Qin Chuan, initially displeased, now felt a surge of satisfaction. Although he'd only managed a brief slap on the Golden Dragon Prince, it was still a complete victory.
Star-Picking City!
Walking down the street, Qin Chuan still felt a slight melancholy, unsure of what to do next. Strength wasn't something that could be improved overnight; he needed to continuously advance northward, expanding his territory so that his Five Elements Immortal Banner could reach him instantly.
Hmm?
For some reason, Qin Chuan thought of Fan Qingchen. More importantly, under his unconscious Dragon-Seeking Technique, he'd only wanted to sense Fan Qingchen's approximate location, without any particular intention, yet she wasn't far away.
Although not far, it was still several thousand miles, but for Qin Chuan now, that was just a moment.
He used the Shrinking Earth Ruler, arriving instantly. "
How could she be here?" Qin Chuan wondered. He didn't have many thoughts about this Buddhist woman,
so why was he thinking of her? Was it because she was nearby?
When she left, Qin Chuan didn't know where she went. This woman was the one Qin Chuan felt was closest to the Dao—noble in her Buddhist nature, without desire or wants, serene and unperturbed.
The image of Fan Qingchen unconsciously appeared in Qin Chuan's mind, crystal clear; he hadn't expected to remember her so clearly.
Following the senses of the Dragon-Seeking Technique, Qin Chuan quickly arrived at a small mountain. It was very remote, but the mountain was filled with spiritual energy.
It was a mountain within a city, with few people and no incense offerings. At the summit was only a small stone temple.
Perhaps sensing Qin Chuan's arrival, the owner of the temple came out. When Qin Chuan saw her, it felt like yesterday.
She was tall and slender, still dressed in simple, clean, spotless clothes, though clearly old and worn. She had a pair of beautiful eyes full of wisdom; what was a wise and insightful heart, what was a enlightened and insightful mind? Qin Chuan saw it all in those eyes that embodied the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
She seemed to have no cultivation, and even with Qin Chuan's current strength, he couldn't discern any cultivation in her. However, Qin Chuan knew she wasn't without cultivation, which made him smile wryly; this woman's talent was terrifying. "
Without desire, one is invincible!"
This woman showed no emotion; she was a woman without desires or wants. She was beautiful, so beautiful that no one could harbor any thoughts of desecration.
She was a person shrouded in mystery yet commanded unconditional trust; it was difficult for anyone to harbor ill intentions towards her, nor was it easy to feel any disrespect towards her.
Qin Chuan and she had been relatively close in the past, and he even felt he held a small place in her heart.
But now, seeing her see him, he felt no surprise, but rather a slight excitement. After all, she was an acquaintance, someone he hadn't seen for many years.
There's a saying that the three great joys in life are: rain after a long drought, the wedding night, and meeting an old friend in a foreign land. He and she were like meeting an old friend in a foreign land.
Although her expression didn't change much, there was still a hint of surprise in her calm, beautiful eyes.
"Why are you here?" Fan Qingchen asked.
She spoke first, which pleased Qin Chuan somewhat. And then there was her voice; although he was prepared, he was still somewhat mesmerized.
Her voice was beautiful, magnetic yet carrying a hint of enlightenment, possessing a profound, awakening quality, utterly wonderful, making one feel as if they were in a dream.
Because Qin Chuan possessed a Buddhist nature, a connection to Buddhism, he could hear the natural Buddhist essence and foundation flowing from the woman's voice, like the chanting of sacred music, the impact on him indescribable.
Listening to her speak, Qin Chuan even felt a connection with her breath, a resonance of the soul, and a faint halo emanated from the divine treasure within his body.
To resonate with a divine being like this demonstrated Fan Qingchen's talent, aptitude, and cultivation in the Buddhist path.
Qin Chuan smiled at her and said, "I've come to see you. It's been a long time."
Fan Qingchen smiled faintly, like a gentle breeze, her eyes gleaming with wisdom. She nodded, "Yes, it's been a long time. What made you think of coming to see me?"
Fan Qingchen didn't ask Qin Chuan how he knew she was here. Since Qin Chuan could find her, he must have his reasons.
"I missed you, so I came to see you. How are you?" Qin Chuan said naturally.
Fan Qingchen was slightly taken aback, but only briefly. She softly hummed in agreement, "I'm fine. It's very quiet here. I'm very happy here. How are you?"
"I'm alright. I'm just a busybody, always on the go, never a moment's rest. An old friend has come. Won't you invite me in?" Qin Chuan smiled.
"Please!"
Qin Chuan smiled readily. This was Fan Qingchen's nature—calm and natural, seemingly without any emotional fluctuations.
She had returned to her usual demeanor, even more enigmatic than before. There had once been an ambiguous relationship between Qin Chuan and her.
Now, it felt strange again, like meeting for the first time, yet like knowing each other, like old friends who hadn't seen each other for years.
The stone hall had only two rooms: a bedroom, a living room, a small kitchen, and a bathroom.
This woman really could live here in complete isolation.
"How long have you been here?" Qin Chuan asked casually.
Observing the room, Qin Chuan felt the woman had lived here for a long time.
"About ten years! I can't remember exactly," Fan Qingchen said.
"Aren't you lonely here all by yourself?" Qin Chuan asked curiously.
Fan Qingchen shook her head and didn't speak.
Qin Chuan didn't know her thoughts. Was she unwilling to discuss this issue, or did she have her own difficulties? Living here alone, if he were in seclusion for cultivation, it would be fine, but living like this, he couldn't bear it for more than six months.
It wasn't that he couldn't calm his mind, but what was the point of living alone like this?
Qin Chuan knew he couldn't live here alone for ten years.
However, Fan Qingchen was alone here, and thinking of her loneliness, coupled with her being alone, Qin Chuan felt a strange pity for her.
Although she seemed very natural, possessing a Buddhist and Taoist aura that made her seem otherworldly, she was still, after all, a mortal, and like everyone else, she had normal emotions.
Therefore, Qin Chuan didn't know her inner thoughts and couldn't see through her, but he wasn't worried that she might be having any suicidal thoughts; he'd gotten used to it over the years.
She cultivated both Buddhism and Taoism; perhaps he should give her some motivation, something to strive for, so she wouldn't be lonely…
"Are you planning to stay here like this forever?" Qin Chuan asked.
"Is there a problem?" Fan Qingchen asked
Qin Chuan rubbed his head: "Is there anything you want to pursue?"
"I feel great now. I bask in the sunshine every day, listen to the sounds of nature, watch the flowers bloom and fade, and see the clouds drift and gather. There are quite a few animals here..."