At the foot of Wutong Mountain, where the hidden path began.

Jiang Qiulan walked slowly out from within the mountain, chanced to look up, and her expression tightened slightly.

Before her stood a woman covered in filth, her hair disheveled, her left shoulder and the whole of that arm torn away — an utterly wretched sight.

"Senior Lingxi, Master is awake."

Jiang Qiulan stepped aside, opening a path for her.

"Mm."

Perfected Master Lingxi glanced at Jiang Qiulan, but — in an uncharacteristic departure — did not take the hidden path. She only nodded, walked past her, and followed the mountain road toward her own log cabin.

Throughout, her expression carried a certain vacancy.

Until she passed by one person.

Then she froze.

Looking back, she found Li Qingfeng blinking at her.

"..."

Perfected Master Lingxi's heart suddenly clenched.

She extended her single arm and, under Li Qingfeng's astonished gaze, gently ruffled his head.

She swallowed, quickened her pace slightly, and continued up the mountain.

She passed Tong Xinchuan's cabin, then Miao Qinghui's, and once she'd sensed the aura of focused recuperation within, she finally arrived before her own dwelling.

Only to find a figure in an azure robe standing at the door.

Nie Jun stood with his hands clasped behind him, watching Lingxi's pitiful frame sidelong, his voice calm yet faintly cold. "What happened."

In the past, Lingxi would certainly have thrown out a few jibes — who does he think he is, the eldest senior brother?

But at this moment, she pushed past Nie Jun without a word, walked into her room, and shut the door with a bang.

"..."

Nie Jun frowned at the wooden door.

He had never seen this arrogant fool wear so crestfallen a look.

What in the world had this group been hiding from him, going off to do?

He clenched his hand slightly.

And looked coldly down at his own feet — those eyes seeming able to see through the mountain itself, straight down to the waterfall-veiled grotto below.

Possessed of great cultivation, and yet a caged bird all the same.

After…