I saw Shao Zaihuan again.
"You before?"
Changyou envisioned a slender woman with a high ponytail, practicing her sword day and night in the training ground.
“You used to cultivate very diligently. You were the best disciple in mastering the Wind and Snow Technique, which is why you became your master’s disciple and received his personal instruction.”
Changyou recalled the day she became an apprentice. The other disciples were all excited, but she remained calm as always, with only a slight smile on her lips.
“We only became close after you became my disciple. Even after that, you continued to cultivate diligently and were always at the forefront when doing missions. When you were alone, you often spaced out and seemed to be thinking about something, but when you were with others, you could chat and laugh a few words, and you became more approachable.”
Changyou thought about it and couldn't help but laugh, then sighed, "So I always felt that you should be among the crowd, but now, you are always getting injured, just like before, so I think it's fine for you to stay in the sect."
Yu Zhu suddenly felt a dryness in his throat. He swallowed and after a while said, "Senior brother, have you forgotten what you learned in your Taoist class? Everything in the world has two sides; there is no absolute good or bad."
Changyou chuckled, "Azhu is magnanimous; it's Senior Brother who's too attached to appearances."
"It's getting late, I have to go now. Are you waiting for Jingxu?"
Yu Zhu hesitated for a moment, "Hmm... let's wait a bit."
Changyou left.
Yu Zhu looked up at the sky, and it was still the same calm, azure sky, unchanged. Was the person looking at it still the same person?
Yu Zhu leaned against the pillar, her thoughts drifting away with the floating clouds in the sky.
"Senior Sister?"
Jingxu appeared at some point, his expression as gentle as ever, but Yuzhu keenly sensed that something was off about his mood.
"What did the sect leader say to you during all this time?"
Jingxu didn't react and kept walking forward with his head down.
"Jingxu?"
Yu Zhu tugged at his sleeve, pulling Jing Xu back to reality.
Jingxu turned to look at her. "What's wrong, Senior Sister?"
"What are you thinking about? You seem distracted. What did the sect leader say to you?"
"It's nothing, my family just sent some more things to the sect. The sect leader said that if this trip goes smoothly, I can go home for a visit."
"Going home? Then why do you... seem unhappy?" Yu Zhu's voice trailed off.
"No, I'm just worried."
Yu Zhu strode forward, saying, "There's always a way out, don't worry."
"That's right!"
Yu Zhu smiled and turned to look at Jing Xu, "I left your sword there when I was leaving the ruins, and the one you were using broke too. I found a piece of material at Luo Bai Ju, which should be suitable for you to use now if I forge a sword. I'll go and forge it in a bit."
Jing Xu was taken aback. "Senior sister, there's no need to go to such trouble. I'll just grab one at random."
Yu Zhu waved her hand, "It's no trouble. This is how it is in the early stages of sword practice. Back then... I also ruined several swords. It was only after I practiced for a while that I was able to get the Azure Frost sword."
Jing Xu's lips tightened, and after a moment he smiled and said, "Then thank you very much, Senior Sister."
"Now that this matter is settled, would you like to visit Kanzhou, Senior Sister?"
Yu Zhu raised her eyebrows slightly, and Jing Xu continued, "If Senior Sister wishes, why not come with me to Kanzhou? Kanzhou is also a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery."
"I need to think about it. I should go to the Sword Forging Hall now."
Jingxu followed Yuzhu to the Sword Casting Hall.
Forging a sword requires spiritual power. Tomorrow they will be heading to Wan Deng City, so Yu Zhu gave up the idea of forging the sword himself and handed the materials over to a disciple of the Sword Forging Hall. After careful communication, he forged the sword for Yu Zhu.
Yu Zhu watched from the side, flicking in a few streaks of azure spiritual light before the sword was quenched. This would enhance the sword's coldness and benefit the Wind and Snow Technique.
The apprentice who forged the sword was extremely skilled, and soon a sword with a bluish gleam was completed.
After inspecting the sword, Yu Zhu handed it to Jing Xu.
Jingxu took it, gazed at it for a long time, and said, "Senior Sister, aren't you going to give this sword a name?"
“There’s no need to name it. You won’t be using this sword for long; it’s just for a transitional period. Besides, we usually name the swords that we can use for a lifetime,” Yu Zhu explained.
"in this way."
The next day, Changyou set off for Baili.
Baili was on Shuihua Fairy Island.
Shuihua Fairy Island is truly a suspended island, capable of drifting from the northeast coast eastward to the south coast and back again. A hundred years ago, the Baili clan chief, in order to guard the Bi'an Gorge, kept the island stationed on the northeast coast, where it never moved again.
Yu Zhu and Jing Xu transformed into different forms and descended the mountain. They took turns riding their swords and arrived at Wan Deng City at noon.
The other disciples of Yingtian Sect had not yet arrived. Jing Xu had booked two superior rooms at the best inn to rest and wait for them.
As Yu Zhu walked up the stairs, she suddenly heard the innkeeper fawningly say, "Young Master Shao is back! I..."
Yu Zhu's brow twitched. She felt like she'd heard those words before. She instinctively turned around and saw a familiar face.
Loose hair, baggy clothes, still as unrestrained as ever.
What is Shao Zaihuan doing here?
As if sensing something, Shao Zaihuan was about to turn his head to look at them when Yuzhu quickly turned around and pulled Jingxu behind her upstairs.
Shao Zaihuan squinted as he watched the two figures on the stairs disappear around the corner.
Yu Zhu pulled Jing Xu into the room and exclaimed impatiently, "Shao Zaihuan is here too!"
Earlier, when we were at Fangcaozhou, Shao Zaihuan had quietly left without us noticing. I had planned to ask him why he went to investigate Fangcaozhou, but I didn't get the chance.
Jingxu said worriedly, "I hope he didn't go to Butterfly Valley."
"Probably not. Qianzhang City isn't far from here. He's probably just going back to Qianzhang City and stopping here for a rest," Yuzhu said dryly.
"Jingxu, you jinx."
Outside Wan Deng City, on the way to Manyie Valley, Yu Zhu and Jing Xu spotted a man in purple, close-fitting clothes, leaping through the air from afar.
If it wasn't Shao Zaihuan, then who was it?
Shao Zaihuan, who was moving forward rapidly, suddenly stopped, turned around and looked straight at them—then, seeing a large group of people, he seemed to be startled and fell down a bit.
Yu Zhu closed her eyes and looked at the others, who were venturing into the Butterfly Valley alone, while she had more than twenty people behind her.
To ensure maximum safety, all the Yingtian Sect disciples who were on missions near Wandeng City rushed over. They met up outside the city and, after walking less than twenty li, spotted Shao Zaihuan ahead.
When they reached Shao Zaihuan, Yuzhu ignored the half-smile on Shao Zaihuan's face and led the team straight over him.
Shao Zaihuan's smile vanished, and he flashed to Yu Zhu's side, standing next to her.
"I waited here specifically for the fairy, but she ignored me. It's really heartbreaking," Shao Zaihuan said in a pretentious tone.
Yu Zhu: "..."
Shao Zaihuan glanced at the people behind him. "Is Fairy also going to Butterfly Valley? Just a friendly reminder, there's not necessarily everyone who can get in."
Yu Zhu and Jing Xu exchanged a glance.
"Thank you for the reminder, young master," Yu Zhu said curtly.
Shao Zaihuan sighed resentfully, "Fine, if you don't believe me, then I'll take my leave and depart from this place of sorrow."
After saying that, he lightly touched the ground with his toes, leaped far away, and disappeared from Yuzhu's sight in an instant.
Because they were traveling with a large group of people, Yu Zhu and her companions had to walk a little slower.
Upon arriving at the entrance of Manyie Valley, Shao Zaihuan was nowhere to be seen.
Yu Zhu and the others got ready and stepped into the valley.
Upon entering, a sea of flowers greets the eye, the entire valley resembling a vibrant, colorful carpet woven from fresh blossoms. The air is filled with the sweet fragrance of flowers, almost intoxicating, drawing everyone forward without resistance.
Suddenly, a trembling sound came from the air.
"Are those... locusts?"
In the distance, a dark mass flew over.
"A butterfly, it's a butterfly!"
There are so many butterflies! They're so dense, like a wall or a net, enveloping everyone.
The group summoned their weapons to defend themselves, but the weapons passed right through the butterflies without causing any damage.
Instead, a butterfly flew by, its wings flapping, scattering iridescent phosphorescent powder.
The butterfly fluttered by like a gust of wind, obscuring everyone's view. When they opened their eyes, they were surprised to find that Yu Zhu and Jing Xu were gone.
When Yu Zhu and Jing Xu opened their eyes, they found that they were still in the same place, but the sea of flowers was gone, replaced by a desolate wasteland.
"Those with spiritual ailments, please come inside for diagnosis and treatment," Jing Xu said in a low voice.
Yu Zhu followed Jing Xu's gaze and saw a stone not far away with this sentence hastily written on it in ink. Looking further into the distance, there were several thatched huts standing in the distance.
Yu Zhu: "Then let's go."
The two gripped their swords tightly, cautiously moving forward while keeping a close watch on their surroundings.
The thatched cottage door was tightly shut. Jingxu knocked on the door and then heard footsteps.
With a creak, the old wooden door was pulled open, and Shao Zaihuan stood inside with an impatient look on his face.
Upon seeing them, it was as if a sudden realization dawned on him: "No wonder they seemed familiar, it's you guys!"
Yu Zhu was taken aback, then realized that once they entered this ruin, the illusion magic on their bodies would stop working.
Shao Zaihuan glanced at them and chuckled, "Are you two mentally ill? One of you is sick, and the other is sick as well."
Yu Zhu frowned, gave him a hard shove, and stepped into the room. Jing Xu followed closely behind, bumping his shoulder hard against Shao Zaihuan, who let out a muffled groan.
In the hall, a man with white hair and a youthful face sat behind a table.
"Is this the Sage of Spiritual Light?" Yu Zhu asked Jing Xu softly.
Jing Xu shook his head, frowning as he stared at him. The Sage of Spirit Light was a member of the Spirit Clan and had already ascended to heaven; he shouldn't still be here.
"Would you two like to see a doctor?" the man asked in a clear and pleasant voice.
Yu Zhu replied, "Yes, thank you... Your Majesty."
"Then please let this one go first." Lingguang smiled and gestured to Jingxu.
Jingxu lifted his foot, but Yuzhu reached out to stop him and said to Lingguang, "Let me go first."
"Senior sister, no need, I—"
"Tsk, what's the use of you all pushing and shoving each other here? If you don't do what he says, he'll just keep giving you that sinister smile." Shao Zaihuan said through gritted teeth. He sat down to the side, picked up a pestle, and pounded it with a heavy thud.
Yu Zhu looked at Ling Guang, who, as expected, maintained the same expression as before as he looked at Jing Xu.
"Senior sister, I've gone. Young Master Shao has probably already tried it; everything is fine."
Jingxu sat down in front of Lingguang. Lingguang opened her mouth, and Jingxu stretched out his hand, making a gesture as if he were taking her pulse. His lips opened and closed, but Yuzhu didn't hear a sound.
Yu Zhu wanted to get closer, but found that there was an invisible barrier blocking her way.
Yu Zhu frowned and looked at Shao Zaihuan, "What's going on?"
Shao Zaihuan rolled his eyes. "You really think I'm a scout? I came alone. How was I supposed to know it would turn out like this? This is the retribution for ignoring me before, huh."
Yu Zhu gripped the hilt of his sword tightly; he waited.
After a while, Jingxu came out, and Yuzhu hurriedly asked, "How did it go? What did he say?"
Jing Xu gently grasped Yu Zhu's shoulder and said softly, "Senior Sister, don't worry. He did diagnose my condition and asked me to clean up the room on the left before treating me."
"What? The room on the left? Why do you get to stay in the best room?" Shao Zaihuan suddenly shouted, "I, a dignified man... am being treated like this."
Yu Zhu glanced at him disdainfully, then whispered to Jing Xu, "Then I'll go take a look at him. During the consultation, people outside can see inside, but they can't hear anything. I guess it's to protect the patient's privacy."
"good."
Jingxu watched as Yuzhu sat down, and Lingguang reached out to take her pulse.
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