Mount Li

Mount Li is a mountain that holds an important place in Chinese history. Countless stories have taken place here, whether in the Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang, or later dynasties.

In the era of myth and legend, the sage Nuwa used colored stones to patch the sky here.

King You of Zhou lit beacon fires repeatedly to amuse Lady Bao Si.

Qin Shi Huang left behind the world-famous army of terracotta warriors here.

In the prosperous Tang Dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Yuhuan played out a timeless romance here...

In addition to these well-known people and events, countless other magical legends have circulated. Whether these legends are true or false can no longer be verified, but one thing is certain: it is a mountain that has witnessed the rise and fall of several dynasties and a nation, and it holds unique significance for the Chinese people.

Now, Chu Lian and her companions stood at the foot of this mountain. She knew that not far from here lay the army of terracotta warriors and the tomb of the greatest emperor. A strange feeling rose in her heart; she felt a sense of familiarity with this place, but she didn't know where this feeling came from or where it would lead.

"Sister, are we not going with them?" Unfortunately, as she tried to ponder this further, Chu Chu's bouncing figure jumped from behind, clinging to her and asking.

"No need. After all they went through yesterday, it's good for them to relax. We'll just explore on our own and remember what time to meet up." Chu Lian shook her head, gently prying Chu Chu's hands off and stepping back a few paces, preventing her from clinging again.

Seeing her sister evade her once more, Chu Chu grumbled discontentedly, "Alright, I get it..." She glanced around and saw Inori standing quietly beside Chu Lian without any movement, and Chu Lian seemed to enjoy that. "It's okay to be a little closer..." Well, she still didn't understand why Chu Lian always avoided her.

Of course, Chu Chu's actions wouldn't mean much among girls, but only when they were privately among friends. In front of so many people, the shy Chu Lian couldn't be as relaxed with such clinginess. Meanwhile, Inori's quiet nature made just standing there feel so much more likable.

Ignoring Chu Chu's antics, Chu Lian looked into the distance for a while and then said, "Xiuer is back. Let's climb the mountain soon." Hearing that Li Xiuer had returned, Chu Chu's eyes lit up, "Did cousin Xiuer bring back food?"

"No, we just ate. Why would she buy more? She just went to get some things, don't overthink it." Chu Lian flicked her finger on Chu Chu's forehead and said softly.

As they spoke, Li Xiuer appeared beside them, slightly out of breath, "Chu Lian, I'm back." She seemed to have something in her hand, but Chu Chu couldn't see it clearly.

Gently rubbing her small hand, Chu Lian said warmly, "Thank you, Xiuer. We're not too familiar with this place, so we can only rely on you who have been here before." Enjoying Chu Lian's gentle touch, Li Xiuer squinted happily and murmured in response, "It's not too much trouble. I just don't like crowded places."

Indeed, even outside the tourist season, there were quite a few people here. However, in this world, Chinese people have a strong love for reading, which has resulted in a much higher level of civility than those in past China, with littering and poor manners being rare. Therefore, even if it was a bit crowded, it didn't feel chaotic. But for those who liked quiet places, like Chu Lian, Inori, and Li Xiuer, it wasn't ideal. As for Chu Chu, it wasn't that she couldn't handle it, but trouble was bound to follow if she went.

Nodding, Chu Lian discreetly transferred a bit of spiritual energy to Li Xiuer, warming her slightly tired body, and her fatigue soon dissipated. Li Xiuer looked at Chu Lian with a complicated expression, opened her mouth but said nothing, just silently enjoying this rare warmth.

Fortunately, they were in a relatively secluded area where few people ventured, so no one realized that two of the girls here were actually the "Ruins Singers" who had become hugely popular over the past two days. Otherwise, their presence alone could have caused chaos.

"Let's head up. It's 11:30 now. The teacher said to meet at the top by 1:00. Climbing over a thousand meters in an hour and a half shouldn't be too hard, right?" Chu Lian released Li Xiuer's hand, stretched, and said.

"Lian, are we taking this path?" Inori's voice was soft, as if not wanting to disturb anyone.

"Yes, let's take this less crowded route. We'll emerge when we reach the main attractions. Remember to wear sun hats and masks to avoid being recognized. I'll just use an umbrella." Chu Lian said, taking out a white oil-paper umbrella, and after opening it, she spun around, the skirt of her white hanfu fluttering.

Today, she wore a pure white cross-collar ruqun, white canvas shoes, and her long hair flowing behind her, holding an oil-paper umbrella, resembling a beauty from ancient times. At least this attire was more suitable than yesterday's gothic dress, as Chu Chu's gaze made it clear she wanted to stick to her.

Though she claimed an umbrella was enough, she wore a three-layer white gauze on her face, obscuring her features.

Inori wore a pink and white Western-style long dress, with a lace sun hat on her head, and the white veil at the back covering her pink hair. With a slight tilt of her hat, it could hide her eyes. This way, unless closely observed, her face was unrecognizable.

Chu Chu still donned her gothic attire but swapped for a long dress that wasn't off-shoulder, with long white sleeves covering her arms and a purple hairpin adorning her head, letting her long hair flow freely. Though this attire seemed overly warm for the weather, it posed no problem for people like them with unique physical attributes.

Essentially, neither Chu Lian, Inori, nor Chu Chu liked exposing their bodies to others. Even when wearing short skirts, they would pair them with stockings or cotton socks to cover their legs. Showing bare arms was already at their limit. Thus, given the choice, they would always wear long garments when out.

However, while they could dress this way, Li Xiuer, whose physique was still that of an ordinary person, couldn't. If she dared dress like Chu Lian and the others, she'd be guaranteed to suffer heatstroke within minutes. Thus, she wore cooler clothing, shorts paired with sneakers, a white blouse, and her hair tied in a high ponytail. Her appearance exuded a youthful vigor.

Chu Chu and Inori were surprised by the shy Li Xiuer's attire, while Chu Lian, aware of her true nature, understood that if outsiders weren't present, Xiuer would likely dress even more daringly.

Unable to stay still, Chu Chu, carrying a sleeping Tina in her arms, was the first to run ahead, followed by the quiet Inori, with Chu Lian and Li Xiuer bringing up the rear.

Once the others had moved on, Li Xiuer extended her hand, letting a small item fall into Chu Lian's palm. Chu Lian touched it, realizing what it was, and said, "So it's this, thank you, Xiuer."

"Just don't keep secrets from me in the future if you can help it." Li Xiuer didn't respond to her thanks directly, instead making a seemingly unrelated comment.

Chu Lian's body shuddered, thoughts racing through her mind before ending with a bitter smile. "As long as I can tell you, I will."

"As long as you can…"

"As long as I can…"

"Then I'll take that as a promise." Li Xiuer gave a sweet smile, then dashed off, apparently pleased.

"Looks like I can't keep it hidden for long. As expected from someone with the Phantom Spirit Body…" Chu Lian muttered as she watched Li Xiuer's back, shaking her head with a smile, "But I never intended to hide it from her for long. It's time to help her awaken her unique abilities. Otherwise, being with us could become very dangerous…"

Despite her thoughts, Chu Lian didn't slow her pace. Her seemingly casual steps were quick, and she soon caught up with the others, standing beside Inori.

"Lian, have you settled everything?" Inori whispered in her ear as she arrived. Both she and Chu Chu knew there was something between Chu Lian and Li Xiuer that needed resolving, so they went ahead, giving them space to talk privately.

With Li Xiuer now smiling and Chu Lian joining them, it seemed things were resolved, though Inori still worried, prompting her question.

"It's done, Inori, don't worry. Xiuer has always been one of us, so there's no need to hide many things from her." Her words were meant not only for Inori but also for Chu Chu, who was eavesdropping ahead.

"I trust Lian, and I trust Xiuer," Inori nodded, maintaining her calm demeanor. It wasn't an act but a habit she had grown accustomed to. Ultimately, Chu Lian felt her efforts weren't enough to make smiling a habit for Inori.

Looking deeply into Inori's eyes, Chu Lian knew she was troubled. When she had gone to save her, Inori's shout of "Don't try to capture me; I'm not a substitute for anyone!" still echoed in her mind. However, neither had shared their feelings about that moment.

Inori didn't know how to express it, and Chu Lian didn't want to force her. She'd wait, knowing that someday Inori would willingly open up to her.

"So, how will I resolve my situation?" With her right hand holding the umbrella, she walked slowly along the mountain path, gently pressing her left hand against her chest, speaking softly.

"This calling has been present since we arrived in Chang'an, growing stronger here. Who is calling me? What connection do I have to this place? Why does it feel so familiar as if I belong here…" Without anyone to provide answers, Chu Lian knew she must find the source of this calling. She believed it awaited her on Mount Li.

"Can you hear my voice?" …