The Dragon

Seeking and Searching

She traveled through the night, arriving at a small town near the Thirty-Three Skies. In Nanzhou, dawn breaks early in the summer, and the sky was turning from black to light blue as she reached the inn.

She approached a room and knocked on the door, calling out, “Scholar Zhai.”

After two knocks, a voice from inside responded, “Who is it, so early in the morning?” As the door opened, the woman inside, still putting on her outer robe, was surprised to see her. She smiled, “Gu Fuyou? Why are you back so soon?”

Gu Fuyou entered the room, saying, “I told you to call me Qing Jun when we’re outside.”

The woman finished dressing, tidied her hair, put on her hairpin, took a fan from the cabinet, and sat down at the table. She opened the fan with a swish, displaying the words “I roam freely” written on the white surface. She chuckled, “There’s nobody around, and even if someone heard, you said it’s been over seven hundred years, right? Who would remember?”

Gu Fuyou replied, “People from the Zuo family are very sharp.”

Scholar Zhai asked, “Did you gain anything from your trip to the Thirty-Three Skies? How did you feel seeing your old enemy?”

Gu Fuyou scoffed, “As prosperous and respected as ever.”

Scholar Zhai waved her fan, “If ordinary people were allowed in the Thirty-Three Skies, I’d really like to see it myself.”

Gu Fuyou, not interested in further discussion, said, “Pack up, we’re going to Bailu City.”

Scholar Zhai stood up, dusted off her clothes, and smiled, “I travel light; nothing to pack. Let’s go.”

They left the inn. Scholar Zhai looked up at the sky, which was just starting to brighten, and exclaimed, “It’s so early, why are you in such a hurry?”

Gu Fuyou remained silent. Scholar Zhai teased, “Looking at you, it’s as if you’re fleeing in panic.”

Gu Fuyou stiffened. Scholar Zhai laughed, “I guessed right, didn’t I?”

Gu Fuyou: “…”

The two left the town. Scholar Zhai stopped and looked expectantly at Gu Fuyou, who asked, “What’s wrong?”

Scholar Zhai inquired, “Where’s your magical artifact?”

Gu Fuyou replied, “It’s broken.”

Scholar Zhai: “…”

Scholar Zhai while fanning herself, said, “You’re not planning to walk to Bailu City, are you?”

Gu Fuyou spread her hands, “I don’t have any other tools for travel. I can fly, do you want to join?”

“Forget it, we’ll walk. My mortal body can’t withstand your wild winds.”

They headed south, planning to first reach a city near the Thirty-Three Skies to use the teleportation formation to Wantong City, adjacent to Bailu City. Though there was no direct formation connection, it was closer.

Scholar Zhai walked slowly. Gu Fuyou was not in a rush to get to Bailu City and did not mind the pace. But given Scholar Zhai’s weak constitution, it took them over half a month to reach the nearby city.

Finally, on a hill, they could see the city ahead. Scholar Zhai, panting, leaned against her legs, “I can’t go on, let’s rest.”

Gu Fuyou, standing at the hilltop, turned and smiled, “Scholar Zhai, I really don’t understand you. You clearly have spiritual roots but refuse to cultivate. Dragging around this mortal body, everything is inconvenient, and your lifespan is only a century. What a waste.”

Scholar Zhai caught her breath, stood up straight, fanned herself, and said nonchalantly, “In this world, opposites coexist, difficulties lead to achievements. Only by knowing bitterness can one appreciate sweetness. Knowing that life is fleeting makes time more precious. The path of immortality is too long and tedious for me. A hundred years is enough; it makes everything more precious and lovable, full of regrets and cherishment. I may not understand the ways of immortals, but I know a thing or two about being human.”

Gu Fuyou smiled, “Scholar Zhai, you always have so many insights. There are many cultivators in this world who have lived a thousand years longer than you and yet aren’t as perceptive as you. You truly seem like someone on a spiritual path.”

Scholar Zhai chuckled lightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. She gazed at Gu Fuyou’s face, which was extremely beautiful and enchanting, even without any particular expression. However, what seemed out of place with this face were her eyes. Sometimes, they were exceptionally well-disguised, betraying no oddity, but when Gu Fuyou was lost in thought, they would reveal a cold, gloomy, and hate-filled look.

Scholar Zhai sighed, “You say you don’t understand me, and I don’t understand you either. The dead are already gone, and the living must continue to live. Life has many things to look forward to. Living solely with hatred will only burn oneself out in the end. You, on the other hand, are clearly capable of becoming an immortal, yet you’re uninterested in it.”

Gu Fuyou glanced at the distant city, her Azure Phoenix eyes dark green, indistinguishable from black pupils in the absence of light, occasionally flashing a faint green light, cold and profound: “Scholar Zhai. The dead cannot just be forgotten, and those who are alive can never live as they did before. I crawled back from hell, wanting nothing but for his Zuo family—”

She said coldly, “To be utterly destroyed.”

Whenever this topic was brought up, Gu Fuyou’s demeanor turned icy and uncompromising. All Scholar Zhai could do was sigh and shake her head. Without experiencing another’s pain, one shouldn’t preach tolerance.

Entering the city, they found a tea house for a temporary rest. The city, being close to the Thirty-Three Skies, saw many cultivators coming and going. Even in such a small tea house, the waiter, having seen much of the world, noticed Gu Fuyou. Although he couldn’t confirm her as an Azure Phoenix, he had his suspicions and didn’t dare to neglect them, arranging a private room for them.

This Azure Phoenix body had overcome the need for food, but she couldn’t change her habit of enjoying exquisite food, nor did she want to. Sometimes, after playing a role for too long, she would become confused, unsure of her identity. She needed to retain some details to prove she was once Gu Fuyou of Xiaoyao City, the girl with mediocre talent who loved pleasure.

Thus, when she first left Xian Luo and met the free-spirited Scholar Zhai, she felt a sense of kinship.

Gu Fuyou glanced at Scholar Zhai, who was sipping tea and using her fan to lift the curtain.

They heard someone below saying, “They’ve started fighting.”

Listening closely, Gu Fuyou realized it was about the Dragon Clan fighting with the Zuo family.

Her brow twitched slightly, paying attention. She then learned it wasn’t the Zuo family, but the Xuan Miao Sect, which was affiliated with the Zuo family.

The discussion below was vivid, describing how Zhong Michu single-handedly confronted the sect master Ji Xiyan, how she crippled his cultivation and imprisoned him, and how she fought against all the elders alone, unbeatable, with the cultivators supporting the Lu family barred by the Dragon Clan hundreds of miles away, unable to even step onto Jingdu Mountain.

Gu Fuyou’s eyes softened, and a slight smile appeared on her face. Scholar Zhai glanced at her and said with a laugh, “Your senior sister is quite strong.”

Gu Fuyou leaned her cheek on her hand, looking into the void, “She has always been that strong.” Then her eyelashes drooped slightly, her expression becoming somewhat wistful.

Scholar Zhai remarked, “I’d like to meet her.”

Meanwhile, the cultivators below continued their discussion.

“The Dragon Clan and Nanzhou have been at odds for hundreds of years. They finally couldn’t resist attacking. The days ahead in the cultivation world will be tough.”

“I heard that the Dragon Clan and the Azure Phoenix Clan are planning to rise again and rule the five continents and four seas. The Xuan Miao Sect is probably just the beginning. They say the new Dragon King is so kind and generous, ruling the four seas with peace and prosperity, unlike the previous Dragon King. Perhaps it’s all a facade to enslave the human race once again. Now that they’ve taken over Xuan Miao Sect, who knows where they will strike next.”

Scholar Zhai raised an eyebrow, “Oh?”

Gu Fuyou glanced at the people speaking below and scoffed, “How can a dwarf comprehend the whole play? They only speak according to what they see and hear.”

Scholar Zhai watched Gu Fuyou with amusement and laughed, “You really defend her, don’t you?”

Gu Fuyou said nothing and stood up, “Let’s go.”

“Wait a moment, hey, wait…” Scholar Zhai hurriedly followed her out.

As they left, a gust of wind suddenly erupted inside the inn. They heard someone cry out, “Ouch, my leg!” as he was swept into mid-air and then fell down, breaking his leg.

Gu Fuyou and Scholar Zhai reached the city’s teleportation formation. Standing in the formation, they dropped a spirit stone. A flash of light later, they found themselves in a different scene.

Walking through the streets, Gu Fuyou wore a mask due to her conspicuous appearance. Scholar Zhai remarked, “Of all the cities in Nanzhou, Wantong City is the liveliest.”

Indeed, Wantong City was bustling with people, a sight of prosperity. However, it wasn’t as lively as it had been seven hundred years ago when the markets opened, Full of life and excitement.

Scholar Zhai, fanning herself, said, “The Xu Ling Sect’s two main resources come from Wantong City and Bailu City. Wantong City, with thousands of shops making daily fortunes, is the primary provider of spirit stones for the sect; Bailu City, dealing in slave cultivation and trade, also brings a significant amount of spirit stones and serves as the second major military reserve after the Thirty-Three Skies. Taking down these two places would make your plans much easier to achieve.”

Gu Fuyou replied, “I understand. What does Scholar Zhai think of my plan to take Bailu City first?”

Scholar Zhai shook her head, “You should target Wantong City first. It has teleportation formations connecting the entire Nanzhou and houses the Wanyao Pavilion, the foremost trade center for medicinal herbs, closely allied with the Xu Ling Sect. If you take Wantong City, you can cut off their supply and transportation routes. Besides, the city’s defense is weaker than Bailu City, and you excel in array formations. Taking Wantong City first is more advantageous and less strenuous than targeting the more strongly defended Bailu City.”

Gu Fuyou said, “Your advice is sound. However, the City Lord of Wantong City, Zuo Shaode, is deeply suspicious and powerful. Without an opportunity to enter his mansion, a direct visit would only raise his suspicions.”

As they reached the city’s announcement board, they saw a crowd gathered around. Scholar Zhai laughed, “Opportunity knocks at the perfect time.”

The announcement stated that a ferocious ape-like beast had invaded the Yunduan Grand Canyon outside Wantong City, and commoners were forbidden to enter. The Zuo family was seeking its capture, promising substantial rewards for assistance.

Gu Fuyou, looking thoughtfully at the announcement, remained silent.

Scholar Zhai said, “It seems we will be staying in Wantong City for a while.”

Gu Fuyou replied, “Scholar Zhai, you rest at Si Miao’s house. I’ll check it out.”

“Wait, I’ll come with you.” Scholar Zhai insisted.

“You’re a mortal, you can’t help.” Gu Fuyou pointed out.

Scholar Zhai, tapping her fan on her chest, laughed, “If you catch that spirit beast, we can enter the City Lord’s mansion together. I want to see this Zuo Shaode and gauge the situation in Wantong City.”

After a brief consideration, Gu Fuyou said, “Alright, let’s go together.”

“Wait.”

“What now?”

“I’m exhausted from traveling. Let’s rest today.”

“…”

They headed to the eastern part of the city, arriving at a secluded mansion. Surrounded by a formation, it didn’t stop Gu Fuyou and Scholar Zhai. They entered through the back door. The mansion was quiet and serene, a large courtyard with no sign of life.

Scholar Zhai, upon entering the courtyard, immediately collapsed onto a reclining chair under a ginkgo tree, heaving a long sigh of relief: “Gu Fuyou, even though your body is that of a mythical beast, you could still summon one, right?”

Gu Fuyou, initially heading towards the eastern garden, paused, her brows involuntarily furrowing as a thought struck her.

“You’re now without a magical artifact to carry me, and my old bones really can’t take it. I can’t expect you to transform into an Azure Phoenix to carry me. At the very least, buy a magical artifact, or summon a spirit beast for use. Otherwise, traversing the canyon tomorrow will be the death of me.”

Gu Fuyou stared at her hands, silent for a long while. Scholar Zhai, leaning on the armrest, suggested, “I am, after all, half your military advisor. Can’t you let me maintain some dignity? Summoning a spirit beast not only serves us now but will also be of use later. Given you’re in the body of an Azure Phoenix, any beast you summon won’t be mediocre and can add to our combat power. Right now, it’s just you and Miss Si Miao. Having an extra helping hand wouldn’t hurt.”

Gu Fuyou knew the logic well but harbored her own reservations.

She took a deep breath, thinking that with her new body, using a simple summoning formation shouldn’t cause any issues.

Scholar Zhai was right. Having a spirit beast by her side would indeed be more convenient. There was no need to always postpone it.

Biting her lower lip, she reassured herself internally, “It’s okay, it’s okay.”

Extending her fingers, she formed a hand seal.

This was Scholar Zhai’s first time witnessing a spirit beast’s summoning. She stood up eagerly, eyes bright with anticipation: “Oh!”

Gu Fuyou concentrated her energy and shouted, “Come!”

As the summoning formation was activated, the wind fluttered their skirts and hair. After a while, Scholar Zhai blinked in confusion: “Huh? Why is there nothing?”

Gu Fuyou was also puzzled. Her current body, that of an Azure Phoenix, shouldn’t be so useless that she couldn’t even summon a single spirit beast.

Just as she was confused, her eyes suddenly widened, and she looked up, exclaiming, “It’s above!”

A cloud appeared in mid-air, with something coiled inside it. The cloud rapidly descended, revealing a figure in white robes who landed, knelt on one knee, and then slowly stood up.

Her back was still turned to Gu Fuyou, who stood frozen, unable to comprehend.

“Why is it still…”