The Dao-Companion’s Farewell

“Retrocognition?” Ji Ning instantly sensed that the situation was as dire as it could possibly be.

He had thought that killing Shao Yanong would give him a temporary reprieve while the clan investigated, enough time to prepare an escape route for his own tribe, the Ji clan. Now, time had become impossibly tight.

“Everyone, there’s no time to wait. I’ll send you away right now, to a safe place. This has all happened because of me.” To save precious moments, Ji Ning was now communicating solely via divine sense.

“Junior apprentice-brother Ji Ning.” Yu Wei sent hurriedly through her divine sense. “Don’t worry about our safety. The Grand Xia Dynasty has its laws, and the Shao clan cannot act with impunity. So long as we return to the Black-White College, we are safe. For one, the Grand Xia’s laws forbid violence within its cities. For another, we did not kill Shao Yanong, so the Shao clan has no justification to move against us. You, however, are the one who needs to worry.”

“You now have two main paths.”

“The first is to flee. Go someplace the Shao clan cannot reach you. For example, another minor world, or even a major world. Or, you could flee directly to the headquarters of the Yinglong Guard. The Yinglong Guard is the supreme military force directly under the Grand Xia. No matter how bold the Shao clan is, they wouldn’t dare attack you within the Yinglong Guard’s headquarters.”

“The second is to fight back. You could go to the Grand Xia’s imperial capital. That’s the heart of the entire dynasty. All the most supreme tribes, clans, and sects are gathered there. Once you arrive, you can enter the Yinglong Guard headquarters, which is absolutely secure. Afterwards, you can participate in the ‘Immortal Fate Convention.’ You’ve already comprehended the ‘Domain of the Dao.’ You will shine brilliantly in that convention. With your talent, many powers will seek to recruit you. You can then join a force that is hostile to the Shao clan.”

“The Shao clan is powerful, but within the entire Grand Xia Dynasty, there are those even stronger who have endless feuds with them — true blood enemies. There are several such factions. The Grand Xia royal clan rules over a vast world, and many of its most supreme tribes, sects, and schools have deep-seated hatreds.”

“For instance, the ‘Piao River clan’ is even stronger than the Shao clan. These two clans have been locked in a death feud since the Primordial Fiendgod Era. Over the generations, Celestial Immortals on both sides have fallen multiple times. The successive leaders being assassinated over these endless ages is quite common. If you killed Shao Yanong, forces like the Piao River clan will definitely be willing to recruit you. With the backing of a powerful clan like that, you can wage war against the Shao clan.”

“Two paths: flight or confrontation. These are the options I could come up with in this short time,” Yu Wei transmitted.

Ji Ning had previously only been thinking of fleeing.

He hadn’t expected that Senior Apprentice-Sister Yu Wei would point out such a clear path to him.

Yes.

The Shao clan might be one of the top ten powers in the Grand Xia Dynasty, but there were other powers in the top ten too! Among the most supreme factions, struggles over resources were incredibly common.

“As for your tribe, the Ji clan.” Yu Wei continued, “You can have your clan members scatter and go into hiding, and also send some of your elite members to cities like Anchan City or the imperial capital. Remember, the Grand Xia’s cities forbid slaughter. Anyone who dares to kill in them will be hunted down by the Grand Xia. Although the Shao clan could send some wanted criminals to do the deed, how powerful can those wanted criminals be? The truly powerful ones, Fiendgods or Loose Immortals, respect no one. It’s very difficult for the Shao clan to hire such terrifying individuals.”

“Unless the Shao clan orders its own Loose Immortals to wipe out your Ji clan. Even if they claim the Loose Immortal acted on their own, at the very least, that Loose Immortal would be doomed to die!” Yu Wei transmitted. “No matter what, as long as the clan preserves its elites, it can flourish again in the future. You are the only genius the Ji clan has produced in endless ages. You must protect yourself.”

“Thank you, Senior Apprentice-Sister.” Ji Ning had already had a few ideas of his own.

Now, hearing Yu Wei’s analysis, his horizons broadened, and new plans began to form.

He also felt that…

Senior Apprentice-Sister Yu Wei seemed to have a very clear understanding of the top-most powers in the Grand Xia Dynasty.

“Ji Ning.” Nine Lotos transmitted. “Come with me. I will take you to see the Ancestor. He can send you away from this world, to another world. As for the Ji clan, I will find a way to protect some of its elites. When you grow strong and return, you can help the Ji clan flourish once more.”

“Senior Apprentice-Brother, are you going to go on the run? I’ll come with you. My master, because his lifespan is nearly at its end, has entered a closed-door death-seclusion. He taught me everything he could. I have no other attachments. Spending some time on the run with you would be very exciting!” Mu Northson transmitted.

“Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning, protect yourself. Only by surviving can you have your chance to turn things around.” Cangjiang Realperson looked at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning smiled.

Suddenly, his gaze fell upon Nine Lotos. He transmitted, “Nine Lotos.”

“Mm.” Nine Lotos looked at him.

“I killed Shao Yanong. Whether I choose to flee to another minor world, or even a major world, or whether I choose to join some top-tier faction, I can no longer stay in Anchan Commandery. I will be wandering the outside world for a long time to come. Will you come with me?” Ji Ning looked at Nine Lotos, a deep hope burning in his eyes.

“I… I…” Nine Lotos hesitated.

She could imagine the road before Ji Ning. It was a path of immense danger. Could she really go wandering alongside him?

She felt the urge.

To brave the world with Ji Ning, to share life and death.

But then she thought of her tribe. She was the next leader of the Dongyan clan. She couldn’t just wander the world with him for an endless, uncertain stretch of time. No one knew how long this wandering would last.

“Nine Lotos.” Ji Ning felt her hesitation. A pang of pain struck his heart.

He knew his request was somewhat excessive.

But…

At this moment, having set out on this path, Ji Ning desperately longed for someone to be by his side. On this arduous path of Immortal cultivation, he wanted someone to share the burden with him. He had hoped that person would be Nine Lotos.

“I’m sorry.” Tears welled up in Nine Lotos’s eyes as she looked at Ji Ning. “Ji Ning, I suddenly understand. I cannot do it. I cannot brave the world with you, cannot share life and death with you. The Ancestor once said that a Dao-companion is someone you would die for. A Dao-companion is someone you would slay Immortals and Buddhas to reclaim, even if they are separated by Immortal and Buddhist obstacles. I cannot do it! I truly cannot! I have my own path. I cannot abandon it because of you.”

“It is I who have wronged you,” Nine Lotos said, tears streaming down her face.

“Say no more.”

The faint, glistening sheen of tears was visible in Ji Ning’s eyes. “I was hoping for too much. The path I am about to walk is destined to be perilous. My struggle with the Shao clan will last for endless years. It was wrong of me to drag you into this.”

“From now on, you are you.”

“And I am I.”

“On this path of Immortal cultivation, walking alone… is enough.” Ji Ning pointed into the distance.

A ripple spread through the air, and a passageway appeared. On the other side was the Skywandering Mountain range of the Grand Xia Dynasty’s world. Ji Ning said directly, “Senior Apprentice-Sister Yu Wei, Senior Apprentice-Brother Cangjiang, Junior Apprentice-Brother Northson, and Nine Lotos… go.”

“Senior Apprentice-Brother, I said I would adventure with you! I have no attachments; what the hell do I have to fear?” Mu Northson said urgently.

“This path is very dangerous, Junior Apprentice-Brother Northson…”

“Do you think I’m too weak?” Mu Northson gritted his teeth.

“Yes, you are too weak. You can’t help me; you’ll only hold me back.” Ji Ning gritted his teeth as he spoke.

Yu Wei stepped in to persuade him as well. “Junior Apprentice-Brother Northson, don’t be stubborn. This isn’t the time for chivalry. Your strength truly is insufficient.” Mu Northson looked at Ji Ning, his eyes red. “Senior Apprentice-Brother, ever since my mother died, I had no family. After I joined the sect, you were the one I was closest to. I’ve long considered you my elder brother in all but blood. I know I’m weak. I also know you said that to keep me from sharing your burden. Say no more, Junior Apprentice-Brother. When I return, I will train hard. And if you die, I will avenge you.”

Ji Ning’s eyes grew red.

He hadn’t expected…

He truly hadn’t expected that Junior Apprentice-Brother Northson thought of him as a brother.

“Hahaha, don’t worry. I won’t die so easily.” Ji Ning spoke with tears in his eyes but a laugh in his voice. “Stop delaying. Go now.”

Nine Lotos, however, felt an even sharper pain.

Even Mu Northson could disregard everything for him! And her? She longed to cast aside everything — her clan, her ambitions — and roam the world with Ji Ning. But she was still hesitating. She couldn’t let go.

“I’m sorry.” Tears flowed down Nine Lotos’s face. “You have to live… you absolutely must live.”

Having said this, she turned and flew into the passageway, emerging on the other side in the Skywandering Mountain range.

Mu Northson, Yu Wei, and Cangjiang Realperson all understood now. A Dao-companion… what was a Dao-companion? It was someone who would never abandon you, even in the most difficult of times. Only then could they truly be called Dao-companions. Nine Lotos’s departure and her words made them realize that Ji Ning and Nine Lotos would likely be walking their own separate paths on the road of Immortal cultivation from this day forward.

“Stay safe,” Mu Northson said.

“Live well,” Yu Wei said to Ji Ning.

“You must survive,” Cangjiang Realperson also urged.

Then, the three of them also flew into the passageway, arriving beside Nine Lotos in the Skywandering Mountain range.

The passageway closed.

Within the Skywandering Mountains, back in the Grand Xia Dynasty’s world, Nine Lotos, Yu Wei, Mu Northson, and Cangjiang Realperson all turned to look back at the passageway. Through it, they could dimly make out the hall on the other side and the solitary figure within.

From now on…

Ji Ning would have to fight alone.

Nine Lotos looked back at that passageway, unable to stop her tears.

This choice had been agonizingly painful. She could not abandon her tribe. She had her own ambitions. She could not cast everything aside for Ji Ning.

Yu Wei, Mu Northson, and Cangjiang Realperson said nothing. They, too, understood how rare it was to find a true Dao-companion — one who would share life and death, who would never leave, whose very existence seemed intertwined with yours. It was almost unheard of. Many so-called Dao-companions turned on each other, killing one another over treasures. True, unwavering devotion was extraordinarily rare. Nine Lotos had too many attachments. She could not abandon them.

Swish.

The passageway sealed completely. The other side was gone from sight.

“Let’s go,” Mu Northson said, gritting his teeth.

“Let’s go.”

“I’m returning to my tribe.” Nine Lotos set off alone back to the Dongyan clan, while Mu Northson, Cangjiang Realperson, and Yu Wei all headed towards the Black-White College.

Within the grand hall.

“From now on, it’s just me walking my own path on this Immortal road. That’s fine… that’s good, too. It’s quite free and unfettered, being alone.” Ji Ning laughed heartily.

“Master, you still have us!” Little Qing raised her serpentine head and hissed.

Ji Ning looked at the Skygreen Serpent and at Uncle White, who had silently remained by his side the entire time. A warmth filled his heart. “Yes. I still have you two. Little Qing, Uncle White… let’s go. Let us go meet the beasts of the Immortal Estate together.”