The Third Elder's Probe

"I hid these when I was a child." Jiang Yifan took out a wooden box and opened it, revealing several ordinary pebbles inside. "I didn't expect them to still be here."

Li Nanzhu noticed his fingertips were trembling.

Suisui curiously peered over the edge of the wooden box, its soul fire reflecting off the crooked carvings on the pebbles—they looked like a child's graffiti.

"Tomorrow, I'll go scout for news," Jiang Yifan said as he closed the box, his voice regaining its composure. "The rest of you should get some sleep."

As the night deepened, Li Nanzhu lay on the guest room's bed but could not sleep. Suisui crouched by her pillow, its soul fire flickering in the darkness. From outside the window came the rhythmic sound of footsteps—the patrol guards.

Click. Suisui suddenly tapped her wrist gently.

"What's wrong?" Li Nanzhu whispered.

The little skeleton pointed outside the window.

By the moonlight, she saw a figure standing in the shadow of a pine tree—it was Jiang Yifan.

He stood alone in the moonlight, looking up in a certain direction.

Following his gaze, Li Nanzhu saw the distant silhouette of the towering ancestral temple. The night wind blew, bringing with it the faint sound of copper bells.

Li Nanzhu's fingers tightened slightly on the window frame before slowly relaxing.

The moonlight stretched Jiang Yifan's shadow long, making the lonely figure overlap with the outline of the distant ancestral temple, looking like a chasm that could never be crossed.

Click. Suisui tapped her wrist again, an inquisitive flicker in its soul fire.

"Don't disturb him," Li Nanzhu said softly, gently drawing the window screen. "There are some things... one has to figure out on their own. It's useless for others to say anything."

She lay back on the bed and forced herself to close her eyes.

The tension of the past few days made her temples throb with a faint ache. The light scent of pine in the bedding gradually soothed her nerves. Between sleep and wakefulness, she seemed to hear a very faint sigh from the distance.

When the morning light filtered through the window screen, Li Nanzhu had already finished washing and dressing.

Suisui sat on her shoulder, using its bone claws to fiddle with the sparrow-head hairpin in her hair. Suddenly, a commotion broke out outside the courtyard, followed by the faint shouts of guards.

"What's going on?" Feng Qingping pushed open the door, still holding half a piece of uneaten pastry. Feng Weilan stood behind her holding a plate of pastries, which he had clearly brought for her.

Jiang Yifan walked quickly from the corridor, his expression grave. "The third elder is coming this way with some people."

The group exchanged looks, all seeing the solemnity on each other's faces. It was obvious that this was a case of the fox visiting the hen—no good would come of it.

"Should we hide?" Li Nanzhu asked softly.

"No need." His voice was quiet but carried a tone that brooked no argument. "In my courtyard—" Before he could finish, the copper ring on the courtyard gate was knocked.

A guard's announcement rang out: "The Third Elder has arrived—"

Jiang Yifan's lips thinned into a straight line, and a coldness Li Nanzhu had never seen before flashed in his eyes.

A white-haired, youthful-faced old man stepped out from behind the moon gate. His indigo magic robes were embroidered with exquisite frost flower patterns, and a bronze medicine gourd hung at his waist. He was followed by two children carrying jade boxes, and he appeared kind and benevolent.

"Oh, isn't this my nephew Yifan?" the third elder said, his eyes widening in feigned surprise. "It's been eight years; I almost didn't recognize you."

Jiang Yifan bowed with his hands cupped, his knuckles turning slightly white. "Third Elder, I hope you have been well."

"This old bag of bones can still hold on for a few more years." The third elder stroked his beard, his gaze scanning Jiang Yifan's face. "But you, nephew, haven't returned home in eight years. What made you suddenly think of coming back?"

As soon as those words were spoken, Li Nanzhu felt Jiang Yifan's back stiffen.

"I am following my sect's orders to escort my fellow disciples to use the teleportation array."

"Oh?" The third elder's eyes twinkled. "The Five Elements Dao Sect has been reclusive for many years, yet they suddenly send disciples out into the world..." He drawled meaningfully, "Could there be some change coming to the cultivation world?"

Jiang Yifan remained expressionless. "Sect matters are not to be disclosed."

"I understand, I understand." The third elder waved his hand with a smile before suddenly changing the subject. "Coincidentally, just as you arrived last night, the restriction on the ancestral temple was triggered."

The atmosphere in the courtyard suddenly froze. Feng Weilan leaned against a pillar with his blade in his arms, asking casually, "Oh? Was there a thief?"

The third elder chuckled. "Not at all. It's just that this restriction hasn't moved for a hundred years, yet on the night you arrived..."

"Is the Third Elder doubting us?" Jiang Yifan's voice turned cold.

"Nephew, what are you saying?" The third elder waved his hand repeatedly. "I just thought it was strange. After all..."

Feng Qingping chimed in with a smile, "Senior, you must be joking. We've just arrived in your esteemed land; we don't even know the way around."

The third elder's gaze lingered on Feng Qingping's face for a moment before turning to the person behind her. "This is..."

Li Nanzhu stepped forward holding Suisui and bowed. "Li Nanzhu of the Five Elements Dao Sect, greetings, Senior."

"What a clever and elegant girl." The third elder narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on Suisui. "This bone spirit is quite rare. It looks like it was refined using an ancient method?"

Suisui shrank into Li Nanzhu's arms, its soul fire flickering slightly. Li Nanzhu lightly stroked its skull. "It was a gift from my master, Immortal Venerable Feng Yi."

"Oh?" A sharp light flashed in the third elder's eyes. "I see this bone spirit is as clear as jade. It must have required many natural treasures to refine?"

"Third Elder," Jiang Yifan interrupted him directly, "this is a secret of our sect's inheritance. It is not convenient to discuss."

"Oh, look at me." The third elder showed no displeasure at being interrupted. "Such sect secrets should indeed not be pried into casually."

He waved his hand. "It just so happens that a new batch of snow lingzhi arrived at the manor yesterday. I thought the guests you brought back might find them useful, so consider them an apology for my earlier impudence."

The two children behind him immediately presented exquisite jade boxes. The spirit herbs inside emitted a crisp, cold aura.

Feng Qingping naturally accepted the jade boxes. "Thank you for your generosity, Senior."

"It's only right." He took a brocade pouch from his sleeve. "This is a tranquilizing incense. You've come from afar, so I'm sure you need a good rest."

Jiang Yifan took the pouch, his fingertips pausing imperceptibly. "Thank you for your concern, Third Elder."

"Speaking of which, the spiritual energy at the star platform has been exceptionally abundant lately. It's the most suitable place to nurture such spiritual entities..."

Suisui suddenly clicked, its bone claws tightly gripping Li Nanzhu's sleeve. Understanding its intent, Li Nanzhu declined, "Suisui is shy around strangers, so we won't trouble you."

The smile on the third elder's face faded slightly. "Very well. By the way, Yifan, I heard the teleportation array won't open for another three days? If you need anything during this time, feel free to come to me."

He then glanced at Suisui again. "Actually, the clan leader has been investigating the matter of the ancestral temple restriction lately. Nephew, you'd better remind your fellow disciples... not to wander around."

Once the third elder had left, Jiang Yifan immediately closed the courtyard gate. He poured out several incense pellets from the brocade pouch and crushed them. "It's mixed with heart-probing grass, specifically used to detect the aura of spiritual entities."

"He was testing Suisui," Feng Weilan said coldly. "He even specifically mentioned the star platform."

Feng Qingping inspected the food box. "The snow lingzhi is real, but this bottom layer..."