"Shut that crow's mouth of yours!"
No sooner had Zhao Linglong spoken than Dugu Qingxiao, Eldest Senior Sister Jiang Zhi, and the others interrupted her in unison.
"Pah, pah, pah! Nothing could possibly happen to Junior Brother!"
Zhao Linglong also realized she had misspoken and kept slapping her mouth.
"Oh, right."
Xu Ziyan, who had been chatting with Dugu Qingxiao, suddenly remembered something and turned toward the depths of the bamboo grove.
There sat a long-haired woman in a Jade-Green Sleeveless Skirt, holding a book and reading with rapt attention.
Though that area was dimly lit, with nothing around her but withered yellow bamboo leaves strewn across the ground, as long as she sat there, it became the loveliest sight in the entire grove.
"Buyu."
Xu Ziyan called out to the woman.
"Senior Sister."
The woman gently closed her book and looked at Xu Ziyan, her eyes as still as an ancient well.
"Buyu, I remember you told me something about Taiping a few years ago, didn't you?"
Xu Ziyan asked Lin Buyu.
"Seven years ago."
Lin Buyu corrected her.
"Yes, seven years ago. You told me you heard Taiping's voice through the Listening Wind Tower's jade bracelet, but things weren't going very well on his end, and his voice soon cut off."
Xu Ziyan nodded as she spoke.
At those words, the hearts of all the Seven Peaks disciples trembled, their relaxed expressions turning grave at once.
"Ziyan, why didn't you tell me about this?"
Dugu Qingxiao looked at Xu Ziyan with a frown.
"Because just a few days later, Buyu came to tell me that Taiping was all right. She asked me not to tell any of you, lest it only add to your worries."
Xu Ziyan hurriedly explained to Dugu Qingxiao.
Only then did everyone breathe a