Chapter 31

Thank you to: oLaogeo, Bookfriend15637072, 981nanhai, Ningyue'er, Yuxiaoliang, gg0410 for your support and moon tickets!

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Morning.

Wujiao walked out of his thatched hut, yawning and stretching lazily, still half-asleep. He had a hard time sleeping last night and used the *Compilation of Immortal Dao* to help him fall asleep. However, he only managed to doze off halfway through the night, and it was already time to go down the well.

For a mere Mu Shen, he was so restless that he couldn't eat or sleep. But no matter how difficult life was, he still had to find a way to go on!

Wujiao steadied himself, patted the leather pouch and short sword at his waist, and let out a deep breath before forcing himself to take a step forward.

The mountain mist was thick, and the world seemed hazy. Being in it felt like walking on clouds.

Not far ahead, figures began to appear one after another. They were all disciples of Jade Well, each moving silently and hurriedly.

"Good morning, Senior Brother!"

Wujiao was walking absentmindedly when a young man, about seventeen or eighteen, walked up beside him. He nodded slightly, putting on an air of seniority, and said, "Hmm, to be so diligent at such a young age, you have a bright future ahead!" The young man's spirits lifted, and he raised his hand, "I am Luoshan, I hope to work hard with Senior Brother!"

Wujiao grinned, showing a strange expression, and continued on.

Hmph, I want to work hard too! But without a spiritual root, I can't cultivate and am just a mere mortal. Otherwise, I wouldn't stop until I made that Mu Shen beg for mercy on his knees!

Sigh! Flowers come in a hundred hues, and people have different fates. Why can't heaven show a little favor, making life so helpless!

"Please go ahead..."

Someone ahead stepped aside, speaking softly and politely.

"Tian... Lady... Big Sister..."

Wujiao, caught off guard, gestured for the other to go first. Seeing the other's displeased expression, he quickly corrected himself, "I should call you Senior Sister Tian, hehe!"

She was a woman in her thirties, with hair like a cloud and fair skin. Though dressed in simple clothes, she had a clear and neat appearance. He only remembered her surname was Tian, nothing more.

"As cultivators, we shouldn't use mundane courtesies. If you don't want to call me Senior Sister, you can call me Tian Xiaqing!"

The woman named Tian Xiaqing spoke slowly, with a gentle and reserved demeanor.

Wujiao, not wanting to be too casual, apologized, "I am in this mountain, but I don't have the awareness of a cultivator. I hope Senior Sister Tian won't mind, let's go together!" He smiled awkwardly and gestured.

Tian Xiaqing was generous, not pressing the issue, and walked alongside him, understandingly adding, "Junior Brother Wu, don't blame yourself. I was also confused and uneasy at first!"

Wujiao asked curiously, "I see that Senior Sister Tian's manners are quite refined. You must have a remarkable background?"

Tian Xiaqing's lips twitched, a faint smile appearing, then she sighed softly, "Junior Brother Wu, aren't you the same..."

I'm asking you, what does it have to do with me?

Wujiao glanced down, then looked straight ahead.

Tian Xiaqing continued, "A person's demeanor isn't formed in a day. Junior Brother Wu, you must be from a noble family or a royal lineage..."

Sometimes, discernment is a reflection of experience. This Senior Sister Tian was interesting, calm and reserved, yet perceptive and understanding, and had chosen to seclude herself here, away from the world!

Wujiao's eyes flickered, scratching his head, "I'm just... a commoner..."

Tian Xiaqing responded lightly, "Who isn't a fallen person?"

Wujiao seized the opportunity to laugh, "Senior Sister Tian, why don't you share your experiences?"

He had always thought she was a serious and hard-to-approach person, but today's unexpected conversation made him feel they had a lot in common. It shows that people often have preconceived notions about each other.

Senior Sister Tian?

A casual title, as if it suddenly pulled her from a lonely height, back to the noisy and unforgettable world.

Tian Xiaqing was slightly taken aback, her body pausing, her expression showing a hint of panic. Without turning her head, she hurriedly dodged, then walked silently ahead.

What did I say wrong?

Wujiao shook his head, feeling a bit depressed.

In no time, they passed the front of the mountain. To the north of the slope was the valley where they gathered for breakfast every morning. An old man was looking back, waiting for his junior brother or his longevity soup.

In front of the row of houses in the valley, there was indeed one more person with Ge Qi and Zhong Kai, the fifth manager of Jade Well Peak, Mu Shen. However, after being introduced to everyone, he left alone.

After the disciples finished breakfast, they went up the mountain one by one, forming a line, waiting to go down the well, and continued their daily labor and cultivation.

However, compared to the usual quiet, this morning was a bit unusual.

Wujiao walked past the bamboo shed, letting Manager Gou Jun shake his jade token to hurry him along, but he lingered, unwilling to move forward, just looking around with a smile.

Manager Xiang Rong stood not far from the bamboo shed, seemingly annoyed, "I told you it's none of my business, what do you want? Don't think that with Daoist Xuan Yu's backing, you can do whatever you want. I hope you know your limits!"

The one纠缠with him was the new manager, Mu Shen. Perhaps because he couldn't get what he wanted, he was also annoyed, but lacked the confidence, coldly laughing and flinging his sleeve, "There will be a time when the truth comes out, hmpf..."

That guy was indeed sharp, quickly tracing the matter to its root! And he was bold enough to offend Xiang Rong. Let them continue their feud, best if they fight to the death, hehe!

"Junior Brother Wu, you're gloating, aren't you?"

Wujiao was secretly pleased when he met a pair of cold eyes staring at him. He pretended not to see, shrugged, and continued forward.

That guy was right, the grudges and entanglements were still ongoing and becoming more intense! As he became more arrogant, he would return to the dark and gloomy place.

Going down the well, everything was as usual.

Wujiao greeted Zong Bao and Yun Shengzi, then walked listlessly to his daily jade mining spot.

Someone called softly, "Junior Brother Wu..."

Wujiao looked in the direction of the voice and saw Tian Xiaqing sitting quietly by the tunnel, her expression hesitant, then she sighed, "I fear I'll never leave Jade Well Peak in this life. If I can confide in someone, it's better than leaving with many regrets..."

Wujiao turned and sat down a few feet away, smiling, "To be a listener for Senior Sister Tian, I'm honored!"

Tian Xiaqing seemed a bit embarrassed, her lips twitching, she sighed softly, and said, "To the east of Nanling, there is the State of Qingqiu. I was an ordinary woman from Qingqiu, with a wealthy family, no worries about food and clothing, but at sixteen years old..."

Wujiao leaned against the stone wall, one leg stretched out, the other knee bent, his hand supporting his cheek, in a comfortable listening posture. Indeed, the woman in front of him was a wealthy young lady. He didn't know what she would say, but he would listen as if it were a casual chat.

This place was near the end of the tunnel, very secluded, and speaking softly, no one would hear.

Tian Xiaqing continued, at sixteen, she went on an outing and met a young nobleman, falling in love at first sight. Her family blamed her for disgracing the family and punished her. She ran away from home, determined to elope. But the young man's hometown had no such person. She remained devoted, searching everywhere. After ten years, she still found nothing. Another ten years passed, and it was the same. She endured hardships, wandering and suffering, spending her youth and prime chasing a dream. But she eventually lost hope and, disheartened, set out on the journey home. But something unexpected happened...

On the way, she encountered a convoy, and the man leaning against the carriage, the charming and carefree man, was her beloved! She couldn't believe it, and left in sorrow. The man caught up and explained that he had told his parents his wish to marry her, but was expelled from the family, and came back alone to find the woman he met on the outing, hoping to be with her forever. But they missed each other and could never meet again. After ten years of sadness, he returned to his family...

If he had searched for ten years, why not wait another ten? If she was his one true love, how could he give up halfway and go against his original intention?

She wanted to blame him for breaking his promise, to accuse fate of being unfair, to tell him about her twenty years of hardship, but in the end, she left silently, turning her sobs into the autumn wind that year, wishing to be buried in the roadside soil to witness the changing seasons!

At the lowest point of her spirit, she met two fellow seekers of immortality. They said that by leaving the mundane world, one could leave behind troubles. If she became an immortal, she could live freely...

"Since coming to Jade Well Peak, I've never been able to let go of my past. After today's confession, I may finally be able to let go!"

Tian Xiaqing paused, speaking softly to herself, "The love in the mundane world is vast and boundless, it's hard to look back on the geese in formation, and I can only sigh at the moon and the autumn wind, with tears like rain and butterflies in pairs..." Her expression was filled with longing and resentment, then she sighed as if a burden had been lifted, "I hope from now on, my spirit will soar without worries, and I will dance in the sky for nine times nine..." Her eyes sparkled, she smiled, and raised her hands, "Thank you, Brother Wu, for listening to my ramblings. I hope you achieve success in your cultivation!"

Wujiao still leaned against the stone wall, looking very relaxed and lazy. Seeing that she had finished, he sat up straight, curious, "Who were the two people who brought you to the spiritual mountain? Are they seniors on the mountain?"

He really listened and listened carefully. If Tian Xiaqing knew any high-ranking people on the mountain, they might help him. Even if he couldn't get help, it would be good if Mu Shen could be restrained. That guy always bullied him and was too powerful. Such a confrontation was really unfair!

"One of the two friends died on the way, the other is buried here, the old man who recently exhausted his lifespan, whom you saw with your own eyes!" Tian Xiaqing answered, her eyes bright, puzzled, "They were just ordinary fellow seekers, what's wrong with that?"

Wujiao waved his hand, smiling, "Senior Sister Tian has had a hard life but remained devoted, truly admirable and touching! Thinking about it, everyone has an extraordinary past..."

Tian Xiaqing shook her head slightly, gradually recovering her previous reserve and coldness, speaking quietly, "The past in the mundane world doesn't need to be mentioned. Junior Brother Wu, you should still call me Senior Sister!"

Wujiao was slightly taken aback and had to stand up.

He thought accepting her confession was a great thing, at least he was trusted. Who knew she just wanted to talk, that's all! And by pouring out her past, she could be free from worries?

Wujiao found it boring, turned to leave, but before he took a step, he couldn't help turning back, "What's wrong with the mundane world?"

Tian Xiaqing closed her eyes slightly, completely unmoved. To her, this young man, though gentle and casual, had a spoiled air. She had said enough and should stop!

Wujiao, feeling embarrassed, continued forward, cleared his throat, and raised his head, reciting, "The lonely clouds and the thousand autumns, wandering alone in the nine heavens, I'd rather laugh and return to the mundane world, with flowers in my sleeves!"

Hmph! I know poetry too, I can make it up on the spot!

Tian Xiaqing's expression changed slightly, but the figure was already gone... Mobile users, please visit http://m.piaotia.net

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