Missing Thoughts Literature

"Ah Luo, are you willing to take me as your master?"

Before the mountain gate, Mu He smiled as she extended the invitation.

"I am willing."

Yun Luo did not hesitate in the slightest. Even if her Spiritual Root had been utterly destroyed, if Mu He dared to take her in, then she dared to go.

Her life was worthless anyway—she might as well go for it.

Since Mu He was willing to save her, it meant she was confident she could restore her Spiritual Root.

"You're a forthright one."

Mu He nodded approvingly. "From this day forth, you are my direct disciple, Yun Luo."

Although she had long known that Mu He was interested in her, Yun Luo had never imagined Mu He wanted to take her as a direct disciple. Becoming an Inner Sect disciple would already have been good enough.

Though the Hehuan Sect was not among the Upper Three Sects, it was still a great sect with deep foundations. She had never heard of anyone with a Mid-Grade Spiritual Root becoming one of their direct disciples.

Though surprised, Yun Luo reacted at once. She immediately knelt before Mu He and performed the disciple's rite.

"Disciple Yun Luo greets Master."

Mu He helped her up, then rummaged around in her dantian before finally pulling out a Qiankun Pouch and handing it to her.

"Just a few little trinkets. Consider them a gift from your master upon our first meeting."

"Thank you, Master."

Yun Luo accepted the Qiankun Pouch, her face heating up a little. She had not even prepared a gift for taking a master, yet Mu He was giving her one instead.

"We've delayed long enough. Let's go."

Mu He found the Heavenly Star Sect somewhat unlucky and wanted to leave as soon as possible.

Remembering that she still had important things to take with her, Yun Luo said, "Master, I still have some belongings to collect."

Mu He nodded, silently granting her request.

With a powerful figure clearing the way, they traveled without hindrance. When they reached the little courtyard where Yun Luo had once lived, she caught the slight twitch at the corner of Mu He's lips.

For the first time in her life, Yun Luo felt embarrassed because of her poverty.

"You used to live in a place like this?"

Mu He's lips tightened. No matter how she imagined it, she could not picture such a soft, sweet little girl living in such a dilapidated courtyard.

She had at least been a direct disciple, yet the fence around her courtyard was made of dead branches. There was not even a single bluestone slab paving the path, and after the rain, the muddy ground was pocked with puddles and pits.

The only thatched cottage in the yard had clearly been repaired often. The old and new straw, weathered by wind and sun, had taken on shades both light and dark.

Unknown dead vines crawled over the mottled earthen walls, while the crooked wooden door creaked and groaned whenever the wind blew.

Yun Luo knew that if Liu Yuxi came here, he would probably withdraw an entire Ode of the Humble Abode.

But it was still the home she had lived in for several years, and she could not help feeling attached to it.

After asking Mu He to wait a moment, she pushed open the door and went inside to gather her things.

There was not much to begin with. Anything remotely valuable, even low-grade spirit plants and talismans, had long since been stripped clean by those senior brothers and senior sisters of hers.

What she most wanted to take away were the memorial tablets she had carved for the parents of this life.

Fortunately, those gluttonous leeches had not been utterly devoid of conscience. Her parents' memorial tablets were still intact.

Yun Luo quickly put the tablets into her Qiankun Pouch, then checked the room once more and took everything she could carry.

Everything in this room, from the tables, chairs, and stools to the cultivation technique manuals, had been bought with Spirit Stones she had earned herself. She could not let any of it go to waste.

Once she was done, Yun Luo pushed open the back door of the courtyard and whistled toward the distance.

The place where she lived was close to the forest, and she would sometimes gather spirit plants there to exchange for Spirit Stones.

The whistle echoed clear and hollow through the woods. Around half a quarter-hour later, a silver-gray, furry figure emerged from the thicket.

Its thick fur was a mixture of gray and yellow, dark patterns covering its back. It was round, plump, and sturdy, with short, thick limbs and a fluffy long tail ringed in black.

Its broad, flat pancake face had cheeks fluffed out like a full beard. Its fierce yet adorable gaze, paired with those short, round ears set low on its head, made it look as though it was unhappy with everything it saw.

"Zhuaizhai!"

Yun Luo ran toward it. When only a few steps remained between them, Zhuaizhai kicked off with its hind legs and leaped into her arms, rubbing its furry head affectionately against her again and again.

She held Zhuaizhai and carefully checked it over. When she found no new injuries, the heart she had been holding in suspense finally settled.

Zhuaizhai had been a gift from her father. It was only an ordinary Pallas's cat.

Because its gaze was so wild and unruly, she had named it Zhuaizhai.

Later, after her parents died, she had wandered with Zhuaizhai until she entered the Heavenly Star Sect.

Pallas's cats only lived for around ten years, but over the years, Yun Luo had found spirit herbs for it to eat.

Though they were all low-grade, there was plenty of them to fill its belly. Now, it could understand human speech.

On the day she was taken away by the Discipline Hall, Zhuaizhai had tried to pounce on and bite those disciples. She had been the one who insisted on driving it away.

Even so, its right hind leg had been injured, and it still limped a little when it walked.

Once they reached the Hehuan Sect, she would have to find a way to heal its leg.

Mu He had waited for a long time. Hearing movement in the backyard, she flashed inside and immediately saw the Pallas's cat in Yun Luo's arms. It had only the faintest fluctuation of spiritual power and could not even be contracted.

Alas, her little disciple truly was impoverished. She did not even have a spirit pet.

"Master." Thinking Mu He had grown impatient, Yun Luo placed Zhuaizhai on top of her head, where it sprawled out. "This disciple has finished packing. Let's go."

Mu He nodded without asking further questions, then took out a spirit boat—a five-story tower ship.

The tower ship swiftly rose into the air. Yun Luo gave the Heavenly Star Sect, where she had spent seven years, one final look. She lingered for only a moment before turning toward the Sea of Clouds in the distance.

The Heavenly Star Sect was far from the Hehuan Sect, and the spirit boat would need three days to make the journey.

Along the way, apart from resting, Mu He spent all her time introducing the Hehuan Sect to Yun Luo.

"...The Sect Leader and the Sect Leader's disciples live on Taihe Peak, where the precious classics are also kept. The other elders and direct disciples live separately on Lingxi Peak, Changchun Peak, Liuxia Peak, Jade Dew Peak, and Qihuang Peak. As a master, I live on Lingxi Peak, and that is where you will cultivate in the future.

"The other smaller peaks house the inner and outer sect disciples, as well as the various branch halls. Once we arrive at the sect, you can slowly familiarize yourself with them under your three senior sisters' guidance..."

Mu He had already introduced her three senior sisters to Yun Luo.

Eldest Senior Sister Qin Mushuang cultivated the Sword Dao and was at the Middle Golden Core Stage. She had a rather cold temperament; aside from practicing her sword, she dual cultivated.

Second Senior Sister Chu Li specialized in talismans and was at the Early Golden Core Stage. She had a free-spirited nature; aside from drawing talismans, she dual cultivated.

Third Senior Sister Su Xanyu specialized in artifact refinement and was at the Early Golden Core Stage. She was warm and enthusiastic; aside from refining artifacts, she dual cultivated.

Yun Luo listened with great interest, but she was also uneasy.

Her senior sisters' cultivation levels were all so high. She did not know whether she would be able to get along with them.

Three days later, the tower ship finally arrived within the Hehuan Sect's territory.

When the ship broke through the thick layers of clouds, they could see the Hehuan Sect's majestic gates in the distance, along with Hehuan Trees blanketing the mountains and plains.

It happened to be the season when the Hehuan flowers bloomed. The light, featherlike blossoms covering the trees looked from afar like pink mist flooding spring, and the entire sect was shrouded in a pink Sea of Flowers that lifted one's spirits for no reason at all.

Cultivating in an environment like this, doing nothing at all was a kind of enjoyment.

The tower ship began to slow, and Yun Luo finally saw the Hehuan Sect's buildings up close.

Jade Buildings and jeweled halls breathed forth mist, golden eaves flowed with rosy clouds, the Pill Pavilion curled with clouds, and immortal cranes rode the wind, soaring through drifting spiritual fog.

At this moment, only two words remained in Yun Luo's mind: so rich!

Upon reaching the mountain gate, Mu He silently brought her down from the ship. For the final stretch, they chose to walk.

It was said that every sect built long flights of steps before its mountain gate to temper its disciples' hearts. Unless there was an emergency, disciples could only travel on foot.

Yun Luo no longer had a Spiritual Root, but her physical condition remained. Even after climbing several hundred steps, only a faint sheen of sweat had appeared on her forehead.

Mu He had been watching her all along. Seeing that Yun Luo did not utter a single complaint, approval appeared in her eyes.

When they reached the mountain gate, Yun Luo saw a dense crowd gathered before the sect entrance.