C77 Meeting

One day, on a whim, Qin Buyi decided to visit his alma mater, the most prestigious university in Huaxia.

As he stepped out of the Lan family's gate, Qi Yun trailed behind him like a persistent shadow. Qin Buyi halted, turning to face Qi Yun with a resigned expression. "Elder Qi, what's on your mind? Just tell me."

He had posed this question to Qi Yun numerous times over the past few days, only to be met with a smile and silence. No matter how much he prodded, Qi Yun remained tight-lipped.

This encounter was no different. Qi Yun let out a sly chuckle. "It's nothing serious. I've simply gained a lot from our recent discussions, Qin. My own practice has seen some progress."

"That's why I'm eager to seize every opportunity to exchange ideas with you."

Qin Buyi could only shake his head at Qi Yun's ready excuses. Their recent 'discussions' had been nothing more than idle chatter, interspersed with meals and drinks. He was tempted to ask Qi Yun if this was the kind of Great Dao that Shu Mountain preached.

Without another word, Qin strode forward, leaving Qi Yun to follow like an annoying clingy plaster.

"Say, Qin, if you've previously offended someone and things between you two are still sour, but now you need their help, what would you do?" Qi Yun asked, trying to sound casual.

Seeing through Qi Yun's roundabout approach, Qin Buyi cut to the chase. "Just spit it out."

Qi Yun's face creased with worry. "I fear rejection if I speak up. How can I get him to agree?"

"You've got to give me something to work with," Qin Buyi replied. "If you don't say anything, how can you expect to know what the other person is thinking?"

"But that's just it—I'm afraid of being rejected, so I keep quiet," Qi Yun admitted.

Listening to Qi Yun's circular logic, Qin Buyi's frustration was palpable, a vein pulsing visibly on his forehead. If it were acceptable, he'd have drawn his Killing Saber and ended the farce.

With a heavy sigh, Qin Buyi continued to lead the way, Qi Yun tagging along in a distracted manner. Before long, they reached the gates of Huaxia's most esteemed institution, where they were promptly scrutinized by the security guards.

Qin Buyi finally made his way into the place brimming with his memories.

As he surveyed the familiar surroundings, the scenes from his past played out in his mind like a movie.

At eighteen, he joined the ranks of the academy known for its prodigies and swiftly became a notable figure among his peers.

He reminisced about the vibrant campus life filled with studying, conducting experiments, and her...

Inhaling the familiar scent that lingered in the air, Qin Buyi heaved a deep sigh.

"Who would have imagined that in just a few short years, the young man who once dropped out of school would experience such a monumental shift in his life's trajectory?"

He strolled past the well-known field and academic buildings, each corner awash with nostalgia.

Arriving at the lakeside within the school grounds, Qin Buyi took a seat on a bench, watching the students radiate youth and laughter.

Qi Yun settled beside him and asked, "Thinking about the old days?"

Qin Buyi remained silent, prompting Qi Yun to muse aloud.

"Back in my youth, I believed that if I dedicated myself to my cultivation, I could provide a wonderful life for the one I loved."

"But ultimately, I was too naive. Cultivation breakthroughs require time."

"I thought I had accounted for everything, but I overlooked one detail: some people can't wait that long."

"By the time my power had grown, the woman I loved had already become someone else's wife."

Qin Buyi turned to Qi Yun and inquired, "Are you referring to Hong Wanrou's mother?"

"Yes," Qi Yun confirmed. "When I first met her mother, I was only at the Foundation Stage."

"I vowed to marry her in three years."

"And after three years?" Qin Buyi pressed on.

A flicker of sorrow passed through Qi Yun's eyes as he confessed, "Three years later, I was still at the Foundation Stage."

"My aptitude for cultivation was never strong; quite the opposite, it was quite poor," Qi Yun admitted with a self-deprecating tone.

Qin Buyi, surprised by Qi Yun's candor, questioned, "Among all the cultivators on Blue Star, excluding myself, your cultivation and combat prowess are unmatched."

"If you consider your talent poor, then what constitutes a good talent?"

Qi Yun replied earnestly, "Qin, I'm telling the truth. My talent was quite lacking when I was younger. The only redeeming qualities I possessed were my stubbornness, diligence, and an indomitable spirit."

"Just like that, I pledged another three years to her."

"Three years later, I finally achieved a breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage."

"Elated with my advancement to the Golden Core Stage, I eagerly sought her out, only to discover she didn't want to see me."

"I later learned from others that she had moved on and married someone from the Deification Stage."

"I confronted her, asking why, and she told me that with me, she could never see a clear path ahead."

"That night, I drowned my sorrows in drink, and upon waking, I was consumed by a single resolve—to grow stronger."

Having shared his story, Qi Yun turned to Qin Buyi and remarked, "Qin Buyi, I truly envy you. Had I had your opportunities or talents, things might have turned out very differently."

Qin Buyi clapped Qi Yun on the shoulder and questioned, "Is she really worth a lifetime of devotion?"

"I've loved only her my entire life. Later, when my power grew, her family fell on hard times—her husband and in-laws were slain by enemies, leaving just her and Hong Wanrou."

"After many trials, she finally sought me out. Seeing her again, the light in her eyes had faded, while I was at the height of my success."

"What did you say to her then?" Qin Buyi inquired.

Qi Yun replied, "Every man harbors a taste for revenge; I was no different, especially having reached the Void Refining Stage by then."

"Our statuses were worlds apart. I intended to scorn her, to send her away with biting words."

"Yet, seeing the anxiety and fear in her eyes, I lost all taste for revenge. I arranged for her and her daughter to be settled somewhere and then left them be."

"On her deathbed, I visited her one last time and promised to look after Hong Wanrou."

"But only after she passed did I realize that I had never truly forgotten her. She remained as significant as ever in my heart."

Qin Buyi remained silent, absorbing the tale, when the system chimed in:

"Observe this stoic host; now, there's a man of true devotion."

Internally, Qin Buyi scoffed, "Can't you stick to one label? You call this a good man? He's clearly nothing but a faithful 'loyal dog'."

"You call me indifferent, and yet you don't believe it. But truly, you're nothing but a fawning dog, haha." The system's unscrupulous laughter echoed in Qin Buyi's ears.

As Qin Buyi was about to depart, he spotted two familiar figures ahead.

A man and a woman approached, the woman eagerly trying to please the man with her words.

Meanwhile, the man was engrossed in his phone, ignoring the woman's attempts to engage him.

Suddenly, the woman let out an exclamation: "Qin Buyi!"

Hearing his name, the man set aside his phone and looked up at Qin Buyi.

He observed Qin Buyi seated on a bench, clad in unbranded attire, without even a watch on his wrist, and accompanied by an elderly man. The man sneered,

"Isn't this the once-prominent Senior Qin? How have you ended up so destitute after all this time?"