Water Mirror Pavilion.
After Chen Yan suddenly left, only Su Hongzhen and Zhou Jinyun remained in the hall.
For some reason, Zhou Jinyun always found it a bit awkward to be alone with Su Hongzhen like this.
Four years ago, it hadn’t been like this.
Still, she could only attribute this subtle change to time.
Four years had already taken up one-fifth of Little Zhou’s life at this moment, and that length of time was enough to widen the distance between two people.
Especially since, over those four years, Little Su had grown from a scrawny kid who wasn’t even as tall as Little Zhou into the top swordsman at this year’s Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry.
Time dilutes everything.
That saying didn’t apply to everyone, but for Zhou Jinyun’s sensitive nature, it was undoubtedly true.
What if the other person didn’t respond the way she hoped?
Zhou Jinyun always had too many worries.
And that was exactly why, during her time on Heavenly Summit Mountain, she had never taken the initiative to visit Su Hongzhen.
At the same time, though, she had always hoped that Su Hongzhen would come find her on his own one day.
But he never did.
Zhou Jinyun was disappointed by that.
Even though she understood that the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry alone was enough to keep Little Su overwhelmed, leaving him no time for anything else.
But at this moment, Zhou Jinyun still didn’t know how she should face the blue-robed swordsman before her.
And so, silence spread between them for about the time it takes half an incense stick to burn.
Compared to Zhou Jinyun’s tension, Su Hongzhen seemed much more relaxed.
He looked like he was just spacing out, enjoying this rare moment of leisure.
Finally, Zhou Jinyun couldn’t hold back anymore and spoke first:
“It seems four years have passed since we parted in the Western Region, hasn’t it?”
“Yeah, four years.”
Su Hongzhen replied, sounding a bit distracted.
“So, after four years apart, this is the perfunctory attitude I get when reuniting with an old friend?”
Zhou Jinyun slightly hardened her tone, expressing her displeasure to Su Hongzhen.
Su Hongzhen wasn’t a fool—otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to wander alone in Liaolong for so long when he was younger.
Catching the dissatisfaction in Zhou Jinyun’s voice, Su Hongzhen just shot her a puzzled look:
“Because I never felt like Immortal Master Zhou had ever been far away from me.”
“...”
Hearing that, Zhou Jinyun’s fingertips trembled slightly, and she suddenly didn’t know how to continue.
“Besides, from now on, I’ll probably get to see Immortal Master Zhou often, won’t I?”
Su Hongzhen continued.
“...How can you be so sure?”
Zhou Jinyun’s voice was very soft.
“Because Immortal Master Zhou is now the Daomen Xingzou of Mirage Palace. My big brother told me that Daomen Xingzou of the Five Great Sects are supposed to travel the world. So after the Dao Inquiry Assembly of Chenping Continent ends, Immortal Master Zhou will be coming with us, right?”
Su Hongzhen said matter-of-factly.
“Not at all.”
Zhou Jinyun shook her head, then cleared her throat slightly and spoke seriously:
“As the Daomen Xingzou of Mirage Palace, I have my own duties.”
“That’s a shame. I was hoping I could see Immortal Master Zhou often from now on.”
Su Hongzhen showed a disappointed expression. Seeing Little Su’s face, Zhou Jinyun felt a flicker of joy in her heart.
Then, Su Hongzhen continued with a sigh:
“Thinking that I won’t be able to spar with Immortal Master Zhou anytime I want is truly regrettable.”
The joy that had just risen in Zhou Jinyun’s heart vanished in an instant.
“Are you that eager to fight me?”
Her voice was louder than before, but now carried a trace of chill.
“Someday, being able to defeat Immortal Master Zhou in a spar is the second greatest dream I’ve had since I set foot on the path of immortality.”
Su Hongzhen confessed frankly.
“Then what’s the greatest dream?”
Zhou Jinyun asked.
“To beat my big brother, of course!”
Su Hongzhen said, full of longing.
But the next moment, Su Hongzhen suddenly felt the flow of true qi in his meridians become sluggish.
He looked at Immortal Master Zhou beside him in confusion.
He saw that the young woman, who was like the thin mist of an autumn morning with her cool temperament, now had a hint of chill in her eyes.
“Then let me thoroughly test the swordsmanship of this year’s Heavenly Summit Mountain champion today.”
“Right now?”
Though still hesitant, the hostility radiating from Zhou Jinyun made Su Hongzhen instinctively place his hand on the Xun-Li Sword at his waist.
“Make your move!”
Zhou Jinyun let out a soft shout, forming her fingers into a blade and slashing toward Su Hongzhen. At the same time, Su Hongzhen quickly drew the Xun-Li Sword from his waist to defend against Zhou Jinyun’s attack.
Clang!
But the next moment, neither Zhou Jinyun’s finger blade nor Su Hongzhen’s Xun-Li Sword could move an inch.
Footsteps slowly came from behind the two, and then a figure in a plain white daoist robe walked slowly past Zhou Jinyun and Su Hongzhen.
“This is no time for fooling around. I have something very important to say.”
Chen Yan stopped beside the two, his voice calm yet carrying an overwhelming pressure that absolutely brooked no refusal.
“Yes, Senior Chen.”
“Got it, big brother.”
The Daomen Xingzou of Mirage Palace and the swordsman in a cyan daoist robe replied one after another.
Finally, Zhou Jinyun and Su Hongzhen’s bodies could move again.
“...”
Neither spoke. They just stood quietly to the side like children who had done something wrong.
Both Zhou Jinyun and Su Hongzhen were seeing Chen Yan this serious for the first time.
“In a few months, I might have some matters to attend to and will be away for a while.”
Chen Yan said slowly.
“That includes you too, Little Su. I won’t be able to keep you by my side by then. And that’s just as well—you really can’t hide under my wings forever.”
Hearing this, Su Hongzhen was stunned for a moment at first, then nodded.
He didn’t know what Chen Yan was going to do, but Little Su understood clearly: if his big brother said so, he must have his own reasons.
Then, Chen Yan turned his gaze to Zhou Jinyun.
“Little Su’s talent is enough to change the landscape of Chenping Continent in the future. And that’s something many people don’t want to see. Before he truly grows up, there will definitely be many who try to snuff him out in the cradle.”
Chen Yan paused for a moment, then continued:
“Little Zhou, can you guarantee Little Su’s safety?”