Su Baiyi carefully chewed over Nangong Xier’s words, and finally, as if struck by lightning, his whole body trembled and he exclaimed, “Senior sister, are you saying that between us, there is either a feud of killing father or a feud of killing mother?”
Nangong Xi’er did not deny or affirm this statement. She took a step forward and whispered in Su Baiyi’s ear, “Yes. Maybe one day I’ll kill you with a sword.”
Su Baiyi didn’t hear any killing intent in her words, and hesitated to ask more, but Nangong Xi’er turned around and walked towards the mountain. After walking a few steps, she heard that Su Baiyi behind her didn’t follow up and said, “Whether you go with us to investigate the case, or go back to the academy, right now you’re going the wrong way. Aren’t you coming?”
“Senior sister, I’ll go with you to investigate the case!” Su Baiyi no longer hesitated and walked forward.
“Are you disobeying your master?” Nangong Xi’er smiled.
“My master is a liar who loves to deceive people. He talks nonsense all the time. He can’t be trusted.” Su Baiyi waved his hand.
“You’re really bold.” Nangong Xi’er said helplessly.
On the mountain, Xie Yuling and Feng Zuojun were betting.
“It’s not impossible for Su Baiyi to go around the mountain. I think that kid is quite cunning and won’t come back.” Feng Zuojun lay on the ground for a long time, finally reaching a conclusion.
“He’ll be back.” Xie Yuling looked up at the stars in the sky. “He’s riding high and enjoying life. If he doesn’t come back, even if I have to return to the Academy, I’ll drag him back.”
“The Xie family genius you’re talking about, is that Xie Kanhua, the Master of Misty Rain Tower, one of the Shanglin Twin Wonders? Didn’t he die in the battle against the Heavenly Gate Sacred Sect?” Feng Zuojun asked.
“Shanglin Heavenly Palace did tell our Xie family that, but I never believed it. If uncle could die so easily, he wouldn’t be the prodigy that our Xie family waited for a hundred years.” Xie Yuling said solemnly.
“But as far as I know, he was already expelled from the Xie family.” Feng Zuojun said gloomily.
“That’s why our Xie family, from being the leader of the four major families back then, fell to this state today.” Xie Yuling said lightly, “Because the roots have already rotted, that’s why people like my uncle were expelled from the family.”
“Senior sister is back.” Feng Zuojun heard footsteps and got up from the ground. He saw Nangong Xi’er’s figure and asked, “What about Su Baiyi? Did he leave?”
“I thought for a long time and still couldn’t bear to leave you two senior brothers.” Su Baiyi ran out from behind. “This trip is hard and dangerous. I, Su Baiyi, am willing to offer my loyal service.”
Feng Zuojun walked up to him, touched his head, and patted his shoulder. He sounded puzzled, “How come? You don’t look like you’ve been beaten up?”
“Senior sister, where are we going next?” Xie Yuling asked.
“Yunmeng Prefecture, Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm.” Nangong Xi’er sat back in the carriage.
“It sounds familiar.” Su Baiyi frowned slightly.
“My home.” Feng Zuojun blinked, looking confused.
Shili Langdang Mountains, the Academy.
“They are likely heading to Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm. According to the information from Butterfly Wind when junior sister left, the Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm has recently closed its doors and gone into seclusion. There must be something big happening.” Li Yanxi, the Third Gentleman, sat at his desk, rolling up a note in his hand and placing it on a candle. “Which of you will go?”
Zhou Zheng, the Righteous Gentleman, lay down and raised his arm and leg wrapped in white cloth. He only said three words, “Willing but unable.”
“Who told you to fight with Li Gui? Back then, he was the first choice for the sect master of Junzi Sect. If it weren’t for the ten-year ban on martial arts, he would have probably entered the top ten of the Heavenly Martial Rankings by now.” Li Wai, the Crooked Gentleman, sitting next to him, mocked. “Now you and Li Gui are both crippled, and there is no one around junior sister who can protect her.”
“Can’t you go?” Zhou Zheng asked back.
“I’m just a weak scholar.” Li Wai sighed lightly. “What use would I be if I went?”
“A weak scholar? The courtesans in the Thousand Flowers Pavilion at the foot of the mountain don’t say that!” Zhou Zheng said angrily.
“Enough.” Li Yanxi slammed the table and stood up. “Are you two putting on this show to make me go?”
“Junior brother dares not.” Zhou Zheng and Li Wai bowed their heads.
“Then which one of you two will go?” Li Yanxi asked again.
Zhou Zheng raised his arm and said those three words again, “Willing but unable.”
Li Wai sighed lightly and said, “I’m just a weak scholar, ah.”
“I see, you two don’t really want to stop junior sister.” Li Yanxi sneered. “When I said we should go together to stop her, Zhou Zheng, you said you were enough by yourself. But when you met Li Gui, you didn’t call us for help. You just played a trick of self-injury and let junior sister go. Now you are pushing each other away. Fine, fine!”
“Senior brother.” Zhou Zheng said helplessly. “Junior sister has grown up. Some things can’t be stopped.”
“Do you think I don’t know that?” Li Yanxi lay on the chair and rubbed his temples. “But the opponents she has to face, aren’t they too strong? If second senior brother was still here, maybe we would have some power to investigate. But now…”
“Second senior brother.” Li Wai muttered.
“I’ll send a message to the teacher first and let him decide.” Li Yanxi took out a pen and started writing.
Weilong Mountain. Shanglin Heavenly Palace.
“It’s been a long time since I came back. Our Shanglin Heavenly Palace is still so magnificent. It’s worthy of being the number one sect in the world. Look, they even gilded the buildings, tsk tsk tsk, so rich. Just scraping it casually would be enough for me to drink for a year.” Xie Kanhua, despite being shackled, was in high spirits. He looked around and joked. “Ouch, isn’t that my Misty Rain Tower? Why does it look so shabby? Is there a master of the Misty Rain Tower now?”
“No.” The one who walked beside him was Helian Xiyue, with a faint smile on his face, answering as concise as ever.
“I haven’t been here for these years. You must have been very lonely.” Xie Kanhua said with emotion.
“I’m fine.” Helian Xiyue shrugged.
“Three Towers and Four Courtyards. Without my most interesting Misty Rain Tower, besides your Spring Breeze Tower, isn’t only the most boring Floating Dream Tower left?” Xie Kanhua sighed deeply. “It’s been hard on you all these years. No wonder you’ve become less and less talkative. Where are you taking me, Helian? Shouldn’t someone who stole the Heavenly Palace’s treasure be thrown into the Nether Prison without a word?”
“Here we are.” Helian Xiyue shook the chain in his hand and took a step back.
Xie Kanhua looked at the plaque in front of him and read the words on it: “Floating Dream Tower.”
A man in a white robe stood in front of them. He turned around after hearing Xie Kanhua’s voice. The man was thin and pale, with a hint of sickness on his face. He looked at Xie Kanhua and coughed lightly three times. “Long time no see, Master Xie.”
“Bai Jile.” Xie Kanhua’s pupils tightened slightly.