The more I spent time with Qingdai, the more I understood my own heart.
There is no reason to like someone, and even less reason to love someone.
Not to mention that Qingdai and I share a fate spanning ten lifetimes.
However, Qingdai's injuries were severe. She swayed and seemed dizzy after just talking to us for a short while.
So, I didn't plan to disturb her further.
I spoke to Qingdai, saying:
"Qingdai, you should continue your closed-door cultivation to heal your injuries! It's time for me to go back."
As I spoke, my eyes showed exhaustion.
Qingdai could also see that I was indeed very tired.
She nodded at this point:
"Mm, be careful on your way!"
I smiled at her, gave her a deep look, and then turned to walk out of the room.
As I reached the doorway, I couldn't help but look back at her.
Qingdai was also looking at me.
Although we didn't speak any more words, it felt as if we had said a great deal.
Finally, without looking back again, I walked directly out of Qingdai's room.
Once outside, the guards and the Twelve Demon Souls all cupped their fists towards me and said:
"Young Master Qin!"
I nodded at everyone and smiled.
At the same time, Dragon Granny also stepped out.
Seeing Dragon Granny emerge, the guards resealed the small courtyard.
A sealing character appeared, enveloping the small courtyard.
Ensuring Qingdai's absolute safety.
Seeing that Qingdai had entered closed-door cultivation again, I didn't intend to linger.
I said to Dragon Granny:
"Dragon Granny, I'm heading back now."
"Young Master Qin, this old woman will see you off!"
Dragon Granny said with a kind smile.
I responded with an "Mm," and then left with the Twelve Demon Souls.
The ghost guards behind me cupped their fists towards me again:
"We bid farewell to Young Master Qin!"
We passed through several courtyards, and within a short while, we arrived at the entrance.
I turned back and cupped my fists towards Dragon Granny:
"Dragon Granny, please do not see me further!"
"Please, Young Master, travel safely. And the Twelve Zodiacs, you must protect Young Master Qin well."
The Twelve Demon Souls all cupped their fists and replied:
"Dragon Granny, rest assured. We will not fail the Princess's trust. We will surely protect Young Master Qin's safety, even if our souls are scattered."
Hearing this, my heart was deeply moved and grateful.
Afterward, I waved goodbye to Dragon Granny:
"Farewell!"
With that, I turned and left.
At this moment, the Twelve Demon Souls transformed into wisps of mist and entered the Purple Bone Vine bracelet on my wrist.
On the way back, I no longer had the same energy as when I had arrived.
I felt as though if I lay down, I would immediately fall asleep.
However, I still dragged my exhausted body back to the shop quickly.
It was already late at night, and the room was pitch black.
Turning on the light, I looked at the familiar surroundings, and felt a sense of relaxation wash over me.
Although sleepy, the first thing I did upon returning home was to offer incense to my master.
Without my master, I would not be where I am today.
"Master, I have returned from Wudang. And I have won the title of the foremost among the younger generation. If you are aware of this in the afterlife, you must be very happy for me.
Oh, and Daoist Crow is dead.
I killed him..."
I spoke sporadically to my master's memorial tablet.
After about two or three minutes, I bowed three times and then inserted the incense.
My body was too fatigued, so this time I didn't even wash my face before lying down on the bed.
I truly collapsed and fell asleep, feeling as though there was no time for any buffer.
I slept soundly and my sleep quality was very high.
When I opened my eyes again, I found it was already the afternoon of the next day.
I had slept soundly.
But my stomach was rumbling with hunger.
I ordered takeout and then sat on the bed to meditate, circulating spiritual energy, and checking my cultivation.
Currently, I had 18 streams of true qi in my dantian.
My cultivation had reached the peak of Xuan Dan.
However, due to my injuries, I could not exert my full strength.
For now, I could only use wood-attribute spiritual energy to continuously recover myself.
After circulating energy for about half an hour, the takeout arrived.
After eating my fill, I resumed my previous actions.
I did nothing but circulate energy at home for the entire day.
The spiritual energy here was truly much weaker compared to Wudang Mountain.
But thankfully, I possessed wood-attribute spiritual energy, allowing me to absorb and recover slightly better than ordinary spiritual roots.
Thus, I remained in closed-door cultivation and recuperation at the shop for a full week.
During this week, I did not open for business. Apart from occasional visits from my junior uncle, Old Mo, and Xiao Yao, I saw no one.
And within this week, the entire Daoist martial world had been shaken to its core.
The cause was the discovery of the Wudang Mountain Ghost Tomb.
Now, all the sects and factions were actively preparing for battle.
Because no one knew whether a ghost tomb might be lurking near their own sect.
And the Underworld Cult, which had not been eradicated, was like a sword of Damocles hanging overhead, ready to fall at any moment.
The conflicts between the various sects had clearly eased considerably.
Furthermore, all sects began to recruit disciples more broadly, significantly lowering their entry requirements.
This was not for any other reason than to prepare for dealing with these evil forces.
My injuries had also recovered about seventy to eighty percent within a week.
My body had finally recuperated.
I just didn't know if Qingdai had finished her cultivation and if she was better.
But I imagined that if Qingdai emerged from seclusion, she would come to find me.
If my body was fully recovered, the next step would be to contact the Bottomless Old Mother of the Bottomless Cave in Black Mud Ridge, and the Third Ancestor Hu of Huxian Mountain in Bachuan.
Thinking of these, I decided to set out tomorrow.
Therefore, I went to sleep early.
But not long after I fell asleep, my master, who served as a ghost messenger in the underworld, dragged me into a dream again...