NOVEL WEB Chapter 2:
Chapter 2: Junior Sister Dugu Ling:
On the terrace outside the secret realm of the Back Mountain Sect, Xu Xiao extended a porcelain white vial with a kind smile.
Seeing this, Dugu Ling frowned slightly. “Senior Brother, this Longevity Pill was left to you by Master to extend your life,” she said. “You shouldn’t give up on yourself. After taking it, you’ll still have fifty years to live. I’ll find you a beautiful wife to take care of you, so please take it and rest well in the sect.”
Dugu Ling looked at the elderly, white-haired Xu Xiao before her and sighed inwardly.
Once, her senior brother had been so handsome that her heart had almost faltered. But now, after a thousand years, the vibrant young man she remembered had become frail and aged beyond recognition. The thought saddened her.
“How could this happen?” she thought to herself. “Such a handsome senior brother, now at the twilight of his life…”
Xu Xiao looked at the vial and hesitated before returning it to the space library. His attempt to gift it was futile; the system wouldn’t recognize such an offering without proper justification.
He glanced at Dugu Ling’s delicate and beautiful face, sighed, and said with a wry smile, “Junior Sister, at my age, why would I trouble myself with finding a wife? Wouldn’t that be unfair to some poor young girl?”
Dugu Ling chuckled and tried to comfort him. “Age doesn’t matter, Senior Brother. You were incredibly handsome back then, and even now, you have your unique charm. Besides, you’re not just anyone. You’re my senior brother, the head of the Misty Sect, and the disciple of the Supreme Elder. Plenty of noble families would be eager to marry their daughters to you just for the connection to our sect!”
She smiled warmly. “Your parents once took me in when we lived in the village, Senior Brother. I won’t let their kindness go unacknowledged.”
Xu Xiao smiled faintly and nodded. Despite her rise to prominence as the sect leader, Dugu Ling had never forgotten the kindness she’d received. She was a good person, one who cherished gratitude.
“Come, Senior Brother,” she said, her tone light and cheerful. “Let me take you back to the outer mountain.”
The Misty Peak was divided into two areas: the inner mountain, a smaller but more critical area housing the sect’s elders and disciples, and the outer mountain, a larger space designated for outer sect members.
Since Xu Xiao’s failed Thunder Tribulation a month earlier, his cultivation had plummeted to the 1st stage Foundation Establishment Realm. Without the ability to fly on his sword, he’d chosen to retire to a quiet home in the outer mountain.
Dugu Ling summoned a flying sword that hovered mid-air. Gracefully, she stepped onto it and gestured to Xu Xiao. “Senior Brother, climb on.”
Xu Xiao blinked at the sword, his old body moving hesitantly. Without his wooden staff, he shuffled unsteadily.
“Junior Sister… I’m too old to jump onto the sword,” he admitted with a weak chuckle.
Even though he still had magic power in his body, his frail physique left him unable to perform such feats.
Dugu Ling sighed softly, her heart aching at the sight. “Senior Brother, let me help you.”
She stepped down, gently wrapped her arms around him, and lifted him onto the sword. Together, they balanced on the hovering blade.
As the flying sword ascended, Xu Xiao, unsteady on his feet, flailed slightly. “Senior Brother, don’t move!” Dugu Ling said, pulling his hands to her waist. “Hold on here.”
Xu Xiao chuckled awkwardly. “Junior Sister, forgive me. As I’ve aged, I’ve become clumsier.”
He couldn’t help but recall the memories they once shared. When they were younger, their bond had been deep and intimate, like that of a young couple. But their wedding night had been interrupted by Ji Xue, who had taken Dugu Ling away. That fateful event had changed everything.
He sighed inwardly. “Life truly isn’t fair… My beautiful wife was taken from me just like that.”
The sword glided smoothly over the breathtaking scenery of the Misty Peak. Mist enveloped the towering mountains, creating a serene and otherworldly view. Located in the eastern part of the Panlong Continent, near the Shiwanda Mountain range, Misty Peak was one of the oldest cultivation sects in the region.
“Senior Brother, don’t cling so tightly…” Dugu Ling said softly, her voice tinged with discomfort. Still, she didn’t resist. Despite everything, she held a fondness for her senior brother, though it was more subdued now.
Xu Xiao trembled slightly, clutching her tightly. “Junior Sister… slow down. I’m old, and my heart can’t handle this much excitement!”
Though the sword flew steadily, the altitude made the elderly Xu Xiao nervous. Since his cultivation had fallen, his body had deteriorated significantly, and even old-age ailments had started to appear.
“At least I haven’t developed memory issues,” he thought with relief. “Otherwise, the system’s help would be useless.”
The flying sword descended onto a mountainside in the outer mountain, where a secluded courtyard awaited. This modest home, with its proximity to the sect’s outer gate, provided a convenient and peaceful retreat for Xu Xiao.
Dugu Ling helped him down. Noticing his shaken expression, she felt a pang of discomfort. “Senior Brother, don’t worry. I’ll find a kind and capable girl to take care of you in your remaining years.”
She stepped forward and embraced him gently. Despite his wrinkled and frail appearance, she treated him with warmth and care.
Xu Xiao sighed softly. “Junior Sister, you should focus on managing the sect. I can take care of myself. You are the leader now, and your Taoist heart must remain strong. Birth, aging, illness, and death are all part of life.”
Dugu Ling stepped back, taking a deep breath. She handed him a small bag. “Senior Brother, here are one hundred High-Grade spiritual stones. These should last you for the next fifty years. I’ll notify you once I’ve found someone suitable for you.”
Xu Xiao accepted the bag with a smile. “Junior Sister, thank you so much.”
His heart lifted. These stones were precisely the start-up funds he needed for the system. When he regained his power, he vowed to repay her a thousandfold.
Dugu Ling gave him one last glance, her expression conflicted. “Senior Brother, take care of yourself. I need to return to the sect to handle some pressing matters.”
With that, she ascended into the sky on her flying sword. Nearby outer disciples paused and gazed up in awe.
“That’s Leader Dugu! She must’ve come to visit Elder Xu!” one of them murmured.