Yun Chuxue smiled faintly, "You handle the spear quite skillfully. I guess you're a core disciple of the Spirit Master Guild, practicing diligently all the time. I need to see Yu Shi."
"Don't try to get close to me. Tell me, what's your purpose?"
Yun Chuxue smiled wryly and produced the elder token Yu Shi had given her before, which finally convinced the girl in green.
The girl in green led Yun Chuxue to a pavilion on the city wall, pouring tea for her as a gesture of apology.
"Please forgive me, senior. Allow me to make amends." The girl handed Yun Chuxue the tea, but she declined.
"No need. Though you're young, your spear skills are impressive. Achieving the strength of a Spirit Emperor at such a young age must have taken a lot of effort."
"You're right. I'm fifteen this year. I promised someone before to practice hard and strive to help her." Hearing Yun Chuxue's gentle voice, the girl in green opened up, thinking, "Her voice is so familiar, so gentle and caring."
"Yes, you are indeed a hardworking child." Yun Chuxue looked at the girl before her, inevitably reminded of her daughter, Yu Zixi, who was also fifteen this year.
A tinge of melancholy appeared on the girl in green's face. "Senior, my mother passed away when I was very young. She said she had something very important to do. I've waited for fifteen years, and I really want to experience the feeling of having a mother by my side since childhood. I don't want many people to lose their happy childhoods because of war." Tears welled up in the girl's eyes as she spoke. Then, she stood up and bowed respectfully. "So, please, senior, help the Spirit Master Guild pacify the demonic sect and bring peace to the continent."
Yun Chuxue, seeing the girl's pitiful state, couldn't help but agree to her request. The girl sat back down happily, and Yun Chuxue asked, "What's the current situation?"
"The Lord of the Spirit Master Guild, leading the West Cloud Empire, has established the Qingyun Pass, which stretches for thousands of miles outside the city. There are a total of seven passes, this being the fourth. Each pass is guarded by two hundred thousand troops, along with some Spirit Emperor realm powerhouses. Currently, the demonic sect, along with the other three empires and some sects, are preparing to attack. Those disciples of the demonic sect come to harass our side every time. After three years, the morale of our army has declined significantly. It's estimated that they will launch a full-scale attack on Qingyun Pass soon."
The demonic sect first wears down our will here, then launches a general attack. What a despicable tactic.
"Alright, I understand the situation. I need to go to the Spirit Master Guild." With that, Yun Chuxue stood up to leave.
"I'm also going back to Qingyun City. Let's go together."
"Okay."
Yun Chuxue and the girl in green flew towards Qingyun City at extreme speed, like shooting stars.
In less than half a day, they arrived at the gates of Qingyun City. The girl in green spoke to the city guards, and they opened the gates for Yun Chuxue and her.
Once inside, Yun Chuxue's first impression was desolation. Only desolation could highlight the current appearance of the once glorious city.
The two parted ways at the city gates, and Yun Chuxue walked forward slowly, looking at the current state of the city. The streets were deserted, with very few people around. Yun Chuxue clenched her fists, her face full of hatred.
"Demonic sect, I, Yun Chuxue, swear that you will pay the price."
Yun Chuxue arrived at the square of the Spirit Master Palace. Soldiers immediately surrounded her, questioning her, "Who are you? What are you doing here at the Spirit Master Guild?"
Yun Chuxue ignored them, walking straight ahead. The soldiers immediately tightened their encirclement, warning Yun Chuxue.
Seven peak Spirit Emperor realm powerhouses emerged from the Spirit Master Palace, standing in the air, and shouted, "Who are you? What is your purpose for trespassing on the Spirit Master Guild?"
These seven are the seven chief envoys of the Spirit Master Guild, tasked with guarding the guild.
"I want to see Yu Shi."
"Bold! Do you think you can meet the Lord just like that?" Yun Chuxue couldn't be bothered to deal with them, directly controlling the spatial domain and instantly appearing next to the seven chief envoys, mocking, "I want to go in. Can you stop me?" Yun Chuxue said disdainfully.
As Yun Chuxue moved forward, a black-clothed man wielding a sword rushed out from the Spirit Master Palace, stabbing straight at Yun Chuxue.
Yun Chuxue used her spiritual power to block the attack, but she was still pushed back to the ground and slid back a few steps. Seeing that he couldn't break through Yun Chuxue's spiritual power protection, he leaped back and stood facing Yun Chuxue with his sword.
This black-clothed man wielding the Sky Sword was none other than the Lord of the Spirit Master Guild—Yu Shi.
Yun Chuxue retracted the spatial domain, allowing the envoys and other soldiers to recover.
"See the Lord, everyone," they all said in unison.
"Get up." Yu Shi's face remained unchanged as he stared at this unexpected guest.
Yun Chuxue removed her veil, smiling softly and softly said, "Yushi, long time no see."
"Ding, ding, ding..." The Sky Sword fell to the ground. He trembled, unable to believe it was real.
He hurried to Yun Chuxue's side and hugged her tightly.
"Xue'er, Xue'er, is it really you?"
The soldiers watched Yu Shi's emotional outburst, not understanding what was happening. The envoys had already figured it out and gestured for the soldiers to quietly withdraw, and they followed suit.
"It's me, Yushi. I'm still alive."
"What have you been through all these years? Why have you become so thin?"
Yun Chuxue shook her head. "It's a long story. Let's talk after we've wiped out the demonic sect."
"Alright, alright, I'll listen to you. Let's go inside."
"Okay."
Yushi held Yun Chuxue's hand and led her into the main hall.
The news of Yun Chuxue's return spread throughout the entire Spirit Master Guild, and the most surprised and excited were Yu Zixi and Tang Ruoyu, while Shen Zixuan remained unaware.
Inside the main hall, Yu Shi smiled as he watched Yun Chuxue, making her feel somewhat embarrassed.
"Why are you staring at me like that? Aren't I your enemy?" Yun Chuxue remarked, but Yu Shi didn't respond. Instead, Yun Chuxue asked again, "How are Xixi and Ruoyu doing?"
"They're fine. Xixi should be in the Snow World Garden."
"Should?" Yun Chuxue found it incredulous.
"Because you weren't here, she resents me. Her whereabouts are unpredictable every day, so I have people follow her to ensure her safety."
"I'll go see her now."
Yun Chuxue couldn't contain her eagerness to see her daughter. She hurried towards the Snow World Garden.
Arriving at the entrance of the Snow World Garden, Yun Chuxue stopped, and Yu Shi understood. He called out from the entrance, "Xixi, your mother is back."
Hearing that her mother had returned, Yu Zixi ran out excitedly from her room.
When mother and daughter met, both froze.
Yun Chuxue looked at the girl in green before her, realizing that she was her own biological daughter stationed at Qingyun Pass.
Yu Zixi looked at the woman before her, whom she called "senior," and saw the face beneath the veil, once her "adopted" mother. She couldn't believe it.
Tears welled up in both their eyes—tears of longing and tears of resentment.
"Xixi..."
Before Yun Chuxue could finish, Yu Zixi turned and ran crying to her room. Yun Chuxue quickly called out, "Xixi, don't run away."
Yun Chuxue wanted to chase after Yu Zixi, but Yu Shi intervened, saying, "Xue'er, this..."
"Shut up."
Just then, they heard the sound of the door opening. Yun Chuxue looked expectantly at the approaching figure, only to be greeted by the thrust of a long spear piercing her shoulder.
Yu Shi was instantly furious. "Xixi, you..."
"Yu Shi, I'll handle this." Yun Chuxue interrupted Yu Shi.
After pushing open the door, they saw a tear-stained Yu Zixi with red eyes.
"Ding, ding, ding..."
Startled, Yu Zixi dropped the long spear to the ground. Seeing the wound bleeding profusely, she hurried forward with a trembling voice, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I..."
Wiping away her tears, Yun Chuxue spoke softly, "It's okay, it's okay, Xixi. Let it out. Don't cry."
Yu Zixi hugged Yun Chuxue tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.
Seeing the improved relationship between mother and daughter, Yu Shi silently left.
Much later, Yu Zixi pointed to the wound and asked, "Does it hurt?"
Yun Chuxue smiled and shook her head. "No, it doesn't hurt."
It was then that Yu Zixi realized Yu Shi had already left.
"Mom, come in. Let me bandage it for you."
"Okay."
Yu Zixi led Yun Chuxue to her room—a plain room with hardly any decorations.
As Yu Zixi bandaged Yun Chuxue's wound, Yun Chuxue asked, "Why is your room so plain?"
"Well... I don't like too many things."
Was it really because she didn't like it? Or was it just because there was no one to accompany her? Yun Chuxue knew she owed her daughter too much and vowed to make it up to her in the future.