"Yes, the disciple who died in Moon Valley died from the third move. But that doesn't mean he didn't cultivate the fourth move."
"So, we have no idea how far he'll go in the repairs?"
"That's right."
Xuezhi felt a heavy weight on her shoulders and turned around to say, "Xiaoshe, go and tell Sister Hongxiu to have someone tear down this wall and door as soon as possible, otherwise this matter will cause a huge uproar in the martial arts world."
Feng She laughed and said, "Palace Master Xue probably doesn't know, but this matter has already spread. Now the martial arts world is in a state of panic, and everyone is on edge."
"How could this be? It's only been a few days..."
“Another person died suddenly on Mount Hua a few days ago. This time the number is this high.” He then held up four fingers.
Xuezhi looked at Haitang again. Haitang nodded.
This person acted faster than anyone else planned.
The situation took a dramatic turn.
There's no longer time to leisurely search for the "Snow Lotus Sword of the Vast Ocean." The priority now is to find this person as soon as possible and stop their actions, otherwise chaos will soon ensue.
Lin Fengzi did not come that day.
Mu Yuan did not return the following day.
Xuezhi was extremely anxious and prayed to gods and Buddhas all day long, hoping that Mu Yuan and Feng Zi had eloped.
Two days later, two Wudang disciples died, and one disciple was seriously injured and remains unconscious. It's clear that the martial arts used by this person targeting Wudang are exactly the same as the previous one—both are Yin-type martial arts. However, the former's weapon of attack was inconsistent, while the latter used a sword from the first to the third victim. The latter's skill is also inferior to the former. Therefore, some have determined three possibilities: First, two people have mastered the Lotus Wing technique, one practicing the "Nine Forms of the Lotus God" and the other the "Hibiscus Heart Sutra"; second, one person has mastered two manuals, doing so merely to mislead; third, as in the second case, the reason is that this person is seriously injured and unable to exert their full strength.
Two days later, Fengcheng announced that a martial arts gathering would be held at the Huashan Sect at the end of next month to specifically discuss the reappearance of "Lotus Wings" in the martial arts world. Sects that have already responded and agreed to participate include Shaolin, Wudang, Emei, Lingjian Manor, Xueyan Sect, Zitang Manor, and Pinghu Chunyuan.
On the same day, Lin Fengzi wrote a letter to Xuezhi, saying that she would definitely attend and asking Xuezhi to attend as well.
Xuezhi was still worried about Mu Yuan, so she did not reply immediately.
Just one more day, just one more day.
If she still couldn't find Mu Yuan, she would have to return to Chonghuo Palace and mobilize everyone to search for him.
A day later, instead of Mu Yuan arriving, another message arrived: the martial arts gathering had been rescheduled to the beginning of next month, and the location changed to Moonrise Valley. On the same day, Spirit Sword Manor announced its withdrawal from the gathering.
The discord between Lingjian Manor and Yue Shang Valley has become an open secret.
Going to Moon Valley was more convenient for Xuezhi; she didn't need to prepare anything, just take her people with her. However, just as she was preparing to leave Suzhou, Lin Fengzi arrived.
“Sister, I’m following you now.” Feng Zi threw a large package in front of Xue Zhi. “I just had a big fight with my father. I’d rather die than go back to Lingjian Manor again.”
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“Your sister is very busy and doesn’t have time to take care of the child. You should go back and make up with your father and don’t come out again.”
Xuezhi's words instantly brought Fengzi back to reality. Fengzi grabbed Xuezhi's sleeve, her face contorted with misery, and said, "You have no idea how fierce my father is."
"It is only natural for a father to discipline his daughter."
“I told him I wanted to participate in the martial arts gathering, and he said if I went, he would disown me as his daughter.”
"He's doing it for your own good."
"I don't care, you're my sister, you have to take care of me." Feng Zi plopped down in front of Xue Zhi and started to shamelessly pester her, "If you ignore me, it means you don't want me anymore."
"I don't want you anymore." Xuezhi suddenly pulled her sword from under her hand, took it aside and wiped it. "I'm going back to Chonghuo Palace right away. If you're not afraid of death, come with me."
"I'm not afraid of death."
Xuezhi never expected that Lin Fengzi, who usually seemed gentle and swayed as she walked, would be even harder to shake off than Feng She, who was like a piece of chewing gum, when she got into a clingy situation. It was also under Lin Fengzi's clingy skills that Xuezhi's patience grew better and better. After saying goodbye to Qiu Hongxiu and Zhong Tao, she actually dragged Lin Fengzi and Feng She, along with the others, back to Chonghuo Palace.
Lin Fengzi wasn't in particularly good health; she was already pale with exhaustion just a few days after setting off, but she never complained. Xuezhi, on the other hand, had a rosy complexion and was full of energy. She kept shouting that she was hungry and needed to eat, and that she needed to rest when she was tired. Her spoiled young lady attitude made the new disciples of Chonghuo Palace complain endlessly.
While the people below were secretly complaining, Feng She slipped over to Xue Zhi's side and said with a smile, "What a good older sister."
"What nonsense are you talking about? I'm tired myself." Xuezhi rolled her eyes at him, feeling a little uncomfortable, and went to the side to whine about being sick.
Upon returning to Chonghuo Palace, both Feng She and Feng Zi reacted somewhat strangely. Feng She gazed at the beautiful autumn scenery of Chonghuo Realm with an admiring look and shining eyes, while Feng Zi observed every corner thoughtfully, spending most of her time in silence.
There were still two weeks until the martial arts gathering. Xuezhi mobilized almost half of her people to search for Mu Yuan, but there was still no news. Mu Yuan was a pillar of Chonghuo Palace, and losing him couldn't be publicized, otherwise people would think he had been assassinated by someone who cultivated "Lotus Wings".
She was preparing to take care of him herself when Feng She caught a cold due to the changing seasons. Seeing him huddled on the edge of the bed, shivering, Xue Zhi finally couldn't bear it and stayed to look after him. Feng She groggily opened his red eyes, sniffling, and whispered:
“I said it is true, Xuezhi is really a good older sister.”
Xuezhi patted his cheek and continued to sit down and study the "Samadhi Flame Phoenix Blade".
Soon, Xuezhi received a letter from Yue Shanggu.
Xuezhi eagerly opened the letter, but it contained only a few short sentences, inviting Chonghuo Palace to the martial arts gathering. Xuezhi had someone else write on her behalf that they would attend on time, and then tossed the letter aside.
By the end of the month, there was still no news from Mu Yuan.
Xuezhi finally gave up the search and decided to prioritize the overall situation by going to Moon Valley to attend the market.
So, the Snow Palace Master, along with the Four Guardians, the Apprentice Four Guardians, several senior disciples, and two oil bottles, set off for Moon Valley.
Because of the large number of people, it took them two days to reach the southern part of Shaoshi Mountain and stay at an inn.
It's early winter.
The woods and fields appeared vast and empty. Outside the inn, the wind blew the firewood and straw, and the last few yellow leaves on the branches fell to the ground. The leaves, like the few passersby, trembled as they rolled towards the ditch, as if searching for a last glimmer of life and warmth.