Chapter 366

Mother, are you cold?

Thoughtful Gu Yutong immediately noticed that Mu Yuanzhi hadn't approached the waterfall, and the hand holding the hand warmer tightened.

She thought her mother must be cold.

As soon as her words fell, everyone looked at Mu Yuanzhi, and Gu Rongjin quickly took off his own cloak and draped it over her without a word: "Be careful not to catch a chill."

"It's not that I'm cold; it's just that being near brings an uncomfortable chill." Mu Yuanzhi said, "You gave me your cloak—what about you?"

"I'm hot anyway; the cloak just looks good when worn." Gu Rongjin said.

Mu Yumo hearing this, instantly lost interest in the waterfall: "Let's go."

"Let's go, senior sister; it's cold here, we shouldn't stay." Qilin also said.

Mu Yuanzhi nodded, "Okay."

The group continued forward, passed the waterfall, and ahead stood another towering mountain peak; at its base was a closed gate, guarded by two people outside.

Mu Yuanzhi curiously asked, "What's inside?"

Qilin: "It's the Back Mountain; I've never been there either, I don't know what's there. The sect's ancestors said one must not enter the Back Mountain, so they stationed guards here to prevent anyone from sneaking in."

Gu Rongjin didn't believe Qilin's words; he leaned in and whispered, "You're just bragging, you definitely went in!"

Never mind this brat's curiosity; the miasma here is so heavy, this brat must have poked around every corner.

Qilin cleared his throat, glared at Gu Rongjin, and lowered his voice: "Don't talk nonsense, lest someone hear."

Gu Rongjin looked as if he'd expected that, and added: "You're lying to your senior sister—you're dead."

"I haven't, I'll tell her later." Qilin, annoyed, shot another glance at Gu Rongjin.

When the two guards saw Qilin and them approach, they hurriedly clasped their hands: "Master!"

Qilin immediately assumed the bearing of the valley master, straightened his waist, lowered his voice, gave a short grunt, then introduced Mu Yuanzhi to them: "This is your grand-uncle."

"Grand-uncle, hello!" The two again respectfully bowed.

Mu Yuanzhi also returned the salute with clasped fists.

She, who hadn't spent a single day in Juechen Valley, still felt a bit unworthy of being called grand-uncle.

Qilin led them to the adjacent plum grove for a stroll; Gu Rongjin walked at the rear, glancing back at the mountain peak just now, lost in thought.

"What beautiful plum blossoms!"

Children all love bright flowers, fragrant and lovely; it's the season when plum blossoms are in full bloom, and the plum grove is a sea of blossoms, dazzling to the eyes.

The little ones trotted ahead cheerfully, while the adults chatted behind.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Little Qilin, with so many plum blossoms, have you made peach blossom wine?"

"Of course, I'll send you ten bottles later—all brewed by myself!" Qilin said proudly, raising his eyebrows.

Gu Rongjin: "Even the brat can brew alcohol?"

"I can do plenty of things." Qilin said smugly.

"Do you have more to give us ten bottles?" Mu Yuanzhi asked with a smile.

"If not, I can brew more—with so many plum blossoms, making a hundred bottles is no problem!" Qilin said.

Gu Rongjin: "I'm still concerned about that Back Mountain—what exactly is in there, little Qilin?"

"I have gone in, but not very far, because there's a fire pool blocking the way, making it impossible to pass; perhaps the ancestors set it up to keep people out, or maybe it was always there, too dangerous to allow entry to the Back Mountain." Qilin said.

"A fire pool?" Gu Rongjin and Mu Yuanzhi exchanged a glance.

Qilin nodded: "The fire pool—just getting near is scorching hot; I threw a chunk of meat in, and it cooked before it even sank, the temperature is extremely high."

"What you say has piqued my interest a little." Gu Rongjin stroked his chin.

Qilin: "Even disciples of our sect cannot enter the Back Mountain, and you're not even a disciple—so you definitely can't."

"Where do all these rules come from? I'm your master, your senior brother—roughly speaking, I'm one of the people here."

"All that nonsense… Not letting you in surely has a reason; if you go in and something happens, what then?" Qilin firmly replied.

Gu Rongjin wasn't convinced: "But I have a feeling that maybe the miasma here is related to the Back Mountain."

Upon hearing that, Qilin fell silent.

He, too, had thought the same, but the fire pool is simply impossible to approach.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Unless we can think of a way to cross the fire pool, we'd better not bother."

"Yeah, the method to deal with the fire pool might be even more complicated than finding a cure for the miasma and the side effects of the Hundred Spirit Grass pills on me." Qilin said, "You should just give up, Gu Rongjin."

Gu Rongjin neither agreed nor disagreed, just pondering to himself.

Yesterday it snowed heavily; today the snow began to melt, walking on the snowy ground gave a different feeling in one's heart.

Gu Rongjin suddenly had a whimsical thought and asked: "Can't a blizzard lower the temperature?"

"In theory, unless there are continuous blizzards darkening the sky, how could the temperature possibly drop?" Qilin said.

Mu Yuanzhi knew Gu Rongjin hadn't given up, and asked him: "Rongjin, you wouldn't be thinking of sneaking in to investigate, would you?"

Gu Rongjin let out a sigh and blinked.

"Don't sigh, I heard you; I've said my piece—if you go in and encounter any danger, I'll discipline you on behalf of my senior sister!" Qilin warned, hands on hips.

"You know my temper as a teacher; wanting to get to the bottom of things naturally means I won't rest until I succeed—my little disciple, you might as well come with me."

"You piece of work! Senior sister, you won't even rein him in!" Qilin, having no choice, turned to Mu Yuanzhi for help.

Mu Yuanzhi shrugged: "Just take him in to have a look; seeing it will put him off."

Qilin helplessly: "Just indulge him…"

He had no choice but to reluctantly agree: "You're making me break my precepts."

"What precepts? I'm your master, basically the patriarch of this place—what's wrong with the patriarch going in to have a look?" Gu Rongjin came up with his twisted logic again.

Qilin gave him a sideways glance, then sighed: "Forget it—actually, it'd be fine if you went in to scout; I'd also like to hear your opinion."

Gu Rongjin nodded satisfactorily: "You little brat, all talk and no action—I knew you also wanted me to go in."

After the plan to go into Back Mountain was set for the evening, Mu Yuanzhi, having coaxed the two little rascals to sleep, went out with Gu Rongjin.

With the Qilin leading, the guards did not block them, yet knowing they wanted to enter, they remained hesitant to speak.

The Qilin's expression was stern: "This matter should not be made public, understand?"

We will obey the master's orders!

The guards clasped their fists and nodded.

"Guard this place well, wait for us to come out."

"Yes!"

The heavy iron door slowly opened; although it was deep winter, a blast of hot wind blew in.

The two guards wanted to peek, but feeling unsuited, they restrained the impulse to turn and sneak a glance.

The Qilin walked ahead; when Gu Rongjin, the last to enter, had gone in, the guards, trying not to look askance, closed the iron door and dutifully stood guard outside.