The thick white fog gradually thinned, breaking into soft wisps, drifting lightly in all directions.
Boom boom boom—
Boulders tumbled, mountains shook, and the earth roared. Instantly, thousands of birds took flight and countless beasts stampeded.
The Tang Mansion's courtyard collapsed. Xiao Rong, caught off guard, fell to the ground. A pale, jade-like hand scooped him up. "The secret realm is collapsing. We must leave here!"
Yao Ranran held Xiao Rong in one arm, with Tang Xiangyin following behind, along with Jiang Shengxiang and the other person they had found behind the ancestral hall.
"Master!"
Xiao Rong's tensed body relaxed in that instant. "Boss, Xiao Jiang!!!"
Wuwuwu, luckily the boss didn't die. Only the boss could give such a warm embrace!
Yao Ranran didn't understand why Xiao Rong was so emotional, as the collapsing sounds of the courtyard suddenly swallowed everything.
Mountains cracked, dust filled the sky, and the earth roared. The last few paths left by the Spirit of the Fixed Mirror unfolded in the morning light. Yao Ranran led the group forward, recklessly charging ahead…
…
Several days later.
A bullock cart wound along the valley trail, weaving through dense woods. Its wheel tracks left pale trails wrapping around the jade-green mountains.
"Do you still remember you said home is the only castle, running along the river of rice fragrance…Smile slightly, the dreams of childhood I know…"
In the tranquil countryside under a clear blue sky, Yao Ranran lay on the cart, humming a tune from her past life with ease.
"Boss, what song is this? 'Home'? Does it mean Gu Ling Mountain?" Xiao Rong asked curiously.
Yao Ranran looked at the beautiful sky and nodded with a smile. "This song is called Dao Xiang. Gu Ling Mountain is where I was born. How could it not be home?"
Tang Xiangyin lay beside her, dreaming aloud. "I'm almost home too!"
"Ha ha ha, Miss Tang, once you live in Gu Ling Mountain, you can often visit our Longyin Village." Jiang Shengxiang said cheerfully.
Xiao Rong jumped up, chasing a white butterfly while a yellow one landed on his head. He froze in place and exclaimed, "Great! Now we can bring Xiao Tang along when we go out to play!"
"Xiao Tang? I'm older than you…" Tang Xiangyin tilted her head at Xiao Rong, puzzled.
Xiao Rong played with the two butterflies proudly. "My cultivation is higher than yours, so you are Xiao Tang!"
Tang Xiangyin cocked her head, staring at the little green man. "Then what should I call you?"
Xiao Rong placed his hands on his hips, two butterflies resting on either side of his head. "Of course, you must call me Rong-yé!"
"That's not really necessary…" Jiang Shengxiang whispered softly, too afraid to speak loudly while driving the cart.
He could see Tang Xiangyin was not an ordinary person. If the new maid still tried to please Rong-yé, then he wouldn't seem important to Rong-yé.
Fairy Ranran carried an aura of ethereal coldness. He dared not approach her. Only by pleasing Rong-yé could he stay close to the fairy and benefit from her aura.
"Ah, do I also have to call you Rong-yé?" Tang Xiangyin half-sat up, hesitating as she looked at Xiao Rong's innocent expression.
Yao Ranran glanced at Xiao Rong, then turned her gaze away. "Don't listen to him. Just call him Xiao Rong."
"Oh, okay! Hello, Xiao Rong!" Tang Xiangyin said cheerfully.
Xiao Rong immediately pouted and turned to the other side. "Hmph, hello Xiao Tang!"
"Don't cry, let the fireflies guide your escape. The songs of the countryside are forever a reliance~"
Accompanied by songs and laughter, the bullock cart entered Longyin Village. Yao Ranran and the others bid farewell to Jiang Shengxiang and the enthusiastic Grandma Zhang before returning to Gu Ling Mountain.
"This… that… across there is Gu Ling Mountain?" Tang Xiangyin swallowed nervously, staring at the mist-shrouded peaks.
"Yes, that's our home. I slide over from this unnamed peak every day~" Xiao Rong said happily.
"I thought this mountain was Gu Ling Mountain, and that little hut over there was where we lived…" Tang Xiangyin replied in surprise.
"A little hut? Where?" Yao Ranran looked in the direction Tang Xiangyin indicated. A simple wooden hut stood on a flat area of the mountain peak, with a figure sneakingly watching them in front.
"…Who is that? Why build a house here?" Yao Ranran was puzzled.
Xiao Rong sent a vine flying, pulling the sneaky scholar in front of them. "Who are you? I've never seen you before."
Lu Ziqian's fair face flushed, his clear eyes glancing furtively at Yao Ranran. Feeling her gaze, he stammered nervously, "I-I-I am… Grandma Wang's… grandson. I… I am Lu Ziqian!"
"Grandma Wang's grandson, Lu Ziqian?" Yao Ranran repeated.
Lu Ziqian nodded, blushing, wanting to look at her but afraid to meet her eyes. He cursed himself silently for being useless. After preparing so long, the fairy finally appeared, and yet he could not speak a single smooth sentence.
"Grandma Wang's grandson doesn't live with Grandma Wang. Why build a little hut here?" Xiao Rong asked curiously.
Sweat beaded Lu Ziqian's forehead. Clenching his sleeves, he gathered his courage and raised his head. "Fairy Ranran, I wish to apprentice under you!"
Immediately, he knelt, his clear eyes looking at Yao Ranran with reverence.
Yao Ranran looked at him. His pupils trembled slightly, clearly very nervous.
She shook her head. "I do not take apprentices."
A criminal like her had no right to take a disciple.
Lu Ziqian's brief disappointment flickered in his eyes. He had anticipated this outcome and was not discouraged.
"Fairy Ranran, is it because my aptitude is too poor, so you are dissatisfied?"
Yao Ranran shook her head again, cutting him off. "It has nothing to do with your aptitude or comprehension. I have no intention of taking disciples. If you wish to apprentice, you must find another master."
Bang!
Lu Ziqian struck his forehead on the ground, raising his voice. "If the fairy does not wish to take disciples now, then I, Ziqian, will wait here for the day you decide to accept one!"
Yao Ranran and her companions were stunned.
This person was truly stubborn!
She sighed. "Do not waste your youth. You are still young. There is no need to hang yourself on me. Find another master quickly."
Why did that sound a bit odd?
Lu Ziqian's determination did not waver. "My heart belongs only to Fairy Ranran. If you do not take me now, it is because I am not good enough. I will use my sincerity to move you until you agree to take me as your apprentice!"
Yao Ranran held her head, exasperated. "I will not take disciples. Go! Xiao Rong, take us back!"
"Okay!" Xiao Rong snapped back to attention, swinging a vine to climb up Gu Ling Mountain.
Tang Xiangyin thought with regret. Such a fair and tender scholar, and yet Fairy Ranran would not even consider him!
Lu Ziqian remained kneeling, silent but resolute.