Mount Taixu, Heart Seal.
Mount Taixu.
After two days of twists and turns, the two finally arrived at this place, which was even more remote than Chen Junxuan's hometown.
Near that ancient town, there are at least a few taxis that travel long distances, taking people to the airport or high-speed rail station.
There are no people living near Mount Taixu, so naturally there are no convenient modern means of transportation such as airports, high-speed rail, or trains.
In today's world of constant land development and massive construction, such desolate and uninhabited places are extremely rare.
Rather, the reason it wasn't taken over by capital for profit is simply because this is the true former residence of the immortals.
As an immortal who has protected the Shenzhou for five thousand years, it is only natural that he possesses this special status.
Su Qing'an gripped the steering wheel, looking out the car window at the scene devoid of modern buildings, feeling somewhat fascinated.
Full of traces untouched by modern civilization, the natural scenery appeared even more radiant under the clear sky. In the boy's previous life, he had never seen such a view.
For him, such natural scenery was far more moving than the devastation of the Previous Civilization.
"Hua, are we almost there?"
The boy stopped the car; the road ahead was becoming increasingly unsuitable for the modified off-road vehicle.
Su Qing'an drove the whole way, even though he had never taken a driving test or asked Schicksal for any strange certificates.
However, in such a deserted area, which can be blatantly described as a lawless zone, factors such as driver's licenses were completely outside their considerations.
Fu Hua said upon hearing this:
"Let's get off the bus, Su Qing'an."
"We're not far now; this is considered the foot of the mountain."
"This isn't quite the real Mount Taixu yet. If you walk all the way up to the very top, you'll reach Fuyun Temple."
Su Qing'an nodded and agreed.
They parked their car haphazardly and began their ascent towards the mountain peak.
The grass and trees swayed gently in the wind, and towering ancient trees were scattered everywhere. Everything here appeared neat and orderly. As the two walked closer to Mount Taixu, the wonders of nature revealed their unique scenery.
It was clearly noon, but the dense, white mist, like White Comet vast ocean current, enveloped the entire mountain, its swirling vapors resembling the passage of beluga whales.
In ancient times, this place was known as a land of ethereal beauty, where only immortals could reside for long. Over the past five thousand years, there have been countless people who have come to visit in admiration of the immortals, but in the end, very few have actually made it to Fuyun Temple.
The natural climate and unique features create this beautiful scenery, but the gradually increasing altitude and strange magnetic field can make ordinary people feel uncomfortable, which is why few people can reach Fuyun Temple.
However, these things were of no consequence to the immortal himself and Su Qing'an.
The girl gazed at everything, a hint of loneliness flashing across her face, and she spoke:
"It's beautiful here, isn't it? But it doesn't always look like this."
"This mountain is clearly an inanimate object, but after being around it for a while, I sometimes have a strange feeling that it might be alive."
"That white mist is what it produces when it breathes... Never mind, why am I talking to you about this meaningless rambling?"
Fu Hua shook her head to herself, while Su Qing'an listened quietly without interrupting. She then continued:
"Su Qing'an, aren't you surprised that my home is in such a faraway place?"
"Why don't you ask me where my family is? The scene before you doesn't match the rumors you heard at the academy, does it?"
Fu Hua slowly stopped in her tracks. They were approaching the blue stone steps marked with paths, and in the distance above them Fuyun Temple.
The girl's eyes, as blue as the sea, shimmered with light. At this moment, those eyes were fixed on the boy's face, and she whispered:
"You've never been curious about anything, whether it's the martial arts I teach you, the abilities that can awaken you, or even your combat power that's different from A-rank Valkyrie. You know it all, and then you accept it all without a second thought."
Even though I have so many strange traits, you seem to have never... never doubted me.
"Why, Su Qing'an?"
In fact, Fu Hua shouldn't be the kind of person to ask this kind of question. That unique tacit understanding has always been a barrier between them protecting each other, and piercing through that barrier is not a good thing for the girl.
Some things are best left unsaid, but at this moment Fu Hua frankly revealed everything.
This action essentially means that she is willing to tell Su Qing'an the truth, which is why she asked.
Ask why.
Su Qing'an remained silent for a while. This was probably the kind of pain that came with restarting the timeline. You understood that you were once incredibly close to this person, and in some ways, you even understood her better than she understood herself.
But once the timeline is restarted, everything returns to nothing.
You and she are no longer connected, no longer bound by anything.
When you meet again, the way those eyes look at you is so unfamiliar and distant, as if you are looking at a complete stranger in a sea of people.
Once you brush past a passerby, you naturally won't meet them again.
Even now, Su Qing'an cannot say to her with any pride, "I knew you 55,000 years ago."
I know many of your little habits, I know your past, I know your past confusion, I know your past resentment and preferences.
We know each other quite well; we weren't completely unconnected before...
Even now, he still can't bring himself to say it.
Su Qing'an understood that even if she spoke out, what good would it do? Even if the timeline hadn't restarted, it was still 55,000 years ago.
The boy who crawled out of the ruins with all his might on that rainy night has long been submerged in the overwhelming sea of trivial memories, gradually losing his original color.
Perhaps she has forgotten, perhaps she hasn't, but in any case, the brilliance she once possessed has long since faded.
It turns out that time really can take everything away.
Even if she hadn't forgotten anything, Su Qing'an could no longer say things like, "I've known you before."
And even for the sake of that possible future, he couldn't bring himself to say "I like you."
The boy remained silent for a long, long time, and finally he said softly:
"Does it matter, Hua?"
The two did not continue speaking, but when Su Qing'an stepped onto the steps, the mist that swirled around Mount Taixu like a dragon paused for a moment.
Immediately, bizarre and fantastical scenes almost completely filled the field of vision.
Above the celestial mountain shrouded in white mist, countless crimson feathers fell and swirled like a rain of light.
It is the Heart Seal.
Inside are countless memories left behind by Fu Hua over five thousand years, but at this moment they all awaken together, as if they are overjoyed at the arrival of someone.
A crimson feather, like an illusion, passed through Fu Hua's body, seemingly imperceptible, yet it landed in the boy's palm, the soft feather gently adhering to his skin.
It swayed slightly, very affectionately.
They did not welcome Fu Hua, who was their master.
It was Su Qing'an.
The girl let out a soft sigh and asked the stunned Su Qing'an:
"Does it matter now?"