[Immortal Realm, Forgotten Domain, Northern Region, Barren Desert]
"Master, he may be stubborn, but he isn’t a bad person. Why don’t you and Big Brother Xue teach him how to play the flute?" Xiao Mei’s heart was softer than the others, and he couldn’t help but speak up for Bu Si Shu.
Among their group, Bing Xue was the most skilled in playing the flute. Though his talent didn’t quite match Shenlian Yingyue’s, he was still exceptional.
Zhiyi preferred the guqin; Xiao Nian the pipa; and Xiao Mei the kong vong thom, a Cambodian instrument. The others, however, had developed their own unique ways of making music, channeling spiritual energy directly rather than relying on instruments.
Xiao Lan and Feng Huan manipulated their ice power to create vibrating ice crystals, producing harmonic resonances akin to a crystal singing bowl, only frost-based.
Xiao Li and Zhizhi, on the other hand, wielded their fire abilities to craft rhythmic bursts of flame, quick, controlled micro-explosions that mimicked drumbeats. The effect was like a rapid-fire sequence of firecrackers, perfect for a fiery, percussive performance.
Huan Huan, with her wind affinity, shaped the air itself into melodies, altering pressure, direction, and speed to evoke feelings of freedom or melancholy.
Meanwhile, Hong Zuan and Tian Tian summoned thunderous drumstorms; their lightning interacting with magical fields to create eerie, resonant tones. Storm-drums hovered around them, each strike a different pitch, like a living, crackling orchestra.
For the past ten years, Qing Long, Bai Hu, Xuan Wu, and Zhu Que had remained in seclusion; emerging only if Shenlian Yingyue’s life was in danger.
As for Lu Long? He was the laziest of them all; doing nothing but lazing around and occasionally helping her brew pills.
"Xiao Mei, don’t waste your sympathy on him. He’s the one who scolds our Master every time he sees her," Xiao Nian chided, flicking Xiao Mei’s forehead.
Over the years, Xiao Mei and Xiao Nian had both grown taller; yet while Xiao Nian had blossomed into a striking young woman, Xiao Mei’s face retained its childlike innocence.
"Master," Xiao Mei tugged at Shenlian Yingyue’s sleeve with pleading eyes.
"He’ll come to understand music in his own time," Shenlian Yingyue replied with a gentle smile, ruffling his hair.
Her lips curled faintly. Strictly speaking, freely sharing an inherited legacy was improper. But Senior Qing Luan had once told her, "If my legacy lives on through worthy hands, I will have no regrets." Out of respect for her predecessor, and out of love for her companions, Shenlian Yingyue had taught them everything without hesitation.
"Master, what do you mean?" Xiao Mei blinked in confusion.
Xie Xie and the others exchanged glances, suppressing sighs.
"Xiao Mei, come here." Xiao Nian pulled him aside and whispered an explanation.
His eyes widened in realization; then sparkled with admiration as he turned back to Shenlian Yingyue.
"Xiao Mei, if you keep looking at me like that, I’ll start thinking I’m some kind of celestial superstar," she teased, laughing.
The others joined in, their laughter echoing across the barren desert.
With that, they split up once more, each heading their separate ways, continuing their treasure hunts, battling opportunistic villains, and seizing every opportunity that came their way.
Only Xiao Lan, Xiao Li, Xie Xie, Bing Xue, Zhiyi, Xiao Yun, and Xiong Zi Ying remained by Shenlian Yingyue’s side.
And ever since she had confessed to sleeping with Bing Xue, Zhiyi, Xiao Lan, and Xiao Li had become even more clingy than usual.
Zhiyi had developed a habit of dragging her to bed whenever she finished eating with them or took a break from cultivation. Meanwhile, every night, she would get drunk for no reason even if she didn’t drink wine, only to wake up later with a strange feeling, as if something had happened to her body. Yet, since there were no signs of harm, she dismissed her suspicions.
Maybe she was just exhausted from training.
Still, the lingering sensation of being touched bothered her; but she brushed it off, perhaps it was just her imagination.

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