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Nine Vermilion Peaks
The simple and elegant light green Small Pavilion stands quietly atop a mountain in a Green Forest. Although it is spring outside, Nine Li Cave Heaven does not experience the four seasons, yet some trees can sense the earth's energy and remain in sync with the outside world. This Green Forest is one such place. Old leaves fall in droves, while tender new buds sprout on the branches, quietly peeking out with their sharp tips. Life and death occur simultaneously, yet it is strangely harmonious and beautiful.
A few fallen leaves drift up into the air, fluttering out of the forest and through the window to land on the desk.
Li Hong set down his brush, picked up a leaf, and brought it to his nose, taking a deep breath as he murmured to himself, "It smells like spring; I've aged another year." With a wave of his right hand, his wide sleeve unfurled, and several leaves were gently lifted by an unseen force, floating gracefully into the air and heading back toward the forest. "Go back; that is where you belong."
After successfully establishing his foundation, Spirit Stones became much friendlier, truly resembling a master's demeanor. Now, living with Chuxiong in this Small Pavilion on the Summit, he had no worries about food or clothing. Every day was spent reading and cultivating in leisure. Such a life finally allowed his heart to gradually relax.
He picked up his brush, dipped it in thick ink, and continued practicing calligraphy. His imitation of Yan Zhenqing's regular script had already developed quite a bit of charm. After finishing one piece, he set down the brush and carefully blew on the wet ink before placing it aside and taking another sheet of white paper.
Just as he lifted his brush again, he seemed to have an epiphany but then set it down instead, crossing his arms and turning to face outside.
In a moment, a figure swiftly jumped through the door, almost colliding with him before coming to a stop. Chuxiong's dark face was flushed with excitement as he heavily patted Li Hong's shoulder and said mysteriously, "Chu Xi is here again."
Li Hong glanced at him indifferently and resumed spreading paper. "What does it matter if Chu Xi is here? Is there any need to be so excited?"
"No! She specifically asked to see you," Chuxiong said while scratching his head and chuckling.
Li Hong was somewhat surprised. "What does she want to see me for?"
"How would I know!" Chuxiong exclaimed as he grabbed Li Hong's arm. "Stop practicing calligraphy; hurry up! Don’t keep her waiting." Without further ado, he pushed him toward the door.
Li Hong shook his head helplessly. "What about you? Do you want to come along?"
"Of course! How could my brother be left out?" Chuxiong laughed heartily and leaned closer. "You don’t know; that kid Chuxuan has been trying to get close to her. I only heard our lovely Chu Xi coldly say—" He pretended to be shy and raised his voice in a high-pitched imitation of a female voice while putting on a serious expression: "Chuxuan, I have some questions for Brother Chu Hong; I won’t trouble you."
"Ha ha!" He laughed heartily, "You should have seen Chuxuan's face, turning red and white, neither leaving nor staying. It was quite a spectacle. I had to hold back my laughter; my cheeks are still sore from it!"
Li Hong couldn't help but laugh as well, feeling relieved in his heart.
A vast expanse of vibrant crimson flowers surrounded them. The long, golden stamens swayed gently in the center of the layers of red silk-like petals, resembling the delicate antennae of golden butterflies. The air was filled with a refreshing and elegant fragrance, reminiscent of osmanthus but lighter. Every time he walked here, Li Hong couldn't help but take a deep breath.
In the sea of flowers stood a slender and beautiful figure.
Chu Xi wore a light white dress that flowed gracefully, her skin as smooth as jade. Even her cheeks matched the color of her sheer garment, only more radiant and delicate. From a distance, she looked like a pure and flawless figure carved from white jade. She stood by a bamboo fence, extending her delicate hand to pull a red flower through the fence, burying her small face in it to inhale deeply, closing her eyes as if lost in the fragrance.
Only when Li Hong and Chuxiong approached did she reluctantly lift her head, smiling as she said, "I really wish I could move your Forget-Me-Not Butterfly from Nine Vermilion Peaks to our Nine Purple Peak. That way, I could enjoy this lovely floral scent every day."
"That's not difficult at all!" Chuxiong replied boldly. "I'll tell Master and dig up ten or so plants to plant where you live!"
But Li Hong didn't rush to joke; he clasped his hands seriously and said, "Chu Xi, greetings. Please convey my regards to Ling Xiangzi, Master Uncle."
Chu Xi returned the greeting earnestly, nodding as she said, "I will pass on your regards to Master." However, she then giggled, her almond-shaped eyes crescent-like as she playfully tilted her head and asked, "Are you afraid of my Master?"
Li Hong recalled standing before Ling Xiangzi completely exposed that day and felt embarrassed. He stammered, "No, why would I be afraid of your Master..."
"Alright then, I won't tease you anymore." Chu Xi happily lifted her head to look at the much taller Chuxiong. "Don't you know? The Forget-Me-Not Butterfly can only grow in Nine Vermilion Peaks; no matter where it's planted, it will wither away." She pouted slightly at this thought and said, "If we could transplant it, then all of us sisters at Nine Purple Peak wouldn't have to miss it every day. It's the only flower that can produce the precious perfume that everyone loves. Today, Celestial Master asked me to gather more to bring back. Chuxiong, I forgot to bring a basket when I came; can you help me find one?"
Chuxiong patted his chest confidently: "I promise to find you the biggest one!" With that, he ran off.
Only Li Hong and Chu Xi remained among the red flowers.
Li Hong found it somewhat strange, as if Chu Xi was trying to distract Chuxiong.
Sure enough, Chu Xi's playful expression vanished: "Senior Brother Chu Hong, I'm not just here to gather 'Forget-Me-Not Butterflies' today. I have something I want to ask you."
"Go ahead."
Chu Xi asked, "I heard that you triggered the Heart Demon Barrier in Golden Lantern Gorge. I want to know what happened at that time."
Li Hong was taken aback. "Why do you want to know about that?"
"It's really important to me. Please tell me, Senior Brother," Chu Xi said with a pitiful look on her face.
Li Hong felt a bit reluctant and pondered his words before saying, "It was truly dangerous at that time. Those Evil Spirits could take the form of your greatest fears. If it weren't for Yue Shangzi's Soul Stabilizing Pearl and the secret assistance of a senior expert, I might have lost my powers on the spot."
"Soul Stabilizing Pearl... taking form?" Chu Xi murmured, then asked, "Is there anything else I should be aware of?"
Li Hong immediately became alert. "What are you planning to do?"
Chu Xi's face bore a mature expression of deep thought, which was quite inconsistent with her youthful appearance at that moment: "You guessed correctly, Senior Brother. My master told me that when you were establishing your foundation, you triggered the Heart Demon Barrier in Golden Lantern Gorge and successfully overcame it, greatly increasing your cultivation level. I want to try it too. It's just..." She lowered her head anxiously.
"Just that your master would absolutely not allow it?" Li Hong continued for her. "Golden Lantern Gorge is a forbidden area of our sect. Entering without permission is a violation of the Rules of the Sect and will be severely punished. That's one reason. The second is that there are countless Evil Spirits there, and they are very powerful. Do you want all of us to worry about you?"
"No, I don't want you all to worry about me either," Chu Xi said somewhat defiantly, raising her face and speaking with bright eyes full of hope: "Look, you're fine, right? As long as I can get a Soul Stabilizing Pearl, maybe I can do it too..."
Before she could finish, Li Hong interrupted her: "Stop talking! Otherwise, don't blame me for reporting you to Ling Xiangzi, Master Uncle. You're still young; why risk your life like this? There are many ways to improve your cultivation. Right now, you're already at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment; there's no need to rush."
Chu Xi pouted and murmured, "You're only two years older than me, acting like an old senior..." Still feeling unwilling, she grabbed Li Hong's arm and began to act cute, "Senior Brother, please help me. I have a way to get the 'Wingless Ship', but I don't know the way... Please help me..."
Li Hong felt overwhelmed, noticing some disciples in the distance pointing at him and Chu Xi, which made him even more headache. Fortunately, someone arrived just in time to rescue him. Chuxiong came running with a large basket that was three feet in diameter, calling out from afar, "Junior Sister Chu Xi, I found the basket!"
Li Hong secretly sighed in relief, discreetly pulling away Chu Xi's small hand and smiling, "Junior Sister, why don't you pick some red flowers first? You at Nine Purple Peak call it 'Forget-Me-Not Butterfly'? That's a nice name."
Chu Xi pouted in dissatisfaction.
Chuxiong rushed up to her with the basket. She angrily snatched it away, rolled her eyes at Li Hong, and said to Chuxiong, "Senior Brother, will you help me pick 'Forget-Me-Not Butterfly'?"
"Sure!" Chuxiong grinned widely and pulled out a pair of silver scissors from his sleeve, saying, "Look, Junior Sister, I've even prepared scissors for you."
The two of them began to fuss around in the patch of red flowers, petals flying like rain. Chu Xi was particularly vigorous, wielding the large scissors with a huff and cutting wildly while saying, "Unreasonable! Hmph! Why can you do it but I can't! Hmph! I'll cut you!"
Li Hong couldn't help but laugh and shook his head before turning to leave.
In the distance, Spirit Stone came rushing over, pounding his chest and shouting loudly, "Little Ancestor Chu Xi, be gentler! My golden silk red flowers, my treasures..."
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