Traveling Together to Revisit Old Ties, Noticing Subtle Ripples and Recalling Bygone Years

As Ning Rongrong pushed Lin Zhixia outside, Tang San stood beside the hall entrance, clutching the Ruyi Hundred Treasures Pouch. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the edge of the wooden box—Xiao Wu's true form lay sleeping inside. He had intended to find a quiet place to watch over her first, but the lively scene before him held him in place. Seeing Lin Zhixia's cheeks flush as everyone teased her, he could not help curling his lips into a smile and stepping after them. Perfect. I can see what kind of man this Gu Zhinian is, to have Zhi Xia thinking of him for five years.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Guest Elder Courtyard was hidden deep within a bamboo grove. Fragmented bamboo shadows scattered across the Bluestone Road, and when the wind blew, the bamboo leaves rustled softly. Tang San followed two paces behind the others, his gaze naturally settling on Lin Zhixia—pushed along by Ning Rongrong, the star crystals on her Starfall Battle Skirt flickered in and out amid the bamboo shadows, while her fingers kept twisting the Star Guidance Bell at her sleeve. It was a little habit she had whenever she was nervous, exactly like when Tang Hao had summoned her for a talk at Nuoding Academy.

"We're almost there! It's that bamboo house ahead!" Ning Rongrong suddenly pointed forward, keeping her voice low but unable to hide her excitement. Tang San looked where she pointed and saw a plain white porcelain vase sitting on the stone table before the bamboo house. A bundle of dried Starflowers stood in the vase—the petals had withered, but they had been carefully arranged, even their stems tied neatly together. Clearly, someone had tended to them every day.

Just then, the bamboo house door opened with a creak. A young man