Chapter 840: Mysterious Guest, Welcoming and Cleaning the Dust

Located within Song Qingming's line of sight, Song Qingyu was focused on playing chess with another woman in black.

Sensing Song Qingming and Huang Siyuan coming up the stairs, the woman in black also raised her head, turned to look toward Song Qingming, and then revealed a smile at Song Qingming, who was still dazed.

"Junior Brother Song, it has been many years; have you been well?"

"Senior Sister Li, you... how could you be here?"

Before coming up to the third floor of the Immortal Meeting Pavilion, although Song Qingming had a sliver of preparation in his heart.

But when he saw clearly that the "mysterious guest" Huang Siyuan spoke of was actually Senior Sister Li Xuanyi, who had inexplicably disappeared not long ago, Song Qingming was indeed shocked by this "surprise" she mentioned.

Previously, upon learning the news of Senior Sister Li Xuanyi's sudden disappearance, besides confirming that Li Xuanyi had not returned to the Grand Void Gate, Song Qingming had also guessed many places she might have gone to travel.

But thinking it over, Song Qingming never imagined that Senior Sister Li Xuanyi would travel ten thousand miles to the Fuyun Mountain Range cultivation world and appear on his own Mount Funiu.

Seeing Li Xuanyi sitting not far away, smiling and greeting him, Song Qingming could not help but recall the fierce face of the Li family's short-tempered ancestor, Li Boying, and his heart could not help but tremble.

Thinking that not long ago, while on Mount Yunlong, he had solemnly guaranteed in front of the two Li family ancestors that he had nothing to do with Senior Sister Li Xuanyi's disappearance.

If the Li family were to find out that Li Xuanyi had appeared on Mount Funiu, Song Qingming feared that even with two mouths, he would not be able to explain this matter clearly.

Hearing Song Qingming's puzzled inquiry, Li Xuanyi did not rush to answer; she only gently set down the black chess piece in her hand, stood up, and replied to Song Qingming with a smile: "Junior Brother Song, I actually only arrived at the Fuyun Mountain Range last month, not many days before you.

I thought you were on the mountain and wanted to pay a visit, but I didn't expect that you had not yet returned, so I stayed on the mountain."

"That's right! Seventh Brother, you finally returned. Senior Sister Li has been waiting for you on the mountain for over half a month. I was wondering why you didn't come back together."

Hearing the words of Song Qingyu beside him, Song Qingming stood in place and was silent for a moment, then immediately said to Song Qingyu: "Qingyu, Senior Sister Li and I have some things to discuss in private; you and Siyuan go downstairs first to avoid us."

"Seventh Brother, you just got back and haven't even rested for a moment; why do you have things to discuss?"

"Since they have things to say, let's not cause trouble here. Since your husband is back, we should celebrate; come downstairs with me to help out!"

Seeing Song Qingyu standing beside them with a look of curiosity, Huang Siyuan hurriedly took the initiative to step forward and pull the somewhat reluctant her to the side.

Not until their figures disappeared at the stairwell did Song Qingming cast a spell to release a sound-insulation barrier in front of himself and Li Xuanyi.

Seeing Song Qingming's serious expression, Li Xuanyi could not help but smile and ask: "Why is Junior Brother acting so cautiously? Could it be that you are not welcoming me here?"

Seeing Senior Sister Li Xuanyi suddenly looking at him with some tension, Song Qingming immediately shook his head and said: "If Senior Sister wants to be a guest here, Junior Brother naturally would not dare to be negligent.

It is just that Senior Sister does not know, before I returned to the Fuyun Mountain Range cultivation world this time, I went to Mount Yunlong, and because of this, I was almost misunderstood by the two seniors."

"Misunderstood? Could it be that they made things difficult for you?"

Song Qingming heard this, shook his head slightly, and said: "It is not like that; it is because before I visited this time, I did not know about Senior Sister's situation, and as a result, I acted somewhat rashly and was misunderstood.

However, it was explained clearly shortly after, and the two seniors did not intend to make things difficult for me.

It is just that there are some things Junior Brother still does not understand: why did Senior Sister suddenly withdraw from the sect, and why did you leave the family to come to the Fuyun Mountain Range at this time?"

Hearing Song Qingming's explanation, Li Xuanyi breathed a slight sigh of relief, then nodded calmly and replied to him:

"I know Junior Brother has many doubts in his heart. Since I have come here, Senior Sister will certainly not hide it from you.

This matter is a long story; why don't we sit down first and talk slowly!"

After Li Xuanyi finished speaking, she led Song Qingming to the table nearby to sit down, then poured a cup of freshly brewed spirit tea for Song Qingming and handed it to him.

"Since Junior Brother has already been to Mount Yunlong, you probably understand some things without me saying them. You should be able to guess the reason why I left the family!"

"This... Senior Sister, could it be because of the matter with Daoist Zhou?"

Li Xuanyi heard this, nodded directly and generously, then sighed and said: "The reason I wanted to leave the sect in advance was that I did not want to bring any trouble to Master and the others because of this matter.

Daoist Zhou is actually a very good person; it is not that I haven't thought about accepting the family's arrangements.

But after thinking for a long time, I still could not get past this hurdle in my heart.

Junior Brother Song, perhaps you will think I am a bit too selfish.

Sometimes I also think, if only I hadn't been born into the Li family."

Hearing the sigh from Li Xuanyi's mouth, Song Qingming also felt it deeply and could not help but fall silent.

"I have been on the mountain for these days and have already heard from Qingyu about her asking you to deliver a letter. I know the temper of those two ancestors in the family. Since you ran into them, they certainly wouldn't have let you off so easily.

I didn't expect that because of my affairs, Junior Brother was wronged. Xuanyi is here to apologize to you.

I hope Junior Brother will give me some face and not hold a grudge against those two old men!"

Seeing Li Xuanyi lift the teacup in her hand, Song Qingming smiled slightly and hurriedly raised his cup: "I really didn't suffer any grievances; Senior Sister is overthinking it!"

Seeing Song Qingming drink the tea in his cup in one gulp, Li Xuanyi immediately refilled it for him and said calmly:

"Junior Brother Song, now that I have left the sect and broken ties with my family, I have no reliance left outside.

Junior Brother and Qingyu are already among the few friends I have left, so I had to come to you to take refuge first.

If Junior Brother feels it is troublesome, just tell me to my face. Rest assured, I will absolutely not hold a grudge against you because of this."

After Li Xuanyi finished speaking, she took out a black token and cast a spell to send it to Song Qingming's side.

This black token was the Elder token for entering and exiting the family's "Mountain-Protecting Formation" that Song Qingming had gifted her when they parted ways in the "Donghuang Kingdom" cultivation world years ago.

Seeing the token before him, Song Qingming hurriedly shook his head and waved his hand to return the black token.

"Senior Sister, what are you saying? Back then, you already had kindness toward my Song family, and this is something I promised you long ago. Senior Sister is willing to come here, which is giving face to me and Qingyu; how could we feel it is troublesome?

Senior Sister Li, Master also told me about you leaving the sect, but he did not tell me the reason at the time.

The reason I went to Mount Yunlong, besides helping Qingyu deliver a letter to you, was originally to ask you about this matter in person. I didn't expect to be a bit late, which led to those misunderstandings."

After Song Qingming finished speaking, he laughed at himself, then changed the subject and asked: "Because of your sudden disappearance, they are searching everywhere for this matter on Mount Yunlong, and have even gone to the sect to look for your whereabouts.

With Senior Sister here, I am afraid it will be hard to keep it hidden for long. In case someone comes looking for you in the future, do you have any other ideas?"

Hearing the worry on Song Qingming's face, Li Xuanyi nodded helplessly: "Junior Brother Song, rest assured!

I know about the ancestors at home. Now that I have left the sect, even if they go to Yuxuan Island, it will be a wasted trip; they won't find any useful information.

As for here, they certainly won't find it for a while. I still want to go to other cultivation worlds to look around in the future, so I probably won't stay here for long.

As long as Junior Brother doesn't mind me staying on the mountain for now, then I thank you both!"

After Li Xuanyi finished speaking, she took the initiative to stand up and bow to Song Qingming.

Seeing this, Song Qingming also hurriedly stood up and returned the bow.

"Now that I have voluntarily left the sect, I am afraid I cannot bear this title of 'Senior Sister' from Junior Brother Song. From now on, let us address each other as fellow Daoists!"

"Senior Sister, that is wrong. When I first entered the sect, I received much care from you. Whether in the sect or not, this title of 'Senior Sister' will not change in the future.

Otherwise, Senior Sister would truly be treating me as an outsider!"

Hearing Song Qingming's sincere answer, Li Xuanyi smiled and took the initiative to bow to him.

"I am grateful that Junior Brother still recognizes me as your Senior Sister!"

When he heard the news of Li Xuanyi's sudden disappearance on Mount Yunlong, Song Qingming had guessed that his Senior Sister chose to leave suddenly before the wedding, mostly because she was dissatisfied with this marriage.

Although personal marriage matters are hard to satisfy everyone in the cultivation world, it is inevitable that many people are subject to the fate arranged by their families.

When Huang Siyuan was with Song Qingming, the initial reason was because she was forced by family arrangements.

It is just that Senior Sister Li Xuanyi's personality is different; she has always liked to travel the world, does not like to be bound to one place, and is unwilling to have her fate easily controlled by others.

To be honest, although Song Qingming was worried about Senior Sister Li Xuanyi, he still admired her for daring to abandon everything and choose to control her own fate.

After figuring out the reason for Senior Sister Li Xuanyi's appearance here, Song Qingming suddenly remembered that he had something on him related to her, and hurriedly took it out from his storage bag.

"Senior Sister, this is something Daoist Zhou asked me to bring to you when I ran into him as I was leaving Mount Yunlong!

Rest assured, Daoist Zhou said this is not a valuable item and asked me to pass it on if I had the chance to meet you. They should not know that you are here with me."

Seeing the white scroll Song Qingming took out, a trace of doubt appeared on Li Xuanyi's face, and she reached out to take it. As the white scroll slowly opened, a bamboo pavilion located in the wilderness slowly appeared before their eyes.

In the bamboo pavilion, a woman in black with delicate features and a heroic bearing stood gracefully, looking as vivid as if she had walked into the painting.

The woman in black in the painting was none other than Li Xuanyi, who was holding the scroll at this moment.

Seeing the exquisitely painted scroll, Song Qingming, who was beside her, could not help but praise:

"I didn't expect Daoist Zhou to not only have profound cultivation but also such high-level painting skills."

Li Xuanyi lowered her beautiful eyes in a daze and suddenly fell into a silence, taking a long while to put away the scroll in her hand.

"This item is of no use to me; Junior Brother, you should keep it first!"

"Ah!..."

Seeing Senior Sister Li Xuanyi's somewhat lost expression just now, it was clear she was very satisfied with this painting.

At this moment, hearing Li Xuanyi wanting to return the portrait to him, Song Qingming's face immediately showed some doubt, not understanding her intention.

Seeing this, Li Xuanyi hurriedly explained: "This painting is likely something he used to test you. If it is not on you, and you happen to meet him in the future, you won't be able to produce it, and he will certainly suspect me because of it.

You should keep it; that way, even if something happens in the future, it will be easier to explain.

You just returned today, and Qingyu and the others still want to welcome you back. Let's not keep chatting here; let's go down quickly!"

After Li Xuanyi finished speaking, she did not pay attention to Song Qingming anymore and turned to walk downstairs.

Seeing this, Song Qingming, holding the portrait, could only shake his head and put it back into his storage magic tool.

What Li Xuanyi said was indeed not without reason. If he really met Zhou Daoping in the future and could not produce the portrait, it was possible he would suspect Li Xuanyi.

Now that Senior Sister Li Xuanyi has come to him, he cannot let the Li family know about this matter, otherwise, there will be no small trouble for the sect or himself in the future.

Having been away from home for more than four years, Song Qingming had just returned, and with an important guest like Senior Sister Li Xuanyi present.

Huang Siyuan and Song Qingyu worked together for a long time before preparing a large table of delicious spirit food. The four of them temporarily put aside the worries in their hearts and celebrated properly.

During the meal, Song Qingming and Huang Siyuan did not have much to say, but Song Qingyu and Senior Sister Li Xuanyi kept talking non-stop.

The two had not seen each other for many years and recalled the days they spent traveling in the "East Sea cultivation world," their eyes filled with excitement.

As the four chatted, it became late at night. After Song Qingyu pulled Senior Sister Li Xuanyi upstairs to play chess again, Song Qingming took the initiative to pull Huang Siyuan back to his cave dwelling.

After not seeing her for several years, Huang Siyuan's cultivation had also progressed significantly; she had now reached the peak of the fifth layer of the Jin Dan, not far from the sixth layer.

Returning from the "Donghuang Kingdom" cultivation world this time, although Song Qingming did not obtain many spirit items useful to himself, he did find an opportunity in the sect to exchange with Fourth Senior Brother Zheng Xingyun for an elixir that could help mid-stage Jin Dan cultivators break through their cultivation.

Returning to the cave dwelling, Song Qingming hurriedly took out the elixir and handed it directly to Huang Siyuan.

Huang Siyuan, who had long intended to prepare for a breakthrough in cultivation, saw the spirit elixir Song Qingming took out, and a look of joy appeared on her face as she hurriedly put the elixir away.

"Siyuan, I met Junior Sister Yun on the way here, and heard her say that Qingyu was injured some time ago. What exactly happened at home?"

Previously in the family's "Immortal Meeting Pavilion," because Senior Sister Li Xuanyi was there, Song Qingming could not ask directly.

Now that only he and Huang Siyuan were left, Song Qingming immediately asked the doubt in his heart.

Hearing this, Huang Siyuan was slightly stunned, then the smile on her face gradually calmed down, and she spoke slowly to Song Qingming:

"Husband, the matter Qingyu encountered was truly quite dangerous. You must promise me first that you will not be anxious after hearing it."

Seeing Huang Siyuan speaking so seriously, Song Qingming hurriedly nodded: "Over so many years, the three of us have experienced many dangerous things. Rest assured, I have my own sense of proportion!"

"This matter starts from the time you left.

..."

Hearing Huang Siyuan's narration, Song Qingming finally had a general understanding of what had happened to Song Qingyu over these years, and he could not help but frown.

On the day Song Qingyu was rescued by Huang Siyuan and the others, because her soul was injured, she remained in a coma for nearly a month before slowly waking up.

After waking up, Song Qingyu, knowing she had been saved by Huang Siyuan and the others, simply told everyone about her encounter with the woman in white and the others.

Including being forced to follow them to the Yue Kingdom to search for that Nascent Soul cave dwelling, Song Qingyu did not choose to hide it and said it directly.

However, because of the soul contract she had previously made with the woman in white and the others, Song Qingyu could not tell everyone their detailed identities and could only claim that these people were not cultivators from the Fuyun Mountain Range cultivation world.

Regarding this, Bai Yuxian and the others also had no clue; they did not know the identities of the woman in white and the others, or what their purpose was in coming near the Wei Kingdom.

Fortunately, although Song Qingyu suffered some hardship, the other party did not want to truly harm her. This matter gradually faded from everyone's minds as Song Qingyu slowly recovered.

Huang Siyuan had originally wanted to wait for a while and find a suitable opportunity to tell Song Qingming, but she did not expect him to know about Song Qingyu's injury as soon as he returned, so she had no choice but to explain the whole story.

"Husband, more than a year has passed since then. Because of the contract, there are some things Qingyu cannot tell me, and I didn't ask further; I only know these circumstances."

Hearing Huang Siyuan's comfort, Song Qingming hurriedly nodded with a smile, then sighed: "It's all my fault for leaving at the wrong time. If you hadn't discovered the abnormality in time and brought Senior Sister Bai and the others to save Qingyu, things might have been bad.

In any case, it's good that she is fine. As for other things, I will ask her slowly when I have the chance later!"

Huang Siyuan nodded slightly and changed the subject:

"Husband, when Senior Sister Li came some time ago, I saw that she also seemed burdened with worries. Could it be that she was wronged before coming here?"

Hearing Huang Siyuan's inquiry, Song Qingming hurriedly shook his head: "Senior Sister Li's matter is also somewhat complicated; it concerns her personal secrets, so it is not convenient for me to tell you directly.

However, Senior Sister Li may stay with us for a period of time. If you have time, you can help me keep her company.

Let Yuanfang and the others pay attention; no one is allowed to leak the news of Senior Sister Li being on the mountain. This matter is very important."

Just as Song Qingming and Huang Siyuan were discussing Li Xuanyi in the cave dwelling, Song Qingyu and Li Xuanyi, who were on the third floor of the "Immortal Meeting Pavilion" not far away, were also playing chess and talking about Song Qingming, who had just returned.

"Senior Sister Li, why was Seventh Brother so mysterious with you as soon as he returned? You two have some important matter; why can't you tell me?"

Hearing Song Qingyu's curious voice, with her eyes still scanning her, Li Xuanyi patiently placed a piece and sighed:

"Originally there shouldn't have been anything, but it's your fault for insisting that Junior Brother Song send me a letter, which backfired and almost caused him to be lectured.

He came to hold me accountable as soon as he returned.

I told you long ago not to rush to find me and to focus on cultivation to break through to the late stage of the Jin Dan early.

Look at you, it's been so long and you still haven't broken through to the seventh layer of the Jin Dan. I came all this way to find you; don't make me have made a wasted trip."

Facing Li Xuanyi's reproach, Song Qingyu showed a look of grievance:

"It's been so many years and I haven't received any news from you. I was worried that you had forgotten that matter, so I asked Seventh Brother to send you a letter.

It's really strange; I didn't write anything in that letter, so there shouldn't have been any trouble. How could Seventh Brother have been lectured? Looking at Seventh Brother's appearance when he returned just now, it seems he hasn't seen you. Could it be that you are just making things up?"

Li Xuanyi's face flashed with something unusual, but she quickly changed the subject:

"Alright, alright, you don't believe anything I say. Let's not talk about him; let's talk about your affairs! Estimate how much time you need to be confident in breaking through to the late stage of the Jin Dan?"

Hearing Li Xuanyi's inquiry, Song Qingyu's face showed a look of difficulty, and she responded softly: "This... Senior Sister Li, I know you are in a hurry.

However, my cultivation is not yet fully polished, and I am indeed not very confident in breaking through to the late stage of the Jin Dan.

Should... should we tell Seventh Brother and take him with us? That would be safer.

Senior Sister, rest assured, if we get any good things, we will still split them equally according to the previous agreement; we won't take more than your share."

"Qingyu, it's not that I don't trust Junior Brother Song, but this opportunity was discovered by the two of us after all. If we don't try it ourselves and always rely on others, I won't be reconciled.

Now that I am not in a hurry to go back, I have plenty of time to stay and wait for you; there is no need to rush.

I have an elixir here for you. Try to see if you can break through the seventh layer of the Jin Dan during closed-door cultivation. Regardless of whether it succeeds or not, we must go and try."

"Alright! I'll listen to Senior Sister. Regardless of whether it succeeds this time, we must try it first!"

After Song Qingyu finished speaking, she picked up a white chess piece on the table with a firm gaze and placed it decisively on the chessboard. (End of chapter)