I had not stepped out of my courtyard for only a few days, yet the familiar scenery now stirred a strange, alien sensation within my heart. After all that had transpired, I suddenly felt that this blessed land of the Wujing Sect—seemingly natural yet shaped by human hands—hid unknown secrets beneath every layer of beauty. Or perhaps, unknown costs.
I strolled southward, encountering many familiar disciples along the way. They all greeted me with smiles, asking if my health had improved. I replied to each with a smile, saying I was "perfectly well," as I meandered toward the mountain gate. After verifying my jade token and crossing the threshold, I made my way toward the ten-mile peach blossom forest.
I had been worried; when the wind and rain had suddenly surged, the peach blossoms were just beginning to bud. I feared that such a violent downpour would have scattered them all to the earth, a thought that filled me with pity. But before I even drew close, I could see the elegant pink snow quietly blooming, perfectly unscathed. After observing for a moment, I realized the truth: a powerful master had long ago cast an array over the peach forest, shielding it from the elements. Peach blossoms were the symbol of the Wujing Sect; if they could not bloom with grand, magnificent splendor, where would the prestige of the world’s number one sect lie?
Since this area was not within the sect’s restricted grounds, male and female disciples were laughing and playing. Even nearby villagers had come in pairs, spreading out food and drink on the ground, or playing instruments and dancing joyfully. I watched them with a smile while looking up to admire the flowers. There, not far ahead, I spotted Wei Qingming. She was not engaged in idle, elegant pursuits like reading, warming wine, or playing the flute to accompany the blossoms, nor was she surrounded by a crowd of friends. Instead, she was with the disciples of the Spirit Plant Hall, using gardening techniques to maintain the state of the peach trees. I couldn't help but smile, remembering how she had once said, while taking the wood spirits out for a spring excursion, that her magic was beneficial to flora. She was surely using the generative power of the sun to adjust the amount of sunlight the trees received, ensuring the blossoms lasted longer and remained more beautiful.
The Spirit Plant Hall had a higher proportion of female disciples. A group of young women followed behind her, occasionally scattering rain and dew, or softly asking her to cast an extra light spell on a particular tree. Their faces were slightly flushed, filled with bashful timidity. She assisted each one with patience and answered them with gentleness. Fluttering petals brushed past her brow, settling softly upon her straight, slender shoulders.
When she noticed me, she merely gave a plain, indifferent nod as a greeting before turning back to her work.
My heart felt like a smooth, polished mirror, undisturbed by ripples. This was likely due to the medicine I had been taking lately—concoctions meant to purge romantic attachments, calm the mind, and dispel melancholy, including the Seven-Heart Seven-Leaf Flower sold by our own Rumeng Lai.
Two more days passed, and the temperature rose sharply. May was fast approaching; wearing a single layer of spring clothing was enough, and there was no need for a cloak even in the mornings or evenings. I was in my room reading a travelogue borrowed from the Yuheng Hall when I saw Zhu Yixin and Yu Niannian nudging each other at my door, peering in but hesitating to enter.
I laughed. "What mischief are you two up to? Honored guests, please, come in."
Yu Niannian jumped in first. "This year's Day of Purification falls on the sixth of May. The sect follows the custom of the *Xiuqi* ritual, and there are a few small ceremonies to perform. I wanted to invite you and your fellow disciples to join the Peach Blossom Banquet after the rituals."
It turned out this was the Wujing Sect’s famous Mountain Flower Festival. During the season when the peach blossoms were in full bloom, they would offer sacrifices to the Divine Ancestors of Tianshan, and the disciples would contribute their strength to maintain the arrays near the mountain. Because the climate was cold, the *Xiuqi* ritual—which usually took place on the third day of the third lunar month—was moved to late April or early May to suit the local environment. This was meant to be a private gathering for sect members and close friends; Niannian likely thought I had been despondent after my illness and specifically wanted to take me out to clear my head.
They had probably also realized the complicated nature of my relationship with Wei Qingming and hoped to use this opportunity to facilitate a reconciliation. After Niannian finished speaking, she looked at me with a mix of anticipation and unease. To their great surprise, I agreed with a slight smile.
Of course I had to agree. I had decided that on this day, I would speak clearly with her and sever this obsessive entanglement once and for all. It wasn't for the sake of my own ridiculous "heart demon," but rather out of a self-indulgent concern that if this matter affected her even slightly, causing a flaw in her Dao heart, it might hinder her bright future. If that happened, I would be a sinner for all eternity.
On the morning of the festival, I washed and dressed with care before waiting for Zhu Yixin in the courtyard. Lu Lingfeng was already prepared. After our unanimous protests, she had finally, most reluctantly, left that ghost-faced wooden bucket in her room. Now, her snow-white robes paired with her cold, exquisite features were flawless—the very image of a celestial maiden. Lu Kaifeng had an appointment with friends of the Cansha Realm, so only Qiao Songlin accompanied us.
Zhu Yixin acted out of character, spending over an hour on her hair and makeup. When she finally emerged, she kept checking her hem and spinning around, quietly pulling me aside to check for any flaws. I laughed and nudged her. "You look stunning. Don't blame me for not warning you when Yan Xiangjun gets jealous later."
She stuck out her tongue. "I bought these clothes with her, actually. We agreed to wear them together today."
I took a closer look and saw it was indeed the work of immortal craftsmen. Made from countless precious materials, the outfit featured over ten types of fabric adorned with various gemstones. Not only was it beautiful, but it was also a high-grade defensive spiritual tool. If sold at Rumeng Lai... it would easily fetch over a hundred thousand stones. As I clicked my tongue in praise, Zhu Yixin tugged my sleeve and smiled. "This shark-silk is truly beautiful. I always see you keeping it at the bottom of your trunk; today it finally gets to see the light of day."
I stroked the Dreamlike Immortal Raiment I was wearing and gave a soft laugh. "Yes. This is my most expensive outfit. I have to bring it out to keep up appearances."
It was only after going out to sea with the Nie family that I learned the silk Wei Qingming had given me was worth a month's net income for Rumeng Lai... Ah, I was so naive and foolish back then. She dared to give a gift of astronomical value, and I actually dared to accept it...
Qiao Songlin waited patiently for us to finish fussing. He stood up, led the horses over, and helped Zhu Yixin mount. Lu Lingfeng and I also mounted our horses, and the four of us rode out in pairs, two in front and two behind.
The peach blossoms at the very foot of the mountain had begun to bloom sluggishly. The distant mountains were half-cloaked in verdant green. On the road, Yu Niannian caught up with us, her voice bright with laughter as she joked with us. Her mount was a snow leopard with light grey spots and icy blue eyes—a beautiful demon beast of pure and noble blood.
Our group meandered until we reached Xiaogu Peak on the southern foothills of Tianshan. This was one of the eighteen main peaks, featuring a beautiful hollow valley. Because it was surrounded by wind-shielding cliffs and graced by a winding green stream and dense bamboo forests, flora from the south could be transplanted here. It was named "Xiaogu" after the valley where Ling Lun cut bamboo to set the musical scales.
The Yan siblings were the hosts of this gathering and had already arrived. Over a dozen core disciples of the Moyu Sect were gathered together, still dressed in their black and white colors. Their cultivation methods were mysterious and eerie; their defining characteristic was that everyone was shrouded in a faint, ink-colored halo, making them look like figures from an ink painting as their robes fluttered.
Zhu Yixin was surprisingly familiar with this group. She greeted them with a smile. Her closest friend among them was a female cultivator named Yi Fei. She was tall and curvaceous, truly the most stunning beauty I had seen on this trip. Her graceful figure was perpetually wrapped in solemn, ascetic black robes, which only served to spark the imagination further...
The fourth group arrived: Anchi Nalong, followed by four maidservants. She took my hand affectionately once again. It seemed her father, King Anchi, intended for her to study here at the Wujing Sect. However, she was a pure-blooded demon, and the sect had not yet given a reply, which only deepened my suspicions about the delicate relationship between the Wujing Sect and the demon race.
It wasn't until most of the Tianjun Sect members had arrived that Wei Qingming finally made her appearance. She was still alone, not even bringing A-Wan. She wore a moon-white silk robe with a cinnabar-red cord cinching her waist. She rode a snow-white horse with golden eyes. Strangely, its mane looked like flickering red flames. I immediately smiled: it was the legendary beast Jiliang, said to grant a thousand-year lifespan to its rider. To be able to obtain such a creature—Lord Wei truly had connections that reached the heavens...
Yan Mingqiu whistled at her and made a "get over here" gesture. Wei Qingming dismounted nimbly, letting the horse wander off to play on its own, and walked toward us with graceful, measured steps, her sleeves fluttering.
The young talents of the Wujing Sect were all gathered. First, they knelt with solemn expressions to pray and recite poems, then they inspected and repaired the runes of the mountain-protecting array, infusing them with magic. Wei Qingming knelt and rose with them. When casting her spells, she still used a relaxed, single-handed mudra, but her expression was distant and wandering. She looked lazy and listless, as if her mind were elsewhere. She had never been one for smiles, but among Lord Wei's various guises, this was one of the most melancholy.
Once the ritual ended, the Yan siblings opened the banquet with smiles. Everyone began composing poetry and playing the game of "winding stream party." Yan Xiangjun jokingly remarked that it was boring for disciples of the same sect to always sit together and requested that everyone mix and mingle. Zhu Yixin was the first to lift her skirts and take her wine cup, scurrying over to Yan Xiangjun's side to link arms. Wei Qingming was currently the person everyone sought after, and many invited her to sit. She showed no preference at all; she simply went with whoever asked first. In the end, she was snatched away by two female cultivators from the Moyu Sect.
I was drinking alone while watching the scene with a smile when Yi Fei approached gracefully. She inquired with a light smile in her eyes, and I generously patted the seat beside me, inviting her to sit.
Yi Fei’s features were enchanting, but her demeanor was extremely reserved. She spoke in a soft, thin voice, chatting with me about trivial things like the scenery of the mountains and rivers. Guan Shanping immediately seized the opportunity and came over to sit beside her. After accepting the heavy gift Lu Kaifeng had given him on my behalf, he had visited the Chun'gu Courtyard several times but had never been allowed inside; he clearly knew he wasn't in my good graces. Since he asked to sit next to someone else, I had no grounds to refuse, and Yi Fei had no objection. Thus, he sat down amidst the envious gazes of the male disciples. I didn't want to see anyone's reaction, so I simply tilted my head and drank. After finishing a jar, I placed the cup on the table, rotating and rubbing it as I pondered how to start the conversation with Wei Qingming.
After a round of drinks, Yan Xiangjun was about to suggest a drinking game when the warm sun seemed to flicker for a moment before continuing to shine brightly. Within the valley, the bamboo shadows slanted, the flowers and trees swayed, and the stream gurgled—everything seemed normal. However, I became alert because the Huanzhen Flower inside me began to stir. This meant there was an illusion!
A disciple from the Tianjun Sect was the first to clutch his head and cry out in pain. Soon after, most people fell into a state of terror. I knew this was a sophisticated illusion called the "Fear Array"; those caught in it would see the scenes they feared most in their lives.
Yi Fei also collapsed, tears streaming from the corners of her beautiful eyes as she murmured someone's name. Guan Shanping, after all, had a high level of cultivation and a stronger soul; he forced himself to remain conscious, gritting his teeth as he stumbled to his feet, intending to protect me. I dodged him and leaped into the air, standing together with my three senior brothers and sister.
"My Huanzhen can devour illusion arrays, but the speed is a bit slow," I said. "Let's split up and find the array eye."
Was this a joke? With four professionals on the scene, how could we not crush this pathetic array!
***
**Glossary**
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