Mother Jujube saw Lord Lu, and he naturally saw her as well. He and Qingfeng descended onto the stone platform together, and they nodded slightly to each other in greeting.
"Mountain Lord, it has been many years. Hope you've been well?"
"While cultivating, I suddenly found myself stuck. One dream lasted thirty years, and when I awoke, it was already year's end!"
Lord Lu answered something entirely different, gazing pensively into the distance beyond the mountains, toward Ning'an County. Compared with a great city, its lights were somewhat sparse, yet that was precisely the homeward glow that put one's heart at ease.
"Mother Jujube!"
The moment Lord Lu finished speaking, a delighted cry rang out. A red shadow swiftly swept in from the foot of the mountain and, in an instant, flipped onto the stone platform.
The newcomer had a graceful figure and youthful beauty, her every movement brimming with vitality, like a brilliant flame. Even after she stopped, that flame seemed to keep burning. It was Hu Yun, her face alight with joy.
"Little Fox!"
Mother Jujube was equally delighted and could not help stepping forward several paces.
"Greetings, Mountain Lord!"
"Mm."
Lord Lu acknowledged her, then looked Hu Yun over a few times and shook his head faintly.
"Your cultivation has not improved much, but you have put quite some thought into dressing yourself up."
"Pfft."
Mother Jujube could not help laughing as well. Although Hu Yun wore a red scholar's robe and had her hair tied in a small bun, the tassel-soft hair at her temples, her gently curled black hair, and the exquisite face beneath that lock of bangs gave her a beauty of imposing heroism, enough to make many women feel ashamed of their own looks.
Hu Yun grinned and muttered under her breath.
"You