In the blink of an eye, seven years passed.
Not too long, yet not too short.
During these seven years, apart from occasionally visiting the seclusion of Xie Hanzhu, supervising Wen Miaomiao and the younger disciples' cultivation, and chatting idly with Zhan Xuehan, most of Su Luowei's time was spent in secluded cultivation.
Before being transported into this world, she had studied diligently and worked meticulously. After arriving in this world, she continued to cultivate earnestly, never once relaxing.
Su Luowei felt like a machine that couldn't stop running. If she stopped, the overwhelming loneliness would consume her.
She originally thought that this loneliness was because she had arrived in a foreign world, but upon reflection, it seemed her life had always been like this for the past twenty-odd years.
She seemed to have no other interests, spending her days locked in a room cultivating. Zhan Xuehan finally couldn't stand it and sent a disciple to drag her out.
Having not left the room for a long time, Su Luowei found herself somewhat unaccustomed to being outside.
The courtyard was still the same courtyard, and the peach blossoms were still the same peach blossoms.
But the person who used to stand under the peach blossom tree was gone.
Just like her letters.
When Meng Shuying had first left the mountain, she would frequently send letters to Yanmo Peak. The thick pages were filled with stories of her experiences in the mortal world, mixed with some amusing anecdotes.
At the end of each letter, she would always write:
"All is well, Senior Sister, do not worry."
She said not to worry, but Su Luowei would read those words over and over, feeling that they didn't truly convey what Meng Shuying meant.
She was saying one thing but meant another.
But knowing that Meng Shuying was safe and well through her letters was enough for Su Luowei.
Though, Su Luowei was also aware that Meng Shuying was someone who never reported her troubles.
So, how much truth was in those words "all is well"?
But as long as the letters kept coming, Su Luowei felt at ease.
Sometimes, the letters came with little trinkets: clay figurines common in the mortal world, small woven bamboo birds, and colorful seashells.
Su Luowei carefully stored the letters and trinkets in the cabinet by her bed.
Along with the unsent letters she had written to Meng Shuying.
She never managed to send a single one.
Meng Shuying was traveling in the mortal world, drifting from place to place with no fixed address, so there was no way to send the letters.
These letters came sporadically for almost three years.
Then, one day, they stopped coming.
But the soul lamp Meng Shuying had left in the Qingxu Sect was still lit.
Before a disciple descended the mountain to travel, they would light a soul lamp in the sect, letting the sect know of their condition.
If the soul lamp went out, it meant the person was no more.
Su Luowei had visited the place where the soul lamps were kept many times, and Meng Shuying's soul lamp had always been lit.
So she guessed that Meng Shuying had encountered something in the mortal world that delayed her and kept her from writing.
Later, she would wonder if perhaps Meng Shuying had met someone she liked more during her travels, someone who made her forget about her Senior Sister and stop writing letters.
Years passed, and Su Luowei buried those letters and thoughts in a chest, no longer thinking about them.
Su Luowei withdrew her gaze from the peach blossom tree and turned to look at the two people slowly walking along the path.
The Sect Leader had sent word earlier, asking Xie Hanzhu and Wen Miaomiao to come as well.
Two years ago, Xie Hanzhu had finally ended her seclusion.
After being cooped up for so long, Xie Hanzhu was nearly going crazy. As soon as she came out, she looked for Su Luowei, hoping to invite her to go down the mountain for a stroll, but Su Luowei refused, citing her cultivation as the reason.
She then went to find Wen Miaomiao, only to be shocked to discover that Wen Miaomiao had already formed her Golden Core a year before her.
Originally, Xie Hanzhu had been proud of her own advancement and was ready to celebrate, but seeing that her Senior Sister, who was more advanced than her, was still diligently cultivating, and that her Junior Sister, who had entered the sect after her, was progressing faster, her enthusiasm was dampened, and she stayed obediently on the peak.
Over the years, Xie Hanzhu hadn't changed much, still as lively and spirited as ever, seemingly carefree.
Wen Miaomiao, on the other hand, had matured a lot in the past seven years. Her features had grown more defined, and the youthful innocence in her eyes had faded, though her pure and kind nature remained, undiminished by the passage of time.
Cultivators lived long lives, and age held little significance for them.
As she watched them approach, Su Luowei found herself reminiscing about the past.
Seven years ago, when she had formed her Golden Core and emerged from seclusion, it was Zhan Xuehan who had come to find her first, followed by Xie Hanzhu and Wen Miaomiao.
Whether it was then or now, Meng Shuying was not there.
As soon as she saw Su Luowei, Xie Hanzhu ran over and grabbed her by the shoulder, dragging her towards the tree.
"I've been in seclusion for so long, I forgot where you buried the wine, Senior Sister. Now that I've finally caught you, I'm not letting you get away."
Su Luowei sighed, "You've already formed your Golden Core, and yet you still haven't kicked your craving for alcohol."
Xie Hanzhu pouted, "What does cultivation have to do with it? It's just that your wine is too good, Senior Sister. It's unforgettable. Ah… If only Meng Shuying were still here. I have to say, there's no one in the Qingxu Sect whose cooking can compare to hers."
Su Luowei shook her head, "Even if Meng Shuying were still here, she's a disciple of Qionghua Peak. How could it be her duty to cook for you?"
Xie Hanzhu laughed, "But isn't that just a matter of one word from you, Senior Sister?"
It was before, but now it probably isn't.
Seeing the fleeting melancholy on Su Luowei's face, Wen Miaomiao quietly tugged at Xie Hanzhu's sleeve, signaling her to stop.
The three of them made their way to Mingguang Palace, where Zhan Xuehan was already waiting.
Seeing the Sect Leader, Xie Hanzhu put away her playful expression and greeted her solemnly.
"Greetings, Sect Leader!"
Zhan Xuehan nodded.
"Is there something important you wanted to discuss with us today, Sect Leader?" Wen Miaomiao asked proactively.
Nowadays, she was the most favored disciple on Yanmo Peak after Su Luowei, so she was much more at ease in front of the Sect Leader compared to other disciples.
"Take a seat."
The three of them took their seats, and Su Luowei noticed an empty chair in the hall. She couldn't help but think that if Meng Shuying had joined Yanmo Peak back then, she would be sitting with them now, occupying that chair.
Lost in thought, Su Luowei was brought back to the present when Zhan Xuehan spoke.
"Have you ever heard of Fuxiao City?"
Wen Miaomiao thought for a moment and replied, "I've read about it in books. Fuxiao City is located at the confluence of two rivers, with nine major thoroughfares connecting it to various provinces. It's one of the more prosperous cities under Qingxu Sect's jurisdiction."
Though it was technically under Qingxu Sect's jurisdiction, this was more of a formality. The current City Lord had once climbed the Wenxian Platform in his youth but had been turned away by Qingxu Sect after failing to ascend the sixty-sixth step.
Since then, he had harbored resentment, sending only token tribute and refusing to have any dealings with Qingxu Sect.
Zhan Xuehan nodded, "That's correct. Fuxiao City is a hub of commerce, but recently, some incidents have occurred there."
In a city where commerce flourished, the population was naturally large.
In the mortal world, marriage was a significant event. Men married at twenty, and women at sixteen.
Marriage was a joyous occasion, and families of some means would throw grand celebrations when marrying off their daughters or welcoming new brides.
Fuxiao City was home to many wealthy merchants, so it was common to see lavish weddings with elaborate bridal processions.
However, some time ago, brides-to-be began mysteriously disappearing from the city.
Xie Hanzhu couldn't help but speak up, "Disappearing before the wedding? Maybe they eloped with their lovers."
Zhan Xuehan gave her a strange look, seemingly shocked by her bold assumption, before continuing, "That's what they thought at first too."
Fuxiao City was known for its open-mindedness, and relationships were not frowned upon. It wasn't uncommon for women to elope with their lovers if they were unhappy with their arranged marriages.
But as more and more brides went missing, it became clear that this wasn't a simple matter.
Some cautious families arranged for their daughters to be closely watched by their elders day and night before the wedding, but even then, the brides-to-be still disappeared.
Some vanished the night before the wedding, some during the bridal procession, and some even after the marriage ceremony was completed.
No matter how many attendants or maids were present, it was of no use.
The City Lord sensed something amiss and sent someone to report the matter to the Qingxu Sect, seeking their help.
Su Luowei lowered her gaze in thought before asking, "There should be quite a few rogue cultivators in Fuxiao City. Did the City Lord not seek their help?"
Due to its unique location, Fuxiao City was frequented by many cultivators, and many rogue cultivators chose to stay there, waiting to trade with other passing cultivators.
Su Luowei had heard that the City Lord had many rogue cultivators on his payroll and was close to them.
Fuxiao City was quite far from Qingxu Sect, and with a mortal's limited mobility, it would take at least a month to travel there. The City Lord wouldn't need to seek help from so far away.
Zhan Xuehan replied, "According to the report, about a month ago, the City Lord did seek help from the rogue cultivators in the city. However, those cultivators had limited abilities and found nothing. And besides..."
She picked up the teacup beside her, skimming the surface to remove the floating leaves, her tone indifferent, "The City Lord's daughter is getting married next month."
Everyone immediately understood.
So it was because his own daughter was getting married that he became so anxious, even setting aside his grudges to seek help from Qingxu Sect.
"Therefore, I plan to send you three to investigate."
Zhan Xuehan finished speaking and then carefully observed their reactions.
Hearing that they would be going down the mountain, Xie Hanzhu was initially pleased, but then she remembered the City Lord's attitude and frowned, "Is someone like that even worth helping?"
The other two's expressions remained neutral, but they both looked at Xie Hanzhu, seeming to disagree with her perspective.
Su Luowei said, "We're not helping him; we're helping Fuxiao City."
As long as the matter remained unresolved, the people of Fuxiao City would live in fear. Marriage was a major event in the mortal world, and with such a shadow hanging over them, who would dare to marry?
Over time, people would start leaving, and Fuxiao City would gradually decline.
"That's right. The three of you are Golden Core cultivators with considerable strength. Even if the situation there is tricky, you should be able to handle it."
And with the three of them together, they could look out for one another.
A hint of hesitation appeared on Xie Hanzhu's face as she asked, "Sect Leader, given the urgency of the situation and the distance from Qingxu Mountain, could we fly there on our swords?"
Ever since forming her Golden Core, Xie Hanzhu had been eager to experience the thrill of flying, but Qingxu Mountain wasn't big enough for her to fully enjoy it, so she had been looking forward to a mission that would take her down the mountain.
Zhan Xuehan laughed, "With your current cultivation, you'd likely exhaust your spiritual energy before reaching Fuxiao City. If you want to get there quickly, you can fly to Tongzhou first and then take a boat along the river. That way, you should reach Fuxiao City in seven or eight days."
Tongzhou wasn't far from Qingxu Mountain, and they could reach it by flying within half an hour.
Knowing that the matter couldn't be delayed, the three of them decided to set out the next day.
The next day, the three of them set off on their swords and arrived in Tongzhou in less than half an hour. There, a cultivator met them and escorted them to the docks, where they boarded a boat.
The journey by boat was monotonous and dull, and after seven or eight days, just as Xie Hanzhu's patience was about to run out, they finally heard someone say, "Up ahead is Fuxiao City."