Chapter 79: Chapter 79: He couldn’t possibly like you, could he?

Having traversed the corridor and passed through the crowd, she stepped into a brightly lit hall where countless glass display cases came into view. Among them, the one that caught most attention and was surrounded by the most spectators was a bronze tree soaring up to the dome, awe-inspiring and mysterious.

Ah Da found herself unconsciously standing in front of the bronze tree, rays of light reflecting off the bronze casting dazzling brilliance, solemn and magnificent.

Gazing at the Divine Bird perched high on the branches with its blood-red eyes staring straight ahead, Ah Da suddenly became dizzy and entranced, a sharp pain bursting from her Sea of Consciousness. She couldn’t stop shaking, a familiar yet fearful sensation overwhelmed her like a flood, rapidly filling and tearing her consciousness apart.

What is this?

Why…

Ah Da’s steps faltered uncontrollably backward, her eyelids heavy as lead. It was like the breath of a drowning person being stifled; in a haze, she seemed to hear countless agonizing screams.

“Sister?”

A childlike voice pierced through the chaos, and Ah Da suddenly opened her eyes to see the serene and sacred grand bronze tree before her, surrounded by dozens of inquiring gazes.

Ah Da felt a pang in her heart, a switch between illusion and reality. Her energy drained, she was somewhat dazed and at a loss.

“Sister, are you okay?”

The childlike voice rang out again, and looking down, Ah Da saw a little girl dressed in goose yellow, holding candy and looking up at her. Plump and fair, her cheeks were like ripe red fruit, extremely adorable.

Ah Da couldn’t help but crouch down, her palm gently touched the little girl’s head, and she smiled. “I’m fine, thank you.”

The little girl paused, then revealed a sweet smile, her missing two front teeth adding to her cuteness. Suddenly, an arm scooped her up by the waist, followed by the little girl calling out in a milky voice, “Mama.”

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The woman holding the little girl looked apologetically at Ah Da. She spoke anxiously, “I’m sorry, my daughter is quite mischievous, missing in just a moment’s inattention. She hasn’t disturbed you, has she?”

Ah Da stood up, looking at the little girl in her arms, and shook her head. “No, she’s very cute.”

“That’s good, that’s good.”

The woman breathed a sigh of relief internally. From afar, she had noticed this exceptionally beautiful young girl. She was in the internet industry herself and her acute perception of high-quality clients was an essential skill, so she recognized at a glance that this girl with bodyguards in tow was no ordinary person.

“Come, Nuobao, say goodbye to sister.”

The woman held her daughter’s little hand and waved goodbye to Ah Da, who also raised her hand to reciprocate.

Watching the woman carry the little girl away, Ah Da’s smile gradually faded. Her eyelashes drooped lightly as she slowly turned around to face the quietly standing bronze tree. The oppressive feeling of looking down from a height was incredibly heavy, an indescribable uneasiness in her heart.

Oppressive, suffocating, as if something was binding her, her heart felt heavy.

Ah Da clutched her chest and forced herself to look away, turning to meet Long Qi’s and the museum staff’s puzzled eyes.

“Do you need any explanations?”

The staff member asked politely in a soft voice.

Just now, they had seen Ah Da standing still in one place and thought something was wrong, but just as they were about to approach and inquire, they saw her interacting with the little girl.

Ah Da felt a bit embarrassed. “No, I was just captivated by the sight just now. Let’s go.”

“Very well, please this way.” The staff member offered a professional smile, gesturing invitingly.

Ah Da clenched the strap of her small backpack and stepped away from the bronze tree towards another exhibit hall.

Passing through the corridor, she saw from afar the Little Pink Bottle and Jade Pot next to a round wooden column. There weren’t many people around; Ah Da couldn’t help but quicken her pace excitedly, both Artifact Spirits immediately sensing her presence.

“Wait! There’s movement! Is that the little incense burner?”

“Eh? It seems so, the aura is getting closer!”

Ah Da stood in front of the glass display case, remembering Su Qingtong’s rule not to touch anything carelessly. She merely bent down and leaned in close, lowering her voice to greet them:

“I’m here, it’s me!”

Little Pink Bottle exclaimed excitedly, “It really is you! Little incense burner, I’m so happy to see you.”

Ah Da said, “I’m very happy too.”

Jade Pot snapped back to reality, looking at an old friend, her voice choked up, “We’ve finally met again. It’s so good that you’re okay, little incense burner. I thought I might never see you again.”

Ah Da couldn’t hold back the moisture in her eyes, “I thought I wouldn’t see you all again either. I’ve always been looking for ways to find you, thankfully I met Bronze Sword. She told me you were here.”

Jade Pot said, “I knew Bronze Sword could do it. She told us she’d definitely find you and bring you back.”

“Yes, Bronze Sword is amazing.” Ah Da inquired, “Are you all alright here?”

Little Pink Bottle spoke with pride, “We couldn’t be better. This is a museum, look at this grand hall, these noble display cases, and all these people around us. It’s no exaggeration to say they all come here admiring the incomparable charm of this young master.”

“Here we go again, rein in your narcissism, will you? They’re not just here to see you. Get a grip,” Jade Pot retorted.

Little Pink Bottle sulkily replied, “I’m not listening, I’m not listening. The more they take photos of me, the more they’re here for me, so mind your own business.”

“I can’t stand you. Every time you’re gilding your own face, it’s so embarrassing to hear. I really hope that next time they rearrange us, I’m not grouped with you. You make my ears hurt with your constant bickering.”

“As if I’m dying to be grouped with you.”

“Oh really? Who was it that cried to me when we were separated, saying they were going crazy not having anyone to talk to?”

“You’re spouting nonsense, making things up. Whatever it was, it definitely wasn’t this young master.”

“Admit to your actions!”

Listening to their bickering, Ah Da felt as if she had returned to the times spent in the old man with the white beard’s home. Back then, there was no such grand hall or display cases, and none of the crowd of onlookers. There was only unending silence.

“Seeing you all well puts my mind at ease.”

Ah Da silently sighed.

Seizing the moment to change the subject, Little Pink Bottle voiced the question on everyone’s mind, “So, how did you get out?”

Jade Pot immediately fell silent, curious as well about how Ah Da left the incense burner. If it was about cultivation, her speed was unbelievably rapid. When they had separated, the incense burner’s cultivation was even lower than theirs.

Ah Da didn’t hide anything and simply recounted her experiences after they had parted.

“That’s about it. After the seal inside the incense burner was broken, I came out.”

Little Pink Bottle couldn’t believe it, “The seal was really broken just by lighting incense? How did Bronze Sword guess that?”

“It seems the folktales about Bronze Sword are quite useful.” Jade Pot mused, “Little incense burner, you also benefited from this misfortune. You encountered a noble person who helped light the incense and freed you from the millennium-old prohibition. That’s a huge favor.”

Thinking of Qin Yu, Ah Da’s smile grew wider, “Yes, I never expected him to light the incense burner.”

Jade Pot suddenly asked, “You just said you’re living with that person named Qin Yu, so the person following you is also sent by him? Is he monitoring you?”

Ah Da looked back at Long Qi, quickly turned back around, and whispered with her hand over her mouth, “Yes, every time I go out, Qin Yu insists on having him follow me. He’s probably afraid I’ll run away.”

Little Pink Bottle chuckled mischievously, “Afraid you’ll run away? Could it be that he’s taken a fancy to you?”