In the darkness, Yan Shouyi led the way, arriving at North Mountain alone.
Yan Qiu and the others kept a distance of about fifty meters from Yan Shouyi, following him from afar.
In the bamboo forest of North Mountain, the cold wind rustled the bamboos. Deep within the forest stood a solitary grave.
In front of the grave were some offerings and candles, burned down to a puddle of wax.
This was an eerie scene, and anyone else would surely have been too afraid to linger near the solitary grave in the dead of night.
But Yan Shouyi walked towards it and called out "Grandfather" before the grave.
This was his grandfather's tomb, a spot Yan Shouyi himself had chosen and dug out with his own hands, and where he had finally laid his grandfather's ashes.
Returning to his grandfather's grave after three months, Yan Shouyi was no longer the same person and felt a great deal of emotion.
He had traveled with his grandfather in his younger days, learning a skill set. Although he had been growing all along, his progress had never been as rapid as in the past three months.
Perhaps life was a solitary journey, where one could only mature quickly through loneliness and pain.
Fortunately, along the way, Yan Shouyi had gained friendship, found love, and gradually rediscovered his family and lost affection.
Yan Shouyi had many things to say, but he simply stood before the grave, speaking all that was on his mind silently.
Then he looked to the side and affectionately called out "Grandmother."
His grandmother's soul slowly appeared. She embraced Yan Shouyi and smiled, calling him "child."
"I will wait for Jiang Wusheng here tonight, and I want to show Grandfather how much I've improved," Yan Shouyi said.
"Silly child, Grandfather has always believed in you. You are the pride of our Yan family!" his grandmother said with a gratified smile.
His grandmother, named Wen Yuxian, possessed a gentle and refined personality, like a fairy descended to earth. Yan Shouyi now understood why his grandfather and Zhang Shantong had been so captivated by her in the past, both falling in love with her.
Wen Yuxian noticed the Zanpakuto on Yan Shouyi's back, which seemed to stir memories. She said,
"The previous wielder of the Zanpakuto had a significant connection with your grandfather and me. I wonder where he is now, alive or dead..."
"Are you speaking of Grandpa Zhang Shantong?" Yan Shouyi asked.
Wen Yuxian was taken aback. "How do you know him? Did your father tell you?"
Yan Shouyi shook his head and smiled, "I met Grandpa Zhang Shantong's soul in Rong City, and I even took him as my sworn grandfather. Grandpa taught me the Vertical Earth Golden Light and helped me resolve many troubles."
Wen Yuxian's eyes widened in surprise, and after a while, she shook her head helplessly,
"It seems our family's connection with him is not yet broken."
Learning that Zhang Shantong was dead but his soul still existed brought Wen Yuxian some comfort.
Yan Shouyi looked at his grandmother, his mind filled with contemplation.
He considered whether to give his grandmother and Zhang Shantong a chance, to let them experience a second spring in life???
After all, his grandfather was gone, and his soul had already entered reincarnation...
However, Yan Shouyi only dared to imagine this thought in his mind; if he were to say it aloud, he feared Yan Qiu would hang him from a tree and beat him.
Shaking off the chaotic thoughts in his mind, Yan Shouyi bid farewell to Wen Yuxian and then found a stone to sit on.
He took off the Zanpakuto, laid it flat on his lap, and then closed his eyes to rest.
Jiang Wusheng would arrive soon, and he needed to adjust his state as quickly as possible to face his arch-nemesis in his best condition.
Wen Yuxian did not disturb him, silently drifting towards Yan Qiu and the others.
At this time, Jiang Ting and Lin Zhitong had also arrived.
Seeing Yan Shouyi meditating, Lin Zhitong had no intention of disturbing him, simply standing with Yan Shouyi's family.
The dog-priest said, "I have set up formations around the area. If that Jiang Wusheng dares to come, he will not leave alive."
The situation was clear: with Yan Qiu and the others present, Yan Shouyi would not be allowed to die.
But Jiang Wusheng's fate was uncertain...
The reason they hadn't intervened directly was to allow Yan Shouyi to train himself, to let him resolve the conflict with Jiang Wusheng and grow from it.
...
Yan Shouyi sat motionless in the bamboo forest before the grave, like a stone statue.
Time advanced to the early morning.
The villagers of Chenjia Village, being sensible and obedient, had all returned to their homes, locked their doors and windows, and lay in bed, covered by three layers of quilts, not daring to expose even a toe.
They knew that Yan Shouyi and the others were hunting demons and ghosts on North Mountain tonight, and they dared not cause trouble by going out, so they could only silently pray for Yan Shouyi in their beds.
In the early morning hours, a dark cloud obscured the moon, plunging the earth into an indescribable darkness.
Boom...
A slight tremor emanated from the forest, startling countless birds and scaring away myriad beasts.
Snakes, insects, rats, and ants all fled.
Bang!!
Suddenly, Jiang Youmin's mountain exploded, and a black light shot out from the blast, heading directly towards North Mountain!
Hearing the commotion, Yan Qiu and the others adopted serious expressions and looked in the direction of the sound.
They saw the black light descend from the sky like a meteor, crashing onto North Mountain and gouging out a deep pit in the ground, scorching the earth within a two-meter radius!
The newcomer was no longer the armless Jiang Wusheng lying in the coffin.
It was Yang Li, the tomb-raiding daoist, possessed by Jiang Wusheng!
Yang Li was tall and burly, with a body full of muscles. His clothes were tattered, revealing his terrifying physique. His muscles were a rotten blackish-purple, with dark red veins prominently visible.
Since Yan Shouyi and Jiang Wusheng had previously severed Yang Li's wrists, Jiang Wusheng had now fitted them with the flying tiger claws left behind by the Ma siblings in Jianwang Tomb.
The flying tiger claws were integrated into Yang Li's hands, as agile as real hands, and even more lethal than ordinary ones; a mere swipe could tear off flesh and skin!
"General Qing Jiang!"
Jiang Wusheng's dark eyes widened as he stared at Yan Shouyi from afar, his voice hoarse: "I have waited for this day... for a very long time!!"
Yan Shouyi remained calm. He slowly opened his eyes and assessed the Jiang Wusheng before him.
He said, "Formations have been set up around us, and my elders are watching. You should know that you will not return from this battle."
Jiang Wusheng laughed, "I have waited for a thousand years. What I am now is merely a lingering obsession. My true self died long ago, so – since I have come, I never intended to go back. It is merely to resolve an obsession!"
The true soul of Jiang Wusheng had actually reincarnated within Boss Zhou. Jianwang and the Jiang Wusheng before him were merely obsessions from Jiang Wusheng's past.
Whether this battle was won or lost, this Jiang Wusheng would have his obsession resolved and disappear completely from the world!
Rather than calling this a fated battle between the two, it was more like a fated battle for Yan Shouyi alone!
This Jiang Wusheng was merely a hurdle blocking Yan Shouyi's path!
"Have you brought the original Gu worm?" Yan Shouyi asked.
Jiang Wusheng smiled and took out a Gu盅 from his embrace, placing it before him.
He pointed at the Gu盅 and said, "The Gu盅 has a seal on it. Forcibly opening it will directly kill the original Gu worm inside. Only when you kill me, or I kill you, will this seal be broken."
"Understood."
Yan Shouyi replied calmly, then grasped the Zanpakuto beside him and slowly stood up.
A glint of fighting spirit flickered in Jiang Wusheng's eyes, filled with excitement.
Longing for what cannot be obtained, tossing and turning, unable to sleep!
To fight Yan Shouyi one more time was Jiang Wusheng's obsession!
And for Yan Shouyi, resolving Jiang Wusheng's obsession would also complete himself; this was the first step in severing his past entanglements!
The cold wind howled past, dislodging many bamboo leaves.
Amidst the yellowing bamboo leaves, Yan Shouyi raised his Zanpakuto and began to approach Jiang Wusheng.
Jiang Wusheng also revealed his flying tiger claws and walked towards Yan Shouyi!
The two grew closer and faster, finally charging at each other at full speed!
Jiang Wusheng roared, "General Qing Jiang, let me see if your skills in this life still befit the name Qing Jiang!!!"
The battle was imminent!