Gong Chenying's action didn't attract much attention; after all, many people knew of the relationship between her and Zhao Min. Zhao Min looked up at Gong Chenying's departing figure, her expression returning to a state of calm, retaining only its usual pride and indifference. Then, as if unintentionally, she glanced at Li Yan before turning to walk toward the path leading out of the bamboo forest.
Li Yan stood not far from Zhao Min. Although he hadn't heard what Gong Chenying said, the fleeting glance exchanged between the two women told him everything. He felt as if a protective layer around his heart had been stripped away, leaving him with a sense of loss, yet at the same time, it was as if a knot in his heart had been untied, allowing him to let out a long breath. These two conflicting thoughts intertwined, and for a moment, he didn't know what he was truly thinking. One was a person he had interacted with frequently over the years; although not a confidante, she was the person he spoke with the most, aside from Lin Daqiao. The other had burst into his life suddenly, planting herself in his heart before he was prepared. Li Yan couldn't say he disliked Gong Chenying, nor could he say he didn't admire her. It was just that it had all happened too suddenly, disrupting his entire life. For a moment, a thousand thoughts raced through his mind.
"You murderous louts, aren't you going to leave yet? Do you want this old master to blast you away?" A sharp, childlike voice suddenly erupted, filled with impatience. The moment Elder Peng and the others left, a powerful aura surged from the Heaven Stele, waves of pressure emanating from within.
"Little Martial Brother, let's go," Li Wuyi said as he walked over. He had also seen Gong Chenying and Zhao Min whispering earlier but hadn't paid it much mind. However, seeing Zhao Min leave directly after hearing Gong Chenying's words, without even saying goodbye to the others, and then seeing Li Yan staring blankly at Zhao Min's back, he found it somewhat strange.
"Let's go, let's go. We're supposed to gather at your courtyard tonight. Why did Junior Sister Min leave by herself? Didn't she say before that she would join us?" Li Changting also walked over, her face full of confusion.
"Oh, we should leave quickly. It seems we can't linger here any longer," Li Yan said, snapping out of his daze after only a moment. He first shook his head, then looked around. People like Wang Tian and Wei Feng had long since hurried to gather with their own peak's members and had already soared into the sky. Feeling the unfriendly aura from the Heaven Stele, he quickly spoke up.
Li Wuyi and Li Changting walked up to Li Yan, with Wei Chituo and Yun Chunqu following behind. As they walked, Li Changting asked with a still-puzzled expression, "You really don't know?"
"How would I know?" Li Yan couldn't help but reply, turning his head back.
"That's true. I haven't seen you two say anything to Junior Sister Min since you came out. Could it be that Senior Sister Gong has some secret she wants to tell her in private later? Or perhaps you obtained some treasure in the Wheel of Life and Death, besides the rewards, and Senior Sister Gong wants to give it to Junior Sister Min privately? Given their relationship, that's a possibility." Before Li Yan could answer, Li Changting was already muttering to herself, sounding more and more certain as she spoke.
This made Li Yan let out a long sigh of relief in his heart. He really didn't know how to explain it to this difficult Senior Sister Li.
"By the way, Little Martial Brother, you went into the Wheel of Life and Death. Did you get anything good to give to your 'Eldest Senior Sister'?" When she said the words "Eldest Senior Sister," her cheeks couldn't help but blush, revealing a boundless shyness.
Li Wuyi, who was listening from the side, felt his face twitch. He was staring straight ahead, his steps firm, his gaze fixed forward, walking one step at a time as if he hadn't heard a thing.
Hearing this, Li Yan felt his heart bleed. He thought to himself, 'You even ask for things from your little martial brother? Those are all spirit stones!' But his face was full of smiles as he said to Li Changting, "I did gain something. They are all things from the other cultivators. The best are some magical artifacts. Eldest Senior Sister can pick one or two."
"Hee hee, I can see the pained look in your eyes. Don't worry, this Eldest Senior Sister doesn't want your things. I was just teasing you. By the way, tonight, Eldest Senior Sister is putting it all on the line and bringing out a few jars of fine wine she's treasured for over twenty years. Not just anyone gets to enjoy this! This time, for your sake, I'll part with it just once," Li Changting said with a light laugh, patting Li Yan's shoulder.
Li Yan couldn't help but feel embarrassed. He hadn't expected his ability to hide his feelings to be so poor that she could see his miserliness at a glance. But then, his face fell like a bitter gourd.
He had been preoccupied before, but now he noticed that this Senior Sister Li had mentioned gathering at his bamboo courtyard several times. Only now did he remember that before entering the Wheel of life and Death, in a moment of bravado, he had said he wanted to drink the wine she concocted. Now, this Senior Sister Li was actually taking it seriously and was even going to bring out an even "stronger" wine. He felt his stomach turn sour and his abdomen bloat. He couldn't help but look up at Li Wuyi ahead of him, his eyes pleading. But to his disappointment, at this moment, his Eldest Senior Brother, with his cultivation, seemed completely unaware that someone was looking at him. He was walking steadfastly on the bamboo forest path, heroic and high-spirited, looking as if he was forging ahead, not even glancing at him.
What Li Yan didn't know was that Li Wuyi had long felt the urge to slap him to the ground. For Li Yan to ask for his help now was absolutely impossible.
Walking behind, Wei Chituo was already drooling at the mention of wine treasured for decades. He looked at Li Yan with a bit more admiration. 'It seems this time, we really are benefiting from Little Martial Brother's good fortune. Eldest Senior Brother is still acting so ungrateful. Pfft, if I could beat him, I'd definitely have to teach him a lesson for Little Martial Brother's sake. Taking advantage and still acting so unwilling.' At this thought, he couldn't help but curl his lip.
As they walked, they had already reached the halfway point of the mountain. Li Yan saw a fork in the bamboo forest path. A thought suddenly came to him, but he hesitated, not knowing what reason to give to leave temporarily. Just then, a voice like a yellow oriole rang out, truly pleasant to the ear, its crisp tone filled with joy.
"Eldest Senior Brother, it really is you! I heard in the Spirit Beast Garden just now that you were back, so I rushed over." Li Yan and the others looked up and saw a streak of rosy light flying quickly through the sky. In just a flash, it landed in front of them. A lovely young girl stood there; it was Miao Wangqing in her yellow dress.
Miao Wangqing's large, watery eyes swept around. Her gaze first landed on Li Changting, who was looking at her with a smile. Her expression changed slightly. Then, after sweeping over everyone, she asked in a slightly strange voice, "Why isn't Senior Sister Six here?"
"Oh, so it's Fourth Junior Sister. Senior Sister Six is fine, no need to worry. She went with Martial Uncle Peng to Lord Lao Peak for a meeting. She'll be back soon," Li Wuyi said. Upon seeing Miao Wangqing, he first showed a look of embarrassment, then his expression turned serious.
"Oh, that's good, that's good." Then her gaze fell on Li Changting, who had been staring at her.
"Senior Sister Li, doesn't Never-Parting Peak need you to go back and check on things after the trial? You've been away for a while. Your junior brothers and sisters must be in a mess."
"It's fine, it's fine. It doesn't matter for a little while anyway. We can talk about it tomorrow. Tonight, I have to get together with Senior Brother Li and the others for some drinks." After speaking, she turned to look at Li Wuyi with a blissful expression.
Miao Wangqing's face instantly turned ugly. "Never-Parting Peak is fine, but my Little Bamboo Peak has a lot of matters to attend to! Eldest Senior Brother, Master is in seclusion. You've just thrown this whole mess aside. How can I handle it? If... if you don't take care of it, don't expect me... to handle the affairs of the main hall anymore." As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, making her look pitiable.
"Your Eldest Senior Brother just got back..." Li Changting said, her eyes darting around.
Li Wuyi instantly felt a massive headache. Seeing the two of them starting to bicker on the path, he quickly waved a hand.
"Stop, stop, stop! I'll go to the main hall to handle the peak's affairs first. You all chat for a bit. Oh, Little Martial Brother, I'll come find you tonight." The moment he said this, he had already transformed into a streak of light and shot down the mountain, disappearing in the blink of an eye, as fast as a thunderbolt.
"Li Wuyi, where are you going?"
"Eldest Senior Brother, wait for me! I'll tell you about the recent affairs of the peak... Li Changting, what are you coming over for? The affairs of Little Bamboo Peak are not for outsiders to know..."
"I'm not listening! I'm just seeing if there's anything related to my Never-Parting Peak that I can take care of. Otherwise, you'd have to make a separate trip to inform me..."
Seeing Li Wuyi leave without giving anyone a chance to speak, Li Changting and Miao Wangqing cried out in alarm. They too transformed into two streaks of light and chased after him, their anxious and calm voices faintly echoing in the air.
Li Yan stared blankly at the scene before him, feeling that it had all happened too quickly. That Fourth Senior Sister hadn't even greeted the rest of them before leaving again in an instant.
As he stood there stunned, a rough voice came from behind him. "Tsk tsk tsk, Eldest Senior Brother is impressive, truly impressive! Hahaha..." It was Wei Chituo, a gloating look on his face, as he slowly walked over, supporting Yun Chunqu.
"Second Senior Brother, let's go too," Yun Chunqu said, having reverted to his 'keep-strangers-away' demeanor since Gong Chenying left. He gave Li Yan a cool glance.
"Oh, right, right. Hmm, there's still some time until evening. Little Martial Brother, you go back and rest first. I have to take your Third Senior Brother back to his courtyard. I'll come over tonight," Wei Chituo said after some consideration.
"That's as it should be. If Third Senior Brother is available tonight, please come over as well. I'm going to find Senior Brother Daqiao in a bit," Li Yan said with a fist-in-palm salute. He had been trying to figure out how to get these two to leave.
After Wei Chituo left with Yun Chunqu, Li Yan looked at the empty path, turned, and walked toward the fork.
This bamboo forest path was extremely familiar to Li Yan. Walking along it now, his mood was vastly different from before. In the past, he would come here either to practice immortal arts or to sit and gaze in the direction of his hometown, quietly lost in thought. Now, looking at the winding path and the slender bamboo blocking the view ahead, a trace of anticipation and unease filled his heart.
The forked path eventually came to an end. After a few turns, the familiar platform came into view, along with the suddenly open vista. The curving mountain ranges in the distance were just as they had always been—some near, some far, some large, some small, the near ones verdant, the distant ones dark and small.
But at this moment, Li Yan paid no attention to any of this. He saw a figure in a dark green robe on the platform. It was a slender back, sitting on the edge of the platform's cliff, a pair of long legs hanging over the edge, below which was a bottomless gorge. A pair of jade-like hands rested on the stone ground of the platform on either side of her full hips, revealing pristine white wrists that glowed with a warm, jade-like luster in the setting sun. Her long ponytail hung down her back to the ground. She was half-leaning back, looking up at the distant horizon. The sunlight sprinkled on her face. From behind, a small part of her flawless, jade-like profile was visible, its smooth, rounded contours carrying a gentle light.