The Cloud Boat emerged from the sea of white mist.
Behind it, rain fell over the cloud waves.
Rain shrouded the mountains as the boat rode the wind beneath the gradually setting sun and evening glow.
On the flat cliff in front of the mountain gate, someone stood quietly waiting.
She held an umbrella against the rain, a pipe resting in her hand.
The smoke she exhaled curled upward and blended into the hazy rain curtain.
In the distance, the Cloud Boat drew closer, cleaving through the faint dawn and dusk.
She raised her head to confirm, took one final puff, extinguished the pipe, and put it away. She watched as the Cloud Boat slowly descended before her.
As a senior sister, she had to set an example for these junior sisters.
The junior sisters jumped down from the Cloud Boat one after another, looking like rabbits covered in raindrops.
They raised their hands to shield their heads, chattering as they avoided the puddles on the ground.
Yet the constantly rippling water surfaces became even more beautifully muddled because of these lively girls, like a stroke of ink that fully captured the splendor of youth.
Xu Yanrou gave a slight nod.
With a wave of her hand, several paper umbrellas flew out from the storage ring on her index finger and landed perfectly in each girl’s hands.
The girls greeted Xu Yanrou, then reluctantly bid farewell to Su Zhan and Xia Liu before scattering in different directions.
They still needed to hurry and report their safe return to their respective masters.
For them, this had only been an ordinary trial outside the sect.
After all the fun and games, what awaited them were the lessons they had missed during this period.
They also understood that the senior sisters had things to discuss and matters to handle, so it was best not to linger and disturb them.
Strictly speaking, those who went out on normal trials did not need to make up for missed lessons.
However, because they had returned far too late this time, it could not be helped.
Still, they had no complaints.
Su Zhan had already compensated each of them with several medicinal herbs and spirit stones beforehand.
These herbs, once refined into pills, would save them a month of bitter cultivation.
Xia Liu had also promised to personally refine one batch of pills for each of them.
“Whew. Senior Sister actually had time to come pick us up today?”
Xia Liu held a paper umbrella and stretched lazily as she asked casually.
Now that they were back at the sect and she no longer had to worry about so many things, she was completely relaxed.
After all, with nothing weighing on her, she felt light and free.
“Why ask like that?
Xu Yanrou raised an eyebrow. She reached out directly toward Xia Liu and pinched the girl’s cheek, gently kneading it.
“Not welcome to see me?”
“Mm!” Xia Liu protested with her whole face, whimpering as she backed away to dodge. She let out a dissatisfied snort.
“Senior Sister always thinks the worst. I didn’t mean that at all!”
“Who told you to phrase it in a way that makes Senior Sister misunderstand.”
Xu Yanrou chuckled softly.
Holding her umbrella, she looked toward Su Zhan.
She had intended to reach out and pinch the girl’s cheek as well, but her gaze landed on the white cat in Su Zhan’s arms.
She paused, then changed direction and placed her hand on the white cat’s head instead.
“Oh my, where did you find this little cutie? Heh… It really knows how to enjoy itself.”
As if it understood, the white cat meowed at her and bumped its head against the two soft lumps above it, expressing its dissatisfaction.
Throughout the entire journey, the white cat’s head had been pressed several times by these two lumps of softness due to the Cloud Boat’s turbulence.
Although it had not been painful and even carried a faint medicinal fragrance, for a cat that disliked being restrained, it could hardly be called enjoyable.
Well, it could only be said that it did not dislike it, but it definitely could not be called liking it either!
However, the cat’s complaints could not reach the ears of these three people.
After all, its cultivation was still insufficient for it to speak human language.
“It was entrusted to me by a senior. I’m only looking after it for the time being.”
Su Zhan released her hand and let Xu Yanrou take the white cat away as she explained.
“It’s quite well-behaved. What a pity I can’t even take care of myself. Otherwise, I would have liked to have such a fluffy little companion as well.”
Xu Yanrou muttered. The cat did not seem afraid of strangers at all.
No matter who held it, it maintained a docile appearance, which made her feel even more fondness for it.
“That’s true. Senior Sister’s own schedule is irregular. If you kept a pet, who knows who would end up taking care of whom in the end.”
Xia Liu nodded in agreement.
“…That is indeed the truth, but Senior Sister doesn’t like hearing it.”
Xu Yanrou felt helpless and coughed lightly in discomfort.
“Let’s not talk about this anymore. I got distracted by this little one just now and almost forgot the main matter.”
“There’s still a main matter…”
Xia Liu pouted. Her previously energetic expression instantly collapsed, and her tone carried a hint of dejection.
“Can I just pretend I didn’t see Senior Sister and go hide in my room to seclude myself for a month?”
In the short term, she really did not want to get involved in any troublesome matters.
“The main matter isn’t all troublesome. There are good things too.”
Xu Yanrou understood her junior sister’s temperament and spoke with a light laugh.
“But every time Senior Sister comes to me about the main matter, it’s never anything good.” Xia Liu said faintly.
“Nonsense. This time it really is something good.” Xu Yanrou scolded her playfully, then paused before continuing.
“The Small Pantao Assembly, held once every thirty years, is about to begin. The Immortal Alliance has sent invitations to all major sects. The Sect Master has allocated six spots. All of us are going.”
“Pantao Assembly?” Su Zhan was stunned and could not help but frown. “It’s actually being held normally?”
The so-called Small Pantao Assembly was essentially a gathering organized by the Immortal Alliance to maintain relations between the major sects.
At the same time, it was also a good opportunity for young disciples to build connections.
To demonstrate sincerity and create a lively atmosphere, the Immortal Alliance would prepare various competitive activities.
Participants could obtain a spiritual fruit called the Golden Radiance Immortal Peach.
This fruit came from a ten-thousand-year-old spiritual tree that bore fruit once every thirty years.
It had various miraculous effects, such as improving aptitude, strengthening the divine soul, stabilizing one’s foundation, and prolonging life.
It could be said that this item was extremely useful to Su Zhan.
Logically speaking, it should not be missed.
However, in the original novel, this Pantao Assembly had already been canceled multiple times.
Only a symbolic number of fruits had been sent to each sect.
Those few fruits had been given to Yun Li by the sect.
This had caused the original Su Zhan to become jealous of Yun Li, leading her to target her repeatedly and ultimately die a miserable death.
But if it was truly being held, then it was indeed a good thing for Su Zhan… It was just that before that, she still needed to write down everything that would happen during this period of time to see if there were any connections.
“This Pantao Assembly wasn’t held last time either. The elders have muttered about it countless times. It probably won’t happen this time either.”
Xia Liu naturally had no way of knowing what Su Zhan was thinking.
After Xu Yanrou finished speaking, she could not help but curl her lip. “The Sect Master is definitely just saying it to make Senior Sister happy.”
“You don’t believe Senior Sister’s words? You deserve a beating.”
Xu Yanrou pretended to be angry. Then she glanced meaningfully at Su Zhan and let out two light hums of laughter.
With considerable implication in her tone, she continued,
“Besides, this news didn’t come from the Sect Master. It was actively mentioned by your Su Senior Sister’s little green plum when she came to visit.”
“Who knows? We might be benefiting from your Su Senior Sister’s good fortune this time.”
“Su Senior Sister’s little green plum?”
Xia Liu looked confused and did not react immediately. After thinking for a moment, she suddenly understood.
“Oh, so it’s her…”
She then turned her gaze toward Su Zhan, who was still deep in thought, and looked her up and down.
She gave a slight nod of affirmation, yet could not help but hesitate.
“It’s possible… But I remember that person is also…”
“Precisely because of that, it’s most likely.”
Xu Yanrou gave a mischievous smile.
As if afraid Su Zhan would hear, she leaned closer to Xia Liu and whispered,
“After all, the Ruthless Dao always produces the most passionate people.”