Fellow Daoist! That scoundrel has written a new book again.

Chapter 357 A Young Man's Lofty Ambitions

Tai Bai Zong, Ruan A Yao.

During the Immortal Cultivation Conference in Zhongling City back then, this person was one of the most watched individuals.

Back then, Zhu Wuyao and Ruan Ayao were both at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, but their cultivation levels were incomparable.

Ruan Ayao was able to force Zhu Wuyao into the Foundation Establishment stage and send him out of the game with just a flute melody, demonstrating the vast and continuous spiritual power around her.

Although in the end, by a twist of fate, it helped Zhu Wuyao.

The moon hangs above the willow tips.

The sound of the flute was not rousing, but rather like a gentle evening breeze, intoxicating to the listener.

She doesn't know anything about musical instruments.

The source of this familiarity is not familiarity with the technique or the music, but rather the subtle fluctuations of spiritual energy felt when hearing the sound of the flute.

Zhu Wuyao pondered for a moment, then went to find the sound of the flute.

Sure enough, I saw Ruan Ayao, dressed in a grey and white linen robe, standing alone on the riverbank. A breeze rises from the tip of a blade of grass, waves form from gentle ripples; accumulating small steps leads to boundless travel—this is what is meant by…

"Travels thousands of miles"

She had heard about several famous figures in the martial arts world from Xu San'er.

However, the rumors never mentioned that this popular Ruan Ayao is only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

So Zhu Wuyao made his footsteps a little heavier.

It won't disturb the peace, but it will also remind Ruan Ayao that someone is coming looking for the sound of the flute.

She had intended to be just a passerby.

Upon hearing the sound of the flute, one is reminded of the faint traces of connection between this person and Gu Yiguan, a reminder of the past when old friends became strangers.

This time, I came not only to find the flute music, but also to seek out old stories.

The song is over.

"Come and sit down."

Ruan Ayao put away her long flute, sat down on the ground, and casually swept the dust off the stone beside her with her sleeve.

Zhu Wuyao stepped forward and sat down on the ground as well.

"So it was you. I thought you had already died and disappeared."

Such things are not uncommon in the cultivation world.

People who rise to fame are as numerous as carp crossing a river, but if you don't hear from them for a long time, they either become obscure or have died.

Especially if you live a long time, you will always lose your old friends.

Zhu Wuyao asked with some doubt:

"I must be quite famous in the cultivation world lately, right?"

This isn't her bragging.

It was because she earned a fee for her insider information in "Ten Thousand Book Reviews".

The title of the series includes titles like "The Thief of Fortune," "One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Situations," "Seven Days in the Arena," and "Autumn Leaves Invite the Autumn Scene Again." Although opinions are mixed, it should generate a lot of buzz, so it doesn't make people feel like they're dead.

"I have just emerged from seclusion."

It turned out to be the case.

Thinking of the phrase "death and the annihilation of one's cultivation," Zhu Wuyao asked tactfully:

"So you broke through the barrier because your cultivation progressed slowly?"

A river breeze swept by, making the silence even more profound.

Ruan Ayao remained silent, took out her long flute again, and as the flute music flowed slowly, Zhu Wuyao soon felt a tightness in her chest. What followed was a surge of spiritual energy that seemed somewhat out of control.

The sound of the flute turned passionate, and Zhu Wuyao raised his eyebrows slightly, thinking to himself, "Impressive."

The next instant, a painting of fallen leaves appeared on his right arm.

As the shockwave erupted, it stirred up towering waves that crashed against the shore.

A cultivator stationed in Zhongling City scanned the area with his divine sense, but upon discovering it was merely a friendly spar, he shifted his gaze elsewhere.

Zhu Wuyao asked:

"Playing the flute here in the middle of the night, doesn't anyone complain about disturbing the peace?"

Ruan Ayao put away her long flute again.

Upon hearing this, he seemed to chuckle lightly and replied:

"Only cultivators can hear this music."

"Only those with a discerning heart will come seeking the sound of the flute."

Zhu Wuyao was pondering how to steer the conversation towards her past with Gu Yiguan, but now that she had been exposed as having "ulterior motives," she seized the opportunity to ask directly:

"Are you and Senior Sister Gu acquaintances?"

Ruan Ayao nodded slightly.

Her gaze was fixed on the distance, where the moon shone brightly in the deep night, its light faintly shining through the dark blue-black, like a dark purple jade.

Even the most remarkable people had a youth.

"Talented people are always drawn to each other, and we travel together through the world. You are young, so you probably haven't heard our story."

"Silver saddle and white horse, traveling thousands of miles, moon shining on the southern city, silver butterflies flowing with light... Frost and cold congealed into purple. Back then, we loved to join in the fun. Wherever there was something new, you could always see us."

"In addition, we all come from prominent families and are all direct disciples, so we have powerful backers. We dare to meddle in any kind of trivial matter."

"In my youth I had lofty ambitions, and I once vowed to be the best in the world."

"Gu Yiguan, despite his young age, is mature beyond his years and always helps us clean up after ourselves."

The three words "Gu Yiguan" sounded particularly unfamiliar coming from Ruan Ayao's mouth. Zhu Wuyao guessed that she probably didn't call Senior Sister Gu like that before.

Ruan Ayao paused, lowered her head and smiled, seemingly with a touch of melancholy, then skipped over a long passage of the past and concluded directly:

"Xu Liuxing of Qingyun Sect died saving Adie. Zeng Xiaolou of Juque Sect and I originally wanted to turn back and rescue Adie, but she forcibly took us away."

"When I woke up, Zeng Xiaolou was gone too."

"I don't know what happened."

"Gu Yiguan told me that Zeng Xiaolou lured the enemy away by herself, but she was unable to stop them."

At that time, Zeng Xiaolou was seriously injured, while Gu Yiguan was the strongest and had the lightest injuries.

She couldn't stop them...

Ruan Ayao didn't say this to Zhu Wuyao, but only said:

She's always right.

"Before the incident, she stopped Xu Liuxing and said that the matter was complicated and that all precautions should be taken."

"But Xu Liuxing wouldn't listen. He said that as long as we work together, there's nothing in the world that can stop the five of us."

"But A-Die has just acquired a new technique, and Zeng Xiaolou has just broken through to a higher realm. They are both very proud of themselves. I was too arrogant and thought that we could run rampant in this world. Even if we were not strong enough, no one would dare to offend the four major sects at the same time."

"She's always right..."

They will always be able to make the right choice.

If it weren't for the recent events involving the Howling Sky Sect, Zhu Wuyao would probably only have doubts—

Why did the five of them travel the world together, but in the end only two remained? Ruan Ayao and Gu Yiguan became like strangers, showing no regard for their past friendship.

But now, she could roughly guess what Ruan Ayao had left unsaid.

Not only because Gu Yiguan did not offer a helping hand when his close friend was in danger;

It wasn't because she forcibly took the two of them away;

Also, Ruan Ayao didn't believe it. She didn't believe that Zeng Xiaolou had lured away the enemy alone. She suspected that Gu Yiguan had abandoned his friends to lighten his burden.

Therefore, I feel both resentment and gratitude.

That's really Gu Yiguan's style of doing things.

Zhu Wuyao did not reveal the hidden speculation of Ruan Ayao. In any case, the two of them had walked side by side in the martial arts world. Even if there was a rift between them, they still cherished their old feelings.

The listener had mixed feelings.

Gu Yiguan has it tough too. Back then, she was a smart person who cleaned up the messes of four impulsive friends; now she's still leading four people and shouldering the burden alone.

Although this approach is debatable.

Zhu Wuyao still finds it hard to imagine what Gu Yiguan was like when he was young.

Seeing the atmosphere becoming somber, she changed the subject and asked:

"Where are you going?"