Chapter 299: Sister Lin, A'nuo

These two days, the pair finally ceased lingering before the elders' graves under flowers and moonlight; each settled their minds to comprehend the sword and the water. Two days passed in a single turn.

When the guards of the Ten Thousand Swords Tomb and the Ruins of the Five Elements entered at the appointed time to call them out, they saw a sword-shaped phantom on Dugu Miss Qingli merging into her body, while water mist hovered around Lu Xingzhou; it was clear each had gained much.

The guards also marveled in silence.

Three days—for cultivators above third grade, what could such time accomplish? It was not even enough to sit in meditation and circulate a few cycles.

Many people gained nothing in three days, entering as they had and leaving as they had.

Yet these two entered one after another and both attained realization; comparing people truly cannot be done.

The two met again, each smiling. Dugu Miss Qingli asked, "How was it?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "I understood a bit of something I never considered before... but mine is unimportant; yours is what matters."

Dugu Miss Qingli said, "Why is mine important?"

"Because you are attempting to break free from Ice and Frost, which concerns a more critical future; I am merely cultivating purely."

Dugu Miss Qingli stared at him steadily; in truth, she felt a little confused. Wasn't this fellow supposed to speak flowery words like, "Because you are important"?

Having received no flowery words as expected, Dugu Miss Qingli did not know whether to feel relieved or disappointed, and said stiffly, "Then as we said the day before, shall we go find Master?"

Lu Xingzhou rose directly on clouds: "Then let us go."

Dugu Miss Qingli silently followed beside him, all the way to the front of that great bridge.

"One cannot fly here; one must stop and descend the bridge." Dugu Miss Qingli pulled Lu Xingzhou down, then added, "I will have someone announce our arrival."

Lu Xingzhou: "... No need. Follow me."

Dugu Miss Qingli: ""

Then she watched with wide eyes as Lu Xingzhou stepped onto the bridge. The dragon-turtle below lazily lifted its head for a glance and made no move. The guards glanced and made no move either.

Dugu Miss Qingli: "..."

Am I a direct disciple or are you a direct disciple?

All the way, bewildered, she followed Lu Xingzhou to Ye Tinglan's sleeping hall, and at once saw Ye Tinglan holding A'nuo, sitting kindly outside the courtyard; the two were laughing, each eating a fruit.

What a picture of maternal kindness and filial piety; Dugu Miss Qingli found it painfully glaring.

The two entered; Ye Tinglan had sensed them from far away and, without lifting her head, said, "Is everything alright?"

Lu Xingzhou stepped forward and, without any shyness, massaged her shoulders: "Everything is alright."

Ye Tinglan said, "I heard Miss Qingli encountered trouble, and you rescued her."

"Mm."

"Consider that you have served adequately as Grandfather." Ye Tinglan smiled: "What reward do you want?"

Lu Xingzhou broke out in a sweat, glanced secretly at Dugu Miss Qingli, and Dugu Miss Qingli, expressionless, cut off the dog showing off affection: "Are you already calling me Grandfather openly? No more acting?"

Ye Tinglan said, "There are no outsiders here."

Dugu Miss Qingli: "Many thanks indeed."

Lu Xingzhou quickly changed the subject: "A'nuo's aura is off; did she breakthrough?"

"Mm-hmm." A'nuo sniffled: "Irresponsible Master."

"... Master is cultivating herself too." Lu Xingzhou was even more shocked: "Wait, you're third grade, so why haven't you grown taller?"

Ye Tinglan said, "I wanted to discuss this very matter with you. I wish to study A'nuo's condition in depth, for example by drawing some blood. What is your opinion?"

Lu Xingzhou fell silent for a moment, giving no answer at once.

Ye Tinglan, slightly nervous, clasped her hands; A'nuo quietly withdrew her hand from Ye Tinglan's grip.

Lu Xingzhou finally said, "I too intend to ask you to help study A'nuo's condition in depth."

Wild joy burst in Ye Tinglan's eyes.

A'nuo was right after all; he had refused to let Yuan Muyu do this before, but this time he did not refuse me. Victory!

Not only victory; Lu Xingzhou even said he himself intended to invite her, not that he agreed only after she asked. A great, great victory!

Ye Tinglan felt entirely at ease, sipping tea leisurely: "I heard you previously did not allow others to examine in detail. What was the reason? Did you not trust Yuan Muyu? Fear she might harm A'nuo?"

Lu Xingzhou fell silent for several more seconds before saying, "I know some of A'nuo's condition... it is somewhat outrageous and not suitable for others to know."

Ye Tinglan's expression turned serious: "Speak in detail."

"A'nuo's blood... can save lives." Lu Xingzhou said slowly: "If this becomes known, A'nuo will be in grave danger."

This was, of course, an extremely serious matter; if truly known, A'nuo would have no peace forever.

Lu Xingzhou had not even let A'nuo know herself, fearing that when she was young she could not keep secrets. But now this fellow's insides are all black; few adults are as sinister as she, so it is about time to speak.

Even though relations with Yuan Muyu were once very good, the window paper was never pierced; they were not a couple, so one could not speak casually. Moreover, Yuan Muyu is of the Demonic Path, and with early-stage enterprise being difficult, what choice she might make is hard to say. But Ye Tinglan, Little Bai Mao, is the most upright of the Righteous Path, and her holy land possesses all resources; there is absolutely no possibility of any ulterior motive.