It wasn’t until noon that Mu Qiu Ying slowly opened her eyes.
She had a long dream.
Like yesterday, she dreamed of fragments of the past.
Now, she wanted to confirm one thing.
After tidying her appearance, Mu Qiu Ying went out and found Chen Juenian, who was practicing with the bow.
“How much spiritual energy is left in this bow?”
“It’s almost exhausted, Senior Mu.”
Taking the bow, Mu Qiu Ying saw the ‘Seal’ character as she infused spiritual energy into it.
“There.”
“Oh, right, Senior. Elder Li came looking for you early this morning.”
“I know. You continue your cultivation.”
“…”
Mu Qiu Ying was certain her memory wasn’t wrong.
At the very least, the first sentence spoken by the mysterious voice was indeed the same as what she heard back then; there really was a bow and a martial technique.
But what came after was completely different.
That mysterious voice was originally utterly hollow, yet in her dream memory, that mysterious voice was clearly identical to that Immortal’s.
It also sounded very much like Xuanyuan Nian.
She also hadn’t taken that martial technique manual in the end back then.
After slaying the Demon Tiger, her mind in turmoil, she immediately leaned against the wall and walked out of the cave, never even looking for that martial technique.
Sealed Dust Bow…
“Sect Leader.”
“Elder Li, what did you need from me this morning?”
“You haven’t been patrolling the sect’s perimeter these past two days…”
“Yes. I happened to have some important matters to attend to both mornings.”
Elder Li didn’t dare tell the Sect Leader that she actually found Mu Qiu Ying sleeping when she went this morning.
Well, who says sleeping can’t count as a matter?
“Understood.”
“You’ll be responsible for patrolling the sect’s perimeter these next few days. I’m going out for a while.”
After pushing the task onto Elder Li, Mu Qiu Ying soared into the air, flying in the direction of the Seventh Heaven Beyond the Sky.
Her actual destination was the Second Heaven Beyond the Sky.
She needed to find that cave, find that martial technique that might still be there, and finally confirm whether it was indeed the ‘Sealed Dust Bow’.
If it was… then she was wrong again.
Someone really was secretly interfering with her dreams and tampering with her memory.
Although that person didn’t seem to intend her harm.
Relying on her memory and formidable strength, Mu Qiu Ying quickly found the cave from back then through a carpet search.
Nearly seven hundred years had passed.
Many weeds and vines had grown around the cave entrance, almost completely covering it.
With a light wave of her hand, she pulverized the plants covering the entrance.
Mu Qiu Ying entered the cave and released spiritual energy to dispel the darkness within.
After walking for an unknown length of time, Mu Qiu Ying stopped before a pile of bones.
Not far in front of the bones was a book.
Even after seven hundred years, this book showed no traces of age.
The three characters ‘Sealed Dust Bow’ on it still shimmered with golden light, exactly as she saw in the dream.
“…”
At this moment, Mu Qiu Ying didn’t know what expression she should make.
That Immortal was still alive.
He must still be alive.
That mysterious voice that helped her countless times back then… actually came from that Immortal…
It also sounded very much like Xuanyuan Nian.
Opening the book, she carefully compared the specific contents of the Sealed Dust Bow she obtained from that despicable dream earlier with the Sealed Dust Bow now laid out before her.
The result was:
They were identical.
Only that Immortal would know. It could only be him.
So, he hadn’t only been watching over her sister.
—
Chen Juenian ultimately failed to come up with a so-called perfect solution.
All of Mu Qiu Ying’s actions indicated she was searching for evidence.
What to do?
Could it be that he really had no choice but to expose himself…?
No!
As long as I act shamelessly enough, I can definitely fool her.
“I am Xuanyuan Nian… I am Xuanyuan Nian…”
Taking a long breath, Chen Juenian suddenly felt much more relaxed.
I can avoid being captured by that girl Mu Chunxiang and resolve this child Mu Qiu Ying’s mental burden.
This is really great.
“Xuanyuan Nian.”
“Senior Mu, you’ve returned.”
“…”
After returning to the Thousand Arms Sect, Mu Qiu Ying sought out Chen Juenian first.
It could only be him.
“How did you do it?”
“Senior?”
Looking at the ‘Xuanyuan Nian’ before her, Mu Qiu Ying found herself momentarily at a loss for words.
The several phrases she had thought of on the way here to make him admit his identity were now all stuck in her throat.
“How did you manage… to break through to the Qi Refining Late Stage in just over a month.”
“This junior knows his talent is lacking, so I can only work harder than others.”
Honestly, Chen Juenian had already been working extremely hard.
Waking up at seven every morning to cultivate, only truly starting to rest after the sun set.
Absorbing spiritual energy isn’t a physically or mentally comfortable activity.
Generally, nothing is more torturous than prolonged cultivation.
“Good. Keep it up. Your future achievements will far exceed what you imagine.”
Mu Qiu Ying looked at Chen Juenian bowing his head and addressing her as ‘Senior.’
A sudden, wicked thought arose in her heart.
She didn’t understand what this wicked thought was.
She only knew it would surely make her fall into an abyss from which there was no return.