Long Time No See 02

The Heavenly Derivative Sect, the Peak of One Big Happy Family.

The Peak of One Big Happy Family, which had once been lively when Chen Baiqing brought Lin Luoyu back, had grown quiet again with the departure of Li Yingling and the others.

San Dong still tended to the Peak of One Big Happy Family as usual, caring for the medicinal herb garden where healing spirit plants grew, always ready for any injured senior sister or the sect leader who might need them.

Though San Dong also understood that they probably had better pills to take, and might not need the spirit plants it grew.

But as a friend, it always wanted to do something, even if it wasn't needed.

San Dong understood one principle — doing something is always better than doing nothing.

For example, adjusting the seed ratio in the flower fields of Ten Thousand Blossom Ridge could make it more beautiful.

Even if leaving it alone would still be pretty, adjusting it could make itself happier.

The sect leader had said so.

Whether doing something is worth the joy it brings is also an important measure.

The great formation of the Heavenly Derivative Sect was layered and complex, but the snowflakes drifting down with the seasons could still pierce through it.

Peaks that didn't like falling snow could send disciples to clear it, or activate the peak's formation to block it, but most peaks didn't activate the formation. If they truly disliked it, the disciples would handle it.

After all, cultivators could deal with this kind of snow with a few hand seals or some simple techniques — easy and convenient.

San Dong hugged its arms, gazing at the snowy scene that had turned into a stretch of white, and said:

"Qian Qing! Such heavy snow — is it bigger than last year's?"

Qian Qing held a broom in her hand, lifting her gaze to look at the snow already clinging to the branches:

"Probably so."

"Then do you think after tonight, we can build a snowman? I want to make everyone."

"If it keeps snowing like this, we probably can."

"Mhm, last year we were short by a bit — Cui Hao was missing half his head."

Qian Qing turned her gaze to San Dong, a hint of a smile curling at the corners of her mouth.

The cultivation world had no years. These immortals rarely celebrated birthdays, nor did they have many festivals. They had so many years that they didn't care much about the festivals within them.

During the Spring Festival, they wouldn't put up spring couplets or say "Happy New Year."

There was no spring planting, only the endless spring rain.

Qian Qing could no longer remember how long she had stayed at the Peak of One Big Happy Family.

She only recalled that she had already watched the snow with San Dong three times.

Qian Qing also didn't know what time of year it was, or what season. She only remembered that the endless rain was spring, the heavy rain and sweltering heat was summer, the coolness was autumn, and the snowfall was winter.

San Dong had cultivation to protect it, unaffected by heat or cold. Its clothes were just for looking nice, with no warming function, so it wore the same thin outfits year-round.

Qian Qing was indeed a high-level martial artist. In an emergency, she could stir her own blood energy to adjust her body temperature, but she wasn't like a cultivator who could be self-contained without needing conscious control.

No one likes the feeling of having to keep clenching their fist, so Qian Qing changed her clothes with the seasons.

San Dong turned its head and saw Qian Qing gazing at the heavy snow. After a moment's thought, it spoke softly:

"Is it a bit boring to stay with San Dong? San Dong only ever takes you to plant spirit herbs, sweep the floor, and feed the spirit fish."

Hearing this, Qian Qing's gaze turned gently toward San Dong, and she said in a calm tone:

"I don't need San Dong to know every skill — I just need San Dong."

When San Dong heard this, it laughed so hard its big eyes nearly narrowed into slits. It said happily:

"San Dong likes Qian Qing."

"And Qian Qing likes San Dong too."

Qian Qing's reply came quickly. If it were her younger self, she might not have said such cheesy words.

With the rivers and lakes, she had lived with swift emotions and quick vengeance — settling grudges with the blade and debts with a toast.

But over time, Qian Qing had come to understand that San Dong was simply a flower spirit — pure-hearted and deeply valuing its friends.

Straightforward affection was better than any gift for San Dong.

Qian Qing broke into a smile: "Tomorrow, let's build a snowman together. If the snow isn't deep enough, we'll make it a bit smaller."

"Great!" San Dong, familiar with the routine, flew over to Qian Qing's once-bony shoulder.

Qian Qing tilted her head toward San Dong with a smile and asked:

"What should we do today?"

"How about finding Qinghe to take us somewhere good to eat?"

"That might not be ideal — Sect Leader Chu would probably end up paying again."

"San Dong has spirit stones. As the Supreme Grand Protector of the Sect, San Dong receives extra allowances from the sect leader." San Dong clapped its hands, grinning slyly. "Besides, the sect leader says he's rich and isn't afraid of San Dong eating him out of house and home."

San Dong patted its own shoulder and said: "Today, San Dong is treating. Let's bring Qinghe — it's San Dong's friend too. Qinghe smiles most sincerely when it's eating."

"Alright." Qian Qing smiled and didn't want to spoil San Dong's spirits.

After all, since Chu Xingchen was so famous and Qinghe could just put the bill on his name, he probably wouldn't mind paying for one meal.

If he really couldn't cover it, then they could just dump the debt on that penniless monk, Yuan Kong.

After all, Yuan Kong had dumped her debts on them, hadn't he?

Qian Qing started walking toward the mountain gate to put the broom back in its place.

The snow grew heavier, so San Dong used its spiritual energy to create a barrier to block the falling snow.

In San Dong's eyes, Qian Qing was an ordinary person without cultivation, in need of thorough protection — getting snow on her could make her sick.

Qian Qing walked at a steady pace. Since coming to the Heavenly Derivative Sect, she had rarely practiced martial arts anymore. Maybe her horizons had broadened, and she felt martial training was just so-so. Or maybe San Dong's influence was too strong, and she had become somewhat lazy.

Or perhaps the people she had wanted to protect, in the end, she realized she could never protect with her own abilities.

Qian Qing felt even her vigilance had slipped. She walked to the mountain gate and placed the broom beside the door — a broom she had made herself.

Yuan Kong was utterly penniless. He had only seriously earned money while raising little Qian Qing, making sure she never went hungry and ate well, but beyond that, he truly had nothing to his name.

So many small items she could make herself — brooms, tables, chairs, benches — Qian Qing had learned to craft.

They might not be pretty, but they were always usable.

The snow fell even more heavily.

Qian Qing stood at the gate, looking down at the winding stone steps. She let out a soft breath, and a wisp of warm air rose.

San Dong immediately followed suit, and two puffs of warm air drifted upward.

At the same moment, both of them burst into laughter.

Qian Qing was about to turn back and have San Dong call for Qinghe when her steps suddenly stopped.

Through the vast swath of white snow, a yellow figure was slowly climbing up the steps.

After one glance, Qian Qing found she couldn't move.

Though it was far away, the snow was heavy, and the figure was blurry.

Qian Qing knew it was Yuan Kong. Perhaps because she had looked at this dejected figure for so long, she remembered it deeply.

San Dong also looked into the distance, then glanced at Qian Qing's unsteady expression, and naturally understood who was coming.

It wanted to speak up for Qian Qing, to curse at Yuan Kong bitterly.

But in the end, San Dong couldn't bring itself to say a word.

Because San Dong knew — for people who truly matter, even when they make mistakes, you can't bring yourself to truly scold them.

Qian Qing stood at the gate.

Yuan Kong climbed step by step.

"Little Qing, it's been a while."

A smile spread across Yuan Kong's face, just as it had when he first stood before Qian Qing.

Qian Qing let out a resigned smile.

Then, without hesitation, he drew back his fist and drove it with all his might toward Yuan Kong's face.

After all, against a mighty Golden Core cultivator, even the full-force punch of an ordinary mortal was nothing more than this.

Qian Qing's blood and qi surged as he threw the punch with no restraint.

Boom!

A thin layer of snow scattered into the air.

Yuan Kong descended gracefully.

He gazed out into the vast, falling snow.

It was not yet over.