Chapter 248: Senior Brother

After the Spirit Insect had eaten for a while, Zhang Nuo forcibly retracted it into the Spirit Beast Bag. It was broad daylight, after all; it would be bad if someone discovered it!

After returning to the Nanxuan Sect, Zhang Nuo was still thinking about the Spirit Insect. Just as his backside touched the bed, the Mysterious Heaven Gold-Devouring Insect in the Spirit Beast Bag began to stir restlessly again.

Zhang Nuo's expression turned bitter! Judging from the mental connection transmitted, this little fellow was clearly unsatisfied with the food from just a moment ago! No matter how he tried to soothe it, it simply wouldn't listen! With no other choice, Zhang Nuo walked out of the room once more.

"Bai Xiu!"

Seeing Bai Xiu idly in the courtyard, he called out directly.

"What is it, Senior Brother?"

Ever since that incident, Bai Xiu's face would turn bright red whenever she saw Zhang Nuo. Thinking about being held in a man's arms like that was something she couldn't bring herself to accept.

Zhang Nuo, however, was more open-minded. Ignoring her shyness, he said directly:

"I have something to attend to and might be out for a few days. If anyone comes looking for me, just say I went to the nearby market to purchase some materials!"

Bai Xiu nodded gently. Before she could say anything, Zhang Nuo had already steered his escape light and flown toward the distant sky. Standing silently in place, a strange feeling rose from the bottom of her heart; sometimes, she wished so much that something had truly happened that night.

Zhang Nuo, who had broken through the air to leave, flew for several days until he left the Tianjiang Plain and arrived inside a large mountain. He released the transformed Spirit Insect, letting it search for food in the mountains.

After flying in the mountains for a while, for some reason, the Spirit Insect reverted to its original appearance, looking exactly like the golden beetle from before. This left Zhang Nuo very surprised. According to Chunyangzi's explanation, the Spirit Insect's transformation required a massive amount of Spirit Power to support, and the current Mysterious Heaven Gold-Devouring Insect had a low cultivation base, so it shouldn't be able to sustain it for long!

In any case, these were all conjectures, and Zhang Nuo didn't want to dwell on them. He followed silently behind the Spirit Insect. Suddenly, the Spirit Insect in front let out a soft chirp, then its body dove toward the ground. The next moment, the insect left a bottomless little hole in the ground, and its figure vanished into the hole.

Zhang Nuo took a look and knew it had found food; perhaps there was a mineral vein below! Sitting cross-legged beside the little hole, Zhang Nuo closed his eyes to rest his mind.

Thinking of the scene when he first met the Spirit Insect, he also thought of Gao Dakuan!

"Sigh! I wonder how Senior Brother is doing?"

With a soft sigh, Zhang Nuo glanced into the distance; that direction was where the Southern Dynasty Song Clan was located! Suddenly, an idea popped into his mind. After calculating the distance, he realized that with his flight speed, he could reach the Song Clan within a few days!

Since he was idle anyway, he might as well go see how Gao Dakuan was doing! Having made up his mind, Zhang Nuo decided that as soon as the Spirit Insect came out, he would head to the Nanchao Kingdom!

Five days later, when the Spirit Insect crawled out of the hole again, it had turned back into the shape of an infant. Its slightly bulging belly indicated that it was full this time.

Zhang Nuo opened the mouth of the Spirit Beast Bag, and the Spirit Insect turned into a streak of Golden Light and flew straight inside. Scanning with his Divine Sense, he saw the little fellow collapse inside and fall into a deep sleep!

"Sleeping after eating!"

Shaking his head helplessly, Zhang Nuo tucked the Spirit Beast Bag into his robes and, following his previous plan, began to fly toward the Nanchao Kingdom! He hadn't seen his Senior Brother in over a dozen years! He wondered what he looked like now, if his cultivation had improved, and if he had aged or grown younger?

Countless thoughts sprouted like bamboo shoots after a rain. Zhang Nuo wished so much to return to the days of the past, but ever since the Great Underworld Mansion destroyed the Divine Sword Sect, that would never exist again.

In the future, he still had to go to the Immortal Illusion Continent, which was an even more unknown place. He had no idea if he could return alive, and among the old friends he could find, there was only his Senior Brother Gao Dakuan! Perhaps seeing him once would bring some peace to his heart!

Thinking along the way, Zhang Nuo finally arrived within the borders of the Nanchao Kingdom that day. The Song Clan was quite famous in the Nanchao Kingdom, so he didn't need to deliberately ask for directions. Following his memory, he soon found their location.

He saw that the vast Song Clan mansion was still as magnificent as ever! After landing, the Nine Dragon Sword Case within Zhang Nuo's body shifted slightly, concealing his Golden Core stage cultivation entirely and revealing only the Spirit Power fluctuations of the Foundation Establishment Stage.

By this time, two Song Clan gatekeeper disciples had already spotted Zhang Nuo walking from afar. When he reached them, one of the disciples, who looked to be in his twenties, stepped forward and asked:

"Does this fellow Daoist have business at the Song Clan?"

"Please trouble yourself to inform the Second Miss of the Song Clan that an old friend has come to visit!"

Zhang Nuo was very polite and said with a smile on his face.

"Wait a moment!"

Seeing that Zhang Nuo spoke naturally and did not seem like a villain, the Song Clan disciple did not ask further and turned to walk inside.

After a short while, he heard a familiar voice coming from inside the Song Clan.

"Who is it? Didn't you even ask for their name?"

Hearing the voice, Zhang Nuo knew it was Song Ziyu. Recalling the scene of their first meeting years ago, it felt as if it had just happened yesterday.

When the Second Miss of the Song Clan stepped out of the gate, her gaze fell upon Zhang Nuo. She saw that this young man was still the same as before, with a faint smile, his appearance unchanged at all.

A dozen years of time hadn't changed him much, only stripping away his childishness and making him appear mature and steady! Zhang Nuo didn't speak either, slightly observing Song Ziyu; this woman had grown even more lovely! Dressed in pink, she exuded a charming temperament!

"Zhang Nuo! I really didn't expect it to be you!"

Running a few steps, the Second Miss of the Song Clan arrived before Zhang Nuo. Her gaze lingered on him for a long time before she exclaimed aloud.

Ever since Zhang Nuo had left without saying goodbye that time, Song Ziyu had been heartbroken for several days, only to be comforted later by her sister, Song Meiyu. Seeing Zhang Nuo again now, she felt a complex mix of emotions.

"Didn't expect it, did you?"

Zhang Nuo chuckled without offering much explanation. After the two chatted for a while, Song Ziyu let him into the Song Clan. Along the way, looking at the surrounding scenery, which hadn't changed much, Zhang Nuo asked:

"Is my Senior Brother still in your residence? Has my master arrived?"

She had been leading the way, but upon hearing Zhang Nuo ask about Gao Dakuan, the Second Miss of the Song Clan turned her head back. A strange look flashed in her beautiful eyes as she said:

"Your Senior Brother is, of course, still at the Song Clan, and he is living very well! As for your master, Lin Fan, we have never been able to find him!"

Seeing her beam with joy at the mere mention of Gao Dakuan, Zhang Nuo felt slightly surprised, but hearing that there was still no news of his master, a sense of sorrow welled up in his heart! Where exactly had Lin Fan gone? Neither hide nor hair of him could be found!

Just at this moment, a streak of light flashed from the depths of the Song Clan and quickly arrived before the two. Gao Dakuan appeared by Zhang Nuo's side!

"Senior Brother!"

"Junior Brother!"

The two hadn't seen each other for many years and immediately embraced. That kind of bond was not something others could understand; it was Gao Dakuan who had brought Zhang Nuo back to the Divine Sword Sect, and in many things that followed, it was this Senior Brother who had helped.

"Junior Brother, where have you been all these years! I've missed you so much!"

Gao Dakuan held Zhang Nuo and refused to let go. At this time, a graceful figure also walked out from the depths of the Song Clan; it was none other than Song Meiyu! Seeing the two so happy, she didn't step forward to interrupt but stood quietly to the side with the Second Miss of the Song Clan.

After a long while, Gao Dakuan finally released Zhang Nuo and looked him over carefully for a long time before saying:

"Seeing that you are safe, I can rest easy!"

"Senior Brother, have you been well all these years?"

Scanning Gao Dakuan with his Divine Sense, he saw that his cultivation had improved significantly; he now had at least the strength of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage!

"Good! Of course I'm good!"

Before Gao Dakuan could speak, Song Ziyu suddenly blurted out this sentence.

"I'm right, aren't I, Brother-in-law!"

The moment the words "Brother-in-law" left Song Ziyu's lips, Gao Dakuan laughed honestly. Zhang Nuo was also left completely bewildered by this form of address.

"Senior Brother, what is going on here?"

Judging by what Song Ziyu meant, Gao Dakuan was already married; could the person whom this Song Er Xiaojie called brother-in-law be...

Thinking of this, Zhang Nuo's gaze immediately fell upon Song Meiyu, and he saw that her expression was gentle, carrying a faint smile, just as it had been before!

"My sister is now your Senior Brother's wife! Why don't you hurry up and call her sister-in-law!"

Song Ziyu playfully pulled her sister's hand and teased him.

Zhang Nuo was speechless for a moment; in this world, there are truly only things you cannot imagine, not things that cannot be done! He would never have guessed that Gao Dakuan had actually married Song Meiyu! How could these two people from completely different worlds have ended up together?

In a daze, Zhang Nuo was led by the three of them into the main hall of the Song Family, and Gao Dakuan's mouth had never been so nimble, repeatedly asking him about things after he left the Song Family.

Just at this moment, a streak of light flashed quickly into the main hall, and as the light faded, it revealed an old man! It was none other than the father of the two Song daughters, Song Yi!

Song Yi looked much older than before, and his cultivation had not improved, but as soon as his gaze fell upon Zhang Nuo, he immediately became somewhat hesitant.

"Greetings, Patriarch Song!"

Zhang Nuo stood up and bowed to Song Yi; logically speaking, since he and Song Yi were both at the Golden Core stage, there was no need for this, but considering that the Song Family had taken care of Gao Dakuan for so many years, and adding in the relationship between Gao Dakuan and Song Meiyu, he acted this way.

"Young Friend Zhang, there is no need for such courtesy!"

With a light smile, Song Yi still looked at Zhang Nuo with a suspicious gaze, as if there were something strange about him!

Suddenly, without any warning, Song Yi flipped one hand, and a fist-sized green light appeared in his palm, striking fiercely toward Zhang Nuo.

This scene was truly too unexpected, and when the others noticed it, they all cried out in alarm!

"Father! What are you doing?"

"Father-in-law! Stop at once!"

In the eyes of Gao Dakuan and the others, Zhang Nuo was just like them, a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and having been ambushed by Song Yi, he had no chance to escape!