"Do I smell fragrant?" Lu'er raised her arm and sniffed it, looking around and talking of other matters to avoid the crucial point. "Why can't I smell it?"
With a thunk, the old man showed no mercy this time, raising his staff and rapping Lu'er on the forehead. Lu'er clutched her head and cried out in pain. The old man said angrily, "Even curiosity must have its limits. You let someone buy you off with a few spirit stones. Your grandfather has lived for so long and seen far too much right and wrong—do you think I can't tell good from bad? Would your grandfather deceive you? Remember what I said: stay away from that Yue Qianchou. He is dangerous. If you dare disobey your grandfather, I will never let you come out to play again."
"Oh!" Lu'er answered dejectedly.
The old man had intended to scold her further, but he suddenly looked around and frowned. "You little girl, always causing trouble. You leaked heaven and earth spiritual energy and alerted someone. We should leave first, lest they chatter on without end." He pointed his staff into the air, and the space before them immediately rippled with faint pale-green mysterious light like water. The old man grabbed Lu'er by the arm and stepped into the light. The two vanished into thin air without a trace.
The gate of mysterious light then disappeared from the air, leaving the valley empty.
Not long after the two vanished, a golden glow flashed across the distant horizon. It was terrifyingly fast, descending into the valley and revealing its owner in the blink of an eye.
The newcomer stood steadily atop the rock where Lu'er had just danced gracefully. His magnificent golden robe was embroidered with coiling dragons and seas of clouds, and he wore