Chapter 50: The Disappearance of Qin Wan

And so, after that battle, the Heavenly Mystery Sect managed to survive.

But its foundation had already been shaken to the core.

Almost all of the powerful cultivators fell in that war, and from then on, the Heavenly Mystery Sect began to fade into obscurity.

Once renowned across the continent, the sect slowly became insignificant as new forces rose to take its place.

Eventually the Heavenly Mystery Sect chose to go into hiding, vanishing from the world completely.

That’s how the Heavenly Mystery Sect came to be what it is now.

These days I can feel that the Sealing Barrier won’t last much longer, so I decided it was time to come out and look for an heir and disciples with potential.

With a storm of bloodshed looming on the horizon, I wanted to prepare early. By chance, I passed through Xiaoxi Village.

There I found you, a newborn. Sensing something strange in your fate, I gave you a reading. Imagine my surprise—you were destined to face three life-and-death tribulations, and were also born under the Star of Calamity!

At first I intended to leave.

But I couldn’t bring myself to walk away. I wanted to help.

Yet I had no choice. If I interfered recklessly, the consequences with the Will of Heaven could be severe. At best I’d lose years of my life; at worst, I’d die and disappear entirely.

So when you were one, I had to stand by and watch your father fall to his death. I wanted to help so badly, but I was powerless—helping would have meant disaster.

So your father took on the first tribulation for you. When you were six and running a high fever, your mother paid with a lifetime of confusion to shield you from the second.

That last tribulation hit just a few days ago. You were destined not to survive, but it was the brocade pouch that drew your soul inside and let you slip away from death one last time.

That finally gave me the chance to burn five hundred years of life to defy fate and snatch you from the hands of that wretched Will of Heaven.

But with that, I don’t have many years left myself.

After hearing Tian Xuanzi’s explanation, Qin Wan quickly pulled out the brocade pouch hanging from her neck and clutched it tightly. Her eyes grew red, and it looked like tears might spill out any moment.

She whispered, “I never imagined things would end up like this. So I really did get my parents killed.”

“Child, will you join my Heavenly Mystery Sect and become my disciple? Will you inherit my teachings?” Tian Xuanzi fixed his gaze on Qin Wan. “I’ll teach you everything I know. If you don’t want this, I won’t force you.”

“I’m willing. Master, please accept my bow!” Qin Wan steadied herself, determination blazing in her eyes as she looked at Tian Xuanzi. She bent low and bowed.

At that, Tian Xuanzi’s lips curled in satisfaction, like his plan had finally succeeded. Hidden joy flickered in his heart. “Seems this old man’s acting skills are still up to snuff. At last I’ve received a precious disciple—my efforts weren’t in vain.”

With a quiet cough, Tian Xuanzi tried to act calm, fighting a smile as he stroked his goat-like beard.

He hurried forward to help Qin Wan up, grinning. “No need for such formality, disciple. From today, you’ll leave with me!”

Qin Wan nodded gently. Just as they were about to set off, she spotted Gu Qingyi and Nangong Lin heading toward the entrance of the little wooden cabin where they’d all met before.

Qin Wan stopped in her tracks, stunned by the scene. Tian Xuanzi, seeing her like this, wisely stood by in silence, watching with her.

………………..

Gu Qingyi and Nangong Lin had been traveling nonstop, day and night.

At last, when dawn broke, they reached Xiaoxi Village. The two of them stood at Qin Wan’s courtyard gate, eager to share their joy with her.

“Wan’er, are you home? I have wonderful news to tell you!” Gu Qingyi shouted, excitement brimming as she looked at the familiar sights around her. But after a while, the courtyard stayed silent.

Nangong Lin grew uneasy, worry creeping into her voice. “Brother Gu, could something have happened to Miss Qin Wan?”

“This isn’t good—something could really be wrong!” The same bad feeling struck Gu Qingyi. She quickly pushed open the small gate and raced toward Qin Wan’s room.

Panting, Gu Qingyi flung open the door only to find the bed empty. She reached out and touched the bedding.

It was cold to the touch—no one had slept there in days.

Gu Qingyi hurried outside to tell Nangong Lin what she’d found. Both girls were shaken, instantly realizing something serious had happened. They went around Xiaoxi Village asking after Qin Wan.

But everyone gave the same answer: they hadn’t seen Qin Wan in days—maybe she’d just gone out to have fun.

“Wait a few more days,” they said. “She might come back.”

So the two girls wandered back to the little wooden cabin in a daze.

Inside Qin Wan’s room, Gu Qingyi found something that crushed her last bit of hope.

It was the very statuette she’d carved for Qin Wan long ago.

Qin Wan had cherished it so much she always kept it by her side.

But now it sat alone on the table—like a silent message telling her Qin Wan was truly gone.

Gu Qingyi staggered back, crumpling to the floor. Her eyes were lost and helpless.

She didn’t know what to do anymore.

Nangong Lin had combed through the area but found nothing. She returned, only to see Gu Qingyi collapsed on the floor, and rushed over to help her up.

Staring at Gu Qingyi—once so confident and proud—reduced to this, Nangong Lin felt like her heart was being stabbed with knives. Then suddenly she remembered something.

“Wait, Brother Gu! Didn’t you give Miss Qin Wan a brocade pouch? Maybe you can use it to find her?”

“You’re right! I can’t believe I forgot!” The light returned to Gu Qingyi’s eyes.

She immediately tried to track the pouch with her spiritual energy, but couldn’t sense it at all. That meant the brocade pouch had already been used.

Once it absorbed a soul, there was no tracking it.

The statuette dropped from Gu Qingyi’s hand and hit the floor.

“Wan’er, something really has happened to you. I have no way to find any sign of you!” Gu Qingyi’s legs buckled again, and she sank to the floor, hugging her knees and sobbing.

After a while, Gu Qingyi slowly got up and drifted into Qin Wan’s room. She leaned on the window, gazing outside at the distant, misty mountains, and for a moment thought she saw Qin Wan’s silhouette.

“It must just be my obsession—seeing things that aren’t really there.” Her eyes red with grief, Gu Qingyi let out a self-mocking smile.

In the dim room, she stared at the statuette, gently brushing it with her fingers, lost in memories of happier days with Qin Wan.

Nangong Lin, always considerate, sat quietly by the door. She didn’t go in to disturb her.

Far away on Mianyang Mountain, Qin Wan gripped her brocade pouch so hard it hurt, biting her lip and trying not to cry, as if her heart was being pierced with a knife.

She reached her hand out toward Gu Qingyi’s direction but drew it back at the last second, a tangle of longing and regret in her eyes. A thousand words wanted to burst out, but she could only hold them inside.

Tian Xuanzi, seeing her emotions, quietly stepped close and whispered, “Disciple, do you want your master to go down there with you? You can say goodbye to your beloved.”

“No need, Master. Let’s go,” Qin Wan replied, wiping away her tears and shaking her head.

Tian Xuanzi sighed and shook his head helplessly. “If that’s your wish, so be it. Don’t regret it later!”

“I’m too old to understand you youngsters and your feelings. Love is such a troublesome thing—always tears and drama, wanting to talk but never daring. It’s late, let’s go!” A rift in space opened in front of them. Tian Xuanzi walked right in, and his voice echoed back.

“Master, wait for me!” Qin Wan took one final, lingering look at the little wooden cabin filled with all her memories—and at Gu Qingyi by the window. Then she turned and stepped into the rift without looking back.

After they left, the rift and all the sights of Mianyang Mountain vanished as if they had never existed.