……
Meanwhile, on the other side.
In the small forest, He Qiu had also said his farewell to Luo Qianning.
In the end, she handed him the jade pendant, meaning for him to keep it on her behalf.
He Qiu sensed the burning jade pendant against his chest and couldn’t help but feel moved.
He felt that he truly had a responsibility to his Senior Sister, to find a way to return the spiritual energy within the jade pendant and then return the jade pendant to Luo Qianning.
As for Luo Qianning’s secret, at present, He Qiu was likely the only person in the entire Longyin Sect who knew about it.
The young man couldn’t help but feel an added weight upon his shoulders, though it wasn’t enough to make him feel overwhelmed.
Ever since joining the Sect, aside from cultivation, He Qiu had lived a carefree life without much pressure.
Occasionally bearing some sense of mission actually made him feel reassured, as if this was what a normal cultivation life should be like.
First, it was because the knot in his heart that had troubled him for many years had finally been untied.
He finally had the chance to meet that girl from back then again.
While resolving the past conflict, he had also incidentally cleared up the matter with his Senior Sister.
These were two comforting things……
Second, He Qiu had worn the jade pendant for over ten years.
Suddenly having to return it to its original owner left him somewhat inexplicably reluctant.
Fortunately, Luo Qianning had given the jade pendant back to He Qiu, and a certain heart of his that had been suspended was finally set at ease again.
It was quite a strange feeling.
In any case, when He Qiu learned that Luo Qianning was the girl from ten years ago, he felt his heart tremble.
Afterward, whenever he looked upon his Senior Sister’s cute and innocent features, he would always have a strange sense of déjà vu, a certain emotion he had first experienced as a child.
He felt this was because he had forcibly taken her jade pendant back then, so he had always felt guilty toward her in his heart, which was why he had this feeling.
He must want to compensate her, and he did indeed plan to compensate her for something.
‘It should be just that, no other emotions.’
Amid these idle thoughts, He Qiu had already arrived at the All-Books Pavilion.
He looked up at the sky and noticed that it was gradually darkening.
It was quite a bit later than the time he had agreed to meet Fairy Nan.
He had rarely ever been late.
Creak——
The young man pushed the door open and entered.
“Apologies, disciple is late.”
“Mm, this Palace knows.
You went to listen to Elder An’s lecture, correct?”
Nangong Qiongxiao was seated at the table, propping her face on her hand, her voice somewhat bored.
She seemed to have been waiting for quite a while at the spot where they had conversed yesterday, sitting with her legs crossed in boredom.
“Yes.”
He Qiu nodded and sat down across from her.
“How was it, the Spirit Communication Art?”
“Mm, not very smooth. Disciple also happens to have something to consult Master about……”
“……?”
Hearing this opening, Nangong Qiongxiao couldn’t help but furrow her brows, feeling an inexplicable unease.
Last time, when he consulted her, he had pulled out the Sword Spirit Can Xue, causing Nangong Qiongxiao to lose sleep for an entire night afterward, unable to forget about the matter of Can Xue.
This time, what kind of fantastical question was He Qiu planning to consult her about?
Nangong Qiongxiao prided herself on being widely experienced and knowledgeable, but toward an unprecedented genius like He Qiu, she truly couldn’t afford to lower her guard.
Who knew, the next second, he might say something world-shaking……
“What is it? Feel free to speak your mind.”
Drawing a breath, Nangong Qiongxiao maintained her calm smile and spoke gently.
He Qiu nodded and said with earnest sincerity:
“It is a bit hard to bring up…… Master, it is about having formed a contract with a rather formidable Spirit Beast, but at the time it was merely a misunderstanding. Now I wish to cancel the original contract link. Is such a thing still possible?”
“Why would it not be?”
Nangong Qiongxiao listened, feeling utterly bewildered, but she had at least discovered the true crux of the problem.
“Wait…… The rather formidable one you just mentioned, specifically what kind of inconceivable Spirit Beast is it?”
“This is hard to say. Disciple is not too clear either.”
“No matter. Just give me a rough range.”
“Roughly, one with ten-thousand-year cultivation, a mythological species……”
Nangong Qiongxiao: ?
……
After conversing with Master Nangong for a while, He Qiu saw that it was getting late and took his leave.
Actually, Nangong Qiongxiao hadn’t been able to give He Qiu much guidance either.
She had only helped him find many books related to records of mythological species, letting him take them home to read on his own.
As for the self-study of Spiritual Cultivation, He Qiu roughly demonstrated it.
Nangong Qiongxiao nodded in satisfaction and said no more.
She seemed somewhat weighed down with worries, wanting to be alone in quiet.
He Qiu was also perceptive and didn’t linger any further, suggesting that he go home.
As he left, he could vaguely feel his Master’s complex gaze on his back.
He always felt that after Fairy Nan heard about the mythological species matter, the way she looked at him had changed a great deal, more solemn than yesterday.
But this was understandable.
Having just finished the Spirit Communication class, then consulting about mythological species matters, it inevitably invited association.
‘Presumably, Master must think I am too young and arrogant, wanting to summon a mythological species right after just learning the Spirit Communication Art. Sigh, no wonder Master would think that way……’
He Qiu thought so.
But Nangong Qiongxiao did not.
She truly believed He Qiu had used Spirit Communication on a mythological species because she had sensed it.
That jade pendant hidden beneath He Qiu’s collar was a drop of a phoenix’s natal blood!
How could she possibly mistake a spirit jade of that caliber?