According to Qiu Zhu and the others, they had planned to first bring Chu Feng somewhere to rest before notifying the others that he had returned.
But Chun Wu's personality was far too impatient. She dragged Chu Feng straight to the place where the Fairy of Piaomiao was resting.
That place was a restricted zone. Even the four sisters — Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter — were not permitted to enter at will, because the Piaomiao Immortal Peak was currently in a state of emergency.
"Young lady Chun Wu, the Fairy is—" Seeing Chun Wu and the others rush over, the two elders guarding the area stepped forward to stop them from entering.
"Don't try to stop me. I need to see Master on urgent business." However, this time Chun Wu did not heed their words. She barged straight through.
Under normal circumstances, the two elders guarding this place would certainly have moved to block them. But this time, they did not.
Not because they didn't want to stop her — but the moment they caught sight of the man behind Chun Wu, they froze where they stood.
"That was just now — was that Lord Chu Feng?" One of the elders could hardly believe his own eyes and turned to ask the other elder.
"It was Chu Feng. Lord Chu Feng has returned." The other elder nodded repeatedly, and his aged body trembled uncontrollably, making it abundantly clear just how overwhelmed with emotion he was at that moment.
"Master, Master, look! Do you see who's here?!" But the most excited of all was Chun Wu. The moment she stepped inside the palace, she began calling out without pause, practically bursting with elation.
Led by Chun Wu and her three sisters, Chu Feng arrived at a side hall. Inside the hall stood three people — two men and one woman — all of them familiar to Chu Feng.
These three were the Fairy of Piaomiao and Tai Kou, along with their daughter, the current master of the Piaomiao Immortal Peak — Qiushui Fuyan.
"Chun Wu, what's all this commotion about? And didn't I tell you not to come here without a pressing matter…"
The Fairy of Piaomiao seemed to be in a rather foul mood, and her tone carried that displeasure. Seeing Chun Wu and the others barge in, she was about to lecture her.
However, when the Fairy of Piaomiao turned around and her gaze fell upon Chun Wu, she shot up from her seat in an instant. Her furious expression froze, then melted into overwhelming joy as she cried out: "Chu Feng?!"
"Chu Feng?" At the sound of that name, Tai Kou and Qiushui Fuyan were equally startled. They hurriedly turned to look, and upon seeing Chu Feng, they too rose from their seats just as the Fairy of Piaomiao had, and without a moment's hesitation walked toward him.
"Chu Feng pays his respects to the Fairy of Piaomiao."
"Pay my respects to Senior Tai Kou."
"Pay my respects to Sister Fuyan."
Upon seeing the three of them, Chu Feng cupped his fists and bowed deeply to each one in turn. All three had once helped him — their kindness toward him was as vast as mountains.
No matter how far Chu Feng had grown since then, in his eyes they were all benefactors, all elders, some of the most important people in his life.
"Heavens, it really is you, Chu Feng. You've really come back." Once they confirmed that it was indeed Chu Feng who had returned, all three of them broke into smiles so wide they could barely contain them. In the heat of the moment, even the ever-composed Fairy of Piaomiao had reddened around her eyes.
"Chu Feng, get up, get up. It's enough that you've come back — that's all that matters." The Fairy of Piaomiao hastily reached out with trembling hands to help Chu Feng to his feet, and as she did, the tears swirling in her eyes spilled over.
Those were tears of longing, and they spoke volumes about just how deeply the Fairy of Piaomiao had missed Chu Feng.
Though the Fairy of Piaomiao had always been cold and distant — and back in the Eastern Sea Region she had been a figure who commanded the winds and rains — Chu Feng held a special place in her heart.
When Chu Feng had first set foot in the Eastern Sea Region, burdened with a great mission yet still weak in cultivation, she had essentially watched him grow stronger step by step. In her heart, Chu Feng was like her own child.
"Mother, you're being rather biased, you know. When I returned from my long journey, I don't recall you shedding a single tear." Qiushui Fuyan stood to the side, pretending to pout with mock jealousy.