Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao

Chapter 1628 - 138: The Confusion of Li Wentian

Zhou Yan’s gaze fell on Li Wentian’s face, which resembled a withered skeleton.

After a moment, Zhou Yan said with an incomparably calm expression, "What do you want to say? Do you think I should know your memories? Or should I have known you before this?"

Zhou Yan’s inquiry seemed to directly voice the innermost thoughts of Li Wentian.

An instant startled expression appeared on that skeletal face.

But then, he fell silent for a moment before suddenly sighing, "I feel you should know. But I also feel you won’t tell me. It seems many feelings are like a future you can see but cannot touch. Thus, even someone like me, who is so high and mighty in the eyes of others, is actually quite lost now."

"It’s just that this sense of bewilderment is unknown to others."

"Being different, like me, there’s no one I can confide in, but I always feel like there’s some connection between you and me, though I don’t know where this connection stems from."

Li Wentian said.

As he spoke, he clasped his hands behind his back and suddenly looked up at the sky.

In the sky hung a sun that wasn’t particularly dazzling. Around the sun, layers of dark halos occasionally shifted, resembling black clouds formed by once present evil spirits’ aura.

Zhou Yan watched the sky along with him but quickly withdrew his gaze.

"Do you believe in Fate, in the future, or something else?"

Zhou Yan asked Li Wentian.

"I don’t know, it’s very... bewildering. In fact, even my current actions, I may find laughable later. You’re just a young man, a rather extraordinary young man, but many things, even if I say them, you may not understand. However, being able to speak of it is already a release."

"Three thousand years, living for three thousand years, the grind of time can fade many things, yet it can deepen many things too."

Li Wentian said.

Zhou Yan nodded and said, "I understand what you’re saying. Your past, since it is the past, why seek it excessively? What should appear will eventually appear. What shouldn’t appear, even if you seek it now, may not bring happiness."

Zhou Yan spoke.

He couldn’t help but recall the past.

In the past, over a long period, he searched for the so-called truth, but peeling away layers of truth, when he finally perished among the Emperor Soul Clan, he witnessed the final scene.

It was a scene unbearably to recall.

In that scene, all truths lost their meaning.

Some things, one glance, is enough to remember for a lifetime, endless years.

Like that one glance.

Now, Zhou Yan felt quite wistful, yet his mood was very calm.

Anyone who has lived through so many years would not have a poor mentality.

Many things that one could originally value can actually be seen in a different light.

And what truly deserves caring about will undoubtedly be cared for immensely.

This mental state, Zhou Yan understood. So he knew, the undecided, indifferent Li Wentian, those days were akin to a torment.

"You—you really can understand. Who are you? Who exactly am I?"

Li Wentian’s face showed shock, and he suddenly looked at Zhou Yan with some agitation, a pleading look in his eyes.

To make a ’Holy Land Great Elder’, someone immensely revered and powerful in the eyes of the world, come to this point is certainly very proud.

But for Zhou Yan, is this something remarkable?

He ignored the plea on Li Wentian’s face and said flatly, "Seize the present, it’s actually the best. As for those so-called pasts, so-called truths, really, they’re not as important as you think."

"What’s in the past, let it be in the past."

Zhou Yan continued.

Those words are so familiar!

It’s the phrase his brother Lee Ran used to say repeatedly when he acted as his master.

He didn’t understand that phrase in the past.

Even if sometimes he seemed to understand or thought he had understood, but did he really understand?

Often, when you think you’ve understood, actually, you’re still far from it.

Now, Zhou Yan still doesn’t think he’s really understood, but he really has.

In time, besides domination and control, self-mastery, nothing else is that important.

Because what cannot be changed cannot be changed.

What can be changed isn’t necessary to exist.

"The past... is not important? But I feel that all of it is closely related to me. Many times, I see mountains, strange rivers, ancient carvings, etc., and I get a sense of familiarity, I always will..."

"If you persist in these, your life may take a different path, but it won’t be better than the one you’re on now."

"I had Li Yuchuan bring you to me, just to see if you were you. Now I’m sure, you’re not you anymore."

Zhou Yan said.

"So, leave, staying here is meaningless."

Zhou Yan issued an expulsion order.

As he spoke, he had already turned away.

"No, wait—"

Li Wentian said, then came over to Zhou Yan again.

He pondered for a moment and said, "Answer me a few questions, and I’ll offer sufficient terms."

Zhou Yan turned around, looking at Li Wentian with indifferent eyes.

Until the steadfast gleam in Li Wentian’s eyes gradually dimmed.

As if ashamed, and yet as if he had nowhere to hide.

"Sorry."

Li Wentian suddenly said.

"It’s just, I really want to know."

Li Wentian bowed his head, speaking softly.

At this moment, it seemed he had lost all his personality and authority.

It seemed the missing memories were his most important things.

"Want to know? Your name is ’Li Wentian’, a strong figure of the ancient Li Clan. Once, you should have stood at the pinnacle of Heaven and Earth, but as for what happened afterwards, I truly do not know.

But, it can be said for certain, you should have power akin to the ’Holy Ancestor’ in this world. However, now you only have some residual strength."

"Moreover, I sensed a wisp of ’Void Thunder Tribulation’ power in you, a power capable of destroying the Holy Ancestor, so how you ended up later, I do not know."

"But since you’re still alive now, growing stronger, many troubles will eventually come to light."

"Yet, since you’ve chosen the path to seek memory, let there be no turning back, no regrets."

Zhou Yan’s tone grew slightly serious.

But, it was only limited to this; after speaking, he turned and left, paying no heed to the life or death of the ’great elder’ who resembled a skeleton.

Or, this kind of hospitality was truly the height of rudeness.

But Li Wentian bore no intention of blame, instead displaying a sense of silence.

After a long time, he bowed three times towards Zhou Yan.

His attitude was extremely sincere and extremely reverent.

However, Zhou Yan sensed it but did not care, allowing Li Wentian to continue.

At this moment, the Sect Master of the Heavenly Mechanism Sect, Zhuge Qiyan and the Heavenly Mechanism Saintess Zhuge Xiye, just happened to arrive riding the Heavenly Mechanism Clouds, witnessing this scene, their eyes widened in disbelief.

The one bowing was the great elder of the Li Clan, a truly elder grand figure, yet he was bowing to Zhou Yan.

And Zhou Yan, so arrogant, completely ignoring others, it’s too impolite.

Zhuge Qiyan knew Zhou Yan was arrogant, but to this extent, she was both frustrated and somewhat helpless.

This situation, however, was indeed utterly frustrating.

Zhuge Qiyan and Zhuge Xiye exchanged glances, both revealing a wry smile.

"Alas, this is far too disrespectful, Zhou Yan is actually quite good in all aspects, but in terms of etiquette, he is lacking. Xi Ye, stay with him more, remind him—though if he could listen to others, he wouldn’t be Zhou Yan then."

As Zhuge Qiyan spoke, she couldn’t help but sigh again.

Soon after, she and Zhuge Xiye descended simultaneously and bowed respectfully towards Li Wentian, saying, "Senior Li, welcome to Tianji Mountain, Zhuge Qiyan has been disrespectful."

Li Wentian turned around, seeing Zhuge Qiyan, merely nodded slightly and said, "Zhuge Qiyan? You were that young girl who battled fiercely against wolves back then? Unexpectedly, twenty years have passed, and you’ve also become so remarkable."

"Ah, time."

Li Wentian gazed at Zhuge Qiyan for a moment, then sighed.

"Yes, Senior Li, Zhou Yan is young and ignorant, please don’t blame him for being too arrogant."

"Blame? No, why would I blame him? I’m grateful, thankful to him instead. As for arrogance, I don’t see him as arrogant, just true to himself."

Li Wentian chuckled lightly, said.

When he raised his head, his face was already covered by invisible energy, besides Zhou Yan, no one could truly discern his appearance.

"The senior is like this, he is bound to become more unrestrained."

"The Heavenly Mechanism Sect, after all, has no law, nor heaven."

Li Wentian said.

Zhuge Qiyan paused for a moment, seemingly thoughtful, then bowed respectfully.

Zhuge Xiye simultaneously bowed respectfully as well.

Li Wentian nodded slightly, said, "Understand this, and that’s good. Actually, learning more from that Zhou...Zhou Yan might be beneficial for you."

Li Wentian spoke with an implied meaning.

Zhuge Qiyan and Zhuge Xiye were somewhat stunned.

They couldn’t discern earlier, but now indeed found that Li Wentian seemed to... praise Zhou Yan?

Could this be a mistaken feeling?

Zhuge Qiyan and Zhuge Xiye felt it quite unbelievable.

These few days, several strange things seemed to have occurred one after another, overwhelming.

"Senior’s kind words, Zhuge Qiyan will keep in mind."

Zhuge Qiyan knew, such an elder would never harm herself, so since he said so, then following it surely couldn’t go wrong.

"Well, as long as you have this heart. Zhou Yan is actually not arrogant, but the True Self honed by time."

Li Wentian murmured, though Zhuge Qiyan and Zhuge Xiye obviously couldn’t understand the meaning of this sentence.

"This sentence, when you can understand it, you’ll truly comprehend it. However, I wish you never understand its meaning."

Li Wentian said, then bowed in the direction Zhou Yan left, before disregarding the Heavenly Mechanism Sect Master Zhuge Qiyan and the Heavenly Mechanism Saintess Zhuge Xiye, directly transformed into a stream of light and departed.

(Another update coming later.)