Xu Chang'an thought that Yun Qian wouldn't have many things she wanted to take up the mountain, but when he saw her packing even the ugly wood carving he had once made for her, he was quite helpless.
"Miss, we're going for cultivation, not moving house."
"But I want to keep them all." Yun Qian fiddled with the wood carving Xu Chang'an had given her. It was barely recognizable as a human figure, but she really liked it.
If she had to throw away these treasures, she wouldn't be that keen on cultivation.
"..." Seeing his wife's furrowed brow, Xu Chang'an opened the Storage Bag for a look.
Clothes, daily necessities, alcohol, the novels he wrote for Yun Qian, a pile of gifts, and odds and ends.
"Fine." Xu Chang'an gently took the wood carving from Yun Qian's hand and placed it into the Storage Bag. "Bless Senior Zhu for giving us this Storage Bag."
Looking back at their little home, almost nothing was left behind.
"Is there anything else you want to take?" Xu Chang'an asked.
"Yes." Yun Qian went back to the bedroom and came out with a soft double pillow.
"I…" Xu Chang'an smacked his own lips: "Serves you right for being nosy."
"Take it." Yun Qian said firmly.
"Alright, alright." Xu Chang'an shook his head and then said, "It's time. Let's go."
"Mm." Yun Qian responded, holding Xu Chang'an's hand as they left the place where she had lived for over a year, a place only a home when he was there.
...
The Chaoyun Sect stood among the ocean's mountain ranges, and cultivators like Xu Chang'an who couldn't yet ride the clouds needed to follow protocol and find a Guiding Disciple when returning to the sect.
"The Guiding Cloud Boat is quite a distance away, on a cliff south of Beisang City." Xu Chang'an pointed into the distance.
Yun Qian looked at the mountain piercing the clouds and said seriously, "Let's go back."
"..."
Of course, Xu Chang'an wouldn't let Yun Qian walk up the mountain herself; that would be too much. So, Xu Chang'an curled a corner of his mouth, shaking his finger at Yun Qian.
"Carry on your back or in your arms, pick one." Xu Chang'an coughed and said, "Personally, I recommend carrying on the back, less effort."
"I'll listen to you." Yun Qian lightly wrapped her arms around Xu Chang'an's neck and softly leaned on him.
Xu Chang'an felt the warmth pressing against his back.
Gently supporting Yun Qian, Xu Chang'an gauged a bit and said, "Miss, have you become a bit heavier than before?"
"..." Yun Qian's chin knocked against Xu Chang'an's shoulder as she lightly tapped his head: "Are you doing this on purpose?"
"No." Xu Chang'an thought to himself that he was just trying to cover his nervousness about taking Yun Qian to the Chaoyun Sect.
They walked out of the small path and climbed up the cliff.
The bumpy journey was not something Xu Chang'an could easily share with others.
After reaching the cliff, they saw an endless sea of clouds; the winds stirred the clouds, creating an expansive view reminiscent of an ocean.
In the distance, the bright sun illuminated the horizon.
This was where the Chaoyun disciples climbed the mountain.
Setting Yun Qian down, Xu Chang'an pointed to the pavilion ahead and said, "Miss, there it is."
"Finally here." Yun Qian stretched her slightly stiff body, then took out a handkerchief from her chest, gently wiping the slight sweat off Xu Chang'an's forehead, and calmly said, "Tired?"
"Not really." Xu Chang'an still had plenty of Spiritual Qi left, and Yun Qian didn't weigh much.
He was sweating purely for other reasons.
Glancing at Yun Qian's beautifully shaped figure, Xu Chang'an sighed softly, always thinking that if someone saw Yun Qian wipe his sweat, they would think it was an older sister caring for a younger brother, or even a mother caring for a son, never a couple.
He touched his face.
Given two more years, he should be able to transform from a boy into a young man.
Holding Yun Qian's hand, they entered the pavilion, seeing a young Daoist nun sitting not far off, reading with a focused expression.
Although reluctant to disturb the person immersed in reading, Xu Chang'an approached the table and said in a low voice.
"Senior sister, we need to climb the mountain."
"..."
Silence ensued.
"Senior sister?" Xu Chang'an called again.
"Ah?" The young Daoist nun finally came to her senses, looking at Xu Chang'an and Yun Qian, half a beat slow in her reaction.
She recognized Xu Chang'an, it wasn't their first meeting, but this beautiful person beside Xu Chang'an…
The young Daoist nun was surprised by the sight of their clasped hands, yet didn't ask further. After checking the Jade Talisman given by Zhu Pingniang, she allowed them to pass.
It was only after Xu Chang'an and Yun Qian's figures vanished from sight that the young Daoist nun shook her head.
She wasn't from Muyu Peak, but she had heard Xu Chang'an's name a few times.
An outer disciple without any faction, yet for a man to live unharmed in Muyu Peak was enough to draw attention.
In the end, she didn't understand what was so special about Xu Chang'an. Even after a year, he was only at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer. Such aptitude couldn't be called bad, but it wasn't particularly impressive either.
However, the women of Muyu Peak were different from others anyway; their cultivation techniques were strange, often unconventional, and contrary to traditional practices.
For instance, those cultivating music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, practicing sword dances, or even those refining the Charm Technique that Hehuan Sect abandoned. That stuff... ultimately requiring entry into the mortal world for heart refinement, all sorts of heretical paths.
The true prodigies are to be seen later at the Sword Testing Spring.
Rumor has it the little princess of Hehuan Sect would also come this time, so... the best spring water of the Open Source Realm was to be contested between her and the successor of the Profound Sword Bureau.
The second confrontation between the Hehuan Bell and the Divine Sword Celestial Mirror was something many in the sect were looking forward to.
The young Daoist nun's eyes showed some anticipation.
According to the rules above, Young Master Jing of the Profound Sword Bureau was to visit today, and she wondered which sister would be the guide.
...
A small boat sailed amidst the clouds, with Xu Chang'an and Yun Qian sitting in the Cloud Boat, observing the boundless cloud sea.
Looking from above, it seemed like a vast ocean of surging waves, with peaks rising like islands in the sea, appearing and disappearing in the mist.
It's truly a paradise on earth.
On his first ascent, Xu Chang'an realized his insignificance amidst the cloud sea, and simultaneously, he understood the significance of the distinction between immortals and mortals.
"Miss, how do you find the scenery here?" Xu Chang'an couldn't help but ask.
"Scenery?" Yun Qian was taken aback, then came to realization, discovering that unbeknownst to herself and Xu Chang'an, they were already up in the heavens.
Yun Qian looked downward, seeing that amidst the rising wind and clouds, large masses of clouds drifted with the winds, and as the winds scattered the sea of clouds beneath them, revealing a forest like tiny blades of grass, as if the entire world had shrunk.
"How is it? Isn't it amazing?" Xu Chang'an smiled.
"Pretty high up." Yun Qian said.
"Thank you, Miss, for taking the time to humor me." Xu Chang'an sighed, thinking that while he expected his own lady's attitude, he was still amazed by Yun Qian's disposition.
Yun Qian thought of the disdain in the Daoist nun's eyes towards Xu Chang'an earlier, lightly lowering her eyelids.
Should she really climb up the mountain?
If everyone on the mountain treated Xu Chang'an similarly, she felt she might genuinely get angry.
It had been a long time since she last got angry.
In Xu Chang'an's somewhat surprised gaze, Yun Qian simply threw herself into his embrace.