Three years passed, and everything in the world went on as usual.
As in previous years, mist wreathed Green Mountain, with occasional flashes of Sword Light. Jing Jiu, who had been gone for six years, was mentioned less and less, just as when he had been on the Snowfield. Instead, the upheaval in the Western Sea three years earlier was frequently discussed. The Green Mountain disciples were very curious about who that Elder really was, and whether he had rescued Guo Dong.
Nothing much had changed on Divine End Peak either, except for the addition of a horse. With no work to do, the horse spent its days grazing and wandering in the mountains. Its only annoyance was the monkeys on the peak constantly bothering it, though things improved once the two sides became familiar.
One morning, the horse went to Golden Whip Creek to drink. A mischievous little monkey rode on its back, waving a branch and making cries only Gu Qing could understand.
Yuan Qu emerged from the woods with several broken pieces of black gold stone in his hands. At the sight before him, he paused, then looked delighted.
Sword Light descended, and Gu Qing appeared. Looking at the broken black stones in his junior brother's hands, he recalled the scene three years earlier and said, still shaken, "Martial Aunt... is practicing her sword again?"
"Yes," Yuan Qu said happily. "Master's cultivation is even stronger now."
Gu Qing thought this was certainly worth celebrating, but why was he so delighted?
Pointing at the horse beside the creek, Yuan Qu said, "Senior Brother, can't you see what this is?"
Gu Qing paused before understanding what he meant. Smiling, he said, "Being granted a marquisate is a mortal pleasure. It has nothing to do with us."
"An omen!" Yuan