Chapter 19 Departure Part 1

"With your back toward me..." Su Wan mused, yet remained silent.

Nuyue, however, took out a small green porcelain bottle from her sleeve and tossed it to Lin Xin.

"This is a Dusting Pill, able to remove the residual dirty blood and toxins in your body. One pill a day, for seven consecutive days."

Lin Xin hurriedly caught it.

"Thank you, Fairy, for your help." He sighed with relief. Had the two Immortal Masters not noticed the problem, he could only guess what dangers the dirty blood in his body would have caused.

"No need for thanks," Nuyue said indifferently. She no longer mentioned anything about Sect entry.

Lin Xin's heart panicked, and he hesitated as if wanting to speak, but then he saw Naoyue walk aside and start whispering with Su Wan, disregarding him.

He fell silent for a moment, then stood up, patted the dust off his body, feeling somewhat disheartened.

"Big brother..." An Ying walked up to him, gently taking his hand and looking at him worriedly.

"It's nothing..." Lin Xin glanced at Lin Zhiwen, the old landlord, who also seemed a bit sighing.

Fortunately, it was good that An Ying could enter the Sect, owing to the Lin Family's influence, which surely would provide extra care for the Lin Family in the future. The Outer Sect of the Plum Blossom Sect, which governed the local area, would also ensure some safety for the Lin Family.

With this in mind, Lin Xin, who had originally been worried about retaliation from the Qingluo Sect, felt somewhat relieved.

"Daoist friends of the Wind-Riding Sword Sect, won't you show yourselves?" Suddenly, Su Wan chuckled lightly.

No sooner had her voice fallen than two figures somersaulted over from beyond the distant wall.

The two lightly landed in the middle of the courtyard, steadying themselves. They were both middle-aged Taoists draped in Taoist robes— one in light yellow, the other in moon-white.

"Uncle-Master Bo Yunzi?" To both Lin Xin's and An Ying's surprise, the middle-aged Taoist in the light yellow robe was none other than Bo Yunzi, who had long been absent from the Daoist academy.

Bo Yunzi smiled at Lin Xin and An Ying but did not speak. Instead, the Taoist in the moon-white robe next to him spoke up.

"Greetings to the two fairies, I am Ji Lu from the Wind-Riding Sword Sect." This Taoist had a calm demeanor, his facial complexion was waxy yellow, and all his movements exuded an unhurried quality. It was then that everyone noticed the green longsword on his back, its sword tassel, pitch black, hanging over his shoulder.

"Ji Lu? Never heard of him. Are you also here for the Spring Spirit?" Nuyue asked, her tone cold.

"Spring Spirit?" Ji Lu seemed slightly startled, then glanced around the chaotic state of the Lin Family estate and shook his head. "No, we have come to retrieve a recommended candidate for Sect initiation."

At this moment, Bo Yunzi gave Lin Xin and An Ying a meaningful glance.

The two hurriedly stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Uncle-Master," they called in unison.

"This is Master Ji," Bo Yunzi introduced.

"Junior Lin Xin (An Ying) greets Master Ji," the two said promptly, bowing deeply.

"An Ying has already been initiated into our Plum Blossom Sect after performing the nine-bow ceremony," Fairy Nuyue interjected coldly. "I'm afraid she can't go back to the Wind-Riding Sword Sect with you."

Bo Yunzi was stunned, his gaze shifting to An Ying.

She, her face flushed, dared not lie and could only nod honestly.

"This... this can't be..." Originally, Bo Yunzi's main purpose for returning was due to An Ying's potential, unexpectedly someone from the Plum Blossom Sect had already taken the initiative. He was suddenly taken aback.

Ji Lu was also somewhat taken aback. He hadn't expected that the Plum Blossom Sect would abduct the disciple they had already planned for so swiftly. Wanting to argue, he found himself at a loss for words.

Su Wan started to laugh.

"No wonder you all practice the 'Return to Origin' technique; it turns out you belong to the Wind-Riding Sword Sect's Outer Sect."

"Fairy..." Ji Lu opened his mouth, unsure of how to respond.

It was clear the guy was honest, and Su Wan and Nuyue did not pursue the matter further.

"Alright, since we've given you one disciple, but An Ying has already performed the rites and cannot be easily replaced, don't you agree? Besides, don't you have another?" Nuyue said calmly.

"The Fairy is right..." Ji Lu clearly felt outclassed by the two, speaking with a deferential tone.

"Another one?" Bo Yunzi turned his gaze toward Lin Xin, sizing him up carefully. After looking around and confirming no other outsiders were nearby, he asked,

"You have cultivated Inner Qi?" he asked in astonishment.

Lin Xin quickly nodded.

Bo Yunzi was again astonished and was about to inquire further, but another voice interrupted from the side.

"Let's settle it this way then!" Su Wan decided definitively, "Lin... Xin, that's your name, right?"

"Yes," Lin Xin quickly replied.

"Can you take me to the place where you encountered that woman?"

"Of course, no problem! However, I was running around in a panic at the time and didn't notice the exact location. Not sure if I can still find the way," Lin Xin hesitated.

"No worries," a hint of green flashed in Su Wan's eyes.

*******************

In the dense forest

It was still that sinister and gloomy woodland.

A group of figures in black outfits broke the quiet atmosphere here, consisting of both men and women. Leading the group was a young, petite, and cute girl with her long hair braided into many braids, wearing a tight corset black dress, her tiny feet wrapped in something resembling black stockings.

In the entire dark forest, the only light came from a hexagonal green ornament on her braids, emitting a faint green glow. That was the only light.

The green light from the hair ornaments cast a ghastly green on the faces of several people around.

Dressed in black, Lin Xin walked in the middle of the team, with Bo Yunzi and Ji Lu just ahead of him, while on the other side, Nuyue Fairy Zhao Si'er, accompanied by An Ying, also clad in black, followed within the team.

Accompanied by Su Wan and several masters from the Wind-Riding Sect, Lin Xin first visited the place where he had previously tied up the Long-Eared Tiger. As expected, the tiger had been devoured, leaving only a tiger skin and remains, surrounded by wolf tracks.

Then, using that spot as a reference, he led the way into the deep, dark forest in the direction he had run before. It didn't take long before Lin Xin and the others reached the previously eerie and dim forest.

However, as expected, there was nothing there; the mysterious woman had left no trace. Su Wan, however, was not surprised and began leading everyone to inspect the area.

At this thought, Lin Xin couldn't help but recall the foul blood he had coughed up before, and a sense of anxiety rose in his heart again.

"The source of the leak is indeed nearby," Su Wan whispered, then looked back at Lin Xin. "Do you have any more medicine to replenish?"

Lin Xin quickly shook his head.

"Then, Ji Daoist, you may take your leave with your people. We here at the Wind-Riding Sect will handle this," Su Wan said calmly.

"Sister Su Wan, are you sure?" Nuyue frowned slightly.

"We have some clues, but not much confidence," Su Wan shook her head.

Meanwhile, Ji Lu and the others were only too eager to leave; they weren't there on a mission to investigate.

Stepping forward, Ji Lu clasped his hands towards the two.

"Then, we will take our leave now."

Bo Yunzi tugged on Lin Xin, and the three of them left the group, heading back the way they had come.

"Aren't you joining us, Nuyue Fairy?" Su Wan looked at Nuyue and An Ying.

"Sister, you might need help alone. It's better I stay. We of the Four Sects share a bond, and I can at least offer my assistance," Nuyue evidently had made up his mind.

An Ying glanced over at Lin Xin, who also happened to look her way. Both knew that after this separation, it would probably be a long time before they saw each other again.

"The Sword Sect of Red Pine Mountain is also one of our Four Sects. Don't worry, you'll have a chance to meet again. It's also easy to communicate by letter in the meantime," Nuyue apparently noticed the two's relation and said impatiently.

An Ying blushed and lowered her head.

Lin Xin sighed deeply and obediently followed Ji Lu and Bo Yunzi down the path they had come.

Gradually, the figures of Nuyue, Su Wan, and the others were obscured by the darkness of the forest until they were completely out of sight, and Lin Xi withdrew his gaze.

An Ying was the first person who truly cared about him since he arrived in this world, and also the first who was genuinely kind to him.

"Master Uncle, about the dojo..." Lin Xin recalled Lu Yun and Lu Yu, the siblings still at the dojo, and couldn't help but speak up.

Bo Yunzi was in a foul mood and glanced back at him irritably. "Those two have no inner qi; they can only stay in the outer sect. Don't worry, I've made arrangements!"

"Brother, take it easy," Ji Lu interjected.

Bo Yunzi then quickly bowed his head in respect.

The three descended the slightly damp grassy slope, surrounded by lush pine trees and weeds—a stretch of green with only a narrow, winding path down the mountain.

The whole way, the three were as silent as clams. Ji Lu was naturally reserved and honest, usually responding only when Bo Yunzi spoke.

Walking together, Lin Xin also felt oppressed. He had many questions for the two, but given their gloomy moods, he refrained from asking, fearing he might offend them.

About half an hour later, the trio finally reached the foot of the mountain. A black carriage awaited on the road, with the Lin Family and city guards' skilled personnel standing by. Upon seeing the three descend, they quickly put on smiling faces.

"We'll drive the carriage ourselves; you can leave. Also, prepare a carriage for Fairy Su Wan and her group in the mountains," Bo Yunzi hurriedly instructed.

"Understood," Lin Hao of the Lin Family, who was in charge of the carriage, quickly agreed.

"Aren't we going back for a bit, Master Uncle?" Lin Xin asked softly, "We haven't prepared any dry food or anything."

"No need, you'll have plenty of time to come back if you want to. We're heading straight back to the Sword Sect," Bo Yunzi shook his head.

Ji Lu also got into the carriage.

Lin Xin wanted to go back and bid farewell to Lin Zhiwen and the others. He just opened his mouth to speak.

Boom!!

Suddenly, a loud explosion erupted from Red Pine Mountain behind them.

The two hurriedly looked back, while Ji Lu, who had just boarded the carriage, swiftly pulled back the curtain to look towards the depths of Red Pine Mountain.

On the dusky hillside, a fire could be seen far away, shooting into the sky like a water droplet, with an eerie green tint, yet not spreading to its surroundings.

"It's Wind-Riding Sect's Green Wind Thunder!" Ji Lu spoke in a low tone.

"Brother?" Bo Yunzi looked at Ji Lu.

"Don't bother with it; it seems the Fairy and her team have run into trouble. But we are too weak to be of any help; we might just end up being a burden. We should hurry back and report to the sect—that's the sensible thing to do!" Ji Lu was clearheaded in critical moments.

"Understood!"

The three boarded the carriage, led by the Lin Family, and quickly left the base of Red Pine Mountain, heading straight for the main road outside the city.

Lin Xin sat in the carriage, drawing aside the side curtain to look out. A small river flowed outside, with lush green grass along its banks, occasionally passing mounted couriers in a blur of speed.

Strangely, not a single bird appeared around the river or greenery, and no fish could be seen in the water either.

Soon, after about ten minutes, the carriage reached a fork in the road; ahead was a branch turning right towards Red Pine City, while going straight led away from the region.