Chapter 285 Meeting an Old Friend, Where Has the Feeling Gone? "Guess correctly, there's a reward, choose..."

A faint glimmer of light entered Lin Feiran's eyes, like a star sinking into a still lake, stirring ripples of memories.

"Your Excellency."

A voice that seemed familiar yet different came from the other side of the tatami. "Qingzhu" responded quickly, with the speed he should have.

The sound of leaves rustling came from outside the window. The night wind swept by, and the fine down on the feathers kept swaying. The lamplight under the eaves clanged.

Ru Xian did not reply. He even straightened up. Only Lin Feiran stared blankly at the feather. So, apart from the sound of the wind, there was only silence.

Amidst such sounds, the person on the other end paused for a moment, then spoke softly.

"Feiran, is that you?"

The sound of the wind carried her long, soft breaths, almost silent, yet he could still recognize her voice in them.

A slight rustling sound of clothes being dragged came from behind, and his voice rose a little: "Why aren't you saying anything? Did something happen?"

Lin Feiran's lips parted slightly, but she still couldn't say anything. Her hands, hanging by her sides, unconsciously gripped the corners of her sleeves. Ru Xian then picked up the feather and opened her mouth to speak.

"Qingzhu, how is the Demon Capital these days? Has the Secret Sect made any unusual moves?"

The voice on the other end paused for a moment before replying with a familiar smile: "So it's the Lord. I mistook you for someone else. Your silence made me think you'd encountered some trouble."

There hasn't been anything unusual happening in the Demon Capital, but recently some demons have left to join a secret sect.

It was a very brief, almost imperceptible gap, which Lin Feiran would not even notice on a normal day, but at this moment, such a pause was so obvious.

Some things, before you notice them, are like the passing wind, almost unnoticed. But when you see them, you realize that such subtle winds are everywhere and can no longer be ignored.

Ru Xian looked meaningfully at a certain spot, but spoke as usual: "Is that so? Now that Lin Feiran's faked death has been exposed, I wonder if the Secret Society will make a comeback... Are you still in seclusion lately?"

This is how it always is. When Xun Feifei is busy and has no time to attend to the Demon Capital, Qingzhu will usually take Xun Feifei's place and ask him questions, which is quite reasonable.

Qingzhu didn't suspect anything, but seemed a little distracted. After another inconspicuous pause, he spoke.

"A riot broke out near the city gate a couple of days ago because of the esoteric sect's recruitment of followers. After I came out of seclusion to resolve the issue, I did not go into seclusion again. Now that we are in a time of great turmoil, I will temporarily put aside my seclusion."

Ru Xian turned around and sat down on the wooden chair, tapping her fingertips on the table as if she were chatting idly.

"So that's how it is. With strange phenomena appearing in the sky these days, and riots breaking out in various parts of the Demon Capital, the Demon Realm is not safe either. If you have family members who need to be settled, you can bring them back to the Demon Capital."

Qingzhu smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Excellency. However, our clan has always lived in seclusion, and this disturbance has not yet affected them. I asked them before, and they said they did not want to leave the valley."

Ru Xian responded with a sound of agreement, but then, as if casually, brought up another matter: "Did Xuanzhen really find out about Lin Feiran faking his death?"

"Those who know, we all saw Fei Ran appear. He cried all night. Everyone wants to see such a happy event."

Qingzhu chuckled lightly, as if it were unintentional.

"He kept insisting on seeing Fei Ran, saying that he saw her being slapped before she left and he was worried about whether she was injured. But now that the world is in chaos, we had no choice but to stop him."

At this point, he seemed to remember something: "Oh, right, I wonder how Fei Ran is doing now. I'll tell him tomorrow so he won't keep nagging about going out."

Her fingertips, which had been lightly tapping like hailstones, paused slightly. She looked up and her gaze fell on Lin Feiran. She even tilted her head slightly to examine him: "He doesn't look well. He looks wilted and listless."

Lin Feiran looked back, hesitated for a moment, then sat down next to Ru Xian with her head down, looking even more listless.

There was the third pause of the day, but this time it was more pronounced and longer than the previous two. After a few breaths, it finally spoke.

"Is that so? Judging from your tone, it doesn't seem too serious. With you here, how could anything happen to her?"

Normally, these words would not have been meant to show much concern for Lin Feiran, but rather to be a compliment on Ru Xian's strength. However, since both of them had their own suspicions, the words sounded strangely sarcastic and gentle.

That didn't sound like praise; it sounded more like anger.

Ru Xian lowered his eyes to look at the feather, the gold ring on his wrist reflecting his eyes, the color of his eyes gradually losing its warmth, it was hard to tell whether the gold ring was colder or his gaze was colder.

Firstly, Qingzhu's relationship with Lin Feiran is not as intense as that with Xuanzhen and Biqing. They rarely meet and shouldn't say such things. Even if they were pretending, they wouldn't be so out of line.

Unless you really can't stand it anymore.

Secondly, he had long felt that Qingzhu's feelings for Lin Feiran were unusual. When they first met, he showed an unusual kindness, which was completely unlike his usual warm exterior but cold heart.

Thirdly, even if someone shares your perspective, it's not something to be happy about.

Ru Xian glanced at Lin Feiran and said slowly, "How can we determine whether it's serious or not? For some people, she is destined to fight and stand amidst swords and spears, so injuries are inevitable. Am I supposed to keep her encased in a protective shield?"

Lin Feiran had recovered from her past sorrows and turned to look at him, her gaze filled with confusion.

Their topic changed so quickly that she seemed to have a hard time understanding what they were saying.

As for the protective shield that Xue mentioned...

She subconsciously moved her shoulder and felt the incantation on her back was hot.

Qingzhu's words remained ordinary, and she chuckled as if she didn't care: "Yes, but there are ways to avoid getting hurt, aren't there?"

The two of them stopped speaking at the same time, achieving an eerie silence that seemed like a standoff, yet not quite.

After a moment, Qingzhu spoke up: "Can Feiran still speak now? Xuanzhen misses you very much. You can take this opportunity to tell him about your situation so that he won't worry and lose sleep."

Lin Feiran's sentimental feelings had long since dissipated in this strange atmosphere. She tried to hold it in for a moment, but finally spoke.

"It's nothing."

Perhaps because her emotions had surged to her throat many times only to be suppressed, and she had remained silent for so long, her voice did indeed have an indescribable hoarseness.

The slightly raised tone on the other end suddenly fell silent. After a fourth almost imperceptible pause, he said as if he understood, "It's good that nothing happened."

He then asked, "Are you going back to Guangzhou afterward?"

Lin Feiran looked out the window, and after a noticeable pause, replied, "No, I'm going to find something, like a haze, with me."

After careful consideration, she decided to tell him her whereabouts. Although she didn't reveal where she was going, it was still a significant piece of information, especially if he didn't tell the esoteric sect...

Lin Feiran's focus was clearly on the first half of the sentence, while Ji Changying's attention was on the second half.

She no longer addresses him as "Lord," but calls him by his name directly, even using it with a familiarity that conveys an unpretentious intimacy.

"Okay." He replied, but then he heard a rustling sound again. "The Demon Capital isn't very peaceful right now. Given your special status, it's better if you don't come. I'll tell Xuanzhen about your situation so he doesn't have to worry too much."

Thank you.

See you another day.

The feathers gradually drifted away before his eyes, and his voice ceased to be heard. Lin Feiran raised his hand to catch the last remaining speck of light, his eyes blinking slightly.

"It seems you were unaware that he resembles the Nine Swords of the Secret Sect."

Like a sleet opening beside it.

Who do you think he is?

Lin Feiran said softly, "An old friend, a senior brother."

...

The next day, before the sun had risen, the obscured light peeked through two cracks in the sky, one drawn by Lin Feiran and the other left by the Dao Lord.

One in the east, one in the west, standing in distant opposition.

In this chaotic world, everyone has their own mission. Lin Feiran chose to seek the truth, while Zhang Siwo and others scattered. Some went to heal the sick and save the world, while others went to unite allies. Even Shen Qi was taken away by his master.

It's already quite remarkable that they were willing to dedicate half a day to Lin Feiran.

Amidst the chaos, she was not alone; there were still others who carried her on her journey.

Lin Feiran stood by the window, looking at the now quiet courtyard. Everyone had left, except for a strikingly beautiful scarlet figure sitting on a withered branch.

The leather armor reflected the faint light, and the shawl that fluttered in the still air did not appear cumbersome, but rather added to her imposing presence.

She was waiting for her there.

Lin Feiran stepped forward and called out, "Mother, let's go."

Jinlan snapped out of her daze and looked at her with a very gentle gaze. She nodded slightly, and then saw Ruxian walking out from behind. She closed her eyes and smiled, and as she jumped down, she flicked Ruxian's nose and transformed into a streak of light, drifting into Jinlan's umbrella.

Lin Feiran stood under the tree, pursing her lips and a long-lost smile appeared on her face. Her fists were slightly clenched, revealing a mix of unease and hidden pride at being patted on the head by her mother in public.

When Ru Xian saw her expression, he couldn't help but find it amusing. However, this was typical of young people his age. After thinking for a moment, he decided not to tease her and left her with a unique joy.

"Let's go and see where you practiced your spiritual cultivation when you were a child."

This time, he made it sound as if he were revisiting an old haunt, and Lin Feiran did not deny it. He flew away on his sword and left this temporary place of refuge.

On her way to Sanqing Mountain, she still wore a veil, and although she seemed to blend into the night, her figure was always visible in the faint light of dawn.

Esoteric Buddhism is currently busy receiving offerings from various places and has no time to attend to her, this "defeated army".

In the darkness, the lone Daohe Palace still stands on the snow-covered mountain, but the pine trees are not as green as before; most of them have become withered and emaciated.

The long staircase with more than three thousand steps still winds along the side, but few people sweep or clean it anymore.

Among the various sects, only Daohe Palace has a clear stance, leaning towards Esoteric Buddhism. As a result, it recently suffered a silent ostracism, and many disciples could not accept this bias and chose to leave the mountain.

Compared to other sects, it would be an exaggeration to say that Daohe Palace is now deserted. However, what is different is that they have a successor who has broken through to the Free and Unfettered Realm at the young age of twenty.

Lin Feiran and Ru Xian landed together in front of the mountain gate, but apart from the fallen lamps, there was not a single disciple guarding the place.

As Ru Xian looked up, she sighed, "The only thing that remains unchanged in Daohe Palace is this indifferent and clean snow."

Lin Feiran reached out and took the snowball, so soft yet sharp, as it landed lightly in her palm, just like every time before.

She nodded and clasped her hands together: "Yes, that's how the world is. It snows when some people are there and it snows when no one is there. There was snow before Daohe Palace was built, and if it collapses one day, the snow will still fall."

Ru Xian glanced at her sideways; her azure eyes reflected the dark snow, a fitting combination.

"Those who act contrary to the Way will one day fall. When you see this, will you be overjoyed or saddened?"

Lin Feiran didn't answer, but instead threw the question back at him, a hint of a smile in her eyes: "What do you think?"

Ru Xian raised her eyebrows: "I guess not."

If she cares, then she is still trapped in the past. A person trapped in the past cannot reach the present. Lin Feiran is a person who only moves forward and never looks back.

He had already realized this.

Lin Feiran nodded, then suddenly raised his hands and said seriously, "If you guessed correctly, there's a reward. Choose one."

"You're giving me a reward?"

Ru Xian looked at her with interest, as if hearing such words for the first time, her gaze shifting between the two: "In that case, I will naturally give you a chance to show your skills."

I'll choose both.

Lin Feiran feigned surprise, then nodded helplessly: "Fine, even if ten were placed here, you would still dare to choose all ten."

She spread her hands out; in her left hand was a snow sculpture of a bird with long tail feathers, while in her right hand was a long plum blossom made of ice.

Both were rather simple, only about the size of a palm, and looked like they were made on the spot.

Ru Xian was somewhat surprised: "So fast?"

Lin Feiran looked down and said, "When I had nothing to do before, I often played with the snow and practiced until I had some skills. However, my skills were not very refined and I could finish them in a few words."

The two walked forward together. Ru Xian looked at her hands and her arms twitched slightly as she reached out to take the item: "You've become a craftswoman. When you're short of money while traveling in the human world, you can earn some money with this."

"..."

Lin Feiran looked at him, her mind racing with calculations: "Making money this way? How many ice sculptures would I need to sell to buy one of your clothes?"

Ru Xian took the two trinkets and was examining the bird when she heard this. She paused, quickly understood the meaning behind her words, and her smile widened.

"It will probably be displayed on the busiest street for three to five years."

Lin Feiran suddenly became serious: "I've calculated it to be more than that."

Ru Xian couldn't help but laugh out loud, but because the two of them had come in secret, she had to suppress her laughter, revealing a rare and radiant beauty.

He stroked the bird's feathers and head, closed his eyes gently, a smile in them, and casually tossed a glimmer of light into Lin Feiran's arms.

"But if all you're doing is this, then I'll take it all."

Lin Feiran looked down and saw a heavy gold ingot hanging from her snow-covered arm.

"..."

That's what strength is all about.

For some reason, she immediately thought of those impoverished scholars in the book who, by a twist of fate, won the favor of wealthy young ladies, showered with gold and silver treasures, and rose rapidly in rank.

But there are still some differences. At least she rose to prominence on her own and then gained favor with others by chance.

She returned the gold ingot: "This is a gift for you after you guessed correctly, it's free."

Ru Xian wasn't coy at all. What difference did it make between his and hers? He put away the ice sculpture and casually placed the gold ingot into her mustard seed bag. When they approached the brightest part of the fire, the two of them stopped talking and only communicated with their eyes before moving forward.

In the once spacious and imposing dojo, there were still quite a few disciples practicing, but there were far fewer than before. There were no teachers or elders to be seen, but the elders' peaks all around were brightly lit with fire.

As Lin Feiran observed, she flew past like a hailstone. She was so familiar with this place that after searching several spots, she determined the location.

I heard that at that time in Luoyang, Wei Changzai fought against "Bi Sheng," who was actually Qi Chen. His fighting style was fierce and crazy, and he was almost determined to kill. He was seriously injured, but he still broke through Qi Chen's technique and went straight for Bi Sheng.

After she left, he fought Bi Sheng for several moves, but just as he was about to leave with Ru Xian, Zhang Chunhe rushed over and stopped him with an extremely fast arrow, then managed to take him away.

However, all of this was just a brief retelling, and Lin Feiran couldn't glean many details from it.

When the two finally found a certain place, they saw a straight figure kneeling beneath several rows of jade plaques engraved with the names of their ancestors.

He wore a light blue robe, his black hair was loose, his hands were tied behind his back with a magic rope, and a sword was placed on each side of him. His head was slightly lowered, as if he were atoning for his sins.

But where he looked down, there was another inconspicuous wooden sign.

Author's Note: No sick leave notice, but still an update, even if it's in the middle of the night... [melted]