"Senior Brother, what just happened?"
In an instant, his thoughts returned to reality. The wooden door creaked open, and Gu Yeqi quietly poked her head out.
The girl showed half her face and her apron, a spatula clutched in her hand. She curiously looked around, then finally turned to An Jing. "All the Evergreen Wood nearby—no... all the Evergreen Wood I can sense—is crying out in alarm."
An Jing caught the rich scent of fried peppers and meat. If he was not mistaken, Gu Yeqi had made salt-fried pork. He had often eaten it back on Mingguang Peak; salty, fragrant, and fresh, it suited his heavy tastes perfectly. It truly was Yeqi's signature dish.
"Something major did happen, but it has nothing to do with us for the moment."
He smiled, preparing to briefly explain the situation to Gu Yeqi. "Simply put, it's..."
[You can't let her know!]
But at that moment, Gu Yunzhi abruptly spoke up to interrupt him. An Jing frowned. Though displeased, he knew Gu Yunzhi must have his reasons. "Why? There's nothing I can't let Yeqi know."
[I know, but this matter is a secret among secrets—where hearts resonate, spirits gain understanding; where thoughts linger unforgotten, echoes are sure to answer. If she learns of it, then...]
Gu Yunzhi's words had originally been calm and fluent, but now even his speech stumbled, his logic tangling with it. The moment An Jing heard this, he knew that the matter concerning the Undying Tree was exceptionally vital—and exceptionally dangerous.
Only Gu Yeqi remained of the Gu Family now. Naturally, Gu Yunzhi instinctively did not wish for her to be drawn into this.
Gu Yeqi, meanwhile, noticed that An Jing had suddenly fallen silent. Clever as she was, she immediately understood that someone was communicating with An Jing at