Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

The lights in the guest courtyard had long been extinguished, and the Feng family members seemed to have already settled down for the night.

Inside the main courtyard's side room, Feng Xiaolu tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

She stared wide-eyed at the top of the tent, her mind replaying the earnest and excited faces of Feng Wenyuan and his wife from earlier that day, and the stories they had told about her parents. The pull of blood ties and her attachment to the Yunyin Sect, her "home," were fiercely intertwined within her.

"Going back to take a look... doesn't seem like a big deal?" Feng Xiaolu rolled over and muttered softly, "Just consider it... going back to see my parents whom I've never met? Besides, what... what are they..."

Yes, that's how they died.

Feng Xiaolu wanted to know.

After agonizing in bed for a while, Feng Xiaolu sat up irritably and scratched her already messy hair.

Moonlight streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows on the floor. Feng Xiaolu slipped on her shoes and tiptoed open the door, wanting to get some fresh air in the yard.

In the courtyard, beneath the old locust tree, a figure stood with his hands behind his back, his posture upright—it was Chen Anran. His senior sister had already gone to rest, while he seemed to still be admiring the moonlight.

"Junior Brother?" Feng Xiaolu was somewhat surprised. "You're not asleep either?"

Chen Anran turned around, the moonlight outlining the contours of his profile, his expression appearing somewhat somber in the night.

"Third Senior Sister can't sleep either?"

Feng Xiaolu walked to his side, leaned against the rough trunk of the locust tree, and sighed, "My mind is a mess... Junior Brother, tell me, should I trust them?"

Chen Anran looked at Feng Xiaolu's eyes, which shone brightly in the moonlight yet were filled with confusion, and did not answer immediately.

After a long pause, Chen Anran finally said, "Third Senior Sister, you do want to go, don't you?"

Feng Xiaolu paused for a moment, then lowered her head dejectedly, grinding the pebbles on the ground with her toes: "I don't know... I just feel that if what they said is true, then my parents... do they also hope that I can go back and visit? And, just going to visit, it doesn't seem like... a big deal?"

Chen Anran was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Third Senior Sister, just follow your heart. The Cloud Hidden Sect will always be your home, and we will always be your support. If you feel uncomfortable at the Feng family or notice anything amiss, contact us immediately. We will definitely come to pick you up as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Feng Xiaolu's restlessness subsided considerably. She nodded emphatically, her usual smile returning to her face, though tinged with a hint of complexity, her eyes brightening considerably: "Yes! I know! Don't worry, Junior Brother, your senior sister is very clever! If they dare to lie to me, I'll... I'll use our Cloud Hidden Sect's techniques to deal with them!" She waved her small fist, feigning ferocity.

Chen Anran chuckled to herself.

Having made a preliminary decision, Feng Xiaolu felt much more relaxed and yawned, "I'm sleepy, I'm going back to sleep! Junior brother, you should rest early too, don't be like your senior sister who always stays up late looking at the stars!" After saying that, she skipped back to her room.

Chen Anran watched her figure disappear behind the door, the smile on his face gradually fading. He took out his phone, looking at the dozen or so calls to Zhang Nanshan that could not be connected, and muttered to himself, "No matter what, I have to get in touch with Master Zhang."

………………

The next morning, the rain stopped and the sun shone brightly.

Feng Xiaolu found Su Wan, Chen Anran, and Wei Qingyi and told them her decision: "Senior Sister, Junior Brother, Second Senior Sister, I...I've made up my mind. I plan to go back to the Feng family with them."

Her tone was firm, clearly indicating that she had given it much thought: "Like you said, I should face it. If they genuinely want to reunite us, then... I really do want to see the place where my parents used to live. If not..."

She paused, a glint of cunning and confidence flashing in her eyes: "Then I'll treat it as a trip to see the splendor of a reclusive family! Anyway, with you all backing me up, I'm not afraid at all!"

Su Wan looked at her, her eyes showing both relief and a hint of worry. She gently grasped Feng Xiaolu's hand: "Since you've made your decision, I support you. Remember, think twice before you act, and safety comes first. Anran, Qingyi, what do you think?"

Wei Qingyi nodded. "Xiao Lu has her own judgment. It's good for her to go and see her; it will put her mind at ease. Remember to keep in touch with us."

Chen Anran looked at Feng Xiaolu and knew that she had made up her mind, so he didn't say anything more, only saying, "Keep in touch."

"Okay, okay! Don't worry!" Feng Xiaolu nodded vigorously, feeling warm inside.

Subsequently, Feng Xiaolu informed Feng Wenyuan and his wife of her decision.

Upon hearing this, Mr. and Mrs. Feng were overjoyed. Mrs. Feng excitedly grasped Feng Xiaolu's hand, repeatedly saying, "Good child, good child! Auntie knew you were a sensible child! Don't worry, when we get home, we will never let you suffer the slightest grievance!"

Feng Wenyuan repeatedly assured Su Wan and the others, "Sect Leader Su, Fellow Daoist Chen, Fellow Daoist Wei, please rest assured, we will protect Xiaolu and treat her like a precious jewel. Once she has recognized her ancestors and become familiar with her family, we will have no objection to whether she stays or leaves!"

With the matter settled, the Feng family decided not to linger any longer and set off to return home in the afternoon.

When they parted, everyone from the Yunyin Sect came to the mountain gate to see them off.

Little Ling'er hugged Feng Xiaolu's leg, her eyes red-rimmed: "Third Uncle, please come back soon! Little Ling'er will miss you!"

Feng Xiaolu squatted down, pinched her little cheek, and said with a grin, "Third Uncle is only going to play for a few days, he'll be back soon! He'll bring you delicious food and fun toys!"

Zhao Mengmeng and Lin Xiaoman also sent their blessings and told her to be careful on her journey.

Su Wan, Wei Qingyi, Chen Anran and Feng Wenyuan and his wife bid each other a final farewell.

"I'll leave Xiaolu in your care." Su Wan's tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

Feng Wenyuan said solemnly, "Sect Leader Su, you flatter me. This is what we should do."

Chen Anran finally looked at Feng Xiaolu and said, "Senior sister, remember this: if anyone dares to bully you, just tell me, and your junior brother will stand up for you."

Feng Xiaolu nodded repeatedly, and just as she was about to speak, a sarcastic voice suddenly rang out.

"A guy who's at the same Qi Refining stage as us, yet he's got quite the nerve."

The voice came from one of the younger members of the Feng family. He crossed his arms, a faint sneer on his lips, and his eyes swept over Chen Anran with obvious disdain.

The other person next to him scoffed and whispered in agreement, "Exactly, what kind of foundation could a small sect like the Cloud Hidden Sect possibly have? They really think they're something special."

Although their voices were not loud, everyone present was a cultivator and could hear them clearly.

Feng Wenyuan's face darkened, and he immediately scolded, "Feng Ming, Feng Liang! Stop talking nonsense! Quickly apologize to Fellow Daoist Chen!" He turned to Chen Anran with an apologetic expression, "Fellow Daoist Chen, the younger generation in our clan lacks discipline and speaks without restraint. I hope you will forgive them."

The young man named Feng Ming seemed somewhat unconvinced, but under Feng Wenyuan's stern gaze, he reluctantly cupped his hands in a sarcastic tone: "I misspoke, Fellow Daoist Chen, please forgive me."

Feng Xiaolu's eyebrows furrowed in anger, and she was about to lash out, but Chen Anran stopped her with a look.

With a thought, Chen Anran summoned the thousand-year-old peach wood sword from the museum.

The wooden sword hovered to the side, crackling with lightning. Chen Anran said calmly, "Although my Yunyin Sect is a small sect, if anyone wants to learn about our sect's secrets, that's fine with me."

Upon seeing this, Feng Ming and Feng Liang's faces instantly turned pale. They could clearly feel the immense spiritual power and chilling lightning contained within the floating peach wood sword, which was far beyond their ability to withstand. The wisps of leaping white lightning seemed poised to strike at any moment, causing their very souls to tremble.

Feng Wenyuan was deeply shocked. He hadn't expected Chen Anran to possess such abilities. The peach wood sword shone brightly with pure lightning energy, clearly no ordinary item. Not to mention her skill in manipulating objects in mid-air, drawing them back without releasing them—it was evident that her control over spiritual power had reached a sublime level. He immediately shouted sternly, his previous gentle composure gone: "You two ignorant fools! Quickly kneel down and kowtow to Sect Leader Su and Fellow Daoist Chen to apologize!"

Feng Ming and Feng Liang trembled at the shout, no longer daring to be negligent. They knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly towards Su Wan and Chen Anran, their voices trembling.

"Sect Leader Su, please forgive us! Fellow Daoist Chen, please forgive us! We were outspoken and arrogant, and offended your sect. Please forgive us this time!"

"We'll never do it again! We'll never do it again!"

Feng Wenyuan bowed deeply, his face full of shame and lingering fear: "Sect Leader Su, Fellow Daoist Chen, Fellow Daoist Wei, it is my fault for failing to discipline the younger generation of my clan, which has caused them to behave so disrespectfully and offend your sect. I beg your forgiveness! Upon returning, I will certainly discipline them strictly and never allow such a thing to happen again!"

Su Wan calmly swept her gaze over the two kneeling men begging for mercy, then looked at Feng Wenyuan, who was bowing deeply, without speaking immediately.

After a moment, Su Wan slowly spoke: "Mr. Feng, please rise. It is understandable that the younger generation is young and impetuous. However, the Yunyin Sect has established itself in the world not by relying on empty reputation. I hope the Feng family will remember our words today and treat Xiao Lu well. If she is wronged, today's matter will not be resolved so easily."

Feng Wenyuan quickly replied, "Sect Leader Su's teachings are truly insightful! I will remember them forever and never forget them!"

Upon seeing this, Chen Anran had a thought, and the floating peach wood sword and the swirling lightning suddenly retracted into his body, as if they had never existed.

He stepped forward and gently helped Feng Ming and Feng Liang, who were kneeling on the ground, to their feet. His tone was calm, "Since it was a misunderstanding, it's good that it's cleared up. I hope you two fellow Daoists will be more careful with your words and actions in the future."

At this moment, Feng Ming and Feng Liang had lost all their arrogance and responded meekly, not daring to meet Chen Anran's gaze.

After this incident, the Feng family members' attitude towards the Yunyin Sect, which was already polite, now carried an added layer of heartfelt reverence. Only after Feng Wenyuan solemnly assured them again did he lead his still-frightened clansmen and Feng Xiaolu, who kept turning back to look at him, down the mountain and depart.

Su Wan, Chen Anran, and Wei Qingyi stood side by side in front of the Yunyin Sect's mountain gate.

Wei Qingyi said softly, "I hope Xiaolu's trip goes smoothly."

Chen Anran's gaze was calm: "She will come back."

…………

After Feng Xiaolu left, the Yunyin Sect seemed to quiet down considerably.

Without Feng Xiaolu's lively, chattering figure, like a mountain bird, even the air felt a little less vibrant. For the first couple of days, Xiaoling was a little unaccustomed to it, constantly sneaking to the corner where Feng Xiaolu usually stayed to peek, only to be gently coaxed back by Wei Qingyi.

Chen Anran's life remained regular: cultivating, tending the spiritual fields, and studying thunder magic. However, he could clearly sense that his third senior sister's departure had created an atmosphere of unease within the sect. He remained vigilant, trying to contact Zhang Nanshan every day after his cultivation, but the phone was always busy, leaving him with a persistent, uneasy feeling.

Wei Qingyi observed his condition. That afternoon, she found Chen Anran wiping his peach wood sword outside the training room.

"Anran, what have you thought about going to Guangshi?" Wei Qingyi sat down on the stone bench next to him, her voice gentle. "Xiaolu has left for the time being, and the sect has the senior sister in charge, while Mengmeng and Fatty Li are handling the affairs down the mountain. You can take this opportunity to go out and travel."

Chen Anran paused slightly as he wiped the peach wood sword.

He raised his head and looked at Wei Qingyi, "Second Senior Sister, after what happened at Qingya Cave, I'm really worried about leaving only Senior Sister and Xiao Ling'er on the mountain."

Wei Qingyi sighed softly, reached out and pressed down on his wrist holding the sword, and said gently, "I understand your concerns. But Anran, you're putting yourself on too high a nerve."

She paused, looking directly into Chen Anran's eyes: "Have you ever considered why Senior Sister agreed to my proposal?"

Chen Anran was slightly taken aback.

Wei Qingyi continued, "We both know about Senior Sister's cultivation level. Now, with the help of the spirit-gathering stones, spirit rice, and spirit vegetables that you, Junior Brother, are nurturing, she is only half a step away from the perfection of Qi Refining. The reason she wants you to come with me is because she has seen that your state of mind has reached a bottleneck—excessive worry will only become a mental demon."

Seeing Chen Anran's expression shift slightly, Wei Qingyi softened her tone even more, "Besides, do you really think the Yunyin Sect is still the little, forgotten sect it used to be? Down the mountain, there's Chairman Zhao's substantial investment, Fatty Li's network of connections, and Qi Lan from Maoshan in charge. These layers of connections have already firmly tied the Yunyin Sect to the secular world and the cultivation world. If something really happens, the first to panic won't be us, but those who have placed such heavy bets."

She chuckled softly, "Besides, we're just going to Guangzhou for a short stay, not traveling far away. If anything happens, a plane ticket will get us back in half a day. With your current mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation, are you worried about not being able to get back in time?"

Chen Anran remained silent for a moment. He had to admit that his second senior sister was right. These days, he had indeed been on edge due to the series of changes, and he felt that his spiritual energy was flowing more sluggishly during cultivation.

Chen Anran took a deep breath and finally nodded slowly: "Second Senior Sister is right. I was being stubborn."

Wei Qingyi smiled and patted his shoulder: "Then it's settled. Go pack your things, we'll leave in three days. Remember to bring a few extra casual clothes."

Chen Anran watched his second senior sister's graceful departure and shook his head helplessly.

He turned to look at the distant mountains shrouded in mist, and the heavy anxiety in his heart actually dissipated somewhat.

Perhaps, going out for a walk is really not a bad thing.