Chapter 95: Return to the Island

The venerable monk smiled and said, “You show no mercy to demons and villains, yet you protect the innocent and the good with all your heart. What you possess is compassion, and for that, I am willing to assist you.”

“Thank you once again, elder,” Ye Sansi bowed deeply.

The monk replied, “It sounds strange and awkward to call me elder. Since fate has brought us together, and I am a generation older than you, how about calling me uncle?”

“Uncle? Very well. Since I have no parents from the very beginning of my memory in this world, Uncle Tree has always been the closest person to me. You have saved me many times, which is a great kindness. I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart. If I may call you uncle, it would be like having another family member. That would be my blessing.”

“Good!” The monk laughed heartily. “It’s getting late, and I see you are anxious, so I will send you back to your mind’s abode. Close your eyes.”

Ye Sansi saw the village was very familiar and wanted to ask the monk where this place was, but when he looked around, the monk’s figure had already vanished.

He muttered to himself, “Great masters are always so strange and unfathomable. Uncle is kind and has helped me greatly. He is righteous, with the compassion of a Buddha. To acknowledge this uncle-nephew bond is indeed a fortunate thing.”

Following the monk’s words, Ye Sansi closed his eyes.

After a moment, he heard, “Open your eyes,” and he did. But instead of the translucent veil and shadowy figure he expected, before him was a bright scene of a village.

Though close to Nanhai Village, Ye Sansi felt ashamed to face the village chief again. The death of Lu Yu was inseparable from his own involvement, a sin deeply engraved in his heart, never to be forgotten.

Feeling guilty, he saw Tian Nu, his loyal sword spirit, sense his thoughts and fly out to hover before him. Sansi smiled, “Tian Nu, you truly are clever. Very well, let us return to the mind’s domain first.”

As he walked toward the village, only about a hundred steps away, Ye Sansi suddenly recognized it as Nanhai Village and was greatly surprised.

The journey from Qingyang to Nanhai Village was extremely long— even Liu Jin, who could soar through the clouds, would take half a day. How could such a vast distance be covered in the brief moment he had just closed his eyes? This proved the great power of the venerable monk.

The training ground was deserted. Sansi first entered the Qiankun Hall, where he saw Fang Jian and Fang Lang discussing matters. He approached quietly but was noticed by Fang Jian.

Upon seeing Ye Sansi, Fang Jian’s face lit up with joy and surprise. He quickly stood and went to him, holding Sansi’s arms with both hands. “Disciple, where have you been all day? Master was very worried.”

After speaking, Ye Sansi leapt onto the sword body of Tian Nu, soaring a hundred zhang into the air, and swiftly flew due south. The speed was tremendous, and standing on Tian Nu felt steady and secure.

With Ye Sansi’s sword-riding speed, it took only half an hour to reach the Immortal Island from Nanhai Village. At last, he saw the island itself. Overjoyed, he quickly turned the sword downward toward the Qiankun Hall, planning first to report the day's events to his master and then visit Ling Shuang and the others.

Ye Sansi thought, “There’s no harm in telling Master the truth about what happened after leaving the island. But with the Grand Elder present, if he learns of my dealings with the demon realm, he will surely find fault with me, perhaps even accuse me falsely and exile me. I must prepare a foolproof excuse... Ah, I have it!”

He said slowly, “Master, you once said there is a way to save Xiong Gang’s life in the far northern lands, but it requires defeating Senior Brother Zheng Fan. I thought that day was far off and tried to devise an alternative. Surely, we cannot have Xiong Gang lying ill for three years and more.”

Ye Sansi knelt quickly, bowing his head. Seeing this, Fang Jian hurried to lift him up. “Sansi, what do you mean? Master has no intention of blaming you. Tell me, what happened today? Did you encounter danger?”

Fang Lang chimed in, “Yes, tell us where you went today to give the other disciples an explanation.”

Fang Lang had lost patience and said hastily, “Then speak! What is your great plan? How do you intend to save Xiong Gang? If you cannot produce any reason, don’t blame me for being harsh. I will charge you with desertion, breaking the rules, insubordination, and betrayal.”

At Fang Lang’s words, Fang Jian was angry. “Senior Brother, you have gone too far. Ye Sansi is my disciple. He passed the test of the Buddha Hall, was recognized by our ancestors, and enrolled in the Immortal Island roster. How he conducts himself is none of your concern.”

Fang Jian nodded but frowned and then asked Ye Sansi, “Are you planning to leave the island secretly to venture alone to the far northern lands?”

“Master, I am not foolish. You set a three-year deadline and a battle with Senior Brother Zheng Fan so that we would not waste our lives. How could I be so reckless and overestimate myself?”

“Do you remember the great master on the clouds that day?”

“Of course I do.”

“Good, good. You are the island lord, and this is your disciple. You manage him, you manage him, I will keep silent. Is that all right?”

Fang Jian then whispered to Ye Sansi, “Sansi, take your time and tell me your plan.”

Carefully examining the pill for a moment, Fang Jian smiled. “Such a marvelous thing truly exists? I cannot tell the ingredients of this pill, but if it works, that is excellent. Without delay, I will lift the formation sealing Xiong Gang. Once the ice melts, we will have him take the medicine. By the way, Sansi, you should also visit your friends. They are terribly worried.”

Ye Sansi nodded and bowed. “Yes, Master. I will take my leave first.” He then left the Qiankun Hall and flew up on his sword.

“I have known him before. Since he is so powerful, he must have a way to save Xiong Gang. If we can seek his help, we can avoid going to the far northern lands. Because this idea came to me suddenly, I did not consult you but hurried to Qingyang.”

As he spoke, Ye Sansi took the pill from his bosom and handed it to Fang Jian. “Master, this was given by the elder. Have Xiong Gang take it and rest for a few days, and he will recover.”

Li Taiyi greeted Ye Sansi eagerly upon his return. “Brother Sansi, where have you been? Only now do you return. We missed you at mealtime and were worried. Even now, Master is still out searching for you on his sword.”

Liu Lingshuang said nothing but stared straight into Ye Sansi’s eyes. Sansi smiled sheepishly, scratching his head. “I had some matters off the island and lost track of time, which is why I came back so late. Sorry for worrying you all.”

At this hour, Ye Sansi wondered where Taiyi and the others might be—resting in the dining hall or training on the eastern practice ground? He decided to check the eastern practice ground first.

Sure enough, in the air, he saw Taiyi, Lingshuang, and Lin Nian’er. He quickly descended, landed on the training ground, and called their names.

Lin Nian’er answered softly, “Little Bamboo shoots went out early this morning with us to eat and then said she wanted to visit the southern cliff. I tried to persuade her, but she wouldn’t listen. We couldn’t stop her, so we let her go.”

Ye Sansi hurried, “Now that there is a way to treat Xiong Gang, Little Bamboo shoots must not do anything foolish. You all go find Senior Brother Fang Yuan; I will go after her.” He gestured, and Tian Nu flew out smoothly. Ye Sansi mounted the sword and hastened toward the southern cliff.

“You foolish boy, you even remember to come back? You didn’t tell us you were going out. You just want us to worry and imagine the worst, hmph,” Lingshuang finally spoke, stamping her foot.

“It’s not like that. Such a big matter as leaving the island, if there had been a chance, how could I not tell you? There’s a long story behind this; I will tell you all in due time. By the way, where is Little Bamboo shoots? Why isn’t she here?”

Ye Sansi laughed. “Little Bamboo shoots, don’t worry, I’ve seen them already. But tell me, why are you here alone? It’s dangerous.”

“Brother Sansi, I woke up early feeling uneasy inside, so I thought to clear my mind. I came here to the southern cliff where the scenery is beautiful and the sea breeze feels wonderful on my face. Lingshuang and the others are still busy with their training, so I didn’t want them to accompany me. I’ve been here a while now. I’ll come back with you.”

Ye Sansi quickened his pace. In less than a moment’s incense time, he arrived at the cliff and indeed found Jin Sun sitting at the edge, staring blankly at the vast sea. Ye Sansi approached quietly and said softly, “What are you thinking about, so lost in thought?”

Jin Sun turned to see Ye Sansi and quickly stood up, moving a few steps from the cliff edge. “Brother Sansi, you’re back! That’s wonderful. I was afraid you’d run into danger. Now that you’re safe, I’m relieved. Taiyi and the others are worried about you too. You should go see them first.”

Ye Sansi laughed, “Little Bamboo shoots, come with me. Master is here as well.”

Hearing the island lord was present, Jin Sun relaxed and accompanied Ye Sansi toward Xiong Gang’s dwelling.

Ye Sansi said with a smile, “I see. No need to rush back. Let’s go see Brother Xiong Gang first.”

“But the house where Brother Xiong is sealed by the island lord’s formation. Ordinary people can’t approach. If we disturb the formation, it might harm Brother Xiong. Better to wait until we defeat Senior Brother Zheng Fan and gain the help of the immortal from the far north before seeing him.”

Jin Sun’s cautious, meticulous, and considerate manner was one Ye Sansi had never seen before. He could only smile and say, “Little Bamboo shoots, rest assured. Xiong Gang is my brother. I would never harm him.”

Along the way, Jin Sun curiously asked, “Brother Sansi, why do you suddenly want to see Brother Xiong today? The seal formation was set up just a few days ago. If we see him, won’t it cause trouble?”

Ye Sansi could have placed Jin Sun on the treasure gourd and ridden the sword himself, but since the jade bracelet was lent to Tao Xiao and he forgot to take out the gourd, they had to walk together.

“All right, Brother Sansi, I trust you. I was just speaking too much.”

“Ha ha ha, it’s okay. You care about Xiong Gang, afraid he might get hurt again—such feelings I understand. Tell me, since you care so much about Xiong Gang, if he wakes up, would you be willing to marry him and bond for a hundred years?”

Jin Sun said nothing but bit her lip shyly and nodded slightly, apparently promising…