According to Qiu Zhu and the others, they had planned to bring Chu Feng somewhere to rest first, and then notify the others that Chu Feng had returned.
But Chun Wu was simply too impatient. She grabbed Chu Feng by the arm and dragged him straight toward the place where the Ethereal Celestial Fairy was resting.
That area was a restricted zone. In fact, even the four sisters of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter were not allowed to enter freely, because the Ethereal Celestial Peak was currently in an exceptional state.
"Young Lady Chun Wu, the Celestial Fairy is—" When the two elders guarding the area saw Chun Wu and the others rushing over, they moved to stop them from entering.
"Don't try to stop me. I need to see my Master on urgent matters!" But this time, Chun Wu did not heed their words. She barged straight through.
Under normal circumstances, the two elders would have intervened to block them. But this time, they did not.
Not because they didn't want to — but the moment they spotted the man behind Chun Wu, they froze on the spot.
"That… was that Lord Chu Feng just now?" One of the elders could hardly believe his own eyes and turned to the other elder in disbelief.
"It's Chu Feng. Lord Chu Feng has returned!" The other elder nodded repeatedly, his aged body trembling uncontrollably, revealing just how deeply moved he was at that moment.
"Master! Master! Come quickly, look who's here!!!" But the most excited of all was Chun Wu. The moment she stepped inside the palace, she began shouting nonstop, brimming with elation.
With the four sisters leading the way, Chu Feng arrived at a side hall. Inside the hall stood three people — two men and a woman, all familiar faces to Chu Feng.
Those three were the Ethereal Celestial Fairy, Tai Kou, and their daughter, the current master of the Ethereal Celestial Peak — Qiu Shui Fu Yan.
"Chun Wu, what's all this commotion about? And didn't I tell you not to come here without matters of great importance…"
The Ethereal Celestial Fairy did not seem to be in a good mood, and her tone was correspondingly sharp. Upon seeing Chun Wu and the others barge in, she was just about to lecture her.
However, the moment the Ethereal Celestial Fairy turned around and laid eyes on Chun Wu, she shot up from her seat. Her angry expression froze and transformed into overwhelming delight as she cried out, "Chu Feng?!"
"Chu Feng?" At the sound of that name, Tai Kou and Qiu Shui Fu Yan were equally startled and immediately turned to look. The moment they saw Chu Feng, they, too, rose from their seats just as the Ethereal Celestial Fairy had, and all three walked toward him in unison.
"Chu Feng greets the Ethereal Celestial Fairy."
"Chu Feng greets Senior Tai Kou."
"Chu Feng greets Sister Fu Yan."
Upon seeing the three, Chu Feng clasped his fists and bowed deeply in a grand salute. All three of them had helped him before — their kindness to Chu Feng was as vast as mountains.
No matter how far Chu Feng had grown in the present day, in his eyes, these three were his benefactors, his seniors, and some of the most important family in his life.
"Oh heavens, Chu Feng, it really is you — you've truly returned!" When they confirmed that it was indeed Chu Feng who had come back, all three beamed with irrepressible joy. In the heat of the moment, even the Ethereal Celestial Fairy — who had always been composed and reserved — felt the rims of her eyes grow red.
"Chu Feng, get up, get up quickly. It's enough that you're back — that's all that matters!" The Ethereal Celestial Fairy hurriedly reached out with trembling hands to help Chu Feng to his feet, and at the same time, tears that had been swirling in her eyes spilled forth.
Those were tears of longing, and they spoke volumes about just how deeply the Ethereal Celestial Fairy had missed Chu Feng.
Although she had always been cold and aloof, and had once been a towering figure in the Eastern Sea, Chu Feng held a special place in her heart.
When Chu Feng had first set foot in the Eastern Sea, he bore a heavy burden yet his cultivation was still weak. She had watched him grow step by step over the years, and so in her heart, Chu Feng was like her own child.
"Mother, you're being a bit unfair. When I returned from my long journey, I didn't see you shed a single tear," Qiu Shui Fu Yan teased from the side, pretending to be jealous.