188 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 858: Awareness Xu Youqing was well aware of how people reacted when Xiang Shi Yan first went missing. If she weren't somewhat certain in her heart, she never would've brought up the matter in front of He He and the others. Huai Ye and Zhu Yu took a moment to realize who she meant by "Uncle Xiang." The smile on He He's face turned subtly ambiguous, and he glanced over at the two beside him. He He wouldn't reveal the full truth about Xiang Shi Yan's escape from his control, and the severance from their original world. In his recounting, he had made some small adjustments. Curiously, while Zhu Yun had little reaction to Xiang Shi Yan breaking her promise and leaving them, Zhu Yu, who had always been deeply devoted to her, had a complete change of heart, forbidding anyone in the residence from mentioning Xiang Shi Yan's name. Yet, when unexpectedly hearing news related to her, it was still Zhu Yu who instinctively and anxiously inquired further. She stepped forward and gripped Xu Youqing's shoulders, her voice trembling, "Where did you see her..." No sooner had she spoken than she noticed Xu Youqing wincing in pain from her grip. Reluctantly, she released her with a confused expression, casting a pleading glance at He He, seemingly searching for answers. He He, with interest, turned to the silent Huai Ye, the child who spent the longest time with Xiang Shi Yan, the most loyal companion, yet her expression remained indifferent. Even though she often pondered alone and occasionally mentioned Xiang Shi Yan, she remained particularly stoic now. Huai Ye's gaze was deep and unwavering, "You must have mistaken her for someone else. Since she has vanished for so long, she wouldn't reappear now. There's only half an hour left until the Heavenly Mandate's edict is revealed. We should head to the main hall." After she finished speaking, she turned and walked away, not waiting for her junior sisters to respond. Huai Ye's words acted like a cold splash of water, calming Zhu Yu. She pressed her lips together, "Perhaps... you're right." Xu Youqing opened her mouth, suddenly feeling guilty, as if she had done something wrong. The woman she saw earlier bore a striking resemblance to Yuehua Jun, but even Huai Ye dodged the topic. He He, now in charge of Black Bamboo Peak, seemed intent on avoiding any mention of their master. Xu Youqing realized this news brought little joy to the others. Her mind drifted back to earlier events. Xu Youqing, guiding the blind elder, followed her directions to her room. Tianji Gate rarely hosted visitors. Xu Youqing had been to Qingyuan City before but had never visited the core of Tianji Gate, much less ventured into the area forbidden to outsiders. Sensing the curiosity of the woman beside her, Fu Zhi discreetly pulled her hand away, as if she were reluctant to make contact. The woman's pathetic innocence, coupled with her soft voice, made Xu Youqing frown, particularly at the substance of her words. "This is as far as I'll take you. Thank you, little friend." This wasn't Xu Youqing's first encounter with this elder of the Tianji Gate; they had briefly met before. Back then, she had seen the blind woman struggling alone down the long steps of Fuliu Peak. Half out of pity, half out of concern that a mishap might reflect poorly on Yucang Mountain, Xu Youqing had offered her assistance. Unexpectedly, her goodwill was met with indifference, and since then, Xu Youqing remembered the woman for her cold demeanor. Elder Fu was known for looking down on others, showing deference to Huai Ye and the others by addressing them with titles like "master," "elder," or "chief." Xu Youqing, however, was merely "little friend" in her eyes. She doubted that the most outstanding disciple of Tianji would have any special interest in befriending her, thinking it was merely because she was the young mistress of the Xu family, without any notable qualities of her own. Growing increasingly irritated, Xu Youqing firmly intertwined her arm with the younger woman's. "Elder, what kind of talk is this? I have to see things through, or my senior sisters will have something to say about it." Besides, having come this far, she was determined to see the place for herself today. Pleased to see the blind woman flinch slightly at her contact, Xu Youqing only held her tighter. Though Fu Zhi's cultivation was much higher, Xu Youqing's physical strength was greater, leaving Fu Zhi unable to break free. "Alright then..." Though soft-spoken and frail-looking, Xu Youqing wondered if the Tianji Gate was starving its members. Tilting her chin, she measured the other's height. Contrary to expectations, the woman, despite her blindness, had an acute awareness. She acutely perceived Xu Youqing's subtle movements. Fu Zhi tilted her head slightly and looked in her direction, sighing, "You've already grown taller than me." Her expression held a strange kind of gratification, and her gentle smile made Xu Youqing feel as though she'd just been affectionately patted on the head by something soft and fluffy. It reminded her of when, as a child, a certain someone, taller than her by only two years of age, liked to embrace her warmly, arms gentle like being wrapped in a cloud of cotton, providing an extreme sense of warmth and security. She hadn't liked it then. At those times, the slightly older girl would always gently pat her head and say, "Soon, you'll outgrow me." Now, lying six feet beneath the earth, Qian Dani was forever at rest. Xu Youqing had looked down at Qian Dani for the first time, studying the inscription on her gravestone. It had been ages since Xu Youqing had reminisced about Qian Dani. Just when she thought the shadow of her childhood friend had completely faded away, those long-forgotten memories resurfaced unbidden. She turned away. "You've never met me before, so what makes you say that?" Fu Zhi faltered suspiciously. Xu Youqing was simply trying to keep her at arm's length, but the elder seemed desperate to explain, which only made her seem more suspicious. After a moment, the robed woman seemed to recall a previous encounter and sighed with relief, "I once visited Yucang Mountain when you were young. Do you remember?" Of course, she remembered, but the woman's demeanor always left Xu Youqing feeling there was more to her story. "Does Elder Fu possess such a good memory?" "How have you been, Xu Youqing?" "And what do you mean by that?" Xu Youqing slowly released her hold on the woman. A story sprung to mind, one she had never paid much attention to until now—realizing she was now inadvertently walking alongside the girl from the story, the one from Taocheng as narrated in Qian Dani's final account. A faint connection indeed... Fu Zhi hesitated briefly, then quietly inquired, "I heard your father is contemplating an engagement for you?" Caught in her reminiscence, Xu Youqing responded without thinking, "Hmm, although the betrothal isn't formalized yet, my father has discussed it with the other family." Silence ensued. When Xu Youqing looked back at her, she noticed Fu Zhi staring vacantly ahead, as if lost in thought, with a trace of melancholy. The green-clad woman murmured, "I thought he regarded you as his successor..." Before she could finish, Xu Youqing roughly shoved her away. In the ensuing tense silence, Xu Youqing's cold voice cut through, "Our family matters are none of your concern." Fu Zhi found herself at a loss for words. In the vast emptiness surrounding her, she suddenly felt as though an immeasurable distance lay between herself and Xu Youqing. The girl's gaze was as piercing as pins against her skin, audible in her breath, yet unnervingly elusive in pinpointing her exact location in the darkness. "I meant no offense," Fu Zhi murmured, "I had a brief conversation with Elder He, and she mentioned it. Out of curiosity, I wondered how the Xu family would handle the marriage of their only daughter and spoke out of turn. I apologize." The blind woman's faltering demeanor softened Xu Youqing's expression. From afar, the woman's features were quite striking; Xu Youqing mused that she exuded a poetic grace akin to a lotus flower. Yet strangely, when alone with her, she always appeared rather pitiable. Xu Youqing snorted, irritated, "If it's just idle gossip among friends, then there's no need to be so formal, Elder. Save your pitiable act for men—I won't pity you." Stung by her acerbic tone, Fu Zhi forced a smile, "I regard He He as a friend, and naturally, I see you as one too. I hope, as you seem to wish, you find a husband who can explore the world with you." Her words seemed genuine enough, but Xu Youqing couldn't shake the feeling that she was being mocked. Born as the daughter of an influential family, Xu Youqing's life was both fortunate and cursed. She had long accepted her destiny; as the sole daughter and heir of the Xu family, her arranged marriage was an inevitable part of her life. To someone unburdened by such a destiny, every word sounded sarcastic. Xu Youqing's face darkened, remembering her recent introduction, arranged by her father, to the man intended to become her husband. The memory of his eager, social-climbing demeanor made her feel ill. Though his lineage was of little importance, given the strategic advantages of controlling him, as long as his talents were adequate and wouldn't hinder the next generation... Xu Youqing lifted her chin. "I shouldn't intrude any further. I've brought you this far." The blind woman seemed oblivious to her misstep. As Xu Youqing's agitated footsteps echoed in the distance, Fu Zhi's expression grew forlorn, staring vacantly into the direction the girl had gone. Xu Youqing irritably kicked a small pebble off the path. Why did even the people from Tianji Gate feel the need to meddle in her affairs? That woman, too, always spoke such strange things. What did "travelling the world together" even mean... What exactly had He He told her? There was something oddly familiar about Fu Zhi's peculiar descriptions. It stirred old memories, prompting Xu Youqing to pause in place. In that fleeting moment, she instinctively felt as though she had missed something significant. Bewildered, she turned back in the direction from which she had come, carefully digesting Fu Zhi's seemingly frail words. Her mother, who had passed away when Xu Youqing was very young, had loved the mountains and rivers and had only wished to see the entirety of Shenzhou. In her youth, Xu Youqing, too, had nurtured the idea of traveling far and wide. But that was simply a naïve wish of a young girl, likely never to be realized. Though she had yet to formally take the reins from her father, Xu Youqing bore a burden no lighter than Zhu Yun and Zhu Yu. There was scarcely any time to wander aimlessly, much less find a like-minded husband to accompany her. Xu Youqing shook her head with a bitter smile. These musings, along with her mother's early death, she had only ever shared with one person... During the chaos in Qingyuan City, hiding in the back kitchen with Qian Dani, they had conversed casually. Xu Youqing remembered confiding in Qian Dani about the tragic accident that had claimed both her mother and herself. Yet, Qian Dani had countered with a story unrelated to Xu Youqing—a tale of a girl born with the divine sight, destined to know fates through faces, her connection to Tianji Gate, and how her life had unravelled into disaster. Her feet inadvertently turned direction, heading back. Xu Youqing was unsure what suspicions she harbored; she hesitated, moving back toward where she had parted from Fu Zhi, hoping to gain clarity. As she reached the spot where they had separated, she saw the woman from afar. In truth, Xu Youqing was not well-acquainted with Xiang Shi Yan. However, this uncle possessed an unforgettable aura. Even after all these years, Xu Youqing recognized her at a glance. She hesitated, doubting her eyes. Upon closer inspection, the woman conversing with Fu Zhi bore a striking resemblance in facial features to the Xiang Shi Yan stored in her memory, deepening her confusion. Fu Zhi exhibited no surprise or excitement, as though speaking with a familiar friend, further causing Xu Youqing to doubt her eyesight. "Youqing, what's wrong? You look pale." He He reached out, touching her shoulder with his dark, concerned eyes watching her. Xu Youqing snapped back to reality; she'd been pondering the woman who resembled Xiang Shi Yan so closely. Perhaps she indeed saw wrong. Surely, that couldn't have been Uncle Xiang? Fu Zhi had known He He for many years, and if she knew of Xiang Shi Yan's whereabouts, why would she conceal it? "I was just thinking about something..." Xu Youqing murmured dazedly, "Elder Fu is from Daohai City, isn't she? Come to think of it, she and Dani are fellow townsfolk. Do you think… they might know each other?" If so, it wouldn't be that strange if Dani had mentioned her friends at Yucang Mountain to a fellow from her hometown while pursuing the path of discipleship. He He smiled knowingly, "To my knowledge, they aren't connected. Why are you suddenly thinking of Dani? Feeling down lately?" "No, I just… Have you ever talked about me to Elder Fu?" Xu Youqing asked, furrowing her brow. Fu Zhi's comment had triggered her curiosity, although she wasn't entirely sure what she was trying to uncover. With a confident gaze, He He assured her, "I wouldn't casually discuss your affairs with others." "Alright." Xu Youqing turned away, "There are a few things I want to ask. You all head to the main hall first." With that, she slipped away like a breeze, heading in the same direction she had seen Fu Zhi leave earlier. Zhu Yu frowned, glancing at the amused look on He He's face, "Do you know something?" "In what aspect?" He He's enigmatic smile lingered. Zhu Yu was accustomed to her mysterious demeanor and sighed in exasperation, speaking half to herself, half hopefully, "So Xu Youqing was mistaken, just as Sister Huai Ye said. Given that she's been missing for so long, there's no way she would..." "She's here." Zhu Yu turned in surprise. Heilong wore a relaxed expression, his eyes gleaming mischievously. He repeated, "Xu Youqing wasn't mistaken. Xiang Shi Yan is indeed at Tianji Gate."