"You only think of righteousness at this moment. Why didn’t you use your head before acting? Was the meal at the Green Bamboo Cottage for nothing? Didn’t you see that Uncle Jiu was already looking at that boy differently? How could you still dare to have such ideas about him!"
Liu Songshan said, angry at their lack of foresight.
"But, but Uncle Jiu has already—"
Before Zhou Gu could finish his sentence, Liu Songshan interrupted him.
"Is Uncle Jiu someone you can call by name? He is Master Daoxuan!"
Liu Songshan lowered his voice, his eyes filled with panic.
"Master of the Pavilion, my brother and I are indeed at fault. We will accept any punishment you see fit."
At this moment, Zuo Jue, who had been silent all along, knelt beside Zhou Gu.
"Big Brother, this has nothing to do with you. I will take full responsibility!"
Zhou Gu looked at Zuo Jue anxiously.
"Can you bear the responsibility?"
Liu Songshan shot Zhou Gu a glare at this point.
"Seven Peaks is already involved in this matter. It’s already a good thing that you two can leave the mountain alive."
He then glared at both of them again.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Gu immediately lost his spirit and no longer argued.
If someone from the mountain personally intervened, there would be nothing Liu Songshan could do to protect them.
"Master of the Pavilion, in light of our years of service to you, could you tell us who Xu Taiping’s backer is before we leave?"
Zuo Jue finally couldn’t help but ask Liu Songshan, his heart full of doubts.
From his perspective, if Xu Taiping had no background, the people on the mountain would not have investigated this matter.
"Yes, I also can’t understand why someone would still speak up for him when Uncle Jiu and Bai Hong are no longer around."
Zhou Gu also chimed in at this point.
"Do you think I don’t want to know?"
Liu Songshan glared at the two of them.
"Moreover, who told you that Uncle Jiu is no longer around?"
He lowered his voice and continued.
"Uncle Jiu and Bai Hong are still alive?!"
"Didn’t they say the Greedy Wolf Nation’s Demon Lord has already emerged?"
Zhou Gu and Zuo Jue were both stunned.
"Never mind, you two are about to leave the mountain, so it’s fine to tell you."
Liu Songshan shook his head and then looked at them with a serious expression.
"According to the secret report we just received from the Cloud Tower, Uncle Jiu not only returned alive from the Northern Border but also killed the Demon Lord and severed the Greedy Wolf Nation’s demonic roots."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Gu and Zuo Jue looked at each other, seemingly unable to believe their ears.
"So, you two leaving the mountain at this opportunity might not be a bad thing. You can also help me manage the Seven Sword Manor’s affairs. If the matters of the Windcoming Valley are not handled well, I might have to roll back to the Seven Sword Manor one day."
Liu Songshan squatted down and whispered to the two of them.
The two of them, still in shock, nodded in unison.
Xu Taiping, with a bow and arrow on his back and a long sword and gourd hanging from his waist, closed the gate of the Green Bamboo Cottage and locked it.
Tomorrow is the first Dragon Gate Meeting of the Seven Peaks Selection, and he needs to arrive at the Dragon Gate Hall in advance.
The little monkey Pingan poked its head out from the hood of his cloak.
"This time, you’re coming with me. Be good, and when there are many people around, go into the gourd, okay?"
Xu Taiping patted the little monkey’s head and smiled.
Although spirit pets are not uncommon on Yunlu Mountain, he was still a bit worried about certain people, so he decided to bring the little monkey along.
The little monkey nodded obediently.
At that moment, a celestial crane landed from the sky, its wings flapping and causing a strong wind in the small courtyard.
"Xu Taiping of the Green Bamboo Cottage, the Dragon Gate Meeting is about to begin. Quickly follow me to the Dragon Gate Hall."
The celestial crane spoke with a slightly arrogant tone.
Xu Taiping bowed to the celestial crane and then lightly stepped onto its back.
"Three years. Three years ago, when I first came to Yunlu Mountain, the first important place I arrived at was the Dragon Gate Hall. It was there that I was identified as having a White Spirit Bone and was not allowed to become a disciple on the mountain."
Looking at the golden sea of clouds in the sunlight, Xu Taiping suddenly felt a surge of emotion.
"This time, I will fight for the qualification to ascend the mountain myself."
He clenched his fist and muttered to himself.
Seventh Peak of Qingxuan Sect.
This pavilion, located on a floating mountain on the western side of the Seventh Peak, was the cultivation ground of Zhao Linglong’s second senior brother, Dugu Qingxiao. Compared to the simple environment of the outer disciples, this place was like a fairyland.
"Second Senior Brother, why is there still nothing in this mountain patrol mirror? The competition between Little Taiping and the others is about to start."
In the bamboo grove of the back garden, Zhao Linglong, wearing a new emerald robe, held a bronze mirror and complained, her frowning face reflected in the mirror.
"Didn’t I tell you to wait for me to come?"
Dugu Qingxiao walked in from the courtyard gate at this moment.
Behind him followed a graceful woman and a beautiful young girl.
"Sister Ziyang, Sister Buyu!"
Seeing the woman and the girl, the previously bored Zhao Linglong immediately perked up, putting down the bronze mirror and flying over to them on her celestial silk.
"Sister Linglong, it’s been a year since we last met. How have you been?"
Ziyang smiled at Zhao Linglong.
"How have I been? After we parted last year, I was first confined in the Nourishing Heart Pavilion for half a year, and then I was under house arrest for another half a year. In the blink of an eye, a whole year has passed."
Zhao Linglong held Ziyang’s hand and sighed as she walked.
"Is losing a Fire Spirit Sparrow considered a small matter?"
Dugu Qingxiao glared at Zhao Linglong.
"Sister Ziyang, you should manage my second senior brother. He always scolds me for no reason."
Zhao Linglong shook Ziyang’s arm.
"The matter has already passed, and Sister Linglong has learned her lesson. You shouldn’t keep scolding her."
Ziyang turned to Dugu Qingxiao with a gentle smile that could melt anyone’s heart.
Dugu Qingxiao was momentarily stunned, then turned his head away.
Seeing this, Ziyang’s lips curled up, revealing a smile of satisfaction.
"I feel like Sister Buyu and I are just getting in the way here."
Zhao Linglong let go of Ziyang’s hand and went to hold Lin Buyu’s hand.
Dugu Qingxiao glared at Zhao Linglong, while Ziyang covered her mouth and giggled, then changed the subject, looking at the silent Lin Buyu.
"By the way, Buyu, do you remember Xu Taiping, who entered the mountain with you?"