Lin Zhixue flew north on her flying sword for several days before finally spotting the mountain gate of the Yunxiao Sect.
Descending from midair, she stowed her flying sword and stood before the gate.
Everything before her eyes had not changed much from her memory.
The familiar stone steps, the familiar mountain gate, and the disciples coming and going.
Having been away for only a few months, returning once more stirred an inexplicable feeling in her heart.
She did not linger for long, stepping forward to head inside.
“Wait.”
A disciple guarding the mountain gate reached out to stop her.
“Inner disciples entering or leaving need to show their identity jade plaque.”
Lin Zhixue paused in her tracks.
She looked down at her gray robe.
Only then did she remember that her identity jade plaque as a study companion disciple was still back in her residence.
“I didn't bring my identity jade plaque.”
The disciple frowned.
“Then who are you?”
“Lin Zhixue.”
The gate guard disciple looked her up and down.
“Which peak's disciple are you?”
“No peak.”
“?”
“I am Gu Yanqing's study companion disciple.”
As Lin Zhixue earnestly began to explain, the gate guard disciple's expression grew even stranger.
“A study companion disciple?”
He glanced again at the gray outer disciple uniform Lin Zhixue was wearing.
“Miss, you... aren't teasing me, are you?”
“I'm not.”
“You are already at late Foundation Establishment, yet you're still an outer disciple?”
“Mm.”
“How is that possible?”
He was clearly skeptical.
“Besides, outer disciple robes don't prove you can freely enter and exit the sect. If I just let anyone in and something goes wrong, I won't be able to shoulder that responsibility.”
Lin Zhixue fell silent for a moment. She could actually understand his point of view.
It was just that she really didn't have anything to prove her identity.
And her jade plaque happened to be left at her residence.
Beside her, Xiaoyu was already spinning in circles midair in frustration.
“How can this guy be like this?!”
“Zhixue has returned to the sect, yet he won't even let us in!”
Lin Zhixue thought about it and had no choice but to continue explaining.
“The sect's Artifact Refining Pavilion is on the west side of Qingyun Peak.”
“The Scripture Pavilion has seven floors in total, with Foundation Establishment realm cultivation methods kept on the third floor.”
“The sect's Spirit Herb Garden is at...”
She reeled off the locations of several sect buildings in one breath.
Finally, she added, “My residence is on Qingzhu Peak, and Gu Yanqing's residence is there as well.”
The gate guard disciple was stunned as he listened.
Lin Zhixue thought for a moment and added, “Jiang Yinglan knows me too.”
Upon hearing that name, the disciple's expression finally softened slightly.
He looked closely at Lin Zhixue for a few moments, seemingly deciding at last that she didn't look like someone here to cause trouble.
“...Fine then.”
“Go on in first.”
“Just remember to bring your identity jade plaque next time.”
Lin Zhixue nodded. “Thank you.”
As she walked through the mountain gate, Xiaoyu floated back out again.
“I didn't expect Jiang Yinglan to be so well-connected.”
“Even the gate guard disciples know her.”
Lin Zhixue did not answer.
She merely cast a glance back at the gate guard disciple who had taken up his post again.
Then she continued walking deeper into the sect.
...
The Yunxiao Sect at this moment was much livelier than in her memory.
Walking along, discussions among disciples could be heard everywhere.
The Sect Grand Tournament was still ongoing.
Lin Zhixue followed the direction where the crowds were gathering and soon spotted the Foundation Establishment arena.
Is Gu Yanqing competing right now?
Just as she arrived near the arena, however, she caught sight of a familiar figure.
It was Xu Muhe, currently standing on the arena stage.
Her opponent's cultivation realm was about equal to hers, and the two had already exchanged tens of moves.
The longsword in Xu Muhe's hand moved nimbly; with every strike, there was little killing intent, focusing more on forcing her opponent into unfavorable positioning.
And just as her opponent prepared to counterattack, her other hand quietly formed a hand seal spell.
A streak of teal spiritual light flashed across her fingertips.
In the next instant, several vines burst out from the arena floor, wrapping toward her opponent's ankles.
That disciple's face paled slightly as he hurriedly swung his sword to sever the vines.
Yet in that split second of delay, Xu Muhe had already closed the distance.
Her longsword pointed straight at his chest, forcing her opponent to hastily raise his sword to parry.
Clang!
Blade clashed against blade.
Xu Muhe used the recoil force to take several steps back, but the hand seal in her hands did not stop.
A wind blade suddenly swept in from the side.
Her opponent hurriedly stepped aside to dodge.
Seizing the opportunity, Xu Muhe shifted her footing and circled around from the other side.
Her longsword grazed past her opponent's shoulder.
Her opponent wanted to turn and pursue, but a circle of spiritual light flared up under his feet once again.
“Freeze.”
It was only a moment's hesitation.
The tip of her sword was already resting before his throat.
Her opponent froze in place.
Xu Muhe sheathed her sword and stepped back.
“Thank you for the match.”
The referee immediately declared, “Xu Muhe wins!”
She let out a long sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
“Finally won.”
Just as she stepped down from the arena, she spotted Lin Zhixue in the crowd.
Her footsteps instantly came to a halt.
“Zhixue?”
Lin Zhixue saw her as well.
“Senior Sister Xu.”
Xu Muhe walked over quickly, looking her up and down with total astonishment on her face.
“How come you're only returning now?”
“What a shame.”
“The participant list for this tournament was decided long ago, so it's too late to join at the last minute.”
Lin Zhixue shook her head.
“It's fine, I didn't plan on participating anyway.”
“By the way, I heard from Gu Yanqing that you're already at late Foundation Establishment?”
Xu Muhe still found it somewhat hard to believe.
“It's actually true.”
“Isn't your cultivation speed way too fast?”
Lin Zhixue merely gave a light nod.
“Mm.”
She took a glance at the arena stage.
“I saw your match just now.”
“You fought very well.”
Xu Muhe felt embarrassed instantly.
“Not really.”
“I almost lost back there.”
As she spoke, she looked at Lin Zhixue again.
“By the way, you came back this time to look for Junior Brother Gu, right?”
“He has reached Golden Core now.”
“Over at the Golden Core arena.”
Xiaoyu, as an artifact spirit, was completely stunned. “How come that guy never told us?!”
Lin Zhixue's eyes narrowed slightly.
“Golden Core?”
“Mm.”
Xu Muhe nodded. “Didn't he tell you?”
“He broke through a while ago.”
“It probably hasn't been his turn to take the stage yet.”
After a moment's thought, she added, “Why don't you check his residence?”
Lin Zhixue fell silent for a moment.
“I see...”
“Thank you, Senior Sister Xu.”
“Aiya, don't be so distant.”
Xu Muhe smiled and waved her hand.
“Just call me Muhe.”
Lin Zhixue looked at her, then gave a light nod.
“Mm, Muhe.”
“I'll be going now.”
“You just finished your match, so go back and get some good rest too.”
“Okay.”
The two parted ways.
...
Qingzhu Peak.
Lin Zhixue walked along the familiar mountain path for a long time.
Finally, she stopped before a small courtyard.
It was much like it was in her memory, except the snow before the gate was somewhat thicker than when she left.
Right next to it was her own residence.
She stood before the gate, gazing at it for quite a while.
Having been away for so long.
She hadn't expected that upon her return, the first thing she saw would still be this place.
Lin Zhixue withdrew her gaze, raised her hand, and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock.
Soon, footsteps sounded from within.
The courtyard gate opened.
A familiar figure appeared before her.
It was Gu Yanqing, though compared to how he was in her memory, he looked somewhat battered at the moment.
Bandages were wrapped around his shoulder and waist, and there were even a few wounds that had not fully healed.
Gu Yanqing's hand gripping the door handle froze.
The two stared at each other across the doorway.
He clearly hadn't expected to see her here either.
Lin Zhixue didn't speak either, merely gazing at him quietly.
Not having seen her for months, the aura around her seemed to have undergone subtle changes.
She remained as distant and quiet as before.
Yet there was something more to her than before.
For a moment, Gu Yanqing couldn't speak a word.
Until Lin Zhixue spoke first.
“Gu Yanqing...”
Her gaze fell upon the bandages on his body.
Her brows knitted together slightly.
“How did you get injured?”
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