Chapter 120

The book flew up with a whoosh and landed right in Liu Xunqin's hands. She smoothed out all the creases.

"You didn't really come here to study. Since that's the case, why waste my time?"

Yue Changge gave a light cough. "How do you know I wasn't studying? I was clearly looking."

"Because you've been like this since you were young," Liu Xunqin said without changing her expression. "When you're not focused, I can tell at a glance."

As soon as she said that, both of them were momentarily stunned. Liu Xunqin was surprised that she could actually recall her junior sister from five hundred years ago, while Yue Changge truly hadn't expected to be so easily seen through by her.

Yue Changge propped her chin on her hand, looking thoughtful. "Back then, you were even less patient. When you couldn't finish your homework and I asked you a couple of times, guess what you said?"

"You said coldly—'Yun Shuchen must have finished it, go ask her.'" After saying that, Yue Changge let out a snicker, her lashes lifting leisurely.

Liu Xunqin frowned slightly. She felt this woman had no conscience saying such a thing. If she remembered correctly, she had important business that day, which was why she had fobbed her off. But during the years of sect assessments, through every night spent studying around the table, it was definitely her who answered Yue Changge's questions more often.

"Anyway, now that you're an elder, no one will test you on that," Liu Xunqin finally closed the book. "Besides, what you said is true—many mediocre people are unwilling to explore profound Daoist principles and are more easily drawn to flamboyant sights and sounds. Writing it that way sells better."

Yue Changge's fingertip twirled a strand of her hair. She said slowly, "I have someone in my heart, so I want to know a thing or two. It's not just for writing stories."

"This book is yours. It's detailed enough—read it yourself." Liu Xunqin looked at her and let out an almost inaudible sigh, then suddenly stood up and walked out.

Yue Changge held the book, about to say something else, but found the doorway empty—Liu Xunqin was already gone. She sure left quickly.

Liu Xunqin stepped out and suddenly saw a white figure approaching—it was Junior Disciple Qing. Calculating the date, she must be here to fetch medicine for her master. Although Yun Shuchen's condition had improved considerably, after being entangled by two poisons for so long, her constitution was still weaker than others. There was no need for the previous medicine, but Liu Xunqin still prescribed some mild formulas to nourish her body.

Since they ran into each other, she handed it over. Liu Xunqin also gave her a paper packet, which felt like it contained a few bumps, a bit rough to the touch.

Qing Zhouxue asked, "Senior, what is this?"

"Seeds of the Cunkun Grass."

Cunkun Grass has extremely strict growth requirements; the slightest mistake and it withers. Hence, its numbers in the world have dwindled, and now only the Lingsu Peak of the Taichu Sect still has surviving plants.

Qing Zhouxue had heard of this spiritual plant—it seemed to be briefly recorded in the 'Records of the Taichu Realm.' Although it had no medicinal value, it could be used to test for poison—no matter how minuscule the amount, just sprinkle a tiny bit, and the Cunkun Grass would wither at a visible speed.

"In the coming years, you won't need to come for bloodletting anymore," Liu Xunqin gave this as a gift as well. "Although your self-healing ability is extremely strong, after all these years of testing, this blood is just ordinary blood—nothing unexpected."

Qing Zhouxue nodded. She watched as another graceful figure emerged from the medicine hut behind Liu Xunqin. Looking closely, it was Senior Yue. Curiously, Senior Yue rarely wore such a cold expression, seemingly not in a good mood.

Back on Heyi Peak, Yun Shuchen casually asked about her colleagues, and Qing Zhouxue brought it up in conversation, telling her master everything in detail. Qing Zhouxue was holding a flowerpot, carefully sifting the soil inside to prevent insects, then sprinkled the delicate Cunkun Grass seeds over it.

"You also ran into Yue Changge?" Yun Shuchen suddenly smiled. "Though it's not surprising to run into her at Lingsu Peak."

She seemed to have a sudden gossipy streak and interrogated her disciple very carefully. Fortunately, Qing Zhouxue had a good memory, but she hadn't expected her master to be interested in the relationship between the two elders. When she narrated how Elder Yue had 'walked out of Senior Liu's room with a cold expression,' Yun Shuchen couldn't help but let out an 'mm.' It sounded quite meaningful.

"Master, are you worried that they don't get along?" Qing Zhouxue looked at Yun Shuchen deep in thought and found it a bit odd. She herself never cared about others' affairs, but her master seemed to have some insight into this. Whatever insights she had—useful or not—Qing Zhouxue was always willing to listen.

"Naturally not." Yun Shuchen pointed out subtly, "If you don't understand this, read the storybooks a few more times, especially that one, 'The Senior Sister Above'—then you'll understand naturally."

That evening, Qing Zhouxue really did reread it. The moment she put down the book, she wore the same meaningful expression as her master.

Reading storybooks was leisure; cultivation remained the priority. She heard that Ruan Mingzhu's master had forced her into seclusion, so she had no choice but to step into the cold stone walls, beginning her dark, sunless days—ten days to half a month at a time without seeing a single living creature. As for how Qing Zhouxue knew of Ruan Mingzhu's misery—naturally, it was because a note had been slipped through a crack in the stone wall, and the family-raised golden eagle picked it up and, riding the east wind, flew it to Heyi Peak.

Lin Xunzhen seemed to have made considerable progress after the battle with the Lingxu Sect. She had been out of sight lately, apparently busy, likely preparing to break through. Senior Sister Bai Su followed Senior Liu every day to take consultations, as consistent as ever over the years. The cultivation path for the medical lineage was quite different; as for specifics, Qing Zhouxue had no idea.

After the Immortal Ascension Assembly, the candidates had been chosen, but no one had a moment to celebrate—they were all busy.

Mid-stage Spirit Transformation. Qing Zhouxue thought of those four words and occasionally felt a headache coming on. She found that her mind wasn't as easily stilled as before. Every time she saw her master, she couldn't help but think of things unrelated to cultivation, like a stone cast into a lake, stirring ripples everywhere. Her meditation speed unconsciously slowed and stalled. She remembered that a few years ago, when she and the inner disciples had studied formations with Yun Shuchen, she had also been easily distracted. It just wasn't as severe as now.

After a period of inner turmoil, she finally made up her mind one day.

That night, lamplight flickered drowsily. Yun Shuchen wearily turned over, pulling her clothes back into place, covering some faint red marks. As she and Qing Zhouxue were holding each other, about to sleep, a soft voice whispered by her ear, "I want to go into seclusion tomorrow."

Yun Shuchen opened her eyes, studied her for a moment, and hummed in response. "How long do you plan to go into seclusion?"

"Four years?" Seeing no answer from her master, Qing Zhouxue thought for a moment. "Two years would be better."

"Don't change it for me," Yun Shuchen said gently. "For cultivators, four years pass in the blink of an eye."

"I've only known Master for four times four years." But she added, "That's nearly my whole life so far. It feels like a very, very long time."

Yun Shuchen turned over again and said nothing.

Qing Zhouxue was slow to make decisions, but quick to act. She set aside one day to carefully explain all the medicine her master would need to take to A Jin, organizing everything in categories. After checking Heyi Peak thoroughly from top to bottom and finding nothing overlooked, she took the remnant manuscript left by that Ice Spiritual Root sword cultivator, along with her own sword manual, and returned to the room she had lived in when she was eight years old. The door softly closed, sealed by a restriction. Then, no sound was heard.

At that moment, Yun Shuchen was outside drinking tea, having deliberately kept her distance from her disciple these past days. Besides, Qing Zhouxue was busy bustling about, so there was indeed little time for idle conversation. She glanced at the tightly shut door and took another sip of tea. A furry ball huddled at her feet, unmoving, as if dozing.

"A Jin," Yun Shuchen nudged the cat awake, deep in thought. "What was I doing before I met her?"

"Which age does master mean?"

"The years before I met her."

"If not in seclusion, and not wanting to go to the main peak's morning meetings, master would rise around Chen hour, dress, tend the flowers and plants, feed the koi. After lunch, perhaps a nap in the afternoon, then upon waking, review sect documents, then bathe and read..."

So monotonous? Oddly, Yun Shuchen felt that before, she hadn't seemed so idle. Qing Zhouxue was a quiet person, but she brought an indescribable liveliness. That liveliness didn't linger in the ears but stayed truly in the heart.

These past few years, the sect had been calm, nothing happening. Yun Shuchen had completely slowed down, spending her days in meditation, which was no different from seclusion. Now that her health had improved, she truly wanted to pick a time to break through to Mahayana soon, heading to the final realm—the Tribulation Stage.

Two years passed in the blink of an eye. Qing Zhouxue hadn't gone into seclusion for four years; in the meantime, near the end of the second year, she briefly emerged.

Heyi Peak's scenery was as before. On the table lay a slightly old note, stiff to the touch; another note was softer and looked newer. Both bore the same handwriting in ink, saying "Happy Birthday." Each note was pressed down by a brocade box. When Qing Zhouxue opened them, the first contained a hollowed-out mermaid pearl, dazzling; the second was an exquisite sword tassel. They must be gifts from her master over the years. The second one wasn't as flashy, but she liked it more instead—like fate at first sight.

The cat licked its paw: "Master made that tassel herself."

Qing Zhouxue was startled. Her hands were so skillful? She wrapped the tassel around her wrist and couldn't help asking, "Where has Master gone?"

"Also in meditation, practicing with a focused mind," A Jin said. "Do you want to go see her now? I'm afraid..."

Qing Zhouxue saw her master's room was also tightly sealed. She shook her head; she had only come out to take a look. If all was well, she could rest easy. She turned and entered her room, tassel in hand, closing the door behind her. She devoted herself to cultivation, waiting for the next two years.