In the twilight.

The rosy clouds were reflected in the clear lake.

Qin Luo stood on the lakeside covered with green grass, bowing deeply towards the Divine Eye Lake, and Xuan Qing followed suit.

A goddess in a green robe appeared on the lake. Jiang Yao moved lightly and gracefully. "Master Qin, we meet again."

Qin Luo smiled and nodded, "When I passed through Poyang City, I heard the people talking about Shenyan Lake, so I took the opportunity to come and see it. Please forgive me if I have disturbed you, senior."

Jiang Yao slowly walked to the lakeside. Her beautiful face was flawless, and she smiled gently as she said, "I really hope to meet Master Qin again and hear you play another tune."

Qin Luo looked at the flower shadow beside him.

Hua Ying felt that the goddess in front of her looked somewhat familiar, so she took out a bamboo flute and handed it to Qin Luo.

Jiang Yao noticed this scene, her eyes crinkling with a smile, and said softly, "May I ask how the fairy is addressed?"

“Azi.”

Hua Ying replied casually.

She disliked Hua Ying's identity as the Director of the Imperial Observatory.

"Azi?"

Jiang Yao murmured softly, then chuckled, "I am Jiang Yao from the Heavenly Court, the Star Goddess who governs the Milky Way."

A very soft flute melody began, gentle as a spring breeze. Jiang Yao and Hua Ying both looked at Qin Luo, who was holding a bamboo flute, his eyes closed, playing it with great care.

Jiang Yao could sense the change in the flute's sound. It lacked the previous vigorous vitality and freedom; now, the flute's sound carried a sense of vicissitudes accumulated over the years.

Birds flew around Shenyan Lake in the mountains, and Qingxuan hummed along softly, enjoying the tune Qin Luo played.

After a gentle flute melody, the music gradually became more cheerful, giving Jiang Yao a feeling of withered trees coming back to life, and even Hua Ying's eyes brightened considerably.

Jiang Yao seemed to have rediscovered her youthful self. She stood on the lake and danced, her green dress swaying and her long sleeves fluttering. Her dance steps were light and graceful, and her exquisite dance made even the flowers unable to look away.

Hua Ying rubbed her eyes.

When the flute music faded, starlight flooded into Shenyan Lake. Qin Luo opened his eyes and was greeted by a dreamlike and enchanting scene, as if he were in a dazzling starry sky, unable to distinguish between heaven and earth.

"To restore the glory of the dragon race is our inescapable duty!"

Xuanqing raised his arms and shouted.

All eyes fell on Him.

Xuan Qing hurriedly scratched his head, "I'm talking nonsense!"

Qin Luo and Hua Ying exchanged a smile.

Jiang Yao stood on the starlit lake and looked at Qin Luo. "I can sense from the flute music that Master Qin has experienced a lot, but your original intention seems to have remained unchanged."

Qin Luo thought for a moment and sighed, "Along this journey, I've seen all sorts of scenery, my state of mind has undergone tremendous changes, and I've had many unnecessary distracting thoughts that have troubled me for a long time without any answers. Instead of thinking so much, it's better to live well; that's the most important thing."

"That makes sense."

Jiang Yao nodded with a smile.

Qin Luo, holding the bamboo flute, cupped his hands in greeting, "Senior, if there's nothing else, we won't disturb you any longer."

Jiang Yao smiled gently and said, "There's nowhere convenient to stay nearby, so why don't you rest here and we can chat."

Qin Luo looked at Hua Ying, "What do you think?"

Hua Ying laughed and joked, "Thank you, Goddess Sister. I saw that he was exhausted when he was in Zhuxi Town. I advised him to rest, but he wouldn't listen and insisted on walking all the way to Shenyan Lake."

Qin Luo smiled but didn't explain. He handed the bamboo flute to Hua Ying and said, "Would you like to play a tune?"

After taking the bamboo flute, Hua Ying wiped it with her sleeve, then looked at Qin Luo with a haughty gaze. She picked up the flute and played, the melodious sound drifting into the distance.

Qin Luo sat on a large, snow-white rock by the lake. He closed his eyes and listened to Hua Ying's flute music, which seemed cheerful but contained a faint trace of sadness.

Xuanqing huddled by the lake, tears streaming down his face as he thought of his deceased mother.

Even Shenyan Lake rippled.

The flute music grew softer and softer until it fell silent, and the whole world became quiet.

"Waaaaah!"

Xuanqing hugged Qin Luo's leg and cried.

Qin Luo gently patted its back, looked at Hua Ying, and said with a smile, "Look how touched it is!"

What do you think?

"It sounds great!"

Jiang Yao could hear the regret in Hua Ying's flute playing. The flute music ended gently, "Knowing that there is nothing that can be done, one should accept it as fate. It is best to let go!"

Hua Ying put away her bamboo flute and sat down next to Qin Luo. Seeing that Xuan Qing was still crying, she tapped him on the head.

The lakeside fell silent once more.

Jiang Yao sat on a nearby rock, looking at Qin Luo and Hua Ying, and smiled slightly, "I once heard the Dao Ancestor preach that cultivating the Dao requires wealth, methods, companions, and a suitable environment. Have you thought about this issue?"

Qin Luo and Hua Ying locked eyes.

"I haven't thought about it."

Hua Ying didn't think much of it.

Qin Luo thought for a moment and said softly, "The Tao is always inactive, yet nothing is left undone. I feel that these things cannot be forced."

Jiang Yao nodded and smiled, "Master Qin is right. These things cannot be forced. I think you two are a good match. If you want to become Daoist partners, I am willing to be a witness."

The lakeside suddenly became quiet.

Qin Luo didn't expect Jiang Yao to be so direct.

Hua Ying was stunned for a moment, then spoke first: "I stopped cultivating a long time ago, there's no future for us."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yao said nothing more.

...

late at night.

"I'm a little sleepy."

Qin Luo lay down on the white stone to rest, and Xuan Qing rested his head on Qin Luo's arm; they slept soundly.

Shenyan Lake is exceptionally tranquil at night.

Jiang Yao stood up, looked at the sleeping Qin Luo and Xuan Qing, and then winked at Hua Ying.

Hua Ying followed Jiang Yao for a walk at Shenyan Lake.

Thank you for your kindness.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!