Entering the mountain

Just as Li Chaoxue was pondering this, Yang Nan suddenly whispered:

"Fellow Daoist Li, the abbot seems to still be in seclusion; there's no news from the mountain. Let's return to the Water Palace and wait there."

Li Chaoxue nodded slightly, exhaled softly, and was about to turn around.

Just then, a slight ripple appeared in the Great Void, and the two of them stopped in their tracks and looked up.

A golden-clad figure burst forth from the Great Void. The man's Profound Qi was not yet concealed, and gray- purple qi swirled around him like waves. He had a handsome face, and a mark of Profound Qi between his brows appeared and disappeared like a cloud vortex. Behind him followed three others, each with a different temperament, who were several feet behind him, clearly leading the group.

Yang Xiu had just steadied himself when his gaze swept across the area and locked onto the two people in front of the mountain.

One Subterranean Water aura, the other Cold Qi aura; both were at the Purple Mansion. Standing so close to the mountain gate outside Golden Ao Mountain, they didn't seem like they were there for sightseeing. The situation in Nanzhao was dire; though Su Yao's condition was unknown, the closure of Golden Ao Mountain suggested something had happened. The sudden appearance of two unfamiliar Purple Mansion lingering nearby immediately put Yang Xiu on edge, and he gripped the golden bell tightly in his hand.

He stepped forward, his brow furrowed slightly, and said in a deep voice:

"Who are you two, and why are you lingering outside Golden Ao Mountain?"

Yang Nan was taken aback upon hearing this. He instinctively raised his hand to gently shield Li Chaoxue behind him, and with a polite smile on his face, he cupped his hands and said:

"My name is Yang Nan, and this is Fellow Li Chaoxue. We are both disciples of the Abbot of Qixia Temple, and we are temporarily residing in the Cibi Water Palace on the Abbot's orders. Today, we have come to Golden Ao Mountain to inquire whether the Abbot has emerged from seclusion. May I ask who you are?"

Yang Xiu's gaze fell on the two of them, as if trying to discern the truth of their words. At the same time, a Profound Qi had already been gathered between his fingertips in his sleeve, and his expression remained completely unchanged.

"You two, Abbot of Qixia Temple, one Subterranean Water and the other Cold Qi, when did Qingyan take in two Outer Dao Purple Mansion at the Purple Mansion level? Do you have any proof?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Nan was speechless for a moment.

Li Chaoxue, however, had already recognized Yang Xiu's origins from his golden robes, the golden bell at his waist, and the deep gray-purple Profound Qi mark between his brows.

Some time ago, in the Great Void, the Northern Heaven's Profound Qi surged like a tide, and the news of Yang Xiu, the Golden Court Daoist, emerging from seclusion had already spread among the cultivators of Nanzhao. At this moment, dressed like this and so young, there could be no one else in Nanzhao but the Golden Court Daoist.

She took a small step forward, bowed slightly to Yang Xiu, and spoke in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant:

"This fellow Daoist, are you perhaps Fellow Daoist Yang of the Golden Court?"

Yang Xiu's eyes flickered slightly, but he did not deny it.

Li Chaoxue continued:

"My name is Li Chaoxue. I once studied Daoism at Cang Mountain. This gentleman beside me is Fellow Daoist Yang Nan. We are allies who joined the sect after the Abbot's Purple Mansion Dharma Banquet. After the battle between the Abbot and Ao Xiao and Kuiwu, Fellow Daoist Ni Polu and I were ordered to temporarily reside in the Cibi Water Palace to recuperate, and it has been more than a year now. We have just recovered from our injuries, so we have come here today simply to see if the Abbot has emerged from seclusion. If Fellow Daoist Yang does not believe us, you may wait here for a while, or go up the mountain to inquire. We will not stop you."

She spoke gently and clearly, explaining the whole story in a logical and organized manner.

Yang Xiu's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly upon hearing the words "Ao Xiao, Kuiwu" and "Cibi Water Palace". He knew about Su Yao's affair with the Lake God of Cibi Lake, but he hadn't expected these two to be involved. However, since Su Yao hadn't explained it to his face, he couldn't fully believe it.

He remained silent for a moment, then finally dispersed the Profound Qi from his sleeve, put away the golden bell, and raised his hands in a fist salute, saying:

"Yang Xiu, the Daoist of Golden Court. Please forgive my earlier offense. I have been in seclusion on Qingnuo Mountain for the past few years, and many things in Nanzhao have turned out to be unclear. Seeing Purple Mansion lingering here, I couldn't help but be suspicious."

Li Chaoxue smiled slightly:

"I've long heard of Golden Court Daozi's name; meeting him today, I can confirm his extraordinary bearing."

Yang Xiu turned his head and glanced at the three figures that had followed him out of the Great Void, and said:

"Lu Daoyuan, Gong Shouzhuo, Jing Xuanpu, come with me to pay your respects to the two senior Purple Mansion cultivators."

The three immediately stepped forward, bowed to Yang Nan and Li Chaoxue, and said in unison:

"Greetings, esteemed seniors."

Yang Nan and Li Chaoxue hurriedly returned the greeting.

After exchanging greetings, Yang Xiu looked again at the silent Golden Ao Mountain, his gaze sweeping over the Jade Pure One Immortal Light that could not be seen by anyone other than Supreme True Person, and said softly:

"Brother Su Yao is injured and in seclusion. I must go and see him. I haven't seen him for a long time, and now that I've emerged from seclusion, I have many questions to ask him."

Li Chaoxue's heart stirred slightly upon hearing this, but she simply nodded:

"Before the abbot went into seclusion, he decreed that no one was allowed to ascend the mountain unless he personally emerged from seclusion. However, Fellow Daoist Yang shares the same lineage as the abbot, so he should be exempt from this rule. Please go ahead."

Yang Xiu nodded, then turned to the Human Dao:

"The three of you should find a place to rest at the foot of the mountain. Do not enter without my permission."

"Yes."

After the three agreed, Yang Xiu looked at Yang Nan and Li Chaoxue:

"If you two trust me, please return to the Water Palace first. I will have a plan after I see Brother Su Yao. The Nanzhao is in too much chaos right now, and it is not advisable to stay outside Golden Ao Mountain for long."

Yang Nan and Li Chaoxue exchanged a glance and both nodded.

"Then I will listen to Fellow Daoist Yang," Yang Nan said, cupping his hands in greeting.

Li Chaoxue said no more, only giving Yang Xiu a slight bow:

"We'll head back first. If Fellow Daoist Yang has any instructions, please send someone to the Cibi Water Palace."

Without lingering any longer, the two transformed into two streaks of light and headed towards Purple and Green.

Yang Xiu watched the two depart, his expression slightly somber.

He could tell that Li Chaoxue was outwardly respectful to him, but in reality, she always maintained a certain distance; Yang Nan, on the other hand, was not very cunning and her words and actions were quite smooth. Neither of them had any ill intentions towards him, but they were by no means close either.

"We're not on the same path after all," he sighed inwardly.

In this chaotic situation, it's always a good thing to have a couple more people standing by Su Yao's side.

He withdrew his gaze, straightened his golden robes, the golden bells hanging from his waist jingling softly in the wind, and turned to step towards the gate of Golden Ao Mountain.

Just as Yang Xiu arrived at the mountain gate, an aged voice rang out from inside:

"Who goes there? Golden Ao Mountain is closed to outsiders."

Yang Xiu remained silent upon hearing this. The next moment, a surge of Profound Qi flowed between his brows, and a gray-purple light shone from between his brows, swirling around his body. His aura was as if a calamity was imminent, exuding an imposing aura without anger.

Then, the golden bell swayed gently at her waist, and with a clear "ding," it echoed into the mountains.

There was a moment of silence behind the door.

Immediately, the voice rang out again, this time with a more solemn tone:

"But Golden Court Daozi?"

Yang Xiu then replied:

"It is indeed Yang Xiu. He has come to see Brother Su Yao on the orders of Jade Void."

As soon as he finished speaking, the gray mist disappeared.

Daoist Zheng led Nannuo out from behind the door. He quickly stepped forward and bowed to Yang Xiu:

"I am Daoist Zheng, and I have been ordered by the abbot to guard the mountain. The abbot has been in seclusion for over a year, and I dared not open the mountain gate without permission. I was unaware that you, Daozi, had come in person, and I have failed to greet you properly."

Yang Xiu withdrew his aura, returned the greeting, and said:

"Elder Zheng, you flatter me. I have just emerged from seclusion and, though I do not know the circumstances, I imagine it was for important business that I closed myself off. I have come here specifically to see you, and I hope Elder Zheng will guide me."

Upon hearing this, Daoist Zheng hurriedly said:

"Daozi has a past with the Abbot and they both received orders from Jade Void, so he can naturally enter. However, the Abbot's secluded cave abode in the back mountain cannot be entered without the Abbot's personal permission. This old man can lead Daozi into the mountain; as for the rest, we can only wait for the Abbot to wake up."

Yang Xiu nodded. "That's exactly right."

Daoist Zheng stepped aside and said:

"Daozi, please."

Yang Xiu straightened his golden robes and stepped into the doorway.

Nannuo glanced at him curiously, then quickly lowered her head, not daring to look any longer.