Chapter 378: Pear Snow Falls Again on Qingwei Peak

Half a month has passed since the Qingwei Peak mountain array was undone, yet after searching the entire peak, not a trace of Long Qi could be found.

Liu Xia reported this matter to Fuyin Zhenren; after some calculations, Fuyin Zhenren claimed that Long Qi was still on Qingwei Peak, but even after mobilizing the sect's disciples to search the mountain thoroughly, there were still no results.

These past few days, Liu Xia and Lianqiao have been staying on Qingwei Peak, hoping to find even the slightest clue; and so, today, Liu Xia went into the mountains again, as he is truly worried about Long Qi's safety.

Three years ago, when something happened to Banxia, her physical body was sealed in the Langhuan Pavilion by Donghui Zhenren.

Although the Langhuan Pavilion is a library, it is a vital location for Yuanqing, filled with mechanisms and Dharma Arrays, relying on the spirit vein where it is situated; as it is also a place for cultivation, placing Banxia's physical body there was the best possible strategy.

As a good friend of Banxia, Lianqiao naturally wants to do her part for her, so she followed Liu Xia to help collect Banxia's soul.

Over these two or three years, the two can be considered friends, but this does not mean Lianqiao is accustomed to Liu Xia, and not just because of Banxia—it is more that she cannot stand his temperament.

"Pedantic, rigid!" Looking at the withered old pear tree, Lianqiao let out a long sigh.

Every time the two have a disagreement, Liu Xia always says, "Master said... Master said..." or talks about how his martial uncles or aunts are, or else how things are in the books; in three years, the calluses on Lianqiao's ears have grown three feet thick.

"Such a decent person, why is he so brainless..."

At the thought of this, Lianqiao could not help but shake her head.

However, although Lianqiao does not care for Liu Xia, she is quite impressed by his persistence regarding Banxia—Liu Xia can be considered unwavering and devoted.

For a proper young master to encounter such a situation and not show the slightest hesitation, but instead travel over mountains and through waters, enduring every hardship for the woman he loves—this spirit alone is worthy of recognition, not to mention his attitude toward friends.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..." Lianqiao clicked her tongue to herself and looked up at the old pear tree.

The once-lush old pear tree is now left with only branches, looking quite desolate.

Ever since Yuanqing suffered a disaster three years ago, this pear tree has never had new green leaves; now, nearly in May, there is still no sign of it budding.

"Sigh..." Lianqiao could not help but sigh.

Half a month ago, the Qingwei Peak mountain array was suddenly broken, and Liu Xia and Lianqiao hurried up the mountain.

That was Liu Xia's third time coming to Qingwei Peak, but at that time, Qingwei Peak was lush and green, unlike now—a bare expanse with only a few silver pines standing sparsely, looking very lonely.

Liu Xia sighed for a long time, and regardless of whether Lianqiao was listening, he just kept talking to himself about how vibrant Qingwei Peak was back then, rambling on like an old man.

Lianqiao did not say a word; after all, this was her first time climbing Qingwei Peak, and she had never seen its original appearance, so how could she know what changes it had undergone?

However, in the few years of training in Chenjian, Lianqiao could imagine it; after all, the land below was scorched for a thousand miles, with withered trees and rotten stumps everywhere, a scene of desolation that spoke for itself.

When the two arrived on the mountain, apart from Luoli's broken long staff, there were no other objects, let alone a trace of Long Qi.

Unable to find Long Qi after searching all over the Xianyun Abode, the two had to discuss a strategy.

But before they could come up with anything, they heard Liu Xia sighing again, saying things like "everything is as it was, but the people have changed," which made Lianqiao roll her eyes repeatedly—

Having already joined the sect, one should be a person outside the world, yet he still puts on the airs of a young master all day long. Who in this world is not suffering? Who is not having a hard time right now? Yet this pedantic old scholar is always triggered by the scenery. Does he not know that a scholar is useless? He truly looks like someone who has never seen the world.

However, Lianqiao suppressed the disdain in her heart and, taking advantage of a pause in Liu Xia's breathing, mentioned that this matter should be reported to the acting sect leader, finally interrupting Liu Xia's endless melancholy.

Upon hearing that the Qingwei Peak mountain array had been broken, Fuyin Zhenren wanted to go up the mountain to investigate personally. But as he is currently acting as the sect leader, burdened with complex and endless sect affairs, he could not get away. Helpless, after some deduction, he dispatched Hanyang and a few reliable disciples to go together.

They searched the mountain inside and out, but could not find Long Qi's shadow; although they knew there must be something suspicious, they were at a loss and could only return to report and plan for the long term.

Liu Xia has a stubborn temperament and cannot accept that Long Qi has disappeared so inexplicably, which is why he guards Qingwei Peak, searching the mountain firmly every day, day after day, with unyielding persistence.

Lianqiao understands why Liu Xia is like this.

She remembers one time they passed by a manor, and the manor lord was actually a Living Corpse; later, they found out that the manor lord's soul had attached itself to the Living Corpse. The manor lord and his wife were deeply in love, but they were separated by life and death; not wanting his soul to have nowhere to return, he possessed someone else's body.

Things like this have been common over the past few years.

Having already experienced what happened to Banxia, and then seeing these things down the mountain, witnessing the separations of the world, that desire not to be parted from loved ones has become increasingly intense.

Although they have escaped into the Mysterious Sect, they are still mortals after all, and the seven emotions and six desires are ultimately unavoidable.

Just as Lianqiao was bored, resting her chin on her hand and wondering if she should also go look for clues, Liu Xia happened to enter the courtyard. She stood up to welcome him; there was no need to say anything—just looking at Liu Xia's dejected appearance, she knew he had returned empty-handed again.

Qingwei Peak was inexplicably shrouded in golden light, and then the Dharma Array suddenly dissipated; the mystery within is self-evident—how could clues be found in just a day or two?

However, Lianqiao finally understood why Banxia had admired Lingxiang so much back then.

Who would have thought that these pieces and parts, seemingly unrelated but closely connected, were all laid out by a little girl of Lingxiang's age?

Fucang Elder is so young, yet truly remarkable!

Just as Lianqiao was sighing, a strange sound suddenly came from the horizon; at first listen, it sounded like an infant crying, but listening carefully, it sounded like the long cry of some kind of bird.

Neither Lianqiao nor Liu Xia had ever heard such a sound, and they followed the sound to look, but saw nothing.

Just then, Lianqiao suddenly noticed that the Spirit Silk on the Eight Trigrams Plate at Liu Xia's waist, which had been dim and unclear, had become exceptionally clear.

"This... what is going on?" Liu Xia hurriedly picked up the Eight Trigrams Plate; although he had questions, he could not suppress the excitement in his heart.

The soul that this thread is pulling must be the last wisp of Banxia's soul.

Lianqiao did not know why this was happening either; could it be because of the strange sound in the sky?

Just as the two were surprised, a petal drifted down and landed on Liu Xia's Eight Trigrams Plate; the two looked up and saw that the previously bare pear tree had become lush and green!

White flowers and green leaves hung all over the branches, as if it were blooming all at once for the three years it had not flowered.

A gentle breeze blew, and the petals fell with the wind, scattered and drifting, like white snow.