The first day of the first lunar month.
In the mortal world, it would have been a day for family reunions.
But in the cultivation world, where a single closed-door retreat could last ten or even a hundred years, today was no different from any other day.
Early morning.
Mu Zishuo arrived at Di Ta Peak bright and early.
Jiu Lian and Luo Qing had already arrived and were sitting with Beishan Hu, chatting.
"Senior Sister Jiu Lian, after you and Senior Brother Xia Mang go to Shangshui Commandery, will you come back to the Academy?" Mu Zishuo asked with a miserable expression.
At the Black-White Academy, the people he knew best were Xia Manggan and Ji Ning, who had entered on the same day as him.
After graduating, Ji Ning had returned to Winged Snake Lake in Yan Mountain to live in seclusion and cultivate. Now Xia Manggan was leaving the Academy as well.
Of the three neighboring cave-abode peaks, he would be the only one left at Twin Wood Peak.
"That depends on Xia Mang's arrangements." Jiu Lian smiled. "But from what he said last time, it seems he plans to remain in Shangshui Commandery for a while before heading north to the Northern Abyss Ocean, where he'll travel and temper himself until the Immortal Fate Assembly begins."
"Then won't we have to wait ten years before meeting again?" Mu Zishuo sighed. "There won't even be anyone left to drink and chat with."
"Junior Brother Zishuo, if you're worried about being bored, you can find Qingqing," Jiu Lian said. "Qingqing will remain at the Academy."
"Her?" Mu Zishuo snorted. "Rather than drink with her, I'd rather spend more time studying Puppets myself."
"That would be for the best." Luo Qing rolled her eyes. "With Sister Jiu Lian gone,