Seeing Seedling Again

Meeting Seedling Again

Sun Xiuyuan had booked three guest rooms ahead of time through an acquaintance in Melodious Sound City, which sat right outside the mountain gates of the Melodious Sound Sect.

Yet he was far too anxious to see his daughter to head for the inn, and instead had the driver park the carriage directly at the gates of the Melodious Sound Sect.

Jiang Fu'an stepped down from the carriage and looked up to see mountain gates built of white jade soaring into the clouds, ancient pine trees towering on both sides while wisps of mist coiled around the mountainside.

A few cultivators in ethereal attire were steering magical instruments as they flew in and out.

Seeing Sun Xiuyuan and Ma Ping lift their feet to walk straight inside, he instinctively felt that this was somewhat presumptuous and asked in a low voice:

"Brother Ma, are we... just going to walk right in like this?"

To his mind, a sect's grounds were heavily restricted, and since they were mere mortals, they ought to announce themselves first.

Ma Ping did not break his stride, however, and answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world:

"Of course! The sect is open these days, and outsiders are allowed to enter and observe the ceremonies.

"Once we're inside, I'll just find someone to ask for directions."

Hearing him say this, Jiang Fu'an had no choice but to stay silent, quietly following behind the two men.

Who would have thought that they had barely walked a few steps when a cold voice rang out from the side:

"Stop. Who gave you permission to enter?"

Two young men in white robes and with indifferent expressions suddenly blocked their path.

Sun Xiuyuan, who was walking at the front, was taken aback and blurted out:

"Didn't they say... anyone could enter these past few days?"

The thin, tall disciple on the left curled the corner of his mouth and sneered:

"Anyone" refers to those who practice cultivation. A lowly mortal like you, do you even deserve to step through our mountain gates?

That gaze swept dismissively over Sun Xiuyuan, as though looking at a stray dog by the side of the road.

Sun Xiuyuan's face flushed crimson in a flash. He never imagined he would be blocked to his face like this and subjected to such mockery.

Seeing this, Ma Ping hurried forward to smooth things over, lowering his voice as he told Sun Xiuyuan:

"Old Brother Sun, why don't you and Little Brother Jiang wait outside for a bit while I go in and find someone?"

Sun Xiuyuan nodded dejectedly:

"Very well, I suppose that's all we can do."

Watching Ma Ping's figure vanish into the lingering wisps of mist within the mountain gates, Sun Xiuyuan and Jiang Fu'an retreated to an old locust tree not far away.

Sun Xiuyuan glanced around and, making sure no one was near, could not help complaining in a low voice:

"I truly never expected the Melodious Sound Sect to have a rule barring mortals!"

His tone carried lingering frustration, and it was clear he was still deeply upset by the humiliation from just moments before.

Jiang Fu'an had looked on coldly the entire time.

The way those two gate-guarding disciples had looked at Sun Xiuyuan—indifferent as though gazing upon ants—made him suddenly understand that this was the normal way the world of cultivation viewed mortals.

The fact that Ma Ping could call them mortals his brothers was likely due to his inherent nature in part.

Secondly... it was probably because he had long since cut off all thoughts of the immortal path and spent a long time mingling among mortal society.

Yet the Melodious Sound Sect was a genuine immortal domain, and the disciples under its banner interacted solely with cultivators day in and day out.

In their eyes, mortals were truly no different from weeds and ants; why would they ever need an explicit rule?

Seeing that Sun Xiuyuan was still boiling with resentment, Jiang Fu'an softly advised:

"Brother Sun, perhaps to the Melodious Sound Sect, mortals simply lack the qualification to set foot in this place.

"This isn't a rule; it's just the natural order of things."

These words caused Sun Xiuyuan to start violently. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

From then on, the two men spoke no more.

The shadow of the locust tree shifted slowly with the movement of the sun, stretching long across the ground.

After about the space of an hour, Sun Xiuyuan suddenly sprang to his feet, waving his arms frantically toward the mountain gates, his voice brimming with pleasant surprise:

"Daughter! Your dad is right here!"

At this cry, Jiang Fu'an raised his head to see a young girl of about ten years old, dressed in a plain white skirt, walking leisurely out from within the mountain gates.

Judging by her brows and eyes, she indeed bore a resemblance to the little girl who had been taken away alongside Seedling two years ago.

Yet what left Jiang Fu'an puzzled was:

There was surprisingly only her alone.

Where was Seedling?

By this time, Sun Xiuyuan had already rushed forward in two or three strides, his face plastered with smiles.

Wanting to touch his daughter yet not daring to do so, he simply asked without stopping:

"Are you tired on the road? Are you getting used to life in the sect? Are you eating well?"

The young lady's reaction, however, was somewhat lukewarm, and she only gave brief replies.

Jiang Fu'an did not wish to intrude on the father and daughter's reunion, so he simply remained standing in place to wait.

After quite a while, Sun Xiuyuan finally seemed to suddenly remember him and hurriedly pulled his daughter over to introduce her.

"My girl, quickly, this is your Uncle Jiang, Jiang Xianghe's father."

Hearing this, a gentle smile surfaced on Jiang Fu'an's face, and he nodded toward the young lady.

Unexpectedly, the young lady merely glanced at him once before indifferently shifting her gaze away.

Seeing this scene, a trace of awkwardness instantly flashed across Sun Xiuyuan's face.

Had it been usual, he certainly would have scolded his daughter for her discourtesy.

Yet meeting this time, he could sense a sort of indescribable aloofness about his daughter.

He had no choice but to change the subject and ask:

"When you came out, did you see Jiang Xianghe? Why didn't she come out with you?"

The young lady spoke in a listless tone.

"Jiang Elder Sister said she has matters to attend to and must come out a bit later."

"Right, Uncle Ma went to find Uncle Wang and won't be coming out for the time being."

Sun Xiuyuan was stunned, subconsciously looking toward Jiang Fu'an with a bit of added sympathy in his gaze.

In his mind, that Jiang Family lass was probably staying in the immortal sect too long and had grown too proud, to the point that she was in no hurry to see even her own biological father.

Otherwise, what other matter could possibly be more important than seeing a father who had traveled from afar?

Yet Jiang Fu'an's face showed no ripples, and he merely said calmly:

"Big Brother Sun, it is rare for you and your daughter to meet, and you must have many things to talk about. Do not delay here. I can wait for Seedling by myself."

Sun Xiuyuan still wanted to say something, but seeing that his daughter had already turned and walked a few steps down the mountain, he had no choice but to hastily instruct:

"Brother Fu'an, then we will be leaving first. The place we are staying is the Four Seas Inn, not far outside the South Gate of Melodious Sound City. You will know as soon as you ask."

"Alright, Big Brother Sun, see you tonight."

Jiang Fu'an replied.

Watching the Sun family father and daughter walk away into the distance, he returned once more beneath that old locust tree and quietly gazed toward the Melodious Sound Sect mountain gate.

In his heart, he did not worry about failing to wait for Seedling, nor did he believe that Seedling's affections had grown distant.

That child had regarded her family extremely heavily since she was small, and he figured she was perhaps influenced by her destiny of Remembering the Source.

Sure enough, after waiting less than half an hour this time, a white-clothed young lady appeared within the mountain gate.

She walked rather hurriedly, her bright eyes anxiously looking all around.

Jiang Fu'an immediately stood up, waved his hand, and went forward to greet her.

Seedling spotted him at a glance, a smile instantly blossoming on her face as she quickened her pace and rushed over, almost at a run.

Now that she was close, Jiang Fu'an could finally see his daughter's appearance clearly.

Having not seen each other for two years, the changes truly were not small.

Her height had shot up by a large margin, and her pitch-black hair already hung down to her waist.

Her skin had grown fairer and her brows and eyes had blossomed; although still retaining the greenness of youth, she already faintly possessed the refined and ethereal charm of a true little immortal fairy.

"Dad! Why did you come?"

Running right up to him, Seedling's eyes were filled with sparkling smiles.

Jiang Fu'an laughed and said:

"I missed you, so I came to take a look."

With just such a simple sentence, the rims of Seedling's eyes instantly turned red.

She pressed her lips together, abruptly opened her arms, and plunged headfirst into Jiang Fu'an's embrace, her voice muffled:

"Dad... I missed you so much too!"