The return journey took far less time than the journey there.
They finally returned to the Primordial World. To their surprise, just as they stepped out of the boundary, they ran into Hongyun and Zhenyuanzi, who were waiting there.
Yuan Heng: !??
Why did this guy seem... a little slow?
This Fellow Daoist Hongyun possessed the Grand Purple Qi yet hadn't been taken in as a disciple by her honored master. Now that class was dismissed, why wasn't he making a swift retreat to Wuzhuang Temple with Zhenyuanzi? What was he doing lingering here?
Seeing her return, Hongyun hurriedly stepped forward to greet them. “Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng, Fellow Daoists of the Three Pure Ones.”
“Fellow Daoist Hongyun?”
All four of them were quite surprised. Yuan Heng, in particular, wore a look of strong disapproval. “Fellow Daoist Hongyun, since you possess such a precious treasure, you should be all the more careful to protect yourself.”
Why on earth was he wandering around?
Yuan Heng's subtle gaze fell upon his close friend, Zhenyuanzi. This guy was the same; why hadn't he tried to talk some sense into him?
Zhenyuanzi: ⊙᎔⊙
I've talked until my mouth is practically falling off, okay?!
Hearing the concern in Yuan Heng's voice, Hongyun laughed heartily. “Thank you for your concern, Fellow Daoist. With Zhenyuanzi as my companion, it is no trouble at all.
“I am waiting here this time precisely because of the Grand Purple Qi...”
Hongyun's voice was filled with earnestness. “I don't know how it happened either. That Grand Purple Qi literally forced its way into my arms. Before that...”
It had originally hovered over Yuan Heng's head.
Everyone present understood the unspoken implication of Hongyun's words, and all eyes turned to focus on the person in question.
From Hongyun's perspective, Yuan Heng was the one who had originally gained the favor of the Grand Purple Qi, and she just so happened to be the personal disciple of the Dao Ancestor... No matter how one looked at it, it shouldn't have fallen into his hands.
Did this make any sense?
Ah, so it was because of this. No wonder she had felt Fellow Daoist Hongyun's gaze was a little off at the time.
Yuan Heng smiled slightly, her eyes filled with easy reassurance. “Fellow Daoist Hongyun, there is no need to trouble your mind over this.
“I did not take this matter to heart. To obtain it is my fortune; to lose it is my fate... Everything is destined in the grand scheme of things.
“It was destined for the Grand Purple Qi to fall into your hands, so you may simply keep it.”
Fellow Daoist Hongyun truly was the number one honest man of the Primordial World.
Seeing this, Hongyun let out a slow sigh of relief. “Then I shall shamelessly accept it. Thank you for your understanding, Fellow Daoist.”
Sigh, all this fuss, and she hadn't even given it a second thought.
Looking at Hongyun, whose eyes held a certain pure innocence, and remembering that they had once played cards together, Yuan Heng decided to offer another warning. “Since you possess the Grand Purple Qi, you should be careful in your daily life. It is best to avoid going out as much as possible before you have fully comprehended it.
“Even if you must go out, you should bring Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi along.”
How does this guy seem even more oblivious to danger than me?
Yuan Heng sighed in her heart, deciding to add one more layer of insurance for him. “Fellow Daoist Hongyun, this is for you.”
With a wave of her hand, a soft pink blossom emitting the spiritual breath of life quietly bloomed in her palm.
Hongyun was stunned and instinctively took it. “Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng, what is the meaning of this?”
Yuan Heng waved her hand, and the spiritual flower dissolved into a faint reddish glow, leaving a subtle floral imprint branded onto his wrist.
“I simply thought the flower was beautiful and suited you well, so I wanted to give it to you.”
Hongyun's face flushed. Ah, was Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng giving him a flower?
But he was a male...
Oh my~ this was quite embarrassing.
Yuan Heng, however, did not notice his blushing face. The corners of her mouth curved up slightly, and her tone carried a hint of indifference. “There is no need to worry, Fellow Daoist. Just think of it as a token of our friendship as card partners.”
Although she had kicked Hongyun out of her card-playing circle eight hundred years ago, that did not stop her from using it as a convenient excuse now.
Hongyun: “...”
So that's how it was. He had overthought things.
Seeing that the matter was settled, Yuan Heng waved her hand dismissively. “Fellow Daoist Hongyun, hurry back with Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi.”
With these two squatting here waiting for her, who knew how many eyes were secretly watching them?
Ah, Honored Master even said that a personality like hers would easily suffer losses in the Primordial World. In her opinion, Fellow Daoist Hongyun was the one who truly deserved that assessment.
She was far better at avoiding risks than he was!~
Hongjun: “...”
My dear disciple, you two are cut from the same cloth.
Hongyun wanted to say more, but seeing the situation, Zhenyuanzi grabbed his collar. Raising the barrier of the Book of the Earth, he threw Hongyun over his shoulder and ran.
“Fellow Daoist Yuan Heng, Fellow Daoists of the Three Pure Ones, Hongyun and I shall take our leave first!”
Their figures quickly vanished. Immediately after, the figures hiding in the dark popped up one after another, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.
With sharp, glinting eyes, they shot off in the direction the two had gone, hot on their heels.
Yuan Heng and the Three Pure Ones: “...”
So small a place, yet so many people.
In today's Primordial World, the heroes of the land truly were as numerous as carps crossing a river...
Yuan Heng marveled silently in her heart. As her thoughts drifted, Tongtian stepped closer and spoke to her with a teasing look in eyes.
“The immortals of the Primordial World all long for the opportunity of Sainthood like fish longing for water. Why is it that you and Fellow Daoist Hongyun are pushing it back and forth?”
Yuan Heng looked at Tongtian and shook her head gently. “Honored Master once said that the Grand Purple Qi carries a massive karma with it. It does not belong to me.”
Ugh... it probably wouldn't belong to Hongyun either.
Tongtian was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then offered a bright smile. “Junior Sister is truly discerning.”
Yuan Heng nodded. Of course she was discerning.
Sigh, she only hoped Fellow Daoist Hongyun could be just as discerning and grow some common sense.
She raised her hands in farewell to the Three Pure Ones. “Three senior brothers, now that we have returned to the Primordial World, your junior sister shall take her leave first. I will visit Kunlun another day.”
She had been away for so long; who knew what changes had occurred on her island? She was truly looking forward to it.
“Ah, Junior Sister Yuan Heng, are you returning to your island so soon?”
He had wanted to invite his junior sister to Kunlun again.
Yuan Heng nodded, her brow filled with a warm smile. “Senior Brother Tongtian, I have been out for a long time, and it is indeed time for me to go back.
“However... if you find yourself with some free time, Senior Brother, you are welcome to visit me on the island.”
Hearing this, Tongtian instantly beamed with joy. “Excellent! I shall keep your invitation in mind, Junior Sister.”
A perfect playmate!~
Yuanshi pursed his lips. Looking at the two cheerful figures, he ultimately could not help but chime in. “Third Brother, Junior Sister, do not be so playful. You must still focus your minds on the proper path of cultivation.”
His youngest brother had always been unreliable, and their junior sister was still young, while their eldest brother only knew how to indulge her blindly... He couldn't help but worry.
Taiqing: “...”
Who is indulging blindly?
Yuan Heng heard this and instantly tucked her hands into her sleeves, her face turning deadpan serious as she took a swift step forward to stand in alignment with Yuanshi.
“Senior Brother Yuanshi speaks the truth. Senior Brother Tongtian, we cultivators should focus our minds on the pursuit of the Great Dao.
“How can we indulge in playfulness like this?”
She blinked at Yuanshi, her face filled with innocence. Senior Brother Yuanshi, since you've lectured him, you can't lecture me anymore, okay?
I am super well-behaved.
Yuanshi: “...”
Why does it feel like Junior Sister is not speaking from the heart?
Well, at least the child's attitude was upright.
Yuanshi nodded at Yuan Heng. “If you encounter any difficult problems, Junior Sister, you can come to Kunlun at any time, or send a message to us.”
Tongtian wore a look of helplessness. “I understand as well, Second Brother.”
He turned to look at Yuan Heng. “Then, Little Junior Sister, remember to come to us if anything happens. Do not try to hold out on your own.”
Yuan Heng looked back with a gentle smile and bowed to the Three Pure Ones once more. “Thank you, three senior brothers. I will keep that in mind.”
Ah, the concern of her three senior brothers really warmed her heart. How sweet of them!~
Taiqing nodded slightly, a smile spreading across his lips. “Very well. Junior Sister, let us part here.”
“Alright~ I wish you three senior brothers an early attainment of Sainthood!”
The Three Pure Ones nodded slightly to her. Yuan Heng headed east while the Three Pure Ones went west, and the two groups went their separate ways.
Sitting upon her lotus, Yuan Heng flew all the way toward the East Sea, her face completely wreathed in smiles.
Hehehe, this trip to Purple Heaven Palace was truly filled with bountiful rewards. She was really being deeply spoiled by her honored master.
She was so happy again!~
Rate on N.U.
