Stepping into the expanse of yellow sand, the scorching heat rose with the wind.
Looking out, sparse shrubs still stubbornly grew towards the sun.
Thirteenth Lady tilted her head slightly, one hand resting on her forehead as she gazed at the sun.
In a daze, she recalled that year, when Xian Ling'er was still around, he had brought her to this desolate desert.
He had said then.
"One day, you will return here again, so I'll show you now."
She wondered if he had foreseen such a day, thinking that one day in the future, she would come here again.
Thirteenth Lady smiled faintly, as if seeing the person she loved appear before her once more.
If time could turn back, she would seize every opportunity to confess her feelings.
But it was alright, at least now she could stay by his side, and that was enough.
Walking further, not far ahead, it was already sunset. The crimson evening glow, like silk floating in the sky, was beautiful and wondrous.
She had to find a place to rest first, knowing that at night, this place became as cold as a winter night.
She couldn't be sure how far she could travel if she hurried.
She could only find a sheltered spot, gather some branches, and start a bonfire.
Sitting by the bonfire, memories of moments not forgotten resurfaced in her mind.
In the memory, it was also a dark night, also in this desert.
Ling'er, dressed in a black, belted outfit, with a sword at his waist, smiled like a flower.
They sat quietly by the campfire, and Thirteenth Lady, captivated, turned her head to watch him.
Ling'er, completely unaware, began to tell her about the desert.
"This place is not like others. At night, it gets so cold that it's unsuitable for travel.
And the area we are in is called a leeward slope."
Thirteenth Lady was busy watching him and didn't pay attention to what he was saying.
Later, she vaguely came back to her senses.
Thinking of this, Thirteenth Lady felt a surge of happiness, sweet as if she had truly loved.
With a blissful sigh, she closed her eyes, listening to the sound of her own heartbeat.
The next day, as soon as dawn broke, a morning breeze blew, stirring the extinguished ashes.
Thirteenth Lady woke up leisurely, her thoughts returning to the mission of delivering the message.
Following the path in her memory, she walked for a long time, and in a daze, she heard human voices approaching from ahead.
She cautiously moved forward, only to see a pair of patrol soldiers walking in the desert. Judging by their attire, they seemed to be from Xizi Kingdom.
Not far away, there was a rather bare, yellowish mountain that looked like a great gate. That was Ximen Mountain.
The closer they got to Ximen Mountain, the more patrol soldiers they encountered.
These soldiers were from Beishen Capital, Nanhai City, Dongyue Town, and Xizi Kingdom.
If Thirteenth Lady wanted to get close to that place, she had to proceed with extreme caution.
She could have transformed into the guise of a patrol soldier, but the four cities had their own methods of detection for transformation arts.
This method was too dangerous.
She could only, from time to time, transform into a pebble, hopping forward every so often, then hopping forward again.
She finally entered Ximen Mountain by nightfall, but the vicinity of the mountain was dotted with sentry towers, monitoring every movement within.
She presumed that they knew everyone inside.
Her method of transforming into someone else was no longer viable.
She could only become a pebble again, waiting for the wind, and then carried by it.
When she rolled into a large village, she was picked up by a mischievous child who ran home with her.
During dinner, she was placed on the table, and when the night was quiet and deep, Thirteenth Lady hopped to the adult's bedside.
She whispered softly.
"Wake up, wake up."
The person woke up groggily, but saw no one.
Just as they were about to fall asleep again, they heard a voice.
"I am from Nanhai City, sent by the elder to see your elder."
The person was startled, suddenly wide awake, and sat up, looking around.
Thirteenth Lady urged anxiously.
"Stop looking, I am right before your eyes, I am this pebble."
Only then did the person react, looking down, and indeed, there was a pebble.
Carefully placing her in their palm, and holding her close to their ear, Thirteenth Lady said.
"I am sent by the elder to deliver a message and need to see your elder. The guards here are too strict, so I could only turn into a stone.
Tomorrow morning, you will take me to see the elder."
The person nodded hurriedly, afraid of being discovered, and quickly put the pebble into their embrace, then slowly lay down and fell asleep.
The next morning, under the guise of going to work, the person carefully went to a large tent.
In front of it, a person sat cross-legged, appearing to be an elder in their fifties.
A black goat beard, dressed in a greyish-black robe, and strangely, some white hair had sprouted on their head.
This person was indeed the elder of Ximen Mountain, Zhu Liuyun.
The messenger approached cautiously, saying nothing, only stating.
"Elder, I found a nice pebble outside. I picked it up for you. See, what do you think?"
Saying this, they placed the pebble before the elder and turned to leave.
After the person left, Thirteenth Lady slowly spoke.
"I am Thirteenth Lady. Greetings, Elder Zhu Liuyun."
Hearing the voice, he slowly opened his eyes, lowered his head slightly, and looked at the inconspicuous little pebble before him.
He smiled faintly and said to her.
"Since we are old acquaintances, please reveal yourself. I have a Dharma realm here, which outsiders cannot see."
Hearing this, Thirteenth Lady felt relieved and transformed into her human form.
Thirteenth Lady held this senior in high regard.
Years ago, this senior had, without hesitation, chosen a seemingly simple but in reality the most difficult responsibility.
Leading most of the clan to live in this barren land under the surveillance of the four cities.
Thirteenth Lady cupped her hands and said.
"Elder, you have worked hard. After a thousand years of patient waiting, it is time for a result.
I have come this time on the elder's orders to entrust you with something."
Saying this, she took out the letter from her embrace and handed it to the elder.
The elder received the letter and opened it with anticipation. Inside, it read:
Brother Zhu, it has been a thousand years since we parted that day. I assigned you to guard the position. You must have suffered much these years.
Before the elder's passing, I was entrusted with the mission. The elder instructed me to wait for the Ghost King's emergence and reunite the Ghost Clan.
Now, the time has come. However, the Ghost King is imprisoned, and rescuing him from that place will not be easy.
Therefore, we must discuss this thoroughly. I have already sent Thirteenth Lady to notify the other three elders.
On the fifth day of the fifth month, during the full moon, meet at Wanxue Mountain.
You must come.
After reading the letter, the elder was unable to calm down for a long time, his eyes slightly red. He had not expected to truly wait for this day.
Although he had repeatedly told himself in his heart that this day would come.
Yet, time had passed, and a thousand years had flown by, all the waiting had been like flowing water, without a response.
But now, there was a response. His heart was filled with excitement, emotions surging, and a tear fell.
The tear soaked into the paper, as if expressing his long-held anticipation.
Thirteenth Lady took out a handkerchief from her embrace and carefully handed it forward.
The elder took it, wiped his eyes, and placed it on the table.
Seeing this scene, Thirteenth Lady was also very excited, her eyes filled with happiness, showing a hint of redness.
She said.
"The elder, he actually cared about you very much. Although he didn't say anything to me, I think he has also expressed his longing for you in the letter."
The elder nodded slightly, and after expressing his emotions, he was no longer so sad.
He said.
"Alright, tell the elder that on the fifth day of the fifth month, I will definitely go to Wanxue Mountain."
Thirteenth Lady was very puzzled. This place was heavily guarded, and it had taken her considerable effort to get in. How could it be easy to get out?
So she asked.
"Elder, with such heavy guard, how will you get out?"
The elder replied with full confidence.
"Don't worry, I have my ways, and I guarantee it won't take much time. You should hurry back."
"Alright, then I shall take my leave."
"Wait!"
Just as Thirteenth Lady was about to leave, she was called back. She looked at the elder in confusion and asked.
"Elder, what is it?"
The elder went to the bedside, took out a treasure from the cabinet, which looked like a piece of jade.
He placed the jade into Thirteenth Lady's hand and said to her.
"When you return and see the elder, give this to him for me.
This jade was originally given to me by him. I am returning it to him now, and he will naturally understand my intentions."
Thirteenth Lady carefully took the jade, tucked it into her embrace, and cupped her hands.
"Alright, I will deliver it. Elder, I bid you farewell."
"Good, travel safely."
"Mm."
Then, she turned and left, transforming back into a pebble as she had arrived, and carefully made her way out.
Afterward, she rushed day and night towards Nanhai City, towards Luoshui Village.
After a few days, the village chief was at his doorstep, leisurely reading a book.
Suddenly, someone stumbled in and reported to the elder.
"Elder, there's a woman outside who wants to see you."
"A woman?"
The elder sat up in surprise, then remembered that the woman should be Thirteenth Lady.
So he quickly said to the messenger.
"Quickly invite her in."
"Yes."
With that, the messenger hurried out.
A moment later, he returned with someone, and the person was indeed Thirteenth Lady.
Seeing Thirteenth Lady's arrival, the elder was filled with relief.
He said to the villager who had delivered the message.
"This is someone I know. You may attend to your duties now."
"Yes."
With that, he quickly ran off.
The elder looked at the person before him and invited her into the house.
Upon entering the house, Thirteenth Lady cupped her hands.
"Thirteenth Lady has not disappointed. I have gathered all the elders.
They have also agreed to arrive at Wanxue Mountain at the appointed time."
"Excellent, Thirteenth Lady, you have done well this time. I assume you have met with Elder Zhu Liuyun.
I have not been in contact with him for many years. I wonder how he is."
Thirteenth Lady then recounted what she had seen truthfully.
"Elder Zhu is doing well. However, the place is constantly heavily guarded, and it is difficult to get in, let alone out."
The elder did not think so.
"Back then, I asked him to stay and guard because I knew he had a way to get out. It is the same now. I believe he will come."
Speaking of this, Thirteenth Lady suddenly remembered something and quickly took out a piece of jade from her embrace and handed it to the elder.
"Elder Zhu said that this jade was given to him by you originally. He is returning it to you now, saying that you will understand when you see it."
The elder took the jade with a smile and explained to Thirteenth Lady.
"He asked you to give this jade to me, which means he wants to come in person. It seems he has made up his mind."
Thirteenth Lady did not expect it to have this purpose.
The elder continued.
"This meeting is not just for us."
"Not just us?"
Thirteenth Lady could not imagine who else there would be.
She asked.
"Could it be some like-minded individuals?"
The elder smiled mysteriously and said.
"You should have heard of their names. They are the renowned chivalrous heroes, the Twin Eccentrics of Snow Saber."
Thirteenth Lady's relaxed brows immediately furrowed, filled with confusion.
"I have heard of them, but for a thousand years, righteous individuals have viewed us as thorns in their side.
Why would the elder summon them?"
The elder smiled profoundly and explained to her.
"You have heard of the character of the Twin Eccentrics of Snow Saber. I have met them, and they are indeed as rumored, always together, loyal and righteous.
I have already spoken with them and invited them to help rescue the Ghost King."
"But how did they agree?"
"Perhaps you are unaware, but a thousand years ago, the Ghost King's physical body was destroyed, leaving only his three souls and seven spirits lingering in the world.
He could only possess others to be reborn.
And now, the Ghost King's host is a friend of the Twin Eccentrics of Snow Saber, named Liu Muye."
After hearing the elder's explanation, Thirteenth Lady finally understood the reason behind it.
She also believed that given the character of the Twin Eccentrics of Snow Saber, they would not abandon their friend.
"Alright, you have worked hard. You have traveled for many days. I have arranged a room for you. Go and rest well."
Thirteenth Lady slowly turned around. Although she had traveled for many days, she did not feel tired.
However, there was no suitable task for her at the moment, so she had to go and rest.
She then stood up and cupped her hands.
"Alright, Elder, I shall withdraw."
"Go."
After Thirteenth Lady left, the elder slowly stood up, walked to the door, tilted his head to gaze at the distant flowing clouds, his eyes filled with anticipation, and murmured to himself.
"Fifth day of the fifth month, full moon night, gathering at Wanxue Mountain. A thousand years, we finally meet."
His voice, filled with emotion, conveyed the joys and sorrows of many years.
And at this moment, how could he forget his appointment with the Twin Eccentrics of Snow Saber?
And regarding them, the elder was not using them. There was a lack of truth between the Ghost Clan and the four cities.
Those who were unaware were simply those kept in the dark. To move forward in the long run, the world needed to reacquaint themselves with the Ghost Clan.
Thinking this, he beckoned to the little green bird flying about.
He whispered a few words to it.
"Fifth day of the fifth month, full moon night, gathering at Wanxue Mountain. Elder's words."
Then, he gave it some food before letting it go to find the Twin Eccentrics of Snow Saber.
By the dawn of the next day, he had early summoned Lin'er and Thirteenth Lady, and they set off for Wanxue Mountain overnight.
Upon arriving at Wanxue Mountain, they first went to the village at the foot of the mountain. Today, it was not yet the fifth day of the fifth month.
According to the date, there were still three days left. He wondered if the elders would arrive on time.
They had to wait here until the designated time.
Although they had not yet met, the elder's heart involuntarily recalled the scene of their parting years ago.
He also wished to see them soon, and to see what the thousand years had turned each other into.