Gu Qingfeng rode his old horse, reminiscing as he admired the surrounding scenery.
He arrived leisurely at the foot of Wuse Mountain. The mountain gate was guarded by two young disciples. Gu Qingfeng stated the purpose of his visit, making it clear he had come to pay respects to Senior Kumu. The gate-keeping disciples didn't give him any trouble, but replied that with the Wuse Flowers about to bloom, everyone on Wuse Mountain was quite busy and had no time to receive guests.
To be honest, with Gu Qingfeng's abilities, slipping into Wuse Mountain unnoticed wouldn't be difficult at all. Even though Wuse Mountain was enveloped by various powerful formations, entering would be as easy as walking through an unguarded place for him.
However, after careful thought, he decided against it.
This visit wasn't anything urgent anyway. He had plenty of time; waiting a few more days wouldn't matter.
Moreover, he knew that Wuse Mountain had no distinction between inner and outer disciples. There were no direct disciples, not even menial workers. Everyone from the Elders down to the disciples had to handle everything personally. It was better to wait until the Wuse Flowers had fallen and Senior Kumu had finished his busy period.
He could take these few days to appreciate the sea of Wuse Flowers. Just as he was about to leave, a woman descended on the wind from afar.
She was a woman who appeared gentle and moving. She wore a light blue dress, her long hair naturally cascading down her back, fluttering slightly in the breeze, giving off a very quiet and delicate feeling.
"Senior Sister Qingxi, you're back."
When the two gate-keeping disciples saw the woman, they immediately stepped forward to greet her.
The woman called Qingxi nodded slightly, offering a smile in return. Then she glanced at Gu Qingfeng and asked, "And this is...?" The two disciples explained the situation. Qingxi seemed surprised that someone had come to visit Elder Kumu, and a young person at that. In her memory, since the end of the Ancient Era, Elder Kumu had rarely ventured out. Even when visitors came, they were mostly old friends; never had a young person come to visit.
"May I ask, young master, what is the purpose of your visit to Elder Kumu?"
Purpose?
This question left Gu Qingfeng momentarily unsure how to answer. He simply wanted to see Senior Kumu; there was nothing particularly important. He also thought about seeing if he could help in some way. That's what he thought, but he couldn't exactly say that. After a moment's contemplation, he replied, "I am the descendant of an old acquaintance of Senior Kumu. Passing through this area, I thought to pay a visit."
"I see."
Qingxi nodded gently and responded softly, "However, with the Wuse Flowers about to bloom, everyone on Wuse Mountain is busy with preparations. Moreover, Elder Kumu is presiding over this year's Wuse Flower Festival. I'm afraid the Elder has no time to receive you."
"That's alright. I can wait a few days."
Hearing about the Wuse Flower Festival, Gu Qingfeng was quite surprised. He asked, "Your Wuse Mountain still holds the Wuse Flower Festival?"
The Wuse Flower Festival was a grand event held by Wuse Mountain, almost every year when the Wuse Flowers bloomed.
In his memory, the so-called Wuse Flower Festival was where elegant scholars and artists, while admiring the Wuse Flowers, exchanged insights on immortal arts. And the arts exchanged weren't things like formations or martial skills, but focused more on music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
The reason the Nine Solitary Elders of Wuse Mountain were hailed as the Nine Ultimates was because each of the nine possessed their own unique mastery—some proficient in Musical Arts, some in calligraphy and painting, others in chess, and so on. For instance, Senior Kumu was proficient in Musical Arts. Back in the Ancient Era, he was one of the top Musical Arts masters in the Great Northwest. It was at a Wuse Flower Festival that Gu Qingfeng had first met Senior Kumu through a Musical Arts exchange insights.
He just hadn't expected that after so long, Wuse Mountain still persisted in holding the Wuse Flower Festival every year when the flowers bloomed.
"I heard that Senior Kumu is injured, isn't he? And seems to have difficulty moving? How can the Elder still preside over the Flower Festival?"
"The Elder hasn't presided over a Flower Festival for a long time, nearly a hundred years."
As she said this, a hint of melancholy flickered across Qingxi's expression. "This time, he's presiding because he wants to share the precious musical scores he has collected over his lifetime for everyone to appreciate and contemplate. For this, the Elder has painstakingly prepared for several years."
"So that's how it is."
Gu Qingfeng sighed with emotion. In his five hundred years of cultivation, he had met all sorts of people, but those who truly acted selflessly, remained true to their original intentions, and dedicated themselves to doing good were absolutely few and far between. And among them, Elder Kumu was definitely one.
"If you're not in a hurry, young master, you can wait in the guest rooms within the gardens for a few days. You can also participate in the Flower Festival our Wuse Mountain is hosting. After the festival, I can convey your message for you."
Qingxi asked, "May I ask your surname, young master?"
"My surname is Gu."
Gu Qingfeng considered that since Elder Kumu was presiding over this Wuse Flower Festival, there was no need for a separate visit; he could just see him at the festival.
"Young Master Gu, if there's nothing else, I can take you to the guest rooms now."
Gu Qingfeng nodded and followed Qingxi into the gardens.
He could tell that this Qingxi, despite her young age, was already a Daozun with Nascent Soul cultivation. Moreover, she had achieved the Great Perfection of the Eighty-One Derivations Nascent Soul. On top of that, her three Daos were quite remarkable. With such cultivation and such fortune, she would likely be an outstanding talent in any sect across the Great Northwest. Even if she wasn't the Heir Apparent, she would absolutely be one of the top direct disciples.
Most importantly, despite all this, Qingxi showed no arrogance from being favored. She treated people kindly and was approachable, which was truly rare and commendable.
It made him sigh in admiration: Wuse Mountain was indeed Wuse Mountain, worthy of respect.
"Miss, let me ask you about someone."
On the way, Gu Qingfeng suddenly remembered the goddess of his youth and wanted to inquire. "Does your Wuse Mountain have a great beauty named Liu Qingyan?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Qingxi, who had been walking ahead, abruptly stopped and looked at him with a strange expression.
"What's wrong?"
"That's my master."
Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng was momentarily speechless. "Well, that's quite a coincidence."
Indeed.
Gu Qingfeng truly hadn't expected that the first time he inquired about Senior Kumu, he ran into his disciple. This time, asking about Liu Qingyan, he actually ran into her disciple too. But upon further thought, it wasn't that much of a coincidence. Wuse Mountain didn't have many disciples to begin with, unlike other sects where one master might teach hundreds or even thousands of disciples. At Wuse Mountain, one master taught at most a few disciples.
"Coincidence? What do you mean?"
"Nothing."
Gu Qingfeng asked, "Is your master at Wuse Mountain now?"
"My master has gone out, but she'll return before the Flower Festival."
"Really? That works out perfectly."
After all, she was the goddess of his youth. Since he had come to Wuse Mountain this time, he absolutely had to see her.
Perhaps Gu Qingfeng's odd remarks aroused Qingxi's suspicion. She stared at him and asked, "Weren't you here to visit Elder Kumu? Why are you suddenly asking about my master?"
"Don't misunderstand, miss. I have no other intentions. Your master once showed me kindness. I just want to see her, that's all."