One year later.

It's spring again.

On this day, the peach blossoms were exceptionally beautiful.

It's as if I know an old friend is returning.

Ring ring!

At the foot of the mountain, a familiar bell sound rang out.

Qin Shou knew that his little apprentice had returned.

——

The mountains are shrouded in mist, and pink petals have fallen on the winding stone steps.

It rained lightly last night, wetting the mountain steps...

A pale yellow dress fluttered across the moss-covered mountain steps. When she reached the halfway point, she slowly climbed the mountain. Her beautiful eyes glanced around, and the peach blossoms were in full bloom, while the mountain scenery remained unchanged.

It was as if... I had never left.

"Woof woof~~"

A small yellow mongrel followed behind her. The cat-sized dog was quite agile, leaping lightly over the stone steps to keep up with Luo Yunyan.

The man and his dog slowly climbed up the mountain.

......

"Yunyan is back."

On the mountaintop, the spring breeze remained unchanged, ruffling the immortal's robes and bringing a hint of a smile.

The girl looked up and around, as if it were all yesterday.

She then removed the sword case from her back, knelt down, and bowed her head in worship.

"Disciple Luo Yunyan greets Master."

A sincere voice often knocks on the door of a soft heart. Qin Shou's eyes reddened, filled with relief, as if he saw the figures of many old friends in her.

"He's willing to speak now; it seems his inner turmoil has subsided."

"Get up."

Qin Shou reached out and helped the girl in front of him up.

"Thank you, Master."

The girl had an oval face, beautiful eyebrows, eyes like stars and autumn water, and a clear, crisp voice like the sound of wind chimes rippled on the water in February.

"It's good that you're back."

Qin Shou smiled and nodded, and the master and apprentice chatted briefly about their usual routines.

"Woof woof~"

At this moment, the little mongrel at Luo Yunyan's feet barked at the Qin beast, and then ran around the Qin beast twice with great pride.

call out--

Just then, a large orange cat with a golden back and white belly pounced from under the peach tree, knocking the little mongrel onto its back. The two creatures rolled several times from the momentum of the attack.

When it stopped, the big orange dog pressed down on the little mongrel's neck with one paw and slapped its head with the other, all the while meowing "meow meow meow~". It looked as if it was saying, "Who told you to dare to disrespect my handsome, extraordinary, invincible, awesome, and awesome master, you little mongrel, you're asking for a beating!"... Qin Shou thought to himself.

"This is a little stray dog ​​I found on my way back. It was being beaten badly by a big dog, so I fed it a pill, and it's been following me home ever since."

Luo Yunyan explained.

The Qin beast smiled and nodded, watching the two creatures fight, which looked both comical and lively.

"Yunyan, you're back!"

A surprised exclamation rang out.

Da Mei, holding a book, sped over from a distance.

The two looked at each other and naturally took each other's hands.

Da Mei expressed her longing for Luo Yunyan, and Luo Yunyan, as always, nodded and listened attentively, responding with a smile.

"Huh! Little Bell, Black Rabbit, Little Bell is back!"

Little Fatty let out an excited shout.

"Squeak! Little Fatty, let's see who rolls to Little Bell's side first."

"Alright, let's have a competition."

Then, two chubby little boys, one black and one white, rolled over from the funeral parlor at breakneck speed.

……~(~o￣▽￣)~o. . . ……o～(＿△＿o～) ~. . .

That idiot Black Rabbit rolled over and tumbled all the way down the mountain!

Little Fatty glanced at Black Rabbit, uttered a disdainful remark, and then clung to Luo Yunyan's leg, saying:

"Little Bell, did you bring us any delicious food? We promised that if you came back, you would bring me and Yicheng lots and lots of delicious food."

"Mmm." Da Mei nodded. I can vouch for her; it was a one-sided agreement between my sister and Yi Cheng.

"I brought it."

Luo Yunyan spoke and took out several storage rings.

"These are for you, Yi Cheng, and Black Rabbit."

"Da Mei, I have yours too, lots of pretty little dresses."

Luo Yunyan traveled to many places, spending all her time on two things: practicing swordsmanship relentlessly, and collecting novel items wherever she went—toys, food, clothes...

"Thank you, Yunyan!"

Da Mei has more dresses than she can wear, but who would complain about having too many dresses?

"Holy crap! Little Bell, you're so loyal!"

"They brought us so much delicious food!"

"There are so many things that even I, the King of Koi, have never seen before!"

Little Fatty looked at the piles of delicious food that were as high as small mountains in his storage ring and let out a series of delighted shouts.

"Let me see, let me, your Uncle Rabbit, take a look."

Black Rabbit rolled up as well, holding the storage ring and exclaiming in amazement, saying that Little Bell was really loyal, and that if anyone ever bullied her, Black Rabbit would be the first to get revenge.

Qin Shou rolled his eyes at these words, thinking that this guy probably didn't know his own limitations.

"Yunyan, you should go into seclusion and recuperate."

Qin Shou could tell that the little guy's aura was disordered, indicating that he must have been in a major battle not long ago.

"Yes, Master."

Luo Yunyan nodded and went to a training ground established by the Qin beast in the back mountain to cultivate in seclusion.

"Master, is Yunyan alright?" Da Mei asked with concern.

"Something's up." Qin Shou nodded and smiled, "But it's good news."

"That's good." Da Mei smiled and lightly leaped up to go read a book on the back hill.

"Golden tiger, hit it! Hit it!"

"Hey, Black Rabbit, look! Doesn't this little mongrel look just like you? It's so pitiful."

"Squeak, just like you, just like how you looked when Yi Cheng bullied you..."

"Nonsense, it looks exactly like when Yi Cheng bullied you!"

"Squeak—, just like you, just like you, just like you—!!!"

"Ahhh... Black Rabbit, just like you!!!!!"

Little Fatty and Black Rabbit lay on the ground watching a dog and a cat fight. As they watched, the two started arguing and ended up fighting. The dog and cat stopped and watched the two fight.

"Meow meow~~!!"

"Woof woof~~!!"

"Meow meow meow meow~~~~!!!"

"Woof woof woof woof woof~~~~~!!!"

......

One day later.

Xiao Xuan sent a message.

Nangong Zheng, who participated in the destruction of the Luoshui Sect a hundred years ago, died, and the entire heretical sect behind him was wiped out.

Legend has it that on that day, a woman arrived riding a sword and borrowed 100,000 swords from the Sword Pool of Dongling. The sword energy raged for three days without ceasing, leveling the entire Demon Cave.

The old ancestor of the Evil Ghost Sect, who was at the half-step Void Realm, died.

Nangong Zheng, who was already an inner sect elder, was pierced through the heart by ten thousand swords, and his soul was scattered.

This battle is considered one of the most classic examples of "defending the superior against the inferior," and thus it has been recorded in history.

"Having rid myself of the demons within, I can now pluck the broad path to heaven."

Qin Shou looked towards the back mountain and murmured.

......