Chapter 040: Descending the Mountain Alone

Lan Shui was just about to reply when he suddenly saw his master’s feathered pigeon flying back from outside the mountain. He caught the pigeon, took the items it brought, and released it again. “Junior Sister, this is what the prince’s residence sent. Let’s go to Daoquan!”

“All right!”

Lan Shui led Xue Ze to Daoquan, took the spring down the mountain, and stopped only at the intersection where Tianshan met the outside world.

“This place is the Misty Valley at the border of Blue Lake, Tianshan, and the mundane world. If we search for someone here, their whereabouts will surely be revealed.”

“Is it because he’s a mortal?”

“No, it’s because he’s been poisoned with a rare toxin. His exact whereabouts are unknown. If he’s here, the poison cannot hide his tracks. No matter where he is, he can be detected!”

“Very well! Let me try!”

Xue Ze stood in the Misty Valley, concentrating on her spell and sensing carefully. Lan Shui guarded her, watching the surrounding grass and trees. The place was quiet as usual, the scenery bewildering, yet there was an uneasy atmosphere.

Suddenly, a sinister wind swept through, leaves rustled, and strange currents threatened to disrupt Xue Ze’s spell and break her focus.

Lan Shui controlled a wave of frost, radiating it outward and dispelling the odd wind. Just as he was about to investigate, he saw his master’s feathered pigeon flying over again. He caught it, sent a message, and the pigeon flew away.

At that moment, Lan Shui noticed Xue Ze’s formation weakening and called out to her.

“Junior Sister!”

He deliberately roused Xue Ze, and she naturally withdrew her spell.

“Junior Sister, the environment here is complicated. If we can’t find him, let it be. Let’s try another place.”

Xue Ze paused, about to tell Lan Shui she had already found him, but saw his strange expression. She lowered her head, pondered, and sighed mournfully, “All right, then. If I’d known, we should have let Master Qinglian come instead.”

“It doesn’t matter! Let’s try the mountain top of Misty Valley!”

“Okay!”

With that, Lan Shui took Xue Ze and teleported to the mountain summit.

“Wow, I wish I could learn this too!”

Xue Ze marveled at the wonder of the teleportation spell, joyfully clutching Lan Shui’s hand. “Senior Brother, is this spell difficult to master?”

Lan Shui didn’t have time to reply, glanced around, and quickly pulled Xue Ze close.

“Junior Sister, listen to me! Things are not right here. Act as though you only know ordinary spells. Even if you find him, don’t tell anyone; go straight back to Snow Bamboo Place. Master sent word for me to return—there are urgent matters. I leave this to you!”

“Senior Brother, actually I—”

“I know! Pretend for a while, then return to Snow Bamboo Place. We’ll investigate the cause together then!”

No sooner had Lan Shui finished speaking than he turned his back on Xue Ze and left, saying as he walked, “Master told me to return. Junior Sister, try again; if it doesn’t work, let it be. This spell to find people can’t be learned in a day or two!”

“Yes.”

Xue Ze sighed, looked around, and suddenly felt as if she were being watched. “If only I had powerful senses too. Being monitored without knowing it—how helpless! After ten years, the gap between Senior Brother and me keeps growing wider!”

Though displeased, she had no choice but to pretend to search for the missing person. Yet, as she activated her spell again, she saw the man being pursued and falling off a cliff.

Startled, Xue Ze dared not make a sound and could only pretend to lament, “Why can’t I master this spell yet?”

Green mountains, clear waters, drifting on a river—a scene of serene beauty.

The river flowed slowly, its depths unfathomable. Standing on the boat, there were occasional bumps and sways.

It was Xue Ze’s first time rowing a boat. Her heart trembled with fear, but she was earnest.

“Master, Senior Brother, don’t blame me when you find out! Rowing is so difficult, but I persisted! That person is important to you, so I can’t let him die without saving him. Hopefully, I’ll find him and hand him over to his kin, redeeming myself.”

She thought this as she rowed, casting spells to search for the missing man.

After making her decision in the Misty Valley, she used her unparalleled lightness skill to reach the mountain where Liu Qing had fallen from the cliff.

She searched up and down, discovering a river below the cliff. The terrain made searching difficult but could save his life. So, Xue Ze found a small boat and placed herself upon the river.

Lan Shui, on his way back to Snow Bamboo Place, spotted Bai Yu, the Spirit Maiden, seemingly waiting for him at Broken Soul Bridge.

Seeing Lan Shui, Bai Yu acted as if possessed, gentle as water, enchantingly soft. Lan Shui was in a hurry, paying her no mind and colder than ever before.

“Senior Brother!”

“What is it?”

Bai Yu blocked Lan Shui, handing him a box of pastries. “These are Bai Yu’s new creations, light and delicious. I hope Senior Brother will like them.”

“I don’t like pastries. Spirit Maiden, thank you for your trouble, but there’s no need to go to such lengths anymore.”

“But… Senior Brother, you have so many junior disciples. They’d love to try them! Bai Yu brings them to you first for approval, then to the others. It’s the rule of Tianshan Sect!”

“Fine, then you may give them to the others. I have urgent matters and must consult with Master. Forgive me for not accompanying you.”

Watching Lan Shui’s cold figure disappear, Bai Yu was unsure whether to feel sorrow or admiration. “Does he know my feelings? If he knows and remains so indifferent, what is the reason? If he doesn’t, what will happen when he finds out?”

While she pondered, Jian Rong’s voice came.

“Junior Sister, such high spirits!”

Startled, Bai Yu put away the pastries and turned around. “Senior Sister, why are you here?”

Jian Rong smiled, glancing around. “This isn’t a good place to talk. Come with me.”

When Lan Shui returned to Snow Bamboo Place, he saw Qian Gui tending flowers in the garden.

“…?”

Lan Shui walked in, puzzled, and looked at Qian Gui, curious why his master had urgently summoned him but now seemed so leisurely.

Qian Gui caught Lan Shui’s gaze and smiled lightly. “Why are you back? And staring at me like that?”

“Master, wasn’t it you who sent word for me to return to discuss important matters?”

Qian Gui paused, set aside her work, and thought for a moment. “I didn’t. Perhaps my feathered pigeon has grown old? Weren’t you and Xue Ze searching for someone? Why are you here?”

“Master! Wasn’t the message from you?”

“Of course not!”

“Then… then Junior Sister…” Lan Shui grew serious. “Master, I must go down the mountain to find her!”

“Wait!” Qian Gui stopped Lan Shui. “No need to worry! By now, she’s already hundreds of miles away—you won’t find her!”

“What? Was Junior Sister taken by someone, or was she tricked? Surely she didn’t find him and leave on her own?”

Qian Gui laughed, walked over, and patted Lan Shui’s shoulder. “You still care so much for Xue Ze! I thought you went together. Now you hurried back because of my summons, and I was moved for nothing! Now, knowing it was a false message, you’re more concerned for your junior sister than anything else!”

Lan Shui paused. “Master, are you saying about the origin of the false message?”

Qian Gui smiled. “If someone could fool you, it must be the Spirit Maiden—looks like it’s someone from the Western Spring Palace.”

“So Master thinks there’s no need to worry about Xue Ze?”

“Yes. My disciples are all capable! If you go, you won’t find her, and might even bring more eyes to her. Now, let others think she doesn’t know secret arts, and just assume she’s gone out for fun. Xue Ze is clever and skilled—she’ll be fine!”

“Should we investigate this matter?”

“If it made you take a pointless trip, then I’ll leave it to you.”

“Yes!”