On Xiaozhu Peak

Thanks to Su Ru, and with Su Ru personally stepping in, Shui Yue privately agreed to let Dazhu Peak's disciples visit Xiaozhu Peak's Scripture Depository before Tian Buyi even went to Tongtian Peak to raise the matter.

"Eighth Brother, it isn't convenient for Dazhu Peak disciples to come to Xiaozhu Peak.

"For convenience's sake, I'll have Senior Sister send a disciple to look after you."

Hearing Su Ru's words, Xiao Xuan felt waves of warmth rise within him.

He had not lived on Dazhu Peak for long, yet it already felt like home.

His meticulous Eldest Brother, who took such good care of him; his Second Brother; his diligent Third Brother, who accompanied him in every cultivation session; his Fourth Brother, who loved reading and writing and helped him understand this world; and his honest, dependable Fifth Brother, who quietly gave of himself.

His Sixth Brother, who loved gambling yet had never won; and Tian Ling'er, lively, adorable, and fond of jokes; his Seventh Brother, stiff and dull but kind-hearted and steadfast; his master, Tian Buyi, stern on the outside yet soft within; and his mistress, Su Ru, gentle and virtuous though somewhat prone to violence.

Even one's birth parents and closest siblings could hardly compare.

"Thank you, Mistress. There's no need to delay my senior sisters' cultivation. With this wheelchair, and since I won't be going far, I can take care of myself."

Before long, they arrived within Xiaozhu Peak's territory.

Viewed from above, Xiaozhu Peak was just as lush and green as Dazhu Peak, though Dazhu Peak carried a deeper, more solemn air.

Unlike Dazhu Peak's Black-Jointed Bamboo, Xiaozhu Peak produced another strange variety called Tear Bamboo.

This bamboo was emerald green, with slender stalks like the figure of a graceful woman. It had nearly half as many joints as ordinary bamboo, yet its fibers were incomparably tough, even surpassing Black-Jointed Bamboo, and it was known as the finest under heaven.

Yet Tear Bamboo was most famous not for its toughness, but for the tiny pink spots scattered across its green stalks, like the tear stains of a gentle woman grieving. They were exceptionally beautiful.

Xiaozhu Peak had also received its name from this.

Unlike the other branches, Xiaozhu Peak had another uniquely strict rule: it accepted only female disciples. Whether because they had achieved success in cultivation or chose their disciples deliberately, Xiaozhu Peak's women often possessed both beauty and strength.

This made Xiaozhu Peak a striking sight within Qingyun Sect.

Passing through clouds tinged faintly pink by the Tear Bamboo, Su Ru led Xiao Xuan not to Xiaozhu Peak's grand main hall, but descended at a secluded spot.

The buildings here were all constructed from bamboo and wood, surrounded on every side by Tear Bamboo.

When the mountain wind blew, it brought no Ice Chill, only coolness. Listening to the rustling bamboo leaves around him, the restlessness in his heart faded, leaving him calm and serene.

Xiao Xuan curiously looked around. At that moment, two streaks of green light descended from the sky. One was a beautiful woman with an oval face, hair like clouds, skin like snow, and a faint smile at the corners of her lips.

The other looked only one or two years older than Tian Ling'er. She was as radiant as fresh snow, exquisitely beautiful, yet as cold as Frost.

"Martial Aunt, before Master went to Tongtian Peak, she instructed this disciple to wait here for you!

"This must be Junior Brother Xiao, then. I'm Wen Min. Greetings, Junior Brother!"

"Nephew Wen Min, your cultivation has improved!

"Nephew Xueqi, worthy indeed of being Senior Sister's prized disciple. You're far better than those useless fellows of Dazhu Peak."

"Senior Sister Wen!"

Because of Su Ru and Shui Yue's relationship, both peaks naturally already knew about Xiao Xuan.

For this pitiful little disciple of Dazhu Peak, they could only feel admiration for Tian Buyi's willingness to take him in.

Now that they saw him, the small figure seated in a wheelchair appeared eight or nine years old, fair and clean. Though still so young, one could already foresee that he would grow into a handsome youth. A warm smile rested on his face, as though nothing could ever defeat him.

A flute hung at his waist, while he held a fan in his hand.

At such a young age, aside from being unable to stand, he was a peerless young gentleman without fault.

At that moment, a streak of light descended from afar and appeared before them. It was a middle-aged Daoist nun.

"Master!"

"Martial Aunt Shui Yue!"

Shui Yue looked at the little fellow with his warm smile. There were quite a few on Xiaozhu Peak who considered themselves exceptionally beautiful.

Disciples and even elders from the other peaks had made fools of themselves more than once when visiting Xiaozhu Peak.

Yet this little fellow remained remarkably calm. His resolve was plain to see.

"Junior Sister, is this Dazhu Peak's youngest disciple?

"Nephew Xiao's eagerness to learn is admirable. Since you have come to Xiaozhu Peak, you may read freely in Xiaozhu Peak's Library Pavilion, so long as you do not damage the books.

"Min'er, Junior Brother Xiao is a man after all, so it will be inconvenient for him to move about Xiaozhu Peak.

"From now on, he will live below Looking-Moon Terrace. It backs onto a cliff and is close to the Library Pavilion. Few people go there normally, and the surroundings are quite peaceful, suitable for reading and cultivation. The mountain wind is a little strong, though, so be careful that he does not catch a chill.

"Afterward, speak to your junior sisters and have them restrain themselves.

"Junior Brother Xiao will be staying on Xiaozhu Peak from now on, so put more thought into looking after him."

Xiao Xuan bowed. "I will abide by Martial Aunt's arrangements. A little mountain wind is no concern."

"Yes, Master!

"Junior Brother, let's go."

With that, she pushed the wheelchair toward the distance.

They chatted and laughed along the way. Before long, Wen Min pointed ahead and said to Xiao Xuan with a smile, "Look, that is the Library Pavilion.

"Inside are records of the lands and peoples, historical biographies, unofficial histories and novels, cultivation methods, Daoist arts, and much more collected since Qingyun Sect was founded.

"It represents the efforts of who knew how many generations, and is Qingyun Sect's most precious treasure.

"Unfortunately, though everyone knows that such knowledge is useful, very few can truly settle down and read.

"People seem more willing to spend their time cultivating. Unless necessary, they only come to consult the texts. The Library Pavilion has truly become nothing more than a place for storing books."

Xiao Xuan looked over. Amid a Tear Bamboo Forest stood a nine-story tower built entirely of bamboo and wood.

After the passage of time, its once-vibrant green had darkened, yet it did not seem run-down. Instead, an ancient charm naturally arose from it, drawing one's mind into quiet contemplation.

As they spoke, Wen Min led Xiao Xuan directly to the foot of the Library Pavilion.

A faint scent of books drifted over, making one's mind stir. Without realizing it, he straightened his back and lowered his voice, afraid of offending this sacred place or disturbing those immersed within it.

At the entrance of the Library Pavilion, an elderly woman with white hair and a youthful complexion quietly held a bamboo scroll and read it carefully.

From time to time, she nodded, her face breaking into a smile as though she had gained some insight.

Cultivators had methods to preserve their appearance. Those who looked young were often actually astonishingly old, and the higher their cultivation, the more so this was.

Tian Buyi, for example, was already over three hundred years old, yet still looked middle-aged.

Xiaozhu Peak's cultivators were even more skilled in this regard. Su Ru and Master Shui Yue belonged to Tian Buyi's generation, yet they appeared only around thirty, at the height of their beauty.

And if someone looked advanced in age, then their true age was even more astounding.