Xuanqing Lake, in a side hall.
Carrying an ancient zither and dressed in elegant white, the handsome young man Tantai Yao, from the Zither Sword Pavilion, suddenly broke into this place.
"Many thanks to Young Palace Master Yunluan for wielding your sword this time. The Ancient Hua Evil Flood Dragon has fled, burning its essence blood and taking several remnants with it, and it won't recover in ten or eight years. Finally, we have avenged our grievous debt!"
This distinguished Celestial Pride from a renowned family displayed a look of satisfaction at his great revenge, but for some reason, there was still a hint of desolation between his brows, as if he had been struck hard.
Tantai Yao was originally a true disciple of the Zither Sword Pavilion, the top of his generation, on par with Xie Wei from the Wutong Xie Family.
He admired his elegant junior sister, but he kept his feelings hidden, never revealing them, just waiting for the day when he achieved success in his cultivation to go to Wutong Prefecture to propose marriage.
But you never know which will come first, an accident or tomorrow.
A single journey out of the mountain dashed all his dreams.
For the next three years, upon hearing the tales of the Xuanqing Evil Flood Dragon Gua Hua, Tantai Yao became like a madman, practicing the zither and sword 'unique skills' arduously, finally achieving great success and ascending to the position of Elder!
Subsequently, upon hearing the edict of the Xuanqing Guardian, he set out without hesitation, traveled thousands of miles, and plunged into the three hundred miles of Xuanqing Lake, making the demons see him as the devil!
Unfortunately, he was still a bit late. The beauty had long since perished.
"Wait... This is..."
Because the matter here had settled down, and with the intention of greeting the future Northwest Aquarius State's strongest Celestial Pride, Tantai Yao,
glanced casually, seeing beside the blood-stained Song Brahman Mirror, who turned her head because of his words, a face that looked like the one haunting his soul, sharing at least four or five parts resemblance!
However, this was a boy, not the person he wished to see.
At the same time...
This young man was also enveloped by a faint presence of demon aura!
Half-Demon?
His mind raced through countless thoughts, and in just a moment, Tantai Yao's lips began to tremble:
"Is he Xie Wei's son?"
Song Brahman Mirror, who had heard of Tantai Yao's exploits before his arrival, instinctively moved to shield the boy behind her.
After hearing this, she slightly frowned:
"This child is still young, and he is of Xie blood. This purge should not extend to him, Elder Tantai, you..."
At this, the woman paused, unsure what more to say.
Involuntarily, she looked at the now utterly silent Tantai Yao, and her beautiful eyes held a trace of pity.
"Our Xie lineage has been rooted in Wutong Prefecture, with generations of titles and honors for more than a hundred years; how can a Half-demon progeny enter our house?"
"My younger sister comes from the esteemed nobility, a Celestial Pride, and gave birth to an abomination? Absurd!"
Xie An, the first son of the Xie Clan, clad in a rich purple-embroidered robe, stormed in, face dark with anger!
With the acute hearing of a cultivator, he had heard every word that transpired within the hall.
Almost as soon as he stepped into the hall, he gathered his qi in his palm, intending to crush Ancient Moon on the spot, to cleanse the family's disgrace!
"This child, my Xie does not recognize!"
A stern shout caused expressions to change among the two.
Song Brahman Mirror, looking displeased, her Single Sword beginning to emit a rosy radiance, was ready to act, but on the side, Tantai Yao, after being utterly desolate, now showed a trace of reluctance:
"Xie An! No matter what, he is the descendant of our junior sister, a direct descendent of your Xie lineage!"
"Whether he can enter this house..."
"Is for Elder Xie Qiaoxuan to decide."
"You..."
He stepped forward with his zither ready to intercept, but then, a voice as strong as a bell resonated, slowly bringing calm to the turbulent hall.
The guardian of Xuanqing City, Duan Jiang, in his Black Flying Fish Robe at the third step of cultivation, pressed his hand downward, instantly calming the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi!
"The Empress of Great Zhao has decreed that even Half-Demons, as long as they abide by Great Zhao Law and do not rebel, can be registered, supervised, and serve in the city office."
"It doesn't matter if I don't see it; if I do, I must intervene."
Duan Jiang, with no trace of smile, nodded slightly to Song Brahman Mirror, then addressed Xie An, who was barely suppressing his anger.
He was the only one present in the third stage of cultivation and the main force that cleared the three hundred miles of Xuanqing Lake, so Duan Jiang's words...
Must be heeded.
"Hold on."
Suddenly, Song Brahman Mirror spoke up.
Her elegant brows furrowed, with an inadvertent glance, she saw the young man behind her, clutching her skirt hem without letting go, his expression unchanged, only becoming colder...
The few moments of pity turned into compassion after the twists and turns in the hall:
"The Xie Clan wants to execute him, Elder Tantai of the Zither Sword Pavilion, though unwilling, how can such a renown tolerate him?"
"As for the government office... I have never interacted with them, this..."
Song Brahman Mirror fell silent, thinking the child was even more pitiable than she thought.
For the first time in her life,
she made a decision entangled with another's fate.
"Forget it, I will take him away, teach him something for him to stand and make a living, and let him travel the world on his own..."
With that thought, Song Brahman Mirror's resolve firmed, and she spoke to the three present:
"This child,"
"I will take him to Yunluan Mountain."
"Since I saved him, his life is mine."
"Does anyone have objections?"
With these words spoken, she did not turn back.
But Song Brahman Mirror still sensed the boy's eyes like fire in a furnace, suddenly brightening.
Only...
The woman sighed inwardly:
"You follow me, but still a Half-demon, and entering an abyss, what's the difference."
"The three families do not welcome you, Yunluan Mountain, renowned for slaying demons, holds the orthodox seat in Baoping State, what better things await you."
The road ahead is rugged, the path long and winding.
She too...
Like looking through a fog, unclear.
Song Brahman Mirror's words also silenced Xie An and Duan Jiang.
Yunluan Mountain's face must be saved.
This future Swordsmanship Leader's... face must also be given.
"..."
As for Tantai Yao, his mind was already elsewhere, his entire being appearing as desolate, completely lacking the former demeanor of using the zither as a sword to slay demons.
However, his casual glance inadvertently landed on the boy leaning against Song Brahman Mirror's back, where a 'Moon' character Jade Pendant hung at his waist.
Suddenly, his face turned pale, as if he remembered something:
"What is your name?"
Like an interlude, the question brought a response after the boy's brief silence:
"Ancient Moon."
Two simple words made Tantai Yao pause, like struck by lightning, tears flowing instantaneously:
"Moon, Moon..."
"So that's it, so that's it..."
Yao, meaning Sun.
Sun and Moon together, day and night never separated.
That Jade Pendant... was a gift for Xie Wei from him.
Tantai Yao looked deeply at the boy, as if trying to remember his face clearly, then suddenly smiled, pulling out a Jade Scroll and tossing it to Ancient Moon from afar:
"This, for you."
"Child..."
He hesitated for a moment before finally speaking:
"If you have nowhere to go in the future, you can join my school."
"I, Tantai Yao..."
"Can guarantee on my path, your life will be unharmed!"
...
[You know nothing of this world, but instinctively feel that Song Brahman Mirror is different towards you, so like a gambler in the abyss, you gambled everything.]
[After the triangular contest, Song Brahman Mirror, full of compassion, decides to take you away; you won the bet.]
[Unlocked Location: Yunluan Mountain.]
[Tantai Yao saw the 'Moon' Jade Pendant on you, remembered certain past events, and amidst sadness, bore unprecedented kindness towards you.]
[He told you, if you have nowhere else, you can join his school.]
[Unlocked Location: Zither Sword Pavilion.]
[Tantai Yao gifted you with a renowned class Boxing Manual.]
[Unlocked Martial Arts: Meteor Chasing Moon Fist Scripture!]