Rebirth of a Star General Chapter 155

Chapter 155: Love Across Mountains and Seas

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The grass is green, and there are occasional secluded flowers. Amidst the chaotic buzzing of bees and the fluttering of butterflies, the sound of the zither strings is clear and continuous, slowly drifting towards the water’s surface. 

In the midst of the chaos of swords and blades, there is one person playing the zither, which is quite eye-catching. The swordsman in white sits quietly, his well-defined fingers brushing against the zither strings, and the zither music flows out, still the same piece, “Slow Shaoguang.” 

In fact, he can play many songs, but over the years, he has played this one the most. The surroundings have already been arranged with his formations, and the zither music also has the ability to confuse the mind. When the Wutuo people arrive here, they will be confused by the formations and find it difficult to locate the entrance. He can buy some more time for Cui Yuezhi, waiting for the late-coming wind of fortune. 

The Wutuo people’s boats are slowly approaching, and someone disembarked from the boat with great momentum. Liu Buwang sat quietly, just like when he meditated on Qiyun Mountain years ago, with a calm and composed mind. Yunji Daoist Leader never praised him openly, but he was always unusually tolerant. Everyone always said that among the seven senior brothers on the mountain, he was the most outstanding, and his senior brothers always jokingly said that one day he would bring glory to the sect. 

However… he had already been expelled from the sect. 

His fingers hesitated on the zither strings as if disturbed by external factors, and he made a mistake in the rhythm, causing Liu Buwang to lose his focus for a moment. 

When he was at the foot of Qiyun Mountain, he saw Mu Hongjin, and later learned that Mu Hongjin was the beloved daughter of Mengji Wang of Jiyang City. Mu Hongjin did not want to marry the son of a high-ranking court official and begged Liu Buwang to take her away. Liu Buwang hesitated for a long time and decided to let her wait at an inn while he and his junior sister returned to Qiyun Mountain to report the matter to Yunji Daoist Leader. 

However, once he returned to the mountain, he never came down again. When he finally came down, it was a year later. 

Mu Hongjin always believed that he had deceived her and intentionally revealed her whereabouts to Mengji Wang, which was why she was sent back to Mengji Wang’s residence. In fact, this was not the case. 

At the time, Liu Buwang was indeed in a hurry to go up the mountain. When he arrived on the mountain, he told Yunji Daoist Leader that a girl who had fled from an arranged marriage was being pressured by her family and was currently staying outside. He hoped that Yunji Daoist Leader could find a way to allow him to bring Mu Hongjin up the mountain. 

Liu Buwang was naturally honest and kind-hearted, and this was the first time he had told a lie to Yunji Daoist Leader. He did not disclose her true identity as Mengji Wang’s daughter. Liu Buwang was worried that if Yunji Daoist Leader knew Mu Hongjin’s true identity, he might not be willing to help. 

However, Yunji Daoist Leader knew more than he did. 

“Is the girl you mentioned, Mu Hongjin from Mengji Wang’s residence?” 

Liu Buwang was stunned, “Master…” 

“You are truly confused!” Yunji Daoist Leader looked at him, scolding with a stern face, “Do you know her identity? She is the only daughter of Mengji Wang now, and in the future, she will inherit the throne of Mengji Wang. The reason Mengji Wang agreed to her marriage is precisely because she will become Princess Mengji.”

“Your rashness in bringing her to Qiyun Mountain, do you know what kind of disaster it will bring to Jiyang City? How much trouble it will cause Qiyun Mountain? Even if you don’t care about the lives of the common people in Jiyang City, you have grown up with your senior brothers, can you ignore their safety?” 

“Master, it’s not like that…” Liu Buwang tried to explain. 

Yunji Daoist Leader sighed, “You thought Mengji Wang would let you hide his daughter here? You’re too naive.” 

“He won’t know.”

“Buwang, you are too naive.” Yunji Daoist leader flicked his sleeves: “Give up, your Master won’t lend a hand.”

Liu Buwang knelt on the ground, thought for a moment, and then stood up, bowing to Yunji Daoist Leader, “Disciple understands.” 

“What do you want to do?” 

“Disciple will find a way himself.” 

Liu Buwang thought to himself, although he couldn’t compare to Yunji Daoist Leader’s skills, there must be another way. The most urgent thing was for him to go down the mountain because the day he had arranged to meet Mu Hongjin was approaching. 

“You still want to find that girl?” 

Liu Buwang said, “Yes, Master, I have already made an appointment with her.” 

Yunji Daoist Leader replied, “You cannot go down the mountain.” 

“Why?” 

“I can’t bear to watch you ruin Qiyun Mountain,” Yunji Daoist Leader said coldly, “You must stay on the mountain.”

“Master, she is waiting for me!”

Yunji Daoist Leader’s face was entirely unfeeling. 

Liu Buwang slowly drew his longsword from his waist. He had no intention of resorting to violence against his master, but he was extremely anxious. However, his swordsmanship was no match for Yunji Daoist Leader’s exquisite skills, and he was ultimately defeated. 

Yunji Daoist Leader confined him in a water cave high on the mountain. The cave was surrounded by cascading waterfalls and fragrant orchids, making the scenery beautiful to behold. But Yunji Daoist Leader had also placed a formation around it, rendering Liu Buwang unable to leave even a single step. He was trapped there. 

Liu Buwang’s Qimen Dunjia was ultimately inferior to Yunji Daoist Leader’s. In despair, he pleaded with his master, “Master, I only want to go down the mountain to speak with her. I can’t break my word; she’s still waiting for me… Master!” 

“If you can undo my formation, you can go down the mountain.”

Yunji Daoist Leader turned and left. 

Liu Buwang pondered within the formation, attempting to break it. However, this formation was more formidable than any he had encountered before. He grew anxious and exhausted himself day and night trying to unravel it, which eventually led to his physical and mental breakdown. 

Yushu came to visit him, bringing medicine. She looked at Liu Buwang, who was covered in injuries, and said softly, “Senior brother, why do you torment yourself like this?” 

“Can you ask Master to release me?” Liu Buwang leaned against the cave wall, nearly at death’s door, but his tone remained stubborn. “I want to go down the mountain.” 

Yushu took a step back and couldn’t help but shout at him with tears in her eyes, “Even if you go down the mountain, what difference does it make? She has already married! She didn’t wait for you; Mu Hongjin has already married her husband!” 

Liu Buwang widened his eyes. 

In the cave, inside the formation, he couldn’t sense the passage of time outside, so he marked each day on the cave wall. When he turned to look, he had marked more than two hundred days and nights. 

That girl, the one who wore a red dress with bells on her long braids and always playfully clung to him, had already married? What kind of emotions was she experiencing? Did she wait for him in disappointment, filled with resentment over their broken promise? Or did she find herself with no choice but to step into a wedding sedan, driven by despair? 

Liu Buwang’s heart ached intensely. 

“She didn’t wait for you; she has already forgotten your agreement,” his junior sister said while standing in front of him, her voice filled with tears. “So, you should forget her too.” 

Forget her? How was that possible? He hadn’t realized his feelings when he was with her, but now, in her absence, he had come to cherish their moments together. He had grown accustomed to the days when he was needed, entangled, and deceived. Even if he was annoyed, he cherished them. How could he simply forget? 

“When was she found by the people from the royal palace, and when did she get married?” he asked slowly. 

Yushu replied, “Not long after you left, she was found by the soldiers. Shortly afterward, she got married. Senior brother,” she tried to persuade him, “why don’t you reconcile with Master? We can live a good life on Qiyun Mountain from now on. Why bring up that matter again?” 

Liu Buwang remained silent. 

“Senior brother?”

He looked up with the eyes of a young man, once pure and clear like the warm sun of spring, but now, they held a touch of coldness and a sense of distance, keeping people at arm’s length. 

Yushu was frightened by his gaze. 

“Go away,” Liu Buwang said, “and don’t come back.” 

He intensified his efforts to break the formation, studying and practicing it relentlessly. He ignored his physical limitations, with only one thought in mind: he had to get down the mountain. 

During these days of hard practice, his knowledge of Qimen Dunjia had made tremendous progress. At the same time, he realized that, at some point, Yunji Daoist Leader’s formation was gradually weakening. 

With the arrival of another spring, he finally broke the formation. 

The spring rain dampened the green grass under the eaves, and the young man’s white clothes were stained with mud. He was determined, unwavering as he walked step by step. 

His junior brothers and sisters gathered around Yunji Daoist Leader’s bed. Over these days, the formation had become weaker, and Yunji Daoist Leader’s end was approaching. 

Liu Buwang was in shock. 

He rushed to Yunji Daoist Leader’s bedside, knelt down, and Yunji Daoist Leader looked at him. He asked, “Have you broken the formation?” 

Liu Buwang nodded. 

Master extended his hand and lightly touched Liu Buwang’s pulse, sensing something, then sighed deeply. 

“Do you still want to go down the mountain?” he asked. 

Liu Buwang knelt upright and resolute, saying, “Yes.” 

There was a long silence. 

“Go then,” Master spoke one word at a time, the one who had nurtured him. “From now on, you are no longer a member of my sect. Do not return to Qiyun Mountain.” 

“Master!” his fellow disciples exclaimed in shock, pleading for him. 

Yunji Daoist Leader remained silent, closing his eyes. When he looked again, he had peacefully passed away. 

In one night, he had lost the master who had raised him and his right to remain on Qiyun Mountain. Liu Buwang left the mountain alone. 

This farewell made it clear that it was an eternal separation, never to be reunited.

His wounds throbbed with a dull pain, forcing his way through the barrier had taken a toll on his body. The rain was pouring heavily, and he had no umbrella as he stumbled down the muddy mountain path, never stopping. Finally, he reached the foot of the mountain and entered Jiyang City. 

The city was as lively and warm as it had always been, just like that spring day. Liu Buwang made his way to the Mengji Wang Palace. He hid under the eaves of a building across the street, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, trying to catch a glimpse of Mu Hongjin. Even though he didn’t know what he could say to her, it was he who had broken the promise, he was the one who was more than a year late. He was the one who had asked her to wait for him, and he was the one who never came. 

But if she wanted to leave, as she did years ago when she held his arm and asked him to take her away, Liu Buwang thought, perhaps he would still be powerless, but he would do as she wished. 

And then he saw Mu Hongjin. 

Unlike the proud young girl from years ago, she had become even more beautiful, wearing exquisite and luxurious robes. She stepped down from the carriage and spoke to a man by her side, who appeared gentle, with his arm around her waist. Her clothing couldn’t hide the slight bulge of her abdomen. 

Mu Hongjin was pregnant. 

The “old pervert” from the legend wasn’t old at all. He gazed at her with a gentle expression in his eyes, and her gaze in return was gentle too. She was completely different from the arrogant girl he remembered, almost like two different people. 

Rainwater soaked his boots and clothes, yet Liu Buwang felt more disheveled in his heart than his appearance. 

They harmonized like a pair of lovers in a fairy tale, and he stood there, feeling entirely out of place and ridiculous. 

But what right did he have to make Mu Hongjin wait indefinitely? This girl, radiant as the blossoms under the mountain, full of vitality, beautiful people and things, were always bound to be discovered. Just as he had fallen in love with her without realizing it, the “husband” of Mu Hongjin had done the same. 

Mu Hongjin had found her own peaceful life, so perhaps he had no reason to disturb it any longer. 

As if his gaze was too passionate and pained, Mu Hongjin seemed to sense something, and she turned her head to look at him. Liu Buwang slightly shifted his body and hid in the shadows of the eaves. 

“What’s wrong?” the man by her side asked as he held her hand. 

“Nothing,” Mu Hongjin shook her head, “I must have been mistaken.” 

The rain was cold, and he thought he was safe hiding under the eaves. Little did he know that spring rain could also bring bitterness. 

He left hastily. 

His music was poetic and enchanting, masking the heavy sense of danger lurking in the jungle. The Wutuo people walked into the trap without realizing it. Suddenly, there were screams, and for a moment, cries of pain filled the air. Finally, someone realized something was wrong and shouted to stop the others. 

“Don’t come in, it’s an ambush!” 

Liu Buwang smiled faintly. 

After descending the mountain years ago, he had spent a considerable amount of time in silence, almost like a living corpse. He didn’t know what he could do in the future. He couldn’t return to Qiyun Mountain, and he couldn’t go to find Mu Hongjin. For a while, he felt that there was no joy left in the world. 

It was until Yushu found him. 

Little Junior Sister was no longer the adorable jade snow she used to be; she looked much more worn out. Standing before him, Liu Buwang finally realized that, without his awareness, Yushu had grown into a young lady. She was no longer the little sister who used to run around with him. 

“Senior Brother,” the girl looked at him, tears welling up in her eyes, “I’m sorry.” 

“What?” he didn’t understand.

“Miss Mu was found by the palace’s officials because of the information I provided.” 

Liu Buwang froze in place. 

“I liked you, very much,” Yu Shu continued, seemingly desperate to confess everything. “I didn’t want you to be with her. I overheard your conversation, so I told Mengji Wang where she was hiding. I thought that once she got married, you would forget about her, that you wouldn’t think about her anymore. I never expected you to be so persistent all these years.” 

“I’m sorry, I was wrong,” she cried, “I ruined your life, Senior Brother. I’m so sorry.” 

She cried uncontrollably, but Liu Buwang remained as stone-cold as ever. 

He had been young and foolish, with a simple mind, failing to notice the deep affection in Little Junior Sister’s eyes when she looked at him or the fleeting hostility in Yushu’s eyes when she looked at Mu Hongjin. 

A young girl’s love and hatred were straightforward, her thoughts were uncomplicated, and she only considered venting her anger, never thinking about how she was causing two people who loved each other to miss their chance. It was only as the world changed and regret grew like a snowball that she realized her mistake. 

“How could you do this?” He raised his voice at Yu Shu for the first time. “Don’t you know, do you have any idea…” 

He didn’t finish his sentence. 

Know what? Back then, he himself didn’t even understand how deeply he loved her. 

He was a fool. 

The eldest senior brother, who had come after hearing the news, found him and said, “Little Seven, don’t blame Yushu; she was young and didn’t understand. She knows she was wrong now. Don’t blame Master for not saving you when you were imprisoned in the Qiyun Mountain formation.” 

Liu Buwang responded woodenly, “I’ve never blamed anyone.” 

He only blamed himself. 

“Did you know why Master locked you on Qiyun Mountain back then?” The eldest senior brother said, “Master was naturally kind and generous. He adopted all seven of us orphans. Even if Mu Hongjin were a princess, he wouldn’t fear the danger her identity brought. Master did it for you.” 

Liu Buwang looked at him, not understanding the meaning behind his words. 

“Master did it for you.” 

Yunji Daoist Leader had once divined for Liu Buwang, and the divination revealed that one day, for the sake of a woman, he would meet a tragic end, dying at a young age. 

Deep love would kill him.

“You are the master’s most beloved disciple, and the master feared that you might lose your life because of Mu Hongjin, so that’s why he imprisoned you within the formation.” The senior brother said, “Although he may have his biases, it’s all for your sake.” 

Liu Buwang only felt absurd. 

It was just a divination, so why did he have to miss it like this? Yunji Daoist Leader did all this for him, who else could he blame? 

Blame it on the impermanence of the world, playing tricks on lovers. 

He had been staying in Jiyang City, hiding in the shadows, doing things that were no different from the past every day. Until one day, Yushu was captured by Mu Hongjin’s guards in the temple. 

Yushu didn’t have the courage to assassinate, and when the news spread, Liu Buwang knew that Mu Hongjin was forcing him to show himself. But he was not only not angry, there was even a hint of joy deep in his heart. After so many years, he could finally meet her openly and honestly. 

In the late-night Buddhist hall, he saw Mu Hongjin. 

The years had polished her even more splendid and beautiful. She seemed like a ripe fruit, exuding an irresistible charm and sensuality all over her body. Liu Buwang couldn’t help but think sourly, who had turned her into this appearance, her current “husband”? 

They even had children. She had already started a family and given birth, becoming more and more distant from him. 

The woman’s red robe was gorgeous, and the golden crown reflected a faint color in the night. What was even brighter than that was her eyes, fixed on him, devoid of the playfulness and innocence from years ago. 

He had a thousand words he wanted to say to her, but in the end, he didn’t know where to start. When it came to the end, the words that came out were, “Where is Yushu?” 

Liu Buwang still remembered the look in Mu Hongjin’s eyes at that moment, somewhat surprised and somewhat understanding. The moment the words came out, he regretted it instantly. He shouldn’t have been so abrupt; he should have said something else. Ask her how she’s been all these years, apologize for the broken promise from back then, anything would have been better than this accusatory question. 

Mu Hongjin looked at him as if he were a stranger, and she replied indifferently, “In prison.” 

Their conversation felt as awkward as that between strangers, as if they were standing on opposite sides, with no trace of their past intimacy. 

Liu Buwang was torn. He wanted to stay here, talk to her a little more, and look at her. But he was afraid that if he stayed here too long, he would lose control of his emotions and cause trouble for Mu Hongjin. 

It had been a long time since he failed to arrive on time, and now, Mu Hongjin had someone else by her side, she didn’t need him anymore, so why bother coming to disturb her and make things unpleasant? 

He wanted Mu Hongjin to release Yushu and arrest him. Yunji Daoist Leader had raised him, and Yushu was his daughter. He couldn’t bear to see Yushu imprisoned. Moreover, Mu Hongjin’s goal in capturing Yushu was originally him. 

Liu Buwang thought that Mu Hongjin must hate him, but people tend to be reluctant to show any emotion towards things they don’t care about. So, perhaps, after all these years, there might still be a tiny trace of their past love left. 

“She’s just a junior sister; do you like her so much?”

Liu Buwang answered, “Yes.” 

“What did you say?”

Liu Buwang gazed at her as if he wanted to etch her current appearance forever in his heart, and he said word by word, “I like her.” 

He admitted that the act of betrayal was his own doing, confessed that he had deceived Mu Hongjin by making a false promise, and acknowledged that he had never had feelings for Mu Hongjin. 

Mu Hongjin laughed. Her laughter was disdainful and mocking, as if his likes and dislikes were utterly insignificant and ridiculous. She wanted Liu Buwang to become her lover, as a condition for releasing Yushu. 

Liu Buwang was angry, angry at how she could humiliate him like this, and also humiliate herself. But in his anger, he unexpectedly felt a hidden desire. He realized, with a start, that deep in his heart, he had never given up. It was as if he had buried countless sparks deep underground, and with just a word from her, they could easily burst forth, igniting a blazing fire. 

He agreed. 

But Mu Hongjin changed her mind. 

Mu Hongjin wanted him to take Yushu and leave Jiyang City forever, never to set foot here again. She wanted a clean break, with no intersection between herself and Liu Buwang. 

This was his last conversation with Mu Hongjin. 

Liu Buwang later adopted the name “Yunlin Hermit” and traveled far and wide. He visited many places, dressed in white, excelled in swordsmanship, and wherever he went, people praised and admired him. Yet, he remained forever aloof, as if he cared about nothing in the world. 

He never saw his fellow senior brothers or Yushu again. In this world, everyone ultimately becomes their own lonely self. However, he still returned to Jiyang City every year for the Water God Festival. He entered the city secretly, without anyone knowing, just to catch a glimpse of the city protected by Mu Hongjin. 

Just as if he were guarding her. 

Casting lots and divining divinations, he only inquired about matters, not about people. This was a rule he established for himself later. In fortune-telling for others, there were inevitably foreseen hardships, and in an effort to avoid them, he tried to avoid certain encounters that might bring misfortune. Little did he know that with every encounter in the human world, there was a precious fate. By avoiding disasters, he fell into another trap of destiny, just like himself. 

A lifetime of regrets, a lifetime of being so close yet unattainable. 

Deep in the dense forest, the screams grew louder and more intense, with more people coming ashore. His playing on the zither gradually intensified, like golden armored warriors, appearing in the midst of a heavily fortified formation. 

Formations were not all-powerful. The more people involved, the shorter the duration it could be maintained, and the more energy it consumed. Back on Qiyun Mountain all those years ago, when Yunji Daoist Leader had kept him within a formation for a certain period, in his eagerness to escape, he disregarded his own injuries and forcibly broke the formation, ultimately harming his own mental state. Over the years, he hadn’t encountered a formation that required such a taxing effort. 

A drop of fresh blood slowly oozed from the corner of Liu Buwang’s lips. 

In the spring sunshine, he smiled calmly, as if he had just met his first love. It was as though he were still the young swordsman in white from years ago, standing in front of the person he held dear.

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