Chapter 131: The Lotus Seed Returns to the Mortal Realm

"What is it, Master?"

Lan Shui gripped his fists tightly; he did not want to hear any more of such talk. "Master, could your judgment be mistaken?"

Qian Gui hesitated, withdrawing his hand and falling silent.

Xue Ze blinked, confused, as the memory of the recent shock returned to her. "Why are you all reacting so strongly? This strange phenomenon might have been caused by your channeling of vital energy to clear my meridians. Just moments ago, I felt agony throughout my body, but then every weight and restriction vanished instantly. I assume it was because of the pure magic you forced into me!"

Qian Gui, unable to focus on anything else, was filled with shock and suspicion amidst his contemplation. He could not help but speak slowly.

"No! We were merely trying to calm your internal chaos, fearing you would lose your spiritual roots due to the spirit-gathering array, but we never expected this. At that time, a surge of pure spiritual power erupted within you, knocking both me and Jiu Cang to the ground. Shortly after, the entire Snow Bamboo Grove was engulfed in your icy snow formation. Where did this sudden, overwhelming power come from?"

Xue Ze looked at Qian Gui in bewilderment. "Master, could you be mistaken? Not long after you left, I felt much better and gradually regained consciousness. No matter how powerful my ice formation is, it cannot defy the Heavenly Venerable!"

"Indeed, why did you wake up so suddenly?" Qian Gui wondered deeply, thinking, *Could it be that Xue Ze possessed immense spiritual power all along, only for it to be suppressed until now?*

Xue Ze pondered for a moment and replied, "At that time, I felt a suffocating pain suddenly vanish, and then I was awake!"

"Pain vanished? The suppression lifted? That was just when Lian Zi and Ji Lin had left. Could this be..." Qian Gui froze, nearly spitting out blood, and hurriedly stood up to walk aside.

"Master!" Lan Shui approached him. "Are you alright? What is going on?"

Qian Gui shook his head, pushing Lan Shui away to walk to a different corner.

Xue Ze was startled and asked anxiously, "Master, what did you say? Where did Lian Zi and Second Senior Brother go?"

"Xue Ze!" Seeing his master deep in thought, Lan Shui answered for him. "Lian Zi committed a grave error and was stripped of her status by the Heavenly Venerable. She has returned to her past life. The cold of the Heavenly Mountain is no place for her to linger, so we had Ji Lin escort her down the mountain."

"What? Why would you do that?" Xue Ze’s face clouded over with displeasure and sorrow.

Seeing her distress, Lan Shui walked to the bedside to comfort her. "According to the laws, Lian Zi should have faced capital punishment, followed by imprisonment in the Soul-Severing Cave. Master interceded on her behalf, and this was the best possible outcome. While you shielded her from the worst of it, she remains frail and must recover in the mortal realm. Though it is said to be a trial of exile, it is truly for her health, so do not worry!"

"But why didn't she say goodbye? We have never been separated before. How are we supposed to find peace like this?"

Xue Ze was devastated, and Lan Shui felt a surge of pain in his own heart.

"Do not be sad. We can still go down the mountain to see her! She waited a long time to say goodbye, but you did not wake up. She could not withstand the chill of the Snow Bamboo Grove, which is why Ji Lin had to take her away. Oh, she left a letter for you!"

Xue Ze’s eyes turned red as she took the letter, reading it with a heavy and sorrowful heart.

Lan Shui glanced over and saw that Qian Gui’s expression was grim, which left him feeling deeply puzzled. Qian Gui noticed Lan Shui’s gaze, signaled to him, and they walked outside together.

"Master, what is wrong? Is something wrong with Xue Ze’s health?"

Qian Gui shook his head. "It is not that, though I do not know if what I have discovered is a blessing or a curse. The spirit-gathering array of the Blue Lake and the Heavenly Venerable’s magic have triggered a vast, latent power within Xue Ze. Now, an unknown force surges inside her, which has left both me and Jiu Cang quite astonished."

Lan Shui sighed. "Is it because of Xue Ze’s extraordinary origins?"

"Perhaps! We must wait for Qing Lian to emerge from seclusion to know for sure. Keep this secret for now, lest those with ulterior motives find out. Since her return, Xue Ze has controlled the Snow Domain and wielded the ice needles—this has already invited jealousy; we cannot afford more trouble!"

"What is your theory, Master?"

"I hope that Xue Ze has merely inherited most of Qing Lian’s talent and shares some affinity with divine artifacts and the snow lotus. However, we can test her."

"How?"

"When Ji Lin returns, have him guard Xue Ze. You go and find the scrolls of the Three Great Arcane Arts. Each of you three shall choose one. I intend to teach you a powerful technique, and in doing so, test Xue Ze’s foundation and fortune."

Lan Shui felt a tightness in his chest, but eventually nodded. "And what about what you just..."

"It is nothing!" Qian Gui shook his head and walked off, lost in thought. Lan Shui would never know that Qian Gui had made another discovery—one he dared not disclose to anyone.

***

Ji Lin brought Lian Zi to the mountain forests of the mortal realm, channeled some energy into her, and fed her a pill. Having arrived in the mortal world, Lian Zi felt much better, though her heart remained heavy.

"I... I am back," Lian Zi said with a bitter smile, looking at the mortal scenery. "Second Senior Brother, will I never see the beauty of the Heavenly Mountain again?"

Ji Lin replied firmly, "We are still of the Snow Bamboo Grove, and you are still my junior sister; you will return. You must be careful in the mortal realm, stay vigilant, and cultivate diligently to foster excellent spiritual roots. When that day comes, you will be able to return to the Snow Bamboo Grove!"

Lian Zi nodded through tears. "Please, do not blame me. I could not control myself!"

"No, we won't. We all support you!"

"Second Senior Brother, let us stop here."

Lian Zi looked at the surrounding trees—green leaves turning yellow, maples tinged with light red. She knew that this mortal realm was her home now; the eternal seasons and fragrant flower seas of the Heavenly Mountain were things of the past.

Ji Lin looked at her with sorrow, saying reluctantly, "You must live alone now, so take good care of your health. Although you know some magic, you are but a Red Lotus spirit; do not get into conflicts with others!"

"I know. I will lie low, reflect in quietude, and not reveal my identity or invite suspicion."

"Where do you intend to go? How shall we find you in the future?"

Lian Zi looked ahead and smiled. "I plan to find a place with beautiful mountains and clear waters to settle down. If you wish to see me, look for ponds and lotus pools. If you see fields of red lotuses, that is where I reside!"

"Very well! You must take care of yourself!"

"I will. Second Senior Brother, you should return now."

Ji Lin nodded and immediately vanished, leaving no trace.

Lian Zi looked toward the Heavenly Mountain and smiled softly. *Xue Ze, you must be well! I failed in my duties as a maid, a disciple, and a junior sister, but I will do everything to make amends in the future. The Heavenly Mountain has its villains, and the mortal world has its troubles; we must both work hard and live on with strength.*

With mountains high and waters long, and the path deep and distant, Lian Zi slung her pack over her shoulder and walked westward.

To the west lay the Kunlun Mountains. Lian Zi hoped to settle between Kunlun and the Heavenly Mountain so that she might occasionally encounter sect disciples and old friends.

She was content with this outcome, for she had met Qu Ling’er not long ago and learned that she was approaching a great tribulation.

A Red Lotus encounters its first tribulation at one hundred years of age, and this year marked exactly one hundred years for Lian Zi. She had never been certain of her own birth date until Ling’er helped her investigate.

Ling’er had said, "Though you have left the Orchid Heart Pavilion and are no longer one of us, Master, out of kindness, asked me to warn you. You face your first tribulation at one hundred years, a second at five hundred, and then by multiples of five..."

Recalling this, Lian Zi knew her trial was near. She did not want Xue Ze to witness her crossing, nor did she wish to leave any regrets in the mortal world, so she chose to retreat.

*The crossing of a Red Lotus is a matter of life and death; I hope Xue Ze does not worry for me! I have no regrets in the mortal realm. I hope Feng Xing lives a life free of worries, and that he finds the peaceful world and the benevolent, enlightened monarch he seeks.*