Arc 3: Part 33
"Whether it's a noble family or a sect, as long as they are from the righteous path it's a good thing! Right now, as the righteous path and the demon realm are engulfed in war, each additional prodigy on our side weakens the demon realm by just that much, hahaha!"
"Hahaha, yes, as long as they aren't from the demon realm, it's all good! Besides, the city of solitary cultivators doesn't ask about one's background, but it's restricted to those on the righteous path only. Those from the demon realm better not even think about stepping foot in here."
While everyone was chatting and laughing, Tong Su awoke from her meditative state. She waved away the protective enchantments in the cave meant to prevent disturbances. Feeling elated about her smooth advancement, she opened the door of the cave and stepped out.
A chorus of congratulations ensued.
"Congratulations, fellow Daoist!"
"Such a young fairy, with such talent — it’s true, geniuses are often revealed in youth!"
Surrounded by well-wishers, all fellow cultivators renting nearby caves, Tong Su smiled and engaged in light-hearted exchanges. They mentioned that she had been in seclusion for three whole years, which took her by surprise.
"How could it be so long? It felt like just a moment to me..."
"When you’re in a deep meditative state, you can’t perceive the passage of time. You’re still quite young."
While they were speaking, Tong Su suddenly heard a fluttering sound. She looked up and saw a flock of mechanical paper cranes flying towards her from the distance. They were pointing straight at her, rushing over with an imposing momentum!
"What is this?"
Tong Su was taken aback and tried to dodge, but the swarm of mechanical paper cranes had its eyes set on her, charging relentlessly.
A fellow cultivator nearby explained, "Don’t dodge, fellow Daoist. These are messenger cranes from the Alchemy Tower and the Artifact Forge. Didn't you submit items for appraisal to both places? They are in a hurry to find you!"
Tong Su thanked him and suddenly remembered.
Before her retreat, hadn't she given her concocted pills and artifacts to the Alchemy Tower and the Artifact Forge?
She just hadn't expected that her retreat would last for three years.
It was normal for them to have results ready and to notify her. But why would there be so many urgent messenger cranes?
Tong Su raised her hand to catch the leading crane and opened it. Indeed, the message was from three years ago and the tone was very polite, asking her to meet at the Alchemy Tower and the Artifact Forge.
The tone of the later cranes became increasingly eager. Seeing that she didn't respond, it even started becoming cloying and coquettish, much like a mortal scholar writing a love letter.
Lovely blue sky, beautiful moon, fragrant flowers, beautiful girl... the girl who concocted this pill, where are you? Could you come to see me? I miss you so much...
Tong Su didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Under the envious eyes of the crowd, she collected all the paper cranes.
However, even having received the messages, Tong Su couldn't go to the Alchemy Tower and the Artifact Forge right away.
Because the communication mirror in her Qiankun bag had started to ring!
"Uh..."
It seemed like before she headed to the Ten Thousand Mountains, she had promised to send messages whenever she had the chance. Instead, she began with concocting pills and refining tools and then went straight into a three-year seclusion, never once touching the communication mirror...
Tong Su felt a wave of guilt and hurriedly took out the mirror to check in. The surface of the mirror shimmered, showing no clear image.
Tong Su sweetly called out, her voice as sweet as honey, "Senior brother, hello!"
From inside the mirror came a snicker, followed by a man's voice, slow and teasing.
"Some people have such sweet words. But it’s been three years without a single message, almost as if they wanted to throw their senior brother away, leaving him to become a lonely old man in an empty nest. Ah Tong, wouldn't you say such a person is quite heartless?"
Tong Su replied with sincerity, "Senior brother, what are you saying? Ah Tong really missed you!"
"Really?"
"Really!"
Finally, the flickering image in the mirror stabilized, revealing the entrance to what appeared to be a cave abode, which Tong Su found somewhat familiar.
"If you really miss your senior brother that much, then come and tell me in person."
He said, "Ah Tong, look up."
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