Why is the Inheritance Still Clinging to Existence?

Jade Mountain was located in the southwest of the Central Plains. The climate there was warm and moist. Although there were changes in the four seasons, it wasn’t freezing in winter. Being late autumn at this time, the forest at the foot of the mountain was still lush.

However, the Jade Mountain’s path felt unending, as if its peak pierced through the heavens. Because of the elevation, the higher one climbed, the more they approached the harsh climate.

Elegant Jade Peak was the most unique existence in Jade Mountain.

Snow covered Elegant Jade Peak all year round. From a distance, it looked as pure as heaven for goddesses.

This mountain peak was extremely steep, with huge boulders in the forest and cliffs as far as the eye could see. Almost all the trees were clinging to the mountain wall, struggling out of the cracks and scaling upward. The higher one climbed, the fewer trees would appear. Only some thin weeds and shrubs could be seen growing between the rocks.

Fortunately, maybe for ease of walking for the Miracle Doctor, there was a narrow mountain road with square stones and wooden piles. It wound up according to the mountain’s terrain. The steepest place was also built with iron chain ropes embedded in the rocks for support.

In addition, the two climbers were armed with martial arts and assisted by light movement skills. The steep mountain road was not too difficult for them to travel.

It was just the higher they climbed, the lower the temperature was. Moving around the rocks’ surface, shrubby branches, they were soon covered in a layer of light frost.

Su Yang stopped, reached for the rocks for support and gasped for breath.

Light movement skills required internal energy. However, in this short period, stirring the internal energy in his body would trigger the Apparition, causing him to feel cold all over.

The palm holding the stone could no longer feel the temperature difference between the hard surface and the skin, only the chill deep in the bones that ran straight from his tailbone to the top of his scalp. 

Gu Feidi turned back and held Su Yang’s freezing hand in his warm palm. He frowned and asked, “Cold?”

Su Yang nodded. “A little. I can move after a short rest.”

Gu Feidi’s face was full of worry as he transferred some internal energy from the palm of his hand.

Su Yang poked Gu Feid’s eyebrows and smoothed them with a smile. “I’m alright. It’s just that my internal energy is too cold. I’m just getting slightly affected by the cold temperature here.”

“We should have brought the cape and fur cover from your female disguise.” Gu Feidi sighed. “Although the rabbit fur is thin, at least it could keep you warm to some extent.”

Su Yang teased, “I think you still miss what I looked like in my disguise?”

Gu Feidi laughed and shook his head.

After a quarter of an hour’s rest, they continued again, and the connected hands never broke apart.

Gu Feidi’s warm internal energy helped relieve the chill in Su Yang’s body by a lot. He cheered up and followed Gu Feidi.

The climate in the mountains changed with the wind.

The wind rose, clouds emerged, until a large, suspiciously dark cloud gathered above. 

Then, at the foot of the mountain under the clear sunlight, snowflakes began to float down from the sky on the hillside.

Su Yang walked in the wind and snow, and gazed back down in amazement to see the mountain forest and village bathed in golden sunshine.

After a long moment of astonishment, he reached for a snowflake in the air and watched it turn into drops of water in his palm. He muttered, “Sometimes, I really wish I had a cam…something that could record this scene.”

Gu Feidi held the man in his arms from behind and asked, “You have the heart to enjoy the scenery instead of feeling cold?”

Su Yang turned around and gave him a sunny smile. “Because I have a cosy darling like you here!”

Gu Feidi returned the smile, put his chin on Su Yang’s shoulder, and looked down the mountain with him.

“I fear that there’s no painting skill in the world that can capture this unique scene.” He whispered. “Even if you recite or compose poems, you can’t reproduce this stunning moment. Many scenes need to be seen with your own eyes, to truly experience them.”

It was true that there was no painting technique in the world that could describe the scenery, but if he really had a camera on hand, he could keep this beautiful moment as a fond memory.

But Su Yang couldn’t explain the concept of the camera to Gu Feidi, so he could only smile and nod in agreement.

The light snow came suddenly and stopped just as quickly.

Within the time it took to burn one incense stick, or half an hour, the sun came out from the crevice of clouds again and sparkled on the stone path.

Gu Feidi read the position of the sun and asked, “It’s past noon. Are you hungry?”

Su Yang shook his head. “Not very hungry, but we should eat something so we’ll have the strength to continue climbing.”

They walked up the mountain while holding hands for some time and finally found a spacious platform. They sat down against the boulder and took out the dry rations from their bags.

Gu Feidi used his internal energy to warm the water in the water sack. They ate to fill their stomachs and planned to take a brief rest before continuing.

Su Yang leaned his head on Gu Feidi’s shoulder and chatted with him.

However, within a few minutes and without warning, Su Yang swayed and almost fell to the ground head first. 

Gu Feidi held him up and checked for his temperature and internal energy, but found nothing strange—Su Yang didn’t faint because of the cold, he just fell asleep suddenly.

However, this didn’t sit well with Gu Feidi.

After thinking for a moment, he used his internal energy to amplify his voice and called out to Su Yang several times before waking the sleeping man.

“Er? What’s wrong?” Su Yang opened his eyes in a daze. Before he realised what had happened, he yawned and said, “I felt super sleepy after eating…”

“You…” Gu Feidi looked into Su Yang’s eyes. He hesitated and inquired, “Have you noticed anything different recently? If the Poisonous Gu in your body causes you any problems, you must inform me. Please don’t forcefully carry the burden alone.” 

Su Yang blinked for a moment. He felt nothing strange with his body. He reassured with a gentle smile, “I sense nothing wrong. Maybe a little cold from using internal energy.”

Then he rifled through his luggage, pulled out some coats from it and wrapped them around his body. “No problem, I’ll wear more layers…As long as we find the doctor soon, once we get rid of the Blood Gu, I’ll be as good as new and going down the mountain will be no issue.”

Seeing that Gu Feidi’s expression was still complicated, Su Yang threw his luggage back on his back, got up and pulled the younger man by the hand up from the ground.

“I already said no problem. Come on, let’s go.” He smiled. “Let’s move quickly or I’ll start falling asleep again. Best not to delay the journey.”

Gu Feidi got up without using Su Yang’s strength, but he didn’t let go of the other’s hand.

“You must tell me if you are feeling unwell.” He requested. “You and I are each other’s partners. We should hide nothing from each other, understand?”

Su Yang glanced at Gu Feidi and nodded. “I will.”

But inside, he knew there were some things he didn’t want Gu Feidi to know. He didn’t want to drag Gu Feidi into his mess.

He didn’t neglect the warning of training three cold nature mental skills, but it was just he had to train the Half-Withered Crimson in order to save Gu Feidi from the Blood Gu. This was his own decision that he would take to his grave, so Gu Feidi wouldn’t feel guilty for it.

To worry anxiously or feel self-blame in remorse, Su Yang would rather Gu Feidi be troubled by the former.

They went up the steep mountain road hand in hand.

Not before long, they went into the misty clouds.

Suddenly, on the steep mountain road ahead, two slightly bent figures appeared.

Although they looked old, their footsteps were steady. They could see the unique rhythm of the years of martial art training just from the way the newcomers walked.

Gu Feidi drew his Cherished Heart from its sheath, clenched its handle tightly and made an eye signal at Su Yang, telling the other man to stay on guard.

Opposite them, two people emerged out of the mist. It was an old man and an old woman. The old man was carrying a long axe on his shoulder, and the old woman was holding a short-wooden stave. They stood side by side on the steps of the mountain road, smiling toward Su Yang and Gu Feidi.

Suddenly, the old woman spoke first.

“If someone told me a few months ago that the Young Lord of the Tengyun Pavilion would be bewitched by the Evil Sect’s Young Master, and they would walk hand in hand, I would never believe it.” She said with a sneer on her face. “But seeing it with my own eyes now, I’m very disappointed. Young Hero Gu, was it for the sword sage’s inheritance that you committed yourself to this demon spawn?”

Su Yang: “...”

How long has it been? Why is the inheritance still clinging to existence?

When the old woman saw that Gu Feidi wasn't answering, she continued, “Young Hero Gu was originally our Central Plains’ young righteous hero, but the demon spawn seduced him. Such a pain in the neck. Your pavilion’s phoenix guard can’t bear to use too much force on you. Why doesn’t this…old woman lend a hand and take you back to the Tengyun Pavilion.”

Gu Feidi scoffed and asked, “Where did you learn that we were coming to the Elegant Jade Peak?”

The old woman replied, “This old one has my own source.”

“Purchased from the Wujiang Sect, right?” Gu Feidi stated. “Did the Sect also tell you I’m travelling with Su Yang for the sword sage’s inheritance ?”

The old woman narrowed her eyes and gave another sneer, as if she didn’t want to share any more information. She raised her stave and went straight toward Gu Feidi!

At the same time, the old man who was a half step behind her also waved his long axe toward Su Yang.

“They are the ‘Beast Man and Serpent Woman’ seniors. They are highly skilled in martial arts. Deal with them carefully!”

Gu Feidi quickly passed the message to Su Yang. At the same time, he blocked the Serpent Woman’s attack with his sword and, using his internal energy, he twirled and performed Strike of the White Hawk. He added, “We must not prolong the fight. Let’s leave as soon as we can!”

Su Yang nodded, drew out his thin sword and used the Cherish Flower Steps to trade blows with Beast Man.

Spotting a gap, he quickly escaped from the battle zone and, as he was about to leave, he saw Gu Feidi being stopped by the two seniors, unable to break through.

In this helpless situation, he could only return to help Gu Feidi out.

Although the two seniors’ martial arts were slightly inferior to Su Yang and Gu Feidi, they have a tacit understanding after decades of fighting together. They gradually forced Su Yang and Gu Feidi into a corner.

Su Yang could easily escape with his light movement skill, but he couldn’t leave Gu Feidi behind. Gu Feidi, however, was good at swordsmanship and excellent in both offence and defence, but he hadn’t fought alongside Su Yang long enough to be able defeat the two seniors.

Thus, they were stuck in a dilemma. 

To make matters worse, Su Yang continued to use his internal energy, and finally triggered the Apparition—the sharp chill suddenly filled his meridians, which made him move stiffly and forced out a groan. 

Gu Feidi helped Su Yang block the Beast Man’s attack in a hurry, but he couldn’t withstand the large momentum. He hit Su Yang’s chest with his back, sliding them two steps back and almost off of the cliff.

Su Yang held them back from falling with his Cherish Flower Steps, embracing Gu Feidi’s waist and keeping them steady.

“Ha, the Wujiang Sect’s news wasn’t fake.” The woman gave a wicked smile. “Once we are on the snowy mountain, Su Yang’s skill would decrease by half…It was a stroke of luck that we managed to purchase this news!” 

As she continued to relentlessly attack, she murmured, “Su Yang, if you give up now and give me the inheritance, this old one might spare your life!”

Su Yang forced himself to stay awake and glared at the two elders through the dark fog covering his vision.

Gu Feidi had to fight two against one, blocking the two seniors’ joint attack while protecting Su Yang, who almost lost all of his combat effectiveness, behind him. Because he couldn’t retreat or dodge, he suffered more and more injuries, and the two elders gradually stopped trying to persuade him to return to the Tengyun Pavilion as their attacks became more and more fierce. 

They couldn’t continue like this.

Su Yang was holding them off the cliff. Listening to Gu Feidi’s urgent breathing from more and more strenuous attacks, anxiety filled his heart.

He and Gu Feidi were not weak in martial arts, but they lacked over ten years of experience compared to their opponents. In addition, he had no combat capacity at present. Gu Feidi was not only blocking attacks for two but also hiding any openings. If they continued to fight, the two seniors would have more advantage, even with Gu Feidi’s profound internal energy. At that time, it would be extremely difficult to stay alive, let alone escape. 

Feeling the cold energy raging in his body, feeling the strong chill that couldn’t be repressed, Su Yang was suddenly hit with an inspiration—if he completely indulged his cold nature internal energy, and coerced it with the overbearing Apparition of Frozen Lake, to penetrate the enemies’ meridians using them. What kind of effect would they have?

Gu Feidi struggled to block two seniors’ attacks. His eyes were red as he gritted his teeth, trying to push them back.

However, the Beast Man did not retreat. Instead, he advanced. With the heavy axe in his hand, he dropped it down at Gu Feidi hard. 

Gu Feidi raised his hand to block it with his sword. However, he was forced to step back to dodge the Serpent Woman who assisted the attack.

Darkness shrouded Su Yang’s eyes. He couldn’t see the surrounding situation clearly anymore.

He encouraged himself to gather his internal energy in his ears, listening to the voice and determining everyone’s position. When the woman approached, judging from her footsteps, he suddenly used his Cherish Flower Steps to move forward to drive the raging apparition in his meridians and gathered that force in the palm of his hand; targeting where he heard Serpent Woman was coming from.

The intense chill poured out with the Half-Withered Crimson. Su Yang couldn’t see where his palm struck. All he was focusing on was doing his best to turn the cold internal energy and the Apparition into a sharp blade that would pierce the other’s meridians. 

However, at this moment, the Blood Gu in Su Yang’s body, which was suppressed by the Apparition all this time, suddenly violently exploded. As if sensing the crisis, it immediately returned to Su Yang’s meridians to suppress the Blood Gu down.

Under the severe action of the two phases, the intense pain instantly engulfed Su Yang’s consciousness.

Before fainting, Su Yang heard a harrowing scream from the woman.

Closely followed by Gu Feidi’s panicked voice. “—Su Yang!”