Yu Zhenghai did not respond to Zhu Honggong.
Zhu Honggong rose to his feet and stretched his limbs as he yawned. After that, when he saw Yu Zhenghai did not move, he called out, “Yu Zhenghai.”
When Zhu Honggong recalled yesterday’s event, he felt he had been too silly in the past. He could have let his Eldest Senior Brother do all the manual labor. His Second Senior Brother was smart enough to realize that.
Zhu Honggong moved his limbs for a moment before he sat down. Then, he said, “Get up. Fetch me a basin of water so I can wash my face.”
Yu Zhenghai sat up stiffly with movements that resembled that of an animated corpse.
Zhu Honggong glanced at Yu Zhenghai and urged him, “Huh? Why are you still sitting? Yu Zhenghai…”
Yu Zhenghai turned to face Zhu Honggong. His voice was domineering as he said, “What did you call me?”
Zhu Honggong yawned again. He did not even look at Yu Zhenghai as he said, “What? Should I call you Little Yu?”
“Hm?”
Zhu Honggong suddenly felt that the atmosphere was not right. He turned to look at Yu Zhenghai who was sitting in a stately manner at the edge of the bed. He was instantly stunned.
Yu Zhenghai’s expression was dark and extremely solemn. He was frowning slightly. Part of his clothes was torn as he had regained his original physique. His posture, expression, aura, and his gaze…
Yu Zhenghai merely looked at Zhu Honggong coldly and silently. Then, he flipped a palm, and the Jasper Saber on the nearby rack flew to him swiftly. An energy saber materialized for an instant around the blade. His control over Primal Qi and the materialization of the energy sabers were extremely masterful.
Yu Zhenghai’s gaze fell upon the Jasper Saber. He rolled up his sleeves and wiped it lightly as though he was wiping down an old friend. After waking up from his sleep, it was as though he had awakened as a different man. He had slept deeply and for a long time as though he had been sleeping for centuries. He did not leap into a fit of rage or nor did he say anything to Zhu Honggong… he only continued to wipe his Jasper Saber.
After a while, Yu Zhenghai raised the Jasper Saber toward the sunlight shining through the window. He circulated some Primal Qi. It buzzed before his energy saber materialized for an instant and disappeared again.
The room was silent.
After a long time, Yu Zhenghai heaved a long sigh. He was back! He had finally awoken from his dream. He rose to his feet with his hands on his back.
Thud!
Zhu Honggong fell to his knees as tears streamed down his face. “E-eldest Senior Brother… Will you believe me… if I told you that I was only joking with you earlier?” When he saw the look in Yu Zhenghai’s eyes earlier, he knew that the Eldest Senior Brother he was familiar with had returned! ‘Oh, Fourth Senior Brother… You really got me good this time! What should I do now?’
Yu Zhenghai’s expression was calm when he looked at Zhu Honggong. He did not seem angry. He only said, “Get me a set of clothes.”
“I’ll go at once!”
“Prepare the water for my bath,” Yu Zhenghai added.
“Right away!” Zhu Honggong scampered away. He purchased a new set of clothes and personally carried buckets of water.
“Eldest Senior Brother, allow me to rub you down.” Zhu Honggong was determined to stay.
Yu Zhenghai said, “No need.”
“I’ll be waiting outside, then. If there’s anything you need, just call me. I’ll be here,” Zhu Honggong said with a bow.
Yu Zhenghai asked, “Where’s your Second Senior Brother?”
When Zhu Honggong heard this, he said with a sigh, “Second Senior Brother fell into the 100,000-foot-deep abyss to save you. His whereabouts are unknown.”
Yu Zhenghai said nothing else.
Zhu Honggong sensed the change in the atmosphere, and he respectfully left the room.
…
The sun was high in the sky.
After changing into his new clothes, Yu Zhenghai emerged from the room. He stood with his back straight and his hands on his back as he looked at Zhu Honggong who was leaning against the door frame and dozing off. “Old Eighth.”
Zhu Honggong jolted awake. He hurriedly bowed. “Eldest Senior Brother!” He was extremely nervous. ‘Eldest Senior Brother, please don’t hold a grudge against me!’
“Bring me to master.”
“Alright.”
The two of them walked out of the courtyard.
The instant the two Nether Sect disciples who were guarding the entrance saw him, their eyes reddened as they fell on one knee. “Welcome back, Sect Master!”
Yu Zhenghai stopped and nodded. “You’ve done well.”
Despite his curt words, the two Nether Sect disciples were touched.
Along the way, the Nether Sect disciples the duo encountered would fall to their knees when they saw Yu Zhenghai.
“Welcome back, Sect Master!”
At the second intersection, Zhu Tianyuan walked up to the duo. He said jokingly, “Son… hurry up and look for your master! You’ve put this off for too long! Eh, your Eldest Senior Brother has grown taller again. This form is nice. Finally, he’s starting to look the part of the Eldest Senior Brother.”
Zhu Honggong. “???”
Zhu Honggong felt like crying. ‘No! Father is going to put his foot in his mouth again!’
However, contrary to Zhu Honggong’s expectations, Yu Zhenghai did not seem to mind. His back was straight as he cupped his hands together and said, “Greetings, uncle.”
“There’s no need to be so courteous! Do you have time today? I’ll teach you another saber skill… It’s much better than your Great Dark Heaven Memorial!”
Young Yu Zhenghai had lost his memories, after all. He had been asking advice from the people around him and asking them to spar with him. The Eight-leaf Huang Shijie and Zhu Tianyuan became natural targets for him to seek guidance from.
Zhu Tianyuan raised a palm, and an energy saber hovered above his palm.
Yu Zhenghai smiled. He extended two fingers of his right hand, and a rapidly spinning energy saber immediately materialized before him. When he spread his hands, the energy saber suddenly enlarged. Then, he pushed his palm up, and the energy saber shot into the heavens. It was dazzlingly brilliant.
Whizz!
The energy saber instantly split into thousands upon thousands of energy sabers! What a magnificent sight!
Finally, Yu Zhengha fisted his hand, and the energy sabers disappeared as though they were never there in the first place.
Zhu Tianyuan was as stunned as a wooden chicken. “…”
Yu Zhenghai said calmly, “Indeed, the Ten Thousand Blades is a great saber technique… However, it focuses too much on splitting one into 10,000. That splits the might of the energy saber. Hence, the energy sabers are in disarray. It’s flashy but insubstantial. In fact, it’s somewhat of a waste. If you arrange the energy sabers into a saber formation, it can work wonders. For example…”
He extended two fingers again. An energy saber burst forth. He spread his fingers. The energy saber enlarged, spun upward, and split into 10,000 blades.
Unlike before, these 10,000 energy sabers formed the outline of the Eight Gates Formation. The energy sabers affected boosted each other, and their might was multiplied!
Yu Zhenghai fisted his hand again, and the energy sabers disappeared. Then, he placed his hands on his back and asked, “What do you think, uncle?”
Zhu Tianyuan. “…”
This saber technique, the level of Primal Qi application, the transformations of the energy sabers, and his entire aura. Was this the adult Yu Zhenghai?
Yu Zhenghai did not wait for an answer. Instead, he walked away with his hands on his back toward his master’s courtyard.
Zhu Tianyuan was still stunned speechless. “Son? You know…”
“Get lost…” Zhu Honggong hurried after Yu Zhenghai.
Zhu Tian Yun could hear words like “You’re amazing, Eldest Senior Brother!” and “The Ancient Saint Cult’s saber techniques are rubbish!”
Was this his son? He could understand the compliments, but why must his son insult him as well? What an ingrate!
Zhu Tianyuan stood in stunned silence as he watched Yu Zhenghai’s retreating back.
…
Yu Zhenghai and Zhu Honggong finally arrived at their master’s courtyard.
Yu Zhenghai walked to the door respectfully, knelt, and loudly said, “The rascal, Yu Zhenghai, is here to greet his master.” He kowtowed before he said again, “I’m back.”
