“My… isn’t the ‘Yinqi Formula.'”
Upon hearing Hu Qiao’er say this, Wang Hao nervously lifted his head.
Of everyone who had accompanied Hu Qiao’er along the way, Wang Hao had always been the most confident, but now that his expectations had been dashed, he couldn’t force a smile.
“Qiao’er-jie, just tell me. My heart can take it.”
Wang Hao suppressed his bitterness and spoke.
Hu Qiao’er glanced at Jiang Che, then said, “What I got was the first volume of something called the ‘Qingmu Formula,’ as well as a copy of the ‘Yimu Sword Formula’ and a book titled ‘Introduction to Alchemy.'”
The moment she said this, Wang Hao and Yun Fan were both shocked, their jaws dropping.
Jiang Che was also a little surprised.
Back then, he too had received a cultivation technique and a sword formula, but that had been after he had reached Reaching Qi Eighth Layer within the sect, in other words, after reaching the late stage of Qi Refining Stage.
At that time, the Secret Realm hadn’t yet been included in Recruitment. Usually, it was just for training those disciples who were advancing or particularly gifted.
After Recruitment was added, because the Secret Realm had a spirit, it would assess the trial-taker’s situation, and for the most part, only offered the entry-level ‘Yinqi Formula’ and a cultivation direction.
It was still quite rare to directly give a suitable cultivation technique.
“Wang-shidi… are you all right?”
Yun Fan asked with concern.
“I’m fine… just let me be alone for a moment…”
“Yun Fan, don’t worry about him. He’ll be fine in a bit.”
Jiang Che said indifferently.
“By the way, Yun Fan, why did you all come looking for us?”
Jiang Che asked their purpose.
Only then did Yun Fan remember the reason for coming today.
“Uh… well, we wanted to ask if you’d like to come down to the town together tonight, since tomorrow is the Reunion Festival.”
“Reunion Festival?”
Only then did Jiang Che recall that it was already this time of year, and tonight the moon would be especially round.
Tomorrow was also a day to celebrate the reunion of families.
Jiang Che himself didn’t really have any family. In his past life, he had only squeezed into a tiny rented room; at most, he’d make a video call back home.
But Hu Qiao’er still had family.
Hu Qiao’er lowered her head in disappointment.
She thought of her grandfather, but it was much too far from Shuiquan Village here…
Jiang Che noticed the change in Hu Qiao’er’s mood, so he reached out to hold her hand.
At this moment, Wang Hao spoke up.
“But do cultivators really celebrate the Reunion Festival? I thought cultivators were supposed to cut off worldly ties and pursue the path to immortality?”
“Not quite.”
Yun Fan replied.
“Indeed, there are those whose pursuit of cultivation is hindered by emotional attachments, preventing them from making progress. For most, it’s because they have unresolved regrets, so some advocate severing all mortal ties.”
“But people are not plants—who can truly be emotionless? That’s why Lingjian Peak has a custom: during the days of the Reunion Festival, disciples are free to descend the mountain, and we get a day off on the second day too. Everyone can go down to the town together, just don’t cause too much of a disturbance.”
“And it was our very own Senior Brother of Lingjian Peak who made this proposal!”
It was all very philosophical, but hearing that it had been suggested by the person Yun Fan called Senior Brother, everyone became curious.
“Senior Brother? Where is he now?”
The question brought an immediate silence to the group.
Yun Fan hesitated over how to answer, but Jiang Che’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.
At that moment, Hu Qiao’er also noticed Jiang Che’s reaction. Although there wasn’t much change in his face, she could still sense that Jiang Che did not want to talk about this topic.
So Hu Qiao’er broke the silence.
“In that case, let’s go to the town together tonight! The town will surely be lively tonight!”
Everyone nodded, and even Jiang Che, though resigned, nodded too. Still, he wanted to accompany Hu Qiao’er for a walk in the town.
At the same time.
On Lingxiao Peak, Yun Yan was not idling.
“Shimei, have you found any clues?”
Wen Ping came to Yun Yan’s side, still speaking in her hoarse voice.
“Zongzhu really knows how to make use of people. You wanted me to look into Zhao Zi’ang’s whereabouts over these missing three years, and I’ve checked—there’s no trace of him at all.”
Yun Yan raised an eyebrow.
“Shimei, I remember that your Shenfu Peak is the second to none in investigations, isn’t it?”
“Ah, that’s just polite talk. But truly, Zhao Zi’ang hasn’t appeared at all these past three years. This only means that he either stayed hidden somewhere all this time, or simply went into secluded cultivation for three years straight.”
“But there are some odd things. In the records from three years ago, Zhao Zi’ang suffered quite serious injuries. It was said he was gravely wounded by Jiang Che. Yet, on the day Jiang Che was expelled from the sect, he secretly slipped out of Jingmen and didn’t return until late that night.”
Yun Yan was silent and didn’t speak. Wen Ping understood Yun Yan’s meaning with a glance.
“Heh, seems I’ve spoken out of turn. Zongzhu apparently knew about all this from the start. But if the child is so suspicious, why did you do nothing about Jiang Che back then? That’s not like you at all, and now you have me investigating again—what exactly is your reason?”
At this, Yun Yan sighed, turned, and looked at Wen Ping, his face tinged with a trace of melancholy.
“Shimei, you will understand in time. But I still have to trouble you to continue investigating in secret.”
“All right, but during Zhao Zi’ang’s recent return, he’s often been using his Transmission Jade Slip to communicate with someone, though I don’t know who.”
Yun Yan frowned at her words.
“Can you find out who he’s talking to?”
“I’ll do my best. Also, there’s another lead regarding Zhao Zi’ang.”
Wen Ping stroked her chin, her eyes narrowing.
This was a lead she’d found investigating Zhao Zi’ang’s relationships.
“Three years ago, Zhao Zi’ang was close to another person, who just so happens to still be at Lingjian Peak. Coincidentally, she returned to the sect the day before Zhao Zi’ang came back.”
“Oh? Who is it?”
Yun Yan asked; this was something he had overlooked.
“Her name is Yuan Qingqing, an unremarkable disciple. Three years ago, she also followed Zhao Zi’ang down the mountain.”
But her movements seemed normal enough—she really did go out to train, visited many places. It’s just that it looked like she was searching for someone.”
As the sun set and dusk approached.
The people of Shenxiao Town were already preparing for the arrival of night.
Many had begun hanging lanterns beneath eaves, on bamboo poles, and in front of stalls.
The red lanterns looked especially festive.
But Jiang Che could not see any of this.
“Wow~ So this is Shenxiao Town? I didn’t really get to enjoy it the day we arrived!”
Wang Hao gaped in awe at the scene. Having lived in a village for over a decade, he had never witnessed anything like it.
Hu Qiao’er held Jiang Che’s hand, just in case he got lost.
Yun Fan followed behind Jiang Che. Seeing his Senior Brother being looked after by someone else, he felt a little glum, but at least he knew his Senior Brother was happy at this moment.
“Sorry, Qiao’er-jie, I lost the walking stick you made for me.”
Jiang Che spoke softly. That stick, made by Hu Qiao’er herself, had been the perfect size and weight for him.
But Hu Qiao’er didn’t mind.
“It’s all right, Ah Che. Your leg has healed now, so it wouldn’t fit anymore anyway. Later, I’ll make you a new one.”
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