Suddenly, I remembered that Ruoli had said she’d seen me before. Could she be the black-haired junior sister who returned with my brother last time? Could it be that my brother was really at Qinghong Mountain? Of course—how could I have been so muddled? He’s an immortal cultivating under a master, so naturally, he must be here.
I was about to ask more questions when I saw a disciple running frantically toward us, shouting: “Master, Master! A large number of demons have appeared at the foot of Qinhu Peak, devouring countless people. Several senior brothers went to fight them but were severely injured. Please come to our aid, Master!”
Master Uncle said: “Qinhu Peak has always been cleared of evil—how could there be demons? What do these demons look like?”
The disciple replied: “They have the shape of eagles but with horns, and their cries sound like babies.”
“It seems to be Gudiao… Gudiao loves water and lives in groups far from here. By logic, they shouldn’t appear within our Qinghong Mountain territory.” Master Uncle muttered to himself for a moment. “Qingyun, quickly take the disciples to investigate.”
Second Senior Brother said, “Yes!”
I wanted to ask Second Senior Brother about Fu Chenzhi, so naturally I couldn’t let him slip away. Taking advantage of him leading the disciples down the mountain, I secretly followed along. Of course, this place wasn’t Suozhao—water was scarce everywhere. Fortunately, I was familiar with Qinghong Mountain’s relay station routes, so I quickly rode a Luanniao and flew to the area below Qinhu Peak.
Stopping at the relay station on the mountain peak, I heard countless villagers crying out at the foot of the mountain. Following the cries for help, I looked down to see a small village below. In mid-air, there was a large mass of dark, oppressive large birds gliding down to the ground, darting through the crowd, using the sharp horns on their heads to pierce through villagers’ chests before carrying them to the roadside to devour. Several Qinghong Mountain disciples were fighting against them, but the battle was extremely difficult.
Corpses lay everywhere—the bloody scene was too horrific to behold.
Before long, Second Senior Brother arrived with his disciples, battling those Gudiao in the air. However, the largest Gudiao among them seemed to have consumed a Zijin Pill—its pupils glowed green, it was extremely fierce and fast, and spells had minimal effect on it. Even immortals could hardly catch up to it. With it leading in the center, the other Gudiao continued killing people and eating flesh.
The Second Senior Brother flew to the center of the disciple formation, extended his right hand with two fingers straight, clasped his hands together, summoned flying rocks from the mountain valley, and then waved his hand toward them. The stone blocks thundered down, exploding among the demons like swords, instantly striking down seven or eight Gudiao.
At this moment, the lead Gudiao also turned its head and let out a shriek. The remaining Gudiao heeded the command and directly attacked Second Senior Brother. Second Senior Brother immediately cast a spell to erect a protective barrier, blocking them outside as they fiercely rammed the barrier with their sharp horns. No matter how the other disciples attacked them, they couldn’t stop the fierce ramming of the barrier.
Gradually, fine sweat appeared on Second Senior Brother’s forehead as he struggled to maintain his defense. Even so, those Gudiao continued their relentless assault, wave after wave. Ruoli was screaming anxiously from the rear but was powerless to help.
I paced anxiously in place, and looking up, I discovered there was snow accumulated on the opposite mountain peak. At this moment, the protective barrier was becoming thinner and thinner. Second Senior Brother lowered his arm, shattering the barrier and striking down more than ten Gudiao. However, he didn’t have time to establish a second barrier and could only fly upward. The Gudiao, like spinning black blades, followed and charged upward.
At this time, a small child at the foot of the mountain ran through the gorge, shouting “Mother!” as he ran toward a corpse. The large Gudiao saw him, immediately turned around, and wanted to devour the child. Without thinking, I condensed the snow from the mountain peak into ice spikes, making them fall and severely stabbing the large Gudiao, then hid with Xuanyue among the rocks and bamboo markers.
The large Gudiao was obviously in pain from the stabbing, emitting baby-like cries as it flew toward my location, searching everywhere for whoever had shot the hidden arrow. It used its sharp horn to shatter countless rocks, shaking loose frost and snow. The place where I was hiding was very concealed and should have been foolproof, but at this crucial moment, Xuanyue sneezed, and the sound echoed throughout the valley.
Hearing the sound, the large Gudiao changed direction, narrowed its green eyes, stretched out its sharp horn with a shriek, and charged straight at me. Xuanyue was frightened and clawed wildly, roaring in terror, seemingly struggling to break free and fly away. I used all my strength to hold it back, watching the large Gudiao approach with my heart pounding.
Finally, when it was only inches away from me, I rushed out from behind the bamboo marker with Xuanyue in my arms. I heard an ear-piercing noise—the large Gudiao had used too much force and got its sharp horn stuck in the rock, unable to pull it out temporarily. It flapped its wings and kicked its legs like it had gone mad, pulling its horn out inch by inch. Flying debris and sand made it difficult for me to keep my eyes open.
The nearby snow had been shaken loose by this damned Gudiao, scattered too much to use the Heaven-Ascending Technique. I tried to manipulate the snow on distant mountain peaks, but the distance was too far, and I was completely powerless. Finally, inspiration struck, and I shook Xuanyue: “Xuanyue, I’m going to jump off the cliff. Just like last time, lift me by the collar at the last moment so I won’t fall to my death, understand?”
Xuanyue’s large eyes filled with tears, whimpering—I couldn’t tell if it was agreeing or afraid.
I ran to the cliff’s edge holding it, glanced down at the empty valley below—the height made me dizzy and nauseous. At this moment, the large Gudiao had already pulled out its sharp horn. My voice trembled slightly: “I’m jumping!”
“Aowu!!” Though beasts can’t cry, I felt like Xuanyue was already crying…
At this critical moment, a sword descended from the sky, directly piercing the large Gudiao from head to belly, firmly pinning it to the rock. Blood splattered, mixing with the dirt. The large Gudiao didn’t even manage to let out a shriek before it died.
The remaining Gudiao seemed to sense something, knowing their leader had died. They flew down in groups, wanting to attack me. Now, even jumping off the cliff would be useless—I held Xuanyue, not knowing what to do. However, more swords fell! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Several sounds rang out as they were pinned one by one.
Immediately after, a figure also descended from the sky, embracing me around the waist, flying through clouds and mist to a high altitude.
He wielded the sword in his hand, using immortal arts to manifest over a hundred sword shadows, instantly eliminating the remaining Gudiao in the blink of an eye. He was calm and composed. My mind was unsettled, but I stared fixedly at his profile, calling out softly: “…Brother?”
After eliminating the remaining Gudiao, Fu Chenzhi sheathed his sword with a flourish and flew back to the mountaintop with me in his arms.
As soon as Ruoli saw him, she became so excited that her face turned red with embarrassment, not knowing where to put her hands. However, she quickly noticed me beside him, and her small face immediately puffed up like two goldfish bubbles.
Second Senior Brother quickly glanced at Ruoli and cleared his throat: “Junior Brother, you’ve returned.”
Fu Chenzhi bowed very properly: “Greetings, Second Senior Brother.”
“You’re no longer under Master’s tutelage, no need for such formality.” Second Senior Brother smiled somewhat stiffly. “However, so many demons suddenly appearing at Qinhu Peak—this matter is rather suspicious.”
“Just now, I passed by Lianyao Valley and discovered red light seeping out from there, with unusual scenery. I wonder if there might be a breach in Lianyao Valley’s barrier…” Fu Chenzhi looked back at the mountain peak where I had been hiding. “Wait a moment, let me investigate.”
With that, Fu Chenzhi leaped down and began examining the Gudiao corpses.
Skinny Monkey smacked his lips: “Third Senior Brother is amazing now. Jumping down from such a height, he doesn’t even need to use the immortal arts. It’s truly incomparable to the past. Indeed, famous masters produce outstanding disciples.”
Second Senior Brother’s expression was already quite unpleasant, but Ruoli proudly raised her chin: “When Third Senior Brother was still with our master, despite having the shortest time since joining, he was the most promising one. He was naturally outstanding among his peers.”
At this point, Fu Chenzhi had already jumped back up, holding more than ten glowing orbs in his hand: “Indeed, that large Gudiao had the aura of over a hundred different demons and more than ten inner cores. Looking at these, they’re all inner cores. It must have killed many demons in Lianyao Valley, including demons with thousands of years of cultivation. Therefore, this Gudiao’s power gradually increased; it broke through Lianyao Valley’s barrier and led its kind here to wreak havoc.”
“I see. If Lianyao Valley has truly undergone such changes, it’s like treading on a tiger’s tail or walking on spring ice. Thank you for your hard work, Junior Brother. We should report this matter to the Master immediately. Please, everyone, follow me back to Qinghong Mountain…” At this point, Second Senior Brother glanced at Ruoli, then pointed at me: “By the way, Third Junior Brother, do you recognize Junior Sister Luowei?”
Fu Chenzhi said, “I do.”
We all waited for a long while, but there was no follow-up. This answer was truly decisive without any ambiguity… However, since he had answered thus, Second Senior Brother didn’t have the nerve to ask further. Afterward, our group returned to the mountaintop. The non-flying half-immortal disciples and I rode Luanniao up, while those accomplished disciples of the Master Uncles flew on swords or rode clouds.
Ruoli closely followed behind Fu Chenzhi, asking him all sorts of questions along the way. His answers never exceeded three words and were always “yes,” “no,” or “don’t know.”
Perhaps because he was adopted, his brother had this personality from childhood—self-disciplined and proper, serious and reliable. He never actively made requests of anyone, keeping everything in his heart, and was always the most well-behaved child in our parents’ eyes.
He never tried to please others proactively, and even if disliked, he wouldn’t attempt to become amiable and approachable. This was completely unlike my personality of being cheeky, even when getting advantages. Therefore, when he was still in Suozhao before, many people kept their distance from him. However, Ruoli didn’t find the cold atmosphere awkward at all and still enthusiastically approached him, asking questions tirelessly without getting tired.
But no matter how many questions Fu Chenzhi answered for Ruoli, he never looked back at me once. Even when Xuanyue recognized him, he showed no reaction. Ruoli was as proud as the Monkey King ascending to Heaven, and every few words she exchanged with him, she would turn back to glance at me and show off.
I glared back and forth at her several times, but my heart felt cold. What exactly did brother mean? Could it be that he thought it inappropriate to acknowledge me here? Or perhaps, since he already knew I was only a spirit, he felt I wasn’t worthy of being an immortal’s sister… No, no, how could I be so self-deprecating! I mustn’t think this way, mustn’t think this way…
When we returned to the cultivation peak, it was already evening. Cloud waves soaked the setting sun, while smoky snow leaked crimson shadows. After bidding farewell to the others, Fu Chenzhi said with his back to me: “I live in Danwen Pavilion. Come with me for a moment.”
“Oh, alright,” I answered quickly.
However, walking one after the other, his attitude seemed quite ordinary.
Could it be that after our last separation of life and death, he had nothing to say? But I couldn’t blame him either. He probably never guessed that since he left, so many things had happened in Suozhao. Finally, we entered Danwen Pavilion. His bedroom was on the second floor. Opening the inner door, he let me enter first, then closed the door with his back to me.
“Weiwei.” He exhaled lightly, then turned around. “It’s been a long time. I hope you’ve been well.”
I never would have expected that these simple eight words of greeting would make my tears fall in large drops. From childhood, I was always the one bullying him, and only he would cry for my sake. I had never cried so pathetically in front of him before—my face was truly lost to the western heavens.
But these months of accumulated grievances were simply too much. The more I told myself in my heart not to cry, the harder the tears fell. Just as I was lowering my head to rub my eyes, Fu Chenzhi suddenly stepped forward and hugged me tightly.
This made me even more unstoppable, and I started crying out loud like a three-year-old child. At this touching moment of sibling reunion, Xuanyue inappropriately called out, seeming very surprised.
I decided to ignore it and hugged Fu Chenzhi back, vigorously wiping my tears and snot on his clothes: “Brother, I’m so miserable, so wronged, so pitiful! You don’t know how much I’ve suffered after you left… No one cares for me, no one loves me, and sometimes I couldn’t even get a proper meal! Wherever I go, people despise me, and I’ve been bullied by all sorts of random immortals. Brother, waaah…”
The more I spoke, the tighter Fu Chenzhi’s arms held me. But he just listened quietly without interrupting me. Only when I cried until I was convulsing and unable to speak did he pat my back and say gently: “It’s alright. With your brother here, no one will dare bully you anymore. Brother will protect you.”
Brother’s scent hadn’t changed at all. Every time I smelled this fragrance, I would think of Suozhao’s auspicious clouds, the moonlight in the palace, and the fragrant flowers filling my hometown’s streets. No matter how beautiful the immortal realm’s scenery, it could never replace these in my heart. Therefore, no one could replace my brother’s position in my heart either.
Until the stars filled the sky and the clear wind and bright moon entered the night, I finally regained my composure. With a pair of hot and swollen eyes, I sat down and told Fu Chenzhi everything that had happened after he left Suozhao. After hearing this, he was silent for a long time before saying: “So Lord Kaixuan is this kind of person. We were all deceived by him.”
I said indignantly: “He’s scum, and Second Sister is a fool for believing scum.”
Fu Chenzhi thought for a moment and said, “This matter cannot be left as is. We need to find time to return to Suozhao.”
“But with just our two’s strength, can we defeat Lord Kaixuan?”
“I need to think about this matter more carefully.” Fu Chenzhi said thoughtfully. “Since you’ve already left Suozhao, from now on, stay with me.”
“Good! Wherever brother goes, I’ll go!”
At this moment, Xuanyue suddenly whimpered, lying on my leg with eyes full of tears, looking at Fu Chenzhi with sparkling eyes.
Fu Chenzhi looked at it and smiled: “Of course, and Xuanyue too.”
Xuanyue and I were so moved that we hugged each other.
Fu Chenzhi said, “Then let me first take you to meet my master. He may not necessarily accept you as a disciple, but taking you along should be no problem.”
“Who is your master?”
“You’ll know when you see him.”
So Xuanyue and I followed Fu Chenzhi into Yiyao Hall. Seeing this name, I suddenly had a rather surprising premonition. Then we passed through the main hall and entered the back garden. The winding path led to secluded areas, winter plum blossoms were fragrant and beautiful, and a pot of new wine had intoxicated the perfect full-moon night.
Where fallen petals accumulated, plum blossoms were scattered in disorder, also lifting the jade pendant and red tassel at the waist of the young man under the plum tree.
He stood under the tree, admiring flowers, having broken off a fresh plum branch to dissolve his wine. Just seeing this silhouette, I already recognized who it was. I quickly grabbed Fu Chenzhi’s sleeve and whispered: “You’re Taishi Jun’s disciple?”
Hearing the commotion here, Yinze took a light sip of wine, his wide sleeves gently swaying with boundless elegance: “Chenzhi?”
Fu Chenzhi bowed respectfully to him: “Greetings, Master.”
Yinze turned his head to look at me, the corner of his mouth curving into a smile: “You know this little water spirit.”
Fu Chenzhi said solemnly: “Yes, Master. This is my betrothed wife.”