Landy's crying continued, and she didn't know how long it lasted. It was only when her throat became dry and her eyes swollen that she suddenly caught a whiff of a floral fragrance, a scent of wild lilies that she adored.
Slowly lifting her head from her knees, she saw a pair of slender hands holding a bouquet of brilliantly blooming wild lilies. Following the line of sight upwards, she locked eyes with a handsome face.
"Who are you, and how did you suddenly appear here?" Landy exclaimed as she sprang up from the bench, looking at the unfamiliar man before her.
"I've seen you, Miss. My name is Zong Zai Xing. I happened to be passing by, and upon seeing you alone and in tears, I couldn't bear it. I picked some wildflowers to give to you, hoping that when you see these flowers, you'll feel a bit happier."
Zong Zai Xing calmly explained to Landy. Although he had an attractive appearance and an outstanding demeanor, for some reason, Landy felt an aversion toward him from the moment she laid eyes on him.
"Thank you for the flowers, but you should keep them for yourself." Landy pushed away the bouquet that Zong Zai Xing offered. With light steps, she increased the distance between them.
Seeing that Landy refused to accept the flowers, Zong Zai Xing casually threw the bouquet far away.
"Why did you throw them away? What a waste."
Zong Zai Xing looked at Landy and said seriously, "These flowers were meant for you. Since you won't take them, I might as well discard them."
Zong Zai Xing's intense gaze made Landy extremely uncomfortable. She immediately turned around and distanced herself from him once again, saying, "The flowers are yours. Whether you throw them away or not is your business. I have nothing to do with it. You can enjoy them yourself. I'm leaving."
Landy couldn't understand why she felt so uncomfortable upon seeing Zong Zai Xing. Her only thought was to get away from him as quickly as possible. After saying that, she hastily left the pavilion.
As Zong Zai Xing watched Landy flee, he seemed as if he wanted to reach out and stop her. However, she was too quick, and by the time his hand was halfway up, Landy had already disappeared around the corner of the mountain path.
"Ah, I still wanted to ask if this is Tianjian Mountain," Zong Zai Xing mumbled, but Landy was long gone.
Outside the pavilion, Zong Zai Xing took out a map from his pocket and checked it. He found a marked location on the map that indicated the presence of a pavilion. He felt relieved.
"It seems this is indeed Tianjian Mountain. Quite hard to find, though."
Zong Zai Xing couldn't wait. With a quick motion of his hand against his waist belt, a jade flute suddenly appeared. If anyone were to witness this, they would surely be astonished, as the small sachet hanging from Zong Zai Xing's belt turned out to be a magical treasure bag. The Bag of Wonders could contain vast items within a tiny space, making it an essential tool for cultivators when traveling. However, very few people mastered the art of crafting such bags, making them extremely precious on the Lingwu Continent.
With the jade flute held upright against his chest, Zong Zai Xing began to play. The sound of the flute was clear and melodic, resonating far and wide. And this wasn't an ordinary flute – as soon as he started playing, a soft jade light emanated from the flute, exuding a faint aura.
The melody Zong Zai Xing played was certainly not ordinary. It was so challenging that even with his True Martial Seventh Layer cultivation, he felt it took all his energy. When he finished playing, he was already drenched in sweat.
"Phew, this melody truly consumes the spirit. Well, I'll just wait here. Hopefully, the person my mother spoke of will come find me after hearing my music."
Having finished his tune, Zong Zai Xing seemed genuinely fatigued. He leaned against the pavilion, closing his eyes to rest. With his True Martial Realm cultivation, he would surely sense any movement around him instantly.
Library.
Qu Buping was in the middle of arranging books on the shelf when his ears caught the strains of a strange yet familiar melody. His hand holding the book began to tremble, and the book fell to the ground as if he were in a daze.
As the melody came to an end, Qu Buping remained frozen in place, his tear-streaked face a testament to how moving the tune had been. After a while, Qu Buping finally stirred. With a sudden movement, he disappeared from the library and reappeared at the pavilion in an instant.
However, upon arriving at the pavilion, Qu Buping didn't see the person he had longed for over decades. Instead, he found Zong Zai Xing dozing off on the bench, tightly hugging the jade flute. Qu Buping let out a sigh, realizing that the person playing the flute wasn't the one he had been longing for all these years, but rather the young man currently sleeping.
In Zong Zai Xing's features, Qu Buping detected a trace of the person he held dear in his heart. His heart trembled as if he understood something and he slowly approached.
The distance between the library and the pavilion was several kilometers, but it took only the blink of an eye for Qu Buping to traverse it. However, the mere few steps from the pavilion's entrance to Zong Zai Xing's side took him a whole minute, each step painstakingly slow.
"So alike!"
Standing before Zong Zai Xing, Qu Buping gazed at his sleeping face and murmured to himself.
Zong Zai Xing was also a True Martial Realm cultivator, yet he only sensed the presence of another person in the pavilion when Qu Buping uttered a sound. He was astonished; when did this person appear? How had he not noticed at all? If the man hadn't spoken, Zong Zai Xing might not have even realized it. This person's cultivation was truly terrifying.
Startled awake, Zong Zai Xing immediately stood up from the bench, holding the jade flute cautiously as he regarded Qu Buping. "Senior, may I ask what brings you here?"
Seeing Zong Zai Xing's vigilant reaction, Qu Buping was taken aback. He inquired, "Aren't you a disciple of Tianjian Sect? How did you manage to come to Tianjian Mountain, and why are you here?"
"You're a member of Tianjian Mountain?" Zong Zai Xing was embarrassed upon hearing Qu Buping's question, realizing that the other person belonged to the sect he had intruded upon. He had entered the mountain without any announcement, and if the other party wished to take issue with him, he would indeed be in the wrong.
With utmost respect, Zong Zai Xing bowed to Qu Buping and then apologized, "Senior, you're perceptive. I'm not a member of Tianjian Sect, but I do have a certain connection with them. I assure you, I'm not here to cause trouble. It was a last resort to enter without proper notification."
Observing Qu Buping's expression carefully, Zong Zai Xing continued, "In fact, I've come to Tianjian Mountain to find someone."
"Are you looking for me?"