Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

Chapter 85 Waterfall
The two strolled through the village along the cobblestone path. Qian Renxue looked around and saw that the doors and windows of a few houses were half-open. She murmured, "There seems to be hardly anyone in the village?"

Feng Yao's fingertips brushed against the heavy ears of wheat by the roadside, and he chuckled, "At this time of year, people are either working in the city or busy in the fields." He suddenly grabbed her hand and gently stroked it against his palm, "Unlike us, who are waited on hand and foot."

Qian Renxue was about to say something when he led her into a weed-covered path. At the end of the path, a wooden house covered in vines stood quietly, the faded peachwood charms on the lintel swaying gently in the wind.

"Squeak—"

As Feng Yao pushed open the weathered wooden door, a scent mingled with mustiness and memories wafted out. Wild roses grew so wildly in the courtyard that they almost completely obscured the stone mill. He suddenly stopped in his tracks: "Still..."

"Is that Feng Kid?"

A hoarse call interrupted him. At the gate of the neighboring courtyard, an elderly man with white hair was shakily leaning on a cane. Feng Yao flashed to the old man's side, his robes ruffling a few fallen leaves as he bowed: "Grandpa Shi, your legs are still so nimble."

Qian Renxue stood to the side, watching Feng Yao exchange pleasantries with the old man, a rare gentleness appearing in her eyes. The old man patted Feng Yao's shoulder with his rough hand, his cloudy eyes filled with satisfaction: "You brat, you've grown quite strong in the years. Now, you've finally made something of yourself."

Feng Yao smiled and helped the old man's swaying body up: "Yes, it's all thanks to you."

"You're getting better and better at talking now," the old man chuckled, his gaze falling on Qian Renxue as he narrowed his eyes. "And this young lady is?"

Feng Yao turned slightly and naturally took Qian Renxue's hand, a slight smile playing on his lips: "My future wife."

Qian Renxue's fingertips trembled, and the tips of her ears instantly flushed red, but unusually, she didn't object. The old man laughed heartily, nodding repeatedly, "Good, good!"

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Feng Yao helped the old man back into the house, casually placing a bag of gold soul coins on the woodpile beside the house. When he came out, Qian Renxue was standing under the old locust tree outside the courtyard, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the rough bark.

"What's wrong, are you shy?" Feng Yao approached, teasing her on purpose.

Qian Renxue snorted softly and turned her face away, but her golden eyes shimmered with a subtle light: "Who's shy?" Her fingers unconsciously twirled a strand of hair, her voice gradually lowering, "But you, a dignified Soul Emperor, only give away a few gold coins?"

Feng Yao chuckled softly, catching a locust blossom that slipped from her hair. "A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime." He gently placed the petal in her palm. "A gold coin card is enough to buy the entire village, but for Grandpa Shi..."

In the distance came the sounds of children chasing and laughing, mixed with the rustling of the wheat fields.

"It's nothing but a death warrant that invites disaster." He gazed at the village with its rising smoke, his voice incredibly gentle. "If you truly wish to repay this kindness, you should wait until my Xue'er reigns supreme and makes this village even better."

Qian Renxue suddenly froze. Morning light pierced through the clouds, casting long shadows of the figures working in the fields not far away. She suddenly understood why her ancestor had become the God of Angels—the most precious thing was never a lofty gift, but the hope that allowed every ordinary person to live with their head held high.

"it is good."

As she uttered that word, she found herself anticipating the changes that would occur in this land in the future.

Her fingertips were suddenly enveloped in warmth. Feng Yao took her hand and led her towards the village entrance, his fingertips gently stroking the base of her thumb and forefinger: "Let's go, it's time to take care of some business."

Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue nodded slightly, her eyes thoughtful.

The two figures swept through the village like a gentle breeze, without disturbing a single fallen leaf. Only when they were far from the village did Qian Renxue suddenly come to her senses, her golden eyes narrowing slightly: "You brought me here just to see this village?"

"Oh?" Feng Yao raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "No, you'll find out soon enough."

"You!" Qian Renxue's ears instantly flushed crimson, and she pinched his waist hard with her fingertips. "Stop playing coy!"

Feng Yao chuckled and grabbed her mischievous hand, his expression gradually turning serious: "Now, we're going to Holy Soul Village."

“Holy Soul Village?” Qian Renxue frowned. “Do you think Tang Hao and his son would escape back there?”

“No.” Feng Yao shook his head, his gaze fixed on the distant, undulating mountains. “Tang Hao would rather die in battle than implicate innocent villagers. I understand this principle, and they understand it too.”

Qian Renxue snorted softly. Although she was displeased with his assessment of the enemy, she had to admit that it was the truth.

"So what are we going to do?"

Feng Yao chuckled and said, "What you two seniors said that day made me think of many possibilities. I came here to search for treasure, but I'm not sure if I can find it. Even if I don't find it, it's still like I've come home. Xue'er and I won't be leaving empty-handed."

"Just for this little bit of speculation?" Qian Renxue glared at him, only to see him suddenly move closer, his warm breath brushing against her eyelashes.

"How could it be a guess?" Feng Yao chuckled, his fingers gently stroking her hair. "It's clearly the perfect excuse to come out and relax with Xue'er. We'll soon find out if it's just a guess."

At the village entrance, the original, weathered stone tablet stands quietly. The three large characters "Holy Soul Village" gleam with a bluish light under the dew, and the blue silver grass climbing at the base of the tablet sways gently in the wind.

Feng Yao's eyes flickered slightly, and he suddenly grabbed Qian Renxue's wrist. A hunched old man was walking towards them, leaning on a wooden cane, his coarse linen clothes still damp with morning dew—it was none other than the legendary village elder, Jack.

“My lords.” Seeing their richly dressed attire, Old Jack’s cloudy pupils suddenly contracted, and his withered hands unconsciously tightened their grip on his wooden cane. “May I ask what brings you to our humble village?”

Feng Yao stepped forward, subtly shielding Qian Renxue behind him. Sunlight filtered through his eyelashes, casting dappled shadows on his face. "Old lady, there's no need to be nervous," he said, his voice gentle as if in casual conversation. "We just wanted to inquire if there are any waterfalls nearby."

Old Jack's brow furrowed, and his neck cracked softly as he shook his head: "This old man has lived for over sixty years and has never heard of such a thing."

Feng Yao tapped the stone tablet lightly with his fingertip, and the Blue Silver Grass suddenly moved without any wind. He changed the subject: "Where is the water source nearby?"

"The back mountain!" Old Jack blurted out, then added warily, "But it's just mountain streams and creeks; probably nothing to adults."

“That’s enough.” Feng Yao took out a bag of gold coins from his soul tool. The heavy clinking of the coins made the old man’s pupils shrink. “Consider this the price for a pot of your mountain spring water.” Old Jack felt a sudden weight in his arms; the bag of gold coins still carried the warmth of the young man’s body. When he looked up, only a few swirling fallen leaves remained on the village road; the couple was nowhere to be seen.

"Why are you so fixated on the waterfall?" Qian Renxue lightly touched the treetop with her toes, her golden hair tracing a trail of flowing gold in the morning light.

Feng Yao sidestepped the sprawling branches, his voice carried on the wind: "To survive in the wild, water and food are essential." His fingertips brushed against the dew-covered spiderweb. "That's why Tang Hao has lived in seclusion here for so many years, and you haven't been able to find him. Tang Hao might be right there."

Qian Renxue nodded slightly, but her expression became increasingly solemn.

Seeing this, Feng Yao breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that the fact that the Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone was behind the waterfall was indeed inexplicable, and the only thing he could do was create the illusion that Tang Hao had escaped back to the waterfall.

Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed, but Feng Yao suddenly stopped. The instant he closed his eyes, all the sounds in the forest suddenly became clear—the rustling of ants crawling between cracks in the bark, the muffled sound of dewdrops falling into decaying leaves, and the tremors of water vapor colliding with the rock walls ten miles away.

"Southeast." As he opened his eyes, a leaf landed right on his shoulder.

As the roar of the waterfall echoed against the rock face, Qian Renxue suddenly grabbed Feng Yao's arm. Through the spray, she whispered, "If you really encounter Tang Hao, you don't need to intervene."

A mountain wind howled, whipping up a dense mist. Feng Yao lightly touched the ground with her toes, her sonic blade tracing a brilliant blue arc through the air. Qian Renxue spread her six wings, their pristine feathers reflecting a dazzling golden light in the sunlight. The two crossed the final rocky barrier, and the view before them suddenly opened up—

A silver ribbon of water cascades down a hundred-foot cliff, crashing into a deep pool with a thunderous roar, the spray creating a dazzling rainbow in the sunlight. The pool's water is crystal clear, reflecting the surrounding verdant mountains.

Qian Renxue's gaze swept across every inch of the pool's edge, but Tang Hao was nowhere to be seen. She slowly landed on the moss-covered boulder, her golden boots crushing a few withered wild fruits.

Feng Yao crouched down, his fingertips tracing a deep axe mark on the ground. The scattered wood chips around him were still fresh, and the pile of rubble not far away was clearly intentional. He looked up at the waterfall, a knowing glint in his eyes.

“Looks like we’ve found the right place.” Qian Renxue walked to his side, her golden eyes reflecting the splashing water droplets. “But the prey hasn’t returned.”

Feng Yao nodded, then suddenly raised his hand and summoned the ancient zither "Fuxi". The moment the zither appeared, the surrounding mist paused. His slender fingers gently stroked the strings, and a clear and melodious sound spread out, the sound waves rippled outwards, piercing through the roaring water and reflecting the scene within a hundred feet.

The music grew more urgent, and Feng Yao closed his eyes, concentrating intently. In his mental world, the rock wall behind the waterfall gradually became transparent—hidden there was a cave entrance concealed by the curtain of water!
The sonic blades condensed into steps in the air, and Feng Yao ascended on the sound, arriving at the center of the waterfall in a flurry of movement. Qian Renxue's wings fluttered lightly, and she instantly appeared beside him: "What did you find?"

"Behind the waterfall, there's a hidden paradise." Feng Yao gazed at the rushing water. "Xue'er, help me part this waterfall."

Qian Renxue understood, and golden light condensed in her hand, suddenly manifesting a longsword burning with the true fire of the sun. With a flick of her wrist, the holy sword transformed into a stream of light and pierced the rock wall behind the water curtain. The scorching flames instantly evaporated into a towering white mist, and the waterfall was abruptly cut off! The upstream water split on both sides of the sword's edge, forming a strange vacuum zone.

Seeing this, Feng Yao hurriedly plucked the strings of his zither, and the sound blade struck the exposed rock wall with precision. Amidst the shattering of rocks, a deep cave entrance appeared. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief—if he had lingered any longer, Qian Renxue's True Sun Fire would have probably roasted the Blue Silver Emperor inside the cave into dry straw.

"Well hidden cleverly." Qian Renxue sneered, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

Feng Yao shook his head: "There's no one inside." Before he finished speaking, Qian Renxue had already focused her senses and confirmed that the cave was indeed empty. She lightly waved her hand, and the holy sword turned into golden light and dissipated. The two of them flashed and entered the cave before the water curtain closed again.

The cave was dark and damp. Qian Renxue ignited a cluster of soul power flames at her fingertips, illuminating the winding passage ahead. The damp air was filled with a faint fragrance of grass and trees, completely different from the bloody smell that Tang Hao might have left behind.

Qian Renxue retracted her sacred wings, her golden eyes flashing with wariness in the light of her soul fire. She whispered, "Something's not right here."

Feng Yao did not answer; his gaze was drawn to a strange blue light deep within the cave. The light was soft and profound, seemingly pulsating with life.
Feng Yao stepped forward slowly, his robes brushing against the damp rock wall. The Blue Silver Grass, its entire body shimmering with golden patterns, swayed gently in the air currents, dewdrops condensing on its leaves refracting iridescent light. He tentatively extended his finger, but just before he touched it, the leaf tilted back slightly like a shy maiden, while the leaf below gently patted his fingertip like an elder, carrying a tender rebuke.

"This is..." Feng Yao's pupils contracted slightly. In the lingering sensation at his fingertips, the life energy, though not overwhelming, contained astonishing spirituality, like a sleeping spirit breathing gently.

Qian Renxue's voice sounded from behind, trembling with uncertainty: "This is... Blue Silver Grass?"

In an instant, memories flooded back. She saw her father, severely injured, being helped back by Yue Guan and Gui Mei. Her golden eyes instantly turned bloodshot, her six-winged martial spirit unleashed uncontrollably, and blazing solar fire condensed in her palms—when suddenly a pair of warm hands embraced her from behind.

Feng Yao gently rested his chin on her shoulder, his warm breath brushing against her burning earlobe: "Blue Silver Grass, Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. A forest full of Blue Silver Grass, isn't that what your father fought for back then?"

Qian Renxue's wrist trembled slightly in Feng Yao's palm, and the golden light of the Holy Sword flickered.

"Let go." Her voice was hoarse, but it was no longer as resolute as before.

Feng Yao didn't let go; instead, he gently placed his other hand on the back of her hand, which was gathering soul power. His body heat, hotter than the true fire of the sun, radiated through their skin: "Xue'er, look at it."

The special blue silver grass unfurled its leaves in the airflow, and the golden veins gradually lit up.

Feng Yao's fingers slipped between hers, their fingers intertwining: "Your father was fighting for a 100,000-year soul ring, while this one before you..." He guided her fingers to lightly touch the golden-patterned leaf, "...is merely a seed left behind. She is innocent too. Now she no longer possesses the cultivation of a 100,000-year-old being; she is merely a special Blue Silver Grass."

"Hatred should not be perpetuated in innocent lives." Feng Yao's voice was soft, yet every word was clear. "Just like you, you shouldn't be bound by the grudges of the previous generation."

Qian Renxue's long eyelashes trembled, and a tear fell onto their clasped hands. The golden light of the holy sword finally dissipated completely.

"Let's go." The bloodshot in Qian Renxue's eyes had faded, and she glared at Feng Yao with annoyance.

Feng Yao's fingertips lightly traced the damp stone wall, raising a string of tiny water droplets. He looked up at the protruding rock on the cave ceiling, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Since we're already here, we should at least take some souvenirs back."

Qian Renxue watched his suddenly leaping back, and her six wings unconsciously spread slightly—Feng Yao, like a nimble swift, took a few leaps between the rugged cliffs and finally stopped in front of a protruding rock.

"This is."

(End of this chapter)