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Chapter 397: My Surname is He, and I'm the Third in My Family
🕑 Added 2024-10-26 14:44:54 +0000 UTCWhile Jiang Sisi continued her meticulous healing of Yuan Jinsheng, she glanced over at Lin Xiao and Shen Yingzi, noticing how well they seemed to be getting along. She chose to remain low-key, quietly applying the Qinglian Sect's exclusive healing techniques to Yuan Jinsheng.
Meanwhile, Shen Yingzi excitedly introduced his music compositions to Lin Xiao. As he spoke, he started to feel a bit unsatisfied, gripping the bamboo flute in his hand, hesitant yet eager.
Noticing Shen Yingzi's eagerness, Lin Xiao smiled knowingly and asked, “Do you want to play it?”
Lin Xiao could easily recognize that look—he had experienced it many times himself. It was the desire to share one’s passion, tempered with hesitation. In the past, he had no one willing to listen, no one to share his excitement with.
A bit embarrassed, Shen Yingzi nodded, but his eyes sparkled with anticipation. “My father… he loves listening to me play the flute!”
Lin Xiao nodded in understanding. “Go ahead and play. Who knows, maybe your father will feel less pain after hearing your music.”
Encouraged, Shen Yingzi lifted the bamboo flute to his lips, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and began to play softly.
The soothing sound of the flute rose gently into the air, bringing a sense of life to the desolate area outside the Jishi Mine. The clear melody seemed to calm everyone. Those who had been meditating expressionlessly began to feel a faint sense of joy as they listened to the uplifting tune.
The mortal girls, still recovering from the shock and exhaustion, leaned against each other, slowly relaxing under the combined effects of the medicine and the music. Even Yuan Jinsheng, who had been grimacing in pain, found some relief, and the deep furrows in his brow started to ease.
After about two hours, Yuan Jinsheng’s breathing, which had been shallow and erratic, finally stabilized. Though he still required time to recover fully from his depleted spiritual energy and damaged golden core, his condition was no longer life-threatening. It would take careful nurturing in the future to fully heal.
The other cultivators had already finished meditating and recovering their spiritual energy. Except for the earlier battle with the Guoshi and the energy spent assisting the mortals, they had been well-protected by the Qingyu Lotus, and thus they hadn’t suffered much harm.
Shen Yingzi, exhausted from playing the flute, had long since fallen asleep beside his father, clutching his bamboo flute and softly snoring.
Feeling a bit bored without someone to talk to, Lin Xiao suddenly remembered Zhao Yunzong, the Zhao Kingdom’s ruler, whom he had left in the protective formation. Deciding it was time to check on him, Lin Xiao brought Zhao Yunzong out and laid him beside Jiang Sisi, asking her to take a look at him as well.
When Lin Xiao suddenly brought out Zhao Yunzong, the nearby Alliance Army cultivators were surprised.
“Why is Zhao Guozhu here?” one of them asked.
“Did he come to help Yuan Daoist rescue his son?” another guessed.
Lin Xiao recalled Zhao Yunzong mentioning he had sensed something important and, connecting the dots, surmised that the Zhao ruler had likely come for the Guoxi, the imperial seal of his kingdom. Though he didn’t fully understand the situation, he deduced that Zhao Yunzong must have followed the seal’s trail, encountering Yuan Jinsheng and Lin Xiao along the way. As for the former Zhao king’s failed attempt to manipulate the seal, it seemed that Zhao Yunzong had been critically injured by some form of backlash.
Since this matter involved the Guoxi, something that Zhao Yunzong hadn’t even disclosed to Yuan Jinsheng, Lin Xiao decided to keep things vague, explaining only, “After Yuan Daoist descended into the mine, Zhao Guozhu was suddenly gravely injured. I couldn’t tend to him at the time, so I placed him in the formation for safekeeping.”
The others didn’t press him for more details. After all, Zhao Yunzong wasn’t their ruler. They merely needed to treat him with courtesy for the sake of diplomacy and ensure his safe return.
Once Yuan Jinsheng and Zhao Yunzong were both stable, the group of cultivators prepared to take the nine mortal women back to their respective towns and villages. Boarding a flying artifact, they swiftly set out for the nearest city.
It was only when they took to the skies that the young women truly realized they were in the presence of the legendary immortals. Still, being surrounded by so many cultivators made them too nervous to fully express their excitement.
The most courageous of the girls, the one with a cheerful appearance, managed to muster the nerve to approach Lin Xiao, who seemed the most approachable and closest to their age. With awe and admiration in her eyes, she asked, “Excuse me, may I ask where you are from, Immortal?”
Lin Xiao, whose mind had just been focused on examining the Guoxi within his personal storage, snapped back to reality. He smiled politely at the bold young woman and replied, “I am Lin Xiao of the Lingxian Sect in Pusi Kingdom. May I ask your surname, Miss?”
His politeness, returning her question with his own, showed his respect for her. Though in this era, it wasn’t appropriate to ask a young woman’s given name, asking for her family name was perfectly acceptable.
Overjoyed at Lin Xiao’s response, the girl flashed a bright smile, revealing two small dimples. “My surname is He. I’m the third daughter in my family,” she answered cheerfully.
Lin Xiao smiled back and replied, “Miss He, the third daughter.”
She gave a respectful bow, though her movements were a mix of proper decorum and casual familiarity. “Immortal Lin, could I become an immortal like you one day?”
Seeing the hope and reverence in her eyes, Lin Xiao didn’t want to crush her dreams, but he also didn’t want to give false hope. After a moment’s thought, he quietly set up a soundproof barrier and softly replied, “I’m not sure about other sects, but Lingxian Sect will be recruiting new disciples in the coming years. If you’re interested, you could give it a try.”
Miss He was visibly delighted, but before she could get carried away, Lin Xiao quickly added, “However, you should think carefully. Just because you try doesn’t mean you will pass the selection.”
Undeterred, Miss He’s eyes shone with determination. “I will do my best! If I’m fortunate enough to join your sect, could I become your disciple?”
Lin Xiao smiled warmly at her enthusiasm, though inwardly he found the idea amusing. Before he could respond, the scene in her mind suddenly blurred.
Miss He opened her eyes and found herself staring at the familiar ceiling of her own room.
She blinked, momentarily disoriented, unable to tell if the memories that had just flooded her mind were real or merely a dream.
Her final memory was of the handsome young cultivator in luxurious robes smiling at her and saying, “We’ll see when the time comes.”
His voice had been clear and gentle.
Unable to contain her excitement, she grabbed her blanket and rolled back and forth across her bed, her heart pounding with joy.
"I’m going to Lingxian Sect! I’m going to become an immortal!"
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