Chapter 360

"……" Gu Rongjin: "Fine, I've become someone else, alright, brat, I'll settle the score with him later!"

Qiao Chu's smile unchanged, he made an inviting gesture: "Please, everyone, follow me aboard."

The two little rascals ran ahead; they loved boarding the ship, and as soon as they got on they found the best spot, sat down, and enjoyed the cool night breeze while watching the river scenery.

Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin stood behind the children, constantly watching the river and banks; Qiao Chu stood at the bow with hands behind his back, looking thoughtful.

The boatman rowed at a steady, unhurried pace, with a rhythmic thud.

Many passersby on the bank glanced at the boat crossing to the opposite shore, curious about which divine being the new guests of Juechen Valley were.

The boat soon docked at the valley's base; a massive heavy iron gate slowly opened from within; Gu Rongjin looked up at the person standing on the steep stone wall, hidden in night, face indistinct, but beside him another person was clearly visible from the light and shadow, wearing the same attire as Qiao Chu.

Probably the uniform of Juechen Valley disciples.

Mu Yuanzhi also followed Gu Rongjin's gaze upward; those two seemed to be looking down at them, or perhaps merely watching the river's movements.

Under a frosty moon and cold night, with river lights and shimmering water, they reached the opposite bank; Gu Rongjin took Mu Yuanzhi's hand and stepped ashore, while Qiao Chu pulled a little one along with them ashore.

The iron door sealing them off from the outside slowly shut, letting out a heavy sound.

They had already entered the core of Juechen Valley.

Gu Rongjin looked around and said to Mu Yuanzhi: "It seems the little Qilin has truly revived your sect; look, even just the guards are numerous."

Mu Yuanzhi also didn't know how magnificent the former Juechen Valley was; her master never told her these things; for her master, as long as there was a successor, the sect existed.

It had a somewhat reclusive feeling.

However, Juechen Valley could protect a region; one could imagine its past glory; reviving the sect is naturally good.

It seems the Qilin has really worked hard these three years.

Clearly he's still just a child.

As a guide, Qiao Chu walked ahead; along the way everyone showed great respect to this closed-door disciple, not at all like the most junior in seniority.

He was respected just like a typical sect's senior elder brother.

The Qilin is only how many years old, and already not taking disciples?

Mu Yuanzhi always felt it strange, yet deep down it felt very much in line with the Qilin's way of thinking.

"What is your master busy with? He didn't even come personally to meet us?" Gu Rongjin asked seemingly offhand.

Qiao Chu paused slightly, turned and said: "The master has many matters to attend to, truly unable to free himself; please forgive."

He changed the subject.

After Gu Rongjin waited for Qiao Chu to turn and walk ahead, he quietly said to Mu Yuanzhi: "I always feel something is odd."

Those words struck Mu Yuanzhi's heart; she actually also had a weird feeling, but she didn't dwell on it.

After all, she had never been to Juechen Valley before; perhaps the so-called strangeness is normal.

But Gu Rongjin's remark made her inner complexity surge again.

It really is strange.

"Little Qilin so eagerly wanted to meet you, sending several letters a month, each over ten pages; now that you've arrived, logically he should have long been waiting at the town entrance for us."

Mu Yuanzhi nodded in agreement; this indeed matches Qilin's style.

"Or perhaps he really is swamped?" Mu Yuanzhi tried to convince herself.

The more she said it, the more uneasy she felt.

But this is Juechen Valley, and Qiao Chu didn't mention any matters; maybe they're just worrying needlessly? One can't just infer a whole chain from Qilin not coming to meet them.

Perhaps the Qilin has simply grown up, become steady, and now bears the responsibility of valley master, no longer flighty.

"I also hope that's the case."

He also knew Mu Yuanzhi had no idea in her heart, so he stopped wild guessing; anyway they'll find out later.

"How much longer, Master Qiao?" Mu Yuanzhi asked Qiao Chu.

"After climbing the heavenly ladder, it's about another fifteen minutes." Qiao Chu laughed.

This heavenly ladder isn't long, roughly a hundred steps, estimated to be ninety-nine steps, with a nice meaning.

"Can you walk? Do you want Daddy to carry you?" Gu Rongjin asked the two little rascals.

Kids wouldn't feel tired; seeing the long stone steps, they were eager to try.

"No need, I still want to race my brother to see who reaches the top first!" Gu Yuantong rubbed his hands and started running up.

Mu Yumo scoffed: "You're just running wildly; you'll have no strength later!"

He said that and also chased after them, not looking back at his parents, saying: "I and my sister are going ahead!"

Gu Rongjin crossed his arms and laughed: "Truly full of energy."

"Shall we also compete?" Mu Yuanzhi said, "You must not use lightness skill."

"Fine, we'll compare foot speed." Gu Rongjin immediately accepted.

Martial artists, even without internal energy, won't be slow in their steps.

"You must not hold back!" Mu Yuanzhi warned in advance.

"No holding back, I'll be fair and just, go!"

As a result, the two little beans in front couldn't run halfway before losing strength and leaning on stones to rest; Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin each took one's hand and continued upward.

"Are you tired?" Mu Yuanzhi wiped sweat from her daughter's face.

The little girl stubbornly said: "Not tired, my brother is more tired than me!"

"How can you keep spreading rumors?" Mu Yumo immediately retorted, "Even after another hundred steps I won't be tired!"

Gu Rongjin: "Okay okay okay, you're not tired, Dad is tired, we must walk slowly."

"Dad's just pretending to be weak, wanting Mom to feel sorry for him?" Gu Yuantong said, twisting his little V-shaped eyebrows.

Gu Rongjin: ……

"In your eyes, is Dad that kind of person?"

The two little ghosts nodded together.

Mu Yuanzhi couldn't help but laugh.

Qiao Chu, walking ahead, turned back to give them a look, lost in thought.

He neither urged them on nor spoke; he simply turned back silently and continued walking.

Upon reaching the top of the heavenly ladder, the cold wind on the summit grew fiercer; Mu Yuanzhi tightened her cloak, and Gu Rongjin immediately asked her, "Are you cold?"

Saying that, he was about to take off his own cloak.

"No, I'm fine, you keep yours on, don't freeze yourself." Mu Yuanzhi shook her head.

Gu Rongjin then lowered his head to look at the two children: "Are you cold?"

The children were about to say they weren't cold, but one sneezed; seeing that, Qiao Chu, like a magician, produced two hand warmers, giving one to each child.

"Thank you, big brother!"

The children smiled sweetly, took the hand warmers and held them, instantly becoming much warmer.

"The valley is cold and damp; everyone, please take extra care to keep warm, don't let yourselves freeze."

Mu Yuanzhi looked again at Qiao Chu, who wore thin clothes yet showed no fear of the cold, and she couldn't help but be curious.

You're practicing a cold-resisting technique, right?

"The place ahead is where our master has prepared a resting spot for us." Qiao Chu lifted his chin.