Famous mountains, ancient temples, peaks, ferry crossings, swallow pavilions, strong liquor, and small huts?
When Zhao Shuning opened her eyes, these jumbled things came into view.
Beside the Undercurrent River, shouldn't it be the Dark Swamp Land? How could such a scene appear here?
She got up and looked to her side, which made her even more surprised.
This was a small island. All around the island was a lake. The water in this lake was clear. Where was the Undercurrent River she had seen before?
Zhao Shuning walked forward slowly.
According to the map, this place was not marked on the Dark Swamp Land. Although this small island was not big, judging from the situation, there must be people living here. Since there were people living here, how could it not be discovered?
The deeper Zhao Shuning walked, the more curious she became.
As she walked along, she didn't see a single person.
The Dark Swamp Land was basically a must - pass place for the trials of the Misty Rain Tower. Over the years, no one had discovered this place.
No, perhaps someone had discovered it, but the people living here must be very confident. After all, it was extremely difficult to cross the Undercurrent River to get here. Those trial students wouldn't jump into the Undercurrent River recklessly for no reason.
The layout here was in good order.
Zhao Shuning touched the ancient rock wall and gently sniffed the aroma of wine in the air.
All the way, she didn't meet a single person. After walking for about half an hour, she reached the end. Zhao Shuning found a small courtyard. There were some paintings on the wall of the courtyard.
She leaned closer. Those marks looked somewhat similar to what she remembered.
Looking up further, there was a wooden sign on the courtyard, which read "The Lin Family's Small Courtyard".
The Lin Family's Small Courtyard? The Lin Family?
Right. Before she came to the Misty Rain Tower, her father had said that among the people coming to the Misty Rain Tower for trials, there were many outer - door disciples of the Lin family. She must be careful of their tricks. The Lin family had also participated in the planning and exploration of the Dark Swamp Land. Could this secluded small courtyard be the work of Lin Feng?
Zhao Shuning slowly walked into the courtyard. Some little squirrels were jumping around on the eaves. It seemed that although the people living here were reclusive, their life should be very pleasant.
However, even if one hated the mundane world, there was no need to live in this god - forsaken place in the middle of the Undercurrent River, right?
In other words, wasn't this just like being imprisoned in solitary confinement?
Now, there was probably no one here. Zhao Shuning groped her way into a small side room all the way. She had been following those marks. When she pushed open the small door, what came into her view had changed a lot.
The layout here was exactly the same as the small hut she and her younger brother had lived in when she was a child.
Younger brother? Ye Xingchen?
In her previous life as Ye Ling, she had searched for her younger brother for so many years without any clue. She never thought that she could find a hint here.
Zhao Shuning no longer hesitated. She searched the side room skillfully. Here she found many childhood toys, all things her younger brother liked.
Since they had parted as children, no matter how hard she searched, she couldn't find her younger brother. How could she have imagined that he would be living alone on a small and narrow island?
Her younger brother was extremely talented. He had great talent in both spiritual power and combat ability.
Now it seemed that at that time, her younger brother didn't get separated from her. Instead, he was targeted by Lin Feng and sent to this island far from the mundane world to be raised.
Zhao Shuning wandered around this deserted small island for a long time, and the things she discovered were getting more and more.
Those confinement boards must have been used against Xingchen.
And the strong liquor in the air carried a strong smell of medicinal herbs. Most of the herbs in it were those that could make people forget things. Xingchen left her at such a young age. Without his sister's care, how much suffering had he endured?
Fortunately for Zhao Shuning, although this small island was deserted, it could be seen that someone must have lived in this small courtyard within the past six months. Xingchen must still be alive. It was just that she didn't know where he was now and what identity he was living with.
"He's not dead. My younger brother, he's still alive."
Zhao Shuning touched the painting in her hand. In the painting, there was a little girl in cloth clothes hiding beside a haystack. She was holding a bunch of candied haws in her hand and stretching out her hand with a very happy smile.
In the lower - right corner of the painting, there was a date, five months ago. At that time, she was just about to go to the Misty Rain Tower for trials.
She carefully put away the painting. It seemed that Xingchen was not affected by the medicinal herbs in the strong liquor. His memory must still be intact. That old scoundrel Lin Feng must have underestimated the bloodline of the Ye family. How could ordinary medicinal herbs damage Xingchen's memory?
Misfortune may be an actual blessing. Now, Zhao Shuning was extremely grateful that Zhang Tianyuan had forced her into a desperate situation. If not for this, how could she have come to this small island and seen so many things related to her younger brother?
Also, when she was floating on the Undercurrent River before, Zhao Shuning could feel that when she was on the verge of death, a soft force had saved her.
There, she also saw the soul of her master. He probably loved her, too. The look on his face in that last moment must have shown his reluctance to part with her.
In her previous life as Ye Ling, Ye Xingchen was her relative, and the Imperial Teacher Yan Ruyu was her future reliance.
"Master, you will come to find me, right?"
Even if you don't come to find me, I will slowly, step by step, walk to your side.
"This place is good. I can practice my suddenly increased but unstable spiritual power here."
While wandering around just now, Zhao Shuning found that there were still many precious medicinal herbs on this small island. These medicinal herbs were far better than those on the Dark Swamp Land. If she was short of medicinal herbs, she could use these spiritual herbs to refine some pills.
Her younger brother was also a pill - refiner. From the medicinal herbs he planted, it could be seen that his rank must be quite high.
"In this way, I don't have to worry that you will be bullied by others after you go out."
Maybe, Ye Xingchen was now the center of attention, much stronger than Zhao Shuning. Now what she should worry about was how to improve her own rank. Otherwise, a small Zhang Tianyuan could force her into such a situation. She might die here before even finding her younger brother.