Su Xiaoliu was speechless for a while. The two walked one in front of the other and suddenly stopped in front of a stone door.
"Stay close to me. If he goes crazy later, your life might be in danger," Feng Yufei said as he felt around the stone door with his hands, as if looking for a switch.
Go crazy?
Su Xiaoliu knew who he was referring to. For a moment, she was a bit puzzled. Suddenly, she seemed to figure something out and exclaimed in surprise, "Your father is the old valley master?"
Feng Yufei just smiled without saying a word. He pressed a button, and a section of the stone door neatly retracted inward, revealing a new secret passage.
The interior was furnished similarly to the outside, just a bit darker.
Frightened by what Feng Yufei had said, Su Xiaoliu couldn't help but get closer to him.
Feng Yufei noticed this small movement of hers and let out a soft laugh.
"As long as you know to stay by my side, I'll protect you," he said.
These words sounded a bit familiar, and a sense of loss welled up in Su Xiaoliu's heart.
The two walked deeper and deeper and finally stopped in a place with a unique view.
The sound of water dripping echoed. Su Xiaoliu looked up and around.
The cave in front of them was much wider. Stalactites were constantly dripping water. There were several candle lamps hanging on the cave walls, obviously replaced daily. In the center of the cave was an uneven stone pillar, as if the cave would collapse without it. There was a small - to - medium - sized pool around the pillar. A circle of short candles was placed beside the pool. Not far away, a dejected figure caught Su Xiaoliu's attention, and she couldn't help but take a few more glances.
It was a middle - aged man in a grayish - white long gown. His head was hanging low, his long hair was messy and scattered. His two feet were chained together, and a slight sound would be made with a gentle movement. He was chained beside the stone wall like this, with only his hands free.
Was this the old valley master?
One could no longer see his former appearance. He seemed to have been sealed away for a long time. Su Xiaoliu only thought he was a bit pitiful and couldn't help but feel sympathy for him.
She looked up at Feng Yufei beside her. Feng Yufei stood still, his phoenix eyes half - closed, a smile on his lips as he said, "Father, your son has come to see you."
The medium - volume voice echoed in the empty cave, sounding extremely clear.
The iron chain made a slight sound. The middle - aged man looked up. His pair of dark phoenix eyes were extremely similar to Feng Yufei's, but one could no longer see his original face on the one covered with dirt.
His gaze fell on Su Xiaoliu. Su Xiaoliu was stunned and inexplicably wanted to avoid his gaze. She shrank back but then stopped the movement, looked up to meet the old valley master's gaze, and moved her lips, not knowing what to say.
Feng Yufei looked down at Su Xiaoliu and then at the old valley master, smiling, "Father, this is your daughter - in - law."
Su Xiaoliu was taken aback. She glared at him angrily, then turned her head and timidly glanced at the old valley master, whispering, "Hello, Valley Master."
The old valley master's eyes flashed. Suddenly, he moved, and the chain on his feet made a loud noise. Su Xiaoliu was startled and couldn't help but look up.
Feng Yufei tightened his grip on her hand. Su Xiaoliu felt a moment of peace, and then she frowned and subconsciously glanced at Feng Yufei.
Feng Yufei smiled softly, led Su Xiaoliu forward a few steps, and stopped not far from the old valley master. He said, "Father, so many years have passed, and the flowers in the Flower Valley no longer bloom. Why are you still reluctant to give up the Nine - Spirit Skill? Do you want to stay here until you die of old age?"
His words made Su Xiaoliu frown deeply. Was this how one talked to one's father?
And the Nine - Demon Skill. Was the Nine - Spirit Skill the evil skill that her elder sister had mentioned?
Su Xiaoliu looked up at the middle - aged man chained in front of the mountain wall not far away and pursed her lips.
The clouds were swirling, and the morning bells were tolling.
The Wanku Valley was still calm, but all this was just a precursor to the storm.
At the valley pass of the Wanku Valley, Zhong Fengyue in a white robe stood quietly with a long sword in his hand, looking at the rising sun in the white mist in front of him.
A woman in an apricot - colored silk dress with a white feather in her hair, holding a paper umbrella and wearing a white down cape, walked over slowly. Her almond - shaped eyes were a bit charming. She looked at Zhong Fengyue and said, "Is Young Master Zhong sighing about the desolation of the Wanku Valley now?"
Under the white gauze hat, his rosy diamond - shaped lips curved gently. His well - defined hand tightened the Tianci Sword in his hand. His pair of ink - colored eyes stared quietly into the distance. He said, "It's just that it lacks a bit of vitality. Otherwise, what's so unusual about the Wanku Valley?" The red sun in the distance broke through the dawn and illuminated the entire valley. Zhong Fengyue said softly, "The sun is the spirit of all things. Doesn't it rise and set over the Wanku Valley?"
Su Lou'er was stunned. She looked up at Zhong Fengyue quietly, stopped in her tracks by his words.
Yes, the Wanku Valley just no longer bloomed with flowers, but the sun still rose from here. The Wanku Valley was not out of favor. It was just going through its tribulations. Whether it was desolate or depressed, as long as the valley still existed, what did it matter if the flowers bloomed or withered?
Su Lou'er pursed her lips and smiled. Holding the umbrella, she looked at the red sun in the white mist in front of her. The dazzling light made her close her eyes involuntarily. She said with a soft laugh, "What Young Master Zhong said is very true."
After a while, Su Lou'er looked up at him, with a hint of teasing on her face. She said, "I thought Xiaoliu had married into an ordinary family, but I didn't expect that person to be Young Master Zhong of the Tianci Cult. Was it my father who miscalculated, or Xiaoliu?"
Zhong Fengyue lowered his eyes. Suddenly, he remembered Su Xiaoliu's smiling face, and a dull pain welled up in his heart.
"Where is Xiaoliu?" He looked up at Su Lou'er, hiding the sadness in his eyes, and smiled.
The wind blew through the white down on the cape, carrying a wisp of Su Lou'er's long hair and scattering it in the air. Su Lou'er held the paper umbrella, turned around, and lowered her eyes. She said, "Young Master Zhong, follow me."
In the empty cave, only the sound of water dripping lingered.
The candle lamps on the cave wall swayed gently, and there was complete silence.
Feng Yufei in a crimson long robe stood quietly on one side. Su Xiaoliu couldn't help but look up at him and pursed her lips.
The old valley master, bound by the iron chain, suddenly moved slightly, and the chain made a sound. The two of them looked over together.
Under his messy hair, a face that was hard to recognize was revealed. His pair of dark eyes stared at Su Xiaoliu without saying a word.
Su Xiaoliu was stunned. She didn't know if the old valley master was a good person or not and didn't dare to act rashly. She had no choice but to lower her head.
Seeing this, Feng Yufei curled his lips into a smile. Just as he was about to say something, he heard the old valley master's hoarse voice sound lowly.
"Are you also from the Su family?"
Su Xiaoliu was stunned. She looked up to meet the old valley master's gaze. He actually spoke?
Moreover, how did the old valley master know that she was from the Su family? And he added the word "also". Did the other person from the Su family refer to her elder sister, Su Lou'er?
Su Xiaoliu was a bit hesitant but still nodded and said softly, "Yes."
Feng Yufei looked down at Su Xiaoliu and then at the old valley master, smiling, "I didn't expect Father to recognize her."
The old valley master stared at Su Xiaoliu quietly. After a while, he said in a low voice, "You look alike. Really alike..."