As they emerged, the scene before them had completely transformed.
At some point, a meticulously maintained garden had appeared here.
A lively stream meandered through the grounds, forming a clear, small lake.
Weeping willows lined the banks, their tender green branches swaying gently in the breeze, occasionally brushing the water’s surface and sending out a circle of ripples.
Several crabapple trees leaned against the lake stones, blooming in clouds of pink and white.
When the wind blew, the soft petals scattered and drifted down, floating slowly along the current.
The garden was filled with a profusion of flowers and plants, all in their most glorious bloom.
Quite a few cultivators were already inside—some enjoying the flowers, others boating on the lake; some strolling along the creekside paths, chatting and laughing; others playing chess or savoring tea in the pavilions by the roadside.
Not long after they entered the garden, Yue Yu, who was leading the group, grabbed Ji Ling and headed toward the area where the seated elders of the Guest Sect had gathered, which was laid out with low tables and meditation cushions.
He left the disciples behind with the fine-sounding excuse:
“We old folks won’t be joining in. You young people should spend more time together.”
The disciples exchanged glances. Almost in unison, their gazes turned to the white-clad, white-haired girl standing out like a crane among chickens.
Her ethereal aura was otherworldly, and a long sword was strapped across her back.
She looked like a celestial being that had descended to the mortal world.
Yun Xuechang blinked and then spoke softly:
“Everyone, do as Junior Aunt-Master Yue says and disperse. Go and chat with the Daoist friends from the Guest Sect, enjoy the flowers. Remember, do not get into any conflicts.”
“Yes, Elder Yun.”
The disciples scattered, leaving only the family of three—Hua Xiangrong—and the rabbit-eared girl who had been “accidentally” left behind by Ji Ling in her haste.
[Sixteen, go and have some fun with Hua Yan and the others. Yue Yu and I are going to catch up with the Guest Sect elders over there.]
Ji Ling’s voice quickly entered Ning Shiliu’s mind.
The same telepathic message was also sent to Hua Yan and Hua Xiangrong, but not to Yun Xuechang.
The content was slightly different, essentially asking them to look after Ning Shiliu.
So Hua Yan bent down with a smile and looked at the timid little girl.
“How about you come and hang out with us, okay?”
“Mm… thank you, Aunt Hua.”
The little girl’s voice was soft and her manners were proper, which made Hua Yan unable to resist reaching out and ruffling her hair.
The next second, she was pulled by the hand by the excited and cheering Hua Xiangrong, who dashed off, dragging her along.
“Yay! I get to play with Little Pomegranate again!”
“Slow down! Rongrong!”
Hua Yan called out as she watched the two little girls run off happily hand in hand.
Then she turned to Yun Xuechang and said:
“Xue Shang, we should hurry and catch up. Honestly, where does that girl get all this energy every day?”
“Children, it’s good to have some vitality,” Yun Xuechang said with a soft laugh.
“You’re always too lenient with her.”
Hua Yan shook her head helplessly, then reached out her hand to Yun Xuechang:
“Let’s go. Don’t let them run too far.”
“Mm.”
Yun Xuechang gently took her hand. Their fingers intertwined.
After wandering for a while, Hua Yan and Yun Xuechang each carried a tired little girl in their arms—Hua Yan held Hua Xiangrong, while Yun Xuechang carried the somewhat shy Ning Shiliu.
They introduced the Guest Sect cultivators they encountered along the way to the two little ones.
“That group over there must be the Buddhist cultivators from the Three Buddhist Sects,” Hua Yan said.
“Correct. The Three Buddhist Sects are the Diamond Buddha Monastery, the Compassionate Boat Zen Temple, and the Prajna Ancient Temple. Their cultivation paths each have their own emphasis, hence the division, but together they form the Orthodox Buddhist Path,” Yun Xuechang added. She then pointed to three young monks in kasayas sitting in a nearby pavilion.
“Those three are the Buddha Sons of the three sects: Hui Yan of the Diamond Buddha Monastery, Hui Guan of the Compassionate Boat Zen Temple, and Hui Ji of the Prajna Ancient Temple.”
The three Buddha Sons were dressed in kasayas, each looking distinct in appearance.
One was tall and muscular, with his kasaya half-open to reveal a solid build, looking even more robust than the burly Li Chengfeng.
Another had a large head and plump ears, with a kind face and a beaming smile, clad in a gold-and-red kasaya, resembling a smiling Maitreya.
The last one was thin and gaunt, wrapped in a simple kasaya, with his lips pressed tightly together, never uttering a single word.
They paused to exchange a few pleasantries with the three Buddha Sons before moving on.
Not far away, in the Apricot Blossom Forest, a group of young female cultivators were chattering noisily as they weaved through the trees.
Some bent down to smell the flowers, while others casually picked a few apricot blossoms and tucked them into their hair.
Their crisp laughter and playful shouts startled the seabirds resting in the forest.
Among the crowd, a few figures stood out: a woman with reddish-brown hair, fox ears and a fox tail, with a naturally enchanting beauty; a bespectacled woman with a tall, slender figure, her impressive curves wrapped in a green robe, radiating an air of precision and seriousness as she chatted with a black-haired, black-robed young woman—small in stature but carrying a huge wooden box on her back. There was also a black-haired woman in a moon-white Daoist robe, her hair done up in a high bun, whispering to a young woman beside her—that young woman wore an ice-blue palace dress and had a golden lotus mark on her brow, exuding an air of nobility.
Yun Xuechang recited their names one by one:
“Those over there are: Qu Linglong, Cardinal of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion; Su Feiyao, Saintess of the Hehuan Sect; Qin Su, Chief Disciple of Yaowang Valley; Lan Cangyue, Young Pavilion Master of Tinghai Pavilion; Xie Wuchen, Chief Disciple of the Xuanyuan Dao Sect; and Shangguan Yu, Saintess of the Ice Lotus Pool.”
She paused, then continued:
“Together with Li Chengfeng, Young Palace Lord of Shenxiao Palace, Chu Ming, Young Sect Master of the Shenhuo Sect, and Lu Wenyuan, Chief Disciple of Haoran Academy, whom we met the other day, they are the successors of the various major sects who came this time.”
“Come on, let’s go say hello.”
With that, Yun Xuechang, still carrying Ning Shiliu, walked toward the Apricot Blossom Forest with Hua Yan.
……
On the other side, at the gathering place of the elders.
“Dao Friend Yue, where is that newly advanced Spirit Severing Stage elder of yours, Yun Xuechang? Why hasn’t she come over here?” an elder from the Xuanyuan Dao Sect asked curiously.
“I say, Old Zhao, have you gone senile? What would a young person want to hang around us old fogies for? Look, Lu Wenyuan from Haoran Academy isn’t here either, is he?” an elder from the Shenhuo Sect interrupted in a loud voice. Then he winked at a Purple-Robed Elder beside him.
“Speaking of which, Old Li, that boy from your Shenxiao Palace—didn’t he get thoroughly taught a lesson by that girl Yun Xuechang’s Dao Companion a couple of days ago when he tried to court her? Hahahahahaha!”
“Hmph. It’s good to knock some sense into him. Saves him from disgracing me all the time,” the Purple-Robed Elder snorted, clearly displeased.
“Oh my, look at the juniors from the Xiaoyao Sword Sect. They’re barely over a hundred years old, and they already have a child and a Dao companion. I wonder if any of your disciples here have marriage plans?” a female elder from the Ice Lotus Pool asked with a smile, looking around at the assembled crowd.
“Matters of the heart cannot be forced. Let the young ones decide for themselves,” a Haoran Academy elder interjected gently.
This was the very elder who had served as the referee for the match between Hua Yan and Li Chengfeng.
Then, turning his gaze to Ji Ling, who had remained silent all this time, he asked with some curiosity:
“I never expected to see you here too, Dao Friend Ji. For this South Sea Secret Realm, why has your Xiaoyao Sword Sect sent two Seated Elders?”