My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 691 - 451: The World’s Number One (Combined)

A nameless wildflower falls into his line of sight. The wind persists, colliding with his ears. Chen Yi has already pinched the flower between his fingers, watching it, as many lingering echoes fade away.

It feels like a vast cloud passing across the sky, and his heart abruptly settles into calm.

He touched his neck, as though he could still feel the stream of wind—like the wind of a sword—shattering countless stray thoughts in his heart.

Through the sword, one transmits the heart.

She wasn't telling Chen Yi whether chivalry was truly about honor or disgrace, nor was she arguing about whether chivalry was hypocritical. Instead, she was telling Chen Yi: Follow what your heart desires, why let these people weigh you down with repression and conflict?

This was Min Ning's intent; it was her way.

Chen Yi murmured, "So that's it."

Min Ning looked up and asked, "So what? What did you understand?"

Chen Yi wanted to say something, but his heart suddenly emptied. As he raised his face, he saw Min Ning's eyes shimmering brightly, like living flames reflecting the sky. He couldn't help but lift his head as well, thinking of seeing the sky for himself.

Countless distractions scattered like wind, the suffocating pressure in his chest utterly crushed. Because of Min Ning's one word, "hero," he had taken it as the identity he bore when leaving the Capital City. Originally, he thought he was seeking righteousness, but in truth, he had merely drawn a prison of "chivalry" with his own hands, trapping himself within the confines of those two words.

Apart from his penchant for flirtation, everything about him kept changing because of others—like a vortex voraciously absorbing everything, whether it was Yin Tingxue's sorrow, Zhou Yitang's obsession, or Min Ning's concept of chivalry… So much, too much, was like blank paper, stained by different colors from different people. And now… he had finally returned to his former self.

"I've left the cage."

Chen Yi raised his head to look at the sky, his gaze piercing through the tree shadows. His heart was still.

"I am free and carefree; I don't know where I want to go…"

Just then, Min Ning voiced a question: "Then can you guess what I want to do right now?"

"…I can guess." As lake winds brushed past the treetops and caressed his face, Chen Yi's mind felt entirely open, filled with ease, devoid of lingering distractions or conflicts. "You're wondering if I see you as heroic and valiant, wondering if I'm now enthralled by you, wondering if I will acknowledge you as my master, secretly switching sects and bowing to your tutorship. You wouldn't even mind if I brought skills from another to apprentice under you… Finally, the great hero Min wishes to gallop over here and kiss me, but is held back because Yin Weiyin is present."

As is often the case with women, Min Ning's cheeks flushed red at his words, but she responded with boldness:

"And you? What are you thinking?"

"Me?" Chen Yi suddenly laughed. Jumping back lightly on his feet, he landed by the side of the white-robed female crown and grabbed her, wrapping an arm around her. "I'm thinking of kissing Yin Weiyin to show you!"

Min Ning's eyes widened.

The female crown's face was defenselessly kissed with a resounding smack, her cheeks instantly glowing crimson.

Her mood, complicated from Chen Yi's earlier comment about preferring Min Yuechi, became incomprehensibly kaleidoscopic. And with this abrupt kiss, Yin Weiyin's expression immediately changed—her disappointment thrown to the nine heavens above as she straightened her posture, adopting an aura of calm indifference.

Chen Yi's mood grew exceptionally buoyant.

Were they still in the Capital City, he might have considered setting off fireworks and throwing a grand party.

But alas, they weren't in the Capital City.

Chen Yi shook his head and chuckled:

"This Sword Pool too feels like a cage."

Though it temporarily confined him here, it was still far more spacious than the constraints within his heart.

Min Ning looked at Chen Yi and spoke: "With your mindset now, I feel you'll survive."

Her words—they naturally resonated with Chen Yi.

Previously, though he repeatedly claimed to be "the best under heaven," it was only when the true fight began that he realized the arrogance of his ignorance. Yet now, things were different. Chen Yi was free of extraneous thoughts, and the state of complete detachment—once achieved by Zhou Yitang—was no longer far from his reach.

And from Wu Buxu…how far could he be?

Chen Yi pondered a moment, then said aloud: "I'll go seek Wu Buxu again."

Min Ning raised no objections to Chen Yi's decision.

At different times, when looking at the same thing, your state of mind changes.

Just like the Zen saying, "Seeing the mountain as a mountain, then seeing the mountain as not a mountain, and finally seeing the mountain as still a mountain," it remained there, unchanged. What changed was the state of one's heart. When the heart changes, every thought transforms. Though the path of martial arts may not advocate sudden enlightenment or transcendence, in this heaven-blessed land imbued with martial arts and cosmic fortune, the principle of understanding remains essential. Otherwise, why would the Buddhist Sect say: that the heart harbors all Buddhas? Why does the Taoist sect say: the Dao exists in all things, and once comprehended, it aligns with the universal Dao, harmonizes martial intent within the self, and one becomes their own Grandmaster in their domain?

Chen Yi released Yin Weiyin, turned and stepped away among the leaves, carrying out his decision without hesitation.

Watching his figure vanish into the distance, the female crown cast a glance at Min Ning, mentally comparing the flower Min Ning gifted Chen Yi with her own past offerings to him. The conclusion, of course, needed no words. Yin Weiyin's delicate nose slightly raised, exuding an air of detachment.

Min Ning didn't mind in the least. She had never deeply connected with this female crown, even if in the future they ended up on the same bed… No, they would absolutely not end up in the same bed.

Min Ning exhaled deeply, whispering in quiet tones:

"Did you see his glimmering, flickering gaze?

Zhu Yu, I genuinely gifted him the flower. Even though I was rather abrupt… the result turned out well."

Zhu Yu: "..." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Min Ning spoke with a sincere tone: "I owe you thanks—without you, I could never have conceived such a move."

...…

Yin Sword Mountain, Cangwu Peak.

As autumn deepens, the high cliffs along the edges are covered in creeping vines. Branches merge hues of yellow and green—blue intertwining with gold—as a girl dressed in a light-red padded jacket curiously pinched at leaves on the trees. They crackled so crisply, snapping with just a touch.

A yellow dog wagged its tail cheerfully at her feet, seemingly wanting to eat the fallen leaves.

"Huang Niang'er, you mustn't eat that."

Yin Tingxue swatted its head softly, worrying that it might eat something it shouldn't. She had just finished her training and now rested briefly, playing a bit with Huang Niang'er.