Shen Xiaoyan watched Yi Zhixie disappear from sight, her eyes filled with suspicion. She didn't say anything, but simply told Luoluo to see if it could follow and eavesdrop on their conversation.
"Be careful, if it's too dangerous, just give up. Don't push yourself," Shen Xiaoyan cautioned Luoluo repeatedly, unable to put her mind at ease.
Yi Zhixie might have been dismissed, but Fujiwara Shifei seemed far from simple.
Although Shen Xiaoyan desperately wanted to know what they were discussing, safety came first.
Fujiwara Shifei exited the main room and headed towards the west wing, then out of the wing and towards the fruit orchard behind.
It had been snowing since the day before yesterday, and the snow here remained untouched, its pristine beauty preserved.
The thick snow lay like a carpet on the ground and a layer of clothing on the trees, creating a picturesque scene that was breathtakingly beautiful.
Fujiwara Shifei's eyes glinted with joy as she gazed at the scenery. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, only to suddenly realize something was amiss.
This place was supposed to have no spiritual energy, or at best, very little. If she hadn't been searching for something deep within Baiyun Peak, she wouldn't have stayed this long.
But just now, she had sensed a surge of incredibly pure spiritual energy.
Drawn by this energy, Fujiwara Shifei soared into the air, her movements graceful and ethereal, flying deeper into the fruit orchard.
She stopped when she reached the first stream, sensing the spiritual energy with her senses. It was there, but it seemed the denser spiritual energy lay further within.
Without further delay, Fujiwara Shifei took to the air again. In no time, she arrived at the second stream.
She circled the stream several times, then flew beyond the courtyard wall to observe the river outside before returning within the wall. Finally, she landed on the stone bridge spanning the stream.
Standing in the middle of the bridge, Fujiwara Shifei fell into deep thought.
She had circled this stream several times and even ventured outside, only to find that the spiritual energy was confined solely to this stream. The river water just outside the courtyard wall held none of it.
But why?
Was there a treasure buried beneath this stream, or was the source of the spiritual energy within the water itself?
Fujiwara Shifei's gaze remained fixed on the river's surface, lost in thought.
Because it had snowed and then frozen over, a thick layer of ice covered the stream, with snow piled on top.
If it weren't for this, she could have directly collected some water to examine.
Just as Fujiwara Shifei was contemplating whether to break the ice and take water, she sensed someone approaching.
"Who?" Fujiwara Shifei asked coldly, turning her body.
"It's me, Senior Martial Aunt. Yi Zhixie," Yi Zhixie said from below the bridge, a slight smile on his face and a respectful tone in his voice.
Seeing that it was Yi Zhixie, Fujiwara Shifei wasn't surprised. She had known he would follow her.
"What is it you want?"
"Nothing in particular, I just wanted to ask how Senior Martial Aunt has been recently," Yi Zhixie replied with a continued smile.
"Heh."
Fujiwara Shifei didn't answer, but instead let out a laugh. Her icy demeanor gave way to a smile that felt like a warm spring breeze, blooming flowers.
"I'm not an 800-year-old failure who constantly annoys my son."
After her brief laugh, Fujiwara Shifei reverted to her usual cold demeanor. Her words, like a biting wind, slashed through Yi Zhixie's false smile, tearing his mask of pretense apart.
"Why aren't you smiling anymore? I thought you were as steadfast as a rock, with a face like steel. It seems you're just like everyone else."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Fujiwara Shifei's eyes, but her words remained sharp and cutting. Anyone else would have likely found them unbearable.
"Senior Martial Aunt jokes. Xie'er is merely an ordinary person, nowhere near the abilities you describe. Xie'er merely wishes to live out his remaining years in peace, without causing trouble for others," Yi Zhixie said, regaining his composure and his broken expression. He no longer smiled, speaking with a hint of self-deprecation.
Hearing this, Fujiwara Shifei didn't know what else to say. By seniority, she wasn't really his Senior Martial Aunt, and by acquaintance, their bond wasn't that deep.
Some things were best left unsaid. Saying too much would only make both of them feel awkward.
"Have you noticed the spiritual energy here?" Fujiwara Shifei changed the subject to the spiritual energy, her tone softening considerably.
Although Yi Zhixie wanted to ask more, he feared it would only lead to further distress. Seeing that Fujiwara Shifei seemed unwilling to elaborate, he decided not to press the issue.
Upon hearing Fujiwara Shifei mention spiritual energy, he was initially surprised. Then, he sensed it and indeed felt a strong presence of spiritual energy around them.
Suddenly, a flash of insight struck Yi Zhixie. The food and water he had consumed over the past two days seemed to carry a faint trace of spiritual energy, which he hadn't paid much attention to due to his preoccupations.
"Could there be a treasure underground?" Yi Zhixie asked curiously.
"I don't know," Fujiwara Shifei shook her head. She was unsure, and besides, this was someone else's territory. She couldn't just dig up the ground to investigate.
"Perhaps we should invite Shen Xiaoyan and the others to discuss this. If there is indeed a treasure, it wouldn't be of much use to them, so maybe Senior Martial Aunt..."
"You don't need to test me. Do I look like someone so easily swayed by greed? Haven't you seen all the treasures I possess? I merely asked a question out of curiosity, and you've already started suspecting me... Heh." Fujiwara Shifei ended with a few mocking laughs.
Without waiting for Yi Zhixie's reaction, she ascended into the air and flew towards the main courtyard, disappearing in an instant.
Yi Zhixie watched Fujiwara Shifei vanish into the distance and shook his head.
He hadn't been entirely testing her. He felt indebted to Shen Xiaoyan for his help, and he couldn't possibly betray that kindness by coveting his treasures.
Although Shen Xiaoyan was in her room, Luoluo was broadcasting Fujiwara Shifei's every move and her conversation with Yi Zhixie to her. Upon learning this, Shen Xiaoyan couldn't help but sigh with relief, realizing that Yi Zhixie wasn't entirely a bad person.
However, she hadn't expected the immortal spring water to contain spiritual energy, and that Fujiwara Shifei had noticed it. If she could sense it, others surely could too.
Shen Xiaoyan didn't have the ambition to pursue it or the desire to hoard it, as she had no shortage of such things. But what about others? Would they be the same? Whether to continue using the immortal spring water was now a difficult question.
Yet, since Fujiwara Shifei had already brought up the matter of spiritual energy, even if she hadn't, Yi Zhixie would have discovered it himself sooner or later. If she stopped using the immortal spring water now, wouldn't that only arouse more suspicion?
Suddenly, Shen Xiaoyan found herself in a predicament.
As Shen Xiaoyan hesitated, Fujiwara Shifei had already reached the entrance. She lifted the curtain and entered. Without looking at anyone, she said to Bai Ying, "Yingying, let's go."
"Senior Martial Aunt is leaving so soon?" Yanran seemed surprised. It was too abrupt; hadn't she just said she intended to stay a while longer?
"Yes," Fujiwara Shifei replied calmly. As Bai Ying approached her, she turned to leave.
As she passed the screen, Fujiwara Shifei's steps halted once more.