"In any case, thank you for the protection you extended earlier, senior."
"Your ancestors paid for my assistance, and I didn’t help much anyway."
"You jest, senior."
Chen Zhixing chuckled lightly and saluted Huayu.
This salute was in gratitude for Huayu Immortal Venerable’s protection.
Of course, the truth wasn’t as Huayu put it, as if no help was given. Because just Huayu Immortal Venerable’s statement, or even a gesture, was a tremendous favor.
Chen Zhixing naturally wasn’t foolish enough not to see this.
Yet, if this meant he was to take Huayu’s place after leaving, Chen Zhixing wasn’t willing to do so.
Of course, polite words still needed to be spoken.
So after standing straight again, Chen Zhixing sincerely said to Li Er: "Senior, if in the future there’s a need for me, just send a message, no matter the distance, I will surely come."
A very tactful statement.
Old man, I’m leaving the Celestial Profound Realm, if you have any requests, say them quickly, once I go, you may not be able to find me again.
Huayu laughed heartily upon hearing this.
After laughing for a while, he again looked at Chen Zhixing and said:
"Your ancestor should have told you when he passed that I owe him a favor, a favor I hold in high regard, and I’m not one to be ungrateful, so there’s no need for idle talk. Since you’re here, accompany me for a game of chess."
With that, Huayu had already put down his fishing rod and sat across the chessboard.
Li Er genuinely didn’t care!!!
He, as an immortal, cared for nothing.
What does finding a successor in Chen Zhixing matter, or whether the Immortal Ascension Sect declines after his departure, such things have nothing to do with him, Li Er?
The Immortal Ascension Sect may have had great kindness, but he had suppressed the East Sea for the sect for a millennium, enough to repay any debt.
As for those who wish for more from him.
Well, sorry.
The first half of Li Er’s life was spent repaying debts owed, and now the last bit of debt followed the passing of the Chen Family elder, transferring to Chen Zhixing, and once Chen Zhixing leaves the Celestial Profound, there’s nothing left for him to linger upon in this realm.
Favor, essentially, is a knot within one’s heart, Li Er doesn’t care how others view it, only whether he can reconcile it himself.
If he can reconcile it, no matter how great the favor is in others’ eyes, he has returned it cleanly.
If he cannot, even a slight guidance on the road would be remembered for a millennium by him.
If he didn’t possess such determination, how could he have won the title of the world’s number one from Saint Master Miao?
Free-spirited?
Very free-spirited.
Likeable?
Why should one be liked by others?
Li Er’s life isn’t lived for others; changing himself based on others’ views would be against his nature!
.....
Indeed, Li Er’s time by the East Sea for over a millennium was not in vain.
In chess, even when Chen Zhixing held the black pieces and went first, he still had to concede in the middle game.
Even so, Chen Zhixing felt the old man across from him, who didn’t appear old, was letting him win!
After conceding, Chen Zhixing picked up the black pieces one by one, then smiled bitterly at Li Er: "Senior’s chess skills are superb; I am no match for you."
Li Er shook his head upon hearing this.
"What superb chess skills? It’s just that I’ve lived a bit longer, played more games, and through rote memorization, remembered all the possible variations. In essence, chess is like cultivation; with age comes some advantages."
"You are right, senior." Chen Zhixing nodded, acknowledging a genuine truth.
"Hmm, all right, now that this game is over, it counts as your visit to me." Li Er said suddenly while tidying up the chessboard: "As for Ci Yun, you need not intervene anymore. Before doing this, Yimiao spoke to me."
"You knew, senior?" Chen Zhixing hesitated upon hearing that, with countless thoughts spinning in his mind.
"Don’t overthink it." Perhaps thinking Chen Zhixing was overthinking and that it might hinder future cultivation, Li Er reminded him again: "This is the grudge between our generation and Yimiao. In actuality, it isn’t much of a grudge. It’s just that when Ci Yun was young and ignorant, he offended our Holy Master, and in the years since, Ci Yun has been hiding in the sect, never going out, let alone heading to Emperor’s Peak to apologize. Now, being cornered by Yimiao in this Cosmic Realm, a millennium has passed; he might even have forgotten about this issue himself. However, some matters cannot simply vanish just because he, Ci Yun, forgot. Hence, the scene today."
"Uh, senior, are you implying Saint Master Yimiao is petty?" Chen Zhixing cautiously suggested.
"I’m saying that if you offend a woman, you must decisively sever ties, and completely so. Otherwise, when retribution comes, you might not even understand its cause." While speaking, Li Er gave Chen Zhixing a profound look, leaving it unclear whether it was a warning or held another meaning.
"I understand, senior," Chen Zhixing replied helplessly, realizing this gossip unexpectedly involved him.
"As long as you understand, as long as you understand."
Li Er shook his head, glanced at the sky, then said: "Also, indulging my elder status to say one more thing, I heard you’re close with someone named Sos."
"There is such a thing."
"Don’t have too much contact with him."