Over the past few years, Dugu Qingxiao and the others had also asked after Xu Taiping, but the answers they received had all been vague.
Once, they had even heard bad news: a Tiger Wraith and Demon Wolves had appeared near Green Bamboo Abode, and even the spring serving as a formation node had been destroyed.
Had Qingxiao not stopped her, Zhao Linglong would nearly have defied the sect's orders and gone down the mountain that time.
From then on, the two had felt that Xu Taiping's chances of survival were slim. After all, for outer sect disciples, failing to survive three years at the foot of the mountain, where demonic creatures ran rampant, was entirely normal.
"Yes, it's him! Senior Brother, look!"
Zhao Linglong nodded vigorously, then tossed the scroll in her hand in front of Qingxiao and continued:
"Not only is Little Taiping still alive, he's even signed up for this Seven Peaks Selection!"
Hearing this, Qingxiao unrolled the scroll and looked. Sure enough, he found Xu Taiping's name on the roster.
"The little fellow has done us proud."
The corners of Qingxiao's mouth lifted, his face full of gratification.
"Three years have passed. Little Taiping is probably taller than me by now."
Beaming, Zhao Linglong gestured with her hand to indicate his height.
"Yes, three years have gone by in the blink of an eye."
Qingxiao rolled up the scroll and nodded with a smile.
"Senior Brother, even if Taiping doesn't pass this Seven Peaks Selection, I want to ask Father to bring him up the mountain. Even if he can't become a formal disciple, helping manage the medicine garden and spirit beasts would be good too."
Zhao Linglong suddenly looked at Qingxiao with a serious expression.
She had personally brought this boy up the mountain and