C13 He Said That He Did Not Want the Mute and the Deaf to Die

Upon hearing Murong Xuanzang's words, Yue Yang's determination to rescue the three innocent women only grew stronger.

"A high-grade cultivation technique—does it still hold value for you, Senior Brother?"

Yue Yang pondered deeply. True to Murong Xuanzang's words, he carried nothing of significant value.

The only item of worth was the life-bound magical instrument from his master, which was now sealed within him, rendering it impossible to retrieve.

All he had was a white bone sword for self-defense and some Qi Refining stage medicinal pills, which Murong Xuanzang likely wouldn't covet.

The only asset Yue Yang considered of some value was the high-grade cultivation technique, Dragon and Phoenix Manifestation, given to him by the Skull Monster for his cultivation.

Yet, Yue Yang felt uneasy, unsure of the technique's worth within the cultivation world. He had numerous superior cultivation techniques in his mind, but they were inaccessible.

Seeing no reaction from Murong Xuanzang, Yue Yang worried the offer wasn't sufficient. "Senior Brother, if it's not enough, I can return and request additional treasures from my master."

Little did Yue Yang know, a high-grade cultivation technique was worth far more than all the treasures of the entire Pearl Country. Murong Xuanzang's silence was merely a delay in processing Yue Yang's lavish offer.

The Dragon and Phoenix Manifestation, a dual cultivation technique from the Order of Duality, was a treasured practice not to be undertaken lightly, reserved for those designated as the next sect leader.

"Junior Brother, I have a piece of advice for you: 'One should not show their brilliance carelessly.' Keep this in mind," Murong Xuanzang sighed, considering himself astute but at a loss on how to handle such a guileless junior. "Very well, take the people with you. And feel free to visit my Golden Thread Mountain often."

Yue Yang mused over his senior brother's mercurial nature. Yet, he dared not frequent the mountain estate too often, as his sole visit had already brought such misfortune upon the three women. How could his conscience allow it?

After bidding farewell to Murong Xuanzang, Yue Yangxin found himself without any lightness techniques or a mount to hasten his journey. Thankfully, a disciple of Murong Xuanzang summoned a carriage drawn by three fierce beasts to transport him back.

The carriage, while outwardly unremarkable, was a testament to Murong Xuanzang's preference for opulence. Its golden canopy was adorned with a pearl intricately carved with a dragon and phoenix motif. The material of the tassels that hung around it was unknown, but they were soft to the touch and remarkably soundproof.

Inside, the carriage was surprisingly spacious. Yue Yangxin hadn't measured its exterior dimensions, but it was clear that some clever enchantment had transformed it into a wide, comfortable bedroom, complete with a plush bed, tables, chairs, and an abundance of fine wines and delectable dishes.

Most astonishingly, as Yue Yangxin sat within, he felt none of the jolts and jostles typical of carriage travel. It was a far cry from the bone-rattling ride he remembered sharing with his father as a child, which left him sore for days. This ride was the epitome of comfort.

His relaxation would have been complete were it not for the presence of three women beside him. "Sister, you're injured. There's no need for you to attend to me," he said, noticing one of the women with broken legs painstakingly peeling fruit to offer to him. He gently declined, not wanting to cause her further discomfort.

"If Master refuses to eat, it's as if he disapproves of our service. Perhaps it would be better to end our lives now and find peace," Chu Yunrou suggested dramatically, pulling the two young girls who were fanning Yue Yangxin to kneel before him.

Confused and voiceless, the two girls knelt, their faces etched with fear as they emitted pitiful sounds of pleading. Yue Yangxin's heart ached at the sight.

"When have I ever expressed dissatisfaction with your service? And why would I kill you? Please, stand up!" Yue Yangxin implored, taken aback by the woman's extreme reaction. "You need to be careful with your injury. My senior brother mentioned that there's still a chance for your legs to heal. Don't risk delaying your treatment by kneeling."

"I dare not rise," she insisted. "If Master were to return us to Master Murong, our lives would be worse than death. It would be kinder to die now."

When Yue Yang heard the woman's heartbreaking plea, he saw the two young girls continuously kowtowing on the ground, their foreheads bleeding. They seemed oblivious to the pain.

"I have no intention of sending you back. I keep my word. Sister, please make them stop. It's distressing to watch."

Yue Fan then understood the woman's fears. But how could such a thought cross his mind? Having rescued them, how could he possibly consider returning them to their dire straits?

"Master, it's easy for you to say now, but what about the future? If you find a dao companion or if Lord Murong gifts you new, beautiful servants, will you still care about our lives?" Chu Yunrou's words were pointed, yet her tearful eyes and broken body conveyed a sincerity that made Yue Fan forget all else, moved by her tragic circumstances.

Yet, if Murong Xuan were in his place, the situation would likely be very different.

"I vow to you three sisters that I, Yue Yang, will never forsake you in this lifetime."

Yue Yang felt a profound sadness, empathizing with Chu Yunrou and the others. Their shared misfortunes resonated with him, though he knew he was somewhat more fortunate.

"Master, you speak gravely. It's not that I don't trust you, but words alone offer no guarantee. I fear for the future..."

Chu Yunrou's tears were poignant, touching the hearts of all who heard her.

"Then what would make you believe?" Yue Yang asked, wishing he could show her his heart to prove his sincerity.

"Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless you swear a Heavenly Dao oath. We will devote our very essence to you, with our lives hanging on your will. All we ask is that you remember your vow and protect us for life."

Chu Yunrou wept, her cunning mind calculating. Though their fates would be in Yue Yang's hands, such an oath would bind him with concerns for them, creating obstacles on his own path of the Great Dao.

Although Le Yang was aware that making a Heavenly Dao oath was no trivial matter, his youthful bravery overcame any hesitation, especially in the face of the weeping woman before him. His heart softened, and he was as malleable as if he were made of the finest steel, which is saying something for a young man like Le Yang.

"Sister, please don't cry. I, Le Yang, hereby swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao to protect you three sisters for all my days, never to leave your side. Should I break this vow, may the Heavenly Dao punish me severely!"

Le Yang made his oath, learned the names of Chu Yunrou and the other two ladies, and accepted their tokens of trust.

At that very moment, outside the carriage, the night sky erupted with a brilliant display of stars, shining with a dazzling white light that made the night as bright as day for a full ten breaths before darkness reclaimed the heavens.

This celestial spectacle astonished onlookers from every direction and sent ripples of awe through the realm of the sages.

To the east of the Qingyun Continent lay an endless ocean, rumored to be the gateway to a new world. Yet, as with all legends, its truth remained unverified.

On an unnamed island in the East Sea, a young man with his upper body bare sat amidst bamboo, bathed in the starlight. He suddenly opened his eyes, revealing their unusual hues—one as blue as the sea, the other black with a white iris, sparkling like the stars. He gazed intently at the sudden flare of light in the heavens, watching the stars.

The 'him' the young man referred to was undoubtedly Le Yang, who, sitting inside the carriage, had no idea of the extraordinary phenomenon his Heavenly Dao oath had triggered.

He was preoccupied with the three young ladies who had fainted before him, unsure of how to proceed.

"Uncle-master, we have arrived," called out the disciple tending to the beast outside the carriage.

Le Yang stepped out, looking around in confusion. "Where are we?"

The mountain resembled the place he had left that morning, but the towering building that stood before him was a complete surprise.

"Uncle-master, we have followed Uncle-master Murong's instructions and constructed this small building for you, reinforcing it with Dao techniques. Please, come and see if anything is not to your liking so that I can direct them to make the necessary adjustments."

A group of individuals approached from the high-rise, greeting Yue Fan with a respectful bow. The leader, clad in the Order of Duality's disciple attire, was particularly reverent.

"Where's my cottage?"

Upon learning that his humble abode had been torn down, Yue Yang realized that, despite his reluctance, he had no choice but to settle into the towering edifice he had never even imagined inhabiting.

After sending the disciples away, Yue Yang turned to the impeccably organized steward, Ping An, and inquired, "What's going on here?"

"Master, not only this 'Minglou', but also the furnishings, the maids, the servants, and even myself were all sent by Master Murong as gifts to you. From this moment forward, you are the lord of 'Yanglou'. Everyone, cease your tasks and come meet your new master," Ping An explained, his voice piercing the air.

At his call, all the servants in Minglou assembled promptly, Ping An among them. Counting twenty-one in total, they called out "Master" in chorus, the men bowing and the women kneeling in a display of perfect order.

"Please, return to your duties. I have no need for this," Yue Yang insisted.

He was already planning to rebuild his small wooden house the next day. He was wary of accepting anything from Murong Xuan, whose intentions remained unclear to him. Even the treasures he had received from Chu Yunrou and the others were in exchange for the esteemed 'Dragon and Phoenix in a Magnificent Formation' technique.

"Master, if you send us away, we'll be in grave danger. Moreover, as someone destined for immortality, should you really be burdened with every minor task? Even if you can handle the menial work now, you'll need assistance later with tasks like pill refining and talisman making. Recruiting help at that point would only cause more trouble," Ping An reasoned.

Yue Yang, still young and naive, was reluctant to accept unearned favors.

Ping An, trusted by Murong Xuan to manage his household, not only conducted himself with propriety but also possessed considerable knowledge of cultivation. His persuasive argument convinced Yue Yang to retain the servants.

Yue Yang conceded the point. He didn't even know how to care for the three who had fainted, so he entrusted them to Ping An's care. Unexpectedly, he himself then succumbed to faintness.

"I'm not sure what transpired in between," Yue Yang briefly explained to Ping An, omitting the detail that the Heavenly Dao Oath he had taken was unrelated. He only mentioned that he had been injured by three individuals.

Ping An seemed to understand, "You were probably severely injured and lost a lot of blood. You're exhausted. Rest for the night, and if you're still not awake by tomorrow, we can call for an alchemist to treat you."

With no better solution, Yue Yang let Ping An leave and headed to his own room. The night was as dark as ink; it was definitely time to rest.

Upon arriving at his room with the servant, Yue Yang closed the door, began to undress, and to his embarrassment, discovered someone unexpected.

"Who are you?"

Before him was a girl, seemingly not much older than himself, modestly covered by a thin blanket. In the soft glow of the pearl light, her skin appeared as smooth as jade.

"I've come to serve the Master," she said, biting her lip and gazing at Yue Yang with a look of surprise and delight in her eyes. She had been sent by Murong Xuan, but she hadn't expected to meet such a youthful master. Even a centenarian would be preferable to the decrepit figures she was accustomed to.

"Please leave. Actually, I'll leave," Yue Yang decided, seeing that the girl remained silent. After his recent encounter with the "three taboos," he was still grappling with the nuances of intimacy. His father had always been strict, forbidding killing, lechery, and falsehoods.

These prohibitions were deeply ingrained in Yue Yang's mind, as vivid as if his father were standing before him with a bamboo switch. The memory of the pain was sharp, though now it was a sensation he could no longer physically feel.

This was partly why Yue Yang had chosen not to engage in dual cultivation practices. The line between such cultivation and lascivious behavior could be blurred, a fact well known to the elders of the Order of Duality.