Chapter 3

The sight of the entire Ling Manor gathered at the entrance left the three approaching figures utterly bewildered.

"What's going on?" Xiaoxue asked, puzzled, looking around.

Xiao Lian and the other woman also didn't know the reason. Moreover, with so many people present and their spiritual auras mixed and chaotic, they couldn't discern the crowd's intentions, causing them to frown in worry.

Xiao Lian turned her head and saw Xiaoxue's expression was completely calm. Thinking her elder sister must have determined nothing major was amiss, she guessed with a smile, "Could they be here to welcome me? Such grand enthusiasm is quite overwhelming..."

As she spoke, she happily darted in front of the crowd and bowed respectfully towards her grandfather, Ling Tianyou.

"Grandfather, everyone, Xue'er has returned. It's truly been a long time. Speaking of..." Before she could finish, she looked up and realized everyone's gazes were actually fixed on her elder sister.

Her spiritual eyes blinked lightly, naturally discerning from the jumbled spiritual senses that the crowd held expectations, worry, fear, and curiosity in their hearts... So they hadn't come for her after all. Xiao Lian, embarrassed, stuck out her tongue and retreated to the side.

Xiaoxue had long since noticed the family's focus on her. She avoided the probing spiritual thoughts directed at her, composed herself slightly, then finally stepped forward, bowed, and addressed them one by one: "A'ye has returned home for several years without paying respects. I hope you all can forgive me..." As she spoke, she couldn't help but raise a hand to touch the tip of her nose, giving Xiao Lian a helpless smile before continuing, "Although it's been a long time since we've met, this gathering to cast spells and pry into private spiritual matters is somewhat excessive, don't you think?"

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly withdrew their spiritual sight, using smiles to mask their embarrassment. Ling Tianyou stroked his beard and nodded in approval. "Hmm, not bad, not bad. To withstand so many people peering at you simultaneously shows you've made considerable progress these years away. Alright, it's still early morning; no need to crowd the entrance like this. Disperse."

Many had simply been heading out early and decided to join the commotion. The younger ones, finding it boring, had long since slipped away. The remaining elders exchanged greetings with her and hurried off.

Xiaoxue and the other two exchanged a smile, then gathered by their mother's side. Sun Xiunian, embraced by her two daughters, replied with great resignation, "It's good you're back."

Having said that, she pushed them both aside and turned back towards the house. Faced with their mother's cool demeanor, Xiaoxue and Xiao Lian awkwardly bid farewell to their grandfather and hurried after her.

As night approached and moonlight silently shifted, human voices gradually faded. Sun Xiunian and Ziye were sitting in the room, speaking in low tones, when Xiao Lian quietly approached the door to listen.

"A'ye, do you know where you went wrong?"

Ziye loosened her hair bun, letting her tresses fall as she bowed her head before Sun Xiunian. She replied in a soft, measured voice.

"Your daughter's mistakes are, first, I should not have left without a word. Second, I should not have passed by our home without entering. Third, third... there isn't one, I suppose!"

"Aiya!" Just as Ziye was hesitating, Sun Xiunian gave her a sharp rap on the head.

Ziye looked at her mother with great grievance. "Mother!"

"Your greatest mistake was causing such a big fuss over a spiritual artifact."

A spiritual artifact? Ziye thought back for a long moment before vaguely recalling the related matter and said helplessly, "Mother, you've misunderstood. It really wasn't..."

"Wasn't what? Aunt Xun came from the mortal world and isn't familiar with the ways of interaction here. Hearing some stories, she took those so-called taboos as truth. Your Third Uncle and Aunt Xiaoyun have revered Ancestral Lady Xuanji since childhood, hence their dislike for bamboo flutes. It wasn't targeted at you. During the Weak Moon, you had a few quarrels and just ran off without a care. Do you know how worried your father and I, your mother, were?"

Ziye helplessly lowered her head, searching her memories but finding no recollection of quarreling with anyone. She figured her mother's soul must have been damaged, causing her memories to become distorted. Rubbing her head against Sun Xiunian's leg, she replied with a bitter smile, "I was indeed careless at the time. I know I was wrong and will definitely change in the future. As for other matters, I cannot explain them for now. Please don't be angry, Mother."

Sun Xiunian chuckled and scolded, "What's past is past; dwelling on it won't bring it back. Now, tell me what exactly you've been busy with all this time!"

"Mother, Elder Sister did it for Xue'er." Xiao Lian, who had been eavesdropping outside the door for a while, finally couldn't hold back and pushed the door open to enter.

Ziye also nodded and said, "I haven't had a chance to tell you about the matter of the Mystic Sound Zither yet, Mother."

Seizing the moment, Xiao Lian summoned the Mystic Sound Zither. Sun Xiunian reached out from a distance, stroking the air above it, and sighed, "I never thought I would live to see this sacred artifact again. Since Ancestral Lady Xuanji's fall, this zither has been lost in the world for a millennium. Xue'er, you must treat it well."

"Don't worry, Mother," Xiao Lian replied with a smile.

Seeing the killing aura emanating from the Mystic Sound Zither growing stronger, Ziye reminded Xiao Lian, "Xue'er, put it away. Mother's old ailment is most sensitive to slaughterous auras. Although the Mystic Sound Zither is a sacred artifact, it has been lonely for a thousand years. Coupled with the turmoil of inner demons back then and Ancestral Lady Xuanji's many battles, its baleful aura is extremely potent."

Xiao Lian hurriedly recalled the zither back, sticking out her tongue sheepishly.

Sun Xiunian patted her head comfortingly and rose. "It's fine. It's late; you should get some rest."

Only then did the two sisters return to their room to settle in.

Late that night, they stealthily made their way to Xiao Lian's room. The three of them sat together on the bed, drinking and chatting. Having been away since childhood, Ziye and Xiaoxue were no longer clear about many family matters.

After wandering around the manor today, Ziye noticed several uncles were absent and couldn't help but ask, "Why didn't I see Third Uncle today? In the past, he'd always mock me thoroughly whenever we met. Suddenly not seeing him feels a bit strange."

Xiao Lian pulled aside the gauze curtain to peek outside and explained in a hushed voice, "A lot has happened these years. You know Third Uncle and Aunt Xiaoyun stayed in the mortal world for many years; their habits were completely assimilated. They couldn't get used to living here after returning, and conflicts arose several times. Moreover, Third Aunt and the others place too much emphasis on the separation between men and women, making interactions increasingly awkward. Later, they saw things more lightly and gradually left to return to the mortal world."

Ziye also sighed. "The rules of the mortal world have their own logic. People of that age cannot walk without a path. Our clan's unrestrained style is too shocking for them, making it difficult to maintain their Dao hearts. It's better for them to go to a place that suits them."

"Mhm, mhm." Xiao Lian and Xiaoxue nodded obediently.

"Alright, let's sleep early. Xiao Lian, you'll be setting out tomorrow. Be careful in all matters, and take good care of yourself out there." Ziye spread out the quilt while giving her advice.

"Hehe, I know. Don't worry. My father is accompanying me."

"Ah!" After their initial shock, Xiaoxue and Ziye could only offer helpless, bitter smiles. Uncle Hetang had a fondness for battle and valued ferocity. For a delicate and innocent girl like Xiao Lian to follow him all this time, they couldn't tell if it was for good or ill.

But this was ultimately her own path, a choice only she could make. Though worried, Ziye and the others couldn't interfere.