On the other hand, Bai Qing was scampering towards the Yuanyun Earth Mountain. He felt like he heard a quick sword buzz pass through him. but he only treated it casually. He frowned at first but then hastened his steps even more. the sword buzz was naturally the speedy sword spirit that had carried Xiao Ming oblivious to everyone else.
ZZZZ!
A sharp buzz sounded in his ears again and it seemed like something was calling to him from the mountain. Locking in on the sound using his spiritual sense, he arrived at the scene. Within the scene was a barren land void of greenery and with chaotic qi within, it was practically brutal. He sucked in cold air as he felt chills down his spine as he observed his environment.
ZZZZ!
Just as he was about leaving, he heard the buzzing sound again and he frowned. Turning back, a golden glow passed through his eyes after few surveys of his environment. As he walked over, he noticed a slightly buzzing object on the ground. It was an arcane golden hairpin in the shape of a dragon. It had a unique feeling as it couldn't be detected by relying on spiritual sense alone. He had scanned the entire place but failed to notice the hairpin. The hairpin had a concealing effect of merging into the aura of one's environment and escaping the scan of powerful spiritual sense. If not for instinctual coincidence, even he would have been likely misled.
"This..... I thought Little Ming always had it on....Could it be?" Bai Qing questioned serially as he observed the hairpin solemnly. He stroked the silver striped golden dragon sculpted on the hairpin. A cold light flicked through his eyes. He'd be dumb if he didn't know that the hairpin was one of the few memories of Xiao Ming's absent father. Usually, for some reason, he had always rejected the thought of keeping this aside and was fond of wearing it without being learned about the background of the item. he gritted his teeth as he pondered the line of actions that must have led to this. The discovery of this had further proven that Xiao Ming was missing and that he was definitely involved in the chaotic event.
"Hmph! That silly Shen lass.... How much hate does she have to unleash this sort of decapitating pressure on Little Ming...ai! I can even sense the presence of a Demi Immortal, that bastard Xuan Li even colluded with this seductress to cause harm. Who knows, they might have gotten him killed and took advantage of the chaos to flee from sight. Grrh! These demons will pay!" Bai Qing growled furiously as he was for the first time infuriated by the strange turn of events. He was close to the truth but he had definitely disbelieved Xiao Ming to be the cause of the commotion. As he sighed and prepared to leave, he noticed Shen Fantian and a dragged Bai Yunxiao racing over from a certain distance.
"Huhn! They are actually here? Now that's good, I'll break the news to both of them and await their decisions on the matter" Bai Qing said solemnly as he flicked his robes and headed towards the incoming duo.
"Fantian! let me be! I need to show this plump chicken here who's the boss. He has angered me to my bones already. It will certainly be disastrous if I don't teach him a lesson once you let go of me. I might maintain calm soon after and let this kid off easily again. Hmph!" Bai Yunxiao said with a stern look as he 'struggled'.
"Yunxiao! you're such a psycho, I really wonder how I'd befriended you while being aware of it" Shen Fantian chuckled and gave Bai Yunxiao a begrudging look but smiled benevolently to Xiao Ming.
"That's because we are both psychos hmph!" Bai Qing retorted in an aggrieved tone. Shen Fantian furrowed his brows before realizing that any talk with Bai Yunxiao now could prove abortive.
"The brat can be handled later on, Let's deal with the issue presently first... Qing'er what's with the search" Shen Fantian calmed down and questioned Xiao Ming with a grave expression. His grand daughter had better prayed she hadn't caused a lot of trouble that could sever the relationship of both families and the love for themselves.
"Father! Uncle Tian, there is.....pfft" a mouthful blood was flung and Bai Qing disappeared. He only stopped his rolling in the air after he landed his back on one of the acute branches. After stabilizing himself, he threw up another blood, but his eyes contained a sly light as he chuckled to himself. He gazed at his father who had reared his head in satisfying laughter. Bai Qing laughed as well after all he understood his father's actions.
"Hmm! It's a great feeling to give this child what he deserved! Brother Tian it's still refreshing right." Bai Yunxiao's stubborn and trouble 'Buddha' image was gone; he asked the question with a smile.
"Ugh! Not again Father!.... En! Father, I found something very important, it might give us clues' Bai Qing sighed as he spoke the last words with a trace of hope. He immediately handed over the hairpin he discovered. Bai Yunxiao gazed at the mystical appearance of the hairpin, however he shrugged his shoulders and gave a I-don't-get-this look.
"It's just this... What? The aura... It's Little Ming's and this is definitely his valued hairpin. Could little Wu have gone too far?" Bai Yunxiao responded with a questioning frown.
"No it wouldn't be her. She might be proud but she has a healthy conscience and would not come to blows with a mortal. It's less likely for her to be the cause of the commotion. On the other hand, now we are closer, I can tell that this is a Divine retribution. A form of tribulation targeted at wills and this can happen to both mortals and immortals only varying in gravity. the possible cause should be Xiao Ming" Shen Fantian explained grimly and bit his lips while smiling bitterly. Because of his silly granddaughter, he would be seeking apology from a friend. What a joke!"
"Order the search of Little Ming right away!.... I want him found in the quickest way possible" Bai Yunxiao hollered furiously as he felt the world spinning in his head like he was about falling.