Chapter 141: Searching - I Forged Them in Darkness, and They Buried Me in It

Chapter 141: Searching Amidst the gentle mountain breeze, three figures arrived at the courtyard belonging to Luo Cong An. The courtyard was spacious, as the vastness of the Longhu Mountain range extended across the Blue Star, offering wide expanses for development. Naturally, the resting places for people were not small either. Considering Luo Cong An's special identity and status, the authorities could never afford to mistreat her. Upon reaching the entrance of the secluded courtyard, Chen An paused. Contrary to his expectations, the gate was not closed but open, revealing a glimpse of the interior. He could hear faint sounds reminiscent of a broom sweeping the ground. He turned to look at Luo Cong An, about to speak, when an excited shout came from inside the courtyard. The voice was clear and melodious, familiar to everyone except Eileen. "Chen An! What brings you here?" He seldom ventured out when at Longhu Mountain, let alone had any familiar female acquaintances. Naturally, the one greeting him was none other than the "extraordinarily gifted" Lin Jing Qiu. Sure enough, in the next moment, an agile and lively figure skipped into view. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail, and she held a broom and dustpan, a sheen of sweat glistening on her forehead. It seemed the sounds he had heard were of her cleaning the courtyard. The girl first noticed Chen An, then noticed the two women standing beside him. Naturally, her master was a familiar presence. However, the woman in the black dress standing beside them surprised Lin Jing Qiu, her widened eyes reflecting surprise and amazement. The black dress swayed with the wind, hinting at a graceful figure beneath. Moving her gaze to the woman’s face, Lin Jing Qiu noted how extraordinarily exquisite it was. This was the reason for her astonishment. She had encountered many prominent figures before, especially female ones, but none could hold a candle to her master. Yet, the black-dressed woman they met today didn’t lose to her master in terms of aura and appearance. After a brief pause, Lin Jing Qiu politely averted her gaze, directing it towards the youth and her master while giving a smile. "Master, I came today specifically to help tidy up the courtyard. Everything’s cleaned up now." "Including the abandoned guest room, which I’ve tidied up for you!" she said, her tone playful, hands on her hips in a gesture that invited praise for being a dutiful disciple. Luo Cong An paused at her words, contemplating with her red eyes, now seemingly back to normal in front of Lin Jing Qiu. She appeared to switch effortlessly between her obstinate and gentle states. This shift was a kind of understanding. Her stubborn self would disregard everything except her mentor but retained some compassion for her disciple, Lin Jing Qiu. Hold on... Hearing her disciple's considerate words, Luo Cong An suddenly realized something. Originally, there should have been three rooms in the courtyard for sleeping. One had been abandoned for a while, and another was reserved for Lin Jing Qiu, who would occasionally seek to stay overnight. Luo Cong An initially planned to use this as an opportunity to persuade the gentleman to share a room with her, leaving the other for the large moth. But now... Despite having good intentions, the thoughtfulness of the girl made any notion of blaming her dissipate. Luo Cong An bit her lip and sighed, "Xiao Qiu, you’re truly my ‘good disciple’..." Tonight was destined to be extraordinary. Deep in the back mountain, nestled within Longhu's heart, stood a seemingly mundane Taoist temple. Under the dim moonlight, a shadowy figure approached, its demeanor respectful, softly knocking on the door. “Enter,” a cold male voice responded from inside. Meng Mao refrained from immediately entering. He completed the necessary rituals outside before rising to push the door open. Inside, the courtyard was empty. He continued forward, going through two more doors and stepping over three thresholds before finally encountering the voice's owner. A man sat cross-legged on a meditation mat, eyes closed. Meng Mao glanced briefly, then averted his eyes, feeling a familiar apprehension. Although he was one of the "Seven Sons of Longhu," encountering his senior brother always instilled a sense of unease. It was akin to how one might feel when facing a head teacher during school years, too intimidated to utter a word. The meditating man slowly opened his eyes, and the surrounding aura of spiritual energy subsided. Meng Mao felt the intensity of this energy and was discreetly impressed. He respectfully bowed, saying, "Senior Brother, it seems your cultivation has advanced once again." The man showed no sign of emotion, neither joy nor sorrow. He rose, standing with his back to Meng Mao, maintaining an air of enigmatic profundity. His detached voice reached Meng Mao's ears, "Just some weathering." Meng Mao was momentarily taken aback, more admiring than ever. Truly, his senior brother's words, casual as they might seem, were laden with philosophical depth and a sense of ancient wisdom that felt unattainable for a lifetime. Unbeknownst to him, in his moment of distraction, his senior brother had subtly shifted, sneaking a glance at his expression before returning to his profound stance. Clearing his throat slightly, the man inquired, "What is it you wish to discuss?" The direct question brought Meng Mao back to attention. Choosing his words carefully, he said, "Senior Brother, news from the authorities suggest there is a rise in monster disturbances nationwide, suggesting we should ready a response." He paused, continuing, "Normally, such creatures live in secluded mountain regions, deriving power from the essence of heaven and earth, with most having crude abilities. Their tendency to cause trouble should be an anomaly." "But now, the situation appears quite peculiar," Meng Mao said hesitantly. "The authorities suspect a malicious influence at play, leading to this increase." Trying to disguise his hesitation frayed in the presence of his senior brother. Instead of directly commenting, his senior brother asked in return, "Do you have a differing opinion?" Meng Mao nodded, "I encountered one such disturbance earlier while at the foot of the mountain." Recalling the scene, confusion flickered in his eyes, "Honestly, rather than causing chaos, they seemed... to be searching?"