Mortal Bones

"You know how to talk about loyalty now, but why didn't you use your brain before you acted? Was that meal at Qingzhu Residence free? Didn't you see how Uncle Nine treated that kid differently? How dare you lay your hands on him!"

Liu Songshan scolded them angrily.

"But... but didn't Uncle Nine already..."

"Shut up!"

Zhou Gu's words were interrupted by Liu Songshan.

"Who do you think you are to call him Uncle Nine? That's Master Dao Xuan's elder!"

Liu Songshan lowered his voice, his eyes filled with panic.

"Yes, yes!"

Zhou Gu nodded repeatedly, frightened.

"Master, this matter was all my fault. Please spare my brother and only punish me."

At this moment, Zuo Ju, who had been silent, kneeled beside Zhou Gu.

"Big Brother, this has nothing to do with you. I'll take the blame alone!"

Zhou Gu looked anxiously at Zuo Ju.

"Can you bear it?"

Liu Songshan glared at Zhou Gu.

"People from the Seven Peaks are already investigating this. If you two are allowed to leave alive, consider yourselves lucky."

He glared at the two of them again.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Gu deflated, no longer arguing. If someone from the mountains personally investigated, Liu Songshan wouldn't be able to protect them.

"Master, before we leave, can you tell me who exactly is backing Xu Taiping?"

Zuo Ju finally couldn't help but ask Liu Songshan his lingering doubt.

In his mind, if Xu Taiping didn't have a background, the people from the mountain wouldn't have investigated this matter.

"Yeah, I also don't understand. Clearly, both Uncle Nine and Bai Hong are gone. Why is there someone supporting him?"

Zhou Gu asked as well.

"Do you think I don't want to know?"

Liu Songshan glared at them.

"And who told you that Uncle Nine is dead?"

He lowered his voice, his face suddenly serious.

"Is... Is Uncle Nine and Bai Hong still alive?"

Zhou Gu and Zuo Ju both froze in disbelief.

"Forget it, you two are leaving the mountain soon, so it won't hurt to tell you."

Liu Songshan shook his head, his expression grave as he looked at them.

"I just received confidential news from Yunlou that Uncle Nine not only returned alive from the Northern Borders, but also killed the Demon Lord, severing the evil root of the Greed Wolf Kingdom."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Gu and Zuo Ju exchanged shocked glances, as if they couldn't believe their ears.

"So you two leaving now might not be a bad thing. You can also help me manage some affairs at the Seven Sword Mountain Manor. If the situation with Wind Valley isn't handled properly, I might one day have to return to Seven Sword Mountain Manor myself."

Liu Songshan crouched down and whispered to the two of them.

"Yes!"

Both of them, still in shock, nodded.

A few days later.

Qingzhu Residence.

"Creek..."

Xu Taiping, with a bow and arrows on his back and a long sword and gourd at his waist, closed the courtyard door of Qingzhu Residence and added a lock.

Tomorrow was the first round of the Seven Peaks selection, the Dragon Gate Tournament, and he needed to arrive at Longmen Hall in advance.

"Chirp chirp..."

A little monkey popped out from his cloak's hood.

"This time, behave yourself. When we're in crowded places, stay inside the gourd, understand?"

Xu Taiping smiled and patted the little monkey's head.

Although spiritual pets weren't rare on Yunlu Mountain, he was still a bit worried about people with ulterior motives, so he chose to bring the monkey with him.

"Got it!"

The little monkey nodded obediently.

"Boom!"

At this moment, a crane descended from the sky, flapping its wings and stirring up a gust of wind at the courtyard gate.

"Xu Taiping of Qingzhu Residence, the day of the Dragon Gate Tournament is approaching. Come with me to Longmen Hall immediately."

The crane spoke arrogantly, its neck held high.

"Thank you."

Xu Taiping cupped his hands toward the crane, then lightly stepped forward and landed nimbly on its back.

"Three years ago, when I first came to Yunlu Mountain, the first place I reached was Longmen Hall, and it was there that I was identified as a White Spirit Bone and was denied entry as a disciple of the mountain."

Looking at the golden rays shining off the clouds below, Xu Taiping suddenly felt a surge of emotions.

"This time, I will fight for my qualification to ascend the mountain myself."

He clenched his fist, murmuring to himself.

The next day.

Qingxuan Sect, Seventh Peak.

You Xuan Residence.

This residence, located on a floating mountain on the western side of the Seventh Peak, was the cultivation ground of Zhao Linglong's Second Senior Brother, Du Gu Qingxiao. Compared to the simple environment of the outer disciples, this place was like an immortal realm.

"Second Senior Brother, why is the Mountain Watching Mirror showing nothing? The battle of Xu Taiping and the others is about to start."

In the bamboo forest of the backyard, Zhao Linglong, wearing a green robe, complained while holding a copper mirror, her frown reflected in its surface.

"Didn't I tell you to wait for me before saying anything?"

At this moment, Qingxiao walked in from the courtyard.

Behind him, a graceful woman and a stunning young girl followed.

"Senior Sister Ziyan, Junior Sister Buyu!"

Upon seeing the woman and the girl, Zhao Linglong immediately brightened up, put down the copper mirror, and flew over to them through the bamboo forest on her fairy silk.

"Linglong, it's been a year since we last met. How have you been?"

Ziyan smiled at Zhao Linglong.

"How could I be good? After parting from you last year, I was locked up in the养心阁 by Father for half a year. Then, because of a small matter, I was placed under house arrest for another half a year. In the blink of an eye, an entire year has passed."

Zhao Linglong sighed as she took Ziyan's hand and walked.

"Losing a Fire Spirit Sparrow is considered a small matter?"

Du Gu Qingxiao shot Zhao Linglong a look.

"Senior Sister Ziyan, please tell my Second Senior Brother. He's always so harsh with me for no reason."

Zhao Linglong shook Ziyan's arm.

"The matter is already over, Linglong has learned her lesson. Don't be too harsh on her."

Ziyan smiled at Du Gu Qingxiao, her gaze soft enough to melt anyone.

"Fine, I understand."

Du Gu Qingxiao was momentarily stunned, then quickly turned his head away.

Seeing his reaction, Ziyan's lips curled up in a satisfied smile, as if her little "scheme" had succeeded.

"I feel like I'm a bit unnecessary here with you and Junior Sister Buyu."

Zhao Linglong let go of Du Gu Qingxiao's hand and instead took Buyu's hand.

Hearing this, Qingxiao gave Zhao Linglong a hard look, while Ziyan covered her mouth and giggled, then changed the topic, turning to the silent Buyu.

"By the way, Buyu, do you still remember Xu Taiping, the one who entered the mountain with you?"