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  Qingyun Mountain, Xiao Zhu Peak

  It has been three days since Tian Naiyi's body was sent back to Dazhu Peak by Gui Li, but Su Ru still inexplicably stopped the disciples at the foot of Dazhu Peak from reporting the bad news to their fellow disciples. This not only made Song Daren and others feel inexplicable amidst their great grief and pain, but even Gui Li felt some surprise.

  No one dared to mention this matter to Su Ru face-to-face anymore. Facing her husband's body, which was protected by the immortal family's treasure in the quiet hall, Su Ru's sorrowful and mournful expression had already made Zong Ren speechless. The Dazhu Peak lineage was sparse, and they were always low-key in their actions within the Qingyun Gate. If it wasn't for something important, no one would come to this secluded mountain peak, so when Dazhu Peak held a public memorial service for three days in the quiet hall, surprisingly, no one in the Qingyun Gate noticed.

  It was on this clear morning that a stranger finally arrived, quietly landing on the top of the Great Bamboo Peak, wearing white clothes like snow, and drifting away from the dust. It was Lu Xueqi.

  A faint blue glow flashed, and the auspicious air gently lingered. The Tian Xiang quietly emitted a brilliant light between her white hands. Lu Xueqi silently looked around, only to see the green mountains and clear waters, quietly overflowing as usual, without any signs of anything unusual. Only in front of the Shou Jing Tang, on both sides, were two white mourning curtains hung, revealing the sorrow here.

  She quietly looked at the white mourning curtain for a while, then walked towards Shoujing Hall. Before long, she noticed Song Daren and others wearing mourning clothes, coming out of Shoujing Hall one after another, with a hint of surprise on their faces, as well as a few parts of embarrassment.

  After seeing clearly that the person who came was Lu Xueqi and she was alone, Song Daren and others obviously let out a sigh of relief.

  Lu Xueqi bowed her hands and saluted, saying lightly: "Lu Xueqi from Xiaozhu Peak, greetings to Brother Song and all the brothers."

  Song Daren and Wu Dayi, He Dazhi and others who were standing behind him did not dare to be slow, and they all returned the courtesy. Then Song Daren sighed and said: "How did Lu Shimei come to our place? This... Alas, I'm ashamed."

  Lu Xueqi's face had no smile, but instead a few serious and solemn expressions. After a moment of silence, he said: "Xueqi has come here with no other intention, only to pay respects to Tian Shifu and Su Ruzi Shifu, I hope the fellow disciples will report this, Xueqi is grateful."

  Song Daren and others looked at each other, hesitated for a moment, Song Daren said: "Lu Shimei is being polite, you're not an outsider either, uh..."

  He suddenly paused, and Lu Xueqi's face also inexplicably turned red, Song Daren felt a bit awkward, smiled and passed it off, saying: "It's like this, the master's wife is not here at the moment, early this morning, she went alone to the bamboo forest in the back mountain, and..."

  He let out a sigh, his face showing a sorrowful expression, and said in a low voice: "The master's wife was so grief-stricken that she took the master's body away with her, telling me that she would bury him alone."

  Lu Xueqi furrowed her brow, a thread of unease flashing through her mind. This situation seemed even stranger than she had imagined before arriving. Not to mention startling others, but how could Su Rou plan to secretly bury Tian Nanyi without letting his biological daughter, Tian Ling'er, know?

  She thought for a moment, hesitated for a while, and finally asked Song Daren: "That... that person?"

  Song Daren was initially stunned, but after looking at Lu Xueqi's expression and being pulled by He Dazhi behind him, he immediately understood. After hesitating for a moment, he said: "Little Shidi also went to the back mountain."

  Lu Xueqi felt a slight sense of surprise, and raised her eyes to look at Song Daren. Song Daren let out a bitter laugh and said: "The master's wife didn't allow us to follow, she only called for little Shidi to go with her."

  Lu Xueqi remained silent for a moment, then bowed to Song Daren and the others, saying: "Thank you, fellow seniors. Since it's like this, I won't delay you all any further. I'll come again another day to pay my respects to Master Tian."

  Song Daren and others returned the gift. Song Daren hesitated for a moment, saying: "Lu Shimei, there are many twists and turns in this matter, I still hope you..."

  Before Song Daren finished speaking, Lu Xueqi had already said: "I know, Brother Song, please rest assured that I will not reveal a single word to outsiders."

  Song Daren nodded and stopped talking, Lu Xueqi also didn't say much more, turned around and left.

  Watching that white figure leave, Wu Da Yi took a step forward and said: "Big Brother Master, I think she's probably going to the back mountain, is that okay?"

  He Daizhi said faintly beside him, "It's not excessive to say that Lu Shimei must go to the back mountain to take a look. She came to Dazhu Peak today, and she must have been entrusted with a task by Water Moon Shifu. If she doesn't figure out the situation with her master, it will be difficult for her to report back to Water Moon Shifu."

  Song Daren was silent for a moment, then said: "It's good that she left. I've been feeling that the master's wife has been heartbroken these past few days and have been worried that something unexpected might happen. However, the master's wife didn't allow us to follow her, so we couldn't disobey her wishes. Although Eldest Seventh followed her, we also know that if the master's wife had told Eldest Seventh to leave, with his temperament, he would not dare disobey her orders. With Miss Lu from Bamboo Peak going over to take a look, there shouldn't be any harm in it."

  Everyone nodded in agreement and fell silent. Song Daren let out a sigh of relief, turned around and walked back to the Quiet Hall.

  Behind the main peak, the bamboo forest stretches as far as the eye can see, with a scenery similar to that of Xiaozhu Peak. The lush green bamboo forests sway in the wind, with waves of bamboo rustling. As morning light falls from the sky, it casts dappled shadows on the ground through the gaps in the bamboo forest.

  On the delicate bamboo leaves above, countless crystal dew drops are condensed, smooth and round, like the most precious pearls.

  During his stay in the ghost town, he felt a little dazed for a while. Many years ago, he started his life on top of the big bamboo peak here. He didn't know how many mornings and evenings he had swung his axe, sweating in this quiet bamboo forest, cutting wood silently. Those years that once felt dull now seemed like a dream, but the peace he used to have could never be found again.

  Bamboo rustling in waves, mountain wind gently blowing, just brushing past the ears.

  He let out a soft sigh in his heart and threw away this faint and meaningless sadness, turned his head to look at Su Ru.

  Tian Bu Yi's body was lying not far away, with Da Huang still by his side. Since Tian Bu Yi's body returned to the mountain, it seemed that this dog had been accompanying him all along, never leaving his side.

  In the field, Su Ru's body was laid down without any bedding or padding underneath, which seemed somewhat disrespectful to the deceased. However, from Gui Li to Song Da Ren and even Du Bi Shu, no one dared to question Su Ru's actions in the slightest.

  Although Su Rou's sorrow was not going to change, her behavior still made people very puzzled. Gui Li had the intention of asking, but at this moment, Su Rou's back was like a wall, making him unsure how to speak up.

  It was at this time that Su Rou broke her silence: "What's wrong, you have something to say to me?"

  The ghost was startled and hesitated for a moment before cautiously saying: "Master's wife, I have a few words to say, but I don't know if I should say them."

  Su Ru said lightly: "You say it, I also know that these words are probably not just what one person wants to say."

  Guilian's expression changed slightly, and he thought to himself that his master's wife was an extremely intelligent person. It seemed that the pain of losing her husband had not overly affected her thinking. Guilian lightly cleared his throat and said: "Master's wife, please forgive your disciple for being presumptuous. Your disciple understands that you are still grieving over Master's passing..."

  At this point, Gui Li's gaze inadvertently fell on Tian Nuye's face, and he couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart. After a moment, he continued: "However, I implore you, Master's wife, to restrain your grief. Moreover, although you are grieving, it is also necessary to handle Master's funeral arrangements as soon as possible. Besides, Ling'er, the eldest disciple, should be informed to return and pay her respects to Master."

  Su Ru didn't turn around and didn't say anything.

  The ghost's heart was uneasy and he slightly lowered his head, saying in a low voice: "Master's wife, if there is anything I have said that is too bold or presumptuous, please do not take it to heart."

  Su Rou shook her head and slowly turned around, looking at Gui Li and said: "You didn't say anything wrong, everything you said is right."

  Gui Li looked at Su Rou and was shocked in his heart. Su Rou's dressing today was quite different from the previous few days. Although she was still wearing mourning clothes, her face showed that she had dressed up, and her spirit was much better, revealing a few more beautiful colors, which moved people's hearts.

  The ghost's head hung low, and for a moment he didn't know what to say. He hesitated for half a moment before saying: "Master's wife, the disciple still has one thing, and he dares to ask Master's wife."

  Su Ru said softly: "Go ahead and say it."

  "Master's passing is a sorrow we all share, but his body shouldn't be disturbed unnecessarily, and it's even more unsuitable to move it to this mountain behind..."

  "Are you trying to teach me a lesson?"

  The ghost hastily shook his head and said: "I don't dare!"

  Su Ru looked at him, not speaking, but her expression gradually softened, as if she had also thought of something. Suddenly, a sad and determined look appeared on her face, and she said: "Lao Qi, do you know how many years your master has been married to me?"

  Gui Lie's heart skipped a beat, and he faintly felt that his teacher's words seemed to contain deep sorrow and grief. Although he knew this, he didn't know how to comfort her, so with worry in his heart, he could only say in a low voice: "Disciple doesn't know."

  Su Ru smiled and turned around, slowly sitting down beside Tian Bu Yi. She said in a low voice: "Actually, it's not just you who doesn't know, even I myself have forgotten. These years in the mountains, I've been living with these two people, which is enough for me. But how would I think about how many days have passed? He often laughs at me for being foolish, saying that if we can't cultivate and ascend to immortality, it will be difficult to avoid reincarnation. At the moment of parting in life and death, I don't know what kind of scene it will be."

  Her voice gradually sank, saying: "I asked him that day, what he wanted, and he said there was nothing else to ask for. If he went before me, the Taoist wouldn't want a grand funeral either, not even a coffin would be needed, naturally coming and going, only asking for a handful of yellow earth on the back mountain of the main peak, that's enough. This way, he can watch over the people in front of the mountain day and night, and won't be lonely."

  Before she could finish speaking, tears were already streaming down her face.

  The ghost clenched his teeth tightly, unable to speak.

  The big yellow head lying on the side slightly raised, looked at Su Rou, and then crawled down, its tail gently swishing back and forth.

  Su Ru gazed at Tian for a long time, then suddenly waved her hand and said: "You go down the mountain first, come back in half an hour!"

  Gui Li was startled and hesitated for a moment before calling out: "Shifu..."

  "What's wrong?"

  "Ghost hesitated for a moment, and finally plucked up the courage to say: 'Shifu's wife, Shifu had an agreement with you before he passed away, and we disciples naturally dare not disobey. However, before Shifu was buried, should we still inform Ling'er shijie about it...'"

  Su Yu was silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice, "Alright, you go down the mountain and tell Da Ren to quietly go to Long Shou Peak and bring Ling Er back."

  The ghost nodded slightly, turned around and left. When he reached the stone steps at the crossroads, he couldn't help but turn his head back to take another look. Between them, Su Rou was sitting silently beside Tian Bu Yi's body, her figure lonely, looking truly heartbreaking. His heart ached again, and he quickly turned his head away, not daring to look anymore, and walked on.

  As he walked, his mind gradually calmed down and he didn't notice that the scenes of the past few days had flashed back. Su Rou didn't inform Song Da Ren and others about the misfortune on Qing Yun Mountain, which was strange in itself. Not even Tian Ling Er was allowed to be notified, which was unreasonable. Today's handling of Tian Bu Yi's aftermath, although it was something that Tian Bu Yi had agreed upon before his death, still seemed somewhat hasty.

  The demon's heart softened, and he shook his head. In fact, cultivators didn't really care about what happened afterwards. Flesh and bones, buried in the earth, wasn't necessarily a bad thing either.

  He thought to himself in silence, too lazy to ride the wind, and walked down the mountain road, unknowingly arriving at halfway up the mountain. Thinking back to those years ago, when he first climbed to the top of Dazhu Peak, following his senior brother Song Daren and junior sister Tian Ling'er to the back mountain, this section of the road was unbearably arduous, past events still vivid in his mind.

  But I wonder how that Ling'er Shifu is doing these years?

  A faint bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, he shook his head, and then he suddenly stopped in his tracks, looking forward with some surprise.

  On the mountain path, a white figure suddenly appeared in front of him. Slender and elegant, she stood quietly, bathed in the morning light, as if she didn't belong to this world at all. She gazed silently at him.

  Guilei also stared at her, and the two of them looked at each other for a long time, but seemed to have nothing to say.

  The mountain breeze blew gently, blowing her beautiful hair and clothes, drifting lightly with the wind.

  Finally, Gui Li was the first to speak: "You... how did you come here?"

  Lu Xueqi said in a low voice: "My master has called me to come and pay respects to Master Su."

  Guilei nodded silently, hesitated for a moment, and said: "Shifu's wife is treating her injuries in the back mountain. However, at this moment she wants to be alone and doesn't want anyone to disturb her. She instructed me not to go up until half an hour later."

  Lu Xueqi also nodded and said: "It doesn't matter, I'll just wait then."

  Gui Li responded with a single sound, falling silent. On the other side, Lu Xueqi seemed to be at a loss for words as well. Between the two of them, in this gradually deepening silence, although they stood still, it seemed as though the distance between them had grown even greater.

  After a while, Lu Xueqi said softly: "The wound on your body... has it healed?"

  The demon's voice was low and gentle: "Much better," he said, looking up at Lu Xueqi, "If it weren't for you saving me that day, I'm afraid I wouldn't be standing here now. It seems I should be thanking you instead."

  Lu Xueqi was taken aback for a moment, looking at Gui Li, and said: "That day I... that one sword..."

  The ghost suddenly blocked his way: "Don't say anything more."

  Lu Xueqi's expression turned gloomy, and she stopped in her tracks, silently lowering her head.

  Only then did Gui Li seem somewhat hesitant, and continued: "Those things... the mistress told me about them. She said I was wrong to suspect you, I owe you an apology."

  Lu Xueqi's body shook, and she raised her head. On the ghostly face, there was a hint of sadness, and his eyes were fixed on her. Despite this, he slowly said: "I naturally believe in what you say, Master. However, Master is an old man who has nurtured and taught me, I know that perhaps my heart is too heavy, I only hope you can give me some more time, so I can..."

  "I understand, I'll wait for you!" Lu Xueqi suddenly interrupted him.

  The demon was slightly startled, and he looked up at her. Between them, the beautiful woman had her lips bitten, with tears in her eyes, but the body that seemed to be tightly strung up earlier seemed to relax in an instant. At the corner of her mouth, there was a faint hint of relief and a smile.

  As he gazed at the woman with deep affection, his mouth twitched slightly, and a surge of tender feelings suddenly welled up in his heart. Just as he was about to smile and say something to her, a frantic barking sound suddenly came from the bamboo forest on the mountain top behind them.

  His body suddenly stiffened.

  That was the cry of Da Huang, after he brought back the body of his master Tian Naiyi to Dazhu Peak. Da Huang had saved a silent follower who followed his master's body, and never made a loud noise again. But at this moment, although Da Huang's barking voice seemed weak from afar, it sounded like madness, with an extreme despair in the cry that he had never heard before in over ten years.

  What on earth happened that made Da Huang suddenly become so hysterically crazy and bark loudly?

  The deep-seated worries that had been buried in his heart suddenly surged up, and his pale face turned deathly white, even his hands began to tremble slightly.

  Lu Xueqi was also shocked, but seeing Gui Lie's expression made her even more confused, and she exclaimed: "What's wrong?"

  Gui Li did not respond, his body slightly trembling, suddenly letting out a loud and hoarse cry: "Shifu's wife!"

  Before his words had fallen, he had already rushed up like a whirlwind, and dashed towards the depths of the bamboo forest behind the mountain.

  Lu Xueqi was as clever as ice and snow, and soon she had guessed one or two things. For a time, her face was also pale, her body trembling lightly. If by any chance something happened to Tian Nanyi, and Su Rou was heartbroken to the extreme... Lu Xueqi didn't dare imagine how Gui Li would be, and at that time, how the two of them would face each other, she couldn't imagine it at all!

  As she gazed at the figure that had wildly sped away, she suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of helplessness, as if a massive shadow was shrouding her. She wanted to chase after him, but her body seemed to be bound by some invisible force, unable to move even an inch. Deep within her heart, she desperately shouted to herself: "Don't... don't..."