The last time they met was four years ago at the inn on Moxu Mountain in the Western Region of Chenping Continent.
Zhou Jinyun's spiritual sense was completely trapped within the current snow sparrow's body, with absolutely no way to extract it.
If, under these circumstances, the snow sparrow were to die, then Zhou Jinyun's spiritual sense would undoubtedly suffer quite severe damage.
It might even cause her to forever lose hope of breaking through to the Spirit Connection realm.
This current Daomen Xingzou of Mirage Palace had no idea whether this "Mr." was friend or foe.
But that didn't mean anything.
Even if this "Mr." had a connection with Senior Chen, that didn't prove he was a friend rather than an enemy.
Even within Mirage Palace itself, there was no shortage of treachery and deception—Zhou Jinyun understood this better than anyone.
She had originally thought that after returning to Mirage Palace with Imperial Law Elder Shang, they would immediately launch a pursuit of the true culprit behind the scenes.
Yes, for those great powers of the upper three realms who had already lived for thousands of years, what was a mere few years?
They had all the patience in the world to play their games.
But for Zhou Jinyun, four years had already exceeded one-fifth of her entire lifespan.
Mr. You gazed again at the tiny snow sparrow pinched between his fingers, studying it for a moment, then suddenly released his grip on its wings.
As the snow sparrow began falling back toward the ground, Zhou Jinyun's spiritual sense regained control of the small bird.
The snow sparrow flapped its wings rapidly, climbing back up from the ground.
"Come see me. You know you have no time to waste."
Mr. You said softly to the snow sparrow's departing back.
...
Water Mirror Pavilion.
Alone in her room, Zhou Jinyun snapped her eyes open, a thin layer of sweat coating her forehead.
This was the first time someone had trapped her spiritual sense like that while she was using illusion arts to possess an animal.
She felt dizzy and lightheaded—the experience had taken a considerable toll on her.
Zhou Jinyun struggled to her feet and walked toward the door.
She needed to go to Profound Origin Pavilion, to meet the one Senior Chen called "Mr."
Because, just as that young cultivator in plain-colored daoist robes had said, she had no time to waste. Little Su was in grave danger right now.
He An was the biological grandson of He Rui, the current sect master of Unmoving Sword Sect, and also a once-in-ten-thousand-years sword genius.
Unmoving Sword Sect would certainly not sit idly by and allow someone like He An—their once-in-ten-thousand-years sword prodigy—to be crippled like that.
Since they couldn't defeat Su Hongzhen head-on, they would have to resort to underhanded tactics.
Zhou Jinyun had anticipated this very thing, which was why she had used her illusion arts to control the snow sparrow, flying it to the Profound Origin Pavilion's Unmoving Sword Sect compound to monitor every move of those Unmoving Sword Sect disciples.
Just as she had predicted, Yuan Yi, the leading elder of Unmoving Sword Sect, might soon make a move against Little Su.
Zhou Jinyun had originally thought that as long as Chen Yan was by Su Hongzhen's side, Little Su's personal safety would be guaranteed no matter what.
But she hadn't found Senior Chen's presence on Heavenly Summit Mountain.
Zhou Jinyun couldn't think of a reason for Chen Yan to hide himself. The only conclusion she could reach was this:
That right now, Senior Chen really wasn't by Little Su's side.
If that was the case, Zhou Jinyun had to get to "Mr." as quickly as possible and then help Little Su out of his predicament.
This nineteen-year-old Daomen Xingzou of Mirage Palace walked briskly out of the courtyard and stepped onto the streets of Water Mirror Pavilion.
At this moment, it was evening.
The Mirage Palace disciples who saw Zhou Jinyun in Water Mirror Pavilion all bowed and cupped their fists, greeting Dao Traveler Zhou.
But Zhou Jinyun had no time to respond to them.
Following the snow sparrow's memory, she hurried straight toward Profound Origin Pavilion, and on the empty street, she spotted the figure of that young cultivator in plain-colored daoist robes.
Mr. had clearly already noticed the Mirage Palace Daomen Xingzou who had just arrived at Profound Origin Pavilion. He simply revealed a faint smile in Zhou Jinyun's direction.
Zhou Jinyun clenched her fists.
She strode quickly to stand before Mr., then rapidly bowed with cupped fists—it was over in just an instant, and she had already lifted her head and straightened her body.
It was a greeting that looked rather perfunctory and impatient.
Seeing this, Mr. showed a slightly surprised expression, then laughed:
"Are you really that annoyed with me?"
Zhou Jinyun simply ignored what the great power before her—who was likely at the same cultivation level as Senior Chen, above the Ascending to Immortality realm—had just said. Though her disregard looked more like tacit agreement.
Then, Zhou Jinyun cupped her fists again and continued:
"Mr., it's been a while, but I'm afraid I don't have time to exchange pleasantries with you right now."
Hearing this, Mr. You still wasn't the least bit annoyed.
Or rather, given his status and experience, feeling even a hint of displeasure over such a "discourtesy" from a junior would only indicate that his own cultivation of character was still lacking.
"If your temper is too impatient, you'll inevitably stumble over it someday."
Zhou Jinyun didn't refute Mr. You's words, because Shang Ao, the Supreme Imperial Law Elder of Mirage Palace, had once said something similar to her.
After returning to Mirage Palace, Zhou Jinyun had also urged Imperial Law Elder Shang to quickly investigate the true culprit behind the sheepskin parchment and Chu Fan.
"Lacking composure has always been your biggest flaw. Perhaps one day, after suffering a setback, you will finally come to your senses."
That was what Shang Ao had said to her.
Zhou Jinyun hadn't failed to seriously consider the answers to these questions, but...
Now was absolutely not the time to be thinking about such things.
"Mr., if anything happens to Su Hongzhen, I'm afraid I won't be able to answer to Senior Chen. Please forgive me."
Zhou Jinyun had no choice but to bring up Chen Yan's name, hoping to use it as an excuse to deal with Mr.
"Oh?"
Mr. You merely raised an eyebrow slightly:
"Do you think that with me here, Su Hongzhen would still run into trouble?"
Hearing this, Zhou Jinyun was momentarily stunned. At the same time, the tightly wound string of tension in her heart seemed to loosen just a bit.
"Mr., you mean..."
"Your Senior Chen is busy with something up there right now and can't get away. So for the time being, I suppose I'll have to help him look after you youngsters."
Mr. You said this.
"..."
Zhou Jinyun was silent for a moment. She still didn't know whether she could truly trust this young cultivator before her, who wore plain-colored daoist robes and had a counterfeit Heavenly Summit Mountain token hanging from his waist.