I did it on purpose.
Led by the disciples of Tianyan Mountain, the three of them climbed the winding mountain path.
Over the past thousand years, Tianyan Mountain has grown increasingly powerful, becoming the undisputed number one sect in the cultivation world. And this title of number one sect naturally also signifies wealth and resources.
Everywhere you look, whether it's the smooth and translucent jade steps under your feet, or the intricate and exquisite auspicious cloud patterns outlined in gold thread on the doors and windows of pavilions and towers, the materials used, though not pursuing ultimate luxury, are all carefully selected superior items, showcasing profound heritage and grandeur in the details.
Repairing a sect may be easy with money, but the real challenge lies in gathering enough manpower and ingenuity to sculpt the entire immortal mountain into such a magnificent sight.
Yun Qian silently surveyed the magnificent buildings along the way, secretly thinking that once they returned to Cangmin Mountain, they should probably do some serious repairs. After all, they could be considered wealthy now.
To welcome this once-in-a-century event, Tianyan Mountain specially cleared out an entire side peak to accommodate guests from all directions. The allocated area varied depending on the number of participants from each sect.
The three of them, Yun Qian and her companions, were assigned a small, square courtyard in a secluded corner. The courtyard walls were woven from green bamboo, and the courtyard was lush with greenery. Several clumps of bamboo were arranged in a pleasing manner, and some unknown spiritual flowers were planted in the corner, emitting a faint fragrance. The environment was elegant and pleasant, with a unique tranquility away from the hustle and bustle.
In the center of the courtyard stood an antique stone table. Bai Chuan walked over first; the days of travel seemed to have taken their toll, his face showing obvious fatigue. He gently stroked the cool stone tabletop and sighed, "This stone table is quite nice."
As he spoke, he took out his usual medicine pot and several herbs from his storage bag, and skillfully began to start a fire and decoct the medicine. The rising steam mixed with the bitter aroma of the herbs gradually filled the air.
A doctor must first be able to heal himself.
Qin Wuze sat down on the stone bench opposite Baichuan, silently took out Sutian, and carefully wiped the cold, gleaming blade with a soft cloth, his expression focused.
Before long, the entire courtyard was filled with a strong medicinal smell.
Yun Qian stood in the center of the courtyard, a seemingly ordinary wooden sword now in her hand. She touched the ground with the tip of the sword, and pure spiritual energy surged from her palm, winding around the blade like a gentle stream. Her finger gestures changed so quickly that they were just afterimages, and finally, she joined her fingers together like a sword and lightly touched the hilt of the wooden sword.
The wooden sword seemed to be instantly imbued with life, emitting a soft hum before transforming into a streak of light. With a "whoosh," it plunged deep into the ground with astonishing force, leaving only a small section of the hilt exposed.
In an instant, it was as if an invisible barrier had silently descended, completely isolating all sounds and smells from outside the courtyard. Stepping into this small courtyard was like entering a brand new world independent of Tianyan Mountain, no longer subject to the monitoring and constraints of its protective array.
Returning to the group, it is complete.
Yun Qian didn't stop. She joined her index and middle fingers together and drew a line in the air. A mysterious silver talisman instantly formed and floated lightly onto the sword hilt. With a flash of light, all traces of the array, including the sword hilt, disappeared without a trace.
In this way, even if someone manages to sneak into this courtyard, they won't be able to leave easily if they don't understand the secrets of this formation, let alone find the core of the formation and break it.
Yun Qian's lips curled slightly, forming a faint yet somewhat cold arc, her gaze slowly sweeping over the courtyard sky, which was slightly distorted by the power of the array.
Tonight, this meticulously prepared, fortified stronghold will likely fail to catch any of the expected guests. But how long can those watchful eyes lurking in the shadows endure?
As night deepened, the moonlight, like water, gently spilled over the pavilions and towers of Tianyan Mountain.
Since leaving Cangmin Mountain, Yun Qian has always felt unsettled and has had trouble sleeping.
She quietly left the small courtyard where the array was set up and strolled towards a more secluded forest path.
The tender green leaves looked exceptionally fresh and lovely under the soft moonlight. Yun Qian paused, lightly touching her brow with her fingers, unlocking her long-closed senses.
Mount Cangmin is covered in snow all year round, and the cold is bone-chilling. Over the past hundred years, she has almost forgotten what summer looks like.
At this moment, a warm night breeze caressed my cheeks, bringing the faint chirping of cicadas in the distance. The air was filled with the sultry, humid scent of grass and soil left after being exposed to the sun all day, a scent unique to summer nights. All of this felt both familiar and strange.
Yun Qian gently furrowed her brows, her thoughts drifting away, once again thinking of Bai Ji. She wondered how he had fared in these past hundred years. Had he ever taken the time to appreciate the changing seasons? Was everything going smoothly and peacefully for him?
During the days since they descended the mountain, she, Qin Wu, and Bai Chuan had all been secretly keeping an eye on the Demon Clan's movements, hoping to catch a glimpse of Bai Ji. But, as if a stone had sunk into the sea, not a single word had come from him.
Yun Qian sighed almost inaudibly. Bai Ji, oh Bai Ji, why are you still so insensible? Even just quietly letting out a whisper that he's alright would put the three remaining members of our sect at ease.
The elaborate robe she wore, chosen for the occasion, felt particularly heavy and stuffy in the summer night. Cultivators, unless they could completely shut down their senses, probably wouldn't choose such inconvenient attire. Fine beads of sweat slid down Yun Qian's cheeks, dampening a few stray hairs at her temples. She raised her hand, fanning herself irritably; any fleeting nostalgia for summer had been almost entirely dispelled by the sticky, oppressive heat.
"If you're tired of this sweltering weather, why open up your five senses?"
A familiar voice, tinged with a lazy smile, rang out from behind him.
Yun Qian's heart skipped a beat, and she turned around instantly to look in the direction of the sound.
Not far away, in the shadow of an ancient tree, Lin Huaiyu leaned against something. He was dressed in a tea-white wide-sleeved robe, his arms casually crossed in front of his chest, his left shoulder slightly resting on the rough tree trunk, his posture indescribably elegant and graceful.
At such close range, Yun Qian had no idea when he arrived!
The moonlight outlined his delicate profile. He had a pair of extremely beautiful peach blossom eyes, with slightly upturned corners, which should have made him look affectionate. However, at this moment, his eyes were filled with a gentle smile as he gazed at her intently.
A hint of anger, a sense of being spied on and tricked, rose in Yun Qian's heart. This Lin Huaiyu was truly unpredictable and despicable! But at the same time, she was certain that Lin Huaiyu, at least for this moment, had no intention of harming her.
The reason was simple: she had her back to him and was completely unprepared. In that short time, given Lin Huaiyu's cultivation level, which allowed him to approach her so silently from behind, if he truly wanted to harm her, she would probably have died at least a hundred times over.
Since he did not make a move, it means that he does not want to be an enemy of her or Cangmin Mountain for the time being.
"You love secretly following others so much," Yun Qian retorted in a hostile tone, her eyes cold, "and why did you speak up?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Huaiyu's smile deepened. He strode over to Yun Qian at a leisurely pace.
One step, two steps... the distance between them grew closer and closer until they were only an arm's length apart, at which point he stopped.
He was considerably taller than Yun Qian. He lowered his eyes slightly, looking down at her. His gaze lingered on her face for a moment before he slowly replied, "I did it on purpose."
Yun Qian frowned even more deeply.
Lin Huaiyu continued, his voice deep and magnetic, carrying an indescribable allure: "If I don't speak, you will never notice my existence."
As she got closer, Yun Qian could see his eyes more clearly. Under the moonlight, they appeared dark and bright, as if they contained the stars and the deep sea. Being stared at so intently by him, Yun Qian inexplicably felt the air around her thinner, and her aura unconsciously weakened.
As the night breeze blew by, Lin Huaiyu seemed to catch a whiff of her crisp, clean scent, somewhat like the smell of fresh snow after a snowfall. But snow, after all, has no scent.
"What exactly is your purpose?" Yun Qian forced herself to calm down, raised her chin slightly, and asked the question that had been lingering in her mind for a long time.
In this world, no one approaches another without a reason. All she wanted to know was why this eccentric Lin Huaiyu had gone to such lengths to get close to her.
"Why... can't I sense your cultivation level?" Lin Huaiyu asked, seemingly changing the subject.
Yun Qian pursed her lips, simply looking back at him calmly without uttering a word. She was determined not to speak unless he directly answered her question.
Lin Huaiyu gazed at her for a long time, his gaze seemingly trying to pierce through her skin and see into the depths of her soul. After a while, he suddenly turned his head and chuckled softly, the sound particularly clear in the quiet night. Then, he bent down, his handsome face close to Yun Qian's, their eyes level.
“My cultivation is clearly superior to yours, yet I cannot sense your level of cultivation at all.” He paused, his tone filled with genuine puzzlement and inquiry, “What secrets are you hiding?”
Yun Qian remained silent, her eyes calm and unwavering.
She was waiting, waiting for a clear answer from Lin Huaiyu.
"Are you waiting for my answer?" Lin Huaiyu saw through her persistence.
Yun Qian's brows twitched slightly, but she stubbornly remained silent. He was too close; her warm breath was almost audible, and this oppressive feeling that exceeded her safe distance made her extremely uncomfortable. She subconsciously wanted to take a step back.
However, just as he lifted his foot slightly, he heard Lin Huaiyu clearly say, "I have no purpose."
His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear, carrying an indescribable sincerity.
“Or rather,” he said, looking directly into Yun Qian’s suddenly raised eyes, “I am not your enemy, and I will never be the enemy of Cangmin Mountain.”
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