txolops Chapter 53 Song Meng
Chapter 53 Song Meng
On the southern continent, Mount Akina, where the Eastern Yu Kingdom and the Yuanwu Kingdom meet, is currently shrouded in a misty rain.
The mountain is not majestic or precipitous; instead, it exudes a gentle charm reminiscent of the Jiangnan region.
The mountains rise and fall gently, lacking any extraordinary peaks or strange rocks, but their beauty lies in the vibrant wildflowers that blanket the hillsides. A fine drizzle, like silk threads, weaves an endless, hazy net, enveloping the world within it.
The raindrops were as fine as cow's hair and as light as drifting smoke. When they fell on the petals, they condensed into crystal-clear teardrops, which rolled down the flower stamens and spread out a wet, crimson hue.
The air was filled with the fragrance of earth and the fresh scent of flowers and grass, mixed with the crispness of rain, which was refreshing and invigorating.
On the winding mountain road, two figures walked slowly through the rain.
Walking in front was a woman in a light purple dress. She had a graceful figure, and although she was a mother, time had not left any trace on her face. Her skin was still as delicate as mutton fat jade.
She held a paper umbrella painted with plum blossoms, tilting it slightly to completely shield the little girl beside her, while half of her own shoulder was soaked with sweat, revealing a deep maternal love.
She was Dong Xuan'er, the once proud and willful girl in Huangfeng Valley. Now, her brows showed more maturity and sorrow, and her once alluring peach blossom eyes were now filled with unspoken thoughts.
"Mother, does Grandmother live upstairs?"
The little girl beside him was about five or six years old, with delicate features and a pair of bright, lively eyes; she was none other than Han Baibai.
She looked remarkably like Dong Xuan'er, but possessed a more composed demeanor typical of the Han family.
She was splashing in puddles, her cheerful laughter echoing through the quiet valley, like a little sprite who had strayed into the mortal world.
"It should be there," Dong Xuan'er replied softly, but her gaze was somewhat unfocused.
Her thoughts had already flown back to several years ago. At that time, she reunited with her biological father, resolutely left Yellow Maple Valley, and parted ways with her master, Hong Fu, on bad terms.
That parting lasted for years. The disappointed and heartbroken look in her master's eyes still feels like a thorn stuck in her heart.
Does she still hate herself?
As soon as the thought popped into her head, Dong Xuan'er felt a stinging sensation in her nose and her eyes slightly burning.
She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the panic in her heart, looked down at her daughter, and said softly, "Xiaobai, stop playing. You have to behave well when you go up there, and don't displease your grandmother."
"Little Bai is so well-behaved, Grandma will definitely love Little Bai!" The little girl puffed out her chest, her face full of confidence, her two dimples appearing and disappearing.
Just as the mother and daughter were about to reach a pavilion halfway up the mountain, a whooshing sound suddenly came from afar.
"Is that Junior Sister Xuan'er?"
The clear voice, carrying a hint of incredulous surprise, pierced through the rain.
Dong Xuan'er's heart skipped a beat, and she looked up sharply. She saw several streaks of light pierce the gloomy sky and land in front of the mountain path in an instant.
The light faded, revealing a young cultivator. He had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and his blue robe made him look particularly upright in the rain. It was none other than Song Meng, who had been her fellow disciple back then.
"Senior Brother Song Meng!" Dong Xuan'er was overjoyed, and her tense nerves relaxed a little at this moment.
"Greetings, Uncle-Master!"
Before Dong Xuan'er could speak, Xiao Bai beside her had already given a proper bow, her voice clear and melodious. She blinked her big eyes, curiously observing the group of cultivators who had descended from the sky.
Song Meng, who had been filled with questions, his gaze shifting between Dong Xuan'er and the little girl, was taken aback upon hearing this address. A look of realization and fondness flashed in his eyes: "This is...?"
Looking at her daughter's obedient appearance, Dong Xuan'er smiled gently, reached out and pulled Xiaobai into her arms, and softly introduced her, "She is my child with Junior Brother Xiao Liu. Today... I brought her to meet Master."
When "Xiao Liu" was mentioned, Dong Xuan'er's eyes dimmed for a moment, but quickly regained their clarity.
Upon hearing this, Song Meng was completely stunned.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately let out a complex sigh, followed by a sincere smile: "I used to think you'd end up with Junior Brother Han Li, but I didn't expect Wei Niang to be right. It really is his younger brother, Han Xiaoliu. Congratulations!"
Although he offered his congratulations, a hint of regret lingered deep in his eyes.
After Han Li became famous in Jingu Plain, who would have thought that he would disappear without a trace, and Han Xiaoliu would also seem to have vanished into thin air.
Seemingly sensing the subtle tension in the atmosphere, Song Meng quickly composed himself and changed the subject, saying, "What a coincidence, my junior sister had to go out today. If she saw you, she would be overjoyed. But my master is in the valley, so you've come at just the right time."
Upon hearing this, the gloom in Dong Xuan'er's eyes finally dissipated, replaced by a relieved smile.
"Thank you, senior brother."
The three walked side by side into the depths of the valley. The rain was still falling, but it no longer seemed so cold.
"Uncle Song, is there anything fun to do here? Little Bai can catch butterflies!"
"Haha, then your uncle will take you to see something even more fun..."
"OK!"
The little girl's chattering, childlike words instantly broke down years of barriers and awkwardness.
Song Meng's hearty laughter mingled with Xiao Bai's clear voice, echoing amidst the rain of flowers on Mount Akina.
Dong Xuan'er walked to the side, listening to the long-awaited liveliness. Her tense heartstrings finally relaxed completely, and the smile on her lips finally reached her eyes.
After resolving the karmic entanglements of Huangfeng Valley, Fairy Hongfu found Song Meng and Zhong Weiniang, took them away from Xu Kingdom, and finally settled them in this beautiful and spiritual place called Mount Akina.
The valley is deep and secluded, filled with spiritual energy.
Two elegant courtyards are nestled at the bottom of the valley. They are the residences of Song Meng and Zhong Weiniang, while Hong Fu lives alone in a more secluded cave in the distance, rarely venturing out.
At this moment, the atmosphere in front of the array light screen outside the cave was somewhat tense.
Song Meng stopped and turned back to take a deep look at Dong Xuan'er.
His gaze was complex, containing both pity for his deceased friend and concern for his uncle's temperament.
"Junior sister, I'll go in and report first..." Song Meng paused, but ultimately swallowed the rest of her sentence.
But both of them knew the truth. Back then, Dong Xuan'er's joining the Hehuan Sect broke Hong Fu's heart. Now that time has passed, no one could guarantee whether that protective but fiercely independent senior uncle would still be willing to see this "rebellious" disciple.
Dong Xuan'er lowered her eyes, concealing the unease in them, and nodded gently: "Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother."
As she spoke, she subconsciously tightened her grip on her daughter's small hand. The mother and daughter stood quietly in the drizzle, gazing at the tightly closed array gate.
Song Meng said no more, took out a token and infused it with spiritual power. With a ripple like water, he flashed through the protective barrier.
Passing through the array, Song Meng did not linger, heading straight for the ancient cave dwelling deep within. He knew the path here by heart, passing through several stone chambers before finally stopping in front of a tightly closed stone door.
He bowed respectfully, transmitted his voice in a secret tone, and said, "Song Meng greets his martial uncle."
Silence reigned within the stone gate. After a long while, a cold, indifferent voice drifted out, devoid of any discernible emotion: "What is it?"
Song Meng carefully chose his words before speaking cautiously: "Reporting to Martial Uncle, Junior Sister Xuan'er requests an audience. She... also brought someone with her..."
"Let her go back!"
Before she could finish speaking, Hong Fu's cold, hard voice came from inside the stone gate, like a block of ice thrown into a deep pool, "Tell her not to disturb my cultivation."
Song Meng's heart tightened, and he was about to plead for his junior sister when the voice rang out again, this time with an indescribable weariness and relief:
"Go ahead, it's her choice, she chose this path herself."
These words struck Song Meng like a heavy hammer blow.
He sighed, knowing that his uncle's mind was made up, and could only retreat helplessly.
Outside the formation, Dong Xuan'er saw Song Meng walk out with a solemn expression, and her heart sank.
Her nails dug deep into her palms, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on Han Baibai's hand, her knuckles turning white.
Han Baibai, who had been standing obediently, suddenly noticed her mother's helplessness.
Taking advantage of the moment when Song Meng removed the array restriction, she quietly pulled her hand out of Dong Xuan'er's palm and, like a nimble little swallow, slipped past Song Meng's side in a flash.
"Hey! Little White!"
Dong Xuan'er exclaimed in surprise and was about to stop him when she saw that Song Meng did not intend to activate the formation. Instead, he stepped aside to make way for her.
The two exchanged a knowing glance.
In this current stalemate, only this exquisitely beautiful little fellow might be able to melt that iceberg.
Watching her daughter disappear behind the formation, Dong Xuan'er's eyes reddened slightly, and she looked at Song Meng gratefully: "Thank you, Senior Brother."
Song Meng gave a wry smile, waved his hand, and followed the direction in which Xiao Bai disappeared, saying softly, "I don't want to see you two remain in this stalemate. Since you chose Junior Brother Han Xiaoliu, although your master is angry, he will eventually feel a little better..."
He paused here, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes:
"Hopefully, this little guy can melt my uncle's frozen heart!"