Chapter Twelve: I Will Make Them Pay!

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Gu Xuan’s expression was solemn as he unhesitatingly knelt down and kowthed three times before Yao Qiong’s skeletal remains. Each bow was filled with profound reverence, his forehead striking the ground with a clear sound, as if proclaiming his resolve to the heavens and earth.

Yao Qianqian watched Gu Xuan’s actions, her eyes full of satisfaction. She nodded approvingly, silently thinking, “This child has a pure heart; I was right about him.”

Then, joyfully, she hurried to Gu Xuan’s side. “Well done. From now on, you are my master’s last disciple. I will personally take charge of your training.”

“Thank you, sister. Truly… thank you!” Gu Xuan’s voice trembled with emotion. Rising, he bowed deeply to Yao Qianqian, his eyes shining with sincere gratitude like two bright stars.

“Hey, stop that. I really can’t stand how humble you are. Once we’re out, I’ll have to help you change that habit,” Yao Qianqian said teasingly, a smile playing on her lips. She gently steadied Gu Xuan with one hand.

“Since you’ve joined my master’s sect, we are peers now. From this moment on, you must call me senior sister, understood?” She fixed him with a stern gaze that brooked no argument.

“Yes, senior sister,” Gu Xuan replied obediently, his voice loud and resolute.

“That’s more like it…” Yao Qianqian’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.

Suddenly, worry surfaced in Gu Xuan’s heart. He looked troubled. “Senior sister, I’ve been missing for almost a day. I must hurry back. Father and the others must still be searching for me in the Green Forest. What if they encounter danger again…”

“Don’t worry. We really should leave. You’re still injured, and the spiritual energy here is thin; it’s not suitable for you to stay long,” Yao Qianqian said as she approached Yao Qiong’s remains, kneeling slowly with a complex expression—respect, reluctance, and a hint of resolution.

She kowtowed three times deeply, her voice low and firm, “Master, I am leaving with this young man after a thousand years…”

Clenching her fists tightly as if to condense a millennium of suppressed pain and unwillingness into a single blow, she declared, “I will make them pay the price!”

Having spoken, she rose and returned to Gu Xuan’s side. Her eyes softened as she gently raised her hand, enveloping him in a warm aura that lifted him slowly, then flew toward the place where they had first met.

Soon, they arrived at the exit of the barrier.

Gu Xuan stared at the familiar yet strange barrier before him, full of questions. “Senior sister, do you know how to get out?”

“You silly boy, did you forget what I told you? Since you entered this barrier through your bloodline, you’ll leave the same way. Just drip your blood on the barrier; it should respond,” Yao Qianqian patiently explained, a trace of indulgence in her eyes.

Gu Xuan understood immediately. Drawing a short knife, he decisively cut his palm. The bright red blood slowly trickled out as he placed his palm on the stone at the barrier’s edge.

In an instant, a dazzling light surged like a tide, enveloping the entire barrier exit.

When the light faded, night had fallen. They appeared near the huge rock where Gu Xuan had disappeared while injured, the withered bloodstains nearby glaring vividly under the moonlight.

The moment Yao Qianqian stepped out of the barrier, the scene before her stunned her instantly, stirring a complex tide of emotions in her heart.

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The once-familiar mountains and rivers were now completely transformed; the shapes of grass, trees, insects, and fish bore little resemblance to those in her memory.

She closed her eyes slowly and took a deep breath of the long-lost fresh air. The abundant spiritual energy flowed into her body like a joyful stream, every pore rejoicing.

The sensation was like a land parched for a thousand years finally receiving the long-awaited rain, bringing unprecedented comfort to her soul.

She never imagined she could see such a sky again; the scent of freedom permeated the air, intoxicating her completely.

Yao Qianqian stretched lazily, as if shaking off a millennium of confinement.

She looked at Gu Xuan and asked, “Boy, where will you look for your father?”

“I heard from Uncle San that there’s a cave on the west side of the Green Forest. If Father and the others haven’t found me, they’ll definitely spend the night there,” Gu Xuan answered without hesitation.

“Let’s go, then. We’ll reunite with your father and the others first; don’t worry them.”

Yao Qianqian took a step forward but was suddenly pulled back by Gu Xuan.

“What’s wrong?”

“Senior sister, are you planning to go with me like this?”

Only then did Yao Qianqian snap back to reality, slapping her forehead and inwardly scolding herself, “I was so happy just coming out of the barrier that I didn’t realize my appearance was inappropriate.”

“Look at me—I almost forgot I can’t show myself like this now,” she said with a helpless smile.

“What shall we do then?”

Yao Qianqian’s eyes gleamed with a sudden idea.

A flash of light flickered around her, and a brilliant rainbow streak shot through the entire Green Forest like lightning.

When the light faded, Gu Xuan opened his eyes again and was startled by the sight before him—a delicate, lively azure dragon danced joyfully in front of him, its whiskers fluttering, both spirited and adorable.

“This will do. From now on, I will appear in this form unless absolutely necessary. I can mask my aura before others, and you can talk to me directly,” Yao Qianqian’s voice came from the dragon’s mouth, tinged with playfulness.

“Senior sister, you really can do everything!” Gu Xuan said with admiration, his eyes shining with respect.

“Go quickly. I will unleash the dragon’s might; no beast will dare approach you along the way,” Yao Qianqian urged.

“Thank you, senior sister!”

Under the moonlight, Gu Xuan ran swiftly until he reached the cave.

The warm firelight emanating from within the cave was especially conspicuous in the pitch-black night.

He took a deep breath and hurried inside.

“Xuan’er!?”

Gu Tianya was the first to see Gu Xuan, his eyes instantly filling with joy. He sprang to his feet and strode over to him, examining him from head to toe. Grasping Gu Xuan’s shoulders tightly, his voice trembled, “You’ve finally come back; you had your old man worried to death!”

Gu Ling’er also jumped up from the ground, tears of excitement sparkling in her eyes.

She threw her arms around Gu Xuan, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Brother Xuan, I thought... thought I’d never see you again…”

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Gu Xuan gently patted Gu Ling’er’s back, continuously comforting her.

“Silly girl, I’m perfectly fine.”

The Third Elder stepped forward, prompting Gu Ling’er to shyly let go of Gu Xuan.

“How did you know we would be here?”

“Before setting out, Uncle San said that if something happened and we couldn’t return that day, we could come here.”

“That’s right, that’s right…” The elder patted Gu Xuan’s shoulder, his face full of relief.

Then, feeling somewhat guilty, he added, “Xuan’er, I’m sorry this time. I was so focused on searching for you that I didn’t have time to find the Spirit Gathering Herb.”

Gu Xuan smiled and waved his hand.

“Uncle San, don’t say that. Being alive is a blessing already. We can talk about the herb later.”

Gu Ling’er looked up, her eyes red.

“Brother Xuan, where exactly did you go that day? We searched everywhere but found no trace of you. You really worried us.”

Everyone else nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with curiosity.

Gu Xuan hesitated briefly, choosing not to mention the barrier. Instead, he calmly recounted his encounter with a first-rank magical beast.

“I was chased by three Wind Demon Wolves and ran in panic. Eventually, I escaped them but got lost in the forest. I climbed a tree and stayed there until the wolves fell asleep at night. Only then did I dare come down and wandered around until I found my way back.”

Hearing this, everyone shuddered with fear, but seeing Gu Xuan unscathed, they did not press further.

“Although Wind Demon Wolves are first-rank beasts, they hunt in packs. Xuan’er, escaping from them alive proves you truly are my son!” Gu Tianya exclaimed, patting Gu Xuan’s shoulder excitedly.

“Second uncle, easy! Brother Xuan is still injured,” Gu Ling’er chided softly.

“Look at that girl; her eyes are full of you, lad,” the Third Elder chuckled and continued:

“Since Xuan’er has returned safely, and we’ve all had a long day, why not rest here tonight and head back at dawn?”

Gu Xuan felt anxious upon hearing this. He instinctively glanced at Yao Qianqian, who remained hidden nearby.

“Third Elder, we should leave now. Most beasts rest at night, so traveling under the cover of darkness is safer. I didn’t encounter any on the way here.”

He dared not mention Yao Qianqian’s unleashed dragon might and only wished to leave the Green Forest as soon as possible.

Gu Tianya furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment before saying, “Xuan’er makes a good point. Since we’ve found him, it’s not wise to linger here. If danger strikes again, it would be too costly. Let’s pack up and leave immediately.”

Gu Ling’er nodded in agreement. The group quickly gathered their belongings, extinguished the campfire, and cautiously exited the cave.

Along the way, Gu Xuan maintained a calm facade but remained deeply worried, fearing something might happen to Yao Qianqian’s dragon might.

Fortunately, with her protection, no magical beasts approached.

The group hurried onward, soon leaving the Green Forest behind and returning to the Gu family estate.

The Gu family gate appeared especially solemn in the night. Seeing the familiar entrance, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, as if all their fatigue and worries vanished in that instant.