C19 Kill the Chicken to Warn the Monkey!

Fuqi had disappeared. To be precise, he was hiding. The Su family believed in taking a step back when possible; there was no need to push too hard. If things got out of hand, it wouldn't end well for anyone. The Zhao family elder had lost his power and couldn't support the Zhao family anymore. Plus, their assets now belonged to the Su family, making a comeback impossible. To outsiders, the Su family seemed generous for not wiping out the Zhao family completely. However, the other four families didn't see it that way. The warning had been effective, and they likely wouldn't make any bold moves soon. After all, the Zhao family was still around, and anyone who dared to challenge the Su family now would be both blind and foolish.

Su Baihan sighed, realizing his disciple was more cunning than he was, while also worrying about Su Qianxun, who might still be at the bottom of the cliff. He didn't know her condition. He sorted through the gifts from the Liu and Wei families, picking out the best items to help Qianxun recover when she returned. That was all he could do. As he grew older, Su Baihan felt increasingly powerless and even considered stepping down. But who could he trust to take over?

Meanwhile, Su Zimo was still searching for Su Qianxun. This junior sister always inspired a protective instinct in him, yet she was fiercely independent. Su Zimo sighed, unsure of his own feelings. Maybe he had an inkling, but he was reluctant to admit it. He stood at the spot where Qianxun had fallen, thinking if he had been just a bit quicker, he wouldn't be suffering from this longing now.

Why didn't I protect her better? Su Zimo stared at the cliff beneath him. Hadn't he always vowed to protect his own? And now? The abyss seemed to mock him, taunting his incompetence and overconfidence. People were still searching every inch of the cliff's base. Su Zimo was torn between wanting to find her and fearing what he might discover. Should he confront the doubts and fears lurking in his heart? How should he face them?

Quickly, Su Zimo felt ashamed of his thoughts. Would he really avoid facing his own heart just to never see Su Qianxun again? Was he willing to let her remain lost and alone forever? He wanted to slap himself awake. For the first time in years, he seriously examined his own darkness, his desires, and the unspoken cravings buried deep within.

The Su family had poured immense resources into the search, yet they found nothing. No one knew about the barrier at the cliff's base. Though it wasn't far from Su Qianxun, it was as if it blocked their every effort. This barrier, set by ancient gods, had remained undetectable to them over the years. They could only search clumsily, even climbing trees in vain. Su Zimo watched from a distance, unsure of what expression to wear. Maybe Qianxun had found a blessing in disguise. But what if she hadn't? With so many beasts at the cliff's base, who could guarantee that if Qianxun had fallen, her body wouldn't be devoured completely?

As he walked around the base of the cliff, he gradually sensed something was off. It felt like there was an invisible barrier separating the space. Gathering energy in his hand, he struck at the void, and the air trembled ever so slightly. He stepped closer, trying to touch it, but it vanished again. Su Zimo began to understand the barrier and recalled methods he had read about to dismantle it. He tried each one, but nothing worked. Frustrated, he gathered everyone to brainstorm ways to break the barrier, but no one had any ideas. With no other choice, Su Zimo decided to keep trying to find another solution.

Meanwhile, Su Qianxun's condition gradually improved. Although the cave was dark and damp, it was a place to stay, and she wasn't picky about her surroundings. Having a place to settle was enough for her. Besides, she was surrounded by so many spirit plants. Su Qianxun felt she had turned misfortune into a blessing. With these resources, her skills would likely improve quickly, and she wouldn't be a burden to her fellow disciples or cause trouble for others. She might even be able to assist her senior brother.

Su Qianxun still remembered the way her senior stood in front of her that day—confident and full of grace, surrounded by a warm glow. Growing up, she was used to being on her own; no one had ever stood up to shield her from harm. She admired and was grateful to Su Zimo. For the first time, she felt protected, and it warmed her heart.

After resting for a long time to regain some strength, Su Qianxun began crafting simple tools and charms from the materials around her. She didn't know what lay at the bottom of the cliff, so it was best to be prepared. She didn't want her fellow disciples to find her as a broken corpse; that would be a real waste. She gathered some edible plants and firewood to bring into the cave, ensuring she wouldn't freeze at night and could scare off any wild animals.

Su Qianxun casually gathered some vines and fashioned a simple backpack. Though calling it a backpack was generous, as it could barely hold anything. She regretted not learning these ancient skills back in modern times, worrying that after a long day of work, she might find the backpack empty when she returned to the cave.

Guided by her intuition about the location of precious plants, the scenery at the base of the cliff was breathtaking, with the sky almost turning green from the lush vegetation below. Finding the special plants was incredibly challenging. Su Qianxun carefully stepped over stones and crossed a stream, climbing onto a rock. From there, she saw a sea of green. Unable to identify the plants, she meticulously checked each one, tossing those she couldn't recognize into her backpack. She had started late, and the backpack's limited capacity meant several trips back and forth as the sky gradually darkened. She knew she should head back to the cave soon but wondered if there might be even better plants ahead.

She never expected to trip over something and nearly fall. She was relieved that no one was around to witness it, or she would have been the subject of laughter. She could just imagine the amused faces of her fellow students if they saw her like this. Su Qianxun didn't even realize she was smiling until she felt a sharp bite on her calf. Reflexively, she kicked out and discovered it was a demonic beast with beautiful patterns on its back.

As the beast was kicked away, it began to grow larger in mid-air. Su Qianxun quickly assessed its power while pulling out a charm. Just as the beast stopped growing, it lunged at her. She sidestepped, grabbed a piece of skin on its neck, and mounted it. The beast twisted and turned, trying to shake her off, but she held on tightly. Estimating its strength, she struck it with the charm. The beast let out a whimper and slowly collapsed, returning to its original size. Su Qianxun pouted in disappointment; she had hoped for a feast of meat.

However, this encounter reassured her. With such "easy prey" around, she could occasionally enjoy some meat instead of surviving on fruit like primitive people. Otherwise, she doubted she'd have the energy to leave when the time came.

Though it wasn't much, meat was still meat. Su Qianxun, following her principle of not wasting anything, carried the beast back to her cave. Its fur was strikingly beautiful, so she carefully skinned it, then skewered the poor creature on two branches and set it over the fire to roast. She suddenly realized that this way of life wasn't without its charm—no chaos, everyone taking what they need, and a sense of peace. However, she knew it wasn't sustainable; once she left the bottom of this cliff, there were still many responsibilities waiting for her. She couldn't, and didn't want to, give up. After filling her stomach, Qianxun sat in a corner of the cave, sorting through the spirit plants she had gathered that day. Coming back a bit late had been worth it; she had quite a haul. Some plants needed to be checked with Su Baihan to see if they could be used directly, while others she could identify herself. But she wasn't in a hurry to do anything just yet. She trusted Su Baihan wouldn't shortchange her, especially since he had taken care of her for so long. She planned to consult him on how to use the plants, but she knew it was mostly a formality, so she wasn't rushing to use them.

Life at the bottom of the cliff was quite comfortable for Su Qianxun. She woke up naturally each day, then went out to gather spirit plants. When she got hungry, she'd hunt a few beasts or other animals. She had never felt so at peace. When tired, she'd sit by the stream, lost in thought about the modern life that seemed so distant now, the people she had met here, her future, and her search for her parents. She pondered many things. She wasn't sure if she should be grateful for ending up here or regretful for leaving her previous life behind, but she knew that despite any shortcomings, she was happy. Su Qianxun didn't want to be greedy; she felt she had enough. Whether or not she found her parents or could return, she would remain grateful.