MM Racing Chapter 19: Senior Brother, Sect Master, No Doubt
Chapter 19: Senior Brother, Sect Master, No Doubt
Looking back now, that was probably the most dangerous moment of Gongsun Ling's life.
Before this, Gongsun Ling had considered the possibility of being surrounded and killed one day.
The successors of the Three Truths Dharma are born to be thorns in the side of the Dharma Corpse.
As the second successor to the [Same Month Order], she is probably one of the most hated seekers of the Dharma by the Myriad Corpse Immortals.
But she wasn't too worried about it. If she were afraid of death, she wouldn't be a member of the Three Truths Sect, and she certainly wouldn't have been chosen to become the holder of the [Monthly Decree].
Moreover, as the possessor of the innate divine power of causality, even ordinary powerful magical corpses would be no match for her.
In addition, with the [Same Month Order] in hand—
In the later stages of her career, she was protected by the demon king, Master Canyi, who was arguably the strongest seeker of the Dharma in the history of the supernatural world.
Gongsun Ling believed that no matter how dire the situation, it should never lead to his death.
After all, Wanye wouldn't stoop so low as to send multiple powerful magical corpses to besiege her, who was only a mid-level magical being, would they?
No... could it be?
Unfortunately, the answer is of course yes—
On that day, Gongsun Ling, who was ordered to go north of the Wei River to exterminate a vicious corpse that had been entrenched for a long time, was surrounded and attacked.
Of the five figures, the two at the forefront were undoubtedly at the Great Divine Power level, while the other four were at the peak of the Middle Divine Power level.
Unable to win —
This is not due to a lack of self-confidence, but rather because the world of supernatural powers is a place that highly respects status.
As the possessor of the causal supernatural power, she can at most temporarily hold her own against a powerful magical corpse in a one-on-one fight.
Two powerful magical corpses, plus three equally formidable medium-powered magical corpses.
Are you kidding me?!
We've been set up...
The corpse of the Dharma destroyed my dream of supernatural powers—
The Corpse Immortal of Ten Thousand Industries is such a sniper, you dare to wait until I've mastered all my supernatural powers before coming at me?!
Even if there are twenty, let alone two, I can still handle them.
Unfortunately, although Wanye was mentally dull and no different from a fool, he was not a complete fool.
Gongsun Ling thought that even the patriarch, Can Yi, might not be able to save him this time.
She was prepared to risk everything to replace one of them, and then return the [Three Truths in the Same Month Order] to the sect leader, giving it a new master.
But fate seemed to have a way of protecting her; someone came and saved her.
That's right, it's the sect leader.
Both being possessors of the supernatural power of causality, Lü Buyi, who is ten years older than Gongsun Ling, has already achieved great mastery.
Without a doubt, an absolute master of supreme supernatural powers—
If outsiders knew of his existence, it would not be an exaggeration to call him the foremost seeker of the Dharma in the world.
So the ending is quite clear.
The Great Perfection's [Practice the False and Return to the True] was incredibly strange. Before Gongsun Ling could even see what was happening, the group that was besieging her was sent to meet the Corpse Immortal of Ten Thousand Industries by Lü Buyi.
"Thank you so much, Sect Master, for saving my life. I have no way to repay your kindness, except—"
The naturally lazy and somewhat unconventional Gongsun Ling chose to slide to her knees.
Then he was ignored by Lü Buyi, who also interrupted his thank you, which was tinged with his own thoughts.
"Don't go down the mountain for the next few years. There might be someone watching you."
"According to my calculations, the tenth war of cause and effect will arrive in at most fifteen years."
"The law of causality will be somewhat lax during this period, and it is not impossible for someone to cross time and space to hinder your great achievement."
"I will allow you to descend the mountain once you have fully mastered the skills."
Gongsun Ling blinked: "By the time I reach my full potential... that will be at least twelve years from now..."
"Master Canyi said that we three have always been walking the path of the mortal world."
"Sect Leader, it's not quite right for you to have me by your side for over a decade... isn't it—"
At this point, Gongsun Ling suddenly realized something.
The thought was so clear, so irrepressible.
She raised her head, her languid face showing a rare hint of joy and disbelief.
Gongsun Ling recalled every experience he had had over the years of going down the mountain to kill evil corpses.
She once thought that the sect leader's replies, which were so fast they were practically instant messaging, were simply because Lü Buyi's cultivation level was too high.
But upon closer reflection, I recall the time when I faced the powerful, magical corpse alongside my fellow practitioners…
It seems that Master Canyi had warned her that there was a powerful aura in the distance, and that she should be wary.
—And this time, the sect leader arrived too quickly.
It was almost like... it was almost like he was always right behind her!
Master Canyi was practically a bachelor, and he only knew one female friend, Senior Atuna, in his entire life.
He certainly wouldn't have imagined that someone would—
Yes, the teachers wouldn't do that. They believe that one can never enter the ranks of great supernatural beings without experiencing true adversity.
But senior brother, sect leader...
Gongsun Ling swallowed, suddenly forgetting the distance between them over the years.
She just stared at his retreating figure, her voice hoarse as she asked:
"Sect Master, why...?"
"Why did you come so quickly?"
Lü Buyi did not answer or look at her again. He simply took Gongsun Ling back to the Three Truths Sect.
Throughout the journey, Gongsun Ling kept looking up at that familiar face, but she didn't say anything.
She suddenly felt like laughing.
Probably, possibly, it seems, maybe, it shouldn't be a misperception—
Senior brother, sect leader, perhaps...
Don't you hate yourself?
But after receiving a silent response and a glimmer of hope, Gongsun Ling was no longer in such a hurry.
She focused on cultivating until she reached the level of a great supernatural being, and then spent nearly ten years achieving mastery.
The perfect opportunity and moment have finally arrived.
—The tenth battle of cause and effect ended with Gongsun Ling overwhelming the entire Seeking Dharma Realm and then defeating the incomplete form of the Myriad Causes Corpse Immortal head-on.
After that, Lü Buyi announced that he would officially pass on the position of sect leader to Gongsun Ling.
This is perfectly logical; everyone understands it.
[Same Month Order] After the successor achieves mastery, he will surely become the master of the Three True Dharma Gate.
And this was the moment Gongsun Ling had been waiting for.
"You've done very well. The Three Truths Dharma Gate is now in your hands."
After the disciples dispersed, Lü Buyi, who had changed into a white robe, spoke to her.
Gongsun Ling looked directly into Lü Buyi's calm eyes.
For the first time in many years, she was not looking up at his back, but standing opposite him, looking directly into his eyes.
"Sect Leader," she said.
Lü Buyi nodded slightly: "You are now the new sect leader, so you don't need to address me like that anymore."
Gongsun Ling did not respond.
Lü Buyi's innate supernatural power based on the law of cause and effect, [Refining the False to the True], is...
This allows him to see the Patriarch Canyi from thousands of years ago, who is connected to the [Same Month Order], even though he is not a successor of the [Same Month Order].
Therefore, he always talked with Master Canyi, and their relationship was even better than his own with Master Canyi.
Sometimes, they would also talk about their wishes and beliefs.
Prior to this, Gongsun Ling had learned from Patriarch Canyi about Lü Buyi's plans after stepping down as sect leader.
He planned to use the pseudonym "Lü Shang" to travel down the mountain in an attempt to preserve the prosperity of the Shang Dynasty and allow ordinary people to live peaceful lives.
He will most likely not succeed.
Because destiny is such an unreasonable thing, those with great supernatural powers possess the ability to bring peace to the world.
However, excessive interference often backfires.
But Lü Buyi still wanted to do it, and Master Canyi also agreed with his idea.
Gongsun Ling is probably the person who understands him best in the world.
So he knew that if he left, there was a high probability he wouldn't come back.
Therefore, this day is probably her last chance.
"I heard from Master Canyi that...you are going down the mountain?"
Gongsun Ling was less reserved that day; she lifted her foot and took a step.
Then she took another step until she stood in front of him.
Lu Buyi's expression remained calm, but a very subtle tremor appeared in his eyes.
"Well, I'm afraid I won't be coming back."
"After I die, I will send my body into the sun, so you or your disciples need not trouble yourselves to see me off."
"Do you really have to leave?" Gongsun Ling asked.
"I've lived within the gates of this sect since I was a child, and I've hardly ever seen the world below the mountain. Now that you've inherited the Three Truths Dharma, I'm very relieved—"
"So I think it's time for me to leave now," Lü Buyi replied.
"Would you choose to marry and have children at the foot of the mountain?"
"Who knows? Perhaps. If my child has the aptitude to seek the Dharma, he might even become your disciple or one of your students."
These words made Gongsun Ling clench her hands tightly.
"You...are you really going to abandon the Three Truths Dharma Gate like this? Do you still have us?"
"I... I mean... like you said, you've lived here since you were little. If you leave us, can you really live alone down in the mountains?"
Lü Buyi smiled gently at her: "Without you, my disciples, fellow disciples, and teachers, I probably would indeed find it difficult to adapt..."
For the first time in his life, Gongsun Ling interrupted Lü Buyi.
"In that case, choose me!"
Lu Buyi looked at her for a long time before softly asking a question.
"Why would I choose you?"
"Is the sect leader pretending to be stupid?"
Gongsun Ling extended her right hand toward Lü Buyi, just as he had done when he brought her into the family years ago.
"If it were me, I would accompany you whether it was to help the Shang Dynasty, advance my cultivation, or have children."
"After eradicating all evil, I am willing to live and die with you."
"Just like becoming the successor of the [Same Month Order] you hoped for, I won't let you down."
"It won't make you feel like you've made a mistake in choosing the right person to be by your side—"
Lü Buyi looked at the hand but did not answer immediately.
Gongsun Ling knew what he was thinking.
She is the successor of the Same Month Order and the head of the Three Truths Dharma Gate.
She has a more important mission to accomplish, and from any perspective, he should not be her weakness or Achilles' heel.
Lu Buyi's voice remained as gentle as ever: "You were chosen by the same month's ruling deity, but you have more important matters to attend to..."
Gongsun Ling was waiting for this very sentence—
She withdrew her hand, but did not step back.
"Then let's follow the tradition of our Three Truths School."
Gongsun Ling said, "We'll listen to whoever is more capable."
She paused, then raised her hand and made a hand seal as if she were a beginner.
"Come."
Gongsun Ling said, "Senior Brother."
Lu Buyi narrowed his eyes slightly; he hadn't heard that title from her in many years.
The last time he heard those two words, she was a little girl who would look up at him and smile.
And now, standing before him is the Lord of Life and Death, who holds the power of the Same Month Order.
Her cultivation level was no less than his own, and her spirit was even superior.
But Gongsun Ling didn't finish speaking.
She looked into Lü Buyi's eyes and smiled gently.
He possessed a certain spiritedness hidden deep within him, a spirit he had never revealed to anyone.
She spoke, and then used a different form of address.
"Sect Master."
Then, she uttered the last two words, one after another.
"fight."
There were no bystanders in that battle.
The radiance of 【Simultaneous Change of Fate】and the talisman light of 【Refine the False and Return to the True】 lit up at the same time, enveloping the entire back mountain in a strange interplay of light and shadow.
Finally, as the moonlight faded, it was Lü Buyi who stopped all his actions first.
"I won," Gongsun Ling said.
Lu Buyi looked into her eyes for a long time, and finally chuckled softly.
"Yes."
He said, "You won."
Gongsun Ling withdrew her finger, but did not retreat.
She stood a hand's breadth away from him, looking into his eyes, just as she had stood behind him many years ago, gazing up at his back.
The moonlight, like water, flowed across her face.
She looked at his collar, slightly open because of this defeat, and at the gentle warmth in his eyes that had been tempered by half a lifetime.
She took a deep breath, then spoke, uttering the disrespectful title she had long awaited.
"Without a doubt."
Lu Buyi was slightly taken aback. This was the first time Gongsun Ling had addressed him by his name so disrespectfully.
There were no titles or honorifics, just two simple words.
My school has always upheld the virtue of filial piety, so how could we have such a disciple?
He opened his mouth as if to respond, but found his throat tightening.
He hesitated.
Lu Buyi wanted to maintain his usual gentleness and composure, but he found that he couldn't.
He looked into Gongsun Ling's eyes, and into the reflection of himself in them.
Then he discovered that the reflection was younger, more vibrant, and more like a living person than he remembered himself.
I am also a person.
So he finally spoke.
"Ah Ling".
That's all.
However, Gongsun Ling had never been happier than this.
Gongsun Ling suddenly felt her eyes sting.
She waited for so many years, from her teenage years until now, from looking up at his back to standing side by side with him.
From "Junior Sister" to "Sect Leader," she has finally waited for this day.
She didn't let the tears fall.
But he just smiled, his eyes crinkling, and there was no bitterness from the past years in that smile, only the joy of this moment.
After that day, they taught their disciples together and went down the mountain together in an attempt to save the Shang dynasty.
They did a lot, though it was all in vain, and changed the direction of their efforts.
But Gongsun Ling had never felt so happy before.
Later, the [Three Truths in the Same Month Order] was linked to its third successor—Xiao Mingzi.
So they became Xiaomingzi's second and third mentors.
Together they meticulously taught him, ultimately producing a peerless master, the most powerful being in history:
Immortal King of Eternal Ten Thousand Dharmas!