She must know the truth
A few days later.
When Zhou Suyao was finally able to walk slowly in the courtyard with the support of her third senior brother Zhou Zonglan, the bamboo house welcomed another visitor.
It’s Mingluo.
She recovered earlier than Zhou Suyao, but it was clear that she had also been badly injured in that battle. Her face was still pale, and her body was so thin that it seemed as if a gust of wind could blow her away.
The loose robe seemed a little too ill-fitting on her body. Her once bright eyes seemed to be filled with deep sadness and lingering fatigue.
Her steps were slow, and each one seemed laborious, like a fragile glass doll.
"Su Yao..." Ming Luo's voice was very soft, with the weakness of someone who had just recovered from a serious illness.
"Ming Luo!" Zhou Suyao's heart tightened. She wanted to step forward, but her third senior brother calmly held her shoulders. She was slightly startled, but she still stood still, following his force.
Soon, Ming Luo walked in front of her, his eyes fell on her, and seeing her pale but spirited face, he finally revealed a very forced smile.
"It's good to see that you're okay." She smiled gently, but that smile was filled with too much unspeakable pain and gratitude.
The two sat down in the bamboo pavilion in the waterside pavilion. Zhou Zonglan silently retreated to a distance, stood with his sword in his arms, and stared at Ming Luo vigilantly. His eyes were not friendly at all.
After a moment's silence, Mingluo lowered her head. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the corners of her clothes, as if some unspeakable emotion was lingering in her heart.
For a long time, the only sound around was the rustling of bamboo leaves in the wind.
Finally, she raised her head and looked directly into Zhou Suyao's eyes. Within those eyes, which were filled with sadness and fatigue, a faint but unwavering flame seemed to ignite deep within them.
"Su Yao..." Her voice was still soft, but it carried a desperate determination, "I... I want to rebuild the Xincong Sect."
Zhou Suyao was slightly stunned.
Ming Luo carefully took out an object from his bosom—an ancient jade plaque with a slightly chipped edge. The jade plaque was smooth and warm, with the word "faith" engraved on it.
The jade token's light was dim, even covered with tiny cracks, as if it would break at any moment. But Ming Luo's fingers, gripping it, were so tight that their knuckles turned white. Zhou Suyao understood that this was an unquestionable obsession.
"This is... the last leader token of the Xincong Sect." Ming Luo's fingertips gently stroked the cracks on the jade token. His voice was very soft, yet remarkably clear. "The mountain gate was destroyed, fellow disciples perished, and the tradition was nearly extinct... That devil Xuan Yangming destroyed not only the Xincong Sect, but also its foundation and soul for a century."
She raised her head, tears glistening in her eyes, but the flames burned even more fiercely. She said firmly, "I will not let the Xincong Sect die out like this. As long as I am still breathing, as long as this token is still there... the Xincong Sect... will still be there...!"
Her gaze passed Zhou Suyao and looked at the rolling sea of clouds in the distance, as if she had penetrated time and space, and saw the mountain gate that had become ruins, and the fellow disciples who had parted ways because of it.
"I know this is difficult, harder than climbing to the sky. Maybe throughout my life, I can only see a tiny spark, and can only change a tiny bit... But some things have to be done by someone."
Mingluo's voice was very soft, with an almost tragic calmness.
"But there are some things that someone has to do. Not for the hatred of the past, but... for those who once existed and had."
She turned back and looked deeply at Zhou Suyao, her eyes filled with pleading and a desperate trust: "Suyao...are you willing to help me?"
The wind blew through the bamboo pavilion, ruffling the scattered hair across Mingluo's forehead and stirring the tassels on the jade tablet in her hand, which carried the weight of history and her final hope. Her frail body trembled slightly in the wind, but her back remained straight, like a thin bamboo that refused to break in a storm.
King Zhou Suyao was filled with all kinds of emotions when he saw this girl who had suffered so much damage but was still so stubborn as to insist on carrying up a collapsed sect.
There is admiration and also heartache.
But she still hesitated.
Her eyes accidentally swept over Zhou Zonglan who was not far away. Seeing the barely noticeable frown on his brow, Zhou Suyao's heart sank.
Their concerns are the same.
The Chengxian Dao and the Xincong Sect were, after all, two distinct sects. Zhou Suyao was, first and foremost, a disciple of the Chengxian Dao, her master's last disciple, and the younger sister of her three senior brothers. Her foundation, her heritage, her responsibilities were all inextricably linked to the Chengxian Dao's sea of clouds and sword tomb.
Just when the atmosphere in the bamboo pavilion was becoming subtle, a low, tired, yet unquestionable, majestic voice slowly rang out, like a clear spring in a mountain stream.
"Suyao, Miss Mingluo."
Zhou Shanyuan had silently appeared on the waterside pavilion without anyone noticing. His wide robes fluttered gently in the breeze, his pale face almost transparent in the sunlight. Only his deep eyes rested calmly on them, and on the broken jade token.
"Senior Brother." Zhou Suyao nodded slightly at him.
Ming Luo also hurriedly stood up and bowed respectfully: "Senior Zhou."
Zhou Shanyuan nodded slightly and slowly walked into the bamboo pavilion. His gaze lingered on Zhou Suyao's face for a moment, as if gently examining whether the energy in her dantian had returned to its pre-war state. Then, his gaze slowly settled on Mingluo.
"Rebuilding the mountain gate and igniting the spark is also a great courage, and this ambition is commendable." His voice was calm, and his expression was not much fluctuating. Zhou Suyao frowned. This senior brother seemed to be the same as the aloof immortal in the illusion.
However, the eldest senior brother was unaware of her change and continued, "The inheritance of the Xincong Sect has its own destiny. Miss Mingluo is the bearer of the inheritance. This is destiny and a great honor."
When Mingluo heard this, tears welled up in his eyes again and he nodded vigorously.
"Yes." Zhou Shanyuan changed the subject and looked back at Zhou Suyao, saying, "Suyao."
"You are a disciple of the Immortal Path, and your foundation lies here. Helping others is your loyalty, and protecting them is your duty."
Zhou Suyao instantly understood what her senior brother meant. She was grateful for his help, but she didn't show it on her face. She bowed slightly and said calmly, "Disciple understands." Turning to Mingluo, she said, "Mingluo, I will do my best to provide you with help and support within the scope of the immortal path. As for the important task of rebuilding the Xincong Sect's mountain gate and passing on the Taoist tradition, it naturally falls to you to shoulder it."
These words were spoken firmly, and Zhou Zonglan, who was not far away, had his tightly furrowed brows slightly relaxed.
Ming Luo, standing by, had a momentary look of disappointment in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by understanding. She clenched the jade token tightly in her hand and spoke firmly, "Su Yao, Senior Zhou, I understand. Ultimately, I must forge the path of the Xincong Sect on my own. I only ask... during these initial days, Cheng Xian Dao... to protect Ming Luo a little..."
Zhou Shanyuan nodded slightly. "Although the Chengxian Dao and the Xincong Sect have had some conflicts in the past, as both are spiritual practitioners, protecting those who practice the Dao is our duty. You can temporarily stay in the guesthouse outside the mountain gate and recuperate. Once your injuries have stabilized and you wish to rebuild, the Chengxian Dao will do its best to facilitate your efforts."
Such a promise not only gave Mingluo a foothold, but also drew a clear line in the sand for Chengxiandao's assistance.
Zhou Suyao didn't show it on her face, but her heart was already full of admiration for her senior brother.
"Thank you, Senior Zhou!" Ming Luo bowed deeply, tears slowly sliding down his eyes.
Inside the bamboo pavilion, the atmosphere relaxed.
Mingluo was weak and couldn't stay for long. Zhou Shanyuan originally wanted to arrange for Zhou Zonglan to take her to the guesthouse, but he couldn't resist Zhou Suyao's plea to go out for some fresh air, so he finally let Zhou Suyao take her to the guesthouse.
"Big Brother, I'll just send Mingluo off and then I'll be back. I'll stay near the mountain gate and won't wander around."
She looked at Zhou Shanyuan, her tone pleading. She was really bored and wanted to take the opportunity to talk to Mingluo alone.
Zhou Zonglan frowned, and the muscles in his arm holding the sword were tense, showing his strong disapproval.
"Senior Brother..." He looked at Zhou Shanyuan, seeking the final decision from the senior brother.
Zhou Shanyuan's gaze fell on Zhou Suyao. He was silent for a while, and finally nodded slightly, his voice seemed too calm: "Go."
Zhou Suyao breathed a sigh of relief and cast a grateful glance at her senior brother. Then she carefully supported Ming Luo and slowly walked along the winding bluestone path towards the guesthouse near the mountain gate.
A sea of clouds transformed the mountainside into a fairyland. The air was fresh and cool, almost like a hint of cold dew within the mist. Away from the heavy atmosphere of the bamboo hut, Zhou Suyao instantly felt the heaviness in her chest dissipate considerably. She glanced slightly sideways, gazing at Mingluo's pale face and the hand tightly gripping the jade token. She whispered, "Mingluo... The road to rebuilding your sect is difficult. Have you truly thought it through?"
Ming Luo paused slightly, but didn't stop. Her voice was soft and choked with sobs, yet her resolve was palpable. "I must have thought it through... Suyao, do you know? During those dark days in the Imperial City, what kept me alive wasn't just my hatred for Xuan Yangming, but also... my longing for the aroma of that bowl of plain noodles in the Xincong Sect's dining hall."
Her voice paused slightly, then she continued, "Xincong Sect is more than just a mountain gate; it's my home, the place where all my memories belong. Without it, my heart would be filled with emptiness."
Zhou Suyao felt a mixture of emotions. She naturally understood Ming Luo's obsession with "home," because the path to immortality was also like that for her.
However, now, she seems unsure that this is her "home".
The mountain breeze was cool, and it blew through the bamboo forest, making a continuous rustling sound. It was a peaceful and tranquil scene, but the two people walking in it had heavy stones pressing on their hearts.
The silence lasted for a long time, with only the sound of footsteps on the bamboo path.
"Mingluo..." After a long while, Zhou Suyao finally spoke, her voice very soft, "That day, when Xuan Yangming attacked Xincong Sect, what exactly... happened?"
She asked cautiously, knowing that it would only reopen the wounds that hadn't yet healed. But...she had a reason in her heart to know the whole story.
What kind of connection do Xuan Yangming, his elder brother, and his master have with each other? And does all this have any significant connection to the Xincong Sect and the Three Pulse Flowers?
Mingluo's footsteps paused slightly. She lowered her head and did not answer immediately. Her eyelashes trembled violently, and the fingers that were clenching the jade token tightened a little more. Her shoulders began to shake slightly uncontrollably.
Beside her, Zhou Suyao's heart also tightened. She reached out her hand and gently placed it on the back of Mingluo's cold hand, patting it gently.
After taking a few more steps, Mingluo slowly raised her head. Her eyes were red, tears welling up in them. Her lips seemed to be trying hard to open and close several times before finally, a broken sob escaped her.
"That day...it was very dark."
"The mountain protection formation only lasted less than half an hour... before it... shattered like paper."
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