After a moment, Mr. Zhuang seemed to make up his mind, a slight smile appeared on his face as he said to Mo Hua:
"Tired, aren't you? Rest for a while."
Mo Hua shook his head, about to say "I'm not tired," wanting to spend more time with his master, but as he began to speak, his words trailed off, heavy with drowsiness—indeed, he was too tired, having not closed his eyes for several days, thoroughly exhausted.
Mo Hua's eyelids fought each other, and unknowingly, he fell asleep.
His breathing was even, his small face as peaceful as a painting, innocent and charming, yet his little brows were tightly furrowed, as if worrying about something.
Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua reluctantly, as if he wanted to engrave his image into his heart forever.
He reached out and gently stroked Mo Hua's forehead, smoothing out the furrowed brows as he murmured softly.
It seemed these words could only be spoken while Mo Hua was asleep:
"In my life, the thing I'm most gratified by is taking you as my disciple..."
"It's just a pity that I won't be able to see the day your mastery over formations is achieved..."
"This is the last gift I'm giving you..."
"You must live well..."
...
When Mo Hua awoke, it was still dark, and his master was still beside him, only his breathing had become fainter still.
"Master..."
Mo Hua said, concerned.
Mr. Zhuang smiled gently.
"I... fell asleep..."
Mo Hua felt somewhat ashamed.
Mr. Zhuang shook his head, "Go get ready. After dawn, leave with your Junior Brother and Junior Sisters."
Mo Hua's heart trembled, unable to let go, he asked:
"Master, can't you come with us?"
Mr. Zhuang didn't answer, simply stroked Mo Hua's head and said softly:
"Go on..."
Mo Hua could only leave with reluctance.
After the sky brightened, Mo Hua left Li Mountain City with Aunt Xue, his Junior Brother, Junior Sister, and all the cultivators of the Five Elements Sect.
Your journey continues at
Before leaving, he and his fellow disciples visited Mr. Zhuang again.
However, Mr. Zhuang's door was tightly closed; it seemed he would no longer see them.
Mo Hua knocked, but there was no response.
When the hour came, he had no choice but to leave.
Mo Hua followed the group of cultivators leaving the Five Elements Sect, looking back every few steps, hoping to see his master, to have one more glimpse of him.
But even as they left the Five Elements Sect, he still couldn't catch a glimpse of his master.
"I won't see Master again..."
Mo Hua's tears flowed uncontrollably.
Meanwhile, atop a tall building in the Five Elements Sect, unseen,
Mr. Zhuang watched Mo Hua leave the entire time.
He watched the little figure of Mo Hua constantly turning back, wiping away tears, getting farther and farther away until finally disappearing among the pavilions and towers.
In his gentle, warm gaze, endless expectations were revealed:
"I entrust the past of the Sect to your Junior Brother and Junior Sisters..."
"But the future of the Sect, I entrust to you..."