Chapter 581: The Person in His Heart?

At this time, the sun was already setting and dusk had fallen. Zhang Xiaohua’s cave happened to face southeast and had long since become dim. Without even releasing his divine sense, Zhang Xiaohua could tell that the one calling for him outside the cave was none other than Senior Brother Bai Huan.

Zhang Xiaohua found it strange. Normally, Bai Huan only came to call for him in the mornings when there was something to do, and rarely came in the afternoon. Not to mention that there was usually nothing to do, with Bai Huan’s laziness, at this hour, he was probably dozing beneath a tree, waiting for his sweet dreams in the evening.

Rubbing his eyes and wearing a look of impatience, Zhang Xiaohua walked out of the cave and asked, “Senior Brother Bai, it’s already evening. Is there still something to do in the herb fields?”

Although Bai Huan was his senior brother, had been on Tianmu Peak much longer, and his seniority far exceeded Zhang Xiaohua’s, the expression on Bai Huan’s face at this moment made it seem as though Zhang Xiaohua were the senior brother instead. Trying to gauge Zhang Xiaohua’s mood, he said with a flattering smile, “Junior Brother Ren, if there weren’t something important, how would I dare disturb your rest? Think about it, when have I ever come here at this time?”

Zhang Xiaohua cupped his hands and said, “Listen to what you’re saying, Senior Brother Bai. It sounds as though I don’t welcome you. I simply thought that since it’s already so late, what could possibly have happened in the herb fields?”

Bai Huan looked around, then leaned closer and said mysteriously, “Who said it’s about the medicinal fields? Only immortals know when those bare seeds will sprout. I came to find Junior Brother Ren because I have an important matter to tell you.”

Seeing Bai Huan acting like this, Zhang Xiaohua found it amusing and tactfully asked, “Oh? Then I shall listen attentively. I’ve been on Tianmu Peak for quite a while now and still haven’t encountered anything truly important.”

Bai Huan felt greatly satisfied and said, “Just now, Boss Chen sent someone with a message saying that a distinguished guest is coming to Tianmu Peak tonight. Mm, Boss Chen specifically said that it’s someone you’ve been wanting to see, so I specially came…”

Before Bai Huan could finish speaking, Zhang Xiaohua’s heart skipped a beat. Even his voice trembled as he anxiously asked, “What? The person I most want to see? My second…” Before the word “brother” could leave his lips, he suddenly felt that something was wrong. He had never told Chen Fengxiao the real reason he had come to the Incense-Spreading Sect. Even Yang Yao did not know, so how could they possibly have brought his second brother here? Besides, Chen Fengxiao was merely a minor manager of Tuodan Hall on Tianmu Peak. How could he possibly possess such heaven-reaching abilities?

So Zhang Xiaohua immediately shut his mouth and swallowed the rest of his words.

Seeing the joy on Zhang Xiaohua’s face, Bai Huan was also surprised and repeatedly asked, “Oh my, Junior Brother Ren, what do you mean by ‘second’? Could it be that you already know he’s coming?”

“He??” Zhang Xiaohua forced a bitter smile and said, “And who exactly is this ‘he’? How do you know he’s the person I most want to see?”

Seeing this, Bai Huan shook his head and said, “Naturally, I know who this ‘he’ is, but whether he’s the person you most want to see, I don’t know. That’s simply what Boss Chen instructed me to say.”

“Oh~” Zhang Xiaohua nodded and pressed, “Then who exactly is this ‘he’?”

Bai Huan waved his hand. “Junior Brother Ren, it’s getting late. I heard from Boss Chen that he’ll arrive on Tianmu Peak before the banquet begins. Why don’t we go down the mountain first? Once the time comes, you’ll know as soon as you see him. Since Boss Chen said he’s the person you most want to see, then he must be the person you most want to see. If I tell you now, wouldn’t that spoil the surprise?”

“This…” Zhang Xiaohua felt both helpless and hesitant. Yang Yao? The Hall Master of Tuodan Hall? Kong Que? Chen Chen? Oh, perhaps Qiang Shi? None of them seemed likely. Why would he want to see any of them? In the entire Incense-Spreading Sect, only Zhang Xiaohu on Shixin Peak was the person he most wanted to see. As for everyone else, he did not even want to spare them an extra glance. Well, perhaps just one extra glance.

Had it been yesterday, Zhang Xiaohua would have followed Bai Huan down the mountain without any hesitation. But at this moment, in the alchemy room, the herbs had just been placed into the Eight Trigrams Purple Gold Furnace. Although it was only at the liquid-refining stage, and nothing might happen even if he ignored it, as long as he stayed by its side, he would at least feel more assured.

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Xiaohua raised his head and said, “Senior Brother Bai, um… is it possible not to go down the mountain?”

“Huh? Not go down the mountain?” Bai Huan was obviously stunned, as though he had never expected such an answer from Zhang Xiaohua. He asked, “Junior Brother Ren, why not? What’s so good about staying alone on this desolate mountaintop? Besides, Boss Chen specifically told me to call you. It’s the person you most want to see!”

Alas, that was true. Why didn’t he want to go down the mountain? There really was no proper reason.

After pondering briefly, Zhang Xiaohua nodded slightly and said, “In that case, Senior Brother Bai, please wait a moment. I’ll go back into the cave and tidy up a bit.”

“Ah? Tidy up a bit?” Bai Huan’s mouth fell open, but he immediately laughed and said, “Junior Brother Ren, don’t get the wrong idea. Perhaps Boss Chen guessed wrong. Oh, no, perhaps Junior Brother Ren guessed wrong. The person down there may not necessarily be the one in your heart.”

“This… what nonsense is that?” Zhang Xiaohua laughed at himself and turned to return to the cave.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua return to the cave, Bai Huan did not follow him. Chen Fengxiao had long since specifically instructed him not to disturb Zhang Xiaohua’s daily life if possible, and as for this cave, it was best not to enter it unless absolutely necessary. In this regard, Bai Huan was exceptionally good, carrying out the Chief’s instructions to the letter. He was unwilling to go even half a step closer to the cave.

After returning to the cave, Zhang Xiaohua used his divine sense to glance at Bai Huan. Seeing that he was not moving, he felt relieved and escaped into the alchemy room. He carefully inspected the Eight Trigrams Purple Gold Furnace once more and sent several incantation seals into the furnace. Only then did he feel somewhat reassured. He escaped back out of the alchemy room and, pretending to straighten his clothes a little, quickly walked out of the cave.

Outside, Bai Huan had originally been hoping to see a “finely dressed” Zhang Xiaohua so that he could make fun of him a little. But seeing that Zhang Xiaohua’s clothing was unchanged and far from what he had imagined, he could not help feeling disappointed. However, he did not dare ask any questions and simply led Zhang Xiaohua down the mountain path from the summit of Tianmu Peak.

Although Bai Huan did not know Qinggong, and Zhang Xiaohua merely followed him on foot, they were still going downhill, so their speed was quite fast. In only the time it took to burn an incense stick, they had already reached the mountainside.

At this moment, the setting sun had completely disappeared behind the mountains, leaving only a faint glow in the western sky. Darkness was just beginning to descend. However, as soon as Zhang Xiaohua and Bai Huan rounded a bend in the mountain path, the sharp-eyed Zhang Xiaohua noticed from afar a bright patch of red in front of the courtyard on the mountainside that was gradually sinking into darkness.

Zhang Xiaohua found it quite strange. If his divine sense had not been suppressed, he would already have released it to take a careful look. As things stood, he could only quicken his pace. When they drew nearer, he finally saw clearly that it was several large red banners with huge black characters written on them:

“A Warm Welcome to the Elite Outer Sect Disciples of Wuming Hall for Their Guidance!”

“A Warm Welcome to Tuodan Hall’s Pride Returning to the Embrace of His Mother!”

“You Will Forever Be the Hero in Our Hearts. We Hope You Will Visit Often!”

In front of the courtyard gate stood dozens of young medicine boys, each holding a red flower garland in both hands and arranged in neat rows.

The Incense-Spreading Sect enjoyed spring-like weather all year round, but by now dusk had already fallen, and Tianmu Peak was extremely high. The mountain wind at the mountainside had long since turned biting. The young medicine boys were dressed brightly, but their clothing was also very thin. As the mountain wind blew, it chilled them to the bone, and their lips were trembling slightly.

Zhang Xiaohua was greatly puzzled and turned his head to ask, “This… this display seems to be welcoming ‘him’, doesn’t it? Could it be… the Hall Master himself?”

However, before Bai Huan could answer, a flash of realization crossed Zhang Xiaohua’s mind. He slapped his forehead and laughed. “So that’s who it is. It’s him!”

Bai Huan also clapped his hands and said, “Junior Brother Ren truly is clever. You guessed it immediately.”

Zhang Xiaohua shook his head and said, “If I still couldn’t figure out who it was after seeing ‘Wuming Hall’, ‘outer sect disciple’, and ‘Tuodan Hall’s pride’, then I’d be a complete fool.”

Yet as he said this, the corners of his mouth twitched a few times. Naturally, he had already figured out who this person was, but… what was his name again? To be honest, he had heard the name mentioned several times before, but he had never paid much attention to it. Now that he tried to remember, he did not have the slightest impression of it.

So Zhang Xiaohua could only turn around and point at the young medicine boys who were shivering somewhat in the mountain wind, saying, “Although this person is the pride of our Tuodan Hall and the only one in recent years to pass the examination and enter the outer sect, there doesn’t seem to be any need for such an astonishing display, does there? Look at these medicine boys, they’re all around ten years old. The mountain wind here is fierce, and it wouldn’t be good if they caught a chill.”

Bai Huan looked at the medicine boys and said awkwardly, “Th-this… these medicine boys are all his admirers. They organized this themselves and are all here of their own free will…”

Although he spoke haltingly, words such as “organized themselves” and “of their own free will” were enunciated with exceptional clarity.

“Hmph.” Zhang Xiaohua snorted through his nose. Looking at the identical flower garlands in the medicine boys’ hands, their uniform clothing, and their orderly formation, if this had truly been organized by the children themselves, then even if Zhang Xiaohua racked his brains, he would not be able to understand how.

As the two spoke, they did not stop walking and soon arrived before the medicine boys. Looking at their still somewhat childish faces and the traces of runny noses, Zhang Xiaohua suddenly felt a pang of sympathy. He reached out and touched the cheek of one of the boys beside him. It was truly ice-cold.

Just as Zhang Xiaohua was about to speak, a burst of commotion came from inside the courtyard. A group of people, all dressed in splendid attire, came out from within. Raising his eyes, Zhang Xiaohua saw that leading the group were none other than Boss Chen Fengxiao and Wu Zhouxu, Wu Dalang. Behind them followed the refined-looking Ten Vajras and Six Arhats.

As soon as Chen Fengxiao stepped out of the courtyard gate, he saw Zhang Xiaohua. However, upon seeing his clothing, he frowned slightly and quickly walked over. “Oh my, Brother Ren, why are you still wearing these clothes?”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled and said, “Boss Chen certainly kept the mystery well. You wouldn’t even let Senior Brother Bai tell me who it was. How was I supposed to know I needed to change clothes? Besides, my family is poor. Where would I get new clothes to welcome an honored guest?”

Chen Fengxiao slapped his forehead. “Right, right, my mistake. Here, Bai Huan, take Junior Brother Ren to the inner courtyard and see if there’s anything suitable for him to change into…”

Before Chen Fengxiao could finish speaking, someone suddenly shouted, “Look, the pride of Tuodan Hall has returned…”

Upon hearing this, Chen Fengxiao immediately turned around and no longer cared about speaking with Zhang Xiaohua. With a wave of his hand, he shouted, “Boys, fire the salutes and play the music! Welcome our idol!”

In an instant, several more groups of medicine boys carrying musical instruments rushed out from inside the courtyard and began playing with a cacophony of dong dong qiang qiang. The medicine boys from earlier also raised their flower garlands above their heads and waved them while shouting, “Welcome! Welcome! A warm welcome!”

At this moment, the two people in the distance had already drawn near. Without even turning around, Zhang Xiaohua swept them with his divine sense, and an expression that was both amused and helpless appeared on his face.