Yun Qing also found a clean spot to sit down, took out two small round cakes from her small bundle, and handed one to Chen Hao.
Chen Hao wiped his hands with his sleeve before taking the food and devouring it, finishing it in no time.
Just then, footsteps suddenly came from behind.
Yun Qing and Chen Hao turned around and saw a boy who looked a little older than them, about twelve or thirteen years old. He was wearing a moon-white brocade robe, which was stained with dirt and looked disheveled.
The young man's expression was cold and stern. He didn't even lift his eyelids when he saw Yun Qing and Chen Hao sitting on the rock, and continued walking towards the top of the mountain.
Yun Qing was initially indifferent until she saw the boy's face.
This person is clearly...
Yun Qing tugged at Chen Hao's sleeve and said, "It's getting late, let's go."
Chen Hao looked somewhat unwilling. He had never walked such a long distance before and was already feeling the strain. If he hadn't wanted to appear untrustworthy, he probably would have abandoned her and run away long ago.
Moreover, as he got closer to the Cloud Heaven Sect, Chen Hao belatedly became afraid.
Although his family spoiled him and made him unruly, their attitude would become serious whenever his second uncle was involved.
The few times Chen Hao had ever been beaten in his life were all because of his uncle. This time, he stole the communication jade pendant; if his family found out, it probably wouldn't be just a beating.
He was already overweight, and a meal of stir-fried bamboo shoots with pork was enough to kill him.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but tremble slightly, his voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "Yun Qing, do you think we should go back? My second uncle said that Yun Tian Sect isn't fun at all, and it's not as lively as our town."
Seeing Chen Hao's hesitation, Yun Qing waved her hand and said, "If you want to go, you can go back yourself. I'm definitely going to Yun Tian Sect."
Watching the boy's figure recede into the distance, Yun Qing felt she no longer needed Chen Hao, so she generously took out a few pastries from her bundle and placed them in Chen Hao's hand: "Here, this is your reward for accompanying me here. You don't need to accompany me on the rest of the journey."
With that, she turned and chased after the boy.
"Yun Qing!" Chen Hao looked at her thin figure and wanted to chase after her, but looking at the towering mountains and thinking of his stern second uncle, he finally lost his courage.
Yun Qing quickened her pace and walked forward, her two braids swinging behind her.
Hearing the voice behind him, Gu Changyuan's expression shifted slightly, and he quietly slowed his pace.
A short while later, a fluffy little head popped up next to him.
Yun Qing smiled and handed the pastries in her hand to Gu Changyuan: "Little brother, you must be hungry. Here, have some."
Gu Changyuan's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, but he ultimately looked away: "I don't want it, you can keep it yourself."
Undeterred by the rejection, Yun Qing tried to ingratiate herself: "My name is Yun Qing, what's yours? Judging from your appearance, you must be going to the Yun Tian Sect, right? We can go together."
Upon hearing the words "Yuntian Sect," Gu Changyuan finally began to look at her properly.
Yun Qing climbed the mountain for an hour, her face flushed. Although her two little braids were messy, her eyes shone incredibly brightly.
"What are you doing at the Cloud Heaven Sect, a mere child? Where are your family?"
"I...I have no family." Yun Qing lowered her head in disappointment.
No family? Gu Changyuan was not convinced by this answer. Although Yun Qing was not dressed well, she was obviously a young girl who had never suffered.
However, he couldn't help but feel a sense of shared misfortune, so he deliberately slowed down and kept a distance that was neither too close nor too far from Yun Qing.
Thinking about the purpose of his trip, Gu Changyuan's eyes gradually hardened, and his face returned to its previous coldness.
To conserve their energy, neither of them spoke again.
Baiyun Mountain was shrouded in mist, and the mountain breeze caressed their faces as the two figures gradually disappeared into the clouds.
An hour later, as the sun began to set, Gu Changyuan and Yun Qing finally arrived at the Yuntian Sect.
There were two guards at the mountain gate. Gu Changyuan was about to step inside when Yun Qing immediately reached out and grabbed his sleeve.
Gu Changyuan looked over in confusion.
"Um..." Yun Qing tiptoed and whispered in Gu Changyuan's ear, "Can I go in with you?"
"What?" Gu Changyuan looked at her in surprise. He thought Yun Qing, like himself, had come to visit an old friend.
Yun Qing's eyelids trembled, and she grabbed his sleeve, pleading softly, "Please, take me inside. I'll repay you when I become successful."
Gu Changyuan remained noncommittal, took out a jade pendant from his pocket, and handed it to the guards at the door: "Please trouble you two to inform Sect Leader Yun that Gu Changyuan has come to see you."
Upon hearing Gu Changyuan introduce himself, the two guards straightened their expressions: "Are you the eldest son of the Gu family of Yangcheng?"
"Exactly."
A moment later, a middle-aged man in a blue robe came out of the door. Yun Qing was taken aback, not expecting to see him so soon.
This person is none other than Yun Yanqing, the current head of the Yuntian Sect (who took Yun Wanyan's surname after their marriage).
Yun Yanqing strode over, and the first person to catch his attention was not Gu Changyuan, the son of his old friend, but the petite Yun Qing beside him.
He didn't know why, but he felt a surge of joy upon seeing this girl. Suppressing his doubts, he simply assumed it was because Yun Qing and Yun Helan were about the same age, and he couldn't help but feel affection for her.
Seeing the impressive presence of the newcomer, Gu Changyuan guessed his identity and quickly stepped forward to greet him, saying, "Junior Gu Changyuan greets Uncle Yun."
"Nephew, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise."
Yun Yanqing helped Gu Changyuan up and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "I already know about what happened to the Gu family. Please accept my condolences."
Gu Changyuan came from the Gu family, which was originally a family of cultivators, but it had gradually declined in the last hundred years.
Many years ago, Yan Qing was injured by a monster, but the Gu family saved him with the Thousand Mountain Snow Lotus.
Grateful for the Gu family's kindness, Yan Qing arranged a marriage between Gu Changyuan and Yun Helan when they were children.
Although Yun Helan disapproved of the marriage, the Yun family had not proposed annulment due to the relationship between the two families.
Who knew that the Gu family had offended someone recently and was slaughtered overnight, with only Gu Changyuan escaping with the protection of his guards.
However, his spiritual root was damaged during the escape, and it is unknown whether he will be able to cultivate normally in the future.
Mentioning the Gu family, Gu Changyuan's eyes dimmed for a moment, but the next moment, his eyes seemed to blaze with fierce fire again: the hatred of the massacre of his family was irreconcilable, and he was determined to kill his enemies with his own hands.
"May I ask who this young lady is?" Yun Yanqing's question interrupted Gu Changyuan's thoughts.
Yun Qing blinked frantically, casting pleading glances at him.
"She is the granddaughter of Steward Xiao, named Yun Qing. Her family members have all passed away."
Upon hearing this, Yan Qing's face showed a hint of pity.
“I feel sorry for this child, so I will stay with you at the Cloud Heaven Sect.”
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