C6 Senior Brother, I Am Actually Dying!
"Qingwei, I'm grateful for your trust."
Ye Ning's expression turned gravely serious, his face etched with a deathly stillness.
In that moment, Ye Ning could swear he was pouring his very life into this heartfelt performance.
"But, I must share a harsh truth with you, Senior Sister."
"Ah, Senior Brother, you're not going to frighten me, are you?"
Ye Ning spoke with earnest, "The phenomenon I conjured during my retreat—was it not impressive?"
At the mention of this, Chen Qingwei's eyes sparkled as she eagerly responded, "Absolutely!"
"My Senior Brother is incredibly powerful!"
"Fantastic, just fantastic."
First, a surge of green sword energy soared skyward, piercing the clouds.
Then, it cascaded down like a weeping willow.
Strands of green light wove together ceaselessly!
And at last, they formed a Green Lotus of sword energy.
The Green Lotus Sword Shadow persisted for three whole days!
"Senior Brother, if only I could achieve what you have one day, how wonderful that would be!"
Ye Ning offered a wry comment, "You're content to dream, yet you shy away from the hard work of cultivation."
Chen Qingwei was the classic case of someone who aspired to diligence, but whose body resisted the effort.
But this time, Senior Brother won't coddle you!
A self-deprecating smile played on Ye Ning's lips.
"Qingwei, what if I told you that all of this was an illusion?"
"What?!" Chen Qingwei, still lost in her daydream of the Green Lotus Sword, was jolted back to reality.
An illusion?
What did he mean?
Ye Ning went on, "It's all an illusion."
"Senior Brother, I—cough, cough..."
"Senior Brother!" Chen Qingwei's alarm surged!
To her horror, she saw blood trickling from the corner of Ye Ning's mouth.
"What's happened to you?"
"Don't frighten me!"
Master had assured us that your retreat was successful!
Elder Lin Youde himself had sung your praises, Senior Brother. How could this be happening?
With a powerless shake of his head, Ye Ning confessed, "In truth, my retreat was a failure, and I've succumbed to demonic possession."
"But you must understand, the Eldest Senior Brother of the Irontalons cannot afford to fail."
"I, as the Eldest Senior Brother, am destined to succeed. Do you grasp what I'm saying?"
In that instant, Chen Qingwei's realization dawned.
Senior Brother Ye Ning had intentionally expended his energy to fabricate this spectacle!
To the outside world, the Eldest Senior Brother had emerged from a three-year seclusion, advancing to the Golden Core Stage and mastering the Azure Mysterious Sword Qi.
He was the epitome of a peerless prodigy!
At that moment, the fellow disciples outside were brimming with excitement.
Their hearts were filled with dreams and aspirations for what lay ahead.
And this very dream, this very hope, was exactly what Eldest Senior Brother Ye Ning desired.
"So it was all... Oh, Senior Brother!"
Tears streamed down Chen Qingwei's cheeks, her lashes heavy with droplets.
A delicate mist formed at her nose's tip.
Indeed, 'A beauty in tears is a sight to behold.'
Yet, Ye Ning felt no pity.
In his heart, he reassured himself, "My dear girl, I'm doing this for your sake. Please, don't hold it against me."
"Senior Brother, why must you be so foolish?"
With solemnity, Ye Ning implored, "Qingwei, can you keep this secret for your Senior Brother?"
"This must remain between us alone. It cannot be disclosed to anyone else."
"Not even to our Master."
Chen Qingwei replied at once, "But Senior Brother, how could you possibly deceive Master?"
"That's not your concern. I have my methods."
"Though I've been touched by madness, it won't affect me in the short term."
Approaching her, Ye Ning asked with a gentle smile, "Do you understand why Senior Brother chose to cut his own hair?"
"Senior Brother, wuwuwu..."
"Because, you see, when Senior Brother's hair grows long again, it will also signal the end."
"Wuwuwu, Senior Brother, I can't bear it! I don't want this!"
"I don't want you to die, Senior Brother!"
"Silly girl!" Ye Ning firmly placed his hand on Chen Qingwei's head, giving her a comforting pat. He spoke gently yet with gravity, "Qingwei, Senior Brother wants nothing more than to always be there to protect you."
"But you must understand, in this world, the only person you can truly rely on is yourself."
Inwardly, he added, "Silly girl, Senior Brother is deceiving you."
These words, of course, he could never voice aloud.
Besides, the truth in the latter part of his lecture was undeniable!
Was it wrong to encourage his junior sister to be independent and to diligently pursue her cultivation?
Absolutely not!
The educational approach might be somewhat, ahem, underhanded, but it was well-intentioned!
In the future, your celestial father must bestow upon me the Best Educator Award.
"Senior Brother, I... I understand!"
"Don't worry, I will definitely keep your secret."
"Mm, that's good."
Chen Qingwei suddenly looked up, her eyes, glistening with tears, now radiating an unwavering resolve.
"Senior Brother, rest assured. Qingwei will dedicate herself to her cultivation!"
Ever since she was little, it had always been Senior Brother shielding her from hardships.
But from now on, things would change.
I, Chen Qingwei, am determined to commit to my cultivation.
She reassured herself silently, "Senior Brother, I won't let you die. I will do everything in my power to prevent it!"
"Now, girl, dry those tears."
"Compose yourself; it's time for us to go."
Chen Qingwei nodded emphatically!
...
All eyes were fixed on the Xuantian Cave!
Not just the disciples, but many elders as well.
"What's happening? Senior Sister Qingwei has been inside for quite some time; why hasn't she emerged?"
"Indeed, what's the delay?"
"Could it be that Senior Brother hasn't finished his retreat?"
"Is there something else concerning Ye Ning?"
Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, the once-fading Green Lotus phantom blazed brightly again!
If before the Green Lotus resembled a mere bud, in that moment, it burst into full bloom.
"Look at that sword qi!"
Initially, it was a single stream of sword qi.
But in an instant, it split into eight separate streams, cascading downward.
One sword transformed into eight!
The eight swords soared as one, a spectacle of the Irontalons Sect!
"He's emerged!"
"The Eldest Senior Brother has come out!"
"Look, Eldest Senior Brother has finally emerged."
...
Under the watchful eyes of all, Ye Ning made his appearance.
Though now sporting a buzz cut, his exceptional presence remained undiminished.
Clad in green, his attire was set off by the eight streams of sword qi, exuding an air of elegance and peerless grace.
Ye Ning approached, step by step.
He looked out at the crowd, intending to speak.
But in that moment, Ye Ning found himself unexpectedly shy.
So, he simply stood with his hands behind his back, offering a smile.
Sword qi blooming around him, he was the epitome of transcendence!
"My goodness, is this the Eldest Senior Brother of our Irontalons Sect?"
"He's simply otherworldly."
All the disciples gazed up in admiration, while the elders looked on with pride.
Inside the Irontalons Hall, Jin Lingzi watched her disciple with a tender smile.
All seemed well.
Ye Ning thought to himself, "It looks like I'll manage to get through today smoothly!"
But as fate would have it, the unexpected was bound to occur.
"Senior Brother Ye Ning, it's me, Chiang Yun. I humbly request your guidance!"