Chapter 65

Lin Fan asked, "What does our sect leader think about this?"

"This is a matter of the Purple Flute Hall. The behavior of the Fire Sect does not seem evil, and there is no conflict with our Yunqing Sect, so the sect leader does not oppose it. The sect leader also wants to take this opportunity to let Gu Yan go out and walk around. When the time comes, you will go to the Purple Flute Hall in the name of the Yunqing Sect and deliver the sect leader's personal letter."

Lin Fan asked, "Doesn't the sect leader need to be involved?"

"Ye Wushuang is a protector of the Purple Bamboo Grove, and she has a position. Moreover, the Purple Flute Hall has already agreed to this, it's just a formality." San San Zhenren sighed, muttering to himself, "Wouldn't it be better if everyone stayed quiet and guarded their own mountains?" It seemed to refer to the Purple Flute Hall being meddlesome, and perhaps also to Qian Yu Zhenren sending him a disciple as a meddlesome act.

...

Finally, it was the time for the Purple Bamboo Grove on Yunqing Mountain to open. Lin Fan woke up early and found Yingying waiting outside the door. Looking down at the sect hall, Yingying, who couldn't read and had not yet practiced the Yunqing Heart Method, must have climbed the mountain.

Yingying said, "Big Brother, here is a new set of clothes."

"Oh? Did you sew it yourself?" Lin Fan took the clothes, and the workmanship was good.

"Yes, the last time Big Brother played chess with the sect leader, the sect leader mentioned Big Brother's clothes."

Lin Fan took the clothes and said, "Yingying, you should focus on learning to read, not trying to please me and the sect leader."

Yingying's face turned red with urgency as she shook her head, "No, no, I am grateful to the sect leader for taking me in and to Big Brother for taking care of me. I have nothing to repay you with, so I sewed this Daoist robe."

Lin Fan knew Yingying was telling the truth and nodded, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness." San San Zhenren had instructed him not to become too close or friendly with any of them, otherwise, it would be difficult to treat everyone equally.

"I'll go down first."

"Okay, the mountain path is steep, don't come up here. The sect leader also likes peace and quiet."

"Yes, Big Brother."

Yingying hurried down the small path as if she had done something wrong. San San Zhenren stretched and said, "Sending clothes, is Yingying smart or too smart?"

"Don't overthink it. I asked her yesterday, and Yingying is working hard to learn to read. She not only sews clothes for me but also helps the children wash clothes and tidy up. She is quite diligent. As for the others, they are a bit lazy."

"Uh-huh." San San Zhenren nodded, "It's a pity she is fourteen. Even with high talent, cultivation will be hindered."

Lin Fan smiled, "It seems the sect leader has been paying attention."

San San Zhenren said, "She is diligent and willing to help her companions... The elders of the Hidden Immortal Sect asked me to take on disciples, so I should at least show some effort. I'll get a high-quality pill... What are you still doing here? Go to the Purple Bamboo Grove."

...

The Purple Bamboo Grove is mostly low mountain forest, all covered with bamboo. It is named Purple Bamboo Grove because during sunset, there is a purple glow.

Women are skilled, and the pavilions and small paths within the Purple Bamboo Grove are all made of bamboo. Disciples are scattered throughout the Purple Bamboo Grove, some living alone, some in pairs. Of course, the opening of the Purple Bamboo Grove is not for dual cultivation but is named after a festival of the Purple Bamboo Grove.

This festival is also known as the Lantern Festival, where people can release sky lanterns and float water lanterns in the stream. There are also various riddle-guessing activities. It started as a festival for the women of the Purple Bamboo Grove to play together, but later, external disciples came to watch, and many disciples developed feelings during the interactions. Eventually, it became a festival for matchmaking, one of the largest non-traditional festivals on Yunqing Mountain.

Lin Fan landed at a mountain gate of the Purple Bamboo Grove. He couldn't fly directly in and had to pass through the gate. The gatekeeper bowed, and Lin Fan returned the bow, entering the Purple Bamboo Grove. He saw a small path paved with bamboo, passing by a pavilion entrance where lanterns were hung, along with several riddles posted by the pavilion owner. Hanging lanterns indicated that the pavilion owner was a young disciple, and hanging riddles meant that one had to solve the riddles before knocking on the door to meet the owner.

"Lin Fan, you're here too."

Lin Fan knew without turning around that such a loud voice could only belong to Ye Wushuang. Ye Wushuang landed with a smile, "I'm exhausted. This month, I've run countless trips to the market for the disciples' red paper, and they also asked me to buy fabric and jewelry..."

"Are you not participating?" Lin Fan wisely interrupted Ye Wushuang's complaints.

"Yes!" Ye Wushuang frowned, "Only others are interested in me, not the other way around. And even if I am interested, I still have to pass my master's approval."

Ye Wushuang is different. She is a protector of the Purple Bamboo Grove, so it's not just about liking someone; that someone must also have the potential for cultivation. This is one of the reasons why Mie Jue Zhenren promoted Ye Wushuang. Lin Fan asked, "How is Wu'er?"

"Wu'er? Everyone likes her; she is such a well-behaved girl. But... men are all superficial. For half a day, everyone has been circling around her." Ye Wushuang said, "I won't talk anymore. I have to maintain order today. Bai Mu is by the lake, and five female disciples have already offered him sachets, all of which he politely declined. I'll go see if Bai Mu has been beaten up by everyone."

Ye Wushuang left in a hurry and then turned back, "I forgot to tell you, my master is planning to take Wu'er as a disciple."

Lin Fan was surprised, "Aren't you a closed-door disciple?"

Ye Wushuang smiled, "I can open the door and then close it again. To the south is the Sword Forging Valley. If you guess the riddle correctly, you can receive a sword forged from cold iron."

Before flying, Lin Fan was not interested in the cold iron sword, but since the south was more lively, he decided to head south. The Sword Forging Valley of the Purple Bamboo Grove is a well-known place. Ye Wushuang's spell scroll was forged there. Lin Fan enjoyed the lanterns and riddles, appreciating the beauty of the Purple Bamboo Grove, feeling a bit of leisure in the midst of busyness, but it still couldn't compare to the excitement of secular festivals.

The Sword Forging Valley was located at a mountain corner, with a three-zhang-wide furnace pool blazing with fire. A female disciple, dressed like a monk, with one shoulder exposed, was holding a large hammer and forging a sword by the furnace. Sweat dripped down from her hair, giving her a masculine beauty. Several male disciples were gathered around the furnace, guessing riddles.

This female disciple was named Yang Xuerao, the only direct disciple of the person who forged the spell scroll. "Direct disciple" means that Mie Jue Zhenren took her as a disciple on behalf of the original master, passing down manuscripts and documents to her. Yang Xuerao often entered and exited the Purple Bamboo Grove for materials, and everyone knew her by name. She was beautiful and had a masculine aura, being bold and cheerful, attracting many elite male disciples.

However, they were frustrated by the first riddle. One male disciple read, "No one has seen it, but everyone knows it. Lighter than the wind, sharper than a blade, born from nothing, capable of defeating a thousand armies."

Another male disciple answered, "Taiyi Divine Thunder."

Yang Xuerao gave a glance with a hint of killing intent, and the disciple quickly lowered his head, pointing to his friend, indicating that he had said it.

"Capable of defeating a thousand armies, that's the key point." A male disciple from the Qingyuan Sect thought for a moment, "Plague."

This time, Yang Xuerao was not angry but reminded him, "Brother, born from nothing, the plague is born from something."

"Right." The male disciple clapped, wondering what could be born from nothing and yet defeat a thousand armies.