I Will Leave Before Dawn

Chapter 13: Shadow that haunt life

The disciples were currently attending Jin An's class. As a renowned literature master, Jin An didn't have specific disciples of his own, so he took disciples from both Zhang XiYi and Damu Lan to participate in his lecture, making him a part of their master. He guided them through the works of the cultivation world and imprinted knowledge upon their minds. Typically, his lectures occupied the first half of the morning and concluded before afternoon.

"Alright, that's all for today. Make sure to study and review the manuals," Jin An requested, folding his hand fan and holding it in his palm. "Please place your note papers on my table for correction before you leave."

Upon hearing this, the remaining disciples stood up and left his lecture, leaving their notes behind. They headed off to engage in sparring and training sessions to enhance their cultivation path. As Fei Yi and Cuo Yi prepared to leave as well, they noticed Lu Ye still seated at his low table, gazing fixedly at Jin An. They decided to wait for him.

"What's wrong, Lu Ye?" Jin An asked, noticing Lu Ye's unbroken stare.

Lu Ye rose from his seat, books neatly held in his hands, and walked toward Jin An. "This has been on my mind for a while," Lu Ye began. "Why didn't Master Jin participate in sword practice with us?"

These questions struck Fei Yi and Cuo Yi, causing them to rush over in panic. Fei Yi quickly diverted the topic, saying, "Lu-Lu Ye! Why would you bring that up?!"

"Master Jin, our little Lu Ye still has so much to learn! Please forgive him!" Cuo Yi pleaded.

"Oh my," Jin An casually responded, his hand fan covering his mouth as he spoke. "I thought it was common knowledge by now." Despite his closed eyes and the fan hiding his mouth, it was obvious that he was smiling behind the layer.

He lowered his unfolded hand fan and continued, his face displaying a soft yet serious expression. "It's been a long time since I talked about this. Are you sure you want to know?"

Lu Ye nodded. Taking Jin An's response into consideration, the twins ceased their panicked state and relaxed.

"Cultivation suppression," Jin An chuckled. "A thousand years ago, I was met with a powerful blow that made it impossible for me to fully utilize my sword skills."

"I was one of the few disciples who attained immortality at a young age. But, even such a formidable blow was enough to damage my spiritual core. Therefore, it became difficult for me to channel my energy into the sword," Jin An explained. "When I manage to repair my meridian, my essence which encompasses my spiritual energy, becomes imbalanced and distorted. This deviation disrupted my connection to the sword and impaired my ability to wield it effectively."

"I was overwhelmed back then, and in my desperate attempts to wield a sword, I nearly destroyed my vital energy completely. So, for now, restraining myself from sword practice is a wise choice for a long and fulfilling life."

Though he maintained his smile and seemed to have moved on from the past, his tone revealed his longing to dance with the sword once again.

Upon hearing this, Lu Ye lowered his head, and after a moment of silence, he spoke softly, "Somehow, I feel sorry about that."

Jin An simply smiled in response and replied, "Why are you the one apologizing? It's fine. I've long moved on from it."

But Lu Ye's head remained lowered, prompting Jin An to gently pat him on the head and laughed heartily, "Hahaha! You're already over eighteen. Such a sad story should not bother you," he reminded.

Lu Ye gently slapped Jin An's hand away, owing respectfully before leaving, followed closely by the twins.

As Jin An watched them depart, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He placed his hand under his chin, musing to himself, "how alike, the master's essence."
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