Xiang Wenting’s eyes slightly widened, not expecting the origins of these three to be the Profound Sky Sect, the top in the Central Continent. He couldn’t help but feel reverence and dared not question their identities.
His gaze swept across everyone and ultimately rested on Qiao Xiuyun seated at the center.
"You... are Xiuyun?"
A seven-foot-tall man, with a voice unexpectedly choking with emotion.
Qiao Xiuyun was clearly a bit taken aback, stiffly nodding her head.
Xiang Wenting revealed a bitter smile, as if reminiscing about the past: "You really look a lot like your sister."
"She’s the only child here; if she’s not Qiao Xiuyun, who else could be?"
Ji Lingruo had an instinctive dislike for this man, so she mocked him mercilessly.
To her, Qiao Xiuying ended up in such a situation all because Xiang Wenting lacked the courage and responsibility. If he couldn’t provide an outcome, why provoke her?
Xiang Wenting’s expression froze slightly, then he raised the ink-wet scroll in front of him. His painting skills were excellent; the scroll depicted a beautiful woman with her dress fluttering, even her delicate eyebrows and eyes vividly portrayed.
Upon closer examination, she indeed bore a five-part resemblance to the yet-to-mature Qiao Xiuyun.
"Sister..."
Qiao Xiuyun immediately recognized who was in the painting, her nose suddenly sour, tears threatening to fall.
In fact, she was very perceptive, having already sensed the discrepancy in this somber atmosphere. Her sister was likely not redeemed but dead.
Xiang Wenting’s actions undeniably proved he recognized her by appearance, not by age.
The girl’s heart was moved; a person who could engrave her sister’s appearance in his bones was indeed that ’good man’ her sister spoke of.
"Your sister often talked to me about you, saying that in her hometown, she had a yet-to-mature younger sister. She spoke little of her parents, favoring only you, telling me you’re the sole reason for her leaving her hometown, because she wanted to take you away from those pitch-black stones."
Xiang Wenting withdrew his gaze, passionately staring into the eyes of the person in the painting, wishing he could pierce the constraints of paper and ink to snuggle together with his beloved.
Even Ji Lingruo, upon hearing, felt the unfairness of fate for everyone.
She had already learned from Qiao Xiuyun that Black Rock City was a small seaside city, aptly named, perched on a stretch of pitch-black volcanic sand.
This black sand was formed by volcanic lava meeting seawater, sourced from the East Japan Continent across the ocean, where volcanoes were densely populated.
In this fragmented black sand, growing crops was difficult, and owing to its proximity to the sea, strange disturbances often occurred. Because of the Divine Mountain’s regulations, movement between various cities was restricted; ordinary people could hardly escape, forced to live in barren soil. Yet Qiao Xiuying refused to accept such a fate; she smuggled herself away, willingly stepping into a life of hardship, just so her sister could escape Black Rock City.
She was a great sister, but she had already died at the hands of evil spirits.
Qiao Xiuyun couldn’t bear the sadness anymore, tears pouring down her face.
"Is my sister... still alive?"
Xiang Wenting’s whole body stiffened, his lips trembling, shaking his head:
"It’s my fault, it’s all my fault...I couldn’t protect her, I shouldn’t have helped her with her spiritual channels..."
Qiao Xiuyun received the answer she least wanted to hear; instantly her heart felt like dead ashes, her body tilted, about to faint, thankfully Ji Lingruo held her in her arms.
"When did it happen..."
Only the belief of seeing her sister kept this shattered girl going.
"Counting the time, it’s been eight days..."
Xiang Wenting rubbed his reddened eyes, reluctant to display a disgraceful appearance in front of everyone, respecting his guests.
"Eight days?" Qiao Xiuyun wailed, unable to believe she had missed her sister’s memorial. Emotionally agitated, she asked, "Where’s the body? Where’s the body?"
Xiang Wenting sighed bitterly, "I want to find Ying’er’s body too, willing even to exchange it with a thousand gold if I could!"
Could even her body not be found?
Qiao Xiuyun’s heart felt like dead ashes, as if losing the motivation to continue living.
"Qiao Xiuying sent a letter home sixteen days ago, enclosing a large sum of silver coins, stating she found a perfect match and would never return. The perfect match she mentioned, is that you?"
A cold voice interrupted the heartbroken atmosphere.
"It’s me..." Xiang Wenting sighed wretchedly, not denying.
"Xiuyun, can you confirm that it’s your sister’s handwriting?" You Su asked again.
Qiao Xiuyun, suddenly addressed, hurriedly nodded dazedly.
"Mr. Xiang, you just said Qiao Xiuying was a good sister, working hard to take her sister out of Black Rock City. Do you think such a sister would say ’I’m getting married so I’ll never return’ that decisively?"
You Su toyed with the delicate teacup, not even looking directly at the sorrowful young man.
Xiang Wenting was perplexed for a moment, as if genuinely pondering the question, "She wouldn’t say that... Even if she were really getting married, she would try to take her sister with her, not never returning."
You Su nodded seriously, his eyes sharp:
"For a mere mortal, sending a letter to that distant coast is already extremely difficult, not to mention sending a large sum of money. These funds, even unscathed, retained in majority by Xiuyun’s family, is nearly inconceivable. Without your help, it’s hard to imagine how a weak lady found such a reliable courier."