Following Xu Xian around his own sect felt profoundly strange to Ye Wen, as if the person ahead of him were the true master here.

Especially when walking, Ye Wen noticed Xu Xian possessed an uncanny awareness of the surroundings, often spotting minute details that even Ye Wen himself had overlooked.

For instance, trailing behind Xu Xian in the gloom, Ye Wen could barely make out the ground, yet Xu Xian would suddenly sidestep or take a large, unexpected stride forward. Initially, Ye Wen wondered if this was simply the manner of Xu Xian's Qinggong footwork, but he soon realized that wasn't the case—he himself nearly twisted his ankle stepping into a void.

Ye Wen wasn't surprised by his unfamiliarity with his own domain. Although he had lived on the mountain for half a year, his movements had been confined to a very small area, leaving him ignorant of many parts of the land he had spent a considerable sum to acquire.

Moreover, these were subtle places, some even obscured by weeds, showing no outward sign of anything unusual, yet Xu Xian navigated them with apparent familiarity, always managing to go around them. Eventually, Ye Wen simply followed in Xu Xian's tracks, mirroring every move.

The two approached the edge of a cliff, a rare sheer drop on Shushan Mountain, where one would need to fly to ascend. Naturally, Ye Wen had seen no need to build any high walls here. Besides, the view was magnificent; standing here offered a sense of supreme exhilaration. Furthermore, one could see the county seat of Shushan in the distance, though this view was best appreciated in daylight.

Arriving here, Xu Xian did not move toward the cliff face. Instead, he stopped before an unassuming earthen mound, knelt down, bowed several times with deep reverence, and remained kneeling quietly for a moment before rising. Wiping dust from his legs, he smiled at Ye Wen and said, "Sect Leader Ye must have many questions?"

Ye Wen did not answer, only watching Xu Xian. Having followed Xu Xian for some time, he had already pieced together the general situation. Seeing Xu Xian bow to the mound solidified the idea forming in his mind, and he guessed what the mound was—it was undeniably a grave.

In Ye Wen’s estimation, Xu Xian, the renowned scholar, must have visited this place long ago. And frequently, too, otherwise he wouldn't be so intimately familiar with those subtle details. Furthermore, this fellow must have had some kind of profound encounter on this mountain—perhaps finding a secret manual, or maybe meeting a master.

Between these two possibilities, Ye Wen leaned toward the latter, even suspecting that Xu Xian had encountered a dying master who imparted a lifetime of martial arts before passing away, with Xu Xian then burying the master on this mountain.

If this were true, it would easily explain why Xu Xian had been so determined to visit once he learned the location of his sect’s mountain gate. Ye Wen even suspected that Xu Xian had known the location of the Shu Shan Sect gate all along, and perhaps had tried to visit countless times over the past six months, only to be thwarted by Ye Wen’s sudden construction of a wall, leaving Young Master Xu to sigh outside.

Perhaps this young man has cursed me silently for ages. No wonder he was so excited to see me—he finally cornered the main character.

The actual situation was very close to Ye Wen’s guess. When Xu Xian discovered that a Shu Shan Sect had suddenly appeared here, he was intensely curious and harbored an intention to seek acquaintance. However, being cautious about revealing his martial arts skills and scholarly reputation, he had refrained from making a formal visit.

Xu Xian stared fixedly at Ye Wen, and seeing that the young sect leader showed no outward anxiety, along with a flicker of indifference in his eyes, Xu Xian immediately understood: "Sect Leader Ye has already guessed it."

Ye Wen shrugged, though the gesture was not obvious in the dark. "Just a random guess. Whether it’s true or not remains to be seen."

Xu Xian nodded, then slowly began to speak. "Several years ago, I was just an ordinary scholar. Although my reputation for talent was widespread, I always found life dreadfully dull, so I often looked for ways to sneak out and find some amusement."

"That day, out of sheer boredom, I wanted to climb the mountain to watch the sunrise. So, taking advantage of my father’s absence, I packed my own rations and water and came to Shushan. I never imagined that day would completely alter the course of my life..."

"I encountered an old man—a dying old man. At the time, I didn't realize he treated me poorly; at best, he would curse me loudly, and at worst, he’d strike me. But I pitied him then, so I didn't argue, and even offered him some of my rations and water."

The old man was much more reasonable than I thought," Xu Xian chuckled, as if recalling something amusing. Ye Wen remained silent, listening intently.

"After I gave him the food, the old man suddenly said, 'A kindness received must be repaid. This old fellow has nothing valuable, but seeing you are frail, I shall teach you a few exercises to strengthen your body.'"

"So, the teaching lasted a month. Every day, I would sneak out from home, buy enough food to bring to the old man on the mountain, and in return, he would teach me things. Initially, it was just some simple forms. Later, he said, 'Coming back and forth every day is too much trouble. I’ll teach you a set of Qinggong first.' That is when I began my training in lightness skills."

Ye Wen laughed upon hearing this. He hadn't realized Xu Xian’s Qinggong was so good; it turned out it was for the convenience of running away from home and climbing up and down the mountain.

Xu Xian seemed slightly embarrassed by this rather unglamorous reason, and after a slight pause, continued his narrative. "In the last part of that month, the old man suddenly grew irritable. He not only taught me a flood of material all at once but also forced me to memorize everything, even if I didn’t fully understand it."

"A month later, I realized the old man sensed his final days approaching, so he wanted to teach me as much as he could. Unfortunately, I didn't appreciate his goodwill then; I only felt resentment toward him, thinking I brought him food only to be beaten and scolded. Truly, the greatest fool of that age."

"I didn't visit the old man for the next three days. When I finally returned three days later to check on him, I only managed to catch a final glimpse of him."

Xu Xian looked toward the inconspicuous mound. "His expression was one of great solace, and he simply said, 'You’ve come,' before falling silent. I don't even know his surname, and in the end, I couldn't even erect a tombstone for him."

Ye Wen said nothing; this was not something he felt he could easily comment on.

Xu Xian had saved the old man's life, and the old man taught Xu Xian martial arts; these were things that balanced out. It was only in that final period, when the old man frantically tried to pass on everything he knew, as if transferring his entire being to Xu Xian, that Xu Xian felt the bond of a disciple. Yet, it was precisely at that moment the old man departed, as if nothing significant had occurred—this stark contrast left an intensely powerful impression. Otherwise, this incident would have amounted to nothing more than a footnote in Xu Xian’s life.

"Afterward, I frequently came here to practice the techniques the old man taught me, gradually developing an interest in martial arts. Regrettably, I wasn't diligent enough in my studies then, and since I could only practice in secret without guidance, only the set of Qinggong designed for escaping home became truly proficient. My palm techniques and internal energy progressed slowly. If the old man were to judge my current level, I am merely a middling figure in the Jianghu."

Xu Xian gave a self-deprecating smile. "To be called a scholar, yet only grasp the mere surface of what he taught so wholeheartedly."

Xu Xian then fell silent, lost in his memories, standing quietly before the solitary grave, as if only he and the patch of earth before him existed in the vast world.

Ye Wen, standing nearby, paid little mind to this solemn display. Since he now knew the purpose of Xu Xian's insistence on coming here was to pay respects to his 'master,' and not to plot against his Shu Shan Sect, there was no longer a need for vigilance against this man.

He even contemplated whether he should just return to bed and let Xu Xian mourn his 'master' in peace.

Fortunately, Xu Xian soon snapped out of his reverie, smiling faintly. "Sect Leader Ye must be amused."

"No, I am merely surprised that Shushan Mountain held an 'old acquaintance' of Young Master Xu." He truly had not expected to find a grave here, one that he had inadvertently enclosed within the boundaries of the Shu Shan Sect with his wall. "In the future, Young Master Xu, feel free to visit your 'acquaintance' anytime. The gates of the Shu Shan Sect will always be open to you." After all, Ye Wen had been the one acting improperly by casually fencing off the land, so he quickly tried to mend relations.

However, this night seemed destined for a cascade of surprises. Perhaps Xu Xian, lost in memory, spoke carelessly while distracted, uttering, "Perhaps I will never come here again."

The moment the words left his lips, both Xu Xian and Ye Wen froze. Xu Xian realized what he had said and was instantly filled with regret, cursing his carelessness.

Glancing at Ye Wen’s expression, he knew the words had been heard clearly, and given Ye Wen’s intelligence, he had likely deduced a great deal.

Indeed, Ye Wen had inferred quite a bit.

"What do you mean? Never come again?" If Xu Xian were to go away for studies, or eventually succeed in the imperial exams and become an official, he wouldn't entirely stop returning home. No matter what, he would have time to visit the mountain when returning to his ancestral home. This suggested only one possibility: Xu Xian no longer intended to return to his hometown.

And Ye Wen’s thoughts, being rather expansive, suddenly connected this statement to the difficulties they were soon to face on their southern journey, especially the threat from that damned female bandit who swore to capture Xu Xian and bring him to the mountain. Could there be a link? Ye Wen grew more certain of his judgment by observing the increasingly ashen look on Xu Xian's face.

Damn it, I’ve accidentally overheard something I shouldn't have.