Tan Qingquan
“In other words, the souls in Eighteen Layers of Hell were excessively respectful to me because I had Walk-in Heart Switch, which had been influencing them for all the years they’d been there? Why do you have City Lord He’s soul?” Mu Yu questioned.
“It was merely a case of compassion. I know you wanted to borrow its power to revive him, but you wouldn’t be able to do that once he enters the cycle of reincarnation. I, therefore, took it upon myself to save him and the family of three while I was there,” explained Tan Qingquan.
He could’ve stopped me from slaughtering all of those people in the city, yet he did nothing. Ah, whatever. My decision wasn’t wrong anyway, Mu Yu contemplated.
“You want to know why I didn’t rescue the citizens of Eastern Desert City?” queried Tan Qingquan.
“No. All I want to know is how to remedy my dad’s soul.”
“You don’t want to know why I didn’t help?”
“Will it change the results? Those who deserved to live are alive. I can’t alter the past, so there’s no point in knowing. I’ve learnt to not dwell on the past that can’t be changed.”
“I see why Eternally Youthful Ku Mu had a change of character after meeting you. I was always curious what sort of disciple he took in, even willing to sacrifice his life. I am immortal. While I haven’t lived for as long as your shifu, I have lived for thousands of years. Life has become as transient and ephemeral as a fleeting cloud, and I’ve grown detached to the lives of cultivators. Unlike your shifu, I’m not so noble. As such, I didn’t want to get involved with Eastern Desert City or its inhabitants.”
“Does that mean you also do not care for stopping Bai Jie?” Tian Ran inquired, not so fond of Tan Qingquan’s attitude.
Tan Qingquan cordially lifted the corner of his lips. “You must be Sword Shadow Dust Gale’s daughter, I take it?”
“I am.”
“You certainly do resemble him. Life moves forward. Death is but a step to renewal. I dreamt of saving them in my younger days until it dawned on me that I couldn’t after so many failed attempts that showed me how powerless I am. When I did succeed, I outlived them, consequently having to witness them wilt and pass on. Do you know how that feels?”
Nobody could tell him they did.
“We can’t stop the end of life. The world has its own rules. We immortals should refrain from interfering with what nature has intended unless someone vies to manipulate nature’s course. Accordingly, I will fight Bai Jie. As for the inhabitants of Eastern Desert City, their decisions were not something for me to interfere with. I no longer feel anything when I see someone die after witnessing deaths for thousands of years. The same goes for He Jinglong and the Xuan family.”
He Jinglong hid his red face when Tan Qingquan looked over, afraid to protest.
“The lives of City Lord He and Xuan Family are worth more than all of the lives of Eastern Desert City added together,” Mu Yu declared, much to the appreciation of He Jinglong.
“You’re just like Sword Shadow Dust Gale – people who cherish relationships. Even though he’s lived longer than all of us, he still hasn’t given up and still saves those worth saving. For that reason, he’s noble, but I’m not… I only chose to lend you hand and save Xuan Family, as well as He Jinglong, out of respect for him and Eternally Youthful Ku Mu. “
“You have a way to save my dad?”
Tan Qingquan dusted a rock with a whip of his sleeve and then sat down, scanning the ruined valley. “It’s been so many years before I knew it. You have exceeded my expectations ever since I met you when you were an energetic Golden Core Realm youth.”
“You’ve met me before?”
“Hahaha, you don’t recognise me anymore? We first met in this valley. Howbeit, it was like walking in dense, poisonous fog back then. We worked together to conquer Eternally Youthful Ku Mu’s Mirror Formation, didn’t we?”
“Ol’ Tan?”
“Now I know why you’re so familiar!” blurted Xiaoshuai. “You were the one hiding in that cave!”
“You are Ol’ Tan, Tan Qingquan and Reverend Nilei?”
”Ku Mu was unable to suppress Walk-in Heart Switch after he stole it due to his injuries and, therefore, requested my help. You happened to walk in while I was bored, so I decided to test his formation and played along. I didn’t imagine you could figure out his formation and robbed him. You’re correct that I’ve been watching you. I had a good guess as to who you were once I saw you hide in Celestial Fiend Tree. I was also the one who told him where you were.”
“What is your real name?” Mu Yu started to feel frustrated, feeling he was part of some joke for entertainment, though he did not deny he should have been more attentive and actively thought.
“Nilei is my Taoist name. Tan Qingquan is my real name. Of course, you can also call me Ol’ Tan if you prefer.”
It wouldn’t be right to refer to Tan Qingquan as “Ol’ Tan” now that Mu Yu learnt the former’s name. Besides, it certainly wasn’t right from a custom’s perspective.
“Elder Nilei, do you have a way of saving my dad?”
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