On nights when Ji Chen didn't come to play chess, Song Qianji would sit quietly as usual, waiting for the rain.
The night was tranquil, with half the disciples roasting meat outside the Poison Barrier Forest and the other half chatting by the riverbank.
The vast Immortal Official Manor stood empty, with only him inside.
Song Qianji breathed slowly, as if following a special rhythm, his aura merging with the small courtyard and even the entire Immortal Official Manor.
The southern wind rose among the flowers and leaves, crimson roses climbing over the green bamboo trellis, newly planted evening primroses blooming with yellow flowers, swaying gently in the moonlight.
They too were waiting.
The wind blew leaves down, scattering intricate flower shadows across the ground, while a layer of flowing dark fragrance rose, enveloping Song Qianji and seeping into his wide hanging sleeves.
He gazed quietly at the hazy moonlight.
The same moon shone over countless rivers and mountains.
Eighty thousand miles away, the moon lifted its veil of mist, becoming clear and bright. He Qingqing could even see the varying shades of shadow on the silver disk.
"Senior Sister, let's go," someone said.
"Alright." He Qingqing lightly lifted her skirt, passing by a pond where red lotuses bloomed in full splendor, the water reflecting her slender and graceful figure.
Seven or eight female cultivators dressed in bright colors with high-piled cloud-like hair walked together. She walked in the center, appearing the most popular and indispensable, like a phoenix paying homage to the birds.
But the people on either side chatted and laughed across her, their tones familiar and the atmosphere lively.
Not being skilled in conversation, she couldn't interject and remained silent, lowering her head to watch her steps.
"We're here, let's play here."
He Qingqing looked around.
This was the Celestial Sound Sect's Spirit Stone Mine. The outer sect disciples who mined during the day had long returned to rest.
Now it was dark and desolate, without a single lantern. Black mining pits covered the ground like giant mouths waiting to devour anyone.
The wind couldn't penetrate, and the moonlight couldn't pierce through.
She felt inexplicably uneasy and gently tugged at the sleeve of the person beside her: "Junior Sister Bai E, what are we playing here?"
The emerald-robed female cultivator covered her mouth and laughed, pointing to a white-robed female cultivator opposite: "Senior Sister, you've mistaken us again! I'm Liaohua, she's Bai E."
The group of women laughed together:
"I'm Qingmei, she's Zizhu, does Senior Sister recognize us?"
"Over there are Jinyun and Guizi, will Senior Sister remember this time?"
He Qingqing awkwardly corrected herself.
In truth, she had an excellent memory. No matter how complex a melody, she could remember it completely after hearing it once. No matter how profound a cultivation method, she could memorize it after reading it once.
In the past, whoever spoke ill of her, bullied her, or insulted her—their faces were firmly engraved in her mind, unforgettable even if burned to ashes in her dreams.
But in the Celestial Sound Sect, everyone she met smiled at her, said they "meant well," and wanted to "befriend" her.
Like these few people before her, their hairstyles and attire were similar, all imitating Fairy Miaoyan, their smiles and greetings as if carved from the same mold.
Occasionally, a few needle-sharp glances hidden in soft words would flash by, subtle and fleeting, almost like an illusion.
Thus, she didn't know whose faces to remember.
Thinking carefully, aside from her master's face, she only remembered Miaoyan's flawless countenance.
After everyone had laughed enough, Liaohua finally said: "Let's play hide and seek. We used to play this often. Senior Sister knows how, right?"
He Qingqing could only shake her head: "I don't."
No one had ever played with her.
The emerald-robed female cultivator eagerly took her hand: "It's fine, we'll teach you. You'll learn it in no time! To play this, we first seal our spirit qi. No one can use magical artifacts, otherwise with cultivators' sharp senses, finding people at night would be as easy as turning over a hand!"He Qingqing nodded. "Alright."
Liaohua covered her eyes, was spun around several times by someone, then took a few steps forward while counting aloud.
Bai E pulled He Qingqing's hand as they hid, making a shushing gesture and whispering, "Once hidden, you mustn't move."
When Liaohua reached fifty, she opened her eyes. Clearly experienced, she found every one of them without much effort.
The female cultivators dissolved into laughter and playful chaos.
Hearing the silvery laughter, He Qingqing wondered, Is this what normal girls usually play? Now I've experienced it too.
The novelty of playing childish games with girls her age brought a sparkle of amusement to her eyes.
"Senior Sister, it's your turn now."
He Qingqing obediently let her Spirit Qi be sealed, her eyes covered, and was spun around by someone she couldn't identify. While counting, she allowed herself to be led forward.
Suddenly, the moonlight dimmed as thick clouds gathered, and the wind wailed across the wilderness.
On this windy summer night, rain seemed imminent.
He Qingqing's veil was lifted by the gust: "Eighteen, nineteen, twenty..."
She was led toward an abandoned mine shaft, feeling inexplicably uneasy, so she halted. But she continued counting.
Until a hand shoved her hard.
"Ah—"
Her scream echoed on the wind, lingering endlessly.
The others gathered around the mine entrance, peering down:
"Are you sure this is a shallow pit?"
"What does depth matter? She fell by her own carelessness. What's it to do with us?"
"But..."
"If she wants to complain, where's her proof? Even her master hasn't returned to check on her." Liaohua scoffed lightly. "She became senior sister by sheer luck, and really thinks she's someone? I'd willingly bow to Senior Sister Miaoyan, but why should I bow to her?"
The mine tunnel twisted and turned endlessly. Temporarily unable to unseal her Spirit Veins, He Qingqing reached out to grab the rocky wall, only to smash her head until it bled. Finally, she curled into a ball, protecting the back of her head, and tumbled downward.
The abyss-like mine shaft finally reached its bottom.
He Qingqing pushed herself up with her elbows, only then realizing her guqin-playing nails had broken, all ten fingers a bloody mess.
Her hair was disheveled, her white dress stained with blood, her appearance wretched. But she had no internal injuries—after all, a cultivator's bones and muscles were tough. It all seemed like nothing more than a malicious prank among female cultivators.
Her veil had long fallen off, revealing her disfigured, ugly face.
Unexpectedly, she didn't shed a single tear, her gaze cold.
She could finally remember their faces clearly now.
"Thump, thump, thump."
He Qingqing's ears twitched, suddenly alert.
The darkness amplified every sound. Besides her own breathing, she heard a rhythmic pulsing, like a heartbeat, echoing underground.
Turning her head, she glimpsed a smooth, jade-green shadow glowing faintly within a rock crevice.
Startled but not panicked, He Qingqing slapped her Storage Bag and hurled a dagger with force.
The "giant serpent" made no sound, silently accepting the injury.
He Qingqing approached and relaxed slightly. "Not a snake."
Its texture was smooth and warm like heated jade, shimmering with a faint glow.
She yanked the dagger out with effort, and sap spurted from the root's wound.
Splashing on her face, it was surprisingly warm. Under the glow, its color was as vivid as blood, yet without any metallic scent—only an strange, sweet fragrance.
It was only then that He Qingqing recalled ancient texts: At the continent's edge stands the divine Sky-Supporting Tree. Its roots penetrate deep underground, spreading across the entire land.
This was actually a root of the Sky-Supporting Tree!
"What a wonderful fragrance."
She took a deep breath, her eyes glazing with intoxication, then dipped her finger into the warm, flowing sap and brought it to her mouth.Immediately, a rich and intense fragrance rushed straight to her crown, making her swallow greedily.
The spiritual liquid transformed into a warm current upon entering her mouth, gathering into a vortex in her Purple Palace and forcefully clearing the blocked Spirit Veins along the way.
Her cultivation bottleneck loosened, showing signs of Foundation Establishment.
He Qingqing suddenly stood frozen. All her Spirit Veins tightened, nearly bursting from the instant surge of Spirit Qi.
Snapping out of her entranced state, she dared not drink more and hastily took out the jade bottles she normally used for storing elixirs.
By the time three bottles were filled, the Sky-Supporting Tree's wound had already healed, leaving only a faint mark where the dagger had been deeply embedded.
"For a colossal entity like you that holds up the heavens and supports an entire Domain, this injury must be less than a scratch." He Qingqing gently stroked the Sky-Supporting Tree's roots, murmuring dazedly, "You're truly remarkable, remaining unharmed even when struck by a blade. As long as one is strong enough..."
"Thump, thump, thump." The Sky-Supporting Tree's pulse continued to beat.
The night was heavy, with no moon in sight.
Fierce winds howled, signaling an approaching storm.
Dust from the mining site swirled up, pelting everyone head-on.
"This damned place is filthy! Shall we go to the back mountain to soak in the hot springs, then come back for her?"
"Still need to return? I think it wouldn't be too late to look for her tomorrow morning."
No sooner were the words spoken than the wind scattered them, dampening everyone's spirits.
"Never mind, let's all disperse."
A messenger maid came running against the wind: "It's terrible, Senior Sister Liaohua, something awful has happened!"
Liaohua impatiently scolded: "What's all this panic about?"
The maid's face was full of terror: "M-Master Uncle Jiangyun has returned!"
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