The Fourth Lady novel Chapter 63

Qingyan didn't expect that Yunhen Priest would directly address her like that. She knew in her heart that only Yunhen Priest would openly called her by that name without hesitation, even if at the time, she wasn't the Nanchen Empress yet.

But she had always revered her shifu. Even if at the time, she was blamed as the country destroying demoness, he still disregarded everything and wanted to visit her in the cold palace.

However, in the end, she wasn't able to see him before her death. She knew that Qilian Qingyi wouldn't agree to Yunhen Priest coming to see her.

Although Qilian Qingyi didn't know that Qingyan was versed in the language of beasts, but even so, she still wouldn't agree to Yunhen Priest seeing her.

Perhaps with just one word from Yunhen Priest, he could let her once again become the Empress. That's why she wouldn't risk doing something so reckless.

Qingyan slowly walked up before Yunhen Priest, formally greeting him with a bow, "Your disciple is here to greet you, shifu."

However, Yunhen Priest didn't seem to be surprised. He walked up next to Qingyan and helped her up, "Yan'er, it really has been a long time no see."

Qingyan looked to Yunhen Priest's appearance, "Shifu, doesn't seem to be the least bit surprised with Qingyan's appearance."

"Yan'er, such is fate. Although you are no longer Qilian Qingyan, you're unable to hide your body's capabilities from me." Yunhen Priest said as he grasped her hand, "Yan'er, your body's life sign is very peculiar. She is the only one that is able to take in your soul.

Yunhen Priest's words made Qingyan widen her eyes, "So what shifu means is that, if in the beginning, the original owner of this body didn't die, then I wouldn't have been able to enter this body, thus obtaining a new start."

Yunhen brought Qingyan into a bamboo cabin. Inside, it was filled with various small animals. She understood in her heart that perhaps Yunhen Priest was training them for something.

"Yan'er, in these five years, I very much blamed myself for your death. In the beginning, if I had insisted on meeting you, perhaps you wouldn't have ended up like that." Yunhen spoke as he poured a cup of tea for Qingyan.

Qingyan picked up the cup of tea before her. Just when she was about to drink it, she realized that the tea leaves in her cup were precisely the tea leaves made from the 'Hundred Root Bifeng' she had given to him back in the day when she formally became his disciple.

Yuhen Priest had always loved tea. It was also through Junmo that she got these 'Hundred Root Bifeng' and thus, she gifted them to Yunhen.

Now, seeing these Bifeng tea once again, she felt nostalgic.

"Shifu, that wasn't your fault." Qingyan looked to him and softly spoke, "Shifu, just why did your fine black hair turn white?" She walked up behind him and picked up the white hair.

Back when she was still Qilian Qingyan, her favorite thing to do in the mornings when she woke was to comb Yunhen's hair.

No one knew, Yunhen, who gave off the aura of a celestial being, had yet to reach 40 years of age.

But now, this head of white hair strangely made Qingyan's heart ache.

"Yan'er, on the day you died, my black hair turned white overnight. Afterwards, my shifu told me that this was because I carried a heavy sin." Yunhen turned around and faced Qingyan with a smile.

"I used this entire head of black hair in exchange for you to live again, is that not something that's the best of both worlds?"

Yunhen's words made Qingyan cover her mouth. She'd never thought that her shifu had paid that kind of price in exchange for her to come back to life.

"Yan'er, I'm very happy." Yunhen spoke as if it was not of concern. He let loose his hair and draped it behind his back, "Yan'er, won't you comb your shifu's hair once again?"

"Yes." Qingyan picked up the comb that was in front of the copper mirror and begin to comb Yunhen's hair.

Every time she combed, she could feel the pain spreading in her heart. It was as if she was combing into her own body.

Yunhen Priest, to her was like a teacher, a friend. Their age was not that far apart, and she had always respected him a lot.

"Yan'er, I have something to give you." Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Yunhen smiled.

He brought out a case from his drawer, and inside was a delicate small container made from redwood.

Yunhen opened the container, and inside was actually a red colored jade stone. This was precisely the rare and difficult to find blood jade.

"Yan'er, this is the blood jade that took me five years traversing the four kingdoms to find. Use this as a medium to make a jade flute. You can still become the pavilion master of the Thousand Beast Pavilion once again." Yunhen said as he placed the container into Qingyan's hands.

"This is what I owe you." Yunhen said with a look of sincerity, to the point where Qingyan didn't how to accept this container.

Qingyan looked to Yunhen and kneeled down at once. "Shifu doesn't owe me anything. If it weren't for shifu, Yan'er wouldn't even be here today."

"Yan'er, to me you are my disciple my friend. In the past, I'd never regarded you as my disciple, but now you are my disciple not only in name." Yunhen said as he helped Qingyan up.

"If shifu does not mind, I'm willing to once again become shifu's disciple." Qingyan spoke as she poured a cup full of tea and presented it to Yunhen with both hands.

Yunhen smiled as he accepted the tea, "Good, today you performed the disciple rites, you shall be I, Yunhen's, last* disciple."

(*TN: Last in terms that he will never take anymore disciples after her; the original term literally translates as 'closed door disciple'.)

Qingyan listened to Yunhen's words, and just like in the past, she threw herself into Yunhen's arms and started to cry, "Shifu, from now on Yan'er will look after you."

Yunhen listened to her words and patted her head. He remembered that back when Qilian Qingyan became his disciple, she'd once said this too. And now they were all still here, it was really great.

Yan'er, if I could use my head of black hair in exchange, for you to live a smooth and steady life, I would very much be happy to do so.

But it's a pity your life sign is unusual. For all of eternity, scarce of love and family, forever fated to live through loneliness and hardship.

But how can I tell you this truth?

"Shifu, when I leave Ganyun Temple this time, why don't you leave together with me?" Qingyan lifted her face and looked to him with a serious look.

"Alright, from now on I will follow you." Yunhen said as he patted Qingyan on the head.

Qingyan looked to him and nodded, "From now on, I will cook for shifu everyday."

Yunhen listened to Qingyan's words and reluctantly laughed. She clearly knew that his aspirations didn't lie here. Since he'd already completed his task, it was time for him to leave this place and continue traversing the great lakes and mountains.

Seeing Qingyan fall asleep in his arms, Yunhen softly whispered, "Yan'er, you are my only attachment in this life."

His shifu once said: 'if one were to have mortal attachments in ones life, then one would be unable to see through the mortal world.'

But to no avail, I would rather not see through this mortal world*, more willing to see that brilliant smile on your face.

Even now, I still remembered that day. Your appearance when you appeared in the bamboo forest, following behind Weisheng Junmo, slowly walking over. Bowing to me to become my disciple.

At that moment, I finally understood. That one glimpse was eternity.

Yan'er, in these five years, I've already redeemed by soul. Yet, this whole time I'm unable to forget your smiling face from that time. To be able to be reunited again today, is already my greatest fortune in this life.

--Yun'er, you carry a heavy sin in this life. If you are willing to pay the price, perhaps you can still meet that girl again.

--shifu, Yun'er is willing to pay any price in exchange to meet her again.