Chapter 425: Different Voices

Valley Master Nie, upon hearing these words, responded with ease: “When I first conceived this plan, I had already considered everything and made two preparations. Over two months is enough time for Little Yu to return to Spring Rebirth Valley. If she can come back, that would be ideal. First, it would push Little Yu to the forefront, formally introducing her to the martial world. Second, it would be a chance to choose a good husband for her, thus fulfilling your mother’s last wish and putting my own heart at ease.”

Nie Qianrong wiped her tears and said: “Mother loved little sister the most. I remember back then, she couldn’t stop worrying about little sister’s marriage, and even personally took her to the Yue Lao Shrine in Mochou City to make a wish.”

“Sigh, yes.” Valley Master Nie’s gaze passed through the main hall, looking out at the silent night sky, and said: “It’s destined that after tomorrow, Little Yu will not be able to return to the Yue Lao Shrine to fulfill that wish.”

“Father, don’t be sad. Isn’t there still one more day until tomorrow? Maybe when the martial contest ends tomorrow, little sister will make it back just in time, with a beaming smile, to see the fine young man you’ve chosen for her.”

“Haha, sigh, let’s hope so.” Valley Master Nie was clearly long past the age for wishful thinking. He sighed: “Miracles… I stopped believing in them long ago. I just hope Little Yu can return safely. No matter how long it takes, I am willing to wait…”

As he spoke, a voice rang out: “Father, you should restrain your grief.”

The two turned their heads. Another woman, who looked quite similar to Nie Qianrong, walked over—it was Nie Qianyu’s second sister, Nie Qianxiu.

Valley Master Nie frowned and said: “Qianxiu, why aren’t you asleep either?”

“Who could sleep? Father, little sister hasn’t returned for months, and tomorrow is such a major event for our Spring Rebirth Valley. There are so many matters inside and outside the valley, and you have no mind for them. Your daughter can only do her best to manage.”

Valley Master Nie looked apologetically at Nie Qianrong and Nie Qianxiu, and said: “It’s been hard on you both these days, coming back from your husbands’ homes and helping me with the affairs in the valley. Sigh, after this period is over, I should take a proper rest.”

Nie Qianrong quickly said: “Father, you’re not even that old. My father-in-law is several years older than you, and he’s still leading a group of brothers through the martial world. Our Spring Rebirth Valley is blessed and has always remained neutral, so there’s no need to worry about major incidents.”

But Nie Qianxiu snorted lightly and said: “Elder sister, that’s not quite right. We must be vigilant in times of peace. If we hadn’t been so careless, little sister wouldn’t have ended up in such a predicament.”

Nie Qianrong frowned and was about to argue when she heard Nie Qianxiu turn to ask Valley Master Nie: “Father, your plan for the martial arts contest to choose a son-in-law is clearly about to fall through. I tried to persuade you several times that day, but you wouldn’t listen. If tomorrow you pick another fine son-in-law, and another power joins our Spring Rebirth Valley, won’t that just dilute our own strength for no reason? Wouldn’t that benefit others? If little sister were here, it would be fine, but you clearly can’t produce a living person—how do you plan to end this?”

Valley Master Nie grew a little angry, shot her a look, and asked: “Qianxiu, why are you so sure your little sister isn’t coming back? Is this your own opinion, or is it Qiangsheng’s?”

Nie Qianxiu was momentarily stunned, then replied forcefully: “Of course it’s my own opinion. I also hope little sister comes back, but it’s been more than two months—if she were coming, she would have come by now, why wait until now? The key point is, Father, if tomorrow some young master from a sect we can’t afford to offend takes the top spot, our Spring Rebirth Valley could be facing destruction!”

Valley Master Nie laughed and said: “Qianxiu, just go back and rest. Even if the valley is destroyed, it is Spring Rebirth Valley’s destruction, and has nothing to do with Iron Cavalry Sect. Now that you’re married, Iron Cavalry Sect naturally has nothing to do with Spring Rebirth Valley.”

Nie Qianxiu bit her lip and said: “Father, don’t try to provoke me with such words. I’ll go back for now. Let’s wait until tomorrow to deal with the predicament.”

Watching Nie Qianxiu’s figure slowly disappear, Valley Master Nie let out a deep sigh and shook his head.

Nie Qianrong comforted him: “Father, don’t be upset. Second sister is only thinking of what’s best for Spring Rebirth Valley. What she said isn’t necessarily wrong. You can consider her words, and if you don’t agree, just let it be. Now that Second sister is the young madam of Iron Cavalry Sect, her perspective is naturally different, and she thinks about more things.”

Valley Master Nie smiled faintly and said: “I’m not really angry, just surprised that Qianxiu has changed so much after only a few years at Iron Cavalry Sect. I wonder how much Qiangsheng has influenced her. Is this what they call ‘the elbow turning outward’?”

Nie Qianrong laughed and said: “Father, if you say that, doesn’t that mean your daughter is also selfish?”

Valley Master Nie didn’t know whether to shake his head or nod, and said: “If you have selfish thoughts, Father won’t blame you. As long as you keep Spring Rebirth Valley in your heart, that’s enough. Unlike some people, who don’t have Spring Rebirth Valley in their hearts at all.”

These words were full of deeper meaning, and Nie Qianrong truly found it difficult to respond.

For Spring Rebirth Valley, tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.

The final day of Spring Rebirth Valley’s martial arts contest to choose a husband.

As the first rays of sunlight rose, Zhang Xiaohua opened his eyes, put the yuan stone in his bosom, and a satisfied smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

Indeed, last night was merely to avoid suspicion, so he took out the verdant grass meditation mat he had obtained from the mysterious old man with the bronze mask and sat on it to cultivate the Carefree Heart Sutra. However, he had not expected that, whatever the mat was made of, it actually had the effect of calming the mind and soothing the spirit. Not only did it speed up the tempering of the true qi within his body, but even the rate at which he absorbed Yuan Qi from the yuan stone increased by twenty percent.

Lifting the light-as-a-feather mat from the ground, Zhang Xiaohua could see nothing unusual with his eyes or his spiritual sense. He could only sigh inwardly: “These things of the Immortal Dao are truly… too wondrous. With such an item as an aid, cultivating the Immortal Dao, advancing a thousand li in a single day, is not just a dream.”

Zhang Xiaohua put away the jade slips he had set up around the Yue Lao Temple, withdrew the formation, then went out to gather some fresh grass to feed the black horse and the Sibu Xiang. Only then did he come to the courtyard and begin practicing the Big Dipper Divine Fist.

On most days at this time, Nie Qianyu and Little Orange would also have gotten up. After Zhang Xiaohua finished his practice, they would eat together and prepare the carriage for the journey.

But today, after Zhang Xiaohua finished his practice and waited a while, he still didn’t hear any movement inside the Yue Lao Temple. He could only walk in and listen, hearing faint snoring from within. Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but laugh. Indeed, they had gone to bed very late last night, and this was, after all, their childhood home of Mochou City. The mountains, the waters, and even the air were all familiar and beloved. Now that they could wake up and return home, the burdens in their hearts had been lifted—how could they not sleep deeply?

Thinking thus, Zhang Xiaohua did not disturb them, nor did he move the black horse or the Sibu Xiang. He quietly closed the temple door, took out the grass mat, sat cross-legged in front of the door, and began to comprehend the Heavenly Dao in his heart.

Speaking of this verdant grass meditation mat, who knew what it was made of? Last night, when cultivating the Carefree Heart Sutra, it increased the speed of drawing in vital energy—the calming effect was secondary. But now, as Zhang Xiaohua comprehended the Dao of Heaven, the calming effect was truly apparent. Many of the obscure points from previous days now showed signs of clarity. Zhang Xiaohua was overjoyed and immediately focused his mind, seizing the time to comprehend as much as he could.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Xiaohua finally opened his eyes when he heard a commotion behind him, and walked over with a smile. Even his simple way of standing up seemed so harmonious, so natural.

At this moment, the Yue Lao Temple was already in chaos. Nie Qianyu could be heard shouting: “Little Orange, what time is it already? Why isn’t Brother Ren up yet? How about you go check in the back?”

“That’s not a good idea, Miss. Who knows what he looks like right now? If it’s inconvenient, that wouldn’t be good.”

“Aiya, never mind that. Look at how high the sun is already. It must be late…”

Before she could finish, Zhang Xiaohua lightly knocked on the temple door and asked: “Have the two young ladies inside the temple gotten up yet? I have been waiting outside for quite some time.”

“Brother Ren?” Nie Qianyu and Little Orange were both stunned. Immediately, Nie Qianyu patted her head and said: “Look at me, getting flustered just because it’s late. How could I forget that Brother Ren is always up earlier than us? Brother Ren, please wait a moment, we’ll be right out.”

Zhang Xiaohua shook his head. “Sigh, still lacking experience. Didn’t you see the black horse eating fresh grass? Besides, we all rested in the same house last night, and now you’re asking me to wait.”

Sure enough, before long, the two of them opened the door and came out, their faces flushed, complaining: “Brother Ren, what time is it already? Why didn’t you wake us earlier?”

Little Orange even added: “If you miss the martial arts contest to choose a husband today, just see how Miss will deal with you!”

“Ah?” Zhang Xiaohua scratched his head in confusion.

Nie Qianyu’s face, however, was a bit pale and anxious. She said: “Let’s not waste words, Brother Ren, hurry and get to Spring Rebirth Valley. If the martial contest… isn’t over yet, then…” She glanced at Zhang Xiaohua and gritted her teeth, “I’ll have my father cancel the whole event.”

As Zhang Xiaohua pulled the carriage out of the Yue Lao Temple, he laughed and said: “Exactly, Little Fish Nie, you’re still so young, it’s far too early to talk about marriage. Although this martial arts contest was your father’s plan, now that you’re back, it’s best to let things be.”

Nie Qianyu bit her lip lightly and said: “I’ll listen to Brother Ren.”

After packing up the carriage and tossing all the bedding onto it, Nie Qianyu watched anxiously from the side. In her heart, she was already home—what use were these things now? They could just be left at the Yue Lao Temple.

But since all of this was made by Zhang Xiaohua himself, how could Nie Qianyu say a single word against it?

It took some effort to harness the black horse, and with Nie Qianyu pointing out the way, Zhang Xiaohua lightly slapped the black horse’s rump. The black horse seemed to sense Nie Qianyu’s mood and sped westward.

After leaving Mochou City, countless willows lined the roadside, along with many rivers, small boats, and little bridges. Here, small boats served much the same purpose as carriages; often, boats were even faster than carriages.

After traveling for the time it takes to eat two meals, the sun was already high overhead. Zhang Xiaohua felt nothing in particular, but Nie Qianyu was already drenched in sweat—whether from the heat or from anxiety, it was hard to tell.