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The two strolled through the village along a bluestone path. Qian Renxue looked around and, seeing a few houses with their doors and windows ajar, whispered, "There don't seem to be many people in the village?"
Feng Xiao's fingertips brushed against the heavy wheat ears by the roadside, and he smiled, "At this time, they're either working in the city or busy in the fields." He suddenly took her hand, gently scratching her palm, "Unlike us, who have everything handed to us."
Qian Renxue was about to say something when he led her down a overgrown path. At its end, a vine-covered wooden house stood quietly, its faded peach talisman swaying gently in the wind above the doorframe.
"Creak—"
As Feng Xiao pushed open the mottled wooden door, a scent mixed with mold and memories wafted out. Inside the courtyard, wild roses had grown so rampant they almost submerged the Stone Grind. He suddenly stopped, "Still…"
"Is that Feng Kid!"
A hoarse call interrupted him. At the gate of the neighboring courtyard, an old man with white hair was trembling, leaning on a cane. Feng Xiao's figure flickered, and he was already in front of the old man, his clothes stirring a few fallen leaves as he bowed, "Grandpa Shi, your legs are still so nimble."
Qian Renxue stood by, watching Feng Xiao converse familiarly with the old man, a rare hint of gentleness in her eyes. The old man's rough hand patted Feng Xiao's shoulder, his cloudy eyes full of relief, "You rascal, you've grown sturdy after a few years. Now, you've made something of yourself."
Feng Xiao smiled, supporting the old man's swaying figure, "Yes, it's all thanks to you."
"You're getting better at talking now." The old man chuckled, then his gaze fell on Qian Renxue, narrowing his eyes, "And this young lady is?"
Feng Xiao turned, naturally taking Qian Renxue's hand, a slight smile on his lips, "My future wife."
Qian Renxue's fingertips trembled, her earlobes instantly flushed, yet she uncharacteristically didn't refute him. The old man laughed heartily, nodding repeatedly, "Good, good!"
After a few more pleasantries, Feng Xiao helped the old man back into his house, casually placing a bag of gold coins on the woodpile beside the house. When he came out, Qian Renxue was standing under the old locust tree outside the courtyard, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the rough bark.
"What, are you shy?" Feng Xiao approached, teasing her intentionally.
Qian Renxue snorted and turned her face away, but her golden eyes shimmered with fragmented light, "Who's shy…?" Her fingertips unconsciously twirled a strand of her hair, her voice gradually lowering, "It's you, a dignified Spirit Emperor, giving people only a few gold coins?"
Feng Xiao chuckled softly, reaching out to catch a locust flower that had fallen from her hair, "A man is innocent, but his wealth is his crime." He gently placed the petal in her palm, "A gold coin card is enough to buy the entire village, but for Grandpa Shi…"
The laughter of children chasing each other echoed from afar, mixed with the rustling sound of rolling wheat waves.
"…it would only be a death warrant inviting disaster." He gazed at the village with its curling smoke, his voice incredibly gentle, "If you truly want to repay him, why not wait until my Xue'er reigns over the World and builds this village even better…"
Qian Renxue suddenly froze. The morning light pierced through the clouds, casting long shadows of the figures working in the fields nearby. She suddenly understood why her ancestor could achieve the God of Angels—it turned out that the most precious thing was never a high and mighty grace, but the hope that allowed every ordinary person to live with their head held high.
"Good."
When this word slipped out, she found herself anticipating the future changes in this land.
Her fingertips were suddenly enveloped in warmth. Feng Xiao took her hand and walked towards the village entrance, his thumb gently stroking the tiger's mouth of her hand, "Let's go, it's time to get down to business."
Qian Renxue nodded lightly at his words, her eyes thoughtful.
Their figures moved through the village like a gentle breeze, not disturbing a single fallen leaf. It wasn't until they were far from the village that Qian Renxue suddenly came back to her senses, her golden eyes slightly narrowed, "You brought me here just to see this village?"
"Oh?" Feng Xiao raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile in his eyes, "No, you'll know soon."
"You!" Qian Renxue's earlobes instantly flushed crimson, and she twisted his waist hard with her fingertips, "Stop playing coy!"
Feng Xiao laughed, catching her mischievous hand, his expression gradually becoming serious, "Now, we're going to Saint Spirit Village."
"Saint Spirit Village?" Qian Renxue frowned, "Do you think Tang Hao and his son would flee back there?"
"No." Feng Xiao shook his head, his gaze fixed on the distant undulating mountains, "Tang Hao would rather die in battle than implicate innocent villagers. I understand this principle, and so do they."
Qian Renxue snorted lightly, displeased with his evaluation of the enemy, but she had to admit it was the truth.
"Then what are we going to do?"
Feng Xiao chuckled, "The situation mentioned by the two Elders that day made me think of many possibilities. I'm here to search for treasure, but I'm not sure if I can find it. Even if I don't, it counts as a trip home, and Xue'er and I won't return empty-handed."
"Just for this little guess?" Qian Renxue glared at him, but then saw him suddenly lean in, his warm breath brushing her eyelashes.
"How could it be a guess?" Feng Xiao chuckled, his fingers gently stroking her temple, "It's clearly an excellent excuse to go out for a stroll with Xue'er, isn't it? We'll know soon if it's a guess."
At the village entrance, the original mottled stone tablet stood quietly. The three large characters "Saint Spirit Village" glowed faintly green under the dew, and the Blue Silver Grass covering the base of the tablet swayed gently in the wind.
Feng Xiao's eyes moved slightly, and he suddenly grabbed Qian Renxue's wrist. Ahead, a hunched old man was approaching, leaning on a wooden staff, his rough linen clothes still damp with morning dew—it was none other than the legendary village chief, Old Jack.
"Two distinguished sirs…" Seeing their luxurious attire, Old Jack's cloudy pupils suddenly constricted, and his withered, branch-like hands unconsciously tightened around his wooden staff, "May I ask what brings you to our humble village?"
Feng Xiao stepped forward half a pace, subtly shielding Qian Renxue behind him. The sunlight passed through his eyelashes, casting fragmented shadows on his face, "Old man, there's no need to be nervous." His voice was as gentle as if he were chatting casually, "We just wanted to inquire if there's any waterfall nearby?"
Old Jack's brows furrowed into a knot, and his neck bones creaked softly as he shook his head, "This old man has lived for over sixty years and has never heard of…"
Feng Xiao's fingertip tapped lightly on the stone tablet, and the Blue Silver Grass suddenly moved without wind. He changed the subject, "Then where is the nearest water source?"
"Back mountain!" Old Jack blurted out, then cautiously added, "But they're all just small mountain streams, probably not worthy of your attention, sirs…"
"That's enough." Feng Xiao took out a bag of gold coins from his spirit tool; the heavy clinking of the coins made the old man's pupils constrict, "These will be the price for a pot of your mountain spring water."
Old Jack felt his arms suddenly heavy, the bag of gold coins still warm from the young man's body. When he looked up, only a few swirling fallen leaves remained on the village path; the beautiful couple was nowhere to be seen.
"Why are you so fixated on the waterfall?" Qian Renxue lightly tapped her toes on a treetop, her golden hair tracing a flowing golden arc in the morning light.
Feng Xiao turned to avoid the crisscrossing branches, his voice blending with the wind, "To survive in the wild, water and food are essential. This is also why Tang Hao has been in seclusion here for many years, and you haven't been able to find him. Tang Hao might be there."
Qian Renxue nodded slightly, her expression growing increasingly solemn.
Seeing this, Feng Xiao also breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that the matter of the Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Bone being behind the waterfall was indeed unexplainable, so he could only create the illusion that Tang Hao had fled back to the waterfall.
Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed, but then she saw Feng Xiao suddenly stop. The moment he closed his eyes, all sounds in the forest suddenly became clear—the rustling of ants crawling in the cracks of the tree bark, the dull thud of dewdrops falling onto decaying leaves, and… the tremor of water vapor colliding with the rock wall ten li away.
"Southeast." When he opened his eyes, a leaf happened to fall on his shoulder.
When the roar of the waterfall echoed against the rock wall, Qian Renxue suddenly pressed Feng Xiao's arm. In the splashing mist, she lowered her voice, "If we really encounter Tang Hao… you don't need to act."
The mountain wind howled, stirring up a sky full of mist. Feng Xiao lightly tapped his toes, and an sound blade traced a brilliant blue arc in the air. Qian Renxue's six wings unfurled, their sacred feathers reflecting dazzling golden light in the sunlight. The two of them crossed the last rock barrier, and the scene before them suddenly opened up—
A silver ribbon-like waterfall cascaded down a hundred-zhang cliff, roaring as it plunged into a deep pool, the splashing water forming a magnificent rainbow in the sunlight. The pool water was crystal clear, reflecting the surrounding verdant mountain scenery.
Qian Renxue's gaze was like lightning, sweeping over every inch of land by the pool, but Tang Hao was nowhere to be seen. She slowly descended onto a moss-covered boulder, her golden boots crushing a few dried wild fruits.
Feng Xiao, meanwhile, squatted down, his fingertips tracing a deep axe mark on the ground. The scattered wood chips nearby were still fresh, and the piled broken stones not far away were clearly intentionally placed. He looked up at the waterfall, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes.
"It seems we've found the right place." Qian Renxue walked to his side, the splashing water droplets reflected in her golden eyes, "It's just that the prey hasn't returned."
Feng Xiao nodded, then suddenly raised his hand and summoned the guqin "Fuxi." The moment the guqin appeared, the surrounding mist seemed to pause. His slender fingers gently stroked the strings, and a clear, melodious sound reverberated, the sound waves spreading like ripples, penetrating the roaring water, and reflecting the entire scene within a hundred zhang radius.
The guqin's melody grew more urgent, and Feng Xiao closed his eyes in concentration. In his spiritual World, the rock wall behind the waterfall gradually became transparent—a cave entrance hidden by the water curtain!
Sound blades condensed into steps in the air, and Feng Xiao stepped onto them. His robes fluttered as he arrived at the center of the waterfall. Qian Renxue's wings gently vibrated, and she instantly appeared beside him, "Did you find anything?"
"Behind the water curtain, there's a World of its own." Feng Xiao gazed at the rushing water curtain, "Xue'er, help me part this waterfall."
Qian Renxue understood, golden light condensed in her hand, and a long sword burning with true sun fire suddenly appeared. She flicked her wrist, and the holy sword transformed into a stream of light, piercing into the rock wall behind the water curtain. The intense flames instantly evaporated into a towering white mist, and the waterfall was actually cut off! The upstream water diverged on both sides of the sword's edge, forming a strange vacuum zone.
Seeing this, Feng Xiao quickly plucked the guqin strings, and the sound blades precisely struck the exposed rock wall. As the shattered rocks crumbled, a deep cave entrance appeared. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief—if he had lingered any longer, Qian Renxue's true sun fire might have roasted the Blue Silver Emperor inside the cave into dry grass.
"It's hidden quite cleverly." Qian Renxue sneered, her eyes filled with chilling killing intent.
Feng Xiao shook his head, "No one's inside." Before he finished speaking, Qian Renxue had already concentrated her senses, confirming that the cave was indeed empty. She lightly waved her delicate hand, and the holy sword transformed into golden light and dissipated. Their figures flashed, and they entered the cave before the water curtain re-closed.
The cave was dark and damp. Qian Renxue's fingertips ignited a cluster of spirit power flames, illuminating the winding passage ahead. A faint, grassy fragrance permeated the damp air, completely different from the bloody scent Tang Hao might have left behind that she had imagined.
Qian Renxue's sacred wings retracted, her golden eyes flashing with vigilance under the illumination of the Spirit fire. She whispered, "This… something's not right."
Feng Xiao didn't answer; his gaze was drawn to a strange blue light deep within the cave. The light was soft and profound, as if it had a life of its own, pulsating slightly.
Feng Xiao slowly stepped forward, his robes brushing against the damp rock wall. The Blue Silver Grass, with golden patterns flowing throughout its body, swayed gently in the airflow, and the dewdrops condensed on its leaves refracted a colorful halo. He tentatively extended a finger, but just as he was about to touch it, the leaf actually tilted back slightly like a shy maiden, and the leaves below gently patted his fingertip like elders, with a gentle reprimand.
"This is…" Feng Xiao's pupils constricted. In the lingering touch on his fingertip, the life energy, though not vast, contained astonishing spirituality, as if a sleeping elf was gently breathing.
Qian Renxue's voice sounded from behind him, trembling with uncertainty, "This is… Blue Silver Grass?"
In an instant, memories flooded back like a tide. She saw her father returning, severely injured, supported by Yue Guan and Gui Mei. Her golden eyes instantly turned blood-red, her six-winged Spirit unfurled uncontrollably, and scorching true sun fire condensed in her palm—a pair of warm hands suddenly embraced her from behind.
Feng Xiao's chin gently rested on her shoulder, his warm breath brushing her hot earlobe, "Blue Silver Grass, Blue Silver Grass Spirit… a forest full of Blue Silver Grass. What your father was fighting for back then, was it this?"
Qian Renxue's wrist trembled slightly in Feng Xiao's palm, the golden light of the holy sword flickering erratically.
"Let go…" Her voice was hoarse, but no longer as resolute as before.
Feng Xiao didn't let go; instead, he gently placed his other hand over the back of her hand, which was condensing spirit power. His body warmth transferred through their touching skin, hotter than true sun fire, "Xue'er, look at it."
The special Blue Silver Grass unfurled its leaves in the airflow, and the golden patterns gradually lit up.
Feng Xiao's fingers intertwined with hers, "Your father was fighting for a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring, but this one in front of us…" He guided her finger to gently touch the golden-patterned leaf, "It's just the last seed left behind. She's innocent too. Now she no longer has the cultivation of a hundred-thousand-year level; she's just a special Blue Silver Grass."
"Hatred should not be passed on to innocent lives." Feng Xiao's voice was very soft, but every word was clear, "Just like you, you shouldn't be bound by the grudges of the previous generation."
Qian Renxue's long eyelashes trembled, and a tear fell onto their clasped hands. The golden light of the holy sword finally completely dissipated.
"Let's go." The blood-red color had faded from Qian Renxue's eyes, and she glared at Feng Xiao irritably.
Feng Xiao's fingertips lightly traced the damp rock wall, stirring up a string of fine water droplets. He looked up at the protruding rock on the cave ceiling, a faint smile playing on his lips, "Since we're here, we should at least take some souvenirs back."
Qian Renxue watched his suddenly leaping figure, her six wings unconsciously spreading slightly—Feng Xiao was like a nimble swift, rising and falling several times on the rugged rock wall, finally stopping in front of a protruding rock.
"This is…"