Chapter 127: Worlds Apart

While Ye Dong was exhausted from his arduous journey into the General's Tomb, Chen Yao and his group had already arrived at the Eternal Tomb with time to spare, moving at a leisurely pace.

"This water feels freezing, guys," said Zhi Zhang, looking at the fluorescent surface of the pool. He couldn't help but rub the goosebumps on his arms, asking Chen Yao with a sycophantic smile, "Master, do we really have to dive to the bottom? I recall you mentioning it was filled with... what was it again?"

"What, getting cold feet?" Chen Yao smirked. "Look at your Grandmaster, he's over a hundred years old and he's still going in. He even looks eager. You young pups should learn a thing or two."

"The old master has his divine arts to protect him from the bone-chilling Yin-Yang Five Elements water. A little chicken like me won't survive that." Zhi Zhang rubbed his nose and turned to Da Chun. "Right, Da Chun?"

"You're right, but we still have to go. Ye Dong always taught us that at critical moments, we can't be soft—we have to stand tall!" Da Chun began taking off his pants as he spoke. "Zhi Zhang, stop stalling. This isn't like you. You're always the one shouting to be the first to show off. What's wrong with you today? Don't tell me you're actually scared?"

"Exactly. A grown man acting like a sissy—go back to picking up cow dung," Xiao Bao said, looking at him with disdain. "Even picking up cow dung requires a queue these days; with your lack of spirit, you wouldn't even make it in line. Wake up, kid."

Zhi Zhang pouted, tugged at his shirt, and swallowed hard. "Oh, come on. I was just joking around to lighten the heavy atmosphere. Why are you all taking it so seriously?"

As he spoke, he turned to the side to undress, a movement that quickly caught Chen Yao's attention. "Why is this kid acting so hesitant today? Something's fishy."

"Wait, where did you get that jade pendant? Why does it look so familiar?" Seeing a pendant hanging around Liang Lingzhi's neck, Chen Yao’s eyes darted, and he reached out to grab it.

"No, no, no!" Before Chen Yao could reach him, Zhi Zhang tightly protected the pendant. "Master, this is my personal item! I have the right to keep it private! It’s something I wear close to my heart; no one else can touch it!"

"What!?" Seeing Zhi Zhang dare to defy him, Chen Yao frowned slightly. Wen Xing and Heng Xing immediately moved in, each grabbing one of Zhi Zhang’s arms to force him to reveal the pendant.

"Oh, so you're going to resist, are you?" Chen Yao pinched Zhi Zhang’s ear. "Being all sneaky—let go!"

"Master, I'll let go, but you have to promise not to hit me." Zhi Zhang looked miserable as he tried to secure his final rights.

"Fine, I won't hit you," Chen Yao chuckled. "Let go, my good apprentice."

"You said it! You're a man of status, so you have to keep your word, or us youngsters won't respect you anymore!" Zhi Zhang dragged all the other juniors into his plea and looked at Officer Li, who was smoking nearby. "Officer Li and the Grandmaster are here; they witnessed your promise. Don't think you can back out."

Officer Li, however, turned his head away, pretending not to hear, and continued smoking.

"Enough, stop stalling, let go!" Chen Yao seemed to be losing his patience. Wen Xing applied pressure to Zhi Zhang’s hand, and in pain, he finally loosened his grip, revealing the pendant in his palm.

"You've got some nerve, kid! You actually managed to get Nianxue's Sunlight Jade Pendant!" Chen Yao tugged at the pendant, his face darkening. "No wonder you were acting all hesitant and weird about not wanting to enter the water—you were afraid I'd see this, weren't you? Nice try trying to cover it up!"

"This is an amulet Nianxue gave me," Zhi Zhang said with a sheepish grin. "Master, please give it back. Let's not make a scene, okay?"

"Ahem, who's making a scene? I'm being very serious!" Seeing Zhi Zhang's teary-eyed expression, Chen Yao scolded, "Tell me, how did you trick Nianxue into giving you this? Besides this, what else have you swindled from her?"

"Wow, Zhi Zhang, I didn't think you were such a beast. You even dared to deceive our pure and innocent Senior Sister Nianxue," Da Chun quickly corrected himself. "Oh wait, no—is there any despicable act in this world that you, Liang Lingzhi, wouldn't do? It should be: how could you bear to deceive Senior Sister Nianxue?!"

"It goes without saying, he must have conned her!" Xiao Bao added coldly. "Master, beat him! I suggest a harsh interrogation; the truth comes out under the rod!"

"Exactly, Master, it's time to purge the sect." Da Chun wouldn't miss this chance to kick a man while he was down, adding fuel to the fire. "In a society where trust between people is already lacking, Zhi Zhang’s actions make him the scum of the earth. How shameful!"

"What are you all talking about?! What 'conning,' what 'scum and shame'!? What are you blathering about? I, Liang Lingzhi, swear to heaven, if I swindled it, may I be struck by lightning!"

"BOOM!"

A muffled clap of thunder echoed into the tomb from outside.

"That's a coincidence!" Startled by the sound, Zhi Zhang steadied himself, wrenched his arms from Wen Xing, and snatched the pendant back from Chen Yao. He kissed it tenderly and said with a bashful look, "This Sunlight Jade Pendant is a token of love from Nianxue! A token of love—you single dogs like Xiao Bao and Da Chun wouldn't understand, and you'll never have one in your lives!"

"What!?" Hearing Zhi Zhang’s explanation and his nauseating display of affection, Chen Yao stared straight into his eyes with a sharp gaze.

"What?! Even if you are my master, you can't take away my true love! And you can't strip away Nianxue's affection for me. I won't give you this pendant! Our love is witnessed by heaven and earth!" Zhi Zhang turned his head, avoiding Chen Yao’s questioning stare.

"Oh, you've grown a backbone, have you?" Chen Yao shook his head and laughed. "You actually managed to woo my daughter!"

"It wasn't 'wooing.' Nianxue wasn't just 'wooed'—this is the result of mutual attraction!" Zhi Zhang replied indignantly. "Nianxue and I are truly in love. We found true feelings through adversity, our love grew over time, it's as firm as gold and as steadfast as the mountains! We have made sacred vows!"

"You!!!"

Just as Zhi Zhang braced himself for a verbal lashing, Chen Yao’s anger vanished. His expression softened into a smile of relief, and he patted Zhi Zhang on the shoulder. "I know my daughter and my apprentice best. I’m relieved that you two are together."

"Ah!?" His reaction stunned everyone.

"Master!" Hearing Chen Yao’s reasonable response, Zhi Zhang stood frozen, his eyes instantly reddening.

"Master, Master!"

"I won't interfere with your relationship," Chen Yao said with a smile. "You're all grown up. Whether it's pursuing life goals or a life partner, as long as it's not illegal or immoral, I will support and respect your choices."

"Master!" Zhi Zhang, wearing only his underwear, hugged Chen Yao tightly, tears streaming down his face uncontrollably.

"That's enough! That's enough!" Chen Yao gently pushed him away. "If you want to cry, do it in front of Nianxue after this is over! Why are you hugging me?"

Seeing the master and disciple reconcile, Daoist Weizi stroked his beard and smiled. "Rihui's personality is just like his late master's—he's a real rascal too!"

"Listening to the Grandmaster, it seems Master has many untold stories too!?" Xiao Bao giggled. "Grandmaster, tell us some stories about Master when he was young!"

"Go on, go on, stop it." Chen Yao interrupted them. "Get your clothes sorted and prepare to dive. It's no game down there; if you lose your soul, you're in trouble!"

After he finished speaking, he took off his shirt, revealing a physique that didn't quite match his scholarly appearance. But even more astonishing than his muscular build was a magnificent, domineering dragon tattoo winding across his upper body!

"Holy crap, I never thought you were a 'tough guy' too, Master!" Da Chun was left dumbfounded. He licked his finger and rubbed it against Chen Yao’s back!

"It's real!" Seeing the tattoo didn't fade, Da Chun’s eyes lit up with even more fanaticism. "Xiao Bao, you try a taste!"

"Really?" Xiao Bao also wiped his finger on Chen Yao’s skin and said in amazement, "My god, it really doesn't fade! Master, you're full of surprises—you've got a dragon hidden on you!"

"Don't make such a fuss, you little brats have no experience!" Chen Yao laughed heartily, looking quite proud. "This dragon tattoo has a story. It’s a treasure my master personally tattooed on me, known as the 'Hunyuan Heavenly Mystery Dragon'!"

"Wow! The Hunyuan Heavenly Mystery Dragon!? Doesn't that mean you're going to reach the heavens!?" Hearing the grand name, Zhi Zhang forgot his emotional state and crowded around to touch Chen Yao’s shoulder. "What a domineering name, and it hasn't faded even after all this time. It truly deserves to be a work of the Grandmaster!"

"It's not like I haven't reached the heavens! When you all complete your training and leave the sect, I'll give each of you one. Everyone gets a share!" Chen Yao laughed loudly and signaled to Officer Li. "Officer Li, these kids are ignorant. They've had their fun, now it's time for business."

Officer Li, who had been smoking with his subordinates, nodded and handed his cigarette butt to Xiao Wang. "Keep that safe, don't pollute the environment."

Xiao Wang smiled bitterly, stored the butt, and led the team to the edge of the pool to wait for orders.

Chen Yao took out the "Canghai" jade pendant Ye Dong had given him from a waterproof bag, muttering to himself, "It's time for it to play its part!"

Unlike Ye Dong’s group, who had to force their way in, Chen Yao’s team had been safe until they reached the mysterious stone chamber.

"Comrades, once we dive and reach the opposite shore to enter the stone chamber, we must follow the plan and split into two groups," Officer Li instructed. "Once inside, stay close to Master Chen and Master Weizi. Do not act impulsively!"

It turned out that after the stone chamber containing the calligraphy and paintings, there was a fork in the road leading in two different directions. Daoist Weizi had previously scouted the paths, but what troubled him was that every time they entered, the situation changed. In other words, after passing the fork, the environment inside would undergo drastic, inexplicable transformations.

"Let's dive in order!" Officer Li waved his hand and followed Daoist Weizi into the pool!

"Come on!" Xiao Bao patted Da Chun on the shoulder. "It's our turn!"

"Alright, today I'll show you what a true master of the water looks like!" Da Chun took a deep breath and dived into the water without looking back!

In contrast to their relaxed approach, the situation on Ye Dong’s side seemed much worse.

"This is!? What is going on!?" Ye Dong stared at the completely transformed scenery around him, his face filled with shock!

"I don't know what's happening either!?" Even the experienced Master Wei took several steps back!

"Good grief!" Huang Wuchang let out an angry snort, drew the flute from his waist, and stood ready for battle!