When Shu Lan arrived at Zheyan Peak, he found that Venerable Lieyang was already standing there waiting for him.
"Senior brother, I..."
"You came here for your little apprentice, didn't you?"
Shu Lan nodded anxiously, "What happened to Xiao An?!"
Venerable Lieyang gestured for Shulan to sit down. "I've already questioned the disciples who went down the mountain for training, and they confirmed that Qin An disappeared near Hong'an Village."
"The demons in Hong'an Village aren't very powerful; the highest-ranking one is only at the Golden Core stage. Xiao'an can handle them perfectly well!" Shu Lan had some understanding of the mission in Hong'an Village, and he believed that Xiao'an would have no problem there.
“That’s what’s puzzling me.” Venerable Lieyang frowned and stroked his beard. “The disciples said that Qin An was with them during the day to eliminate demon cultivators, and they all rested together at night. But when they went to Qin An’s room the next morning, they found that Qin An was gone.”
"Based on my guess, Qin An disappeared on the first night," Venerable Lieyang concluded. "Something must have happened on the first night that forced Qin An to leave. Later, perhaps he encountered some trouble, which is why he hasn't been able to return."
"Did those disciples discover anything?" Shu Lan looked at Venerable Lieyang with some hope.
Unable to bear seeing Shu Lan's disappointed and dejected appearance, Venerable Lieyang closed his eyes and sighed deeply: "No."
"Those disciples stayed there for several days and searched the surrounding area many times, but they found nothing."
Shu Lan's spirits immediately waned, and he stared blankly at his hands. These were the very hands that had just been joyfully knitting Xiao An's birthday present. Now, someone told him that Xiao An was missing, and the present could never be given…
Venerable Lieyang finally opened his eyes, and as soon as he did, he saw Shulan looking completely lost. He couldn't help but gently pat Shulan's shoulder: "Don't be so sad, there is actually some good news."
When she heard the words "good news," Shu Lan's eyes lit up slightly: "What good news?"
"I just went to check the back hall and found that Qin An's natal soul lamp is still there and hasn't gone out. This might be the only good news right now."
"The soul lamp is still burning, which means Xiao An is still alive!" When Shu Lan heard that Qin An's natal soul lamp had not gone out, a huge weight was lifted from his heart. He couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope: "Then, does that mean I will be able to see Xiao An again?"
"It definitely will!" Venerable Lieyang, unable to bear seeing Shu Lan's disappointed expression, reassured him. However, what Venerable Lieyang didn't tell Shu Lan was that even if the natal soul lamp didn't extinguish, it was possible that the person was forever trapped in one place, unable to escape. There had been instances where a cultivator's natal soul lamp hadn't extinguished, yet they never returned.
However, Venerable Lieyang didn't voice this guess, because he couldn't bear to see his junior brother so devastated. It was better for him to keep that hope in his heart. With hope in his heart, there was still something to look forward to.
And so, Shu Lan returned to Tinglan Peak, coming to the gate of the Star River Sect day after day, waiting without ceasing through spring and autumn, through cold and heat, rain or shine, waiting for Xiao An's return.
Gradually, Shu Lan stopped talking and smiling. Only when his senior brother, Ye Feiyu, Kong Xiang, and Zhang Keke spoke to him could he show a genuine smile.
He usually keeps to himself and always has a cold face. He remains polite and distant to anyone who speaks to him.
Only when he went to the main gate of the Star River Sect to wait for Xiao An each day could he truly relax, gazing tenderly into the distance, letting his thoughts drift away...
As Qin An's disappearance dragged on, rumors began to circulate within the sect, with disciples believing that something terrible had happened to him.
"Alas! Have you heard? It's said that our martial uncle has been killed by demon cultivators!"
"Hey, who told you that? I heard it was that my martial uncle went missing?"
"Oh dear, you actually believe that your martial uncle is missing! He's been missing for so long, he must have met with some misfortune!"
...
"Hey, hey, hey! You all need to stop talking! Our grandmaster is here!" Just then, a disciple tugged at the one who was talking the loudest and quickly reminded him.
The disciples immediately turned around and saw Shu Lan standing not far from them with a cold expression. They were all startled and quickly scattered.
One disciple muttered to himself as he walked, "I remember my grandmaster wasn't like this before. Why is he so cold and scary now?"
Seeing the disciples scatter in panic, Shu Lan took a deep breath and calmed himself down. To be honest, he had overheard their conversation, and he was genuinely angry.
However, he also knew that it wasn't their fault; everyone has a gossipy nature. Besides, Qin An had truly been missing for so many days without returning; who wouldn't be suspicious?
Shu Lan exhaled a breath of stale air and turned back to her small courtyard on Tinglan Peak.
He walked to the orchid tree, gently stroked its trunk, and stared intently at the profusion of blossoms.
Due to the formation on Tinglan Peak, the temperature in the area where the Cold Orchid Tree is located is relatively low, which allows it to bloom profusely all year round.
Shu Lan sat under the orchid tree, where there was a table and chairs. Usually, Xiao An would sit opposite her. But now, that seat had been empty for a long time.
Shu Lan would look at the trees full of blossoms for a while, then at the empty chair opposite him. His gaze was very empty, as if there was something there, yet also as if there was nothing at all.
After a long while, Shu Lan finally murmured, "Xiao An, your birthday has arrived, and I've made all your birthday presents. When are you coming back? I miss you so much!" His eyes were brimming with tears, and his hands kept stroking the auspicious bird jade pendant tied to his waist, a gift that Xiao An had once given him.
Meanwhile, beneath the Abyss of Fallen Demons.
Qin An awoke from his meditation once more, staring blankly at the hazy void. His hand unconsciously reached into his robes and pulled out a dark blue hairband, his fingers gently stroking it. It was the hairband his master had used to tie his hair on the day he participated in the freshman competition.
He has kept that headband ever since that day.
Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, he took off the auspicious bird jade pendant from his waist, threaded it through with his master's dark blue hair ribbon, tied it around his neck, and placed it close to his heart.
This immediately brought Qin An a great deal of comfort.
"Brother Shizun, I miss you so much! Wait for me, I'll see you soon!"
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