But now she felt that fate could be believed in.

In the unseen realm, it seemed a pair of hands was arranging for her to meet him in this encounter, to be able to hold him in her embrace like this. Three hundred years—she had continuously cultivated and reincarnated, perhaps just to meet him.

After who knows how long, Hu Sha thought she would die sweetly like this from suffocation. Their entwined lips finally separated slightly.

Fang Zhun’s fingers delicately rubbed her cheek. His scorching breath sprayed on her face like fine wine, intoxicating.

“…One matter of the heart is finally settled…” he murmured, “I’ve wanted to do this for so long.”

Outside the window, Little Guai’s aggrieved chirping could still faintly be heard, along with the rustling sound of wind passing through the bamboo grove and Feng Di’s calm, cold breathing.

But Hu Sha couldn’t hear anything. She couldn’t even remember how she returned to bed, alone, covering herself with a blanket to sleep.

Like all young women in the world who had fallen in love and couldn’t extricate themselves, in her world, besides Fang Zhun alone, nothing else could fit.

That night, she had countless beautiful dreams, the corners of her mouth holding a smile, sweetness seeping into her brows.

At this moment, she was the happiest person under heaven.

Qingyuan Mountain had not changed at all in five years. The main gate was still crowded with mortals seeking immortality and asking about the Way. Those guarding the gate were still the same people. For them, five years had passed like merely five days.

It was just that those Qingyuan disciples guarding the gate, upon seeing Hu Sha and Fang Zhun, all had subtle changes in their expressions. The atmosphere made people very uncomfortable.

Fang Zhun and the three of them plus one beast walked toward the gate without saying a word. Hu Sha followed at the rear. Suddenly, she felt that middle-aged woman called Bai Ting gently grasp her sleeve and lean close to her ear to whisper, “Junior sister, it’s so good that you can come back. In the future, you mustn’t act willfully.”

Hu Sha saw her face full of concern and couldn’t help but feel warmth in her heart. She smiled slightly at her.

Bai Ting looked at Fang Zhun, then whispered again, “Those lowly rumors—you don’t need to take them to heart. Many people don’t believe them. They’re all spread by bored people.”

Hu Sha was grateful for her pure kindness. She couldn’t help but hold her hand and call out softly, “Senior sister.”

Bai Ting patted her shoulder, “Quickly, go. Grand-Master should be waiting for you at Yimu Peak. Knowing you were coming back, he was very happy.”

How could he be happy? Hu Sha thought in her heart. Grand-Master Jinting only hoped Fang Zhun would return. He didn’t necessarily hope she would follow along. Now that the Shuiliu Qin was on her body, wherever she went, she was coveted by those with ulterior motives. Coming back once was equivalent to causing trouble for Qingyuan. He probably wished she would leave quickly, the farther away the better.

Fang Zhun called to her from ahead, “Hu Sha, keep up.” Then, in broad daylight before everyone, he took her hand and brought her before him, embracing her shoulders.

Sure enough, a chorus of gasps came from behind. Hu Sha suspected many people’s jaws were about to drop to the ground.

Fang Zhun said in a low voice, “Follow me. Don’t leave my side even one step.”

Hu Sha nodded. At this moment, she no longer dared to look back at Bai Ting’s expression. She lowered her head and entered the gate.

Grand-Master Jinting was still so golden and glittering, sitting upright in Yuhua Hall on Yimu Peak, his face expressionless.

Feng Di strode before him, knelt down, and said in a deep voice, “This disciple pays respects to Grand-Master. This disciple has brought Master back to Qingyuan.”

Grand-Master Jinting nodded slightly and swept his gaze around. The eight senior disciples guarding the hall immediately lowered their hands and retreated. The heavy hall doors were closed. Inside the hall it was dark and quiet, with only a few luminous pearls on the pillars emitting faint light.

Fang Zhun slowly released Hu Sha, knelt before him, and said in a low voice, “This disciple pays respects to Master.”

Grand-Master Jinting didn’t speak. He only looked at him with burning eyes. Suddenly he raised his head to look at Hu Sha. It was impossible to describe what kind of gaze it was. It made her heart tremble repeatedly, making her want to kneel and beg for mercy.

However, remembering how he had mercilessly expelled her from the apricot blossom grove in the past, leading to her subsequent painful experiences, Hu Sha’s heart couldn’t help but develop a stubborn feeling. She gritted her teeth and stood stiffly there, only cupping her hands in a bow to him, her attitude extremely reluctant.

Grand-Master Jinting didn’t argue with her. He closed his eyes. After a long while, he finally said lightly, “Fang Zhun, stand up.”

Fang Zhun obediently stood up, immediately grasping Hu Sha’s hand and holding it tightly, as if afraid she would disappear at any moment.

Grand-Master Jinting took a deep breath and stared fixedly at him. Pain, affection, disappointment, and hesitation crossed through his gaze as he said, “Fang Zhun, do you know why I called you back?”

For the first time, he didn’t use “this venerable one” but used “I.”

Fang Zhun said calmly, “Master, since you’ve already sent Feng Di to beseech me so earnestly, how could I not return? Whatever the reason for calling me back, it no longer matters. This disciple is now here. Whatever punishment Master has, this disciple will absolutely not shirk.”

Grand-Master Jinting stood up from the platform and walked to the stone pillar with his hands behind his back. Not looking at him, he said, “Someone saw you negotiating with the demonic Feng Yi, making him steal five divine instruments for you. They say you scheme to use the Five Elements power of divine instruments to become a deity, even not hesitating to seduce your own female disciple, making her obtain the Shuiliu Qin for you. Do you know these actions are enough to make you die a million times in the underworld?”

Fang Zhun laughed freely, “So that’s it. Master has believed the rumors. Then naturally this disciple should accept punishment without any objection.”

Grand-Master Jinting suddenly turned around, his gaze burning, “I don’t believe it.”

Everyone froze.

He said calmly, “I don’t believe the disciple I’ve raised for three hundred years would be so willful and wanton, disregarding heavenly principles. I even less believe my disciple would have such a malicious heart, daring to do such filthy things right under my nose! I watched him grow up, become an immortal, become free and easy and lazy. I know even more that he’s not as heartless as he appears on the surface. I know he actually has a passionate heart, unable to tolerate any selfish thoughts, even not hesitating to turn against his own master. Such a disciple—yet someone tells me he’s selfish and malicious. Would I believe it?”

Fang Zhun couldn’t help but be moved. He looked at him quietly without saying anything.

Grand-Master Jinting stared into his eyes and said in a low voice, “Because I don’t believe it, I had to call him back. I cannot let rumors defile my disciple, nor can I tolerate others bullying my disciple because of rumors. So now you stand here. This is Qingyuan!”

Fang Zhun swept his robe hem aside, slowly knelt down, kowtowed to the ground, and said softly, “Master.”

Grand-Master Jinting no longer looked at him. He simply paced about and sat back on the platform, saying, “From now on, you two will remain at Qingyuan. Within two hundred years, you may not leave without permission.”

Two hundred years—about how long it takes for a mortal to become an immortal.

Hu Sha lowered her head, feeling her eye sockets slowly moisten. She finally bent down and slowly knelt. From beginning to end, she didn’t say a single word.

Fang Zhun said softly, “Master, this disciple has always been willful and wanton.”

Grand-Master Jinting laughed once, as if with infinite emotion, and nodded, “That’s right. Since you were small, you’ve been very willful. You leave when you want, always forcing Master to fulfill your wishes. Now you’ve also become a master. For the sake of your own disciple, you’re willing to come back. How can you not understand my painstaking efforts… I am your master.”

A master’s grace is like the sea.

Fang Zhun respectfully kowtowed three times to him before leading Hu Sha and Feng Di to drift away, returning to the long-absent Zhiyan Studio.

After the three left, Grand-Master Jinting silently supported himself on the platform’s gilded phoenix head, revealing a trace of worry on his face.

A flash of white robes appeared from the hall entrance, lightly walking before him, calling out in a low voice, “Master.”

Grand-Master Jinting’s expression was weary, “…Fang Ye, go investigate—exactly where did these rumors originate? Immediately expel that loose-tongued disciple from Qingyuan.”

The white-faced, slightly bearded Fang Ye said with a smile, “Master, rumors always arise from somewhere. Although this disciple also doesn’t believe Junior Brother Fang Zhun would do such things, people’s words are ultimately fearsome. Investigating so severely might instead chill the disciples’ hearts.”

“Absurd.” Grand-Master Jinting’s brow furrowed, “Rumors are rumors. Where does this ‘arise from somewhere’ talk come from? Could it be you don’t even believe your own junior brother?”

Fang Ye lowered his head, “This disciple doesn’t dare.”

Grand-Master Jinting watched him. In the end, he couldn’t help but sigh again, “It’s just a pity that Fang Leng and Fang Jing are no longer in this world… Now by this master’s side, only five direct disciples remain… You handle matters most steadily and have always gotten along well with Fang Zhun. This master has many affairs and cannot focus on looking after the three of them. Help this master look after him more.”

Fang Ye’s eyes moved slightly. He said softly, “Is Master referring to the message from Qingling Zhenjun?”

Grand-Master Jinting gave a cold snort, “Qingyuan has always respected him as Zhenjun. Whatever he does, whether right or wrong, Qingyuan makes no judgment and is even less willing to interfere. This isn’t out of fear of him—yet now he wants to press down on Qingyuan’s head. Should Qingyuan simply become his stepping stone?”

Fang Ye lowered his hands, “This disciple understands. Hereafter, I will certainly look after Zhiyan Studio well, not allowing any idle people to go disturb junior brother’s pure cultivation.”

Grand-Master Jinting nodded slightly, “…You may go.”

Fang Ye bowed and withdrew. The hall was dark. In his eyes, a trace of blood light seemed to flicker briefly, then vanished. His face revealed an expression that was neither smile nor frown.

The days seemed to return to that period when Hu Sha had just arrived at Qingyuan.

Around the fifth watch, she got up by herself and ran dozens of laps around the ice lake. She meditated in the ice and snow for half an hour, then practiced the Eighteen Orioles for another half hour.

When the sky was about to brighten, she rushed to Ruoyan Hall to attend lectures.

The golden, glittering Grand-Master Jinting remained expressionless, impartial and fair. When he saw new disciples being lazy, he rebuked them without mercy. If he encountered diligent and studious disciples, he was also not stingy with his praise.

Now when Hu Sha saw him, she no longer had any resentment like before. This grand-master’s manner of conduct truly made one admire him.

As a result, because she was distracted too many times while attending lectures, Hu Sha was called out for criticism again, drawing the surrounding disciples to look at her, whispering to each other and pointing.

After the lecture ended, wherever she walked, there was whispering, eyes flickering.

Bai Ting said everyone didn’t believe the rumors—clearly she was trying to comfort her. Could this situation be called everyone not believing?

Fortunately, after going through so many things, Hu Sha no longer took these idle gossip to heart. With a calm expression, she walked out of Ruoyan Hall. Suddenly she heard Fang Zhun call to her from behind, “Hu Sha.”

The surrounding crowd buzzed once and scattered in all directions, avoiding Fang Zhun, hiding in the distance to secretly watch the two of them talk.

Hu Sha smiled bitterly and sighed, “Master, this is the first time I’ve been this famous.”

Fang Zhun smiled nonchalantly and held her hand, “Are you free this afternoon? Accompany me to Sanmu Peak to bathe Little Guai.”

Hu Sha nodded. Fang Zhun smiled even more happily. He pinched her face, turned and left, waving his hand as he said, “Then I’ll return to Soul-Consuming Hall first. After you finish cultivating at Shenglong Platform, don’t forget to come back early.”

Soul-Consuming Hall? The crowd made a “wa” sound again. Everyone wore expressions of “we’ve finally seen the gossip,” their eyes rolling back and forth between the two of them.

Hu Sha sighed, her face slightly red.

After Fang Zhun returned to Qingyuan, despite Little Guai’s unreasonable pestering, Feng Di’s silent opposition, and Hu Sha’s helpless bitter smile, he stubbornly changed “Zhiyan Studio” to “Soul-Consuming Hall” and even specially wrote three characters on paper and hung them on his thatched cottage.

Alright, this should be Master’s romance, but every time Hu Sha passed the cottage and saw those three characters, for some reason, she always felt very embarrassed…

Hu Sha shook her head and was just about to lift her foot to walk when she suddenly felt someone approaching from behind. She quickly turned around and saw Feng Di looking at her with a face full of suppressed emotions.

“…Eldest senior brother.” Hu Sha called out softly.

They had been back at Qingyuan for several days now. From beginning to end, Feng Di refused to speak with her. Even if they met on the road, he was like a stranger—he wouldn’t even look at her. This was the first time he had approached her on his own initiative.

Feng Di seemed to hesitate, then said in a low voice, “Junior sister, this is after all Qingyuan. You and Master are after all separated by seniority. I hope you two will restrain yourselves somewhat in public, not making junior disciples laugh at you.”

Hu Sha was silent for a moment. She hadn’t expected that after so long without speaking, his very first sentence would be this.

“Are you saying that Master and I are a joke?” she asked softly.

Feng Di’s face turned pale, “…That’s not what I meant. It’s just that now there are many unfavorable rumors about Master in Qingyuan. There’s no need to make matters worse. If you care for Master equally, you should also be cautious in word and deed.”

Hu Sha had wanted to refute, but seeing his expression was very unpleasant—he had always been a rigid person who only followed rules, and though he cared in his heart, he couldn’t say anything pleasant—thinking of this, she could only swallow all her words back down and silently nod.

Feng Di turned and left. Hu Sha stood in place watching his retreating back for quite a while. In her heart, she only felt he had become extremely unfamiliar. In the past, it was merely outward coldness. Now he seemed to have become an iceberg from inside out, full of the flavor of rejecting anyone from approaching or probing.

After spending over an hour finally finding Wuqu Department and submitting next year’s martial arts field arrangement plan, Feng Di slowly walked out the door. Looking at the Qingyuan Mountain outside that was both familiar and strange, as usual, he fell into confusion—to return to Zhiyan Studio, which road should he take?

Having lived at Qingyuan for seventy-five years, even ants should be able to recognize the roads with their eyes closed, yet he still couldn’t remember them.

Wandering around the mountain peak for most of another hour like this, getting more dizzy the more he turned, he finally somehow wandered before a magnificent hall. This place he did recognize—it was Jumen Department, which specialized in receiving outside guests.

Feng Di’s heart leaped with joy. Just as he was about to go find a disciple to ask for directions, he suddenly saw the hall doors open from inside. Several crane-haired, child-faced old immortals floated out. They looked very familiar—they were the elders from Taoyuan Mountain. One of them was even Shanghe Zhenren, who had a good private relationship with Master.

However, now these elders all had very displeased expressions. Their faces stern, they stood before the hall without saying a word, as if waiting for someone.

Before long, several more people floated out from the hall. Among them was Grand-Master Jinting with a calm expression. Another wore saffron robes and a copper crown, a snow-white horsetail whisk draped over his arm. His beard and hair were like silver, his bearing brilliant—it was the rarely appearing Qingling Zhenjun.

Uncle-Masters Fang Ye and Fang Ning followed behind with solemn expressions.

Shanghe Zhenren’s face was dark as ink. He suddenly spoke, “Grand-Master Jinting, when did Qingyuan degenerate into a place that harbors criminals? We’ve come again and again, yet you always let Fang Zhun avoid meeting us. What is the meaning of this?”

They were looking for Master? Feng Di’s heart immediately jumped in alarm. Thinking of those rumors at Qingyuan, these people from Taoyuan Mountain probably also heard that Master wanted to collect divine instruments, so they were attributing the theft of the Golden Pipa to him and coming to denounce him.

The situation was probably not good.

Grand-Master Jinting said calmly, “Zhenren’s words are mistaken. Qingyuan has always focused on pure cultivation, rarely concerning itself with worldly affairs. Where does this talk of harboring criminals come from? Moreover, those rumors were probably spread by people with ulterior motives and cannot be taken seriously. Based merely on hearsay, you’ve come again and again to disturb Fang Zhun’s cultivation. Isn’t this making a mountain out of a molehill?”

Beside Shanghe Zhenren, a somewhat younger elder couldn’t hold back his anger and said loudly, “It’s probably not a rumor! Someone clearly saw Fang Zhun and his female disciple appearing at Five-Colored Stream in Yuanzhou! The Shuiliu Qin is now an object in his palm! This person, for the sake of divine instruments, made his own disciple become a demon. He’s truly evil beyond measure! The theft of Taoyuan Mountain’s Golden Pipa must be inseparable from him!”

Grand-Master Jinting’s expression changed. He said sternly, “Don’t immortals know that people’s words are fearsome? Without concrete evidence, you stand here maliciously slandering people. Taoyuan Mountain’s cultivation has truly opened this venerable one’s eyes!”

Several elders from Taoyuan Mountain wanted to argue further, but Qingling Zhenjun, who had been silently standing to the side, suddenly laughed “hehe” and flicked his horsetail whisk to drape it over his other arm. He said in a low voice, “This old man is without talent. In the past, I heard there were rumors at Qingyuan that this old man pulled people from overseas to collect divine instruments. Because the rumors were too absurd, this old man was too lazy to refute them. Looking at today, truly heaven and earth are clear, sun and moon are bright. Who exactly is the one with intentions to collect divine instruments—everyone in the world already understands clearly. This old man need not waste his breath.”

Grand-Master Jinting’s expression was indifferent. His eyes stared tightly at him, “So you’re saying, Zhenjun, that you’re announcing everywhere that Qingyuan schemes to collect divine instruments in order to clear yourself of suspicion?”

Qingling Zhenjun smiled slightly, “Not so. Since Qingyuan dares to do it, this old man naturally dares to speak of it. I’ve heard that gathering three divine instruments and taking their Five Elements power allows one to ascend as a deity. Grand-Master Jinting protects Fang Zhun so—Qingyuan must have great prospects in the future, yes?”

Grand-Master Jinting was furiously enraged. He said grimly, “Fang Ye, Fang Ning, see the guests out! Close the main gates tightly! From today, Qingyuan will no longer accept disciples! If any idle people come to disturb us, expel them immediately!”

Feng Di felt his palms were covered in sweat, his heart nearly jumping out of his chest.

So the rumors weren’t only spreading throughout Qingyuan—even outsiders knew about them? Qingling Zhenjun and several elders from Taoyuan Mountain were all enlightened high persons. Naturally they wouldn’t be easily deceived by malicious rumors.

No matter how he told himself not to believe it, wave after wave ultimately still overwhelmed him.

He remembered the scene from five years ago when he went to Taoyuan Mountain. That day, Linghe suddenly attacked Feng Yi. He hadn’t thought much of it, but now he felt there was something suspicious. That Golden Pipa must have been stolen by Feng Yi. At that time, he had already become a demon? On his way stealing the Golden Pipa, he killed the female crane, then deliberately walked through Taoyuan Mountain in a grand manner, drawing the male crane to seek revenge. He used his own hand to kill the male crane, arousing no suspicion.

What skillful methods, what deep scheming!

A gust of wind blew, chilling him to the bone. Feng Di couldn’t help but shiver, suddenly realizing he didn’t know when he had left Jumen Department and was flying randomly on clouds in the air.

Below his feet, green mountains stretched endlessly, the scenery beautiful. It should be Sanmu Peak, very close to Zhiyan Studio.

He descended from the clouds. After pondering for a long time, he finally decided to go find Master and tell him about this matter to see how to resolve it.

The peak of Qingyuan Mountain was ice-covered and snow-filled everywhere, yet only Sanmu Peak was lush with greenery. At the foot of the mountain was a small nameless lake, warm year-round. The spirit beasts raised by disciples often came here to bathe.

Just as Feng Di approached, he heard laughter like silver bells by the lake—it sounded like Hu Sha’s voice. It struck his heart, making one involuntarily smile.

He couldn’t help but lighten and slow his steps, leaning against a tree to look far into the distance. He saw Little Guai happily rolling in the lake, then with a splash it came ashore and shook itself with a clattering sound, getting Hu Sha’s head and face covered in water. She laughed and called out, jumping behind Fang Zhun to use him as a shield.

By the lakeside, red flowers blazed like fire, reflecting her rosy cheeks. Her eyes seemed to hold spring water.

Feng Di felt his chest somewhat stifled. He wanted not to look, yet was reluctant to stop.

“Oh, Fang Zhun is quite carefree here.” A voice containing laughter sounded from behind. Feng Di was slightly startled. He felt that person walk to his side—white robes with a slight beard. It was Uncle-Master Fang Ye.

He stood with hands behind his back, smiling as he watched the loving couple by the lake. Whether it was Feng Di’s misconception or not, he always felt his smile didn’t reach his eyes, which were cold as ice.

Feng Di said in a low voice, “Uncle-Master, today this disciple passed by Jumen Department unintentionally…”

Fang Ye laughingly interrupted his words, “I already knew you were nearby. I came looking for you also for this matter.”

Feng Di couldn’t help but fall silent.

After a long while, he said again, “Uncle-Master, only now does this disciple understand what it means that people’s words are fearsome. The power of rumors is actually so great—it makes one’s heart cold.”

Fang Ye said calmly, “To make Qingling Zhenjun come to denounce him, these rumors probably aren’t groundless either. But whether true or false, your master cannot avoid encountering some trouble.”

Trouble? Feng Di looked at him with alarm and uncertainty.

Fang Ye smiled and said again, “Feng Di, I ask you—the Shuiliu Qin is a divine instrument, correct or not?”

Did this even need to be said? He silently nodded.

“Divine instruments cannot be privately carried and defiled by mortals, correct or not?”

He nodded.

“Then tell me—now the Shuiliu Qin is carried on your junior sister’s body, and moreover, she has no intention of returning it at all. Furthermore, your master protects her. Is this action right or wrong?”

Feng Di was again speechless.

Fang Ye patted his shoulder and took an object from his chest, slowly placing it in his hand.

“Your grand-master also has this intention. The Shuiliu Qin must be returned. Only thus can Qingyuan stand on clear ground.”

Feng Di’s wrist trembled slightly. He lowered his head to look at that thing. It was a bracelet-like object, pitch black throughout, covered with countless dense patterns. The color was dark red, like congealed fresh blood—heavy and cold.

Fang Ye said softly, “You, this child—we’ve also watched you grow up. We know you’ve always been upright and incorruptible. Your master temporarily went astray in his thinking, walking a crooked path. No one hopes he’ll become demonic from this, and you naturally hope so even less. Your grand-master told me to give you this thing. When the time comes, how to act—you decide for yourself.”

Long after Fang Ye left, Feng Di finally moved stiffly and held that bracelet in his palm to look at carefully.

After looking for only a short while, as if scalded, he threw it out. The bracelet fell into the grass without making a sound.

In the distance by the lake, Hu Sha’s silver bell-like laughter came again. Feng Di only felt as if something was blocking his throat, the pain terrible.

She was laughing. She knew nothing. She hugged Fang Zhun tightly, her appearance more beautiful than flowers.

But this wasn’t right. She was being deceived. She was going to be destroyed.

Feng Di bent down to pick up that bracelet, silently tucked it into his chest, and turned to leave.

In the fifth month, there was an Immortal Arts Conference at Wunian Divine Palace in Jukuzhou. Everyone at Qingyuan was very excited.

For older disciples, the Immortal Arts Conference was an excellent opportunity to advance their cultivation. For young disciples, however, it was a chance to meet new friends and even develop romantic connections. Because all the major immortal mountains didn’t limit numbers, Wunian Divine Palace was often overcrowded.

Hu Sha had never participated in an Immortal Arts Conference at Wunian Divine Palace. She could only hear some amusing anecdotes from other young disciples—for instance, at the last gathering, so-and-so met so-and-so, heaven’s thunder stirred earth’s fire, and now they were about to have a child. Or another example: so-and-so liked so-and-so, but another so-and-so kept pestering the previous so-and-so, crying bitterly at the Immortal Arts Conference, making a complete spectacle.

Hu Sha listened half-understanding, completely confused.

Actually, these anecdotes came down to two words—”gossip.”

Cultivating on boring immortal mountains, gossip was basically the goal that kept many people going enthusiastically. Any slight disturbance could be talked about for ten days to half a month. On one side, the gossip about Hu Sha and Fang Zhun had just settled down a bit, while on the other side, gossip about the Immortal Arts Conference was emerging endlessly.

Unfortunately, even though she had returned to Qingyuan, she had no opportunity to take advantage of her youth to participate in the Immortal Arts Conference and enjoy a bit of wild youth.

Grand-Master Jinting had ordered that she and Fang Zhun could not leave Qingyuan even half a step within two hundred years, so things like Immortal Arts Conferences were all just floating clouds. When almost everyone at Qingyuan had left, she could only crouch by the ice lake, using small twigs to draw in the mud for entertainment, with the equally bored Little Guai crouching beside her.

Fang Zhun was in meditation. He had about three hours of meditation time every day. During this period, no one could disturb him.

Hu Sha used a twig to write characters in the soft mud, writing a poem. She smiled as she turned to ask Little Guai, “You haven’t seen this poem before, have you?”

Little Guai made a haughty snorting sound from its nostrils and reluctantly lowered its head to look, reading out one character at a time, “Once having experienced the vast ocean, other waters seem inadequate. Except for Wushan’s clouds, other clouds aren’t clouds. Passing through flower groves, too lazy to look back—half for cultivation’s sake, half for your sake—hmph! This kind of lingering tone, I don’t like it at all! It’s because you have a belly full of romantic feelings, thinking about love all day, that you’re so stupid and your cultivation never improves!”

“That’s not true!” Hu Sha glared at it, “Master says I’m diligent and hardworking, my cultivation has greatly increased! If you haven’t studied and can’t understand, just say so. What’s there to be ashamed of?”

“How can I not understand? Isn’t it just a love poem? I could compose one casually that’s a thousand times better.” Little Guai got fierce.

Hu Sha tossed the twig aside and clapped the mud off her hands, “Fine then, you compose one for me to hear.”

Little Guai immediately began scratching its head and ears. Because its face was covered in fur, one couldn’t tell whether it was turning green or white from being stifled. After a long while, it truly couldn’t produce even one character.

Hu Sha smiled, “I knew you didn’t understand. This poem was composed by a great poet from where I’m from. It’s saying that because you once truly loved someone in your heart, afterward, even when meeting better people, you can’t invest your feelings. Don’t you think this kind of feeling is very sincere?”

Little Guai was unwilling but reluctant, but because it didn’t have much learning and had just made a fool of itself, it simply stopped talking.

Hu Sha randomly wrote several more chaotic verses on the ground. After all, having been away from home for five years, she had forgotten many of them.

Looking at the sky, the time for Fang Zhun’s meditation was probably about to end. She lifted her foot to randomly erase the characters on the ground and stood up, “Let’s go, go back to find Master…”

Before she finished speaking, she suddenly heard Little Guai cheer once and turn to pounce backward. She turned in surprise and saw Feng Di, who should have gone with Grand-Master to attend the Immortal Arts Conference, standing by the lake. Little Guai hugged his shoulder and vigorously licked his face.

Hu Sha said curiously, “How did eldest senior brother come back? Weren’t you supposed to attend the Immortal Arts Conference?”

Feng Di’s face had originally been somewhat pale. Hearing her ask this, it turned red instead. He said in a low voice, “I… got lost at the foot of Yimu Peak for a long time and couldn’t find the main gate. I arrived too late… Grand-Master had the gate-keeping disciples relay a message, telling me to stay at Zhiyan Studio to look after Master and junior sister.”

Sure enough, he got lost. He was truly a great direction-blind person who could even get lost at his own front door. Hu Sha couldn’t help but want to laugh, but seeing his face full of embarrassment, she held the laugh back and only said, “Master’s meditation time is about to end anyway. Let’s go back together. He hid a lot of fine wine under the apricot blossom tree. Today we’ll trick him into taking it out for us to drink.”

Feng Di forced a smile, nodded his head, and followed behind her toward the apricot blossom grove.

Halfway there, he couldn’t help but say in a low voice, “Hu Sha, do you truly not plan to return the Shuiliu Qin to the Old Stone Mountain Hall?”

Hu Sha had just picked a branch of apricot blossoms to play with in her hand. Hearing him ask this, she couldn’t help but freeze, “Of course I won’t return it. Otherwise, won’t the Shuiliu Qin just kill more innocent people? Moreover, I nurtured it with my blood and flesh. By all rights and reasons, there’s no justification for returning it.”

Feng Di was silent for a long while, then said again, “But it’s a divine instrument. How can you take it away privately?”

Hu Sha smiled, “But Master said the Shuiliu Qin already belongs to me. What he says is naturally correct.”

Feng Di’s heart suddenly sank heavily. Just as he was about to speak again, he suddenly heard Little Guai cry out sharply several times toward the sky. The two of them raised their heads together and saw several white-bearded, silver-haired old men land in the grove. The one in the middle wore white robes with a slight beard—it was Fang Ye.

Feng Di’s face turned pale again. He called out softly, “Uncle-Master… Please don’t first…”

Fang Ye seemed not to hear his words. He only said in a deep voice, “Wicked disciple Hu Sha, you privately stole a divine instrument, implicating Qingyuan in disaster. Today you will be escorted back to the Old Stone Mountain Hall in Yingzhou’s Lezheng to return the Shuiliu Qin!”

Hu Sha was greatly shocked. She looked at them one by one. Those old immortals opposite all had faces heavy as water. She recognized two of them. One was Shanghe Zhenren from Taoyuan Mountain. The other, in saffron robes with silver hair, was the long-unseen Qingling Zhenjun.

She understood almost instantly what was happening. She immediately retreated two steps and laughed coldly, “Saying you want me to return the Shuiliu Qin is false. Actually, you want it yourself, Zhenjun sir! Five years ago, I haven’t even thanked you for taking such pains and going through such hardships to pull me from overseas to here!”

Qingling Zhenjun’s expression didn’t change. He lowered his head and said softly, “This young lady, this old man doesn’t recognize you. Speaking such nonsense will only make things more difficult for Zhenren Fang Zhun. Divine instruments are objects of the heavenly deities. Mortals must not defile them. Please return it quickly and submit to your crimes.”

Hu Sha turned her head away and said calmly, “I won’t take out the Shuiliu Qin. Stop dreaming.”

Qingling Zhenjun said nothing more. He only lightly brushed the horsetail whisk across his shoulder, lowering his head with closed eyes.

Fang Ye retreated a step, bowing to those several elders with a solemn expression, “This wicked disciple is quite stubborn. Qingyuan, to avoid suspicion, is inconvenient to take action. We must trouble you Zhenren.”

Those several old men from Taoyuan Mountain nodded silently. However, facing them was after all a young lady. They weren’t comfortable using demon-subduing methods to subdue her. One of them took out a bundle of pale golden fine rope from his sleeve. Those who cultivate immortality all knew this was the famous demon-binding rope. Once it bound a demon and the binding curse was recited, unless it was an ancient fierce beast like Taowu, ordinary powerful demons couldn’t move at all.

That person said in a low voice, “Young lady, don’t be obstinate. Turn back from the precipice. Quickly go with us to the Old Stone Mountain Hall.”

Hu Sha’s face was deathly pale, her voice slightly trembling, yet her momentum absolutely didn’t lose to anyone, “Even if I took the Shuiliu Qin, what does it have to do with Taoyuan Mountain? This matter is a grievance between me and Qingling Zhenjun. Why are you interfering?”

Shanghe Zhenren said seriously, “These words are mistaken. Divine objects left by heavenly deities—what kind of things are they? How can they be casually defiled by a yellow-haired girl like you who doesn’t understand the rules? Moreover, this matter isn’t unrelated to Taoyuan Mountain. The divine instrument Golden Pipa originally enshrined in the treasure tower was probably also stolen by your master’s disciple at his instruction. After resolving the Shuiliu Qin matter, we still need to find Fang Zhun to demand justice!”

Before his words finished, Hu Sha’s face was covered with frost. She raised her hand and cold light flashed—she was about to summon the Shuiliu Qin.

Everyone opposite was greatly alarmed. If she summoned the Shuiliu Qin and used the divine instrument’s power to resist, the several of them would have no way to deal with her.

Suddenly, golden light flashed before their eyes—the demon-binding rope was thrown out. This object was most spiritual. Once thrown out, it wouldn’t stop until it bound the demon.

Hu Sha only felt her body tighten. In the blink of an eye, from head to toe, she was bound solid. Even her neck couldn’t move.

Feng Di rushed forward several steps, standing protectively before her, his voice trembling, “Uncle-Master! All honored predecessors! Hu Sha is still young. Please show mercy…”

“Feng Di, stand down!” Fang Ye suddenly shouted loudly, his expression extremely stern.

Feng Di’s entire body trembled. His face revealed an expression of grief and despair. He pleaded softly, “Uncle-Master, I beg you to spare Hu Sha…”