Bathed in the breeze atop the clouds
We bid farewell to that deep blue starlight and eternal silence.
Ling Zhan's figure moved swiftly through the deep mountain forest.
Within the body, the pure energy drawn from the cave transforms into a warm current, cleansing the limbs and nourishing every inch of the bones.
The power of the Asura Space Marine at his peak, at the Great Perfection of the Meridian Opening Realm, became increasingly clear, as if it were only separated by a thin veil, within reach. Although this power was not of the same level as other interstellar beings, it was more than enough for this physical body.
However, the cold emptiness deep within my soul, like an unhealable wound, still aches faintly.
Zero's "offline" status leaves behind a void that is difficult to fill.
Ling Zhan did not choose the perilous path he had taken to get here, a path that required extremely precise calculations to avoid.
A strange, almost instinctive longing to return home drove her.
Yet, they subconsciously avoided the deadly miasma and the sheer cliffs that had once provided zero warnings.
With her enhanced senses and keen intuition about the direction of the water flow, she wandered aimlessly and decided to go upstream along a rushing mountain stream.
The stream roared, like a thousand horses crashing against the dark, jagged rocks, splashing up icy, bone-chilling water mist that filled the narrow valley floor.
Ling Zhan transformed into the most agile mountain spirit, leaping and climbing among the slippery, moss-covered boulders.
The prediction of zero was lost.
Every step, every movement.
They can only rely on their honed fighting instincts and the power they possess at this moment.
Instead, it imbued her movements with a primal, wildly powerful rhythm.
I don't know how long I climbed against the current, but the roar of the water gradually subsided.
The mountain range ahead suddenly opens up!
A colossal cliff, as if cleaved by an ancient giant's axe, stretched across the sky and blocked the way.
The mountain stream rushes down from the top of this cliff, forming a waterfall that, though not wide, is full of powerful force, like a silver ribbon hanging down.
Water flows down from the cliff, so what would the scene be like above the cliff?
A long-lost, pure curiosity flashed in Ling Zhan's eyes.
She adjusted her breathing, circulating the warm yet powerful energy within her body.
Using both hands and feet, she began to climb up the wet, moss-covered, and tough old vine-covered cliff face beside the waterfall.
A wave of cold, damp air washed over her, wetting her hair and the thin animal skin garment, bringing a refreshing coolness and a sense of cleanliness.
She found herself actually enjoying the feeling of being enveloped by natural water.
When her fingers finally gripped the smooth, weathered rock at the edge of the cliff, and she struggled to climb up—
A vast mountain meadow, wide enough to cleanse away all the dust of the world.
Like a giant green carpet suddenly unfolding between heaven and earth, it crashed into her eyes without warning and overwhelmingly!
Here, it feels like a secluded paradise, gently cradled in the palm of the mountains.
The terrain is flat and open, with lush green grass stretching to the horizon, seamlessly merging with the clear blue sky. Countless unnamed wildflowers, like scattered stars—elegant white, bright yellow, and dreamy purple—sway in the breeze under the golden sunlight, dancing a silent dance.
A gentle breeze blows, and the grass ripples in the breeze—
It brings the fresh fragrance of grass and earth, as well as the crisp, pure air from the distant, majestic snow-capped peaks. Several ancient pines, gnarled and weathered by time, stand alone on the edge of the grassland like silent and loyal guardians, casting dappled shadows.
Tranquil, magnificent, and full of vitality.
In stark contrast to the dreamy coldness of deep caves, this place is full of primal and abundant vitality, free and pure.
The sun shone down without any obstruction, warm and dry, dispelling the chill of the climb.
The wind is free and unrestrained, the grass is soft and elastic, and the world is so vast that it makes one's heart tremble.
Ling Zhan stood on the edge of the cliff, the mountain wind billowing her clothes, and for a moment she was stunned and speechless.
This was the first time since she transmigrated to this wild and untamed world that she had so clearly felt a pure, harmless beauty belonging to nature itself. There was no bloody battle, no cold-blooded scheming, and no heavy pressure to survive.
There is only boundless blue, endless green, free wind, warm sunshine, and the vibrant scent of lush vegetation.
She slowly stepped into this soft green sea...
The grass beneath her feet gently supported her weight, making a soft rustling sound.
Her nerves, stretched taut like a bowstring for so long, involuntarily relaxed under the soothing embrace of this vast, open sky and gentle breeze. She could even clearly feel the new, dormant power within her becoming exceptionally active yet docile and peaceful in this vibrant environment, like a tamed wild horse.
call……
A long, drawn-out sigh, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from the depths of her soul, escaped from her tightly pursed lips. She tilted her head back, closed her eyes, and let the unreserved golden sunlight bathe every inch of her skin, feeling the gentle breeze caress her cheeks like a lover's fingertips, listening to the rustling of the grass and the clear, melodious chirping of the distant mountain birds.
Relax.
This was a word that was almost a luxury for the former Asura warrior.
For the first time, it was imprinted on her consciousness so clearly and so deeply.
She simply let her body fall backward, sinking into the thick, soft meadow.
The rich, fresh scent of grass instantly enveloped her gently, while the warm sunlight soothed her weary muscles. The pure energy within her body flowed naturally along her meridians without conscious guidance, nourishing and repairing every tiny bit of damage.
The cold, lifeless silence left in my mind by Zero's departure.
It seemed that the warm breeze and bright sunshine on the mountaintop had slightly dispelled and melted away some of the gloom.
She lay there quietly...
Empty your mind of all thoughts, as if your entire soul has merged into this world, entering a meditative state of complete absorption. Time loses its measure here, only the rising and setting of the sun and moon, and the shifting of light and shadow.
I don't know how much time passed, maybe several hours, maybe a whole day...
A soft, curious squeak suddenly rang out from above.
Ling Zhan didn't open her eyes immediately, but the instincts ingrained in her bones as a Shura warrior instantly pinpointed the source of the sound—
Right above her head, on a branch of the ancient pine tree with its gnarled and twisted branches.
She slowly opened her eyes, her gaze calm and undisturbed.
A small monkey covered in glossy golden-brown short fur was perched on a branch not far from her, its fluffy little head tilted to the side, its large, round, clear eyes, as clear as fine amber, staring at her intently and without blinking.
It is small and exquisite in size, but its tail is exceptionally fluffy and long, like a flexible brush, which curls and sways nimbly behind it.
In one of its little paws, it tightly clutched a half-eaten, juicy, purplish-red wild fruit.
Seeing Ling Zhan looking over, the little monkey wasn't scared away. Instead, it squeaked twice more, its tone slightly rising, as if tentatively greeting him. Its eyes held none of the wariness and ferocity common in wild animals, only a childlike curiosity and a hint of… barely concealed mischievousness?
Ling Zhan sat up, moving very quietly.
The little monkey immediately shrank back warily, its fluffy tail curling nervously in front of it, but its little paws still gripped the wild fruit firmly, its large amber eyes staring intently at her, full of inquiry.
Looking at this spirited little creature, like a wild mountain elf, Ling Zhan felt as if a tiny pebble had been thrown into her frozen heart, causing barely perceptible ripples. She didn't try to get closer, but instead took a small piece of roasted roe deer meat, which was still slightly burnt and fragrant, from the animal skin bag beside her and gently placed it on the soft grass.
Then, she withdrew her hand, stopped looking at the monkey, lay back down, and closed her eyes again, as if nothing had happened.
The little monkey was scratching its ears and cheeks on the branch, looking rather agitated...
Its little nose twitched incessantly, greedily capturing the enticing aroma of dried meat wafting through the air.
It glanced at the dark brown, delicious treat on the ground, then at the human under the tree, eyes closed, seemingly fast asleep. After much hesitation, its nimble body finally moved! Like a swift golden lightning bolt, it darted down from the branch in a flash! Almost instantly, before its feet even touched the ground, it had the piece of jerky firmly grasped in its paws!
But it didn't immediately flee back to the safe heights. Instead, it crouched in the grass a few steps away from Ling Zhan, its large amber eyes watching her warily and intently... Seeing that Ling Zhan remained motionless and breathing steadily, it finally relaxed a little.
It carefully held the rather large piece of jerky, opened its little mouth, and began to crunch and gnaw on it—
They ate until their cheeks were bulging, making soft, satisfied sounds.
Its fluffy tail swayed gently and happily behind it, almost unconsciously.
Ling Zhan closed his eyes, and a barely perceptible, extremely slight upward curve appeared at the corner of his lips.
She remained in a "sleeping" state.
Yet, I could clearly "hear" the monkey's satisfied chewing sounds, like a light and cheerful mountain tune.
The next few days.
Ling Zhan seemed to temporarily forget the hustle and bustle below the mountain, the responsibilities on her shoulders, and the cold silence deep within her soul, completely immersing herself in the tranquility bestowed upon her by this mountaintop grassland. She would practice the Asura Body Tempering Technique in the early morning when the thin mist swirled and the tips of the grass were covered with dew.
The movements remained powerful and sharp, yet strangely incorporated a smoothness that harmonized with the natural rhythms of the surroundings.
She would casually lie down on the thickest meadow for a nap when the midday sun was at its most intense and generous, feeling the sunlight penetrate her thin eyelids and dye the world a warm red. In the evening, when the setting sun melted gold and gilded the entire grassland and the distant snow-capped peaks with a magnificent red hue, she would quietly lean against the gnarled trunk of an ancient pine tree, gazing at this magnificent picture between heaven and earth.
And that little golden-brown monkey.
He became her only lively companion, or rather, a curious neighbor, during her short "mountaintop vacation".
It seemed to quickly identify Lingzhan as a safe and reliable source of delicious "snacks".
When Ling Zhan was cultivating, it would perch on a higher treetop, tilting its little head, curiously imitating her complex and powerful postures, twisting itself into various comical and adorable shapes. When Ling Zhan closed her eyes to rest, it would muster its courage and quietly approach, using its little paws to nimbly search for hidden grass seeds, insects, or ripe berries in the grass not far from her, occasionally making soft rustling sounds.
And whenever Ling Zhan took out that jerky that it had been eyeing, it would always dart out from some corner at the first moment, squatting not far away, gazing at her with its big, wet, expectant amber eyes.
Upon receiving the gift, they would immediately and contentedly hug the dried meat, jump onto a safe rock or tree branch, and savor it.
What's even more amusing is that this little thing seems to understand the concept of "reciprocity."
Occasionally, it would use its fluffy tail to curl up a bright red berry that it thought was particularly plump and sweet, or a small pebble that had been washed smooth and round by the stream and had natural patterns, and drop it with a "plop" onto the grass not far from Ling Zhan, then quickly dart back up the tree and peek out to observe her reaction.
One person and one monkey.
On this secluded mountain meadow, a wonderful and warm, unspoken understanding has formed.
There was no deliberate interaction, only the generosity of the sun, the caress of the breeze, the sharing of food, and a pure, undisturbed yet mutually supportive tranquility. This tranquility isolated them from the hustle and bustle of the world and temporarily soothed the wounds of their souls.
Ling Zhan clearly felt an unprecedented sense of relaxation.
The muscles that had been taut like iron for years gradually relaxed, and the cold, hard lake of the heart seemed to be gently stirred by the free and unrestrained breeze on the mountaintop and the pure, curious, and unguarded gaze of the little monkey, with a warm ripple.
This was the first time since she came to this strange and cruel world that she was not struggling for survival or fighting for responsibility, but truly and purely enjoying a period of time that belonged to herself.
The mountain breeze cleanses the lungs, the companionship of the monkeys brings warmth, and the pure energy within the body flows endlessly.
For a fleeting moment, Ling Zhan even had a fleeting impulse—to settle down here, live in seclusion, be accompanied by the gentle breeze and bright moon, live with this clever monkey, and stay away from all the hustle and bustle down the mountain.
However, almost simultaneously, several tender little faces clearly appeared before her eyes: Tiger's stubborn eyes, Bean Sprout's thin figure, Big Girl's thoughtfulness, Daya's silent resilience, and the youngest girl's timid dependence...
The children's longing eyes when they looked at food, and their complete trust when they looked at her, were like invisible threads, gently tugging at her heart.
When she finally lifted her head from this intoxicating tranquility, her gaze involuntarily turned towards the village below the mountain, with its thick thatched roofs, sturdy gates, and a ring of rough stone walls, a sense of belonging welled up within her—a sense she had never anticipated and was unwilling to delve into.
The time to leave has finally come.
Ling Zhan realized that someone was waiting for her to return down the mountain.
That was the "home" she had promised to protect.
Ling Zhan stood on the edge of the cliff she had climbed to get here, taking one last deep look at the grassland that had given her soul a brief respite and warmth.
The sunlight was perfect, casting a golden glow on the green carpet of earth. A small, golden-brown monkey perched atop the crown of the tallest, oldest pine tree, its bushy tail drooping and swaying gently in the morning breeze. It tilted its head, its large amber eyes fixed on her, a small, green wild fruit clutched in its tiny paws.
Ling Zhan remained silent for a moment, then took out the last and largest piece of jerky from her bag and gently placed it on the flat, warm rock where she often lay and rested. Then, she raised her hand and waved it very slightly in the direction of the little monkey.
There was no lingering, no sentimental farewell.
She turned nimbly and, with a more agile and steady gait than when she came, quickly began her descent down the steep cliff face.
The roar of the waterfall filled our ears once again.
As she landed steadily on the damp rocks beside the mountain stream, and habitually looked up at the cliff top, through the hazy mist, she could still vaguely see that small golden figure, still stubbornly perched on the highest branch of the ancient pine, like a stubborn star that refused to fall against the backdrop of the vast and distant sky and earth.
Ling Zhan withdrew his gaze, took a deep breath of the fresh air from the foot of the mountain, which carried the fragrance of grass and trees, and identified the direction of Kaoshan Village.
I took my first steps and embarked on my journey home.
Behind her, high on the cliff top.
The golden-brown monkey stared at the tempting piece of jerky on the large rock for a long time, then stretched its neck and looked down the cliff where Ling Zhan's figure had disappeared. Instead of immediately rushing down to enjoy the food, it nimbly scrambled down the tree and quickly ran to the patch of grass where Ling Zhan often lay. It vigorously pawed at the flattened grass with its little paws, then sniffed it closely, as if confirming that the human had truly left.
Then, it seemed to accept reality.
It ran back to the rock, picked up the piece of jerky that was quite heavy for it, and nimbly darted back to the tall ancient pine branch.
It perched on a branch, facing the direction Ling Zhan had left, and squeaked twice more.
This time, the voice seemed a little lower, carrying a hint of barely perceptible reluctance and... lingering curiosity?
Then, it lowered its head and carefully, in small bites, began to nibble at the piece of jerky—
Its fluffy tail swayed gently in the morning light, like a small flag.
As Ling Zhan swiftly traversed the mountain forest, his sharp eyes scanned the surrounding vegetation.
She needs to find some plants that are easy to transplant, grow quickly, and can provide sustenance.
There are children at home who are waiting for her and need more food.
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