Chapter 366: Long Qi Finally Sees the Immortal in the Painting

After a bout of dizziness, all that met Long Qi's eyes was vast, boundless mist, and beneath him was a giant lotus leaf, which carried him steadily on the water's surface like a boat.

The fresh fragrance of the lotus leaf gradually eased the nausea and dizziness Long Qi had been feeling. He looked around curiously, but as far as his eyes could see, there was only green water.

This...

What place is this?

Just as Long Qi was puzzled about where he actually was, the lotus leaf beneath him suddenly moved, rowing him forward like a boat.

The lotus leaf parted the emerald waves, startling Long Qi so much he nearly toppled over; it was only after he steadied himself that he saw the water mist around him had begun to thin.

Is this an illusion?

Long Qi couldn't help but think of the Mountain and River Map from the martial arts exercises, and he felt a bit apprehensive.

Could there be some kind of mechanism or Dharma Array here too?

Over these years, although Long Qi had practiced Witchcraft, he had rarely delved into things like mechanisms and Dharma Arrays; if he truly encountered them, he feared he would be trapped to death inside.

After all, last time, this painting had subdued a monster like Sutong.

Long Qi held his breath and focused his attention, observing his surroundings with total concentration, terrified of missing a single detail, but all that entered his eyes, besides the lake water, were a few scattered lotus leaves.

Lotus leaves?

A moment ago there were no lotus leaves to be seen, yet now he could see a few; could it be that he had gone deeper in?

Just as Long Qi had expected, led by the lotus leaf beneath him, the once-sparse lotus leaves around him gradually became more numerous. Occasionally, two or three lotus flowers could be seen, some in bud, some in bloom—pink, white, yellow—they were extremely beautiful.

Going deeper, the lotus flowers became more numerous, and the lotus leaves were crowded together, some rising above the water, standing tall and clean like giant umbrellas shading the sky, and the fragrant scent became even more intense.

Long Qi became even more vigilant, thinking he must have gone deep into a mechanism, yet nothing happened. Just then, the lotus leaf beneath him stopped in front of a cluster of lotuses.

As the lotus leaf stopped, the lotus cluster parted to both sides, and suddenly a path paved with lotus leaves appeared before his eyes. Long Qi frowned and tentatively stepped onto it, but the surface beneath his feet was soft, causing him to nearly lose his footing.

Fortunately, although the lotus leaves dipped, they still floated steadily on the water. Long Qi walked forward cautiously; after all, there was no way to retreat except for the way he had come.

At the end of the lotus leaves were countless lotus flowers, each one massive, like the lotus throne of a Buddha in a temple. Long Qi had reached the end, and just at this moment, one lotus flower spun and drifted before him.

Why must I change what I'm sitting on?

Long Qi was even more confused, but his feet did not stop; however, just as he stood steady and before he could sit down, that giant lotus darted a zhang away, shaking him so he nearly fell into the water.

Good heavens! Even though he knew how to swim, being caught off guard like that truly gave him a fright.

The lotus flower carried Long Qi forward at high speed, and before long, he saw a small pavilion in the distance surrounded by a cluster of lotuses; the water mist was thick and unclear, but he could vaguely see a person standing in front of the door.

Someone is there?

Long Qi became alert at once, and when he got closer, he discovered that the person was none other than...

"Su... Sutong!"

Standing there in that white robe, as if waiting for him, wasn't that the old Snake monster who had been subdued by Lingxiang earlier!

Long Qi gasped, his heart inevitably filling with panic.

Sutong's cultivation was quite deep; even if he had practiced for a few years following the Old Ancestor, he would definitely not be her match. Running into her here, it was inevitable he would face her retaliation.

Lingxiang subdued Sutong, so she just put her into the painting? Then why keep her in the Xianyun Abode? He...

Hadn't he just walked right into the tiger's den!

Seeing that he was getting closer and closer to Sutong, and with no way to retreat behind him, Long Qi couldn't help but break into a cold sweat; his mind raced through a hundred possibilities, but he couldn't think of a single solution.

Since they could be considered acquaintances, shouldn't he think of a way to muddle through?

Long Qi put on a smile and carefully moved forward.

"Hey! What a coincidence! To actually meet here!"

But facing the fawning Long Qi, Sutong kept a cold face, lifting her head to look down at him, her crimson eyes particularly terrifying.

It was quiet all around, with only Long Qi's dry laughter to be heard; the scene was momentarily awkward.

Just as Long Qi felt his back becoming uncomfortably damp, he heard Sutong let out a cold snort from her nose, then she turned to the side, signaling for Long Qi to walk inside.

What? Is she going to eat him inside?

"Well... we can be considered to have become friends through a fight; in the past, I was just ignorant and caused much offense. If there's anything to say, let's just say it clearly here." Long Qi rolled his eyes, thinking of the "stalling" tactic—to stall for as long as he could.

But clearly, this method was of no use.

Sutong looked impatient, let out another cold snort, and pointed her chin toward the pavilion, her brow furrowed so tightly it was almost a knot.

You think I'm giving you face, don't you? Why don't you just take the hint and get off the donkey!

Although he grumbled inwardly, Long Qi dared not show it on his face; he kept his smile, thinking of what excuse he could use to decline.

But just then, another woman's voice came from the pavilion.

"Sutong, do not frighten him anymore; invite him in quickly."

This voice was so gentle that Long Qi was momentarily dazed, but before he could think about where he had heard it, he saw Sutong bow toward the pavilion, though she still kept a sour face, and urged Long Qi with great impatience: "Follow quickly!" before walking toward the pavilion on her own.

Long Qi had no choice but to follow. As he walked, he thought: The woman inside is so gentle, she shouldn't be a bad person, and since Sutong listens to her, his life should be safe, but...

That woman seemed to be waiting for him; why would that be? Could it be an acquaintance?

The pavilion was draped with thin gauze, and he could only vaguely see the back of the woman inside. But even from her back, one could see that this woman's bearing was extraordinary.

It was not until Long Qi lifted the curtain and entered the pavilion that the woman turned around. This turn was no small matter; Long Qi was instantly stunned on the spot.

How should he put it?

Long Qi really couldn't find any words to describe this woman; to say she was a celestial being descended to earth would not be an exaggeration—perhaps she was even more beautiful than a celestial being. Only now did he deeply understand what Lingxiang often said: "One only regrets having read too little when the time comes to use it."

It's just...

It's just that this woman looked so familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere, but Long Qi racked his brains and couldn't remember.

Just as Long Qi was gaping, he saw the woman smile slightly: "Child, we meet again."

This smile made Long Qi feel as if he were bathed in a spring breeze, as if he were on the clouds, but in an instant, he came back to his senses?

Hmm? We meet again?

Could she really be an acquaintance?

The woman before him, though wearing her hair in a matron's bun, appeared to be in the prime of her youth, much the same age as himself; how could she call him "child"?

Furthermore, it was impossible that he would have no impression of a woman of such beauty.

Yet he truly could not remember where he had seen her before!