In the dim carriage, Xi Fuhong couldn’t see the scenery outside.
For days, she had no idea why Luo Qingcheng had captured her.
She only felt a vague sense of depression in her heart, and her eyelids twitched rapidly.
Every time the carriage jolted, her heart would panic along with it.
Where was this road leading? What would her future be? Unable to help herself, Xi Fuhong curled up and clenched her hands tightly.
She didn’t want to go, nor did she want to know.
But she had no choice, never having the power to control her fate.
The bumpy road passed over many hills and finally stopped at the foot of Xu Loufeng Mountain, a place that was once an endpoint but now became a starting point.
Xi Fuhong was led out of the carriage, greeted by a familiar yet strange green entrance.
The sky was nearing dusk, with rosy afterglow staining the clouds, everything seemed so ominous, as if warning outsiders not to approach.
An inexplicable fear weighed on her heart, and Xi Fuhong couldn’t move her feet.
“Why…” She didn’t know if she was asking herself or someone else, Xi Fuhong murmured helplessly.
At this moment, the sound of a horse neighing came from behind, and Xi Fuhong instinctively turned her head, immediately breaking out in a cold sweat.
It was as if her blood had been drained, her whole body cold, she even forgot to breathe, her chest blocked with a breath she couldn’t exhale.
Stumbling back a step, Xi Fuhong almost tripped over a stone, only to see four renowned Jianghu heroines all gathered.
Luo Qingcheng led a fierce horse, her face indifferent; Xiao Qiyu smiled gently, her demeanor like a lotus; Xue Baihua wore snow-white clothes, her charming eyes blinking; Shi Cuiyan played with a dagger, exuding a spirited aura.
Any one of these beauties was rare, but Xi Fuhong seemed to have seen a demon, wishing she could run away.
But her legs went weak, and she didn’t even have the courage to escape.
Xi Fuhong never thought she would see them all together again in this life.
The memories of the Wulin Branch were still fresh, like an unshakable demon, recalling the scenes always made her heart tremble with fear.
Xi Fuhong felt a pain in her chest, a pain filled with too many emotions, even she couldn’t explain where this feeling should belong.
Was there still a place in her heart to place this sorrow?
The five of them looked at each other, no one spoke, even the usually carefree Shi Cuiyan didn’t act foolishly.
Nearby, Luo Qingcheng handed the reins to a young boy, while Xue Baihua coughed lightly.
It was rare for the Caomu Sisters not to be by her side, and Xiao Qiyu also came alone this time, without any Bi Xuan Palace disciples accompanying her.
It seemed someone had deliberately gathered them.
The atmosphere was oppressive, the cold wind howled, and suddenly the sound of galloping hooves broke the silence.
The newcomer was Martial Arts Alliance Leader Chen Tanghe, driving a carriage, accompanied by a scholarly-looking man.
Chen Tanghe nodded to everyone, also silent, his tall and strong body swiftly dismounted, turning to exchange a glance with Luo Qingcheng.
Xi Fuhong clutched her clothes tightly, suddenly inexplicably nervous.
At this moment, Chen Tanghe seemed to receive permission and went straight to the carriage behind, lifting the curtain with a flick of his arm.
Behind the burlap, a pair of old women’s shoes slowly emerged.
“Grandma…” Xi Fuhong murmured, incredulous.
Behind the burlap was actually the gravekeeper Gui Po, something Xi Fuhong never imagined even in her dreams. She widened her eyes, not with joy but with shock and confusion.
What did it mean to see Grandma in this situation? Was it arranged by Luo Qingcheng? Why return to Xu Loufeng? What was the secret of the Tiger Dragon Cave? Everyone gathered here, as if time had reversed, but this time, it left Xi Fuhong at a loss.
The gravekeeper Gui Po heard Xi Fuhong’s call but didn’t respond, like a stranger, she bypassed her and walked towards the entrance.
Chen Tanghe followed, glancing at Xi Fuhong as he passed by, his gaze neither domineering nor friendly.
Xi Fuhong’s legs felt nailed to the ground, watching everyone follow Gui Po into the forest, but she couldn’t move.
“Follow.” Luo Qingcheng stood beside her, urging in a deep voice.
Xi Fuhong looked up, full of confusion.
“What is going on? Did you bring Grandma here? Why…” She frowned, very troubled.
Luo Qingcheng only glanced at her upon hearing this, flicking her long sleeves without explaining anything.
At this point, what use was there in saying more? This road had to be taken, Xi Fuhong could no longer turn back.
Luo Qingcheng turned to stare at Xi Fuhong, noticing a hint of fear in her puzzled expression.
She was trembling, like a fawn trapped in a snare.
Since she had fallen into the trap, she could only be at the mercy of others.
“Follow.” Luo Qingcheng said, leaving without looking back.
She wasn’t afraid of Xi Fuhong escaping, because she had nowhere to run.
Watching the red figure walk away, what else could she do? Xi Fuhong hesitated for a while, finally biting her lip stubbornly and following.
Perhaps she didn’t know what lay ahead, but she still wanted to know the purpose of Grandma’s visit, and even more, the reason she was abandoned.
With this thought, Xi Fuhong would follow even through fire and water.
How could the Grandma who raised her just leave so heartlessly?
The group wound through the dense forest for half an hour, finally arriving at the location of the Tiger Dragon Cave.
The giant stone still stood tall, exuding an invisible majesty.
The valley after sunset appeared even darker, especially since there was no moonlight that night.
The gravekeeper Gui Po stopped Chen Tanghe, who was about to light a torch, extending her withered hand to signal him to hand over the black and white rings.
“Fuhong, come here.” Gui Po suddenly spoke, and Xi Fuhong immediately stepped forward upon hearing it.
Hearing Grandma finally call her, she immediately swept away the gloom, but before she could speak, she was pushed forward by Gui Po.
“Hold it, use this to open the door.” The gravekeeper Gui Po stuffed the Black Dragon Tail Ring into Xi Fuhong’s hand.
Looking down at the black ring in her hand, Xi Fuhong’s face turned pale.
It was this Black Dragon Tail Ring that caused her peaceful days to be gone forever, forcing her to leave home and endure suffering outside.
Perhaps the one who hurt her the most wasn’t Shi Cuiyan, nor Xue Baihua, not Xiao Qiyu, nor Luo Qingcheng.
The one who caused her such pain was the Tiger Dragon Treasure in her hand, the greed and desire of the world.
Gui Po handed the White Tiger Ring Head to the scholarly-looking man, instructing him to go forward and unlock it as well.
Seeing this, Xi Fuhong had no choice but to walk towards the giant stone.
She didn’t understand the purpose of this.
The treasure had already been opened before, and opening it again would yield the same result.
Why gather everyone for this unnecessary act? Was it because Luo Qingcheng was unwilling to give up? Or…
Glancing back at Gui Po, Xi Fuhong only felt that Gui Po was no longer the Grandma she knew.
With the rings placed on the giant stone, Xi Fuhong immediately stepped back three steps.
She held her breath, waiting for the stone door to open, but this time something unusual happened.
The giant stone didn’t move at all.
Just as she was about to speak, a loud rumble suddenly sounded in her ears, and the ground shook along with it.
A deep echo came from beneath her feet, as if a mechanism had been activated.
“This… this is…” Chen Tanghe exclaimed, pointing to the mountain wall not far away.
The previously unremarkable stone wall suddenly opened a narrow gap, just wide enough for one person to pass through, followed by a series of stone steps.
The Tiger Dragon Treasure indeed existed.
Xi Fuhong was dumbfounded, while Gui Po only snorted coldly.
Her face, marked by the traces of time, appeared haggard, but her eyes were not at all muddled, instead filled with a bright light.
She walked directly towards the narrow gap without any hesitation.
Seeing this, everyone followed, including Xi Fuhong.
Xiao Qiyu waved a paper talisman, summoning ghostly fire to illuminate the surroundings.
They continued down along the stone wall, with Xi Fuhong at the end.
With each step down, her heart tightened a bit more, until she could no longer bear the pressure of fear and stopped.
The bright light ahead grew farther and farther away, not just a situation, but also seemed to foretell her future…
Only darkness remained.
Xi Fuhong’s scalp tingled, just as she was about to turn and flee, her legs wouldn’t obey, refusing to move.
She opened her mouth to call out, only to find she had lost her voice.
Instantly panicking inside, she watched the bright light disappear, everyone long gone, leaving her alone.
No…
Don’t leave me alone!
