Chapter 9: Schoolmates Reunited
Qingshui Bay.
It was also the closest gathering place for cultivators to Qingzhu Mountain Marketplace, under the administration of the Lihuo Palace.
Master Lu lived there.
Lin Chang’an and Li Erniu set out for Qingshui Bay, mainly because the little county princess who had accepted the four of them as disciples under Lihuo Palace was returning.
Because their sect missions had taken them away, they hadn’t made it back in time to pay their respects.
Now that the little county princess was back, she came to the marketplace to honor Master Lu and invited them to meet up.
“Big Brother Lin, we’re almost at Qingshui Bay.”
The two rode spirit steeds, which were tamed demon beasts.
As a son-in-law of the Zhou family, Erniu borrowed two spirit steeds from his clan without difficulty.
However, due to his son-in‑law status, Li Erniu still needed to report his departure from the marketplace to his family.
…
A few days later.
At dawn, when the sky was still dim, the clear sound of hooves echoed on the street.
“Big Brother Lin, we’ve arrived.”
They dismounted and saw the Qingshui Bay marketplace built along the river’s bend.
Unlike Qingzhu Mountain Marketplace, it was noticeably quieter.
Before entering the marketplace, the two took out their identity jade tokens—so-called travel permits—then passed through the formation.
Seeing this familiar scene filled them with nostalgia. Twenty years ago, they had been rejected, and Master Lu had brought them here. After two months of guidance, he had recommended them to Qingzhu Mountain Marketplace.
They made their way to Master Lu’s former residence.
Half a year ago, after Master Lu passed away, this house had become even quieter—yet today, for some reason, many people had arrived.
Entering the main hall, they saw Master Lu’s memorial tablet.
Lin Chang’an and Li Erniu’s expressions turned solemn, and they respectfully offered incense.
Twenty years had passed in the blink of an eye.
Master Lu practiced the Evergreen Art and lived to the age of one hundred and twenty-eight, passing away of old age—a rare occurrence in the cultivation world.
“Brother Lin, Brother Li.”
“Brother Shen.”
Upon seeing the newcomers, Lin Chang’an and Li Erniu brightened and stepped forward with a courteous salute.
Former minor marquis Shen Lie showed no airs; instead, he looked wistful, stepping forward to clasp their arms and express his emotions.
“Brother Shen, why are so many people here today?”
Even on the day of Master Lu’s funeral, there weren’t this many people. Seeing this crowd, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but show a strange look.
Li Erniu was still puzzled until he looked at Shen Lie.
Shen Lie sneered and secretly sent them a voice-transmission:
“You think why? Word came that the little county princess is coming to worship Master Lu, and these people heard the news and came too.”
In an instant, Li Erniu understood, while Lin Chang’an remained composed.
“So that’s it.”
Hearing this, Lin Chang’an recalled the little county princess—delicate and refined, yet pretending to act all grown-up.
Yun Yao, an inner disciple of Lihuo Palace.
With top-grade spiritual roots and a strong affinity for water attribute—rumored to be just one step away from earth-grade roots.
Placed in a great sect like Lihuo Palace, she might not be considered a peerless prodigy, but to bottom-tier cultivators like them, she was firmly out of reach.
Back then, the four consisted of Princess Yun Yao, Minor Marquis Shen Lie, swordsmanship expert Lin Chang’an of the marquis’s mansion, and peasant youth Li Erniu.
“Now the little county princess is with Master Lu’s junior sister in the inner room, and these people all came under the pretext of worshipping and offering incense.”
Shen Lie couldn’t help but curl his lips in contempt at the shamelessness—but there was nothing he could do.
The “junior sister” referred to was Master Lu’s granddaughter.
“Never expected that Brother Lin and Brother Li have both broken into mid Qi Refining Stage.”
Minor Marquis Shen Lie looked full of emotion, showing no hint of disdain. Lin Chang’an shook his head and bowed, saying,
“I can’t compare to Brother Shen.”
Shen Lie’s cultivation had reached Qi Refining Stage Fifth Level.
By age, Lin Chang’an was the oldest, Erniu second, and Shen Lie the youngest; but cultivation status carried more weight in this world. Thus they respectfully addressed him as Brother Shen.
“Can’t believe twenty years have passed.”
They had all begun as low-grade root cultivators and fell out of selection together. The difference was that Shen Lie had connections and far more cultivation resources.
After all, mortal dynasties were backed by the great sects.
While the three low-whispered stories of their years, the originally quiet courtyard had visibly filled with visitors.
One would have thought Master Lu had just passed.
“Brother Shen, Master Lu…”
One after another, cultivators entering began flaunting personal connections. Some nostalgically approached, saying they owed Master Lu thanks, others boldly claimed they too were guided onto the immortal path by him.
They all considered themselves classmates.
Shen Lie’s earlier disdain had completely vanished; instead, he had become adept at conversing with the crowd.
“I heard Princess Yun has reached Qi Refining Stage Ninth Level and is preparing to establish Foundation—she has a high chance of becoming a Foundation Establishment cultivator.”
Lin Chang’an quietly told Erniu, whose face showed envy.
It finally made sense why so many had shown up.
Back then, their schoolmates were already planning their foundation stage while they had only just broken mid‑Qi Refining.
That was the gap spiritual roots made.
“The princess and Master Lu’s junior sister are coming out.”
As the rear chamber’s door opened, the gathered crowd fell silent.
Lu Qingqing had the appearance of a gentle jade maiden, but the figure standing beside the little county princess drew everyone’s attention.
“Thank you all for coming.”
Helpless and elegant, her voice carried nobility.
The little county princess Yun Yao wore simple but sturdy clothes. Her brows resembled green peaks; her appearance was fresh and beautiful, bold yet cool—suggesting her hiding sorrow.
The once delicate young girl had undergone significant change.
Seeing this, Lin Chang’an was filled with emotion.
“Fairy, you flatter us.”
“Fellow Daoist Yun, you overstate.”
Addressing the little county princess, people used varied titles.
Those cultivators whose immortal path had once been guided by Master Lu shamelessly called her Sister Yun, while those who also felt indebted called her Fairy or Fellow Daoist.
Everyone had their reason—some claimed they wouldn’t have hunted demon beasts without Master Lu’s help, others said they were cultivating in seclusion. Yun Yao and the others couldn’t refute—after all, Yun herself had not come because of sect duties.
Yet, with her high cultivation and water‑attribute method, she still appeared like a maiden. No one dared call her senior sister; most said Fellow Daoist or Fairy.
Given everyone’s age, the title of county princess was just the name from their youth.
They had used the worship of Master Lu as an excuse, but how much sincerity was genuine and how much was façade—no one could know.
Under the hosting of this late‑Qi Refining inner disciple of Lihuo Palace, what was meant to be an ordinary tribute became quite lively.
It once again let Lin Chang’an experience the realities of the cultivation world.
Only once everyone had finished their social climbing did the place return to its former quietness.
Finally, Minor Marquis Shen Lie privately called to them.
“Brother Lin, Brother Erniu, the princess invites us to gather at Juxian Tower.”
“Alright.”
The true reason they had come to pay respects was Shen Lie’s letter: the little county princess invited them.
They naturally had been thinking of making acquaintances. After all, sect cultivators who had reached late Qi Refining Stage—networking with them would be extremely beneficial.
Though Lin Chang’an already understood, Erniu looked clearly awkward. He had been the lowest-status back then; now facing a princess preparing for Foundation—such a huge hierarchy made him even more uneasy.
Seeming to notice Erniu’s insecurity, Minor Marquis Shen Lie smilingly said:
“The little county princess may seem cold, but she’s actually very nice. Back then we agreed to meet every five years, but you two were in Qingzhu Mountain Marketplace, I was serving cultivators of the royal line, and Princess Yun was inside the sect—we never had the chance. This time is a rare reunion.”
With Shen Lie’s explanation, Lin Chang’an’s mind drifted back to the scene after their failed assessment.
When they first entered the cultivation world, four young people from different backgrounds—discarding their mortal identities momentarily—had made a pact to meet every five years under feelings of reluctant parting.
But later, as they each struggled along their own cultivation path, at best they exchanged a few letters. The meeting agreement turned out to be the naive scheme of youth.
In the cultivation world one had no freedom after all, especially when separated across great distances.