The Clash Between Good and Evil Part 2

He turned over and the blanket slipped to the floor.

Without the blanket, Feng Rugu felt cold. He reached out to grab it a few times but grasped only air. Just then, a gust of cold wind blew through the window, causing the curtains to flutter and dance. He couldn't help but shiver.

Ruyi wanted to cover him with the blanket. He took a step forward but then retreated, afraid that the jade pendant on his chest would produce more vexing illusions.

From a distance, he used his "all-encompassing perspective" to lift the blanket and gently drape it over Feng Rugu. With great effort, he used the tip of his sword to meticulously tuck in the edges before sitting in the farthest corner of the room. He picked up a scripture book, trying to calm his mind.

However, he always felt there was movement from Feng Rugu's direction. He couldn't stop his ears and eyes from glancing over, despite his efforts to control himself.

After noticing his own abnormal behavior, Ruyi would immediately avert his gaze in an attempt to cover it up.

This repeated several times until Ruyi, his face slightly flushed, gripped the scroll tightly in extreme embarrassment and annoyance.

What kind of wicked demonic art was this that could influence him to such an extent?!

He focused his mind and grabbed the front of his robe.

...This was abnormal, incorrect.

As long as he found Lin Xuejing and removed the mark on his chest, everything would return to normal.

...

Beneath the cold crescent moon, there was another sleepless person.

The youth who had been chatting idly with Chang Boning in the bamboo grove earlier now sat on a branch of a fiery pomegranate tree outside Jianchuan. His body swayed with the wind.

He had removed the crimson veil from his face, revealing a countenance that was cold yet full of charm.

Though he had not carried any weapons before, he now held a Tang saber covered in baleful aura and blood, wiping it with the blade facing him.

The saber's surface gleamed with a chilling and ominous light under the moonlight.

After cleaning the blade with silk, he transformed the saber into a streak of light and stored it in his sleeve. He then took out his long-cherished sword "Chunfeng Cibi" and fastened it at his waist.

If there were bamboo in this world that could become immortals, they would probably look like him.

After switching from saber to sword, he took out the communication token Chang Boning had given him and slowly traced his fingertips over the patterns on it.

The token still carried the faint fragrance of rhododendron flowers.

He held the token to his chest, his expression unusually gentle.

But within that gentleness was a hint of confusion, as if even he couldn't understand the reason for the inexplicable tenderness in his heart.

In his ears, a distant conversation seemed to be carried over by the wind from the far past. The voices were faint and not very clear.

"...Brother Chang, in your opinion, what is the righteous path?"

The youth sitting across from him wore a slightly worn but soft robe with wide sleeves. He sat upright and properly, answering in a serious manner: "The righteous path of the human world is to serve the common good."

He raised his sleeve and politely gestured "please have some tea" before asking: "What is the difference between good and evil?"

The youth across from him picked up the steaming teacup: "There is only one righteous path. It is long and arduous. There are countless evil paths that are easy and short. The righteous path seeks peace for all under heaven. The evil paths seek only to benefit oneself. The righteous path is like the midday sun, open and aboveboard. The evil paths' future is uncertain, like an eternal night, advancing only by torchlight."

The youth paused. "...Although the world believes that good and evil are as incompatible as water and fire, in Boning's view, a path is a path. There is no inherent superiority."

In his memory, he laughed.

Back then, he still knew how to laugh.

He asked: "Brother Chang, are you perhaps idealizing the evil path too much?"

The youth did not shy away from his own naivety and said frankly and humbly: "This is just Boning's shallow opinion."

He did not reply directly, only gently reassuring: "It's certainly not shallow. Brother Chang, don't belittle yourself. It's a good thing that you don't emphasize the difference between good and evil, and it's understandable. You have a master who walks a unique path and a junior fellow disciple known as the evil of the cultivation world. Their subtle influence is unavoidable."

Chang Boning laughed: "Master and Rugu are different. If Brother Han asked Master this question, Master would surely say that as long as one does not cause wanton destruction and only cultivates oneself, then the differences between the three paths exist only in prejudice. Rugu would say, 'I am the righteous path. Those different from me are on evil paths.'"

The two looked at each other and laughed.

For the youth on the pomegranate tree, this memory was exceptionally clear.

...Inexplicably clear.

The faint fragrance of grass wafted by his nose. A wisp of cloud drifted across the sky. Everything was extremely gentle.

There were other people around them.

Because his master had sneakily made a move while he was distracted, Jing Sanchai and his master Lord Yingxu were arguing over "who was more shameless". His master Lord Zhiyue had recently acquired a zither and was sitting under a peach blossom tree, casually plucking the strings and playing a few ancient melodies. Yan Jiangnan was drunk on wine, leaning against a tree on the grass and fanning herself to cool off. Fengling's Lord Xiaoyao was sparring with his beloved disciple Feng Rugu, one hand held forward and the other behind his back. The clashing of metal rang out.

Meanwhile, he and Chang Boning sat in the midst of this noisy world, with two cups of light tea and a pot of fragrant tea leaves in front of them.

Even though there were so many people beside them, he felt as if there were only two people in the world - him and Chang Boning.

Although the youth was immersed in his memories, he did not fail to react to the movement outside.

...Someone was coming.

After a rustle of grass, a familiar face appeared under the tree.

"Shi Shujing?" The person lifted the bottom pomegranate branches and looked up at him in surprise. "I thought I sensed a familiar spiritual energy residue nearby. It really is you... What are you doing here?"

The youth cut off his reminiscence, re-covered his face with the veil, hid his features, and jumped down from the tree. He bowed expressionlessly: "Deputy Sa."

"Deputy" was Sa Si's title in the Bushi Sect.

Sa Si strode forward. "Why are you here?"

The youth lowered his eyes and said softly: "I heard something happened at Jianchuan. I have some history with Jianchuan, so I came to investigate."

"You still remember old ties." Sa Si snorted. "Didn't you receive the Yunhai Order?"

"I did." The youth nodded but didn't seem intent on explaining his absence.

Sa Si was used to this person's willfulness and only complained: "You're also a Bushi Sect protector. When a Yunhai Order is issued, it means something big is happening. You should know that, right?"