Forget it, whatever. Since the Sect Master of the Xiaoyao Sword Sect was around the same age as her grandmother, he was likely mostly senile by now.
Hua Yan thought for a long time but still couldn’t make sense of it.
She simply shook her head and stopped trying to figure out Ye Qingyuan’s intentions.
Beside her —
“Rongrong, it’s time to tour the sect. This time… are you still willing to let Mother fly with you?”
Yun Xuechang crouched down and tentatively looked at the pink-haired girl. Her voice was soft. “I… I’ll fly a bit slower and lower, okay?”
Hua Xiangrong looked up at the white-haired Fairy who was cautiously showing kindness.
She remembered the “flying experience” from not long ago, which was several times scarier than a roller coaster from her past life.
“Mm, okay. I want Mother to hold me while we fly.”
Without hesitation, the pink-haired girl obediently opened her arms and jumped into Yun Xuechang’s somewhat stunned embrace.
The small body in her arms felt warm and fuzzy. A hint of tenderness rippled through Yun Xuechang’s eyes as she gently tightened her arms, holding the little one securely.
“Mm, this time… I won’t let you be afraid.”
……
“Our Xiaoyao Sword Sect, like most cultivation sects, is divided into the Inner and Outer Gates.”
In mid-air, Lin Qianqian stood on a Qingguang Sword.
She introduced the sect to Hua Yan, who was also using Sword Kinesis, and Hua Xiangrong, who was nestled in Yun Xuechang’s arms.
“The Qi Refining Stage and the Zhuji Stage both belong to the Outer Gate disciples. Outer Gate disciples usually live and cultivate among the peaks at the base of the Seven Peaks. On normal days, they also need to take on sect missions and handle various chores — the few cleaning disciples we saw earlier in the square in front of Xiaoyao Hall were doing their daily missions.”
She spoke and pointed toward the lower mountains surrounding the seven towering main peaks.
“Once an Outer Gate disciple’s cultivation breaks through to the Jindan Stage, they can join the tutelage of an Elder at or above the Huashen Stage during the Apprentice Recruitment Ceremony held every 20 years. Then, they can enter the Seven Peaks to practice.”
“After entering the Seven Peaks and becoming Inner Gate disciples, besides devoted cultivation, they must also take on outgoing missions issued by the sect. This includes either Evil Purging or exploring Secret Realms for other sects. The rewards from these missions are the primary source of Spirit Stones for our Xiaoyao Sword Sect.”
“The Seven Peaks include Xiaoyao Peak where the Sect Master resides, as well as the Danxia, Mianyun, Wendao, Juque, Wanjian, and Bixian Peaks. Senior Sister Xuechang lives on Mianyun Peak — by the way, I am on Wanjian Peak.”
Lin Qianqian pointed at the peaks that were either steep, elegant, or majestic. Among them, Mianyun Peak was the one near the Daze.
“The school for Qi Refining Stage disciples that the Sect Master mentioned just now is located in the Outer Gate area. It’s getting a bit late today. If Rongrong wants to go, it’s best to wait until tomorrow. However, I can take you there first to get familiar with the way.”
She then led them toward a specific direction in the Outer Gate.
……
‘Hmm, the scenery of the Xiaoyao Sword Sect is decent, but the buildings everywhere are plain. They’re just like Yun Xuechang’s cold face, without a single bit of decoration.’
After touring the Xiaoyao Sword Sect for an entire day, Hua Yan was now following Yun Xuechang, who was carrying the child.
They flew slowly toward Mianyun Peak while Hua Yan secretly criticized the sect in her heart.
Also, wherever they went today, disciples kept staring at the three of them.
They would occasionally exchange knowing looks and whisper excitedly, making Hua Yan feel uncomfortable.
She felt like a monkey on a street being watched by mortals.
‘Seriously, if this were Hundred Flowers Valley, I’d like to see who would dare surround me and watch like this.’
Hua Yan felt annoyed, but since this was someone else’s territory, she could only snort coldly and release a bit of pressure.
To her surprise, some disciples became even more excited when they saw this.
They whispered things like, “Senior Sister Yun’s Dao Companion is also cold-faced; they’re such a good match.”
‘Nonsense. I’m nothing like that blockhead. I’m clearly just impatient with them. How did I end up having a cold face like her?’
‘Also, from the sound of it, this sword-obsessed blockhead is actually quite popular in the sect? What’s so good about someone with such a dull expression and a wooden personality?’
She stared at the flowing white back in front of her and turned her head with a huff.
‘But it seems everyone has taken me for Yun Xuechang’s Dao Companion…’
‘Come to think of it, what exactly is the relationship between me and Yun Xuechang now?’
Her gaze fell back onto Yun Xuechang, who was carrying the child ahead.
‘Between us, we aren’t lovers, Dao Companions, or even a married couple… We’re only tied together because of the child, because of Rongrong.’
‘If it weren’t for Rongrong, I’m afraid there would be nothing between us at all.’
For some reason, a faint sense of loss flickered through Hua Yan’s heart.
“We’re here. This is Mianyun Peak.”
Yun Xuechang was the first to land on the stone steps of the mountain peak. She gently set down Hua Xiangrong, whom she had carried the whole way.
“Wow! This place is so — er, so ordinary!”
Once set down, Hua Xiangrong took off running toward the mountaintop.
After a few steps, she saw the buildings at the peak. The cheer at the tip of her tongue stopped abruptly.
She blinked her large pink eyes and finally squeezed out those words.
It was true. The place was indeed too ordinary. It was just a small courtyard, an old locust tree, and a few simple, clean rooms.
“Mother, is this where you usually live in the sect?” she turned around and asked Yun Xuechang curiously.
“Mm.”
Yun Xuechang looked at her and spoke softly. “Did I… never bring you here before?”
“No. Mother, did you forget? You had me live in a village since I was little and only occasionally took me to town. This is my first time at Mother’s sect.”
Hua Xiangrong shook her head, seemingly entirely unaware of the abnormality in her mother’s tone.
‘It seems the “me” from that world secretly raised Rongrong outside the sect. I’m afraid I didn’t even spend much time accompanying her.’
Yun Xuechang lowered her eyes. Her heart felt slightly bitter. She bent down and pulled the innocent, obedient pink-haired girl into her arms.
“I’m sorry, Rongrong… I won’t ever leave you alone again.”
“…Mm.”
Hua Xiangrong rested her small head on her mother’s shoulder. Her small hands gently hugged back.
She closed her eyes, her thoughts unknown.
Hua Yan stood to the side with her arms crossed, quietly watching the mother and daughter embrace for a long while. When she saw them finally stand up, she spoke.
“I say, isn’t your Mianyun Peak a bit too deserted?”
“Why are there only the three of us? Where are the others? Your Master, your fellow disciples… I haven’t seen a single one of them.”
Hua Yan frowned, full of confusion.
During the day, when Lin Qianqian took them to the other peaks, even though they said Danxia Peak was “not very convenient to visit,” there were still disciples moving around and cultivating on the other peaks.
Yet, this Mianyun Peak looked completely devoid of life, cold and desolate.
Hearing her words, Yun Xuechang, who was leading Hua Xiangrong into the house, paused slightly.
“They’re all gone,” she said softly, her tone betraying little emotion. “They are no longer here. Now, on Mianyun Peak… I am the only one left.”
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