Aunt Zhu nagged, then asked, “Xiaoxi, if you find that young Immortal Wen, will you come back?”
Wei Xi couldn’t guarantee anything.
But she curved her eyes into a smile and nodded cheerfully.
“Once we finish our business, we’ll return.”
This place was where Wen Ruyu had chosen for her to live safely—surrounded by mountains, shielded by natural spiritual barriers that kept most monsters away.
The villagers could live here peacefully, free from fear.
She didn’t know how to return to her original world.
Wen Ruyu was the only family she had in this foreign land.
If she found him and things didn’t turn out well… she would come back here to live.
To step onto the path of cultivation, one must first absorb spiritual energy into the body to cleanse the mortal essence.
Those who succeeded would enter the Transcendence Realm, shedding their ordinary bodies, extending their lifespans, reshaping their bones and muscles, and gaining the ability to wield spiritual power—even attaching it to spells for greater strength.
And, of course, they could fly.
This wasn’t the first time Wei Xi had stood on a flying sword, so she wasn’t particularly afraid.
As she looked down, the village—hidden within the vast forest—slowly disappeared from sight.
Then, she turned her gaze forward, toward the path she had once traveled.
Three great mountains and one small mountain—once they crossed them, they would reach the outside world.
Xiling Zhou, eager to converse with the delicate yet beautiful girl beside him, casually struck up a conversation.
“Miss Wei has flown on a sword before, haven’t you? You don’t seem afraid at all.”
Glancing down, he noticed how her slender fingers gripped the sword’s sheath to steady herself.
But Wei Xi wasn’t particularly interested in talking.
She simply smiled faintly in response.
Xiling Zhou coughed, then remembered her apparent interest in the new family head.
His curiosity got the better of him, and he asked, “Miss Wei, you seem familiar with the new family head. Forgive my boldness, but… what is your relationship with him?”
The letter from his senior brother hadn’t mentioned the new family head having any close female companions.
But perhaps no one knew?
Wei Xi’s voice remained soft, yet there was a quiet sharpness in it.
“Since you already think it’s a bold question, you shouldn’t ask it.”
Xiling Zhou stiffened in embarrassment and quickly fell silent.
He had invited Wei Xi to leave the village under the pretense of repaying his debt—it would be rude to pry into her personal matters.
“I apologize.”
A mortal would need at least eight or nine days to climb out of the mountain range.
On a flying sword, it took less than half a day to break through the spiritual barrier.
The moment they crossed the boundary, Wei Xi clutched the sword sheath tightly, holding her breath.
She focused all the spiritual energy she had, weak as it was, to protect her body.
This was it.
Back then, when Wen Ruyu had taken her through this very spot, her body had reacted so badly that she had passed out—as if intoxicated by excessive spiritual energy.
“Miss Wei, are you alright?” Xiling Zhou noticed her sway slightly and immediately turned back in concern.
Wei Xi’s face was pale, her breathing unsteady.
Her dark eyes—already striking—seemed even more luminous in contrast to her pallor.
She looked up, still catching her breath, her hand pressing lightly over her heart.
But she was smiling.
She glanced down at the land below, then looked up at Xiling Zhou.
The dimples at her lips deepened with joy.
“I’m fine.”
Better than ever.
***
The Dongyun Territory spanned 138,000 miles, and Xiling Zhou, as a mere Transcendence Realm cultivator, couldn’t continuously use his spiritual power to fly on his sword.
Instead, he purchased a carriage inscribed with acceleration runes, hastening along the safest official roads.
The journey was smooth, and they encountered no trouble.
At last, they arrived at the Wen Clan’s ancestral city—Jiuchong Quedu—just one day before the grand ceremony.
Since Xiling Zhou was an outer disciple of the Wen Clan, he couldn’t freely enter the inner city.
Upon arrival, he took Wei Xi to stay at an inn in the outer city.
He offered to pay for her lodging, but she politely refused.
This inn accepted silver from mortals, and she could afford the cheapest room.
“Miss Wei, Jiuchong Quedu is very safe. Cultivators patrol the city to maintain order. Only direct disciples and invited guests can enter the inner city, but the outer city is open to all.”
“The Dongyun region has countless sects, with the Wen Clan at the forefront. Because of the grand ceremony and the upcoming Wujiao Assembly, the city is bustling with people. Registration for the assembly will begin in a few days.”
“I also heard that the spiritual artifacts sealing Xuyu Mountain have begun to weaken, so the four great clans are sending their elders here. The city is livelier than ever. Tomorrow, the new family head will tour the city in a deer-drawn carriage, and you can watch the procession.”
“But as for me, I must return to my sect to prepare for the ceremony. Once it’s over, I will come find you again.”
Xiling Zhou stood in the inn’s second-floor corridor, speaking to Wei Xi.
During their journey, Wei Xi had only mentioned that she had business in Jiuchong Quedu, but she never explained what it was.
Thankfully, Xiling Zhou didn’t press her for details.
Listening to his words, Wei Xi nodded slightly.
The dimples at the corners of her lips faintly appeared as she smiled.
“You go take care of your own matters. Don’t worry about me. And… thank you for everything along the way.”
Tomorrow, she would definitely go see the procession.
Xiling Zhou looked at her smile, his heart warming.
But he couldn’t afford to miss the family head succession ceremony—outer disciples had a chance to be promoted into the inner city.
Once Xiling Zhou left, Wei Xi set down her belongings and immediately stepped out of the inn.
Over the past month, she had grown accustomed to the lingering discomfort that once felt like oxygen intoxication.
The oppressive tightness in her chest had also become more bearable.
Just as the last light of sunset faded, the entire city suddenly glowed.
Wei Xi looked up—the sky was filled with floating star lanterns, swaying like fireflies.
In an instant, their light illuminated the magnificent cityscape.
She lowered her gaze and walked into the crowded streets, curiously observing her surroundings.
When they had entered the city earlier, she hadn’t had time to take a proper look.
It was similar in structure to the great mortal cities that Wen Ruyu had once taken her to, but far grander.
The streets crisscrossed like a vast network, flanked by rows upon rows of bustling shops selling all sorts of goods.
Perhaps due to tomorrow’s ceremony, the streets were adorned with red lanterns, adding a festive atmosphere.
Wei Xi thought to herself, “It seems that no matter where you are, festivals are always decorated in the same way.”
She wandered idly, taking in the sights.
After passing through a street, she turned right and noticed a pastry shop.
Her footsteps paused, and she walked inside.
She didn’t like sweets.
Anything overly sugary felt cloying and made her stomach uncomfortable.
But three years ago, Wen Ruyu loved them.
And sometimes, she ate them too.
For instance—
“The medicine I make is really bitter. So, Xiao Xi, do you want to try some dragon’s beard candy?”
“…It is a bit bitter. A tiny bit of sugar would help. Just break off a piece for me.”
But Wen Ruyu didn’t break it apart.
Instead, he held the candy to her lips, smiling gently—his warmth like spring sunlight, yet with a trace of playful mischief.
“Just take a bite. If you break it, there’ll be crumbs. That’s wasteful. I’ll eat the rest.”
Wei Xi snapped out of her thoughts, pressing her lips together with a faint smile.
It almost felt as if she could still taste the sweetness on her tongue.
After browsing the shop, she spotted dragon’s beard candy and her heart leaped with joy.
She bought a pack.
Once she met him, she would give it to Wen Ruyu.
The shop was crowded, and Wei Xi struggled to squeeze her way out after making her purchase.
Just as she finally stepped outside, someone bumped into her.
The bag of candy fell to the ground.
She quickly bent down to pick it up.
Her thin spring robe shifted slightly, and the jade pendant hidden inside slipped out from her collar.
Wei Xi immediately noticed and quickly grabbed the pendant, tucking it back inside her clothes.
But in that brief instant, the golden inscription on the jade flashed in the darkness—just for a moment.
It did not go unnoticed.