. Even before the Myriad Willow Convention, probably two to three years before that. Naturally, his experiences were not limited to just the events on the Sublime Bright Mountain.
Yun Jianyue nodded and casually recounted his experience hunting down a demon. During these two to three years, he had killed many demons that plagued the human world. His actions were naturally not for the common people's sake, but it was still a fact.
He continued walking ahead, and people kept asking questions.
"Senior Brother Yun, what exactly is on Sublime Bright Mountain? This time, the temple only sent a few people because you were already there."
"Senior Brother Yun, can you explain in detail what the process is like to cross the Bitter Sea and reach the Great Beyond?"
"Senior Brother Yun..."
On the mountain path, voices kept rising and ebbing, and Yun Jianyue smiled, providing answers to all the questions. However, as he neared the end of the mountain path, entering the dilapidated daoist temple, he suddenly stopped and asked a nearby daoist, "Where's Senior Sister?"
Yun Jianyue was one of the most outstanding disciples in this generation of the Infatuation Daoist Temple, but he was not the eldest senior brother. In this generation of disciples, many fellow disciples were his senior brothers and sisters.
However, everyone knew that when he mentioned 'Senior Sister,' he could only be referring to that person.
That Senior Sister Ye.
As a result, everyone began to chuckle.
"Senior Sister has been often watching the scenery by the cliff at dusk these days. We don't know if she'll be there today. Senior Brother Yun, do you want to go and see?"
The daoist wore a curious expression on his face, but more than that, there was amusement.
However, no one really expected Yun Jianyue to nod. After all, in the Infatuation Daoist Temple, countless people knew that Yun Jianyue liked Ye Zhihua, but they also knew that Senior Sister Ye seemed disinterested in Senior Brother Yun.
The relationship between these two could not be explained clearly either.
"Since I'm back, I'm naturally going to see Senior Sister."
Unexpectedly, Yun Jianyue nodded.
Many disciples were taken aback but soon chuckled again, thinking that Senior Brother Yun was probably just going to stand a bit farther away and watch, as per normal.
However, Yun Jianyue paid no heed to these thoughts and walked directly towards the cliff.
Several disciples watched his figure as he moved away, feeling vicissitudes of emotion.
"Senior Brother Yun and Senior Sister Ye are clearly a match made in heaven, the Twin Pillars of Daoism. If they become Dao companions, it would naturally be wonderful. We just don't know what Senior Sister Ye is thinking. Is she completely uninterested in matters of love, or is it just that she doesn't like Senior Brother Yun?"
"Don't say that. If she's uninterested in love, then forget it. But if she truly doesn't like Senior Brother Yun, he'd be heartbroken."
"Yes, Senior Brother Yun is such a great guy. If Senior Sister Ye doesn't like him, I wonder who she'd like?"
"Ah, if Senior Brother Yun liked me, I'd give him my life."
"Shameless! Senior Brother Yun clearly likes me!"
"It's not true, he likes me!"
A group of female disciples suddenly started arguing, and the entire mountain path resounded with their chatter, resembling a flock of cheerful birds.
The other male disciples listened to the noisy arguing and thought to themselves that it was no wonder many seniors preferred a solitary life over seeking a Dao companion. These girls were so loud and argumentative, where was the appeal in that?
So, did Senior Brother Yun like Senior Sister Ye because she was quiet and not noisy?
That explained things.
Young cultivators who understood this made a silent resolution: in the future, when seeking a Dao companion, they would look for someone who spoke less, otherwise, they'd remain single for life!
……
……
Yun Jianyue arrived at the foot of the cliff and stood beneath a green tree, silently gazing at the other side of the cliff.
The evening sun was currently casting a crimson glow over half of the sky, creating a breathtaking sight.
Unfortunately, the woman he was waiting for did not appear here. The cliffside remained empty, with no one in sight at this moment.
That girl did not appear there.
A hint of disappointment flashed across Yun Jianyue's eyes, but he did not leave.
He could wait.
Yes.
Just because that girl did not appear there at this moment, did not mean she would not appear later.
As the evening sun faded, moonlight took its place.
The moonlight was beautiful too.
