MM Racing Chapter 26: Goodnight, White-browed Toad.
Chapter 26: Goodnight, White-browed Toad.
"When I walked through the mountains, the mountains remained silent."
"When I passed by the sea, the sea remained silent."
"Little donkey, clattering along, the Six Paths Sword accompanies me on my journey across the world."
"People say that I am afraid of Kaguya, which is why I hide in Mount Myōboku and avoid the world."
But actually, I just fell in love with the clouds and sunset over Mount Myōboku, which reminded me so much of the fireworks that exploded across the sky when I was sixteen and had just traveled back in time.
.........
The wind swept across the open fields, through the valleys, and over the rivers.
The wind blew across Wan Cijun's handsome face, and lifted the hem of his white robe...
In the fields
Wanci, dressed in white, tall and jade-like, carrying the Six Paths Sword, walked slowly between the ridges of the fields.
Fifty years have passed since the tailed beasts were sent away...
Time flies.
For half a century, he wandered through the mundane world.
Looking up into the distance, a hint of sigh crossed his eyes.
In the distance, it could be seen that Hagoromo Otsutsuki was accompanied by hundreds of mortals, steadily moving forward.
He was followed by many steadfast believers!
In just a few decades, the group that once followed him has now grown to hundreds. Yu Yi's personal charisma is indeed extraordinary.
Wanci stood there with his sword on his back, gazing into the distance, but ultimately did not go forward to acknowledge him.
Just take a look from afar; there's no need to disturb them.
Since parting ways with Hagoromo after the battle with Kaguya, nearly eighty years have passed since they last met. In these decades, he has tasted the joy of being invincible in the world, and also experienced the loneliness of being invincible.
Basically, it's a situation where one can escape the six realms and be invincible ten thousand times.
Below oneself are all ants.
However, Wanci did not interfere too much in important human affairs.
He only occasionally uses his power to punish the most wicked.
Watching the team gradually shrink into a distant dot and finally disappear into the horizon, Wanci lowered his gaze, turned around, and silently left, following the direction of the wind.
"It's time to go back to Mount Myōboku..."
Wanci spoke softly, glancing at the letter in his hand.
The letter with the old-fashioned handwriting that White-browed Toad still tucked in his bosom.
"My life is coming to an end. I long for your return so I can entrust you with my final affairs."
————White-browed Toad
Ten thousand times, he returned to Mount Myoboku.
The clouds over Mount Myoboku are just as I remember them, swirling with rosy hues, exactly as they were when he first arrived a hundred years ago.
Traces of the Tailed Beasts' past frolicking and playing can still be found in the mountains.
Before the misty cave, Gamamaru was already waiting.
"Teacher! It's a great immortal..."
Gamamaru's body has grown much larger.
"I understand." Wanci raised his hand slightly.
Then we ventured deeper into the area.
Inside the cave, a soft, dim light shone, and the white-browed toad immortal leaned against a cloud couch.
Hearing footsteps, it slowly raised its eyes and saw Wanci standing in front of the bed. Its brows, which had been furrowed for a long time, suddenly relaxed.
"Wanci, you've come... Hehehe..."
The aged voice trembled with the sound of air flowing through it.
"The naive boy who once braved mountains and rivers to climb them in search of power has now become a sage who can save the world and stand alone."
These words instantly pulled Wanci's thoughts back a hundred years.
Ten thousand times I gazed at the frail, white-browed man on the couch.
In a daze, scenes from a hundred years ago flooded back like a tide—
At that time, he was a stranger who had just entered this world. With ignorance and courage, he crossed high mountains and dangerous ridges and broke through the fog and miasma before finding the Myoboku Mountain hidden outside the mortal world.
It could be a coincidence, or it could be fate.
The image of the White-Browed Immortal pointing with his staff and speaking earnestly back then is so clear that it seems like it happened just yesterday.
Wanci is no longer the boy who used to encourage himself by constantly shouting, "Be patient, think positively, and persevere."
Time flies.
Wanci turned his gaze to the white-browed toad again.
White-browed Toad is nearly a thousand years old, which is also a long life for a toad.
"Grandpa White Eyebrows..."
Wanci stepped forward, his gaze falling on Bai Mei with a complex mix of emotions. There was respect, reluctance, and a touch of melancholy across a century.
Bai Mei slightly raised her forelegs, and Wan Ci understood, leaning down to approach.
The wrinkled palm gently covered the back of his hand, its touch slightly cool, yet carrying an undeniable solemnity.
"Ten thousand times, my days are numbered."
Bai Mei's eyes were as deep as an ancient pool.
"Mount Myoboku is now entrusted to you. From this day forward, you will be the great sage of Mount Myoboku, and no one will object to this."
Wanci had a premonition in his heart.
Over the years, Bai Mei's cultivation and expectations of him, his intentional and unintentional guidance, and his gradual passing on of the core inheritance of Miaomu Mountain all foreshadowed the arrival of this day.
He looked into the trust and entrustment in Bai Mei's eyes, said nothing, and simply nodded slowly, his movements steady, just like the eighty years he had lived through.
Bai Mei gazed at his composed expression and sighed softly. There was no regret in that sigh, only a sense of relief.
"Sigh... I've lived for a thousand years, and I've had enough."
Thank God, this long period of time has finally come to an end.
He paused, glanced at Wan Ci beside him, and his tone became meaningful:
"Living too long and witnessing too many changes in the world and the ups and downs of people's hearts can easily lead to getting lost... Ten thousand times, you must remember that no matter how time washes away things, no matter how powerful the forces become, you must hold on to your true self and not lose your true self in the endless passage of time."
Wanci was slightly taken aback when he heard this, but then his expression turned serious. It seemed that the white-browed toad already knew something.
"Feel with your heart, don't obsessively pursue power, what's meant to be will be... Don't let it become an obsession..."
"I hope you take care, take care, take care."
As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Mei took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling slightly before slowly flattening it.
Those eyes, which had witnessed a thousand years of vicissitudes, gradually lost their luster, and the immortal power around him receded like the tide, returning to silence, returning to Mount Myōboku.
The cave was so quiet that only Wanci's breathing could be heard. Wanci held Bai Mei's gradually cooling hand and remained motionless for a long time.
Outside the window
The clouds over Mount Myoboku still swirl and the sunset is still magnificent.
However, the toad immortal who had guarded this celestial land for a thousand years has already passed away.
"Grandpa Immortal, Teacher..."
The toad outside hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
Ten thousand times, I slightly raised my hand.
Gamamaru immediately learned that the immortal grandfather had passed away, and he couldn't help but shed tears.
Looking at the remains of the White-browed Toad, Wanci felt a mix of emotions. If it weren't for this immortal grandfather, he might have died long ago on his journey to find Mount Myōboku.
I used to think I was lucky, that I had actually found Mount Myōboku with my mortal body.
Looking back now, it's really laughable....
Having already mastered the barrier of Mount Myōboku, he naturally understood how mortals could possibly find Mount Myōboku.
Back then, it was only out of pity that Grandpa White Eyebrows opened the barrier and let him in, seeing that he was on the verge of death from his arduous studies...
He stood there for a long time, then sighed softly.
Wanci gazed at the body of the White-Browed Immortal and murmured:
Goodnight, Grandpa Whitebrow.
.............