Chapter 219: The Homeland

At the foot of Azure Ethereal Mountain.

The sky was vast and the clouds were sparse. Standing at the base of the mountain and looking up, one could only see a deep blue expanse. A gentle breeze blew, invigorating the spirit.

Lu Xueqi gazed for a long time, and since there was no one around, naturally no one would notice that in this secluded spot, such a beautiful woman was quietly gazing at the sky. The cool breeze blew, and her shoulder-length hair danced gently, brushing past her slightly thin face.

Master Shuiyue’s parting words echoed incessantly in her ears:

“Back then, from the conversation between Senior Daoxuan and Senior Wan, we learned that the successive Grand Masters of the Azure Ethereal Conclave, when they still had their wits about them, would tell this secret to the next disciple who would take over, and the successive ancestors’ dying orders were to protect the reputation of the Azure Ethereal Conclave and the lives of the common people, to prevent further bloodshed. In the most desperate of times, the chosen disciple could even slay the master…”

“This time, Senior Daoxuan did not, for some reason, tell Xiao Yicai this secret. I can only speculate two reasons: One, before Senior Daoxuan made up his mind to tell Xiao Yicai, he was already being devoured by the evil spirit of the ancient Zhuxian Sword. Two, Senior Daoxuan was overly confident in his profound cultivation, especially after a fierce battle ten years ago where he used the Zhuxian Sword Array without succumbing to demonic corruption, he thought he could withstand it again. But when the evil spirit finally consumed him, it was too late.”

“Despite these sudden changes, as disciples of the Azure Ethereal Conclave, we cannot stay aloof. Tian Yici has gone missing, and Junior Sister Su is in a panic. I am the one who must make this perilous decision. I hope everything will end here on the mountain, and you need not be involved. But if you truly find them down the mountain, you must take on this heavy responsibility. The ancestral spirits of the Azure Ethereal Conclave will surely protect us, Master and Disciple!”

Lu Xueqi slowly opened her eyes and took a deep breath.

Turning to look, behind her lay the towering and majestic mountains, with distant peaks blending into the mist and rugged cliffs jutting out nearby. Everywhere, the scenery was breathtaking.

Rising high into the clouds, standing above all others.

This is Azure Ethereal!

A warm, faint smile slowly spread across her lips. These mountains were the place that had nurtured her to adulthood, the home of her revered masters, her close sisters, and the memories she once cherished.

She turned and walked away, her white robes fluttering like snow. The world was vast, the sky boundless, and even the most beautiful faces and the mightiest heroes were but a speck in the ocean.

※※※

This was her first time leaving the mountain on a mission, yet without any clear destination. Though she bore a heavy responsibility, she did not know where to start, and it seemed rather absurd.

Tianya was held quietly in her hand, so familiar it felt like a part of her body. The faint blue glow had already been concealed within its scabbard. One person, one sword, walking leisurely.

Where should she go?

The world was so vast!

Before her was a fork in the road, and Lu Xueqi stopped. It wasn’t that she didn’t know the way; among the disciples of the Azure Ethereal Conclave, she was one of the more frequent travelers. The main path ahead was well-trodden, leading directly to Heiyang City, the largest town at the foot of Azure Ethereal Mountain.

The other path, however, appeared to have been abandoned for a long time, overgrown with wild grass, barely visible near the fork. Farther along, the path was completely swallowed by the wilderness.

There were countless such paths and trails leading down from Azure Ethereal Mountain, many created by villagers from nearby villages who came up the mountain to gather firewood or pick wild fruits. Many of these paths, due to various reasons, became neglected over time.

Who knew where this path led? Who would remember anyone who had ever walked it?

Lu Xueqi shook her head slightly, smiling wryly to herself. Since returning from Nanjiang and parting from that person, her state of mind had changed greatly.

She shook her head, trying to dispel these thoughts, and prepared to continue on the main path. At that moment, a few villagers, old and young, came along the main path, carrying axes, ropes, and carrying poles, clearly heading up the mountain to cut wood.

As they approached, the woodcutters saw Lu Xueqi and respectfully stepped aside, their faces showing reverence. The disciples of the Azure Ethereal Conclave were highly respected in the surrounding area, and Lu Xueqi, with her extraordinary beauty, looked ethereal, almost too sacred to gaze upon.

Lu Xueqi paused, nodding slightly to them in acknowledgment, and then prepared to leave. Just then, an elderly woodcutter, whose hair was turning white but whose spirit remained vigorous, seemed very enthusiastic and chuckled, “Miss, are you lost?”

Lu Xueqi halted, turning her gaze to the elderly woodcutter, hesitated for a moment, and shook her head. Before she could speak, the elderly woodcutter continued, “I know your kind from the Azure Ethereal Conclave can fly, but sometimes, the paths on the ground are better known to us simple folk.”

The other woodcutters laughed, and Lu Xueqi, seeing their kind faces, felt a warmth in her heart. She paused her steps once more.

The elderly woodcutter chuckled, “The main path ahead leads to Heiyang City to the south, the busiest place for a hundred miles around. From there, it’s easier to go anywhere else.” He then pointed to the abandoned path, saying, “Don’t go down that path. It used to be a lively village, but now it’s destroyed, and no one lives there anymore.”

Lu Xueqi smiled, “I understand. Thank you, old man.”

The elderly woodcutter waved his hand, chuckling as he and the others continued up the mountain. One of the younger woodcutters sighed, “There used to be a temple in that village, very effective. Ten years ago, my wife and I went there to pray for a child, and we were blessed with one. It’s a pity that it’s gone now.”

The elderly woodcutter nodded, “Yes, it’s a real shame that the temple is gone…”

Their voices gradually faded, and their figures disappeared into the forest. The laughter carried on the wind seemed to linger. Lu Xueqi turned, still smiling, and her mood seemed to lift.

She smiled, then headed down the main path.

Her steps were light, but for some reason, they suddenly slowed. Her delicate brows furrowed, and something deep within her seemed to stir, but she couldn’t grasp it.

Something deep in her memory seemed to awaken…

She stopped, standing still. The scene from a moment ago replayed in her mind, and the woodcutters’ words echoed:

“Don’t go down that path. It used to be a lively village, but now it’s destroyed, and no one lives there anymore…”

“There used to be a temple in that village, very effective…”

Lu Xueqi shuddered, and after a moment, she slowly turned back to the overgrown path, looking again at the trail that seemed to have been swallowed by the ravages of time.

※※※

Ten years, how much can change in that time?

Appearance, emotions, or hatred?

No one can truly understand another, and sometimes, not even oneself. But one thing that truly changed was this path.

Because now, there was no path.

Thick wild grass grew year after year, covering the history of the past, bearing witness to the cruelty of time. Until a solitary white figure approached the sealed place.

Amidst the wild grass, remnants of walls and ruins could still be seen. The gentle breeze carried the fresh scent of the grass, long gone were the traces of blood and violence.

Walking through the ruined doors, seeing the tilted and moss-covered stone steps and walls, the laughter and joy of the past seemed to have dissipated with the wind.

Lu Xueqi’s face was pale, and her slender, graceful hands gripped Tianya tighter. In this abandoned village, it felt as if someone’s gaze was secretly watching her.

She even felt a suffocating sensation.

But she did not stop, walking silently through each house, wondering who remembered the people who once lived here?

Until she saw the ruined temple.

Unlike the surrounding environment, the area around the dilapidated temple was devoid of grass. It was more accurately described as a few pillars rather than a complete structure. The broken stone blocks on the ground, still bearing the faint outlines of statues, were the only clues to its former existence.

Lu Xueqi slowly approached.

There was no grass, no moss. Everything here seemed out of place. Even the stubborn wild grass refused to grow here.

Or perhaps, the accumulated resentment and hatred gathered here?

On quiet nights, would there be weeping and whispering, recounting the past?

Lu Xueqi abruptly turned, tears shimmering in her eyes.

Caomiao Village!

This long-forgotten place…

She quietly sat in a corner, unmoving, as if listening to something, or feeling something.

A breeze blew, stirring her black hair, gently brushing her cheeks.

※※※

Days turned to nights, the stars changed, and the clouds in the sky drifted like ephemeral dreams, disappearing like shooting stars. Time, like water, flowed mercilessly, never stopping for anyone.

In the distance, the sound of insects in the wild grass added to the life of the place. Perhaps, in another ten years, this place might become bustling again?

Or perhaps, it would remain unchanged.

Who cared?

For three days, Lu Xueqi sat quietly in this desolate place, away from the constraints of the world and her heavy responsibilities. Here, she found a moment of respite and escape.

She let herself hide, just for a while.

But she knew she must eventually leave.

Her white robes swayed as she moved, and her figure reappeared, leaving the ruined temple and walking through the ruins of the houses. Her gaze lingered, filled with a deep, lingering emotion.

In the distance, the sky was dotted with drifting clouds, and a thin white line seemed to cross the sky. Lu Xueqi took one last look at the houses, turned, and left, never looking back. Her white-robed figure gradually disappeared into the wild grass.

The sky above remained silent.

Suddenly, a swift, faint light emerged from the clouds, quickly descending into the abandoned village.

“Chirp, chirp…”

Familiar monkey calls echoed, and a gray-haired, three-eyed monkey hopped onto the ground, looking around. Clearly, being in the open air was more enjoyable than being in the belly of the Huqi Mountain. The monkey quickly jumped off, disappearing into the thick grass.

Gui Li stood in the center of the village, his expression blank, except for the exhaustion and pain in his eyes.

He stared blankly at the surroundings, slowly turning. Familiar places, memories, even the wind carried a faint, familiar scent.

The fragrance of the land of his homeland…

In the distance, beyond the dense wild grass, the white, somewhat lonely figure finally disappeared into the horizon.

He walked slowly, seeing the same things that Lu Xueqi had seen—ruined walls, moss-covered steps, and finally, the crumbling temple.

But he did not approach. He simply stood, staring at the temple, lost in thought, the place where a young boy’s life had been irrevocably changed!

He stood for a long time, watching, but never approaching. Finally, he turned, stepping over the wild grass, walking down the barely discernible path. Each step was heavy, and he stopped before the third house in the second row.

It was a house like any other, with fallen doors and windows, abandoned and desolate, even the moss on the steps seemed thicker.

Gui Li’s lips began to tremble, and for the first time in years, tears welled up in his eyes. Slowly, he knelt before the house, burying his head in the earth and the wild grass.

The wind carried the sound of a strangled, struggling whisper:

“Father, Mother…”

※※※

In Heyang City.

After the calamity of the Beast Demons, Heyang City suffered great losses, with many dead and wounded. But life goes on. People from all directions returned to the city, bringing it back to life.

On the busiest street, the best inn in the city, the Shanhai Yuan, still stood, though it was quieter than it had been ten years ago, as people were reluctant to indulge in feasting and drinking after their narrow escape from death.

On this day, however, the inn received a strange visitor. A beautiful young woman, with a presence that captivated the hearts of those around her. It was none other than Xiao Bai, the Nine-Tailed Fox, who had disappeared after the great upheaval in Nanjiang, separating from Gui Li and Lu Xueqi.

She walked confidently and gracefully into the Shanhai Yuan, and for a moment, the innkeeper, the waiters, and the few guests were all stunned, no one coming forward to greet her. But Xiao Bai, accustomed to such reactions, merely smiled, “No one to serve me?”

The words roused the dreamlike state. The innkeeper, though old, managed to regain his composure, and he gave the waiter a nudge, “Guests! Don’t just stand there, go and attend to them!”

The waiter stumbled, unsure if he was feeling guilty, and walked up, hesitantly, “Miss, are you here for a meal or to stay?”

Xiao Bai thought for a moment, “I’ll have something to eat first. Do you have a private room?”

The waiter nodded, “Yes, yes, this way, please.”

Xiao Bai followed, “Find me a quiet seat by the window.”

The waiter smiled, “Rest assured, Miss, you’ll have the whole upstairs to yourself. You can sit wherever you like, and it will be perfectly quiet, no one will disturb you.”

Xiao Bai was slightly taken aback, “But why is it so empty? I heard this place used to be very busy.”

The waiter, now upstairs, sighed, “Who knows? Back then, business was booming, everyone in Heyang City loved to come here. But the Beast Demons disaster, the fear, the death and destruction… no one really wants to come here anymore.”

Xiao Bai nodded, sighing, “I see, that explains it.”

The waiter wiped the table, and Xiao Bai looked out the window, seeing the bustling street, but few smiles, more frowns and sorrow.

She watched for a while, then asked the waiter, “Waiter, I have a question. Answer me honestly.”

The waiter nodded, “Ask away, Miss.”

Xiao Bai hesitated, “Do all the people in Heyang City, including you, hate the Beast Demons?”

The waiter huffed, anger in his face, “Of course! In that disaster, almost every family lost someone. Ask anyone on the street, I guarantee they lost a loved one to those beast claws. We poor folks had no way to fight back, but thank goodness for the immortals from Azure Ethereal Mountain, who drove those monsters away and let us live our lives again.”

Xiao Bai watched the waiter’s passionate speech, thinking of the man in the depths of the demon cave, struggling to survive in the dim light of dying embers.

Who could say what was right or wrong in this world?

The waiter, realizing his emotional outburst, blushed and stepped back, “I’m sorry, Miss, I was just speaking freely. Would you like to order something?”

Xiao Bai smiled, “Alright, no need to choose, just bring me your best dishes, and ten pots of good wine.”

The waiter was shocked, “Ten pots?”

Xiao Bai nodded, “Ten pots.”

The waiter was dumbfounded, “Miss, are you expecting more guests? If so, I can set extra places.”

Xiao Bai laughed, “No, just me. Bring the wine and don’t ask more questions.”

The waiter retreated, clearly skeptical. After all, even the most hardy drinkers could only handle one or two pots, and those who could drink four or five were either alcoholics or immortals. This bewitching woman was certainly not ordinary.

Soon, the waiter brought the food and arranged the ten pots of wine on the table.

If the inn were busy, this would certainly attract attention, but Xiao Bai didn’t seem to care.

The waiter left, and Xiao Bai sat alone, sipping the wine. Soon, the first pot was empty, and her cheeks were tinged with a faint pink, no sign of intoxication, only adding to her allure.

“Sigh…”

She sighed softly.

The pure, amber wine poured from the pot, filling the cup with a delicate splash. She gazed at her reflection in the liquid, then smiled, a bittersweet smile, and drank it all in one go.

Outside, the street buzzed with activity, sounds from another world. She placed the sixth empty pot aside, her cheeks glowing with a soft red, reflecting her eternal beauty, her eyes still clear.

Drinking, she bit her lip, and laughed softly, then poured another cup.

Suddenly, the noise outside increased. Xiao Bai frowned, moving to the window, and saw a white-robed woman, Lu Xueqi, walking below. The townspeople were entranced by her beauty, but her icy demeanor kept them at a distance, creating a commotion.

Xiao Bai smiled, “Life is full of surprises…”

She stood, intending to greet Lu Xueqi, but then her expression changed, and she looked towards a dark corner in the distance, spotting a familiar black figure, followed by a gray one.

Xiao Bai smirked, “Today is full of coincidences. I can’t miss this show, and neither can the Old Ghost, hehehe…”

With a cold laugh, her figure vanished like a ghost, and when the waiter returned, he found a silver ingot and six empty wine pots, the other four mysteriously missing.

On the street, Lu Xueqi’s figure also disappeared.