Wuzhu Yan found that Lixiaolou seemed a bit off, pondered for a moment, and casually ended the topic with a light-hearted tone: "It's fine if you don't want to say, I'm just curious, asking out of the blue."
Upon hearing this, Lixiaolou finally moved, lifting her face, her lips slightly curved up, but her eyes with a smile looked very calm: "It's just a small favor, so I'm very grateful to the Elder Kuaiyang and Mrs. Yun. They actually agreed to take me in as a foster daughter and let me become a disciple of Wuji Peak."
Gazing at this emotionally torn face, Wuzhu Yan also displayed an innocent smile, subtly agreeing: "Indeed, I have heard that Wuji Peak is one of the major sects in Xiling State with a history of over a thousand years and is very powerful."
Lixiaolou's eyes carried a hint of chagrin as she nodded. "Um, I have some things to attend to, so I'll be leaving first."
"Sure." Wuzhu Yan waved her hand and said, "It's a pleasure to meet again."
Seeing Lixiaolou running away like a rabbit in an instant, the smile on Wuzhu Yan's face slowly faded. With a face devoid of expression and a cold demeanor, she activated the Invisibility Amulet and took a step forward to follow her.
This person clearly has an issue. Since she is the adopted daughter of Elder Kaiyang and Madam Yun, following her should lead to finding someone or discovering some unusual things.
Lixiaolou indeed headed straight towards the Kaiping Peak, but she didn't use any spiritual power or transportation tools. Instead, she slowly walked along, with the wind blowing the peach branches by the side of the road. When a falling petal landed on her palm, she caught it with her hand.
Her eyes instantly brightened, and a faint sound of joyful laughter escaped her lips. However, as twilight descended and enveloped her snowy robe, it cast a solitary shadow upon her.
Wuzhu Yan followed calmly, and upon seeing this scene, she inexplicably remembered the time when she took her junior disciple away in the past.
*
In her sixteenth year, Wuzhu Yan first arrived in Shuitian City and took part in the Chunshui Festival for the first time.
As night fell, the city of Shuitian began to light up with winding lanterns. Tens of thousands of lamps flickered to life, gathering into a suspended Milky Way made of swarming fireflies. The flying silk banners were soaked in incense and the aroma of newly brewed wine.
In the crowded and noisy crowd, the eldest disciple was like an anxious mother, grabbing Wuzhu Yan, who was jumping around like a monkey. He had just bought her a bunch of rock sugar haws from his wallet. But before he could turn his head, he lost sight of his sister-in-law, the second disciple who would get dizzy in a crowd, and the fourth disciple in the sea of people.
Only the third elder brother stood beside him, his pale and exhausted beauty's face carrying a hint of a smile.
The eldest disciple's forehead veins throbbed and he angrily shouted, "I didn't tell you to watch Li Liguang and Qianyun! Where are they!?"
The third elder brother looked unfocused: "The crowd was too big, and they ran away too fast. I didn't pay much attention."
Before the words had faded, he pressed his hand to his lips and weakly coughed twice: "Eldest brother, you know, I've always had a weak body since I was young."
Elder brother: "……"
Wuzhu Yan bit into the sour and sweet rock sugar haws, reassuring: "Eldest brother, don't worry. Second sister-in-law's sword is not to be trifled with. She and Little Brother won't be bullied by others."
The eldest brother stared at her without expression.
"Okay..." Wuzhu Yan felt a little guilty: "Before I left, I reminded them not to start any trouble, and if they have to fight, they should not damage other people's things. Our sect is poor and cannot afford to replace them."
Alright, she actually meant to prevent the irate Elder Brother from swallowing them whole.
The eldest brother took a deep breath, and seeing this, the third elder brother, who noticed Wuzhu Yan's desperate look for help, quickly changed the subject by pointing to the other side: "Look, the lantern festival seems to have started."
Suddenly, a clear and distant divine music echoed, and the surrounding commotion seemed to be silent for a moment.
As I looked, the largest and most exquisite Qingluan lamp slowly rose from a distance. The star map patterns on the tiles of the entire street began to spin. A huge flying palace floated in the air, illuminated by magical lamps, adorned with vermilion-colored flower branches, like a shimmering flower shadow.
Every year during the Spring Water Festival, the Bai family selects young talents with qualifications to attend the Lantern Parade.
That year, one of the young disciples selected by the Bai family for the Lantern Parade was Bai Luyun.
A gust of wind blew through the red silk and lanterns, and Wuzhu Yan puffed out her cheeks, lifting her snow-white face and raven-black long hair in disarray. The jade pieces on the sword tassels chimed quietly, tinkling delightfully.
She saw the men and women on the flying barge, all of whom were handsome and beautiful, dressed in magnificent attire.
Among them, there was a girl of the same age as Wuzhu Yan. She had a cute and obedient appearance, but a stern face and her gaze seemed lost. She had cloud-like hairpinned on her head, and her head was covered with precious jewels. The noble attire weighing down on her slender shoulders was dyed purple, with purple silk ribbons dangling at the waist, and golden dust on the skirt.
The two accidentally exchanged a glance, and quickly looked away from each other again.
It wasn't until several days later when Wuzhu Yan went to storm the heavenly mansion, advancing up to the 76th floor with a single sword, carrying Bai Lizi who was on the verge of being possessed by a malevolent spirit.
It was only then that she learned that the girl on the flying barge was the daughter of the head of the Bai family, Bai Fu, and also the younger sister of Bai Lizi, the first swordsmanship genius in Xiling State, Bai Luyun.
Later, Bai Luyun secretly joined the sect and was locked in the seclusion room by her father, Bai Fu, in a rage.
On the day when Wuzhu Yan discovered something was amiss and went to find her, it was a cold spring night with a frosty moon hanging high in the sky. The dim light was diffused in the endless mist, as if it had coated a film of watercolor over her pupils.
She didn't want to startle her, so she first investigated the situation before following her to the seclusion room. Her swordplay was as cold as a moonbeam, breaking through the barrier with a single stroke.
At that moment, Bai Luyun was kneeling on a soft cushion, her long hair hanging loosely over her shoulders. Her pale cheeks bore faint red fingerprints. Her eyes, which were usually lively and bright like a fawn's, no longer held their usual light. Instead, they appeared vacant and dull, looking quite disheveled.
Hearing the sound, she turned her head slowly and stared at her for a while, as if she thought the person before her was a mirage. After hesitating, she called out in a somewhat dumbfounded manner, "……Eldest sister?"
Wuzhu Yan suppressed the anger in her eyes and strode forward, holding one hand on her sword and the other pulling her up: "Come on, Little Sister. Let's go back together."
Feeling the warmth on her wrist, Bai Luyun's eyes seemed to flash with light. She shook her head and disbelievingly called out, "Eldest sister? How are you here?"
In the water-like night, Wuzhu Yan's crimson hair band danced in the wind as she turned to her, raising an eyebrow and smiling. "Eldest brother has recently learned how to make peach cake; let me take you to try some."
Bai Luyun subconsciously followed her as she walked out, couldn't help but laugh at the words, and her eyes turned into a lively painting: "Little Sister, are you taking me to taste the poison?"
Wuzhu Yan also burst into laughter.
Being attracted by the sword energy, the pursuers closed in quickly. Bai Luyun tightly held onto Wuzhu Yan's hand as they ran down the mountain path. The increasing wind sounded through the lush tree shadows on both sides, and pink mountain flowers fell from the swaying branches like a shower of flowers, draping over her hair.
Her gaze was entirely consumed by the figure ahead, whose slender and upright back seemed to contain an unyielding spirit. It was unstoppable, indomitable, bringing her immense peace and longing.
Bai Luyun couldn't help but laugh, her steps growing faster and more joyful, as if the originally numb and predetermined cage had split a crack, with the free wind surging in, breaking through a vast horizon and pushing her to keep running forward.
The crisp air that penetrated her lungs every breath felt as if there were no constraints or intentions, just to rush towards the vast and distant scenery.
*
When Wuzhu Yan came back to her senses, she had already followed Li Xiaolou to the Qiyang Peak.
A towering mountain peak rose up from the ground, piercing the sky, like the backbone of the earth, majestic and magnificent. As far as the eye could see, clouds and mist swirled around it, with shimmering light. Numerous restrictions could be seen in a dense array, like a mysterious veil that made it difficult to catch a glimpse of its true appearance.
Wuzhu Yan knew that this was the protecting mountain array.
Indeed, Li Xiaolou took out an internal disciple token from his bosom and placed it on top of it. The token flashed a ray of light, and immediately the air on both sides swirled, creating several ripples, opening up a passageway for people to enter and exit.
In the next second, she walked in and her figure vanished from Wuzhu Yan's sight.
Wuzhu Yan stroked her chin, "……"
Hmm, it seems like the major sects are all fond of these gaudy things now. According to her observation, there were at least tens of thousands of restrictions operating within this protecting mountain array.
