Watching Daoist Yunhe remain silent, Song Yifan and Qiyue looked at each other, their hearts filled with doubt and worry. Yet neither of them dared to easily break the stillness, and they could only stand quietly to the side, waiting for him to speak.
Time ticked away second by second, as if the entire world had frozen, with only the rustling sound of a gentle breeze brushing against the leaves.
Finally, after the long silence, Daoist Yunhe’s deep and somewhat weary voice slowly rang out, breaking the tranquility.
His voice was not loud, but it possessed an indescribable majesty that naturally inspired awe and reverence. Every single word sounded as though it had been carefully weighed before being spoken.
"Qiyue, did you hear what those people were discussing just now?" Daoist Yunhe looked at Qiyue, a flicker of complex emotion flashing through his eyes.
Hearing this, Qiyue was momentarily stunned. She raised her head to look at Daoist Yunhe, a puzzled expression on her face.
"Master, there's no need to take those people's words seriously..." she said softly, a hint of helplessness lingering in her voice.
However, before Qiyue could finish, Daoist Yunhe interrupted her.
"No, what they said is true." His voice was calm, yet it carried an irresistible force.
Qiyue's complexion turned pale in an instant. She stared at Daoist Yunhe, her eyes filled with shock and incomprehension.
"Master, what... what do you mean by this?" Her voice trembled slightly.
Daoist Yunhe let out a deep sigh, his tone heavy as he said, "Qiyue, some things are better made known to you beforehand. Because of that fierce battle last time, my reputation on Qingtai Mountain has completely vanished, and I am treated with cold indifference within our sect. My cultivation can hardly make any further progress, and even my disciples have a hard time getting by in the upper ranks."
Hearing this, Song Yifan could not help showing a look of sorrow, and he silently lowered his head.
"If you yearn to achieve something on the path of cultivation, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to help you fulfill your wish. If you are willing, I can recommend you to my third junior sister. She has many female disciples under her tutelage, which might be more suitable for you."
As soon as these words fell, Qiyue dropped to her knees and kowtowed without the slightest hesitation.
"Master, my life was saved by you and the fifth senior brother, and it was my wholehearted desire to learn from you that brought me this opportunity. How could I ever do such an unfaithful and disloyal thing? Master, even if you still retained your cultivation today, let alone if you didn't have a shred of it left, you would forever be the Master I respect!"
Hearing these words, Daoist Yunhe's eyes grew slightly red, with a shimmer of tears welling up within them—a complex emotion blending being touched, gratified, and relieved.
The corners of his slightly trembling mouth gradually curved upward, finally forming a gratified smile. Meanwhile, Song Yifan, standing off to the side, could no longer suppress the turmoil in his heart, and tears gushed down like a breached floodgate.
He had followed by his Master's side from a very early age. Over these past hundred years, every grievance and humiliation his Master had experienced was something he had witnessed with his own eyes and kept firmly in his heart.
Every time he saw his Master silently endure such unfair treatment, his heart felt as though it were being torn apart, yet he was utterly powerless to help.
Now, someone finally understood and sympathized with his Master's bitter plight, so how could he not be filled with churning emotions? How could his eyes not brim with hot tears?
"Good, good disciple! I will take you back to Ziyu Peak right now. That will be the place where you live and grow in the future, and it will also become your warm home."
Immediately following this, Daoist Yunhe flicked his sleeve, and the sharp sword on his back swiftly flew out like something imbued with life, hovering mid-air.
As time passed, the sword body began to expand continuously, growing over a zhang in length in the blink of an eye.
Daoist Yunhe leaped up lightly, landing steadily on the tip of the magic sword. His posture was upright, resembling an immortal descending into the mortal world.
"Fan'er, bring your eighth junior sister home with you!" Daoist Yunhe commanded.
"Understood!" Without a moment's hesitation, Song Yifan reached out and grabbed Qiyue tightly by the shoulders.
The next instant, the two of them soared into the air like flying birds, a sudden turn of events that forced an involuntary cry of alarm from Qiyue.
"Ah!"
"Don't be afraid, sit tight!" Song Yifan said softly, pressing firmly down on her shoulders to help her sit securely upon the sword body.
At this moment, Daoist Yunhe began to chant an incantation in a low voice. As his voice rose, the flying sword darted forward like an arrow released from a bow, hurtling toward the clouds and mists of Qingtai Mountain.
At first, Qiyue's heart was filled with terror. She gripped Song Yifan's arm tightly, not daring to relax for even a second. The whistling sound of the wind rushing past her ears made her heart race and filled her with tension.
However, after a short while, she gradually grew accustomed to the sensation of high-speed flight, and her inner fear slowly subsided. Finally, she slowly opened her eyes, eager to catch a glimpse of the surrounding scenery.
The moment she opened her eyes, she was instantly captivated by the breathtaking view before her.
Qingtai Mountain was wreathed in clouds and mists, resembling a fairyland. It felt as though she could reach out and touch those soft clouds with her hand, while the lush green mountains and clear waters below were a feast for the eyes, refreshing and delightful.
This wondrous sight made Qiyue forget her earlier fear. Immersed in the stunning scenery, she felt the charm and magic of nature.
From the side, Song Yifan provided a detailed introduction to the situation on Qingtai Mountain: "This mysterious Qingtai Mountain is actually composed of five towering peaks reaching into the clouds. As for that legendary Elder Yuankun, he has a total of four outstanding disciples. Among them, the main peak is the permanent residence of Elder Yuankun and the four guardians, exuding an atmosphere of endless mystery. As for the remaining four peaks, each is guarded by a disciple who cultivates there in seclusion."
"The place where we practice our cultivation is on that cloud-veiled Ziyu Peak to the west. Ziyu Peak is shrouded in purple rosy clouds all year round; rare flowers and exotic herbs grow in abundance across the mountains, and spiritual birds and wondrous beasts occasionally flash into view, making it look just like a paradise on earth. Not only is the spiritual energy here abundant, but there are also countless precious cultivation resources and ancient inheritances waiting for us to explore and uncover. Only in such an endowment-favored environment can we better temper ourselves and pursue the supreme Dao."
"Oh! So that's how it is! What a fascinating place!"
Qiyue's heart was filled with endless anticipation, and she eagerly began searching for the place Song Yifan had just described.
She cast her gaze outward, but the only peaks meeting her eyes seemed to be four in number.
A wave of doubt arose within Qiyue. She stretched out her finger and pointed at the mountains below, trying to pick out that legendary Ziyu Peak.
The number of mountains below was vast, but she could only spot four that towered into the clouds just as her fifth senior brother had said. This piqued Qiyue's curiosity, and she could not help wondering which one of them could possibly be the mysterious place her fifth senior brother had mentioned.
Could it be that she had missed it? The flowers, plants, and trees by the roadside appeared exceptionally tranquil and lovely, but Qiyue no longer had the heart to admire these sights; her entire focus was locked on finding that mysterious towering peak.
Yet after searching for a long time, she still could not find it. Before long, they were about to fly beyond the borders of Qingtai Mountain, and she could even feel that the flying sword had begun to descend.
Harboring a heart full of questions, Qiyue cautiously asked Song Yifan.
"Fifth Senior Brother, where is this Ziyu Peak you mentioned?"
"Look, right there."
"Where?"
"Right there!"
Qiyue looked in the direction he was pointing, but there were no longer any clouds-piercing peaks to be seen—only some ordinary, plain little hills. Could it be that she was blind? She thrust her body forward with extra effort, hoping to catch sight of the peak her senior brother had indicated.
To her utter surprise, her body suddenly tilted out of control, and she lost her balance, plunging straight off the flying sword.
"Junior Sister, be careful!"
"Qiyue!"
The anxious voices of her master and fifth senior brother rang out beside her ears. The rapid sensation of falling brought with it a strong feeling of suffocation, and she could even clearly see the trees on the ground rushing up toward her.
"It's over, it looks like this is how my journey ends!"