Xu Qingxuan walked over to her mother and wanted to take a closer look at the earring. However, Xu Meng held it firmly in her hand and kept staring at it as though it was her sole source of happiness and the most precious thing in the world.
âMother, canât you let me take a small peek at it?â Xu Qingxuanâs curiosity was piqued. It took some time before Xu Meng could finally loosen her grip and place the earring gently into Xu Qingxuanâs hands. Her mother was treating it as the most fragile thing in the world.
Xu Qingxuan was also assailed by emotions. She understood that the earring represented the love and yearning between her parents. It was the symbol of hope. She didnât dare to be careless when she was given the earring. It didnât seem to be anything special, just a semi-precious accessory from the secular world. A true cultivator would never bother wearing such a thing.
âXuanâer, this earring is definitely real. Who told you to you give this to me? W-what did he look like? He could very well be your father!â Xu Meng could no longer keep her composure.
âAh mother, that man is very young. He isnât even thirty years old yet. A fellow disciple called Xu Shan is twenty-eight years old, yet he called her big sister. This means that he isnât even twenty-eight yet. How could he possibly be father?â Xu Qingxuan didnât want to pour cold water on her mother, but she felt obligated to tell the truth.
Xu Meng wasnât disheartened. âEven if he isnât your father, heâs definitely your fatherâs friend. Otherwise, how can you explain this earring? Why would he especially bring it to me?â
Sheâd made a rather good point.
Xu Qingxuan sighed gently. âMother, there are some things which Iâve yet to tell you. A few days ago, I sent someone to investigate the Eastern Kingdom. The Jiang Han territory continues to exist, but it doesnât go by the surname of Jiang anymore. The duke of Jiang Han and Jiang Chen are longer there. The investigator said that they mustâve perished when the Eternal Celestial Capital attacked the Myriad Domain.â
âNo! Impossible! This earring doesnât lie!â Xu Meng remained resolute. âYour father is fine and so is your brother!â
âMother, why donât you check if thereâs anything else in the storage ring?â Xu Qingxuan didnât try to argue with her mother. There was little meaning in trying to disprove her motherâs staunch beliefs. Xu Meng suddenly recalled that there was something else in the ring. She took a glance and noticed a small note inside. Hardly able to contain herself, she immediately opened it.
Thirty years apart, thirty years of longing. Now I dwell in Frostmoon City, for I long to see you again. Only two sentences were written on the paper. There was no inscription, name, or anything to help identify the sender. However, Xu Meng immediately slumped to the ground and cried her heart out after reading it.
âXuanâer, it really is your father! Itâs his handwriting and his manner of speech! Xuanâer, I need to descend the mountain! I need to go to Frostmoon City!â Sheâd lost all strength from her limbs due to the great waves of emotion, but her voice remained incredibly resolute and unwavering.
Xu Qingxuan noted that there was no endearing words or pledge of eternal love within the two sentences. However, it contained all the pain and longing from their thirty years of separation. This was a great love that didnât require grandiose gestures or flowery words.
Xu Qingxuan was deeply moved. If it really was her fatherâs handwriting, then the love between her parents must be greater than anything else. Theyâd gone against all odds just so they could once again protect and care for each other. Not even time and space could separate them.
Jiang Fengâs short message had been written after much deliberation. Heâd previously written a letter filled with tens of thousands of words, but he realized that thirty years of longing couldnât be properly expressed with ink and paper. He quickly came to realize that words were superficial. He didnât know what his wife was thinking right now, but he was certain that her feelings hadnât changed.
If so, what was the point of writing so many words? After a lot of back and forth, he decided to write just two sentences. If their hearts were truly aligned, his wife would understand the depth within the two lines of words and come to meet him. If they were fated not to meet, she could keep it as a momento. Knowing about each otherâs safety was a million times better than knowing nothing about the other at all.
Xu Meng grabbed her daughterâs hands tightly. âXuanâer, didnât you say that youâll take mother down the mountain for some fresh air this morning? Well, mother has changed her mind. I want to go. Now!â
Xu Qingxuan understood that her mother had good reason to be excited, so she quickly spoke words of comfort. âMother, since things are already at this point, Iâll find a way to make it happen. However, we must remain vigilant and take things one step at a time. First of all, we need to consider if this is a trap or some kind of cruel joke. Itâs unlikely, but we need to be mentally prepared. Secondly, we must also take fatherâs safety into consideration. If the sectmasters finds out that father has contacted us, the consequences would be unimaginable. Thirdly, we must also consider how we can let both of you reunite. Iâll make sure to make it happen even if Iâll be punished for it.â
âNo! I cannot be so selfish! Both your father and I would never let you take punishment for our sake. Weâll wait. One day, youâll become a sectmaster and you can then decide our fates.â
Xu Qingxuan shook her head. âItâll take many centuries and millenniums before that happens. The sectmasters are still young, so itâll be many years before they retire. Neither of you have attained emperor realm either... Iâm afraid time is not on your side...â
Xu Meng had abstained from cultivation. She had the talents of a holy maiden, but because of neglect in her martial dao, she hadnât even attained origin realm yet. As for Jiang Feng...
Xu Qingxuan hadnât met him yet, but the Eastern Kingdom was a place with limited martial dao aptitude. Even if he had a breakthrough, he was likely an origin cultivator at the very most. She couldnât help but worry about this problem. Her parents didnât have a lifespan as long as hers due to their limited cultivation level. They couldnât afford to wait for too long.
Deeply touched by the love her parents had for each other, she began to make bold elopement plans for them. She was determined to fulfill her motherâs wish even if sheâd be punished for it. She understood that her mother was going to reach the very limit of exhaustion one day. Her everyday life was filled with sadness and misery. Waking up everyday was a challenge in itself.
âMother, donât worry. Iâll make the arrangements. Weâll leave by day break tomorrow.â Her mind was set. Sheâd carry out her plan.
âXuanâer, you must plan carefully. You mustnât get yourself entangled in my matters. The Moon God Sect doesnât contain even a shred of compassion. Once youâre of no value to them, they have no qualms throwing you away like trash. Mother has experienced it firsthand,â Xu Meng suddenly said. It was the first time sheâd ever badmouthed the sect and served as a reminder for her daughter.
âMother, donât worry... I know what Iâm doing.â
âXuanâer, even if we take a trip down the mountain, how are we supposed to find your father in a city as big as Frostmoon City?â Xu Meng was at a loss.
âMother, I know where they are. The messenger Shao Yuan and Emperor Peerless are both currently staying at the sectâs first division at Frostmoon City. Father must be there too.â
The second sectmaster had extremely high expectations for Xu Qingxuan. Because of that, sheâd begun to control and scrutinize her discipleâs every move. Xu Qingxuan found this very difficult to get used to. The second sectmaster was incredibly strict because she didnât want her disciple to walk down the same path as the mother. When Xu Qingxuan asked for permission to take her mother down the mountains, her master turned her down without a second thought or consideration.
âQingxuan, you need to think this through. Ill fate is as persistent as red dust. Let your motherâs misfortune serve as a bitter lesson for you!â The second sectmaster warned sternly.
Xu Qingxuan respected her master greatly and rarely went against her masterâs orders. However, today was one of those rare days. She glared at her master fiercely. âHonored master, can you really blame my mother for her actions? She was merely an infant when she left the Moon God Sect! How could she have known? What happened after that was a continuation of fate!â She felt that it was time speak a word on her motherâs behalf.
The second sectmaster stared at Xu Qingxuan in utter disbelief. She never imagined that her obedient disciple would actually talk back at her! Xu Qingxuan hadnât said anything wrong, but to the second sectmaster, it was an act of defiance and disrespect.
âQingxuan, have you finally learned to disrespect your master?â Her voice was harsh and cold.
Xu Qingxuan held her head high, exposing her snowy white neck. âHonored master, Iâve had enough! Everyone has been criticizing my mother ever since the day I could speak! They clearly know that it wasnât her fault, yet they continue to blame, belittle, and mock! Has nobody once thought that she was actually innocent? Even if she was at fault, at the end of the day, sheâs still my mother! Moreover, hasnât she given a holy maiden to the sect as a replacement already? She has repaid her debts to the sect and then some!â Xu Qingxuan yelled at the top of of her lungs, venting her frustrations and anger that had accumulated over the years.
The second sectmaster was completely dumbfounded by her discipleâs sudden outburst. Xu Qingxuanâs words had thawed some of the compassion that sheâd long sealed in ice. Indeed, had Xu Meng truly sinned?
Was it really appropriate to blame everything on her? Even if sheâd truly sinned, hadnât her sins been washed away when she gave her daughter, an even more impressive holy maiden, to the sect? The second sectmaster was suddenly at a loss for words. She understood her disciple very well. Xu Qingxuan would definitely rebel if pushed too far.
The second sectmaster let out a long sigh. âYou may make a trip down the mountain with your mother. But remember, you must be back within three days and you mustnât leave the confines of Frostmoon City. Otherwise... youâll be punished according to sect rules.â