We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?

Chapter 630: Just Like That Master, All Those Years Ago

"Greetings, Sect Master Jiang."

Xiao Mo's voice echoed through the narrow alley.

Jiang Qingyi looked at Xiao Mo, blinking, neither confirming nor denying it but in truth, to Xiao Mo's mind, her silence alone had already said everything.

"Sect Master Jiang, shall we take a walk together?" Xiao Mo spoke again.

Jiang Qingyi said nothing, only stepping forward, coming to stand beside Xiao Mo, then stopping.

Xiao Mo understood her meaning.

He, too, turned, walking alongside Jiang Qingyi through the city streets.

Though Jiang Qingyi still wore her veil, her tall, striking figure and bearing still drew no small number of glances from passersby yet most people's gazes dared not linger too long, fearing they might offend this immortal.

"When did Your Majesty first realize?"

Jiang Qingyi finally spoke, asking Xiao Mo beside her.

"Not long ago."

Xiao Mo shook his head, smiling.

"It was probably when you, National Preceptor, told me that the Ten Thousand Swords Sect master could meet with me. After all, the Ten Thousand Swords Sect master is known to be extraordinarily aloof, rarely seen by anyone. How could such a person possibly agree to meet the ruler of such a small kingdom as myself, just like that?"

"And at the time, National Preceptor, your own status was merely that of a Ten Thousand Swords Sect disciple. Even as a personally accepted disciple, you would still have no authority to make decisions on the sect master's behalf."

"And yet you spoke with such certainty that the Ten Thousand Swords Sect master would agree to meet me. That's when I first sensed something was off."

"Though I truly never expected that this legendary ancestral elder of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect would come to such a small kingdom as ours, serving as its humble National Preceptor..."

Xiao Mo glanced at the woman beside him, “Might I know why?"

"Simply for fun." Jiang Qingyi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, saying coldly. "Life up on the mountain grows rather tedious, so I came down to walk about a while. That's why I stayed in your Zhou Kingdom for a time."

"Just for fun?" Xiao Mo smiled, looking at her profile.

Only, unlike before, there now seemed to be a certain complexity in Xiao Mo's expression as he looked at Jiang Qingyi.

"Is that not allowed?" Jiang Qingyi said coldly, appearing rather like a willful young girl.

"Of course it is. Whatever Sect Master Jiang says, that's how it is." Xiao Mo did not press the matter further.

He raised his head, glancing at the sky, asking, “It's already noon. I wonder what Sect Master Jiang would like to eat?"

Hearing Xiao Mo's words, Jiang Qingyi blinked, stopping in her tracks, looking toward another bun shop along the street.

Xiao Mo stepped forward, saying to the shop owner, “Owner, four pork buns, please, and two bowls of beef broth."

With these words, Xiao Mo said nothing further, simply seating himself on a wooden bench along the roadside, looking at Jiang Qingyi, “Well then? Won't Sect Master Jiang eat with me?"

Beneath her veil, Jiang Qingyi bit her lip lightly, appearing somewhat resistant, yet her body walked over regardless, honestly, seating herself before Xiao Mo.

"Your buns and beef broth have arrived. Please, enjoy." Before long, the owner brought the food out.

"Eat a little more." Xiao Mo took a pair of chopsticks from the holder, handing them to Jiang Qingyi.

Jiang Qingyi hesitated a moment, then accepted the chopsticks, lifting the corner of her veil slightly, eating in small, delicate bites.

Raising her eyes, Jiang Qingyi glanced quietly at Xiao Mo.

Jiang Qingyi did not know if it was simply her own imagination, but she kept sensing that Xiao Mo's attitude toward her seemed to have changed somehow.

By rights, the ruler of any ordinary kingdom, upon meeting her, should show considerably more fear and reverence.

Even though she had previously served as the Zhou Kingdom's National Preceptor, having had some contact with him already, the two of them fairly familiar with one another yet knowing that she was the Ten Thousand Swords Sect master, shouldn't he be even more cautious and solemn now?

But instead, Jiang Qingyi found that Xiao Mo seemed, if anything, more concerned about her than before.

Rather like an elder brother or, to put it more precisely.

Just like that master, all those years ago...

"Now that I have come to meet Your Majesty as the Ten Thousand Swords Sect master, whatever Your Majesty wishes to say, you may say it directly to me. What the two of us discuss today shall represent both the Ten Thousand Swords Sect and the Zhou Kingdom."

Jiang Qingyi settled her mind, raising her head, looking earnestly at Xiao Mo.

"What I wish to say, Sect Master Jiang, having stayed within the palace for so long, you surely already know."

Xiao Mo set down his bowl and chopsticks, looking into Jiang Qingyi's eyes.

"The Zhou Kingdom previously signed a treaty with the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, becoming its vassal state. Over these past years, the Zhou Kingdom has indeed been grateful for the Ten Thousand Swords Sect's protection, but after careful consideration, I feel this vassal relationship should be dissolved. I wonder if Sect Master Jiang would agree?"

"Because the Four Seas offered the Zhou Kingdom so much more?"

Jiang Qingyi's brow furrowed slightly, her expression carrying a note of displeasure.

"Whatever terms the Four Seas offered, my own Ten Thousand Swords Sect could certainly match, and offer even more besides."

"That's not the reason." Xiao Mo shook his head. "I simply feel that, though the Zhou Kingdom is currently a small kingdom, it should not remain a vassal state of any sect, and should instead hold its own independence."

As he spoke, Xiao Mo looked at Jiang Qingyi, “Should the Zhou Kingdom grow stronger in the future, truly earning the right to stand alongside your own sect, and should your sect not object, my Zhou Kingdom would be honored to form a lasting friendship with your sect."

"Hmph!" Jiang Qingyi took a fierce bite of her bun. "Men and their tedious pride."

"I suppose so." Xiao Mo said with a smile, not disputing this.

"I understand. It shall be as you say. From this day forward, the Zhou Kingdom shall no longer be a vassal state of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect." Jiang Qingyi said coldly. "However, the alliance between the Ten Thousand Swords Sect and the Zhou Kingdom need not wait for the future. From this day forward, the Ten Thousand Swords Sect and the Zhou Kingdom shall be equal allies, just as I said before, and whatever the Ten Thousand Swords Sect offers the Zhou Kingdom will not be any less than what the Four Seas has offered!"

"This..." A note of difficulty showed on Xiao Mo's face.

"What?" Jiang Qingyi gave a cold laugh. "Does Your Majesty look down upon my Ten Thousand Swords Sect, feeling what we offer falls short of the Four Seas? Or are you worried that allying with me might upset that Lord of the Four Seas, affecting the Zhou Kingdom's relationship with them?"

"It's not that at all." Xiao Mo shook his head. "Very well, since that's the case, then I thank Sect Master Jiang. But regardless of whether it's the Four Seas or the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, I will remember the help you both have given the Zhou Kingdom today, and will surely repay it many times over in the future."

"We'll see about the future." Jiang Qingyi took a sip of the broth, murmuring softly to herself. "Who knows what will happen by then?"

"Oh, right." Xiao Mo pretended not to have heard her latter words, changing the subject to ease the atmosphere between them. "Sect Master Jiang gave that little girl earlier a slip of paper. I wonder what was written on it?"

Hearing his question, Jiang Qingyi raised her head, looking at Xiao Mo.

"I'm simply curious. If it's not convenient for Sect Master Jiang to say, that's fine too." Xiao Mo said with a smile.

"There's nothing inconvenient about it."

Jiang Qingyi bit her lip lightly, speaking slowly.

"It's a certain place. Would you like to go there?"