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Chapter 454: Seeking Seniors
Hui gazed at the sky for a bit, then shrugged to himself. I guess she has other things to do on the peak? But what? What could be more important than the exploding furnace?
That admittedly has been exploding for over a century, so I guess I get it.
But still, what could be more important than this? The barrier? She isnt examining it anymore, that I can see. What else?
Well, theres always one way to find out. Time to take a walk on Seniors peak with the excuse of finding Senior! Humming, he took off into the air, looking around as he flew. The peak laid in ruins below, but nothing in particular stood out to him. It doesnt even look worth looting I mean, carefully picking through for potential clues. Whatever happened when Senior evacuated her peak, they took everything with them.
He raised a hand to his chin as he flew along, thinking. Still, nothing came to mind. At last, he glanced directly up.
Its always good to get a lay of the land. From up there, I might see something I couldnt see down here.
Hui swooped up toward the peak. The air turned cold, except for where boiling-hot steam rushed off the top of the furnace. Hui frowned slightly. Come to think of it, wheres all the steam coming from? Ive cooked before. Theres only so long you can boil a pot before all the waters gone. Is that furnace boiling a stream, or something?
Ah, well. Cultivation mysteries and all. There could be a water spell, a water-elemental herb, a water treasure anything inside that pot!
Up high, he descended to hover slightly above the peak. Cold wind howled around him, whipping his robes and hair into a mess. He peered down, searching for the bright color of Zhang Minyans robes.
The oversized furnace stood out from above, flames roaring against the carved-out side of the peak. Steam rushed by, blown on the breeze. The ruins of the peaks buildings clustered mostly on the front side of the peak, rocks tumbling down from where theyd collapsed over the years. The back side stood empty, nothing but trees and wildlife. No people moved. No sign of Zhang Minyan anywhere, neither hide nor hair.
Are we playing hide and seek? Senior, you arent really ten, are you? Hui asked loudly.
Silence responded. Hui furrowed his brows. Senior didnt really leave me here alone on the peak after she went on about having to watch the furnace, did she?
Ah! Wait, hold on. I showed up, and she left. Did she did she ditch me to watch the furnace myself? Ive showed up, and shes running off to do all the things she couldnt, while Im left holding the furnace, all alone! Ive been fooled!
But I dont care if All-Heavens Inner Peaks get demolished. Her plan has backfired! Hui crossed his arms. Loudly, he cleared his throat. Senior, Im a busy cultivator. Ive got things to do! Im going to leave now!
The wind blew. A light spray of snowflakes curled on the breeze.
She still isnt coming out? Oh well, her loss. Hui turned to go.
Down below, the entire mountain shuddered. A light appeared at its tip for a moment, and then it went quiet again.
Hui blinked. What on earth? This isnt the furnace. This is something else.
His robes bulged at the chest, and then a feathery head burst free of his collar. Wriggling out, Chen Wuya spread his wings and flapped to Huis shoulder.
Hui blinked at him. Senior, I thought you were working with Ying Lin?
Do you think youre the only one with a clone art? Chen Wuya harrumphed, stomping on his shoulder.
Ah! My apologies, Senior. Naturally, Senior can do anything a pitiful cultivator like myself can, Hui said, nodding to himself.
I didnt go that far, Chen Wuya muttered. He adjusted his wings and glanced around. Wheres that Fen Long?
Eh? Hui asked.
I thought I sensed his energy, but I dont see him anywhere, Chen Wuya said. He hopped up onto Huis head to get a better vantage point and tilted his head, confused. Was I mistaken?
Eh, Senior, could it be? The mountain just glowed and shook, Hui said.
Chen Wuya blinked at Hui. Whats that got to do with Fen Long?
The mountain shook, and then you sensed Fen Long. Isnt it possible that Fen Long is, is, buried in this mountain? Hui asked.
Leaping into the air, Chen Wuya stomped down on Huis head. Dont go killing off Fen Long. Ill be the one to do that.
No, no, Senior, I meant not that hes dead and buried, but, but, I meant, maybe theres a hidden realm inside this mountain, Hui said. It would explain where Zhang Minyan went. And even it might explain why she allowed herself to be trapped here! Maybe it isnt an act. Maybe maybe the furnace is a direct threat to the Patriarch himself!
Hmph. Well, get to it, then! Chen Wuya replied haughtily, settling in on Huis head.
Hui paused. He looked up at Chen Wuya.
What? Chen Wuya asked, looking at him.
Senior far be it from this small cultivator to doubt Seniors wisdom or question Seniors motives, but
Out with it, Chen Wuya demanded, peeved.
Hui swallowed. He looked up at Chen Wuya nervously. You wont immediately attack Fen Long as soon as you see him, will you? 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
Chen Wuya stared at Hui. Hui looked back, cowering a little.
With a harrumph, Chen Wuya stomped on Huis head. How foolish do you think I am? No, Im not going to attack a sects patriarch in his sect.
Oh. Thank goodness, Hui sighed, relieved.
Not in my crow form, anyways. I dont have any power, Chen Wuya complained crossly. Now, if I had my usual power
Senior! Hui cried.
Hmph. If I had my power, I wouldnt have to attack. Fen Long would attack me first, Chen Wuya stated, settling down once more.
Huh? But he wont if Senior that is, if you lack your power? Hui asked, tilting his head.
Fluffing his feathers, Chen Wuya grumbled under his breath, He considers himself a gentleman.
Oh, thats right. You founded a demonic sect, and Fen Long founded a righteous sect, Hui said, slapping his fist into his hand. They ended up swapped, but Starbound Sect started as a demonic sect, and All-Heavens well, according to most people, its a righteous sect, but
Chen Wuya rolled his eyes. Founded a demonic sect, nothing. I founded a sect. Its other people who
Who called it demonic, yes, yes, I know, Hui said, nodding.
At least he can learn some things, even if hes useless at sword arts, Chen Wuya murmured to himself.
Ignoring Chen Wuya, Hui descended, gently touching down on the mountains peak. It glowed somewhere around here. At a guess, the glow is the entrance to the secret realm where Fen Long is sealed. But hmm. How to get in?
He knelt and touched the peak, sending a pulse of qi from his palm. Rock descended into the peak, all the way to the bedrock below. Huis brows furrowed. He isnt inside the peak? Then
Wait. Obviously, its a space laid over the peak. Like any hidden realm, it isnt physically where it should be well, I suppose hidden realms can be. But this one I bet its a separate space, with an opening somewhere up here.
Not in the peak, then, but over it. He stood and reached out to where hed seen the light, tentatively sending a pulse of qi into the air.
The mountain trembled again. A thin line appeared in the air where the glow had been. Huis eyes widened.
Hmm seems you were right, Chen Wuya murmured, peering at the light. Thats Fen Longs signature, for sure.
Hui grinned. The light of the gap reflected on his face, growing brighter as he fed qi into it. At last, lets go meet Senior Fen Long!
The light burst out suddenly, blindingly bright. Spatial energy wrapped around Hui. His body twisted. The spatial energy wrapped him into a noodle, and he whirled away, yanked into the hidden realm.
Zhang Minyan stepped out from behind a nearby tree and shook her head. Calling me a ten-year-old does he realize how many centuries this old woman has lived?
A moment later, she sighed. Sitting beside the peak, she put a hand on the stone and looked down, as though she could see into the space. Perhaps things can begin to move again, now, at long last. What do you think, old friend?
