“Ding-dong—”
The sword wind swept past, causing the bronze bell beneath the eaves to emit a crisp, clear sound.
On the circular sword practice platform not far away, a young man was holding a sharp longsword, thrusting toward the shoulder and back of a young girl who stood just a step away, also holding a sword.
It seemed the sword tip was about to reach the girl’s shoulder.
In the next moment, however, the girl suddenly tapped her foot lightly, turned around swiftly, and her longsword traced an elegant arc. Before anyone could clearly see her movements, the tip of her sword had already come to a halt just half an inch from the young man’s throat.
Startled by the sudden turn of events, the young man stumbled backward two steps, lost his balance, and fell to the ground.
The girl gently turned her wrist, withdrew her sword, took two steps forward, bent down, and extended a hand to the young man, smiling as she said, “Senior Brother, I yield to your courtesy.”
The young man didn’t hesitate either. Smiling, he reached out and took Yun Miao’s offered hand, using her strength to stand up, then casually brushed the dust off his clothes.
“Junior Sister, your swordsmanship has improved quite a bit, hasn’t it?”
Yun Miao’s smile remained faint as she nodded. “Yes.”
“Alright, our Junior Sister’s talent isn’t something ordinary people can envy. I reckon she’ll break through to the Great Realm in a couple of years.”
A somewhat carefree voice drifted over from a distance, and a figure leisurely approached from below the steps.
The two on the practice platform turned at the sound and looked toward the newcomer.
“Second Senior Brother.”
Yun Miao addressed him appropriately, and upon hearing her, the other person turned his head with a bright smile and responded, “Hey.”
“Junior Brother, what brings you here?”
Fang Yinnian looked at Pei Qingji, who was walking up from the steps, feeling curious.
After all, this junior brother of his was usually the most carefree. Not only did he rarely come to the practice platform voluntarily, but he was seldom seen around at all.
Pei Qingji raised an eyebrow slightly, glancing at Yun Miao. “I came to find our Junior Sister.”
“Me?”
Yun Miao pointed at herself in confusion.
Clearly, she couldn’t guess what this Second Senior Brother wanted with her.
Pei Qingji still wore a somewhat mischievous smile as he nodded. “Yes, you. But to be more specific, it’s actually our master who wants to see you.”
“Master has come out of seclusion?”
“Yes, and it seems quite urgent. You’d better hurry.”
“Then…”
Yun Miao turned to look at Fang Yinnian.
Before she could finish her sentence, he had already understood and took over. “Go ahead.”
Yun Miao nodded to the two of them, sheathed her sword, left the practice platform, and headed straight for the Main Peak.
When Yun Miao arrived at the entrance of the Main Peak’s great hall, she saw a middle-aged man sitting cross-legged on a high platform with his eyes closed.
“Xiao Miao, you’re here.”
As soon as Yun Miao stepped into the hall, the voice reached her. The man on the high platform slowly opened his eyes and looked at Yun Miao, who was walking into the hall.
Yun Miao stopped a few steps away from the high platform and respectfully called out, “Master.”
“Mm.” Xu Songmian nodded, getting straight to the point. “I called you here because there’s a matter I need you to handle.”
“In Taoyuan Village, disappearances have been frequent over the past two months. Some villagers even claim to have seen strange creatures. Today, Elder Xu from the Xun Hall came to me and said that he had asked your Senior Brother Lin to investigate a few days ago, but your Senior Brother Lin has lost contact with the sect. You’ve been cultivating in the sect for several years now but haven’t ventured out yet. This time, give it a try.”
“Yes, Master. Your disciple will take care of it immediately.”
With that, Yun Miao turned and prepared to leave.
This was her first solo mission since joining the sect, and naturally, she felt a sense of novelty.
But before she could turn away, Xu Songmian called out to her once more.
“Master, is there something else?”
Yun Miao turned to look at the stern-faced man behind her.
“Be careful on your first solo descent from the mountain. If anything happens, send word back. Don’t try to handle everything alone.”
“Yes.”
/
As dusk settled and the bright moon rose, the willow trees planted along the river swayed gently in the evening breeze, stirring the lake’s surface as if scattered with handfuls of silver fragments.
As the summer heat began to fade, small stalls gradually filled the streets.
Before long, the cries of vendors blended with the chatter of leisurely strollers.
The lively atmosphere rose alongside the scent of smoke and fire.
Amid the relaxed crowd, a somewhat different figure appeared unnoticed at some point.
A woman dressed as a cultivator, wearing a veiled hat, moved hurriedly through the flow of people like a fish weaving through water.
Outside the veil, small insects fluttered chaotically, trying to find their way in, while the figures of passersby crossed and mingled.
Inside the veil, Yun Miao’s already lightly furrowed brows tightened further.
She realized that the discomfort she had suppressed earlier was resurfacing throughout her limbs and bones, even more intensely than before.
Through the corner of her eye, she glanced behind her, and sure enough, the figure was still there.
Her earlier suspicions had indeed been correct.
However, the person seemed to be intentionally avoiding her, deliberately concealing their appearance.
Yet, they had been following her since the territory of the Xuantian Sect, likely a fellow disciple.
But who could it be?
And why would they administer such a drug to her?
Questions swirled in Yun Miao’s mind.
But more pressing than these, she now had an even more urgent matter to resolve—the effects of the Spring Gu within her body were becoming increasingly difficult to suppress.
Realizing this, Yun Miao quickened her pace once more.
She had originally intended to engage with the person, to figure out their identity.
After all, she was in the open while they remained hidden. If they intended to play more tricks later, it would certainly be disadvantageous for her.
But now, she had no choice but to temporarily change her plan.
As she moved forward, she observed her surroundings, searching for a suitable and relatively safe place to slip away.
Soon, she set her sights on the somewhat empty alley around the corner ahead.
If she could shake them off, that would be ideal. But if not, drawing her sword would at least avoid harming innocent bystanders.
Though using Spiritual Power at this moment was not a rational choice, as it would only intensify the backlash of the Spring Gu’s effects.
But if there was no other way, she wouldn’t hesitate to draw her sword.
At worst, it would be a fight to the death.
Moreover, in swordsmanship, none of her fellow sect members were her match, and the pursuer was likely no different.
When the time came, who would find themselves in danger remained uncertain.
Having assessed the situation and chosen her target, Yun Miao quickened her pace again, deliberately weaving into the denser crowds. Then, before her pursuer could catch up, she slipped into the alley.
After surveying her surroundings, she gathered her qi and lightly tapped her toes, landing on the shadowed outer corridor of the inn’s second floor on the left side of the alley.
Before long, a figure appeared at the alley’s entrance, looking somewhat anxious and uncertain.
The figure hesitated for a moment before also turning into the alley.
He walked inward for quite some time, and upon seeing the empty, deserted alley, seemed to realize something was amiss. He turned back, scanning his surroundings as he searched for Yun Miao’s figure.
The moon had climbed unnoticed to the center of the sky, its silvery-white light pouring down like scattered grains of white salt.
The moonlight illuminated the empty alley, as well as the face of the figure.
As his features came into Yun Miao’s view, she narrowed her eyes slightly.
He looked somewhat familiar—she must have seen him before.
—In the Xuantian Sect.
Yet, for the moment, she couldn’t quite recall.
This feeling of being separated from the answer by only a thin veil made Yun Miao furrow her brow involuntarily.
As the moon shifted, a corner of the spot where Yun Miao stood was also bathed in moonlight.
Just then, the night wind unconsciously lifted the hem of her robe, the faint moon-blue color standing out somewhat in the darkness. Yun Miao hurriedly reached out to gather her garment back.
But the person in the alley had clearly caught sight of that corner, and his gaze abruptly snapped toward her.
Seeing this, Yun Miao didn’t hesitate—almost instinctively, she pushed open the door behind her and slipped inside.
The warm, golden glow of candlelight filling the room immediately met Yun Miao’s eyes.
There was someone inside.
Earlier, her attention had been almost entirely on the person following her, and she had instinctively pushed open the door behind her to hide.
Only now did Yun Miao belatedly realize this.
She quickly turned to look into the room, intending to apologize to its occupant.
But as soon as she turned around, an unexpected scene crashed into her view.
The man’s robe hung half-undone over his arm, revealing a broad expanse of smooth, pale back with just the right amount of muscle definition—like a piece of finely carved, high-quality mutton-fat jade, glowing with a soft luster.
His raised hand had just undone the hair tie holding up his high ponytail, and his dark hair cascaded down, falling loosely over his back.
Even with only a glimpse of his back, it was enough to tell that he carried an extraordinary presence.
Perhaps hearing the sound, the man swiftly pulled his inner garment back on, frowning as he turned to face the “uninvited guest” who had entered the room.
The man’s features also came fully into Yun Miao’s view—he was strikingly handsome, with a beauty that carried an almost aggressive edge.
In fact, just one glance was enough to leave a deep impression.
Especially his standard peach-blossom eyes, which held a pair of particularly unique amber irises.
Those eyes seemed to hold a clear spring, appearing even warmer and more translucent under the lamplight.
At this moment, however, the expression on his face stood in stark contrast to that impression.
His expression was rigid and cold, so gloomy it seemed as if water could drip from it.
Knowing she was in the wrong, Yun Miao quickly averted her gaze from him as he turned, feeling somewhat embarrassed as she said, “I’m sorry.”
But as soon as her voice left her lips, Yun Miao froze.
Her voice… why did it sound like that?
She immediately pressed her lips together tightly.
The man seemed to grow even colder upon hearing Yun Miao’s soft tone.
From behind a screen not far behind him, wisps of steam drifted out one after another, gradually filling the room.
Yun Miao realized he must have been preparing to bathe.
This realization inexplicably added a touch of awkwardness to Yun Miao.
She even felt her body temperature rise slightly, unsure whether it was due to the warmth of the room or the Spring Gu within her body.
Yun Miao subtly lowered her eyelashes.
Staying here any longer was clearly not a wise choice.
“My apologies for the disturbance.”
Yun Miao bowed slightly toward the man, then began backing away, preparing to leave.
The man simply watched quietly as this woman, whose face was obscured by a veil and who had suddenly intruded, moved before him.
His expression cold, he took in every one of her actions, narrowing his eyes dangerously as she turned away.
Like a fierce beast observing prey about to be slain.
Just as Yun Miao’s hand was about to touch the door, she abruptly halted again.
For she heard knocking from the neighboring room, followed by the voice of an unfamiliar man—inquiring, apologizing, and then the sound of a door closing.
And footsteps, growing steadily closer.
Almost instinctively, Yun Miao’s intuition linked the owner of those footsteps to the man who had been following her earlier.
She couldn’t leave now.
Yet, it seemed she shouldn’t stay either…
Caught between a rock and a hard place, Yun Miao listened to the footsteps in the corridor outside and made a decision.
One that even surprised herself.
She turned back once more to face the man behind her.
But before she could speak, he seemed to have discerned her intention and gave her an answer first.
“I have no interest in meddling in others’ affairs. Get out.”
The man’s voice was as cold and rigid as his expression.
But it was clear and concise enough.
The footsteps in the corridor had almost come to a stop right outside the door.
Yun Miao seemed to have missed her best chance to leave through the entrance.
She couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret over her earlier decision and that inexplicable sense of trust that had arisen from nowhere.
Nevertheless, she remained composed, calmly uttering another “My apologies for the disturbance” before turning to push the door open.
Only this time, she now held a long sword in her hand.
The sword was drawn, its sharp blade enveloped in a pale blue Spiritual Power, emitting a chilling glow.
The man, who had maintained a cold expression all along, suddenly froze when his gaze fell upon the long sword in Yun Miao’s hand.
Then, in a few quick strides, he stopped her just as she was about to push the door open.
Before Yun Miao could react, she was pulled behind a screen.
At the same moment, knocking sounded from outside the door.
“Stay here for now.”
The man spoke again, tossing out these words before walking toward the entrance.
Though unsure what had changed his mind, Yun Miao understood that he had likely agreed to help her.
Following the man’s movements, Yun Miao cautiously peered through a gap in the screen toward the door.
Along with the voices, she once again caught sight of the face of the man who had been following her.
And this time, due to the closer proximity, she saw him even more clearly.
Her gaze fell upon the mole on his chin, and suddenly, it was as if she had found the key to a buried memory.
She remembered who this person was—Li Zhongzhou.
Their only interaction seemed to have been during a competition she had participated in just two months after joining the Xuantian Sect, where she had defeated him.
He wouldn’t have gone so far as to specifically ambush her on her way down the mountain just for that, given her the Spring Gu, and then followed her all the way here, would he…
Perhaps because the man’s tone was somewhat unfriendly, or perhaps because the person outside noticed his loosely fastened collar and the lingering steam inside the room, Li Zhongzhou did not stay long. After asking a few questions, he left.
The man closed the door once more, turned around, and walked back toward where Yun Miao was.
Soon, the footsteps stopped beside Yun Miao.