Not long after, Dong Cang, Liu Liying, and Shi Hanyin, who had come up the mountain, prepared a table full of delicious food. Yu Wanning brought out several jars of apricot blossom wine that Dong Cang had brewed earlier. These were genuine ten-year-old vintage wines. The wine cellar had not been found after the demon tribe attacked the mountain, so these apricot blossom wines survived. They were perfect for entertaining Tang Guangjun, who had been away for ten years.
Lin Zhao asked the two young disciples, Zhang Luobai and Zhuang Yirong, to invite Gu Lingyu up the mountain for a drink. Soon after, Gu Lingyu arrived.
Afterward, Lin Zhao took out another jar of Dongting Purple Bamboo wine and two jars of Red Bamboo wine. The treatment for Tang Guangjun was exceptionally grand, to the point where Tang Guangjun almost forgot he was just a low-ranking attendant.
Just as everyone was about to start eating, a hazy figure appeared in the south of the mountain.
It was an old man, leaning on a staff, with a sword hanging from his waist. His hair was disheveled, and his face was so blurry that it was hard to see clearly. He seemed somewhat disoriented, wandering around the mountainside for a long time before finally ascending the southern cliff of the peak villa. As he stood on the large stone platform, he looked ahead, and everything seemed familiar.
"Is this it?"
His voice was choked with emotion, and he muttered to himself, "Yes... am I home?"
"Oh no!"
Not far away, a young sword cultivator suddenly drew his sword and shouted as if he had seen a ghost, "Ghosts! Ghosts! The woodshed is haunted! Zhuang Yirong, come quickly and help me exorcise the spirits with me!"
"???"
Zhuang Yirong walked over and also stared at the vague figure in surprise.
"You... you..."
The old man looked at the young man and woman. His memory was already hazy, and having been away for ten years, he couldn't recognize Zhang Luobai and Zhuang Yirong. He asked, "Who are you... I'm looking for... I'm looking for Lin Zhao..."
"Mountain Master!"
Zhuang Yirong turned back to look at Lin Zhao, who was standing in front of Tianranju preparing to eat, and said, "There's a ghost on the mountain, come and take a look quickly..."
"Ah?"
Lin Zhao hurried over with Wu Zhi, Yu Wanning, Huang Tingyu, Tang Guangjun, and others. The moment he saw the shadowy figure, Lin Zhao felt a sense of familiarity. After carefully discerning the person's aura, he immediately confirmed who it was. He stepped forward and supported the old man's arm, saying, "Han... Old Sword Immortal Han, is that you?"
"I... I..."
The old man's consciousness was quite blurred, but he found Lin Zhao very familiar. Although he was a spirit, tears like wisps of mist flowed down his face. He asked, "Lin Zhao... is that you?"
"Old Sword Immortal Han..."
Lin Zhao's eyes were about to well up with tears. He quickly turned and said, "Ling Yu, help!"
"Yes, Junior Martial Uncle."
In a gust of clear wind, Gu Lingyu's figure appeared in front of Han Buyu. Seeing Han Buyu's pathetic state, Gu Lingyu sighed. He raised his hand and conjured a white leaf from the void, crushed it, and transformed it into spiritual essence that seeped into Han Buyu's body. Instantly, Han Buyu's soul and aura became fuller, and his face became more solid, no longer appearing like a mere specter.
In an instant, Han Buyu's consciousness became much clearer.
He looked at the people around him and his eyes immediately filled with tears. "I've truly found my way home... Lin Zhao, Wu Zhi, Old Huang, Old Tang, and Master Gu, and... you are all still here?"
"Yes, those who were fortunate enough to survive are all here," Gu Lingyu said with a smile and a nod.
Lin Zhao's eyes were red. "Old Sword Immortal Han, I never expected that your soul would still linger in the world. Quickly tell us what has happened all these years and why you have fallen to this state."
"I..."
Han Buyu felt guilty. "That year, after I unleashed my sword, my golden body shattered, leaving only a wisp of remnant soul to drift on Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. Witnessing everyone perish one after another, my soul power grew weaker and weaker. Later, I was carried by a gentle breeze towards the Yin-Yang Realm River. Perhaps due to some merit, Heaven wanted to give me an opportunity to reincarnate. However... the River Lord guarding the realm seemed to have an opportunity and dared not guide human souls to the underworld, so he sent me back. For the past ten years, I have been wandering between heaven and earth, my consciousness becoming increasingly blurred, but in the end... I found my way back. The feeling of being home... is truly wonderful..."
At that moment, Tong Yu and Dong Cang were in tears, and Wu Zhi, Yu Wanning, Shi Hanyin, and others also had red eyes.
"Old Han!"
Tang Guangjun stepped forward, put his arm around Old Sword Immortal Han's shoulder, and said with a smile, "It's better to arrive early than late. How can they say you're unlucky? Let's not talk about other things first. Come back to the mountain and have a drink!"
"Right."
Lin Zhao smiled and said, "Tang Guangjun has returned, and we've prepared a table of drinks to celebrate. Old Sword Immortal Han has also returned, so let's celebrate it all together. Let's go back and have a drink first."
"A drink... great!"
Old Sword Immortal Han nodded readily. How could a natural drunkard refuse such an invitation?
As Lin Zhao helped Han Buyu walk forward, he mentally asked Gu Lingyu, "Can Old Sword Immortal Han, in his current spectral form, drink? Is there a way?"
"There is a way. We can make his primordial spirit substantial. It's the same method as drinking with deities." Gu Lingyu crushed another white leaf and, without anyone noticing, replenished Han Buyu's spiritual body again.
"Ling Yu..."
Lin Zhao frowned. "Old Sword Immortal Han has returned, but he has lost his heavenly decree and is only a soul now. Do we have any way to have him stationed at Snow Domain Heavenly Pool again?"
"There is a way, but I don't know if it will work."
Gu Lingyu smiled. "Junior Martial Uncle can try writing a sacrificial essay for Old Sword Immortal Han. You now possess the Hao Ran Golden Token, are a disciple of the Confucian Sage Qin Suihan, and have accumulated immense merit. You should possess the ability of 'words follow actions.' After writing the sacrificial essay, burn it for Old Sword Immortal Han, expressing his merits to heaven and earth. There is a high probability that it can secure a heavenly decree for the old sword immortal."
"Okay, let's drink first!"
"Mm!"
...
After everyone sat down, Lin Zhao first led them in drinking three cups. Afterward, Tang Guangjun began to explain why he was able to be reborn. When he spoke of his death at Jiuzhang Plain and his soul returning in his battle armor, everyone's eyes turned red. Every single person present had experienced life and death ten years ago. Even Wu Zhi and Yu Wanning had been sent to Zhao Shutong after being beaten to the brink of death.
When Tang Guangjun spoke of Han Xin and Ding Muchen working together to use the body of a spirit beast to renew his flesh and decree him into the Martial Temple, Lin Zhao couldn't help but sigh. He was in the human world and didn't know how many things had happened in the heavens, but his third senior brother had truly done too much for humanity.
If possible, he truly wished to meet his third senior brother, cook some rabbit and deer meat, and have a drink with him. That would surely be a great joy in his life.
"What are your plans from now on?" Lin Zhao asked.
Tang Guangjun thought for a moment and said, "I've come to the lower realm to bid farewell to the sect leader and don't plan to return immediately. I, Tang Guangjun, am from Peak Villa. I know the Mountain Master still has plans, so I will stay by the Mountain Master's side and await orders. When the Mountain Master no longer needs me, I will return to the ancestral court's Martial Temple to eat cold pig's head meat. In short, I am from Peak Villa, and that will never change in this lifetime."
"Good."
Lin Zhao nodded and smiled. "After your rebirth, your enlightenment has deepened. You are reliable."
Tang Guangjun grinned and cupped his fists. "Learning the principles of being a person from the Mountain Master, rising step by step, and being open-minded and humble, these are all as they should be."
Huang Tingyu pinched his nose and said, "Brother Tang, could you give me another bowl of Purple Bamboo wine?"
Tang Guangjun was very generous. He picked up the wine jar and poured a bowl for Huang Tingyu. Then, he saw Old Sword Immortal Han tentatively extending an empty bowl. Tang Guangjun smiled and poured him a full one as well. To be honest, although Han Buyu's cultivation was low, Tang Guangjun admired his unwavering heart to fight for humanity. After all, he was a military man, naturally hot-blooded.
...
After the banquet.
Everyone found their own places. Some meditated and cultivated in the bamboo groves, some fell asleep lying on the branches in the apricot grove, and others stood on a lotus leaf on the water with one foot, nurturing their boxing intent motionlessly.
"Young Master."
In the study, Liu Liying smiled softly and refilled Lin Zhao's candle.
Lin Zhao spread out a piece of white paper and began to write the sacrificial essay for Old Sword Immortal Han. His expression was very serious, and he was extremely cautious in his choice of words and phrasing. On one hand, he had to write down all of Han Buyu's merits from over a hundred years ago to the present. On the other hand, his state of mind had to be sincere, solely mourning Han Buyu, without harboring too much utilitarian intent.
If there was too much utilitarian intent, any action would seem insincere.
Fortunately, Lin Zhao's state of mind was quite good. Although Han Buyu's cultivation was low, he was still a person Lin Zhao respected. Therefore, his wording was extremely sincere, and he finished the entire sacrificial essay in one go.
"Young Master."
Liu Liying pursed her red lips and said, "Young Master has excellent literary talent."
"Not at all, not at all..."
Lin Zhao scratched his head and said, "In fact, many sentences are borrowed from Su Shi's sacrificial essay for Huang Jidao, hahaha. I feel they are very fitting for Old Sword Immortal Han."
Liu Liying's dimples deepened with a smile. "In any case, whatever Young Master writes is the best in the world."
Lin Zhao looked helpless, unable to do anything about this ardent fan.
...
Late at night, he walked out of Tianranju, used his flying sword Hao Ran to carve a spiritual tablet for Han Buyu, and placed it by the lotus pond. Then, he started a fire, burned some paper ingots and candles, and then took out the sacrificial essay, carefully burning it.
Indeed, as the sacrificial essay began to burn, golden light appeared in the sky.
"Ah?"
Han Buyu stood beside Lin Zhao, dumbfounded. He never expected that Lin Zhao, only at the eleventh realm, would already possess the legendary ability of "words follow actions."
"Swish, swish, swish—"
In the air, streaks of golden text descended, all from the sacrificial essay Lin Zhao had written. The heavens and earth trembled slightly, and a majestic aura of the Great Dao descended from above, beginning to bestow a decree upon Han Buyu.
In the blink of an eye, Han Buyu's soul spread his hands. Golden texts were adorning him with golden armor and robes. The sword at his waist also transformed into a golden greatsword. In less than a few moments, Han Buyu had actually reformed his golden body, and his cultivation realm had leaped to the twelfth realm. The decree he received was that of the Lord of Tianchi Mountain!
"Ah?"
Lin Zhao frowned. He had originally thought the decree would be for something like the Rain Master, but he never expected it to be the Lord of Tianchi Mountain. This meant that Su Shanjun's position would be taken!