"Master, this…"
Standing to the side, Su Bing'er was startled by Che Gongwei's words. Her delicate face flushed red as she blamed her master inwardly for saying something so unlucky. At the same time, she snuck glances at Wei Tu to see his reaction.
She had long harbored feelings for Wei Tu. Yet he was like a block of wood, never accepting her affection, always treating her only as a junior sister, and never taking a step further. Now, Che Gongwei's request could become the perfect chance to change her relationship with Wei Tu.
But thinking about how it all revolved around her master's potential death made it impossible for her to feel happy. If she could choose, she would rather that day never come.
"Junior Sister Su…"
Hearing Che Gongwei's words, Wei Tu fell silent for a moment.
To be honest, his master's request wasn't really demanding. In fact, it was almost a good thing for him.
A Golden Core cultivator with a spiritual body would be welcomed in any force she chose to join. Not to mention Su Bing'er was an exceptionally beautiful female cultivator.
But from Che Gongwei's words, Wei Tu heard another, deeper meaning. Che Gongwei wanted him to take Su Bing'er as his Dao companion—that was the real intent behind his plea.
Wei Tu could also guess why Che Gongwei would think this way. He and Su Bing'er came from the same sect, had gone through life-and-death crises together, and both had exceptional talents with a chance to reach the Nascent Soul stage.
If you ignored feelings, they were practically ideal partners for each other.
As for feelings… Che Gongwei probably saw that Su Bing'er already liked Wei Tu. Now, it was only up to him to accept or not.
"Since Junior Sister Su is a member of our sect, if Master falls in battle, I will naturally look after her as a fellow disciple… and keep her safe," Wei Tu said after a pause.
After meeting Zhao Qingluo in Xiao Kingdom, he had come to see matters of Dao companionship much more lightly. He preferred to let things happen naturally, without forcing them.
In Che Gongwei's eyes, Su Bing'er becoming Wei Tu's Dao companion seemed mutually beneficial.
But from Wei Tu's perspective, it wasn't so simple. With his cultivation speed and the resources at his disposal, he could reach the Nascent Soul stage in another hundred years. Meanwhile, Su Bing'er would at best be a mid-Golden Core cultivator, far behind him.
Without a solid emotional bond, he had no intention of dragging himself down by supporting someone who couldn't keep up.
He would fulfill his duty as a senior brother and nothing more, without pouring excessive resources into her.
Romance couldn't stand up to the realities of daily life. These were hard truths. After all, a Dao companion wasn't the same as a mere concubine.
"Only as a fellow disciple… to look after her," Su Bing'er repeated in her heart. Her eyes dimmed instantly, and the hope she held vanished completely.
"With these words…" Che Gongwei said with a warm smile, his face full of relief, "this master can rest easy."
Unlike Su Bing'er, Che Gongwei showed no disappointment at Wei Tu's reply. He stroked his beard with a satisfied expression.
Once everything was settled, Wei Tu wasted no time. He took off into the sky, merging his escape light with Yu Gongshou and the other two, heading straight for Moon Condensation Palace.
In just a short moment, Wei Tu disappeared without a trace.
"Silly child," Che Gongwei said with a chuckle when he saw the lingering sadness on Su Bing'er's face. He shook his head and continued, "If your Senior Brother Wei had agreed right away because of my words, then he wouldn't be Wei Tu anymore."
"What do you mean, Master?"
Su Bing'er blinked in confusion. If Che Gongwei knew Wei Tu would refuse, why had he asked him in the first place?
"Being close brings opportunity," Che Gongwei said with a faintly desolate tone. "When I'm gone, you'll stay by Wei Tu's side day and night. He'll soften eventually…"
"Master…" Su Bing'er's eyes immediately reddened, tears welling up.
A parent who loves their child plans far ahead. And now, her master… was treating her as if she were his own daughter.
The battle between Ancient Sword Mountain and Earth Sword Mountain wasn't limited to the area around Jinlong Valley. Almost the entire region of Ancient Sword Mountain had become their battlefield.
While traveling, Wei Tu encountered several clashes between Golden Core cultivators from both sides. But this time, he didn't step in to help anyone. Instead, he kept his distance and avoided the conflicts entirely.
With Yu Gongshou and the other two protecting him, none of the cultivators from either sect dared to give them trouble along the way. They only cast wary glances before letting the four of them pass.
Even so, the journey still cost them a lot of time. It took them a full two months just to reach the area near Moon Condensation Palace.
"Halt, you four!"
"Routine inspection!"
Shortly after stepping into Moon Condensation Palace's territory, several Golden Core female cultivators in pale moon-colored robes appeared in the distance, blocking Wei Tu and his companions.
The leader, a middle-aged woman at late Golden Core stage, studied the four carefully before sending her voice across the air to them.
Clearly, the group's strength made this team of Moon Condensation Palace patrol cultivators nervous. After all—
One at Golden Core peak, two at late Golden Core, plus one at mid-Golden Core…
This lineup could rival more than half the senior Golden Core elders of a typical Nascent Soul sect.
"I am Wei Tu, chief alchemist of Ying Ding Tribe. I am an old acquaintance of your sect's Fairy Shuang," Wei Tu said calmly, stepping forward. He waved his sleeve to dissolve the disguise spell on his face, then cupped his hands politely.
Before leaving Ancient Sword Mountain's territory, he had already learned that Moon Condensation Palace had stationed patrol cultivators along the borders to watch for intrusions during the war between Ancient Sword Mountain and Earth Sword Mountain.
"So it's Alchemist Wei…"
Upon seeing his face, the leading Moon Condensation Palace cultivator visibly relaxed, her expression warming with a smile.
In Kang Kingdom, Wei Tu's name might not be universally known, but most Golden Core cultivators were aware that Ying Ding Tribe had a mid-third-rank alchemist named Wei Tu.
First, in the Kang tribes' three great divisions, unlike the more widespread cultivation civilization of the southern Cangnan people, high-level craftsmen like Wei Tu were rare—he was like a crane among chickens in Ying Ding Tribe, and word of his fame naturally spread fast.
Second, decades ago, Tao Fangde had publicized many stories of Wei Tu's trustworthiness to promote "Wei Clan Pill and Talisman Hall," helping his name become well-known among the three great immortal sects of Kang Kingdom, including Moon Condensation Palace.
That was why, years ago, even someone like Situ You had sought out Wei Tu for alchemy.
"…However," the middle-aged woman's tone grew serious, "though you are Alchemist Wei, rules cannot be broken. If you wish to enter Moon Condensation Palace's domain, your three companions must remain here for now."
She explained firmly. Unlike Wei Tu, the other three were unfamiliar faces with higher cultivation levels. Moon Condensation Palace had no choice but to be cautious with them.
At such a sensitive time, they couldn't let three unknown Golden Core experts roam freely inside.
"Remain here…"
Wei Tu's brow twitched slightly when he heard this.
As a guest, he knew Moon Condensation Palace was well within their rights to refuse entry to the three. Any other sect would do the same.
"Elder Yu," Wei Tu said, turning to Yu Gongshou and the others with an apologetic expression.
While the three were officially his bodyguards, he couldn't really treat them as mere hired help. Asking them to wait at the border was reasonable, but for three Golden Core cultivators, it would still feel humiliating.
"This is a minor matter, Alchemist Wei. Don't worry about it," Yu Gongshou replied with a calm wave of his hand, signaling Wei Tu not to mind.