I wish that the three of us, my uncle, the young lady, and I, will always be together. Uh, if you count the Saintess, I guess thatâs four?
Uh, anyway, the point is that weâll always be together!
Liu Su followed suit, closing her eyes solemnly, and as soon as she finished making her wish, she immediately turned to Niantang and asked:
"Senior, what did you wish for?"
Niantang said flatly, "Cultivation is already about defying the heavens, so why make wishes to the heavens? Isnât that ridiculous?"
Her words left the others in an awkward silence, each looking at her speechlessly.
Liu Su held her forehead: "Senior, can you not be such a killjoy?"
Niantang snorted, expressing her disdain.
Liu Su turned to Qin Gengyun: "Uncle, what about you?"
Qin Gengyun smiled and said, "Didnât Xiaowu say it herself? Oneâs wishes cannot be told to others."
"Tsk, stingy!"
Liu Su scoffed and squatted down to speak to Little Hammer, who was snoring on the ground:
"Little Hammer, youâre still sleeping? Get up and make a wish."
Little Hammer continued snoring loudly. Liu Su was speechless, having carried this person and her hammer all the way, it was exhausting.
Beside her, Niantang hesitated for a moment, then said to Qin Gengyun: "You made a wish too?"
Qin Gengyun quickly replied: "Master, my wish wasnât about slacking off or relying on othersâit was just a way to motivate myself. I assure you, I will use my own power to realize my aspirations, so please rest assured, Master."
The Master was clearly not in favor of making wishes, seeing it as a "weak" act; Qin Gengyun worried she might be angry, so he hastened to explain.
Niantang, however, wasnât angry. She looked at him, her voice softer:
"What did you wish for?"
Qin Gengyun was startled and honestly said, "Master, Xiaowu mentioned that our wishes should not be told to others."
Niantangâs gaze instantly turned cold and sharp. She snorted, swept her sleeves, and walked forward.
Qin Gengyun was left standing there in a daze.
Liu Su chuckled: "Uncle, do you think the senior is mad because you made a wish or because you wonât tell her what you wished for?"
Niantang glanced back coldly and said, "Arenât you going to carry the person and the hammer?"
Qin Gengyun agreed: "Yes, Susu, stop being lazy and letâs go!"
With that, he chased after Niantang, leaving Liu Su feeling annoyed.
Great, you guys get to flirt and banter while I do all the heavy lifting, huh?
Liu Su angrily gave Little Hammer a smack: "If it werenât for the Saintess wanting your Spirit Root, I wouldnât be carrying you all this way! Ugh, your hammer is so heavy!"
In the distance were houses built from bamboo, with an ancient yet elegant charm nestled among the bamboo forest.
"Sister Mo, thatâs my home over there!"
"Brother Qin, thatâs my home!"
Yun Yan and Yun Yu were delighted, chirping to Mo Xiaolan and Qin Gengyun.
Yun Xing, feeling a bit guilty, hid behind Xiaowu, who pulled him forward, her laughter like the tinkling of silver bells:
"Uncle Lin and Aunt Yao are worried sick. Uncle Lin said if they find you, youâll get paddled."
The Uncle Lin and Aunt Yao Xiaowu referred to were Yun Xingâs parents. Hearing about the spanking, Yun Xingâs head drooped, looking dejected. From behind came a cold laugh:
"I thought you were something special, turns out youâre just a kid about to get spanked."
It was Niantang, who had been at odds with Yun Xing all along. The little brat turned around angrily, glaring at her:
"This young master has a tough backside, why would I fear a spanking? Youâre ugly and mean; youâll never get married!"
"What did you say?!"
"I said it, so come hit me!"
"Master, calm down, donât bother with the child!"
"Grandmaster, donât be angry!"
So a group of people stepped in to mediate between the grown-up and the child, while Niantang walked to the side with a cold face. Mo Xiaolan walked up to her, smiling:
"I didnât expect the senior to like children so much."
Niantang snorted: "What makes you think I like children?"
Mo Xiaolan still smiled: "Senior, children are actually easy to get along with. As long as you speak kindly to them and offer some small rewards, theyâll be happy to play with you."
Niantang glared at her: "Why would I play with children?!"
After saying that, she flickered and moved to the front. Qin Gengyun watched her back, lost in thought.
Mo Xiaolan asked him: "Whatâs wrong?"
Qin Gengyun murmured: "I just think Master really resembles someone."
Mo Xiaolan remained silent for a moment, then suddenly said: "Like Taoist Friend Qiu?"
Qin Gengyun wasnât surprised; he and Mo Xiaolan often shared such tacit understanding. What he cared about was that strange feeling of familiarity towards his Master. After pondering for a moment, he shook his head.
Mo Xiaolan said: "Taoist Friend Qiu is gentle and dignified, while Senior Niantang is cold and fierce. The differences are great."
Qin Gengyun nodded, smiling bitterly: "Iâm just missing my wife too much."
Mo Xiaolan said nothing more, accompanying him silently forward.
At this moment, the leaves of the Cloud Bamboo above rustled in the sky, making a soft noise.
A thin figure could be seen standing atop a Cloud Bamboo, then gracefully descending, standing before the group.
"Golden Core First-Layer?"
Niantang slightly furrowed her delicate brows, stopping in her tracks, instinctively shielding Qin Gengyun. At the same time, Qin Gengyun instinctively stepped forward, standing in front of her.
"Careful."
Niantang was stunned, looking at his broad back, the severity in her beautiful eyes vanished, becoming gentle like water.
Then Mo Xiaolan also stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Qin Gengyun. The two exchanged glances, both smiling, determined and steady.
Niantangâs eyes turned cold again, she snorted and looked at the thin man.
Xiaowu had already run up, throwing herself into that manâs embrace:
"Father!"
This middle-aged man, dressed in long robes, didnât look like the master of a mountain in the Northern Wilderness but rather like an elder from the Three Great Sects of Eastern Cultivation or a scholar from the West Imperial, differing wholly in attire and bearing compared to the residents of Cloud Bamboo Mountain by Xiaowuâs side.
He was handsome and elegant, with a tall stature. Although Xiaowu resembled him in figure, she didnât inherit his fine features.
The man paternally patted Xiaowuâs head, then solemnly approached Qin Gengyun and the others, bowing in respect:
"Today, with the Cloud Bamboo swaying, it turns out to be friends from afar visiting. I am Yun Chen, the twenty-seventh Mountain Master of Cloud Bamboo Mountain. Welcome, distinguished guests."
The hundred mountains of the Northern Wilderness varied in power and influence, yet despite Yun Chen being a mountain master and a Golden Core Realm cultivator, he showed such courtesy to Qin Gengyun and the others, which was exceedingly respectful.
Qin Gengyun and Mo Xiaolan quickly returned the gesture: "Senior, you flatter us. Weâre the ones imposing."
The others also paid their respects, at this moment Yun Zhenâs eyes reddened, kneeling before Yun Chen:
"Uncle Chen, my mother and Aunt Li, both, both died, and our entire Cloud Pattern Mountain... only I am left!"
Yun Chen sighed, gently caressing Yun Zhenâs head: "Child, youâve had a hard time."
"Something seems off. Arenât Cloud Bamboo Mountain and Cloud Pattern Mountain relatives and allies? Why is Yun Chen so calm when hearing about the devastation of Cloud Pattern Mountain?"
Qin Gengyun heard Si Minglanâs voice transmitting to him.