He fell off a cliff but unexpectedly gained a cultivation inheritance.

The moment Ye Qingxue and her father left the Huashan Hotel, Zhang Guoqiang and Xie Fenglian felt as if their hearts had been ripped out. The air in the guest room was stifling. Xie Fenglian slumped onto the edge of the bed, her gaze fixed blankly on Zhang Bufan's mud-covered backpack. Tears streamed silently down her tear-streaked face, and she murmured repeatedly, "Bufan, my son, where are you...?"

Zhang Guoqiang sat to the side, clutching Zhang Bufan's phone tightly in his hand—the phone, now dead and switched off, was one of the few remaining possessions his son had left behind. His brows were furrowed, his eyes bloodshot, and his once upright back had become hunched over from the ordeal of the past few days. He knew he couldn't collapse; his wife was nearing her breaking point. He had to stay calm and wait for the search and rescue team's final message.

Looking at his elderly aunt and uncle, Zhang Xiaoshan felt a pang of sorrow. He silently got up, walked to the window, and dialed the number of Li Jianguo, the head of the search and rescue team, his voice filled with a final hope: "Officer Li, do we... have any new leads?"

Li Jianguo's weary voice came from the other end of the phone: "Mr. Zhang, we have sent more people and expanded the search area. We have even carefully checked the caves and crevices around the cliff, but we still haven't found anything. To be honest, the chances of survival after falling from a 700-meter cliff are already extremely slim, and now that we can't find any trace of him, we... have done our best."

Zhang Xiaoshan's heart sank to the bottom. He forced back a sob and asked, "Then... will you continue searching?"

"We'll hold on for three more days," Li Jianguo said with a hint of helplessness. "This is the last deadline our superiors can approve. If there's still no progress in these three days, we'll have to terminate the search and rescue operation and treat it as a missing person case."

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Xiaoshan turned around and looked at his aunt and uncle's expectant eyes. He couldn't bear to tell them the truth, so he could only pretend to be calm and say, "Aunt and Uncle, Officer Li said they are still continuing the search and rescue, and asked us to wait a little longer."

The next three days were agonizing for Zhang Guoqiang and his wife. They rose before dawn each day, standing guard outside the hotel, anxiously watching the direction the search and rescue teams entered and exited, hoping to hear even the slightest good news about Zhang Bufan. Xie Fenglian, whose health was already poor, had become even thinner after these past few days of ordeal; her face was as pale as a sheet, and the light in her eyes gradually faded.

Zhang Guoqiang would accompany the search and rescue team to wait near the cliff edge every day. He couldn't believe his son was gone; he always felt that if he waited a little longer, he would see his son return safely. But reality was always cruel. Every evening, the search and rescue team would return disappointed, having found nothing.

On the evening of the third day, the afterglow of the setting sun once again bathed the mountains of Huashan, dyeing the sky a poignant orange-red. Li Jianguo, accompanied by several search and rescue team members, entered Zhang Guoqiang's room with solemn expressions. Seeing their expressions, Zhang Guoqiang and Xie Fenglian's hearts leaped into their throats. Xie Fenglian even instinctively grabbed Zhang Guoqiang's arm, her nails digging deeply into his flesh.

"Mr. Zhang, Ms. Xie," Li Jianguo's voice was low and heavy. "After three days of all-out search and rescue efforts, we have conducted a comprehensive search of the area where he fell off the cliff and the surrounding five-kilometer radius, including all possible hiding places such as caves, crevices, and bushes. We have not found any trace of Mr. Zhang Bufan, nor have we found any belongings related to him. According to relevant regulations, we have no choice but to officially terminate the search and rescue operation."

"Terminate...the search and rescue?" Xie Fenglian's voice trembled, as if all her strength had been drained away. Her body swayed, and she almost collapsed to the ground. "What about my son? If you stop searching, what will happen to my son? He's still waiting for us to rescue him!"

"Ms. Xie, please calm down." Li Jianguo quickly stepped forward to support her, his tone full of sympathy. "We know you're very upset, but we've really done our best. We will record Mr. Zhang Bufan's case as a missing person case, and we will notify you immediately if there are any leads. In addition, we will coordinate with the scenic area and relevant departments to continue to monitor the situation in this area."

Zhang Guoqiang tightly embraced his distraught wife, his eyes also reddening. He took a deep breath, suppressing his grief, and nodded to Li Jianguo: "Officer Li, thank you for your hard work. We... understand."

At this point, they understood that continuing the search was pointless. The search and rescue team had already made its best efforts, but without any leads, continuing the search would be futile.

The next morning, Zhang Guoqiang and his wife packed their simple luggage, while Zhang Xiaoshan carried Zhang Bufan's backpack. The three of them left Huashan Hotel in silence. As they stepped out of the hotel, Xie Fenglian couldn't help but look back at the majestic Huashan Mountain, tears welling up again. This famous mountain, which had once held the laughter and joy of countless tourists, had become a place of eternal pain for her.

Shortly after their departure, the Huashan Scenic Area issued a notice announcing the full reopening of all attractions except for the Changkong Plank Road area near the point of the fall. The notice briefly explained the incident of Zhang Bufan's fall and disappearance, stating that the search and rescue operation had been terminated and the scenic area would strengthen safety management to ensure visitor safety. A few days later, after safety inspections and rectification, the Changkong Plank Road also reopened.

On the police side, Zhang Bufan's case was ultimately recorded as an "accidental fall from a cliff and disappearance," and the file was archived. Li Jianguo, who was in charge of the case, still had doubts—how could a living person fall from a 700-meter cliff without any signs of a fall? But without any evidence to support any other speculations, he could only proceed according to regulations. He wrote "continued investigation" on the file, but he knew that the possibility of further progress in such a missing person case without any leads was extremely slim.

After Zhang Guoqiang and his two companions returned to their hometown, life completely lost its former vibrancy. The once lively courtyard was now lifeless. Xie Fenglian sat under the old locust tree in the yard every day, gazing in the direction of the village entrance, silent and with vacant eyes. She placed Zhang Bufan's photo on the table, wiping it clean with a cloth every day, as if her son were still by her side. Sometimes, she would talk to herself while looking at the photo, expressing her longing for her son, talking about trivial matters at home, and her worries.

Zhang Guoqiang became even more taciturn. He spent his days working in the fields to numb himself and dispel his grief. But every night, sitting alone in the yard, gazing at the stars, he would think of his son's life from childhood to adulthood, the hardships his son had endured in Shenzhen, and the smiles on his son's faces every time he came home. Endless regret and self-reproach overwhelmed him. If he hadn't let his son go to Shenzhen, if he had persuaded him to return home sooner, would this have prevented this tragedy?

Zhang Xiaoshan would often visit them, helping with farm work and talking to them. But that was all he could do; he couldn't alleviate his aunt and uncle's pain, he could only offer silent companionship. Villagers also frequently came to offer their condolences, bringing home-grown vegetables and fruits, and saying comforting words. But none of this could fill the void in Zhang Guoqiang and his wife's hearts.

Meanwhile, the online buzz surrounding "Zhang Bufan's disappearance after falling off a cliff at Mount Hua" gradually subsided over time. Initially, the incident sparked widespread discussion on various social media platforms, with netizens speculating about Zhang Bufan's whereabouts. Some said he was taken away by a mysterious force, others said he fell into a parallel world, and still others said he deliberately staged the fall to start a new life. Related hashtags trended on social media, and the media also provided extensive coverage.

But the hot topics on the internet change too quickly, with new news and discussions emerging every day. Before long, Zhang Bufan's story was submerged in a sea of ​​information. The online discussions gradually subsided, and the once intense speculation and debate were slowly forgotten. The official response went beyond "accidental fall off a cliff and disappearance," and the incident ultimately became a news story without a conclusion, like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating only brief ripples before returning to calm.

For most netizens, this incident is merely a topic of conversation, something to be forgotten quickly and without affecting their normal work and lives. But for Zhang Guoqiang and his wife, Ye Qingxue, and their close relatives, it is a wound that can never be healed, a shadow that lingers in their hearts and cannot be dispelled.

Back in Pengcheng, Ye Qingxue's days were far from easy. She constantly worried about Zhang Bufan's whereabouts, her anxiety and worry unabated. Every few days, she would seek out her father, Ye Zhentian, to inquire if there was any news from the Immortal Sword Sect.

"Father, is there any movement from the Immortal Sword Sect?" That day, Ye Qingxue came to Ye Zhentian's study again, her tone filled with anticipation.

Ye Zhentian put down the jade slip in his hand, looking at his daughter's haggard appearance, and felt a pang of heartache. He shook his head and said, "No. I have already contacted the relevant person in charge of the Immortal Sword Sect through the communication artifact. They said that they expanded the search area afterward, but still found no trace of Zhang Bufan. It seems that this matter is indeed somewhat unusual."

Ye Qingxue's eyes dimmed instantly. She nodded slightly and said nothing more. She knew that even the Immortal Sword Sect couldn't find any clues, so finding Zhang Bufan was almost impossible.

Seeing her dejected expression, Ye Zhentian couldn't help but comfort her, "Qingxue, I know you're upset. But you must understand that the path of cultivation is long, and a stable state of mind is crucial. Zhang Bufan's situation may be his fate, and you can't let yourself be consumed by these emotions and let it affect your cultivation."

Ye Qingxue took a deep breath and nodded: "I understand, Father."

She understood her father's meaning and knew she couldn't continue like this. Since she couldn't find Zhang Bufan's whereabouts, instead of wallowing in grief and worry, she should devote more energy to cultivation. Firstly, it would improve her cultivation level and increase her strength; secondly, it would allow her to suppress her inner thoughts and stabilize her mind.

From then on, Ye Qingxue devoted all her energy to cultivation. Every day before dawn, she would rise and go to the family's secret cultivation chamber to circulate her cultivation techniques and absorb spiritual energy. In between cultivation sessions, she would also study the family's inherited spells and techniques, refining her own magical skills. Her talent was already considerable, and coupled with such diligent cultivation, her cultivation level improved rapidly.

Time passed day by day, and in the blink of an eye, three months had gone by.

Over the past three months, Zhang Guoqiang and his wife's hair has turned even whiter, and their faces have accumulated many more wrinkles, making them appear as if they have aged ten years. They continue to wait at the village entrance every day, yearning in their yard, their eyes strained with longing for news of their son. But day after day of waiting has only brought them further disappointment. The villagers, seeing their increasingly haggard appearance, can't help but feel heartbroken, yet powerless to do anything about it.

Ye Qingxue's cultivation had successfully advanced to the ninth level of Qi Refining during these three months of diligent training. This was already considered a remarkable achievement among the younger generation of the Ye family. However, she was not happy about it; her worries remained. She simply no longer inquired about the Immortal Sword Sect as frequently as before. When she did ask, it was merely a formality, and she had long since given up hope.

Most netizens have long forgotten Zhang Bufan's name and the sensational disappearance from the cliff three months ago. The Huashan Scenic Area has completely recovered its usual visitor numbers, even surpassing its previous bustling state. The Changkong Plank Road, in particular, has attracted a large number of tourists for photos due to the "mysterious disappearance from the cliff" incident. Many tourists are driven by curiosity, wanting to see what this place, where "people can vanish into thin air," is like.

The scenic area staff seized this business opportunity, setting up a special photo spot at the entrance of the Plank Road in the Sky and selling related souvenirs. For a time, the Plank Road in the Sky became one of the most popular attractions in the Huashan Scenic Area.

But behind this excitement, something unexpected happened.

That noon, the Skywalk was crowded with tourists. Suddenly, a middle-aged man in a gray coat untied his safety rope at the same spot where Zhang Bufan had fallen off the cliff. The surrounding tourists were stunned and exclaimed in surprise.

"Hey! What are you doing!"

"Quickly fasten the safety rope! It's too dangerous!"

The staff noticed the abnormality immediately and rushed towards the man, shouting for him to stop.

But the man ignored the shouts and warnings around him. With a relieved smile on his face, he said to the people around him, "I also want to be taken away by the mysterious force and leave this despairing world!" After saying that, he jumped off the cliff.

"Ah—!" The surrounding tourists screamed in terror, and many closed their eyes in fright, unable to look any longer.

The staff ran to the edge of the cliff and looked down, only to see a deep valley and dense vegetation. They immediately dialed emergency and police numbers, while simultaneously organizing a search and rescue operation.

This time, nothing unexpected happened. Several hours later, rescuers found the man's body in the valley at the bottom of the cliff; he was smashed to pieces, a gruesome sight. An investigation revealed that the man had chosen to end his life due to business failure, a broken family, and general despair. He had seen news of Zhang Bufan's disappearance after falling off a cliff and conceived the absurd idea that jumping from that spot would allow him to be taken away by a mysterious force, like Zhang Bufan, thus escaping his suffering. Little did he know that Zhang Bufan's "disappearance" was a unique and miraculous event, while he himself would ultimately meet a tragic end.

This incident caused quite a stir again, putting the Huashan Scenic Area in the spotlight. In order to quell public opinion and ensure the safety of tourists, the scenic area had to close the Changkong Plank Road again for a three-day comprehensive overhaul.

After rectification, the Changkong Plank Road reopened. However, this time, the scenic area has implemented stricter regulations: all visitors wishing to climb the Changkong Plank Road must first sign a "life-or-death waiver." This waiver clearly stipulates that visitors must strictly abide by the scenic area's safety regulations during their visit and are not allowed to remove safety ropes or other protective equipment without authorization. If a visitor violates these regulations and intentionally jumps off the cliff, all consequences will be borne by the visitor alone, and the scenic area will not bear any responsibility.

Even so, many tourists still come to take photos. For them, this "life-or-death waiver" actually adds to the thrill of the visit. However, no one dares to do something as absurd as that suicidal man.

Zhang Bufan's name was mentioned again by a few people because of this incident. But this time, the discussion was no longer about "mysterious power" and "parallel worlds," but about the preciousness of life and the cruelty of reality. After the discussion, people forgot about him again.

Zhang Bufan's disappearance was thus completely unsolved. To the world, it was as if he had never existed, vanishing without a trace. But only Zhang Guoqiang and his wife, and Ye Qingxue, knew that this name, this longing, would accompany them for the rest of their lives.

Zhang Bufan, far away in the underground secret realm, was naturally unaware of all that was happening in the outside world. At this moment, he was immersed in the joy of cultivation.

The hustle and bustle of the outside world and the tranquility and cultivation of the secret realm—two completely different worlds—were briefly brought together by Zhang Bufan, before returning to their respective peaceful states.