When Zhaozhao set off with her small cloth bag, she felt a bit unsure of herself, so she contacted her senior brothers and sisters in advance.
On the other end of the small conch shell, the voice of the third senior brother, Jian Yun, sounded as unserious as ever. "Zhaozhao? Have you missed your senior brother already after just a few days?"
Zhaozhao looked at the moon hanging high in the sky and absent - mindedly kicked a small pebble on the road. She gave a soft "hmm".
Jian Yun seemed to sense that Zhaozhao had something on her mind. He immediately put away his joking tone and asked seriously, "What's wrong? What happened?"
"Senior brother..." Zhaozhao tightened the strings of her small cloth bag and walked slowly. "Did Master punish you last time?"
Zhaozhao was sure that there must have been some punishment, but she didn't know exactly how Master had punished her senior brothers and sisters. Thinking that she might have to trouble them again this time, she felt very conflicted and sorry. She didn't know how to bring it up.
Yue Yao, who had been listening on the side for a while, immediately knew that Zhaozhao must have something she wanted their help with. But their Zhaozhao had been sensible and caring since childhood. She might still be feeling guilty because of the last incident, so she hesitated to speak.
Yue Yao couldn't bear to see her junior sister looking so aggrieved. She felt so heart - broken that she snatched the small conch shell from Jian Yun's hand. Her voice was soft and soothing. "Last time, we just had to stay on the Cliff of Reflection for two days. Master didn't really have the heart to watch over us, so we didn't take the punishment seriously. This is even less severe than the time when your third senior brother secretly pulled out Master's spiritual herbs."
Hearing her senior sister mention the past, Zhaozhao finally showed a look of relief on her face, with a hint of nostalgia in her eyes.
She suddenly missed the carefree days when everyone was together on Wutong Mountain.
Although Master didn't say he would expel her from the sect after she defied him last time, she was still quite worried.
"So, Zhaozhao, you must tell us if there's anything. We'll be very worried if you don't. Do you understand?" The gentle and powerful voice of the second senior sister came through the conch shell into Zhaozhao's ears, giving her a lot of confidence and a sense of security.
She felt warm inside and slowly told her senior sisters about the sacred object of the Eastern Tribe.
She omitted some things that couldn't be known by people and demons outside the Demon Administration Bureau. She simply told her senior brothers and sisters what had happened, and vaguely hinted that she wanted to go back to Wutong Mountain to ask Master for clarification.
However, this idea was nipped in the bud by the eldest senior brother, Yun Ze, before she could even say it formally.
The eldest senior brother told her regretfully, "It's probably impossible to go back to the mountain. Master has changed the barrier of Wutong Mountain. Now, not only can't you get in, but we can't get out either."
"Ah? Alright..." Zhaozhao's spirits immediately sank. Had Master really not wanted her anymore since he changed the barrier?
She stopped walking. She sniffled a little sadly, feeling wronged.
"However, we can secretly investigate the thing you mentioned. Don't worry. Although Master's actions last time were strange, Zhaozhao, you've grown up by Master's side since childhood. You should know that Master wouldn't do such a thing, right?" Yun Ze patiently advised Zhaozhao. He was also afraid that his junior sister would misunderstand Master and develop a rift.
None of the people on Wutong Mountain wanted to see such a situation.
"I know." Zhaozhao's voice was muffled. In fact, she just wanted to confirm with Master in person and find an excuse to see him. She had many questions she wanted to ask Master.
Master used to say that sending her down the mountain was to help the Song family overcome a disaster and accumulate her own merits. But she had been down the mountain for so long, and the Song family seemed to be fine. Master, on the other hand, was becoming more and more strange, which made her feel very uneasy.
But things had come to this point. Zhaozhao knew that it was useless to say more. Now she could only wait for the news from her senior brothers.
The senior brothers and sisters chatted for a few more words. Just as they were about to end the communication, Zhaozhao suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, senior sister, do you know any way to trap a person in a fixed area without using magic?"
The second senior sister usually had quite a lot of research on ancient techniques. Zhaozhao was at a loss about Zhuang Ming's matter, so she thought it might be useful to ask her senior sister.
On Wutong Mountain, Yue Yao frowned after hearing her junior sister's words. She couldn't think of such a method for a moment. She said thoughtfully, "You should ask the fifth junior brother. Your little senior brother specializes in this kind of thing."
The fifth junior brother Yue Yao mentioned was Cheng Sang, the fifth disciple of the Vermilion Bird. He was a white deer.
Although Cheng Sang was a disciple of the Vermilion Bird Sect, in fact, he spent most of the year learning arts in the Kunlun Ruins. He was the one who spent the least time on Wutong Mountain among the senior brothers. However, this didn't affect their relationship.
On the contrary, because of this, Cheng Sang, who could often go down the mountain, would become a shopper for his senior brothers, sisters, and junior sister Zhaozhao every time he went back. He would surely come back with big and small bags.
But also because of this, Zhaozhao often couldn't get in touch with this little senior brother.
She said a bit distressfully, "Junior Brother Cheng Sang is in the Kunlun Ruins. I can't find him."
Jian Yun seemed to think of something. He joined in the conversation without a care. "It's easy. Just let him come to you."
"I heard when Junior Brother Cheng Sang and Master had their regular communication last time. The immortal who is teaching him in the Kunlun Ruins said that he wanted him to experience the mortal world. Master agreed. Later, senior brother will send you a message and let him come to you. That kid has been talking about you all the time anyway."
"Great!" Zhaozhao didn't expect the problem to be solved so easily. She began to feel excited. A smile appeared on her face, looking as sweet as a date.
The four senior brothers and sisters chatted some more idle talk and then ended the communication.
Zhaozhao had full confidence in her little senior brother Cheng Sang. She thought that with him around, Zhuang Ming's matter should be solved soon. Thinking of this, even her steps on the way back became lighter. She bounced along as she walked.
She was bouncing so happily that she didn't pay much attention to the road. As a result, she accidentally tripped over something. In the darkness, she staggered.
"Help... save me..."
A weak male voice sounded. Zhaozhao took out a night - shining pearl from her small cloth bag and squatted down to check.
She was a bit nervous. The voice sounded like the person was about to die. She was worried that it was because of her kick just now. She hoped she hadn't stepped on the person to death!
Lying on the ground was a handsome and somewhat evil - looking young man. The silver earring on his left ear glistened under Zhaozhao's night - shining pearl. He opened his eyes with difficulty and looked at Zhaozhao. His chest heaved constantly, looking very painful.
"Save me..." The young man managed to utter these three words. Suddenly, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, splashing some on Zhaozhao's shoes.
Zhaozhao stared at the blood on her shoes. Her delicate eyebrows knitted together. She looked at the suddenly - appeared young man suspiciously.
After thinking for a long time, she narrowed her eyes, stood up, and took two steps back. She said mysteriously, "Are you playing the victim?"
Lou Qingzhuo, who was trying hard to act in great pain: "?"