Broken stones and ruined walls, weeds rampant.
Aside from the two towering pillars that still stood erect, one could vaguely discern the original shape of a mountain gate; the rest had all turned to rubble, scattered across the ground, concealed by the dense undergrowth and thicket.
In the quiet and deep valley, from ti to ti, an eerie bird’s call would sound, echoing off the mountain walls, repeating mournful cries that surged from the very core of one’s soul, engulfing one in boundless desolation.
Su Pan’er was so captivated that she remained motionless for a long ti.
"Over these years, haven’t you always wanted to find the Valley of Ghosts’ location?"
Old Cheng’s eyes were filled with nostalgia, his aged face seeming ever more weathered, "Right now, the Valley of Ghosts is within arm’s reach. It’s right before your eyes. Aren’t you going to go in and take a look?"
Su Pan’er’s eyes flickered with countless unpredictable glimrs of light as she slowly stepped into the mountain gate.
Ti and space intertwined, the world transford.
The scenery before her began to distort, and the mountain gate morphed into another scene.
Desolate and majestic, up high in the clouds, the mountain gate with the arrogantly fluttering words "Valley of Ghosts" stood tall.
Below stood two people.
An eleven-year-old girl was at that untad and stubborn age.
The picture of insolent pride, sporting a ssy seven-color peacock hairstyle, she held her little head up high, angrily glaring at an elder by her side.
The elder seed oblivious, instead bending down with affection to pat her on the head.
"Are you Su Pan’er?"
"Hmph!"
She looked up and furiously slapped away the detestable large hand.
"Not answering? Even if you don’t, I know you are Su Pan’er! From today on, I am your Master, and you are my apprentice. You may not recognize as your Master, you may even disrespect , but you must not disrespect our sect. Do you understand?"
With that, he pointed at the arched gate, the words "Valley of Ghosts" indicating the gravitas of his words.
Ti flowed, in the blink of an eye.
Su Pan’er closed her eyes, then opened them again.
She whispered, "Master, I... I’m back..."
Master, I’m back!
The undutiful apprentice Su Pan’er has returned! Can you see it?
Pan’er has truly co back! Back to the mountain gate, back to the Valley of Ghosts, back to where you and I first t. But where are you, Master...
"Master..."
"Master?"
The eleven-year-old Su Pan’er stood with hands on her hips in anger, "You? Old ghost, I bet you’ll be buried underground in two more years, and you still think you can discipline ? Hmph, forget it! I’m telling you, even if I die, I, Su Pan’er, will never call you Master! Never!"
Arrogant youth!
Her crisp outcry seed to travel through countless eras, echoing once again in Su Pan’er’s ears.
Su Pan’er looked up, her gaze falling on the mountain gate that now only had two remaining pillars, a single tear gathering in her eyes. But before it could roll down her cheek, it had already dissipated with the wind.
That final call of "Master", she never managed to utter.
Old ghost, old ghost was the na she had given him.
And he, always laughing heartily, tolerated her infinitely. Now, rembering him, an unspoken tide of emotions echoed in the depths of her heart.
"It’s ti to go inside and take a look."
Her voice was exceptionally hoarse as she raised her foot and slowly stepped onto the stone steps.
Desolation and decay were everywhere. The once prosperous Valley of Ghosts had long ago beco a desolate sight buried in the dust of history.
Su Pan’er sidestepped the tripping weeds and vines, moving forward step by step.
On the remnants of the crumbling walls, there seed to be traces left by axe cuts and chisel marks. Perhaps these were the cumulative scars of battles past, now presenting themselves after the passage of countless years.
"Rulers of all dynasties suppressed, undermined, and fragnted the Valley of Ghosts. Now, the only proof of its existence is reduced to these two broken pillars."
Old Cheng was filled with emotion. He reached out to touch the broken pillars, his aged hand trembling for a mont before he ultimately withdrew it.
He couldn’t help but wipe his face, only to feel the wetness on his hands.
"You’re wrong."
Su Pan’er turned around, her eyes bright and piercing, "It still exists in my heart, and it will never fade!"
Old Cheng was stunned, then suddenly burst into laughter. The laughter echoed nonstop through the valley.
"Stop joking around. Do you really think I don’t know about your background? You’re nothing but a wandering ghost trying to borrow the corpse to resurrect! Putting on such an act, do you really think I’m as ignorant as those fools? Huh!"
A flash of realization swept through Pan’er’s eyes.
Could he guess the secret she had hidden in her heart?
As thoughts raced through her mind, she let out a light chuckle, "Oh? Whatever you say I am, so be it. Everyone must die soday. Whether I can beco a wandering ghost or not, that’s up to fate. Maybe this wandering ghost just happens to know about the Valley of Ghosts."
Having said that, she didn’t wait for Old Cheng to respond, continuing her slow journey deeper inside.
Old Cheng stood dumbfounded for a long while, pondering the aning behind her words, before he hurriedly caught up.
Following the bluestone path along the valley, they passed several cave entrances covered by weeds, but Su Pan’er did not stop. She continued forward until she reached a stream and then paused.
"Is this the dicine Hut? Who used to live inside?"
"Shouldn’t you know that? Why don’t you take a guess?"
Old Cheng replied sarcastically, though he felt uncertain inside. It seed she was truly familiar with this place! He was certain she had never been here before.
The doorkeepers of Ghost Valley were world-renowned for their God Turtle-like discernnt. Inside the gates of the valley, what seed ordinary was actually riddled with countless traps and secret tunnels.
Back then, those who sought to annihilate the Valley of Ghosts had to spend years infiltrating just to avoid these chanisms and invade. Even so, the attackers suffered heavy casualties, a horrifying thought!
Ti had changed, and though devastated, so of the traps and secret tunnels still maintained their intended potency, lying in wait for any invader.
Yet, Su Pan’er’s feet seed to have eyes, automatically avoiding all the hidden chanisms.
How could such skill not surprise Old Cheng?
But Su Pan’er simply glanced at him coolly, her pace uninterrupted, as she continued forward.
Entering the dicine Hut where she had spent most of her childhood, what t her gaze was an open space filled with rows of plum blossom piles of varying heights, standing silently there. Su Pan’er was sowhat taken aback.
"This place... is it for practicing martial arts?"
"What do you think?"
Old Cheng obviously disdained her with his gaze, scrutinizing her seriously. "The Empress is truly worthy of the title. Your reactions are unlike those of ordinary people. Most people faced with this situation would jump up and curse out loud. But you, Empress, are so calm. It’s a bit disconcerting for this old man."
Su Pan’er did not respond to him.
If cursing at him would help, she wouldn’t mind doing it a few more tis.
"Weren’t you saying soone wants to et ? Where are they, then?"
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