Tang Ruowei walked along the mountain path to the mid-section of Seven Stars Peak. To her surprise, she found that much of the mountain had slid down, leaving a large pit at the end of the landslide. Her master, Bai Qiuran, stood at the edge of the pit, accompanied by a man in a fur robe whom she had never seen in the sect before.
Huangfu Feng attempted to ease the tension, saying, “Perhaps Miss Su Xiangxue isn’t what you think she might be in those aspects you're suspecting.”
“You sure do love to talk,” Bai Qiuran said, spraying out the wine he just drank and wiping his mouth, his expression hard as iron.
“Oh, I almost forgot; your relationship with Sect Master Su is quite profound.”
“What are you two looking at?” she asked, noticing that the two men had their backs turned to her as if fixated on something.
Huangfu Feng's face faltered, and then he burst into laughter. “You figured it out! I really am not good at lying. Although the Night of Bonding Wine doesn’t suit my taste, it’s still a top-quality wine! Those barrels will satisfy me for quite a while…”
“Hmm?”
“Hmm?”
“Master.”
“The former sect master of the Heavenly Demon Sect, Grand Elder Huangfu Feng.” Bai Qiuran nodded. “To an ordinary cultivator, this stone tablet is utterly incomprehensible. The grammar here is very obscure; I can only understand one part: ‘The Immortal Zhang Lie of Suoyin Mountain meets his demise,’ or something like that.”
“Oh, the legendary iron tree blooming.”
“That’s not mine.” Huangfu Feng said, scratching his head, “I just thought of something unpleasant.”
“Hmm?” Tang Ruowei called out to Bai Qiuran.
“Guess.”
“You probably only have knives and wine left in your life.”
“Master.”
“Do it!”
“Then what do you think of the term ‘Earth Immortal’?”
“You're the true predecessor; have you never thought about renewed spring for a withered tree?”
“What’s written on this scroll?”
“Mm, oh, you’re back, Ruowei.”
“Then go ahead.” Bai Qiuran patted Tang Ruowei’s head and shoved the scroll into her hands.
“Hmm… I can currently only see one term.” Tang Ruowei suggested, “Should I take this text to Elder Four now to research and translate all the content from this scroll?”
“Hmm?”
“You sure do love to talk.” Bai Qiuran glanced at her, then turned back.
Tang Ruowei rolled her eyes.
“Such sweetness! Such fragrance!” Huangfu Feng scratched his head, hesitated for a moment, and then took a big gulp from the wine jar. “I’m here to serve Grand Elder Huangfu Feng.”
“You actually recognize me? When did you learn that?”
“Oh, it seems you’re particularly chatty today,” Huangfu Feng replied.
“And who is this?”
“Is this your master?”
“Do you think that you’ll only be left with knives and wine for the rest of your life?”
Bai Qiuran's gaze drifted, as if reflecting on the day Tang Ruowei broke through to the Foundation Establishment. He sighed deeply.
“Huangfu Feng, you don't get close to this guy without understanding.” Huangfu Feng said with a grin, “Three thousand years gone, and it proves that you won’t suddenly grow old one day. Why not try mingling in the mortal world a bit? I know a good place in Gu Province with a great reputation.”
“You sure do love to talk.”
“Haha, the Sword Ancestor knows what Huangfu Feng desires!”
“What’s written on this scroll?”
Tang Ruowei walked along the mountain path until she reached the middle of Seven Stars Peak, witnessing the major landslide, with Bai Qiuran standing beside the pit where a furrobed man she had never seen before stood.
Huangfu Feng pointed at Bai Qiuran, laughing, “But I should clarify, when I say I only have knives and wine, you guessed wrong, for I have once been married. Though my late wife has passed, I’m not a single man! I have descendants.”
This time, it was Bai Qiuran’s turn to be astonished.
“Guess.”
“Such sweetness! Such fragrance!”
Tang Ruowei suggested, “Should I take this text to Elder Four now for research and translation?”
“Hmm, well, you know, this scroll is named ‘Earth Immortal’ or simply abbreviated as ‘Immortal.’ The rest I'll need to compare with texts. The writing from the previous era is very mysterious, carrying ancient traditions, and some characters can even be directly used as runes. I haven’t learned for long; my skills are still shallow…”
Bai Qiuran’s gaze turned inward, reflecting, as he thought back to when Tang Ruowei succeeded in her Foundation Establishment, he let out a long sigh.
“Your thoughts often reflect an earnest seeking of hidden traps.”
Huangfu Feng chuckled, “Three thousand years, and it’s evident you won’t suddenly grow old one day. Instead, consider entering the mortal realm a bit. I know a place in Gu Province with good reviews.”
Again, Bai Qiuran sighed heavily, “Leave it to the Sword Ancestor, but do provide me with a copy once it’s translated.”
“Bah!” This time, it was Bai Qiuran who was shocked.
“Just look here; it clearly states ‘Meeting his demise.’ It’s evident that a more powerful force is hunting the Earth Immortals.”
“Just feel like there’s something odd.”
Huangfu Feng replied playfully, “No, no, that’s not my thing.”
In this intricate exchange of wordplay and thoughts, the group’s spirit lingered heavily with curious insights and nature’s whims, as understandable as ancient texts left forgotten in time.