Chapter 462: Chapter 420: Reunion After a Long Separation

"Long time no see, Jiang Yuebai."

It was morning, and Zhuo Qingfeng stood outside the courtyard where Jiang Yuebai lived, wearing a brand new black outfit, his posture tall and upright like a pine tree. The once proud and aloof look of his youth was gone, now replaced with mature and restrained demeanor.

There was a shallow scar at the end of his right eyebrow.

Zhuo Qingfeng felt a bit uncomfortable being scrutinized by Jiang Yuebai. His complexion reddened slightly, and he pressed his hand to his chest, "Is there something... wrong with me?"

Jiang Yuebai smiled gently, "No, it’s just been so long, I find you seem different from before."

Zhuo Qingfeng let out a sigh of relief, "Is it for the better or for the worse?"

"Of course it’s better. Come in, try the new Spiritual Tea of our Huaxi Valley this year."

Jiang Yuebai graciously invited him into the courtyard.

"What brings you to the Heavenly Interence Sect this time?"

Jiang Yuebai fetched the tea set, gathered water out of thin air to boil the tea, and gestured for Zhuo Qingfeng to sit at the stone table under the wisteria trellis.

Zhuo Qingfeng surveyed the arrangement of the courtyard, "I brought disciples of Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment from Guiyuan Sword Sect to participate in the small competition at Heavenly Interence Sect. Arrived this morning, and upon hearing you were back at the sect, I came to visit."

Now that Zhuo Qingfeng was already a Mid-Stage Golden Core Cultivator, Jiang Yuebai couldn’t help but recall the past when Zhuo Qingfeng was a disciple participating in Heavenly Interence Sect’s small competition, but now he had become a leading Golden Core Master.

Back then, Zhuo Qingfeng would hold his sword with a cold face, as if others owed him millions of Spirit Stones. If he weren’t so good-looking, she would have wanted to slap him hard with a shoe.

During the competition, he was arrogant and looked down on her, and she ended up breaking his leg. Thinking back, Jiang Yuebai found it amusing.

Time really flies.

"How have you been these years?" Zhuo Qingfeng asked slowly.

Jiang Yuebai set the tea stove and nodded with a smile, "Very well indeed, I’ve been to many places, experienced a lot of things, almost died several times, it’s been quite extraordinary. And you? Do you have any special travels or stories to share with me?"

Zhuo Qingfeng was slightly surprised. He thought that during this visit, Jiang Yuebai would exchange a few casual words and then find an excuse to leave, but who would have thought she would invite him in, brew tea for him, and take the initiative to inquire about his experiences over the years, as if they were going to have a long talk.

Compared to the awkwardness and discomfort of the past, Jiang Yuebai now had a clear mind and was at ease, making people feel like a breath of fresh air when facing her, very comfortable.

"There was indeed a particularly dangerous experience; it was just after I formed my Core and traveled to the North Sea with Junior Sister Hua Yingshi..."

The red stove boiled tea, and the conversation flowed beside the table.

Zhuo Qingfeng spoke freely, as if facing an old friend he hadn’t seen in years, relaxed and at ease, rather than being cautious in front of someone he liked.

The two of them chatted from morning until 11:00 AM when the communication talisman on Zhuo Qingfeng interrupted their conversation, and he got up to say his goodbyes, feeling somewhat reluctant.

Jiang Yuebai walked him all the way to the foot of Heavenly Cry Peak, and before leaving, Zhuo Qingfeng looked at Jiang Yuebai and said, "I still seem to be very fond of you."

Jiang Yuebai smiled graciously, "You truly have good taste."

Their eyes met, and both of them laughed.

"Goodbye."

"Hmm."

After seeing Zhuo Qingfeng off, Jiang Yuebai headed straight to find Yun Shang. Her task was to receive the disciples from Guiyuan Sword Sect, and since Zhuo Qingfeng had arrived, Yun Shang must have returned.

Deep in the bamboo forest of Huaxi Valley, a once desolate place had changed completely, managed by Yun Shang with meticulous care. The large and small beast pens were protected by various arrays, neatly arranged at the mountain’s foothill.

Inside were pairs of spiritual beasts living leisurely with their offspring.

In the corner, Jiang Yuebai saw the Flower-Furred Rat again, which had grown plump and stout, and had given birth to over a dozen tri-striped Spirit Rats resembling Jixiang. It was being chased around by the youngsters, hiding all over the place, but in the end, was caught and overwhelmed by them, looking utterly hopeless.

"Jixiang, you should really take some responsibility as a father."

Jiang Yuebai grabbed Jixiang out, disregarding its struggle, and threw it directly in, sealing with two layers of barriers outside to prevent Jixiang from escaping.

Squeak squeak!

The Flower-Furred Rat saw Jixiang, tears streamed down its face, it charged towards Jixiang, its large body pressing it underneath, the offspring following excitedly, stacking on top.

Jixiang struggled in fear, the Flower-Furred Rat and the offspring persistently followed, wave after wave, Jixiang unable to escape, could only cry out for help to Jiang Yuebai.

Little Green also emerged from the Pocket Small World, watching gleefully from the side.

[What goes around comes around, it’s just a matter of time]

"Little Bai!"

Yun Shang’s voice came from behind, causing Jiang Yuebai to turn around, seeing Yun Shang in a pink dress, sleeves rolled up, wearing specially made gloves, holding a crackling Little Thunder Hound sparking with arcs of electricity.

Yun Shang casually threw the Little Thunder Hound to the side, took off her gloves, and ran to Jiang Yuebai, her cheeks flushed and full of smiles, not knowing what to say.

Jiang Yuebai reached over and pinched Yun Shang’s cheek with a wicked grin, "It’s been a few years, you’ve become even more Water Spirit. Do you know you’re famous on the Spirit Controlling Sect side now, and many people want to learn from you how to catch Thunder Beasts."

"It hurts~" Yun Shang complained, batting Jiang Yuebai’s hand away, "I’ve already learned how to breed Thunder Beasts, do you want me to give you one?"

Jiang Yuebai glanced around at the beast pens, "One’s not enough, I want a lot more. I’ll take you to a great place later."

Yun Shang suddenly shivered, having an ominous feeling she was about to hemorrhage.

"Shang, I’ve found some Hundred-Year-Old Thunderstruck Wood you wanted."

Yuu Qiuqi came over with a storage pouch, still carrying the Hundred Treasures Box on her back, looking stern and unsmiling, but was slightly startled upon seeing Jiang Yuebai, especially noting her Cultivation now near the late Mid-Stage Golden Core, about to catch up with her.

At this moment, Yuu Qiuqi suddenly understood the feeling of the Yangtze River pushing forward the wave behind the last.

"Senior Sister Yuu."

Jiang Yuebai clasped her hands in greeting, and Yuu Qiuqi smiled and nodded.

"It probably won’t be long before I should be calling you Senior Sister."

"No, no, you’re Yun Shang’s little aunt, I’m on the same level as Yun Shang, you will always be our elder." Jiang Yuebai quickly said.

Yuu Qiuqi tossed the storage pouch to Yun Shang, "It’s a long-awaited reunion, you all chat."

Yuu Qiuqi sensibly left, recalling the scene when she first met Jiang Yuebai, realizing that before Jiang Yuebai’s astonishing performance in the small competition, she didn’t have much impression of her.

"Senior Sister Yuu, last time I lost to you by one move, care to spar again today?"

Fang Yuxing’s voice came, causing Yuu Qiuqi to lift her head, spotting him standing by the path at the entrance of Huaxi Valley, appearing to have been waiting for a long time.

Yuu Qiuqi tilted her head towards Huaxi Valley, "Master Wangshu is back, weren’t you proclaiming that now you definitely won’t lose to her? So, what do you say, should I call her out for you?"

Fang Yuxing couldn’t help but swallow, half of his arrogance dissipating, he asked, "What is her Cultivation now?"

"You still have to call her Senior Sister."

Fang Yuxing’s eye twitched, "Ah, I suddenly remembered, the Sword Monarch is returning soon, I better head back to Heavenly Sword Peak to tidy up the main hall, let’s battle another time!"

Fang Yuxing flew off using Sword Control, leaving Yuu Qiuqi shaking her head and smiling.

In the pond at the entrance to Huaxi Valley, a big toad surfaced with a bubble.

Ribbit~